North Palm Beach to Stuart (final leg)

We had a lovely evening at Old Port Cove Marina in North Palm Beach and a chance to catch up with our good friend Steph (and General Manager of the marina). She came here just a little over a year ago as part of the Safe Harbor company purchase and has worked hard to make this one of the best stops along the waterway. I'd say she is doing a great job!

The final run was just 38 miles so we opted for a more leisurely departure working our way north on the "inside" of the ICW. There is plenty of eye candy to look at on this part of the waterway including beautiful homes and huge mega yachts, but the best part are the peaceful stretches along the mangroves filled with abundant wildlife.

Upon arriving at Sunset Bay Marina a few hours later, we filled Endless Summer with fresh diesel, got into the slip, hosed off from the days travel, and started to settle in to what will be her home for the next few months.

The best summary (and expression of appreciation for being able to do this) I can provide are the lyrics to a Jimmy Buffett song called "Lovely Cruise".

"These moments we're left with

May you always remember

These moments are shared by few

And those harbor lights

They're coming into view

We bid our farewell much too soon

So drink it up

This one's for you

Honey, it's been a lovely cruise" 

500 Miles - "A Lovely Cruise"

The Captain & Admiral (who makes it all worth it!)

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

Along the peaceful mangroves

A wonderful journey on a wonderful boat!

Key Largo to North Palm Beach

Our three days in Ocean Reef were wonderful, relaxing and HOT! Whatever unseasonable winds had been blowing the past few weeks came to a sudden stop. When the air doesn't move and the humidity rises, Florida can be an uncomfortable place, even on a boat. None the less, a little golf cart ride around the gorgeous Ocean Reef neighborhood, a dip in the oceanside pool, and a cold cocktail (or two) always help make the day better.

Since the winds had subsided, and the forecast was for more of the same, I started looking closely at the predicted offshore wind and waves and the possibility of running outside. And it looked good... really good. In fact, the more I studied it, the better it got. I began to realize we could actually run past our next planned stop at Bahia Mar in Fort Lauderdale and go all the way to Palm Beach. This would not only give us an entire extra day in our float plan, but it would avoid one of the worst (and slowest) sections  of the waterway through Miami and north through Fort Lauderdale. A few phone calls, a few changes in dockage reservations and we were on our way.

The run was everything the forecasters predicted -- which doesn't happen all that often! We had gentle 1-2 foot "rollers"with following seas and the wind (what little there was) was at our backs. While the Admiral is not fond of the ocean passage ("there's nothing to look at"), I find it rather enjoyable. Set a few way points, turn on the auto pilot, and keep a watchful eye. Much less stressful than the ICW twists and turns along with waiting for bridges to open, no wake zones and slow going vessels. Just four hours after leaving Ocean Reef we made the turn into the Lake Worth (Palm Beach) inlet, turned north for a few miles and soon we were at an old favorite of ours, Old Port Cove Marina in North Palm Beach.

Tomorrow will be a relative short day as the final leg to Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart where "Endless Summer" will spend the next few months (or until it is sold - whichever happens first).

Ocean Reef is filled with beautiful homes and .....

..... gorgeous landscaping

And an obviously a "boating oriented" community

A perfect offshore run from Key Largo to Palm Beach

But there are few precautions you don't expect along the route!

x

Smooth sailing 3 miles out in the Atlantic

Hello Miami!

All manner of ships -- large and small.