Miami at last!

Yesterday we were finally able to get out into the Atlantic Ocean!  After a good night in Lake Sylvia we went out via Port Everglades along with a huge container ship.  The pictures don't do justice to the scene.....mega yachts, other sailboats, tugs pushing the boat around and then ...US!  But, we managed and once we turned south Grey Hound just took off.  I think she was glad to be out of the ICW and into her element.  

From Lauderdale to Government Cut (Miami's entrance) took just two hours and we averaged around 10-11 knots.  The seas were 3-4 feet with a mixed chop so it was a little wet but the dodger helps.  We saw our first frigate bird but no sea life.

After getting the hook down in front of Miami YC we headed to shore on "it" and met Kenny, Rick, Shawn and Alex for a couple of cocktails on the patio.  It was a fun night and we may see them again in the Keys after the first of January.

Tomorrow Miami<<<<<<<<

Go'in to the ocean............out the Ft Lauderdale Inlet and down the coast to Government Cut!  Forecast....East 10 -15.........Cool!   We have a goal, Rick and Kenney are waiting with beers!

The Jetson's anyone?????

Night time in Lake Sylvia

Still southbound

We left Boca this morning after a great breakfast courtesy of   "Chez Dick".   The omlettes were awesome and we were able to have breakfast in the cockpit for the first time in a very long time!  The new cockpit table is another great addition to our inventory and Dick fabricated it himself which is even better.  It rotates 360 degrees so we're never at a loss for serving guests!  Right now we're sitting on the hook in Lake Sylvia in downtown Ft Lauderdale and we've seen 2 big manatees surface off the stern of Grey Hound!  We continue to marvel at the homes and boats around here and feel very lucky to be here.  We've met some fellow cruisers......Cathy and  Neil from Connecticut on their boat "Briar Patch".....  a beautiful traditional boat he built 20 years ago...they've been cruising her for years and spend summers in Maine and winters in the Bahamas.  

app 50 nm to miami

Wow, Boca Raton.....Lake

So far since yesterday (7 bridges and a very strong >20 kn S easterly headwind) we spent a very windy night in N Palm Beach  but our ground tackle held great and we had a good nights rest.

We woke up bright and early this am and still had to stay on the inside and were able to do 13 more bridges in better wind conditions and arrived in Boca Ratan Lake about 3:30.  For some of the bridges we had to have the  "pedal to the metal "but thank you Mr Saildrive we made it.  It is beautiful here!!!  and I don't think we've been this warm in a long time.  Hope you enjoy these pix!

Very Interesting........

8:30pm.......Is that a Big Boat dragging or is that a mirage?   "Ahoy, Skipper!! Are You Dragging?"

"Me?!?  (as Dick shines the light)....."I am not dragging".......Dick...."OK, but I must be imagining your drift.......no problem just wanted you to know"...........anyway we know exactly how it feels to get into an anchorage and not be able to get the hook to catch........They left and we hope they found a better spot for the night.................with any luck we were able to get our "dragging" experience behind us in the North Channel......Stay tuned for more excellent adventures!

Manatee Pocket

Port St Lucie Inlet Bridge

Port St Lucie, Fl

We motored and sailed today 37 miles to Port St Lucie, leaving the anchorage in N Vero about 9 am.   It's just amazing how thin the water is in the ICW!  We traveled a very thin line down the channel in a building N to Ne 15 -20 kn under jib for a while the sun was out and the water and scenery was just beautiful!  Right now we're anchored in Manatee Pocket, a very cool and protected anchorage.......with some amazing homes and yachts.  We were hoping to take the outside route down to Miami but a weather forecast for strong easterlies will most likely prevent that.  Even so we're having a great time and Grey Hound is carrying us and all our stuff fantastically!   She's not even looking like she's down on her water line.  Many thanks to Jean and Tom for their great hospitality and the turkey for dinner was great!

Southbound!

At noon today we headed out of the Eau Gallie River and down the ICW (intercoastal waterway) to you landlubbers....we had nice 10-15kts out of the NW and made it just north of Vero Beach and had a great sunset and moonrise.  It was a perfect start of our next adventure.  There were plenty of dolphins, ospreys and other very cool things to see on "day 1".

Tomorrow we try for Manatee Pocket, near Port St Lucie.....and guess what?

It's a lot warmer than Syracuse!!

We are having fun in Melbourne

After a long but easy drive to Melbourne we have been slowly getting Grey Hound ready for a 4 month sail this winter.  We launched in Ballard Park.  It was a great facility and probably the nicest launch we have ever used.  We had no issues stepping the mast and with Tom's help we were ready to motor down the cove to Waterline Marina for a few days to provision.  After doing a zig and zag around a bunch of piling we pulled into our slip.  Amazingly, we already knew our neighbors!!

While trying to get to the dock (yep, it was a tight fit) I yelled over to a couple to grab the dock lines.  As crazy as it gets......they happened to be Roger and Danielle on Chocobo.  The Manta 40 cat is from Montreal and they were docked on "D" dock at Sackets two years ago!!  Talk about a small world.  They are just starting their round the world trip.

The night before was an outing to Lou's Blues with Jean and Tom....a cool pub with live music.  It was a great time and the music was good.  A good time was had by everyone.

We have just been welcomed to Florida!!!!

It is 11:24am on Saturday and we just came into Florida on I95.  Kismet, I know you are not too far away now!

So far the trip down has been fine.  We have 23 miles to Jacksonville and Tom A. figures we'll pull into Aspen Way about 3pm.  From there we will start to figure out the logistics of launching and storing the trailer and GHP.  The price of gas is much better than in NY and it has been averaging about $1.69/gallon.

Right now the weather will dictate as to when Grey Hound will head south on the intercoastal to the Keys.  It will be nice to be in the area before the 22nd, which is when the Chief and Mom will be pulling into Islamorada.

I'm really liking NOT having a shovel in my hand!!!

Star Date 12-4-08......We are heading south!

This morning we left Annapolis, MD for warmer climates.  We pulled out of Luanne and Al's home around 11am hoping to make it to SC before nightfall.  Well.........at least we headed south.  The one issue we didn't really think of was that the toll keeper at the Rt301 bridge would stop us to be measured.  And.........the net result was a police escort across the Potomac along with another over-wide semi after the construction was finished for the day.  I now know how to apply for a permit in Virginia and Maryland.   That meant we didn't even make it 5 miles into Virginia before dark.

I guess we get up early tomorrow and continue our adventure.....stay tuned!