February 3-10 2016 Palm Beach to Sunset Lake

We made our way south from Peck Lake to North Palm beach as the winds became noticeably stronger.  It was turning into a windy day.  I was originally intending on anchoring near the Flagler bridge across from the Flagler Museum.  But its not very protected in a northwest wind.  And is also a rather popular place to anchor hence bound to be crowded which, with such windy conditions, can be risky with boats dragging anchor. 

So I opted instead to try the north Palm Beach anchorage which offers some protection from north and westerly winds.  It's a big anchorage with good holding.  While it might sound rather ideal, the downside is dinghy access to shore.  Only one, rather rough spot under a bridge and the general consensus is not to leave a dinghy there unattended.  But we have 4 potential dinghy drivers so I think we can get around that.

Bouncing at anchor in North Palm Beach

North Palm Beach Anchorage had many boats but we sneaked in on the west side in anticipation of the NNW winds in the days ahead.

 We stayed aboard most of the day.  We did take a dinghy ride up to North Lake Worth.  It's a sizable pond with large homes, reachable by a little cut that is very shallow, The lake itself though is pretty deep, in excess of 10 feet.  Could never bring the big boat though even though it would be an idea anchorage.

We did pass by the dinghy landing area and its small, no real place to tide up and right beside a bridge.   As we pulled in closer we had a conversation?  Well, he likes to pontificate,  all about how Ted Cruz was the guy.  This from a fellow who lives on a sailboat in the anchorage.  A big, guy too who seemed to fit the stereotype of angry white men almost perfectly.  So I guess we can look forward to political conversations if/when we run into him again.

 We rocked and rolled at anchor over the next few days.  It was difficult to dinghy in because the north winds were kicking up some rough water  It made a wet ride to and from the dinghy landing spot.

Kathy at the wonderful dinghy landing area

Publix and Shoppes at Oakbrook.  PGA Blvd is right here

 Kathy and I went in to shore one time to do some shopping.  There was a Publix and few other stores only a block or two from the bridge.   Dave drove us in because I wasn’t too comfortable leaving the dingy there.  He dropped us off and headed back to the boat.  The plan was I would call him when we were done.  

We strolled around a bit.  Kathy found, of all things, an Italian Deli, Carrabbas.  It was right near a West Marine store too.   

And then of course there was a Publix, located in a mall, called the Shops of Oakbrook. a bonanza of shopping.

The Italian Deli

We brought back goodies.  I called Dave as we neared the bridge and he came and fetched us.   In the  old days we would tote along a VHF radio.  Now, cell phones make it so easy

The wind was still just fierce.  Not a pleasant day at all.  But the front is passing so we may have an opportunity to go exploring tomorrow.  Dave and Kathy did go in to shore for a few hours to get off the boat.  I do believe we ran into Mr. Ted Cruz again when I picked them up.  

Dave coming to pick us up

Finally the winds calmed down the next day presenting so we decided to take the dinghy somewhere.  But first I had to get gas and ran the dinghy over to a nearby marina.

Ted Cruz fan

 Lo and behold, who's on the dock filling water bottles but Mr. Ted Cruz.  Nice enough man, but oh my the rhetoric... sheez.

Once I returned, all four of us climbed into the dinghy and off we went a few miles south to Peanut Island for some time off the boat. 

 It’s a great little place, with a beach, tiny little harbor for small boats and JFK’s bomb shelter which we didn’t tour.  The island is right in front of Lake Worth Inlet.  Nice place to watch boat traffic.  

There is a trail the leads all around the island, a few beaches and that little boat harbor.  There is even a museum of sorts which manages the bomb shelter.  Peanut Island is a very interesting place.  We did not pay to tour the bomb shelter.  

Peanut Island Trail around the island

Small boat harbor

Island trail

Island docks on the inlet side

After Mary wanted food so we went over to Sailfish Marina for lunch.  Not the quietest place in town.  It's a marina that caters more to sport fisherman charters.  And not the best food either.  But oh well.  After eating we headed back to the boat.  It was a nice day, even mostly sunny!

Going through the Flagler Memorial Bridge

We left the following day for a long run down the ICW.  Many bridges as we well knew, and some we still had to wait for an opening because we are too tall to fit under when its closed.  Poor sailboats though.  If they run down the ICW, its almost every bridge for them.

Dave and Kathy enjoying the ride.  But Dave.  Sunbathing with a hat and jacket?

I was thinking of maybe ducking into Maule Lake, but we went further and finally anchored in this little basin called Santa Barbra Lake.

Passing by the entrance to Maule Lake

It's a few miles north of Fort Lauderdale.  Surrounded by a subdivision of typical big Florida homes, its a nice protected spot.  And we were the only boat there.

In the morning we started out on another long run down the ICW, hrough Fort Lauderdale and into Miami.  Fort Lauderdale is still a busy place with boats, large and small, flying about.  And more bridges, many of which we could pass under but some, 5 to be exact, required us to wait around for their scheduled opening.  

Our goal today was a place called Sunset Lake,  a place I’ve always wanted to anchor. 

Red marker in the upper right is Sunset Lake

 Its a small lake surrounded by Florida mansions but very protected.  There is one home owner in particular who has been financing this legislative effort to band anchoring in the lake.  

Lots of tiny sailboats moored

He's gone so far as to moor 20+ tiny little sailboats in front of his home, complete with anchor lights to keep other anchored boats away.

The infamous homeowners house has the red roof.

It appears that Florida will soon pass some sort of minimal anchoring ban and this is the very first place that will not allow a boat to be anchored overnight.  Money talks I guess.

Entering the waterway to the lake ahead

It is a lengthy route to get in there but it really is very nice.  We went in, and headed to the north end where the infamous homeowner resides.  I even saw him shaking his arm up at us.  Lucky for him,  there was no room on that end so we went down to the south end and found a spot and anchored.  It took two tries but we achieved a reasonable set.  Very nice, and particularly calm and quiet. 

Peacefully anchored in Sunset Lake

Outside the lake, the winds were blowing hard and the water (Biscayne Bay) was kicked up.  We took the dinghy out and around Sunset Harbour Yacht Club to the Collins Canal, a narrow, drainage ditch like waterway where there is a dinghy dock of sorts.  Miami Beach is not known for their hospitality towards cruising boaters.  

The Collins Canal

The dinghy dock is across the street from a Publix and other stores.  The dinghy dock isn't really a dock but just a place to tie up.  Some kind soul did built a high platform with short steps so one can shimmy over the relatively high sea wall.  But there are always many dinghys there making it  a challenge to tie up and get off.

We mushed out way in, moved a dinghy away from the step and got Kathy and Mary off.   A family with 2 boys, tied up to our dingy and used it to access the ladder.

The dinghy dock.  Dinghy Landing might be a more appropriate term

We all dashed into Publix to buy, well, stuff.  We ran into that family again, who were waiting to cross over to the Bahamas and needed supplies, basically re-supplies because they had been anchored nearby waiting for decent weather to cross over.  Waiting several weeks. 

We brought all our Publix goodies back to the boat.  The ride back was not a pleasant dry little cruise.  It was choppy.

 Aboard, we ate a sandwich type dinner, watched a movie, made water (incoming tide) and went to bed.  We are making for Boca Chita Key tomorrow.  It's another place highly recommended by various cruising friends of ours.  And we can leave later in the morning because its less than 15 miles.