Planes, Trains, …but NO automobiles!

This second week in March, we’re busily trying to prepare for our trip to The Bahamas. We felt the best way to do this was to take “Reviresco” to the Cable Marine West Yard in Ft Lauderdale for some needed repairs and maintenance before the trip. This no frills boatyard was recommended by locals as a DIY haven with easy access to the right experts, as required. So on Thursday, March 3, we cast off our mooring lines from Las Olas Marina and slowly cruised our way through some cool, and really narrow stretches of canal, weaving our way past the Ft Lauderdale downtown area and some nearby megayachts docked feet away.

Other than non-responding bridge tenders, securite calls from the “Island Adventures” cruisers coming towards us, and the occasional wavy current that spun out our back end, the trip was interesting and mostly uneventful. Any safe landing you walk away from…What a time for the battery to conk out on the camera, though.

The boatyard was as advertised. No frills and no amenities nearby except for the bus station, train station and the Ft Lauderdale International Airport (we happened to be on the north end of the landing strip – no joke!). So, I went about trying to get our groceries and other provisions. Scott went about losing what’s left of his sanity trying to sort out several mechanical issues, including that darn dinghy winch (aka WENCH!). Renting a car seemed like a good plan as everything was the standard 2-5 miles away. However, the rental rates varied greatly from $45-90/day for an economy car, if they were available. On principle alone, we declined. We decided walking would kill two birds with one stone – exercise and errands. Mostly, we killed our patience trying to get things done. Thankfully, visiting friends came to the rescue with their cars. I was never so happy to see a vehicle with 4 wheels and massive trunk space.

Did we mention that Scott’s parents were with us this whole time?! The “Good Sports of the Year Award” definitely does to this easy-going couple. Swinging on a mooring ball feet away from the Las Olas Bridge and hanging out in a boatyard were taken in good stride. They definitely experienced the less glamorous side of boating. We were grateful they didn’t hurt themselves rushing to join Sandra and Bob in their CAR for some adventures of their own next week: sunning by the pool, shopping and golfing. Pure LUXURY!

Despite the minimalist week, we still had a great time visiting together.

PS – Did I mention that I was carded at the grocery store when I bought a case of beer?! Poor young cashier was a tad embarrassed when she saw my driver’s license. Not me!