Sailing north

Our friend Ira joined us for the first few weeks as we sailed south into the Everglades National Park, then across Florida Bay to Key West. We learned to hate the lobster buoys and even caught one on the rudder. I had to swim down to free us. 

We enjoyed Key West, staying at the City Marina. Ira attempted to circumnavigate the island in the kayak, but the wind and waves thwarted the effort. The Coast Guard came to the rescue, as they had some new recruits and used it as a training exercise. 

And we bicycled around and explored neighborhoods and shores and parks and such. It's a friendly, progressive town. 

After sailing and snorkeling along the Keys, Ira left us at John Pennakamp State Park, and left us to turn north into the ICW. 

Biscayne Bay gave us two days of nice sailing, then we were in the ditch. From Miami to Ft Lauderdale are innumerable bridges, and we had to time our transit between, then wait for each bridge to open and let us and many other boats through. It's a challenge with an electric drive sailboat to hold position, then accelerate through with the other boats. We added to our speed with the sails, but one bridge tender chastised us for daring to sail through. Bah. 

Beyond Flagler Beach the way became more enjoyable and peaceful, as there were fewer bridges and fewer houses and more trees. 

At Fernandina Beach we took advantage of a full moon and headed out into the ocean. Three days and two nights brought us to Charleston SC. This was our first ever overnight sail, and we enjoyed the experience, even though we approached it with a bit of trepidation. Dolphins joined us several times, the most magical was under the full moon. Photographs did not do it justice. 

Back in the ditch, we sailed and motored into North Carolina, stopping in Beaufort, Oriental, Belhaven and Elizabeth City  we enjoyed learning the history of this area. Some from the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil war, plus maritime technology of ironclads and submarines, the underground railroad and struggles between blacks and whites, union and confederate, natives and colonialists, environmentalists and developers, etc.