As the title suggests, I'm still in No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne. Someone used the word 'stuck', but it's too pleasant a place for that word. None-the-less, I and the cruisers on the other boats are waiting, and a bit impatiently waiting, for 'The Window'. This is when the wind and seas cooperate to make crossing to the Bahamas feasible.

There are at least 8 boats here who are also waiting. A family from Three Rivers Quebec, a smattering of older and younger couples, and at least one other single-hander - an 80 yr old who lives on a 32', mid-60s Allied Seawind ketch - see photo in gallery. His boat is called Sea Isle, and he joked with me that, now that he's 80, he's going to put an N in the name - 'Sea N ile'... I think he's told that joke before... Some cruisers are very experienced with going to the Bahamas, others are first-timers like me. We'll be getting together to discuss what day will be the best for our crossing.

I've spent my time here completing my project list, trips into town to get various supplies, and some exploring of the park, the lighthouse area and beach. Courtesy of my birder friend Gene, I now know I've seen a Black Skimmer (a type of bird - see gallery). There are bike paths and nature trails that crisscross the park. In my last post I included a picture in the gallery of houses on stilts - apparently this was once a thriving community. I've included a picture in the gallery of the plaque that describes it. I also tried snorkeling inn the harbor here, but the water is too milky to see anything. Note - I've been telling folks the water temperature is 75 - well, it's not. A bit more like upper 60s yesterday.

This next week, baring significant changes to the forecast, will be when I set my course eastward across the gulf stream. The 'best day' keeps slipping, but this week has winds from the east, south and southwest. Waiting too long increases the chance that the winds swing around northward, and everyone would have to wait even longer.