A year ago today we were on I-65 - a one way trip south.
It has been a year of adventure, a few mis-adventures, and a steep learning curve. Most of all it has been about friends.
At our starting point in Mobile we met Jeff and Sue on their trimaran with their 3 teenage daughters. They are in Marathon now, as are Des and Betty who we met in Carrabelle. Jim and Abby (also met in Carrabelle) called last week and they are headed to Marathon in January.
Chuck and Leah (again, Carabelle) were the best dockside neighbors anyone could ask for.
Skip and Caroline (Destin) lost their boat going aground, otherwise I suspect they would be here too.
We chased Gary and Lisa from Port St. Joe to Carabelle and got to Clearwater a few hours ahead of them after we had a three day head start. We met Skip and Rose in Clearwater and they helped us in so many ways besides entertaining us.
In Fort Meyers we met many of the liveaboard/cruisers but Bob frequently kept us entertained at sundown. It was Lindsey and Lynne loaning us their car that saved us during the hot summer days and gave us the freedom to explore the area.
In Marathon, Larry and Linda have shown us around. When Larry expounds politically or philosophically De Anne rolls her eyes because she has heard the exact same positions from me. Linda is an accomplished seamtress and we have benefited from her skills. They introduced us to Lou and Deb. Deb is as aggressive a sailor as De Anne!
Nancy and Ginny have added to our cruising knowledge based on their years of experience.
Peter with his delightful Austrialian accent and droll sense of humor adds to the fun.
Tut makes the best Cajun oyster dressing and has an extensive inventory of boat parts in his truck. One time he pulled over when De Anne was walking down the street, found out we needed 5/8" flax packing, reached down and handed her a package of it. How many folks carry 5/8"" flax packing in their vehicle?
We do stay in touch with old friends too, from Lake Monroe, the State House, and Carmel.
All the places we have been in the past year, all the new sites and scenery are pictures framed by friends.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Back to Marathon
We left our mooring Tuesday morning and staged outside the Marathon harbor for an early Wednesday departure. The predicted wind from the south did happen and we were off at dawn.
Within a couple miles we were past the reef and into the open ocean. Also into the ocean swell. I have been seasick before, but never like this! I now fully understand the old description: "First you are afraid you are going to die, then you are afraid you're not." After 5 hours of this I feebly begged De Anne to take shelter inside the Channel Five bridge we had just passed.
We anchored in Jewfish Bay where I slowly recovered. Thursday we motored north in a flat calm. The generator and electric motor kept us going all day at a sedate 2.8 - 3.0 knots using just 12-16 amps. Unfortunately, several times our speed dropped below 2 knots and I got a chance to stop the boat and go swimming (in mask and flippers) to clear the prop of weeds. We anchored at Cape Sable and discussed new plans.
Consulting the cruising guide, the warnings about not going to Marco Island, Naples, or Fort Myers Beach during the Holidays are quite explicit. The hordes of boaters all head there this time of year. Since going north was out we went south - back to Marathon.
To add to the fun our propane system gave up the ghost and the packing in the rudder finally failed. I will purchase a new propane system in Key West tomorrow and then take care of the rudder packing.
On our first day back in Marathon De Anne attended a ladies-only wine-tasting party. I am one lucky man! When she told our sad tale of an aborted Bahamas trip other women had even worse stories of failed Gulf crossings. Thank the Lord - I am saved!!!
Tuesday morning in Marathon (picture courtesy of Linda & Larry):
....and my picture of Linda & Larry (poorer quality than their picture):
Sunset Tuesday night:
A few hours after our return - a visit from Santa::
Within a couple miles we were past the reef and into the open ocean. Also into the ocean swell. I have been seasick before, but never like this! I now fully understand the old description: "First you are afraid you are going to die, then you are afraid you're not." After 5 hours of this I feebly begged De Anne to take shelter inside the Channel Five bridge we had just passed.
We anchored in Jewfish Bay where I slowly recovered. Thursday we motored north in a flat calm. The generator and electric motor kept us going all day at a sedate 2.8 - 3.0 knots using just 12-16 amps. Unfortunately, several times our speed dropped below 2 knots and I got a chance to stop the boat and go swimming (in mask and flippers) to clear the prop of weeds. We anchored at Cape Sable and discussed new plans.
Consulting the cruising guide, the warnings about not going to Marco Island, Naples, or Fort Myers Beach during the Holidays are quite explicit. The hordes of boaters all head there this time of year. Since going north was out we went south - back to Marathon.
To add to the fun our propane system gave up the ghost and the packing in the rudder finally failed. I will purchase a new propane system in Key West tomorrow and then take care of the rudder packing.
On our first day back in Marathon De Anne attended a ladies-only wine-tasting party. I am one lucky man! When she told our sad tale of an aborted Bahamas trip other women had even worse stories of failed Gulf crossings. Thank the Lord - I am saved!!!
Tuesday morning in Marathon (picture courtesy of Linda & Larry):
....and my picture of Linda & Larry (poorer quality than their picture):
Sunset Tuesday night:
A few hours after our return - a visit from Santa::
Friday, December 4, 2009
Missed Opportunties
Last week we missed a weather window because of a dental appointment for De Anne, so yesterday's window was not to be missed. We spent a hectic Wednesday morning in last minute preparation and stocking. Our indolent lifestyle had left us with many things to do before slipping the mooring ball.
Finally, one more chore - reinstall the speedo. A speedo is a device with a paddlewheel that fits through a hole in the bottom of the boat. The paddleweel turns as the boat moves and measures speed through the water and displays it in the cockpit. The infernal device has not worked most of the year. One well placed barnacle can render it useless. In Fort Myers I had fixed it but not reinstalled it. I was quite proud of the repair since I had used a 99 cent cotter pin instead of the $35 pin that would have to be ordered and shipped. I removed the plug, opening a 2 inch diameter hole underwater. Try to imagine my dismay when the speedo did not slide into place stopping the geyser. I quickly re-inserted the plug and listened to the bilge pump take off.
After inpecting the speedo I realized the cotter pin was interfering with the close tolerance of the speedo and it's fitting. My next mistake was using pliers to "fix" the cotter pin (some boys don't know when to back off!). Now I was ready for the second geyser episode. It fit better but still baulking and of course water was still coming in. Time for the next mistake - hit it with a hammer. That drove the speedo in but still a trickle of water. Nothing the pumps couldn't handle.
It was time to quit making mistakes and do the right thing. I called the closest marina and arrainged for the boat to be pulled. The $35 I saved only cost me an extra $700. I taught the speedo a lesson. I threw it away and had the marina fiberglass the hole. My chartplotter has GPS SOG (speed over ground) and that will now be sufficent.
Some good came of this - we scraped 20 pounds of barnacles from the hull and prop. We now have one less thru-hull to worry about and we saw a manatee up close in the marina.
Rising Star at the boat yard:
Our close encounter with a manatee:
It is aganist the law to feed fresh water to a manatee because it attracts them to marinas where they are injured by boat props. A nice little man walked by and turned the hose on and left telling me to turn it off. I did so, but not before the manatee roled onto his back and got a drink. I then realized the fiendish plot perpetrated on me. My fingerprints were the last on the hose spigot. I have eluded the authorities so far......
Finally, one more chore - reinstall the speedo. A speedo is a device with a paddlewheel that fits through a hole in the bottom of the boat. The paddleweel turns as the boat moves and measures speed through the water and displays it in the cockpit. The infernal device has not worked most of the year. One well placed barnacle can render it useless. In Fort Myers I had fixed it but not reinstalled it. I was quite proud of the repair since I had used a 99 cent cotter pin instead of the $35 pin that would have to be ordered and shipped. I removed the plug, opening a 2 inch diameter hole underwater. Try to imagine my dismay when the speedo did not slide into place stopping the geyser. I quickly re-inserted the plug and listened to the bilge pump take off.
After inpecting the speedo I realized the cotter pin was interfering with the close tolerance of the speedo and it's fitting. My next mistake was using pliers to "fix" the cotter pin (some boys don't know when to back off!). Now I was ready for the second geyser episode. It fit better but still baulking and of course water was still coming in. Time for the next mistake - hit it with a hammer. That drove the speedo in but still a trickle of water. Nothing the pumps couldn't handle.
It was time to quit making mistakes and do the right thing. I called the closest marina and arrainged for the boat to be pulled. The $35 I saved only cost me an extra $700. I taught the speedo a lesson. I threw it away and had the marina fiberglass the hole. My chartplotter has GPS SOG (speed over ground) and that will now be sufficent.
Some good came of this - we scraped 20 pounds of barnacles from the hull and prop. We now have one less thru-hull to worry about and we saw a manatee up close in the marina.
Rising Star at the boat yard:
Our close encounter with a manatee:
It is aganist the law to feed fresh water to a manatee because it attracts them to marinas where they are injured by boat props. A nice little man walked by and turned the hose on and left telling me to turn it off. I did so, but not before the manatee roled onto his back and got a drink. I then realized the fiendish plot perpetrated on me. My fingerprints were the last on the hose spigot. I have eluded the authorities so far......
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Strange Lights
The City park, of which the marina is part of, is decorated for Christmas. Street lights are wound with evergreens and festooned with big red bows. The highlight is the special - only in the keys - light display.
A Christmas fish:
The traditional Holiday flamingo:
The season would not be complete without an alligator attacking an elf:
Our neighbors on Willow (42 Valiant) Nancy and Ginny visited us for sundowners Friday then treated us to a great turkey dinner. Their onboard oven was large enough for a whole turkey.
Nancy doing repairs from a bosun's chair while Ginny offers encourgement from the deck:
In answer to the burning question "Why are you still there??". The same old answer - waiting for a weather window. We have about given up on a big enough window to go directly to the Bahamas and will settle for one to No Name Harbor, south of Miami, where we can make the Gulf Stream jump in one day. No hurry - saftey and comfort comes first!
A Christmas fish:
The traditional Holiday flamingo:
The season would not be complete without an alligator attacking an elf:
Our neighbors on Willow (42 Valiant) Nancy and Ginny visited us for sundowners Friday then treated us to a great turkey dinner. Their onboard oven was large enough for a whole turkey.
Nancy doing repairs from a bosun's chair while Ginny offers encourgement from the deck:
In answer to the burning question "Why are you still there??". The same old answer - waiting for a weather window. We have about given up on a big enough window to go directly to the Bahamas and will settle for one to No Name Harbor, south of Miami, where we can make the Gulf Stream jump in one day. No hurry - saftey and comfort comes first!
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