3/17-3/27 Stuart to Vero Beach, FL

March 17-20
We met another IP 31 owner- Lynn and Keith on Otter.  They have been living abroad for 2 years!  We got together for dinner and both got some great ideas for our respective boats.  Lynn makes jewelry and I bought a few nautical bracelets.

On the hottest day of our trip- 90 degrees, we decided to play for the day.  We borrowed the marina bikes and took off for the county pool/water park.  It was 4 miles away and we map quested our destination.  We rode through strip malls with pawn shops and bail bondsmen storefronts on our beach cruisers!  We  reached the Sailfish Water Park and had a fun day. Swam laps in the large pool, then tried out Lazy River and the water slides!

One evening we had a big dolphin swim around our boat. Poor guy, he had only half a jagged fin.  Didn't seem to bother him…

March 21-27
Heading north, we motored up to Vero Beach, to the mooring field at the city marina.  The city has a free bus system, so we were able to ride the bus into town and re-provision.  There are also a couple of restaurants to dinghy to, and we did that with some fellow boaters here.  Ran into a couple we were moored next to in Boot Key Harbor, Marathon.
Walking to the beach one day, we came upon a very unique hotel- The Driftwood Resort.  Apparently it was built in the 1930's exclusively from cypress driftwood that was delivered beachfront. There were no plans, just the developer calling out instructions to the workers. So nothing is level or squared. Looks like someplace out of the old wild west! It is very popular, and we had lunch there, oceanside.

Weather is holding us up here- with a coldfront, thunderstorms, and north winds arriving today.

3/10-3/16 Coconut Grove to Stuart,FL

March 10
Said goodbye to Coconut Grove!

Looking down on Coconut Grove mooring field, Dinner Key marina in background

Started our journey through the drawbridges of southern Florida.

While waiting for the first bridge of the day, another Island Packet 31 pulled up behind us.  This was the first sister boat we had seen.  We called on the VHF radio and chitchatted all day, then got together when we anchored at Lake Boca Raton. Vince and Mary on Zen Zone are from New Jersey and had been in Key West.

March 11-12
Next we headed on to Lantana. Went by more mansions- they go on and on along the ICW!

Stayed an extra night in Lantana, explored the town (South Palm Beach) and walked to the beach.

A pelican came and landed on our boat.  He just watched us for a long time and we had a hard time encouraging him to move on!

March 13
Back onto the ICW, we travelled to Peck Lake anchorage, north of the Jupiter inlet.  The water is absolutely beautiful at this inlet!
At Peck Lake, we were anchored just over the dunes and could hear the ocean waves all night. We got up early, took the dinghy ashore and took a long walk on the deserted beach.

There were Portuguese Man of War on the beach and we have also seen some on the waters.

They look like colorful discarded plastic bottles floating and can grow quite large with very long tentacles underneath.  Unfortunately this is their season. We have heard the sting is very painful.  This is a dead one washed up onshore.

 

March 14-16
Decided to go to Stuart, which is a town off the St Lucie River.  Stuart is known as the capital of sailfish fishing.

This is where the Okeechobee Waterway will take you to the west coast of Florida.  It is also trawler territory, so we decide to have a look around. Stayed at Sunset Marina in their mooring field. They even have a cruisers bus that takes you out to the shopping areas.

We found a great Farmer's Market.  And celebrated Carol's birthday with a concert at the Riverfront Plaza with Jannelle and Random Play- fantastic!

Had a lovely dinner out for Carol's B-day and watched the sunset…

3/2-3/9 Coconut Grove

Feb 2-3
We left Pilot House Marina and sailed up Hawk Channel, went through Angelfish Creek cut, and then came into Biscayne Bay. Passed by the exclusive Ocean Reef Club- mansions complete with an airstrip for their jets.

We anchored overnight at Elliot/Sands Key area.

The water was beautiful, so clear you can see the anchor.  We donned snorkel, mask and fins and scrubbed the bottom of our dirty boat.

Met up with some friends we met previously from England (Hannya and David on Odyssey) at the anchorage.  Next morning we entered the beautiful Boca Chita Island anchorage to check it out - it is gorgeous!

Back to Miami...

Feb 4-9
We arrived Coconut Grove and were very lucky to get a mooring ball at The Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC).

Pepromenon at CGSC

 

CGSC is a yacht club that offers sailing lessons, racing, and use of their many sailboats. Two boats of friends from Rock Hall (Bill and Ken on Tamarak, Hayden and Radeen on Island Spirit)  were coincidentally here, so we had a fun reunion.
We took public transportation to South Beach and rented bikes to ride along the ocean pathway to South Pointe Park and explore the art deco district. Still amazes us to see the high heels at the beach!
Love those colorful lifeguard stands.  Even had an authentic Cuban sandwich.

Tried "stand up paddle boarding". It is not difficult, but our feet are always sore afterwards from gripping the board.  Saw manatees and a spotted eagle ray while coasting along in shallow water.

Our friends , Hayden and Radeen, took us back to South Beach to attend another "Wallcast" at The New World Symphony- Bach tonight. A little rain didn't deter us!

Live projection of symphony on outside wall - great sound too.

Feb 22- March 1 Key Largo to Key West and back to Key Largo

Feb 22- March 1

We did some more diving with Scuba Do.  Highlights included a sea turtle, spotted eel out swimming, and many schooling fish on the reef.

spot fin butterfly fish

spotted moray eel

cute porcupine fish

This is the largest and oldest living brain coral in the Florida Keys - estimated at over 3000 years old!

New friends, Connie and Mike invited us to sail their new boat (Skye, an Island Packet 350) from Key West up to Key Largo where they will permanently dock it at their new house.  So off we went! Got to check out the Key West Yacht Club, were treated to dinner on Higgs Beach, and stayed overnight in their beautiful Key West home in Paradise!

Headed out early Thurs morning, and had a very rough trip through the inlet out of Key West.  Bow was under breaking waves!  Fortunately it didn't last long and we had a great sail through Hawk's Channel up to Boot Key Harbor in Marathon.

Had a low flying fighter jet "wave" to us.  If you stand on the deck and wave, they will fly by and dip their wing to wave back! Took a swim and went out for burgers.  The Burdine burgers are awesome!

Up early and underway again Friday.  Calmer today, water was a lovely shade of aquamarine! Saw a turtle, eagle ray, flying fish, and arrived in Key Largo early afternoon. Celebrated the successful boat delivery with champagne!

We are now preparing for our next leg back up to Coconut Grove, Miami area on Monday 3/2.
Sadly our month in Pilot House Marina in Key Largo has flown by.  Goodbye to our boat buddy "Rufus", always hanging around our boat.