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,