Thursday, February 16 - Coconut Grove

Thursday, February 16 - Coconut Grove

The marina here runs a water taxi every hour, so we took it in to the office to register and find breakfast. 

(PIC ON BOAT). The office is in a three story building quite a distance from the water taxi dock.  It's very nice with a terrace overlooking the marina, mailboxes for live-aboards, laundry and shower facilities, and a lounge with internet hookups, television, and a take-one, leave-one library.  But it is a major trip from our boat!  About a half mile to shore, then a nice walk to the office.

The only place the people in the office could suggest for breakfast was Fresh Market.  For breakfast, really?  We walked several blocks to get there only to find that the options for breakfast were bakery items.  Not Danny's idea of the perfect breakfast. Wednesday chose blueberry muffins and sat outside to eat.

The marina office had no tourist information at all, not even a map, so we went into the Courtyard Marriott to see what we could find.  Armed with a map, we headed out for "historic" Coconut Grove.  It was definitely an interesting area. 

We found a great little park right in the middle of town, Barnacle Historic State Park.  The house was built by was Ralph Monroe, one of the settlers of Coconut Grove and a leading designer of sailing yachts.  It is the oldest house in Miami still in its original location, and on the grounds is one of the last remnants of the Miami Hammock, a tropical hardwood hammock.  The house is an interesting design and has incredible woodwork.

Back at the marina, the water taxi, which normally runs on the hour, did not run at 2:00 due to rough seas, so we walked to the Grove Bay Grill for lunch.  We had planned to go there by dinghy for dinner, but we are always flexible. The view was nice and the food OK. 

Waiting for the next taxi at the marina office, we met some interesting people.  Sherrie, who had witnessed our approach yesterday and called people on the VHF to help, introduced herself.  She lives on a sailboat by herself, and even races it.  I am in awe.  Kevin, who also witnessed our approach (I think we created a spectacle) chatted with us, and we made plans to share transportation to the boat show tomorrow.  It's so easy to get to know boat people.  Here we are headed back to the boat with our new boat friends. 

We forgot to get ice, so Danny took the dinghy back to the office to get some  It's at least a half mile, and the dinghy is not speedy!

Another great Miami sunset!