Day 61 and we are done

We were underway at 7 this AM  Beautiful sunny day in Florida and we are 60 miles from our destination. The sun is beaming in the cabin making it warm. It's 50º now with a high of 70º Wind WNW 6mph. Smooth sailing for our final leg.
🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
Not a great night though; as I was up listening to  3' waves crash into our chines, making sledgehammer-like sounds on the hull. Even though we were anchored, the boat was rocking and rolling, which usually puts you to sleep.   Plus, sinus pressure👃UGH! 

This might explain the sinus issue

There are so many pelicans out fishing this morning. They are amazing as they patiently wait above and then dive straight down, kamikaze style, into the water and out to swallow  their breakfast. 

And it's Happy Hour at the Pelican Bar!

As we were traveling, 2 dolphins joined us on our portside, and stayed right beside the moving boat, playing, jumping and showing their pink bellies! It was like they were performing  for us for about 5 minutes. I hope I can get the video of them to work. Please watch🐬🐬

We even saw our first Manatee with her baby, frolicking  in our pathway, as we had to slow down and move to avoid a collision. We also warned other boats of her location. 

The day was beautiful, even a little chilly in the afternoon.

Some homes we passed along the way🙀

At 3:00 we arrived at Stuart!

We had our very own Welcome Committee on the way in!

Thank you Bob and Janet for an unbelievable welcome.

                     Bob and Janet are our slip neighbors on D dock in Portland and great friends.

They stopped at 2 places to wave and take pictures

This is the fruit and wine filled Welcome Basket, Bob and Janet brought for us at the Marina in Stuart. Big huge THANK YOU to both of them for making our arrival so special and memorable! 

Plus, so good to see their smiling Maine faces! We visited for a while after we got in our spot and now we are both exhausted and going to chill for the evening. Have already met some of our neighbors here. 

Also, Thank you to Warren and Thasia for finding a vacancy at their marina. Happy Days!🍺

Stay Tuned for our trip to Bahamas in March🙏

Day 60!

Had a late start this morning;  didn't leave Titusville Marina until 10:30. Uneventful evening, just had pizza delivery as we were too tired to do anything else. Watched a little NEWS and I'm sorry I did!!! 😡

We are a little over 100 miles from Stuart so we will be traveling about 50 miles today, so tomorrow, hopefully, will be the big day.

The weather is perfect for boating; 63º, partly sunny⛅, Wind NNE 12mph. We are topside again as we were yesterday. There is NO moon tide here!!!  

We passed  Cape Canaveral 🚀and Cocoa Beach (I Dream of Genie) to our west, 🏞all on the Indian River.

We went past these guys earlier in the week but forgot to post.  Not sure what they are called but one is almost underwater! Some kind of pedal boat for fishing? 😄

After a smooth cruise down the Indian River we have found anchorage at 4:30. We are south of Melbourne in Palm Bay, Fl.

This is a small bay on the ICW on the Indian River. Yesterday's trip took us through the Mosquito Lagoon and into the I. R. As stated earlier both have NO lunar tide. These vast bodies of water are no more than 8 ft deep other then the ICW canal which goes through them, marked by day markers. Travel outside of these day markers can result in immediate grounding. Nowhere have we ever experienced shallows and shoals so abrupt and everywhere, other then the Royal River in Maine! Another story...LOL!

Our daily travels give us such joy. We chuckle at the  marine life and birds that are so comical and playful.  Most particularly are  the pelicans and  dolphins, they seem to be following us. 🐬🐬🐬

I have to say that we both love  Anchoring for the night. It is like being on your own island(the boat), surrounded by water. It is so peaceful, there are no  words to describe it!!! 

We are so thankful!

Day 59

We set out early this AM, 7:00! 🌅 Chilly and dark!

It is now 9:30 and we are cruising by Daytona Beach area still in ICW/ Halifax River.  Lots of bridges to go under with a couple on demand because they are only 21 feet to clear. 

These mosaic murals are  on every pillar support of this bridge It's stunning! Broadway Bridge. 65' vertical 

Sunken Sailboat (very creepy)

It's now 48º with a high of 59º, partly cloudy⛅,Wind NW 10mph,  approaching low tide.

We have run out of data twice on our 'HOTSPOTs' !  Have to use it to blog it seems😡 We have unlimited Data but that doesn't apply to  the Hotspot; Verizon had us over a barrel!😡 On the phone all morning with them.  Hotspot renews itself at the end of this month so we have to buy more 💰to old us over!!!! Need it for the TV and navigation and so on 🙆

All status quo in the tech department.

It is 3 and wee are at a marina in Titusville for the night. It became very windy in the afternoon!  Both tired after 8 hours of cruising. Sure, I can't get any sympathy, I know. 

Maybe tomorrow? STUART!!!???

Found the perfect waterfront lot for sale! It's 100'x200' at low tide. Anyone want in on this opportunity?$ 😂

Stay Tuned

Day 58

We had the afternoon and evening to explore St. Augustine yesterday. 78º
What a gorgeous city, with historic houses from various periods lining the streets. Found out that some were reconstruction of originals that had burned or were demolished, yet some originals still stand today. Spanish influence everywhere and is the oldest city in the nation.🙀 We felt like we were in Spain! Thank you 
Juan Ponce de Leon and Pedro Menendez de Aviles.




It is now 9:30 and the laundry is almost done here at the Municipal Marina. Want to be underway soon to begin our last few final legs of this journey to Stuart. 

This AM it is only 54º, overcast and people are walking around with Uggs, winter coats and hats.😂 
The seas are calm today, NNW wind 2-9 mph. Thinking about getting off the ICW and into the ocean again. It certainly is quicker, not that we are in a hurry LOL😹

We have decided to continue on the ICW as it is much more picturesque. We are seeing a lot of dolphins here but haven't seen an alligator yet,🐊 going to scream when I do!    
We went past Bing's campground ⛺where Kenny and I visited in the late 70's! It's now Bing's Park. 
The pastel homes along the way continue to impress; would not want to live in them though! Fancy/Schmancy! 💰
The large screened-in area around a pool and attached to house is called a Lanai. (I didn't know that)💡

This section of the ICW runs parallel with the highway A1A, meaning it's kind of straight. ‖

At 3:00 we are 2 pages away from an anchorage.  I mark all the buoys, landmarks on the ICW Flip Chart as we go by them. Since the ICW is more or less a straightaway here, we figure about 5 miles per page; so about 10 more miles, which is a little over an hour ish

At 5:00 we finally found a safe anchorage; can't always rely on the paper charts as they can be inaccurate, due to shoaling! We are near Ormond Beach⚓

Making Indian style chicken tonight,  watch a movie then 😴 
Love to all 😍

Day 57

It is 10:00am and we are still hooked⚓ just outside of St. Augustine and planning to stay at a marina there tonight. Going to be a short travel day, just about an hour I think.  Going to spend the morning doing laundry and looking for a pub to watch the Pat's game!🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈
Showered and ready to go😂

Arrived in St. Augustine at 2;00 and tucked in marina, watching the game on boat.  Instant automatic WiFi upon arrival; that's a first.  We are centrally located, in a high boat traffic area. Hoping to walk downtown later as it is now drizzling.💦💦💦💦 

It is so great to be back at it; blogging, cruising, salt life⚓🌊✍

It's half time and Pats are winning. Interesting game, to say the least.🏈
Stay Tuned

Day 52-56

It has been 4 day since my last confession! 😬 

We are back in Jacksonville as of yesterday, Friday the 11th. Had a whirlwind trip to Taylors Island, Md for Kenny's mom's funeral; of course sad but great to see everyone in the family. Also, so nice to spend time with our kids, Josh, Kait and Woody. The five of us spent one night at an airbnb,  ended up being a drafty trailer but very convenient. Second night the 5 of us stayed at a hotel near the airport. Kids wanted to go to Fells Point in Baltimore for dinner, and to see Bertha's Muscles, the restaurant we met at, kinda.  It was closed but we had a drink at another place we use to frequent called The Horse You Came In On; the bar stools are saddles.  Great fun!

This AM we were  invited to Scott and Avery's house for breakfast, as they are out of town for the weekend and her parents are house sitting. They are boaters too, expert sailors. So great to meet them and make another connection.  Coincidently, they live in Stuart, which is our final destination. With a wealth of information to share we chatted all morning.  

It is 12:30 and we are underway once again. Had to exit their neighborhood through the Queen's Harbour Lock.  Back in the 
ICW🐍  70º with a little chop, winds ESE at 12mph, cloudy too!⛅

Some of the beautiful homes here in Scott and Avery's community. Pics do not do them justice.

Tennis courts, Swimmin pools, movie stars ...🎶

Next stop St. Augustine!

Day 51

I am lost for words this Monday morning!

Feels like we are among the rich and famous, lol.  Took a long walk with Levi 8 and Austin 4 and Stella 10 and Tabby, their au pair, through this unbelievable neighborhood. Levi made us all a picnic lunch as we sat on their dock in the bright sunshine. Kenny has been washing the boat inasmuch as we now have water at out deposal  💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦
Our families are so spread out that it is nice to reconnect and establish connections again; that sounds redundant but you know what I mean.  As a teenager I use to visit Scott's family in Maryland. 
Tonight we will be hanging with the family to watch Levi play bball, with Scott coaching. Then back to the 'villa' to watch Clemson vs. Bama🏈 Go Clemson! Sorry Andie

We are in love with this beautiful family.💕 They will be visiting us sometime in the near future.👍

Oh, did I mention it is 75º and 🌞

Day 50

Wow! Can't believe we have been on this journey for 50 days!
I can't believe it took us 50 days to get to Florida🙀
It had been easy, simple living on the boat, it's HOME! 

We both love anchoring in the middle of nowhere for the night. Can crank our music up 🎶, dance💃, be silly and not bother a soul!
It's hassle free once you find a safe spot, it's exciting and it's FREE, 😂  (we do leave lots of inside lights on all night)💡💡💡💡💡
Caught an eel last night, that's it! No 🐠🐟

It's 9:30 and we just pulled up the anchor;  this boat has a washing system we run, to clean the anchor as it comes up. Nothing fancy, just a hose attached above it.💦
Today we are heading to Jacksonville to  visit cousin Scott and family. We are a couple days early, believe it or not.

On another note, Stella is being obstinate about doing her business on the boat.  We have made a botanical garden outside on the stern for her sniffing pleasure, thinking that would move things along?

Also, we are fur baby grand parents again. Josh just adopted a rescue pup, 11 weeks old. Her name is Hazel.  A Great Pyrenees mix! Congrats Daddy Josh!🐶💕 

It is 11:00 and we are cruising slowly as we approach Jacksonville.  Scott is meeting us and going to guide us to his home. We will be docked there until Friday. It is beautiful and sunny with a high of only 63º Wind is ENE at 2mph.  Stella can smell land!👃

We are docked at Scott's house and I feel like we are at a resort. 

He came out to the ICW to lead us in;  had to go through a 'lock' to get into his gated community. The dock is cement with electric plug ins.   Wish it was warmer because they have a pool that is part of their house, enclosed.  We are so fortunate to be able to leave our boat here and to stay here until we fly out  on Wednesday. 

footnote:  Scott's dog, Buddy peed on Stella's botanical garden, YES!👊👏👍

Day 49

Woke up this morn, getting ready to leave, only to find brown sea foam all over our starboard side and onto the gunnels.  This is caused by west winds beating the fresh water into the dock causing phosphates to foam. Last night it looked like someone had poured detergent into the water. It was only along the dock, and in the space between our boat and the dock it foamed 2 feet tall. 
It was white last night but this morning the remains are brown and all over; Captain is hosing her down now.

It's chilly this AM too, a brisk 45º, clear and 🌞. wind W at 10mph.

It is now 9:30 and we have been underway for an hour. We are back in the ICW and it is choppy. 
Birds seem to follow us. Guess they are waiting for us to kick up some bait

 We will be looking for an anchorage early; to fish and for the night.⚓🐠🐟🎣💤

1:30 and we are in Fernandina Beach, FL, looking for safe anchorage ⚓ Easier said than done; still looking and it's 2:30!

 5:00  Still Looking! 

5:30 and anchored somewhere near Fernandina!  Talk tomorrow

WATCHOUTFISH!

Day 48

Tillie's happy place;  eating crabs at our last visit😪💙

🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀

Tillie's funeral 😪 is next Thursday near Taylor's Island, so we will be hanging in Jacksonville for a few days and fly out on Wednesday the 9th.

We are still docked at Jekyll Island, Ga., working on all the logistics.

It's a rainy, foggy day and we are pretty much socked in here for a while. Our next destination, on the way to Jacksonville, is Fernandina Beach. 

Jekyll Island is a beautiful place to visit; planned communities with areas rich with history. Very expensive too.  We rode all around this AM in our own personal ride. Even walked the beach🌁🌊

 Saw a lot of moss covered everything

Everyone we meet is so friendly and hospitable; it's the southern way. No stranger danger here🌎

Hotel History in Jekyll Island, Georgia - Jekyll Island Club Hotel www.historichotels.org In 1886, a group of society’s elite - the Astors, Rockefellers, Goulds and Morgans among them – incorporated to form the Jekyll Island Club, a private winter hunting retreat. Thought this was worth mentioning.

Thinking we will stay here until this afternoon then travel south for a little while and look for anchorage⚓

It's 3:00 and  Serenity had been vacuumed and cleaned; laundry done, showers done.
 Looks like we are staying here and relax until tomorrow. It's warm but miserable out! 👊

Day 47

We are back in mother ocean 🌊🌊🌊 rocking and rolling. Actually, it is more relaxing here in the ocean as we don't have to be as vigilant; put her on auto pilot and away we go. The swells are not too bad, just enough to remind us that we are in the ocean again.

It's 72º with wind S 5mph. Cloudy with peeks of sunshine ⛅
We are in the area of Sapelo Island, Georgia. Hope to get to Jekyl Island, Ga. today. Ocean is quicker than ICW.☄

 Touched base with my cousin Scott Silvers who lives in Jacksonville, Florida and  is sweet and gracious enough to house Serenity next week, as we will be flying from there to Baltimore. Looking forward to seeing him, his wife Avery and their two young boys Levi and Austin. 💕

At 3:30 we arrived at Jekyll Island Marina. They have free laundry access, fuel, bait, water, bathhouse, and golf cart use... We already went to Jekyll market by golf cart. Fun ride but Market was so expensive that we only bought a couple provisions. Also, they had a Southern Bbq shack inside where we bought bbq and slaw to go. 🐷🐖🐽 All good in the hood😻

Flipped over Tug Boat🙀

Another hurricane casualty  

At 6:00,  the local news just talked about this fallen tug that is in 8 ft of water and 4 workers had to be rescued. The area is working on removing it. It's quite a site to see in person.😧

We are making flight arrangements to Baltimore for next Wednesday the 9th and returning the 11th, back to Jacksonville. 

Won't be blogging, for obvious reasons, during that time!😭

Day 46

It's 10:00 and we are once again underway. The sun is shining and it's 69º with wind coming from SSW at 6 mph which means we are heading into it. 

At 10:30 we are in Savannah, Ga. 
Kaitlyn was born in Newnan, Ga, which is nowhere near here. We lived in Peachtree City and Sharpsburg, Ga.;  Life was very different  there! Never did like gardening in red clay and the summers were oppressive with HEAT and HUMIDITY! No-one came out of their air-conditioned homes; only to go in their AC'd cars. Truthfully! 

Parts of the ICW are so narrow, and shallow with little room for error. We have to stay on the magenta dotted line of Navionics. We have paper charts that we follow as well, checking and matching buoys as we pass them. It can be a little dicey at times; can't take your attention away. Thinking that's why we are exhausted by 6 but make ourselves stay up at least until 8ish. 
If you looked on a chart you will see how squiggling it is as it snakes down the east coast, with so many turns. Incredible!! 

Unfortunately, we just got  bad news, Kenny's mom Tillie passed away today.  So very glad we had such a great visit with her. 
We will be looking for a marina near an airport within the next day or so. 😭

We found the SS Minnow!

Again, Not sure where this day will take us, so stay tuned

It is 5:00 and we are almost at an anchorage⚓ on the Wahoo River. Just was on Johnson Creek😂 All is good as far as traveling goes. 

We are not quite sure what the plan is to get back to Taylor's Island, MD. But, for now we are anchoring for the night and making plans. 😐

Day 45 '2019'

2019

It's a beautiful morning here in Beaufort, SC, 70º and sunny🌞

Pronounced Bu fort here and the one in NC is pronounced Bo fort. Found out last night that the founding fathers wanted to piss off the French with the distinction?  

I have a little story to tell: 
Last week when at a grocery store Kenny  meant to buy Champagne and we found out yesterday he had grabbed a bottle of pinot noir instead. So no champagne for the evening, no biggie!
Since we were at a nice Downtown Marina we decided to get semi gussied up and go out for din din.  Found a place and as usual sat at the bar. We got talking to some  folks there, one couple from the area (told us about the Beaufort pronunciation) the other visiting from Kentucky.  Kenny asked if there were any places opened to buy a bottle of champagne, and NO there wasn't. The couple from Kentucky offered their bottle that came with their room because they don't drink champagne. We refused and they insisted. We bought them a round. End of story. 
ps. champagne was perfect and we even stayed up until 10:00🙀

Another late start this AM. 
We are rolling up all the Isinglass around the stern because it is finally warm enough !!! yeah! We are heading to Savanah, Georgia today.


It is 5:30 and we are anchored on the SC/GA line ⚓

We  had a great day of travel, topside! 80º was the high with a cool breeze. Water was a little choppy but good with wind SSW at 5mph. 

This pic is of some kind of broadcasting megaphone! Have to zoom in to see.  Assuming for hurricanes and evacuations ?

We stopped at this Hilton Head hot spot for fuel

We were a little turned around after leaving fuel dock. This arrow in the sky right in front of us pointed us in the right direction← Devine intervention 😎

But the highlight of this day just happened with this guy coming in for a hug

Pelican

Love these creatures! 💕