October 24-31 2016 Brunswick, GA

We cleaned the dinette cushions today after sleeping until 10AM.    The noon dog walk suited the dog just fine since she isn't an early riser by any stretch of the imagination.  

I also cleaned out the watermaker filters and then worked on the depth sounders.  We have three and all three read differently.  I adjusted the keel offset on the aft stateroom sounder, and the draft setting on the main sounder up on the bridge.  The forward looking sonar / sounder on the lower hem station doesn’t have an setting for this so it is what it is.

These settings are necessary because we are interested in the depth of water below the keel of the boat.  The transducers are located up on the hull, about 2 feet (actually 1' 9") above the lowest part of the boat, the keel.  So the depth reading can be adjusted to subtract the number of feet between the transducer and the bottom of the keel which would display the amount of water between the bottom and the lower edge of the keel.

Went to the cocktail party tonight and had to leave a group that was bashing ObamaCare with a more than a usual spat of venom.  Rather disturbing to hear from some we know rather well.  I had no idea they harbored such virulent opinions.

Ate the lasagna from the pizza place the other tonight.  Yummy!

We were taking the dog for a walk this morning when Sharon stopped over and said they were trying salvage Three Girls, the shrimp boat that had sunk during the hurricane.  So I started walking over but forgot my phone and decided I’d just take the bike over.

Trying to raise Three Girls

 There was a large crane on a barge with two tugs and several tow boat guys.  Divers were securing two slings around and under the boat, then attaching them to the 4 hooks from the crane.  The plan, so the tug boat first mate told me, was to haul it up in increments and get some of the water out to lighten the load.  The crane, or for that matter the boat's keel, would never withstand the weight of the boat with all that water inside.

I stayed awhile but the retreated to our boat and did some cleaning and engine room work.  Cleaned up the fly bridge and then started the engines.  The port engine with the new battery fired right up.  Starboard as usual was a little balky but finally started.  There seems to be an excess of exhaust smoke and I did notice the air filters looked pretty dirt so I’ll have to change those too.

After all that excitement Mary went to have Robin cut her hair.  Price, a bottle of wine.   I rode to the liquor store, the good one out on highway 17 about 5 miles away.  They have a good selection of wine even the Pinot Noir we liked at the Indigo the other night.  But of course they didn’t have any of the Pinot left at the store.  But they did have a nice big bottle of Cabernet which I bought for Robin. 

I stopped at Winn Dixie on the way back and then had to take a convoluted, and long return route to the marina because the roads are still all torn up.  They are actually worse than they were a few weeks ago.  There is heavy sand all over the road which makes riding a bike pretty tough.

Union Street, a tree covered boulevard lined with stately homes 

Walked my usual 3 miles tonight on Union street under cloudy skies and cool temps.  Delightful.

This morning I rode to the NAPA store after trying Autozone near here on Norwich Street.  They didn’t have the air filter I need for Cummins engies.  NAPA has them and all the other fuel and oil filters I need.  But of course none of them are in stock at this store.   So they have to order them and promise they will be there tomorrow morning.  I get to ride 6 miles again to buy them Friday.

One of many similar streets on the way to NAPA

I varnished the swim ladder and the ladder which leads from the sundeck to the swim platform.  Another coat tomorrow.  Mary washed the superstructure.  Weather has been delightfully cool.

I charged the dinghy battery all day.   Then charged the generator battery all tonight.
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 We went to the cocktail party tonight but didn’t stay long   I dare say we are growing weary of cocktail parties.  I think because we are restless and want to move on.  We’ve been here almost a month now.  And we haven't missed many parties either.

Cutoff Outriggers waiting to be lifted onto the salvage barge

In a remarkable development Mary baked brownies in the oven which now actually stays at 350 degrees for however long we want.  Well, the temperature on the dial reads 350.  The actual temperature of the oven was probably more like 400.  But the brownies came out baked!

Lately I've been taking nightly walks up Union street and I used my phone this time to check the distance.  4 miles.   I didn’t even now.

Floating and ready to be towed somewhere

The shrimp boat that sank, Three Girls, was still sunk when I went by in the morning.  It was floating in the afternoon.  They cut off most of the outriggers I guess to lessen the weight but also to allow it to float more upright.  They must have raised it and pumped the water out in several steps.  Later when I went walking at night it, and the barges, were gone.

Well we varnished again, rented a car in Ortega for next Saturday to take to WI.  We’re still searching for the best place to anchor near Cumberland Island because we have to take the dog to shore and the island is reported to be closed.   Fernandina, the nearby town has no docks we could use for landing a dinghy, at least so we have heard.

Sue and Paul are leaving tomorrow for West Palm beach and then the Bahamas.  Steve, Liz, EM and Bev might get here by the 1^st which means we'll miss them.  There are several other boats leaving on the 1st too.  Everyone is anxious to get south and most of us labor under insurance company rules which prevent travel in Florida before November 1.  Unless you pay an extra few of course.

Rhonda seems to have injured her shoulder while recovering from a bike that was sliding in the sand while shark tooth hunting.  Very odd seeing her walking around with an arm in a sling.   

Helping Steve tomorrow to replace an oil change pump which also acts as pre-lubbing pump.  Neat idea, but not really necessary on these small recreational engines according to most diesel pundits.  But its still pretty cool.  when the ignition is on the pumps run and move oil into the bearings before starting up.

Steven is also taking me to NAPA so I can get my parts tomorrow saving me a 6 mile bike ride.

Short walk tonight and ride to West Marine for a cable reducer so I can solder the two VHF cable connections and get better performance out of the radio.  Of course they didn’t have the reducer I need, so another project on hold.

I called NAPA this morning to verify they had my filters.  They said yes.  Steven is still on to take me along with him since he had to stop at NAPA too.  They had my parts… sort of..

When we got there, the poor lady I had talked with, only ordered 1 of each.  I need two.  She had to re-order another air filter and fuel filter and fervently promised they would there tomorrow morning. At least she did give me a slight discount.

Steven had to stop at Home Depot where I picked up some rosin cored solder just in case I got the chance to solder the radio connections.

After we returned I went over to help Steven install a new oil circ and pre-lube pump.  Simple job.  But as usual it took 4 hours because we had to fabricate another mount for it.  It works except it blew out a 10amp fuse.  With a 30 amp fuse it was fine but the wires were hot so something is amiss.  I suspect the pump is having a hard time pumping cold, 40 weight oil

Later I went to the Friday night cocktail party.  Noted that Paul and Sue on Odyssey had returned because two 8D batteries that power their windlass and bow thrusters.  The batteries were dead.  They were going to be anchoring their way down to Palm Beach but that's not really doable without a working windlass

Good news about Cumberland Island though.  Its now open so we can go ashore which means the dog can poop on land.  At least that's what the National Parks website was proclaiming.

Steve, Liz, Bev and Em are due to arrive a few days after the 1^st.  I sort of want to stay but we have a car rented on the 4^th and have to be in Wisconsin by the 12^th with  possible visit to Destin and Dayton squeezed in there.

Tomorrow we try out the dinghy to be sure it's up to taking the dog to shore.

And in a startling revelation, we aren't leaving Monday.  We are leaving Tuesday.  The first is on Tuesday not Monday, an assumption I leaped too earlier in the week.  Sheez ...

Rode to NAPA and got my fuel filter and other air filter.  Installed the air filters and then went over to help Brent with his canvas.

After we took the dinghy down and Sharon and Eli (their dog) rode with us to the fuel dock and out into the main harbor area before turning back,  We stopped to admire a large sailing catamaran and then talked with Ann and Tim on Ivanhoe before heading back to the boat.  We brought the dinghy back aboard and left the davit connected to the lifting harness so its ready to take it down again.

After we had the dinghy board and secured, I biked to JP liquors to fetch some Italian champagne, Prosecco and a few bottles of red wine.

We had dinner with Steven and Sharon on Once Upon a Time, Brent and Suan's boat.  Wonderful time.  Sharon had this liquor, Mackinac Island Fudge Liqueur which was to die for.  I seem to recall Amarula, a liquor we know about, is similar in taste.  So I need to buy some while we are here.

Worked most of the day.  Moved a VHF antenna to the port side so it wouldn’t keep rubbing on one of the fly bridge windows.

Caulked around the last two aft portside cleats.  And caulked around the galley sink.  And since I had to move a lot of things around I just vacuumed and cleaned there too.

We weren’t up in time to join Brent and Susan at the Wicca ceremony this morning.  Would have been fun.

Matt and Karen, two Aussies, had never participated in a Halloween celebration before.  Carving a pumpkin was a new experience for them,  They studied several How-To’s on YouTube, went and bought a nice pumpkin and some pumpkin cutting knives and set to work.  Matt did most of the labor, several hours worth.  Karen got bored after an hour and went to do laundry.  Fun couple!  And a superb pumpkin.  Wish I had a picture of it.  It was the best at the Halloween party by far.

We are leaving Tuesday so tomorrow is the last day to get ready although we are only going 90 some miles and anchoring out for one night.

But we are ready!

Final departure preparations were on the agenda today.  Basically that meant stowing everything we needed to stow and an engine room check.

I hopped on the bike and rode to the liquor store and Winn Dixie for a few items becasue we are throwing a smallish quick party tonight before the main party at the marina lounge which is termed, "the Big House", by most longer term boaters staying here.

When I returned Mary passed along messages from Steven who needed help with his gas tank, and Brent who needed help with his navigation unit.

So I went over to help Steven with his dinghy gas tank.  He was having difficulty getting it to seat correctly in it's spot under a bow cap.  But we got it in!

Brent ran into a roadblock trying to get his navigation screen back on the main unit.  He had to removed the old one which was attached by security screws.  They come in a common star head configuration but also can be hex head.  Eyesight being what it is we thought hex.  Luckily Brent took a picture and the guy at Lowes correctly deduced the screws were star shaped.  Had to buy a special tool to remove them.

 Brent and I returned just in time for me to greet Steven and Sharon at our boat.   Alas Sharon wanted a gin and tonic but we had no limes so she went back to her boat to get some.  Brent and Susan stopped aboard a few minutes later and we enjoyed a drink and then headed to the Big House for the Halloween Chili Potluck.

Minion as a Halloween boat decoration

Quite a crowd.  And lots of food most of which wasn't chili.  And it was all good!  Love these parties!  

We stayed for a few hours and then made it back to the boat.  Tomorrow, Tuesday, is the first of November.  That is the date our insurance company allows its insurees to enter Florida.  It's a hurricane thing.  Hurricane season generally runs from mid June until late October.

We have everything stowed and ready.  High tide isn't until around 11AM at Jekyll Creek which is where we have to go so we don't have to leave very early.

The creek is only 5 miles away and runs along Jekyll Island.  It's one of those shallow areas best done at higher tide levels.

All we really have to do is pay for the slip which I'll do in the morning before Mary gets up.  Then we're off!