Hobe Sound to Peck Lake near Jupiter, Florida

 We had rain showers off and on all day. The black clouds surrounded us and we waited until the skies lightened up to go the short distance through the Hobe Sound drawbridge and over to Peck Lake, We had planned to go ashore along the sandy beach along Hobe Sound since there was an extra-low tide but the rain kept us indoors. We have anchored off the sandy beach of the wildlife preserve with a short trail to go to the Atlantic Beach with eleven other boats. There are rain chances most of tomorrow as well.

Sandy beach at Peck Lake

View across the Intracoastal waterway

We had a lazy morning while the clouds cleared out and then we headed to the beach after lunch. We walked five miles in a new direction to the south. The water was rough and the beach was covered in sargassum seaweed. We found two hamburger beans and some shells. It was cloudy as we headed back to the boat with black clouds looming. More chances of rain are on for tonight. 

Lots of Portuguese men of war washed ashore

Happy to see half a dozen sea turtle nests marked off

Most of the sand dunes in Hobe Sound Wildlife Refuge were marked off-limits

Shorebirds darting along the waterline

Finally, a beach to seek treasures

Pelicans diving in the surf

Pelicans soaring overhead

Seagrapes along the shore to tie the dinghy to

Sunday was another beautiful day as the clouds moved off. We went ashore after lunch and hiked 5 miles to the north and ended up at the bench at the kayak launch at the Hobe Sound Wildlife Refuge. We found a hamburger sea bean, some shells and driftwood and some sea glass. At high tide, before we left a sailboat ran aground coming into Peck Lake and now with the tide going out, the boat is tilted on its side. We were hoping the boat wakes would push her off but we will just have to see when the tide rises.

Beach goes on for miles before the inlet

Taking a selfie while we take a rest break on the bench

We woke up to a calm morning so we took the dinghy north to Port Lucie Inlet Park and tied up at the dock. We took one of their trash baskets and hiked to the point while picking up beach trash and treasures. They had built up the beach and extended it out by bringing in dredged sand. We were the only folks walking the beach and it was a beautiful day. After the chance of rain passed, we pulled anchor and went up to the inlet, and headed towards Stuart.

Lettuce Lake to Hobe Sound, Florida

 The boat wakes from the fishing boats woke us up at daybreak so we pulled anchor and headed for the first of many drawbridges. We had to wait for the first two to open on schedule but many of the others we were low enough to pass under. We got surprised with some thundershowers in West Palm Beach and put on our rain ponchos to continue on. We were thinking about stopping there but the band stage was set up for Sunfest along with tents and temporary docks and the music was blaring and we knew it would get crazy so we continued on. We are anchored by ourselves at one of the several anchorages along Hobe Sound and so peaceful to get out of the concrete canyon of rebounding boat wakes 

We slowed down for three manatees that swam by the stern of the boat

Controlling speed even on the waterway

Southern Boulevard bridge we had to pass under the one under construction and the temporary one

In Palm Beach everything is large

Sailboat masts as tall as the high rise building

Sunny Islands to Lettuce Lake, Florida

 We made a run into the Marine Police Station to drop garbage, get water and run to Publix for beer before we pulled anchor to head south under the closest bridge by Mount Sinai Hospital on a new route. We were able to make it under most of the drawbridges with our radar arch down. We left around 2 pm hoping to get through the concrete canyon where the boat wakes rebound off the seawalls and through Fort Lauderdale before sundown to anchor at Lettuce Lake. The boat traffic is crazy and we wanted to be passed here before the weekend.

Interesting house with a tower with the two office towers behind

Amazing hydroplanes

Steamboat Creek to No Name Harbor and on to Sunny Islands, Florida

 We left Steamboat Creek and took the route close to Elliott Key and stopped and anchored for lunch at No Name Harbor. We took a walk to the Winn Dixie for the exercise. We were anchored off No Name Harbour with 21 other boats and decided to head on over to our favorite anchorage at Sunny Islands. We were the only boat there for another stunning sunset and a peaceful evening with no boat wakes.

Looked like people and two boats at old stiltsville house

Burgers and beers overlooking No Name Harbor

A few boats in the harbour

A new outside tiki bar at No Name Harbour

View from the fishing dock to Biscaye Bay

Two happy dogs going back to their sailboat

Departing view of the lighthouse on Cape Florida at Bill Baggs State park

Floating digital advertisement

View off the bow at Sunny Islands

Barnes Sound East to Steamboat Creek, Florida

 Since the Crocodile Lake Reserve was off-limits we pulled anchor and moved down the shoreline to the entrance to Steamboat Creek. There was one other sailboat anchored down past the entrance to the creek. After lunch, we took the dinghy and trolled along the shore and up through Steamboat Creek to the entrance to Card Sound. We did not get any bites fishing and the wind and whitecaps were up when we turned back around. It was a pleasant evening as we were protected from the 20-knot winds.

Along the mangrove shore

Islamorada to North Key Largo at Barnes Sound East near Crocodile Lake Reserve, Florida

 The wind finally changed to the east and dropped to 17 knots so we left the marina and had a little rough ride due to the choppy waves. We battled the weekend traffic in the channel and the other crazy boats out on a Sunday afternoon, We headed through  Jewfish Cut and saw an iguana swimming across. Once we got into Barnes Sound we got away from the other boats. Black clouds hung over both shores and we got several rain showers. We were the only boat in sight for a quiet evening. The next morning we dinghied along the Crocodile Lake Wildlife Refuge disappointed that it was closed from March until October so we stayed outside the markers.

Sunset over Barnes Sound

Canal blocked off at wildlife refuge

Cormorant rookery

Markers 100 foot offshore marking no entry

Shell Key to Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina, Islamorada, Florida

 The winds went dead calm and then turned to the north so it was time to move to find protection. It will blow hard all week from the north so we decided to head back to Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina so that we won't have to worry about the weather and can enjoy ourselves as there are very few anchorages that would work. We went out dinghy fishing around Shell Key but did not get any bites. It would seem like the mangroves and grass flats would be fishy spots. We arrived at the marina to take a slip down a few where we were before with different dock hands this time. It will be nice to have air conditioning and unlimited power and water. We enjoy being out at anchor but it is always nice to have easy access to shore sightseeing.

It turns out there were two osprey nests and here's mama and her chick

Here's dad osprey out fishing

Another nest with mama osprey returning

Pelicans in their high roosting spot

Even the mooring balls are fought over as roosting spots

Calm reflection

A black squall line moved in with gusty winds after we got in marina

On Tuesday we walked to the visitor center outside Founder's Park and contacted Freebee for a free ride to bike rental but never got a response back. So we walked to Hog Heaven Pub on the waterfront for a beer and sliders. The three little buns had a brisket in barbeque sauce, pork in mustard Carolina sauce, and a turkey with bacon. Yummy! We overlooked the dock and sandy beach to the ocean side. It was a nice sunny but windy afternoon.
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Nice view from the bar

Path to Hog Beach

Plenty of tiki huts

This morning we headed to Rain Barrel Shops to pick up the Freebee ride to the bike rental. We got picked up right away. We rode with the wind along the Overseas Highway bike path, sidewalks and the old Highway 1 towards Tea Key across three bridges and then back to Florida Keys Brewing Company for a great Mexican lunch and cold drafts. We also strolled through Redbone Gallery with great fishy art. The wind is howling at 25 knots but we are nice and cozy in our slip with the wind blowing through the bedroom window making it great for sleeping.

Gate along bike path

Sculptures along bike path

Gallery stained glass

Gallery coffee table

Gallery lamp

Gallery paintings

Beer garden

Monument to 1935 hurricane

Small park next to the marina

We were surprised by the rain last night so it was a scurry to close all the hatches. Today we planned to ride against the wind to Gardenias Bistro for breakfast and then continue on to Habanos on the Creek. It was a partly cloudy very windy day and we took the old Highway 1 route. We rode around the neighborhoods behind Tavernier Creek Marina and decided we were not hungry enough for lunch so we headed to Marker 88 Beach Tiki Bar for a gin and tonic before heading back to the boat.

Orchids at Gardenias Bistro

Beautiful gates at a waterfront estate

The path narrowed underneath the bridge

View from Habanos on the Creek

Neighborhood park creek side

More keys mailboxes

Art gallery and sculpture garden

Two peacocks crossed the road

The only beach bar

Sandy beach down from the marina 

Our rental bikes

We had plenty of rain overnight and we woke up to an overcast day, The rain stopped but it was plenty windy as we took off on the bikes. We stopped at Island Grill for breakfast and then continued pedaling on the old highway to Islamorada Brewery and Distillery. We returned the bikes to the outfitters across the street and then strolled through a couple nautical gift shops waiting for the brewery to open. We sampled their two gins as we had already tasted their rums. We quickly got a Freebee ride back to the marina. The wind is still howling,

For my sister, everything octopii

Everything nautical

Sandy beach down at the end of the brewery street

Gigantic palm trees

More coral than sand on the beach

Beautiful plumeria blooms

Both breweries are within a mile of each other

Great tasting bar

We had more rain last night so decided to wash the decks and clean up the boat before we depart tomorrow. We decided to walk to MEAT Cafe known for its award-winning burgers and craft beer. We also enjoyed an ice cream float before we headed back to the boat to do laundry. We were surprised by the Pops in the Park concert right next door to the laundry room so we enjoyed listening to the community band and the local ukelele players. A nice farewell to Founder's Park.

The Founder's Park amphitheater

The local uke players