Sunday January 11, 2009
Living aboard on a mooring ball when you are rafted off presents some challenges. We of course were the most obnoxious of the two on our ball. Our refrigeration unit works for about a day after you shut off the engine so we had to run the generator as soon as it was lawful which is around 9:00 am when everyone was getting up and heading to the cockpit to enjoy the sun. Generator resembles a chainsaw going off so needless to say the retreat took a couple of hours before we were back in the negatives.
Add to that a good marital air clearing or should I say oil change which Dick lovely refers to them as.
Having the choice to move they opted to remain.
While we were having lunch a guy from London came by and asked us if we were part of the Port Stanley fleet. Apparently as the story goes he was the Mayor of Lucan. Dick and I had wanted to go to the beach as there was no bus service available for the day and it was within walking distance. We arranged to have Connie and Bob (on board Meredith) come back for Happy Hour around 4:00 pm.
The gathering was a lot of fun and we were grateful to meet some more people that are doing it.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Tuesday January 6, 2009
Visit with Cousin Tom and Lutie
It seemed like a dream but there we were heading down the ICW again in Grace C. When we had arrived at Palm Coast on December 2, 2008 we were wearing winter coats. To be traveling in balmy weather and observing such beautiful scenery is a huge reward. The area around Daytona Beach is skyscraper after skyscraper each competing for your attention. There are tons of dolphins on this leg of the journey. They scamper out and about in front of the boat. Still a big thrill for me. We arrived in New Smyrna Beach about 2:00 pm and Dick called his cousins to see if they would like to join us for a visit. We had meet with them in February 2008 and as the saying goes “a promise is a promise”. Cousin Tom actually expected us about March so he was amazed to see us in January. We radioed the New Smyrna
Yacht Club to see if they had a fee for service for their dinghy dock and they said we could not tie up. We agreed to meet Tom at the Municipal Dock. When we got their he put his head over the side of the wharf and was amazed to see us arrive in a dinghy. He was expecting a sailboat. When we told him they would not let us use the dinghy dock at he Yacht club he said “No we don't want anymore pilgrims around here!”and then took us out for supper. These two pilgrims are very grateful for their kindness. When we got back to the dinghy the water had dropped another three or four feet and it made re entry to dinghy rather ungraceful. When we headed back to the boat in the dark we were happy to see Mom Fosters solar snowflake shining out its multi-colours.
Wednesday January 5, 2009
Mr. Wilson we made it to Titusville
The weather forecast had high winds and storms booked for the end of the day so we headed out early
to Titusville. We had planned to stay at the marina as the weather for the overnight was predicting a cold front and storms and lower temperatures. We thought it would be a good time to fire up the electric heater. We were also curious about the Marina as one of our trip mentors Mr. Wilson uses it for summer storage. We arrived here around 12:30 pm to find Radical Jack tied up. Having successfully tied up the gentleman in the boat beside us said , 'good job you made it in now'. Then we heard a loud sound and watched two weather fronts collide. The wind velocity increased instantly and the rain started to pour. I made a omelet for lunch and when I got back from the shower I discovered Dick had peeled a layer of skin off his thumb trying to get the grater apart to clean. The amazing thing about this trip is you are always built up and on guard for the weather the weather and its the Pampered Chef cheese grater that gets you. :) Wow weird! We walked uptown to get some groceries and spent the evening relaxing in the screened porch watching TV. Mr. Wilson is in the Bahamas and we will check in with him later.
Thursday January 8, 2009
We got up at 6:00 am to make a long day passage. We thought the weather was going to be colder so after we were underway we decided to stop at Melbourne and anchor and then head out to Vero Beach the next day. The weather was cool but sunny and such a pleasure to travel in. The Indian River is wide here and with a west wind we actually put out some sail for a change. There are not a lot of places to anchor here. The waterfront properties along this stretch are luxurious and run along the west shore and the east shore which is Merritt Island. Merritt Island separates the Indian River from the Banana River.
There were numerous fixed bridges we passed under and when we got to Melbourne that is where we anchored for the night.
Friday January 9, 2009
Today we made it to Vero Beach.
Visit with Cousin Tom and Lutie
It seemed like a dream but there we were heading down the ICW again in Grace C. When we had arrived at Palm Coast on December 2, 2008 we were wearing winter coats. To be traveling in balmy weather and observing such beautiful scenery is a huge reward. The area around Daytona Beach is skyscraper after skyscraper each competing for your attention. There are tons of dolphins on this leg of the journey. They scamper out and about in front of the boat. Still a big thrill for me. We arrived in New Smyrna Beach about 2:00 pm and Dick called his cousins to see if they would like to join us for a visit. We had meet with them in February 2008 and as the saying goes “a promise is a promise”. Cousin Tom actually expected us about March so he was amazed to see us in January. We radioed the New Smyrna
Yacht Club to see if they had a fee for service for their dinghy dock and they said we could not tie up. We agreed to meet Tom at the Municipal Dock. When we got their he put his head over the side of the wharf and was amazed to see us arrive in a dinghy. He was expecting a sailboat. When we told him they would not let us use the dinghy dock at he Yacht club he said “No we don't want anymore pilgrims around here!”and then took us out for supper. These two pilgrims are very grateful for their kindness. When we got back to the dinghy the water had dropped another three or four feet and it made re entry to dinghy rather ungraceful. When we headed back to the boat in the dark we were happy to see Mom Fosters solar snowflake shining out its multi-colours.
Wednesday January 5, 2009
Mr. Wilson we made it to Titusville
The weather forecast had high winds and storms booked for the end of the day so we headed out early
to Titusville. We had planned to stay at the marina as the weather for the overnight was predicting a cold front and storms and lower temperatures. We thought it would be a good time to fire up the electric heater. We were also curious about the Marina as one of our trip mentors Mr. Wilson uses it for summer storage. We arrived here around 12:30 pm to find Radical Jack tied up. Having successfully tied up the gentleman in the boat beside us said , 'good job you made it in now'. Then we heard a loud sound and watched two weather fronts collide. The wind velocity increased instantly and the rain started to pour. I made a omelet for lunch and when I got back from the shower I discovered Dick had peeled a layer of skin off his thumb trying to get the grater apart to clean. The amazing thing about this trip is you are always built up and on guard for the weather the weather and its the Pampered Chef cheese grater that gets you. :) Wow weird! We walked uptown to get some groceries and spent the evening relaxing in the screened porch watching TV. Mr. Wilson is in the Bahamas and we will check in with him later.
Thursday January 8, 2009
We got up at 6:00 am to make a long day passage. We thought the weather was going to be colder so after we were underway we decided to stop at Melbourne and anchor and then head out to Vero Beach the next day. The weather was cool but sunny and such a pleasure to travel in. The Indian River is wide here and with a west wind we actually put out some sail for a change. There are not a lot of places to anchor here. The waterfront properties along this stretch are luxurious and run along the west shore and the east shore which is Merritt Island. Merritt Island separates the Indian River from the Banana River.
There were numerous fixed bridges we passed under and when we got to Melbourne that is where we anchored for the night.
Friday January 9, 2009
Today we made it to Vero Beach.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Waiting I hate waiting
Sunday January 4, 2008
No mail delivery today so for the first time in four months I feel like we are just killing time. I guess that is not to bad although I hate doing it. We went to church, had a bike ride and Dick lifted our dinghy out of the water and cleaned all the barnacles off it. The cruisers around the marina were watching him with interest. One gentleman said, "What does he want showroom clean?" I oiled the teak table in the cockpit and read up on Skipper Bob Bahama Bound. We had a barbecue in the cockpit and Heather and Peter came by to say good-bye as they are heading out on the ICW tomorrow. They are still planning a crossing together.
Monday January 5, 2008
We had to wait for the mail until 12:00 pm. When I got up Peter and Heather were leaving so I went over to the fuel dock to say good-bye. When I got back to the boat Dick said Tricia had called on the VHF and she was wondering if we needed anymore supplies to get ready. Dick and I decided we needed a chain to lock up the dinghy so she came and took me to Home Depot.
When I got back a couple who have a boat here told us that they have been waiting 6 weeks for their decal and they encouraged us to head out and have it forwarded somewhere. We called Mom and Dad Foster and they will receive it at their condo in Florida and call us with the number. So tomorrow bright and early we leave Palm Coast (our sabbatical) for trip 2008. As anticipated the decal did not arrive today.
Ok Lifeworks get you push pins out.
No mail delivery today so for the first time in four months I feel like we are just killing time. I guess that is not to bad although I hate doing it. We went to church, had a bike ride and Dick lifted our dinghy out of the water and cleaned all the barnacles off it. The cruisers around the marina were watching him with interest. One gentleman said, "What does he want showroom clean?" I oiled the teak table in the cockpit and read up on Skipper Bob Bahama Bound. We had a barbecue in the cockpit and Heather and Peter came by to say good-bye as they are heading out on the ICW tomorrow. They are still planning a crossing together.
Monday January 5, 2008
We had to wait for the mail until 12:00 pm. When I got up Peter and Heather were leaving so I went over to the fuel dock to say good-bye. When I got back to the boat Dick said Tricia had called on the VHF and she was wondering if we needed anymore supplies to get ready. Dick and I decided we needed a chain to lock up the dinghy so she came and took me to Home Depot.
When I got back a couple who have a boat here told us that they have been waiting 6 weeks for their decal and they encouraged us to head out and have it forwarded somewhere. We called Mom and Dad Foster and they will receive it at their condo in Florida and call us with the number. So tomorrow bright and early we leave Palm Coast (our sabbatical) for trip 2008. As anticipated the decal did not arrive today.
Ok Lifeworks get you push pins out.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
We are going to leave/we got to stay
Saturday January 3, 2008We are still waiting for our decal. We checked the mail and it did not come today. We will head out monday if it is here and if it is not. Another day with hydro and so I chose to spend it sewing. I put together the blocks I had done in the Chesapeake. Don and Tricia from Road to the Isles invited us for a gathering on board their 65 foot boat. Don built the boat and he is an actual Sea Captain by trade and so he had lots of stories for us. He gave us a couple of more tools for assisting with our passage to Bahamas. (passageweather.com and www.wunderground.com)
We look forward to seeing them in the Abacos. They do the ocean route as their mast is too high to go down the ICW.
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Year is Underway
Friday January 2, 2008
The decal did not get here today. We cut some screens for the opening ports and Dick washed the grass off the waterline. One of the woman we meet on a boat here came by and took me shopping for the afternoon. We had dinner at the European Village again and watched the entertainment. There is Saturday delivery so hopefully our decal will get here tomorrow. The boat is all ready to go.
The decal did not get here today. We cut some screens for the opening ports and Dick washed the grass off the waterline. One of the woman we meet on a boat here came by and took me shopping for the afternoon. We had dinner at the European Village again and watched the entertainment. There is Saturday delivery so hopefully our decal will get here tomorrow. The boat is all ready to go.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Dick's Parents Visit
Tuesday December 30, 2008
Biked a long the trails today and then up to Publics to get some groceries to make dinner for Dick's parents. They arrive around 4:30 pm and we had dinner on board. They found a hotel to stay in and we dropped them off and took the car back to the Marina.
Wednesday December 31, 2008
Dick and I headed out to get our groceries and other items for the trip. We went to Wal-mart and having promised Dick's mom and dad we would pick them up around 11:00 am. Dick was in automotive looking for oil filters and engine oil and I said as I headed off at my usual pace “Oh look honey there is housewares right here and the craft department so I will just pick up the things on my list. While I was in housewares I ran into Peter and Heather and took a minute to chat and when I got to automotive I could not find Dick. For about the next ½ hour we played aisle (evasion) back and forth to groceries.
Not getting any results after my third run through I went to the front counter and asked that they page my husband. After waiting at the counter for about 15 minutes I started to panic and took off looking for him again. After about 45 minutes we finally found each other and had to start looking for groceries by the time we were to be at the motel to pick up Mom and Dad. There were three people in Wal-mart that day that I knew and I asked them all and no one heard the page. I guess those Superstores are just to big. After we picked up mom and dad we headed back to the Marina and had lunch on the deck.
We took mom and dad over to the beach and down to Flagler Beach to see the Atlantic.
After a nice dinner we relaxed at Mom and Dad's room and watched the Ball go down on Time Square. There is renewed interest in that spot having been there in person a couple of months ago.
Thursday January 1, 2008
Put away all the groceries and stuff we bought yesterday and just threw on the boat. Mom and Dad and Dick came back to the Marina and we took a walk on the ICW paths. We had lunch at the European village. When we got to the village there was an entertainer singing love longs and he came down and twirled mom around.
'
Just a Monday
Monday December 29, 2008
Organized grocery lists for stocking up for the Trip to the Bahamas
Cleaned boat for mother-in-law visit
Did menus
Read a book
Organized grocery lists for stocking up for the Trip to the Bahamas
Cleaned boat for mother-in-law visit
Did menus
Read a book
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