A Sad Note

About an hour out of Titusville we listened to Coast Guard warnings of an out of control boat and 1 person in the water.  As we crossed through the NASA haul over canal and approached the Titusville train bridge we could see a police boat with lights flashing and 2 smaller power boats around the "out of control" boat. It was only a 12' open fishing boat and was spinning in circles.  Once moored in Titusville we heard on the local news that they found the person in the water. It was a 48 year old man who appeared to try to swim to shore and drowned. He did not have a life jacket on. The water was rough out there with wind advisories out and small craft warnings.  Later we saw the police towing the little open boat into Titusville.  Sad ending to a preventable accident. We should all respect the strength of wind and water.

Titusville

We woke to a windy and overcast morning in Daytona. We made the decision to leave and get to Titusville so that tomorrow we would make it back to our marina in Cape Canaveral. We fought wind and occasional rain and at times up to 3knot current from the Ponce Inlet. It was one of those days when all the elements were stacked against us. The day was brightened by the wild life we passed along the way. Just outside Daytona Beach we passed three Eagles on a rocky outcrop where we had seen them on our last trip. We were escorted by Dolphins all the way down the ICW, not the same ones all the way!!!!!!!! As usual the bird life was extensive and because of the bad weather most were perched on small islands and bridge abutments. We watched several Osprey perching on inter ICW day marks munching on their prey. It was disturbing watching some of the fish trying to wriggle to freedom to no avail. Nature all around us.
The Admiral worked wonders in the galley today. That is not to say she doesn't do this every day, but today was special. An hour or so after leaving Daytona she cooked up some awesome scrambled eggs, toast and coffee.  Later in the day she cooked a batch of chocolate chip cookies accompanied with hot steaming tea, yum yum. The day's culinary delights finished with Chicken Cordon Blue and Stove Top Stuffing. How good was all that?

Tea and Chocolate Chip Cookies

 We arrived in Titusville at three o'clock and picked up a mooring in 20 knot winds. Once again the crew performed flawlessly. We doubled up on the lines for peace of mind because a cold front is moving through the state and will not clear until after midnight.

Crazy skies heralding the cold front.

Daytona Beach

Today we travelled 54 miles in more time than it took us yesterday to go 61 miles. We left St Augustine with the tidal current and made it easily through Matanzas Inlet, a place known for terrible shoaling. We came through at almost high tide but found it had been dredged and we had no problems at all.  There were a lot of boats moving south along the ICW and a lot of pleasure boats out. We forgot it was the weekend so we had to deal with lots of rolling waves from boats moving by at high speed. That also slows down our forward speed as well as running against the current and wind for at least half of the day. 

When we turned on the GPS this morning we discovered the autopilot was 180' off the compass reading. Because of that our screen was completely in reverse. The boat icon was upside down and travelling in reverse. Try following a route in that mode!  Anyway about half way to Daytona we found a manual which explained how to recalibrate the autopilot. It worked so we hope it is correct tomorrow too!

Osprey having lunch in St Augustine

We pulled into Halifax Harbor marina for the night. The wind was blowing 20 and the current was fierce so we decided not to anchor.  Docking was not an easy feat either with the wind...and the dock hand who came to help was useless and tied the lines too loose. Our boat kept drifting into the piling between slips.  Once we retied the lines we eventually relaxed. It was so much easier to do this trip last year in 26 hours going outside!

We had a nice surprise after sunset. Three boats down from us they were decorating it with Christmas lights. The Christmas boat parade must be next weekend. Pretty!


partly done






St Augustine...again!

We came through here last year and stayed a week. This trip it's only overnight and we won't even go ashore. hanging on a mooring ball. It's a great deal at $20.20 per night.  The trip was 61 miles and went faster than we expected. We actually had the current almost the entire trip here. At the top speed we registered 11mph coming toward the St Augustine Inlet.  We tied up to the ball by 3:30 then sat and relaxed....and watched 4-5 boats try to cross an area that has shoaled and run aground!  Peter tried to warn a few on VHF but they did not respond. It's not fun to run aground but especially so when there is an audience! Luckily everyone was able to back off the mud and free themselves. Getting dark now at 5:30PM so we will have to think about dinner.

Fernandina Harbor Marina

Our plan was to leave St Mary, GA and travel to St Augustine today. Unfortunately we realized it was 70 miles and the currents and tides would not let us go that far before dark. You do not want to travel the ICW in the dark. So we waited in St Mary's until after high tide, 9:30 AM, so we could get off the dock easily.  there is up to a 4k current to work against.  Our dock mates, Mick and Tony from Australia, pushed off just before us. They are headed outside to Ft Lauderdale. Their boat cannot travel inside due to mast height. Eventually they will go through the Panama Canal and cross the Pacific to Australia.

Ahquabi leaving to dock

Safe travels to Australia!

We left the dock next without any difficulties. The trip out the St Mary's River was right at high tide and the current was with us so the first 6 miles or so were very easy.
As Ahquabi continued out the river we turned to starboard to head south toward Fernandina Beach. The outgoing tide caught up with us and we quickly went from 8mph to 2mph. The entire trip, about 8 miles took us 2.5 hours. This was our first time on this part of the ICW since 2009. Two years ago we spent Thanksgiving here and remembered well the paper plants. Back then we said, never again, but here we are!
We will leave at first light, about 6:30AM, and with the rising tide to travel the 60 miles to St Augustine.
There is a rocket launch tomorrow morning at 10AM so we should clearly see it.

Paper plant

Boats from Monrovia and Nassau
loading up 

The American Cruise Line now comes to
Fernandina harbor Marina

Thanksgiving in St Mary's

Thanksgiving in St Mary's Georgia was an experience. Two years ago when coming south on the ICW we stayed at Fernandina Harbor Marina for thanksgiving and had 5 guests aboard. This year since we were moving the boat anyway we decided to try St Mary's. We arrived on Saturday and took a space at the face dock with a view of the harbor. We could watch all the boats coming and going. At a rate of .75 per foot per day it was the best bargain!

We dressed ship in the morning

Peter had to tie off the wind
generator so it would not
tear our flags!

The morning was busy. Jane made a sweet potato casserole...island style with rum and coconut milk. She then made a port wine cranberry sauce and Peter made his traditional trifle dessert. That took most of the morning. By 11AM we sat down to take a breather but ended up watching a mess in the harbor. The wind was blowing 25 and gusting to 30-35 against the outgoing tidal current. It created a maelstrom where the anchored boats were not laying to their anchor but bouncing around in all different directions. Some boats dragged anchor and many others simply moved to different locations because they were bouncing too close to other boats. This lasted a good part of the next 3-4 hours. There were probably many who did not leave their boat to come ashore for dinner.
We left our boat about 12:15 and quickly found a table spot then joined the line. We had all of our traditional foods available, just not really hot, but nice. We sat with the father and son, Mick and Tony, who are sailing their boat back to Australia. It turned out to be a lovely day but we did miss our family in New Hampshire.

Seaview Hotel who provides turkey and ham.

Yum! A feast for Thanksgiving!

Out and About in St Mary's Georgia

This is a charming little town which is just right for a few days visit. You just have to deal with the no see ums every morning!


Waterfront park



Beautiful fountain!

Main Street



Submarine museum
King's Bay Submarine Station
is just a few miles north

Main Street gift shop

The Blue Goose Wine & Coffee shop

Office building

Main Street Inn

Main Street Catholic church....not in use anymore.
used for meetings, I think.
Beautifully preserved

Jekyll Island to St Mary, Georgia



Dawn in St. Mary's


We arrived at St Mary's, Georgia on Saturday after a uneventful four or five hour run on the ICW. Since we first traveled down the Ditch(ICW) we were warned by many boaters to avoid transiting through Georgia at all costs. We did not heed their advice and we have cruised through with some stress but no problems. You do have to be alert at all times and follow the markers and your charts diligently at all times. 

A Canadian couple in a small Non-Such(type of boat), decided to overtake us, which did not make me feel too happy, but shortly after passing they decided to cut some red markers and came to a sudden stop when they ran aground on a shoal. I don't need to tell you how I felt as we passed by on the correct side of the markers. Not long after we passed they backed off and got underway again only to put the pedal to the metal and zip by us once more to make sure they got to St Mary's before us. Just as an addendum to the story, we could have blown their socks off if we had cranked up the engine just another rev or two but we were in no rush and decided to let them feel good and superior to us lowly Americans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again we experienced the power of our armed forces on our way down the sound. We passed a Nuclear Submarine base with huge hangers and one Submarine tied up to the dock. needless to say security was high and we slid on by as quickly as possible. For those of you who have followed our blog on previous occasions you remember the stories and pictures about Cumberland Island. As we passed this time we only saw one wild horse on the shore.

As promised the week in St.Mary's is living up to expectations. Each evening at 5:30 happy hour is held at the local hotel. 4 draft beers for $5, and we all bring snacks to share. The town provides transportation to the grocery store etc. so Jane has made a few trips to stock up for Thanksgiving. She is making sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce and I am making a trifle for desert. The turkey and ham will be provided by the town and everything else provided by boaters.   

The boating community is very diverse here. Of course there are many Canadian boats but there are also boats from England, Australia and New Zealand joining all of us Americans preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving together. We will miss our family but we wish them and all our friends a very happy and peaceful Thanksgiving.

Google Map

We will update the Google map again with our location and decsription. This trip will be in blue starting in Brunswick, GA. Just click on "Where is Kinvara" at the top of the page.

Nov. 18 Jekyll Island

The last time we were here with Jim and Leslie Hamrick via car. Little did we know we would be back by boat. Kinvara was ready to go and so were the captain and admiral!  Last night Jim and Leslie stopped by for an evening cocktail and a sad parting. The problem with cruising is meeting new friends and keeping in touch but also having to say bye!



Jekyll Island club from the water.
Where the Federal Reserve was "born".




Our dinner location with Jim and Leslie Hamrick
when we were here by car!












Well, we didn't get too far from Brunswick.
The wind of last night persisted throughout the night and was full blown 20-25K by this morning. We did not want to stay but did not want to chance crossing St Andrew's sound in NE winds gusting to 30mph.  After checking the chart we decided to leave by noontime. this put us travelling through Jeckyll Creek at high tide. This is a real trouble spot for many deeper draft boats so a rising tide, going slow, and paying attention to the depth finder is essential.  We left Brunswick fighting the tide and the wind. Crossing the St Simon sound was a healthy ride but not uncomfortable.  We only motored for apx. 1.5 hours and now are safely tucked into the Jekyll Creek Marina for the night. Our travelling companions, Connie and Al from Canada followed us and decided to stop also.  So we have a short trip to St Mary's tomorrow so we will have a leisurely morning and leave here again at mid tide, apx. 11:00-11:30 and arrive by mid afternoon.

Pretzel's new "digs". She has to be on the floor
now because she at  risk of falling in her older years.

A shrimp boat which passed WAY TOO
CLOSE in the narrow Jeckyll River!

Now if we can find someone to fix our diesel heater we will be happy cruisers.  Tonight it will dip down to 49'.  It's just a little bit too chilly for our taste.

Brunswick, Georgia Nov. 13th - 18th

It is good to be back on board KINVARA. She looks great after a long hot summer at dock in Brunswick. As usual there is a long list of things to do and items to check. We have had a diver clean the shaft and prop and replace all the zincs. He informed me that the bottom paint is not holding up well and will need to be redone in the near future. This upsets me because I had it done just a year ago in Green Cove Springs. Yesterday we had a young man replace the spinnaker halyard which we inadvertently pulled out of the mast on our last visit 6 weeks ago. There are a few more items on my to-do list but I will wait until we get back to Cape Canaveral in a few weeks.
We have nothing but good things to say about Brunswick Landing Marina. They could not have been more accommodating and their facility is top class. The lounge and laundry facility is beautiful and, by the way, the laundry is free. There are about 10 boats per floating dock and each has its own covered area with grill at the top of the ramp. Parking is right at the dock with room for hundreds of vehicles. We would highly recommend this marina to anyone looking for a safe and protected marina for hurricane season.
Yesterday, Wed, we had the weekly get-together in the lounge with other boaters and as usual lots of sea stories were exchanged and plans for rendezvous discussed in various locations throughout the winter. One couple who were in the slip next to us had been in Georgetown in the Bahamas when we were there two winters ago and they were in Marathon in the Keys last winter when we were there but we never met until this week.
I had to add the pictures of the birds especially for my cousin Ann in England. I know you would loose the farm if you were here with us. Jane has been going out of her mind trying to keep the deck washed from all the bombardments. I hope they don't decide to escort us south tomorrow!!!!!!!!!


The birds are migrating and flocking
all around the marina!



They chose the trees next to us to roost in.



We will be leaving here tomorrow morning and heading for St Mary, Georgia for Thanksgiving. The town puts on a big spread for up to 100 boats each year and we have been told it is an awesome week of celebrating.. The weather is still a little snotty here so we will travel down the ICW with a few other boats from here. The trip should take about 6 or 7 hours all going well and no bottom coming up to grab us!!!  I would be remiss if I did not mention the third member of the crew. She is not very active any more but she seems to be happy to be with us and she spends most of the time wrapped up in her bed snoozing away. She is a trooper.

Veteran's Day 2011

While we celebrate Veteran's Day in the USA every November 11,  we just discovered the same day in England is "Remembrance Day" to honor the end of WW1.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day)

 In honor of these days we want to share pictures of the veteran's in our life. Theirs is a story of love, honor, integrity, and courage at home and abroad.

Jane's Dad, Joe Deasy...
Captain US Army Air Corp
World War 2
Pacific Theater B24 bomber



Jane's Mom, Dorothy Deasy, who supported the troops
from home. She waited 2 years for Joe to return
from active duty.




Peter's Dad, Edward Bugg
Captain Royal Engineers
African Corp



Peter's Mom, Jennie O'Dea
Wedding Day in Egypt
Nurse Army Corp
North Africa

Ups and Downs

November found us attending a Polynesian Luau right here in Solivita. We attended with our neighbors, Jack and Clare Donovan, and Terry and Dee Roderick. The food was delicious, the show fun, and the company even better!

Three amigos

Three ladies

The music was great!

fire dancers

Hula

Ooo-la-la!!

The downside of our life in Solivita was discovering a leak in our outside bedroom wall. It came from the outdoor faucet which was obviously hit by lawn equipment and was dripping both outside and inside our wall. We discovered the leak by finding mold growing on our baseboard. After a bit of back and forth between Peter and the landscaping company we now have Serv-Pro fixing it for us. They came to remove the baseboard, roll back the carpet, and cut off some of the drywall. We have had a huge blower/ hepa filter blowing in the room for 2 days now. Now that the wall is dry they will return to clean the carpet, repair the drywall section, and replace the baseboard.  the landscape company finally took ownership so we are very happy this seems to be resolved!

No little green parachutes like the ad!

Offensive mold

Drywall cut away exposing the block
and pressure treated wood

Really powerful blower and air filter