Juno Beach to Cocoa Beach

Thursday, March 19, 2015

We had to take my laptop up to the marina office to get a decent internet connection to publish the blog. On the way back we stopped to say goodbye to Gerald who was also getting ready to leave and cruise a few miles on Takes Two south to a Defever  boating convention.

Gerald with his coffee and Kathy with her laptop - good start to the day!

Lighthouse at Jupiter Inlet

 We dropped the anchor in Peck Lake where there were quite a few other boats anchored. After we lowered the dinghy and attached the motor (the process is getting easier) we rode ashore to the short walk to the Atlantic where we found a nice almost private beach.

Beach at Peck Lake accessible only by boat

Walking back to the dinghy through an arbor
 of sea grape shrubs

 The excitement of the day came after we got back on Serenity. Two guys on a nearby sailboat were getting ready to leave and as one of them was pulling up the anchor he yelled to his buddy, “Whoa! Come look at this!"
We were all curious and could see that something was hanging from their anchor rode and when we looked through the binoculars we realized that it was a sawfish! It had somehow gotten tangled in the line and couldn't get free. Fortunately, after much effort with a gaff hook the fish was freed and he sank into the water. We hoped that it was unharmed and would survive.
I did a search on line to positively identify the fish and they are a rare and amazing example of evolution.

Those barbs on the sawfish look sharp!

Captain’s Log March 19, 2015

Departed: Loggerhead Marina at Juno Beach 9:35 a.m.
Engine hours:2.8 hrs. - 580.4 total for trip
Actual hours: 2 hr. 45 min
Miles covered 18.24   Total for trip: 4076
Arrived: Peck Lake anchorage 12.20 p.m.
Wx: hazy, 75 degrees and rising, E wind 10 mph, nice cruise up the ICW along the northern Keys. Winds diminished in evening as forecast.

Friday, March 20 - Saturday, March 21

When we got to Vero Beach we texted our Vermont friends Craig and Donna on Mighty Fine, a sister Mainship, who already had a mooring. The Dock Master didn't have any dock space or open moorings so we were able to raft up with Mighty Fine. They were so welcoming and we were glad to see them because they had just returned from the Bahamas and we could get caught up on all that had happened over the winter.  At this point we had been traveling every day for a week, so we decided to stay for two nights. This was a place where we would have to use the dinghy whenever we wanted to go ashore. Craig and Donna were helpful in getting us settled, registered and refreshed - they knew where to find the nearest watering hole!

 

Christopher Croaker gets to meet Donna and Dylan on
Mighty Fine

The next day we had made plans to visit an old fraternity brother from John's college days. Mike and his wife who live in Vero Beach, swooped in with their car, gave us a tour of the of the area and then we went back to their home. After a beautiful walk along the beach they prepared a fine dinner for us AND got us back to the dinghy before sunset. We were afraid that the dink might turn into a pumpkin if we had to motor back after dark because we don't have any running lights on it.

Kathy and Ann in her real full-size kitchen - what a pleasure!

 

Mike grills wonderful Italian sausage while John supervises

Captain’s Log: March 20, 2015

Departed: Anchorage at Peck Lake at 7:30 a.m.
Engine hours: 6 hr. – 586.4 for the trip
Actual hours: 6 hr.  
Miles covered  42.4    4118 total for the trip
Arrived: Vero Beach Municipal Marina mooring field 1:30 p.m.
Wx: Departed early, clear, 70 degrees, winds light and variable, all bridges high enough to clear. Stopped at Fort Pierce for fuel & pump out, then on to Vero Beach - we rafted up with Craig and Donna on Mighty Fine at their mooring

Sunday, March 22

With the humidity and warm weather it was a foggy morning and we waited a while for the fog to lift but got underway in good time.

Through the fog we saw a clever name - A RIVER DERCI II

We said "arrivederci" to our friends and to Vero Beach. A few miles north on the ICW we passed our college friends' house and Mike took a great photo of us as we waved when passing by.

Serenity on the way north!                 Photo by Mike R.

 

Sculpture of a child swimming with a dolphin
at a typical home along the waterway



Sailboat races as we entered Melbourne, FL

We departed from the ICW just after the Melbourne Bridge and entered a narrow channel into the Banana River which is really a lagoon, still traveling north, until we reached the marina at Patrick Air Force Base. We will stay here a couple of weeks, rent a car and go to our dry-land home to make sure everything is set for the summer and hurricane season before we continue on our trip.

Captain’s Log: March 22, 2015

Departed: Vero Beach mooring 8:40 a.m.
Arrival: Manatee Cove Marina, Patrick AFB  1:45 p.m.
Engine hours: 6.2/592.6 since beginning of trip
Actual hours: 6 hrs. 5 min
Miles: 45.47/total miles on trip 4164
Wx: foggy and warm 75degrees, winds calm. Fog lifted to clear skies, temp to high 80s and winds light and variable.  Nice cruise, no issues.

 

 

Biscayne Bay to Juno Beach

Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Tavernier in the Keys

The winds weren’t cooperating and we stayed an extra day at Mangrove Marina which was a good thing because I got to go to another water aerobics class.

Ron and Peggy and their boat Lake Effect
 

We had made some friends at Mangrove. On our dock were Ron and Peggy who are also Loopers. They trailer their boat from Illinois and are doing the loop in segments. Like any smart boater they are spending the winter in the Keys. Another couple we met were Bob and Marilyn who graciously invited me to join them in their car to drive to the water aerobics classes.

Bob and Marilyn's boat is a catamaran
 

Finally, we had a day and a night ahead that had a decent wind forecast because we planned to anchor out for the night. We untied our lines with the help of new friends Bob and Don and cast off to cruise farther north.

We had also met Dave and Penny on Penny Pinchin' who had just begun their loop trip in Mobile. They traveled the same day we did, but with their faster boat they left an hour later, passed us and got to our destination an hour before and were waiting for us. We were on the ICW and made our way past islands and mangroves and passed under the bridge carrying Route 1 to the mainland. We saw our the boat Ithaka tied up at the dock at a marina and restaurant there but we didn't see our friends.



Route 1 Bridge with Ithaka tied up on the far right -
we waved as we went by
 

 

Five of the caravan of boats we met - there must have been twelve at least -
they were traveling fast and may have been on a poker run
 

 

Penny Pinchin' in their express cruiser easily passed us
 

Our anchorage that night was at Elliot Key, on the south end of Biscayne Bay. We could see the faint skyline of Miami in the distance to the north. We took the dingy to shore and walked along the short beach. Later on our friends from Penny Pinchin’ came over for a little social hour.

Penny and Dave came over to visit in their dink
 

After a glowing sunset the winds died down to calm. John ran the generator, but after about 30 minutes it sputtered and died. It was dark; our electronic devices weren’t getting a signal so there was nothing to do but got to bed and rest until sunrise.

Captain’s Log March 14, 2015

Departed: Mangrove Marina at Tavernier 8:50 a.m.
Engine hours: 5.8 hrs. - 559.2 total for trip
Actual hours: 5 hr. 40 min
Miles covered 41.18   Total for trip: 3952
Arrived: Elliot Key 1 anchorage 2.30 p.m.
Wx: clear 75 degrees, SE wind 10-20 mph, moderate chop, nice cruise up the ICW along the northern Keys. Winds diminished in evening as forecast.

Sunday, March 15

It was so easy to pick up our anchor and be on our way after a good night at Elliot Key. We waved goodbye to our friends on Penny Pinchin’ because they wanted to stay for an extra day, enjoy the warm water and have the beach close by to exercise their dogs.

Miami from five miles out
 

Now we felt as if we were really back on the ICW as we got on the channel after the bigger waters of Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay.

We anchored in the bay at Marine Stadium which is just across the waterway from Miami. We stayed on the boat but had lots of entertainment with jet skis racing through the bay.

Abandoned stadium had lots of graffiti
 

The old stadium hadn't been used in many years but we could imagine it in it's heyday with audiences watching dozens of water skiers gliding by.

After dark Miami glowed
 

 Captain’s Log: March 15, 2015

Departed: Anchorage at Elliot Key 2 at 9:300 a.m.
Engine hours: 5.8 hr. – 559.2 for the trip
Actual hours: 5 hr.  40 min.
Miles covered  41.18    3952 total for the trip
Arrived: Marine Stadium Anchorage, Miami 12:20 p.m.
Wx: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees, winds 5-10 mph Kts Nice 3 hr cruise at 1500 RPM up to Miami, as we approached the boat traffic and wakes increased, no issues

Monday, March 16

Pulled our anchor again and pointed our bow North. There was lots to see along the way.

Statue of man blowing conch shell

 

The first of MANY drawbridges that we had to call to open for us
 

Most of the bridges opened on the hour or half hour, some on the quarter and three-quarter hour. We had to call them by name to request passage or they wouldn't open.

First boathouse we have seen in a long time

John and I were so glad to see his sister Carol
and her husband Dave

John's sister Carol was so gracious to come over to the marina after a long day at work to pick us up to go out to dinner. She took us to a place in Hollywood called Outdoor World. They had a nice restaurant there and her husband, Dave, joined us for dinner.

Captain’s Log: March 16, 2015

Departed: Marine Stadium Anchorage 9:10 a.m.
Arrival: Hollywood Marina, Hollywood  12:48 p.m.
Engine hours: 4.1/556.4 since beginning of trip
Actual hours: 3 hrs., 35 min
Miles: 20.81/total miles on trip 3995
Wx: clear, calm winds 75 degrees, had 5-10 minute delay at 2 bridges. Winds picked up to 5-10 kts. Nice cruise, no issues.

Tuesday, March 17

More bridges, beautiful homes and big boats!


Beautiful glassy start to the morning

One of many beautiful homes with a yacht docked out front

 

Family outing on paddle boards

Goodyear Blimp sighting as it hovered over the beach

We had to dodge this container ship - we went through busy
Ft. Lauderdale harbor

Captain’s Log: March 17, 2015

Departed: Hollywood Marina, Hollywood, FL 9:10 a.m.
Arrived: Pelican Harbor anchorage, at Highland Beach 2:10 p.m.
Engine hours: 5.3
Actual hours: 5 hrs.  
Miles covered: 29.91  4024 for entire trip (Turned over 4000 miles today!!)
Wx: clear, winds S 5-10, temp low 80s, lots of bridges, needed to request 4 to open for us, very affluent part of ICW, no other issues

Wednesday, March 18

We spent the night in a good anchorage, but right in a very residential area. The scenery was the lovely surrounding homes and a small marina, but we were off the ICW and it was a quiet night. It took us a little longer than usual to pull up the anchor because it was muddy on the bottom and the anchor rode needed a lot of cleaning. As a result we missed the opening of the next bridge along the route and had to wait a half an hour.
  

Sunrise in Pelican Harbor

Approaching the ornate Ocean Avenue Bridge

Detail of ironwork on the bridge - turquoise fish swimming

Captain’s Log: March 18, 2015

Departed: Pelican Harbor, FL 8:10 a.m.
Arrived: Loggerhead Marina at Juno Beach 2:10 p.m.
Engine hours: 4.3
Actual hours: 4 hrs.  
Miles covered: 21.91  40
Wx: clear, winds S 5-10, temp low 80s,
 

North to Marathon and Tavernier

March 6, 2015

It was wonderful to stay in Boca Chica near the southernmost point in the continental US during the winter days from February into March. The high winds were constant while we were there and when we saw a window of a few fairly calm days we decided it was time to move on. Our boat hadn’t been headed north since we were in Canada last year!

We had one last afternoon on the town in Key West with retired Air National Guard friends, Jim and Vicki, who are wintertime residents of Key West. We met at one of the many, many bars, but most famous, Sloppy Joe's on Duval Street, (thanks George and Martha!) where we enjoyed lively entertainment. We had to step outside for a minute to wave into the live web cam there while connecting on the phone with friends Mark and Melinda from The Villages. Fun! We all then went to the sunset celebration at Mallory Square.

 

Jim and John - old Vermont flying buddies
 

 

Vicki and Kathy at Sloppy Joe's
 

 

A Duval Street tradition - Ernest Hemmingway drank here
 


After consulting with fellow loopers, Jack and Sara on Ithaka, who were also planning to leave Boca Chica, we decided to travel together and leave on Friday morning.

Serenity casts her shadow in the early morning sun on a mangrove island
 

Ithaka and a sailboat lead the way out the channel - if we headed due
south for 90 miles we would have ended up in Cuba - we turned
 port and to the east

 

We retraced our path to the Seven Mile Bridge and the ocean waters did have a roll to them so we had to hang on when we moved about the boat. After we went under the bridge the waves smoothed out and we had a nice ride to the small Marathon Yacht Club.
That evening we walked the mile or so to the marina where Sara and Jack were staying to meet them for dinner and go over the plan for the next day.

We passed a turtle hospital on our evening walk - complete
with ambulance
 

Captain’s Log March 6, 2015

Departed: Boca Chica Marina at NAS Key West 6:58 a.m.
Engine hours: 6.1 hrs. - 547.4 total for trip
Actual hours: 5 hr. 40 min
Miles covered 45.74   Total for trip: 3866
Arrived: Marathon Yacht Club 12.40 p.m.
Wx: clear 70 degrees and rising, wind SE 5- 10 kts. We had 1 – 2 ’ waves in Hawk Channel but quite doable. No issues.
Traveled with Ithaka

Saturday, March 7, 2015

We decided to get underway at 8am, but when we woke up a rather large fishing boat was tied to a dock across the way that was going to make our departure a little interesting.  We asked another couple if they would assist us as we pulled away and maneuvered around the other boat.  Good thing we had help, we made it and didn't scratch anything, but it was close.  We still met Ithaka in the channel on time and it was a smooth uneventful day along the ICW in Florida Bay. 

Grounded sailboat is now providing a roost for the birds
 

We arrived at the Mangrove Marina in Tavernier but Ithaka went on to another marina. After looking at the wind forecast for the next few days we decided to sign up for the weekly rate and stay awhile.  We were not quite ready to leave the beautiful weather in the paradise that we found on the Keys.

The first morning we were at Mangrove Marina a rainbow in the
western sky showed a promise of good weather to come
 

Mangrove Marina is a good place to be. It is not a fancy resort but the people are friendly and welcoming. There is a grocery store and small shopping area just about a half a mile away and a bakery that also serves gelato just across Route 1. I was invited to go to a water aerobics class at Islamorada on Monday and Wednesday, which I did attend and loved it. The class was in a big outdoor pool with at least 50 participants and a retired gentleman was an excellent instructor.

Planters around the marina were filled with odd little curios
 

There are some other loopers here, and we were even invited to a wedding of some local live-aboards! It was a beautiful evening for a wedding.

Locals Cathy and Dave tie the knot on the waterfront at
Mangrove Marina
 

We had a visit from some friends Gail and Bill who are boat neighbors on our dock at our marina in Vermont. They are wintering in Key Largo and drove over to say hi. It was so great to see them!

John, Kathy with Champlain Marina friends Gail and Bill
 

Our week stay is almost over and we will be on our way soon, so check back and see what we are up to next. 

Captain’s Log: March 7, 2015

Departed: Marathon Yacht Club Island 7:55 a.m.
Engine hours: 6 hr.
Actual hours: 5 hr.  45 min.
Miles covered  44.78 entire trip 3911
Arrived: Mangrove Marina at Tavernier Key 1:45 p.m.
Wx: clear, 75 degrees, winds 10-20 mph. Inside Florida Bay on the ICW  the whole way, light to moderate chop – smooth ride but windy and lots of spray over the bow
Traveled with Ithaka

Winter Days in the Keys

Still at Boca Chica

As we were driving away from the marina one day I noticed something on a big pile of rubble along the road. It was kind of orange looking and I decided it must just be an old log. The next time we went by I looked closer and it was a large iguana. They are usually green but I read that they turn orange during mating season. It must be mating season in the Keys because the orange is really prevalent now.

Since then I have seen several in different places. I did some research and found that they are not a native species to Florida. They are from Central America and the speculation is that some were pets who were released into the area. I can’t imagine having one as a pet because they can grow up to 3 to 5 feet long.They have become a real nuisance since they have no natural predators here and they eat all kinds of vegetation – including expensive landscaping. At the Botanical Garden there were signs saying that the iguanas were being controlled by a local service. I hear they taste like chicken…

Our friend Rusty, we see him almost every day - about 2 or 3 feet long
 

We have been to gardens, the Truman Little White House, and other sights around Key West. Because it has been so windy we took a ferry instead of our own boat to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas which are 70 miles west of Key West.

We are enjoying our time here and the following photos show just a few of the things we have experienced on our adventures.

Huge Banyan tree at the Garden Club Gardens
 

 

Cuban Petticoat Palm at the Botanic Garden
 

 

One of the chub boats on display at the Botanic Garden which
brought Cuban refugees to the Keys during the 1980 Mariel Boatlift
 

 

Gathering at sunset with friends on one of the docks
 

Quite often some of the live-aboards here at the Boca Chica Marina gather at the end of the dock to watch the sunset. There are a couple of very proficient people who know how to blow a conch shell as if it was a horn and they sound the horn as the sun settles into the horizon. We may have to get one for our boat since Key West is known as the Conch Republic, as well as Paradise. It may take some practice on our part but it would be a great memento of our winter stay here.

Steel drum band, Island Time, plays at the Navigator Bar
The musician on the right is playing a banjo made out of a conch shell
 

 

We do the touristy thing at mile marker 0 in Key West
 

 

All ready to go snorkeling off the Dry Tortugas with boating friends
Patty and Jack who are just starting their loop trip on
M/V Nearly Perfect         Photo by Ross Keddle
 

 

 A fire baton twirler entertains us after sunset at a beach-side restaurant
 

We are relaxing and enjoying the warm sunshine but the Captain is getting itchy to be on the move again. The winds are still pretty strong so he is watching for a good weather window to cruise the five hours back to Marathon and then parts East and North. That may be next weekend or maybe in two weeks. He keeps me guessing and I will keep you posted about our next move on the Great Loop.