February 17-26, 2012... Palm Beach and WPB

For over a week we have been anchored just south of Royal Park Bridge in Lake Worth, opposite the Town of Palm Beach marina with its mega yachts from the Cayman Navy, and just a short dinghy ride away from the docks at West Palm Beach (WPB). It's been nice to bob at anchor, feeling the rhythm of the water once again, joined by that of this urban oasis - church bells playing on the hour, mingling with warning horns for bridge openings and the Segway tourists that go up and down the esplanade.

Our first full day here we went to IndiaFest 2012, an annual festival sponsored by the Palm Beach India Association. Held at the outdoor amphitheater in WPB, we took in the sights, sounds, and smells, saw lots of traditional dancing and ate some fabulous samosas. A great way to spend a sunny afternoon.

We also played tourist, walking up and down Clematis St, the main street of WPB, rode the free trolley, and found the supermarket. As if there isn't enough beauty on this side of Lake Worth, we crossed the bridge to take in the sights in Palm Beach. Wow. A lot of money over there! Beautiful homes, all the shops you'd expect to see on Worth St., the Breakers resort hotel, and of course the wonderful beach on the Atlantic.

Naturally, we challenged ourselves to kayaking Lake Worth. Plotting out a course that would put the wind and current at our backs on the way home to Anhinga, we paddled a couple of miles up past Southern Bridge where we found some mangrove islands that are home to lots of birds, not just the herons and ospreys we expected, but also turkey vultures that roost in the higher branches. Not the most beautiful birds, and they are everywhere. Good to be paddling again.

West Palm Beach: +26° 42' 10.08", -80° 2' 53.58"