Speaking of Bridges

There are 28 drawbridges between Palm Beach and Miami. There are many more along the way but 28 in about 60 miles is quite a challenge. Some bridges open on the hour and half hour. Some open at quarter of and quarter past. A couple are every 20 minutes. It is really a toss up as to whether or not you can manage the schedule. Many of the bridges are only 2 miles apart but if the current is against you making 2 miles in 15 minutes is impossible. We try to look at this as an exercise in patience however some days we can only make about 25 miles due to bridge schedules. Then, on our lucky day we picked up the Tug and Barge Cody C. We followed them from near Fort Pierce all the way to Hollywood Beach. This included 20 drawbridges. When they pushed in from the inlet just in front of us we were a bit bummed. They cruised at our speed sometimes but sometimes a little slower. Tom was trying to figure out if he could pass them but they weren't going slowly enough and they need a lot of room. Also this was Thanksgiving weekend so there was every kind of boat traffic. Think of Fourth of July on Cape Cod and double it! Really. So we followed them through the first bridge. Coast Guard regulations require bridges to open for commercial tugs and barges ; I think because they have such limited maneuverability they couldn't stop to wait. Every time a bridge came into sight Cody C would radio them saying " Commercial tug and barge requesting passage." Bridge tenders opened for them on schedule or not. Tom was right behind them literally and on the radio requesting passage through with the tug and barge. It was amazing. Just like doors opening in front of you. We had planned 2 days for this run or even 3 but we just went along like VIP's. The tug and barge had quite the hard time with all the wakes. There were so many boats and so little space that the wakes created a nasty chop of about 2 feet or more. Cody C said that the cables that held tug and barge together were straining when the wakes were largest. Wouldn't want to be too close to them if they separated. Finally, we needed fuel so we left Cody C . We really were so sad to see them go. The next three bridges took 2 hours . It was a 6 mile trip. We made the anchorage as dusk was falling. One amazing day!