Posted by Monty
***I actually posted this with the below text, but the text did not post. Then the laptop quit working, probably because I haven't updated Windows since mid December. I have been working on the computer for two days, and hopefully this will load. ***
It started with the anchor light. It's the little all around white light on the top of Sea Bird's mast that you turn on when at anchor, at night, so people can see your boat and don't run into you. It's not supposed to be required in a designated anchoring area, but the great State of Florida has decided that it must be shown in a mooring field. Not a big deal, except when it doesn't work.
When I turned it on in Rodriguez Key, I checked (as I always do) the ammeter to make sure it started pulling power as I clicked the switch. Nothing. Carol wanted to look at the light, but I knew it was useless. And there are no spares on board, as I was going to replace it with an LED unit (that costs six times the price but use one tenth the power and lasts forever). Replacement bulbs was one of the factors driving us to pick up a mooring ball in Dinner Key. But there was no way I was going up the mast under the sea state we had yesterday, as any motion of the boat is magnified 60 feet off the water. So I rigged some temporary lights and we resolved to get replacement bulbs at West Marine.
Today we took the water taxi into the marina, paid for two nights, and walked to West Marine. This was about a mile and took us through the wonderful business district of Coconut Grove. Really nice place. Our route then led us through a residential area. It felt to me like an area "in transition". On the way back, we chose a slightly different route. Not really much transitioning going on here, just a little sketchy.
Back in the glitz and glimmer of the business district six blocks away, we treated ourselves to lunch at Duffy's. Good food, air conditioned, and a waiter from New Jersey who moved to the area for the beautiful weather. Then we stopped by the Fresh Market for a peach pie for Carol and went back to the boat.
And decided we are done. No interest in seeing any more. It was fine, it was pretty and it was manicured, but we are moving on.
The plan is for Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow, a place we liked on the way down. Then we will make a decision as to how long to stay before we jump up to Lake Worth.
The anchor light will have to wait for calmer seas.
When I turned it on in Rodriguez Key, I checked (as I always do) the ammeter to make sure it started pulling power as I clicked the switch. Nothing. Carol wanted to look at the light, but I knew it was useless. And there are no spares on board, as I was going to replace it with an LED unit (that costs six times the price but use one tenth the power and lasts forever). Replacement bulbs was one of the factors driving us to pick up a mooring ball in Dinner Key. But there was no way I was going up the mast under the sea state we had yesterday, as any motion of the boat is magnified 60 feet off the water. So I rigged some temporary lights and we resolved to get replacement bulbs at West Marine.
Today we took the water taxi into the marina, paid for two nights, and walked to West Marine. This was about a mile and took us through the wonderful business district of Coconut Grove. Really nice place. Our route then led us through a residential area. It felt to me like an area "in transition". On the way back, we chose a slightly different route. Not really much transitioning going on here, just a little sketchy.
Back in the glitz and glimmer of the business district six blocks away, we treated ourselves to lunch at Duffy's. Good food, air conditioned, and a waiter from New Jersey who moved to the area for the beautiful weather. Then we stopped by the Fresh Market for a peach pie for Carol and went back to the boat.
And decided we are done. No interest in seeing any more. It was fine, it was pretty and it was manicured, but we are moving on.
The plan is for Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow, a place we liked on the way down. Then we will make a decision as to how long to stay before we jump up to Lake Worth.
The anchor light will have to wait for calmer seas.