The 25th was another sad day of departing from Karen. We had a great time in Miami. Karen made it home and I headed up the intercoastal waterway (ICW). It was blowing so hard, we had a hard time getting across upper Biscayne Bay. Even ran the outboard to help the diesel. With a 5 hp outboard and the 10 hp diesel, we were doing 2.3 knots into the wind. It wasn't fun! Only went about 8 miles up to Bakers Haulover Inlet and Florida International University. There is a great anchorage right between the campus and a park. Stayed two days since the weather wasn't improving.

On the 27th we motored up to Ft. Lauderdale. Nice trip, high rise condos everywhere. Passed through Port Everglades docks and came up the New River to downtown Ft Lauderdale.. They have made a Riverwalk on the river and put docking facilities for about a mile along the river. The overnight fee is cheap compared to a marina. Water and electricity are available. Seems strange for Puff and I to be city folk.

Managed to drop my camera on the lens and had to replace it. I must have put 20 miles on my little bicycle between West Marine, Sears, Circuit City, Best Buy, Wolf Camera etc. Good exercise and finally found a replacement at a reasonable cost. Also replenished supplies incase the weather improves and the Bahamas are possible. You can put 2 12 packs, and food for a week on a folding bicycle, the photo is proof.

Spend 29 Mar to 2 Apr in Lake Sylvia in Ft Lauderdale, just down the ICW from Bahia Mar Marina. It is like Lake Edgewater in Pt Charlotte so it is similar to camping in someone's back yard. I know they don't like it but it is free! Weather is slowly improving with the winds getting lighter each day. Hopefully tomorrow is the day for the Bahamas. Going to try and get to West End on Grand Bahama Island from Ft Lauderdale. Wednesday may be better but I want 2 days in case.

Met a Canadian, George Huvos, who keeps his boat down here and comes down for 3 months to live on it. He is 80 years old and his boat is a 1971 so he has problems. I have been fixing things each day as new problems occur. He calls me his "savior" which is only true if you want things fixed for free. He is a nice fellow but getting a bit old for this. I also met Tom who has a 41 Jeanneau (sp?) and we hope to convoy to West End.

Got to go. Ft Lauderdale is something else. Huge boats everywhere.