Bimini to Shroud Cay, Exumas February 2011

Lighthouse at entrance to Nassau Harbor

 Sunday, February 27, 2011

Cruising through the busy Nassau Harbor was quick and easy, after obtaining permission via the VHF radio to proceed through.

Note the deep dark blue water and then the more shallow, lighter colored water near shore, close to the lighthouse.


Discussion:  Why do lighthouses exist?

Cruise ships in the busy Harbor

The trawler, Sea Dog, looks small compared to those cruise ships!!

 

The fabulous Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Nassau

It’s been a busy few days; a change in plans yet again and limited wifi here in the Exumas.   Hearing over the VHF radio friends we've cruised with off and on over the past year, Jim & Diane, aboard their trawler, Ocean Dance, we diverted farther south to Shroud Cay to meet up with them.  Shroud Cay is the first island in the Exumas Land & Sea Park, a must see protected national park.  We picked up a Park mooring ball next to Jim and the 6 women guests + his wife aboard Ocean Dance.   He is clearly living the high life.  Andy is calling his boat the Estrogen Dance....

Ah, this Sea Park is a must see. The first such park in the world, it covers 176 square miles of small islands from Wax Cut Cay to Conch Cut.  The beaches are pristine; hiking trails throughout are loaded with wildlife and various species of birds not often found anywhere else; and snorkeling numerous small coral reefs clearly marked on Park maps is a wonder.  Much scientific research occurs here, with scientist arriving from all over the world to study this natural environment.  Wardwick Wells Cay is the Park Headquarters.




This sperm whale died because he swallowed a large plastic bag floating in the ocean.

Discussion:  Talk more about pollution & it's effect on people, plants & animals

We tried to explore via dink, the mangroves along Sanctuary Creek on Shroud Cay.  Billed as “you will think you are in the movie African Queen”, all us women loaded up with bug spray and some water and headed out.  Unfortunately, my info did not include the note to only go on a rising tide or one can get stuck inside till the next tide change.  Phew, we could not get IN, as it was low tide.  Saved by luck.... I’ve added this Cay to my list of places not yet explored and will hit it appropriately on our return trip to the USA in a couple of years.

Discussion:  Why is the tide important here?  What would happen if we had managed to get IN and then the tide dropped further? Would we be able to get OUT?  How would we get OUT?

All About Survival on the Islands

Monday, February 28, 2011

Pulling anchor early, we traveled the few hours to Warderick Wells, the Land & Sea Park Headquarters, grabbing our assigned park mooring ball.

One calls ahead the day before via VHF and gets on the waiting list for a ball.  Then, at 9:00 AM the day of your arrival, listen in for your assignment.  At $30 a night for our size boat, and no real place to anchor, we are quite happy to be here, snuggly secure.  I got cheers from Ocean Dance as I easily grabbed the mooring line and secured our boat...seems they had a bit of trouble.  GRIN. 

Banshee Creek @ low tide

Our group hiked to the top of Wardwick Cay, across the barren, slightly damp Banshee Creek,

Hiking to the Top of BooBoo Hill

and up to the top of BooBoo Hill, picking our way carefully among the limestone rock potholes.

All About BooBoo Hill

Andy & Sharon & Finally Fun's momento

At the top, we left our boat’s name as a memento to our voyage here.  In truth, our sign is so beautiful, we almost hated to leave it!

Banshee Creek at high tide

My sister, Anne, an art teacher and artist, painted the sign with the back of Finally Fun displayed along a beach scene and our names.  Ours is the most distinctive memento in the pile of driftwood and sticks and stones!








Later in the day, our group retraced our steps back to the top at 5:00 PM in anticipation of watching the sun set from that high vantage point AND to explore the Blow Holes at high tide which would occur at sunset by chance of timing.  Funny, now that barren Banshee Creek was a foot deep as the tide had come in and we waded through with sneakers on our heads.








The Blow Holes at the top of the hill were fun, but no water shot through today -- just wind and a howling noise.  Locals say the place is haunted and the noise is the ghosts of past lives.

  No matter, we fortified ourselves with the sangria brought by the 6 gals, sharing it with two Bahamian Defense military guys who hiked up to join us and a couple of guys on a sailboat who’d heard the group of young women would be there!  The wind would howl up through the blowhole, but no water splashed up as the seas were fairly calm.

Bonfire on Wardwick Wells

Also, the Bahamian military guys who get 8 weeks or so of duty providing security to the Park certainly get lonely and a bit bored.  They love it when friendly tourists are about.  We had some great conversations with them, learned a lot and after hiking back down, were joined by a couple more.  The guys build a large bonfire on the beach for us and much splashing and swimming later, we finally departed in the pitch dark in the two dinks with NO flashlights.  We had not anticipated staying so long and will be better prepared from now on!  A bit of a scary 15 minute ride back to the boats.  I was absolute NO help as I only had my sunglasses on.  Legally blind and having forgotten to carry my regular glasses, I was forced to wear the sunglasses at pitch black dark.  Phew, glad to safely reach the boat. 

We snorkeled several of the reefs the next day, seeing a few large lobster tucked in the deep holes in one reef; saw a mana ray swim by; a turtle and one shark...which I was unaware of.  Diane, swimming with me, simply told me she wanted to head to the dink and get out....so, I followed.  Good thing! 

Later, the current began ripping through “The Rangers Garden” reef as the tide changed, catching us.   Huffing, puffing and paddling mightily, I made no headway trying to get to the dingy and began sliding out to sea.  I could certainly tell I was no longer 40 something!   Diane untied the dink from the reef mooring ball & came out to rescue me (remember the safety rules - one left in the boat!).  Shortly thereafter, three of the six gals suddenly found themselves headed out to sea, grabbing a channel marker on the way out.  Again, Diane to the rescue!  Hmmm, maybe not being 40 again had nothing to do with my predicament.  Grin.  Good judgment prevailed and we headed back to the big boats.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011
With anticipated weather change for the worse (25-30 knot winds and a cold front on the way) and the gals aboard Ocean Dance deciding they could get flights from Staniel Cay to Nassau and then back to the US on Friday, we decided that hunkering down in a more populated place would be more fun.  Off we went, early in the morning, to Staniel Cay, just a couple of hours further south and with a well protected anchorage (except from the West) & good holding.

Florida to Bimini, Bahamas February 2011

A journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step 

Confucius

Finally Fun has begun her journey of approximately 1,795 nautical miles (2,066 statute miles) from Ft. Lauderdale to Grenada for a total of 5,132 statute miles round trip.  I've added an extra 1,000 miles to the total to allow for travel up and down the island chain from the US Virgin Islands to Grenada and back over the two year period we plan to be there.   Simple math and estimating that we’ll burn on average one gallon of diesel per mile & assuming an average of $4 per gallon, we will spend $20,528 on fuel.  Thus far, we’ve spent a high of $3.71/gal in Ft. Lauderdale, but anticipate spending more once out of the USA.  Hopefully, when we get near Grenada and the out islands closer to Venezuela we can get it for less than a dollar, thereby lowering our ‘average’ price.

Wednesday, February 23 & Thursday, February 24, 2011

Ah, the weather forecast gods were with us.  We pulled anchor about 6:30 AM, headed over to Bimini from Ft. Lauderdale, following in the wake of Sea Dog, a 60’ DeFever trawler we met on line recently when we asked if any boats were headed over at about the time we were.  Remember, there is always safety in numbers and it is more fun! 

Following Sea Dog in the Atlantic Ocean

The trip over was unremarkable, with seas 2-4 feet and a few higher and some rocking and rolling, even with the stabilizers.  Andy made the mistake of going into the hot engine room that really rocks and rolls  to start the water maker -- he stayed quiet & pukey green in color for the remainder of the day.

A highlight was seeing a small pod of whales out in the Gulf Stream -- a whale with a bulbous head and a large dorsal fin on top.  A search on the internet makes us wonder if we spotted a very rare False Killer Whale, which are nearly extinct.  They are found in these deep waters -- but mostly found in Hawaii.  Exciting no matter what as they swam right in front of us!  Other than that, didn’t seen much of anything - a few boats in the distance, no birds, nothing.  No fish either!  I’d set two rods out and the only thing I caught was a huge pile of seaweed that took 5 minutes to pick off the hook! 

 

Bimini from Big Game Club Marina Deck

The Bimini Sands Marina at South Bimini is very nice, very inexpensive @ $1 a foot and $10 day for electric.  We pass on the water at 35 cents a gallon.  Customs & Immigration were quick and easy, and no issues.  We’ll spend two nights here, allowing weather to settle and take a moment to explore Alice Town, across on North Bimini from here.  The island is a tiny place, nothing here at all.  Sport fishing is it’s claim to fame.  The water surrounding the island is beautiful, with the greens and blues. 



Up at the crack of dawn, wanting low tide, I hiked to the beach with baggy in hand.  I am on a mission to find that ‘sea glass’ that I never could find on our last trip to the Bahamas.  Sea glass is simply ground up bottles, whatever, that have tumbled and tumbled until tiny, smooth pieces which can be made into jewelry.  I love the green (probably old Coke bottles) and black is a rare find.  I hit the motherlode this morning and will keep on doing this till I have lots -- and hope I can find similar shapes and sizes so I can have earrings made.  I also found two small beautiful, pink, EMPTY conch shells which I brought back.   They’ll make nice bookends or something.....

Andy & I took the ferry to Alice Town, ($2 per person each way) & wandered about.  Absolutely nothing in this town to really see or do - it is one street, pretty humble. How people make a living here is beyond me.   The locals are very friendly - especially the woman in the telephone office that sold us our SIM card and air minutes.  She could not have been nicer, making certain we figured out the phone and how to insert the card, etc.  Andy did not have his glasses with him and I could not understand the directions I was reading.....between us, we were clueless and probably humorous to all who observed.  Dumb Americans......

Prize Catches

We’re told that the summer is their ‘busy’ season as is any time that the island sponsors a fishing tournament.  .. which is often.  This is considered the sport fishing capitals of all time., with over 100 fishing world records set in these waters.    Up on a fence are two 1,000 lb. plus sailfish, caught by Guy Harvey (he makes lots of T-shirts)  ON THE SAME DAY.  Some kind of luck or is it great fishing skills?



Ugh.  The winds that picked up during the night, with much howling and flapping and banging about of our American flag.  Finally, I got up about 3:00 am and took the flag down, realizing that we probably could not pull out as scheduled.  The winds would whip up the shallow water in the Bahamian Bank, creating rough, confused seas that would smack us around.  Sure enough, at 6:30 AM, much discussion between Sea Dog and us and the right decision was made to NOT go.

Termite Nest on Bimini

No matter, I hiked the local nature trail (not much to see) and wandered about.    The only real sighting were two huge termite nests  and lots of no see ums that ate me up.

Discussion:  What exactly is a termite nest?  What do termites do?

And when you find out, please tell me!







Tomorrow’s trip, headed toward Nassau, will be very long (10 hours underway till we can find a spot to anchor) across The Great Bahama Bank - a significant fairly shallow (5 1/2  feet at low tide to 15 feet deep) body of water not to be underestimated and so large that we cannot make it across in one day.  Navigating at night is NOT an option and far to dangerous to even think about!  This entire area (actually ALL of the Bahamas) are fraught with reefs and shoals and one must navigate very carefully, following charts (a chart is a map, especially made for navigating in water) but most importantly, reading the water.  We will have to anchor out in the Bank, picking a spot well off the beaten path near the NW Channel light  & near Frazier’s Hog Cay in the Berry Islands so a Bahamian mailboat or fisherman doesn’t mow us down in the dark night.   I intend to leave the saloon lights on all night with blinds open - well lit!   We waited a day so we can continue the trip with Sea Dog -- that safety in numbers takes on a new meaning on this leg of the journey.

Saturday will find us headed into Nassau Harbor across the NE Providence Channel, where we’ll probably hit confused seas, rocking and rolling toward Nassau.  Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, on New Providence Island, is a place we’ve been to before via air.  A Been There, Done That kind of place, so we won't stop.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Manta Ray

As yes, “we shall see”.  The weather held us in South Bimini until 6:30 this morning, when both Sea Dog & Finally Fun (and a few others) pulled out.  It was a calm flat day on the Bahamian Bank, with good visibility.  I love peering down from the flybridge into the clear, aqua water, spying huge reddish starfish, manta rays and an occasional nurse shark on the bottom - sometimes 10 feet under!

On our Way! Jacksonville to Ft. Lauderdale

Friday, February 11, 2011

Grateful for the several days of delayed departure due to the still cold weather, coupled with rain and thunderstorms, we raced around making final preparations for our long awaited trip to the Caribbean -- the Leeward and Windward Islands all the way to Grenada.

Spending nearly $1,000 for a two year supply of staples such as paper towels, toilet paper, zip lock bags, laundry soap & softner, toothpaste, shampoo, make-up, etc. including basic food items such as mayo, mustards, cereal, oatmeal, canned tomatoes, chicken broth, coffee and paramalot milk -- we dropped the waterline by two inches I’ll bet!  It took me FOREVER to get everything stowed away properly and also to figure out in the store how much I could purchase based on any expiration dates on the items.   I made a second trip back to the commissary for chicken, pork and beef which I repackaged into smaller portions and froze.  We are LOADED.

Food and essential supplies are very expensive (sometime 150 - 300% more) in the islands due to the extra shipping costs, import taxes, etc. and that is IF you can find what you need.  I’m loaded with fresh produce, which will soon run out and produce is what is really hard to get -- the further out in the island chain, the less desirable looking is the produce.  Ah well.  We also love the seafood and hope to augment via fishing and of course, always buying local foods - no matter what they are!  I do tire quickly of conch, however........

ON our way -- pulling out of the Jax Beach marina on Sunday morning (2/13) with Matt & Donna & son, Kyle, aboard, we delighted in the sunny day all the way to St. Augustine, about a 4 hour cruise via the ICW.   The McNamara’s hopped off after treating us to dinner in St. Augustine, returning home via auto.  It was a great experience for them, especially as Matt thinks about such a lifestyle someday.....

On a mission now, we dropped the hook in Daytona Beach on Monday late afternoon, 54 statute miles away.  Tuesday found us cruising thru one of my favorite areas, Haulover Canal, near Cape Kennedy and along a wildlife refuge.  Ah, no manatee.  Last time through here there were too many to count everywhere.  

Spending Tuesday night at the Cocoa Village Marina,(67 miles traveled) we were able to have my high school friend, Jill, join us for dinner and a quick reunion.  Wednesday was another long day, dropping the hook 65 miles down the ICW in Ft. Pierce.  Ah, dolphin just absolutely everywhere, for the past two days, following in our wake along the bow and the stern, twisting, turning, leaping and in general, having a grand time for very long periods of time.  My idea is that there are few boats out and about and these dolphin are delighted to have a boat to play with, so they us follow for miles....I’ve never seen the same pod follow us for so far and for long!

A first for us - we were followed forever by one off Melbourne Beach that was tagged -- #68C written in white on his/her dorsal fin. Researchers in the area follow a specific tagged dolphin for their entire life cycle of 30+ years learning much about their social interactions, migratory patterns, etc.   I learned many years ago that dolphin migrate and come back to the same area year after year.  Interesting!

On Thursday our strip tease began.....a subtle peeling off of a jacket; shoes & socks next in order to wiggle white toes in the sun; a run into the cabin to take off the jeans to replace them with YES shorts!  At the St. Lucie Inlet, the water turned ACQUA in color, so beautiful and so exciting!  A teaser for what is to come for us as we head to the Bahamas and beyond.  The warmer weather is so very welcome!

We pulled into Palm Harbor Marina in W. Palm Beach early Friday morning, after dropping the hook a mile or so back at Lake Worth on Thursday night.  We’d made arrangements for the water maker to be looked at and fixed and to meet another group of Novartis friends  (Lila & Lourdes) for dinner.

Little Wonder Water Maker

Surprise, surprise...not really.  HOURS later and $1,500 later, the water maker was fixed.  Same story -- “gee, this piece of equipment is like a tank, they never go wrong or break.”  Yeah, right.  The repairman took the pump to his shop to bench test it (whatever that all means), calling Andy to say when he took it all apart it smelled to high heaven of diesel and that is what ruined it.  We can only assume that some boater dumped something in the Key West mooring field where we were and it got sucked up, ruining our equipment.  We ran the water maker there when only a few occupied boats were around and only when the current was ripping through.  Bah.

At any rate, we ended up staying 3 nights at this first class new marina, enjoying the town and two different festivals held over the weekend, an antique car show, including an Indian (India) celebration and waiting for a new boat buddy Andy hooked up with via the DeFever website to arrive.  We will now cross over to the Bahamas with Sea Dog, a 60’ DeFever, who is going our way at the same time.

Monday & Tuesday, February 21 & 22, 2011
Now we wait.  The weather keeps deteriorating in that the winds/waves are getting worse.  Last week, it looked like a Sunday crossing; now a Tuesday potential crossing seems to be off and Wednesday isn’t looking good either.  The forecast is bouncing, so we shall see....  We are now at anchor in Sylvia Lake, just off Ft. Lauderdale Beach and the Las Olas area where we will sit til we can cross.  It is sunny, breezy and great -- just not to cross the Gulf Stream!

3rd Year: Charleston & Jacksonville Nov 2010 - Jan 2011

November 18, 2010  Charleston, SC
Our luck ran out.  Remember my comments  about how difficult the Charleston Marinas are to enter or depart unless one is underway during slack tide?  Some pay no attention to the warnings; some are ignorant altogether; some think their skill sets are great  and some just 'lose it' when underway and the going gets tough.

Early in the morning, hearing a bow thruster cycle on/off/on/on/on,  Andy & I hopped off the couch, coffee cups in hand, to watch the potential show.  Any boat with bow thruster blasting within these finger piers in a full bore current with wind blowing at a good clip has got to be exciting to watch.
OMG -- the 46' Nordhaven “More Water” owned by Richard Spooner in front of us had decided to depart , backing into the waterway between the finger piers just off us.  Moving slowly backward, the current caught him, overpowering his bow thruster and moving the entire boat sideways, crashing him into two docked sailboats.  Now frantically trying to get out of there, the guy gave it full throttle forward.  Unfortunately, all he managed to do was slam harder into the two sailboats AGAIN this time really ripping into them.  Bow pointed into the space along the T dock he'd just departed from,  and right in front of us, he aimed for the dock, T boning it, bouncing somewhat off and now slamming into us at our bow and anchor and starboard side.

By now, Andy & I were on the deck, still dressed in our PJs watching the show and dodging when the Nordhaven loomed over us at the bow.  Our 80 lb. Rocnar anchor caught on the Nordhaven's port side window, I think scratching all the way across and hooking into the lip of the window.  I don't know how much damage that caused.  He finally got himself unhooked from our anchor, got his boat turned around and took off.

All of us along the docks assumed he was getting into the harbor to stand off or tie along the outside dock where manuvering would be easier & that he would come back to discuss the accident and damages.  No such thing!  That Nordhaven TOOK OFF as fast as it would go outta Charleston!!  I took off for the dock master office while Andy & others were on VHF to the Coast Guard.  Long story short, the guy did finally call the Marina leaving his phone # and telling the dock master to have the boaters send him pictures of any damage and he'd deal with it.  Yeah.  He said he had a schedule to keep.  Arrogant bugger.   A boater and a dock hand took off in a dink after the Nordhaven and finally, after 3 miles of chasing, got the guy to stop and allow them to take a cell phone picture of his insurance policy which they promptly shared with all who had damage.

I was the first to call it in to the insurance company, Travelers,  and they were super.  They had a surveyor out to all 3 boats SAME DAY.  The marine police caught up to us the next day for our story.  Very professionally handled, except for the Nordhaven owner who apparently didn't want to 'man up'.  I suspect he'll see quite an increase next year on his premium, especially after so many complained to his insurance company about his behavior.

We all are aware any one of us could find ourselves in a bad situation like he did, but his behavior left a lot to be desired.  He can't be ticketed for anything per the police as he did CALL in to the marina and 'owe' up....  Try that crap in an automobile!  It's called leaving the scene of an accident.

By the way, the damage was in the 10's of thousands of dollars to the sailboats; steering, rudder destroyed; mast bent in half; mizen busted and on and on.  Us, lucky.  Anchor shackle might be compromised so will be replaced and the paint touched up.  If you recall, we just spent $800++ repairing in the same place.  We were hit last year by a boat departing Beaufort, NC next to us who hit us.  We thought no damage, but later the anchor/bow area pulled away; we had trouble with the shackle which we replaced and some other stuff.  I won't sign the insurance check from his company until we've had time to use the anchor a few times -- which won't really be til we head for FL in January....

Thanksgiving Week       Saturday, November 20 thru Monday, November 29, 2010

Thanksgiving at the Beach

Off the boat, driving to Clearwater, FL, our former hometown where I've rented a 3 bedroom condo  for a week's stay at the beach.  We had a wonderful time with my 88 year old Mom along with Leslie & Stacey in the condo.   Lindsay & Walker and the two kids, Pickett age 2 and baby Makenna, age 6 months spent lots of time with us and Pickett had a sleep over at least twice.  Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner in the condo was pretty easy with all the helping hands and especially since Walker fried the turkey at his house before coming over!  We also had fun catching up with lots of the Larrison relatives in town and the younger set of the Larrison little kids swimming in the condo pool and playing in the sand.

December 2010
We decided to stay another month here at Ashley Marina as we've not nearly gotten a 'grandkid fix'. 

RobertE & Riley

Riley, our drama queen

Basketball games, school plays, Christmas activities and decorating the tree keep us busy with Robert E and Riley, as do their sleep overs on the boat so we can keep playing long and hard.

Ah, such fun.

We will pull out right after the first of the year for Jacksonville Beach.  We'll spend about 3-4 weeks there visiting my Mom and sister and driving over to see Lindsay and the grandkids, Pickett & Makenna, in Clearwater from time to time.


Wednesday, January 12 through Monday, January 17, 2011
Charleston, SC to Jacksonville Beach, FL

The whirlwind two months at the dock at Ashley Marina in Charleston, SC, have ended.  Two months of land travel to and from FL to visit family and friends; celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas; too many dental and doctor appointments to count and way too much COLD weather no matter where we went!!  Ah but we love the city of Charleston with its historic buildings, the easy walk-about access to everything and especially the fact that Leslie and the kids are right here, two miles away downtown.

A lot of time was spent with friends and family while here which was wonderful!  Add to the mix new friends we made while at the dock and we certainly stayed too busy.  My cousin, Sally, and her family had just moved to Summerville, a nearby ‘suburb’ of Charleston so we were able to reconnect several times.  

My cousin, Sally Devers Humphries

RobertE, Riley, Sharon, Sally & Randy

Leslie, Sharon, Jimmy & Sally

A quick trip to Nichols, SC,  three hours away, reconnected me with another cousin, Jimmy, (Sally’s brother) & his wife, Sarah Anne.  How wonderful that was!  Sally & Jimmy are among the 23 FIRST cousins I have from my Mom’s side! 

 Returning from FL to the dock after granddaughter Makenna’s christening on Sunday, January 9, we found it just too cold and gray to pull out as planned.  With winds and temps in the low 20’s we preferred to hunker down, grab a book and rest up til Wednesday when the sun began to shine.




Look at Makenna's christening gown  and bonnet - hand made with beautiful lace and linen!  Her Grandmother Lucy made it.  An absolute treasure!

Sharon & Granddaughter Makenna

Sun shining but bitter cold, off we went early Wednesday morning, headed to Jacksonville Beach to spend a few weeks at Beach Marine, visiting with my Mom and sister, Anne, before pulling out for the Caribbean.  Brrrr, why every year for 3 years in a row do we hit this bitter cold while underway from Charleston.  Think we would learn to depart much sooner!!   Nah, the lure of the two grandkids in Charleston keeps us at the dock but this cold is awful.

Dressed in two pairs of wool socks, two wool hats; two pairs of gloves; fleece pants, turtleneck and a thick fleece shirt, PLUS my wool coat with hood pulled up, all tied down with a scarf, I braved the elements while Andy got the fly bridge ready.  The lines were hard to undo as they were frozen...no looping nor putting these away!  The deck of our boat was coated with frost and ice at 8:00 AM so making my way forward was scary to say the least.  Clinging to the rail with one hand I’d finally manage to untie a line, then move on to the next one.

Anchoring off Beaufort, SC, that afternoon about 4:00 PM, after an uneventful, but COLD run down, we were glad to head into the saloon from the fly bridge.  Yes, we can pilot the boat from below, but don’t like to as we see much better from up top.  As long as there is sun shining thru the isenglass we stay somewhat warm but cold is still cold.

Thursday and Friday were uneventful cruising days, hunkered down on the fly bridge, wearing the same outfit every day.  I look like a roly poly person with all the stuff on and feel so constricted.   Another memory of why I don’t like the northern climates!!   We dropped anchor Thursday about 4:00  in Buckhead Creek (MM608.6) in GA, one of the numerous lovely anchorages along the way. The wind stopped blowing and the cold clear sky was beautiful.

Friday night found us at anchor in another of my favorite places, Ft. Frederica on the Frederica River (MM665.7).  On our way north this year in the early summer, I actually slept on the fly bridge, while anchored here,  listening to the dolphin feeding and blowing all around the boat.  This time I never even stuck my nose out it was so cold.

Ugh, pulling the anchor on Friday morning was tough, with ice coating everything.  I was very afraid I was going to slip and fall!  The forward water pump would not turn on (figure it or something was frozen) but luck was with us and the anchor chain came up clean.  The anchor, full of mud, was easy to dunk and clean.  While I struggled with a lot of that, Andy was on the fly bridge with my hairdryer, heating the ice off the isenglass windows so we could see out.  Amazing.

Cruising into South GA toward FL on Friday, January 15, gave us a break in the weather with the sun shining and temps rising.  What a relief to shed some of the layers of clothing!  The south GA flatlands gave us trouble again with all the shoaling.  In spite of following the markers and reading the most recent updates on Active Captain, we managed to go aground -- as did the next 3 boats behind us, in spite of us giving them the info about the shoal.  It was ALL shoaled over.  On a rising tide, we floated off after a brief time, as did the other boats, one of which only had 3’ of draft  BAD place!  We hit yet another shoal just a few miles further down and had to get Boat US to pull us off this one.  Boat US said the area was now very bad as a storm had come thru, making some big sand pile shoals that no one knew about.  There is a hue and cry to have a couple of red nuns placed in these areas as so many are running aground.   No damage done (except to our pride), we made it to Jacksonville Beach at 5:00 PM, with plans to stay for 2 - 3 weeks.

Amazingly, only 3 days underway.  It generally takes us 5 days.  The cold motivated us to 'get there' and we obviously did not dink into any of the great little towns along the route!

At 8:00 PM that night, daughter Lindsay, husband Walker, and grandkids Pickett age 2 and baby Makenna, 7 months, arrived for the weekend.  Cold and rainy the entire time, we still managed to have a good time and also to catch up with Mom, their grandmother and great-grandmother.

The baby sleeps in a portable crib in the saloon as it is too big to fit anywhere else.  Like her brother at that age on the boat, she sleeps like a log with us all in the saloon eating, drinking, talking, laughing and watching TV.  Pickett slept on an air mattress on the floor in our stateroom and that worked....he is too small and it is a long long fall down from the boat beds, so the floor is much safer for him.

We are so vigilant, but these kids are quick!  The baby is now in the slither on her tummy stage and Pickett’s little fingers are lightening quick!  We keep the doors locked to each stateroom and the outer door as the kids could easily fall down the steep stairs into each of those cabins.  The vision of a tumble down those stairs keeps my hair standing straight up.  Ah, well.

The kids left on Monday afternoon about 4:00 and the boat became much too quiet.  However, these grandparents were worn out and tumbled into bed early.  God is smart to give young kids to young parents!  Phew!

January 17, 2011
It’s been a great month in Jacksonville Beach, docked at Beach Marina -- except for the cold and more cold, rainy, blowing weather that plagued us the entire time.  Only once were we able to wash (barely!) the boat off as it was way to cold to get wet!  We spent our days catching up with family and friends in the area, including former Novartis colleagues for me (Matt & Clint & their families); playing bridge and bingo at the local Senior Center with my Mom and in general, catching up with overdue paperwork, etc.

A highlight is that I’ve gotten back into playing bridge and little by little the ‘rules’ come back to me.  Those Seniors (of which I am pretty much one!) are very sharp players and I agreed to play ONLY if they needed me to make a 4th -- otherwise, I prefer to watch and peek at the various hands and figure out why what is being played.  Ah, now back on the water -- playing bridge is not something that has ever come up in conversations among boaters.  I guess I’ll lose my newly found skill sets yet again!

Pickett, Sharon & Makenna in St. Augustine

A round trip BACK to Charleston via auto to finish up some dental work and to grab one more day with RobertE and Riley and Leslie before we pull out was another highlight of the month in Jacksonville, as was Lindsay’s ‘girl trip’ by herself and the two grandchildren to visit us again on the boat for a weekend.  She & I, with Pickett & Makenna, took a little side trip to St. Augustine for the day, wandering the old streets and just chilling out....on one of the only sunny days we had!!  Pickett now calls me “Boat Grammie”, I guess to differentiate me from his other ‘Grammie” Lucy.  Funny.

Based on a recommendation from another boater, we joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary while here.  In a whirlwind of activity, Andy & I attended an Auxiliary meeting, meeting many members and getting answers to many of our questions.  We filled out reams of paperwork; studied and took a very long test regarding the USCG and its history and mission, etc.; got fingerprinted and are currently awaiting the security clearance.  After all, once approved, we will be part of US Homeland Security.  I was amazed at how organized the Auxiliary is and how much like the military it is.  I very much look forward to ‘paying it forward’ over time and hope that Andy & I can bring value to others learning to boat and to the Auxiliary.  
Hopefully, while in the Caribbean over the next couple of years we can take various classes and tests via the internet; gain some certificates and perhaps get involved in the Auxiliary while in US Virgin Islands.

The USCG Auxiliary flag

We’ll fly the USCG Auxiliary Flag from our bow as soon as we are cleared (the USCG also inspected our boat during this whirlwind time so we are eligible to fly their flag).  We are hopeful that by flying the Auxiliary flag that anyone in the Islands that has less than honorable intentions as they begin to board our boat will see the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary emblem and words and think again --- leaving us alone.

2nd Year: Key West to Jacksonville 2010

Friday, April 16, 2010
Daughter Lindsay & family departed yesterday, heading home to Clearwater.  We detached from our mooring ball today, heading back northbound to Ft. Lauderdale to have the stabilizers installed.  Reviewing the contract that Andy had already signed with the yard, LMC,  where the work was to be done, I was appalled to read in the fine print that basically, we were waiving all rights to anything that happened....drop our boat via their fault --- they don't pay, our insurance company should pay.  Then, this contract goes on to state that should we/our insurance company sue THEM, that we, as owners of the boat, would pay for all their legal fees, court costs, expenses, including appeals, etc.  After several phone calls to the outfit that was installing the stabilizers and to LMC, etc. I was able to get us into another yard (Playboy Marine) to have the work done and cancelled our two week stay at LMC.  LMC's response --- "You are one of very few that ever read the contract" and "No, we won't change the contract".  Fair warning to all to read the fine print at all times!!  What a one-sided rip off contract.

Cruised to Marathon (approx 60 miles), picking up a City Mooring ball to spend one or two nights here.  With bad weather approaching, we relaxed, walked several miles up and down US1, sightseeing and grabbing a bite to eat and in general, being lazy.  This is a nice harbor, with very friendly cruising group and city marina/mooring field folks, but only a limited number of mooring balls for boats our size or larger.  They told us we needed to be here in Dec. at the latest in order to get a ball for the winter season....never mind that.

Monday, April 19, 2010
Pulled out of Marathon for a long day at the helm to Biscayne Bay where we dropped anchor and crashed.  Up early on Tuesday AM, we cruised on into Playboy Marina at Dania Beach (5 minutes from Ft. Lauderdale airport) and were promptly lifted out of the water and put on the hard.  We can stay aboard, with the understanding that we are 'locked in' from 8 PM til 7 AM..no problem for us.  So, we are now staying aboard, limited to our bedroom area; can't run any water (toilets are ok as they are hooked to the holding tanks to be pumped at a later date); can't walk about as all furniture is piled up; the saloon floor is wide open and a fall through to the engine room below would certainly be the ultimate painful price to pay for inattention; and everything is covered in cloths or cardboard,

Messy Messy Messy

including the walls, handrails, etc.

The outside of the boat is quickly getting filthy from the dust, the drilling, the sanding, the airport and some plant that spews stuff in the middle of the night.  Uggg, the grit is everywhere.

Scary to deliberately drill holes in the hull of one's boat

The stabilizer installation is going well, on target for time.  We've decided to paint the bottom while here so that work is underway; hull got waxed (WOW - best shine we have ever had on her!); minor repairs here and there as touch up work AND yet another Ray Marine factory technician aboard.  He was adamant that the 12 volt power interference problems were rare on boats such as ours, being more common on sailboats.  He replaced the 5 port ethernet switch for $200+ and we will have a chance to see if this works when we get back in the water underway.  He said do this first because fixing the power problem (if that IS the problem) will be $1,000 or more.  I am so disgusted, pouring good money after bad with NOTHING EVER having fixed the problem we have had since the day this boat was purchased and the new Ray Marine equipment installed.  Everyone has washed their hands of this matter and points fingers at each other.  We are stuck in the middle and screwed over yet again.

We are preparing this boat for the long cruise to the British Virgin Islands and beyond, perhaps all the way to Venezuela, adding the stabilizers, another 100' of chain to the anchor, adding Single Sideband Radio, longer stronger antennas for reception and have purchased the cruising guidebooks and most of the charts.  If we can't get the chart plotter to work, however, we would be fools to head out.  I have no idea how to get the equipment to be fixed if two and one half years, more technicians that I can count, all parts of the chart plotters replaced three times....what does one do next?  Sink the damn boat?  Utterly disgusting.

Wednesday, April 21 - Friday, April 23, 2010
I flew to NYC and back for my final project with my former employer, Novartis Pharmaceuticals.  Phew, a lot of work, but challenging and made me realize I do miss that type of activity, but not enough to leave this lifestyle and go to work somewhere! The killer was having to put on STOCKINGS, HIGH HEELS and a suit.  Bah.  Felt like a kid playing dress-up!

Check out the stabilizer - it is huge!

While I was off the boat, Andy had to check into a hotel for 2 nights as the gelcoat fumes, etc. were toxic.  The folks told him to sleep in a respirator or get off the boat....easy choice.  The holes have been drilled through the hull and the gelcoat added back, etc.  as they prepare to put the stabilizer fins on in a couple of days.

Rudders & Useless trim tabs on Finally Fun

Busy bunch of guys, removing parts of the engine such as mufflers and I don't what else, but stuff is being moved around down below.  Me, I stay hunkered down in the bedroom out of the way.





We have met Bob & Carol B., aboard Cassandra Jade, a 65' Grand Alaskan trawler, on the hard for repairs.  They went thru a tornado while in the Bahamas last month.  They actually saw it coming at them, tied to a marina concrete dock.  Carol shouted to Bob, "What do we do?"  His reply?  "HOLD ON".  Hold on they did as the boat broke free of the concrete dock and the concrete dock broke off too.  After it was all over, they suffered about $20,000 of mostly cosmetic damage to the boat, which is on the hard here, being fixed.  Their photos of the marina dock are awesome!  Phew, they were lucky!

Sharon, Carol & Bob outside their home

Bob and Carol have been great, another example of boaters helping boaters and how easy it is to make friends quickly.  They are from Toronto, Canada, spending a least 6 months a year here and cruising.  We've gone out to eat with them a few times while on the hard here and given the 8 PM curfew, we've spent the night at their house so we can enjoy a leisurely dinner and not rush back here before 8 PM.

Bob's cool car - a birthday gift from Carol!  So fun to tool around in it!

AND, Bob & Carol have decided to buddy boat and travel with us down thru the Caribbean - the Leeward and Windward islands.  This trip has been a dream of Bob's for some time and they jumped at the opportunity.  We, likewise, are thrilled.  They have changed their cruising plans for the summer to stay closer to FL and we'll head for Bahamas, the first leg of the trip, in January.  I've bought 4 cruising guides already and my yellow highlighter is zooming across the pages.  I get more excited with every page I turn.  So many little islands, some French, some Dutch, some both, depending upon which side of the island one is on!  So much history, so many beautiful beaches and each island only a day's journey from the other.  Island HOPPING at it's finest!

Adventures on the hard, up on the air in Ft. Lauderdale  


Cruising north to Jacksonville for May, 2010

Monday, May 3, 2010
Still up in the air, with final preparations madly underway.  The crews are finishing the bottom paint and minor cosmetic repairs and the stabilizers are nearly completely installed.  Remember in November 2009 my comments about a trawler hitting our boat as he/she pulled out of Beaufort, NC marina????  Well, damage had been done.  We had patched a bit, and now had it all repaired properly.  Thanks to the boater who failed to stop, failed to acknowledge the bump which was hard.  Our guests aboard alerted us and said it was a HARD bump.  The irresponsible boater who had to have known he hit us,  just cost us nearly $600 for repairs to the bow and anchor pulpit area.   Wish we'd gotten his name at the time, but Andy didn't think anything was wrong.  We noted the damage later in the day....bah.  Another hard lesson learned. 

Given the Gulf of Mexico oil spill situation and uncertainty surrounding where exactly the oil will flow and for how long, etc. we have cancelled our plans for the summer, fall and winter.  No longer are we headed to Clearwater on the West Coast of FL for all of May and onward to Mobile Bay, AL and into the TennTom, TN and Cumberland Rivers thru November and back to Clearwater for November and December.

We just returned nearly $600 of charts, books, computer chips, etc. for that trip to Blue Water Books.  They were most gracious, allowing it all to be returned.  We are disappointed  in missing this opportunity, but more fearful that we would cause damage to our boat if we got caught up in the oil, sucking it into the engines, generator, raw water pumps or whatever else is exposed.    We are also concerned that we could get 'stuck' up that way, unable to return due to residual oil.  This is so disheartening...an environmental disaster and a personal one for so many as their life on the water has been so jeopardized...

Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Finally Fun is BACK IN THE WATER, right on schedule at 2 PM.  The workers are feverishly finishing additional tasks now that we can start engines.   Sea trial will be at 7:00 ish Wednesday and after completion, we'll be off to Jacksonville, where we will spend a month at the US Navy Base Marina on St. John's River.  We'll drive back and forth (a 5 hour one way trip)  for visits to Clearwater, babysitting Pickett and helping out when his baby sister is born mid May.  Not as convenient as being at a marina in St. Pete or Clearwater, but this is certainly better than not being there at all! 

We have decided we are tired and just want to chill, as we'd planned to do on the rivers in TN and AL and KY this summer.  We've decided we will stay in and around Charleston, SC and in Georgetown and other little towns in the area and explore the rivers and small towns and just hang out.  We're fixing the insurance so we can be 'below the line' for hurricane season.

RobertE & Riley camping with us in years past

We plan to take RobertE and Riley camping in the Smokey Mtns, my favorite place, for a week or so and drive back/forth to Clearwater a few times and to Jacksonville to visit my Mom and Sister a few times.  We will be more than busy, yet relaxed for the summer and fall and getting ready for our BIG trip to the Caribbean this winter.  We did NOT want to cruise further north this years, having gone up/down that way three times already since moving aboard two years ago.  "Been There, Done That" says it all.

I spent the day cleaning the interior of the boat after the technicians removed all the cardboard they had taped everywhere -- floors, walls, countertops, etc.  Unbelievable amount of grit.  As I started scrubbing with Murphy's Oil Soap, I stopped....and debated whether to keep cleaning or not.  There on the wall, coming into the saloon, was a perfect baby Pickett hand print from when they were aboard just before we got to this boatyard to have the stabilizers installed.    I had misty tears in my eyes as I scrubbed it off.  Ah, miss the little guy so much!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The story of our life.  We spent the night right in the spot where the slings dropped us in the water to await the sea trial.  The bright and early sea trial was OK, but the helm station Stabilizer controls do not work.  Back in to the boatyard, tying up on another wall while the technician then spent hours trying to figure out the problem.  Finally taking the unit back to the shop, he got it fixed about 3:30, way to late to take off.  Spent the night on the wall there, sharing a glass of wine with Bob and Carol and running out to dinner, beating it back in time for the 8:00 PM gate locking curfew - but barely!  Bob's car could not get thru the gate, but Andy & I were  able to squeeze thru the chain fence like a couple of kids beating curfew!

Thursday, May 6, 2010
Down Dania Cut Off Canal by 8:00 AM, we were in the Atlantic at 8:30, turning north.  Guess what, no surprise here...the Chart Plotter failed yet again.  Remember, yet another technician a couple of weeks ago...he replaced for a few hundred dollars, the 5 port ethernet switch, saying it could not be a power issue.  Well, this is the worst yet, with it cutting OFF not to be restarted.  Traveling out in the Atlantic, in the Gulf Stream, breaking a trawler sound barrier at 11-12 mph, we rocked along all day from Port Everglades Inlet to Ft. Pierce Inlet with NO chart plotter, making it more difficult to figure out where one is all day long.  Made it thru the Inlet,  about 7:00 PM-ish, but anchoring around the bend near Fabor Cove was difficult.  It is so shallow and at low tide -- without the chart plotter we were 'guessing' where we were and sometimes we had depth and most often we did NOT.   Via phone, the technician said he has no idea what is wrong.  We told him we would send his unit back and we expected our money back.  We would get our old unit put back in  -- it is bad, but not as bad a situation as we are in now with this new unit.  This nightmare has no end and again, pouring good money after bad and a worthless piece of whatever will get us killed, sunk or injured before this is over.  I am searching for the name of the CEO of Ray Marine to unload this tale of woe to and expect to get this fixed.  Frankly, I will ask that they remove every piece of their equipment and refund all our money.  We will have Garmin installed and see what happens.  If they can't fix it, they should keep it all.

All in all, a beautiful day on the Atlantic, mostly in the Gulf Stream.  Pretty calm waters, so the stabilizers didn't get much use.  Andy turned them off/on, but I could hardly tell the difference.  

Friday, May 7, 2010
After struggling last night to set the anchor, without benefit of depth due to non-working chart plotter, Andy running from upper helm station to the lower one, in an attempt to determine where in the water we were in order to set the anchor, without going aground, we set it.  Later, both of us nervous, as we felt we were too close to two other boats, we moved the boat, going thru that anchor drill all over again, without benefit of chart plotter.    Finally, settled in without further incident. 

Up early, pulling anchor by 7:30, we were at Port Consolidated in Ft. Pierce to get fuel.  Wow, a fuel station OUT of fuel.  Told it would be a 20 minute delay til the fuel truck got there and finally, over an hour later, we began fueling.  Nice guy, they gave us a 5 cent a gallon discount for the delay.  Those of you reading this blog, don't ever offer to help pay for fuel if aboard.  We just might take you up on it....560 gallons later and approximately $1,600 later, we pulled out about 10 am, off schedule, with a long cruise in the Atlantic before dark.

What a day in the Atlantic...fabulous.  Too many sea turtles spotted to count (10+); big rays flying up out of the water with enormous splashes back down into the water; dolphin playing in our wake once back inside the ICW from the Atlantic; sharing the lock at Port Canaveral with a huge manatee, who clearly had the right of way and KNEW IT!

A real treat for us was the tiny little bird, like a sparrow, with yellow underbelly and a black band across his eyes, like Bandit.  This little bird flew aboard when we were almost out of sight of the East Coast of FL (about 7 miles out), checked us out two or three times at the helm station, making us laugh as he slid down the instrument panel, unable to grip his tiny feet on the slick, waxed surface.  He would nearly land in Andy's hand or lap and fly off, out the side window of the open bimini.  He kept coming back, landing on the aft deck, usually on the table.  He hitched his ride for nearly two hours, often coming back to the flybridge where we were.  He'd get near us, slide around again on the helm station and zoom off.  We loved it.  I crushed cracker crumbs on the aft deck, but don't know if he ever ate anything.  He just needed the rest we think.  I saw him fly off toward the shoreline, about 6 miles away.  Special moment, for certain!!

Reeling him in

Both yesterday and today in the ocean, we set one rod with little hope of catching anything as we were cruising mock ten speed.  Today, at about 10 mph, and forgetting all about the rod, Andy noticed it was strung out...WOW, we had a fish and the fish was still on the line....after all that.  He started pulling in and we took turns as it was so hard and so tiring.  We stopped the boat to make the reeling in easier and finally, began spotting something bright blue in the water.  We had caught -- caught is too strong a word,...we had hooked an Atlantic Bonito in the lip. 

I read that the Bonito is one of the fastest swimmers and that they like the yellow/green lures...exactly what we had on the line.  Andy got him to the boat and I netted him.  He was nearly dead.  I think we drowned the fish, pulling him behind the boat for god knows how long.....  A few gasps of breath later, he died.

I went to work, trying to figure out (a) what kind of fish he was and (b) how to cut him up.  Thank god for internet connections while underway.  I even pulled up a VIDEO of how to fillet this fish.  Rectangular baking pan in hand, wooden cutting board, dull fillet knife, lawn gloves and a salad bowl, I went to work, hacking and sawing in the cockpit, fish blood splashing on me and down the drain, and fish parts flung into the ocean. 

  Bending over the cutting board on the cooler, my back was killing me before I was finished....Remind me to tell the kids and Andy that I want for my birthday/Christmas a fish filleting board that will attach to the boat.  This is the second fish I have hacked up, killing my back.

On a positive note, I never saw any sharks, even after all the 'chum' I threw overboard.  FINALLY, some pieces that resembled fillets,  were cleaned and bagged, which I then froze for three more meals after tonight.  .

We grilled the remaining pieces tonight, adding olive oil, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice...delish!  Nothing like fresh fish!  Doesn't get any better than this!

After a 12 hour day before dropping the anchor next to the NASA Causeway in Cape Canaveral, boater's midnight struck Andy by 8:30.  I am next, as soon as I log off the blog.   A great day in the Atlantic,. but so very smooth, we could not tell again that we had stabilizers!!

Saturday, May 8, 2010
A short day for us, departing anchorage at the NASA Causeway by 8 AM, dropping the hook off R44 in the ICW at Daytona Beach by 2:40, approximately 50 miles in route.   Here we sit, watching the boats zip past us in the ICW.  Without good anchorages further up, we stopped short today and will make it to St. Augustine tomorrow and then out the Inlet on Monday all way to downtown Jacksonville on the St. John's River.

Cruising past one of my most favorite places along the ICW, Haulover Canal, just off the Indian River,  north of Titusville, around Merritt Island.  Wildlife abounds here, around this man made narrow canal that cuts between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River.  I spotted 3 flamingos - a first for me; numerous dolphin and  manatee; too many herons, egrets, pelicans - both brown and white - and other birds to begin to count roosting in the mangroves and spoil islands along the way.

Interestingly, the pelicans work together here, swimming in a group, herding fish together by flapping their wings on the water.  Before the fish can escape, the birds gobble them up!  Dolphin herd fish like that too, circling around the fish and taking turns getting in the middle of the dolphin circle and chowing down!    I've never seen an alligator,but they are here, I'm told.  This is a place I'd love to come back to in a sea kayak, so I could poke right in to these little inlets and coves and be right in with the wildlife.  In the interim, I have to be content with carefully watching that we remain in the dredged channel, or we would be aground.  When one sees birds walking on water, one should know that the water is very shallow!!!

Sunday, May 9 Mother's Day, 2010
Easy trip into St. Augustine City Marina via ICW, in spite of the shoaling and low tide.  USCG kept putting out warnings about shallows and shoals off an Inlet, but we had no trouble....lucky us mainly, as others had run aground all day long in that area.   I'd called my Mom and sister, Anne, who drove down to meet us so we could all celebrate Mother's Day together, rather than wait another day or two.  A great dinner and fun time was had by all.  After dinner, Andy & I walked around Old Town St. Augustine, taking in the sights, which were mostly tourists like us!

Monday & Tuesday, May 10 & 11, 2010
Couple of incredible, awful days..... The port engine quit on us out in the Atlantic after departing St. Augustine at 7:00 AM so we could have a good day's travel.  When the port engine goes out, the stabilizers go OUT and OFF.

Andy went into the engine room, replacing relays, but that only gave us a short respite, before all quit again.  Poor guy, over $52,000  for stablilizers that will stop this rock and roll and he is still seasick!!!  He sat on the aft deck, trusting his life w me at the helm.   Actually, he was too sick to care, and probably wished I'd end it all for him.  Nothing worse than sea sick!  The seas were 3-5 feet and almost at beam, rock and roll all the way:  up, down, rock, rattle, roll over and sway yet again... NO stablizers after all that.

After 3 hours of that, we finally got to the inlet at Jacksonville and St. John's River and in we went, to the first marina inside at Mayport, FL.  We got tied up, called a John Deere technician who arrived pretty promptly and finally got us started again.  Maybe, just maybe he found the problem in that the reply switch is so close to the port engine it gets too hot and shuts down.  He tied it up and around and all of us crossing our fingers, off we went after a 4 hours delay.  But, I question the 'fix'.  We've been cruising for two years.....why a hot engine now?  However, this engine has QUIT on us about 3 other times...AND we have replaced that relay before -----  so maybe????

About 3-4 hours later, up the St. John's River toward the Naval Air Station, where we planned to leave our boat for a month, we were stopped in the River by Customs & Immigration.  They wanted to know if we were US citizens; how many people on board; did we have any weapons aboard and where were we coming from and going to....Once they heard we were headed to NAS (which means we are retired or active miliary -- at our age, certainly NOT active military), they pulled in their fenders they had just thrown over and did not board us and went on their way, letting us go on our way.  We had 5 minutes to make it to NAS before they closed and we were hoping for help in tying us to the dock.

Bah, 2 minutes to 6 and the folks were gone at the dock...kinda confusing to get into there but we did get to the dock.  My cowgirl skills are improving as I was able to 'lasso' each piling or cleat and get us secured to the dock w/o any help in sight!  Finally secure, we trashed any idea of dinner and headed for the Blue Moons and a hummas snack.  Beer and Bed sounded like a great plan.....long day with some tension thrown in. 

Would you believe, two guys (separately) came up to say hello at the dock and to WARN us NOT TO STAY here!!!!  Even tho they are at these docks!!!!  Seems there is an 11 mile fetch (means that there is 11 miles of OPEN water before our boat and in a south wind, it howls, blows up big waves which will smash our boat against the dock.  They each pointed to a sailboat over by us, in a slip (we were tied along side the dock) that actually got pushed up and over the dock the month before due to the winds/fetch.  The damage to the boat was significant:  gouged gelcoat and scratches everywhere!! Much appreciated insights!  We added three more fenders to the side of the boat and went to bed.... no south winds predicted til tomorrow...

Up fairly early with thoughts of finding another marina - most likely headed back to Jax Beach Marina near Anne & Mom, I found nothing working properly.  Seems we LOST power during the night.  Andy had a melt down when he realized our batteries were way way DOWN due to not being able to charge as we had no power......in spite of being plugged in all night.  To the non-boater, no power and batteries not charging means we would not have power to START the boat.  Batteries discharging all also damages batteries and with over $3,000 in batteries we are NOT anxious to replace something that should last a long time.

Andy headed to the marina office to tell them in spite of our month's reservation, we had spent one night and we departing.  The gal actually told him they had that power problem off/on a lot.  What IF we had left our boat there as we'd planned to do, (remember that granddaughter that is scheduled to be born 5/21 or arrive on her own even sooner - we are driving to Clearwater later in the week so we will be on hand!)  returning in 10 days or 2 weeks?  Dead batteries also mean dead refrigerators and dead, thawing freezers.....Ever have your refrig/freezer go out and you didn't notice?  Phew, ruins everything, including the equipment!!! 

Almost 4 hours after departing NAS Marina, we pulled into Beach Marina on Jacksonville Beach off the ICW for the month.  Another not so hot day.....trouble comes in threes and here was #3.  The wind was howling at about 30 knots (per the Marina's estimation), low tide, no room to manuever and boom, we were stuck.  Andy is so good at backing this boat into tiny slips, but nothing worked today.  Between the strong wind, the current and docks so close together, a nightmare quickly evolved.  NOTHING worked.

With boats on both sides of us, a narrow passageway and then more docks at the end, Andy was at the mercy of the wind.  Without much room to manuver, and me in the cockpit, fender in hand, we tried over and over to get into the slip backwards.  Nothing worked -- I'd fend us off the boats and finally, he hit pilings; hit a piece of wood sticking out and no attempts on my part was able to keep us off.  THEN, the WIND pinned us to the dock at the end of the slips...nothing worked to get us off.  Andy said later, he figured we'd be there for hours til wind quit or changed direction.  We could not get off that place.  Suddenly, the wind abated and Andy pulled us out of the dock area, turned the boat back around and headed back toward the slip, this time BOW IN and we made it.  Ugh.

Scary stuff and embarrassing.  Even as beginners, we were never this bad...  We vowed over beer and wings at dinner in the bar next to the marina tonight that no more --- back to the headsets so only we could hear the @###@!!! that was emitting from certainly my mouth today and his too.....but my @##%%## were  so much LOUDER than his!!!  Clearly, NO ladies on board Finally Fun today!!!!!  Just a couple of loud mouth sailor types!! grin

Thursday, May 13, 2010
We've spent our days scrubbing, scrubbing, scrubbing this dirty boat.  Andy, with his newly acquired power tool polisher and $300 worth of wax compounding stuff, is on a mission.  We learned some neat techniques from the guy who polished our hull while on the hard in Ft. Lauderdale and it is time to really get a good wax on the upper boat.  Sooooo much work!!!  But, at the end of the day, I remind him we ARE retired (which means nothing to do and time on our hands) and that we ARE saving about $1,000 by doing this work ourselves.  Our backs hurt, our arms hurt and everything else hurts and we have at least 4 more days of hard labor ahead of us.

Speaking of hard labor, our expected granddaughter is due to be induced a week from tomorrow (and she could still decide to come sooner, on her own).  We depart Sunday for Clearwater, to stay with Lindsay, Walker and Baby Pickett and to babysit Pickett for the week...a treat for us while we await new Baby's arrival.  With scheduled appointments with friends, doctors, CPA, hair salon, etc. we will be busy.

We will return to the boat sometime after the birth, again returning to Clearwater on June 28.  We've rented a condo on the beach for a week, with Leslie, RobertE and Riley and my Mom.  We'll be out of Lindsay's hair, have a vacation, and give her a fun place to rest, relax with the new baby and let us play with Pickett during the day and keep him overnight as much as she'll let us.  Should be a good time had by all!

We will need to depart Jacksonville prior to June 15, as we must be out of FL per our insurance requirements by then.  We changed our insurance all around, allowing us to stay south of the Cape Hatteras line during hurricane season because we feel basically lazy and don't want to cruise so far...no specific destination further north we wanted to be at.  We'll hang around Charleston, Georgetown, etc. as I've said before, driving back to FL to play with new granddaughter and with Pickett, and in general, just chill.

I'll update blog from time to time, but Finally Fun is tied up for a month now.

May 27, 2010
Busy, busy time.  We were on hand for the arrival of our granddaughter, Makenna Avery Lea, on Friday, May 21, born about 5:30 in the afternoon.  Ah, a beauty!  Her little brother, Pickett, is not so interested - the items in the hospital room intrigue him far more!

Baby Makenna & Momma Lindsay

 
We have gotten into a routine at Lindsay's house, "holding down the fort" while the new parents bond with the baby at the hospital  Imagine, now days, the baby is born in the room, Daddy gets to stay overnight, sleeping on a pull out couch in the room, spends all day in the hospital room helping the new Mom with the baby.

Pickett's t-shirt says ONLY CHILD now scratched thru to say:   Big Brother

Visitors can come and go, including the young siblings.  Bah, in my day, too many years ago to count, babies were relegated to the hospital nursery, brought out at the convenience of the NURSES or on a schedule to be fed by Mom.  Dad could come during visiting hours and siblings were person non grata....If allowed at all, they could peek at their new brother or sister through a glass window.  Very positive. enlightened changes over the years!