Making the Move

Cavu and Blue Heaven on mooring in Vero.

We finally broke away from Vero Beach (aka Velcro Beach-since everyone sticks there longer than planned) on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, leaving our buddy boat, Cavu alone on the mooring . We had three boats on the mooring at one point, and when Ron and Maryann got back on Tuesday they could find one or two new boats tied to them.

The crowded mooring field in Vero

We enjoyed meeting up with our friends from Dawn Treader, Dawn and Ron, who now live in Ft. Pierce before we left. We left with a new buddy boat, Cookie Monster, with Robin and Corbett on board and headed to Peck Lake. It is not really a lake but a wide section in the ICW which is good for anchoring. One nice aspect is there is a path across to the beach that everyone uses there. Unfortunately, we discovered our windlass was not working. However, after a little investigation Al discovered it needed a new solenoid. He rigged it so we could use it until we got one in Ft. Lauderdale.

Cookie Monster being highlighted by a rainbow spot.

The next day we headed out at 7am motoring hard at times to get through the five drawbridges that only open at set times.
I caught a rainbow spot in the sky behind Cookie Monster after we left Peck  Lake. (I cannot think of the name for those rainbow spots.)

  I finally got a lot of hooking done while motoring.  It has been so humid I did not need wool on top of me!

About two thirds done!

Along the way near West Palm we saw some gorgeous houses 

I would not want to wash those window!

and some interesting boats. This captain had a sense of humor. 

Jaws 3, I guess?

 We got through Lake Worth and out the inlet and motor-sailed to Ft. Lauderdale. We were pushing to get south fast so that we could take advantage of the weather window that was going to be Wednesday and Thursday. Normally, we would have spent the night in Lake Worth. When we got to the Ft. Lauderdale inlet around 6PM it was getting dark but there were plenty of lights from the surrounding buildings and ships docked. It actually was a good time to come in because we saw several cruise ships come out between 4 and 5 pm and we don't like being in the channel with them. We had to wait until 6:30pm for the bridge to open and we were hoping there was room in Lake Sylvia for us to anchor. We motored past the numerous luxurious yachts and homes

enjoying the lighted palm trees decorated for Christmas. 

Palm trees decorated for the holidays.

 We were lucky, “there was room for us at the inn,” so we put down our anchor in Lake Sylvia for a good nights sleep.

Robin and Corbett have friends who live in Ft. Lauderdale so we arranged to meet them at the end of a side canal at a restaurant called the Raw Bar. Getting there can be a little tricky at high tide because they have some very low bridges. Corbett actually had to lift a pipe under the bridge to make it under!

What we won't do for a ride to get supplies!

Since Joanna and Tom's car only fit five, we sent the men off to West Marine and Sailorman for their shopping, while we ladies had a beverage and enjoyed each others company. Then the men came back and we ladies went to find Costco and a Walmart. We ended up having quite an adventure as the directions from the Ipad and phone took us way out of our way and into an unsavory part of town. (I did not realize that Ft. Lauderdale had a bad section!) We eventually got to our destination, loaded up with what we wanted and headed back. We had planned to go to an Italian restaurant called Anthony's for “linner.” That is lunch and dinner combined. Since we took longer than expected., Robin who was driving their car, dropped Joanna and I at the restaurant and went to pick up the men. It was taking longer than expected and finally both our cell phones rang and our husbands asked if Joanna had the key. This was one of those cars with the push button start, only needing the key to be with you. Robin had gone to pick them up and turned off the car to give the driving to Tom in the middle of the Raw Bar parking lot. He however did not have a key and so they could not start it!!!!! He ended up calling Uber which came and picked him up, brought him to the restaurant where he got the key, and was driven back to the car. Then the men and Robin finally came where we had a delicious pizza dinner and definitely alcoholic drinks too! We needed them!

By the time we got back to our dinghies and loaded them, it was getting dark and we did not have our lights with us. The only good thing, was that we did not get caught with no lights. You hardly needed them with all the homes and boats lit up on both sides of the canal.

We prepared for our crossing and went to bed only to get up at 3:30 am to leave. We went out the inlet once again in the dark with no problems. We had discussed that it would be best to head to Miami and then across. The wind was out of the southeast which allowed us to motor sail. Once in a while we would get a little rain but nothing to fret about. As we were passing Miami, a huge rainbow appeared.

Our lucky rainbow?

Al taking a little nap as we crossed the banks .

I thought it might bring us good luck, but as the morning progressed the wind did not move more southerly and it would have been difficult to cross, not making much headway. So we decided to head into No Name Harbor. We were there about 11 am and there were only two other boats there, which was very unusual. We anchored, had lunch, took a nap and about 3pm Corbett says the wind has gone south so lets head out. That is exactly what we did and it could not have been much nicer. We did not even get the usual agitation that you often get in the Gulf Stream. The wind was steady out of the south at about 12-15knots. 

We took our turn at watches with Cookie Monster following behind us. Another boat, Pura Vida called on the VHF radio asking to join in the crossing which they did. 

We arrived in Great Harbour Cay Marina in the Berry Islands where we have never been, around 11:30am. That was only 19 1/2 hrs. which was really good time.

The entry into Great Harbour

 It was one of the easiest crossing we ever had. I guess that rainbow did bring us good luck, because a boat came in the next day making the crossing in all sorts of squalls with lightning all around them which might have been us if we had waited one more day! 

Once in we filled out all 5 or 6 pages of information they wanted for customs.  The customs official was very nice giving us 120 days which can be added on to if needed at another customs office.  Once we were all cleared through, Robin and Corbett, Al and I headed out for a walk to the beach.

Our first Bahamian beach for this trip.

The first thing we saw when we got to the beach was a sea biscuit.

We left it there for others to find.

Robin was so excited about being at the beach, she chose to go in, clothes and all!

Robin enjoying the warm Bahamian waters.

 We came back to our boats and ate a light dinner and crashed!  We were asleep by 8pm and slept until 7am the next day.  We were tired!

We were all ready to explore the island but it rained almost the entire day which is highly unusual for the Bahamas.  So we got some games in playing Farkel and Sequence.  It truly poured which was good.  The boat needed a good rinsing off of all the salt. Rain is predicted for the next week but not steady like we had our first day in the Bahamas.  We are anxious to get exploring the islands!