March 23, 2011

My Second Home - Steve & Laurie's House

Southern Florida has a great system of getting around.  They did not spend a lot of money on a light rail system.  They merely used the railroad trails and trains that were already in place.  They call it the ‘TriRail’.  I can fly into Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach and hop on the TriRail and arrive anywhere along this Florida corridor for $7.  It sure beats a $40 cab ride and hours of traffic.  I can also take the TriRail to visit friends in Tampa.

 Cleaning out with Craig's List.  It's gotta go.  They now have two more rooms in their house.

There is a lot of boating around Ft. Lauderdale.  So many boats in such a small area.  It was interesting to see how they spend the day on boats there.  On a sunny Sunday morning, we went out on Steve & Laurie's friend's 38' power boat.  With appetizers, soda and beer in hand, we met them at the marina and headed out.  Four bags of ice were added to chill the drinks and we were off down the finger canal, into the Inter Coastal Waterway (ICW) and out to the Atlantic Ocean doing a mere 24 knots on the ocean.  This is not like the boating I know. We cruise around 6-8 knots.  Bags and bags of ice, that's not the boating I know either.  But it was fun never the less. 

 The crowded ICW around Ft. Lauderdale on a sunny weekend afternoon.

Just your typical mansion and power boat.

Whenever I see this red or green triangle, I know I'm on the ICW waterway.

Many boats stopped along the way to go swimming and just hang out in the water.  At the end of the ocean run south, we ducked back into the ICW heading north and slowly returning to the marina.  The scenery was great with so many boats in the area and beautiful houses along the way.  It was a great day, but to be honest, I'll take the quiet, secluded anchorages any day.

Bridge Art

 

Growing old with Steve & Laurie