Hawks Cay on Duck Key $$$$

Hawk's Cay Resort and Marina- Duck Key

 

Will and I had decided last year that we wanted to visit this resort as a celebration of sorts when we arrive in the middle keys. It has 4 or 5 pools, restaurants and the dolphin experience all there on site. WOW we thought this will be great! People had mentioned to us in passing it is Spring Break time.  My thoughts were hhmmm...we are not in Daytona Beach where things get crazy so no biggee. WELL what a surprise to me children have Spring Break, not just college students, and that is exactly what had filled this resort! The resort was packed with parents entertaining their children in all the pools except the small all adult pool at the farthermost corner of the resort. This was not exactly what we had in mind however, we did decide that when we have grandchildren this is a place we will take them as well. There are jet ski rentals, kayaks, paddle boards, a swiming pool with a pirate theme, tennis courts, basketball courts, commercial fishing boats, sunset cruises and of course an ice cream parlor.

 

Tio's was the only restaurant we visited. It was conveniently located behind our boat, allowed dogs and the only one that offered a happy hour.

I was surprised at the size of the Tarpon Fish swimming right up between the boats literally 3 to 4 feet long. Will and I took our dinghy out at sunset and went exploring endlessly. I was shocked at the size of the dolphin retreat. I thought it would be huge. it was the size of a back yard (not in California)  about a half an acre. I felt sorry for the couple of dolphins swimming around. We could get 10 feet from their fence from the canal side (boaters only approach not the general public.) We were in our dinghy (rubber boat) when we took this photo.

We left Hawk's Cay this morning around 10 am.  We awoke to thunder storms and decided to wait for them to pass.  We headed to Marathon Marina. What a ride....the winds were coming from the north up to 20 knots and we had 2 and 3 feet swells from the south. It was like we were sandwiched on our port side from the swells and the winds hitting our starboard side and of course  the whole time Will was steering around those delightful lobster pots.

It started storming here in Marathon about 2 hours ago and it hasn't really let up.  The weather is not supposed to be any better tomorrow. :(  We are planning to try and start our route home or to the north through the Everglades on Wednesday.  We are going to anchor there in Little Shark River.  There are not alot of marinas when you leave the keys heading to the southwest side of Florida.  It is a protected area the Everglades.  I told Will if that anchor gets stuck we are cutting it off,  NO ONE is swimming with the alligators. We will keep you posted.   LATERS!!!