Boca Lake to Ft Lauderdale, FL

Today:          18 miles        3.9 hours          ICW St M “1064”

Total:       1225 miles    179.8 hours

     There were some heavy rains over night, but had for the most part, passed by later in the morning.

Unique private dock decorations

     We upped anchor as planned. SV YARY is slightly slower than PEKABU, but we got lucky at a number of bridges, squeaking through with other boats or the bridge tender delaying opening by a minute or two.

3 of the 5 cruise ships and the tug turning the freighter

SV YARY, the 17th St Bridge and
sailboats heading to a regatta

     As we approached the Port Everglades Turning Basin, there were 5 cruise ships docked.  It was amazing to see so many as well as realizing that there had to be about 20,000 passengers debarking this morning and another of the same amount boarding either later today or tomorrow!  Private security is now patrolling the harbor.  I don’t know if it is because of the government shutdown or new USCG policy that they no longer patrol for cruise ships.  There was also 2 tugs and a large ship being turned for docking.  We watched them as YARY placed their dinghy on the cabin.

Approaching the
 Port Everglades Inlet

     Once they were done, we headed out the inlet.  No sooner had we entered the inlet when our alarm sounded indicating an engine overheat.  Pete immediately shut down, I took the wheel, while he investigated.  As he was down below, I saw smoke (which was really steam) rising out of the aft locker.  Pete checked and that hose from the engine to the hot water heater (the one he has been concerned about) blew and the bilge now has all the engine antifreeze.  YARY stayed with us until TowBoat US came.  They decided to continue with the outside jump since the winds were so favorable, while we were towed.  Pete told the TowBoat US crew that we had everything we needed to repair the hose since we panned to do it once we arrived in Key West.  We just need a safe and inexpensive place (since this is Ft. Lauderdale!) to do the repairs. Luckily, Las Olas Marina has an 8-ball mooring field and there was 1 mooring ball left.  With the paperwork complete, we were about to say our thanks, when one of the crew noticed the USCG emblem on my jacket.  He served 7 years on the west coast Station Cape Disappointment, where their boats are specially equipped for rollovers in the surf! That probably gives the Coasties’ parents night mares.  I know I would have them if Greg were stationed there!

Returning to Ft Lauderdale with an assist from TowBoat US. 

The antifreeze bottle
with notations

Bailey is not a watch dog,
even with all the chaos.

Access to the hose means
emptying out the rear cabin.

     Once Pete returned from the marina office, we got busy. It turns out that the engine belt snapped, which caused the overheat and build up of steam, which forced the hose to separate.  It took about 2 hours, but we did it and everything works perfectly! 

     We had some very strong storms come through the area for the rest of the day, but in the email from YARY, they had no rain, just a ‘bumpy” ride and made good time.  Hopefully, our paths will cross again.

     We had to wait until shortly after 10 pm for a break in the rains so that Pete could take Bailey to shore.  Couldn’t wait to put my head on the pillow!

     SUNDAY, 1/27/19 ~ Thankfully, we decided to stay until Tuesday.  The heavy rains continued through the night and frequently through the day.  The winds that came up this morning added to the intensity of the rain.  There were a few gusts that were 30+. With the strong current and the winds in different directions it made for some interesting rock and rolling.

Las Olas mooring field

From the Las Olas Marina
 we could see a cruise ship leaving port.

  We planned to watch the live performance of RENT on the Fox channel, but as the program started the heavy rains blocked the dish from the satellite reception, so back to reading.  Before we lost the TV signal, we did see that a tornado watch had been posted for our area for the next hour or so.  Thankfully we didn’t have a second encounter with a tornado. (Last July, we had one on Kent Island.  A water spout started in Annapolis; traveled across the bay; destroyed a home and severely damaged 130 homes in a development; jumped across Rt 50; took out a line of electrical poles and transformers, then hit our marina. Our boat, with us on board, was tossed about, but not damaged. A number of boats had canvas damage.  All the patio equipment by the pool wound up in the pool.  Thankfully, no one was hurt in any location.)

     MONDAY, 1/28/19 ~  The storms have passed, but the winds have remained.

     Pete was busy with work all day.  I went to work on the blog, but found my WORD would not work.  After a call to Microsoft support, I found out that I need to have internet at least once a week for verify and update MS OFFICE.  Once I connected to the internet, I was fine.  Besides writing up about 2 weeks’ worth of blog from my daily notes, I also downloaded the photos.  I still have a lot more to do before I can post. 

The film crew on the bow

The boat used for the filming

     When Pete finished for the day, he sat up in to cockpit to read.  As he was sitting, he called me to come up quick.  He heard someone yell, “cut!” and looked out to the channel to find a film crew on the bow of a large boat. Only in South Florida!!!

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P