Back on Land

November 15,2010

First thing Monday morning we moved Kinvara to her new slip at the fixed docks in Stuart.  We now have a concrete wall to break the wave action so our boat can rest in peace while we are gone.  Our friends, Sandy & Al drove 2.5 hours to pick us up. After a wonderful visit on board we ate lunch ashore at the local tiki bar & restaurant....it was goooooood. We started off with sweet potato fries and a pound of peel & eat shrimp!!  By 2:30 we were on the road home.  Hard to sleep though without the slight motion of being on the water!!

Tuesday morning Peter was off by 7:30, driving to Vero Beach, to pick up our friends from s/v Meredith.  Bob & Connie are leaving in Jan. for an extended cruise either east to the Caribbean or west through the Panama Canal.  We don't know when we will see them again but we had a wonderful 2 days at our house visiting.  They toured the community we live in and yesterday we went into the "free" Disney.  We can park free with our annual pass at Magic Kingdom.  We rode the monorail to 2 resorts to see the Christmas decorations, then took a boat ride to the Magic Kingdom entrance to catch the monorail through Epcot. Afterwards we visited Downtown Disney to have fish and chips at the Irish restaurant and then ice cream at Giardelli's.  What a good time!

Jane and Connie at the Grand Floridian

Riding the tram to the monorail

 

Today we drove Bob and Connie back to Vero Beach to say good-bye.  We loved their company and wish them well. The magic of making friends while cruising is that you don't know when or where you will meet again....but the common cruising bond is magic  and lasts a lifetime.

The end to a great day

Vero Beach to Stuart

November 13-15

An early morning departure on Saturday to catch the current and high tide at St Lucie Inlet was in our plans.  We said good by to s/v Meredith and headed out.  The trip was uneventful.  We cruised past Ft Pierce, remembering last years trip with Liz Murphy aboard. There were lots of boats on the waterway since it was Saturday so the ride was not very calm. Winds were out of the north apx. 15-20 making for choppy water in the ICW.  A few boats whizzed past without warning but Kinvara held her own.  Once we made it to the St Lucie River we turned to starboard and headed north again up river.  This was virgin territory but luckily it was an easy 7 mile run.  We docked at Loggerhead Marina near downtown Stuart.  It is nice with clean facilities but our slip is at the end of the docks and therefore we get hammered with all the waves from boats going in both directions.  There is no breakwater or speed limit going by.  We have spent 2 days rocking almost constantly, sometimes 30' of center, which is putting a lot of strain on our dock lines.  To make it worse there was an air show both days which created more boat traffic and deafening noise.  The first time watching, yesterday, was fun but again today it was loud. We took a dingy ride under 2 bridges across the river to another marina which we wanted to be in but they still had no room.  There is a 2 year wait list.  We think people come and stay there for the winter season.  So tomorrow we are moving to another slip, a fixed dock, behind the floating docks where we are now.  Hopefully it will be a calmer slip since we leave  Kinvara for 2 months!  Our friends, Sandy & Al are picking us up in the morning.

Cocoa to Vero Beach

November 11 - 12

We hauled anchor and departed Cocoa at 8am Thursday. We were one of several boats to leave at that time all heading south for the elusive sunshine and warmth. The trip was 54 miles and went without any problems. On arrival in Vero we realized that our old friends Bob and Connie on s/v MEREDITH were staying there for a month. We requested to raft with them. After arriving at the dock we topped up on diesel and pumped out. Jane walked to the communal area and found Bob and Connie who were getting ready to return to their boat. We followed and in a short time we were rafted up with them and sat together for a welcome coldie!! How awesome it was to meet after a little over a year. We first met on the Dismal Swamp and spent a week together in Elizabeth City. We parted ways during the holidays and then proceeded to miss each other by days throughout the Bahamas. Needless to say we had lots to catch up on.

On Saturday morning we decided to get ashore early to get our laundry done. On the way in we passed another old acquaintance from the Bahamas, Vince and Linda on FORTNIGHT. while at he laundry room we met another couple from our stay in Georgetown, Bahamas. They were very involved with the cruisers festival while we were there. It was fantastic meeting all these people again. Of course most are getting ready to cross to the Bahamas again in the near future so we will not cross paths again this season.

While in Green Cove Springs the workers there loosened several of the shrouds and back stays on the boat. I attempted to have the rig tuned in St Augustine but had no luck. When I mentioned this to Bob he had the answer. He had the instrument we needed and the information book to guide us. Within an hour we had the rig tuned and checked one more item off my 'to do' list.

I had the opportunity to repay him shortly afterwards. He had just purchased a new Boom Vang so I helped him install it. After a productive day we sat and enjoyed a happy hour on KINVARA along with Vince and Linda. After they left Bob and Connie joined Jane and I for a wonderful dinner on board. What a stay in Vero. This is what cruising is all about. By the way the cost to stay there on a mooring ball is $14 per night. Awesome.

Daytona Beach to Vero Beach

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Today we traveled 66 miles. It was a long day but the weather was great and we wanted to take advantage of it. We left Daytona at 8PM to get the current toward Ponce Inlet for a little bit. It was an easy ride there and we arrived at this infamous shoaling spot just an hour before high tide. Perfect timing!! In New Smyrna Beach we followed behind a catamaran to get the 10AM opening of the lift bridge. Once past that we had 40 miles through a straight and narrow mosquito lagoon. It is usually an uneventful and long ride but today we were entertained fully!! First there are so many dolphins all over and we have not only seen them cresting above the water but jumping completely out!! It felt like a show at Sea World. In Mosquito Lagoon there are loads of birds diving into the water like rockets…..pelicans and small sea gulls and sea birds. It was never ending. We saw several Bald Eagles during the day and to cap it off we saw a nesting pair on a small mound just above the water-line on a remote island, awesome. We did not see this much activity last year in Nov. going south or in April going north.

Just when we thought we had seen it all Peter spotted a motorized parachute flying above us. There were 2 men aboard and they circled around twice waving and letting us take pictures.

Not to be outdone, Jane was at the helm waving to a smaller north bound boat. Once it passed us she realized the helmsman was completely naked, without a tan line, taking in the Florida sun! We almost went off course during that episode!! She did not take a picture!

About 22 miles through the lagoon we crossed west through the NASA Haul Over canal and came into the Indian River. This is a westerly, shallow crossing for about 3 miles. It takes some getting used to watching the depth hover around 5-6’ under the helm!! Halfway across we spotted another sight never seen before on the ICW. On small island, just packed with birds of all types, Jane thought she saw pink birds! Flamingos!! They were really pink, meaning they feed on lots of shrimp in the river. We have only seen pink flamingos at Sea World and Animal Kingdom. The wildlife today was just incredible (including the naked man). Maybe it’s the weather or the time of year. Dolphins, birds, naked men......a little bit of Tarzan on the ICW!

Entering Titusville we made another bridge opening before they closed at 3:15 for rush hour, and the next NASA bridge before it closed at 3:30. That allowed us to continue another 11 miles south. We were able to anchor just off the town of Cocoa by 5pm. The sun set a half hour later. We had dinner outside; salad, steaks & potatoes on the grill, and cocktails.

Tomorrow we travel about 55 miles to Vero Beach to rest up for 2 nights. Then on to Stuart where we will dock for 2 months at a marina.

Daytona Beach

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

We left the dock at 7:30PM to get through a badly shoaled area at high tide. There was no problem this time passing through Matanzas Inlet.  Our trip to Daytona was very uneventful until 1/2 mile from our stop. The wildlife management police pulled up beside us and said they were boarding. Two of the 3 came aboard with guns and tasers to inspect our potties. Lucky for us they were closed and tied with wire....otherwise we would have had a $250 fine!!

Once in Daytona Beach we took ourselves for a walk to the local "hangout", the Blue Grotto. It is a nightclub on Fri & Sat nights!




Our bartender, Jr, from Trinidad & Tobago

Indoor bar at The Blue Grotto

Pretzel's new friend Bob, the Great Dane

Last night in St Augustine

Monday, November 8, 2010

Our last night in St Augustine. The wind died down and the temps warmed up to the low 70's. We were able to get half of the cabin top cleaned and waxed and the UV protector on the dingy.  Jane made a last bicycle ride to the grocery store for milk & eggs.  We had a lovely dinner aboard sitting in the cockpit after sunset. There are many power boats surrounding us...all the sailboats are on moorings.  We got a lot accomplished here but not everything we expected.  Tomorrow's another day.  The joy of being retired!  One of our most exciting moments was watching a large pod of dolphins rounding up fish right behind our boat.  They were circling and jumping out of the water after large fish. This went on for about a half hour!!

Tomorrow we leave early, apx. 7:15, to get through an area that tends to shoal, by mid to high tide.  We hope to be in Daytona Beach at anchor tomorrow night.

St. Augustine Nov.7th

Due to a glitch in the computer we are having a major problem writing in the blog. We are still in St.Augustine getting little jobs done and we will leave here on Tuesday morning.


The weather has been miserable here most of the week. More rain than we have seen in the last few months. High winds and low temps. Burrrr. Peter started up the heater this morning and it felt real good. The forecast is for better weather this week so we should have a nice trip to Stewart. As always we enjoy our time here. We recommend St. Augustine for a visit or a weekend stay. There is a wealth of American history here in the old city. Lots of shopping and a fabulous selection of restaurants. For those of you who love golf, as Gary Player says, you have to visit The World Golf Village which is only a short ride from here. Yesterday we watched about 50 people in pirate gear running across the bridge. We have no idea what it was or where they went!

West Marine has benefited from our stay. We have made several trips there already and also had several items delivered to us at the marina. Yesterday Peter got down and dirty and changed the oil and all the filters on the engine. It gets easier each time. He has taken care of a few electrical issues also and of course Jane has been busy making Kinvara look her best on the outside and inside. We will have to get on our bikes again tomorrow and head to the supermarket to stock up on a few items. Jane needs to pick up a book at West Marine which is right next door. Hope we get out of there with just the book !!!

One of several weddings this weekend

Beautiful downtown hotel

Arrrrr ye mateys

St Augustine FL

Friday, November 5, 2010

We are sitting here in the cockpit today trying to stay warm!  A series of thunder storms passed through  yesterday before a cold front.  We spent 30+ days at home without rain then get on the boat and have had
rain every day. Today it is very windy and cold so it's a day to rest. Despite that it has been an interesting stay so far.   We met a nice couple from NJ who are on their way to Marathon in their Beneteau.  We hosted them last night for cocktails and got some good information about stops along the way.
Yesterday morning there were 2 motor boats in a hurry to leave their slips. One backed out but hit a sailboat next to it, damaging the davits which hold their dingy.  They did not stop so the marina called the police, who escorted the boat back to the marina. There were lots of uniforms on the dock that day.  Then a large 50+ motor yacht tried backing out against the 4knot incoming current and ended up drifting into the slip next to it and mowed down 2 pilings that separated the spaces.  So glad we were not next to them!  The pictures show our cockpit enclosed against the rain.

They also help us stay warmer when it turns cold.

Jacksonville, FL to St Augustine, FL

This morning had to be well planned. We had to pass through a lift bridge, which wouldn't open until 8:30AM, and we had to time the current in the St John's River.  Well we were off the dock and under the bridge by 9AM, moving through the last of the incoming current (against us), into slack tide 2 miles later, and enjoyed riding the current out on the river.  When we reached the Intracoastel Waterway we still had current with us for a little way.  Along the way we enjoyed watching a pod of dolphins jumping out of the water, a bald eagle standing on a riverside pole, and about 6 flocks of geese flying south.  In the ICW we were at low to low tide almost all the way to St Augustine.  The main depths varied from 4' to 10' at low tide for us but it was a nervous 36 mile trip not knowing how low it would go.  Last year we only travelled at mid to high tide. We were happy it was not a full moon low tide!  We have never seen the water so low in the ICW.  We kept our speed up to at least 6K using our small jib on and off when we could.  It worked out in the end since we made the last lift bridge (just before our marina) for the 4:30PM opening. Otherwise we would have waited until 5:30 for the next opening.  After arriving at our slip and tying up we put up our cockpit enclosures just before a torrential rain storm. Thank goodness for that!! It really helped us stay dry. 

Jacksonville Jaguars Stadium.....Superbowl 2010



LOVE THESE LITTLE TUG BOATS!

Here comes the Xmas gifts from abroad!!



Low tide along the ICW

Jacksonville at Night

 Shortly after arriving in Jacksonville and posting on Facebook, we received a phone call from friends, Jim & Leslie.  We met in the Exuma Land and Sea Park then again in Farmer's Key for their boating regatta.
They live in Brunswick, GA only an hour away.....so down they came!! We shared cocktails then ate dinner out on the dock.  What a fun time.  It was so nice to see them again.  This is the very best part of cruising...meeting new friends and making contact again.

At the end of the evening they took a really nice picture of us beside our boat.  Thanks Jim & Leslie, for your friendship. I hope we continue to stay in touch!!

Jacksonville, Florida

Monday, November 1, 2010

We were up early--7AM but it is still dark then. Peter fixed coffee, Jane gave the deck 1 last scrub, and we took care of Pretzel. By 8PM we dropped our lines and pushed off the dock.  Kinvara floats again!!  It was cloudy and chilly so we  had to wear jeans. They really feel uncomfortable! We haven't had them on since last Jan.  The sail North on the St John's River was easy but the wind was on our nose so no sails went up...yet. 

After going under I95 bridge and through a train bridge we pulled onto a free dock at Jacksonville Landing. It's a mall and restaurant area. There is free tie up for 72 hours. No electricity or water but it's a fun place to be. Fairly empty this time of year and especially today.  This weekend was a huge Jaguars football game and the boats were rafted 5 deep at this dock.  Party central!!

Notice the sign in the upper left corner and you'll see where we sit along the dock!!