KOKOMO-PART ONE

We celebrated Our arrival in Key West at 4:00pm, Tuesday, January 14, 2019 with champagne and rum. 

Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take ya

Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama

Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go, Jamaica

Off the Florida Keys, there's a place called Kokomo

That's where you want to go to get away from it all

Way down in Kokomo. 

Although there are several places named Kokomo, including Kokomo, Indiana, Kokomo, Arkansas and Kokomo, Hawaii, the song describes a fictional Kokomo as a place "off the Florida Keys." The name was later used by resorts in Sandals Cay, Jamaica, and Grassy Key, Florida.

This isn’t Obsession, but this boat, Critical Path was Sailing so beautifully I had to snap her picture. The conditions were perfect for sailing to Key West on January 14, 2019.

This is one of our favorite songs  by The Beach Boys. David and I had traveled to all those places EXCEPT Key Largo and The Keys.   We have now made it to Key West, our original goal for this Dream Retirement Cruise. Along the way we toyed with  the idea of sailing to the Bahamas, Exumas and even Cuba, but as we got closer and closer to Key West we realized that this trip was really about traveling and experiencing the ICW and visiting the Keys and Key West. Once we hit Fort Lauderdale and Miami we knew we wanted to “Get here fast”  and then “take it slow.”  So I guess you could say this is our KOKOMO on our rented “ball” in Garrison Bight, Key West.  

We are quite a long way out in Garrison Bight, but we can move closer as balls come available. The north winds are keeping people from heading to the Bahamas. But soon that will change. 

Entering Key West you can’t help but notice the cruise ships. 

The trip from Fort Lauderdale was a fast one. We had Perrin with us, and along with a buddy boat, Our Log headed to No Name Harbor just south of Miami. The next day we continued to Rodriguez Key and then Marathon. We stayed there 2 days, took a road trip to Key West (to watch the Patriots win), arranged for a rental “ball” and the next day set sail to our southernmost destination. Key West. 

This is Cape Florida Light. I do not have this Lighthouse in my Danbury Mint Collection of lighthouses. Guess I’ll have to look for one. 

Sunset No Name Harbor just south of Miami

Leaving No Name Harbor headed for Rodriguez Key. It was cold!

The day improved though. It not only got warmer, but the water got bluer

Obsession at Sunrise, Rodriguez Key. 

This is the Seven Mile Bridge just outside of Marathon. The water is getting prettier and prettier. 

Sunset from Boot Key Channel just outside of Marathon

Sunrise Marathon. There are so many boats in this harbor. 

A sign that we are entering paradise. 



A piece of driftwood I’d love to have in my collection. It reminded me of the iguanas we are seeing everywhere!

The boaters garden in Marathon. When we return I’ll certainly check out some fresh herbs. 

We will stay a month in Key West resting, relaxing, and enjoying the sights and sounds of this famous and  beautiful tropical Island in the Sun.

A floating Tiki Bar in Key West.  Looking forward to having a tropical drink in my hand. 

The bluest waters I’ve seen so far. More to come I’m sure. 

This is not, however, the end of our journey. Our trip is only half over. When we leave here mid-February we will head back to Marathon for a week or so, and begin preparations for our trip north. We plan to find new places to visit, but will revisit some of our  favorite stops we found on the trip south. We hope to be back in Newport by the end of June.  

Everybody knows

a little place like Kokomo

Now if you want to go 

and get away from it all

Go down to Kokomo

⛵️🏝⛵️