Thursday 30th November

Miami

As the weather window seems to be holding out until tomorrow we decided to go into town to the library in order to pay bills, answer email etc. and post the blog. So once again we set off in blistering heat only to arrive at the library door which was bearing a sign saying "no computer access today". We were hot, tired and somewhat upset to say the least - did they not know they were going to be doing an upgrade to the system on Tuesday when we were here? We took our disgruntled selves to a nearby boulangerie and had brunch and then detoured to the supermarket again - they must think we are chocoholics by now! Then we headed back to the boat were we veged out for the rest of the day

Wednesday 29th November

Miami

The harbour has emptied out further today so we moved to a slightly better position in relation to the wind direction. Despite our aching muscles from yesterday’s walk we decided to walk into the town again and collect a few more essential supplies. (Chocolate and cola) The walk wasn’t quite so long as we didn’t go to the library. We stopped for lunch at a Peruvian restaurant which was very nice, it made the conversation turn to the possibility of going to South America, NOT PART OF THIS TRIP!
Again we loaded up the back packs (and even bought a bigger one) with our purchases and headed back to the boat. We even got pictures of the Iguanas that were sunning themselves around the harbour, though they seem to be a bit afraid of people as they took off as soon as we got within ten feet of them.
We are looking at leaving here on Friday as the weather is looking good to cross to the Bahamas then. Our trip is quite open to change but just so you know our basic plan is to go to Chub Cay in the Bahamas, then on to Nassau, Allen’s Cay in the Exhumas, traveling down the Exhumas to Georgetown , Rum Cay, Mayaguana, Turks & Caicos, Luperon in the Dominican Republic and then on to Puerto Rico.

Tuesday 28th November

Miami

After staying onboard all day yesterday we decided that we would walk into town today to try and find the library which has free internet. We waited until we were fairly sure that it wasn’t going to rain and then set out with limited directions as to where we needed to go. We found the local CVS pharmacy and the Win Dixie grocery store but still hadn’t found the library, we foolishly decided to ask in the pharmacy – oh yes – it was a block further on across the other side of the road – YOU CAN”T MISS IT!!!!! We took this with a pinch of salt and after walking a further 4 blocks we asked a man – who had no idea. We then accosted an old lady who bless her heart knew exactly where to send us. The information came at a cost, she was a very talkative lady and we learnt over the course of the next 15 minutes that she was 90 years old, had lived on Biscayne Key since the early 70’s, was a cousin of Jimmy Carter’s, had a phd. in Music, had traveled the world, had at least 1 child, was shocked to have found someone else speak English to her in Miami (2 was unbelievable) and had just left the library herself. Eventually she told us it was just another block over and we finally said goodbye to her. True enough the library was right where she said, we snagged a computer and did the bill paying, blog upload and caught up with our emails. Having got that out of the way we headed to an Argentinean restaurant and had lunch there. Then it was back to the grocery store where we carefully selected just the right amount of stuff to fit in the back packs – it did kind of limit what we could buy, but we managed to represent all of the important food groups – (chocolate and wine) then we set off back for the boat. It was a long walk back to the harbour but we made it. On the way back we saw even more of the Iguana’s – they were fluorescent green and quite large – guess where the camera was? – will take it with us tomorrow in the hope we will see some more.
Our next problem for the day was to find out how to get into the room where the washing machine is hidden – and, according to rumour there exists a tap for fresh water. After asking around we got the answer to the mystery and gained access to both. I can’t tell you how it’s done as I’d be breaking the cruiser’s code of silence! We filled our water containers and did the laundry – a successful day!

Monday 27th November

Miami

After having such a full harbour for the weekend it was great to see that all but eight boats had left. It made the space between each boat big enough to be comfortable to swing in. We had planned on going ashore today to find the library and shops however it rained most of the day so we stayed on the boat and commissioned the water maker. It was thought that we should do this before leaving the US incase there were any problems with it. Whilst we weren’t keen on the idea of doing the commissioning in the ICW (Intra Coastal Waterway) we really didn’t have a lot of choice. In order to commission it we had half of the seating in the salon up and it looked like a bomb had gone off with tools, cushions and paper towels just about everywhere. It took a while for us to get it right, with Gerry tightening bolts and me running backwards and forwards spotting leaks and checking if we had any water coming out of the test tap. Eventually we had a dribble of water happening – how exciting! The first couple of bowls of water went down the sink without a second glance then Gerry started to test them for amount of total dissolved solids, this averaged out to 150 which was well below the maximum of 600 which is recommended as being alright for drinking water (the water we took onboard at the marina had a level of 195 so we think we are doing ok). As for the real test – well I let Gerry take the first mouthful – if one of us is going to be ill I’d rather it wasn’t me. It tastes like the real thing! We are not however going to fill our tanks with water made out of the ICW water - who knows what “nasties” lurk in it. We will also be sterilizing the water in the tanks with bleach, we can’t afford for either us to get ill from contaminated water but at least I can now be assured of having water to shower with all the way home.
We have discovered the washing machine and water supply in the harbour which we can use (the rangers try to discourage use by the weekend boaties by locking it away and only giving the pass numbers to a select few people) thank goodness I will be able to have clean clothes again before we leave here.

Sunday 26th November

Miami

We though today would be quieter than yesterday, it began that way however just about lunchtime the never ending stream of boats began to arrive. We had a quick dink around the harbour and on our journey we saw a huge iguana hiding in the mangroves, where was the camera? on the boat! We did a very quick trip back to get it but not quick enough, it had disappeared by the time we got back to where he had been, however we did manage to get a picture of another one that was lurking in the trees - spot it in the photo! .

Just after 1400hrs a couple of power boats dropped their anchors right over ours, then another 2 boats came and rafted up to them. We were more than a little concerned and told them about where our anchor was laid – not that it made any difference. To our horror another 2 boats then arrived and rafted up to them. The gap between our bow and their sterns was less than five feet, we couldn’t move even if we wanted to and they certainly weren’t going anywhere. They cranked up their music, cleaned the fish they had caught on the way here which brought the birds around the boats in their droves and lit their bar – b – ques whilst yelling at each other from one boat to another. We continued to enjoy the loud Cuban music, shouting, birds swooping and food cooking smells for the following 3 hours whilst waiting for the wind to drag them into us – luckily it didn’t happen. We were relieved when the light began to fade and they took off for home. Once they had gone we checked our anchor to make sure we were still firmly in place and breathed a sigh of relief, there is such a thing as anchoring too close for comfort. At least tomorrow should be quieter for us.

Saturday 25th November

Miami

What a day, we watched a steady stream of boats of all sizes and shapes arrive for the day, anchor or tie up, turn their music up to maximum volume, light bar b que’s and enjoy themselves. Most of them only stayed for the day and headed off when the light began to disappear. Gerry and I headed ashore mid morning for a walk around the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park of which No Name harbour is a part. We walked the sea path as far as the Key Biscayne lighthouse and then did the road completing the circle back to the harbour. On the harbour shore there is a restaurant which seems to be extremely popular for lunch, we stopped there and had an early lunch then headed back out to our boat for an afternoon of entertainment – watching other boaters anchoring – and yes it was very entertaining!

Friday 24th November

Miami

Belated Happy birthday for yesterday to our favourite pole dancer - you know who you are!
Happy birthday Garry, only another year and we can celebrate it together!
After a quick trip to the supermarket this morning we readied the boat and left the marina motoring south to No Name harbour, arriving mid afternoon along with several other boats. We anchored and then watched a steady procession of boats arrive after us. The harbour isn’t big and very soon we thought it was full to capacity however even more boats arrived and it became very cozy. We settled in for the night, deciding to explore tomorrow.