ICW #11

The morning we left for Lauderdale, Howard, Debra and two other “residents” came to help us cast off and bid us farewell. With a low pressure system expected to move in by weeks end making a Bahamian crossing impossible, there was no longer any need to rush so we decided to slow down and make the final leg of our journey in two days rather than one.

This last stretch of waterway was the easiest of all. Depths were consistent, the waters calm and the narrow channel comparatively straight. It was fairly easy to keep the boat centred within the canal and we were able to enjoy the ever-changing panorama of architectural styles as we passed through one upscale neighbourhood after another. But travel here is not entirely without its challenges. In this section of the waterway it comes in the form of a never-ending series of bascule bridges which require “timing” to avoid potentially dangerous delays. And there were no less than 21 of these bridges to negotiate between Lake Worth and Fort Lauderdale! Because their openings are timed, if you miss getting through while the bridge is up, you could find yourself forced to wait for up to half an hour “doing donuts” in the vicinity of the bridge. This can be nerve-wracking to say the least when other vessels are doing the same thing and you have to work to avoid colliding with each other while still maintaining a position within the confines of the channel!

There are virtually no anchorages along this last section of water so we booked ahead into a boating facility and really lucked out with our choice. The Delray Harbour Marina was just what we needed at the end of a long hot day and the stress of timing bridges. After tying up at their dock we grabbed a grilled hot dog at the snack bar and headed off towards the soothing waters of their pool, only a stones through away from the boat. Later, while Vince enjoyed a shower, I stretched out on a poolside chaise-lounge with a glass of chilled wine. As we basked in the warmth of the southern sun, it was hard to suppress a smile thinking of the snow and sleet we would’ve been experiencing at this time of the year back in Canada.

The next day was more of the same, but exaggerated beyond belief! As lot lines narrowed, the magnificent monster-homes marched shoulder-to-shoulder along the waters edge, each competing with its neighbour in a never-ending rivalry for elegance. Hundreds of little canals, lined with colourful stuccoed residences and pillared piers put me in mind of Venice. But, defying belief, this was even MORE splendid. After several hours enduring the “visual feast” I found myself suffering from “opulence overload”. And, unable to take anymore, put the camera away and buried myself in the sobering details of charts. It was all just too overwhelming. And my mind was simply unable to adjust to the sheer VOLUME of mansions, mega-yachts, and money concentrated in this one place. It was absolutely mind-boggling! Everyone needs to experience seeing this—and many will be enraged.

As the canal began to widen, morphing itself into the turning basin of Port Everglades, the residential areas thankfully began to peter out and I could feel sanity gradually returning. We busied ourselves putting out fenders and securing docklines in preparation for a tie-up at “Pier 66” where we had arranged to meet with a friend. When the marina eventually loomed into view and Fortnight began her final approach, we felt that it was over at last. Our journey from Port Dover to Fort Lauderdale was complete. And, after almost five months and 2,000 miles, we had finally arrived.