No Name Harbor till New Years Eve

The picture as you can see is of Diva our friends Margaret and Ben. We met up after Christmas at Dinner Key and now we are both anchored in No Name Harbor. We will stay here until after New Years Eve. Ben and Margaret are still waiting for a window to go to the Bahamas. This year the weather has been difficult for those looking to cross.

We had a quiet Christmas dinner with Doug and Amy on our boat and we went to Christmas Eve Service at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Coconut Grove.

Two days before Christmas the pull cord on our Honda generator broke. Larry and I walked up to the Shell Hardware store where they service Honda generators but we had to leave it until the part came in. Our plan was to go cruising after Christmas but this put a hold on our plan till after New Years. We are in no hurry it is always pleasant here in No Name Harbor.

Doug came over today to anchor out till after the holiday himself. Amy decided this life is not for her and flew back to Canada. This happens many times for cruisers. Doug will possibly haul the boat and go back himself. We felt bad for them it is a tough decision to make but being sad and uncomfortable isn't fun.

We expect this harbor to be hopping for the weekend, last night was busy with about at least 20 boats anchored for the night.

Boca Chita Key

The picture is of Amy and me sharing fresh coconut milk straight out of the shell. We have gathered several coconuts up off the ground and last night Larry and Doug husk them for us. Of course we had a rum drink, need you ask. We were compelled to put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up! Don't forget the rum!

You all may think this life of living our dream is wonderful but I'm sure you none would have liked to be aboard with us Wednesday night. Sailors all say it's not if you will drag anchor but when. Wednesday night was our turn. The winds have been fierce here for several weeks now. I guess it's winter here too. We had come back from Doug and Amy's boat and just finished dinner. Larry went above and noted that we looked like we had closed the gap between our two boats. Me being the optimist that I am said naw. It was only a matter of a few minutes that I agreed. It was dark by then of course. We pulled up anchor and reset but by then you don't trust that it won't happen again. Larry left on the GPS so we could monitor our position. Things seemed good and I suggested he go to bed and I would do the first watch. He no sooner got settled and we move about a boat length. I hated to wake him but you can move fast in those kinds of wind. We both stayed in the cockpit at this point. A little while later we dragged about three more boat lengths at which point our anchor finally set itself. We decided then about 2 AM to go to bed but our sleep left a lot to be decided. Today Larry is in the process of changing our anchor from the Bruce to the Delta which is for all holdings. Last season we did drag with the Delta but we only had 50 feet of chain, this season we have 200 feet. Hopefully this will give us sleep assurance.

Yesterday, Thursday morning we pulled up anchor moved to Boca Chita Key. This is a State Park with absoultly no amenities but the wall is great and made for a good nights sleep. We got together with Doug and Amy and taught them how to play Dominos. Tonight we will watch a movie. Something we have none done in a while. We may even have popcorn!

Tomorrow morning we plan to return to Dinner Key and anchor out. The wind is supposed to be 5 to 10 knots. I'm sure we will test the anchor another time.

Christmas in Biscayne Bay

As you can see from the picture, it's Christmas at our floating home. This picture was taken just before we mailed out the packages to our children. I said last Christmas that we were going to be prepared and leave our gifts up North before we leave, as you can see that didn't happen. Best laid plans you know! After the bill at the UPS store this year I said it again. Summer up North won't be as hectic this year and maybe I'll succeed.

Yesterday we left the anchorage at Dinner Key and sailed down to Elliott Key and anchored off the beach. It was a beautiful day warm and sunny and 10 to 15 knots of wind. It was a first in a long time for just a sail and no engine. We plan to hang out here and island hop until the weekend. Today we plan to dinghy to shore and explore and catch some rays.

Yesterday as we left the channel someone hailed us on the VHF radio. It was Ben and Margaret from Diva. They are a couple we came across from Canada last year. We have mutual friends from the Hunter Rendezvous. They are waiting for a window to go to the Bahamas and a visit from their son. We are going to go back to Coconut Grove Sailing Club for Christmas and will get together with them for a visit.

Night before last we visited with friends form last year Michele and Steve from Lookin Up. We met them though Mike and Diane form express Mail. Mike and Diane are still up in Jacksonville, FL, we hope to meet up with them after the holidays.

No Name Harbor

The picture is of a house on New River as we left Cooley's Landing. If you look close you will see Florida snow. It's called lots of cotton. This yard was all decked out for the Holidays. I guess for some if you don't get the real thing you improvise.

We arrived here in No Name Harbor late Tuesday afternoon and anchored for some rest. The wind continued to howl until last night, after which the no-see-ums come out and chased us below decks. It's very calm in here again tonight but thank heaven no bugs. It has also rained continuous the past two evenings. Wednesday and Thursday morning Larry ran and I roller bladed in the park. In the afternoon we went to the beach to swim and lay in the sun. This is the first time the ocean side has been conducive for that activity while we have been here.

Today we have been busy preparing to travel down the Keys. Larry cleaned the bottom of the boat while Amy and I went on the bikes to the store to provision for a few days on the hook.

Tomorrow morning after we run and blade we will go to Coconut Grove for some packages we have had sent there. After filling our water tanks and going to the post office we will go to Elliott Key and anchor off the beach. The weather keeps changing but we hope for light winds and sunshine.

Coconut Grove Sailing Club

We arrived here in Coconut Grove South of Miami yesterday about 2:30 PM. We had decided to stay put on Thursday because the winds were not expected to ease up until late afternoon. Somehow hanging on because of the degree of heel on the boat doesn't appeal to me like it did many years ago. When Larry owned his first boat Dansar a 25 foot Hunter and we used to race, the further the toe rail was in the water the better I liked it. Things do have a way of changing. Besides with all the breakable things on the boat now it's had to find a hiding place for them, so I would rather wait it out. Something about our home being subject to the pounding and stress just doesn't appeal to either of us.

The weather yesterday was just beautiful sunny and in the 80's. We even did a little sunning. The water was calm and we put out the mail sail to do some motor sailing. The water along the coast was that aqua color that is so inviting. I do just love it down here in Florida.

As you can see it overcast and very cool here today, temps in the low 70's. The weatherman has put out a high wind warning for tonight until early tomorrow morning. I'm glad we are on a mooring ball in a protected cove here at Coconut Grove Sailing Club.

Larry started his course for his masters captain license this morning. It's three days long and from 9 AM until 9PM. He will need a few days to recoup after. The weather looks like it isn't going to be good until next Thursday. We would like to anchor out at some of the islands here in Key Biscayne, weather permitting.

I have hung out here on the boat sorting our mail we received yesterday and making phone calls and using the internet. Tomorrow I plan to take the trolley to the metro and on to a plaza for Christmas shopping. It's not beach weather so I won't be sunning myself. Shopping is a good alternative.

Cooley's Landing Ft. Lauderdale, FL

We left Lake Worth on Saturday morning but were unable to get a spot in Lake Boca. We went on to Lettuce Lake and it was also crowded. We planed to go on to Las Olas Marina but it was getting dark. We came across a small bay just before our last bridge and decided to take a chance and anchor there. Two boats from Quebec, Ontario pulled in and so did we. We had a quiet night and had to wait until late afternoon to leave there for the trip up New River to Cooley's Landing. The tide change gives a very swift current in this narrow river. The current is too strong to go against or with, when it is flowing in or out.

Before we left our anchorage a boat came in to anchor for a few hours and went aground. We rowed over in the dinghy and ask if we could help by putting out an anchor for them. They were grateful because they had there dinghy on deck and didn't really want to put it in the water. This was a first for me, Larry rowed us out with the anchor in the dinghy and I held on to the line as they let out. We got about 50 feet from their boat and dropped the chain and then the anchor. We had no clue it was shallow at that spot the charted depth was 8 to 9 feet. It was good for us that they went aground. The least we could do was help them out. We went back out the same why we came in the night before.

We arrived at Cooley's about 3:30 during slack tide, which ended at 4:30. Watching the current after we arrived made us understand why they are so adamant about when you arrive.

It's very interesting watching the mega yacht traveling up and down this river being towed by two tow boats one in front and one in back. They pay $1,000 dollars per boat per trip. That means they pay $4,000 dollars for the trip up and back. I guess if you can afford a boat that size and the fuel for it you can afford the trip up and down the river. One way to look at it, it puts money back into the economy which is hurting here in the boating industry. Many of the marinas have been torn down and condos have gone up in there place, which means many people out of work.

We have been busy during our stay here at Cooley's as you can see by the picture. Larry was up Doug's mast yesterday attempting to fix some lights. Today was Doug's turn to go up the mast. We have provisioned, done laundry,cleaned, gone for walks and shopped the Boating Center. Tomorrow morning we will leave for Miami if the weather improves, if not we will anchor in Lake Sylvia.

Lake Worth at Anchor

We left Stuart at 8 :00 AM this morning and arrived in Lake Worth about 2:00 PM this afternoon. The winds were howling all day but were to let up at noon, no such luck. They were still howling when we arrived and only settled down a little this evening. The anchorage is crowded with boats waiting to cross to the Bahamas. We haven't made up our minds if we will be one of the many boats going there ourselves. We are at anchor but the picture is of us anchored in Georgetown, SC. I'm getting lazy when it comes to taking pictures. Oops!

We are going to leave here the same time as today and arrive in Lake Boca the same time as today. We are hoping for a good nights sleep with calm winds. Just enough to make power with the wind generator.