11 Feb
We are on the move again. I am done with the docs and we’re heading for the keys. Our first stop will be Lake Worth about 35 miles down the way. Our plan is to jump out into the ocean at the Lake Worth Inlet and run the coast until we get to the Port Everglades inlet (AKA Fort Lauderdale) an approximately 50 mile run. We do this to avoid the twenty draw bridges in that stretch of the Waterway. Each bridge has its own opening schedule so it is a nightmare for a slow moving boat like a sailboat.
13 Feb
Well we got to Lake Worth and spent a rough night here with winds out of the south which is the direction that LW opens to. We took off real early because we had a change of plans, since the weather refused to cooperate. Winds were to come out of the south at 20 kts with showers and T storms so the ocean route would have been rather unpleasant to say the least. SO----- it’s 20 bridges. With the GPS positions of each and that wonderful box they call a GPS we were able to regulate our speed up or down such that we would limit our waits at each bridge, but wait at many of them we did. All the time we were buffeted by southbound motor yachts being delivered to Miami for the upcoming Boat show. They were in a hurry and showed no mercy. It was particularly intense is a 30 mile stretch called the canyon where the waterway banks have been replaced with bulkheads so the wakes bounce back and forth creating a maelstrom. Hang on for your life my dear. This was in addition to the strong southerly winds we were plowing into. Then to top it all off we were subjected later in the day to intense squalls with driving rain and 35 kt winds. We were fortunate to be in the canals at this point because you could not see ahead and the only reference points were the canal sides—just stay equidistant between them. Our original plan was to anchor out in a place called Lake Santa Barbara but Terri convinced me of my folly and we booked a slip in the Sands Marina. In retrospect we probably should have stayed put in Lake Worth or even Stuart but……. Hind sight is always 20/20.
Now the Marina is another story. They had only one slip available and it was on the outside and entry would require moving perpendicular to the wind and current both of which were going in the same direction. Needless to say the first attempt nearly resulted in an insurance claim, which was averted by millimeters. We redeemed our pride somewhat on the second attempt with the help of the dockmaster and a guy off one of the potential insurance claims. We did however come up against the pilings which were covered with oysters in the shell. We managed to get some scratches in the paint (note to self---talk to Bob L about painting the hull). We did finally get fenders and a fender board to hold us off the pilings and oysters. Our next hurdle was to get a 5’ 2’ crew member (T) from the boat up and on to the 5 foot dock---it was dead low tide and the docks were of the fixed variety. No ladder.
That night we were thankful to be at a dock because the winds and rain was intense. I think both Terri and I slept more soundly. The next morning the forecast was more of same so we anted up for another night tied to the dock even though I was greeted with a beautiful rainbow when I woke up the dark clouds behind it portended of something less so.
15 Feb
We left the Sands marina and went to Hollywood, Fl where we connected up with my younger brother for dinner and talk. I haven’t seen him since his 60th birthday party some years ago. Good reunion. Then we were off for the long delayed trip to the keys, but first we had to negotiate the 4 or 5 bridges that we between us and Miami. We were not so lucky this time and we ended up waiting a great deal at each bridge, but get to Miami we did and anchored off of Miami Beach to do some heavy duty provisioning at a waterside grocery store. Very convenient. We made a tactical error by anchoring off an island called Star Island. Little did we know that it was this home port for some big name stars (Gloria Estafan, I think, for one) and the tour boats came by at regular intervals to show the tourists the homes of the stars (get a life people). Each time one can by we were rockin and rollin.
