Maybe the most perfect morning we’ve had so far. Warm sun, soft breeze, no hurry, lovely surroundings. Coffee and Danish on the top deck. Very nice. The day had some surprises and some repeating themes: almost as soon as we got back on the ICW, we found ourselves in a mangrove area that could have been anywhere in the Keys. We spotted osprey nests in trees rather than marker buoys and saw huge fish leaping out of the water (or at least the splash that remained). That tranquil scene changed quickly, though, as we began to see marinas and boat storage yards along the shore, lots more people on the water, shorelines filled with beautiful houses and some not-so-beautiful condos squeezed in here and there. Our biggest surprise of the day was a misprint in the cruising guide we are using. It showed our next mooring spot (Stuart, FL) at statute mile 1007 and showed that we had to pass under 10 bridges along the way. We missed the marina by nearly 20 miles, but fortunately found another just a short distance and one bridge away (Palm Beach Gardens). We’ll know now to check details like “what day mark” or “what mile marker” as we make arrangements. Ironically, just after deciding to take fore and aft photos of our mooring spots, we landed at a marina that has a major condo construction project going on….and it’s our forward view. But the people are very nice, the ladder to their dock is easily climbed, facilities are clean and the view aft is perfect.
This scene of a mangrove lined canal could be straight out of the Keys. Perhaps the “canal” is a bit wider, but vegetation is identical.See that boat stuck in the mangroves? We wondered whether he was getting ready for an early hurricane season. (More about that in another blog!)This osprey pair (they mate for life) built their nest between two dead branches of a crooked tree.This close-up of another nearby nest, also in a dead tree, shows someone is at home.The dome building is the Oceanographic Institute, a marine research facility that operates two Sea-Link submersibles. These vessels are equipped with acrylic viewing spheres and can dive to depths up to 3,000 feet. Considering that the ICW is rarely deeper than 7 feet, they have a ways to go to be fully utilized. The nearest inlet to ocean is about 5 miles away.This photo does not adequately demonstrate the craziness of these waters. PWCs zipping over wakes, small boats racing by without so much as a horn beep, paddle-boarders in the middle of the channel, etc. etc. Wild. Please note the pretty color of the water!The first “iffy” bridge we came to was opening for a sailboat so we scooted through. For the remaining low-height bridges, we had to take our chances with the heights. Bridge tenders insisted we could make it. They were right. But the trip through each of them was scary!Who knew that missions were being built along the ICW? Complete with tiki huts!Afternoon sun puts Dot.Calm in a pretty light at Palm Beach Gardens marina which, thankfully, had a spot for us.Our unfortunate forward view. Million dollar condos are being built alongside a major highway….and they are already 75% sold out.Our aft view, however, is tropically perfect.Dinner at an outside table at the Cafe Chardonnay. Wonderful!
