11/16-11/27 2 weeks in Miami

Nov 16-27

We spent two weeks in Miami at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club.  Its a casual club with very friendly people. Some have their own boats, others share the club's boats.
It was very windy, day after day, so we were fortunate to be in this protected spot! And not out in the exposed Biscayne Bay!
Took some mornings to do some boat chores that were needed after our trip south. Scrubbing the deck, oiling teak below decks.

We toured Villa Vizcaya, a replica of an Italian villa built at the beginning of this century by a wealthy Chicago businessman. Very ornate!

Villa Vizcaya from Biscayne Bay waterfront

Barge out in front of the villa that served as a breakwater.  It was decorated with mermaids and  goddesses.

Inside in the parlor

In the gardens

Went to an authentic Cuban cuisine restaurant, Sergio's, for a delicious meal.

Hopped on a plane to North Carolina for a weekend!  We attended Bob's nephew's wedding.  Now Mr and Mrs David and Jaclyn Hartzell.

First dance as husband and wife- David and Jaclyn Hartzell

Great to have Lee and Brit join us!

Bob with his sister, Randee, brother, Rock and their mother

Back to Miami!
Had lunch with Joan and Haydn Samuel, our homeport marina neighbors.  They are retired from sailing now and we miss them! They were visiting their son here in "The Grove".

Watched some practice sail races.

And celebrated Thanksgiving with Carol's college friend, Joanne from California. Joanne's son and his wife live in South Beach and Joanne came to visit. Carol had spent Thanksgiving with Joanne exactly 40 years ago when Joanne invited Carol home to New Jersey as freshmen in college.

Carol and Joanne- friends since college

Joanne and her friend Greg

Walking around 

 South Beach for Thanksgiving! Joanne's condo overlooked the beach.

11/10-11/15 Welcome to Miami!

Nov 10-
From Vero Beach we travelled to Hobe Sound near Jupiter.  The inlets were beautiful with blue green water! We had a visitor alongside the boat for awhile early in the morning.

The weather was warm and we went for a swim after anchoring.

Nov 11
On to Lake Boca Raton. Mansions now line the ICW and keep us entertained.

Ft Lauderdale area

Lots of mega yachts!

At our anchorage, the water was so clear we could see the anchor resting on the bottom.  Then an eagle ray swam by!
Today we passed through 20 drawbridges.

Bob needed a nap after a stressful day of drawbridges!

Nov 12
More drawbridges! Very hot now, 90 degrees, which is unusual for November we are told. Made it to just north of Miami. Went for a swim again.

Floridians love to party on the sandbars!

A police boat came by and felt we were anchored too close to some mega mansions, so we moved a bit father out.

Nov 13
Into Miami!

We got lucky and rented a mooring ball at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club on Biscayne Bay.  The mooring field is very protected and is downtown Coconut Grove.
We immediately walked to our favorite grocery store, The Fresh Market and had some Cuban sandwiches cooked up.

Nov 14-15
Turns out it was members work weekend at "the club". What else did we have to do? So, we joined in.  Bob worked on building a wall, and Carol was assigned to sewing projects.  It ended up being a lot of fun and we met lots of local sailors!  Rain and thunderstorms off and on all weekend!

 

They fed us lunch and kept a keg running!

The painting crew

 We plan to stay here in Miami for 2 weeks.

11/3-11/10 Down the Florida coast

Henry Flagler's fancy hotel is now Flagler College

Nov 3-4
We pulled into the mooring field at St Augustine Municipal Marina for a 2 day stay. This is a party town and we enjoyed dining out at OC Whites, and A1A Brewery among others. We attended a Cruisers get together at Casa Maya on their lovely backyard porch. Walked around Flagler College which was previously Henry Flagler's very fancy hotel.  It is spectacular! Fountains and incredible tile and wood carvings.
We have started running into boaters we met along the way either on this trip or last year's trip.
Pepromenon has a new nickname- "Pep". Its too frustrating spelling this name to all the bridge operators!

Pepromenon moored in front of the fort downtown St Augustine

Bridge of Lions- The only drawbridge with a stoplight

Nov 5

Departed for New Smyrna Beach.  A 65 mile day. That's a long day going 5-6 knots. Mangroves now line the ICW.  And its getting hot! A bit too hot! We anchored at Ponce Inlet at Rockhouse Creek.  The anchorage has beautiful water since its an inlet.  There is a large breakwater that protects the anchorage.  We could hear waves all night long.

Nov 6

We travelled on to Dragon Point on the Indian River. Another 11 hour day. We grilled out and hit the sack early.

A pretty rainbow

Nov 7-9
On to Vero Beach, one of our favorite stops.  Mooring balls are very reasonable, the marina has a boater's lounge with TV, and the city runs a free bus system.  We had some boat parts sent here and Bob fixed the auto pilot and leaky head! We rode the bus to town for groceries, did laundry, got propane and enjoyed a little R and R at the beach. We ran into Hannya and David who we met on last year's trip.  They are from England and have been cruising for 22 years. We revisited Waldo's at the Driftwood Inn for an oceanside lunch with live music.

Free city bus picks you up at the marina

Bob's new "Miami shoes".  He picked them out himself!  Reminds me of the Miami Vice TV show. He may need a gold chain to go with them.

Our English friends, David and Hannya on Odyssey

10/28- 11/2 On through Georgia to Florida

Oct 28
We left Charleston and travelled through tricky Elliot Cut. Then on to anchor at Rock Creek. Anchorages in South Carolina and Georgia have high current and this causes the captain all kinds of stress through the night! There are very few marinas in this stretch.

Oct 29
From Rock Creek we travelled to Beaufort, SC, fueled up and had burgers at Luthers. Then on to Hilton Head Island and anchored at Skull Creek, another high current anchorage.  In the morning, Carol heard the distinctive sound dolphins make as they blow air out through their blowhole. Many dolphins were around the boat feeding in the early morning.

Oct 30
Today we arrived in Georgia!  Home of 8 foot tides! We anchored in Redbird Creek, a very desolate, but lovely spot. More dolphins along the banks. You see a lot of interesting things along the ICW each day.

Colorful shrimp boat

Pirate boat?

Cormorant drying its wings

Many military installations along the ICW have drills going on

Oct 31
Woke up to a beautiful Georgia dawn!

We travelled on to Hampton River. Spent the day along the very windy part of the ICW. Beautiful blue skies! We see so many dolphins in this area. They will swim along the side of the boat , but as soon as you get out the camera or step out onto the deck, they disappear! Very frustrating! Anchored in Hampton River.

Nov 1
Made it to Jekyll Island today and met up with some friends we met on last year's trip. Lynn and Keith White also have an Island Packet 31. Our marina had bicycles and Jekyll has 20 miles of bike paths to ride.

Then we took a dip in the pool. Walked around the famous Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Had a nice dinner at Lattitude 31.

Nov 2
From Jekyll, we entered into Florida!
Passed by Kings Bay Submarine Base. Tight security with patrol boats around.

Had a lot of trouble anchoring in Fort George.  Wind against current creates trouble.
This trip has been wonderful this year due to our boat running well and great weather.
However, it is a lot of work! Every night after dinner we need to go over weather and mileage plans for  the next day's anchorage or marina.
We made it back to Florida!