Log 47
Hilton Head to Charleston
6:45 AM
Saturday, May 20, 2000
City Marina
Charleston, SC.
Day 48
I got an e-mail from a couple of you to let me know that a couple of the e-mails were messed up, so I resent them. I hope they came out ok this time.
The trip up from Hilton Head to Charleston was great. The weather was near perfect. A little windy, but other than that, it was excellent. We got out right on time, about 6:45. As soon as we got back on the waterway the terrain looked familiar. Boring, winding marshes. Even the flies came back. But in a short amount of time, things began to change, and it was hillier, and much prettier. We all commented that this trip was much nicer than the day before.
When we were about half way to Charleston I heard a sailboat call on the radio “Do you have any idea how much of a wake you cause when 8 boats pass you the way you do?” I looked back and couldn’t see anyone, but I had an idea what happened. Later I heard another boater on the radio “hey, do you guys have any consideration for your wake? I figured there must be a group of people traveling together. About 15 miles from Charleston I heard a boat that I had met earlier (he was heading south, and I was heading north) call out “If I was the leader of your group, I’d show you how to meet another boater without such a huge wake”. So now I knew there must be a group traveling together, and they were much closer to me now. About 10 miles from Charleston we had to stop for a railroad bridge, and while we waited for them to open, we looked behind us, and they were coming on strong. I decided by the way they were moving I did not want to be a part of this group, so I told the lead boat to tell his group to pass me, and I would follow. While we waited for all of them to get through the bridge I mentioned to Darrell, “I sure glad I’m not with them”. It didn’t take very long to be glad I wasn’t, because in a few minutes you heard on the radio “YOU IDIOT! DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR WAKE DOES? DON’T YOU KNOW YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WAKE? YOU HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE OF MY BOAT.” I’m not sure if this lead boat was not on the radio, or didn’t care, because he did not return the message, and seemed to pay no attention, because the person he “waked” kept hollering, and the armada evidently kept going. The thing that the convoy didn’t know is that they had just waked the wrong boater. He started calling the Coast Guard, and they responded. Darrell and I were listening to the whole thing, and when we came around the bend to Charleston Harbor here was the Coast Guard, blue lights flashing, with all the boats around them. Very interesting.
We arrived Charleston about 2:30. It was pretty windy, and made the docking, against the wind, very interesting. It ended up being no problem, and as soon as we tied up we got some fuel ($1.19), and cleaned up the boat. (I don’t know if the boat has ever looked better)
We decided we would get ready, and head into downtown, but we ended up sitting on the bridge, and enjoying a beer while we watched all of the traffic go by. (The boat is docked on an inside wall right next to the Intracoastal, the harbor, and the fuel dock, so it is very busy) As it turned out we didn’t leave the boat until about 5:30, so our tour of Charleston consisted of about 15 minutes of walking the streets, and then paying two college kids $20 to ride in the back of their “rickshaws” and take us to the Boathouse for dinner. Except for them overcooking my steak, (we were on the east coast, I should have had sea food anyway) we had a great meal, and took a taxi back to the boat, and we were back before dark. To say the least, we are not party animals.
Today…
Sad day. Darrell and Donna are getting ready to leave as I type this. In fact as I look out at the back deck, their bags are lined up, and ready to go. It’s only 7:35, so maybe they want to be out before I ask them to help with some boat maintainance.
Speaking of maintainance, that is how I’m going to spend my day. Nothing major, but I need to clean the A/C filters, check the water in the batteries, and clean all of the fresh water strainers. I also need to check out the vent to the holding tank. It seems to be clogged. (That sounds like fun doesn’t it?) Deb said she would spend most of here day doing laundry, (she is already at the laundry mat as we speak) and cleaning the inside of the boat.
By the time we get that all done, Steve, and Chris will be here. Their flight gets in at 4:15, so they should be here by dinnertime.
Before I end this log I thought I’d add a couple of highlights of the week:
Great weather every day
2 great days on the Atlantic
We saw 2 submarines
Touched a manatee
No mechanical problems
600 miles of cruising
Great crew!
It’s been a very good week.
BK.
Saturday, May 20, 2000
Friday, May 19, 2000
Chapter 46: St. Simons Island to Hilton Head
Log 46
ST. Simons Island, GA to Hilton Head, SC.
5:30 AM
Friday, May 19, 2000
Harbortown Marina
Hilton Head, SC.
Day 47
With all of the terrible weather, I feel bad telling everyone how great our weather is. But it is!
We had a great day yesterday. We untied our lines at 6:45, and rejoined the Intracoastal at MM 667. The sun was just coming up, and it was about 75 degrees. (Which is almost 20 degrees warmer than it will be at home today) The waterway through Georgia continued to look the same. Fairly wide, and easy to navigate. There were only two problems. First of all, it was pretty boring. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have traded places with anyone, but each mile looked almost like the last. The other problem that we had to deal with was the flies. Big flies, and lots of them. In fact we had to go fast so they didn’t bother us as bad. (Keep in mind we were traveling through miles, and miles of marshes) I also came up with another reason not to own a sailboat, because they wouldn’t be able to “outrun” the flies. (I hope I never end up owning a sailboat, and having to eat all of these words)
There were two bright spots to the trip yesterday. The first one was going through a small town called Thunderbolt. This is where they make Palmer Johnson boats, and they had a bunch of them (average size over 100 feet) sitting out so we could admire them as we passed. In fact one pulled out right in front of us, and then followed us up the waterway. The other bright spot was our destination. This marina we are staying is very nice. (And pricey too. They charge you 1.75 per foot, per night) Actually this is a small complex of stores, and restaurants, and it is all built around the marina. It’s not very large, but neat. Last night there was two different areas of live music, both within ear shot of our boat. This morning as I write this it is still dark out, and the harbor is very pretty. (I’m not sure if I didn’t see it in the dark last night, or my appreciation of beauty it keener in the morning)
Anyway….we got to Harbortown at about 3:30 yesterday, after traveling over 100 miles. We took on some fuel ($1.33), pumped out the holding tank, and we were at the slip by 4:30.
Side note: The four of us have really got a routine down for docking, and cleaning the boat. Everyone has a job, and they do it without much discussion. I’m not sure how this even came about, but the last three days this has happened, and it’s worked great. When we get done, the boat is all tied down properly, very clean, and all organized for the next event. Cocktail Hour!!
After getting all of this done yesterday we all took a walk around the shops a little (no marine store..what’s up with that?) They also have a big lighthouse at the entrance to the harbor, which you can climb to the top of. And we did. (We took a couple of pictures, from up there, so if they turn out, I’ll put them on the web page.) When we came back to the boat Deb had dinner ready. She made chicken enchiladas, and they were great. After dinner Darrell and I went to get an ice cream cone, and everyone was glued to TV set to watch the final episodes of Friends, and Frasier. (Hey…. we have to stay touch!)
Today…
Heading for Charleston. It’s supposed to be another very nice day. Sunny, and almost 90 degrees. This is our last full day with Darrell and Donna, so we need to make the most of it. (Like we haven’t done every day since they got here)
Right now I’ve got to go to work. I must fire up these engines. Organize the charts, and get the captains area set to go. Darrell will unhook the power cord, and water hose from the dock. Right before we untie the lines, I’ll pour a fresh cup of coffee, and climb to the bridge to survey the situation, and then give the command “lets go”. Then we will have to grab the sunglasses because the sun will just be coming up, and get prepared for another 6 to 8 hours of cruising. Am I lucky, or what????
See ya……
BK
ST. Simons Island, GA to Hilton Head, SC.
5:30 AM
Friday, May 19, 2000
Harbortown Marina
Hilton Head, SC.
Day 47
With all of the terrible weather, I feel bad telling everyone how great our weather is. But it is!
We had a great day yesterday. We untied our lines at 6:45, and rejoined the Intracoastal at MM 667. The sun was just coming up, and it was about 75 degrees. (Which is almost 20 degrees warmer than it will be at home today) The waterway through Georgia continued to look the same. Fairly wide, and easy to navigate. There were only two problems. First of all, it was pretty boring. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have traded places with anyone, but each mile looked almost like the last. The other problem that we had to deal with was the flies. Big flies, and lots of them. In fact we had to go fast so they didn’t bother us as bad. (Keep in mind we were traveling through miles, and miles of marshes) I also came up with another reason not to own a sailboat, because they wouldn’t be able to “outrun” the flies. (I hope I never end up owning a sailboat, and having to eat all of these words)
There were two bright spots to the trip yesterday. The first one was going through a small town called Thunderbolt. This is where they make Palmer Johnson boats, and they had a bunch of them (average size over 100 feet) sitting out so we could admire them as we passed. In fact one pulled out right in front of us, and then followed us up the waterway. The other bright spot was our destination. This marina we are staying is very nice. (And pricey too. They charge you 1.75 per foot, per night) Actually this is a small complex of stores, and restaurants, and it is all built around the marina. It’s not very large, but neat. Last night there was two different areas of live music, both within ear shot of our boat. This morning as I write this it is still dark out, and the harbor is very pretty. (I’m not sure if I didn’t see it in the dark last night, or my appreciation of beauty it keener in the morning)
Anyway….we got to Harbortown at about 3:30 yesterday, after traveling over 100 miles. We took on some fuel ($1.33), pumped out the holding tank, and we were at the slip by 4:30.
Side note: The four of us have really got a routine down for docking, and cleaning the boat. Everyone has a job, and they do it without much discussion. I’m not sure how this even came about, but the last three days this has happened, and it’s worked great. When we get done, the boat is all tied down properly, very clean, and all organized for the next event. Cocktail Hour!!
After getting all of this done yesterday we all took a walk around the shops a little (no marine store..what’s up with that?) They also have a big lighthouse at the entrance to the harbor, which you can climb to the top of. And we did. (We took a couple of pictures, from up there, so if they turn out, I’ll put them on the web page.) When we came back to the boat Deb had dinner ready. She made chicken enchiladas, and they were great. After dinner Darrell and I went to get an ice cream cone, and everyone was glued to TV set to watch the final episodes of Friends, and Frasier. (Hey…. we have to stay touch!)
Today…
Heading for Charleston. It’s supposed to be another very nice day. Sunny, and almost 90 degrees. This is our last full day with Darrell and Donna, so we need to make the most of it. (Like we haven’t done every day since they got here)
Right now I’ve got to go to work. I must fire up these engines. Organize the charts, and get the captains area set to go. Darrell will unhook the power cord, and water hose from the dock. Right before we untie the lines, I’ll pour a fresh cup of coffee, and climb to the bridge to survey the situation, and then give the command “lets go”. Then we will have to grab the sunglasses because the sun will just be coming up, and get prepared for another 6 to 8 hours of cruising. Am I lucky, or what????
See ya……
BK
Thursday, May 18, 2000
Chapter 45: St. Augustine to St. Simons Island
Log 45
ST. Augustine to ST. Simons Island, GA.
5:35 AM
Thursday, May 18, 2000
Golden Isles Marina
ST. Simons Island, Ga.
Day 46
We had a great day yesterday.
We left our marina in ST. Augustine about 6:30 just as it was starting to get light. In fact the sun didn’t come up until we were just north of the city. And when it did, it was beautiful. The first hour or so was a little cool, as the temperature was about 70. Then it warmed up nicely, and finally got to about 85 later in the day.
The Intracoastal has taken some very dramatic changes. Since we entered the Intracoastal in FT. Meyers, in January, the waterway has been narrow, with lots of population. Once we crossed the ST. Johns River near Jacksonville, and entered Georgia, the waterway opened up, and all day yesterday we were in much wider waters bordered by marshland. The markers were much farther apart, and the water is much deeper. These marshes are very close to the coast, and at times open up to huge “sounds” where they meet the Atlantic Ocean. The other thing changing is the tides. They are much larger, and they happen twice a day, verses once a day in parts of Florida. (How does that happen?) These tides really affect travel in certain places, because it can increase, or decrease your speed by up to 2 to 4 miles an hour. You should see some of the sail boats try to fight this tide sometimes. (As if I didn’t already have enough reasons not to own one of those, here’s one more)
We made great time yesterday. We started at mile marker 778, and made it to mile marker 677. It was a beautiful day, and we were able to make good time in those back marshes. We were at our marina by about 2:30. Once we got here we took on some fuel, ($1.25) and washed the boat. This is a great marina with all of the amenities, including a ship store, a bar, and a pool. We used all three. (Yes… Deb found a Pina Colada. And Darrell is becoming quite the Margarita Man)
I guess the most interesting fact about yesterday is how I can see the boating changing. No more mega yachts. No more million-dollar homes lining the water. We now see much smaller boats, and very modest lifestyle. Because we have been through here before (in 1992 when I took a friends 47 foot boat from Tampa to Philadelphia) I know what to expect, but it is very interesting to see the contrast. I have told people before that in this trip you see the almost every style of boating you can imagine, and it is sure proving to be true. (In one area we saw what slightly resembled a boat, and it looked like it might be floating. We assumed it had been abandon, until we saw someone come from the inside, and then we realized he probably lived there.)
In case I haven’t mentioned it lately. This trip is AWESOME!
Today….
It’s 6:05 now, and 74 degrees. The plan is to leave between 6:30 & 7. We would like to make it to mile marker 565, and Hilton Head Island, so we have to go about 110 miles. If we can make time like yesterday, it should be no problem. If we make it to Hilton Head, we only have to get another 80 miles or so on Friday, in order to get Darrell and Donna to Charleston where they can get a rental car. They will then drive to Myrtle Beach to catch a flight home. Charleston is also where Steve, and Chris fly into, on Saturday.
Well I need to get going…
BK.
ST. Augustine to ST. Simons Island, GA.
5:35 AM
Thursday, May 18, 2000
Golden Isles Marina
ST. Simons Island, Ga.
Day 46
We had a great day yesterday.
We left our marina in ST. Augustine about 6:30 just as it was starting to get light. In fact the sun didn’t come up until we were just north of the city. And when it did, it was beautiful. The first hour or so was a little cool, as the temperature was about 70. Then it warmed up nicely, and finally got to about 85 later in the day.
The Intracoastal has taken some very dramatic changes. Since we entered the Intracoastal in FT. Meyers, in January, the waterway has been narrow, with lots of population. Once we crossed the ST. Johns River near Jacksonville, and entered Georgia, the waterway opened up, and all day yesterday we were in much wider waters bordered by marshland. The markers were much farther apart, and the water is much deeper. These marshes are very close to the coast, and at times open up to huge “sounds” where they meet the Atlantic Ocean. The other thing changing is the tides. They are much larger, and they happen twice a day, verses once a day in parts of Florida. (How does that happen?) These tides really affect travel in certain places, because it can increase, or decrease your speed by up to 2 to 4 miles an hour. You should see some of the sail boats try to fight this tide sometimes. (As if I didn’t already have enough reasons not to own one of those, here’s one more)
We made great time yesterday. We started at mile marker 778, and made it to mile marker 677. It was a beautiful day, and we were able to make good time in those back marshes. We were at our marina by about 2:30. Once we got here we took on some fuel, ($1.25) and washed the boat. This is a great marina with all of the amenities, including a ship store, a bar, and a pool. We used all three. (Yes… Deb found a Pina Colada. And Darrell is becoming quite the Margarita Man)
I guess the most interesting fact about yesterday is how I can see the boating changing. No more mega yachts. No more million-dollar homes lining the water. We now see much smaller boats, and very modest lifestyle. Because we have been through here before (in 1992 when I took a friends 47 foot boat from Tampa to Philadelphia) I know what to expect, but it is very interesting to see the contrast. I have told people before that in this trip you see the almost every style of boating you can imagine, and it is sure proving to be true. (In one area we saw what slightly resembled a boat, and it looked like it might be floating. We assumed it had been abandon, until we saw someone come from the inside, and then we realized he probably lived there.)
In case I haven’t mentioned it lately. This trip is AWESOME!
Today….
It’s 6:05 now, and 74 degrees. The plan is to leave between 6:30 & 7. We would like to make it to mile marker 565, and Hilton Head Island, so we have to go about 110 miles. If we can make time like yesterday, it should be no problem. If we make it to Hilton Head, we only have to get another 80 miles or so on Friday, in order to get Darrell and Donna to Charleston where they can get a rental car. They will then drive to Myrtle Beach to catch a flight home. Charleston is also where Steve, and Chris fly into, on Saturday.
Well I need to get going…
BK.
Wednesday, May 17, 2000
Chapter 44: Daytona to St. Augustine
Log 44
Daytona to ST. Augustine
5:05 AM
Wednesday, May 17, 2000
ST. Augustine Municipal Marina
ST. Augustine, FL.
Day 45
Yesterday was a great day…
We were in no real hurry to leave yesterday morning because we only were going a little over 50 miles. After I typed my log, I walked down the dock to send my e-mail, and it was beautiful. At 6:15 there was almost no wind, it was already 75 degrees, and the sun was just coming over the horizon. I was surrounded by huge boats, in a beautiful marina, and I thought to myself that this must be heaven. If not, it ought to be like that. As Barb, my mother in law, would say “If you can find something better than this, I’ll go in with ya”
We left the marina about 8:00, and took our time going through Daytona. It was nice, but the farther north we went the nicer it got. The water way narrowed quite a bit, and some of the homes that lined the water were amazing. The entire trip was pretty, some wide areas, but mostly narrow rivers, and man made canals. It wasn’t until we got almost to ST. Augustine that it widened again. A very enjoyable ride.
We arrived at ST. Augustine about 1:00 PM. We didn’t need any fuel, so we pulled directly into our slip, and we had no more than tied up when it started raining. It was weird, because it didn’t even look like rain until all of a sudden it started to sprinkle, and we looked up to see one cloud. One dark cloud. It turns out the rain was over the Atlantic, and the wind switched, blowing it in. It only lasted about 20 minutes, and we sat up on the bridge, and watched it.
After the short rain the sun came back out in force. We washed the boat, I checked in at the marina, and visited the marine supply store. Nothing new! Donna wanted to see some of ST. Augustine, so we chose a marina that was right down town. We all decided to take a walk into town with different agendas. Donna wanted to site see a little. Deb was looking for the perfect Pina Colada. I was looking for a hardware store. Darrell? I don’t know, I think he was just glad to be with us. As it turned out we didn’t find anything we were looking for, but I don’t think we cared.
A short note here; during our walk I got a call from Neal Walsh, our customer in Richmond. He was not having a good day, and he said “he wanted to talk to someone about something other than business” He knew I was making this trip, so we talked about how it was going. The point of all of this is as we were hanging up he said “Have a great time, your guys are handling things just fine” If he would have given me a sack full of money he wouldn’t have made me any happier.
While walking around we found a place for Deb to try the Pina Coloda’s. She said they were ok, but I found the perfect Margarita. Or at least I can’t remember one better. After that we split up. Deb, and Donna stayed in town, and Darrell and I went back to the boat, where I spent about an hour with the charts, getting ready for the today.
The evening was great as well. We walked into town and ate at a place called Harry’s. Great seafood, and they even gave us a 10% discount for staying at the marina. Back to the boat, and a short walk up and down the docks to walk our dinner off, and we called it a night. Even Darrell went to bed early. (9:00)
Today….
Up a little earlier than usual. (4:45) I need to get this log written, and we are going to head out at first light. We have about 100 miles to go today, and all on the inside. Having made this part of the trip before I seem to remember the waterway changing quite a bit from here. Once we get past Jacksonville, it turns from rivers, to swamps, with only a narrow ditch to navigate in. It’s not really a problem, just slower going than in some areas. The other thing we have to contend with from here is being much more affected by the tides. They range from 5 to 8 feet, and the current they make, can really change the speed you can go.
I’ll keep you posted….
BK
Daytona to ST. Augustine
5:05 AM
Wednesday, May 17, 2000
ST. Augustine Municipal Marina
ST. Augustine, FL.
Day 45
Yesterday was a great day…
We were in no real hurry to leave yesterday morning because we only were going a little over 50 miles. After I typed my log, I walked down the dock to send my e-mail, and it was beautiful. At 6:15 there was almost no wind, it was already 75 degrees, and the sun was just coming over the horizon. I was surrounded by huge boats, in a beautiful marina, and I thought to myself that this must be heaven. If not, it ought to be like that. As Barb, my mother in law, would say “If you can find something better than this, I’ll go in with ya”
We left the marina about 8:00, and took our time going through Daytona. It was nice, but the farther north we went the nicer it got. The water way narrowed quite a bit, and some of the homes that lined the water were amazing. The entire trip was pretty, some wide areas, but mostly narrow rivers, and man made canals. It wasn’t until we got almost to ST. Augustine that it widened again. A very enjoyable ride.
We arrived at ST. Augustine about 1:00 PM. We didn’t need any fuel, so we pulled directly into our slip, and we had no more than tied up when it started raining. It was weird, because it didn’t even look like rain until all of a sudden it started to sprinkle, and we looked up to see one cloud. One dark cloud. It turns out the rain was over the Atlantic, and the wind switched, blowing it in. It only lasted about 20 minutes, and we sat up on the bridge, and watched it.
After the short rain the sun came back out in force. We washed the boat, I checked in at the marina, and visited the marine supply store. Nothing new! Donna wanted to see some of ST. Augustine, so we chose a marina that was right down town. We all decided to take a walk into town with different agendas. Donna wanted to site see a little. Deb was looking for the perfect Pina Colada. I was looking for a hardware store. Darrell? I don’t know, I think he was just glad to be with us. As it turned out we didn’t find anything we were looking for, but I don’t think we cared.
A short note here; during our walk I got a call from Neal Walsh, our customer in Richmond. He was not having a good day, and he said “he wanted to talk to someone about something other than business” He knew I was making this trip, so we talked about how it was going. The point of all of this is as we were hanging up he said “Have a great time, your guys are handling things just fine” If he would have given me a sack full of money he wouldn’t have made me any happier.
While walking around we found a place for Deb to try the Pina Coloda’s. She said they were ok, but I found the perfect Margarita. Or at least I can’t remember one better. After that we split up. Deb, and Donna stayed in town, and Darrell and I went back to the boat, where I spent about an hour with the charts, getting ready for the today.
The evening was great as well. We walked into town and ate at a place called Harry’s. Great seafood, and they even gave us a 10% discount for staying at the marina. Back to the boat, and a short walk up and down the docks to walk our dinner off, and we called it a night. Even Darrell went to bed early. (9:00)
Today….
Up a little earlier than usual. (4:45) I need to get this log written, and we are going to head out at first light. We have about 100 miles to go today, and all on the inside. Having made this part of the trip before I seem to remember the waterway changing quite a bit from here. Once we get past Jacksonville, it turns from rivers, to swamps, with only a narrow ditch to navigate in. It’s not really a problem, just slower going than in some areas. The other thing we have to contend with from here is being much more affected by the tides. They range from 5 to 8 feet, and the current they make, can really change the speed you can go.
I’ll keep you posted….
BK
Tuesday, May 16, 2000
Chapter 43: ...to Daytona
GCT Log 43
FT. Pierce to Daytona
5:25 AM
Tuesday, May 16, 2000
Halifax Harbor Marina
Daytona Beach FL.
Day 44
Short day yesterday. We only made about 53 miles, but we had, and have a plan.
As soon as we left our marina in Titusville, we were in one of those areas that the people who write those cruising guides talk about. It was very narrow, and very shallow. It was awful. As hard as Darrell and I tried we found it very difficult to find enough water to float this boat in. The good news is we never ran aground, but let me tell you it was close. (Later, on the radio I heard a charter captain call on the radio to another boat and tell him to stay back until he got through this shallow area because he said “at times I need to move around a lot to fine deeper water”) It so happens that while we were in this area the girls fixed a wonderful breakfast, but my stomach was in such knots, I really couldn’t eat it.
Once we got through this area the water got a little deeper, and much easier to navigate. It also was very slow going because we were near some towns, and several Manatee zones. (Speaking of Manatees, we had one at the back of our boat in Titusville. He stayed there for several minutes, laying on his back between our boat and the dock, drinking the fresh water we were spraying to wash down the boat. Deb has several pictures, and Deb and Darrell even touched him. He had several places where he was hit with a prop, and also had barnacles growing on him) Anyway, we decided to only go to Daytona, and then to make an early day of it on Tuesday as well and just go to St Augustine and spend the afternoon looking around. With that in mind it made the slow going a little easier.
The 53 miles was a pretty trip as we wound around marshes, and very shallow areas. It was quite a contrast, as we got closer to Daytona with all of the high-rise hotels. By the time we got here it was about 12:15. We got some fuel ($1.19 @ gal), and had the holding tank pumped out, and we were having lunch at our slip at 1:15 PM. Once settled, we had two important missions. Deb and Donna needed to find a grocery store for a couple of things, and Darrell and I needed to visit the West Marine store that was located next to the marina. (You never know what came in last night) Steve, and Carl will be glad to know I bought a new water hose. I have been connecting some different colored ones together for a while, and I am finally “dialed in”.
Once we met back at the boat we went in search of the “perfect margarita”. The good news is we found a place called McKay’s to have one. The bad news is they weren’t that good. Oh well, back to the boat, where we had spaghetti, watched the rest of that movie I missed the night before, and then took a walk on the dock before calling it a night. (9:00 for me)
Today…
Well as I said, today we are heading to ST. Augustine, about 50 miles, all on the inside. (They are saying 4 to 5 footers on the Atlantic today) The weather should be near perfect. Sunny, and 85. We are going to start a little later (8:00) because there is no reason to rush, and I can get some work done (company work, not boat)
A couple of follow up’s…
Remember that guy next to us in Titusville that just sat there on the back of his sailboat? After I wrote the log I went out there to get the boat ready to go, he was still there. Same chair, same cigarettes, but this time he had coffee instead of a beer. Maybe he stayed there all night.
Remember the smoke in the engine room. We still have no clue what it was, and everything is working great.
The boat engines, and the entire boat is working great!
Talk to you tomorrow.
BK
FT. Pierce to Daytona
5:25 AM
Tuesday, May 16, 2000
Halifax Harbor Marina
Daytona Beach FL.
Day 44
Short day yesterday. We only made about 53 miles, but we had, and have a plan.
As soon as we left our marina in Titusville, we were in one of those areas that the people who write those cruising guides talk about. It was very narrow, and very shallow. It was awful. As hard as Darrell and I tried we found it very difficult to find enough water to float this boat in. The good news is we never ran aground, but let me tell you it was close. (Later, on the radio I heard a charter captain call on the radio to another boat and tell him to stay back until he got through this shallow area because he said “at times I need to move around a lot to fine deeper water”) It so happens that while we were in this area the girls fixed a wonderful breakfast, but my stomach was in such knots, I really couldn’t eat it.
Once we got through this area the water got a little deeper, and much easier to navigate. It also was very slow going because we were near some towns, and several Manatee zones. (Speaking of Manatees, we had one at the back of our boat in Titusville. He stayed there for several minutes, laying on his back between our boat and the dock, drinking the fresh water we were spraying to wash down the boat. Deb has several pictures, and Deb and Darrell even touched him. He had several places where he was hit with a prop, and also had barnacles growing on him) Anyway, we decided to only go to Daytona, and then to make an early day of it on Tuesday as well and just go to St Augustine and spend the afternoon looking around. With that in mind it made the slow going a little easier.
The 53 miles was a pretty trip as we wound around marshes, and very shallow areas. It was quite a contrast, as we got closer to Daytona with all of the high-rise hotels. By the time we got here it was about 12:15. We got some fuel ($1.19 @ gal), and had the holding tank pumped out, and we were having lunch at our slip at 1:15 PM. Once settled, we had two important missions. Deb and Donna needed to find a grocery store for a couple of things, and Darrell and I needed to visit the West Marine store that was located next to the marina. (You never know what came in last night) Steve, and Carl will be glad to know I bought a new water hose. I have been connecting some different colored ones together for a while, and I am finally “dialed in”.
Once we met back at the boat we went in search of the “perfect margarita”. The good news is we found a place called McKay’s to have one. The bad news is they weren’t that good. Oh well, back to the boat, where we had spaghetti, watched the rest of that movie I missed the night before, and then took a walk on the dock before calling it a night. (9:00 for me)
Today…
Well as I said, today we are heading to ST. Augustine, about 50 miles, all on the inside. (They are saying 4 to 5 footers on the Atlantic today) The weather should be near perfect. Sunny, and 85. We are going to start a little later (8:00) because there is no reason to rush, and I can get some work done (company work, not boat)
A couple of follow up’s…
Remember that guy next to us in Titusville that just sat there on the back of his sailboat? After I wrote the log I went out there to get the boat ready to go, he was still there. Same chair, same cigarettes, but this time he had coffee instead of a beer. Maybe he stayed there all night.
Remember the smoke in the engine room. We still have no clue what it was, and everything is working great.
The boat engines, and the entire boat is working great!
Talk to you tomorrow.
BK
Monday, May 15, 2000
Chapter 42: Ft. Pierce to Titusville
GCT Log 42
Ft. Pierce to Titusville, Fl.
6:45 AM
Monday, May 15, 2000
Titusville Municipal Marina
Titusville, FL.
Day 43
Yesterday…
Our Mothers Day was a good one. We left the marina in FT. Pierce at 6:55, and it was only about a mile to the ocean. The Atlantic was beautiful, with just the slightest of swells, and those were at our stern. I set a course of 351 degrees on the autopilot to get us to the entrance buoy at Cape Canaveral, (55 miles) and we were there by 10:30 AM.
There is a canal that connects the Atlantic to the Intracoastal called the barge canal. It’s about 3 miles long, with one lock to keep the seawater from dumping into the Banana River. On that canal is where our friend, Bert, keeps his boat so we stopped for a few minutes to see his catamaran. He was getting ready to leave, on an airplane, back to Trinidad, so we only stayed a short time.
As we were coming out of the lock we had a scary experience. Deb was in the salon getting something, and she came up to say she smelled smoke, and it was coming from the air conditioner ducts. I jumped up, and what I found was it was coming from the engine room. After a few minutes of panic while looking for anything that could be causing this smell (it smelled like rubber burning) we didn’t find anything. That is both good news, and bad news. We looked everywhere for what could have caused this, but up till now we still don’t have a cause. I’m going down in the engine room as soon as I complete this to look again, but for now it is a mystery.
Our original plan yesterday was to try to make it to mile marker 840, near New Smyrna, but we couldn’t find a marina with a transient slip, so we ended up stopping in Titusville. (Mile marker 885) This marina is ok, but not one of the nicer ones we have ever been in. It seems to have more than its share of Live-a-boards (people who use their boats as homes), and that makes it look a little old. The good news is they have floating docks, so the tide does not affect us.
The boat next to us is one of those live a boards. It is a sailboat, and you can tell someone lives aboard, because if it were a home you could picture it with old cars in the yard with grass growing up around them. Maybe even a refrigerator in the front yard as well. Anyway there is this guy sitting on it in one of those plastic chairs, chain smoking, and chain drinking. He would talk to those who went by, and the more time went on the less sense he made. When I went to bed he was still sitting there. Maybe I should go out and look now to see if he made it in last night.
To end the day we enjoyed a shrimp cocktail, during cocktail hour, and then Darrell cooked some great steaks on the grill for dinner. This together with some corn on the cob, and excellent biscuits, and we were all set. Earlier in the day Deb had promised Darrell we would watch a move before bed, so we did. Well, I should say… they did.
Today…
It’s a little cooler this morning (72) than it has been, but they say it will be about mid 80’s by noon. After another check in the engine room we need to get going to try to make it to ST. Augustine by dinner. There is a friend there we are going to try to have dinner with, but I’m not sure we can make it that far (120 miles) because right now my plan is to stay inside all day. They are talking about some chance of storm today as a cold front goes through, and I don’t want to be out there if these predictions come true.
No matter what happens, it’s going to be a great day.
BK
Ft. Pierce to Titusville, Fl.
6:45 AM
Monday, May 15, 2000
Titusville Municipal Marina
Titusville, FL.
Day 43
Yesterday…
Our Mothers Day was a good one. We left the marina in FT. Pierce at 6:55, and it was only about a mile to the ocean. The Atlantic was beautiful, with just the slightest of swells, and those were at our stern. I set a course of 351 degrees on the autopilot to get us to the entrance buoy at Cape Canaveral, (55 miles) and we were there by 10:30 AM.
There is a canal that connects the Atlantic to the Intracoastal called the barge canal. It’s about 3 miles long, with one lock to keep the seawater from dumping into the Banana River. On that canal is where our friend, Bert, keeps his boat so we stopped for a few minutes to see his catamaran. He was getting ready to leave, on an airplane, back to Trinidad, so we only stayed a short time.
As we were coming out of the lock we had a scary experience. Deb was in the salon getting something, and she came up to say she smelled smoke, and it was coming from the air conditioner ducts. I jumped up, and what I found was it was coming from the engine room. After a few minutes of panic while looking for anything that could be causing this smell (it smelled like rubber burning) we didn’t find anything. That is both good news, and bad news. We looked everywhere for what could have caused this, but up till now we still don’t have a cause. I’m going down in the engine room as soon as I complete this to look again, but for now it is a mystery.
Our original plan yesterday was to try to make it to mile marker 840, near New Smyrna, but we couldn’t find a marina with a transient slip, so we ended up stopping in Titusville. (Mile marker 885) This marina is ok, but not one of the nicer ones we have ever been in. It seems to have more than its share of Live-a-boards (people who use their boats as homes), and that makes it look a little old. The good news is they have floating docks, so the tide does not affect us.
The boat next to us is one of those live a boards. It is a sailboat, and you can tell someone lives aboard, because if it were a home you could picture it with old cars in the yard with grass growing up around them. Maybe even a refrigerator in the front yard as well. Anyway there is this guy sitting on it in one of those plastic chairs, chain smoking, and chain drinking. He would talk to those who went by, and the more time went on the less sense he made. When I went to bed he was still sitting there. Maybe I should go out and look now to see if he made it in last night.
To end the day we enjoyed a shrimp cocktail, during cocktail hour, and then Darrell cooked some great steaks on the grill for dinner. This together with some corn on the cob, and excellent biscuits, and we were all set. Earlier in the day Deb had promised Darrell we would watch a move before bed, so we did. Well, I should say… they did.
Today…
It’s a little cooler this morning (72) than it has been, but they say it will be about mid 80’s by noon. After another check in the engine room we need to get going to try to make it to ST. Augustine by dinner. There is a friend there we are going to try to have dinner with, but I’m not sure we can make it that far (120 miles) because right now my plan is to stay inside all day. They are talking about some chance of storm today as a cold front goes through, and I don’t want to be out there if these predictions come true.
No matter what happens, it’s going to be a great day.
BK
Sunday, May 14, 2000
Chapter 41: Ft. Lauderdale to Ft. Pierce
Log 41
FT. Lauderdale, Fl. to FT. Pierce, Fl.
5:20 AM
Sunday, May 14, 2000
Pelican Yacht Club
Ft. Pierce, FL.
Remember at my last log I predicted that yesterday would be a great day. Well I was wrong. It was an awesome day! At 6:50 we untied the lines, and left Pier 66. The sun was up, and you could tell it was going to be beautiful. It only takes about 10 minutes to get to the Atlantic, and when we got there it was quite a sight. There were almost no winds, so the ocean was almost flat. There was a slight swell, and it was just enough to gently rock the boat as we made the turn north. In fact as it turned out the swells were at our starboard aft, so they kind of pushed us along. My plan was to test the Atlantic, and duck into an inlet if necessary, but you could tell that wouldn’t be necessary.
The first way-point (that is the technical/nautical term for a particular longitude/latitude point on a map) was Lighthouse point, almost 10 miles away. We blew by that in about 45 minutes. The next waypoint was an inlet just north of West Palm Beach.
No problem, lets keep going. Finally, I set a course (almost due north) for St. Luice inlet. This was about 70 miles from where we entered the Atlantic, and the way we were going it seemed like it would be no problem. As it turns out, that was in fact the case. No problem
Once we came inside, we rejoined the Intracoastal at about mile marker 995, where we made a hard right, and headed north again. This intersection is also the place where if you go east on the St. Lucie River, you would end up on Lake Okeechobee. We were at this exact intersection last January 1st, when we went south to Ft. Lauderdale.
For the next 30 miles we followed the Intracoastal, and ended up in FT. Pierce. The place we’re staying is called Pelican Yacht Club. I knew this place because we had a friend who had a boat here, and I’ve been here a few times to go boating on it. Once we arrived, we put in some fuel ($1.35 @ gallon) and tied up to our slip. We all grabbed something to clean with, and washed the salt off the boat. I also went to the office, and got my e-mail. After that some good ole fashion relaxing, with Deb and Donna on the bow, and Darrell and I up on the bridge.
We had a bit of a surprise during dinner. I had called a friend of ours (Bert McGuire) who we knew from when we lived in Germany. He was the engineer who built the distribution center we were operating for Kraft. He has just since relocated to Coco Beach. When we talked it didn’t sound like he would be able to meet us in Ft. Pierce, but just as we were putting the chops on the grill, he called, and said he was on his way. He arrived about an hour later.
I wish you could have listened to him tell some of his stories. He has lived, and traveled all over the world, and has just moved from Trinidad. In fact not only has he just moved from there, but he sailed his 53-foot catamaran from there. The stories of his trip made our adventure seem like a trip to the local 7-Eleven. It was great to see Bert, but he kept us up past my bedtime, and I didn’t get to bed until after 10.
Side note: When Deb and I were in Germany a few years ago Bert took us to his relatives who live in former East Germany, for Easter. It was a memorable experience seeing both East Germany, and meeting his relatives who had lived there all of their lives. Anyway, during our visit we met a young girl named Anka, who Deb still sends cards too. Bert tell me he forwards our e-mails to Anka, in Germany, so I wanted to say “Hi to Anka” from Deb and I. (I guess I need to be careful who I talk about in these logs, because who knows where these things end up!)
Today….
It promises to be another beautiful day here in central Florida. (Which is a sharp contrast to home where it is rainy, and cold) I just helped a 75-foot boat leave the dock, and he tells me it will be perfect out on the Atlantic this morning. He is heading for New York, and will make almost the entire trip outside.
Our plan is to go about 100 miles, or so today, and end up about ½ way to St Augustine, where we want to be on Monday evening. I don’t see anything keeping us from doing that. By covering the distance we did yesterday we have already gained a day, according to my schedule.
So I need to end this and get to work. A quick check in the engine room to review the fluid levels, set up the charts, and the electronics, and we’re off.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM! I LOVE YOU.
BK.
FT. Lauderdale, Fl. to FT. Pierce, Fl.
5:20 AM
Sunday, May 14, 2000
Pelican Yacht Club
Ft. Pierce, FL.
Remember at my last log I predicted that yesterday would be a great day. Well I was wrong. It was an awesome day! At 6:50 we untied the lines, and left Pier 66. The sun was up, and you could tell it was going to be beautiful. It only takes about 10 minutes to get to the Atlantic, and when we got there it was quite a sight. There were almost no winds, so the ocean was almost flat. There was a slight swell, and it was just enough to gently rock the boat as we made the turn north. In fact as it turned out the swells were at our starboard aft, so they kind of pushed us along. My plan was to test the Atlantic, and duck into an inlet if necessary, but you could tell that wouldn’t be necessary.
The first way-point (that is the technical/nautical term for a particular longitude/latitude point on a map) was Lighthouse point, almost 10 miles away. We blew by that in about 45 minutes. The next waypoint was an inlet just north of West Palm Beach.
No problem, lets keep going. Finally, I set a course (almost due north) for St. Luice inlet. This was about 70 miles from where we entered the Atlantic, and the way we were going it seemed like it would be no problem. As it turns out, that was in fact the case. No problem
Once we came inside, we rejoined the Intracoastal at about mile marker 995, where we made a hard right, and headed north again. This intersection is also the place where if you go east on the St. Lucie River, you would end up on Lake Okeechobee. We were at this exact intersection last January 1st, when we went south to Ft. Lauderdale.
For the next 30 miles we followed the Intracoastal, and ended up in FT. Pierce. The place we’re staying is called Pelican Yacht Club. I knew this place because we had a friend who had a boat here, and I’ve been here a few times to go boating on it. Once we arrived, we put in some fuel ($1.35 @ gallon) and tied up to our slip. We all grabbed something to clean with, and washed the salt off the boat. I also went to the office, and got my e-mail. After that some good ole fashion relaxing, with Deb and Donna on the bow, and Darrell and I up on the bridge.
We had a bit of a surprise during dinner. I had called a friend of ours (Bert McGuire) who we knew from when we lived in Germany. He was the engineer who built the distribution center we were operating for Kraft. He has just since relocated to Coco Beach. When we talked it didn’t sound like he would be able to meet us in Ft. Pierce, but just as we were putting the chops on the grill, he called, and said he was on his way. He arrived about an hour later.
I wish you could have listened to him tell some of his stories. He has lived, and traveled all over the world, and has just moved from Trinidad. In fact not only has he just moved from there, but he sailed his 53-foot catamaran from there. The stories of his trip made our adventure seem like a trip to the local 7-Eleven. It was great to see Bert, but he kept us up past my bedtime, and I didn’t get to bed until after 10.
Side note: When Deb and I were in Germany a few years ago Bert took us to his relatives who live in former East Germany, for Easter. It was a memorable experience seeing both East Germany, and meeting his relatives who had lived there all of their lives. Anyway, during our visit we met a young girl named Anka, who Deb still sends cards too. Bert tell me he forwards our e-mails to Anka, in Germany, so I wanted to say “Hi to Anka” from Deb and I. (I guess I need to be careful who I talk about in these logs, because who knows where these things end up!)
Today….
It promises to be another beautiful day here in central Florida. (Which is a sharp contrast to home where it is rainy, and cold) I just helped a 75-foot boat leave the dock, and he tells me it will be perfect out on the Atlantic this morning. He is heading for New York, and will make almost the entire trip outside.
Our plan is to go about 100 miles, or so today, and end up about ½ way to St Augustine, where we want to be on Monday evening. I don’t see anything keeping us from doing that. By covering the distance we did yesterday we have already gained a day, according to my schedule.
So I need to end this and get to work. A quick check in the engine room to review the fluid levels, set up the charts, and the electronics, and we’re off.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM! I LOVE YOU.
BK.
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