Miami Beach, FL N25° 47.227' W80° 08.899'
09 February 2009 | 25 47.227N 80 08.899W
Randy
Arrived here in Miami Beach on the 7th and met up with the folks on Blue Heaven (Al and Arlene) from Lancaster, PA, and Ian and Kirkland on Kirian from Cumberland Island, GA. I met them in Ft. Lauderdale. Al and Arlene have sailed the Chesapeake Bay for 30 years and are on their maiden voyage out on the Atlantic and are headed for the Keys. They just pulled out this morning and I doubt I will see them again before I return from the Bahamas. Ian and Kirkland are on their way to the Bahamas to get married. They are a little stressed out as they are supposed to be there already to meet family, but of course, the weather has not cooperated. They will probably cross when I do. Dean and Susan on Autumn Borne were anchored here when I arrived and we met for coffee on their boat this morning. Their plans are almost identical to mine for the next several weeks and we have made plans to meet up at either Dinner Key or No Name Harbor south of here at the top of Biscayne Bay Wednesday and will cross the Gulf Stream together. They are really neat folks and I look forward to spending some time with them over the next couple of weeks. Ironically, their daughter is flying into Nassau the same day Nikki is so we will probably even be at the airport at the same time! After that, we will likely go our separate ways since they need to hang relatively close to Nassau for a week. Nikki and I will head south as soon as we pick up a few provisions that I am sure to have missed. That is mainly about Nikki being a fantastic cook and I am not and don't think about buying the kind of things she would cook, and cook with. I also met Lou on Soo Fine II, from Vancouver. He is also crossing to the Bahamas, likely around the same time. I don't know what the number is in terms of boats waiting around here for the crossing, but I am sure it is plenty. It will probably look like an armada!
So I am hanging in Miami Beach for two more nights and then will meet up with Autumn Borne Wednesday in Biscayne Bay after filling up with fuel and water. Then it will be off to the Bahamas either Thursday of Friday, weather permitting. I will write before I leave to let you know when that is for sure.