Another lazy day in paradise. I did call a Cummins repairman to come take a look at my starboard tach which is not working and as a result it affects the engine synchronize function. Haven't heard back yet when he will be coming so I had to stay close just in case and took a couple shots of the marina property. The marina office is the first picture with the second being part of the marina slips. there are about 43 fixed slips like we are in and a bunch of floating dock space but in the shallow end of the creek. Normally we sit in about 6 feet of water with a little over 2 feet
under us at low tide. The projected tide range with the mega moon is higher than normal and also lower than normal. We may find ourselves in the mud come Sunday morning.
Friday evening we had a crab bisque type dinner for all the loopers prepared by one of the guys. Talk about good .... very rich but fantastic.
Saturday - 3/19/11
Two of the looper boats (Seamoore & Dream Catcher) left the marina this morning and headed further north. The other 5 boats will probably stay here thru April then head the pointy end north. We are planning on returning to West Virginia sometime around the middle of April for a couple weeks before heading north and over to the Bahamas.
Last night we decided to go a few miles north in the AICW toward Port Everglades by dinghy to a raw bar for lunch tomorrow. At 11 a.m. six little rubber boats headed out into the AICW to brave the weekend traffic and boy was there ever traffic. We had always heard that you do not want to be on the AICW on a weekend due to all the inconsiderate Florida boaters and now we know it is true. The AICW outside our marina is a manatee zone and they do patrol it closely we are told but that doesn't stop the big wakes of big boats.
We passed by the terminals where container ships were being loaded.
The Ft. Lauderdale airport is close and the planes take off right over our heads.
Our flotilla headed up the AICW.
Many large personal boats were along the waterway. Enlarge this one and check out the 40+ foot boat hanging on the side. It also has a helicopter on top. I don't think this dude works at WalMart.
Many cruise ships were in Port Everglades. This is the main channel out into the Atlantic for large boats and it is very busy. The port cops make sure you don't get very close to them and are quick to remind you to get your boat back into the marked channel if you stray too close.
The sign coming into Port Everglades from the ocean.
More cruise ships. We didn't actually count them but there must have been at least six or more that we could see.
Nice homes were along the way.
This one was especially nice. Check the next photo ... IT'S FOR SALE!
Going up the canal to the raw bar. More big boats.
The dinghy dock at the raw bar.
Our friends on Splendido, Roy & Bev (AKA the crazy Canadian). Can't figure out why he liked to drive his boat standing up especially with all the wakes.
This is what it looked like when a big boat passed in a no wake area.
I stayed on course by looking through these lovely things.
Back at the marina we had a "Low Country Boil" before heading to the beach to watch the moon rise.
The beach and parking area was packed.
Really liked the pix!
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