On Flagler Monument Island

 

Enjoying Miami

We will be anchored between islands by the Venetian Causeway for the weekend. The weather is perfect. Yesterday we dinghied around Star Island (Gloria Estafan has a home there), pulled Porty up on the beach at Flagler Monument Island, cruised down the Collins Channel to Miami Beach along Indian Creek Road, and enjoyed the company of new friends David and Peggy on "Destiny". Finally had a late night dinner on "Kismet", before calling it a day! We are staying here til at least Sunday. Craig and Debbie "Charmed" will arrive. Then we will start heading to the Upper Keys - meeting Dick and Anne from "Greyhound"; friends from Lake Ontario that we have been trying to get together with for months!

Our Anchorage Tonight

 

The ICW - Miami Bound

 

Finally Moving Again!

It is hard to believe that 10 days have past since our last blog. Happy New Year To All! We spent the last week in the Hollywood Marina while visiting Mom. We basically spent the nights with her in Pembroke Pines and traveled back and forth to visit Kismet. It was a nice visit; but of course for Mom - too short. The watermaker is installed and working well. We made 10 gallons today while motoring to Miami! We also did the usual chores - laundry, grocery shopping, refueling diesel, gas, and propane, and cleaning the boat. Today we restarted our journey south - Hooray! Motored down the ICW to anchor by the Venetian Causeway between San Marino and Di Lido Islands. It feels great to be moving again, and resuming life on the boat. We hope to be seeing friends; Craig and Debbie from "Charmed" in Miami before they take off for the Bahamas, and maybe reconnect with other friends that we've met along the way. Jim is finally trying out his new fishing pole - hasn't caught anything yet!

Hobe Sound to Hollywood FL

We motored to Boca Raton Lake on Saturday. The number of bridges that we had to request openings was very intense. We now know why all the cruising guides strongly suggest avoiding this area of the ICW on the weekends. We were unaware when we anchored that the Christmas Boat Parade was passing through this area tonight, so it was very crowded; but fun! Folks spend lots of time and money to decorate their boats. On Sunday, we motored a short distance to anchor in Lake Sylvia in Fort Lauderdale. This is a beautiful anchorage! We dinghied across the ICW to the Raw Bar, and were awed by the mega yachts. We visited with new friends on "Blue Blazer" from Toronto, had chicken parmesan for dinner, and went to bed. On Monday, we motored 6 miles to get a slip at The Hollywood Marina where we will stay until January 1st; so that we can visit with my Mom in Pembroke Pines. It was nice to be tied to a dock last night since the wind was blowing 25 knots. We will finish the installation of the watermaker, take care of business and reprovisioning while we are here since we have use of a car.

Cocktails with Judy on "Kismet"