As I said previously, we arrived Lake Worth Inlet 6 pm on the Friday. Made our way to the anchorage just inside the inlet and got settled. Time to read up on the Customs protocols. Oh no, it says we should proceed immediately upon arrival to Customs. The sun was beginning to set, so it made it a little more difficult to make our way and find the Riviera Beach Marina that is very close to the Customs office.
Of course there was no one answering the marina radio and we just made our way into the marina and tied up to some very new docks, that had no one else tied to them. We could just choose whatever one suited us. Music from the local Tiki Bar welcomed us. We figured if we were not supposed to be here someone would let us know. Peter started to make his way to the Customs office and sure enough the security guard said we had to move. The docks were under construction and there was no insurance on these docks. They guided us to where we could tie up, and helped with the lines. In the morning we found out that we could not have been any further from the office and showers if we had been in another marina. The office building is the furthest one away in the picture. I will remember this and avoid this marina at another time. They would need to give me a golf cart to entice me to return. The entire marina is under construction, a $326 million project. 
The security guard told us that we could wait till the next morning for customs. We had just missed the customs office that was a block away, and it closed for the weekend. We would need to rent a car and go to the airport.
A Jimmy Buffet Concert at the Amphitheater. And there were still some tickets available. No printer on board to print them, so off we went to see if we could buy some at the gate. A scalper offered us some tickets for $150. and we bought them hoping that they were good. And they were. We are getting too old for this kind of thing, I think. The tickets were for the lawn area. And after an hour of standing, feet tired, back and legs aching. Can't hear very well because people all around us are talking. Some are on cell phones, trying to find their friends in a crowd of about 25,000 or more. Saying, "I am here by the bar at the top of the hill, waving my hat" Who are they kidding. There is no way they can find their friends with directions like that. After about 15 minutes on the phone they would move off, very frustrated not to find their friends. After an hour we left, and went out for dinner. All in all, it had been fun, and we did hear a few of our favourite songs.
The next morning we were off for St. Augustine to get our car and move it to Indiantown Marina. As we were leaving we noticed a gecho on our windshield. Thinking that he did not want to be relocated to St. Augustine, Peter got out of the car and got him off.
Monday morning we had breakfast out, returned the rental car with the usual problems of them trying to overcharge. Peter sent an email to complaints department, and then we could be on our way. We will have 2 travel days to arrive at Indiantown Marina. Picture is of the Jupiter Lighthouse. We made really good time, travelling with the wind and the current. We settled for the night just north of Stuart in the North Fork. Good timing. The sun was setting as we put our anchor down for the night. During the night the cabin got a little warm for me as the winds had died down and there was no longer a breeze through the forward hatch. 3 am I moved out to the cockpit where it was cooler and fell asleep under the stars. Nice way to spend our last night at anchor.
Tuesday morning, we awoke early and were able to get an early start. Made a pot of coffee. Always nice to enjoy a cup of fresh brewed coffee while you travel in the morning. Mornings are also the coolest part of the day. That is if you think 75 plus is cool. We pulled up our anchor for the last time for our winter boating in Florida.
Okeechobee Waterway, here we come. We have not travelled this area, so once again this will all be new to us. The first bridge we encountered is 54'. A test for our measuring capabilities. We think we need 51'. That is 49' of mast plus allowing another 2' for antennaes. We should be good???? "Approach the bridge at the speed in which you intend to hit it" We made a very slow approach just to be sure. Heh! No problem. Piece of cake. The antennae didn't even rattle the underside of the bridge. Test complete. We now know we can go under a 54' bridge. There will also be the Port Lucie Lock. We haven't had a lock ride for a couple of years. Hope we can remember what to do.
We will arrive at Indiantown Marina around lunch time.
Hope you two are well and having fun. We sure miss you.
ReplyDeleteTom and Amanda