9. Welcome to Miami!

Well, after almost 4 weeks at Cooley's Landing we finally wrapped up enough of the projects to move south!  It felt like we were busy every minute of every day this last week.  Our days were spent finishing up projects aboard and stowing items that had yet to find a home.  

We were excited to find the salon floor for the first time in the 2 months aboard.  

Only to lose it again to all the provisions.  

Once the project of cataloging and stowing was completed, we once again lost the floor to our most important item aboard according to the captain :)

We helped our friends aboard Tipitina, who are without a motor, turn their boat with 2 dinghies and lots of long rope.  

It got a little crazy because the New River is very narrow, has a strong current and as I mentioned before, has LOTS of river traffic.  Nothing like letting loose a 15 ton monster in the river and trying to tame it with 2- 15 horse motors.  But the team worked well together and, once we were all turning her the same way, she nested back in her home slip.  

Now they are prepped and ready for the arrival of their new engine.  

We had an exciting visitor aboard Abby!  Our dock iguana jumped on board to take a tour and thought he might be cozy behind our captain's quarters' wall panels.  I strongly disagreed so Andrew removed him.

We had a great morning of goodbyes with Matt, Bonnie & puppies.  

And then tended to the last order of business, selling my Armada, Maudie.  It was sad to see her go because she was my dream car that we saved a long time to buy cash but also signified our last tie to land.  

    Bye Maudie :(

As she drove off, we pulled away from our slip at Cooley’s and motored out the New River.  

    Panorama of our Ft Laud anchorage before leaving the channel.

The morning motor sail to Key Biscayne was beautiful!  While the sails were down, the girls sat on the dinghy to bounce over the waves like riding a bucking bronco.  

Their giggles and screams were music to our ears.  

We spent our last day running around for the fun stuff.  

    No Name Harbor, Key Biscayne, FL

We had our last lunch at Chick Fil A, anyone who knows us, knows how important that is :)

We found some great deals on some used regulators at a local dive shop, Divers’ Paradise.  The owner was super helpful in making sure we had everything we needed to be safe while away and even recommended a shop that would help get our hooka rig completed.  For those unfamiliar, a hooka is an air tank onboard with a long hose (100’) and regulator so you are free to dive the length of the hose without having to carry your gear.  We will use this set up when cleaning the bottom of the boat, diving on the anchor to make sure it is set properly and to help the girls learn and become comfortable with diving before their certification.  We didn't expect to get these items covered before heading out so - SCORE!  

And had lots of fun hangin’ at Whiskey Joe’s, playing games and enjoying some burgers and Andrew’s last draft beer.  

And just like that our last day in the states closed.  

    Paige's last step on American soil.

It is kind of surreal, to look forward and work toward something for so long and then the sunrises just like all the other days prior but you feel that this is the day everything changes!

    Sunrise over No Name Harbor, Key Biscayne.  3/2/2016

Thing learned aboard this week:

Timing is everything.  I think it is human nature to want something when you want it.  I’ve been ready to leave for months but the patience is paying off.  I’m still learning to wait :) 

Whether waiting for a perfect weather window to make a passage safely and comfortably or learning to handle a misunderstanding among family, timing is everything!  

I'm hurriedly trying to post this blog before loosing signal as we cross to the Bahamas, so barring anything crazy happening, next week's update will be about our first international check-in, how our crossing went and how our first few days in Bimini go.  Can't wait to share.

10. Bahamas, Baby!