February 3-10 2016 Palm Beach to Sunset Lake

We made our way south from Peck Lake to North Palm beach as the winds became noticeably stronger.  It was turning into a windy day.  I was originally intending on anchoring near the Flagler bridge across from the Flagler Museum.  But its not very protected in a northwest wind.  And is also a rather popular place to anchor hence bound to be crowded which, with such windy conditions, can be risky with boats dragging anchor. 

So I opted instead to try the north Palm Beach anchorage which offers some protection from north and westerly winds.  It's a big anchorage with good holding.  While it might sound rather ideal, the downside is dinghy access to shore.  Only one, rather rough spot under a bridge and the general consensus is not to leave a dinghy there unattended.  But we have 4 potential dinghy drivers so I think we can get around that.

Bouncing at anchor in North Palm Beach

North Palm Beach Anchorage had many boats but we sneaked in on the west side in anticipation of the NNW winds in the days ahead.

 We stayed aboard most of the day.  We did take a dinghy ride up to North Lake Worth.  It's a sizable pond with large homes, reachable by a little cut that is very shallow, The lake itself though is pretty deep, in excess of 10 feet.  Could never bring the big boat though even though it would be an idea anchorage.

We did pass by the dinghy landing area and its small, no real place to tide up and right beside a bridge.   As we pulled in closer we had a conversation?  Well, he likes to pontificate,  all about how Ted Cruz was the guy.  This from a fellow who lives on a sailboat in the anchorage.  A big, guy too who seemed to fit the stereotype of angry white men almost perfectly.  So I guess we can look forward to political conversations if/when we run into him again.

 We rocked and rolled at anchor over the next few days.  It was difficult to dinghy in because the north winds were kicking up some rough water  It made a wet ride to and from the dinghy landing spot.

Kathy at the wonderful dinghy landing area

Publix and Shoppes at Oakbrook.  PGA Blvd is right here

 Kathy and I went in to shore one time to do some shopping.  There was a Publix and few other stores only a block or two from the bridge.   Dave drove us in because I wasn’t too comfortable leaving the dingy there.  He dropped us off and headed back to the boat.  The plan was I would call him when we were done.  

We strolled around a bit.  Kathy found, of all things, an Italian Deli, Carrabbas.  It was right near a West Marine store too.   

And then of course there was a Publix, located in a mall, called the Shops of Oakbrook. a bonanza of shopping.

The Italian Deli

We brought back goodies.  I called Dave as we neared the bridge and he came and fetched us.   In the  old days we would tote along a VHF radio.  Now, cell phones make it so easy

The wind was still just fierce.  Not a pleasant day at all.  But the front is passing so we may have an opportunity to go exploring tomorrow.  Dave and Kathy did go in to shore for a few hours to get off the boat.  I do believe we ran into Mr. Ted Cruz again when I picked them up.  

Dave coming to pick us up

Finally the winds calmed down the next day presenting so we decided to take the dinghy somewhere.  But first I had to get gas and ran the dinghy over to a nearby marina.

Ted Cruz fan

 Lo and behold, who's on the dock filling water bottles but Mr. Ted Cruz.  Nice enough man, but oh my the rhetoric... sheez.

Once I returned, all four of us climbed into the dinghy and off we went a few miles south to Peanut Island for some time off the boat. 

 It’s a great little place, with a beach, tiny little harbor for small boats and JFK’s bomb shelter which we didn’t tour.  The island is right in front of Lake Worth Inlet.  Nice place to watch boat traffic.  

There is a trail the leads all around the island, a few beaches and that little boat harbor.  There is even a museum of sorts which manages the bomb shelter.  Peanut Island is a very interesting place.  We did not pay to tour the bomb shelter.  

Peanut Island Trail around the island

Small boat harbor

Island trail

Island docks on the inlet side

After Mary wanted food so we went over to Sailfish Marina for lunch.  Not the quietest place in town.  It's a marina that caters more to sport fisherman charters.  And not the best food either.  But oh well.  After eating we headed back to the boat.  It was a nice day, even mostly sunny!

Going through the Flagler Memorial Bridge

We left the following day for a long run down the ICW.  Many bridges as we well knew, and some we still had to wait for an opening because we are too tall to fit under when its closed.  Poor sailboats though.  If they run down the ICW, its almost every bridge for them.

Dave and Kathy enjoying the ride.  But Dave.  Sunbathing with a hat and jacket?

I was thinking of maybe ducking into Maule Lake, but we went further and finally anchored in this little basin called Santa Barbra Lake.

Passing by the entrance to Maule Lake

It's a few miles north of Fort Lauderdale.  Surrounded by a subdivision of typical big Florida homes, its a nice protected spot.  And we were the only boat there.

In the morning we started out on another long run down the ICW, hrough Fort Lauderdale and into Miami.  Fort Lauderdale is still a busy place with boats, large and small, flying about.  And more bridges, many of which we could pass under but some, 5 to be exact, required us to wait around for their scheduled opening.  

Our goal today was a place called Sunset Lake,  a place I’ve always wanted to anchor. 

Red marker in the upper right is Sunset Lake

 Its a small lake surrounded by Florida mansions but very protected.  There is one home owner in particular who has been financing this legislative effort to band anchoring in the lake.  

Lots of tiny sailboats moored

He's gone so far as to moor 20+ tiny little sailboats in front of his home, complete with anchor lights to keep other anchored boats away.

The infamous homeowners house has the red roof.

It appears that Florida will soon pass some sort of minimal anchoring ban and this is the very first place that will not allow a boat to be anchored overnight.  Money talks I guess.

Entering the waterway to the lake ahead

It is a lengthy route to get in there but it really is very nice.  We went in, and headed to the north end where the infamous homeowner resides.  I even saw him shaking his arm up at us.  Lucky for him,  there was no room on that end so we went down to the south end and found a spot and anchored.  It took two tries but we achieved a reasonable set.  Very nice, and particularly calm and quiet. 

Peacefully anchored in Sunset Lake

Outside the lake, the winds were blowing hard and the water (Biscayne Bay) was kicked up.  We took the dinghy out and around Sunset Harbour Yacht Club to the Collins Canal, a narrow, drainage ditch like waterway where there is a dinghy dock of sorts.  Miami Beach is not known for their hospitality towards cruising boaters.  

The Collins Canal

The dinghy dock is across the street from a Publix and other stores.  The dinghy dock isn't really a dock but just a place to tie up.  Some kind soul did built a high platform with short steps so one can shimmy over the relatively high sea wall.  But there are always many dinghys there making it  a challenge to tie up and get off.

We mushed out way in, moved a dinghy away from the step and got Kathy and Mary off.   A family with 2 boys, tied up to our dingy and used it to access the ladder.

The dinghy dock.  Dinghy Landing might be a more appropriate term

We all dashed into Publix to buy, well, stuff.  We ran into that family again, who were waiting to cross over to the Bahamas and needed supplies, basically re-supplies because they had been anchored nearby waiting for decent weather to cross over.  Waiting several weeks. 

We brought all our Publix goodies back to the boat.  The ride back was not a pleasant dry little cruise.  It was choppy.

 Aboard, we ate a sandwich type dinner, watched a movie, made water (incoming tide) and went to bed.  We are making for Boca Chita Key tomorrow.  It's another place highly recommended by various cruising friends of ours.  And we can leave later in the morning because its less than 15 miles.

January 22-February 2, 2016 Dave and Kathy Daytona to Peck Lake

I'll preface this by mentioning that Kathy has a far more complete journal of events than my sparse notes which, thank you Google, I had to re-create here from memory.  My original posts are floundering out there somewhere in the cloud.  Lost and  un-tethered, they are on a data joyride.   My memory though is rock solid.  Yup.  Solid.  No memory gaps here ;-)

The next morning we waited for Dave and Kathy who had stayed in New Smyrna Beach.  They called as they got close but turned up the wrong driveway so I ran out to flag them down.  Good to see them, a little warmth in the Florida chill.

Dave parked and we all grabbed something and hauled it down to the end of the dock where we were tied up.

It was darn cold out.  Frigid.  Luckily we have a good stash of blankets for the tropics where its always 70 degrees and frigid.  Did I say 70?  

The next morning it was damn cold again!    We walked, or I should say drove, to the historic district of downtown Daytona

Antique golf clubs

Scrap the hat.  These are much better.

Yes.  At the wine bar

Lunch 

Oddly there were few pedestrians out, or at least that's how I remember.    We did some antique shop browsing.  There was certainly no lack of antique stores that were open.  We even stopped at a wine bar along the way for a few samples.  Then had lunch and went back aboard to get out of the cold.  

The chicken farmer pondering chicken wisdom

Electric heaters are great!

Since the forecast wasn't indicating anything reasonable for temperatures, we opted for another day at the marina.  The prospects of anchoring out when its cold usually turns unpleasant, especially in the morning.

With that decision taken care of we all piled into Dave's car and headed out to a place called DeLand.  It's a quaint little old Florida town.  There wasn't much going on, but we strolled the main street and had lunch at the Brickhouse Grill.

Dave and Kathy pondering the menu

Strolling the streets of DeLand.  Florida ... wearing jackets?

We had originally intended to try and make a run to Blue-Spring State Park where manatees abound, but it just got to late so we abandoned that plan and started heading back to Daytona.  Ironically, Blue Springs was where we were going to visit when we were on the St. Johns river a few months ago.  Weather turned lousy though so we never made it down the far.

We did stop at a large antique complex, and also stopped in nearby Walmart for something.  Must have been important I think?

We finalized arrangements for Dave to keep his car there at Halifax Marina and the next morning we head over to the fuel dock for a pump-out while Dave moved his car closer to the Marina office.  

Everyone aboard, off we went down the ICW to an anchorage we have used in the past.  Georgina, is a few miles south of Cocoa and is pretty much a wide spot in the Indian River which forms prt of the ICW here.

At Georgina, the anchor crew at work 

It was very calm and peaceful although cool.  And not chilly for a change.

Next morning we made leisurely preparations to get under way, our destination being Ft. Pierce and Harbotown marina where we'll fuel up and see Steve and Liz on their boat, Shingebiss. 

So what's a Shingebiss you maybe asking? 

We pulled into the Harbortown fuel dock which, thankfully, was just vacated by another boat. As we approached the marina entrance channel I called them on the radio inquiring about their fuel price and they were just lowering it to $1.93/gal.  Lucky us.  So we came in, fueled up, pumped out and while everyone was kibitzing (Steve and Liz had heard us on the radio and came down to the dock), the two dock hands and I pulled the boat back to an area behind the fuel dock which is where we'll be for as long as we are staying, probably a day or two given the weather.

Those little heads inside the fence are Steve, Liz, Mary, David and Kathy

All together, gathered around the fireless alcohol fire pit

We all sat down around nice round table with an unlit alcohol fire pit in the middle and had drinks and ate.  The fire-pit remained unlit to to the proximity to the fuel dock 25 yards away. Rules can morph into some strange indictment of common sense sometimes.  Anyway, it was a great time seeing them. 

Next morning we opted to remain here due to weather again.  Kathy decided to take a bike ride and the downpour left her a bit sodden.  Of course I'm not including that picture!

 We did walk to the nearby Publix but the main event was a party Steve and Liz were throwing on their boat.  Their boat is a older Roughwater with a pilot house.  Very roomy.

 We met an interesting couple docked next to them and he related a story of how he had his boat painted for less than $10,000 at a small place about a mile away.  I listened with rapt interest since our boat is nearing the point where we will have to paint it.  We had a great time although only Dave decided to come along.

Next morning we cruised the 30 miles to Stuart and Loggerhead Marina.  We love Stuart and especially Loggerhead Marina which is where we consummated the purchase of the boat 4 years ago.  

We ran the water maker along the way and weaved along the familiar route to H dock where dock masters Steve and Jim put us in our favorite spot across from the fuel dock leaving our port side open so we could get the dinghy down.

We made it!

Tied up on H dock

We were to meet Jeff & Judy here the following day.

After we were secured and checked in we wandered up to the Pool Bar which was formerly known as Splash when Johnny, the irrepressible Jersey boy was running it. 

Arrival drinks and lunch at the Pool bar

We admired the view for a time and talked about boat projects.   Dave seems to love projects as does Kathy.  Mary and I tend to be ambivalent, having immersed ourselves in many projects early on and now recognizing them as "chores", meaning they must be done.

The next day I drove Dave back up to Daytona to fetch his car which he drove back down to Stuart.

The ambitious trying to motivate the not so Ambitious?

Jeff and Judy arrived that afternoon and we had a little cocktail party before Dave and Kathy made dinner.  

Dave, Judy, Jeff, Mary, Kathy at the Pool bar

Such fun!

It was boat chores today.  Lots of fun actives such as,  Re bedding spreader lights, waxing, remounting an antenna, some electrical work, cleaning ... Oh so much joy spread among so few. 

Dave working on a solo project

Dave and I drilling

Morning coffee respite by the pool

Later that evening all of us, Jeff, Judy, Dave and Kathy walked across the railroad tracks to, A little Taste of Brooklyn, pizza place that we love so much.  The pizza is, to my oh-so refined pallet, the best.  And they have this Chianti wine which I just love but cant find in any wine store.  It's not what you would describe as being expensive or having a "...delightful full finish with lingering undertones of color...".  It's just tasty wine.

Making a toast at Little Taste of Brooklyn Pizzeria

Oddly enough we ran into a lady, Sara, who was the cook, manager of Splash the last time were here.  She remembered us (who could forget) but quit here and now  works at Shrimpers in Manatee Pocket now.

Next day I replaced the forward  cabin's shower sump pump float switch.  And tried to figure out why the power-tilt on the dinghy wasn't staying up.  We had taken the dinghy down earlier.

After several hours of boat work we took off and wandered around Stuart a bit.  I dont recall if we stopped to have ice cream or not at Hoffman's frozen yogurt shop.

Kathy downtown Stuart

The following day we day it was more boat work but not for too long.  We took off on a major shopping expedition to Harbor Freight, Walmart and Publix (and probably a few other stores I've forgotten).

We all managed to squeeze in the car, even the Girl Scout Cookies

So easy to buy, so much fun to haul it to the boat and stow it all

After everything was stored aboard we took a long dinghy ride up the north fork of the St. Lucie River.  We had never been up that branch before.  Kathy was looking for Hyacinth (or some other specie which I dont recall) plants of which there seemed to be some floating down the river.  We grabbed several bunches and had a nice bucket full.  I think we even stopped in at Sunset Marina and their infamous bar, Sailors Return  for a sunset cocktail.

Kathy and Dave (Dave really was enjoying himself despite the grim expression)

Bucket-o-Plants

Sunset at Sunset Marina

Later we went to Park Avenue for yummy ribs with Jeff and Judy and Dave.  Kathy abstained.

Jeff and Judy are remaining at the marina, but we were leaving today for Pecks Lake, an anchorage about 10 miles down the ICW.  Sad to see leave them again.

As we tried to leave the dock to go over to the fuel dock for a pumpout, we missed taking off a stern line and we sort wallowed there in the little basin off the dock until Jeff managed to free it up.  We hauled it aboard quickly enough so I could get in to the fuel dock. 

After pumping out I checked our holding tank indicators and it wasn't showing green.  Green means an empty tank.  No green would indicate we did not have an empty tank.  I fiddled with the slides on the probe and cleaned it off.  Green Light!

The wind had picked pinning us to the dock.  We ended up using a post to pivot the bow off the dock enough so the stern of the boat would move out into the basin and clear of any boats.  Then out into the river and the short chop created from the stiff easterly winds.

It was an uneventful ride down the river, across the Crossroad.  The Crossroads is the area where the St. Lucie Inlet meets the St. Lucie River and the ICW.  Its notorious because it can get very busy and shallow at times.  On this occasion it was a smooth, un-congested ride.

We anchored at Peck Lake north of buoy G19 in mildly shallow water at low tide.  Very windy.  Should have probably gone in shore a little more where water is deeper, or in line with the G19 or slightly south. But we were fine.  There were several other boats in anchorage. 

We got the dingy down and drove into the little landing area and walked to the beach.  Spent several hours there.  It was windy but not cold.  

Dinghy beached and ready to walk to the beach

The beach trail

The beach.  A very big, long beach

Later, back on board we grilled on board.  Weather forecasts indicate a few days of windy squally weather ahead.  Oh boy.  I'm guessing we will be hunkered down in some anchorage near Palm Beach for a few days.

January 20 - 22 2016 Jacksonville to Daytona

We left Blount Island before 9 for the cold journey to Matanzas Inlet and the anchorage there.  The engines, holding on to some residual heat, groaned a little but they did start.  

We nosed out of the anchorage and down the ICW on a falling tide which meant we weren’t traveling very fast because of the stiff current.

Over to the right you can see our speed, 2.88 mph

Went by Pine Island and it’s a typical river anchorage with but a little wider than I thought.  Still, its wide open offering little wind protection.  I much prefer Blount Island.

Pine Island Anchorage

As we made out way in towards St. Augustine we passed right by the little beach where Jack enjoyed some beach time last year when we stayed here for a few days while he was board.

I call this Jack's Beach, right on the inlet into St. Augustine

We passed through St. Augustine and under the Bridge of Lions and made our way south another 15 miles until we came up on Matanzas.  It’s very shallow around here and the directions for entering the inlet/anchorage are pretty precise.  Run along the northeast shore off a 100 yards until you find yourself opposite the Fort and then anchor.

The fort (from June 2015 when Jack and I took the dinghy here)

Yes, there is a fort there.  A small, almost tiny looking short tower.  It’s a Spanish fort, built back in the 1700's.  Not much around there except for the beaches and supposedly a hiking trail.  It was late by the time we arrived so we didn't get off the boat.  Actually it was too cold! 

We shared the anchorage with 4 other boats, all sailboats.  It was a delightful, if not chilly night again.  We were the second boat to leave the next morning as we made our way south heading for Rockhouse Creek near New Smyrna Beach.

Sunset at Rockhouse Creek

We were the only big boat in Rockhouse Creek. There were several smaller power vessels which all left at dusk except for one who was anchored a fair ways off.  It was still cold, 50’s at night.  A large sailboat came in later and hugged the north shore which is pretty much the unofficial channel for entering and leaving this place.  There is a large very shallow bar the extends from the south point of the entrance. 

The weather reports were looking ominous for the next few days with high winds predicted.  And Dave and Kathy were planning on joining us.  My original idea, for them to meet us in Rockhouse Creek, was swiftly wilting before my eyes.  Given the weather forecasts and noting how much easier it would be to unload their car at a dock instead of using the dinghy, we decided to head north a few miles back to Daytona and Halifax Marina.  I figured we'd just hunker down there for a few days until the weather cleared up.

On the T-Head at Halifax Harbor Marina

Halifax marina is right across from where we usually anchor here in Daytona.  In fact we’ve taken out dinghy into the Marina several times.  We just never stayed here with the big boat.

They gave us a spot on a T-head way down on the north end of the marina.  We pulled in and spun the boat around easily enough and the dock guy knew what he was doing so it was only a few minutes and we were all secure.  Our normal black power cord wasn't working with the power pedestal, so we used our shorter, yellow 50 amp cord.  I'm sure it was the receptacle on the pedestal.  In any event, the first thing we did was fire up all the heaters.

Dave and Kathy are meeting us here tomorrow.  We haven't quite figured out a plan but it'll either be Bahamas or just a slow run down to Marathon.  Given the weather though and comments from people we know over in the islands now, it's not all that inciting.  Cold and windy here.  Cold and windy there.  But we'll see how it all plays out.

December 31, 2015 January 19, 2016 Wisconsin and Returning to Huckins Boat Yard

Looking out our window at the soft white sand??

It snowed.  And it got cold.  Thankfully it was happening a few days before we had to return to Green Bay for one final round of dentist visits and X-rays etc.   I must becoming jaded but it sure looks bleak up there in winter.

We all made a stop to visit my mother on the 31st.  Kathy was ill but Dave joined all our kids and grand kids for a nice visit.  Dave  graciously bestowed upon me his old golf clubs which are miles of quality beyond my set from 20 years ago.  Just wish such fine clubs would guarantee a spike in my mediocre golf skills.

Visiting my mother.  David can juggle?

After visiting my mother we headed back to Ixonia and then stopped over at Dave and Dana's for New Years.  In the past we'd get together and make it well past midnight.  Now we strive for making it to the news.  

Dave and Dana's son Mat had left their kids with them for a few days.  Two girls.  Sweeties!  

We all stayed in on New Years Day.

The next night we met Greg and Laura with their kids, Seany and Sammy at Rosaties.  Pizza!  Laura and I like veggie pizzas with some heat (jalapenos) so we shared on while the meat eaters had some meat concoction, 

We had rescheduled the get together with Dan and Judy, the Downey's and Gene for this Monday and we all finally met at Brisco County in Menominee Falls .  Even my old nephew Don showed up!  And thanks Gene for picking up the check!   

Somewhere along the way I lost my reading glasses leaving me at the mercy of Mary who could read the restaurant menu.  Later that afternoon Jack found them in the street in front of the house.  These weren't my normal $1 variety either, but exorbitant CVS readers.  $28!  Evidently they sat on the street all the time we were visiting at Brisco County.

The following day we drove up to Green Bay for my last knee shot.  The stuff is wonderful.  Just wonder how long it will last.

We once again couldn't stop to see Tim and Jill.  Our original plan had rapidly spiraled down the toilet (no pun intended) when the stomach flu hit most everyone including Mary.   And we simply had no time to linger in Green Bay this time.  

After the doctor we stopped in at Northern Battery to get our batteries.   I picked them up and was about to leave when one of the store guys ran out saying they hadn't charged our credit card.  Ok, so that took a few more minutes but we were back on the rode quickly and made our assigned time to be home with an hour to spare.  


On Sunday we took Jonah on errands to 7 stores!  He did better than Mary whose shopping tolerance is 4 stores or less.  Jonah, who developed a sudden burning desire to have tacos at Taco Bell ate 6 of the darn things.  I sat in amazement as he calmly devoured one taco, then asked for another, and another and another.  It took 30 minutes but it was a culinary feat for a 5 year old.

Taco Boy wolfing down taco number 6

What could be finer than doing errands with free popcorn.   

Talking with the carpet guy in Ortega ended in disappointment.  All this time and they couldn't get a carpet order in so we would have to had wait another 2 weeks.  Mary politely said "no thanks" so we wont be replacing carpet this time.

Instead we might spring for a new mattress.  The one we have now some mildew now and its pretty old.  I had sprayed it with bleach in hopes it may revive itself but we're having doubts.  Luckily there is a mattress store close by Huckins so we'll probably end up going in there and test out beds.  We have a king in the stateroom now so my first question will be directed at their ability to squeeze mattresses into small spaces.

We took Seany, Jonah and Jack to Chocolate Factory.  Alas, no pictures but we do take the kids there quite often.  It was the same scene, kids picking at the real food and inhaling ice cream.  So we have fulfilled our grandparental duty, sugaring up grandchildren.  But we paid the price trying to corral them all before they started chasing around in the dark parking lot.  

It hit 20 degrees this evening.  Not good for us shivering old folks.  And seemingly not good for glasses either.  I lost my exquisite $28 readers.  Back to my dollar store stash.

We packed the car during a running discussion regarding the idea of leaving more cold weather clothes up here since we will be where it wont be cold.  My argument was predicated on climate variability reminding Mary how cold it was in Destin a few years ago.  So the end result was she left a bunch of stuff anyway and I'm certain I wont be able to locate any of my comfy and warm old shirts when we unpack aboard the boat.

We were up pretty early with the rest of the gang who all had to head off for school and work.  We left shortly after stopping of course for breakfast at the convenient Kwik Trip in Johnson Creek on Hwy 26 across from I-94.  I filled up the car, loaded up on cash from the Fee-Free ATM, and then we got some breakfast sandwiches and coffee and hit the road.

Dave Boyd left Wisconsin had an hour and half before we did.   He went the Chicago route and then took I-57.  We took our usual I-39 to I-57 route and found ourselves about 30 minutes ahead of him.  But we have to stop in Murfreesboro to check in with the Enterprise office to renew our rental agreement because they don't do agreements for more than thirty days.  He was heading straight down to I-65 into Alabama so we weren't able to connect up.

We did stop for the night in Murfreesboro,Tennessee at a new Holiday Inn.  I love Hampton Inns and there was one there but lost out due to a hard-to-refute frugality argument presented by someone else in the car.

The Holiday Inn was a nice place.  The exercise machines though.  Sheeez.  The machines have these pretty little graphic displays showing various fitness zones based on heart rate.  It was alarming to note that the age 65 category was the last age listed.  I had made it to the bottom of the list.  

Another revised estimate arrived tonight.  The dinghy tilt bracket and strut holders all have to be replaced.  Another large chunk of change.  On the bright side I filled up the car at a station in Kentucky for $1.67/gal.  Guess we chose a good time to drive.  In past years gas was sometimes $2 per gallon more expensive.  Its not quite like the old days filling a tank on $4.   But close.

Boat should be in the water when we get there Friday.  We decided to just go and buy a new mattress so Mary made arrangements for us to talk with the manager a day after we arrived.  The canvas guy, Matt is coming Monday too.   And I have to change the engine oil before we head out.

So in theory we should be able to leave Jacksonville by next Wednesday.  We all know by now that "in theory" rarely ever reflects actual outcome.  But one can cling to hope.  

We abandon our usual breakneck chase to arrive in two days and instead I got to stay at the Hampton Inn in Valdosta, GA

I'm not sure, but did we, somehow pack up the cold air and drive down here with it?  It's been pretty cold as we get further south.

We pulled into Huckins the next day and the boat was in the water, and everything looked really good and working.  But its cold!  So cold that the dinghy looked like a deflated balloon, all its air compressed in the cold.

Poor Trish, one of the office Managers had agreed to take care of our (well, really Mary's) herb plants.  She killed all but two.  Of course we, and most of the boat yard guys gave her a hard time.  But it was all in fun.  She's a great person.  And Mary resurrected what was left so we still have growing things even in this frigid air.

Plant Rescue!

Sparkling under a new wax job

Everything looked good except for a rotten food smell.  Of course.  The refrigerator.  It was nice and warm as were all the food items.  The fridge compressor wasn't running when we arrived because the batteries were so low it couldn't startup the compressor.  So all the food in the fridge was, ah, not so good.  On the upside though we had a chance to clean it out and defrost.  OK, it was already defrosted so we really didn't have to do much at all.

Defying common sense I kept my shorts on and we walked to Publix to fetch some staples so we could avoid eating out yet again.

Felt like one of those old people I remember pulling their grocery carts through Nubars grocery store when I was a kid.

Now, instead of having to bleed the AC pumps of air so we could be cool, I was running all 4 heaters and annoying Mary with questions about my missing warm and comfy old shirts.

We bought a mattress.  The next day we did go over the mattress store and yes, they can squeeze a king size mattress into out stateroom.  The only caveat was the mattress material.  We had to go with a thick, multi-layered foam, not innerspring.  We went with the higher end model and they agreed to deliver it and take the old mattress.  Done!  

Success on a mattress only to be met by a failed refrigerator.  Well. it really only failed in a sense.  It wont run under AC power but does just fine on DC power.  What failed was the rectifier on the fridges circuit board.  I'm not about to spend several hundreds of dollars to replace it since its running fine on DC power do at least this isn't a catastrophic equipment failure.  

Jonathan, the electrician wandered over and tested the fridge to confirm my diagnosis and then and hefted the 2 nearly dead, old batteries out and wrestled the new ones in after we cleaned up the terminals.  Batteries weight 90# apiece.  I can no longer lift 90 lbs. straight up.  Jonathan can.  He's 27.  I'm not.  Ugh ...

But wait!  These new batteries didn't feel like 90 pounds.  I could lift them pretty easily.  Something wasn't right.

And sure enough the damn battery place shipped the wrong model and I didn't check the actual battery label when we picked them up in Fond du Lac.  Instead of GPL 6-CT we had GPL 4-CT.  "So what", you may be saying.  Well, the 4-CT are only 220 amp hours.  The 6-CT batteries are 300 amp hours.  That can be significant.

When we picked them up I confirmed the order and the model, checks the tagged invoice but didn't look at the actual label on the battery.  Yes, Mary was right (she said check the label.  I said no need, I checked the order and the invoice).  In case no one heard that, MARY WAS RIGHT.  sheez ... 

Using these less capable batteries wont be a system problem, just an issue of available power.  After spending the weekend talking with the Russ the salesman, he confirmed their purchasing department delivered the wrong batteries to their warehouse where I picked them up.  My only recourse was to be refunded the price difference plus a little extra for the mixup.  So that's what we did.

Our wif booster had died the day we left Huckins back in December but I have a replacement for it and got it configured and working.  So we now have a passable internet connection.

Our media server's wifi adaptor died a well and the replacement I had ordered hadn't arrived so Mary will have to make do with only over the air TV and satellite.   

The guys from Huckins got the dingy back in the water and drove it over.  We had to wait a few more days for Matt to finish up the fly bridge windows so when it started to warm up to the low 60's I was going to take the dinghy out for a spin fill it with gas.  

Alas, the tilt motor wouldn't disengage when I lowered the engine so I could start it.  Turns out the shifter tilt switch was shorting out.  So we had to order that part and as per our usual situation, it was a Friday which meant we would be spending another weekend in the boat yard.  The cats were over joyed since I bring them treats every day.

Matt had most everything competed with the windows and rear screen door by Wednesday so were were all set with that. He made some final adjustment Thursday right before the mattress delivery guys arrived.

New screen door thing we had made

All new windows in the front.  We can now see!

The mattress delivery guys drove in around 5pm and came aboard and to discuss the best way to get the old one out, and the new one in.  Ultimately it turned out to simply be drag the old one out first.  Then, they brought the new one on board and were able to squeeze it in the salon door and line it up with the stateroom door.  But it resisted all manner of gentle pulling and pushing.  

Skeptical supervisor

The lead guy, finally stood back from the mattress protruding out the stateroom door and took a running start throwing an impressive block on the mattress end.  And it grudgingly moved a few feet.   Another flying shoulder butt and it popped through the door along with the mattress guy.  It could have been in a Marks brothers movie scene.  

One more flying body slam and it'll pop through the door.

We now have a comfy new mattress!  Our last remaining  delay is the dinghy part which should arrive Monday morning.

It was quiet and cold weekend.  We were the only people on a boat.  I think all the others had fled to warm cozy hotels (Hampton Inn's I'm betting).

Late Monday afternoon David from Huckins had the dinghy all wired up.  The part had arrived late that morning but it took him some additional time.  The crud in the shifter was so built up he had sandblast out the housing and then grease it all up so now it moves like butter!

After a last trip to the store, we retired early in preparation for our morning departure.   We actually really do like staying at Huckins, but we were getting wanderlust and just wanted to get moving.

Ready to leave

The next morning we had to wait a few minutes until the railroad bridge opened, but it did and we scooted out into the Ortega river, through the Ortega River Bridge towards the ST. Johns river.  Sooted that is until, I noticed the starboard engine overheating.   I had to shut it down.  The euphoria of moving dashed in an instant!

We made a 180 turn and headed back through the Ortega River bridge through the railroad bridge and into Huckins boat yard.  We tied up and I talked briefly with Richard the mechanic and we both thought it was the impeller on the sea water pump.  PJ, the yard manager said we could stay while I fixed it.

So after letting the engines cool down for an hour, I took the pump off and sure enough the impeller was missing most of its fins.  I found a few pieces in the transmission cooler but the rest must have been chewed up and spit out the exhaust.  So I pulled the old impeller, put in the new one and reinstalled the pump.  

By then it was around 2pm and our only option was to anchor near Blount Island or stay at Huckins again.  Remaining at Huckins was the least palatable alternative so we left and ran up the St. Johns River to Blount Island.

It was pretty calm and I could watch all the shipping traffic moving up and down the river.  The only burr in our little sock of paradise was the temperatures.  30's.  

We slept with 4 big blankets.  The stateroom hit a cozy 43 degrees which makes for great sleeping, But not so wonderful waking up.    But at least we are on the move!

February 6, 2016 I'd call the lack of frequent posts, an Interlude. Others have suggested less polite descriptions

Yes, I haven't put up anything for awhile.  But I'm getting to it, honest!

I was asked by some anonymous reader if we had died or given up cruising.  The answer to both of those questions is no!  We're still at it, although temporarily a bit poorer after a prosperous (for Huckins) period in the boat yard as we took care of numerous maintenance and repair items.

Meanwhile we have left Jacksonville, froze our way south (anchoring in 30 degree weather is something only a northerner would endure) and are currently riding out yet another cold front anchored here in North Palm Beach.

We are heading south to the Keys, and then to the Bahamas in April.  But more on that later when I get a few posts up... soon!

Still alive and kicking (credit: KB)