Day 142, December 21st, 2009
Today's the day. Up by 6:00, breakfasted and waiting in the cockpit by 6:50 when the young fella arrived in the marina's tender to take us to shore. We were on the road at 7:10 and arrived at the airport around 9:45.
We're presently sitting in the airport at Gate 22 waiting for the flight. People are arriving all excited as their on their way to see Disney. We're all excited cos we're going the other way!!!
You won't hear anything from us for 10 days. Blog will resume in the New Year!!! Have a Merry Christmas and New Year everybody!
Monday, December 21, 2009
One More Sleep!
Day 141, December 20th, 2009
Yesterday there were so many people fretting as to whether they would manage to get home. A bad storm hit a big range of the US from Washington to New York gumming up all the airports. They're not quite as efficient when it comes to snow as Canada!! John checked our flight and it looks fine. Keeping our fingers crossed!
I did the laundry in the morning while John did some stuff on the computer. When I'd delivered the laundry back to the boat (all wrapped in a garbage bag so it didn't get wet in the dinghy), we walked up to Budget to get the car. There are no buses to Orlando from Stuart. The airport transport car costs double the rental car so rental car it was. What luxury - to ride in the car!!!
Since we picked it up early around 11:00 we had time to do some shopping at WalMart. Picked up some supplies to tide us over while we're in the Bahamas, where everything is so expensive.
We walked around the flea market which was kind of fun. Nothing much. Just doodling!
We had to get busy back at the boat in the evening. Putting the stores away, hoisting up the outboard onto the boat and getting the dinghy up on the bow and tying it down, digging out some warm clothes and packing, and finally having another chicken sandwich and a cup of tea!!
All systems go for the morning!!!
Yesterday there were so many people fretting as to whether they would manage to get home. A bad storm hit a big range of the US from Washington to New York gumming up all the airports. They're not quite as efficient when it comes to snow as Canada!! John checked our flight and it looks fine. Keeping our fingers crossed!
I did the laundry in the morning while John did some stuff on the computer. When I'd delivered the laundry back to the boat (all wrapped in a garbage bag so it didn't get wet in the dinghy), we walked up to Budget to get the car. There are no buses to Orlando from Stuart. The airport transport car costs double the rental car so rental car it was. What luxury - to ride in the car!!!
Since we picked it up early around 11:00 we had time to do some shopping at WalMart. Picked up some supplies to tide us over while we're in the Bahamas, where everything is so expensive.
We walked around the flea market which was kind of fun. Nothing much. Just doodling!
We had to get busy back at the boat in the evening. Putting the stores away, hoisting up the outboard onto the boat and getting the dinghy up on the bow and tying it down, digging out some warm clothes and packing, and finally having another chicken sandwich and a cup of tea!!
All systems go for the morning!!!
Bouncy Night!!!
Day 140, December 19th, 2009
We hardly slept at all last night. A cold front passing through bringing high winds and a real drop in temperature. The wind was rattling through halyards, the boat was swinging from one side to the other and the water slapping the bottom from every which way!!! Too noisy to sleep!! This is rather the Stuart we remember!!
We got caught up with e-mails and the blog in the morning. We seem to be one of the few lucky ones in the mooring field in that we can pick up wifi from the boat. We're just on the edge of the signal and its often slow but works.
In the evening there was a Meet & Greet up on the patio at the marina. More people have arrived, others have left, but there's always somebody to chat with. One couple had a great big Labrador/Doodle - he was very lovely but I couldn't imagine stepping over him on the boat! They're from Ottawa and going to Cuba. Somehow they managed to get insurance coverage.
We hardly slept at all last night. A cold front passing through bringing high winds and a real drop in temperature. The wind was rattling through halyards, the boat was swinging from one side to the other and the water slapping the bottom from every which way!!! Too noisy to sleep!! This is rather the Stuart we remember!!
We got caught up with e-mails and the blog in the morning. We seem to be one of the few lucky ones in the mooring field in that we can pick up wifi from the boat. We're just on the edge of the signal and its often slow but works.
In the evening there was a Meet & Greet up on the patio at the marina. More people have arrived, others have left, but there's always somebody to chat with. One couple had a great big Labrador/Doodle - he was very lovely but I couldn't imagine stepping over him on the boat! They're from Ottawa and going to Cuba. Somehow they managed to get insurance coverage.
Still waiting in Stuart!!
Day 139, December 18th, 2009
Still waiting in Stuart, counting off the days till we can go home! We did look into the possibility of moving the flight up a couple of days but all flights were booked. Oh well! I was brushing my hair first thing when my little hairbrush fell apart in my hand. That gave us a reason to walk up to the Dollar store and go shopping!!! What fun. All the chores are done so we're just filling in time. I would have liked to bike over to nearby Jensen Beach but the weather is still wet, windy and chilly. Not a beach day. We walked back via the old town and had an ice cream - getting quite addicted to "Hoffman's", the ice cream shop!
We went up to the common room when we got back to the marina and ended up chatting with other boaters. One couple told us all about their touring holiday in New Zealand and how they had loved it!! That's next year's project. Can't wait! We heard about the camping spots, all so well laid out and reasonably priced, whether you camp or take a little cabin. That sounds really good.
It was late by the time we got back to the boat - just time for a chicken sandwich!
Still waiting in Stuart, counting off the days till we can go home! We did look into the possibility of moving the flight up a couple of days but all flights were booked. Oh well! I was brushing my hair first thing when my little hairbrush fell apart in my hand. That gave us a reason to walk up to the Dollar store and go shopping!!! What fun. All the chores are done so we're just filling in time. I would have liked to bike over to nearby Jensen Beach but the weather is still wet, windy and chilly. Not a beach day. We walked back via the old town and had an ice cream - getting quite addicted to "Hoffman's", the ice cream shop!
We went up to the common room when we got back to the marina and ended up chatting with other boaters. One couple told us all about their touring holiday in New Zealand and how they had loved it!! That's next year's project. Can't wait! We heard about the camping spots, all so well laid out and reasonably priced, whether you camp or take a little cabin. That sounds really good.
It was late by the time we got back to the boat - just time for a chicken sandwich!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Stuart, FL
Day 138, December 17th, 2009
What a day!! It poured with rain all night and continued all day. I didn't leave the boat!! I read my Penny Vincenzi book all day. I love her books. Found a couple in the common room. I was introduced to Penny Vincenzi by my cousin Ali, in England. Just fun reads. I did make some muffins at lunchtime and hamburgers for supper. Not very ambitious! John did better than me - he nipped out between deluges and went over to buy some ice - what else, for margaritas!!!
What a day!! It poured with rain all night and continued all day. I didn't leave the boat!! I read my Penny Vincenzi book all day. I love her books. Found a couple in the common room. I was introduced to Penny Vincenzi by my cousin Ali, in England. Just fun reads. I did make some muffins at lunchtime and hamburgers for supper. Not very ambitious! John did better than me - he nipped out between deluges and went over to buy some ice - what else, for margaritas!!!
Stuart, FL
Day 137, December 16th, 2009
Its hard to buy John a Christmas present. But I had an idea and so borrowed a bike and off I went again to .......... (He'll read this so I can't say!) Another scorching hot day but its lovely tootling along on the bike. The poor marina people are having a little trouble with their bikes. They changed 3 tire tubes yesterday!
In the afternoon I made a pasta salad. In the evening lots of the boaters gathered together on the patio for a barbecue. We all took something to grill and a side dish as well. It was fun. People from all over the US, Canada and one couple from Sweden. We swapped stories and laughed and had a good time.
Its hard to buy John a Christmas present. But I had an idea and so borrowed a bike and off I went again to .......... (He'll read this so I can't say!) Another scorching hot day but its lovely tootling along on the bike. The poor marina people are having a little trouble with their bikes. They changed 3 tire tubes yesterday!
In the afternoon I made a pasta salad. In the evening lots of the boaters gathered together on the patio for a barbecue. We all took something to grill and a side dish as well. It was fun. People from all over the US, Canada and one couple from Sweden. We swapped stories and laughed and had a good time.
Stuart, FL
Day 136, December 15th, 2009
A hot beautiful day! Still chores to do. I took the laundry over to the marina and was delighted to find I had all the machines to myself. Could run 3 at once! I took my book with me and grabbed a lovely comfy rocking chair out on the patio so while waiting for the machines I just sat in the sun, read my book and rocked away! What a lovely way to do laundry!!!
John was busy with the computer up in the common room, so I left him to his devices, took the laundry back to the boat and then borrowed a bike to go mail a parcel at the Post Office.
We met up with our friends Bev and Dave (Back Roads) at 3:00 and went for supper! They have the restaurants all figured out! We had a great meal at Flannigans for $4.99 each!! (If you get there before 4:00 to place your order you can still get their lunch menu.) The clientele at that time in the day is somewhat geriatric but very good!!!!
A hot beautiful day! Still chores to do. I took the laundry over to the marina and was delighted to find I had all the machines to myself. Could run 3 at once! I took my book with me and grabbed a lovely comfy rocking chair out on the patio so while waiting for the machines I just sat in the sun, read my book and rocked away! What a lovely way to do laundry!!!
John was busy with the computer up in the common room, so I left him to his devices, took the laundry back to the boat and then borrowed a bike to go mail a parcel at the Post Office.
We met up with our friends Bev and Dave (Back Roads) at 3:00 and went for supper! They have the restaurants all figured out! We had a great meal at Flannigans for $4.99 each!! (If you get there before 4:00 to place your order you can still get their lunch menu.) The clientele at that time in the day is somewhat geriatric but very good!!!!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Stuart, FL
Day 135, December 14th, 2009
John's a little disappointed with the solar panel. It doesn't seem to be able to keep up the battery power sufficiently to run the fridge if we're just sitting on the mooring buoy. We've noticed it just the last few days when the ambient temperature has been so high. So today, he set up the little generator and with the two together the batteries were charging okay. I hope it doesn't disturb the neighbours too much!
Around 10:00 we took off for town as planned. This time we borrowed the tricycle and one bike. The trike has a big basket on the back for carrying more stuff. We figured this would be the best way to get the propane tank filled. John looked a bit funny riding his trike. The seat was low and he couldn't raise it, so his knees were kind of scrunched up. He got some kind smiles from some pedestrians though, I noticed! I think they thought he was a poor old codger who couldn't ride a two wheeler any longer! We made several stops - West Marine, the Propane place, The Nauti but Nice Store which was fun, and the grocery store. It was baking hot but we really enjoyed our biking.
Back at the boat in the afternoon, Bev and Dave returned. Looking brown and fit they said they'd had a great weekend watching the Cdn. Curling Olympic trials. We made plans for supper together tomorrow night.
After a sit, off we went again - this time we walked into town to the Visitors' Centre to find out about possible transportation to Orlando airport. There are no buses but we've got a couple of phone numbers to call. Failing that we also stopped at Budget today and know we can book a car one way. We'll shop for the best price.
John's getting pretty good at making margaritas and pina coladas!!! It was the latter tonight, before a hamburger on the barbie. Oh! and the first one was so good, the hamburger was washed down with another!
John's a little disappointed with the solar panel. It doesn't seem to be able to keep up the battery power sufficiently to run the fridge if we're just sitting on the mooring buoy. We've noticed it just the last few days when the ambient temperature has been so high. So today, he set up the little generator and with the two together the batteries were charging okay. I hope it doesn't disturb the neighbours too much!
Around 10:00 we took off for town as planned. This time we borrowed the tricycle and one bike. The trike has a big basket on the back for carrying more stuff. We figured this would be the best way to get the propane tank filled. John looked a bit funny riding his trike. The seat was low and he couldn't raise it, so his knees were kind of scrunched up. He got some kind smiles from some pedestrians though, I noticed! I think they thought he was a poor old codger who couldn't ride a two wheeler any longer! We made several stops - West Marine, the Propane place, The Nauti but Nice Store which was fun, and the grocery store. It was baking hot but we really enjoyed our biking.
Back at the boat in the afternoon, Bev and Dave returned. Looking brown and fit they said they'd had a great weekend watching the Cdn. Curling Olympic trials. We made plans for supper together tomorrow night.
After a sit, off we went again - this time we walked into town to the Visitors' Centre to find out about possible transportation to Orlando airport. There are no buses but we've got a couple of phone numbers to call. Failing that we also stopped at Budget today and know we can book a car one way. We'll shop for the best price.
John's getting pretty good at making margaritas and pina coladas!!! It was the latter tonight, before a hamburger on the barbie. Oh! and the first one was so good, the hamburger was washed down with another!
Work Day
Day 134, December 13th, 2009
We decided that this would be a work day. John got busy after breakfast and changed the oil in the engine and the air filter. He checked the transmission too and tweaked and polished. Meanwhile I scrubbed and cleaned. The cockpit looked awful, there were footprints all over the decks and the waterline was grungy again. Once the outside was done, I cleaned the cabin, while John got gas for the outboard at the gas dock and filled up the water jugs.
Things looked a whole lot better when we'd finished. It was a really hot day and we were just dripping with all this effort, so after a nice shower we walked up to town for an ice cream!
We decided that this would be a work day. John got busy after breakfast and changed the oil in the engine and the air filter. He checked the transmission too and tweaked and polished. Meanwhile I scrubbed and cleaned. The cockpit looked awful, there were footprints all over the decks and the waterline was grungy again. Once the outside was done, I cleaned the cabin, while John got gas for the outboard at the gas dock and filled up the water jugs.
Things looked a whole lot better when we'd finished. It was a really hot day and we were just dripping with all this effort, so after a nice shower we walked up to town for an ice cream!
Stuart, FL
Day 133, December 12th, 2009
Having got a few little gifts together for our family in Winnipeg, we were in a hurry to get them parcelled off and into the mail. I was pretty sure the Post Office would be open on a Saturday morning, so we left the boat at 9:00 and dinghied over to the office where we borrowed two bikes. They were great! Big fat bikes, one speed only - the kind with big handlebars and those brakes where you have to peddle backwards. (I find this a bit of a challenge!) We found the Post Office without too much trouble - there was a long line of people getting their parcels off for Christmas. However, our little parcel went off and hopefully will arrive in time for the holidays.
Afterwards, we decided to bike to Wal-Mart and buy some kind of bag to take stuff home. We've only used the duvet once and all the books and charts for the Rivers can go home too. We're hoping to create some storage space. Wal-Mart was about 5 miles up the road but it was fun and Florida is flat!! On our way we spotted a West Marine and also somewhere where we could fill the empty propane tank, so that was made Monday's job.
After an afternoon nap, we went up to the Marina building where they have a lovely room upstairs for cruisers to hang out. About 6 couples turned up with drinks and nibblies and we had a lovely chat altogether. 4 couples were from Canada and 2 from the US.
Having got a few little gifts together for our family in Winnipeg, we were in a hurry to get them parcelled off and into the mail. I was pretty sure the Post Office would be open on a Saturday morning, so we left the boat at 9:00 and dinghied over to the office where we borrowed two bikes. They were great! Big fat bikes, one speed only - the kind with big handlebars and those brakes where you have to peddle backwards. (I find this a bit of a challenge!) We found the Post Office without too much trouble - there was a long line of people getting their parcels off for Christmas. However, our little parcel went off and hopefully will arrive in time for the holidays.
Afterwards, we decided to bike to Wal-Mart and buy some kind of bag to take stuff home. We've only used the duvet once and all the books and charts for the Rivers can go home too. We're hoping to create some storage space. Wal-Mart was about 5 miles up the road but it was fun and Florida is flat!! On our way we spotted a West Marine and also somewhere where we could fill the empty propane tank, so that was made Monday's job.
After an afternoon nap, we went up to the Marina building where they have a lovely room upstairs for cruisers to hang out. About 6 couples turned up with drinks and nibblies and we had a lovely chat altogether. 4 couples were from Canada and 2 from the US.
Stuart, FL
Day 132, December 11th, 2009
Our friend Bev had e-mailed us to say that the mooring field at Stuart was filling up quickly. This was our destination, where we planned on leaving the boat while we go home for Christmas, so we were anxious to get there and grab a spot. We left at 8:00. It looked as if it would be a nice day but soon clouded over and drizzled off and on.
We arrived around 11:00 and were told to pick up mooring #22 - which turned out to be right beside our friends Bev and Dave on Back Roads, a Gemini 105. They had gone to Bev's sister's for the weekend. After a bit of lunch we headed into the office to register. What a difference since 2005! We had heard various reports of the Stuart marina, but were delighted to see for ourselves. There are brand new roomy docks, the old building has had a complete face lift, there's a new restaurant on the front, the facilities are top notch, including some really fun courtesy bikes for boaters use. And all for the same price as it was 4 years ago! They have no problem with you leaving the boat unattended and even check on it daily if they know you are going to be away. Perfect!
We ended up walking into the old town centre where there are some pretty little shops where we did some Christmas shopping. It was fun to be back again, rather like coming home. From there we went to the bar at the restaurant and had a drink to celebrate completing the Great Loop. Having been all the way down the east part of the Great Loop and now completing the west part to this point, we have actually been all the way round. John later got on the computer and reported this to the American Great Loopers' Cruisers' Association as we now qualify for the Gold Flag instead of just the White Flag!!!
Our friend Bev had e-mailed us to say that the mooring field at Stuart was filling up quickly. This was our destination, where we planned on leaving the boat while we go home for Christmas, so we were anxious to get there and grab a spot. We left at 8:00. It looked as if it would be a nice day but soon clouded over and drizzled off and on.
We arrived around 11:00 and were told to pick up mooring #22 - which turned out to be right beside our friends Bev and Dave on Back Roads, a Gemini 105. They had gone to Bev's sister's for the weekend. After a bit of lunch we headed into the office to register. What a difference since 2005! We had heard various reports of the Stuart marina, but were delighted to see for ourselves. There are brand new roomy docks, the old building has had a complete face lift, there's a new restaurant on the front, the facilities are top notch, including some really fun courtesy bikes for boaters use. And all for the same price as it was 4 years ago! They have no problem with you leaving the boat unattended and even check on it daily if they know you are going to be away. Perfect!
We ended up walking into the old town centre where there are some pretty little shops where we did some Christmas shopping. It was fun to be back again, rather like coming home. From there we went to the bar at the restaurant and had a drink to celebrate completing the Great Loop. Having been all the way down the east part of the Great Loop and now completing the west part to this point, we have actually been all the way round. John later got on the computer and reported this to the American Great Loopers' Cruisers' Association as we now qualify for the Gold Flag instead of just the White Flag!!!
Air Boat Ride
Day 131, December 10th, 2009.
Before we started this trip, I told John that one of the things I dearly would love to do is take an air boat ride through the swamps and look for alligators! Just as we were sipping on our margaritas the previous evening, we saw an air boat that did just that. So, first thing after breakfast I went up to the desk and was introduced to the air boat guy who'd just walked in behind me. He said we could go as soon as the fog cleared!
It was just after 9:00 when he brought the air boat to the dock and we climbed aboard. Since it was just John and I, he said we could take turns riding up on the high seat beside him. I was thrilled! We had to wear ear muffs for protection and off we went. It was so much fun. It was a little windy and as we headed off down the waterway - he was looking for alligators but couldn't see one. Apparently they don't like the wind in their faces, it interferes with their hearing. So off we went into the wetlands. Lake Okeechobee is the 2nd largest inland lake in the US and is extremely shallow - 20ft at its deepest, mostly around 7 - 12ft. The shores are grassy wetlands. Its quite beautiful and just alive with birds, fish and alligators!! We did manage to find a couple in a quiet pool, one swimming and one sitting on a rock. Apparently they are not known to cause problems. They just mind their own business! Our captain told us the local children swim in the waters around there and don't think anything of it! I asked him what the pink bird would have been that we had seen the day before - it wasn't a flamingo, a bit smaller than an egret but its beak was the shape of a wooden spoon. "That would have been a Roseate Spoon Bill." What a lovely name! The air boat was fascinating - it seems the antithesis of a sail boat. With a sail boat you are constantly thinking of depth! At first it seemed quite scary to go in amongst the grass, but then you realise that this is what its all about! No worries it just flies over the top!! I was so enjoying my ride when the captain stopped the boat and told me it was my turn to drive! Wow! With my right foot on the gas peddle, he showed me how if I pushed the lever forward, we would go right, and if I pulled the lever back, we would go left! Easy!! Oh, it felt so good up there just whizzing over the grassland, with sudden flurries of birds as the approaching noise scares them into flight. I could have flown around there all day. He directed me to take us out to the lake proper where we stopped and he explained how in 1928 there was a terrible hurricane that caused such flooding that over 2,000 people died. Herbert Hoover was then president and he decided that something had to be done about Lake Okeechobee. So they dug a ditch, the canal, with locks all around the lake to control the water level. The canal took 11 years to build and was called - The Herbert Hoover Ditch. It was then my turn to sit down below and John's turn to go up top. I think he was a little disappointed that he didn't get a turn to drive!!! Our trip took about an hour - it was as much fun as I thought it would be. "She's gonna want an airboat now!" our Captain said to John!
As soon as we got back to Periwinkle, we got her ready to leave and we were off again. It was scorching hot and with the wind behind us, it looked to be a great time to cross the lake. We'd been told that the water can really kick up with high winds as its so shallow, but we were lucky, the wind was light and the water was flat. About half way across the wind died altogether and our little thermometer read 31 degrees Centigrade!!
As we were crossing, another sailboat passed going the other way. They called us on the radio and said "Periwinkle - we think we met you in the Bahamas a few years ago?!" It turned out to be a Canadian couple from Nepean Boat Club in Ottawa. They used to own a boat called Pendragon but have now moved up to a Beneteau 32 called Celtic Cross. We remembered them well. We promised to watch out for each other in the Bahamas in the New Year!
Watching the channel markers carefully, we crossed the Lake without incident. The lock was open the other side and then there were two bridges. The first was 55ft high, no problem. The second was meant to be 49ft high. We were wondering if our radio antennae might scrape a bit since we'd been told the water level was up. We were ready with the water jugs to hang them from the end of the boom and tip the boat over. However, after approaching at a snail's pace we figured we were going to be okay and passed by without a problem.
We spent the night at the marina in Indiantown. What a nice place! We had heard so much about it. Several friends have kept their boats there on the hard out of season - we somehow had the impression it was a basic kind of place. However, it was really lovely, with attractive patios, a screened room, good facilities and attractive landscaping. They made room for us on the gas dock and we spent a very pleasant evening.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Clewiston, FL
Day 130, December 9th, 2009
Just as we were finishing breakfast another boat arrived at the dock. An elderly gentleman of 86 with his son, on his Endeavour 37. His son was helping him move his boat from summer storage to Marathon where he would spend the winter. They've been doing it this way for about 8 years. Although this gentleman never actually told us, John heard from the local guy the previous evening that this was Mr. Garmin of the well known Garmin navigational GPS products. A charming old fella, he talked about his visits in the past to Thunder Bay and also to Collingwood!!
We had to go through a couple of locks. At the second lock the lockmaster called out that there was a manatee in the lock with us. We looked and looked but couldn't see it. As we left the lock I called out to the guy to say "I didn't see it". "Right behind you, he just came up for air!" I rushed back to the stern but couldn't see anything. Just my luck!
I looked all day for alligators too, but my luck didn't change there either. It was a pretty quiet day, more levees either side and not a whole lot to break the monotony.
We arrived in Clewiston and looked for the free dock but couldn't find it. Ended up taking a slip at the marina there. Kind of a fun place with a Tiki Bar right beside the dock. We went up for a Margarita and saw an alligator swimming across the basin right adjacent to the marina. Finally!! Also, on the far bank there were 3 iguanas, a male and two females. The male was a very fancy looking fella - perhaps you can see him at the base of the tree.
We had a nice chat with another couple, Kjell and Luanne, who were land cruising in their fifth wheel around the US. They were from Washington State. Land or water cruising sounds much the same!!
Labelle, FL
Day 129, December 8th, 2009
Beautifully warm day as we moved up the river to Labelle. Just a little town on the Okeechobee Waterway.
There was a free dock in Labelle. We expected pilings again at the dock but had to med moor.
We dropped a stern anchor as we approached and tied the nose to the dock. The boat beside us, flying a maple leaf, looked vaguely familiar but the name on the side was "Freyja" which I didn't recognise. It turned out that "Hart", the owner, had just bought her last April in Thunder Bay.
I asked what the boat's name used to be and he replied "O Canada". Oh yes! Now I remembered very well. Her previous owners, Steve and Lisa, lived in Longlac and we had know them and cruised with them back when we lived in Thunder Bay. What a small world. Hart, had done the same route we had, except he started in Sault St. Marie in October. He plans on taking "Freyja" to Mexico, Cuba and then hopes to cross the Atlantic.
The library is right there at the dock so we were able to quickly catch up with some correspondence and then went to find "JoneseZ". Instead of a chip shack it was a BBQ Shack which had been recommended to us. Their BBQ Ribs were the best we'd ever eaten!!!
With a stop at the grocery store on the way home, we were glad to get back to the boat. A local fella told us about the alligator that lived under the dock and would come out in the evening but we didn't see him, saw lots of mosquitoes though - time to go below!
Fort Myers, FL
Day 128, December 7th, 2009
Sue and Paul followed us for an hour or two as we tootled on down to Fort Myers. It was a little foggy at first and what wind there was, was right on the nose. Then they turned out the cut to travel down the coast to Naples and we turned left up the Caloosahatchee River. It felt so sad to see them disappearing in the other direction. We chatted for a short while on the radio and wished each other safe journeys.
There were a couple of wide sounds to cross on our way and again the water was just teeming with life. The dolphins were amazing. At one point a cigarette boat that had buzzed passed us at a million miles an hour had stopped in the water and were taking pictures of a pod of dolphins just playing in the water. They were chasing each other and jumping out of the water having a wonderful time. It was breathtaking. As we continued, again one joined us alongside, and this time I managed to catch a glimpse of him under the water with the silly little camera. All my efforts as he came to the surface were in vain and we deleted all those wasted shots. Shortly after this I caught a glimpse of a manatee - it looked just like a big bump in the water and then kind of rolled on and then I saw the flat tail fin break the surface. Birds were everywhere, the pelicans were diving, terns too, along with egrets and blue herons wading in the shallows. I just had the feeling that we were just visitors to this totally different environment. The ocean has a life all its own and we are spectators. I love it all.
We arrived in Fort Myers shortly after lunch and found the Fort Myers City Marina where we picked up a mooring buoy for about $11.25. Laundry was at the top of the list, along with hot showers!! I was congratulating myself on the cheap night's stay and the cheap laundry machines when I got back to the boat and reckoned I'd left my little bag of quarters back in the laundry room ashore!!! I figured there were about $15.00 - $20.00 worth!! Leaving John to unpack, I jumped back in the dinghy and rushed back - no good, no quarters!!! Some cheap night!!! Back at the boat John called from the cockpit "No luck? That was $13.00 worth of quarters!! Good thing I found them at the bottom of the laundry bag!!!" Thank goodness!!
Useppa Island,FL
Day 127, December 6th, 2009
Coming away from the dock was a lot easier than going in!!! Thank Goodness!! We set off at 8:00. The rain had passed over, the sky was clear and bright but it was chilly. It was really a great day and with a north wind at our backs we were able to make good time with the jib.
Again we were visited by dolphins coming right beside the boat. Somebody told John that if you talk to them they'll stay longer! Sure enough, it seemed to work. Calling out "Pretty boy, come on, come and visit" one really seemed to stay with us for a long time. We also saw a bunch of white pelicans. We last saw a flock on the Illinois River as they were migrating South.
Apparently we hear, white pelicans do not dive for their fish but scoop it up as they swim along. The grey pelicans, however, dive from about 40-50ft!
As we approached Useppa Island we could see some gorgeous homes and were thinking that they would have to commute by water - not so for some folk, we watched a helicopter come into land!! It was a nice anchorage there though. It was a little open but fortunately it was a quiet night with virtually no wind.
We went for sundowners on Twice 's Nice. Our last evening together for a month or so. John and I would be travelling up the Okeechobee Waterway while Sue and Paul were heading for Marathon via the Everglades. We made plans to meet in Miami towards the beginning of January.
Still at Higel Marine Park
Day 126, December 5th, 2009
It continued to pour all night and the weather forecast for the day wasn't sounding promising at all. The four of us chatted on the dock after breakfast and decided we would stay put, watch the Christmas parade in the evening and move on the next day.
It continued to pour all night and the weather forecast for the day wasn't sounding promising at all. The four of us chatted on the dock after breakfast and decided we would stay put, watch the Christmas parade in the evening and move on the next day.
John and I walked to the convenience store about a mile away to get a loaf of bread in the morning and then a short walk on the beach. Not too many people about - just a couple of beach combers. There were some lovely birds though, all standing together, head into the wind!
We cozied up in the afternoon and played Scrabble. John was tickled pink with himself when he won!
The highlight of the day was the Christmas Parade. About 10-15 people started arriving just before 6:00 to stand on the dock just there. And shortly after 6:00 it began. We wished we had counted how many boats came by - it must have been at least 30, all shapes and sizes. They looked beautiful, all decorated with lights and lots had loud speakers for the Christmas music. What was most impressive was that the music and the lights were computer co-ordinated!!! We were told that some people hire professionals to get their boats set up. It was a lot of fun. We really enjoyed it all.
Higel Marine Park
Day 125, December 4th, 2009
A miserable day of rain!! The only thing that brightened it up was the wonderful dolphins. At one point we had a dolphin swimming along beside us. He was on our port side, right beside the cockpit. We saw him come up a couple of times before I went for the camera. I tried and tried to catch him as he surfaced but no luck! Frustrating! We need a better camera!!
A miserable day of rain!! The only thing that brightened it up was the wonderful dolphins. At one point we had a dolphin swimming along beside us. He was on our port side, right beside the cockpit. We saw him come up a couple of times before I went for the camera. I tried and tried to catch him as he surfaced but no luck! Frustrating! We need a better camera!!
We stopped for the night in Venice at a little park with a free dock, right beside the Venice Yacht Club. Docking was a bit of a nightmare. John and I couldn't see where the dock or the park were at first so had pretty much decided to drop the anchor close by. Paul and Sue were much more observant and saw where to go immediately. While we tried to turn around in shallow water (and touched a muddy bottom briefly), they were able to tie up and shout over to us that there was just room for us too. So we crawled over to the dock while I ran around tying on the fenders and getting the docking lines on. Unfortunately there was very little room - probably 40 ft and we must be about 38 ft with the dinghy tow. With the wind and current behind us, we were going in a bit fast and further away from the dock than was comfortable. I threw Sue the bow line and she caught it and wrapped it around a piling. My docking line wasn't quite long enough to throw to Paul so I had to leave it till the very last second. It was a one time deal, I threw the line and Paul just managed to grab the bitter end. If he hadn't done so we would have swung around on the bow and bashed into Twice 's Nice. Thank goodness for Paul and Sue!! Its not the first time they've saved our bacon! All this was accomplished in the pouring rain!!
We got talking to some locals also on the dock as they were decorating their boats with Christmas lights. There was going to be a big parade the next evening!!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
St. Petersburg, FL
Day 124, December 3rd, 2009
Pancakes for breakfast since we had a little more time than usual!
Then we both did some chores. I ventured back into the quarter berth and reorganized some of the gear which had got into a big muddle. Then I cleaned and tidied up a bit. Meanwhile John went to get diesel fuel and refill the water jugs from the marina around the corner. The batteries were low so I decided to stay home and we had the engine on to recharge a bit. (The solar panel has been working well during the sunshine but it had been overcast, and then the fridge draws more power than the solar power puts out.) I was sitting reading my book in the cockpit when I heard a sudden big splash and woosh behind me. I turned around and saw all this turbulent water - at first I thought it could have been a dolphin but when I looked more closely I saw a big school of fish. The turbulent water was as much as 100ft across and going round and round in a clockwise direction. Fish, up to about 2 lbs. were jumping out of the water and going round and around. I've never seen anything quite like it before. I haven't got a clue what kind of fish they would have been - there must have been hundreds. Gradually the turbulence seemed to roll around the anchorage and gradually back out again!!! It was quite weird. John arrived back just before it was over. He also found it strange that the birds didn't seem to take any notice. No birds were diving in amongst them. Where were all the pelicans?
Once all the jobs were done, the 4 of us went off to the Boat Show. We had a good time! Bought a couple of little bits. New wine glasses, a silicone baking dish, some new cruising guides. What I really would have loved to have bought was a new Tom Cat 9.7!!!! (Designed and built in Canada!) Oh Yeah!!! Very very nice. Lots of room for the family to join us, there are 3 state rooms on this very roomy 32ft catamaran. It doesn't heel girls!!!! Only $200,000.00 and it would have lots of extras!!!!! Cough, cough, splutter!!!! The other boat we really liked was a dear little trawler - a Ranger Tugs R-29. A real little sweetheart. So comfortable and beautifully laid out! John talks about having a trawler even now. I'm not ready to give up sailing yet - maybe one day!!! It was a fun day. Some gorgeous boats but generally we thought the Toronto Boat Show had more exhibits.
With a stop at the grocery store on the way home, we didn't get back to the boats till nearly 7:00 p.m. I thought I'd write this up right quick while I've got the chance. No pictures yet I'm afraid - the internet connection it too slow, we'll have to add them later. John is at the chart plotter, plotting the course for tomorrow. The weather forecast doesn't sound too bad for tomorrow so we may push on to Venice. We'd like to make some headway as its getting close to Christmas and we have tickets home from Orlando on the 21st!
Pancakes for breakfast since we had a little more time than usual!
Then we both did some chores. I ventured back into the quarter berth and reorganized some of the gear which had got into a big muddle. Then I cleaned and tidied up a bit. Meanwhile John went to get diesel fuel and refill the water jugs from the marina around the corner. The batteries were low so I decided to stay home and we had the engine on to recharge a bit. (The solar panel has been working well during the sunshine but it had been overcast, and then the fridge draws more power than the solar power puts out.) I was sitting reading my book in the cockpit when I heard a sudden big splash and woosh behind me. I turned around and saw all this turbulent water - at first I thought it could have been a dolphin but when I looked more closely I saw a big school of fish. The turbulent water was as much as 100ft across and going round and round in a clockwise direction. Fish, up to about 2 lbs. were jumping out of the water and going round and around. I've never seen anything quite like it before. I haven't got a clue what kind of fish they would have been - there must have been hundreds. Gradually the turbulence seemed to roll around the anchorage and gradually back out again!!! It was quite weird. John arrived back just before it was over. He also found it strange that the birds didn't seem to take any notice. No birds were diving in amongst them. Where were all the pelicans?
Once all the jobs were done, the 4 of us went off to the Boat Show. We had a good time! Bought a couple of little bits. New wine glasses, a silicone baking dish, some new cruising guides. What I really would have loved to have bought was a new Tom Cat 9.7!!!! (Designed and built in Canada!) Oh Yeah!!! Very very nice. Lots of room for the family to join us, there are 3 state rooms on this very roomy 32ft catamaran. It doesn't heel girls!!!! Only $200,000.00 and it would have lots of extras!!!!! Cough, cough, splutter!!!! The other boat we really liked was a dear little trawler - a Ranger Tugs R-29. A real little sweetheart. So comfortable and beautifully laid out! John talks about having a trawler even now. I'm not ready to give up sailing yet - maybe one day!!! It was a fun day. Some gorgeous boats but generally we thought the Toronto Boat Show had more exhibits.
With a stop at the grocery store on the way home, we didn't get back to the boats till nearly 7:00 p.m. I thought I'd write this up right quick while I've got the chance. No pictures yet I'm afraid - the internet connection it too slow, we'll have to add them later. John is at the chart plotter, plotting the course for tomorrow. The weather forecast doesn't sound too bad for tomorrow so we may push on to Venice. We'd like to make some headway as its getting close to Christmas and we have tickets home from Orlando on the 21st!
St. Petersburg, FL
Day 123, December 2nd, 2009
Beautiful morning that soon clouded over but it was hot! The weather reports all forecast a cold front coming through and it wasn't long before the wind started to get stronger. However, we were pretty sure we going to be okay in this protected anchorage and headed out to have a look around.
We took the Central Avenue trolley for 25 cents a ride from the pier and out on Central Avenue to the end of the track. On our way back we got off where Sue had seen a Marine Salvage business. That turned out to be a bit of a waste of time as the place was all empty and up for sale. So then we decided to walk back down to the pier. Hadn't got very far when a younger couple stopped us and asked us where we were going. Turned out he was warning us that the next four blocks were really not that safe and perhaps it would be better to get back on the trolley, they were going that way anyway!
Back down on the waterfront we walked up to see where the St. Pete's Boat Show would be held the next day and then back again towards the Pier for a hamburger for lunch. We sat and watched the pelicans from the window gliding and hovering in the high wind. They are really amazing birds.
From there we were all getting a little nervous about the wind. The books had described the bottom at this anchorage to be "soupy", whatever that means. Sue and Paul had put two anchors out. We hadn't but had plenty of rode out. The young fella at the dinghy dock had also said that sometimes boats did drag. So we decided we'd better go back to the boats and just be ready in case anything untoward happened.
It turned out to be just fine. We were swinging a lot but nothing else. After supper the thunder and lightening started. Sheet lightening mostly but just seconds apart, lighting up the whole sky. It was really quite spectacular, just like watching fireworks. John and I sat out in the cockpit for quite a while, before it really started to rain and then it came down in buckets and we retreated down below to watch a movie!
Beautiful morning that soon clouded over but it was hot! The weather reports all forecast a cold front coming through and it wasn't long before the wind started to get stronger. However, we were pretty sure we going to be okay in this protected anchorage and headed out to have a look around.
We took the Central Avenue trolley for 25 cents a ride from the pier and out on Central Avenue to the end of the track. On our way back we got off where Sue had seen a Marine Salvage business. That turned out to be a bit of a waste of time as the place was all empty and up for sale. So then we decided to walk back down to the pier. Hadn't got very far when a younger couple stopped us and asked us where we were going. Turned out he was warning us that the next four blocks were really not that safe and perhaps it would be better to get back on the trolley, they were going that way anyway!
Back down on the waterfront we walked up to see where the St. Pete's Boat Show would be held the next day and then back again towards the Pier for a hamburger for lunch. We sat and watched the pelicans from the window gliding and hovering in the high wind. They are really amazing birds.
From there we were all getting a little nervous about the wind. The books had described the bottom at this anchorage to be "soupy", whatever that means. Sue and Paul had put two anchors out. We hadn't but had plenty of rode out. The young fella at the dinghy dock had also said that sometimes boats did drag. So we decided we'd better go back to the boats and just be ready in case anything untoward happened.
It turned out to be just fine. We were swinging a lot but nothing else. After supper the thunder and lightening started. Sheet lightening mostly but just seconds apart, lighting up the whole sky. It was really quite spectacular, just like watching fireworks. John and I sat out in the cockpit for quite a while, before it really started to rain and then it came down in buckets and we retreated down below to watch a movie!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
St.Petersburg, FL
Day 122, December 1st, 2009
John and I got up early and after breakfast we re inflated the dinghy, got it back in the water, put the outboard back on and hooked up again to the dinghy tow! Ah! its good to have our "car" back in order!
We brought the anchor up at 9:00 and were off again, along with Twice 's Nice.
What a beautiful day! It was HOT!!! Just in T shirts and shorts we were scorching! We went through 5 bascule bridges and under another 2 fixed bridges. Gorgeous homes along the waterway, and lots of fancy hotels and condos. Its hard to know where to look next.
We arrived at the anchorage around 2:30 p.m. The St. Petersburg Boat Show will be just up the way on Thursday. We are right beside the Pier. There's meant to be bad weather coming through Wednesday and Thursday so we have decided to stay here and wait it out. We'll have a chance to look around tomorrow and go to the boat show on Thursday!
After getting settled we dinghied over to the Pier and found an ice cream. Had supper on Twice 's Nice where Sue cooked up the last of the Trigger fish, sauteed with herbs and spices this time.
Chocolate eclairs for dessert!!! Its a hard life!!
John and I got up early and after breakfast we re inflated the dinghy, got it back in the water, put the outboard back on and hooked up again to the dinghy tow! Ah! its good to have our "car" back in order!
We brought the anchor up at 9:00 and were off again, along with Twice 's Nice.
What a beautiful day! It was HOT!!! Just in T shirts and shorts we were scorching! We went through 5 bascule bridges and under another 2 fixed bridges. Gorgeous homes along the waterway, and lots of fancy hotels and condos. Its hard to know where to look next.
We arrived at the anchorage around 2:30 p.m. The St. Petersburg Boat Show will be just up the way on Thursday. We are right beside the Pier. There's meant to be bad weather coming through Wednesday and Thursday so we have decided to stay here and wait it out. We'll have a chance to look around tomorrow and go to the boat show on Thursday!
After getting settled we dinghied over to the Pier and found an ice cream. Had supper on Twice 's Nice where Sue cooked up the last of the Trigger fish, sauteed with herbs and spices this time.
Chocolate eclairs for dessert!!! Its a hard life!!
Belleaire, FL
Day 121, November 30th, 2009
We woke up feeling so much better after having slept like logs all night!
During the storm at Carrabelle, two welds had broken on the stern rail from the dinghy getting sloshed about by the waves. (We have a contraption called a dinghy tow whereby we pull the dinghy backwards. Part of its support is attached by brackets to the stern rail.) The harbor master in Tarpon Springs had been able to find us a welder who could come to the boat and fix the welds right there. He arrived around 11:00 a.m. and had a look at the job and then returned with his equipment at 1:00 p.m. He did a great job and we were happy to get the repair done. We pulled away from the dock at about 1:45 and met up with Sue and Paul at the anchorage. We were off again.
It was warm and beautiful as we went back into the Intracoastal Waterway and tootled along just a short way to a lovely anchorage at Belleaire. This is really the Florida we were looking for. Palm trees, gorgeous homes with docks and lanais - beautiful!
For supper, Paul and Sue came over and we cooked up the Trigger fish that Buz had given us.
His deckhand had recommended we bake it in a can of mushroom soup. We did that and along with rice and a salad we had another gourmet meal!!! All this brain food!!
We woke up feeling so much better after having slept like logs all night!
During the storm at Carrabelle, two welds had broken on the stern rail from the dinghy getting sloshed about by the waves. (We have a contraption called a dinghy tow whereby we pull the dinghy backwards. Part of its support is attached by brackets to the stern rail.) The harbor master in Tarpon Springs had been able to find us a welder who could come to the boat and fix the welds right there. He arrived around 11:00 a.m. and had a look at the job and then returned with his equipment at 1:00 p.m. He did a great job and we were happy to get the repair done. We pulled away from the dock at about 1:45 and met up with Sue and Paul at the anchorage. We were off again.
It was warm and beautiful as we went back into the Intracoastal Waterway and tootled along just a short way to a lovely anchorage at Belleaire. This is really the Florida we were looking for. Palm trees, gorgeous homes with docks and lanais - beautiful!
For supper, Paul and Sue came over and we cooked up the Trigger fish that Buz had given us.
His deckhand had recommended we bake it in a can of mushroom soup. We did that and along with rice and a salad we had another gourmet meal!!! All this brain food!!
Still Hopping!
Day 120, November 29th, 2009
John was at the helm from 10:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. then I took over while he went to sleep.
My shift from 1:30 to 5:00 seemed busy.
I'd been watching these two boats on radar to port, getting gradually closer. The first one crossed in front of me aways off. The second I was watching quite closely as I realised either one of us would probably have to give way to the other. Then I got the call on the radio "Periwinkle, is that you?" It was Sharpie's Dream! Zephia with Pam and Steve were the first boat! We were surprised to meet with them in the middle of the trip - all were doing well, but tired!
At 3:00 a.m., the third boat that was travelling with us - "Endurance" with the young fella, Casey, single handing, called to say he was just too tired and had decided to drop his anchor and sleep there for a few hours before continuing. The Gulf is so shallow, we were in about 25ft of water at the time, and the night was so calm and peaceful, we had no worries on his behalf and said goodbye. I think he was also worried about the crab pots, as they were becoming more and more frequent.
Around 4:00 a.m. a lovely breeze came up and we were able to pull out the jib again. When John took over at 5:00 he was able to shut the motor down and just sail for the next few hours, less worry about the crab pots fouling the prop. that way! I curled back up in the V-berth - good thing you can't fall out sideways, as John told me he had it heeling over quite a bit and doing a good 6.5 under sail.
We arrived in Tarpon Springs around 10:00 a.m. only 27 hours instead of the 30 we expected.
We pulled in at the municipal marina. Paul and Sue were exhausted. Sue reckoned she didn't sleep at all and Paul only very little! Tarpon Springs is a funny little place, very touristy with its million and one gift shops and restaurants. Its famous for its sponges and Greek heritage.
After a shower and lunch in a Greek restaurant, we felt somewhat revived. Sue and Paul went off to anchor at a good spot while John and I snoozed the afternoon away.
John was at the helm from 10:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. then I took over while he went to sleep.
My shift from 1:30 to 5:00 seemed busy.
I'd been watching these two boats on radar to port, getting gradually closer. The first one crossed in front of me aways off. The second I was watching quite closely as I realised either one of us would probably have to give way to the other. Then I got the call on the radio "Periwinkle, is that you?" It was Sharpie's Dream! Zephia with Pam and Steve were the first boat! We were surprised to meet with them in the middle of the trip - all were doing well, but tired!
At 3:00 a.m., the third boat that was travelling with us - "Endurance" with the young fella, Casey, single handing, called to say he was just too tired and had decided to drop his anchor and sleep there for a few hours before continuing. The Gulf is so shallow, we were in about 25ft of water at the time, and the night was so calm and peaceful, we had no worries on his behalf and said goodbye. I think he was also worried about the crab pots, as they were becoming more and more frequent.
Around 4:00 a.m. a lovely breeze came up and we were able to pull out the jib again. When John took over at 5:00 he was able to shut the motor down and just sail for the next few hours, less worry about the crab pots fouling the prop. that way! I curled back up in the V-berth - good thing you can't fall out sideways, as John told me he had it heeling over quite a bit and doing a good 6.5 under sail.
We arrived in Tarpon Springs around 10:00 a.m. only 27 hours instead of the 30 we expected.
We pulled in at the municipal marina. Paul and Sue were exhausted. Sue reckoned she didn't sleep at all and Paul only very little! Tarpon Springs is a funny little place, very touristy with its million and one gift shops and restaurants. Its famous for its sponges and Greek heritage.
After a shower and lunch in a Greek restaurant, we felt somewhat revived. Sue and Paul went off to anchor at a good spot while John and I snoozed the afternoon away.
The Hop Across the Big Bend
Day 119, November 28th, 2009
All fired up we left at 7:00 a.m. I'd dug out the survival suits just incase it was cold on the open water but didn't actually use them in the end. With two fleece jackets and my all weather gear and my fleece hat I was lovely and warm. Even John put on his fleece jacket and all weather gear too!
It took a couple of hours just to get out of Carrabelle, over to Dog Island and through the cut onto the Gulf. It was a little choppy but nothing too uncomfortable. We'd put the main up as soon as we left the marina. As soon as we set our course of 123 degrees to R2 en route to Tarpon Springs, there was a beautiful NE wind and we were able to pull out the jib and make great headway. We left the motor running in order to get some miles behind us and were making great speed, anything between 6.5 and 7.2 knots. We started off on auto helm but had to hand steer for about four hours as auto was over steering. John even reckoned he was feeling a bit queesy at one point. John had put the bread maker on first thing, so that we could have a hunk of fresh bread with a chili later in the day. The breadmaker was sitting on the Nav. table on the high side. It seemed a bit precarious there for the three hours - I half expected it to go flying off onto the floor but all went well and it stayed put. By the time the bread was done, the water had settled some and we both enjoyed a hunk of a sandwich for lunch. As usual we took turns at the helm, and turns having a snooze down below. The time passed quickly.
Sue and Paul came along behind us and we were in pretty regular contact by VHF. This was their first overnighter and it was a great time to do it under excellent conditions.
Sunset was around 6:00 p.m. but there was a big moon so we had really quite good visibility.
The chili was good at suppertime, followed by a hot chocolate. The evening was quiet and uneventful. We both really love being out on the water, out of site of land, in the quiet.
All fired up we left at 7:00 a.m. I'd dug out the survival suits just incase it was cold on the open water but didn't actually use them in the end. With two fleece jackets and my all weather gear and my fleece hat I was lovely and warm. Even John put on his fleece jacket and all weather gear too!
It took a couple of hours just to get out of Carrabelle, over to Dog Island and through the cut onto the Gulf. It was a little choppy but nothing too uncomfortable. We'd put the main up as soon as we left the marina. As soon as we set our course of 123 degrees to R2 en route to Tarpon Springs, there was a beautiful NE wind and we were able to pull out the jib and make great headway. We left the motor running in order to get some miles behind us and were making great speed, anything between 6.5 and 7.2 knots. We started off on auto helm but had to hand steer for about four hours as auto was over steering. John even reckoned he was feeling a bit queesy at one point. John had put the bread maker on first thing, so that we could have a hunk of fresh bread with a chili later in the day. The breadmaker was sitting on the Nav. table on the high side. It seemed a bit precarious there for the three hours - I half expected it to go flying off onto the floor but all went well and it stayed put. By the time the bread was done, the water had settled some and we both enjoyed a hunk of a sandwich for lunch. As usual we took turns at the helm, and turns having a snooze down below. The time passed quickly.
Sue and Paul came along behind us and we were in pretty regular contact by VHF. This was their first overnighter and it was a great time to do it under excellent conditions.
Sunset was around 6:00 p.m. but there was a big moon so we had really quite good visibility.
The chili was good at suppertime, followed by a hot chocolate. The evening was quiet and uneventful. We both really love being out on the water, out of site of land, in the quiet.
Preparing to make the hop!
Day 118, November 27th, 2009
The weather looked good on all the websites. Both the wind forecast and the waves. All the wind was looking good at less than 16 knots and out of the north or north east both Saturday and Sunday. Wave height was forecast as up to 2ft or less. We decided that we would leave at 7:00 the next day and go straight across to Tarpon Springs, expecting it to take about 30 hours.
So we spent the day preparing. First we walked over to the Moorings to say goodbye to Sharpie's Dream and Zephia. They had decided to leave Friday evening and take a longer route around the Big Bend, stopping at Alligator Harbour to sleep the first night and then stopping to sleep a few hours off to break the journey in the middle.
Having wished them well we went back to the Fisherman's Wife and had deep fried shrimp for lunch. Then in the afternoon I cleaned the boat and made a big pot of chili for the next day's journey.
In the evening we ate Grouper. I'd bought it off Buz a couple of nights before and they recommended frying it in garlic butter. Sue and Paul joined us and we enjoyed it. A baked potato, coleslaw and Grouper! Washed down with a bottle of wine.
The weather looked good on all the websites. Both the wind forecast and the waves. All the wind was looking good at less than 16 knots and out of the north or north east both Saturday and Sunday. Wave height was forecast as up to 2ft or less. We decided that we would leave at 7:00 the next day and go straight across to Tarpon Springs, expecting it to take about 30 hours.
So we spent the day preparing. First we walked over to the Moorings to say goodbye to Sharpie's Dream and Zephia. They had decided to leave Friday evening and take a longer route around the Big Bend, stopping at Alligator Harbour to sleep the first night and then stopping to sleep a few hours off to break the journey in the middle.
Having wished them well we went back to the Fisherman's Wife and had deep fried shrimp for lunch. Then in the afternoon I cleaned the boat and made a big pot of chili for the next day's journey.
In the evening we ate Grouper. I'd bought it off Buz a couple of nights before and they recommended frying it in garlic butter. Sue and Paul joined us and we enjoyed it. A baked potato, coleslaw and Grouper! Washed down with a bottle of wine.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving in the US
Day 116, November 26th, 2009
Yesterday, Day 115, was a pretty quiet day. Overcast and drizzling. We didn't do much - went to the library in the morning and looked up the weather again. In the afternoon we went for a walk and I fished a bit but only caught a little tiny one to throw back. Now to continue with Day 116 :-
With a fresh batch of bait fish, I was fishing again by 7:30. Meanwhile, Millard was setting up his turkey frying operation. 4 small turkeys were lined up on the table and he set up the propane turkey fryer on the gravel beside the deck. In years passed, he told me, they would have 4 or 5 fryers going and would cook as many as 100 turkeys this way. The fish weren't biting so I moved over to watch the cooking. First the turkeys were washed, then covered in "Creole" spice, followed by a good shaking of salt, inside and out. The fryer was filled with oil, the lid secured along with the thermometer. The oil was heated to 350 degrees. Sue had bought a turkey for our thanksgiving dinner and Millard had offered to cook it. Ours was the first to get put in the pot. At 3 minutes per pound, it took 30 minutes and came out brown all over. As it was only 9:30, we wrapped it in foil, put it in a bag and wrapped it with a blanket to stay warm. The giblets were left on the deck. I retrieved most of ours to chop up and put in the dressing. The others were fed at intervals to the pelicans and seagulls causing great excitement.
Gradually more and more people showed up. Sue reckons that C Quarters is like Tim Hortons at home. The local hang out where everybody shows up to chew the fat and catch up on all the gossip. There's Jim, my fishing guru. Jim actually built the C Quarters building and all the decking. His hobby is deep sea fishing tournaments. He says he won $150,000.00 last year!
Then there's Kim and her husband Harold. Kim has her captain's ticket and delivers boats. She also works for Millard as Harbor Master when Millard isn't here. Unfortunately Harold is being deported back to Holland in 10 days or so, although he's lived here about 15 years. He never got his papers in order so now has to leave and they have to reapply from Holland. Another young fella is Robert, who works like a deck hand around the place. Millard was taking Robert and his wife home for Thanksgiving supper. Buddy comes by to say hi every day. Buddy owns the local septic tank cleaning business. Then there's the fisherman, Buz. He lives in Apalachicola but comes here when the weather is bad because its a shorter distance to get back out. Last but not least is Russell, (we call him Crocodile Dundee because he looks just like him). Russell is the local Tow Boat US captain and has a ferry service back and forth to Dog Island.
They are all friends and real characters. We reckon we understand about half of what they say since the accent is so thick, but they're all really friendly and have made us feel right at home. Lastly, there's little Red Rover, Kim's Pomeranian. He's a dear little chap, very friendly and loves lots of attention but he reckons its his job to chase all the seagulls and pelicans off the docks. He does a very good job. One day John and I laughed as he went chasing a pelican so fast down the dock that when he put the brakes on we were afraid he was going to slide right off the end. Kim says he's a pretty good swimmer!
Back to the dinner. Millard left us his table to use as a buffet, where we set up all the food. Sue brought the turkey, cranberry sauce. I brought the mashed potatoes and stuffing. Pat and Diane brought green beans and a salad, and Steve and Pam from Colorado brought pumpkin pies and dinner rolls. Oh yes, I mustn't forget Casey, a young fella from Chicago who is delivering a 32' Catalina to Miami. He looks about 24 and has his captain's papers too. This is his first delivery. He was all alone so we included him. He brought Rock Shrimp! We also fed Buz who was not going home today. It was a beautiful day with warm sunshine. We had a great meal and enjoyed it all. Washed down with beer and wine, we were done in by the time everybody had gone home and we'd cleaned up. Had to have a 2 hour nap!!!
Yesterday, Day 115, was a pretty quiet day. Overcast and drizzling. We didn't do much - went to the library in the morning and looked up the weather again. In the afternoon we went for a walk and I fished a bit but only caught a little tiny one to throw back. Now to continue with Day 116 :-
With a fresh batch of bait fish, I was fishing again by 7:30. Meanwhile, Millard was setting up his turkey frying operation. 4 small turkeys were lined up on the table and he set up the propane turkey fryer on the gravel beside the deck. In years passed, he told me, they would have 4 or 5 fryers going and would cook as many as 100 turkeys this way. The fish weren't biting so I moved over to watch the cooking. First the turkeys were washed, then covered in "Creole" spice, followed by a good shaking of salt, inside and out. The fryer was filled with oil, the lid secured along with the thermometer. The oil was heated to 350 degrees. Sue had bought a turkey for our thanksgiving dinner and Millard had offered to cook it. Ours was the first to get put in the pot. At 3 minutes per pound, it took 30 minutes and came out brown all over. As it was only 9:30, we wrapped it in foil, put it in a bag and wrapped it with a blanket to stay warm. The giblets were left on the deck. I retrieved most of ours to chop up and put in the dressing. The others were fed at intervals to the pelicans and seagulls causing great excitement.
Gradually more and more people showed up. Sue reckons that C Quarters is like Tim Hortons at home. The local hang out where everybody shows up to chew the fat and catch up on all the gossip. There's Jim, my fishing guru. Jim actually built the C Quarters building and all the decking. His hobby is deep sea fishing tournaments. He says he won $150,000.00 last year!
Then there's Kim and her husband Harold. Kim has her captain's ticket and delivers boats. She also works for Millard as Harbor Master when Millard isn't here. Unfortunately Harold is being deported back to Holland in 10 days or so, although he's lived here about 15 years. He never got his papers in order so now has to leave and they have to reapply from Holland. Another young fella is Robert, who works like a deck hand around the place. Millard was taking Robert and his wife home for Thanksgiving supper. Buddy comes by to say hi every day. Buddy owns the local septic tank cleaning business. Then there's the fisherman, Buz. He lives in Apalachicola but comes here when the weather is bad because its a shorter distance to get back out. Last but not least is Russell, (we call him Crocodile Dundee because he looks just like him). Russell is the local Tow Boat US captain and has a ferry service back and forth to Dog Island.
They are all friends and real characters. We reckon we understand about half of what they say since the accent is so thick, but they're all really friendly and have made us feel right at home. Lastly, there's little Red Rover, Kim's Pomeranian. He's a dear little chap, very friendly and loves lots of attention but he reckons its his job to chase all the seagulls and pelicans off the docks. He does a very good job. One day John and I laughed as he went chasing a pelican so fast down the dock that when he put the brakes on we were afraid he was going to slide right off the end. Kim says he's a pretty good swimmer!
Back to the dinner. Millard left us his table to use as a buffet, where we set up all the food. Sue brought the turkey, cranberry sauce. I brought the mashed potatoes and stuffing. Pat and Diane brought green beans and a salad, and Steve and Pam from Colorado brought pumpkin pies and dinner rolls. Oh yes, I mustn't forget Casey, a young fella from Chicago who is delivering a 32' Catalina to Miami. He looks about 24 and has his captain's papers too. This is his first delivery. He was all alone so we included him. He brought Rock Shrimp! We also fed Buz who was not going home today. It was a beautiful day with warm sunshine. We had a great meal and enjoyed it all. Washed down with beer and wine, we were done in by the time everybody had gone home and we'd cleaned up. Had to have a 2 hour nap!!!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
C Quarters and Fishing!
Day 115, November 24th, 2009
I woke up in the morning thinking I'd like to try some fishing. So I borrowed the phone from "Millard" at the front desk and called the fisheries dept. Since we'll be in Florida several months I bought the licence for the year. You can buy a l icence for a day, a week or a year. Its reasonable at $47.00. Millard also fixed me up with some "Gulp" and "Jig Heads". "Even women and children never fail with these!!!"
After breakfast John and I walked over to The Moorings to see Pat and Diane and invite them to join us for chicken and dumplings at The Old Salt's Restaurant. A local lady just opened her restaurant - she's a great cook and everybody reckons the chicken and dumplings was in a class of its own. She makes a big pot in the morning and when its run out thats all till the next time. They were pleased they'd got their computer fixed and were working on their battery problem, but were happy to meet up at lunch time.
Back at C Quarters Millard showed me how to get my stinky "gulp" on the "jig head". (It actually looks like a little rubber shrimp stuck on this hook with an eye.) I was ready! So I stood on the dock, where it was reported everybody brought in one fish after another, and cast and cast. I started off with 4 jig heads and 4 gulp. By lunch time I only had 1 jig head and 1 gulp, and no fish. I'd had several bites but couldn't seem to set the hook. 3 times my hook had got snagged and the line broke. Millard reckoned it had caught on oysters at the bottom. I was feeling disappointed!
However, chicken and dumplings with peach cobbler for dessert made everything look a lot brighter. There were 8 of us round the table - Sharpie's Dream, Twice 's Nice and Periwinkle, as well as a nice couple from Colorado. We all enjoyed the special. A different way of doing chicken and dumplings - the dumplings were made from noodles, not dough, and there were hard boiled eggs in there too?!
On returning to the marina it was time to try again! I ended up giving up on the gulp and instead tried "bait shrimp". More success this time - a small mango snapper (under 10" so he had to get thrown back in) and then my piece de resistance - a beautiful speckled trout, about 2 lbs. He put up a good fight but I landed him and then yelled for help! One of the locals came to my rescue and stamped on the poor things head. I didn't know how to kill it! Anyway, then "James", another local, helped me fillet it and John and I had fish for supper!!
I woke up in the morning thinking I'd like to try some fishing. So I borrowed the phone from "Millard" at the front desk and called the fisheries dept. Since we'll be in Florida several months I bought the licence for the year. You can buy a l icence for a day, a week or a year. Its reasonable at $47.00. Millard also fixed me up with some "Gulp" and "Jig Heads". "Even women and children never fail with these!!!"
After breakfast John and I walked over to The Moorings to see Pat and Diane and invite them to join us for chicken and dumplings at The Old Salt's Restaurant. A local lady just opened her restaurant - she's a great cook and everybody reckons the chicken and dumplings was in a class of its own. She makes a big pot in the morning and when its run out thats all till the next time. They were pleased they'd got their computer fixed and were working on their battery problem, but were happy to meet up at lunch time.
Back at C Quarters Millard showed me how to get my stinky "gulp" on the "jig head". (It actually looks like a little rubber shrimp stuck on this hook with an eye.) I was ready! So I stood on the dock, where it was reported everybody brought in one fish after another, and cast and cast. I started off with 4 jig heads and 4 gulp. By lunch time I only had 1 jig head and 1 gulp, and no fish. I'd had several bites but couldn't seem to set the hook. 3 times my hook had got snagged and the line broke. Millard reckoned it had caught on oysters at the bottom. I was feeling disappointed!
However, chicken and dumplings with peach cobbler for dessert made everything look a lot brighter. There were 8 of us round the table - Sharpie's Dream, Twice 's Nice and Periwinkle, as well as a nice couple from Colorado. We all enjoyed the special. A different way of doing chicken and dumplings - the dumplings were made from noodles, not dough, and there were hard boiled eggs in there too?!
On returning to the marina it was time to try again! I ended up giving up on the gulp and instead tried "bait shrimp". More success this time - a small mango snapper (under 10" so he had to get thrown back in) and then my piece de resistance - a beautiful speckled trout, about 2 lbs. He put up a good fight but I landed him and then yelled for help! One of the locals came to my rescue and stamped on the poor things head. I didn't know how to kill it! Anyway, then "James", another local, helped me fillet it and John and I had fish for supper!!
From The Moorings to C Quarters Marina
Day 113, November 22nd, 2009
We worked hard in the morning thinking there would be a weather window to move up to "Alligator Harbor" that afternoon, in order to shorten the leg to Steinhatchee the next day.
We'd decided not to pull the dinghy on such a long leg, for safety's sake and to reduce drag. One of the jobs we didn't finish before leaving home was to make a motor mount on the stern rail for the outboard. We'd bought a bit of teak for the job but that's as far as it got. So, although we'd started it the previous evening it wasn't right and needed some modification. Right after breakfast we got started, remeasured, drilled a few more holes and by 11:00 a.m. had the outboard up in position. We then pulled the dinghy up on the bow using the spinnaker halliard and scrubbed her clean before getting her into her bag and strapped over the front hatch. We also checked the weather forecasts on the internet and it looked pretty good for a couple of days. As advised by "Buddy" we thought we could get to Port Inglis, then wait out more weather before reaching Tarpan Springs. While checking out of The Moorings and paying our bill, we met Pat from Sharpie's Dream and he said they were not ready and would not be leaving. They'd run into computer problems and had contacted a guy who would be visiting that afternoon to fix it. So we pretty much rushed back to the boat and called Twice 's Nice on the VHF and told them we were ready to go. They called back shortly after and said that the fishermen at their marina, C Quarters, were all saying "Don't go!" They apparently never take their boats into Steinhatchee because of the shallows, and were recommending we all wait for the next front to blow through and then go all the way to Tarpan Springs as we had originally planned! Very confusing. Local knowledge is so important but when you get two different sets of advice, its so hard to make a comfortable decision. We ended up deciding to listen to the fishermen and moved the boat over to C Quarters where the rates were cheaper. Were we indecisive? Yes and No!!! So we ended up saying a temporary goodbye to Sharpie's Dream and joined up again with Twice s' Nice. (The marinas are only a block apart.) We felt kind of stupid actually but what can you do?
Sue had bought a bag of jumbo shrimp from off the boat the evening before. Neither of us had ever cooked fresh shrimp before, but the locals told us to boil it for no more that 3 minutes and rinse with cold water. This huge bag of shrimp only cost $10.00 - enough to feed the four of us for two nights. And they were delicious! We had garlic butter to dip them in and some cocktail sauce, cole slaw and naan bread on the side. Washed down with margaritas, it was a feast!
We worked hard in the morning thinking there would be a weather window to move up to "Alligator Harbor" that afternoon, in order to shorten the leg to Steinhatchee the next day.
We'd decided not to pull the dinghy on such a long leg, for safety's sake and to reduce drag. One of the jobs we didn't finish before leaving home was to make a motor mount on the stern rail for the outboard. We'd bought a bit of teak for the job but that's as far as it got. So, although we'd started it the previous evening it wasn't right and needed some modification. Right after breakfast we got started, remeasured, drilled a few more holes and by 11:00 a.m. had the outboard up in position. We then pulled the dinghy up on the bow using the spinnaker halliard and scrubbed her clean before getting her into her bag and strapped over the front hatch. We also checked the weather forecasts on the internet and it looked pretty good for a couple of days. As advised by "Buddy" we thought we could get to Port Inglis, then wait out more weather before reaching Tarpan Springs. While checking out of The Moorings and paying our bill, we met Pat from Sharpie's Dream and he said they were not ready and would not be leaving. They'd run into computer problems and had contacted a guy who would be visiting that afternoon to fix it. So we pretty much rushed back to the boat and called Twice 's Nice on the VHF and told them we were ready to go. They called back shortly after and said that the fishermen at their marina, C Quarters, were all saying "Don't go!" They apparently never take their boats into Steinhatchee because of the shallows, and were recommending we all wait for the next front to blow through and then go all the way to Tarpan Springs as we had originally planned! Very confusing. Local knowledge is so important but when you get two different sets of advice, its so hard to make a comfortable decision. We ended up deciding to listen to the fishermen and moved the boat over to C Quarters where the rates were cheaper. Were we indecisive? Yes and No!!! So we ended up saying a temporary goodbye to Sharpie's Dream and joined up again with Twice s' Nice. (The marinas are only a block apart.) We felt kind of stupid actually but what can you do?
Sue had bought a bag of jumbo shrimp from off the boat the evening before. Neither of us had ever cooked fresh shrimp before, but the locals told us to boil it for no more that 3 minutes and rinse with cold water. This huge bag of shrimp only cost $10.00 - enough to feed the four of us for two nights. And they were delicious! We had garlic butter to dip them in and some cocktail sauce, cole slaw and naan bread on the side. Washed down with margaritas, it was a feast!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Oh My! What a Day!
Day 112, November 21st, 2009
It was a lovely morning. We were in no particular hurry so we got up about 7:00 and had a lazy breakfast. I went for a walk on the beach then and found Sue and Paul's dinghy on the beach when I got there. I couldn't see them anywhere so went off by myself with bare feet, paddling in that beautiful warm sea water! It was so lovely - watching the dear old pelicans, and the sprightly little terns. It seems so strange that those big ungainly birds just flap, flap, flap and then glide effortlessly inches above the water, while the terns, so tiny and perfect have to flap their wings frenetically to stay up there! The terns dive from great heights, the pelicans will slowly go up about 40ft and then splash down in the water but don't even submerge. I love to watch them. I loved the little plovers too, tripping along the beach in front of me, every so often sticking their beak into the sand to find whatever grub seems delicious!
Arriving back at the dinghies there was Paul and Sue chatting with a couple walking their dog.
This fella worked as a camp guide in Quetico Park, ON for 13 summers!! Small world. I told them of my one experience at Quetico - rain all week and mosquito bites! I'd never gone back!
We enjoyed talking to them about the local area and the wildlife. We were lucky and saw dolphins while we were standing there. They said they'd also seen Orcas before too.
We were just saying goodbye around 9:30 when the sky started to cloud over and the wind to freshen. It was time to get out of there and look for cover in town. When I got back to the boat I found poor old John. He'd taken the engine cover off and checked the filters etc., but when he'd put the cover back, he'd overlooked securing two bolt locks. When stepping up into the cockpit the engine cover slipped beneath him and he'd ended up skinning both shins. He'd done this before and it seemed to take ages for the one poor shin to heal up - now it was all open again and looked quite a mess! Old Nursy to the rescue! Patched him up with polysporin and band aids!!!
We got the anchor up and set off right away - had to go around a big sand bar to get back into the channel and that wind came up so quickly and so strong. The shallow water developed an uncomfortable chop right away and left us slapping the bottom until we turned for cover!
Carrabelle has a lovely protected little harbour and we had hoped to anchor right in the middle but the tide was down and we just didn't feel comfortable. The wind was strong even in there and were afraid we would ground. So, back to a marina unfortunately and pulled in right beside Sharpie's Dream. Safety the best policy! "Buddy" was on the dock to take our lines and proceeded to tell us that jumping from Carrabelle to Tarpan Springs was NOT a good idea. The weather has been so unpredictable this November that one cold front follows upon the next and if we tried it there was a good chance we'd be divorced at the end - best scenario!! Apparently Buddy has been helping people to do the crossing for 17 years. He recommended that we make a short hop to Steinhatchee and then to Tarpan Springs with the next weather window. Aha! Local knowledge! We will go his way after all! He spent sometime with us looking at weather sites on the internet and he will tell us when it looks a good time to go.
We had a lovely afternoon. We borrowed two bikes from the marina and headed into town where I got my hair cut. Met Paul and Sue at "Fisherman's Wife", a kind of chip shack with picnic tables where we ate deep fried shrimp! Yum! Yum! We had fun spying out the town and bought some postcards for the children at home.
Back at the marina, having written up the postcards, we decided to go and buy some ice for margaritas! It was on the way that John noticed a radio antenna homing device in the water under one of the docks in the inner harbour. He was just wondering what that was doing there when he realised it was attached to a manatee!! Our first! Now we have seen a manatee! Big slow moving old thing, apparently they like to spend time right there.
We enjoyed our margaritas and had some supper and went up to the common room on the dock
to spend the evening with Pat and Diane. We looked at the charts and planned a route and then Diane and I played a game of Scrabble. I won again but she got me back winning 2 of 3 games of pool! Well, actually I can't even claim the first game - Diane pocketed the 8 ball and told me that that meant she immediately lost the game. I did manage to get a few balls sunk over the three games. I was happy with that but was totally outclassed! Paul and Sue had arrived by then (they are staying at a marina just a block away) and we watched a movie together on the TV. Our first TV in 3 months!
We headed back to the boat very late for us after 11:00 p.m. It was already raining. I had my travel Scrabble, two wine glasses in one hand and a small pen in the other. (It was several hours since the last margarita, I promise.) Somehow or other I managed to trip on the dock and went straight into the drink beside the boat. It was a lovely soft landing in the warm salty water, christening my lovely new clothes from West Marina. I handed up the Scrabble game, the wine glasses and the pen to concerned hands on the dock. I'd thrown out the Crocs after the last fall and bought a pair of Sperrys - I was happy this time that they didn't fall off and managed to climb aboard up the ladder, laughing my fool head off! Poor old John, he'd had a bit of a scare this time. The story doesn't end there. I decided to take my dry pyjamas and go off for a hot shower. That went well. On arriving back at the boat, John met me with an umbrella and helped me back onto the boat saying "take little steps, take little steps!" That worked right till I got to the companionway where I promptly slipped on the first step and ended up sitting on my bottom on the cabin sole! What a case I am - my Auntie Llywella used to remark how she never saw me without a band aid when I was a little girl; my Mum and Dad reckoned I could fall over a matchstick and I guess I've never changed!!! Thats okay, all you good friends and family, I know you're laughing fit to keel over - I even woke up laughing in the middle of the night. I really should be on candid camera!!! John begged me to go to bed then (the V berth is rather like a padded cell) while he adjusted the lines and got us centered in the middle of the pilings.
It was a crazy night with high winds, halliards banging, boat slapping as the waves hit the stern, not too conducive to sleep.
It was a lovely morning. We were in no particular hurry so we got up about 7:00 and had a lazy breakfast. I went for a walk on the beach then and found Sue and Paul's dinghy on the beach when I got there. I couldn't see them anywhere so went off by myself with bare feet, paddling in that beautiful warm sea water! It was so lovely - watching the dear old pelicans, and the sprightly little terns. It seems so strange that those big ungainly birds just flap, flap, flap and then glide effortlessly inches above the water, while the terns, so tiny and perfect have to flap their wings frenetically to stay up there! The terns dive from great heights, the pelicans will slowly go up about 40ft and then splash down in the water but don't even submerge. I love to watch them. I loved the little plovers too, tripping along the beach in front of me, every so often sticking their beak into the sand to find whatever grub seems delicious!
Arriving back at the dinghies there was Paul and Sue chatting with a couple walking their dog.
This fella worked as a camp guide in Quetico Park, ON for 13 summers!! Small world. I told them of my one experience at Quetico - rain all week and mosquito bites! I'd never gone back!
We enjoyed talking to them about the local area and the wildlife. We were lucky and saw dolphins while we were standing there. They said they'd also seen Orcas before too.
We were just saying goodbye around 9:30 when the sky started to cloud over and the wind to freshen. It was time to get out of there and look for cover in town. When I got back to the boat I found poor old John. He'd taken the engine cover off and checked the filters etc., but when he'd put the cover back, he'd overlooked securing two bolt locks. When stepping up into the cockpit the engine cover slipped beneath him and he'd ended up skinning both shins. He'd done this before and it seemed to take ages for the one poor shin to heal up - now it was all open again and looked quite a mess! Old Nursy to the rescue! Patched him up with polysporin and band aids!!!
We got the anchor up and set off right away - had to go around a big sand bar to get back into the channel and that wind came up so quickly and so strong. The shallow water developed an uncomfortable chop right away and left us slapping the bottom until we turned for cover!
Carrabelle has a lovely protected little harbour and we had hoped to anchor right in the middle but the tide was down and we just didn't feel comfortable. The wind was strong even in there and were afraid we would ground. So, back to a marina unfortunately and pulled in right beside Sharpie's Dream. Safety the best policy! "Buddy" was on the dock to take our lines and proceeded to tell us that jumping from Carrabelle to Tarpan Springs was NOT a good idea. The weather has been so unpredictable this November that one cold front follows upon the next and if we tried it there was a good chance we'd be divorced at the end - best scenario!! Apparently Buddy has been helping people to do the crossing for 17 years. He recommended that we make a short hop to Steinhatchee and then to Tarpan Springs with the next weather window. Aha! Local knowledge! We will go his way after all! He spent sometime with us looking at weather sites on the internet and he will tell us when it looks a good time to go.
We had a lovely afternoon. We borrowed two bikes from the marina and headed into town where I got my hair cut. Met Paul and Sue at "Fisherman's Wife", a kind of chip shack with picnic tables where we ate deep fried shrimp! Yum! Yum! We had fun spying out the town and bought some postcards for the children at home.
Back at the marina, having written up the postcards, we decided to go and buy some ice for margaritas! It was on the way that John noticed a radio antenna homing device in the water under one of the docks in the inner harbour. He was just wondering what that was doing there when he realised it was attached to a manatee!! Our first! Now we have seen a manatee! Big slow moving old thing, apparently they like to spend time right there.
We enjoyed our margaritas and had some supper and went up to the common room on the dock
to spend the evening with Pat and Diane. We looked at the charts and planned a route and then Diane and I played a game of Scrabble. I won again but she got me back winning 2 of 3 games of pool! Well, actually I can't even claim the first game - Diane pocketed the 8 ball and told me that that meant she immediately lost the game. I did manage to get a few balls sunk over the three games. I was happy with that but was totally outclassed! Paul and Sue had arrived by then (they are staying at a marina just a block away) and we watched a movie together on the TV. Our first TV in 3 months!
We headed back to the boat very late for us after 11:00 p.m. It was already raining. I had my travel Scrabble, two wine glasses in one hand and a small pen in the other. (It was several hours since the last margarita, I promise.) Somehow or other I managed to trip on the dock and went straight into the drink beside the boat. It was a lovely soft landing in the warm salty water, christening my lovely new clothes from West Marina. I handed up the Scrabble game, the wine glasses and the pen to concerned hands on the dock. I'd thrown out the Crocs after the last fall and bought a pair of Sperrys - I was happy this time that they didn't fall off and managed to climb aboard up the ladder, laughing my fool head off! Poor old John, he'd had a bit of a scare this time. The story doesn't end there. I decided to take my dry pyjamas and go off for a hot shower. That went well. On arriving back at the boat, John met me with an umbrella and helped me back onto the boat saying "take little steps, take little steps!" That worked right till I got to the companionway where I promptly slipped on the first step and ended up sitting on my bottom on the cabin sole! What a case I am - my Auntie Llywella used to remark how she never saw me without a band aid when I was a little girl; my Mum and Dad reckoned I could fall over a matchstick and I guess I've never changed!!! Thats okay, all you good friends and family, I know you're laughing fit to keel over - I even woke up laughing in the middle of the night. I really should be on candid camera!!! John begged me to go to bed then (the V berth is rather like a padded cell) while he adjusted the lines and got us centered in the middle of the pilings.
It was a crazy night with high winds, halliards banging, boat slapping as the waves hit the stern, not too conducive to sleep.
Carrabelle, FL
Day 111, November 20th, 2009
We had hoped to leave at 7:00 but awoke to fog. It wouldn't have been possible to see any debris in the ditch so we waited until the fog cleared - about an hour. Then we were off again.
It was a short ride to the end of the ditch and the little fishing town of Apalachicola. We would have liked to stop there and had a look around as its meant to be historical and pretty, however, the weather forecast indicated bad weather closing in and we wanted to beat it to Carrabelle.
Carrabelle is the jumping off point to cross to Tarpan Springs. Its very shallow in the NE corner of the gulf and John and I had hoped to do the "Big Bend" in one hop of 30 hours. The others were vacillating! There was much discussion and some anxiety over the decision. Anyway, it looked as if the weather might be good for a crossing Monday/Tuesday, so we pushed onto Carrabelle, arriving around 3:00. The current was in our favor across a lake coming out of the ditch and we clocked 8.2 speed over ground! That really helped.
Pat and Diane had run out of propane that morning so they chose to go straight to a marina.
John and I went into town and got fuel and water. Paul and Sue headed straight for Carrabelle Beach as it was a lovely warm day and the wind was forecast out of the north overnight so they would be sheltered there.
Just as we got close to the gas dock John noticed a change in the sound of the exhaust and engine. I took the helm and he told me to shut the engine down. We were right in the channel but fortunately no other traffic. He'd opened the engine cover and found no water in the strainer - no coolant! Not good. He came back to the helm and restarted the engine and we limped towards the gas dock. Something must have got caught and covered the water intake because all of a sudden it cleared and the engine sounded fine and the water came back into the strainer. A few harrowing minutes!!!
Once fueled up we went back to Carrabelle Beach and anchored with Paul and Sue. Had a drink together and said goodnight just after dark. We were glad to have arrived safely to Carrabelle before dark. We'd wondered whether that was stretching it when we'd left that morning.
We had hoped to leave at 7:00 but awoke to fog. It wouldn't have been possible to see any debris in the ditch so we waited until the fog cleared - about an hour. Then we were off again.
It was a short ride to the end of the ditch and the little fishing town of Apalachicola. We would have liked to stop there and had a look around as its meant to be historical and pretty, however, the weather forecast indicated bad weather closing in and we wanted to beat it to Carrabelle.
Carrabelle is the jumping off point to cross to Tarpan Springs. Its very shallow in the NE corner of the gulf and John and I had hoped to do the "Big Bend" in one hop of 30 hours. The others were vacillating! There was much discussion and some anxiety over the decision. Anyway, it looked as if the weather might be good for a crossing Monday/Tuesday, so we pushed onto Carrabelle, arriving around 3:00. The current was in our favor across a lake coming out of the ditch and we clocked 8.2 speed over ground! That really helped.
Pat and Diane had run out of propane that morning so they chose to go straight to a marina.
John and I went into town and got fuel and water. Paul and Sue headed straight for Carrabelle Beach as it was a lovely warm day and the wind was forecast out of the north overnight so they would be sheltered there.
Just as we got close to the gas dock John noticed a change in the sound of the exhaust and engine. I took the helm and he told me to shut the engine down. We were right in the channel but fortunately no other traffic. He'd opened the engine cover and found no water in the strainer - no coolant! Not good. He came back to the helm and restarted the engine and we limped towards the gas dock. Something must have got caught and covered the water intake because all of a sudden it cleared and the engine sounded fine and the water came back into the strainer. A few harrowing minutes!!!
Once fueled up we went back to Carrabelle Beach and anchored with Paul and Sue. Had a drink together and said goodnight just after dark. We were glad to have arrived safely to Carrabelle before dark. We'd wondered whether that was stretching it when we'd left that morning.
White City, FL
Day 110, November 19th, 2009
Another early start at 7:00 a.m. we left Bay Point Marina and the three boats travelling together went across the bay and back into another "ditch" - another cypress swamp. We were able to motor sail part of the time which always pleases me. I watched carefully for alligators but didn't see one. People say they look so much like logs but I'm sure I didn't see one.
We were hoping to get to "Saul Creek" just before Apalachicola but there was quite a current against us and there was no way we could make it before dark. In one of the books Sue read about a "rustic dock" at a the bridge at White City, so we headed for that. There was nowhere else to stop as the ditch was narrow and still gets the occasional barge. When we arrived at the beach the dock was on the far side and wasn't immediately easy to see. We were looking for the rustic dock too which misled us. On the port side there was a ramshackled old dock, clearly marked "private dock", on the starboard side there was a park with a concrete wall where some people were fishing. I wondered whether that was it but it certainly didn't match the description. We moved on slowly and then on the far side of the bridge was this gorgeous looking dock where this one fella was fishing. I called out to him and asked him where people usually tie up and he indicated the gorgeous dock "People tie up along here all the time!" So we got organized quickly and pulled up along this lovely spot. Big long dock, loads of room for all three of us. Right beside it was a covered picnic area and deck, washrooms and even a beach volleyball court and playground. Apparently the little town of White City had upgraded it all just two years ago. John and Paul got talking to an old gentleman there who lived his whole life on the same property - he reckoned he'd seen three bridges at that same point and three snowfalls in his whole life. His son said he'd never been further than Apalachicola!!! We had sundowners at a picnic bench and spent a very comforable night there.
Another early start at 7:00 a.m. we left Bay Point Marina and the three boats travelling together went across the bay and back into another "ditch" - another cypress swamp. We were able to motor sail part of the time which always pleases me. I watched carefully for alligators but didn't see one. People say they look so much like logs but I'm sure I didn't see one.
We were hoping to get to "Saul Creek" just before Apalachicola but there was quite a current against us and there was no way we could make it before dark. In one of the books Sue read about a "rustic dock" at a the bridge at White City, so we headed for that. There was nowhere else to stop as the ditch was narrow and still gets the occasional barge. When we arrived at the beach the dock was on the far side and wasn't immediately easy to see. We were looking for the rustic dock too which misled us. On the port side there was a ramshackled old dock, clearly marked "private dock", on the starboard side there was a park with a concrete wall where some people were fishing. I wondered whether that was it but it certainly didn't match the description. We moved on slowly and then on the far side of the bridge was this gorgeous looking dock where this one fella was fishing. I called out to him and asked him where people usually tie up and he indicated the gorgeous dock "People tie up along here all the time!" So we got organized quickly and pulled up along this lovely spot. Big long dock, loads of room for all three of us. Right beside it was a covered picnic area and deck, washrooms and even a beach volleyball court and playground. Apparently the little town of White City had upgraded it all just two years ago. John and Paul got talking to an old gentleman there who lived his whole life on the same property - he reckoned he'd seen three bridges at that same point and three snowfalls in his whole life. His son said he'd never been further than Apalachicola!!! We had sundowners at a picnic bench and spent a very comforable night there.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Bay Point Marina
Day 109, November 18th, 2009
We all did some shopping in the morning. We walked up to the shops, about 3 miles. Went to West Marina first where I found some nice new shorts and a shirt (Columbia) with 25% off! That made my day! We also stopped for more rum at the liqueur store before getting more groceries for the next leg. The marina doesn't have a courtesy car so we shared the cost of a cab coming home.
After putting all the stuff away, Paul and Sue and John and I took the shuttle back to the Hotel and went to the pools again. This time we found out that the convention that was going on was to do with the Ministry of Defense. The shuttle driver drew our attention to the big van outside the hotel where these guys were demonstrating this new van with the collapsible machine gun that hides inside!!! Right!!! All these guys we had noticed the day before were military!!
When we got to the indoor pool there was a training session going on where these pilots were strapped into this pilot's seat and then the seat was turned upside down and they had to get themselves out. All very interesting. They later joined us in the hot tub outside and we heard they were all from Virginia. They were all helicopter and airplane pilots! We had fun swapping stories with them. All very interesting!
I'm sitting in the marina office right now, getting up to date on our blog. We're about to go out for supper. Its chilly outside but there's a movie set up beside the pool - The Hunt for Red October! You can eat supper and watch the movie! Got to run or I'll hold everybody up!
Will have to add some photos later.
We all did some shopping in the morning. We walked up to the shops, about 3 miles. Went to West Marina first where I found some nice new shorts and a shirt (Columbia) with 25% off! That made my day! We also stopped for more rum at the liqueur store before getting more groceries for the next leg. The marina doesn't have a courtesy car so we shared the cost of a cab coming home.
After putting all the stuff away, Paul and Sue and John and I took the shuttle back to the Hotel and went to the pools again. This time we found out that the convention that was going on was to do with the Ministry of Defense. The shuttle driver drew our attention to the big van outside the hotel where these guys were demonstrating this new van with the collapsible machine gun that hides inside!!! Right!!! All these guys we had noticed the day before were military!!
When we got to the indoor pool there was a training session going on where these pilots were strapped into this pilot's seat and then the seat was turned upside down and they had to get themselves out. All very interesting. They later joined us in the hot tub outside and we heard they were all from Virginia. They were all helicopter and airplane pilots! We had fun swapping stories with them. All very interesting!
I'm sitting in the marina office right now, getting up to date on our blog. We're about to go out for supper. Its chilly outside but there's a movie set up beside the pool - The Hunt for Red October! You can eat supper and watch the movie! Got to run or I'll hold everybody up!
Will have to add some photos later.
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