In which we battle our own virus!
We have decided to quarantine ourselves on the boat! Rick writing today - I finally convinced Melanie to let me write an entry. Somewhere I picked up a cold and it isn’t fun. We don’t really see many people, but maybe on a trip to Publix or at the play in Vero Beach I picked up a cold and then promptly passed it on to Melanie. We are thankful for our medicines supplied by our faithful reader Kim. Very helpful to have a supply of anti-histamines and decongestants to lessen the symptoms.
We woke up early (if you can call it waking up after not sleeping much) in NSB and prepared to cast off for a drive to Palm Coast Marina in Palm Coast, FL. The weather apps showed that it would start to rain around 3 pm so to beat the rain we set off at 8:30 am for the 6 hour cruise up the coast. I think we both feel much more comfortable on the boat now - not so worried when the water gets shallow as we know that it will most likely not go below 5 feet of depth. We backed out of the slip without incident and set Clark (the autopilot) to help us drive.
We had some fun visitors during the morning:
We see dolphins constantly during the day. The almost always make a beeline directly for the boat and then disappear underneath us. Not sure if this is playtime for them or if by driving by we may stir up some food for them. It is always fun to see them and we never get tired of seeing them pop-up even if we may see 50 or more in a day.
The drive was mostly uneventful with only one drawbridge too low for us to go under. The bridge tender timed our arrival perfectly and we cruised past the open bridge only slowing slightly. The sky was filled with clouds and the wind picked up as we slowed and motored into the marina. Fortunately the marina is well protected and we were able to pull off a picture perfect docking - I’m always a little apprehensive when we leave or arrive at docks. I’m worried about damaging our nice boat if we smack into the dock, but this time wind cooperated and we kissed the dock lightly and Melanie had us tied up in a few short minutes. About 20 minutes later the rain started coming down. Perfect timing! We had a restful afternoon and evening hoping to get ahead of this cold....
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Tues Feb 25 - NSB Day
In which it is Fat Tuesday
Yup, we're sick. Here is what Rick does when he doesn't feel well: ride his bike 5 miles to a hardware store to return a part he bought last time we were here. Here is what I do when I'm sick: drape myself weakly over the furniture and act consumptive. Then I went out and had ice cream while I worked on the blog. No one has proved that this does not cure the common cold.
We were going to leave today, but no one had the energy and we are on schedule, so stay we did.
Is this just the biggest damn steering wheel you have EVER SEEN on a boat? Size must really matter... Even if it is a racing vessel I can't figure out the advantage this diameter would lend.
I got back to the boat to find Rick wielding a drill, and that made me feel faint and feverish so I had to go lie down. Here is a reinactiment of what I could hear coming from above:
Drill, drill
'Shit'
Drill, drill
'That's not going to work'
More drilling
'Wait, maybe if I....'
Alarming silence
'Ops'
Ops??????????? Yikes.
But when I came up he had installed two reading lights, which we had been sorely missing. I felt better immediately!
Yup, we're sick. Here is what Rick does when he doesn't feel well: ride his bike 5 miles to a hardware store to return a part he bought last time we were here. Here is what I do when I'm sick: drape myself weakly over the furniture and act consumptive. Then I went out and had ice cream while I worked on the blog. No one has proved that this does not cure the common cold.
We were going to leave today, but no one had the energy and we are on schedule, so stay we did.
Is this just the biggest damn steering wheel you have EVER SEEN on a boat? Size must really matter... Even if it is a racing vessel I can't figure out the advantage this diameter would lend.
I got back to the boat to find Rick wielding a drill, and that made me feel faint and feverish so I had to go lie down. Here is a reinactiment of what I could hear coming from above:
Drill, drill
'Shit'
Drill, drill
'That's not going to work'
More drilling
'Wait, maybe if I....'
Alarming silence
'Ops'
Ops??????????? Yikes.
But when I came up he had installed two reading lights, which we had been sorely missing. I felt better immediately!
 |
| My new reading light! |
 | |
| Boat Name of the Day - House Cat. Get it?! |
Mon Feb 24 - Cocoa anchorage to New Smyrna Beach City Marina
In which we nearly die of boredom
We opted for a long day, as we need to be back in Jacksonville soon. But that doesn't mean we liked it. It was S O B O R I N G. Seven hours of flat straight stretch with the auto pilot on most of the way. (We call him Clark. Some people call him Otto, or Jack).
The only diversion was when we were coming in to the dock at NSB and I dropped a fender, complete with brand new line and fender grip, overboard. I was so mad at myself, but it was too shallow to chase after the fender, and we had the narrow fairway and docking to think about.
This does have a happy ending, however. After we docked Rick dropped the dingy and we went looking. We calculated the direction of current and wind, poked around the harbor and found it! It even had the fender grip still attached - high fives all around!
Docked next to us were the Gold Loopers we had met before, and later we met the couple that will be giving the talk on the DownEast Loop in early May, at the Spring Rendezvous (Norkfolk VA). We are looking forward to that event, and meeting a lot of new people. Rick has even signed our boat up to be toured. That's what we nerdy Loopers do - we go to things names Rendezvous and Trawlerfest (yes, that's really a thing, and Rick really did go to it last spring), and we tour each others' boats. What that really means is we are going to have to spruce this boat up; and by that I mean spend more money on it...
Both of us are coming down with a cold, so we got pizza to go from Prima - Pizza Cuchina and it was a dinner and TV night. Would I love a pizza with tomato sauce and pepperoni - yes. But due to a Phantom Gallbladder, those days are behind me and it was spinach white sauce. Pretty yummy though. We are watching the HBO adaptation of Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials books. I think you'd be pretty lost if you hadn't read the books, but the casting is good. The books were an incredible examination of religion and the role of the Catholic Church, hidden inside of an amazing adventure story. I'm still reading up on what I actually read..
Pix from the day:
All my creative neurons were killed today by boredom, so....goodnight.
We opted for a long day, as we need to be back in Jacksonville soon. But that doesn't mean we liked it. It was S O B O R I N G. Seven hours of flat straight stretch with the auto pilot on most of the way. (We call him Clark. Some people call him Otto, or Jack).
The only diversion was when we were coming in to the dock at NSB and I dropped a fender, complete with brand new line and fender grip, overboard. I was so mad at myself, but it was too shallow to chase after the fender, and we had the narrow fairway and docking to think about.
This does have a happy ending, however. After we docked Rick dropped the dingy and we went looking. We calculated the direction of current and wind, poked around the harbor and found it! It even had the fender grip still attached - high fives all around!
Docked next to us were the Gold Loopers we had met before, and later we met the couple that will be giving the talk on the DownEast Loop in early May, at the Spring Rendezvous (Norkfolk VA). We are looking forward to that event, and meeting a lot of new people. Rick has even signed our boat up to be toured. That's what we nerdy Loopers do - we go to things names Rendezvous and Trawlerfest (yes, that's really a thing, and Rick really did go to it last spring), and we tour each others' boats. What that really means is we are going to have to spruce this boat up; and by that I mean spend more money on it...
Both of us are coming down with a cold, so we got pizza to go from Prima - Pizza Cuchina and it was a dinner and TV night. Would I love a pizza with tomato sauce and pepperoni - yes. But due to a Phantom Gallbladder, those days are behind me and it was spinach white sauce. Pretty yummy though. We are watching the HBO adaptation of Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials books. I think you'd be pretty lost if you hadn't read the books, but the casting is good. The books were an incredible examination of religion and the role of the Catholic Church, hidden inside of an amazing adventure story. I'm still reading up on what I actually read..
Pix from the day:
 |
| This boat really tickles me - it's like a tugboat got dropped on to a sailing boat. |
 |
| Can you see this dolphin without visual aids? |
All my creative neurons were killed today by boredom, so....goodnight.
Sun Feb 23 - Vero Beach To Cocoa anchorage
In which it's deja-vu, all over again
The last time we came through here I complained about the arm-pit anchorage, right beside a freeway/bridge - so this time Rick solved it by finding us a new anchorage. Right beside a freeway/bridge.
BUT - within view of what the literature says is, and I am not making this up, an awarding-winning water tower. So there! Lucky me:
AND, there were dolphins -
There were some less award-winning, but still cheerful sights:
And I decided my yummy cracker looked blessed (see previous post - that's how my brain works):
At night we decided to do some needle felting - at which we are both, I say generously, beginners. Here is what we were going for:
We worked hard:
The deranged results:
Sigh..... We better not quit our day jobs. Oh, crap - Rick already has...
The last time we came through here I complained about the arm-pit anchorage, right beside a freeway/bridge - so this time Rick solved it by finding us a new anchorage. Right beside a freeway/bridge.
BUT - within view of what the literature says is, and I am not making this up, an awarding-winning water tower. So there! Lucky me:
AND, there were dolphins -
There were some less award-winning, but still cheerful sights:
 |
| Look - I made it look like a postcard! |
And I decided my yummy cracker looked blessed (see previous post - that's how my brain works):
At night we decided to do some needle felting - at which we are both, I say generously, beginners. Here is what we were going for:
We worked hard:
The deranged results:
Sigh..... We better not quit our day jobs. Oh, crap - Rick already has...
Sat Feb 22 - Still in Vero Beach
In which we are 1,236 miles from Stowe, VT
We were very happy to discover that the storm had brought lower temperatures. If you ask me, shorts and a fleece jacket is the perfect temp. We are officially out of south Florida -
We went for a long walk from the marina to the beach, to check out the Vero Beach scene. You can tell it's money because so many of the buildings are banks, investments firms or real estate offices. There is a charming cafe scene along the beach, and we were able to see the havoc that storm wreaked on the dunes. Much of the newly-planted beach grass had been eroded.
There is a crazy-pants rambling rustic lodge, the Driftwood Inn, that seems to be an institution. It's clearly popular and has been added to many times. Note that Waldo Sexton, the creator, was a 'lovable eccentric'. That's what they call bat-shit-crazy people when they have lots of money... Occasionally they are called, Mr President. (oh dear - is my bitterness showing??)
Good to know:
Look - a dog run for AC units!! (That is the kind of thing my brain is busy doing, rather than anything useful)
There was the requisite Saturday Farmer's Market, with few farmers but a lot of artisanal cheese, and we got yummy sandwichs for a lovely picnic on the top of the boat.
I finished the day on Craigslist (long story). How about these deeply disturbing lamps?
We were very happy to discover that the storm had brought lower temperatures. If you ask me, shorts and a fleece jacket is the perfect temp. We are officially out of south Florida -
 |
| buh-bye SoFl! |
We went for a long walk from the marina to the beach, to check out the Vero Beach scene. You can tell it's money because so many of the buildings are banks, investments firms or real estate offices. There is a charming cafe scene along the beach, and we were able to see the havoc that storm wreaked on the dunes. Much of the newly-planted beach grass had been eroded.
There is a crazy-pants rambling rustic lodge, the Driftwood Inn, that seems to be an institution. It's clearly popular and has been added to many times. Note that Waldo Sexton, the creator, was a 'lovable eccentric'. That's what they call bat-shit-crazy people when they have lots of money... Occasionally they are called, Mr President. (oh dear - is my bitterness showing??)
Good to know:
Look - a dog run for AC units!! (That is the kind of thing my brain is busy doing, rather than anything useful)
There was the requisite Saturday Farmer's Market, with few farmers but a lot of artisanal cheese, and we got yummy sandwichs for a lovely picnic on the top of the boat.
I finished the day on Craigslist (long story). How about these deeply disturbing lamps?
Fri Feb 21 - Vero Beach Interlude
In which Mother Nature has her way with us
Holy Whiplash, Batman! Mother Nature had a MOOD SWING in the night. When we went to bed it was so still and calm - halfway through the night the wind came up and it was just like being in a washing machine. There was that churning and slapping. Remember when you were a kid and you went underwater in the bathtub and noises became both muffled and all encompassing? It was like that. We both put in ear plugs and went back to sleep. THAT'S the kind of old salts we are.
When we got here yesterday I was all about staying on the mooring ball (I'm frugal, what can I say). Thank goodness the dock hand reminded us how stormy it was going to be, and someone cancelled so we could get a slip. During the 45 MPH gusts today, one of the mooring balls' chain snapped and the two boats that were rafted to it (tied up together - Vero Beach rafts its mooring balls - that is they put at least two boats on each mooring ball. We were ready to try that, but .... whew) went flying down the channel. Fortunately one of the teenagers that lives on a boat (there are a lot of families on boats - I'm kind of sorry we didn't do that, although I don't think I could have home schooled without killing everyone on board. And, as Claire says, I am 'a lot') got into his dingy, got to one of the the boats and threw their anchor overboard. Teenager saves the day - a rare good-news item
I had run out of Bonine, so pretty quickly I needed to get off the boat and into the marina lounge, where I worked a TON, and then caught up on the blog. Meantime, Rick caught the bus to Publix and did laundry. I LOVE having a wife.
For Rick it is not a Friday until he spends some bro-time with Guy Fieri. Here they are hugging:
At night we walked to the Riverside Theater to see Lost In Yonkers, a Neil Simon play I was excited about. When we came through two weeks ago, and Rick arranged for us to see the author talk, I got inspired to find things along the way to do.
AGAIN, we were the youngest people in about a 20 mile radius. Prior to the play we got to talking to a couple and it quickly became apparent that the wife was not tracking in the real world at all. She had great coping skills, but clearly had no idea where they were. This is very distressing on several levels - one of which is that possibly this kind of scenario somewhere in our future. On the way home, we had a conversation about this world of older people we are in and wondered if it is the right place for us to be. I expect that age does not matter in the companions we choose, just a positive attitude and the desire to live your best life now?
Anyway, I really enjoyed the play. Rick, being used to a diet of fast-pace John Wick action and Marvel special effects, thought it felt dated. (it IS set in 1942, fyi) The cast was charming.
I'm off to sleep my best sleep.
Holy Whiplash, Batman! Mother Nature had a MOOD SWING in the night. When we went to bed it was so still and calm - halfway through the night the wind came up and it was just like being in a washing machine. There was that churning and slapping. Remember when you were a kid and you went underwater in the bathtub and noises became both muffled and all encompassing? It was like that. We both put in ear plugs and went back to sleep. THAT'S the kind of old salts we are.
When we got here yesterday I was all about staying on the mooring ball (I'm frugal, what can I say). Thank goodness the dock hand reminded us how stormy it was going to be, and someone cancelled so we could get a slip. During the 45 MPH gusts today, one of the mooring balls' chain snapped and the two boats that were rafted to it (tied up together - Vero Beach rafts its mooring balls - that is they put at least two boats on each mooring ball. We were ready to try that, but .... whew) went flying down the channel. Fortunately one of the teenagers that lives on a boat (there are a lot of families on boats - I'm kind of sorry we didn't do that, although I don't think I could have home schooled without killing everyone on board. And, as Claire says, I am 'a lot') got into his dingy, got to one of the the boats and threw their anchor overboard. Teenager saves the day - a rare good-news item
I had run out of Bonine, so pretty quickly I needed to get off the boat and into the marina lounge, where I worked a TON, and then caught up on the blog. Meantime, Rick caught the bus to Publix and did laundry. I LOVE having a wife.
For Rick it is not a Friday until he spends some bro-time with Guy Fieri. Here they are hugging:
At night we walked to the Riverside Theater to see Lost In Yonkers, a Neil Simon play I was excited about. When we came through two weeks ago, and Rick arranged for us to see the author talk, I got inspired to find things along the way to do.
AGAIN, we were the youngest people in about a 20 mile radius. Prior to the play we got to talking to a couple and it quickly became apparent that the wife was not tracking in the real world at all. She had great coping skills, but clearly had no idea where they were. This is very distressing on several levels - one of which is that possibly this kind of scenario somewhere in our future. On the way home, we had a conversation about this world of older people we are in and wondered if it is the right place for us to be. I expect that age does not matter in the companions we choose, just a positive attitude and the desire to live your best life now?
Anyway, I really enjoyed the play. Rick, being used to a diet of fast-pace John Wick action and Marvel special effects, thought it felt dated. (it IS set in 1942, fyi) The cast was charming.
I'm off to sleep my best sleep.
Friday, February 21, 2020
Thurs Feb 20 - Lake Peck anchorage to Vero Beach Marina
In which Rick is a total Docking Boss
It is S O H O T... So we slept badly and both decided to get up at 7am because no sleeping was happening. You know what else wasn't happening? The dingy over to the beach. We just weren't feeling it - even with this great sunrise. Anytime I have to see a sunrise I'm not going to be feeling like putting the dingy down. Or doing anything else...In case you readers aren't yet clear on my feelings about mornings.
It was so calm we could see lots of things coming to the surface - turtle heads, manatee snout, old discarded bucket. This last came up on our anchor line. We both had alarming and alarmingly different thoughts about what we could use it for:
Rick: we can use it to bail
Me: I can use it to throw up in
I took us out because Rick needs to learn about the anchor (according to me). Here he is trying to make sense of the routine. Fortunately THIS time the anchor was covered with mud (as well as snagged on a bucket) so now he has had the full experience.
Because we hadn't tested our adrenaline response in at least a week, we decided to do something we hadn't dared to do before. We...... Wait for it...... Headed for the 'outside'. *GASP* No! YES! Remember when I told my mother we wouldn't be on open ocean? I lied (but she will never know since no one related to me is reading this blog). It looked like it would finally be calm enough (that is relative, of course), and we wanted to try it because there will be some outside runs required - like when we leave the ICW to go from Cape May to New York Harbor. Better to see how we do ahead of time...
Getting out the inlet (or is it outlet?) was bouncy because of the conflicting current (note to selves - time this with tide in the future). (Oh, Rick says he did). Then we settled down for 2.5 hours (I was counting) of rolling waves. After the first few shrieks we were confident that the boat wasn't going to tip over, so we stared to enjoy the fact that we didn't have to worry about depth (and, therefore, we don't have to micro-manage the steering to stay in a narrow channel) or other traffic/wakes. And the water was lovely, with the occasional turtle or dolphin swimming by, and birds diving into the water for a snack. I felt a bit queasy, so I lay on the upper bridge couch to keep Rick company, and safe.
We were both relieved to come back into the ICW at Fort Pierce, and even happier to see a familiar friend - the Vero Beach Marina. We took on fuel, and I wanted to do the whole get-rid-of-the-poop thing (Called a Pump Out) all on my own. Why, you ask - I'm a girl who likes to know how to do everything. Although, I think I could have gone my whole life happy without that particular skill set.
Rick made one of the nicest dockings ever at the fuel dock. But the maneuver to go from the fuel dock, down a narrow fairway and then back-in to our slip was tricky. There were boats on all sides (boat tip - it's BAD to hit other boats and GOOD to not hit other boats) and, apparently, we were the afternoon entertainment because EVERYONE came out of their boats to watch. Luckily, we had the most adorable dock attendant, Ryan, who - in a miraculous defiance of the laws of physics, and using only a stern line, WHILE standing on the bow of the ship behind us - managed to help Rick get us safely into the slip.
We are happy to have gotten a space on the dock (and well in to the line, not on the face-dock), rather than the mooring ball we were planning on, because Mr. Weather says were are going to get gale force winds in the night and tomorrow. Man, I hope it will lower the temperature...
It is S O H O T... So we slept badly and both decided to get up at 7am because no sleeping was happening. You know what else wasn't happening? The dingy over to the beach. We just weren't feeling it - even with this great sunrise. Anytime I have to see a sunrise I'm not going to be feeling like putting the dingy down. Or doing anything else...In case you readers aren't yet clear on my feelings about mornings.
It was so calm we could see lots of things coming to the surface - turtle heads, manatee snout, old discarded bucket. This last came up on our anchor line. We both had alarming and alarmingly different thoughts about what we could use it for:
Rick: we can use it to bail
Me: I can use it to throw up in
I took us out because Rick needs to learn about the anchor (according to me). Here he is trying to make sense of the routine. Fortunately THIS time the anchor was covered with mud (as well as snagged on a bucket) so now he has had the full experience.
Because we hadn't tested our adrenaline response in at least a week, we decided to do something we hadn't dared to do before. We...... Wait for it...... Headed for the 'outside'. *GASP* No! YES! Remember when I told my mother we wouldn't be on open ocean? I lied (but she will never know since no one related to me is reading this blog). It looked like it would finally be calm enough (that is relative, of course), and we wanted to try it because there will be some outside runs required - like when we leave the ICW to go from Cape May to New York Harbor. Better to see how we do ahead of time...
 |
| Passing the last bit of land... |
 |
| The captain confronted with A LOT OF WATER. |
Getting out the inlet (or is it outlet?) was bouncy because of the conflicting current (note to selves - time this with tide in the future). (Oh, Rick says he did). Then we settled down for 2.5 hours (I was counting) of rolling waves. After the first few shrieks we were confident that the boat wasn't going to tip over, so we stared to enjoy the fact that we didn't have to worry about depth (and, therefore, we don't have to micro-manage the steering to stay in a narrow channel) or other traffic/wakes. And the water was lovely, with the occasional turtle or dolphin swimming by, and birds diving into the water for a snack. I felt a bit queasy, so I lay on the upper bridge couch to keep Rick company, and safe.
 |
| Isn't our wake pretty?! |
We were both relieved to come back into the ICW at Fort Pierce, and even happier to see a familiar friend - the Vero Beach Marina. We took on fuel, and I wanted to do the whole get-rid-of-the-poop thing (Called a Pump Out) all on my own. Why, you ask - I'm a girl who likes to know how to do everything. Although, I think I could have gone my whole life happy without that particular skill set.
Rick made one of the nicest dockings ever at the fuel dock. But the maneuver to go from the fuel dock, down a narrow fairway and then back-in to our slip was tricky. There were boats on all sides (boat tip - it's BAD to hit other boats and GOOD to not hit other boats) and, apparently, we were the afternoon entertainment because EVERYONE came out of their boats to watch. Luckily, we had the most adorable dock attendant, Ryan, who - in a miraculous defiance of the laws of physics, and using only a stern line, WHILE standing on the bow of the ship behind us - managed to help Rick get us safely into the slip.
We are happy to have gotten a space on the dock (and well in to the line, not on the face-dock), rather than the mooring ball we were planning on, because Mr. Weather says were are going to get gale force winds in the night and tomorrow. Man, I hope it will lower the temperature...
Wed Feb 19 - Lake Worth anchorage to Lake Peck anchorage
In which we become a meal
Out of that Lake Worth anchorage like champs! Long slog north....
We got to Lake Peck early enough to take down the dingy (this time) and go explore the beach. But we said 'tomorrow morning' as we were being eaten alive by no-see-ems (which I could see all too well). Still. Hot. AF.
Out of that Lake Worth anchorage like champs! Long slog north....
 |
| All these people lounging on the sandbar by the channel - Rick says it's like spa day for retirees. |
 | ||
| Rick at work on the grill! |
We got to Lake Peck early enough to take down the dingy (this time) and go explore the beach. But we said 'tomorrow morning' as we were being eaten alive by no-see-ems (which I could see all too well). Still. Hot. AF.
Tues Feb 18 - Dania City Marina to Lake Worth Anchorage
In which we leave our Southern Terminus
Rick just told me that we have gone over 1,000 miles! And we are not divorced. That's a win-win if you ask me...
Today started early and sweaty, as we cleaned and repacked our new couch storage space. I, for one, am happy the tools are packed away. I acknowledge their importance, but I'm tired of tripping over them.
This is as far south as we will come this year, and we are both ready to start north again. We were sorry to say goodbye to our twin trawler, Scout (Mike, Sharon and the doggos) - it's been fun to be neighbors for a few days. Unfortunately for our pocket book, seeing how they had outfitted their trawler as a real 'home' made us both instantly want to upgrade some things. I guess we hadn't really thought of it as a 'home' and were just making due with what was on board when we bought the boat. (In terms of home accessories, I mean - we have bought a metric shit-ton of gear for the boat).
Rick didn't even break into a sweat with worry over the low bridge and shallow water as we got out of the marina. Or, possibly, he did but I couldn't tell because we were both drenched by 9am. This might be why tempers were a little short when some of us were back seat driving when others of us CLEARLY had things under control...
We chose to have a long day to get north as fast as possible in the hopes that I will stop hot-flashing. Even Rick, who knows better, has started to wonder aloud about the cutoff date for menopause. Pleasantly, the whole day seemed less stressful than usual because we'd done the route before. There were 17 bridges, but we had the schedule and radio chatter down pat. This whole water channel of SoFl is one long concrete canyon. It's lined on either side with fancy high-rises, or fancy (ridiculously large one-family) homes and fab docks/boats. It's fun to cruise past, but it's not hard to think of many other ways that money might be spent to benefit more than just one family. (I say, as a boat owner). Any wake that goes by us turns into rebound waves as the concrete canyon amplifies it. (I'm sure there is a good physics term for that - let me ask William).
The good news - the sun was behind us so less sunburn was to be had on the bridge. - Yay!
The bad news - the wind was behind us so it was pretty airless and hot on the bridge. - Boo!
The most fun thing that happened today was that, as we were going through Ft. Lauderdale with few other souls around, a little boat buzzed us. It was our friend and boat broker, Rick Dillman. He came out in his little boat (Tender Is The Night - I'm not making that up) just to see us off.
As we drove we rocked out to Yacht Rock Revue Band, recommended by our friend Susan Stock. Appropriate, no?!
We anchored back in Lake Worth, which was easy-peasey - somehow the key element being that we have done this anchorage before. I was so sweaty by the end of the day that I could have been wrung out in my Grandma's old flat wringer. That is exactly how I like to end the day, only the exact opposite... Grump Grump.
This hydrofoil sailboat/board cheered me up - the pictures don't do it justice. It's incredible to watch it up pop up out of the water.
Boat Name of the day: Angler Management
Rick just told me that we have gone over 1,000 miles! And we are not divorced. That's a win-win if you ask me...
Today started early and sweaty, as we cleaned and repacked our new couch storage space. I, for one, am happy the tools are packed away. I acknowledge their importance, but I'm tired of tripping over them.
This is as far south as we will come this year, and we are both ready to start north again. We were sorry to say goodbye to our twin trawler, Scout (Mike, Sharon and the doggos) - it's been fun to be neighbors for a few days. Unfortunately for our pocket book, seeing how they had outfitted their trawler as a real 'home' made us both instantly want to upgrade some things. I guess we hadn't really thought of it as a 'home' and were just making due with what was on board when we bought the boat. (In terms of home accessories, I mean - we have bought a metric shit-ton of gear for the boat).
Rick didn't even break into a sweat with worry over the low bridge and shallow water as we got out of the marina. Or, possibly, he did but I couldn't tell because we were both drenched by 9am. This might be why tempers were a little short when some of us were back seat driving when others of us CLEARLY had things under control...
We chose to have a long day to get north as fast as possible in the hopes that I will stop hot-flashing. Even Rick, who knows better, has started to wonder aloud about the cutoff date for menopause. Pleasantly, the whole day seemed less stressful than usual because we'd done the route before. There were 17 bridges, but we had the schedule and radio chatter down pat. This whole water channel of SoFl is one long concrete canyon. It's lined on either side with fancy high-rises, or fancy (ridiculously large one-family) homes and fab docks/boats. It's fun to cruise past, but it's not hard to think of many other ways that money might be spent to benefit more than just one family. (I say, as a boat owner). Any wake that goes by us turns into rebound waves as the concrete canyon amplifies it. (I'm sure there is a good physics term for that - let me ask William).
The good news - the sun was behind us so less sunburn was to be had on the bridge. - Yay!
The bad news - the wind was behind us so it was pretty airless and hot on the bridge. - Boo!
The most fun thing that happened today was that, as we were going through Ft. Lauderdale with few other souls around, a little boat buzzed us. It was our friend and boat broker, Rick Dillman. He came out in his little boat (Tender Is The Night - I'm not making that up) just to see us off.
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| Thank you, Rick!! |
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| I FLIPPED out that the direction indicator was broken. No. I'm just an idiot. We are headed due North. |
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| Today's view from my office |
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| Doesn't this look like The African Queen |
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| Very Disney |
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| We passed our anchorage in Boca. There were people STANDING UP - no wonder we almost ran around. |
We anchored back in Lake Worth, which was easy-peasey - somehow the key element being that we have done this anchorage before. I was so sweaty by the end of the day that I could have been wrung out in my Grandma's old flat wringer. That is exactly how I like to end the day, only the exact opposite... Grump Grump.
This hydrofoil sailboat/board cheered me up - the pictures don't do it justice. It's incredible to watch it up pop up out of the water.
Boat Name of the day: Angler Management
Wed Feb 12 thru Mon Feb 17 - In which we have SoFl adventures
The marina is a bit haphazard, with people obviously living on their boats even though it is 'not a live aboard marina' - and some re floated derelict boats. But the price is right and the ocean is near so we are happy! There is an excellent lounge with blazing internet, so those of us with jobs can get caught up.
It's been great to stay in one place, and we have had a rental car so we are mobile for the first time in a long while...
One morning we go to Grampa's Bakery for breakfast. It's an institution. AND it was feature on Rick's favorite show with Guy Fieri so Rick is IN HEAVEN...
We've gotten to see lots of friends - so great to get caught up!
We get to visit such beloved old locations such as: Home Depot, Target, Home Depot again, KMart, Home Goods and, once AGAIN, Home Depot. Our new friends (Mike & Sharon) on the twin boat joined us at the marina for a few days and he has a portable saw, which Rick covets. Rick even invented a project (taking the foldout bed out of the couch and turning that space into storage space) so that he could use the saw. I expect that, soon, the new storage space will be storing a portable saw...
And we went back to the Miami Boat Show. That is where all this started, one year ago. Now we go back as boat owners who have to buy shit for the bottomless pit that is a boat. As Rick says, 'boat' stands for But Only Another Thousand....
Even when we are OFF the boat, we see boats -
We had a chance to walk on the beach, and to take a bike ride down the entire length of the Hollywood Boardwalk. A trip down memory lane, seeing all the places we remember.
It was a great visit, barring that part where the tide went so far out we were sitting on the bottom.
It's been great to stay in one place, and we have had a rental car so we are mobile for the first time in a long while...
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| Our little dock |
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| Once again in Hollywood sand! |
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| Dania beach |
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| Well there's a face only a mother could love. He's got Betty Davis eyes... |
One morning we go to Grampa's Bakery for breakfast. It's an institution. AND it was feature on Rick's favorite show with Guy Fieri so Rick is IN HEAVEN...
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| Friends from our Turner days - Val and Mauro XOXO |
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| Friends from our Hollywood Dayz - Cory, Susand & Barry |
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| Billie - one of our three faithful readers. See - we do home visits to our top readers! |
We get to visit such beloved old locations such as: Home Depot, Target, Home Depot again, KMart, Home Goods and, once AGAIN, Home Depot. Our new friends (Mike & Sharon) on the twin boat joined us at the marina for a few days and he has a portable saw, which Rick covets. Rick even invented a project (taking the foldout bed out of the couch and turning that space into storage space) so that he could use the saw. I expect that, soon, the new storage space will be storing a portable saw...
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| Twin-ing! We are on the right - Scout on the left. |
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| Sharon and Mike are over for breakfast - avo toast |
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| Rick and Mike GEEK OUT at a crazy hardware store |
And we went back to the Miami Boat Show. That is where all this started, one year ago. Now we go back as boat owners who have to buy shit for the bottomless pit that is a boat. As Rick says, 'boat' stands for But Only Another Thousand....
Even when we are OFF the boat, we see boats -
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| That's one way to get the boat from one place to another. It's undoubtedly faster than our method. |
We had a chance to walk on the beach, and to take a bike ride down the entire length of the Hollywood Boardwalk. A trip down memory lane, seeing all the places we remember.
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| After we moved to Atlanta, we used to come back every spring break and stay at the Tides Motel... |
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| 'God Rays' on our last day. |
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| Derelict boat - but it's spooky discos lights are still trying to party |
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| As a diver, this really makes me laugh! |
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| Yummy Quarterdeck restaurant right across from our marina |
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