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.