Staniel Key

Staniel Key has a great marina and a great restaurant/bar, a respite for travelers with boating needs. We packed in fuel and water, reverse osmosis water, which proved to be quite good. Our near disaster there was caused when the marina staff waved us into a slip which was still occupied by a small motor boat, backing frantically out of our way. Staniel Key is populated by a mix of black slave descendants and white ex patriots. The town's groceries and bakeries are identified as "the blue house, the yellow house, etc. If you want great bread, knock on the door of the yellow house and get some coconut bread . The town was poor, some sad little buildings sagged here and there, but people were industrious and always helpful and friendly. We stayed three days, hiking, replenishing, trying in vain to repair the energy problems, watching the sand sharks in the marina swim below the boat and the dinghy, and enjoying the island.

A second problem surfaced when a power surge rendered our computer recharger inoperable. We could no longer charge the computer to send emails.