Bouncing around in Dinner Key
16 February 2015
Maggie / too chilly for Miami
It's been two more weeks of north, cold winds! During our time in Miami, we've had 14 gold-star days (days where we don't spend money) because the weather has either been rough, or we've been in an anchorage where it's difficult to go ashore. Cat Tales and C Language made their way north again, and hung out in Virginia Key for a couple of days. We were so excited to have people we know that we rode our dinghy out to welcome them. One of the things we love about cruising is meeting people along the way; it's difficult to do that if you are stuck on the boat due to weather, or if there are no social activities planned. We all had dinner together at Whiskey Joe's and grumbled about how windy and cool it was.
While at Marine Stadium (Virginia Key) we searched every possible way to land the dinghy to go ashore. It's a fabulous anchorage, but very limited shore access. We went ashore at Virginia Key State Park, and had a lovely walk through the forest. We could tie up at Whiskey Joe's if we were eating there. The City of Miami Marina would not allow dinghies to tie up to their dock (Miami is not very boater friendly). We discovered a place to tie the dinghy to the mangroves, walk a short path to a hole cut through a chainlink fence where we could exit through a parking lot out to the street. Apparently, others had been desperate, too, and they brought fence cutters.
During the week of February 1, we got word of a couple family situations and we were not sure if one of us would have to head north. Not wanting to leave the boat at anchor with only one of us aboard, we called around for a mooring ball or a slip. With the Miami Boat Show coming up, plus being peak season, every place was full. Fortunately, I had called Dinner Key Mooring Facility a few before and was put on the waiting list. Just as we were fretting about what we would do if one of us needed to leave, we received a call that a mooring was available. Because we were having 20-25 kt NE winds and we were sitting quietly at Marine Stadium in Virginia Key, we decided to wait a day to cross Biscayne Bay to pick up the ball. The mooring field is fully exposed to NE to SW winds.
On Saturday, February 7, we said goodbye to our beautiful, calm anchorage and view of the Miami Skyline, and motored across the Bay. What a difference getting out into the open water! The wind was blowing, with white caps all around. We found mooring ball #145 toward the outside of the field, and on the third try in 22+kt winds, we picked up the pennant to the mooring ball. And for the next 24 hours, we hobby horsed, and rocked and rolled. Bob couldn't sleep in the aft cabin due to the loud stern-slap. Finally, the winds abated, and we could get off the boat.
There's an active cruisers community here, and a potluck was held on Picnic Island Sunday afternoon. After 4 days without stepping off the boat, we went to check out the area before we met our fellow boating neighbors. Like kids in a candy store, we scoured through Fresh Market to find a dish to share, and then went right to the gathering. How nice to connect with others, many of whom were waiting for a window to cross to the Bahamas.
The next day was threatening all day with thunderstorms, but then calmed in the afternoon. Our first priority - laundry!
On Tuesday, we welcomed granddaughter Natalia Gisele Brasher into the world. Vicky and baby are doing fine and went home the next day. Now Benjamin will have someone to play with besides his dad.
Our Punta Gorda neighbors, Betty and Leo Hilke on Dues Paid, pulled in on Monday, just two balls down. We went to their boat for dinner on Tuesday, after another day of NW 20 and gusts above 30. Betty grilled a pork tenderloin, and we brought butternut squash grown in our Mystic garden.
We've been experiencing chilly weather, needing to wear long pants and multiple layers. Poor Rosie insists on sleeping ON me at night, no matter which way I turn. She's trying to keep warm. And most of our dinners are made in the oven, to heat up the cabin.
On Wednesday, Bob and I went to his alma mater, University of Miami. What a challenge to use public transportation when you're not used to it. There's a local bus, that takes you to the metro station, and from there you can travel Miami and beyond easily. You just need to know where you're going! We provided great humor to many as we tried to figure out the ticket machine. The University is big with about 16,000 students rushing between classes and eating at one of the many restaurants on campus. It's always an emotional day for Bob to revisit the site of so many memories.
One of our reasons for staying at Dinner Key was for the Miami Boat Show, and then the Coconut Grove Art Festival. We paid for the premium day ticket to the boat show, and spent all day Thursday roaming the tents. We went early to get a space at the dinghy dock; as you can see from the photo, we weren't early enough! After another morning of making our way around using public transportation, we got to the show as it was opening. We talked to many vendors of our boat equipment, and learned some things we didn't know even after almost 10 years sailing SeaTryst.
My sister Mary is visiting our niece Carlene in Port St Lucie, so they came down on Friday for lunch. What fun! I got to spend 3 hours of girl-time. We went to nearby Coco Walk, a lovely, small neighborhood of shops and restaurants. The traffic was horrendous due to setup for the Art Festival starting Saturday. I was hoping for a trip to Publix for a few items, but it would have taken way too long and much frustration weaving through traffic. It was great to see family, and I'm grateful they made the several hour round-trip drive here.
Saturday was spent walking through the miles-long Coconut Grove Art Festival. Premier artists from around the country display here year after year. All we bought were t-shirts! We got word that Bob's niece Denise will make a short visit to Florida and we can see her and son Tyler before she has surgery later in the month. We were thrilled to leave the mooring field on Sunday. Fortunately, while we were there, the winds stayed out of the NW and we had protection. Monday, they are shifting to the East, where we'd be fully exposed. We tried to go to No Name anchorage, but being a Sunday in the middle of a holiday weekend, there was little room, so we went back to Marine Stadium, our home away from home this season! It was such a pleasure to be in a fully protected harbor; the winds were so light we grilled steak and had a wonderful dinner in the cockpit enjoying sunset and the Miami skyline. We will stay here until we head to South Beach mid-week.