Marathon, Vero Beach, St Augustine, Ft Frederica, FL

We left Book Key Harbor Marina on 2/24/13 and proceeded north up past Rodriguez Key, Miami, FL to Lake Sylvia anchorage the end of February.  Headed on to Vero Beach Municipal Marina for several weeks, where we conducted some business as well.

Headed on to Titusville, FL anchorage in some winds.  Moored out overnight but did not go ashore, too windy.  On to Halifax Harbor Marina at Daytona Beach, where we visited with some boating friends from s/v Current Jumper and s/v About Time.  Was kinda nice to exercise our "land legs" and catch up.

On to St Augustine where we moored out and dinked in to check out the former Ponce de Leon Hotel, now Flagler College.  After entering thru gardens and enjoying whimsical fountain, we proceeded to enjoy an official tour by a current student of several covered areas.

 We especially enjoyed the fancy re-furbished
ceiling of the front lobby with many fine details
of symbolic representations.

Later, in the dining hall we saw many L.C.
Tiffany windows and original vs reproduction
chairs still in use.


When we left St Augustine and headed north we followed the s/v Black Raven, the local pirate
vessel.  They appeared to be filming a video.

We also stopped at Beach Marine in Jackson-
ville Beach to meet and visit our friends from
s/v Black Pearl.

Then we headed in to the anchorage at Cumberland Island, south of the Kings Bay Submarine Base.  We love this area, dinked shore to explore another of the local hiking trails.  It is incredible to see the Spanish moss dripping off the live Oak trees that shade the trails and access roads.  We were even able to find a few medium-sized shells and even a live jellyfish on the beach.

Left Cumberland Island and headed to Ft Frederica National Monument in Georgia to duck some nasty weather and high, stormy winds.  There was only one other boat with us, s/v Possessed, we visited on the mildest, fourth day.

Ft Frederica one huge live Oak tree & Spanish moss

Ended up at the powder magazine remnant

Don't fire!

December - January - February

Hi all, no, we did not sail over the horizon and fall off the world!  Lots been happening but I shall try to be brief.

After we got to Vero Beach Municipal Marina and set up on a mooring, we spent some time exploring the town, shopping, etc.  Catherine even got a bad case of shingles with Rt eye involvement that necessitated not one, but two Indian River Health Dept Clinic visits & numerous, expensive meds!

We finally got underway again after Christmas, but when visited the truncated landing zone at North Lake Worth, Garry threw his back out trying to get up the slippery slope!  Needless to say, all of this took some recovery time!

Visited Boca Raton anchorage, waited out one weekend and met s/v Catcall, nice folks David & Margo.  We then proceeded to buddy-boat together all the way down to Lake Sylvia and Ft. Lauderdale.  Then hopped outside to go down to to Government Cut, to avoid that nasty 56' Julia Tuttle bridge.  Good highlights included trying "The Fork" restaurant in Miami on the waterfront.  It is an Argentinian Steakhouse, very unusual and worth a try.  We enjoyed it, especially the beer, wine, filet mignon cooked to order and fabulous deserts.  What more could a boater ask for?

Finally got into Boot Key Harbor Municipal Marina, Marathon, FL about January 25, 2013.  We have tried to fix our Verizon Wireless damaged SD card (that's why no pix lately) and hope to transfer back picture files manually.  We are trying to tie up all loose ends: laundry, trash, recyclables, water buckets, computer, etc, etc.  before we pull out of here tomorrow, Sunday, February 24, 2013.  We will be out of touch a couple days, traveling north past the Florida Keys.  Will be in touch.

We enjoyed a GREAT Thanksgiving at Garry's sister Vicki's house in Summerfield, FL.  Good neighbors, friends & family, including cousin MaryJane Buckman.  They & Jules came and picked us up from Daytona's Halifax Harbor Municipal Marina one day after we got in.  It was a little hairy getting there: the seas/water was up so much from constant NE blowing that the bridges were much "lower" than the preferred 64-65 feet.  But we made it through ok.

Helped Vicki finish preparing her dishes for the holiday feast, including fabulous mashed potato casserole, made more cornbread, ran for a few fill-in groceries for recipes, and helped touch up house and table settings.  Festivities started promptly at 3 PM on Thanksgiving Day with Wine and spinach appetizers, followed by homemade soup course at the table.  After a suitable pause, we cleared that course and helped set up main dish and all sides on the large table in the kitchen/smaller dining area. Then people cycled in to serve themselves.  All and all, it was a "feast fit for a king" or queen.  Even multi-course desserts.

Enjoyed several days of visiting with relatives before returning to Daytona for last day of laundry, more boat cleaning and put-away groceries from shopping.  Even visited friends Deb & Dan Skidmore of sv About Time at their new house in Orange, FL along with Kim and Gordon of sv Current Jumper.

Pulled out early the next morning and proceeded south at a pretty good clip.  Water was still high but not impossible.  Eventually, arrived at Vero Beach City Marina on Wednesday November 28th after couple more harrowing bridges.  It was blowing a bit and traffic was piled up at the fuel dock, but we perservered and got to our "new home", Mooring #28.  We were next to sv Undine, who we had met back at Osprey Marina in SC.  That day we saw sv Narsilion, ms Valkyrie and sv Orion, not our friends or NSHSA boats, but named-a-likes.

After we got settled down a little, we proceeded to contact a real estate lady we know to look at some houses in Vero Beach area to serve as a new homebase.  Did this over 3 or 4 trips until we found one we really liked and made an offer on it.  It's a "Short Sale" so may well take some time, 2-3 months to learn our fate.  In the meantime, Cath fought a tiring battle with the Shingles, which she somehow got.  Very painful, annoying and almost disfiguring while fighting it.  Also expensive!  Almost recovered now, thank goodness!  I would strongly suggest you all get the Shingles Vaccine, especially if covered under your medical coverage.

Last weekend we enjoyed the local Light UP! boat parade right near the marina.  We had a front row seat from our dink.

Now we are finishing up small boat and provisioning details.  We've been here so long, we emptied our our big water tank of 100 gallons and started on one of the smaller ones.  Garry made 4 dink trips of 6 buckets to replenish.  Cath helped him back at the boat.  Have some provisioning to do:  groceries and Rotella engine oil, mostly before we get ready to pull out this coming Thursday, December 20th.  We have decorated the boat with wreaths, lights outside and in, little tree, etc.

St Augustine, FL

mv Ragtime, Southport, ME port

sv Owl, St Augustine, FL

After St Marys, we headed further south into Florida, past several shallow spots.  Near Fernandina we were passed by a beautifully restored powerboat called Ragtime.  Coming into St Augustine we motored past a cute mini pirate ship called Owl.

We arrived in St Augustine on a Friday, spent Saturday & Sunday revisiting some favorite spots and previewed our "official tourist plan", including taking the Old Town Trolley, hitting a couple museums, and other highlights. When we walked into the Old Towne we discovered it was once again Pirate's Weekend and encountered a large group of Pirates on the field past the the old City Gates.

Pirates battle

 The roar of the flintlocks,  blunderbusses and cannons was very loud & the smoke billowed from them all.

Monday we took advantage of the fine, sunny weather and explored the town of St Augustine, FL.  First we took the trolley all the way around, to get our bearings and learn the route.  Even saw "The Senator", a 600 year old Oak tree. 

Old Town Trolley

Castillo Gun Crew

Castillo Cannon Firing Demonstration

Also, because it was Veteran's Day, the Castillo de San Marcos was open free to the public so we went there again.  Once of our favorites, the rangers give mini-talks about the rooms on the ground floors and even have cannon-firing demonstrations up on the parapets.
 

Castillo de San Marcos, Bridge of Lions & N Anchorage

Cannon details

Garry, cannon & St Augustine Inlet

 We enjoyed a cheeseburger lunch at "No Name" pub and ended our tours of town by visiting Pat Croce's Pirate & Treasure Museum.  It was pretty neat, lots of interactive exhibits, including firing a cannon and being locked in the brig.

St Marys, Georgia

St Marys Left

St Marys Center

St Marys Right

Once we left Cumberland Island anchorage we went up the
St Marys River to the town of St Marys.  Although it wasn't
Thanksgiving yet (they always have a huge holiday meal) we
decided to make a detour and investigate the little town of
St Marys.  The channel marks were few but well marked.
When we were coming up the river, we could spot the town
in the distance.  Big area, marina transient docks on left,
State and National Park facilities & boat in center, and more
docks on the right.  Windy anchorage but nice view.

When we walked around town, we discovered main Osborne Street with most shops, including two bookstores (new Once Upon a Bookseller & used Ms. Wendy's Wonderful World of Books, several antiques shops, and several restaurants, including homey Cedar Oak Cafe for hearty, reasonable breakfast.

Later in the day we tried Shark Bite Bar & Grill for "lunner", the boaters late lunch, early dinner.  Also spotted at the docks was the Schooner Steelaway which now makes St Marys their homeport.  We had seen this vessel on a previous trip. 

Tropical Storm - Hurricane Sandy

After we provisioned at Chesapeake City, we proceeded past Coinjack and tried a new anchorage off Lutz Creek, as recommended by the new On The Water Guidebooks.  Very nice.  Crossed the Albemarle Sound next day, went down the Pungo Canal to another new anchorage. 

Contacted our friends at Pamlico Plantation, Joan & Jim Sweeney, but they were unable to connect with us.  Same story with Reta & Larry Foster at Chowinity (spelling?).  Better luck next time, guys.  Then we proceeded to the State Dock at Bath, NC, Hardings Landing, to hunker down for the "Tropical Storm Sandy".  Met some nice people there and explored town and museum. 

Moved a little faster past Oriental and Sanitary Market floating dock at Beufort, NC.  Tucked into Mile Hammock Bay anchorage overnight, followed by Carolina Beach mooring and then Barefoot Landing Dock at N. Myrtle Beach.  Moving fast to get to hurricane hole at Osprey Marina, Myrtle Beach, SC.  This is a very nice hurricane hole with good protection and the boats were just piling in to dodge now Hurricane Sandy.  Actually had slow steady rain all day Saturday with some gusts into Sunday.  All in all, it has been very good for us here, hiding from the "Frankinstorm" Sandy. 

Osprey Marina, Myrtle Beach, SC

We wish all fellow boaters safe passage during this time.  To family & friends up in NJ, be safe up there!

We pulled out of Weems Creek right after the Annapolis Boat Show on Monday,  

October 8, 2012, joining up with s/v Xtasea (friends Amy & Rex Noel)  for our  

start south down the Chesapeake Bay.  Headed first to Solomon, MD for stops at  

Roy Rogers, West Marine (where we got a present of a bright yellow boat cushion) 

and 7-11.  Then headed on to friends Mary & Walt Keith's dock in Reedville, VA  

for fun, conversation, food and drink and couple boat projects.  Rex helped  

Garry get the mainsail off for some more sewing repairs.  Thanks so much for  

all your help, friends!  We also had a diver clean Windkist4's bottom and put  

the second zinc on.

On the way again we saw several schooners in the Great Chesapeake Schooner Race  

and even heard a Mayday from one on way into Deltaville's Fishing Bay.  The boat had lost a crewman overboard, rescue was accomplished, but unfortunately the man did not survive.  Let's all be very careful out there!

After trying new anchorage at Phoebus Channel opposite entrance to Norfolk,  

we headed up the river to Mile Marker 0 and the official start of our trip south.

We saw many schooners coming out from Norfolk & Portsmouth, including Farewell, 

Sultana and Pride of Baltimore II.

Had to wait for a train on the first railroad bridge but nice lady at Gilmerton 

Bridge took pity on us and held her bridge opening for all four of us.  Garry 

said he would like to give her a big hug!  Made it through all the first group 

of bridges, thru the Great Bridge Loch with Halloween candy given, on to the 

Great Bridge Dock before the Great Bridge Bridge.  Spent one day there doing 

some little provisioning and having Dairy Queen cones.  On way again thru 

Virginia Cut, past Coinjack, to Lutz Creek anchorage, opposite Broad Creek. 

More later.