STRANDED!

Yesterday was one of those days!  We woke up casually without any real plan other than finding our way around this anchorage and the surrounding area.  Did the morning routine, a few odd projects/cleaning and headed out in the dinghy to go exploring.

Just a few of the "small boats" along the canal.

I decided it was high time I learned to be independent on the dinghy so I took charge and got us started (first pull - YEAH!) and off we went.  Lake Sylvia is a really beautiful anchorage in a cove with lots of gorgeous houses on canals all around.  To get to a landing isn't such an easy task, however.  Lots of anchorages are connected with a marina that offers services - a dinghy dock/showers/laundry/restrooms - for a small fee.  There is no such thing for Lake Sylvia.  To get to a land based dock, you have to dinghy out of the canals, cross the ICW (intercoastal waterway), go to the end of another canal and pay a restaurant there $10 to leave your dinghy.  The one plus - they give you $10 worth of drink coupons in return . . . sounds good enough!

Get by with a little help from my friend

So that all sounds fine and good and although I almost knocked us out revving the engine instead of slowing it before ducking under a REALLY low canal bridge, we recovered and crossed the ICW.  That's about the time the engine quite.  Yup.  No warning, no nothing . . . just nothing.  And we were adrift.  Rob grabbed the oars, actually excited to do a little rowing and we headed back to the ICW to a fuel dock on the corner of the canal.  They were not exactly what I would call helpful but we were able to tie up long enough for Rob to check the engine out.  That didn't help unfortunately and we ended up getting a tow from another dinghy from Lake Sylvia who pulled in the dock to fill water and fuel reserves.  Of course this meant we now had a new friend!  Ha, this sailing community is amazing.

So we're safely back aboard Moonshadow and Rob does some work on the dinghy, adds fuel conditioner, etc and she gets started again.  Still determined to put our feet on solid ground and maybe burn a few calories, we headed out once again.  This time after we crossed the ICW, we got about half way down the canal to the restaurant to find the whole canal blocked with crime tape.  LAUDERDALE VICE!!!!  Such excitement - and how bizarre - they found a Mercedes convertible that had been run down the boat ramp!  Yikes . . . and I guess I should mention there were bodies inside.  We heard reports of two, and then one in the trunk . . . but I never did check the news to find out the story.  Anyway - can this be possible!?  It was just like watching a TV crime show!  The helicopters were there for hours and the canal was closed the rest of the day.

Las Olas Beach Access

Not to be deterred, we headed a different direction out of the Lake and headed up the ICW to Las Olas mooring field and marina.  We "just stopped and asked directions" (thanks, Captain Ron!).  The two sailors aboard "Slick" gave us the entry code to Las Olas and we docked on the dinghy dock ready to rock!  So, there is absolutely nothing at Las Olas other than the beach or a 1/2 mile walk to a bus station to get to points afar.  We walked the beach a bit, walked over the ICW bridge and back and headed back to Moonshadow before the sun was fully set. 

Moonshadow at sunset - come on, admit you're jealous now!

Jeff and Elise - our towing buds.

Back aboard Moonshadow, our towing friend Jeff and his wife Elise came by on the their dinghy and we thanked them with wine at sundown.  They are a delightful couple and we hope to run into them as we move further south in the next week or so.  They gave us some good tips on making the trip to Key West and we had a few laughs.  All in all a somewhat docile day but you know the saying . . . a day at anchorage is better than a day at work!  Is that how it goes?  Until next time . . .