Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, FL (MM 1018.4) to North Jensen, Stuart, FL (MM 981.4)
Theme of the Day: Still Florida, Less Chaos, and Our First Family Aboard!
Another day, another 35 nautical miles north! We are in the groove! And…we were still very much in Florida, but the crowds were thinning, the scenery was getting greener, and we were finally starting to leave some of that South Florida craziness behind.
Even better? After more than a year of living aboard Water Wings, we were about to welcome our first family visitors aboard in the States!
Departing Palm Beach
Another leisurely start! We raised anchor a little after 9 a.m. and headed north under cloudy skies, leaving the West Palm Beach waterfront behind.
Lake Worth Lagoon continued past more impressive estates and what had become the general theme of our journey so far: sprawling waterfront mansions, luxury marinas, expensive boats, and LOTS of money on display.
We passed behind Peanut Island, an 80-acre tropical playground with sandy beaches, turquoise water, snorkeling, and plenty of boaters enjoying the Florida sunshine. Originally created from dredged material, it also housed a Cold War-era nuclear bunker built for President John F. Kennedy.
A little slice of paradise with a surprising bit of presidential history!
Sadly, we didn’t have time to stop and explore. Maybe next time we’d get to enjoy a walk and a swim!
Moving along smartly
As we continued through North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, the shoreline became a mix of upscale neighborhoods, golf courses, yacht clubs, and pockets of mangroves. It was still very much the land of money and manicured lawns, but the towering condos were finally giving way to greener, quieter surroundings.
One less pleasant thing we’d noticed along the way was the number of abandoned and sunken boats scattered throughout the ICW. Most weren’t directly in our path, but it was sad to see so many vessels left to deteriorate along an otherwise beautiful waterway.
Eventually, the ICW narrowed again as we made a dogleg into Lake Worth Creek, and the atmosphere finally started to loosen its grip on the crazy!
Jupiter: Familiar Waters and Family Memories
As we approached Jupiter, the waterway became more interesting, winding through bends near the Loxahatchee River and Jupiter Inlet.
This stretch was especially meaningful to us because we had FAMILY here!
Kevin’s aunt and uncle lived in Jupiter Farms, and over the years, we’d stayed with them many times. They had always been incredibly warm and welcoming, opening their home to us whenever we passed through and supporting us through so many stages of our adventures.
And now we were passing through their backyard, so to speak, aboard Water Wings!
We also passed so many familiar waterfront hangouts where we’d shared memorable meals, drinks, stories, and laughs over the years: Seasons 52, Waterway Café, Jetty’s, Beacon, Lucky Shuck, and the Square Grouper.
So many nights we’d spent sitting along this waterway, watching the boats go by.
And now WE were one of those boats!
It was a strange and wonderful feeling seeing such familiar places from an entirely different perspective.
And the best part was still ahead. After more than a year of living aboard, we were finally going to have our first family visitors aboard Water Wings in the States!
Our First “Drive-By” Family Tour!
We pulled up to the Burt Reynolds Public Boat Ramp at Burt Reynolds Park in Jupiter, a familiar spot where we’d launched Kevin’s uncle’s fishing boat so many times before. Only this time, we were arriving with a slightly BIGGER boat!
A little local trivia: Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds grew up in Palm Beach County and made Jupiter Farms his longtime home. He gave back to the community in a big way, helping establish the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre, supporting aspiring actors through scholarships and his film institute, and becoming one of the area’s most beloved local celebrities. The waterfront park bearing his name was a fitting tribute to his connection to Jupiter.
But back to our own little celebrity arrival…
We tied up, welcomed Kevin’s aunt and uncle aboard, and FINALLY gave them the grand tour!
After more than a year of living aboard Water Wings, this was our first opportunity to show family back in the States the home we’d created and the life we’d been living.
And these weren’t just any visitors. They’d been incredibly generous and supportive of us over the years, and it meant so much to finally share our floating home with them.
Unfortunately, our schedule didn’t allow for a long visit. We were still racing the calendar to get north, so after an hour or two of catching up, it was time for hugs, goodbyes, and throwing off the lines.
Short visit, big smiles, and another wonderful memory aboard Water Wings! We hoped we’d be back the following season with a lot more time to spend together.
Once we released the lines, we head up through the inlet past the iconic red Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, standing proudly above the river. We’d seen it countless times before, but passing it aboard our own boat felt completely different.
As we cruised by Jupiter Inlet, we couldn’t help remembering the times we’d headed offshore through that notoriously challenging inlet to go fishing with Kevin’s uncle. We’d experienced those rough waters firsthand, so we were perfectly happy to admire the inlet from the relative comfort of the ICW this time around!
We even passed by Tiger Woods’ waterfront compound. Not much action happening there that day!
Hobe Sound: A Welcome Change of Scenery
North of Jupiter, the scenery changed considerably as we entered Hobe Sound.
Finally, the ICW was starting to feel less like a parade of waterfront real estate and more like a peaceful nature cruise.
Much of the eastern shoreline bordered the protected lands of Jupiter Island, with lush vegetation, mangroves, and stretches of undeveloped waterfront. After days of condos, mega-yachts, and million-dollar mansions, the greenery was a welcome change!
Of course, there were still some spectacular estates tucked behind the trees. This was Florida, after all! But at least the wealth was a little less in-your-face.
The waterway remained relatively narrow in places, with shallow areas outside the marked channel that kept us paying attention. Still, with the beautiful natural scenery and noticeably fewer boats, it was becoming a much more relaxing ride.
We cruised through Peck Lake, where originally thought about anchoring. A quiet peaceful spot. We still had some daylight hours to burn so just enjoyed the views and kept moving.
As we continued north toward Stuart, the waterway gradually opened into the broad waters near the St. Lucie River junction and eventually the Indian River Lagoon.
Mangrove islands, shallow flats, waterfront communities, and plenty of birdlife replaced much of the urban sprawl we’d been navigating through for the past few days.
We were still very much in Florida, but it was finally starting to feel more like cruising through nature than taking a guided tour of the lifestyles of the rich and famous!
Into the “Crossroads“
As we approached the St. Lucie River junction near Stuart, things got busy again!
This area, known locally as The Crossroads, is where the ICW, St. Lucie River, access to the St. Lucie Inlet, and the route toward the Okeechobee Waterway all come together.
And apparently, everyone wanted to be there at once!
Sportfishing boats, mega-yachts, recreational cruisers, and offshore sailors converged from multiple directions. Throw in shifting shoals and strong currents, and it was definitely a place to pay attention.
It’s also one of those sections where checking the latest navigation information before passing through is especially important. Conditions can change, and what worked for another boat last season might not be the best route today. Where to look? Check out our recommended resources HERE.
After navigating the junction, we continued north into the Indian River Lagoon toward Jensen Beach.
Settling In for the Night
Just before 5 p.m., we dropped anchor north of the Jensen Beach Causeway (Frank A. Wacha Bridge) for the night.
We found good holding overall, although there was a little more noise from the causeway than we’d have liked. Still, after another long day of motoring, exploring familiar waters, and finally welcoming family aboard, we weren’t complaining.
We’d covered another 34.9 nautical miles, bringing our total to 77.8 NM in just three days.
The scenery was changing, the miles were adding up, and Water Wings was steadily making her way north.
Tomorrow…we ride again. And head into Northern Florida!
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