GLORY DAYS ON THE GREAT LOOP: NEW RIVER DOWNTOWN

DAY 258; SUN. APRIL 1, 2012

DEP. HOLLYWOOD, FL (mm1072) 08:45 ARR. FT. LAUDERDALE/NEW R. DOWNTOWN MUN. MARINA (mm1065) 10:15

D. 8.33sm / 3870.6

We left Hollywood early to get to the Ft. Lauderdale/New R. Municipal Marina early so we could have the whole day to spend there. It turned out to be a good decision because shortly after we tied up, the parade began. This was no ordinary parade, nor was it an official parade. It was a boat parade! Literally hundreds of boats, from jet skis to 150’ mega yachts, out for a Sunday drive. There were ferry boats, tour boats, kayaks, sail boats, boats with cranked up amplifiers (some including girls dancing as if under the influence of adult beverages), dinghies, and even a gondola. You name it, and it went by. Fortunately, almost all of the boats went by so as not to leave a big wake. It was occasionally a bit rocky, but otherwise, not too bad. We tied up just before the SE Third Av. Bridge, just a short walk to Las Olas Blvd, the center of downtown Ft. Lauderdale, the prime shopping and eating area. We had a decent dinner at a Greek restaurant, and Pat got to do a lot of window shopping. While at the dock we had another encounter with a friendly fellow boater. His name was John Walsh, and he is from Attleboro, MA. He and his wife have a condo in Lauderdale, a 46’ Grand Banks East Bay, and an old Chris Craft cruiser they keep in Brewerton, NY. I just mentioned we had to get to West Marine, and next thing we knew we were driving there. People are great!