3 Jun 13

We were up early, but hung around the harbor for a while watching a couple of local thunderstorms trying to develop to the south and west. About 08:30, things cleared up a bit and we decided to go for it, exiting back out via Cape Florida and then turning north parallel to and about 2 miles offshore from the coast. The entire beach from Key Biscayne all the way to Ft. Lauderdale and beyond is just one high-rise condo or hotel after another. The beaches look fine from a distance, though. We motored all the way to Port Everglades/Lake Mabel, which is the entry to Ft. Lauderdale. From there, it is another 2 miles or so up the New River to the Downtown Docks, traveling along a beautiful series of turns with expensive houses backed right up to the river and some seriously expensive yachts tied up all along the river. But it is a beautiful venue to stop for a night or two to wait out the rains from the Yucutan tropical disturbance. Sam and Pat from “LongHawk” were there to meet us and take in our shore lines; nice to reunite the boats again. Docktails aboard “c’est le bon”, followed by a stroll onto Las Olas Avenue, and dinner at Noodles Panini, which (despite the name) was a very nice Italian restaurant.

4 Jun 13

Slept in until 8:30 and then went to Starbucks for breakfast and to do some administrative chores via their free WiFi. Then, we spent the rest of the day staying dry and planning out the next few weeks. Terri went grocery shopping at Publix. We spent a bit of time doing some long-range planning and trying to figure out where we can park the boat when we go home for a few weeks in late-June/mid-July. Had dinner with Sam and his buddy Steve, who has swapped places with Pat for a few days, at the Irish pub in town, then early to bed. I think we will not move in the morning; looks a bit wet and blustery for the next couple of days, as a result of the tropical disturbance now north of the Yucutan.

5 Jun 13

Woke to high overcast and occasional light showers, but no wind. The tropical disturbance is now in the Gulf and has strengthened to Tropical Storm Andrea - first named storm of the year. It looks like it will pass well to the north and west of us but will bring a lot of moisture and some strong winds to our area. We decided to stay here till Saturday. We organized a honey wagon for 13:30 and afterward, Terri and I rode the bus to the West Marine superstore, where we bought a 1000W inverter, wired remote for the stereo (to be placed in the cockpit) and a replacement 12V (cigarette lighter) receptacle for the main instrument panel. We had dinner aboard - grilled orange ruffie. Afterward, I got the 12V receptacle and stereo remote installed. The inverter is going to require a bit of thought and longer battery cables.

6 Jun 13

Woke to the remembrance that this is D-Day; 69 years ago this morning, the Allies staged the largest amphibious landing in history to storm Hitler’s Fortress Europe. The courage and sacrifice of those men and women should never be forgotten.

Blustery night and it is blowing a hoolie this morning; we have had gusts over 40 knots, but not much rain. I collected a big orange cushion that was floating down the river; apparently blown off of a big boat or somebody’s back yard furniture. After breakfast, Sam and Steve and I took a taxi to Sailorman (used boat stuff) and then went over to West Marine. I bought 20 ft of battery cable so I could mount the new inverter under the chart table. Terri and I spent all afternoon pulling cables from the chart table to the stern cabin, making connections and tidying up. That’s it; I’m not doing any more projects on this boat (except maybe solar panels, at some point in time). We joined Sam and Steve at the Royal Pig for dinner. Thinking of heading north on Saturday; weather looks like it will moderate by then.

7 Jun 13

We slept in again. Then got up and went grocery shopping and cleaned the boat in preparation for getting underway again tomorrow; the forecast looks OK, although we may get wet. Roasted chicken for dinner and early to bed.