Long Days

Since leaving Hollywood Beach, we've been logging in some long travel days(8-9 hours), as we lingered a bit in the Keys and southern Florida. The weather has been perfect, the last week or so, in the low 80s, so we've been trying to soak up as much warmth as we can before heading farther north.

Seascape's traveling speed is 8 miles an hour. So we travel about 64 or so miles in an 8 hour day. We log our distance in statute miles on this trip, rather than the usual nautical miles, as the Intracoastal uses statute mile markers, most likely put in place by the Army Corps. of Engineers.
The days get a bit long, but the extra daylight comes in handy. We get a very early start, and still have time to relax a bit before the sun goes down.

Some days are slower going. From Hollywood Beach to our anchorage in North Lake Worth, took almost nine hours. We had to wait for eight bridge openings. The ones we could clear, we still have to slow down to pass under. It was a 19 bridge day, in total! We also go in and out of slow wake zones, where you have to travel at slower speeds so as not to make a damaging wake to boats along the shoreline. In addition to that, the tide can make or break our speed. We can gain or lose a knot, or two, of speed, going with or against the current. Some days 8 hours feels like 12, and some days it goes along quickly, and before we realize it, we're at our stop for the night.

Here are some pictures we've taken along the way.