The Many Adventures of Stray Cat: We have a lot of catching up to do!

So much has happened in the last week--gorgeous new windows, a clean boat, 50 pounds of groceries, a reggae festival, getting the hell out of Dania Beach, finding BLUE water, Miami Beach, Monument Island picnic, onto Dinner Key, fun Coconut Grove, meeting new friends including Island Spirit's 'father', Christmas Eve party with too much Disarrano and Frangelico (way too much Frangelico), Christmas on the boat, a GoPro, a fun and complete change of plans, a great day of sailing, a bonnethead shark, half way to Marathon...whew!!!!! It's a long boring story, but we are hoping to have our rigging replaced and tightened by someone in Marathon and say a fond farewell to Dania Beach...at least we sure hope that is what happens so if you know a rigger with catamaran experience who would like to meet three fun kids on a boat, let me know. We have been spoiled by Miami Beach, Coconut Grove and now the Keys.

Completely unexpected but here we come Key West!!! Here it is in pictures, sorta grouped ;-)

The Beautiful New Windows, thank you Kenny! When we knew we were not going to get rigging repairs done until at least the end of the first week of January, it was obvious that staying in Dania was not going to happen...so we decided we would try to catch Island Khaya in Miami Beach!

cleaning the steps--a huge and not very fun job

Hello there!!

They are wonderful!

Good bye Dania Cut

So long no see 'ums

Ft. Lauderdale - Port Everglades Inlet Cruise Ships

We are OUTTA HERE!!

Bye bye Lauderdale

Here we come Miami!

Welcome to Miami! Sing it Will Smith...

Water so blue...amazing color out in the ocean just off shore

South Beach from the ocean

Busy, crowded channel and this was AFTER the dredging right in the middle

Barges, yachts, power boats, thrill ride boats and jet skiers playing in the wake in a very narrow, current filled channel...and we were there too

Mark, Jon and Suzanne take Miami!

Main Channel once you enter Government Cut...wow, no one is using this channel...gee it's totally clear except for the ferries and those multiple (more than two) cruise ships clearly docked at the port.

Oooh cool a sea plane...neat! Oh here comes a Miami-Dade police boat, with lights on...Federal Restricted Channel? We have to turn around?...Oopsie. Very polite officer--probably deals with morons all the time. Why didn't we hear anything on 16 or read about it? Weird.

The reason it's restricted...four is more than two...oh and look, it's right there in all the books. Duh!! By the way, this channel can also be used as a seaplane landing area (when there are not ships there of course). At least we know we didn't cause that earlier plane any problems.

Meanwhile in Fishermans Channel...where ALL the boating traffic was, we got up close and personal with some cargo ships.

Swanky Bayside...

Venetian Causeway West Bridge

Super huge anchorage close to the ICW by Watson Island

Thriller Boat...super fast, tight turns, jumping wakes...We decided Jon should open one of his own on the Chesapeake and take people on rides.

Flagler Monument Island--very popular spot on the weekends

Our anchorage just behind Belle Island, a few blocks from Lincoln Road, Collins and Ocean. Thanks for the tip Island Khaya.

The Dahons getting a rest on Ocean Ave while we enjoyed lunch at the Sugar Factor.

My other love, Gerard Butler, has been there too. Clearly he did not know I was in town so I missed him.

Yummy fun drinks. Overpriced, delicious and decedent, just like South Beach.

Awww another beach wedding, and yes the groomsmen did a picture of them holding the bride on her side. Classic.

I can honestly say that I have been on the beach in South Beach!

Annoying selfie alert.

Dusky Deco shot

Pretty tree lights on Lincoln...somehow all the flair and 'social noise' in Miami Beach is ok--you sort of expect it.

But still time to confess if needed

Final stop on our bike/people dodging tour was Maya Tapas and Grill on Lincoln...wish I had been hungrier.

My lights versus Miami's

City lights of Miami proper...nice view for the night

Pretty in the sunrise too

Always time for tasks...this one is important since those panels give us power and blogability. They were pretty nasty from boat yard gunk and random pollutants at Dania Beach.

Hello darling!

Stray Cat photo bombing her Captain as he takes us on a tour of Star Island.

Jon is always a good sport!

Not my house

Nope not this one either

I think they just say there are manatees because I saw jellyfish and three fish and that's all.

This one is available...more of a fixer upper. If you have a few millions to spare.

This one I liked the best.

Annoying selfie day two

One tree for each of us

Taking the beach

Stray Cat Studs

My true comments do not fit the "G" rating...this is the Flagler Monument--he was a pretty important dude in Florida.

Someone puts together a lovely picnic lunch

Nature and architects provided the view

Critters in the rocks at low tide--also saw a pointy sea urchin and a lot of beached jellies

Water was NOT so clear you can see to the bottom...but they tried.

Field test of the new Sharkskin

They were not run over by anyone--I was a bit concerned about the bikini clad young ladies on the jet skis, only one seemed to know how to actually control a jet ski (without the fake squealing laughter that is)

And another lovely sunset

We are spoiled brats who love our AC...errr, I mean are thankful for our genny to power the batteries if needed.

Here was how the next morning went...So, do we want to stay here or try Dinner Key? Where do we want to be for Christmas...there is that weather coming. It's really protected here but Coconut Gove is supposed to be nice. We won't be protected. Well if we want to go we should probably go today--soon today. Hem haw hem haw hem haw, tick tock tick tock...What do you want to do? I don't care, what do you want to do? Hem hem hem...OK! Let's go!!