Moving On

We will be leaving Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow and head for Sunset Harbor in Miami.  Saturday weather still looks like it might be okay for a crossing.  We enjoyed the night life at the beach in Ft. Lauderdale last night - but it isn't something you can afford to do often.  Beers $5.00; liquor $10.00.  Not much drinking went on, but the music was great in Pirates Bar. 

Tonight we will dine aboard the Tiaga, a 44 ft. catamaran.  Should be fun just to get the tour.

When you see Bill again, don't forget to ask him about the paper towel conflict - much better story when he tells it. 

All is well with us and we are anxious now to move on.

Ft. Lauderdale

Preparing for the Crossing

We have supplied and have the boat ready.  We are planning to sail down the ICW to Key Biscayne and anchor in No Name Harbor until we have a weather window to cross - perhaps Saturday.  We've never seen that part of Florida and the crossing mile-wise is almost the same as from Miami's Government Cut.  The plan was to head to Key Biscayne today, but the wind has blown up the waters and thunderstorms are predicted.  It is becoming hard for us to have so much down time. 

Finally Ft. Lauderdale!

Yes, we pushed through the bridges from Stuart to Lantana, Florida on Tuesday; anchored off Lantana Tuesday evening and then did the final push through the dozen or so bridges on Wednesday.  The bridges are all scheduled to open at specific times: one and half hour; quarter hour; or 20 min. intervals.  Sometimes you can fire up the engine and make the next opening.  Sometimes you end up dancing around in circles in front of the bridge for 30 or 40 minutes waiting for the opening.  And there are just SO MANY bridges.  We are in Los Olas Marina now doing all the things that need to be done before we cross the Gulf Stream to the islands.  We have had weather in the high 70's and 80's with warm nights and a few showers.  Finally Florida! 

Bill celebrated his 71st birthday yesterday.  His comment is who knew we could have such an exciting life at 71 years! 

So now it is do all the necessities and wait for the weather to cross:  a window with no North winds involved.

Skipper, the Bahamian Wonder Dog Returns

He is really cute, even though he is a red head.

Skipper Aboard

Friday, January 14
Yes, we are still parked on a mooring here in Stuart, and we plan to be here until Monday.  The weather turned very cold and windy with small craft warnings up and the cautious sailors that we have become decided to hang here.  The weekend will be busy on the waterway with motor boats, so Monday will be the calmer day.  We face the many, many bridges with designated opening times on the rest of our trip.

Skipper, the Bahamian Wonder Dog, is aboard Snow Goose today while his owners attend the boat show.  That is a big deal here this weekend.  We will take it in another day. 

Stuart Mooring Field