Elliott Key back to Sunset Islands, Miami Beach, Florida

 We had a lazy day anchored out and surprised by a rain shower. We then headed back towards Boca Chita on our way to Crandon State Park Marina for fuel, water and pump out. We were delighted to see the same friendly elderly gentlemen tending the docks. An extreme black cloud followed us from Biscayne Bay through the the West Venetian Causeway bridge and started raining on us after we anchored. We tried a new beef kimchi stir fry for dinner which was yummy. Looks like rain in the forecast for tomorrow as well.

Gathering to dry their wings

Florida passage and last of the Stiltsville houses

As predicted it rained most of the day and the temperature dropped into the 60's. We stayed aboard and enjoyed a lazy day fixing orange chicken stir fry with cabbage over rice for a yummy dinner.

A beautiful sunny day followed with the temperatures going back up into the 70's for a nice walk to the Ace Hardware Store in North Beach. A new park opened up and we took a break from our 5 mile hike. We stopped by Fresh Fields hoping to have a picnic lunch on their outside tables but it was too crowded. So we made a stop at Publix close to the dinghy dock and continued back to the boat.

Most of the houses along our walk have gated entrances

Gorgeous orchids in the front yard

The biggest stretch of green is the Miami Beach Golf Club course

The first little lending library we've seen in Miami area

New park with rock climbing walls and playground for kids

We hauled our laundry on the cart to SoBe Suds at South Beach. The laundry was busy but there are so many machines it was easy to get it done quickly. Then we stopped at Lime's Mexican Grill and shared an order of chicken nachos. We are working our way through the menu as it is our favorite outdoor dining spot. We had a surprise rain shower in the afternoon so glad we made it back to the boat in time.

Always entertained by creative Covid public health messages

Another sunny day on Saturday so there is more jet skies and even water skiers circling the anchorage. Several boats came in for the day and rafted up playing their loud music. A few larger yachts came in for the always spectacular sunset. We finished off the Hoppin John jambalaya we had made yesterday and always better the second night.  We spotted a manatee cruising by while we were enjoying breakfast on the flybridge. He surfaced twice while we spotted him by his circles.

More aerial advertising

On Sunday we had our first real downpour of rain for hours. Then it was overcast and threatening for the rest of the day so we had another lazy day on the boat. At least the rain cut down on boat wakes around us.

Happy Valentines Day on a cool sunny day here. The wind is up and kicking up the whitecaps so we are staying put. It's forecast to be really windy the rest of the week.

Another romantic sunset

The fiery ball of the setting sun reflected on the high rise windows

And in the other direction the moon above

Miami Beach to Elliott Key in Biscayne National Park, Florida

 It was a cool and foggy morning as we pulled anchor and headed through the West Venetian Causeway bridge and out into Key Biscayne. It's now sunny and 78 degrees as we travel to anchor in the park along the mangroves and the dock near the weather station.

West Venetian Causeway Drawbridge

Cruise ship row

Hardrock Cafe

Around the point into Biscayne Bay

Coastie escort not  knowing what they were up to

Captain chilling out with his audiobook underway

Only birds at the park and one kayaker

Guarding the entrance gate

Flocking the dock

Grazing the grounds

Mobbing the seawall

Picnicking in the park

It's not what you are catching, just that you are fishing

Perched in the Sand Key cut

North Miami to Miami Beach, Florida

 We got up in time to see the sunrise and listen to the Bahamas crossing weather now knowing it won't be next week. We waited on one last drawbridge and then scooted under the next one before we were going under the Julia Tuttle bridge and around to our favorite anchorage near Mount Sinai Hospital. We are the only boat anchored here and the three mega yacht Utopias are not lined up along the docks. We headed into Limes Mexican Grill for a pork carnita burrito and a Modella beer along with their great variety of salsa and chips and enjoyed dining outside in their courtyard. Next stop was Ace Hardware and then on to Trader Joe's as we loaded up on some of their frozen foods for a change. There were new signs for motorized boats at the Marine Police Station and a brand new set of docks for non-motorized boats for all the paddle boarders and kayakers. Up Collins Canal, there was a new pedestrian bridge at the entrance and the Publix dock had a new floating addition to the dinghy dock. So it was great to see a few accommodations made for cruisers.

New dinghy dock near Marine Police station for non-motorized boats

New pedestrian bridge across Collins Canal

A new floating dinghy dock at Publix

Folks parking to see the spectacular sunset

On Saturday we headed back over to the dock at Publix towing some new cruisers who were trying to row up Collins Canal for the first time. We then set out walking along Alton Road to Best Buy to buy a better phone charger and then over to Miami Beach Marina Ship Store. We walked along the water all the way over and along Ocean Drive to pick up our mail package at the Post Office. We could not resist another burrito at Lime's Mexican Grill on our return trip by Ace Hardware. We walked almost 7 miles and now it looks like the rain holds off until later tonight,

Miami Beach Marina

A modern light house at Government Cut

A new park with water fountains

Paths diverge at entrance to Government Pass

A beautifully landscaped path along the Atlantic

Jazzy life guard stations and ship along the coast

Beautiful old Post Office

A new fitness station with exercise machines in the park

Iguana along the sea wall

We made it a boat work day and then made a dinghy run into the Marine Police Station dock for a trip to Office Depot and Trader Joe's. With our larger freezer, we have been enjoying sampling their frozen entrees. We've had their tasty pork pot stickers which we have enjoyed before and then the chicken fried rice. After the jet skiers and water skiers left, it was a pleasant evening watching the lights of the skyline.

Off the stern

Off the bow

Pompano Beach to North Miami at Ortega River State Park, Florida

 Around one AM the boats were swinging such that we decided to move across the intracoastal channel to the Lettuce Lake anchorage. We were the only boat there and had a pleasant rest of the night until the boat wakes started up after daybreak. We headed out towards our last low bridge requiring going through at the scheduled opening time and cruised through Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood and then proceeded to get off the intracoastal at Haulover Canal and head behind Sandspur Island at Ortega River State Park in North Miami. We had anchored before in the inside university cove but this is gorgeous out behind the island sandy beach. We just spotted three raccoons walking the beach. When we left West Palm Beach we had a mama and baby manatee come up to Glenn as he was pulling anchor but I was not quick enough to get a picture. After lunch, we went off to explore the park. We found a small beach to pull the dinghy up alongside another dinghy and then started to follow the trails. We kept seeing marked bicycling trails and finally gave up on finding the trailhead and backtracked back to the dinghy. The island beach was swarming with people and boats so we headed back inside to the quiet university cove anchorage and anchored about the same place as last time. 

Well lit mansion we anchored off from in Lettuce Lake

Pet iguana on bridge fenders

View of Sandspur Island from the bow

View of North Miami from the stern

Miami skyline against next drawbridge to pass under

Dinghy landing overlooking university cove anchorage

Ropes marking the trails through the Australian pines

Kayak trails through the mangroves

The maze of trails

Anchored rafted boats selling bait

What a contraption moored out in the middle

The attack raccoons on the beach

.