2011-12-03 - in Key Biscayne, FL



Enjoying the beach with the other 2 boats while several  kite surfers entertained us!



Exploring a marvelous tree along the way home!

 

2011-12-02 - to Key Biscayne, Fl



 We decided to move from Coconut Grove to Key Biscayne as we were not protected from the wind coming in the bay.  The other two boats also headed that way.  After a very lengthy check in procedure (it is a government facility and we had to show proof of insurance, ownership, etc.) we hooked up to our new mooring ball.  It's a much more protected spot, however, the wind still is howling in here.  The water is such as nice colour and we are moored next to a small island which is home to pelicans and other water birds.  It's quite a nice spot.  Just before the sun went down we had decided to head to the small beach near the marina to check it out.  Cee Jem joined us and we enjoyed a few snacks while the kids played in the sand and dancing to Miley Cyrus!  Fun!

2011-12-01 - in Miami, FL (Coconut Grove)



Last night on the radio I heard the advertisement for "Santa's Enchanted Forest".  I did a quick search and thought that it would be fun to go.  I got Kerry on board with the idea and after told Connor - he couldn't contain himself.  In the morning he quickly and attentively completed his school work so that we could get there on time.  It's a large amusement area, but in a Christmas / Santa theme.  We headed into town early afternoon for a quick walkabout and then hopped on one of the city buses that would take us there.  It was quite nice.  They had so many Christmas lights in the trees that lined a long walkway to the amusements.  They also had displays lining the walk and rides for younger kids.  We found the local bus that would take us to the terminal and transfer to the terminal.  To find the bus I jumped on the first bus I saw to ask which bus to take.  Within moments the whole bus was shouting out orders for the bus.  I felt like I was on Price is Right....where I was bidding on a set of washer and dryer. I couldn't even make out really what they were saying.  Very helpful lot, really, but we figured it out.  One crazy

thing that happened occurred when we getting on the second bus.  Kerry heard someone call out his name and guess who it was QCYC folks?  John Ball (J.B.).  for those who don't know J.B. he is from our club back home.  He was thinking of heading down this way, but we had no idea that he had made it.  He had left after the whole closing of the Erie canal thing....so I can't wait to hear his story when we meet again.  The bus driver was closing the door quickly behind Kerry so we didn't get to hear.  Anyway...small world.  I tried a lot of the rides that Connor did.  I figured that this is training for

crossing the Gulf Stream.  If I can handle these rides, I can handle anything that the crossing can throw at us!

Connor is the 'Ring Master' at the Children's Interactive Circus




Wheeee!  So hard to get a good picture of this as they were moving so quickly......They loved it!

 

2011-11-30 - to Miami, FL (mile 1095)

We finally broke free from Cooley's Landing.  At 9am the first opening of the bridge saw 3 sailboats (Hi5, Cee Jem and Dharma) make their way through.  We had to first stop at Las Olas Marina to pick up a package that had been delivered there.  We did a Nascar pit stop on the sea wall at the marina.  A quick tie up, a run into the office and back, untie...and go! We would be going out in the ocean today.  It's been a while since we have been out there.  Cee Jem have never been out and they are looking forward to putting at least one ocean passage before the big crossing.  The sea was very calm and wind was under 10 knots - so quite uneventful.   We saw, for the first time, the bottom of the ocean.  The colour of the water has definitely changed.  It's not 'Bahamas clear' but you can see detail at the bottom which show that we are going in the right direction.  One thing that we did see was a large amount of pink jellyfish floating by.   It was something I have never seen before.  Connor also wanted to try fishing again.  He was, again, successful.  He pulled in, what we think was a small tuna (called a Little Tunny).  We ended putting it back as it wasn't a very large fish but he was thrilled to have caught another.  We pulled into the mooring field at Dinner Key Marina late afternoon.  We will be here or a few days as the weather for crossing does not seem like it is suitable until, at least, next Monday. 

2011-11-29 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Cooley's Landing....last day here)

It was just a day for trying to complete all of the last-minute tasks on our list.  Busy, busy day!  In the middle of it all the three kid boats got together to put on a bake sale.  Connor also brought out his magic tricks to entertain the bake sale goers.  Tomorrow we plan to leave for Miami.  I think that we all feel done with Ft. Lauderdale.  After several days at one spot we start feeling like it is time to start moving.  The first bridge opening is at 9am....we plan to be under it!

2011-11-28 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Cooley's Landing....still)

We are still here at Cooley's - hoping to head out soon but we have a few big jobs to do on the boat.  One of them was unjamming the spare halyard at the top of the mast. It had slipped off of the wheel and jammed in the mechanism.  This required me to go up there and sort it out.  It was quite jammed and took over an hour to clear.  Greg from Cee Jem and Kerry stood by and manned the lines.  It was good to finally tick off one of the big jobs on our list.  Several more are on....but one day at a time!

One of the very exciting things that happened today was that

Connor caught his first fish!  We have been throwing out a line just really for fun.  We throw it out...reel it in.  Nothing ever jumps on the hook.  But, this time he yelled out, "I caught one, I caught one".  I was not prepared for that.  I shouted to Kerry who came running to assist, we had to run back to grab the net, the pliers and, of course, the camera.  He was thrilled.  We ended up freeing this little guy to live for another day.

My view from above!

2011-11-27 - in Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Cooley's Landing)

The day started out rather mundane.  The girls went shopping to Walmart while the men stayed behind and watched the kids.  We all had to finish up on the last few things for the trip.  Courtney from Dharma...was clearly the winner on this haul - lots of duplicates, triplicates of items....we had all been there.  I had already gone several times the day before and Julie from Cee Jem did a lot in Vero Beach.  But 10 boxes of instant potatoes bought from Walmart isn't really interesting so I need to figure out what else we did today....hummmm...oh, ya...we snagged thieves in a robbery.  No really.... here's what happened.  Kerry and I were outside when I saw three early teen boys running through the parking lot with 2 very shiny folding bikes.  What caused me to be suspicious is that I had noticed these bikes the other day on our walk.  They were locked to the mid deck of another catamaran.  I took me a very brief moment to put it all together.  The confirmation was the third fellow holding a large pair of bolt cutters.  I jumped off of the boat yelling something to do with 'put the bikes down' - 'they are not yours..'.  I think the psychology of it all was that someone had stolen our silver bike just before we left....so, this was a bit personal.  Kerry jumped off as well and started to run towards them.  I ran around the building hoping to cut them off.  By the time I reached the front they had pulled ahead.  Luckily, they had already dropped one of the bikes.  I quickly put it together (as it was a foldable bike) and was in pursuit.  I went through a few of the streets in the neighbourhood chasing them on my newly acquired wheels.  At each intersection I asked a pedestrian if they had seen boys on a bike.  On both occasions they steered me in the right direction.  The last person pointed in the direction of a grassy area between townhouses that lead to another street.  Off I went.  Bingo! There they were.  At this point Greg and Courtney (from the other boats) were driving in their car also in pursuit.  The second bike was now dropped and the last boy was running.  Luckily a police officer had appeared down the street so I called out to him.  Lights went on and now the boy was running in my direction.  As he approached I began to do an 'S' maneuver on the bike.....just to throw him off a bit.  :)  Greg and Courtney arrived just as the boy approached me and wobbled past me.  They grabbed his shirt and he was now down.  Courtney, however, had some rocks thrown at her as he was being tackled....left a poor little welt on her forehead.  Team Cruisers win this one. The portly police officer had just caught up to the scene.  Panting, he was asking what street we were on - as he was calling for back up.  Within moments a couple of other police cars joined in on the scene and the one young man was apprehended.  After a few details written in the police notebook....we were free to go.  Unfortunately, for the young man...his day would not be that clear.  I went back to the boat that I thought that the bikes came from.  No one seemed to be on board...so I asked a passer by to borrow a pen first to write down the numbers....but, when he didn't have that, I asked for his phone.  I called the emergency numbers on the side of the boat and, wouldn't you know it, they were actually on the boat - unaware that boys had climbed on their boat, gone to the other side and snipped their bikes free.  They were grateful and went to find the police officers to identify themselves.  When we all found another police officer he reached into his trunk and pulled out a shiny gold sticker with 'Ft Lauderdale Junior Police Officer' on it.  He said, thanks for your help....here's a sticker.  I asked for a few more for the rest of the gang.  By now all of the kids were running around trying to find clues and solve the crime - we all deserve stickers for this one!  Sure beats shopping at Walmart!  Let's hope the rest of the days are not 'that exciting'.