Waiting on the weather window

We are now provisioned for a month or two in the Bahamas.

The fuel tanks are about full, the water tanks topped off. Cases of wine!

The freezer is up to the rim and the Engel Cooler is keeping our overflow refrigeration goods cold.

You try to think of everything but I'm sure that there are things we've overlooked.

We've now moved our way up the Keys and are on the edge of Biscayne Bay south of Miami. We now begin our weather watch to find a good day to cross. Today is the calmest day we've had in quite a while....almost no wind this morning.

Here the weather reports one of the sites we're watching, the other is this weather site http://www.passageweather.com/ for a good forecast.

COASTAL WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL OUT 20 NM-  WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM  TO THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF THE BAHAMAS-  357 AM EDT WED MAR 16 2011     TODAY  EAST NORTHEAST WINDS 6 TO 9 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD  4 SECONDS. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.   TONIGHT  NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 13 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD  3 SECONDS. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.   THURSDAY  NORTHEAST WINDS 11 TO 14 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD  4 SECONDS. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.   THURSDAY NIGHT  NORTHEAST WINDS 13 TO 16 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET  NEAR SHORE AND UP TO 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE GULF STREAM. INTRACOASTAL  WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.   FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT  EAST NORTHEAST WINDS 14 TO  17 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.   SUNDAY  EAST NORTHEAST WINDS 14 TO 19 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET.  INTRACOASTAL WATERS CHOPPY IN EXPOSED AREAS.

So, we will continue to move about this area and keep an eye to the weather!

Sunrise/Sunsets

Today the Sunrise is at 7:30 and the Sunset is at 7:30.

So we're at the half way point....only happens twice a year!

Heading north to Miami area today, Probably Boca Chita Key to their wall, hoping there is a space during the Spring Break here.

Staging now for a crossing to the Bahamas!

Wish us luck.

March, eh?

Well I just looked up and found I missed a month....such is life in the Keys.

Actually, it's really been a busy month. We left Useppa and worked our way down the west coast to Marathon where we anchored in Sister Creek. Then we moved to Islamorada for a night and ended up staying for more than a month. Plantation Yacht Harbor was a nice place and we had a great view over the keys to watch sunsets. When we decided to pull stakes and move to Miami, we found out that the week we spent there cost as much as a month, so we left the lines attached to the dock!

Vaughn's father passed while we were in Marathon and she talked her mom into coming to Florida for a few weeks. She arrived just after my brother was here for a week. So, we rented a car, came back to spend time with my brother....then Vaughn's mom...then Sara and the twins had to come down....then Matt arrived yesterday...so another week yet and maybe we can get away from the dock.

It's been a great winter in Florida, much warmer than last year. More normal? Does that bode poorly for the upcoming H season? We hope to head over to the Bahamas this month.

I am getting used to the drive from the Keys to Charlotte Harbor and am now finding new back roads to do the trip. I have done it weekly now, including a trip to Miami for the boat show and a rendevoux with the folks from Eagles Nest who have their DeFefer in Hollywood.

Otherwise, we're well.