Science Museum & Restaurants

The Chimney House - yummy seafood!

  We have been re-exploring downtown Ft Lauderdale the last few days.  The boys & Mom returned to the Museum of Science & Discovery to have a fun school field trip (more pics on "Homeschool" page).  When we detour our school books and have a field trip, the boys are expected to write a report on what they learned that day.  This does not always come easy, especially to the 3rd grader, but it is getting easier each time!  As for restaurants, we returned to a favorite place shortly after our arrival, Briny's Irish Pub on the New River waterfront.  Saturday night was "date night", and Jill & David walked around the corner to a fairly new Latin American restaurant, The Chimney House (pic above).  Delicious!  We had pizza night one night (take out) from New River Pizza - good NY style pizza.

Matthew checks out dinosaur fossils

Settling in - in Ft Lauderdale

Holly Goodhead docked on New River downtown Ft Lauderdale

    The past few days have been a little hectic as we try to find the right place to dock our boat for our prolonged stay in Ft. Lauderdale.  We got here Tuesday after-hours, so we had some difficulty determining where the dock master told us to tie up; we ended up tying to the wall right downtown (see picture above).  First thing the next morning, we spoke with the dock master about moving to Cooley's Landing slips further up the New River.  He had a spot we would just barely fit into.  We decided to move there for many reasons.  The New River in Ft. Lauderdale is always an experience - winds, tides, narrow channel, lots of curves, and, of course, BRIDGES!  This also includes a railroad bridge everyone hates, because once it goes down (with little warning), you are stuck on your side for at least 30 minutes (clearance under it is 4 ft).  Just as we cast off our lines (9am), a flotilla of yachts (some very large) started our way. Then, the railroad bridge went down!  Fortunately, we have an amazing captain on our yacht.  He handled waiting for the flotilla to pass us and train to go by with ease (or so it seemed), then we carefully navigated about 1/2 mile up river to our new slip.  Dock master helped us tie up.  Unfortunately, due to where the slip was located on the River, debris seemed to collect by us and it was causing havoc with our a/c units (you need them in 87 degree days!).  Sooo, on Friday morning (after 2 nights in a row without a/c, we moved again!  Now, we are safely, comfortably tucked away (docked) in the spot we wanted to be in in the first place!!  We are actually in the exact same slip we were docked in 5 years ago on our visit.  We like it here.  Aside from a beautiful location, we are also very close to many yacht services, merchants, etc, and we can do some repairs & maintenance we want/need to do before we cruise to the Bahamas in a couple months.

Ft Lauderdale, FL - at last!!!

Entering Ft Lauderdale on ICW - yacht mecca

   Bridge openings, slow zone - manatee areas, marinas and docks with boats, wind & current - just some of the things that were part of our long 13 hour journey today down the Atlantic ICW from Stuart to Ft Lauderdale, FL (average speed = 6.3 kts).  We did see a couple dolphins, a manatee, birds, and MANY very large yachts!!  The weather was windy at times and we cruised through some periods of rain, especially when we were trying to dock in Ft Lauderdale.  We are happy to finally be here. 

Total miles today:  75nm

Total miles traveled:  1,491 nm

Total cruising days: 23

Thomas driving us through a bridge opening

Happy Mother's Day! - Stuart, FL

Busy waterways entering Stuart, FL!

   After a nice calm night at Moore Haven City Docks, we cast off the lines and were the first ones in the Moore Haven lock at 7am this morning.  Jill had been on constant lookout yesterday for alligators.  Many boaters have claimed tyo see them on the Okeechobee waterways.  None!  Well, this morning made up for it!  We saw an alligator before we even got in the first lock; then we saw at least 10 more before we entered the open area of the Lake Okeechobee.  We also had numerous annoying horse flies and had to close up the enclosures on the bridge, as they kept biting David!  Once on the Lake, we opened up the engines, and Jill got to drive fast!  It took us most of the rest of the day to get to Stuart, as there are many places on the waterways where you have to go very slow due to docks, manatee, bridges, locks, etc.  

Once we arrived at Loggerhead Marina and got tied up (thanks Jim & Tom!), we set to giving the boat a good soapy bath!  Then, it was off to the pool/hot tub/bar at the marina!  Nice way to end the day for Mommy!  Then, her cousins arrived for a wonderful, long awaited visit.

Total miles today:  63nm

Total miles traveled:  1,416 nm

Total cruising days: 22

Boys in hot tub - Loggerhead Marina

Jill's cousins - Sarah & Denise

Moore Haven, FL (Okeechobee Waterway)

Moore Haven, Fl City Docks

   After 1 month st Ft Myers Beach, we cast off our lines early this morning to start our journey across Florida.  We started off by filling the fuel tanks (300 gallons!), then enjoyed a beautiful, sunny cruising day on the Caloosahatchee River.  We went through 2 locks, though not nearly as  large as the ones on the TN River or Tombigbee Waterway!  First one went up 3 feet and the second only 8 feet!  They actually have you use their lines (see picture below).  After 10 hours of cruising, we safely tied up along the Moore Haven City docks for the night.  We hoped to try the local Mexican restairant everyone talks about, but it is closed on the weekend!  Oh well!  David made quasadillas at home instead.

Total miles today:  70nm

Total miles traveled:  1,353 nm

Total cruising days: 21

Thomas & Matthew managing bowlines in Ortona Lock

Field trip: Edison & Ford Winter estate & museum

Matthew & Thomas check out the Model T.

    Today, we drove into Ft Myers to visit the Thomas Edison & Henry Ford Winter Estates.  We saw the beautiful grounds Edison planned (Seminole Lodge) - the main house, guest house, pool, office, and the numerous plants, trees & flowers.  Henry Ford enjoyed visiting Edison so much, he bought the house next door.  The two families had an amazing view of the Caloosahatchee River.  The museum showed the numerous items Edison invented, information about Ford's Model T, as well as pictures of the 2 men and their lives.

Relaxing by the River while listening to the audio tour of the grounds.

Travels away from the boat

Matthew's favorite - Jurassic Park!

   Sorry it has been so long since I updated the blog.  We have been away from the boat to drive north to visit family & friends, kids took TN state tests (TCAPs), David went to Indianapolis for work, and a final stop at Universal Studios - Islands of Adventure!  WHEW!  Many miles on the car!  Time to cruise on the boat again!

Hogwarts castle (ride was awesome!)

David with beer; Thomas with Butterbeer in Harry Potter world