Fw: Miami Twice (Title of Only Fools and Horses Christmas special)

Swiftwing
Thu 27 May 2010 16:01
 

We stayed in Miami for two weeks waiting for suitable weather to get out the forty miles to the Bahamas but unfortunately the wind didn't oblige and in the end we gave up  on the idea and set sail on Sunday 16th May for Savannah, about five hundred miles North and in the state of Georgia.  Three miles out of Miami we hitched a ride on the Gulf Stream and Swiftwing's speed across the ground jumped to 10.4 knots where it remained fo twelve hours or so until the stream carried on East. We recorded a new record for a twenty four hour run at 183 miles; our previous best being 166 miles whilst crossing the Atlantic. The next day was 153 and the following 143. We are anchored at the moment in Skull Creek, Beufort, Georgia, having left Savannah yesterday for a short hop along the coast. I'll report on Savannah later. Here  are some photographs of Miami which we really liked and will visit again.
 
 
Just one of the numerous Fire-Rescue tenders that patrol Biscayne Bay.
 
This is one Banyan tree. It starts off as a single trunk then as it spreads out it sends new roots down from it's branches. This one was in Vizcaya and is believed to be one thousand years old.
 
This is one of the Giant Tortoises that nearly became extinct in the 1700's because European sailing ships would capture them and keep them on board for fresh meat. There is nothing here to give it scale but it must have weighed in at about one ton.
Downtown Miami from Biscayne Bay. The marina was right in the city centre below these skyscrapers.
 
Much the same view at night.
One of the many bridges connecting downtown Miami with South Beach.
These guys appeared in every episode of Miami Vice. Apparently they live to be forty years old.
The famous Pink Flamingos.
 
Steve, Anne,Bev and I had lunch at an Italian restaurant in Southbeach.Anne took the photo.
One of the Art Deco buildings on Southbeach.Nice 50 Cadillac parked outside.
This  is supposed to be Dick Tracy, also Southbeach.
Art Deco.
Downtown Miami.
We also went out for a Japanese meal. Anne had the suhi. All it needs is dipped in breadcrumbs and deep fried and  cooked the way fish should be.
It'snot often that we get a photo of our own boat. Biscayne Bay, Miami.
We had a day out at Vizcaya House built by James Deering of International Harvester fame in 1905.
Vizcaya was filled with antique European gems including Cleopatra's harp.
Thats all for now.