South Florida - Miami area

We departed Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo under what seems to be constant sunny skies, and breezy conditions.  We planned to stop at a recommended snorkeling spot on the out reef, but by the time we got there concluded it was too rough to hang on the mooring buoy, with 3 to 4 foot seas.  We continued north and inshore, headed for Biscayne Bay, and the water well inside the reef calmed significantly.  We were passing by a shoal area and that was marked with a wreck, and mooring buoys, so decided to stop there for a swim and lunch.  The snorkeling yielded lots of fish, but the wreck was on the south side and a fair swim from the boat.  I wasn't comfortable leaving the boat, on the windward side of the rocks for long, so we didn't see the wreck.

We continued north up Hawk Channel and then crossed into the Bay-side at Adams Key.  Another narrow channel, with a shoaling entrance, but much calmer on the Biscayne Bay side. Anchored for the night with a number of other boats in shallow, clear water and got another swim in, which also doubles for checking the anchor set.  Also gave me a good chance to look at the hull, and we have certainly sanded the bottom paint off of the bottom of the keel from touching the sand in the shallows in the Keys, which seemingly are impossible to miss.

Awoke to still fresh SE breeze, and got underway about 0900 for the run to Miami.  This marks the start of real civilization for us after a month in the Keys.  Miami is what you would expect.  Very busy commercial harbor, lots of pleasure boats, numerous super-yachts to gawk at, tall buildings and extravagant homes lining the ICW, a narrow channel to follow, and lots of bridges to navigate.






From the time we entered Miami harbor, until our destination in north Miami, we went thru 7 bridges, of which 3 we had to wait for to open.  A bit of a learning experience for protocol for bridge tender contact and boat procession whether Southbound or Northbound.










We stopped for 2 nights at a city park, Bill Bird marina in Haulover Park, with a beautiful Art Deco style dockmaster building.

The park also provided a short walk to the Atlantic side beach, which we made use of to sit and enjoy the scenery, but very windy and too rough to swim.  Also made use of the local Publix for a provisioning run, and some boat cleanup after the salty run up from Key Largo.









Headed north from Miami for a ~25 mile run to Lighthouse Point, which is roughly halfway between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

Fort Lauderdale is known as the yacht capital of the world, and it certainly shows it. Super-yachts galore, including one being delivered from an ocean transit.

This run included 10? bridges, of which 7 required waiting for openings.  Fortunately, the openings are timed so that if one travels at about 6.5 knots, there is little or no waiting time.  At that speed, the scenery can be enjoyed to the fullest. Although one does get a bit jaded at looking at the yachts and spectacular homes, which dont stand out unless they are at least 10,000 sq feet.

Arrived at the Lighthouse Point yacht club at about 3pm, and after docking successfully again in an awkward stern-to arrangement, (Judy's deckhand skills are helping me look good), enjoyed the rest of the afternoon at the wonderful pool.

Tomorrow will be a leisure day as we await Tristan's arrival and some sight-seeing this weekend.