Leaving Elliott Key, we were able to sail the entire length of Biscayne Bay, first wing on wing, then jibing up the rest of the bay. It was an awesome run that doesn't happen often enough when headed to a specific location. We took a mooring in Crandon Park Marina, a Dade County Park at the top of Key Biscayne. We had a pleasant mooring stay there in 2010 and went there because it was more protected than Dinner Key and less crowded than No Name Harbor. It was, after all, the weekend, in Miami, with beautiful weather. It was again a pleasant stay, but the price has increased considerably since 2010 making it not as good a value considering the showers are outside with only a shower curtain between you and the world, one washer, one dryer and a broken pump out. We do love the location, though, as the view of downtown Miami is beautiful, and there is a bicycle trail the entire length of the Key to Bill Baggs State Park. We again rode this trail to the Park as we did in 2010, had lunch in the Boater's Grill restaurant overlooking No Name Harbor (I've never seen that many boats in one anchorage so close together), then checked out the restored lighthouse and keepers cottage. Cars were lined up and had to wait turns to get into the park for the beaches and picnic areas as it was full, so coming in by bike was the way to go. On the ride back, we scored frozen yogurt next door to Winn Dixie where we picked up a couple of items.

Back at the boat, we enjoyed the pleasant afternoon temperatures and a cold beverage while we were entertained by the sights that surrounded us. We had a safe ring side seat for the boats coming in for fuel, to drop off passengers, take their boats out of the water at the ramp or just cruise around to strut like peacocks. There are a few pictures in the Photo Gallery giving some good examples of the entertainment. When you look at them, start Pharrell Williams song "Happy" playing in your head to set the mood. One out of three boats had that song playing, loudly. And I like that song very much. It makes me, well, happy. That was the only song I recognized, but they were all incredibly loud and did not all make me so happy. Also, it seems that one can only have fun on a boat in Miami if it has three, or even better four, high powered engines that go very fast, even in a No Wake zone. And of course, the boat must be overloaded with 19 of one's closest friends sitting on bow, transom, center console tops and on each other. Some of the things we saw that I didn't get pictures of: an airborne banner behind a plane flying over South Beach with a Trojan warrior picture and the caption, "Can't wait to get one on" ; a bikini clad girl standing on the bow of a brightly colored power boat moving quite fast in high heels and holding a champagne flute while everyone else in the boat was seated with a beer; only saw one person fall out of boat while it was underway; at 10:30 p.m. a go-fast boat came into the marina with the best darned sound system I've ever heard--we could hear it 15 minutes before it arrived clear as a bell as it was also the loudest we've ever heard coming from a boat; a 60' yacht with a young teen at the helm and one guy next to him that looked to be in his 20's. It was a delightful and entertaining afternoon, and Ed says the fun continued well into the night even after I went to bed.

We considered staying another day, but we couldn't think of what we might do in Miami that didn't cost a gazillion dollars. The free view was enough for us for this trip. With today a work day for Ed, it seemed best to move on and enjoy the view up the ICW from different angles. We are at anchor tonight in a small cove just south of Fort Lauderdale. Tomorrow, we will meet up with some Turner Marine pals in Fort Lauderdale.

Miami Photo Gallery