we are in Miami

Today is Jan 21 and the weather is in the 80's and sunny and windy and we are sitting in Miami, near the Ventian Causeway, a series of island with expensive houses on them. we ended up staying in Vero Beach for New Years . we were all set to leave on 1/4 when we had a problem with the holding tank, so back to the mooring we went. Then winter came to Florida and we had a week plus of cold weather. during the day it would be 40-50 and 30 at night with wind chill one night 21. The lowest was 28 at night, so we decided to stay on the mooring rather than risk anchoring somewhere. We enjoyed Vero Beach, we saw some friends who used to live at NEB with us (Jean and Frank Nappa), we saw Dave's cousin and wife and had dinner one night at the yacht club with new friends. Vero Beach was very convient for shopping. We left 1/13 and anchored for 2 nights at Jensen Beach by the bridge. Along the ICW there are many anchorages near the 65' bridges that cross it. We went to a street fair the second night we were there. There are also parks near the bridges so it makes it easy to take Packet ashore. We arrived in Lake Worth on 1/16. I needed to be in a marina for a couple of nights, needed to do laundry and have a shower. Plus we were meeting friends who would sail with us to Miami. We left Lake Worth on Monday 1/18 (this is also a place people stay waiting for weather to go over to the Bahamas) and arrived in Fort Lauderdale. We anchored in a small lake surrounded by beautiful houses. We ran aground going in and another Island Packet owner helped us off. We arrived in Miami in Tuesday, 1/19, had dinner with our crew and his parents, saw South Beach by car at night. Yesterday we took the dinghy up to a canal where you can access the city. You just tie your dinghy along the wall , walk across the street on one side to a grocery store and on the other side is the famous Lincoln St and Collins St where all the clubs, hotels, shops and restuarants are. Today we had to move the boat because the wind shifted and we didn't like where we were anchored. We will be leaving tomorrow or Sat for Key Biscayne Bay and should be in Marathon next week. Hope all is well with everyone .