I was up early, waiting for the shuttle to arrive and enjoying a nice Miami morning around 6 AM. Some of the other gents might have had a few more beers then I and we had a little trouble rousing them for the shuttle to Key Largo. The shuttle arrived at 7 and we loaded up and headed down the highway.

We arrived in Key Largo at John Pennekamp State Park around 8:30. There, we met our instructors, Jarad and Dana, and did the duffle shuffle. We loaded our gear into dry bags and got them on the boat. We were ready to sail at around 10:30 but as soon as everything was loaded up, a wicked thunderstorm rolled in and we were forced to wait until it had passed. Outward Bound policy is to stay off the water until lightning is at least ten miles away.

The storm eventually passed and we loaded up the boats. The boats were 30 ft sprit rigged boats with open decks.

We were forced to row against the wind through Largo Sound and Blackwater Sound. Leaving Blackwater Sound required rowing through what our instructors referred to as the "Heart of Darkness" canal. The canal is actually called The Bogies, in reference to Humphrey Bogart, as he spent a lot of time filming in that area. Very scenic, but rowing for a couple hours when we had all hoped to sail bummed out some of the guys and made us all pretty darned tired. The Bogies leads to Florida Bay, where we would spend the rest of the trip sailing.

We anchored just outside of the Bogies in Florida Bay, putting up our masts, (we had to take them down before leaving to pass under several low bridges.) rolling out a tarp and sleeping on oars rolled out over the deck. Not very comfortable but who am I to complain.