On the hook at Lake Worth, FL

Look at the gorgeous turquoise colored water we found coming down the ICW toward Jupiter, FL. Jupiter Lighthouse was standing guard at the Inlet as we made the turn to follow the ICW toward Lake Worth. 

After going under seven bridges with busy weekend local boat traffic we arrived to anchor in the northwestern corner of Lake Worth, FL on Sunday afternoon with about thirty other cruising boats. We learned that the experienced cruisers do not travel on weekends due to the busy local water traffic. We are getting some boat jobs done that we can only do at anchor. The stainless steel stanchions and bow and stern pulpits should sparkle since Norma removed the saltwater spray and polished them.  

Jay spliced a new anchor snubber line to hook on the chain so the boat will be suspended from a bridle instead of a single line.  We ran the Honda generator (red box behind Jay sitting on the transom) to charge our batteries since we have been at anchor for a few days and have not run the engine. Jay did some electrical jobs like repairing a 12V plug on an computer inverter.

Jay hoisted me up to the spreaders to run the flag halyard through the pulley so we'll be able to raise the quarantine and Bahamian courtesy flag once we arrive. We also spent time studying the Bahamas charts and guides.

Wednesday we landed and locked the dinghy with other cruiser's dinghies by the bridge.  We walked a few blocks to catch the public bus into Riviera Beach for our afternoon appointments with the US Customs & Borders office.  We had applied online for the LBO-Local Boaters Option which will allow us a quicker and easier re-entry to the US in the spring.  Today we had to appear in person for the presentation of documents (boat papers and passports) and an interview (be fingerprinted and have photo taken).  In the spring when we return, we should be able to phone the Customs office, give our LBO # and not have to wait for a Customs visit or appear at the Customs office to clear us.

We arrived early to be sure we knew where the Customs office was located, so we had time to explore.  Riviera Marina was nearby with pelicans waiting for the scraps from a cleaning fish station.  The US Customs office was just across the water from Peanut Island and the Lake Worth Inlet.   The weather looks good for Thursday with north/northeast winds so we plan to go out the Inlet and sail down the coast to Fort Lauderdale.