Vero Beach mooring field...Friday 5/31

With winds predicted at 25-30 for most of today Sea Fever and Compass Rose decided on a leisurely day in the mooring field with a side bus trip to the mall.  Winds the next few days are supposed to be under 20 mph so we plan to head out at 8 Sat morning for Melbourne or a bit further north..

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Vero Beach Sunrise

We decided to stay at the   Vero Beach city mooring field for 3 nights. This gives us a chance to get all our laundry done (Tuesday) plus take advantage of the free bus service to get in a Walmart trip (yesterday), and a West Marine and Publix run today.

Next stop...Indiatlantic East of Melbourne....tomorrow...maybe.

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Tuesday, May 28...Fort Pierce inlet going from Jensen Beach to Vero Beach

Tuesday was another breezy day with winds in the upper teens, mostly from the ESE.  We left Jensen Beach with 2-3' chop...had to move fast to get the anchor up to prevent blowing back into other boats in the anchorage...

But..what a day... Tides were with us most of the day and with gennys out about 1/3 we were charging along at over 6 knots almost the entire way tk Vero!

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Monday May 27 we made it to Jensen Beach

We were able to motor sail. most of the way, including through St. Lucie inlet. It was another "lumpy" ride with a combination of 15+ mph winds and the heavy boat traffic the last day of the holiday weekend.

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Memorial Day Entrepeneur

As we were traveling between the 2 Jupiter inlet bridges I saw this snack shop on floats serving all the boaters, jet skiers, kayakers or paddleboards, that stopped.

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Shortly after leaving anchorage this morning...

"Two north bound sail boats about to enter the turning basin...this is the pilot vessel...please go astern of the freighter!"

They had stopped short of the ICW to get the pilot onboard so we thought we might have time to go... not...

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Palm Beach sunset

After a long day, delayed for the water pump repair...had a great sunset across the ICW over West Palm Beach.  We are anchored off the east side of the ICW near the Palm Beach Country Club.

Tomorrow...anchors up about 8 and on to Jensen Beach.

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Sunday started out with masses of Sargassum floating past us as we prepared to lift anchors

That was probably a good thing...Realizing that such masses could block the raw water intake, I was periodically checking the water outflow. When...about 45 minutes out as we were heading under the second bridge that opened for us....NO WATER!!  Called Tom by cell and since there was an area to anchor Tom hailed the bridge tender and belayed our requested passage....Turn around... drop the hook.  Compass Rose tied along side figuring I'd shut off the engine and the weeds would float away with the current. I went below to check the strainer...clean..but wait...water pump belt is gone...well..broken and barely hanging on the main pulley...ok check. my parts box for a spare...no go. Called auto part shops and found one that had the part so Tom dinghied me and Sara to the base of the bridge  and we called a cab..30 min wait..$20 round trip cab fare...$10 belt...working pump (with To.'s help of course)...priceless.

Ok...finally made anchorage in Palm Beach and Tom talks with Paul...Annie has a spare belt in her parts box...no...ahhh...whoops... actually there are 2!!

well...I still have spares...

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So, we finally clear the last bridge...peace and quiet await us...NOT!!

Lake Boca Raton, right on the ICW has been a quiet place the last 2 times we stopped here..a maximum of half a dozen boats..But, again...Memorial day Saturday....There must be 100 boats in this small lake...but lucky for us most are local families wanting to stay in the shallow water for the kids to swim..leaving us our "usual" spots.

Now we will see how long the crowd stays.

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Along with the 8 bridges...today we get "the Canyon"... miles and miles of bulkheads on both sides of the channel..no where for all the wakes from the go-fast boats to go..except..right back at you..over and over...and being Memorial Day Saturday...you get the picture...FL is a boating state, afterall.

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Sunrise in Lake Sylvia...Saturday of Memorial Day weekend

So, today we decided to continue on our northward trek. Lifted anchors at 8:50 to make the 9:15 Las Olas bridge opening. Then we immediately docked off the T-head at Las Olas marina to get pumpouts and ice...away we go for a 17 mile 8 bridge (7 remaining) day. Winds 15-20 from the NE...right on our noses.

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Track of Sea Fever's course- Boot Key to Lake Sylvia

http://www.findmespot.com/spotadventures/index.php/view_adventure?tripid=322315

This is the track from the beginning of our return trip.
May 17-24, 2013

Strange boat in port Everglades

As we passed Port Everglades this morning saw this boat. Before I got by the end of the dock and could look back at her, I thought it was a sub.. but I think it is really a go-fast mega yacht

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Sunrise over north Miami

We weighed anchor from the lake across from Bakers haulover in N Miami about 8:30 this morning and made it thru the 4 bridges to Lake Sylvia in Ft Lauderdale, just north of the port Everglades inlet by about 12:30.

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State Park at the lake across from Bakers haulover inlet

We are anchored for the night at Bakers haulover...actually in a nice lake off the ICW across from the inlet. The state has a park with a swimming beach here.  Waterway Guide updates this week indicated severe shoaling (under 4' at low tide) on the ICW just before we make the turn into the lake. ... and we got there just an hour before low tide. Compass Rose lead the way, calling off depths.. 5.4, 5.2 5.1, 4.9, 4.6....hmmmm... better get a little speed going...and maybe come slightly to starboard of where they are....yes!! never saw anything under 5.5'!!

We plan to head the 15-17 miles to Lake Sylvia in Ft Lauderdale tomorrow morning. May spend a couple of nights there before continuing home.

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Miami skyline as Sea Fever and Compass Rose head north. 5.22.13

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Seems we tend to leave CGSC just as heavy thunder storms approach

When we left in April for the Keys they stayed to our north. This morning they seemed to be moving north and east as we headed north. We had lightening and thunder at times this morning but MOST of it was off in the distance.

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Tuesday's sunset over the Coconut Grove Sailing club..5.21.13

After arriving at CGSC late morning, and completing pumpouts and water tank refills we made it up the main  drag for lunch at Pollo Tropical and then on to the Fresh Market for a few fresh veggies.  Later we did one last 2013 happy hour at Sandbars.

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Thunder clouds and heavy rains almost delayed our crossing to Coconut Grove Sailing Club

But the sun came out, at least temporarily, so off we went. Weighed anchors about 9:15 and are now on moorings at CGSC.

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Red sky at night...sailors' delight!

Let's hope so.

Good night from Key Biscayne.

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Sea Fever under sail from Key Largo to Key Biscayne 5.20.13

We left Thursday Cove on Key Largo this morning, under full sail...no engines, and made about 10-12 miles before we turned on the motor to be sure to clear the final bridge in the Keys. We dropped the mainsails when the wind shifted and motor sailed with the gennys.  I wound up pulling the geeny in to just a handkerchief the last 10 miles or so,  but Compass Rose had her full genny out until we turned into the Key Biscayne anchorage

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Mangrove passage leaving Tarpon Basin

Well, today was Sea Fever's "tense" day. Last year and on the way down this year, the first 10 mile section of the Keys ICW we covered today held barely over 5' for much of the way..  and Sea Fever needs 5'!

We left Islamorada about 2 hours after high tide and made it through all the "skinny" water with hardly anything under 6'....phew!!!

Decided to continue 5 miles past Tarpon Basin to Gilbert's on the island where US 1 crosses onto Key Largo...but....could not find enough water so continued thru the pass and are now anchored in Thursday cove. A little rough, not a lot of protection, but winds aren't supposed to be too heavy tonight.

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Islamorada sunset, Sat. May 18, 2013

Last sunset here this season.

We weighed anchors about 8 this morning headed, at least initially, for Tarpon Basin off Key Largo.

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Two of about 6 Wharrum design Catamarans at Lor'e Lei's

We had one of these type catamarans pass us Friday on the way to Islamorada. Turns out they were having a rendezvous there and about 6 showed up from all over FL.

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Islamorada sunrise

ah...what will the day bring.

We plan to bring the dinghies ashore to a small beach by the restaurant today, to clean the barnacles off. Tom had attacked his before leaving Marathon, because he tows it. I didn't quite get to it and discovered once it was up on the davits, that there were an awful lot covering the bottom.

Looks like 9:30 is when we will head to that task.

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After a beer at Lor'elie's, another Islamorada sunset

Friday, May 17

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We were heading into the wind most of the 38 nm day, but this boat was headed the opposite direction.

We left Boot Key about 8 a.m. and were comfortably at anchor by shortly after 4.

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A farewell to Boot Key Harbor, Friday May 17.

Yesterday Sea Fever and Compass Rose left the Boot Key mooring field and started our slow run back toward Charleston. The pix is Bourdine's, one of the few fuel stops on this side of Marathon and, of course, one of our tiki bar favorites.

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Made it to Key West one more time today!

Plan to start heading north (or is it East first) in the next few days...once the winds die down a bit. Today and tomorrow they are predicting 15-25 from the NE...exactly where we will be heading...

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Morning visitor

There has been a group of dolphins swimming in and around our boats since we got here and it has been difficult to get any pix since the cell phone camera is not instantaneous. This morning one big guy was going in and under Sea Fever and I was going from side to side to get a shot. Finally, as if to say "go ahead and get this over with", he came up about 5' from my port side and just stayed there with his head lifted out of the water...still didn't get a very good pix.

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and...after a day under water...next stop...Sunset Grille and happy hour

Of course...

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Sombrero Light

Made it to a dive trip to Sombrero reef today. Had a great time on a reef with a great variety of fish, and coral with varied relief from about 3 to 29 feet including some walls...great trip! and great crew

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Headed to the Bahamas

The beautiful Nauticat 36, with the bagpipes, moored next to me this week, left this morning with their buddy boat from Ft Myers. They plan to stop at Coconut Grove Sailing Club, where they had been long-time members, and wait for a weather/wind window, to head to the Abacos.

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Windless morning

When there is no wind, or very little, as there was at sunrise today, boats on the moorings tend to "do their own thing".  Luckily here in Boot Key Harbor there is plenty of room between boats!

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Shading palms on Sombrero Beach Tues 5.7.13

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Sombrero Beach

Today the crews of Sea Fever and Compass Rose decided to do a little exploring. After lunch we took the dinghies down Sisters Creek to the "outside", where there is a great Park Service beach and park.  A few coral outcroppings along the beach and some nice palm trees to provide shade...what else could you ask for in paradise?!

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Too windy for bagpipes

Hit the Chiki bar at Pincers perch for Cinco de mayo cocktails and a great ahi tuna sandwich at the adjoining Keys Fisheries restaurant last evening.

After getting back to the boat going pretty much with about an 18 mph breeze, I watched as my neighbor moved out onto her forward deck for her sunset bagpipe medley. She seemed to be struggling with the wind and soon folded her pipes and called over that she had a 15 mph 'rule'. Anything over that seemed to blow the air out of the pipes and she wouldn't fight it.

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Looking for some calm in the heavy breeze on Saturday

Yesterday I headed to shore early to take advantage of the wifi and shore power and before the winds made for a lumpy ride between there and Sea Fever.  After I returned to the boat, Tom called over asking who my new friend was. Turns out this fella decided to rest from the 15-18 mph breezes by bouncing in my dinghy.  After I took the pix I "encouraged" him to move on before I had to clean up...

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New neighbor...bagpipes and all

Just before sunset the woman on the boat that just picked up the mooring next to Sea Fever this afternoon, came out on the foredeck and played a medley of tunes on the bagpipe...she got a round of applause from people all around the anchorage.

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Sailing thru the mooring field

Had a busy day today. Got laundry done this morning just in time to join the crowd at the luncheon hosted by the Marathon chapter of the Seven Seas Sailing Assoc. Guest speakers were a couple who back sailing in the SE USA after about 9 years in the Mediterranean.

Also met at the Friday pot luck here at the marina tiki cabana. 

As I dinghied back to Sea Fever the boat in the pix was sailing thru the mooring field.

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Sunrise, Friday May 3rd

Now, if only the sun will stay out most or all of the day to let the solar panel recharge Sea Fever's battery banks! With all the clouds and rain this week the are struggling to keep the fridge cold. Hopefully I won't have to run the engine to recharge!

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As usual, the sun came out in time to set with clear skies

Thursday's sunset with a clear sky

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Pouring rain and heavy winds

At the height of the storm my dinghy, with outboard attached, was tied along the starboard side. Wind was so strong it was lifting out of the water and bouncing on the 2+ foot waves here in the harbor.

When it was done, about 5:30, the water in the dinghy was above my ankles! Good thing I got a bilge pump a few weeks ago!

Sun is out bright now...I only hope it stays bright long enough to get some juice into my batteries.  All the clouds and rain this week have left my batteries barely keeping the fridge going!

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We are the blue dot just to the left below the hwy 1 marker.

This the storm we are riding thru now.. heavy winds and rain!!!

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Back to the boat before the wild weather

Having skipped provisioning yesterday because of the rain, we got an earlier start today and made it back before the storm hit hard.

These clouds were what we were watching build as we walked the mile-plus back from Publix.,

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Again, by sunset the skies seemed to clear enough to see it set

Wednesday we planned to get some shopping done but by the time we got ashore we were surrounded by more storms so spent a few hours at the Captain's lounge with wifi and shore power.  Ordered pizza in and waited for the rain to stop to head back to Sea Fever.

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A "local" who hasn't seemed to mind the rainy week we seem to be having

This big fella seems to like the dinghy attached to what I believe is a local live aboard.  I see. him standing there most days

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Sun came out in time to set...4.29.13

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Heavy, almost day-long rain on Monday 4.29

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An ominous Boot Key sunrise 4.28.13

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