3/17/16        Thursday     Boca Raton (mouth mouse), FL   Happy St. PATRICK'S Day

Celebrating our heritage w/Miami in the background

Another loooooooonnnnngg day for the boaters, especially us with manual steering. Sea Lark was off and swimming by 8:30 this morning. The lazier boats didn't get off anchor until 8:45. We all chugged along under the William Powell Bridge, in front of Miami,

I liked the sculpture of a lighthouse on the Miami waterfront

past the container ships and Port Miami, out Government Cut and safely out to sea. Another beautiful morning, and day, in beautiful paradise.

Sea Lark, Miami in background

The morning was brilliant and Miami is beautiful from a distance. There was a distress call to the Coast Guard and Fire Dept. An injured ( or sick) passenger on board a power vessel. We listened to the on-going rescue radio conversation, say the fire boat whiz out of the harbor and were very impressed with the coordination and support.

We continued easily. David at our helm. Me working on a grant application on behalf of Freeport Players and some proof reading for Bates Dance Festival. Around noon I took over the helm, just in time to get a little Atlantic Ocean motoring in before turning into the harbor and joining the ICW at Fort Lauderdale. There were two cruise ships docked at the outside edge of the harbor. Turned on end either would have been taller than the condos on the north side of the harbor entrance and up the beach.

The ICW twists and turns through Fort Lauderdale. Lots of traffic here in the well manicured canal. Lots of wealth both on the water (the boats) and on the land (the houses), and a few boaters who are not respectful...of other boaters, of the environment, of the No Wake guidelines/rules. I don't know if No Wake is the law. Even if it is, how to enforce it? The fast boats threw a wake that reverberated off the canal walls and continued to rock the waters for many minutes after boats passed. There was no where for the waves to dissipate, just bounced back and forth from one side of the canal to the other. In spite of the wonderful architecture, I don't ever need to go here again. I may choose to do so on another trip but it won't be from desire to repeat or see Ft. Lauderdale ICW again. But there were a couple of giggles.

Check out the flamingos on top

 LOTS of bascule bridges, all timed so that boats don't have to wait long for an opening and cars don't have to wait long for the closing. A good idea. We traveled much more slowly in the ICW than we were traveling in the open ocean but were not confident of the ease of getting back into the ICW at the next inlet north of Ft. Lauderdale.

Lauderdale and Boca Raton melted into each other. Some real estate options for the wealthy below.

Often, though not pictures, there were statues of Greek goddess types, nymphs frolicking or dolphins leaping. Lots of Italian and Spanish looks. And a number of smaller, beautiful, one-story hold outs against ostentation. My bias. So much could be done with this obvious wealth to benefit others. I'm sure many can say the same for how I use my more modest wealth, but wealth just the same. All relative? Hmmmm.

My favorite. No stairs inside and good trees.

Iguanas are everywhere apparently. The first bridge had 5 on the bridge fenders. This lady was on the second bridge, only about 2' rather than the 3+' ones on the first bridge. On one bridge 3 or 4 were sprawled on beams like photos of leopards sprawled on tree limbs.







We're anchored north end of Boca Raton, in the city (!) with high rise apts/condos all around. David cooked. We're both tired. Planning for the next couple of days before thunderstorms are expected. A bit of a long haul this week.