Entries about ft pierce

Thursday 6 December 2001 - Melbourne to Ft. Pierce

Bob pulled the anchor and I motored out of the anchorage. He started the refrigeration, and pulled out the jib and then cooked bacon for himself (I just had a bagel).

We passed a junk rig which was apparently being pushed along by a dinghy.

Pushed by a dinghy

Every time a power boat passed the depth sounder went crazy because they stirred up mud. We got through the shallow areas by Vero Beach - I didn't get a picture of the mooring field there. Bob had the sails out quite a bit.

We got to Ft. Pierce, and the bridge said she might have to give us 'a delay' because they were doing maintenance on the bridge. The car traffic was only one way because the maintenance trucks were parked on the bridge. Bob was turning around when the bridge horn sounded,

Fort Pierce North Bridge opening

but we did get back in line and go through. We were tied up at Harbortown Marina by about 2:00.

Harbortown_Marina

We've gone 1060 nm so far.

My dinner

We had dinner at the restaurant - we are currently trying to decide whether to go outside (the wind will be on the nose) or go inside again.

Friday 7 December 2001- CSY Day in Ft. Pierce

Talked to Sunny and Charlie of COSMOS and saw their updated bimini, which looks like a power boat thing to me.

Cosmos' bimini

Cosmos' chain plantes

Cosmos with RIB on the foredeck

Cosmos bow

Cosmos anchor winch

Late in the day, Sunshine II came back from the yard. They have the same kind of bimini. I took some pictures of both boats.

Bob went out exploring on the bike.

Sunshine II- in boom furling

We had the early bird special in the restaurant.

Cockpit decorated for Christmas

Saturday 8 December 2001- Christmas Light Parade

Our original plan was to leave today and go outside to Lake Worth, stay there a day or so and then go outside to Miami. But the winds are supposed to be gusty and from the SE and would be on the nose. There is supposed to be a cold front come through this afternoon though, and the winds are supposed to switch to the SW tonight and tomorrow. So we stayed an extra day. Bob did a load of wash, and I walked over to where AURORA is on F dock. I talked to a broker (not the one who listed the boat), and he let me into the security gate, and I went down and took some pictures of her and also of JOURNEY who was on the same dock

Journey (walkthrough CSY)

Journey anchor winch

Journey fender board

Journey - bow

We had dinner on the boat, and then Sunny said the boat parade was that night, and the marina had chairs set up, so we went up to watch. We sat next to Ralph and Cindy of SUNSHINE II, and discussed a lot of stuff, and I finally persuaded Ralph to come over and see how we'd done the stuff on our boat. He was impressed with the pin rails,

A pinrail is strong rail at the side of the deck of a vessel, for holding the "pins" to which some of the running rigging is belayed (Belaying is to fasten (a rope) by winding around a pin or short rod inserted in a holder so that both ends of the rod are clear.) A pinrail is very useful for storing dock lines and similar items when they are not being used.

Ralph wanted the 'plans' for the pinrails. Bob laughed and said there were no plans. He drilled some holes in a piece of oak, and used coffee table legs for the 'pins'.

Bob adding a web ladder

Pinrails with dock lines and the web ladder

pinrail with a hose on one of them

Sunday 9 December 2001- Leaving Ft. Pierce

We decided just to go all the way down to Miami from here. Last year we went overnight from Miami to Lake Worth (started at about 17:30 and ended up about 12 hours later up at Lake Worth even though we sailed a good bit.), and then went during the day from Lake Worth to Ft. Pierce, so I figured we could do both in less than 24 hours.

Bob was up at 7 and returned the splitter and keys to the marina. We cast off in a relatively uneventful way and were leaving the marina by 7:30. The tide was going out the inlet, which pushed us pretty fast until we got to the end of the jetties and then it was bumpy as it had been last year on the way in. Light winds, - Bob put the main and staysail up and also the steaming cone (meaning we were motor sailing).

I went below and took some naps. Could hear the bridge tenders calling on the ICW. We are avoiding 30 some non-fixed bridges by going this way. Plus the ones that are between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami which we never do anyway because of the Julia Tuttle bridge which is only 56 feet high instead of 65 feet like it should be. We passed St. Lucie inlet about 11:45. Bob put up the jib, and then gave up on it. We saw a tug pulling something long and skinny - either a dock or some kind of pipeline.

Bob started looking at the water temperature to be sure we didn't get out into the Gulf Stream, which is warmer because it is going north (opposite direction to us) at 3 or 4 knots. It was up to 82 deg F, but then went back down again. After lunch, Bob decided he could take a nap, and he went and lay down for an hour. By 14:15 we were coming even with Jupiter Inlet.

At 16:00 we were off Lake Worth and the sun was going down.

Sunset over FL

Bob said to keep the boat about a mile off shore, and keep the wind at 30 to 45 deg. He had the radar set at 3 miles. (Normally in the ICW he sets it at 1/8th mile.) I would go with the wind on the port until we were in water of 30 to 40 feet, and then tack out until we were more than 1 mile from shore, and then repeat.

We heated up some stew, and then I went below to take another nap. Apparently I only slept for about a hour and then something waked me. I came up into the cockpit and we sat there together until about 10 when I saw Bob yawn. I asked him if he couldn't sleep and he said no, but a bit later, he agreed that he was tired.

He first went into the aft cabin, but couldn't sleep there, so went up and slept in the bunk in the main saloon. We were still motor sailing with main and staysail.

All was well for awhile. Nothing frightening on the radar. Then I started hearing announcements. The US Navy was conducting hazardous surface and underwater exercises from Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale) to some place I didn't know. The CG had a zone around all passenger ships in Port Everglades and Government Cut (Miami), and pleasure craft were restricted. I didn't hear either announcement well, and we were approaching Ft. Lauderdale.

I saw a big ship and I saw their red, white and green lights. (When you see both red port and green starboard lights that means the ship is either heading for you-(green -white-red) or away from you (red-white-green).) I moved out from shore a bit, but didn't want to go too far out because of the Navy stuff. Then I saw just the white and green, so I figured they turned right and were going in the inlet. Then they shut off the green light and appeared to stop. A little bit later they turned on the deck lights. I guess they anchored or picked up a mooring.

At the same time, there was a tug and tow was coming north, but he was on the other side of the ship, so I figured I didn't have to worry.

The Navy made another announcement and said to contact them on channel 88, so I tried that and didn't get an answer, and then I tried 16, and didn't get an answer there either. I was now south of Ft. Lauderdale. The Navy gave the announcement again. I switched to the new radio and this time when I went to call, I overshot channel 88 and discovered that there was an 88A. Called on that channel, and the Navy answered and told me that if we were in less than 100 feet of water, there was no problem.

Monday 10 December 2001- Arriving in Miami

Eventually the wind came around more east, and we were sailing pretty well. Bob woke up about 2:30, and I briefed him, and then went down and fell asleep in the aft cabin. About 4:30 am, he came down and poked me. I came up and fixed the computer screen (the Toshiba is going bananas), and called the CG on the radio to ask about coming in to Government Cut (Miami). I heard that we should call on channel 15, but it was channel 16, and I think I waked the guy up.

Finally another guy came on and said that if we went south of Dodge Island in Fisherman's Channel, we would be OK as far as the restricted zone was concerned.

Bob was very nervous and I finally said that usually I was at the wheel here and he was taking down the sails. He thought that was a wonderful idea, so he turned the helm over to me, and took the sails down. We went down the channel and under the Rickenbacker causeway, and anchored on the other side about 5:30 after 119 nm traveled at an average of 5.5 knots. It took 22 hours.

After we turned stuff off, I went below and fell asleep with my clothes on.

Bob got up about sunrise and took down the steaming cone, but did not turn off the anchor light.

We got up about 7:30, and about 8 or 9 I started calling marinas. No room at Dinner Key and they wouldn't know anything else until 1 pm. No room at Crandon Park. So I called Miamarina, and they said yes they had space. But they didn't sell fuel.

So we picked up the anchor and went to Crandon Park, and got fuel, Crandon diesel is 99 cents/gal.

There is a way to get from the RIckenbacker Causeway to Crandon Park without going all the way down to Bear Cut, and it only makes our depth alarm go off once. But there was a guy anchored in this channel. After we passed him going in and were going to pass him coming out, he moved

Then went to Miamarina.

Miami River

Entrance channel to marina

Miamarina is right in the middle of downtown. The AA arena is on the north,

AA Arena from Miamarina

the big cruise ship docks are right across Dodge Island to the east,

Cruise_ships on the north side of Dodge Island

there is a big mall area with lots of shops and restaurants to the west, and to the south are the big bank buildings and the Hard Rock. Miamarina is the same price as Dinner Key. ($1.25/ft). Cheaper than Miami Beach, and much nicer. No internet connection there but the price includes electricity, water and cable TV. Bob doesn't think much of the showers though, so we are showering at our daughter's.

RosalieAnn at MiaMarina

We tied up in slip C9. It took Bob some time to put the boat in the slip so that I could get off. I went up and paid for 11 days - we will leave here on the 21st. Then we went back and had another nap.

When we finally roused ourselves, we went to dinner at the Hard Rock (I had a coupon from the AAA book).

Hard_Rock through the stays

There's a 60-foot rotating neon guitar on the roof so it's certainly visible. At the east end of the Bayside complex.

Hard Rock in Miami

We were not in the mood for anything that required any effort to get to or to decide what to eat.I had previously been to one Hard Rock in Atlanta, but Bob had not been. He's not much of a rock music person. Dinner for the two of us on December 12, 2001 with the coupon was $35.95.

After which I called our son in Charleston (we are filing float plans with him so someone always knows where we are) and our daughter who lives in Miami.

Bob attached the TV cable, and we went to bed. Couldn't even stay awake to see the end of the football game.

Tuesday 11 December 2001- Settling In

Got up and ran the refrigeration and Bob went up to get local rental car numbers from the marina phone book. I called around for rates. Rented a car from Budget, which was on Bricknell Dr, just across the Miami RIver from us.

Bob walked up and picked up the car, and we went out to the BoatUS in north Miami to turn in the squashed fender (which got squashed at Isle of Palms, SC and won't hold air anymore). Got a new fender. Then went to AAA to pick up new maps and tour book for FL.

There is a definite lack of fast food restaurants on US Route 1 between downtown Miami and our daughter's place in SW 175th Street area. About the only place is Burger King, so we had lunch there

Selfie in the Burger King mirror

on the way to our daughters. This place had a playground for kids. The lunch for the two of us was under $9.00. She was working in the morning (she is an airline pilot).

We had dinner at our daughter's and then went back to the boat, ran the refrigeration and went to bed.

(Note - the refrigeration is not automatic. It can be run either with the engine or with shore power, but it has to be turned on and off manually and you can't just leave it on to run or it will freeze up.)

Although Bob hasn't been able to get the reindeer for the staysail area, we do have the boat decorated for Xmas. We have

(1) Santa hats and candy canes around the cockpit.

(2) The mast inside the salon is substituting for a tree, and

(3) We have lighted angels on the staysail boom triangle.

We also have a wreath on the bow

Wreath on the bow

and I have the wreath our grandson made hanging with the oil lamp over my bunk.

Wednesday 12 December 2001

Got up and ran the refrigeration, and then Bob dropped me at our daughters house (she is working all day today.), and went down to the base at Homestead to the commissary. He also went to an RV store to pick up 12V light bulbs. They sell the same bulbs for 95 cents that West Marine wants $2.95 for. (Whenever something is designated as "marine" it is automatically more expensive.) I spent the day trying to fix the Toshiba (unsuccessful, but I did get the virus software updated), and uploading digital photos to Photoworks (successful, but takes a long time). Also took some photos of the grandkids.

Granddaughter - age 2

Grandson - age 7

Bob took our grandson to basketball practice and we ate dinner at our daughter's and drove back to the marina - discovered that there is construction at night on the route that was OK during the day.

Thursday 13 December 2001

Our daughter is off today, so we ran the refrigeration and then went to her house and I worked on the computer some more. We were held up on the way over by the Miami River drawbridge going up. Bob pointed out the car parked on the bridge (not the opening part obviously) which belonged to the bridge tender. He has his own parking space right there on the bridge.

Our daughter was shopping in the morning and she ended up behind us on the expressway. We ordered dinner from Ron's the local Cuban place.

Ron's cuban food

Friday 14 December 2001 - Road Trip

We took the car and ran up to Ft. Lauderdale to go to Sailorman (a consignment marine store), but didn't have any luck there. Went to a couple of other local retail marine stores and bought some minor stuff.

Talked to one other CSY owner, and tried to contact another one, but he was (we found out later) out on his boat changing the oil. We ate lunch at Lester's (a diner) and came back to the marina. We went up to the mall and walked around

Looking_down from the second level

and had dinner

Food_court_and_check

and ice cream up there, and watched the tour boats going in and out.

Saturday 15 December 2001

Bob ran the engine (to get it warm) and changed the oil. The marina has free disposal for oil. We went and saw our grandson's basketball game with our daughter and granddaughter, had dinner, and got back in time to see the tail end of the Miami boat parade. I thought the big Ft. Lauderdale one would be on TV, but it wasn't.

Sunday 16 December 2001 Early Christmas

We went to our daughter's and then went next door for brunch and the gift exchange for the kids. Our granddaughter (just 2) was wearing her choice of a dress (not the one our daughter wanted her to wear) and cowboy boots, but I didn't manage to get a picture of her in the boots which came off immediately she got there.

While the adults were making and eating brunch, the kids all went out (two age 5, grandson age 7, granddaughter age 2, and one age 3.5) and started playing in the sand that was in the yard

with water from the hose and/or pool. They got very sandy.

Sandy child

They all had to be de-sanded, and dried off and redressed - this time in our daughter's choice of dress.

I gave our daughter and son-in-law their presents, and they gave us theirs. We left in the afternoon and went back to the boat. Picked up a turkey at Publix on the way home.

Monday 17 December 2001 - Time to leave?

I woke up this morning with the sudden realization that I had meant to allow 3 days to get to Key West from here and had made the mistake of saying we'd be here until the 21st when we were due in Key West on the 22nd. I had meant that we'd be here until the 19th and leave on the 20th instead of here until the 20th and leave on the 21st.

Also Bob is getting antzy. I listen to the weather, and hear that people are taking a weather window to the Bahamas. So we decide to leave a day earlier than we originally thought we would.

Tuesday 18 December 2001- Last Day

We went to our daughter's in the afternoon and did the last bit of computer stuff, and then went with them to the Enchanted Forest for the evening with several of their friends. The rides were included in the admission, and I went on the bumper cars with our grandson, and on the ferris wheel. Our granddaughter was fearless about riding almost any ride.

Enchanted Forest