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!

6. It's Not All Sunsets & Cocktails

 

    Cooley's Landing - Ft Lauderdale, FL

We’ve had such an amazing time in Ft Lauderdale.  Our beautiful sail from Lake Worth wrapped up with and exciting trip up the New River to our new marina home at Cooley’s Landing.  The shores were lined with amazing homes and equally amazing yachts.  The girls had a blast calling "dibs" on each of the houses they liked most.  The girls & I were thoroughly enjoying ourselves as Andrew white knuckled it to keep her in the channel and out of the path of approaching boats.  Nothing is more nerve racking than meeting a 100’ yacht at a hairpin curve on a channel about 40’ wide.  Luckily my boy executed it marvelously, we even got into our tricky slip with no issues.  

    School in Ft Lauderdale

The river traffic is unparalleled.  

We watch millions of dollars of boats be towed by our slip daily from the boat yards up river down to the ocean inlet.  

    They have tow boats on front and back to help them navigate the tight channel.

One of the larger vessels waked the marina so hard that one of the pilings we were tied to, collapsed.  That was way more excitement than we had expected during our first sundown.  All hands were on deck to carefully float us out and back into the next slip over, where we have settled in nicely.  

Ft Lauderdale offers lots of support to the cruising community via shops and resources - Sailorman-buy/sell/trade/consignment, McDonald’s Hardware-every fastner known to man & the largest West Marine in the states :)  

    Sailorman's mascot - Mockie

We have frequented the local marine parts shops stocking up on everything from new davits to lift our dinghy, a manual windlass to help lift the anchor, 160’ of new 5/16” chain for all new ground tackle, and trying to find a new anchor roller for our new to us Rocna 22, to name a few.  

It has been a productive week!

    Davits

    Windlass

It hasn't all been hard work.  The girls have enjoyed all the various animal life that passes our way.  

    Manatees

    Iguana

    Ducklings

    Guys pulling in blue crabs on the dock.

Lots of manatees, iguanas, ducks and dogs.  We’ve met lots of fellow cruisers and have enjoyed touring different kinds of boats and exchanging stories and plans.  We are a short walk up the river from a park that has had little festivals with entertainment each weekend and we’ve also taken advantage of some great restaurants within walking or dinghy distance.  

    Cloggers at the Arts Fest

    Sky representing for Scott Jones School of Dance when she was pulled on stage :)

    Went back to get a little stage time of our own.

Here is where our week takes a dive.  We headed out to dinner with some of our new friends, Matt & Bonnie and took their dog, Goose, along for the walk.  We had a great night chatting it up and enjoying an awesome local dive.  On our way home we stopped at a park that they have frequented to let Goose run.  He got away from the group, crossed the street and on his way back was hit by a car that was going too fast to notice he was there.  It was horrible, something I would have wished never for my girls to witness and experience.  Not only was losing Goose devastating but watching our new friends mourn the loss and not even knowing how best to comfort them was even harder.  It was a long night with lots of tears.  

And that’s all I have to say about that.

    We love you, Goose.

The next day we headed to the Museum of Science & Discovery to stay busy and distracted.  It was a great museum with lots of hands on activities for the whole family.  Sky even got to participate in a local survey of how senses affect a student’s ability to retain info learned at displays.  It was great to watch her little brain work!    

    Mad Scientists

   

Sending up smoke signals.    

It has been an amazing week that ended on a difficult note, but sometimes that's just how life is!

Things learned this week:

This is the new normal.  It has taken 6 weeks but I think we've found our groove.  As the projects wrap up and we move closer to what an average day will hold, everyone is seeming to thrive.  The only short-coming is that Sky could use a little more interaction :)  Anytime we meet someone new, she talks their leg off!  Can't wait to meet up with some kid boats.

We make a strong team.  Whether boat demands or life demands, we pull together to get through and make things happen.  Each one of us brings different strengths to the table but it's only as a team that we truly shine.

We are heading back to Jax for the last time this week.  We have lots of loose ends to tie up as quickly as possible.  Our first possible weather window to head to Bimini is forecasted for a week from Tuesday.  

Stay tuned to see if we can get it all done.

7. Jacksonville, Farewell For Now