Toto, we are not in the midwest anymore!
23 December 2009 | Fort Lauderdale, FL
John and Cheryl
Cheryl's Notes:
We left Lantana this morning and had about 30 miles to Fort Lauderdale. We had a total of ten bridges to go through today. What a challenge in timing. The area of Intercoastal waterway from Lantana to Fort Lauderdale is called the Canyon. In most areas, both sides of the waterway was shored up with concrete barriers. When you are passed by a high speed boat in a confined waterway, the result is like being in a washing machine. We got bounced around a lot today. The houses and boats are getting bigger the farther south we go.
We had our first manatee sighting today. Boy, I thought that dolphins are elusive. There was no time to grab a camera. We would see the hump of their back break the surface and then a slap of their big flat tail. I am hoping that we can take a dinghy ride into shallow water and maybe find a few lounging around.
The weather for the next three weeks is not going to be good for a Bahamas crossing. They are predicting one front after another to keep rolling through here. They are blaming it on an El Nino winter pattern. We may have to duck down to the Keys and spend some time there.
I have to admit that it does not feel like Christmas to us. We are going to try to put up some lights tomorrow, but it is not the same without family and snow. We miss everyone back home and will try to Skype with everyone at some time in the next two days. So we are wishing all of our family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
John's Notes:
Well, here we are in Ft. Lauderdale. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about spending Christmas in Florida. Have only spent two Christmas' out of Minnesota in 35 years. Won't miss the 1-2feet of snow that is predicted for the Twin Cities in the next couple of days. I know that we are supposed to be living this great adventure but being away from family has it's drawbacks.
As we moved further south today, the boats and houses got bigger and bigger. I don't think being a millionaire in Florida qualifies you for anything but maybe making a down payment. Arne and I are amazed at the disposable income people must have to afford all of this. I had a yacht pass us today that was 165' long. His tender , which was leading the way was a 55' sport fisher. That alone had to be worth in the neighborhood of $2M. The name of the big boat was "My Iris." I'm guessing that Iris was the blue haired gal on the boat deck that was working out on a treadmill. Still wondering where I went wrong in life.
We are going to spend Christmas with Bev and Arne of Scandia. Not sure what we are going to do but will try and make the best of it. We will probably put up our outdoor lights on the boat tomorrow. That might make us feel more festive. Bet we spend lots of time on the phone in the next couple of days.
It never ceases to amaze me as to what Cheryl can do aboard a boat. We are on a mooring ball for the next few days. I think I have only grabbed a mooring ball about six times in my life. I know for sure that the first time I grabbed one it took me several tries. As we entered the mooring field Cheryl wanted to go forward and grab the ball. I told her that I didn't think that was a very good idea. The wind and current were pretty brisk and I was sure that she would have problems. She told me that because of the tight quarters with boats all around, she wanted me at the wheel. Ok, you go for it girl. We were moving slowly and I was trying to keep the mooring ball to windward so that it would lay up against the hull giving Cheryl a better chance to snag it with the boat hook. I don't know why I bothered being so careful. She snagged it on the first try. Arne, on Scandia, however, took a couple of tries.