March 24, 2013

Tuesday, March 19, 2013.  Jeff and I dingy in to shore.  I have not yet walked the length of Linclon Road, which is “the shopping street” in Miami Beach.  All the high-end stores are here, but the only thing we purchased was a SD Card Reader for my iPad at the Apple Store.  Even though it is a Tuesday, the stores and restaurants are full.  The area reminds me of a combination of the Quincy Market area of Boston combined with 5^th Avenue in New York.  Lots of “beautiful people” and expensive cars.  Someone said that people come here more to be seen than to actually shop. I know that is true for Jeff and I.

When we lost the dingy anchor yesterday, we tied the rope on the anchor (properly called the “rode”) to an old wooden pram, in case we wanted to try to retrieve it.  Today, we thought we’d give it a try. After pulling the rode in several directions with our dingy, and lifting mightily, we were finally able to get the anchor where we could at least see it.  There was the chain of another anchor wrapped around it!  It is common practice to have a few feet of the rode (between the anchor and the rope) be chain as it helps the anchor lay properly on the bottom.  After working some more, the second anchor came to the surface – not attached to a boat, only attached to our anchor.  So, now we have another dingy anchor, as well as ours. Poseidon, I am sure, was unhappy to loose two sacrifices!

We had dinner on board and prepared to depart the following morning.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013.  We raised the anchor at the Sunset Islands at 9am.  It is clear and there is no wind.  We make the opening at the Venetian Causeway West Bridge at 9:30am and are outside of the Miami Harbor entrance at 10am.  The wind is SE @ 3.  It is 19 miles to the Fort Lauderdale cut and we make a steady 6 knots under power.  At noon, instead of a lunch break, we move in close to shore and jump overboard for a swim.  The water is 81 degrees.  As soon as we are underway again, the wind pipes up to 15 knots. We arrive at the 17^th Avenue Bridge in Fort Lauderdale Harbor at 2:30pm and then make our way up the New River to the New River Docks.  We are tied up alongside the river at RiverWalk at 3pm.  Dinner on board and then a walk down East Lao Olas Ave – Fort Lauderdale’s version of Miami’s Lincoln Road.  Ice Cream at Udder Sweets and then a walk home and to bed.  Very noisy area.  We are tied up next to the SE 3^rd Ave Bridge, and it apparently has a plate loose and every time a truck or bus passes over it, the sound is like someone throwing a boulder into an empty dumpster.  Also, someone’s boat has a pump running, or a sonar on (depth sounder) and we hearing a “pinging” most of the night.  It always amazes me how well sound travels through water!

New River, Fort Lauderdale City Docks, 26° 07.05,N  080° 08.36'W.  28SM 22.4NM today.  Mile Marker 1064.

The New River narrows as it get farther from the ocean.  We are right downtown Fort Lauderdale and there is a lot of boat traffic.  Although the river is only about 80 feet wide here, the size of the vessels passing by in a steady parade is amazing.  The are 60 foot tour boats and 100+ foot yachts (interesting when they meet), as well a many smaller boats, water taxis, and fishing boats making their way up and down this narrow river.

Thuursday, March 21, 2013.  Today would be my Dad’s birthday.  We moved down the dock away from the bridge.  We pumped out the holding tanks.  Jeff and Lisa made arrangements to go scuba diving tomorrow on the reefs just offshore.  We decided to rent a car as we are going to be in the area until at least the 26^th, when Jeff flies home.  Jeff and I went to the Adventura Mall to look for shoes for him.  Everyone in Florida must have been there.  Have you ever been to a mall where there was a kiosk that sold caviar and champagne?  We must have gone into 20 stores looking for shoes (not sneakers).  We wound up in the Clark’s Store and Jeff bought a pair of Desert Boots and a pair of Wallabies.  These shoes have not changed significantly in years and I was proud that he chose comfortable, well made shoes that will last him a long time – and he got 40% off!  What was especially nice was the service (remember how it used to be in a store when the clerk would help you select the shoe, try it on, etc?).  They even showed him how to take care of them! 

Jeff elected to “stay in” for dinner.  Lisa and I walked down the dock to the Downtowner Saloon” for a late dinner.  She had a burger and I had grilled flounder and veggies served over rice.  Both were excellent.  Reasonable prices too (especially for this area).

Friday, March 22, 2013.  Lisa and Jeff went diving and then came back to the boat and crashed.  Visibility was marginal and it was getting rough on the surface at the end, but they both had a great time.  I worked on servicing our winches.  Believe it or not, even after 30 years of sailing, I had never taken a winch apart, cleaned it, replaced the needed parts (prawls, springs, etc.) and put it all back together.  That had always been done by the yard in the spring.  Well, today I did that and the thing works great!  One down, four more to go.  Who knows when these were last serviced. We ordered pizza, a calzone and a panini for dinner from Luigi’s Coal Oven.  The food was great!

Saturday, March 23, 2013. We are docked next to a park and some pretty fountains (see pictures).  Our friend Hazel Trembley (from Salem, MA – godmother to James and Jeff) came by for a visit and a lunch at the Downtowner,  She is still helping out her sister, who is very ill (lives in Boca Raton).  Jeff and I found a Barnes and Noble and bought a few books.  We still like the real thing even though Jeff and Lisa have Kindles and I have a iPad.  Tonight there is a blues band at the Downtowner – in case you did not know I love The Blues, being raised in New Orleans and all.

Sunday, March 24, 2013.  We all went over to Cooley’s Marina (farther up the river) for showers.  They have a nice laundry, internet, showers, etc. and are part of the marina system owned by the city.  The other marina the city owns (in addition to New River Docks, where we are) is the Las Olas Marina at the Las Olas Bridge and the ICW.  We brunched at the Egg and You Diner.  Typical diner food, but with a New York Deli flare (cheese blintzes, potato pancakes, etc.).  Lots of people out for lunch/brunch.  It is Palm Sunday and many people went to church and out to eat.  It is very warm today (92 degrees) and very windy (West @ 20).  We opted to go to the mall and bought Lisa some clothes at Chicos’ and shoes at Nine West.  I will try to get this posting shipped out later today.

 Click here for this week's pictures

Stay tuned.