Not Sure Where We're Going But We're Still Having Fun!

Big City skyline while traveling the ICW

Bimini Express gets you to Bimini from
Miami in about 2 hours!

Lots of help feeding the chain
through the gypsy.  Finally!

We're leading today

Just one of the magnificent homes
along the way
Photo doesn't do justice

Great place for a burger!
Saloons Le Tub
right on the ICW

Another local hangout
on the ICW in Hollywood

The largest Boat US we've seen
Imagine the size of boat it tows in!

Hanging out at the local beach in
Hollywood
Just dinkin' around.....

Very cool sailboat along the way
Looks like a pirate ship

View from the back of NautiNell in Hollywood
Sailing school - it was pretty cool to watch

Just dinkin' around

Another picture of the skyline -
Miami to Ft Laurderdale
then West Palm
It all runs together

Hollywood beach

Huge yacht!  See the 'copter?

Huge cruise ship heading to the Bahamas

Having lunch at the Sandbar
at DelRay Beach

DelRay Beach

Jupiter Lighthouse
Very cool site

Little Jim's Bait and Tackle
Great stop for a sandwich and cold beer
while dinkin'

Archies - a great hangout in Ft Pierce
Biker/Beach bar
Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon

Archies - good band!

Made me kind of miss our bike!
 

Ray and Linda (Second Noelle) heading our before us

Great artwork on the walls of the Mellow Mushroom

Girls getting together on Conched Out Too
while everyone was at Ft Pierce

Boys getting together too - a motley crew

Conched Out Too heading out too
We'll catch up with them in a few days hopefully

 

Tues - Thurs (April 22-24)  The mooring field at Dinner Key wasn’t all that great.  We did spend three nights there but it was so windy it was really hard to get off and on the dinghy and to get on the boat.  The first night (Tuesday) we went to the Sandbar for dinner which was an okay place.  It was nice to get off the boat and see the sights of Coconut Grove (Miami).  Wednesday the boys walked up to Crook & Crook Marine to check on chain – nada’.  Later we took a dinghy ride over to Monty’s for Happy Hour and dinner.  It was a nicer place and we all definitely had a good time.  Most of the day Thursday was spent looking for anchor chain by either the internet or making calls.  Mike ended up taking the bus to check out chain at Miami Cordage.  It was only about 7 miles away but I understand it was quite a bus ride – bus rides always are!  We were having trouble finding the exact size we needed.  They sent him back to the boat with a sample so he could check to see if it would work.  They were sure it would – “but if you cut it you own it”.  Good thing we had the sample because it didn’t work.  We needed exactly 5/16” proof coil and no one seemed to have it.  Mike had had a very frustrating day so we decided to stay in for the night. Ray & Linda and Jeff & Linda decided to find the best Happy Hour around.  Sounded like they had found it when they came back to their boats about 11:00 p.m.  There was a lot of giggling going on – I could hear them having a time getting back on their boats from their dinghies.

Friday (April 25)  Still searching for anchor chain we all decided to head on up to Hollywood Municipal Marina.  It was only a few miles away.  It took us a little while to figure out just how we were going to tie up.  The finger piers are maybe 8 feet long!  Either way  - bow or stern – we would still have trouble getting off the boat.  Oh well at least we wouldn’t be bouncing around in the wind like we’ve been doing for several days.  Like I mentioned before – it was a City Marina.  These are often cheaper ($1.25 ft) than privately owned ones – there are usually reasons.  However other than the short fingers, not able to “easily” get off the boat and a pump station of some kind that would dump gushing water into the lake every 30 seconds or so all day and night, it wasn’t that bad.  At night, I’d just try to imagine it was a beautiful waterfall right outside my window.   J  The people were nice there and it was right on the ICW where there were several restaurants/bars that were accessible by dinghy.  We found 4 or 5 stores there that were close by that should have the chain we needed.  We rented a car for the next morning to make things so much easier.  In the mean time we went to dinner at Le Tub Saloon.  This place was a bit “quirky” but very cool.  They are best known for their 13 ounce hamburger - as seen on Oprah some time ago.  We, of course, had to try it.  It was very good and the beer was super cold!  I highly recommend this place if you’re ever in the area.  It’s definitely one of a kind. 

Saturday (April 26)  The next morning the guys picked up the car and were off on an anchor chain hunt.  A few hours later they came back with chain!  This time it was the right one too!  200 feet of chain – I would have never expected to be so excited over chain!  The guys went right to work installing it.  It was a major job because first, of course, they had to get the old chain off.  At least we were nosed in at a dock and it was pretty accessible.  They got the old off, the new on and we’re ready to drop a hook somewhere!  However, not tonight.  We decided that we’d take the car over to the beach.  Ray and Linda wanted to ride their bikes – it really isn’t very far to the beach from the marina.  They took off earlier and later reported that it was extremely crowded and that we would have to pay for parking if we could even find a place.  They were already back to the ICW where they found Capone’s Flicker Lite – another great spot!  So we dinked over to Capone’s.  Jeff and Linda didn’t want to fight the hassle of trying to get off and on the dinghy so they drove.  At least we were all there!  We had really good pizza and more cold beer.  This place had pool tables and various video games.  The weirdest thing that they had though was one of those claw games where you use the “claw” to pick up your prize – being some type of prize like a stuffed animal.  WELL, this one had live Maine lobsters in it!  For real!  If you “caught” one – they would cook it……  Wouldn’t you think that PETA would be all over this!  I thought it was hilarious! Too bad we didn’t try it.

Sunday (April 27)  The girls used the car to get more groceries.  It was nice to be able to stock up a little more even though we already had about all we needed since we had planned to go to the Bahamas.  We went on a dinghy ride to the beach.  It is much easier getting there by dinghy than it would have been by car and more fun too.  We spent the day checking out the area.  Pretty cool.  We then decided to spend the evening on the boat.

Monday (April 28)  Mike and Jeff took the old chain to a consignment shop – Sailorman.  Hopefully we’ll sell it for something.  There’s over 120 feet of good chain.  Surely someone will want it.  It also was an easy way of disposing of it.  After that they returned the car and we were on our way to DelRay Beach about noon.  Luckily it was another short trip, or so we thought.  It was only about 30 miles but it took us seven hours because of all the bridges.  We had to wait for several to open. We enjoyed the view though - it’s amazing how many opulent homes and yachts are along the way.  Ray and Linda (Second Noelle) had left earlier and dropped a hook just before the City Marina.  We opted for the marina along with Jeremiah.   This is a marina that is normally full.  In fact there is a five year waiting list for permanent moorings.  We managed to get the two transient slips they had available.  They were only $60!  That’s not bad either! We hung out on the boat but Ray and Linda decided they wanted to go to Mellow Mushroom so they took the dinghy to the bridge and walked a short distance.  That wasn’t the problem – but when they got back to the dinghy they found it had gotten hung up under the bridge when the tide came up and it was swamped.  It about got itself sunk!  They needed to bail it out – but of course they couldn’t find anything to use – no trash in this town.  They did find a guy who was fishing off the bridge and sitting on a bucket.  He was hesitant at first but eventually loaned them his “seat” so they could bail out their dinghy.  Luckily nothing was damaged and they made it back to their boat safe and sound. 

Tuesday (April 29)  Second Noelle headed on up to Jupiter.  We decided to hang out one more day to check out the town of DelRay Beach.  Jeremiah decided they would hang out with us.  After all, neither one of us really knows where we’re going at this point.  J  We rode the free trolley out to the beach and had lunch at the Sandbar.  A very cool place on the boardwalk.  Then again that evening – we walked up to the Mellow Mushroom.  Ray and Linda had talked it up so – we had to check it out.  We were not disappointed.  I had heard of them before but had never been to one.  It was very cool!  The place was founded back in the ‘70s by three hippies.  Good for them!  Now they have quite a chain of them up the east coast and several other states.  Can’t wait until I find another one. 

Wednesday (April 30)  We left the marina and headed up farther north.  We left early but still had a bunch of bridges to maneuver.  The wind is still blowing pretty hard.  It has been off and on since we left Marathon!  We had planned to drop an anchor in Lake Worth but with the wind coming from the south that wouldn’t be such a good idea.  One thing though with the wind from the south it was at our backs and traveling was pleasant.  Following seas……  Again we were amazed at the huge magnificent homes that we passed.  There’s an area called Adimiral’s Cove that is gated even for boats!  Rumors are that there are several famous people that have places up in the canals that we couldn’t see.  After all it is the West Palm Beach area.  I wouldn’t be surprised if that were true.

Anyway we anchored at an area called Hell Gate.  Second Noelle had stayed there the night before and highly recommended it so that was fine with us.  They were now on anchor at Jensen Beach.  We had a wonderful night.  The winds died down and it was a quiet anchorage where we were able to sit out on the sundeck and enjoy it.  Jeff was still a little “fretful” but I think he even enjoyed it.  The name Hell Gate didn’t ring true – thank goodness.

Thursday (May 1)  We were up and at it early this morning.  We arrived at Harbortown Marina in Ft Pierce about lunchtime to find that Second Noelle was there already along with Conched Out Too!  Even Gabrielle was here on the hard (they live in Jensen Beach which is very close to here).  It’s funny to be traveling and then end up with several boaters you know from your past boating experiences! We had a mini Dock Dynasty Reunion – a great happy hour on Conched Out Too and then dinner at the Cove – the restaurant here at the marina.  It was so great to visit with everyone again and catch up on everything. Fun times! 

Friday morning (May 2)  We said goodbye again to Second Noelle and Conched Out Too.  A little déjà vu all over again!  Everyone seems to be headed north to different places and at different times.  Since we’ve now passed Lake Worth – really the last good place that has an inlet in which to be able to cross over to the Bahamas – we’ve pretty much decided that we’re not going to go.  It was a hard decision but the time just doesn’t seem right.  We can go next year.  We’re planning to head north – not sure if we’ll finally make it to Norfolk to cross our wake (finish the Loop) or just spend time going north until it’s time to turn around and go back south.  What a dilemma!  We like it here in Ft Pierce – we may stay the weekend or the month – we haven’t decided yet at this point.

Saturday (May 3)  Since it was rather a rainy weather day forecasted – we decided to rent a car and drive to Marathon to pick up our car.  Jeremiah needed to pick up their car too so it was a good time to do so.  It was about a 5 hour drive each way.  It took most of the day but at least it’s done.  Now we have a car here in Ft Pierce which is even better.

Sunday (May 4)  Not sure how long Jeremiah is staying here.  They probably will visit a while in Vero Beach where their son and daughter-in-law live (and of course, their grandbabies!) which is just about 10 miles away and then head across Florida navigating the Okeechobee Waterway to the Gulf Side and then head back up to Venice where they live.  We’ll hate seeing them go.  We had big plans to go to the Bahamas with them this year.  Oh well, things don’t always work the way you plan – especially when boating!  We’ll try it again next year.

In the meantime – we spent the day at Archies Seabreeze.  It’s a very cool place – a biker/beach bar with great food.  The prices are even good!  We had a late lunch and hung out there most of the afternoon listening to the music and watching the people.  Very cool!  This place was established back in 1947 as a military shack that served beer to the soldiers stationed on South Beach.  We will definitely being going back during our stay here in Ft Pierce.

Also, the Navy Seals were originally trained here years ago and there is a Navy Seal Museum here.  We’ve been told that it is worth visiting so we are going there one day this week.  According to our information the real lifeboat that was used by the real Captain Phillips was here a few weeks ago.  That would have been cool to see.  Too bad we missed it.

Well, as of now we plan to spend about three weeks here at Ft Pierce, then head north to Jacksonville where we will boat the St John’s River.  Then we will either go farther north or hang out in Ortega Landing near Jacksonville for a while.  I’ll keep you all posted when we figure it out.

I intended to post this last week but I didn’t so I’m adding a little more to it……

Monday (May 5) Happy Cinco de Mayo!  In order to celebrate the “big holiday” we were invited to Jeff and Linda’s (Jeremiah) son and daughter-in-law (Scott and Kelly) for fajitas and margaritas.  Like I said earlier they live in Vero Beach which is only about 10 miles away.  They have a beautiful home.  Kelly makes fantastic margaritas and Scott can make mean fajitas!  It was a very nice way to enjoy the evening.

Tuesday (May 6) Scott picked up Jeff and Mike here at the dock in his 24’ fishing rig and off they went fishing for the day.  They didn’t catch any keepers but I think they all enjoyed themselves.  They did witness a guy catch a HUGE Goliath Grouper!  Wish they could have taken some pictures.  Mike said it was absolutely huge and the guy fought it a very long time. Very cool!  But not in the stars for my fishermen….

Later that day Mike and I took a road trip back to DelRay Beach.  It was a good thing we had picked up our car.  We had just realized that we must have left our boarding steps at the last marina we had stayed in.  After a phone call to be sure they were still there – off we went.  It was about an hour’s drive away.  We made it and there they were.  Lucky for us.  Maybe our luck is changing – hmmm.  Better knock on wood somewhere.  Ha!  We managed to find a great little place called Johnny Brown’s to have a cold drink and some great nachos before we headed back.  It looked like a great place to be in the later hours but we had to drive back to Ft Pierce.  So maybe next time when we’re coming through here we’ll be able to stay longer.

Wednesday (May 7) Mike and I spent hours out in the dinghy checking out some really cool spots.  We saw a lot of fish jumping but Mike didn’t even try although he brought along his pole.  We just had a good time checking out the sights.  We stopped in for a sandwich at Little Jim’s Bait and Tackle.  Very funky place – cold beer and a great sandwiches.  We plan to go back there again before we leave.

Thursday (May 8) Today we’re hanging out just relaxing some.  At least I am.  Mike is working on something.  He always is.  We’ve been invited over to our neighbors for cocktails this evening.  They are also in a Jefferson so I’m sure they want to compare notes.  They just finished the Loop so it’ll be fun to hear of their journey.

Till next time

Admiral “C”