Marathon At Last!

Day 34! We woke this morning very early. We had a very long day of travel, about 52 nm and we were anxious to be finished. You can see by the photo that the skies we overcast. The rising sun was attempting to emerge out from behind this cloud bank.

They call the Keys the Caribbean of the US. I wish my camera would capture the color as I see it. The water is aqua marine in color and very inviting. I missed that hue in the water this Summer in the Chesapeake. The picture is of one of the small Keys but I can't remember which one at the moment.

Sailors have a saying, it goes like this. It's not a matter of if you will go a ground but when. We had our when today. The water in the ICW around Islamorada is very shallow and it is important to stay in the channel. You can see by the photo a small Hobie Cat was on the water along with about a dozen or so more. We think they were racing and right in the middle of the narrow channel. Larry being the considerate Captain and obeying the rules of the water, moved aside to let them pass. Our chart showed about six feet of water depth just outside the channel but it lied. We promptly went a ground. After a failed attempt to free us Larry called for Tow Boat US to come to our rescue. In the mean time he kept up the attempt to free us by using our jib sail and the engine. The tide was rising and with the wind full in the sail we were free once again. After a call to cancel our tow we were on our way again.

We experienced a few rain showers but nothing major. You can see by the picture it was an overcast day. This bridge was a welcome site, it is the seven mile bridge here just outside of the Marathon Channel. We were very happy to finally arrive.

Once inside the channel we called for a mooring assignment and got ourselves settled. On the way in we waved at our friends Pete and Dee on S/V Wind Lass. They invited us to come over for cocktails which we did after checking into the marina and having a hot shower. It's good to be back and we are looking forward to meeting up with friends from last season and making new friends this season.

Sunset in the Keys!

Day 32! This morning we woke early as usual and started our day's journey. With many bridge openings a head of us we wanted to get an early start.

Fort Lauderdale can be a very busy place with boat traffic. The go fast boat traffic, small run a bouts. The ICW is very narrow though here with concrete walls on both sides. This helps the residents with erosion of their property but gives reverb of the wakes. Instead of dealing with one set of wakes from each boat you have many to deal with as it hits the walls and comes back to wake you again. We were thankful that it not only was a weekday but that the weather wasn't inviting for boating, so boat traffic was low.

When we arrived at Port Everglades, the inlet in Fort Lauderdale, one look out the channel and we could see the waves were more than we wanted to deal with. A small craft warning had been posted for the day. It doesn't matter how big you think your boat is, you know it will be uncomfortable when they say small craft warning. The waves are usually one to two feet bigger than they predict on a normal day. We stayed on the inside to get to Miami. Something we have never done in the past. We have gone as far as Haulover Beach but returned to Fort Lauderdale and out the inlet to get to Miami. Miami has a bridge that has only 56 feet of clearance, we need 57 and low tide will give us what we need.

The picture shows some of the large freighter traffic at Port Everglades. This is also a terminal for large cruise ships, which there were not many of at port.















We were waiting for a scheduled opening of this bridge when a Coast Guard Cutter requested an opening. This meant we would get an early opening but buy the time the bridge opened and we waited for the cutter to transit we went thought bridge at our normal time. It was neat to see him up close non the less.















After our transiting this part of the ICW and the bridge in question we got to see this view of downtown Miami and the Miami River. We hadn't seen this view before. Even though I'm not fond of high rises it still was a neat sight.
















This is a shot of the Miami skyline as we left the fair city to get to our anchorage for the night.

Day 33! After a less than restful nights sleep, we work early and began our day. The winds were strong last night and the reverb from shore kept slapping the stern of our boat and bouncing us around. Not to mention the noise. We have been spoiled this trip, just about every night the wind would die and the water would settle to glass, giving us a calm night. Last night that changed and I think we are also starting to get tired and need a break from travel.

Fortunately today we were able to sail without the engine most of the day. The quiet of sailing helped to make up for the noise of last night. A sailboat, finally we became. After being virtually a power boat for a month now we were enjoying our day on the water. We had anywhere from 12 to 20 knots of wind and were on a down wind run all day. We were even wing to wing for one of the stretches. Biscayne Bay is one of our favorite places to be on the water. Even when it is rough on the ocean a sailor can enjoy a good sail on the bay.

The winds are still bowing tonight but we have managed some protection in Tarpon Basin. We are the only boat at anchor here tonight. The last time we anchored here to escape a storm there were several of us. The sunset in the picture was what we were treated to tonight here at anchor.

Tomorrow we will be in Marathon after a long day of travel. We are hoping for some sailing again tomorrow and a good nights rest tonight.

More Tornado Warnings!

Day 31! Today started out early as usual. We have certainly gotten into a pattern here. Up with the rooster and to bed with the chickens. Hopefully we will recover when we arrive in Marathon.

You can tell by the photo taken as we started out this morning that the sky is very threatening. That was just the beginning of the building thunder clouds. The sun did peak out for a few minutes to never be seen again today. Tornado warnings kept flashing across our weather screen for Northern Florida and Southern Georgia. We could see heavy precipitation coming our way but by the time it reached us it fell apart and we got a slight rinsing. It was enough to wash off the salt that had accumulated over the past few days.

We arrived at our first bridge this morning and were made to wait even though it was on request. Then our next bridge made us wait for the boat behind us. We were patient but hopefully this wasn't going to be the norm for us today. The wind was 15 to 20 knots gusting to 30 and on our nose and the tidal current was against us. It was a slow go but fortunately we didn't have to wait at many more of the bridges. We arrived at the fourth bridge from the end of our days journey and had a half mile to the next and our engine alarm came on. Larry quickly went below decks to see what was causing it to over heat. I had to keep us in the narrow channel with the wind and current giving us a push. Our enclosure acts like a sail and I hove to and it kept us pretty much in the same spot. You read how to do certain tactics but until you actually have to implement them you don't know for sure if you can do them right. Larry cleared what ever the problem was and we were on our way. The next bridge was on a schedule and we actually made it on time.

With all that said we didn't get to Boca Roton to anchor in Lake Boca. We stopped short of there at Pelican Harbor. It is a man made harbor just west of the ICW. We along with one other boat are safely at anchor here. The wind is still blowing but we have good protection and it should be a little quieter than last night.

Our goal tomorrow is to get to Miami. The wind will be behind us and hopefully the current with us. We have never taken the ICW route all the way to Miami. We have to plan to be at the South end at low tide so we can pass under the 56 foot bridge and still keep our mast in tact. We need 57 feet and low tide will give us the extra.

St. Augustine To Vero Beach!

Day 25! We left very early this morning and traveled to an anchorage below St. Augustine. We made very good time and decided to pass though the Bridge of Lyons to get a head start on the next days journey. The anchorage on the South side of St. Augustine was crowded so we went about five miles beyond. We were one of about four boats and it was quiet with no road traffic noise. Our original plan was to go outside but the we were concerned with enough daylight hours. It takes time to go out to the ocean and back in from the ocean. Not going out gave us more travel hours to cover more distance.



Day 26! Today we left again, very early, most days it's at first light. We have had current with us for two days now. A break for us. It allows us to arrive early in the afternoon get our hook set and relax before sunset. We anchored at our usual place below Daytona Beach. There were several boats already anchored and several that came in after us. Locals also leave their boats at anchor here so it's always quite full.

















Day 27! We took our time this morning we were going a short distance to New Smyrna Beach to the city marina. I had contacted my Aunt Dot who lives near by and she was available to visit. I had also contacted our friend Charlie. He and his friend Lisa stopped by for a visit around noon. They had planned to anchor out in their boat and watch the boat parade that evening. We didn't get to spend much time with them but maybe on the return trip we will stay longer.



My Aunt arrived around 1PM and we made a trip to the store for provisions for dinner and the week. We got chatting and forgot the time and the fact that their was also a street parade around 4 PM. When we arrived back we had to con someone to let us down the street to the marina. We were also lucky that someone had saved a parking spot for a friend that didn't show up. They probably were also late but weren't successful at a con. After we unloaded the car we sat in the open hatch to watch the parade. We waited and waited but it took them a long time to appear. They started on the beach side of the ICW and came across the bridge, which is quite a hike. I know, I have done it many times. We had a great time and a wonderful dinner. I'll look forward to catching up with my Aunt and Charlie on the return trip. The photo is of one of the many floats in the parade.



Day 28! We woke early to start our day. It's always fun getting off the dock with all the lines and electric cord. Not to mention the wind that always seems to be blowing the wrong way. We got out and off to a good start with the wind and waves following us we put out our jib sail and we trucking along at 7 knots. We were delighted because we were sure the current would hold us up. We got to Cocoa Beach and decided to call it a day. We pulled in dropped our hook and decided not to even go to shore. There were several boats already at anchor and several that joined us later. It was a quiet night as we sat in the cockpit and watched the sunset. It is amazing how cool it gets shortly after sunset, so we retreated to below decks for an early night.


Day 29! We woke early again and started our day. We had planned to go to Fort Pierce but we are getting very tired and decided to cut it short and go into Vero Beach take a mooring ball and call our friends Greti and Richard. They were home but Richard had to work to night. We wanted to get together with them so we decided we would stay another night. We met Richard and Greti in Deltaville, they were one of the couples we spent our Wednesday night pot lucks with. It will be good to see them.

In Vero Beach the norm is to be rafted up with two other boats on a mooring ball. When we arrived we needed to fuel so we went to the dock took on diesel and water, then out to our mooring. When we arrived at the ball two other boats were already tied up. The one had a dinghy step along side and wasn't home so rafting to him was not an option. The second boat had a dinghy along side but was home. I called out and the owner came above and moved the dinghy and assisted us in rafting. Once we were secure we mounted the motor on the dinghy and went to shore. It was good to take a walk. With all the anchoring and not going to shore you tend to get a little stiff. Old age doesn't help either. We walked to the ocean to see how it looked. It was calm but windy out there and I didn't last long because I was getting cold. We walked back and took a hot shower at the marina before going back to our boat.

Day 30! We got to shore by 9 AM this morning to meet Greti. She was going shopping for groceries and Larry and I joined her. Larry went to West Marine for some maintenance supplies and to a hardware store for a replacement spring for our pelican hook on the stern lifeline. We have looked in many a town for a spring but were unsuccessful until now.

After shopping, we returned to the boat and put our food away. We did a few jobs and then rode the dinghy to the Riverside Cafe for lunch. We never seem to get tired of looking out over the water so we took a dock side seat and enjoyed a lite lunch.

After relaxing on the boat for the afternoon we went to shore and had a shower and met Richard at the marina. He and Greti had invited us to dinner. We had a wonderful time, it was great to get together with them. Even though it's only been since mid October since we last saw them it seems like a lifetime ago. I think we have been on the water too long. Places and days are starting to run together and we are having a hard time knowing what day it is. I wonder what we would be like in an Atlantic crossing. Probably dazed by the time we arrived. After all we have been out for a month now. It has been fun taking our time, with the help of poor weather conditions, getting the opportunity to visit with family and friends as we travel.

Day 31! This morning it was easy getting off our mooring. The winds were light but will build during the day. They predict winds to gale force on the ocean, late today and tomorrow. We are trying to decide weather we want to sit it out up in Stuart or keep going. We are on the ICW but the waves and wind have already started to build. I've seen 22 knots and the waves are breaking over the bow, so much for the fresh rinse from the rain last night. We would have liked to make it to Lake Worth today but with the current against us and the wind on our nose that will be impossible to make before dark.

We finally got a call back from the marina and mooring field in Stuart and they are still closed for renovations. Our decision has been made for us we will continue on to an anchorage about ten miles North of Lake Worth.

We arrived at our anchorage about 4 PM. It's protected here from the strong winds and has very little chop in the water. We set the hook with two other boats and a third joined us about an hour after we arrived. It looks like it will be a quiet night. Tomorrow we will travel to Lake Boca and will have had 18 bridge openings. It would be easier on the outside if the weather would only cooperate. Even though the bridges make for a long tiring day it's nice to have the choice when the weather gets rough in the ocean.

Rain and Tornado Warnings!

Day 21! We left our anchorage very early. We had a long day a head of us and the weather was miserable. It rained and was difficult to see though it. Tornado warnings kept flashing across our weather station and we were anxious to get to our destination. the day before a boat had gone aground in our first inlet, real comforting. Today we passed by a boat on it's side as it had gone aground and the tide was going out. All this made us even more anxious.

Our plan was to anchor at Cumberland Island but with the weather warnings and wind speed we attempted to get on a mooring ball at Fernandina Beach. Everyone else had the same idea so we had no luck and had to go to anchor.

The wind made for chop in the anchorage and Mike had to take Skipper to shore but we both decided to stay put on our own boats. It was a very damp windy evening.















Day 22! This morning the wind was still howling and getting stronger. We had planned to go to shore and join in the tour of ruins on the Island. We had taken the tour on our last stay at Cumberland but Mike and Diane had not. After a wet ride to shore, we crossed over to the ocean side and got a break from the wind. Diane took this picture of me, Larry and Mike on the boardwalk to the beach. Larry is the brave or crazy one, depending on your view, in shorts. If you could get out of the wind the sun was quite pleasant. After a walk on the beach we joined the ranger for the tour.




















This is Skipper standing on the road. The Live Oaks make for a beautiful picture as they canopy the road.
















We were treated to sitings of many of the wild animals that live on the Island. In this picture is one of the heard of deer we saw in the woods. They are very tiny, not what we are used to seeing in NY. The food supply hear is low calorie, low fat, no farmers corn fields.















These are a few of the many horses that roam the island. They have very distended bellies due to the brackish water they drink in the marshes.

We saw several armadillos foraging for food. This little guy all but posed for us as we took his picture. The animals here are cautious but don't seem to be afraid of people.

Latter that evening we got together on our boat to watch the sun set and the planets as they aligned in the sky. This night was to be the closest together they would be and the sky was clear and they were bright. What a treat. I took a picture but the planets are so tiny I didn't think they would show up on the screen. The picture at sunset is of Express Mail, Diane and Mikes boat. You can tell by the water the wind finally stopped blowing.

Day 23! This morning we woke to sun shine and the wind was just beginning to build. We left anchor around 9:30 AM, it felt good to take our time. We traveled all of five miles to Fernandina Beach. We had made a reservation for a mooring ball for two days.

After we arrived we fueled up at the dock and went out to tie to our mooring. Mike and Diane arrived shortly after us and we all went into town to browse the shops and go to lunch. The plan was to go to the pizza shop but they didn't open until 4 PM. We went to Cafe Karibo instead and had a very good lunch. After a shower at the marina we headed out to Mike and Diane's for a cocktail, then home for the evening.

Day 24! We woke early this morning and Larry gathered the laundry and went to shore. It was a treat for me not to do the laundry this time. He returned and we had breakfast and relaxed on the boat. Diane and Mike went to shore a little later to do laundry and when they return we will all go to shore and go back into town. This time we will go to the pizza place for dinner. Tomorrow our plan is to go to St. Augustine via the ocean side. The weather is to be calm winds of 5 to 10 knots and waves less than 2 feet. Mike and Diane will be going to Jacksonville, where they will stay until after the Holiday. They plan to drive back to NJ. We'll look forward to when we meet up again.