2014-May 18 to June 13 - South on the ICW to Ft. Lauderdale & Summerland Key

We left Titusville on 5/18. Still too rough to go "outside". It's interesting traveling the ICW with binoculars at hand...but it's also a pain in the butt with all the low bridges that have to open for us.  Many are only 14' to 21' - we need 28' height.

 Kennedy Space - NASA - Assembly building

There was a scheduled launch for Saturday,but it was cancelled. We looked out & saw this ?? Probably military?

 Unidentified launch ?

Eclectic B & B

 

Haulover Cut & Bridge - a great place to fish with a small boat

We're really taking our time getting to Lauderdale by the 27th. Wayne decided to stay at Cooley's Landing for the week that I'll be in Philly. Dangerous territory with all those beautiful women roaming freely.
 We anchored 2 nights near Melbourne; On the 20th, we anchored by Jensen Beach/Stewart.

Except for a brief rain shower yesterday, the weather has been perfect - sunny, warm in the sun - cool in the shade. Anchor up at noon on the 21st. An hour & a half later brought us to Lake Peck-Jupiter Island. We like it here except for the monster Sea Rays (a type of boat, that is) passing by the anchorage at 100 mph! Dinghy in & to the beach. Alas, no bait to be found. Short walk to the beautiful Jupiter Beach.

Jack is still barking at the waves except these were big waves & he got caught in a few...shook him up-it was pretty funny. 

Talk about a work in progress - shocked she was still afloat

 We've been chatting with Judy & Dick, a lovely couple we met on the river boat in Europe - our friendship stuck. They live in Boynton Beach & we wanted to hook up somewhere along the way. I used the amazing Google search & found a restaurant/bar/live music on the ICW in Lantana called "Old Key Lime House". The placed was packed for a Thursday night (5/22)

Please forgive all the pictures of this place but it was so eclectic, warm, interesting & inviting. Apparently, it had been totally trashed from Wilma.
The following few 'signs' were in the Lady's room - loved them!

It was great to see Judy & Dick again.  We were dinner-mates almost every night & toured together as well.

Judy, W & W & Dick Weiss

 



I wish there had been an explanation about this picture that was in the ladies room ??

A very pleasant night sleeping as we were anchored in a no wake zone. We dreaded the next portion of the trip as there were 7 bridges that had to open for us. The bridge tenders have an "I've got the power" thing going on - several never even responded when we called for an opening. Wayne was going to blow our horns & put the microphone next to them. I strongly advised against it because word of that action would travel to every bridge tender quicker than the Coconut Telegraph.

EVERYONE waits

We wanted to cruise out in the ocean to avoid the almost 30 bridges to Lauderdale but the Boynton Beach inlet was way too 'iffy' to navigate so we continued south on the ICW to Boca Raton. After being delayed by the bridge openings, we decided to anchor in Lake Boca Raton, (5/23) which doesn't look like a lake but simply a wide part of the ICW. We were so excited to see that the water was crystal clear! - We haven't seen clear water in almost a year...YIPPE, we're almost home. Half the 'lake' is shallow & had many small boats anchored  with people playing in the water; the other half was 8-10'. We debated if we should just go outside & head for Lauderdale. We calculated about 42 miles to Lake Sylvia, a real lake in Lauderdale, which would take us 6-7 hours. It was mid-afternoon - too late to go plus the water looked so inviting, we anchored. Wayne had his swim suit on in a flash & into the water he went...both pups too.  I was so relaxed, sitting on the swim platform with my feet in the water, I didn't take any pictures.

 

Lake Boca Raton & the inlet (another bridge) to the ocean

Finally, going out to sea

Once past the inlet currents, it was a rather nice cruise to Lauderdale...After only 3 hours, the charts showed Lauderdale?? But we didn't see the ever-present, red & white smoke stacks that were located in Port Everglades...how could that be?...We checked the chart again. it was supposed to take us 7 hours!!  Obviously we mis-calculated...but we were happy to be here sooner than we expected. 

Yup...It's Port Everglades alright!

Back in civilization - Royal Caribbean- the monster ship-Oasis of the Seas

Lake Sylvia is a smallish lake in the heart of Lauderdale surrounded by multi-million dollar homes.We anchored at 1030 & the place was already hoppin' with boats of all sizes here to play on the holiday weekend. (we forgot it was Memorial Day weekend)

Ever since the boat was painted, Wayne has been fussin' & cleaning her.

Never ending cleaning

The picture below shows how we tie off the dinghy. This amazingly simple, cost effective & efficient design was concocted while Wayne & Tom Holland were sitting on the fly bridge during happy hour in the Exumas several years ago...we use an old fishing pole.

How we tie up the dinghy so it doesn't hit the boat

On the 27th, we cruised down the New River & docked at Cooley's Landing, one of Lauderdale's City Marinas.

Cooley's Landing Marina on the New River, Ft Lauderdale

I flew to Philly on the 28th. It was a wild & fun week reuniting with friends & family...the wedding was fabulous.

My cousin, Sue - her daughter & the bride, Loni

 

Cousins from my dad's side - on either side of me, Chippy & Tom; their spouses, Paul & Suzette

 

 

Friends & cousins: Dean & Sue; Paul & Carol; Loni & Ryan (the groom) David & Hailey

I got 'home' on the 4th & was pleased to be taken out to dinner at the Downtowner on the river.

The Downtowner - a favorite watering hole

 The next afternoon, Laurel arrived from Green Cove Spgs to cruise back to the Keys with us.  After some running some errands, we left the dock & anchored in Lake Sylvia. A swim, happy hour, dinner & dominoes topped off the day.

3rd Ave. Bridge on the New River

Anchor up at 1030 - fueled up-headed south on the outside. Passed by the remains of Stiltsville. You can read about it in Carl Hiassan's great novels.

 

Key Biscayne Lighthouse

Anchored by Elliott Key in Biscayne Bay.  This is the Turkey Point Nuclear facility on the Bay.

Turkey Point on Biscayne Bay

Same procedure, swim, drinks, dinner &, tonight, a movie - Mamma Mia. Anchor up at 0815 - went through Caesar's cut to the outside. FINALLY, I got to fish & caught a Mackeral for dinner- that's because I had taken something out of the freezer for dinner - works (almost) everytime. We anchored that night near Channel 5 in Long Key. It was dead calm (gotta see that movie) & gorgeous .Yummy fresh fish & dominoes.

It was still dead calm & very hot when we pulled the anchor at 1000.  Staying on the outside, we considered stopping to snorkel John Pennekamp- continued on to the sand bar at Holiday Isle in Islamorada-always a good time. Cruised into the channel but no space to anchor. Crap! we really wanted to stop & get into the water...We finally took a mooring ball at Sombrero Lighthouse south of Marathon.  It was incredibly clear & calm & the water temp. was perfect.

Sombrero Lighthouse

I took these pictures from the boat!

Laurel

Our rudder & protected prop

Again, taken from the boat looking straight down - interesting pic don't you think?

We anchored at Molases Key, a tiny island next to the 7 mile bridge (I love when the tourists ask "how long is the 7-mile bridge- duh!).

Sun setting on the 7 mile bridge

Anchor up at 1000 & by 1230 we were anchored at Picnic Island in NewFound Harbor near the cottage. It was still hot but at least a gentle breeze prevailed. Laurel was in touch with the boat yard - problems deveoping from a newly, upgraded computer & Quick Books system. She felt guilty not being there to help. Sadly, she left 2 days ahead of schedule. 

Wayne & the pups on Picnic Island - our dinghy & a beached boat

We stayed anchored at Picnic Island for the next few days in hopes of getting to the cottage on a high tide. Pete & June are already at the cottage & Tom & Susan arrive on Sunday, the 15th. 

HOPE YOU STAY TUNED