Boy am I tired of dealing with bridges this evening. We got underway this morning around 8:15AM and anchored this evening at 5:45PM...We should have covered 80+ miles. Instead we made it from MM966 to MM1032...66 miles. Along the way we motored under 3 fixed bridges and 14 draw bridges. 11 of the bridges were restricted, opening either on the hour-half hour, or 15 and 45 after the hour. Our journey took us down past Jensen Beach, Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Hobe Sound, Jupiter and Jupiter Island (someone sold a $100M house here last year), North Palm Beach, Palm and West Palm Beach, and finally to Lantana, which is just north of Boynton Beach.
This was our anchorage this morning as I was getting ready to pull the anchor...in the rain! The anchor held well last evening, even though the winds were over 20 knots out of the east..worked for me because I slept like a baby!
As we headed south down the Indian River, we ran across this nuclear power plant (at least I assume that it is nuclear) about 10 miles below Fort Pierce.
Our path took us south into the St. Lucie River and as things narrowed down dramatically, the upscale houses started to pop up..some beautiful properties!
This is the St. Lucie Inlet out to the Atlantic Ocean. It crosses the ICW and then the St. Lucie River heads out toward the canal to Lake Okechobee..the canal across the state of Florida that I cannot take:(
And this is the view looking to starboard up the St. Lucie River looking west. The canal only carries about 5 feet depth, and the bridges only offer 55' clearance. We lose on both counts. For some who can make this route, it will save them 4 or 5 days.
Below is a pic of the first drawbridge of the day. I was actually behind these two sailboats prior to the bridge, but they were only making about 5 knots. I passed them as soon as we cleared the bridge. This is a "demand" bridge, which means that it opens on request, rather than to a predefined schedule.
Once past this bridge, the ICW wanders through a canal until it enters into Hobe Sound. There are some beautiful homes along this stretch of country that wanders through Port St. Lucie as well as Stuart.
Once entering Hobe Sound, the Jonathan Dickensen State Park borders the west bank of the ICW. Vic and I stayed here in the RV back in January on our way down to the Keys. We actually were on top of this observation tower looking across the ICW at Jupiter Island.....never thought that we would be headed south this way!
This next pic is a special location for me. The flag pole is just about exactly at MM "1000" on the Atlantic ICW...counting our trip down to Norfolk, we had gone 1160 miles at this point!
And here is another home on Jupiter Island..
This next shot is of the lighthouse at the south end of the Island.
This pic is where our bridge problems really got started. The Jupiter 707 Bridge is a demand bridge. We arrived right behind this motor yacht at 12:45PM. Unfortunately, the bridge was broken and an electrician was working on it. Right after this bridge was another demand bridge, and then a restricted bridge within 2 miles. As scheduled, we should have been able to get through the restricted bridge by 1PM....BUT, we did not get through this bridge until 1:20..the next bridge was open. As we approached the demand bridge, it was open on it's scheduled 1:30 opening. I got within 300 yards of it when the bridge operator closed it on me....now there is a guy on a power trip. I had to wait another 1/2 hour for the opening..got through at the 2PM opening..cost us 1 hour...more to come...9 more to come:(
After waiting for several other bridges we crossed into Palm Beach Harbor. Just before entering the harbor, I could not resist taking a pic of this highrise...
And here are some of the sites in the harbor, including the unloading of this container ship.
Once through the harbor, we motored down between Palm Beach and West Palm Beach. Here are some photos of both...lots and LOTS of money here..
I believe that this one is a hotel in Palm Beach..my guess would be a Ritz Carlton..but what do I know..
This is looking out over West Palm. Vic and I had flown down here for a business meeting in July and spent some time enjoying the sites here. They have a great shopping area in amongst all of these high rise buildings...
I did not even notice these palm trees at first. Vic saw them and pointed them out to me..had to take a pic.
More ritzy ditzy houses..
I this stretch through downtown Palm Beach/West Palm Beach, we encountered 7 restricted bridges in a row..I finally gave up after this last bridge at MM 1031 and decided to go drop the anchor around 5:30...This pic was actually taken after we were anchored..as were the next 2.
Another sailboat anchored nearby..
I just missed sunset..again..but not by more than a minute..
Tomorrow is another bridge day. There are 15 more restricted bridges before we go outside at MM 1066, at Port Everglades. This outside excursion is necessary because there is a bridge on the Julia Tuttle Expressway that crosses the ICW at MM 1087 that is only 55' high..so outside is the only way. The winds have been out of the east for the last 2 days at 20 knots+. They are calling for 2-4' waves in close and 4-6' out in the Gulf Stream. My plan is to keep it in close for the last 22 miles down to Miami Harbor. The plan is to stay at the Dinner Key Marina tomorrow evening in Biscayne Bay (at $2.40/foot for dockage..that is 2.40 x 49')..I have been paying anywhere from $1/foot to $1.85/foot on the trip down...There are some marinas that are getting as much as $5/foot in Miami...will be glad to get fuel and water and then head south on Friday.
Tomorrow we will end the day at MM 1094. Marathon is about 100 miles southwest in the Keys. Then there is a long run up through the Gulf of Florida, 136 miles up to Boca Grande..and then another 40 miles or so up to Longboat Key. We are still hoping to make it by Sunday as long as the weather holds up...and boy will I be glad to leave all of the bloody bridges behind!
Vic-n-Paul,love the pictures. Thanks for sharing. I know you guys are tired but what an adventure,sites that most people will never have the opportunity to see. Enjoying your Blog!!!! Keep sending the Great
Photos. Be safe, looking forward to seeing what comes
up next.
Take care,
Vicky in Wilmington
Posted by: Vicky Evans | 10/22/2009 at 09:01 AM
Thanks Vicky. Yesterday was a tough day, but today was just about perfect. We are both tired and will be ready for this adventure to end, but it really has been an adventure!
Posted by: Paul White | 10/23/2009 at 09:26 PM