Last day (for now)

Tomorrow we fly home, why I don't know it was 80 today and not a cloud in the sky.  I am looking forward to being home for the holidays.  I spent the whole day cleaning the boat inside and out.  We will be away from the boat for a little over 7 weeks so I wanted to make sure everything is secure.  As promised below are pictures from our last leg to Ft. Myers Beach.

This was a cool sculpture on the waterway out side Ft. Myers.  It is two Manatees.

A little bit of "double wide" heaven down by the river.

It is hard to miss Ft. Myers with their high rise condos.

This is the north end of Ft. Myers Beach, very nice.

This is coming into Rives condo complex.  the slip is at the left end of the building tucked inside, I could not ask for a better place to leave my boat.  Thanks Rives and Kathy!!

Greg

olga to Ft. Myers Beach, FL

We made it!  The boat is in Rives slip.  This afternoon we started the process of unloading the boat.  It is amazing how much stuff we have kept on the boat. Since we are leaving it here until the second week in January I felt we should clean it out.  Tomorrow we will clean her up.  It is hard to believe I have been living on the boat since September 15th.  What is harder to believe, Candy has been on the boat since Oct. 17 with only one night ashore, now that is unbelievable!  We have had a blast doing this together.  I will blog tomorrow night and include some pictures from today's trip.  The camera is still on the boat.

Greg

Stuart to Olga (almost Ft. Myers) FL

This is the first time I have been able to get to the Blog since we left Stuart.  Stuart is the start of the trip across the state to Ft. Myers Beach where I am leaving the boat for the holidays.  We will be flying home on Thursday the 18th.  For this leg of our adventure we are taking the Okeechobee Waterway, which like the ICW, a series of rivers and canals with the gigantic Lake Okeechobee thrown in.  The trip across includes 5 locks, two up to the lake and three down to the Gulf.  Our first stop was Saturday night at the Indian Town Marina.  They hosted a cook out that night which gave us an opportunity to meet some fellow travelers.  The marina has this huge field filled with boats.  People leave their boats here in the spring and come back in the early winter to launch them to go cruising.  the opposite of what we do up north.   The above picture is of us in the first lock, we were the only boat in the lock.  we were lifted 13 feet.

The captain is getting the boat ready to sail across the lake, about 25 miles to the other side.

We had been looking for alligators since the Alligator river in North Carolina.  We finally found them, a bunch of them along the canal from Clewiston to Moore Haven.

We saw two air boats along the Caloosahatchee Canal.  Today we negotiated two locks, one swing bridge and two Draw bridges.  Tomorrow we will have a short day, we are only about 30 miles from Ft. Myers Beach.

Greg 

Vero Beach to Stuart, FL

We got off a little after 8:30 this morning.  The first picture is the send off committee.

We had "small craft warnings" posted today but of course Captain Kelly forged  ahead and scoffed at such wimpy weather warnings!  When your in the ICW they don't really mean anything.  We did have the wind at our backs so it did help us along. the next picture is of the Ft Pierce Inlet.  I don't know if you will be able to see the surf line but it demonstrated to me that I was glad I was in the ICW.

The next picture shows my hard working crew!

When we finally got to Stuart we had three bridge's to go through that are about 500 yards apart.  The first is a 65' fixed, no problem, the next is a railroad draw bridge, no problem because they are always open unless a train is coming, the third is another draw bridge for cars.  The procedure is to call on the VHF radio and request an opening, I did and was told to proceed and they will open for me.  So I started to proceed when the bridge tender call me back and told me to stop, because the red light on the train bridge was flashing.  You see the train bridge is automated, so when a train is coming the red light comes on and the bridge comes down.  Ok so I have to wait a few minutes, no big deal!  Well the light flashed for a good 15 minutes before the bridge finally came down.  So I thought finally the train is coming.  Another 15 minutes goes by,  now we have a half dozen boats on either side of the two bridges waiting.  The car bridge tender calls on the VHF and tells all the waiting boats that she called the train control office and they assured the bridge tender a train was indeed coming through.  Well it did finally come through and it was a long one.  Well after about 45 minutes it was like a NASCAR start, everyone tried to go through at once, by the way it was getting dark too.

Waiting for the train bridge to go down.

Finally the train comes through!

Greg

Melbourne Beach to Vero Beach, FL

We had a short run down to Vero Beach to visit Chuck and Abigail Winans.  We arrived a little after noon, and Chuck was waiting on the dock to take our lines.  He gave us the grand tour of Vero Beach, very nice! This evening they invited us to a cocktail party at the club house and we met some people from the Cape.  When we returned to their house Abigail put together a scrumptious dinner.  We have been spoiled the last two nights between the Winans and the Greers.  The pictures are of Vero Beach from the Sea Oaks Club, part of the Winans community.

Greg

Cocoa to Melbourne Beach, FL

This morning we went out for breakfast, a treat.  We had planned a short sail to Melbourne Beach so I took the time this morning to clean out the ice box. It had not been done since I left Cape Cod.  But more importantly I needed to inventory my Guinness supply in the bottom of the ice box.  It was determined that my supply is critically low! Procedures dictate that resupply must take top priority!  The reason for stopping at Melbourne Beach is Bill Greer has a house there and he had invited Candy and I to stop buy.  Bill came out in his boat to greet us and guide us to a safe anchorage close to his house.  He took us food shopping while Alice prepared a wonderful dinner and Bill had Guinness.  We had a great visit, thank you Bill and Alice.

New Smynra Beach to Cocoa, FL

Today we sailed 51 miles.  We went through what is called Mosquito Lagoon, about 15 miles long.  That is when we first could see the assembly building for the Space Shuttle. The first picture was taken at mile 868 when we turned into the Haulover Canal.  However we were able to see the building in the far distance shortly after we left New Symrna at about mile 855. The last picture of the building was taken at mile 894, that is one big building.  I did use maximum zoom on my camera.  The Kennedy Space Flight Center takes up a big chunk of land!

Candy and I have become Pelican admirers!  They are graceful fliers, they glide just above the water then swoop up, then dive into the water to get a fish.  The next pictures are of some pelicans we saw today.

The last picture is of me at the ready to do battle with the attacking black flies.  I am happy to report that Candy and I dispatched them all in short order.

Greg

Daytona Beach to New Smyrna Beach, FL

This morning was "do some chores" time.  Before we left Daytona Beach I scrubbed the bottom of the dinghy, emptied the porta-potty, walked 5 blocks to buy some alcohol for the stove and went to West Marine to look for some charts.  We left at about 11:00 AM.  We planed for a short day on the water, we went about 15 miles to New Smyrna Beach.  It is much warmer today, I am back to shorts and t-shirts.  The first picture is just someones winter hideaway along the ICW.

The next is the light house marking the Ponce de Leon inlet

Some old fort runes on the harbor at New Symrna

Peter I found your old boat in New Smyrna Beach.  She looks good and apparently the warm water agrees with her because she is about 40' long now!

Greg

Fernandina Beach to Daytona Beach, FL

The above picture is worth 1,000 words!  Since we arrived in sunny Florida we have enjoyed the coldest weather since I left Cape Cod.  For the last 3 days the wind has been strong out of the north west 15 to 20 with gust 25 to 30.  Today we arrived in Daytona Beach early so we could do some site seeing.  There was an arts festival in the old town section that has been restored, very nice.  Yesterday we went past St. Augustine but didn't stop, but should have.  I was pushing to head south to find some heat.  After St. Augustine we had the current against us, so our progress slowed to as slow as 2.5 kn over the bottom even though my knot meter read 5.5 kn. Despite the slow progress we did make our goal of Palm Coast, FL.  The pictures are of St. Augustine, from the water, and Daytona Beach.

Daytona Beach

Greg

Jekyll Island, GA to Fernandina Beach, FL

This is our third gray day, we haven't seen the sun since Monday!  When we left Jekyll Island we had a fair current, that is a good thing.  This leg has us going out the Jekyll Sound inlet to get around Horseshoe Shoal, they obviously stole the name from Nantucket Sound.  It is the only place on the ICW where you have to go outside, it was a little rough.  You then enter the Cumberland River.  Well you can't have a fair tide going out and going in, so we fought the current almost all day.  We were going 5kn through the water but only 2.5kn over the ground, slow go!  If the first picture loaded it would be of the lighthouse at the entrance to Cumberland River.  At the head of the Cumberland river it dumps into the Cumberland Sound where the Kings Bay Navy sub base is, only saw one Sub.  Just before the inlet the ICW hooks off to the right and into Florida.  Sorry no pictures today, they just would not load. 

Greg

Moon River, GA to Jekyll Island, GA

The last two days have been about putting some miles under the keel.  Yesterday it was overcast and cold.  The wind in the morning wasn't too bad, but as the day progressed the wind built.  We had to cross several sounds where the current was opposed to the wind, very uncomfortable.  Candy was a trooper through it all, and it was relentless all day.  When we anchored for the night the wind didn't quit.  My new anchor held through the night.  I set the anchor alarm on the GPS so I would know if we dragged.  Today the wind was moderate so I was able to roll out the jib to help us through the areas where we had adverse current.  We didn't take any pictures yesterday.  Today we took a few, by far the best is the first one of me using my pocket knife to peal my orange.  I know the lunch room gang would like that!

This next picture is of St. Simon light house at the St. Simon inlet to the Atlantic.

The last picture is of the club house on Jekyll Island.  You may know this island was at one time an exclusive retreat for the old Robber Barons of the late 19th century like J.P. Morgan and friends.  They all had "Cottages" some with 16 bedrooms, but no kitchens because everyone was expected to dine at the "Club House" 

If all goes well we will be in Florida tomorrow.

  Greg

Beaufort, SC to Isle of Hope, GA

We I finally did it!  I ran aground this morning, completely my fault.  When we left the dock I didn't check the charts or the GPS so about 1/4 mile from the docks we hit the mud on a falling tide!  Luckily I was able to power off.  Our first sight seeing venture of the day was Parris Island, it is on the ICW.



Our next site was Hilton Head, SC .  I know it is a real nice place, however you can't see much from the ICW.

We had a lot of twist and turns today but finally made it to the Savannah River and crossed into Georgia.  But we had to wait for this baby to pass by before we crossed the Savannah.

It was a nice sunny day so the Captain and First Mate dressed for the weather.

The last picture is of the cemetery that has the grave stone that was used for the jacket cover for the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"  Now that is what I would file under an obscure tid-bit.  I did read the book but I didn't see the movie.  Candy and I did take the tour in Savannah that included the cemetery, it was around the time the movie came out. Little did I know that I would be cruising down the ICW in my boat that went right by the infamous cemetery!

Greg

Charleston to Beaufort, SC

Yesterday we left Charleston about 8:30 AM.  I got some good pictures of the city sailing across the harbor.

Unfortunately I am only able to up load one!  Over the last two days I took 29 pictures.  Well I will try to explain what our last two days were like.  However I know a picture is worth a 1,000 words and I did take 29 pictures which you may expect a 29,000 word blog, that is not going to happen. 

We had adverse current most of the day and very light winds.  We are in what is called the low country, lots of marsh and creeks.  The ICW meanders around from river to creek to cuts and back to a river.  The scenery is beautiful.  Last night we anchored out in a very remote creek.  The only lights we could see were the flashing red and green lights on the marks.  This morning we headed to Beaufort, SC.  We found this to be one of the nicest ports we have visited.  The water front has been made into a beautiful park.  We borrowed the courtesy car that the marina provides to do some shopping at the Piggly Wiggly.  We did our laundry and then went out to dinner at Luthers where they have $1.00 drafts on Sunday nights.  The marina has wi-fi but for some reason the pictures are just not loading.

We hope to be in Georgia tomorrow.  It is my understanding that the ICW goes through some very remote areas so I am not sure if I will be able to blog, we will see.

Greg 

Georgetown, SC to Charleston, SC

Our goal today was to try and do 50 miles.  We made 59 miles, just short of Charleston.  I can see it from where we anchored.  We were stopped short by a bridge schedule.  The last swing bridge that connects Sullivan Island to Charleston closes at 4:00 PM, we were about 20 min. late.  Now we have to wait until 9:00 AM for it to start operating again.  We were able to cover all those miles because we had a north west wind.  I was able to fly the jib all day, it made the difference.  There isn't much to see along this part of the ICW.  I included a sunrise and sunset picture and a couple of typical pictures of the waterway.  The fancy house was on the Isle of Palms just across the bay from Charleston.  Tomorrow we are not going to do the Charleston tourist thing.  Candy and I have been there, so we would rather move on and stop at some place that we have not been to.

Greg

Little River, SC to Georgetown, SC

On Wednesday we got under way at 11:00 AM.  We had a wonderful time at the Baty's.  Vicki treated us royally.  We had a wonderful home cooked meal, great conversation, did our laundry, watched "Dancing With The Stars" and slept in a real bed!  In the morning we did some grocery shopping and were on our way.  The first picture is of the narrow river. The next is a real curious one, Gondolas going over the river!  I don't know why but I could not resist taking the picture.

I took the next two farther down the river of this house over looking the ICW and then the bridge.  The significance of the two is that the bridge was a private bridge to access the exclusive neighborhood, just like Brian's and my neighborhood's in Weymouth!

We stopped for the night just off the ICW up a little creek in the middle of nowhere.  The boat just stayed side ways to the wind with the current opposed, it was odd but safe.  This morning I changed the oil in the outboard motor, I have been doing that every 500 miles.  Our trip today to Georgetown was only 20 miles.  The next picture is of an abandon rice field.  This area of South Carolina at one time produced over half of rice consumed in the states.  Then I have a few pictures coming into Georgetown.

This afternoon we had a nice lunch at a waterfront restaurant, no Guinness so I had to settle with a Red Stripe.  After that we took a tour of this historic house.  It was a gift to his daughter and it came with 32 slaves.  The last picture is Candy wishing she lived in a different time!

Greg