Dania Beach, FL to Lake Worth, FL

We spent the day we arrived in Dania Beach cleaning all the salt off the boat. It’s nice to not have to pay for water like we do in the Bahamas. Sunday we rented a car and ran around doing errands to the grocery, the West Marine, and an Outlet Mall. I was feeling “shopping deprived.” One thing that the Bahamas does not have are many stores of any kind. From what we could see, there were no “chain” stores of any type. The little out islands we visited, were lucky to have a small grocery with very limited selection. Of the small islands, Staniel Cay had the best selection. The only native crafts are woodcarving and basket weaving.

Monday we contacted two companies to see about getting the generator fixed. One could not get to us till Thursday and the other estimated a cost of $2,500 and would have to send the part to Miami for repair, so it would take at least a week. Captain Bob’s Type A came back as soon as we cleared customs! He says, “if we can’t be in the Bahamas, I'd rather be home.” So, we decided to press on and get the generator fixed when we get home.

We will anchor out as much as we can, but expect to stop in a few marinas on the way back. Without the generator, we don’t use electricity in the evenings. We read using those silly lights that you wear on your heads and go to bed early.

It is quite a bit colder in Florida than it was in the Bahamas. We are trying to get used to the shock. I’m fighting a cold at present with Zicam, and Bob keeps sneezing all the time from the different pollens. I hope to “bring spring” North with us.

This part of the trip, the ICW is loaded with gorgeous homes and huge boats docked in front. Here is an example of one.


Home on the ICW

We just passed this cruise ship when they left dock right behind us. We had been monitoring Channel 9 for the bridges and not Channel 16, where the ship had probably announced their departure, so it came as a shock to us when they blew their horn right beside us.


Cruise Ship Departing

We have to go under many, many bridges. Some are too low for us to pass under and we have to request their opening. The Captain does not wait for bridges very well – another sign of the Type A returning. This bridge is the most ornate and unusual of all we’ve seen.


Castle Bridge
We anchored for the night in Lake Worth. Without the ability to run the heat on the boat, it was a little chilly. I “layered up” and snuggled down for the night early.