Waiting for the south wind

While we wait to go north we took the boat out.  The lines were salt-hardened into their coils around the cleats they've been there so long.  We headed out to Biscayne Bay toward Stiltsville and No Name Harbor at 6:00 pm for a short sail in 15 k of north winds.  It was perfect.

Drew at the bow coming back into Coconut Grove Dinner Key channel at sunset.

In the setting sunlight Mazu in her usual spot near the helm's seat usually touching me, burying her head in a slot.

Me in the wind at the helm.

Actual sails up : )

A loud jetski alongside with the music blaring as we turn into the marina toward our slip.

Not a whole lot to do but wait for the wind to turn and push us north and use the Gulf Stream to take us fast.  We need a full 3 days 7 hours of the wind going in that direction, but apparently the winter north winds aren't finished blowing long and hard.  3 days will get us to Moorehead City, Beaufort, NC where we'd then proceed up the ICW avoiding the treacherous Cape Hatteras seas for a week.  After we reach Norfolk, VA we sail outside again for 3 + days to Buzzards Bay, MA.

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I've finally got the Citi Bike machine to work, and at a high price (instead of a gym fee) I've taken a few 2 hour rides ($10).   The bikes work well, and it's fun to ride around down Cutler Rd to Fairchild Gardens or up to the market or down to Kennedy Park to workout on the outdoor equipment = 20 angled back sit-ups, hand over hand jungle gym, 100 leg pushes, and 20 pull your own sitting weight.

Activity around the marina is never ending working to ultimately finish up of the marina project:

After laying cement they sprinkle shells into the top layer, push them in with a flattner smoother long handled squeegee tool and later sandblast off the top layer to show the shells.  Fascinating to watch.

 They are also laying tile in the sand.  Each day it is difficult to find a way up to the office

with dirt and cement and caution tape and workers all over the place.

 Other than remarkable frustration at not moving for weeks on end, everything is fine.  I know we'll get out of here eventually, but I'm sad not to be going up the Potomac as we'd planned.  Another time...

Antsy