Thursday 2/28/13
This morning we left Lake Worth early. The decision was easy as we were all awake after a night of 20 knot winds and a minus low tide.

Good bye Lake Worth

You see Wednesday we stayed in the lake and we were anchored in shallow water (enough we actually grounded) from the night before when we arrived after dark. We decided to pull anchor and move to deeper water  for the night. Which we did about 7pm.  Once newly anchored we felt better but mother nature decided to blow thru the night (20+ knots) and the anchor did not hold (we drug it 60 feet) and at low tide (3am) we hit bottom. Bob spent the rest of the night up watching to be sure we did not drift further into the shallows as the tide came in and the wind continued to blow. At 6 when we were all up (after a fitful 3 hrs listening and coming to at every noise) the boat was floating and the wind was still blowing and we said enough!  We made ready, pulled anchor, and slowly ever so slowly pulled away from the shallows and headed south.

Now for the days travels.  First we came across some light industrial & shipping. Lake Worth has a good inlet to the ocean.

Cargo container ship

New mega yachts being built

house moving FL style

Congestion on the ICW was rampant. Lots of little towns. Lots of bridges. Lots of other boaters waiting with us for bridge openings. One after another, after another, after another.  We got to know the other boats in line with us by name. We (and they) hailing bridges for each other as we tried to make and not miss the next opening of the next bridge.
But the houses, nay the mansions, we saw today were astounding, beautiful, opulant, just down right HUGE.

Nice, corner lot

Pool & Palms

Must be the White's house

MINE

Lots of NEW construction as well

Lets not forget the condos and resorts:

Finally we docked a bit early at the Light House Marina and Racket Club, Miami, FL for the night.  We all need a long, quiet, sleep filled night!

Bird bathing in the pool

Flowers in the yard

Matt bathing in the pool

Wednesday 2/27/13

Today we spent anchored in Lake Worth, Palm Beach, FL. We are watching to see when the winds and waves will be right for our crossing of the gulf stream.  The gulf stream (like a river in the ocean) water moves at a steady 2.5 knots moving north. You do not cross when the wind is coming from the north, NE, NW because it blows against the current and creates bigger waves, closer-together.  So . . . the weather forecasts show 5 to 10 knot winds from the north for the next few days.  We decided today to pick up anchor tomorrow and head further south on the ICW  for more sight seeing and watch the weather for an opening.

Tuesday 2/26/13
Today we left Ft. Pierce, FL and continued out southward trip on the ICW. Our destination is West Palm Beach where there is a good ocean inlet to head out to sea and the Bahamas.

Every morning Bob charts the day and checks the fluid levels.

Fluids check, engine room

local, checking us out

Charting the day, pre-shower

Today we stopped to get fuel (540 gal) which took an hour and then we were off again. We also encountered several bridges. Some with 25 ft clearance and we had to wait for their scheduled openings (once each 1/2 hour) sometime for 10 minutes once for 23.  Other bridges had a 35 ft clearance and we thought we were 36 off the water. But after getting scolded by a bridge tender we made open for us we slowly moved under the next and had apx 18 inches clearance.

Florida State Park

Under development: ATV (see the wheels) jet ski
that can go 60 mph land, 40 water

High rise condos on the ocean

As we approached Palm Beach we saw more amazing properties along the ICW.  We also noticed lots of new development.

Lions, FL light house

Sorry no pictures of us anchoring. By the time we got to Lake Worth is was dark (an hour after sunset) and we had to use our new ultra beam light to even see the channel markers. Just another adventure along the way. Another day another adventure another success.

Saturday 2/23/13
We left Hammock Beach Resort to Daytona, FL. This will be a short day but one filled with bridges.

The only one we have seen so far

Last view of the resort

Bob was correct we did traverse under 7 bridges today the three above required a request to open. When Bob called the marina to make sure a spot was available we were reminded the Daytona 500 was on Sunday and there was no dock space.  But wait a mega yacht was leaving and we would have a spot.  Once docked we found ourselves surrounded by 100+ footers. All here for the race and owned by sponsors.

Even the M&M candies had a yacht

Another marina friend looking for a  hand out

Sunday 2/24/13

We left Daytona and again headed south.  Today with no required stop we are going as far as we can. The sights are much the same. Big houses with new docks next to older small houses and broken down docks.

Finally blue ocean water (better in person)

one sided lift bridge

advertising in the sky

One thing we are seeing a lot of are developments with water alleys for boats.

Notice the blue lines to the right

Here is what is we see

More alley parking

We spent the night on the hook right near Cape Canaveral. We traveled 74 miles today. When boaters talk about "swinging on the hook" when anchored below gives you an idea of what they mean. The green track is our position during the night as we were swinging on the hook.

Monday 2/25/13

Today we pulled the anchor at 7:37 am and headed south. Today will be another long day. We did some speed testing as the ARRLUK needs to do 9 knots in the Panama Canal. We confirmed she can do it. We also pushed the engines today at 1800 rpm and a steady 7 kts. Not much to look at that was different as we spent most of the day on the Indian River wide and straight.

Kite flying and a sand shole

Advertising on the ICW

More advertising

More BIG houses

Today we got another 80 miles and ended the day in Ft. Pierce, FL

Beautiful sky. Red sky  at night, sailors delight!

Friday Feb 22

As planned we departed Jacksonville Beach and headed south.  Our next stop, Hammond Beach Resort. Today we were underway seven hours and covered 49 miles.  Everything went smoothly and Alex, Matt and Ray now have jobs to do when docking.  Each day they get better and each day docking gets smoother.

We had more traffic on the ICW. Mostly fishermen but also more vessels traveling the waterway. There are more houses and people the farther south we go. Here are my picks of the unique & interesting

completely screened in back porch, pool, up to the second floor.

Condos equipped with boat (not car) parking

Most unique dock/house?

A bit of southern pride

Find the fish . . . 

Along the way we passed St. Augustine, FL. It was founded in 1565 as a Spanish military outpost. It is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States.

Castillo de San Marcos built in 1672, St. Augustine

St. Augustine, FL

St. Augustine, FL

Lions Gate Bridge, St. Augustine

Today it was nice enough to get some sun, clean the decks, and explore the resort before hitting the rack 

Beautiful day on the ICW

Kathy & Matt cleaning the deck

Daytona 500 cars at the resort

Daytona 500 car

The resort hotel

Tomorrow will be a short trip to Daytona (25 ish miles) to meet some friends and maybe BBQ a steak or two.