Karen and I left our dock early Saturday morning (2-14-15) for our Valentine’s Day cruise to Delray Beach.
Leaving L-Dock for our Valentine’s Day cruise.
The seas were two- to three feet when we motored out of Port Everglades.
Port Everglades in our rearview mirror on Valentine’s Day.
LyonsRoar ate up the rough water going 25 knots and thirty minutes later we were pulling into Hillsboro Inlet at Lighthouse Point.
Heading into Hillsboro Inlet at Lighthouse Point.
We would travel the next 18 miles on the placid waters of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). We averaged around 5 knots and enjoyed the cloudless sky and 70 degree temperature. Since the rougher water was behind us, Karen broke out the bubbly.
Karen makes mimosas for the mellow leg of the cruise.
I reserved a slip at the Delray Harbor Club Marina for the night. We settled the boat in and joined a nice group for some adult beverages, a dip in the heated pool and some lazing in the warm sun. It was a perfectly relaxing afternoon by the ICW.
LyonsRoar at Delray Harbor Club Marina’s floating dock.
At dusk we cleaned up and walked the 3/4 mile from the Harbor Club to Delray’s famous Atlantic Avenue strip. A Valentine’s Day, Saturday night is not ideal for finding a seat at a fancy restaurant without a reservation, but we arrived early and had no problem getting a table at Boston’s with a view of the ocean, passing tourists and a live band. After dinner we watched the sun go down on Delray beach.
Karen gives me a sandy Valentine on Delray Beach at sunset.
After dark we walked up and down Atlantic Avenue checking out the countless restaurants and people hustling to make their reserved tables on time. The night turned cool and we warmed up inside establishments that offered live music, like this jazz trio at the wine bar.
A smooth Jazz trio at the Wine Bar in Delray Beach.
We caught the free golf cart shuttle with another couple back to the Harbor Club when we got tired of walking and people gawking. The temperature dropped to the upper 40s and made for nice snuggling on the boat. Because we retired early, we were up for a pre-sunrise shot of the pool with a hint of steam wafting off it.
Up before the sun at the Harbor Club pool.
We ate Sunday morning breakfast at the iHop across the street and headed south for Ft. Lauderdale. The winds were higher from the north and the seas much rougher than when we left Saturday, so we just enjoyed a stress free cruise all the way down the ICW. The mansions and mega yachts along both sides of the ICW make it an entertaining joy ride. We were back home by 2:30pm. It was a fine excursion with my favorite Valentine!
Karen relaxing in the sun on the ICW cruising home from Delray.
Karen bids us bon voyage on our early departure.
Just another shitty day in Paradise!!!