Pot of Gold
20 November 2011
Lake Worth FL - Boca Raton FL
Getting up this morning was easier said than done. It had been extremely windy in the night with a squall slamming into Alexia at 2am and although we were quite safely anchored the problem was getting back to sleep. In the end we decided to make cups of hot chocolate, switch on the computers to do some emails and just wait until we started yawning again. It worked.
By morning the rain had stopped but it was still very windy and grey with ominous clouds that told us that there was more rain to come. However, it was good enough to have breakfast on deck.
From this anchorage on the southern part of Lake Worth we can see the commercial docks and we watch the comings and goings of several cruise ships determined to stick to their time tables and take their passengers for a roller coaster trip to the Bahamas. This mornings's US Coastguard small craft advisory was giving wave heights of 8-10ft. We are pleased to continue on inland waters to our next destination!
By mid afternoon it has been raining solidly for hours - our light waterproofs did a good job but the heat of the day makes it seem like a sauna. We see few boats en route and we are just on the point of deciding to stop and anchor early when a small break in the dark clouds lets the sun pour through.
To our surprise this double rainbow appeared in the sky behind us - the colours streamed over the top of the small town we were passing. It lasted for less than 30 seconds before melting away.
We reach Boca Raton by 5pm - a small anchorage which is sheltered by high rise condos all around that deflect the wind. It's soon dark but we are determined to sit on deck for our 'sundowners' using the removable door panels from the companionway to protect our butts from the wet decks.
Most of the condos have lights on, we can hear music, voices, clinking of glasses, and see the flashings of TV screens dancing on ceilings, many of the balconies are decorated for Thanksgiving Day on the 24th. BBQ's are being cranked up and the smoky aromas of dinner drift down to the anchorage - it's a fun place to be and one of our favourite anchoring spots.
We shall be sad to leave early tomorrow without going ashore.