Ft Lauderdale to Rodriguez Key - Day 1

We were up at the crack of 5:30 am to get everything ready for our departure. Ken and Lynn had spent last 30 days at the Las Olas Marina. Our plan was to transit the Las Olas bridge at the 6:45 am opening, fuel up at the 15th Street Marina and catch the 7:30 am opening of the 15th Street bridge. Everything was going according to plan until a tiny fishing boat pulled up to the fuel dock ahead of us. There were three sets of fuel pumps. As we approached the dock we noticed the first two fuel pumps were gasoline only. We needed diesel. The tiny fishing boat had pulled up to the only diesel pump which also had a gasoline pump. How long could it take to fuel up a tiny fishing boat? The answer is just long enough to have us miss the 7:30 am bridge opening.

Farewell to the Las Olas Marina. You were a good home port for 30 days.

Transiting the Las Olas bridge. This bridge opens at 15 minutes and 45 minutes past the hour.

The pesky tiny fishing boat that blocked us at the fuel dock. Eventually they departed.

Transiting the 15th Street bridge. This bridges opens on the hour and half hour.

We transited the 15th Street bridge at 8:00 am and passed two cruise ships in Port Everglades. It is nice to see cruise ships operating again. The Navy was conducting training exercises just outside the harbor entrance. We had to cruise three miles east before turning south. We did see evidence of the Navy surface operations when a submarine passed by us on the surface.

A Carnaval cruise ship ready for boarding in Port Everglades.

We had company as we departed Port Everglades.

As we approached Miami we were greeted by a pod of dolphins that frolicked in our wake.

Our float plan is to transit 79 miles from Ft Lauderdale to Rodriguez Key. Rodriguez Key is a small island east of Key Largo. We will anchor there overnight.

Ken and Lynn named their sailboat Bistari. Bistari is a Nepalese word used by sherpas that means slow down and enjoy the experience. Bistari, Bistari, Bistari.

Bistari’s name change is complete. She is no longer Berkeley East.