CODA BAHAMAS BOUND 2025 (16)

 CODA :  Still waiting for a weather window for Bimini, Bahamas (day 2).

25 January 2025

No Name Harbor, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne , Florida  

The colors down here are fabulous once the sun comes out.

Marc-  After our shipboard breakfast I started in on doing another boat project.  This one made me very happy.  I reassembled, glued and fastened the cockpit bench seat that I had made in pieces while home over the Holidays.  There were only some minor adjustments to it.  I then fit the seat and then moved on applying filler and paint.  

Sue and I headed out for a walk into Town to mail some postcards, pick up a few items at CVS and then stop at Ace Hardware.  It is great to have a hardware store right by the Park entrance.  The Hardware store staff helped me find a suitable board and u-bolts to attach it to the port stanchions.  The idea is to create something to attach the 5 gallons jugs we have for diesel, water and gas.  The walk back to the harbor brought a new meaning to the nautical phrase "walk the plank."

After dinner we enjoyed a walk over to "The Cleat" bar and grill on the Western tip of the Harbor shore and then along the western shore to view the setting sun.  We returned to the docks just as darkness came at 18:30.

Cockpit bench seat in progress.

Sue spotted this Green Heron just as we were tying up to the dinghy wall on the edge of the mangroves.

The village of Key Biscayne has one main commercial boulevard but many side streets with interesting traffic circles like this one.

The Cleat Bar and Grill, including live music, at the entrance to No Name Harbor.

Find the two "cleats" on the Bar boat.

Evidence that a hurricane came through here and decapitated this palm tree. 

 It appears to be trying to regenerate.

Western shore sunset.

Twilight in the Outer No Name Harbor.

 

CODA BAHAMAS BOUND 2025 (15)

 CODA :  Waiting for a weather window for Bimini, Bahamas (day 1).

24 January 2025

No Name Harbor, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne , Florida  

Outside the harbor view of Miami (this bay is actually called "Outside No Name Harbor").

Marc-  The day started out a bit cool once again in at 49 degrees.  We responded with hot oatmeal, toast and coffee.  Actually the boat furnace kept us at a steady 68 degrees all night.  We were just carb loading for a day of bike riding and trekking through the Island forest.

The high point of the day was going out to lunch with our friends Carol and George Edelmann. We went to the Tutto Pasta Restaurant and all of us ordered the daily special: cheeseburgers with sweet potato fries.  We will have to try the pasta another time.  We rode our bikes up to the business section of the island and along some bike trails.  Later we explored some of the nature trails on foot.

Boat Beacon photo

Key Biscayne is 2/3 park land with the center 1/3 is commercial and residential.

The harbor is starting to fill with boats since windy weather is in order for tomorrow.

These two catamarans just anchored in front of us.

Another catamaran anchored behind us.

Nice entry with both a car entrance and a separate paved bike path entrance.

One of many nice paths to the beautiful beaches here.

Maybe we will try this place out one day soon (perhaps when we take the lighthouse tour).

Cape Florida Lighthouse in late afternoon light.

A view of Stiltsville earlier in the day (houses built on the reef just south of Key Biscayne).

Sea Grapes during our walk in the forest.

This looks like Florida's version of Fall foliage season.  The sea grape leaves turn red in Winter before falling off.  The new leaves grow back immediately, bronze in color, or sometimes bright red, and then become green with red veins when the chlorophyll pigment develops.

Sue:  I wore my down jacket today.  Wish I'd put on my wool socks, and I could have used a pair of gloves when riding the bike.  The cold is astounding, I guess that's why I harp on it so much, but I do prefer cool to hot.  Cool is nice.  This is cold.

We sent off a batch of postcards today.  Now we are doing our nightly routine.  Marc does the heavy lifting on the blog.  I edit it, I write my little thing.  We eat.  We watch All Creatures Great and Small, we play with our phones.  I sure hope The Bahamas are all they are cracked up to be.  Right now (7:30pm) my weather app says it's 67 degrees there with a "feels like" temp of 55 due to wind gusts up to 34 mph.

CODA BAHAMAS BOUND 2025 (14)

 CODA :  Departure point for Bimini, Bahamas.

23 January 2025

No Name Harbor, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne , Florida 

The color of the water in and around Miami is extraordinary.

Marc- We left the Harbour Towne Marina docks at 09:00 this morning under heavy clouds, drizzle, Northwest winds of 10 knots and a 60 degree temperature.  No issues as we made it to the Cape Everglades Inlet.  Once out of the inlet we started feeling the rather large ocean swells (barely noticeable from a distance).  Let's just say it was a bit rolly until we raised the sails and the wind picked up to 15 knots.  By the time we reached Miami three hours later the sky had brightened and the sun was burning through the clouds.  We averaged over 8 knots but we were motor sailing.  We skipped Government Cut, the inlet at Miami, in order to round Key Biscayne and enter Biscayne Bay through the reef from the South and leave an electronic breadcrumbs trail (useful for when we leave in the early morning hours for Bimini).  I think this advice came from Mary Langworthy.  

We came up to Cape Florida Light on the southern tip of Key Biscayne and worked our way north until we reached the entrance of No Name Harbor.  The were at least a dozen boats anchored outside of the harbor entrance quite exposed to wind, waves and passing boat wakes.  Fortunately for us our friend Carrol Edelmann who lives here had scouted out the harbor and informed us that there were only a few boats inside.  The harbor has almost 360 degrees of protection.  The only downside is it becomes party city at times when the nearby Miami party boaters pay a visit.  The only other reason may be the the $ 20 per night fee charged by the State Park.  

Cape Florida Lighthouse.

There is tradition of leaving for the Bahamas from here.

Lighthouse tours are available.

The lighthouse is 141 feet tall and is 200 years old.

Recently rebuilt Lighthouse Keeper's Residence.  Note that the roof drains to a cistern.  Fresh water was scarce out on this island.

Note the thickness of the base walls.

The structure tapers on its way to a thinner wall near the top. Lots of cast iron was used to internally strengthen this structure.  Proof of its strength is its survival through many hurricanes.

Back at No Name Harbor.

Coda anchored in front of the Restaurant, in No Name Harbor.

Sue:  The ocean swells on the way over this morning were not very enjoyable.  We took Bonine just in case, and probably a good idea.  We had a nice walk in the State Park.  Very pretty here.  And we are just a mile away from a Trader Joe's, CVS and Winn-Dixie.  That's good, as we have final provisioning to do.  It's looking like the next weather window is 6 days from now, on Wednesday, January 29.  

There isn't much to do on the boat.  I find myself wanting to be home.  But I have started reading, and I'll work on postcards, all better than doom scrolling.  And I like the walking a lot.  We've got our walking sticks!  As my friend Csilla says, "Bahamas or Bust."  I want to go there, swim in that beautiful water, and take in the pretty sights.  I just hope I don't gain 30 pounds by the time we finally get there and back.  There is a lot of food on the boat, and we're eating it!

It's still cool.  How can it be cool way down here?  At 9pm it's 57 degrees, "feels like 47" and the wind is howling. Tomorrow the low is 55 and high is 62, with clouds all day.  It will be another long pants and jacket day, and I will wonder if I need the down jacket or not.

 

 

CODA BAHAMAS BOUND 2025 (12-13)

CODA :  Dania layover...

21-22 January 2025

Harbour Towne Marina, Dania, Florida 

Dania Beach

Marc-  We had a very enjoyable day yesterday here with sunny skies and warm weather.  It was great to visit with my Aunt Monique, her daughter Danyelle and her husband Martin.  They are part of the Quebecois side of my family.  We spent the day touring greater Fort Lauderdale, stopping at 2 state parks, and enjoying good food in cool places.  Martin was also kind enough to drive us to West Marine for boat parts and then over to Winn-Dixie for more water and seltzer.

Family.

One of many large catamarans at this marina.

This State Park lies between Ft. Lauderdale Beach and the ICW.  It has the advantage of being across the channel from Sunrise Bay (one of the few remaining anchorages in this area).  Unfortunately the Park dinghy landing dock was damaged and park access is cut off from the water.  The Park is heavily forested, along with a creek, and has walking and canoe and kayak trails.

Sea Grape tree colors at Hugh Birch Park.

View from the damaged dock towards Sunrise Bay (and a water taxi).

Lunch stop frequented by many Quebecois who winter here.

Dairy Belle is famous for its Poutine and Ice Cream.

This sign commemorates both poutine and my birth year

(Both the poutine and ice cream are excellent). Authentic Canadian Poutine features fries, poutine gravy, and white cheddar cheese curds all tossed together.   The original version is only $5.00 on Tuesdays.

 View of the Fort Lauderdale cruise ship control tower and port facility across the ICW from Dania Beach State Park.  

Cruise ship in the ICW.

The entrance to Whiskey Creek looking out on the ICW.

The Hideout is an extensive beach front picnic area and includes a dining facility.

Whiskey Creek directions.

A container ship on the ICW from Dania Beach.

Dania Beach Pier.  It also has an excellent restaurant.

Pier Restaurant view looking North to Port Everglades Inlet.

One of the local inhabitants back at the marina.

_______________________________________________________________

Marc- 22  January 2025:  Then we transitioned to bad weather on Wednesday.  Gray, wet, dreary and windy.  

We were staying warm and dry in our cozy Coda when the rain stopped.  Out came the walking poles and off we went.  We walked out to Dania Beach and then South to Hollywood Beach and its famous paved in stone boardwalk that they call a "broadwalk."

Hollywood signature sign found on many walls and buildings.

We walked down from Dania Beach through a mostly park-like setting for a mile or two in Hollywood until we came upon this gate.

The second part of Hollywood Beach is highly developed with condominiums, a few retro single family homes, restaurants, hotels and shops.  The city built a wall, installed street lights, paved a bike path and made a boardwalk out of paving stones.

And no beach is complete without an open air theatre.

We made it all the way to the Magaritaville Hotel and the rain returned.  Unfortunately we had not thought to bring our rain gear.  Luckily my cousin Danyelle called and came to rescue us and take us to her home for lunch.  Actually we picked up sandwiches at the local Subway.  

Along with Subway's well known foot long sandwiches is this  

footlong Oreo cookie.  OMG.  Thankfully we did not see any, and did not ask if they had any.