Miami - ashore

On Saturday morning, we got up early.  Costco, West Marine, Walmart, and Home Depot were well stocked with groceries. 

I got a haircut by Sandro.

I investigated my Radio station license, which expires March 31, 2025 

I applied for a drone license and paid for DTOPS for CBD, specifically for the Cruising Permit for 2025.

Cancel VOIP for Sylvie and create a new DID transfer for Patrick's cellphone.

Sandro gave me a long-needed haircut.  In Daytona, a barber had offered me a discount to cut my hair!  It was pretty bad.

On Sunday, Sandrito, Raul and I went to deliver the provisions to BELLUM and went out for a quick one-hour sail in Biscayne Bay in light winds.  

We loaded up the boat, anchored and then went to Sandro's friends for a pig roast birthday party.

Christmas Day, I worked on photos and drove Sandrito to work and back

Christmas day plus one - I updated this BLOG

Boat work done in Miami.

Put away provisioning

Cleaned fridge

Installed fresh propane tanks

Installed a new house battery from Costco

Empty food nets 

Cleaned the water tank filter screen

Changed Rocna anchor with Chiheb.  The anchor was bent at Dodge Island Bridge on December 19 and took several attempts to dig in at No Name Harbour.

Boca Raton to Miami

In Lake Boca Raton in the morning, I dived to inspect the shaft drive chain.  The water was clear and salty. 

The drive chain was good, but the anodes were pretty worn.  I had two anodes.  One for fresh, one for salt water.  I guess the freshwater one was pretty much corroded. 

I took off at 10:30.  I got much better at timing the bridges.  But as I got into Miami, I kept missing the bridge timing and wasted lots of time waiting for the next opening.  There was some showing, so I couldn't travel fast.

I arrived in Miami late, tired, and concerned about the Dodge Island bridge.  It says it is 65 feet, but I was very uncomfortable with it.  Maybe it was fatigue and the darkness.  I called Wally, and he strongly suggested I return and anchor between the third and fourth Venetian bridges. 

The next day, I crossed the Dodge bridge again, and the antenna definitely touched the bridge, even though it's supposed to be 67 feet.  My mast is 46 feet. 

I got fuel at Croydon, Marine, and then docked at No Name Harbour.  I tried to make Ramen for lunch, but the propane ran out.  Perfect - I had optimized my propane usage.  The third SodaStream was also almost empty.  Trifecta!   

I tidy up the boat, remove the propane tanks, prepare the battery for changing, and clean up the ship. 

I waited for Sandrito to pick me up.  He had trouble getting there and was trying to walk.  Eventually, he got there.  I re-anchored the boat and came back to the house, where I had a pork supper with Raul, Sandrito, Sandro, and Nelly.  Good reunion.

West Palm to Boca Raton

I grew tired of West Palm and felt pressured to head to Miami to meet up with Sandrito, provision for the Bahamas, and prepare for Chiheb's arrival.

It took me some time to get familiar with the bridge timing.  I followed a Quebec boat, La Die, with a big Quebec flag on the stern.  She was a 29-foot boat with an outboard motor.  After a while, I abandoned it because they could not keep up with the bridge schedule. 

I anchored at Lake Boca Raton about 5:30 - just before sunset.

I dived to inspect the BELLUM bottom.  No alligators.

Peak Lake to West Palm

After waiting out the bad weather in Peak Lake, we finally got to go to West Palm.

It was an easy ride from Peek Lake to West Palm Beach 

I anchored far from the city dock.  Dinghy in to visit the town.  West Palm is a lovely town.  I wandered around and dodged a Florida rain shower that lasted about 45 minutes.  I returned to the wrong dock for the dinghy and determined there were two municipal docks.  The dinghy was at the North dock. 

Saw Wind Gypsie anchored near the Municipal dock.  Dropped in to say hello to Wally.

Went back to Bellum and BBQ something. I forgot what it was.

The next morning, the boat swung, and I was close to another ship, so I decided to move closer to the Municipal dock, near Wally.