West Palm Beach to Miami

My dad has been chastising me for not posting soon. We have not had a good internet signal and our boat battery has been too low to charge our computer... our apologies.

(Expensive houses in Fort Lauderdale.. McMansions)

So after a few days resting up in Palm Beach we decided to head south. So back on the ICW we went. I wanted to sail on the outside but my dad was not sure about the inlet we hoped to come in, so we took the inside route. This means that we would have to go through 26 bridges! Almost all of them are either on the hour and half hour or quarter past the hour and quarter to the hour. Needless to say that we had two long days of trying to catch bridges or waiting for them. We went during the week and were lucky because there was not too much boat traffic other than a few power boaters and some sailboats. We passed through Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and the northern part of Miami. Both days were quite warm and the wind was calm. We did see a couple of manatees along the way, but we were not close enough to get a picture. Going through Fort Lauderdale was probable the richest area we have seen. The mansions were so big, some even having their own statue and each house has their own boat of course. The water has changed into the most beautiful aqua colour. It looks so inviting, but still cold when we dip our toes in.

(Miami Skyline)

We anchored off Miami beach in a protected little lake surrounded by million dollar homes. We wanted a protected spot for the cold front coming through. There were a few other boats but lots of room to anchor. We were having breakfast when a couple from Whitby, Ontario came over to tell us where to go ashore and to give us a warning. The house that we were near was known to detest cruisers and does not like them anchoring in front of his house. They warned us that he will play rap music very loud to deter us. So around 11am the music started. Sal and I actually liked the music!! We went about our day and ashore to Miami beach. We walked down the trendy Lincoln Street with all the shops and outdoor restaurants. We walked down to the beach and tested out the water… too cold! Anyway, when we got back to the boat, we were minding our business when this crazy guy starts swearing at us and telling us to go back to where we bleep bleeping came from!! I was quite afraid, but Sal wanted to stand our ground so we decided that we’d stay the night and then move in the morning. So we went over to Chautauqua for dinner and discussed this madness!! When we got back to the boat, this crazy man was shining his spotlight on our boat and threatened that we would have this spotlight on us all night! Well because the wind was blowing and the current flowing through the anchorage, it’s impossible to keep a spotlight on a moving boat, so we weren’t too bothered but the NERVE! Anyways we moved in the morning before things got out of hand, and we knew we would never win with this crazy man.

(Miami Beach)

(Windy Afternoon as a cold front blew in)

We spent 3 nights in Sunset Lake before we headed out again. We motored past Miami on Sunday morning and it was so quiet and calm. We then entered the Florida Keys. The Biscayne Bay is shallow but it’s open. We finally got to put up our sails again and do some real sailing. We have spent the past two days sailing south and anchoring off deserted keys.

(Miami from the other side)

(First time Chautauqua has all the sails up)