rehearsal

Lake Worth, FL

Well, THAT was exciting. We were in the Gulf Stream. It was totally different from the water we were in before we were in the Gulf Stream...that plain, ordinary south FL coast water. It (gulf stream) was more organized and had BIGGER rollers....from the north.....which meant they were abeam....thus our lovely Grace rolled from side....not too scary but.....not at all pleasant.

so we aborted and came back to the anchorage almost exactly where we've been the past two days.

The full moon is beautiful from the aft deck with a dark and stormy drink, my husband and Amelia. Happy to be here. Happy to have stuck our nose out to see what was what. Proud of us all. We'll regroup and look for the next weather window and some other boat buddies to cross with.

Our buddy, Fordyce, is continuing and we certainly wish him easy travels and calmer seas. His boat is 10' larger than Grace and he has more "outside" sailing experience than we (in recent years).

 As we returned David noticed that our engine was overheating. A friend says that sometimes happens when there is a following sea and the exhaust can't get out. We'll do some traveling tomorrow to check out our hot engine.

Other exciting stuff happened today. We had to top off the fuel tanks this morning. That meant hauling the anchor.

This lovely flying fish is really our fouled anchor. It had literally tied itself in knots. We knew we were going in circles last night as the tide and current changed and ran against the wind. But this was surprising.

But notice the color and clarity of the water.

We disentangled. Went to Palm Cove Marina to get fuel and to go to the grocery store one last time before getting to the Bahamas....we thought.


Sweet place across from Peanut Island. Peanut Island is a park now, maybe a wildlife preserve, too. It used to be a John Kennedy place and there is a bunker that was a museum for a while. The bunker was in case of Cold War becoming hot, especially during the Cuban Missile Crisis. No longer able to visit it. Bummer.

Post fueling we called the Palm Beach Sailing Club where our mail has been delivered, to see if there was a mooring we could pick up for a couple hours. We needed to figure out how to hoist the dinghy engine relative to the dodger hoops. Yes! Did that stuff then went to the Club for showers. Terrific.

Back from showers, hoist the dinghy, secure the decks, release the mooring ball and motor up to where Seadyce was ready to go and....we're off!!!!

And now we're back.

It was a good rehearsal. Glad we made the attempt. Glad we bailed. Happy to wait. Thanks to all.

getting ready

Lake Worth, FL

Windy day.  Up early for a phone visit with the wonderful, Judith Brown, and a phone visit with my wonderful sis-in-law, Sharyl Webster.

Early morning sun on the foreground boat which belongs to our boating buddy (BB), Fordyce with whom we'll cross to the Bahamas....tomorrow, if all goes according to plan and good weather window.


But notice the smoke stack of the BIG BOAT hiding in the bushes. (just beside the tall buildings)

L a r g e !!!!!

I counted 7 levels of port holes before getting to the top decks.





Okay, that was it for excitement for the day. We had breakfast, dinghy-ed into the Palm Beach Sailing Club to register for showers, etc, picked up the mail they'd held for us, agreed on plans for leaving tomorrow if weather holds, back to boat for tasks...the never ending tasks for getting ready to leave...wether on  an over-night or 2 week vacation or in some cases just leaving the house to go to work.

We almost have the Bimini top ready to put up. We need it up so we can pull the outboard dingy motor on board...never mind the shade from the hot and intense tropical sun.

Tonight we heard from boating friends, Diane and Greg, who introduced us to John and Matt who will be in Lake Worth tomorrow and who may buddy with Fordyce and us tomorrow evening.

I still have to figure out telephone usage. ATT provides a daily plan for overseas communication and I hear there is wifi calling but haven't figured that out yet...all to figure how to not break our bank with expensive roaming or overseas (! imagine that...over seas!!) calls or data charges.   Someone will know. I've inquired of Shannon who is, generally, my go to person regarding cyber/electronics.

It's all getting very exciting.  

Warning systems work!

West Palm Beach, FL

We've arrived at the staging area - Lake Worth - for travel to the Bahamas. An easy day of travel yesterday from Stuart/Port Salerno. Saying goodby to our friends and family was less easy but fine enough with the expectation and faith that we'll likely see them on our return trip or in another year. And knowing all can change in an instant. Still, the "looking forward to" seeing them in another month or more...cousins if we come back through southern FL, boating friends as we all head north. BB will leave FL in early March so it will be closer to home in the northeast when we see them again, ....likely.

We did last minute provisioning which we'll likely do again today.... that last minute stuff. Really, who knows what we'll need? Well, we don't know, exactly, what we'll need. We've never done this before. Getting great advice (bring beer. It is soooo expensive in the Bahamas!) from friends and reading sources. Did the laundry. Got a couple extra boat parts. Checked, again, on how to get Amelia documented so that she can come with us, uh, so that we can go to the Bahamas since we won't leave her behind. "Good to go," the Bahamian Agriculture Department told me.

I'd forgot since our last trip here how LARGE the houses, most of them are. From the clump of palm trees on the left, this is one house.

A more contemporary style of LARGE

A lot of bridges to open for us but done in a timely manner.  All went smoothly until we got here in Lake Worth.

Then we went too far down the anchorage and had to back track. We tried several times to anchor and found that we couldn't dig in. But 100' of chain was holding us. We realized we were in water that would become too shallow at low tide, given the phase of the moon. We moved to another, deeper, place (closer to our boat buddy's anchoring spot so that was/is fine). Still no digging in but light wind and lots of chain so, okay.

Propane sensor goes off. Research. No smell of propane. No leaking valves. Enough propane in tank. Turned the propane computer off, on, off, on, off. Huh??? Off and it's salad for dinner. Lovely. Then, while eating I smell some hint of plastic. Put everything away and open the engine compartment. The bilge is flooded. Double YIKES!!! The propane sensor is flooded. No wonder it is complaining.

Our warning systems work!

I almost sank the boat. Well, not really. When we checked the bilge last, flipping the switch from automatic to manual, I'd left the switch in "off" rather than flipping it back to automatic. I've done this switching thousands of times, correctly. I need a check list. Actually, I need to pay more attention IN THE MOMENT. I need regular meditation rather than just being grateful for the beauty, good health, privilege, enough money, warm weather, husband, family...all for which I am grateful. However, gratitude does not equal the discipline of meditating. Sigh. Discipline! So hard.

Speaking of "hard," I'm so annoyed that some physical tasks are just harder than they used to be. Patience just leaves me when things that shouldn't be so, are hard. Undoing a knot. Lifting the anchor. Pulling the dinghy in. Hard. Physically taxing.

And speaking of taxes...the list of tasks continues to expand.

This photo has nothing to do with expanding tasks.


Are these mother/daughter boats? Is the small one the dinghy to the large one? Are less wealthy friends visiting the larger boat? Ah, the things money can buy.




So if the weather holds we might leave tomorrow tonight for the Bahamas.

Joy and blessings abound.

still here - Salerno/Stuart, FL

Port Salerno, FL

Almost sunrise. I heard an unusual noise on the boat deck and looked up in time to see Amelia's legs go by the aft berth port holes. Up I went. I love that she is comfortable enough to go out without "adult (human) supervision" but still fearful that she may fall off given her unsteady hips and footfall.
Photo was around 6:30 a.m. Amelia didn't stay out long, rather wanted food and attention. I fed her and we hung out on the pilot house sofa. Sweet.

Yesterday's big event...visit with my cousins, Nancy and Kathryn, and Kathryn's husband, Lew. I'm sure we did something Saturday day but don't remember just now what. Laundry? No, that's still to be done. Anyway, Kathryn and Lew picked us up around 4:10 and we met Nancy to visit "Compassionate Experience." Compassion Experience is a Christian-based organization with the mission of ending childhood poverty in other countries. A well respected organization by the charity watch organizations I trust. The CE works with local churches in about 25 countries to identify individual children most in need. Then the goal is to get them sponsored through age 18, cost is $38/month.  The "experience" is going through an environment of "home" and "my life" as described by the child. We go through a room that simulates her/his home, or school or local hangout, all with furniture, tools, books...anything that gives us a "taste" of the environment. All good but I wasn't as moved as I'd expected or hoped. The sound quality was great and story compelling. I needed more visuals and for the story in each room to be a little shorter. Actually the visuals - short video of children working, studying, playing, working - would make the presentation stronger for me. No hard sell. Worthy cause.

Post Compassion Experience and our critique we all went to dinner in a wonderful Italian restaurant that Nancy had found just next door to where her mom lived the last years of her life. Sweet to have that connection with my aunt as well as my cousins. Great food. Wonderful conversation and catch-up on these women's lives. I don't get to see them very often and we have only limited FB contact. So a special treat.

Sunday, 2/25, David and I borrowed Jayne and Gary's bikes and rode to the permanent Flea Market. Bike riding in this part of FL is wonderfully FLAT, my kink of bike riding. However, it was hot and coming home there was a terrific head wind. We got back and drank lots of water and collapsed on various floors in the boat, along with the cat, for a cooling nap.

And we accomplished our mission - fishing rod, reel, net. That's the net over my head like a hat. It was the safest way to carry it on the bike.


And as if that exercise - 4 miles on the bikes plus wandering (with intention) around this mega flea market for an hour, in the sun - wasn't enough, Lew and Kathryn came to take us to the Arts Festival in downtown Stuart. More walking in the sun and beautiful, fanciful art work in various forms/disciplines, most all visual - 3D, 3D, interesting use of odd materials like cattail reeds, jewelry, and farmers' market veggies and meats and cheese. Inspiring. Imaginative. And walking/talking with my family.


Back at the boat we agreed upon combining dinner on Jayne and Gary's boat, Dream Catcher. Somewhere in the day I gathered laundry, cut out and fitted fabric for hatch covering, and vacuumed. Vacuum bags were in the packages that were shipped to cousin Nancy.

A totally successful couple of days with friends and family.

too much fun...

Manatee Pocket, Stuart, FL

...to keep up with blog. Oh my.

While still in Ft. Pierce yesterday (Thursday) we had a mid-morning planning meeting with Fordyce about our possible buddy boating across to the Bahamas. The upshot is we'll stay in touch while we're in Manatee Pocket and he's in Hobe Sound, both boats awaiting a weather window to the Bahamas.

Then we floated along to Stuart. David did most of the helms person work while I lined the interior hull with our silver sandwich of bubble wrap. And catalogued our food stores. We now have 7 quarts of spaghetti sauce, for example. Roll my eyes. We forget that we have it stored in dead storage so keep buying. Now I have the list of stored goods to take to the food store with me. And a list of what is needed...cat food...always.

I took over the helm so David could do some phone/computer work. Missed my turn. Had to do a U-ie and go back to the turn into Manatee Pocket (MP). Easy enough. We had a look at MP#2 for a spot to anchor. Nothing. Went back toward the mouth of the Pocket to anchorage # 1. Tried a couple times to drop anchor in the perfect spot. Nada. Called the marine where Gary and Jayne are staying. Yes, slip is available until 3/1. So we're in a slip (with pilings) for these 3 nights. A little less than $50/night. Yes!

Three boats down from our friends. They helped us land, thank goodness. We're just not accustomed to pilings and tying off to them. Have to practice my Annie Oakley lasso-ing technique. I'm currently terrible at it. David isn't much better.

So we're here with Jayne Delaney and Gray, who has a last name that I don't know, for the next couple of nights. This "wild West" isn't, or if it is it is all white plastic boats wild west. We're harbored at the Fish House Arts Center (and marina), an old fish processing plant that is now colorful buildings with 8 artists in residence, all visual of some sort. Fun. Just next door is a restaurant/bar. Fun and loud.

The view off the aft deck this morning (Friday). Delicious!

Our day was diverse, hot and productive (if frustrating). It was hot! I'm not complaining. After coffee we found the woman who manages the docking and paid her. Made a date with her partner to look at Bahamas charts tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

A long walk first to the marine consignment store (expensive and made only one $1.00 purchase), then to the Chapman school for boat handling, building, repairing and USCG licensing. Then to see the parrots who weren't home in their palm tree. Back to the boat for a nap and other fun events. I zipped off David's hair. He looks somewhat like a monk except he has a beard.

We were off and on the boat all day long doing stuff and visiting with our buddies. Took a short ride on the electric boat that Gary operates. Fine stuff. Dined on their catamaran - red snapper and scallops, salad, potatoes - with them and Jayne's sis-in-law and niece who is 8 and takes dance.






The weather here has been delicious, enough wind to keep any bugs from lighting, sun, warmth. Perfect in my book. 

view from the bow down the Salerno dock, green roof is Arts Center

Today, Saturday, looks to be another beautiful day. Amelia has already taken a couple turns around the deck...before I even got up. She eats in the cool of the evening and early morning then sleeps most of the day.

We'll do a grocery shopping today then visit with cousins this evening. Maybe join Fordyce tomorrow if he hasn't left for Bahamas.

Totally blessed. Totally grateful.

3 days

Ft. Pierce, FL

Rocking a bit on a mooring in a new marina, Causeway Cove Marina. We stopped here to hang with Fordyce and maybe visit Greg and Diane, and maybe get an interview for a SVRP (small vessel return Program). But Greg and Diane are in the city marina quite a distance by dinghy, especially in bouncy water with lots of wind and the SVRP takes more time to apply than we have before we leave (we hope) for the Bahamas. So, we're here following a short, short day of travel.

I accomplished insulating some of our walls, against the heat absorbed by our black hull. We are in FL where it is (finally) hot...and a bit sticky. David installed a tiny electric fan that might push around the air in our aft sleeping quarters. Much as I like hugging my honey, I've discovered that on sticky nights it is better to sleep at opposite ends of the berth. We can kiss each others toes. Less crowded, thus less warm. I'm confident the insulation, that silver enclosed bubble wrap we used to keep the heat in earlier on our journey, and the fan will help...if not cure the too-much-heat situation. To be clear, I'm NOT complaining.

We spent a pretty relaxed morning chatting with Kasey, who will stay in Vero another night in order to telecommute with good wifi, and getting garbage to the dock and taking on water. I took the dinghy in by myself to do the shore errands...a first this trip. Released ourselves from Fordyce's Nauticat and floated the 2+ hours to Ft. Pierce (me at the helm), debating about stopping or continuing. Stopping won.

Backing up, though...at Serenity Island we also took some time leaving. We went ashore, which we'd not done on previous stops, to see a grounded boat that is the same kind as Kasey's, a Gulfstar 35. David found very little to salvage. Boat had really been stripped. Graffiti added.

The photo is early morning, just at sunrise.

While David investigated the boat I investigated the island and wildlife. There were 4 great herons (maybe blue herons, didn't see clearly) constructing platforms of sticks that I assume will become nests. Maybe they are nests but they look rather sparse.

There were two osprey, one sailed over my head and picked a reed out of the water, flexible enough to use as nest-building material. One of the osprey caught a fish, sat on a limb and called to the other. Not sure if fish catcher was calling to invite or to warn away.

The island seemed smaller this time. It could be smaller, given storms and hurricanes in the past two years, or it could just be more familiar.  When we arrived there were several small boats pulled up on the shore, clearly a beach place for local folk. And the morning we left there were, again, people in small power boats...families, with children or dogs.  The beach drops off sharply so boats can go really close to the island. One pontoon boat drove right up on the sand bar beach. The woman didn't even get her feet wet as she jumped off with the anchor to go to the other side of the sand bar.  Sweet place.


Vero Beach:

We'd expected to see Abigail Grace at Vero Beach City Marina and had asked the dock master if we could raft with her. All was probably possible...except Diane and Greg decided to not stop there. So we turned in and, 'lo and behold, there was Sea Dyce on one of the first moorings in the field. Fordyce saw us coming and started putting out fenders even before we'd reached the marina on radio. As David was angling toward our friend I reached the dock master and said we'd seen our friend and could we raft with him. "Yes, that's probably where I'd have put you anyway." Very cool!

All secured we shared beers on deck and Fordyce came over to see our boat...bridged the 6" gap between our two hulls, only separated by those fenders. Early evening for all of us.

Tuesday was beach day and off the boat by 9:30. David and I decided to walk the 5, which turned to about 8, blocks to the famous Vero Beach. The walk through the Date Palm Road neighborhood was beautiful. Big, big trees draped in Spanish moss, those multicolored leafed plants that I can't remember the names of (Crotons?), big hanging pots of elk-horn ferns, sweet homes that weren't too large and very well-manicured yards.

The beach was fine enough and the water was warm. The beach was steep, though. Nothing like the beach near 7 Seas with its long entry into the water. It was windy and the seas were rough, waves strong and coming from different directions. Lots of jellyfish washed up on shore so I was a bit reluctant. I did a lot of bouncing in the water but didn't go far enough out to really body surf. But, delicious being in the water.

We sat on benches on the boardwalk to dry off before tackling town and the free bus to somewhere else.

I just noticed my elbow shadow on David's shirt.

We both got a bit too much sun. And then we started walking again, mostly looking at stores that were way more expensive  than we would ever afford and not too interesting to us anyway.

Lots of mortgage companies, real estate dealers, financial investors followed closely by fine men's and fine women's clothing..... oh, and fine baby's, too.

And we walked. Tried to figure out the bus schedule but couldn't.

And then we were near the Vero Beach Art Museum which had been recommended to us.... so we went.


A fantastic traveling exhibit of guitars, From Medieval to Metal, was so informative. I'd no idea that there was such a design element, as well as the acoustic and electronic aspects, to guitars. A wonderful exhibit of about 40 guitars from early lutes through extruded plastic and air guitars.

We needed to get back to our boat before 1:30 and discovered that the museum was two, count them, two blocks from our marina. So... we walked. I started the laundry while David met Kasey to get her rafted with Fordyce. Then Kasey came ashore and David finished the laundry while she and I got her registered. Then we all walked along a dock to find the other Nauticat that belonged to Nancy Lindgren's friends. Nancy is the woman whose apt we rented in Matthews, VA when Grace's engine mounts were being installed.

Small world! Nancy and her beau were arriving Thursday or Friday. And my friend from South Portland, Nancy Etiner, was arriving Friday. We've missed them all. Bummer.  But we are closer to the Bahamas!

We did a major grocery shopping via bus, there and back with some walking. More expensive than I'd ever spent in one shopping trip. Shared dinner with Fordyce and Kasey on the big Nauticat,  Fordyce cooked. I brought homemade (from a package) brownies.

Tonight in Ft Pierce we were invited to Happy Hour at the dock. Turns out it is the 2nd Happy Hour of this place. Some cruisers who've been here a month or so organized it. Lovely people, another couple are traveling to the Bahamas, also newbies. Perhaps we'll all go in a flotilla.

 The journey continues...as do our many blessings.

Grateful

Serenity

Serenity Island, FL

We're about half way down the peninsula of FL and this little island is one we've anchored behind before.   

This year there is a washed up boat ashore, about 30' and is like Kasey's. She suggested we take a closer look to see if there is anything useful she might need. The boat is covered with graffiti in many colors. Can't quite make out the writing but with my eyesight nothing looks obscene.

The extension of the island, mostly sandbar, had a couple shallow draft boats on it when we arrived. Everyone had departed before sundown and tonight we have the view of the island all to ourselves.

Once again we had a really slow out-of-the-starting-gate to our travels today. We were up fairly early and set about projects as soon as coffee was poured. David tackled putting a fan, operated by an on/off switch rather than solar switch, in the head. It is needed to dry out our "compost" in the composting toilet. I cut and hemmed the other door screen. I'm hoping to get some seam binding to add to sides when we get to a place to buy and sew. Not sure when/where that will be. Maybe Maine this summer.

We finally pulled anchor at 11:30. I took the helm most of the day. Easy except for the speed boat wannab's who've not learned, or else forgot, or else don't care...that it is safe and polite to slow down and not wake - rock the boat - of those you are passing or meeting. Our windows have salt water splashes al over them. Water over the bow sometimes, even if I turn into the waves thrown by the passing boats. Nevertheless, beautiful day with water deep enough to relax around. Ten plus feet. Piece of cake. 

David wasn't feeling well. Maybe the result of a bit of food poisoning from dinner out the night before. This evening he seems fine but he took a couple of naps while I was steering. He took the last 45 minutes and dealt with the anchor.

So, cozy, cool at Serenity Island.  

End of the Valentine flowers Sheldon brought when he came over to visit. Pretty. I need a vase!  Tomorrow, another beach!

waiting for stars to come out

City Point, FL a little south of Cape Kennedy

But no rocket launches until five days from now so we'll have to miss it. We're anchored near Stat Mile 894 if that helps anyone locate us, next to a double high rise bridge, so traffic noise tonight that almost sounds like the white noise of the ocean...except when a growly muffler goes by.

Such excitement today:

1) we went through Mosquito Lagoon, a broad expanse of very shallow water with a ditch dug through it for boats.

2) then the Haulover Canal with people fishing everywhere. The canal is maybe 1/4 mile long with an opening bridge at the south or west end. Our first trip through this canal had people, literally, shoulder to shoulder fishing along the banks and almost as may on little 12'-16' boats. Packed with people. Much more space this time.

3) passing through Haulover on the way to Titusville our depth sounder quit measuring...twice. Those three dashes ( - - -) rather than numbers is freaky. Then it came back on. What?!? I was in 8.5' of water the first time. Enough water. Similarly the second time but it happened with David at the helm. Not some female witchery. We speculate that we may have crossed a manatee or fish school. Who knows?

4) Islands: this one looks like a white sand beach with sticks. In reality it is barely a sandbar but with dead tree sprouts. The black at each end is lots of cormorants. The white "sand" are tons of white pelicans. White pelicans are about the size of swans or geese but with shorter necks and bigger mouths.

5) On another island we saw pink and white FLAMINGOS!! Most had pink wings and white necks. I've never seen a "wild" pink flamingo or a flamingo of any color, only in zoos.
If only I had a good camera. Several were sitting in the top of palm trees. Too cool!

6) We spied a couple dolphin playing or chasing fish in a small lagoon we passed. Lots of splashing.

Never saw a manatee even though the area around Haulover is known as a place they hang out...if that is what manatees do...hang out.

Clearly Amelia is totally not interested in our efforts to see aquatic wildlife.

Amelia has been on deck tours several days in a row now. Mostly she prefers evenings which tends to freak me out. If she falls overboard at night there is less chance of rescue.  She is very cautious though and not too interested in stuff off the boat. Still, I fear, and I admonish her as I do David to "stay with the boat."

7) And veggies from the Farmers' Market at New Smyrna Beach, acquired this morning and cooked this evening. David made excellent, flavorful rice, rice our neighbors, Sue and Kris Jennings, brought us from visiting their family in...Wisconsin (?), somewhere north and west of Maine. Delicious! and healthy.

8) OH! and we sailed for a bit. The second day in a row. Both days with the motor running; yesterday motor idling, today a little power behind the sail, else we'd be making 2.0 knots.


We're catching up to our boat buddies who out-paced us when we were on the beach. Perhaps to meet them in the next couple of days. I'm wanting to stop at Vero Beach. Friend Nancy Etiner will be there next weekend but I doubt we'll tarry that long but it would be grand to see her there.

Getting excited about seeing Gary and Delaney and cousins, Nancy and Kathryn in the Stuart area.

Blessed and grateful.

ocean swim!

7 Seas, Daytona FL

We are getting slower and slower leaving places we enjoy. The press to get south has diminished...since we are south...and it's warm...shorts and bare feet warm. And we're having a string of sunny weather, too. And palm trees out our port lights. Still some evidence of destruction from hurricanes, a few houses, lots of docks, some siding stripped from marina buildings, and boats thrown up on shore or partially sunk and abandoned. Causes me to wonder about the poorer people who live on more or less derelict boats. Are they now homeless. Last trip we met a young man and his boat mates, a woman and 2 young children, living in a boat too small for that size family. He was looking forward to fixing up their boat. We gave him some extra anchor road and gave the children crayons and coloring books we had. Sigh. Such small gifts. Hope they thrive.

Made it for a SWIM in the ocean before we left 7 Seas. The beach is hard packed sand and is shallow and broad. I was holding my beach dress over my head so didn't really swim but had great bouncing in the waves event. I do truly love the beach and that transition space between land and deeper water. And waves for gentle body surfing.

Back in the ICW for a short hop to New Smyrna Beach, mostly to visit Sheldon. After just bragging at 7 Seas that we'd had no trouble finding dockage or moorings....New Smyrna was full...no space. And we needed marina or mooring space because the town Free Dock no longer allowed overnight stays. Yikes!! And the Bascule bridge had changed its lift schedule. Oh woe. It is beautiful weather. It is "high season" for us northerners to be in FL. It is the Daytona 500 race this weekend.

A couple repeat calls to the City Marina landed us a slip at a really reasonable price ($1.25/ ft.). Sweet. Great facilities. Lovely dock manager. Neighbors to our starboard were friendly and helpful.
Sheldon met us and we had our tour then lovely dinner, outside, at a local restaurant and walk back to our boat. To bed early. we're into "early to bed" but not so good at the "early to rise" part.

This morning a walk to the Farmers' Market which had food - I bought greens of various sorts. We'll participate in Sheldon's plant-based diet for the next several days. There were lots of alternative health goods - essential oils, soaps, jewelry (jewelry is an alternative health good!). The dog was not for sale. I thought it fun(ny) that the dog was riding in the shopping cart. The woman was delighted to have me photograph her pooch.



Back on the boat and off we went around 11:30 a.m.  I said we were getting slower about leaving.

sigh. grrrr.

7 Seas Marina, Daytona, FL

Coffee with brave BBs (boating buddies) from previous trip, Judy and Carl. Fun remembering some of our travels together. They were beginning sailors when we met in Marathon and thought it a great idea to buddy with us on our way north. Fine with us and other buddies, Wendy and Dan. So off we all went. Carl and Judy left us for some ocean sailing just north of Ft. Lauderdale. Haven't seen them since until last night when they knocked on our hull and we made a date for this morning. Sweet! She gifted me with a bunch of bananas, repayment from my sharing our bananas with them 2 years ago. Another sweet. And we ate them for a snack later in the morning. They live at the marina we were at last night.

We left Palm Coast around 10:00 a.m. and had a gentle day of boating with the regular skinny water trials...6'9" for a brief moment near Flagler Beach. Shiver. But generally around 11-12' so... easy. Brilliant sun. I stood on the aft deck for some time. Two dolphin swam in the opposite direction but beside us for a couple of rolls.

Traveling under the International Speedway Bridge, enjoying the mosaics of fish and dolphins on the bridge supports. One mast was spotted sticking out of the water near the middle of the channel. And saw a number of boats grounded and apparently abandoned on shore or at water's edge. The hurricanes in these past two years have taken an expensive toll on FL residents and boaters.

We arrived at 7 Seas around 1:30 ( we stayed here coming and going previous trip) and were on the beach by 2:30. Heaven! This particular beach is wide and flat with hard packed sand. Shallow so there are line after line after line of breakers. The water was too chilly for seriously getting wet but we walked for a couple hours, wading in the water. Saw a beautiful yellow footed, snowy egret  running and fishing in the shallow waves. Odd in that we'd expect to see this type bird in the marshes, not at the beach. A beauty with her bright yellow feet and black legs. Also saw what I think were Royal Terns with their black tufts of head feathers and fat yellow/orange bills.

Back on the boat, tasks. My big task of the day was to contact all my MOC (members of congress) about instituting sane gun access laws. No assault rifles, for example. Another tragic school shooting today left 17 students dead. The shooter is in custody. Tragedy all around. Since Columbine 19 years ago Congress has done little, nothing substantial, to curb opportunities for gun violence. It seems all that has been done is to accept campaign support, and other payoffs of various sorts, from the NRA. This mass shooting in schools is an American phenomenon. An American epidemic.

Two Senators Burr and Tillis from my home state of NC are among the largest recipients of NRA money. How disgusting and immoral can humans who claim "public servant" be?!?  Evil? Definitely greedy. Do I think greedy is evil? Yes! when the level of greed kills or terrorizes children.

Greed = evil. I'm down with that equation. My heart hurts for the loss and the fear this greed causes.

Meanwhile, the sun continues to set. And to rise each day. Thank you gods, God, angels and all creative energy of our universes.

The ocean continues to continue its waves and the wonderful white noise of water crashing and flowing and retreating.

Love abounds maybe especially during times of tragedy.

And we continue to try to make sense of the things we do and learn, the love and joy we create, the beauty we appreciate as we circle the sun.

And take the actions we can, including sending out healing energy and prayers, to create more justice, more compassion,  more respect and more love.

Playing...too much...not

Palm Coast, FL

Happy St. Valentine's Day!  We're about halfway between St. Augustine and Daytona. We'll be in Daytona tomorrow. We've had a fine day of Valentine's Day travel.

David and I made cards for our family. And mailed them today. I made a card for him when I realized he'd got a present for me....those chocolate goodies pictured. We're pretty relaxed about gifts to each other, feeling that we ARE the gift to each other and are living a really gifted life, daily, for the most part. Fun to finally do an "art" project that had no functionality.


It was still windy and foggy when we'd planned to leave this morning...so we delayed...part of David's more relaxed demeanor. We went ashore around 10:45, had a shower, got water, folded the bikes up and stuffed them into their stuff bags and loaded everything onto the dinghy. Not quite as much weight as 4 people but it was pretty crowded.

Back at the big boat we unloaded and I paddled the dinghy to Grace's stern to hook her up for lift off....the water. Connected all the lines and I climbed aboard. Then we hauled her up and secured her for the trip further south.  A gentle day except for an area around Matanza Inlet that we knew to be sketchy...and it still is. Our friends on Abigail Grace ran aground there yesterday and had to be pulled off. They and their boat are fine but it did slow them down. We talked, they advised, we apologized for not warning them since, had we been thinking ahead, we'd have remembered this is really a skinny and sketchy place. I'm remembering that we need to mention this to friends, Luke and Kasey, who are a couple of days behind us.

 

This is the baby horned owl from the free dock in Jacksonville several days ago, as promised.


I love St. Augustine. It is a FL city I think I could comfortable live in, at least the down town area which is old with sort of packed in houses and small yards.


After everyone who was going, left for groceries and propane yesterday afternoon, after the rental car came, I took the bike for a ride. I went up and down roads in the Lincolnville section that is maybe 3 or 4 blocks from the tourist area but very quiet and self-contained. Lovely, sometimes run down, little houses on little lots, all close together. I am charmed by this residential area that may soon suffer from gentrification. And I would love to help...keep it from being very different than now. It is a traditionally Black community. I'm very conscious of how those with more money "buy out" those with less who then have to move further away from "town."

I crossed King St., I think, into a more pricey, traditionally "white," part of town where Flagler College is located. Walked the gardens of this church where the Flagler family is entombed. Then went inside where someone was playing the big pipe organ. Tours available but I sat and listened and watched.


A magnificent church with 3-D crosses hanging overhead as light fixtures. Lots of stained glass windows which reminded me that an old beau and I had collected stained glass from an old dilapidated church near Manteo, NC years and years ago. The idea was that we'd make something or some things. Nothing was made as I recall.

Being inside was inspiring as is often the case for me with old religious/spiritual structures. A lot of creative energy - money and labor - went into creating this building and it continues to be imbued with lots of spiritual energy and awe. Is that the same? spiritual energy? awe? - Palpable.  I just sat and listened for a while then took myself on a small tour.  I suspect I was so touched by the spiritual space partly because of the book I'm reading, The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardia a mystery that concerns itself with the feminine foundations of contemporary and historic religious places.


Continuing my bicycle ride I was looking for the community that the van drivers from our previous visit lived in. Didn't quite find it but did find myself at the Fort then easily rode home. A sweet time alone with myself, exploring and loving the physical exercise. Delicious to be alone and on my own, reclaiming independence.

Ken, Luke, KaySone, David and I went out to dinner at a Chinese buffet. Delicious and inexpensive And they had ice cream.

Surrender and Abigail Grace and Sea Dyce (Fordyce's 44' Nauticat, Oriental acquaintance) left around 8:00 a.m. Tuesday. David and I gathered Luke and went on a driving adventure to Anastasia Island, across the Bridge of Lions. Breakfast, a walk on the windy and chilly beach were perfect. Luke suggested a tour of the lighthouse that he'd already done.

Perfect!

Except that it was foggy.


Our boats are out there somewhere. This view was from the top of the lighthouse, up 219 steps. I think there were closer to 600 steps and will research that tomorrow. I didn't have to carry the 20 lbs of oil for the lamp though.

           

                        The steps!

This herb garden was at the light keeper's house




We dropped Luke off at the Lion side of the Bridge of Lions bridge and David and I left for errands - UPS, groceries, a West Marine stop, pet store for composting toilet needs.



Back on the boat, dinner and bed. Such a delicious 2 days here in this really friendly city.

Resurrection Ferns on this old tree

working on my tan

St Augustine, FL

I'm so charmed by this town and have great memories from two years ago and my childhood visit(s) on the way to visit my grandparents in Port Charlotte.

Yesterday we finally left Jim King Park around 11:00 a.m. All our buddies left before us as they travel a bit slower. We/David really, secured the aft steering station in case we really wanted to work on our tans and steer from outside. Too windy. David had the helm through the St. John river and into the ICW, under a bridge (I'm beginning to recognize this trail) and I took over...for the skinny water, ugh. How do I manage to get this helms person shift.

Ostentatiously large houses along Roscoe Blvd - not sure if that was the water or the land address. They must have been 20+ rooms in some of these houses. Conference centers? Looked like private homes.

David took the helm again for most of the balance of the day. We met and passed Luke and heard other friends as they hailed the marina. They docked just as we were passing under the Bridge of Lions. Bridge of Lions, how dramatic or romantic. Tickles my fancy either way. We moored. Our friends took slips. Luke moored in a spot we had last trip on the north side of the bridge.  We all met, visited, chatted, planned then David and I took off in search of pizza for our dinner out.

Walked in the St. George  Street tourist section and found great pizza. At 7:30 p.m. we were dinghying back to the boat...without proper navigation lights on the dinghy. The things we forgot to remember. But the dinghy which had not been used in3+ months performed beautifully.

This morning was frustrating. I'm such a morning person and David is so NOT. And we were trying to coordinate car rental ideas with our BBs (boat buddies). By the time David had made the requisite phone calls to everyone I'd packed the laundry up, changed my winter clothes to summer clothes, organized the recycling and got my shower stuff together. Twiddle my thumbs!

I do realize...or after a moment or two of fuming, did realize...there is no hurry. A car will happen. Grocery shopping will happen. It will rain. The bicycles will get oiled and new tires bought for mine. The credit card bill will get paid. The men will get to the boat/sailors consignment stores (roll my eyes again). I might buy funky earrings. Laundry will get done (I'm doing it now.) Life IS VERY GOOD. And it is warm!!!

The men have gone shopping. Car will be delivered around 3:00 pm and we'll all go grocery shopping. Planning dinner out tonight together as two of the buddy boats will leave tomorrow. David and I will stay another day I think.

One of the boaters we met in Oriental, with a 44' Nauticat, is here so that was a bit of reunion. He has sooooo much space on board. What a difference 10' makes. And he has drawers. David salivates. Some other pleasures...refrigerator with separate freezer, two heads (one for pooping and another for peeing he says), a shower, and did I mention drawers?!?

As we left Jim King Park in Jacksonville we doubled back to a buoy to see the baby Great Horned Owl. I'll try to remember to post the pic tomorrow.

Florida, at last

Jim King Park, Jacksonville, FL

Fogged in until nearly 11:00 a.m. anchored off Cumberland, Island, GA, only a hop, skip, jump from Florida. Our friends who travel more slowly were hoping to leave around 7:00 a.m. I assumed they'd done so as I couldn't see any boats up river...or down river. As fog lifted everybody showed up. No one had left. Grace agreed to lead the way through skinny water as she has the most shallow draft.

Beautiful, beautiful sunny, breezy day! Shimmering water. Very little bouncy. Saw wild horses on Cumberland shore as we floated by, and a FULL tour boat cruising up river. Fast and small fishing boats later on reminded us that it is Saturday.

I realize I generally take pics of places and creatures and things but not people. I'm beginning, yesterday, to remedy that. At the end of the day our boating buds and a just met boating bud gathered on our aft deck. Their photos accompany the day's journey.

David and Luke from MD, soloing on a Cat

So we're in the lead and going slowly, er more leisurely than we've ever gone. At first we were preparing to be frustrated with the slower pace..our friends have about 2 knots less steaming power than Grace. Then we chose leisurely, an option we often consider but can't seem to maintain on our own. We always go slow when the water is skinny but that is also high alert/tension...not relaxed and.... leisurely.

We chatted by radio, calling out depths as necessary and slowing down to let buddies catch up when we outpaced them.

Diane and Greg on Abigail Grace met in Coinjock

We came upon and remembered places and connected people from our previous cruising journey. At the beginning of FL is Ft. Clinch (?) where Irwin completed his Master's degree lo' those many years ago, studying that amalgamation of shell and mud and rock (Tabby? or another name).

Fernandina Beach that was really devastated by hurricanes last fall. Last trip the mooring field was packed with more than 100 boats and we met/re-met Wendy and Dan. This year the fuel dock was closed (but still standing) and there were maybe 10 mooring balls and 3 boats in the field, some masts above water but sunken boats. A really lovely boat blown up on the beach about 10 yards onto shore. We passed a barge with a load of wrecked boats tumbled together on board. Feeling the loss and the hurt of those lost.

Greg and Ken, Ken from Maine and Saco River rescue fame

We picked our way through Fernandina Beach waters, always a bit dicy and especially so post-hurricane destruction. Past the hazards and...we ran aground.

Oops! Our friends took note and stayed away. We managed to maneuver ourselves off in a few minutes and did not have to wait for the tide to come in. Phew.

David had the helm most of the day. I started the mosquito netting for one of our pilot house doors. We neglected to bring our screens from previous trip. They are at home somewhere. And it is warm enough now - whoohooo! 74 degrees outside, shorts weather! - that those little biting buggers are out.

Ke Sun (spelling?) is Ken's squeeze

I begin to notice that after 4 hours on the boat, traveling, regardless of the easy or difficulty, I'm ready to do something else. Of course, that isn't always possible. There are no McDonald's or 7/11 pull offs conveniently located in various inlets or on the rivers and creeks we cruise. So, onward.

We were a bit concerned about the post-hurricane condition of one of our favorite - and free - stops...Jim King Park and/or the Jacksonville City Free Dock. We'd heard on radio that there was a "navigational hazard" of a 60' boat attached to a concrete dock in Sister Creek, where we were heading. Sounds like the Jim King dock. 

Nope. Dock is here with no 60' boat attached. Two sailboats were already here but plenty of room for all three of our boats.  Fierce current and wind blowing us off the dock. But, we're on, with the help of Luke (first photo). We got ourselves tied up, enough, and radio-ed Ken, who had been standing off, waiting, to land. His boat has less engine power so his U-turn was a little more sketchy. Got him attached and then radio-ed Greg in. Yippee. Hurrah. All three boats secured.  Beer/wine time. Luke, it turns out brews his own, on board. He mentioned that we were the most people he'd seen in his entire trip from MD.

We were a bit of a rowdy bunch packed onto our aft deck, reviewing and learning from each other. Joyful!  Two disappointments: Brown Altman, the volunteer "greeter" who was such a godsend to David, Grace, and I last visit, has not returned our email or phone calls. We'd hoped to connect with him and his wife. We worry for his health but maybe they are on vacation somewhere (cold?). And Brad and Brigitt fromT-bolt last trip are not available to visit while we're here. Both are working, she full time this weekend and he away until Monday. Perhaps they will take a drive to St. Augustine. At least we know they are here, alive and well.

We gave a youngster (his mom was grateful) a life jacket, an extra we had on board and he wasn't wearing one. Lightening our load and making him safer. All were appreciative.

We passed this Eagle Watch Station on our way today and understand that there is an owl nest in a buoy just out the entrance to this dock. We may try to see it tomorrow...if we don't forget in our excitement to reach St. Augustine. David and I will have to do some work on our taxes there. Ugh and good idea.

Our aft deck party broke up after dark and we all went to separate boats to dine. Leftovers for us. We'll need to re-provision when we get to St. A.


We understand that our home port of Freeport, ME is still in deep freeze and are so grateful to be here, and that friends and family there are safe and warm.

The dock we're on. Sunrise photo from last trip, two years ago...my best yoga studio. I'll think to send it to Freeport Yoga Studio. 

Speaking of being blessed!

fog and rain and organizing

Cumberland Island, GA

We left our Brunswick neighbors (Ron or Don and Wendy from Charleston, SC) around 9:00 a.m. and headed out under clouds, low, full of water clouds. Easy way back onto the ICW then down along Jekyll Isle through really skinny water. White knuckle shinny (aka shallow) water, 5.5'-type skinny water and we draw 4.5'. Really skinny water. Watch the depth sounder readout and take a glance at the water ahead out the window. Really skinny water. Did I say that already? Did I mention that I was at the helm?!

We got to the bridge and to the anchorage we've visited before and the water finally came up to 10'. Love those double digit numbers! We'd become used to 35' coming out of Brunswick in the large (and deep) shipping channels.   Made it past Jekyll Isle and entered St. Andrew Sound.

Lumpy! Not aggressively so except in one place as we made a turn. Wind against current but, at least, the water was deep. Back in sheltered water along Cumberland Island. Ah, almost to our anchorage. Nope. It's Georgia. We wiggled and twisted and switchbacked and wiggled some more for hours still. Good water but took forever. Finally, rounded the turn into our overnight river. Found our friends really up-river beyond the National Park entrance. They were settled, aka anchored already, so didn't move. We dropped back down river and found a lovely spot across from Sea Camp. Our friends dinghyed in for a walk. We dallied, organized, had a drink on the aft deck. Looked for screens that we didn't find.  They are at home in the boat shed we both expect. So much left off the boat in David's hurry to leave and I wasn't there to help think of needs. Oh well. We have mosquito netting to make screens of.

So we didn't really connect with our buds but had a great phone conversation with Greg and Diane. They are leaving early tomorrow morning to make another skinny spot before the tide is low. We'll probably not leave as early as they but we may choose to not walk the island again, having done some major touring and walking here last trip.

Dinner, delicious dinner. Credit card payment made. Ready to check weather and call friends about meeting up tomorrow...maybe back at Jim King Park Marina in Jacksonville.

My life is good. Totally blessed.

Where, oh where?

Brunswick, GA

The days are folding in on one another. Not a bad thing just that I can't remember where we were and what transpired. But here we are today - Friday, I think - getting ready to leave Brunswick after two gentle nights here. But backing up a bit....

To the right we have the creative doodling of our gps, mapping the movement of Grace on her anchor overnight at Sapelo Island. I'm imagining lobster. In spite of the movement it was a pretty restful night after we finally got the anchor positioned.


The not-to-early-morning crossing the sound was NOT particularly gentle. I was at the helm and we were bouncy with wind against current and tide. Only about 45 minutes but enough for me to want to turn over the helm for awhile. Inside the ICW it was still windy and unexpectedly choppy through the morning. All calmed down and then there was a totally RUDE, totally dangerous, totally self-absorbed boater and his two buddies in a really big pleasure trawler barreling toward us. We'd heard a sarcastic "thanks for the slow pass, buddy" on the radio. And here he came throwing a huge wake and I'm not sure he even saw us. He certainly didn't respond to our radio calls to please slow. The times I want to have the Coast Guard around the corner and ability to ram another boat. The total disregard for another is everywhere. Aaaaarrrrgh.

As we came into the big bay/sound outside Brunswick I recognized the area, remembering that we'd come here in the almost dark and anchored on the north side of the bridge. Remembered being really nervous in this unknown anchoring territory...in the dark. No worries in the early afternoon.

We decided on Brunswick Landing Marina, relatively inexpensive diesel, good reviews, a bit "nickle and dimeing"  and lots of rules - 3 pages! - but lovely people. We planned an overnight and then to join boating buddies in Cumberland Island on Thursday. 

Beautiful bridge to get to our chosen marina

We watched something being loaded onto this ship as we entered the Academy River (Creek?). Later learned that it transported paper, from the mill across the way, and the big crane structure used suction to hoist the rolls of paper from the train to the ship. Very impressive, and that paper is still being made in the south even though production is so diminished in Maine.

I also remember driving through Brunswick as a child on the way to FL to visit grandparents and hating the paper production smell. That seems to be somewhat conquered now - the smell, not my smelling of it. But then the wind hasn't come our way from the mill either.

A beautiful old schooner, for sale by owner. Gorgeous woodwork on the outside and I'm told on the inside, too. A cool $1.6 million and its yours!

Took a walk downtown, almost downtown. I'm pretty confident we weren't in the most upscale area. S.H. Kress & Co is a blast from my childhood when I'd have lunch with Grandma Salmon when she met me after Saturday dance classes. Sweet memories now though I think I was always impatient with her. She didn't approve of my dancing, fear, I think, for my soul and the fact that Mother and she had some historical conflict that Mother, at least, held onto, coloring my own response to Grandma. One of my few childhood/adulthood regrets. Sigh.

Lovely people as boating neighbors and a "happy hour" provided by the dock. Our immediate neighbors are heading home to Charleston, SC this morning. Update: they're staying another day as the wind will be against them all day.

Wednesday we lost the "house" water and David took on repairing the pump/filter on Thursday. We'd been talking about "boat yoga" and here is an example. Not sure this will sell a book, though.

The faulty pump filter was repaired but by 1:00 p.m. we were ready to bag leaving. David was really tired after several hours of tight squeezes. Luckily I was there to pass tools and parts over his left shoulder.



Later in the afternoon he did the grocery shopping while....

...Mighty Mender (NOT) and I wrestled a curtain into existence. This cute machine is a piece of plastic shit. It is about as persnickety as could possibly be. The bobbin has to be adjusted specifically to be wound then to be installed and threaded. The tension adjustment is awful. The pressure foot provides little to no pressure. And I have to put my thumb between the tension control and the thread lifter to keep the lifter from pulling the thread off the tension dial.  It took more than an hour to get the cute machine to make a seam. Finally, success of sorts.
I decided to not through it overboard. Similar to not throwing the first computer out the window of the second floor of our house.

First viewing if Ibis. Must be close to Florida!

Outside again!

Sapelo Island, GA


Easy, peasy day in the ocean. A relaxing break after last night's tipping adventure, we awoke this morning on an even keel, and floating calmly. I had an early phone date with dear friend, Judith, so got to see....   

Pre-sunrise! 






Pulled the anchor around 9:00 a.m. and were off for a long but gentle day.

We both check the wind and the wave action predicted. Five to sic knots, waves 1-2 feet at 5-8 second intervals. Lulling if coming from stern quarter. Probably lulling from any direction.

Several dolphin escorted us out the Vernon River including a family that included two youngsters and an adult with a rick-rac fin, probably a close encounter with a boat prop.

We watched a swarm of birds, perhaps migrating but they were too far away to identify. And that was it for six hours of gentle seas, all the way to Sapelo Island, GA where we visited for a couple days last trip. Won't go ashore this time but love the Duplin River anchorage.



We had some anchoring stress, total for the day of stress-free boating. I was doing the releasing it out when David started backing the boat to set it. Oops! Me loosing control of the speed the anchor chain was paying out, danger of loosing fingers. After some fear-driven words and tone we rehearsed AND are beginning to learn how to use the windlass to brake the anchor. Needs work.

Lots of water and sun today. What's not to like about that?

We arrived at Sapelo Island, passing this Lighthouse. The Island is home to a small village (Hog Hammock) of mostly African American (Gullah-Geechee) folks and a marine research lab of mostly caucasian folks. The island has an interesting and depressing history of white privilege, power and money foisting oppression on people of color.  We enjoyed a tour and purchased a book by a local resident last visit.

The white fat bunny-looking things are snowy pelicans. Totally white except for black wing tips. Stunning! Now they probably have muddy feet.



We were anchored, successfully, by around 4:15, wine facing west into the sun, dinner finished and coffee ready for making in the morning.  ready for bed before 9:00 p.m.

Party animals!