Ft Lauderdale to Marathon

Left Ft Lauderdale and the landmark four stacks used by mariners to identify  Port Everglade from a distance.  These distinctive towers are scheduled to be significantly shortened within the next 18 months.  

 It’s always great catching up with old friends and making new ones.   Met with Joy & Walt from CA in Ft Lauderdale,   Sharon & Kevin from MD in Dinner Key and Gary & DeLynn from AR in Marathon.   

Sailing and motor boats are in abundance near Miami. 

 The anchorage at No Name Harbor was a bit crowded on the weekend but by nightfall only the sailing vessels remained.  

Bill Bagg’s State Park is located at No Name Harbor and it’s beach  is ranked ten of top ten beaches in the US.  The Park is named for Bill Bagg, former editor of Miami News,  who petitioned  Federal and State officials to purchase the land for preservation.   This land has an interesting history from Ponce deLeon’s Cape of Florida in 1513 to the dedication of the new park in 1967. 

As we left No Name Harbor we passed a 1950 community known as Stilltsville.

 From Biscayne Bay we sailed south to Rodriguez Key near Key Largo.  Key Largo labels itself the “diving capital of the world” and has one of three Italian made, Christ of the Abyss statues from the original mold. 

After leaving our Rodriguez Key anchorage in no wind,  we motored to Marathon Key.   Marathon was given the name by Flagler’s Seven Mile Bridge railroad construction worker’s who considered the hectic work pace  to be a marathon.  This bridge was an engineering marvel of the time with supports driven into coral and the project completed in four years.    Some of the original rail worker’s homes are preserved on Pigeon Key.  What remains of the seven mile bridge is open to pedestrians and funds are being raised to maintain the bridge. 

The City Marina has few slips but over 200 mooring balls.  This lovely town caters to cruisers and many come and make Marathon home.  Each morning begins with a very organized and fun Cruiser’s Net.  This daily radio chat allows fellow boaters to acknowledge arrivals, departures, questions, needs and even some fun trivia. 

 Everything in Marathon is within easy biking distance.  Of course loading up the bikes in the dinghy can take some packing skills.

Great restaurants, dog friendly beaches and beautiful sunsets have made Marathon a place we will definitely return to.

This blog is geotagged.  By clicking the link below showing our location the satellite view gives an idea of the size mooring field at City Marina.

Ft Lauderdale St Patrick's Day

We didn’t go to the Miami Boat Show but we were able to help friends bring a couple of  power boats from the Show back to Ft Lauderdale.  We could get spoiled to cruising speeds of 20kts.  Here is a picture of Steve on the 55' while I  was on the 35'.

We’ve met our mooring ball sailing neighbors and had a few get togethers.  Couples from CA, MD, AK and Australia.  The Mooring Field is it’s own little community with evening serenades by a local bagpiper practicing for the St Patrick’s Parade.

We had a fun time at the St Patty’s Parade/Festival and Simon has made several new friends along the way...   must be his Irish Charm. 

With changing weather our plans remain "written in sand at low tide".    We would like to experience the Bahama’s in warmer less windy conditions than they have experienced so far this winter,  so we are changing course.  Plan to leave for Miami this week and slowly venture  to the Keys and up the SW coast of FL.    Hopefully crossing to the Bahamas early summer for more pleasant snorkeling weather.    Our phones and email service remain unchanged while in the US.

                                                 

May the road rise to meet you. 

May the wind be always at your back. 

May the sun shine warm upon your face. 

And rains fall soft upon your fields. 

And until we meet again, 

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY

Ft Lauderdale

After leaving Halifax Marina in Daytona it was a quick day trip to Titusville, FL where we docked at Titusville  City Marina.

Quaint community that time and NASA funding has forgotten.   Biked around town and located the local  bakery and parts store.  

Titusville  is reminiscent of late 60s or early 70s.  Had dinner with Dan & Sitome Russell and their boys.  Enjoyed Rock Shrimp and hush puppies, yummy.   

 We were in great position at the marina to watch the Atlas V rocket launch.   This was the first time for us to see a launch up close and it was magical.

After leaving Titusville we returned to what we enjoy most about boating, the quietness of anchoring and beautiful sunsets.  Our favorite anchorage was near Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge where the rhythmic sounds of the ocean waves lulled us to sleep. 

 Some areas were so shallow  fly fishermen stood on the edge of the channel.

 As we transited further south the bridges became more frequent.  Our  last full day in the ICW to Ft Lauderdale required timing 24 bridge openings.  Arrived after sunset  in Ft Lauderdale and anchored at Lake Sylvia until we could make arrangements for parts delivery.  With the parts lined up we moved to the Las Olas Marina Mooring Field and took the dinghy to shore.  

A lot of mega mansions and yachts in Ft Lauderdale.  We were docked near the Barnes & Noble yacht named BookEnds and we hear Steven Speilburg’s yacht Seven Seas is for sale.  If anyone is interested we have been told it is a good deal at $200 million.

Our son, Troy took a break from the snowstorm to come and visit us for a quick visit in 80 degree temperatures.    We all enjoyed the beach but we think Simon had the most fun with the wind on his nose.  Simon has also made a few new friends.

Biking  and walking has allowed us to see several of the fun spots in the area.  Ft Lauderdale has a temporary fish sculpture to welcome visitors in an effort to raise eco awareness.  The sculpture is made of  Styrofoam and used water bottles.

Friends who live in Ft Lauderdale were a big help in assisting us in locating  the correct parts and having the modifications made without utilizing a boat yard.   Thank you Dave, Don and Natalie!!  The shaft seems to be running more true and we await a weather window.    Hopefully will be crossing the Gulf Stream by end of month.  

St Augustine to Daytona Beach

Left Conch House Marina January 4^th in the midst of fog.  As we left Salt Run and entered the main channel the fog thickened and we had to drop anchor and wait for visibility to improve.  As the fog lingered we ate bananas and joked about the superstitions/bad luck that supposedly accompanies bananas on a boat.  Didn't think much of it until  our electric windlass used to lift the anchor failed to operate.  Steve got a work out lifting the chain and 50lb anchor off the bottom.   Maybe no more bananas on the boat.

 

We arrived  at St Augustine Boat Yard and the process of removing the old bottom paint and applying new paint began.

Steve completed a few additional boat projects, fixing the windlass and cleaning the transom coping.

In our free time we decided to take in some of the local sights.  Climbed the St Augustine Lighthouse and went to the Gator Park to zip line.

Enjoyed many nice sunsets.

Simon had time to meet new friends and play too.

 

We will miss St Augustine and all the lovely people  and plan to make a  return trip.

Arrived at Halifax Marina in Daytona and enjoyed the warm sunny weather along with a lovely dinner with family (son in law’s parents).   Stayed an extra day awaiting the local nut and bolt shop to open. While in transit from St Augustine to Daytona we discovered three of the four flange bolts on our starboard prop shaft had sheared off.    The nuts/bolts are now replaced and we have returned to having bananas on the boat.

Side note:  if anyone has recommendations on how to apply google earth plug-in to blogspot, please let me know.