Key Largo to Dania Beach - March 16-25

March 16-25

Jewfish Creeek Bridge Historic Marker

The Anchorage Resort and the NEW JEWFISH CREEK BRIDGE

Sunday morning allowed Clay and me a walk and Joe some pool time before we left Key Largo around 9:30 a.m., Miami bound. As has become rather routine of late, we were accompanied by pretty stiff winds and thus, waves of considerable stature. Not to my liking, I holed up in the salon for a while and let the fellas share some together time up top on the fly bridge. 

Ever wonder what is under the Jewfish Creek Bridge?  A makeshift marina which somehow the State of FL has missed or overlooked--tieing to the piers must be OK as long as you don't touch land as all these boats used their dinghy to reach the land.

"Houseboat" moored to the bridge pilings

Nice homestead under the Jewfish Creek Bridge

  

The marina under the bridge

As we cruised through Card Sound we herd a frantic distress call placed by a very excited Hispanic man with his family on their sinking boat near Ocean Reef.  While we never saw the boat we listened as the Coast Guard mounted a search but a passing good samaritan boat and BoatUS saved the day.  Thought the guy was going to have a hear attack he was so excited while the boat sank and turned over.

Nice cruiser on Biscayne Bay

Sailboat in Card Sound, just leaving Jewfish Creek

 

A catamaran sailing on Biscayne Bay

Jumping dauphins followed us on Biscayne Bay

We passed the usual large boats, both power and sail, traversing Biscayne Bay, encountered some "jumping dauphins", saw a sail regatta, passed Viscaya, the former villa and estate of businessman James Deering, of the Deering McCormick-International Harester fortune, and saw the Miami skyline rise out of the bay.

Sailboat regatta on Biscayne Bay

Viscaya

Miami skyline just west of Key Biscayne

We arrived early afternoon at Miami's Marine Stadium which Clay had pegged for overnight anchoring--as had many other boaters; Marine Stadium is a body of water that hosts boat races with its accompanying bleacher seating along one side.  Our early arrival gave me regrets that we'd not hung around the pool in Key Largo, but also allowed us a leisurely late afternoon during which time all of us tended to 'office work' of sorts, Joe, sorting through his picture gallery; Clay, plotting our course over the next days; and me, typing on the blog. 

Miami Heat Colosseum from Marine Stadium Anchorage

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Sunset at Miami Marine Stadium Anchorage

  











We were visited by our anchored neighbor aboard his kayak who offered us some suggestions should we want to visit the park on which Marine Stadium sat. He also lamented that our canvas top was whole whereas his was blown away in a recent tornado. How recent? was my concern. He further chatted (obviously he was a lonely sailor looking for some companionship and wasn't selective) that he'd lived aboard for 2+ years, anchored in this harbor which we had no trouble believing once we noted the plant growth along his anchor chain. But, I'm still wondering when and how boat races are hosted with anchored live-aboards in abundance here.

I stoked up the grill and treated Joe to a grilled salmon and romaine dinner before we three retired early. Joe was quick to agree "9 pm is Loopers' midnight' with constant exposure to fresh air a contributing factor.

Moonrise over Miami Marine Stadium Anchorage

Monday morning's anchor retraction required a physical assist by Clay, with me, thus, at the helm. Driving was not to be a component part of my job description; I'd made that quite clear. Unfortunately, reality sets in, and I find it a necessity. Not that I'm foreign to driving boats, but the 16' runabouts are more to my liking. 

Miami skyline at night from Miami Marine Stadium

Miami Skyline at night

Port of Miami Cruise Ship Docks & Government Cut

Soon after, Clay sent me into a tizzy (I guess I sent myself into a tizzy) as we approached Miami's first drawbridge where he needed to call the bridge tender but was unsure as to what channel. This bridge was on the edge of the Port of Miami cruise terminal and we suddenly found that 4-5 other boats were converging on the bridge including a tow with barge and a 110' yacht.  Clay doesn't slow down in our approach, he just expects me to move fast. It's debatable whether my actions would be defined as efficiency or as magic?  Obviously yesterday's prep did not include the section on bridge channels.  "Look in the book," he commanded without specifying which book nor the book's location. 

Traffic jam at the Port of Miami

Now mind you, I'd defined a few certain parameters early on...before I'd hesitatingly agreed to accompany Clay on this Great Loop.  I'd said to Clay with conviction, "When the clutter gets too bad (I HATE clutter!), either it goes overboard or I do." Now where would I find THE book that defines bridge channels in the ICW? And the SaSea Sally is only 43'. Of course...in the 'Anchorages Along the ICW.' Really? But, with 9 as our go-to channel, we were now equipped to handle the bridges of south Florida quite nicely.

Mousketeers on wave runners???  Advertising some entertainment for kids.

With intent to join our friends Sue and Ed (Shady Acres) at Dania Beach Marina Monday evening, the SaSea Sally navigated the waters of the ICW with its myriad of bridges while captain/tourguide Clay pointed out sights and scenery along our route. That fella Clay does wear many hats! (Some fit better than others!) Upon further investigation of Dania Beach Marina, we found it to be affordable (well relatively) for the month we planned to harbor the SaSea Sally there; of close proximity to the beach (hooray, just a short walk across the paved parking lot); under re-construction (uh oh!). "Under re-construction" meant a) no pumpout, b) no shower or bath house, c) no laundry facility, d) lots of workmen, sand/dirt, and noise. But our friends were here! And, Dania Beach is easily accessible to Uncle Woody and Aunt Shirley. Point made...we took the bad with the good, pumped out at neighboring Harbour Towne Marina and motored under Ed's excellent guidance and Clay's brilliant boating skills to our home for the next month. 

Home in North Miami Beach with sculpture in yard

NOTE: The marina will be nice when completed, but the beaucoup hurricane relief monies being heaped into this project don't seem to make the work go any faster. Too, cement docks are not a boater's friend (at least not these boaters who shy away). And it seems the harbor cannot be dredged due to the designation as a breeding ground for manatees (never saw one here) which makes navigation a challenge especially when coupled with the tides. Speaking of tides, the harbor entrance is umbrella'd by a fixed bridge (17' clearance at high tide and  20' clearance at low, which dictates in/out movement to and from the ICW).

Our first slip designation at F Dock was like squeezing a female into a girdle. In this case, not gonna happen; we had NO wiggle room, in fact, less than no wiggle room. Our 15.5' beam was not gonna fit even tho' the slip had been defined as a 16' fit! Not to be discouraged, Clay handily eased the boat out of the slip under less-than-desirable conditions of a stiff wind, narrow fairway, shallow depths (we pretty much hit low tide on the head), and an audience (Joe, Sal, Ed and Sue) and assumed Plan B. Good job, Captain! Good job, first mate Sal! (With that same audience, I lassoed the pier posts handily first time each and garnered applause from friend Sue; hey, that's what friends are for! Thanks, Sue! I know my achievement pales in comparison to Clay's for that day, but I made sure he knew how proud we were of his driving! And in my case, relieved! I still think this boating thing is for the male gender looking for adventure; at my age, I don't really need or want drama!)

With an invitation from Sue and Ed Mohler, fellow Loopers, for a St. Pat's Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage aboard Shady Acres, we readily accepted then went for a short walk on the beach. Good friends! Good food! And a nice ending to a nice day!

Tuesday brought Joe's departure with a fond farewell to a good friend and an invitation to join us again on another segment of our Great Loop adventure. With closure on our trip with Joe from Marathon to Dania Beach, Hollywood, Florida, we prepared for a reunion with Uncle Woody and Aunt Shirley and a month stay at Dania Beach. Here's to the week ahead!