Georgia

April 28, 2010 - Wednesday. To all our faithful followers, this is the last episode of Snow Goose Adventures for this year. Snow Goose will be a resident of Georgia on hard while she has a new engine implant, most likely in July, and then she will be hanging out here until we return to her in the fall. We are flying out of Brunswick GA on Friday evening. We should be home on Saturday. In the meantime, we are doing all things necessary to leave the boat in good hands. Thanks for caring about our voyage. We are hoping to see you all soon.

Georgia

April 25, 2010 Sunday Anybody need the phone number for TowBoatUS? I have it memorized. A lot has happened since we left St. Augustine on Wednesday, April 21st. Wednesday went by with smooth sailing after our rebuilt starter was installed. We anchored off the ICW in calm waters. About noon time on Thursday a generator mounting bolt going into the engine block broke off. With no generator or water pump coolant we couldn't run. Thus, we called TowBoatUS who towed us into Jekyll Island, Georgia where we were repaired. Friday AM we are off again but about 3 in the afternoon we lost our transmission. Second call to TowBoatUS - same guys who towed us the first time. After some discussion, they helped us select a marine facility in Darien, GA, Two Way Marine. They have a haul out if we need it, and when Monday comes they have a complete repair facility. So, this weekend we are stuck here in nowhere in rainy weather with lots of bugs, trying to decide how we are going to approach our problem - new transmission or repower. Never a dull moment. Yesterday we took a long walk toward Darien. There was about two miles of waterfowl conservation area supported by the US, Georgia, Ducks Unlimited and Nature Conservancy. A one time the property was all owned by the Butler family who maintained the plantation and rice fields. Very beautiful area, but still lots of bugs. This is definitely a good ole boy part of the world where kareokee is still the Friday night special and all guys drive big pickup trucks. Fun!

Trucking on thru Georgia

4-21-10 Wednesday We pushed the glow plug and then the starter button and it worked!!! and so we left St. Augustine and the Bridge of Lions at 8:30 am. The day was glorious - 75 degrees. We passed our first barges - two of them - since we started the ICW North. We dropped anchor just outside Allegator Creek, and a few miles from Georgia. We put in 9 1/2 hours and 55 miles - yes, we fought the tides the whole way. But we used the jib when we could and did the best we could do. Tomorrow shallow water in Georgia. Wish us good luck!

4-22-10   We are in Jekyll Island tonight.  The day was very warm but with no wind.  We motored our way down the ICW.  We are in a social marina tonight.  There is a 34' Sea Sprite next to us and a 30' Cape Dory down the pier.  Also the cutest tug boat in front of us.  Everyone has stories to tell and wants to show off their boat.  We passed cruising friends on My Whim on our way in, and they came by the say hello.  They are leaving their boat and going home to Chicago for the summer. 

Dolphin at Municipal Marina, St. Augustine

Up and Running Again

The Snow Goose is up and running again with a rebuilt starter and some new wiring thanks to a young gentleman, Mike.  In his off hours from work, Mike stopped in on Saturday and helped Bill get the old starter out (Bill didn't have the right tools), and then on Monday evening, once the starter had been rebuilt by A&D Electric, Mike came by again and he and Bill reinstalled the rebuilt starter and did some rewiring necessary to energize the old wiring.  We will pull out tomorrow AM before the bridge closing at 8:00 AM and continue down the ICW.  As we reiterate our cruise to others, we realize we do miss the Bahamas.  It was a great experience.  The people were so pure and caring.  They spoke very quickly in a British accent with a Bahamian twist.  It was always difficult at first to understand, but the more they conversed with you, the more you understood.  The children were uninhibited and trusting.  They came up to you and spoke with you, answering questions about their school and games.  Bikes were big with them and they rode everywhere.  The children all wear school uniforms and spoke with respect.  I know I have this thing for the dolphins, but they are so much fun.  There is a school of them that live here at the marina, and there is a little black baby dolphin.  Yesterday they were tossing around a redfish, playing a game among themselves with it.  Obviously, they are not hungry!  Today, there was a dolphin right next to our slip, swimming all around the boat.  Missing you all.

Tough week

April 15 Thursday We left Titusville this morning having a heck of a time getting out of the tie up. Snow Goose only likes to back up turning starboard and there was no turnaround room. Convincing her to back out of the marina took some doing, but it happened and we had a good day even if we did fight the tide and wind most of the day. We dropped our anchor outside the Memorial Bridge in Daytona. Dealing with the bridge opening and closing times is always an issue, and this bridge was closed between 4:45 and 5:45 p.m. so we anchored South of the bridge.




April 16 Friday. The bridge opened for boats again at 8:45 am and we were ready. We saw some Manatees today. They certainly are ugly. I wouldn't want to be the boat that hit them. Huge! Today was warmer, less wind and nice until we reached Matanzas Island - South of St. Augustine. There was a red buoy and three temporary green buoys. The temporary green buoys have not been moved close enough to shore, shoaling has moved in, and we were the 6th boat USTowBoat has towed out of there today. Boy were we aground! After our rescue, we motored about 6 miles up the ICW and dropped anchor at 5:30 p.m.



April 17 Saturday. Left our quiet beautiful little anchorage for St. Augustine where we hit the fuel dock first and then pulled into the marina. We had planned to stay a couple of days, but it looks like we will be here a little longer. Snow Goose has starter problems, and this time it involves a replacement. That isn't going to happen until Monday at the earliest. So here we are in the historic city of St. Augustine and will enjoy it and perhaps catch up with some cruising friends, the Coles aboard Moon Wind, with whom we sailed down the ICW for a time.

Up and Running

The electrician came back to the Snow Goose Monday morning and took the alternator to his shop and found it had a bad stater.  He didn't have the right replacement, replaced it with another type.  Bill reinstalled the alternator, but it didn't work.  Electrician came back and took the alternator back to the shop.  Some alterations, an installation and it worked!  Yes, an all day event and costly.  However, a car ride to Publix Market was included in the cost.  Tuesday AM we set out for Palm Bay.  The 65 mile trip was breezy and beautiful.  We had the jib up all day in 15 to 20 knot winds.l  The dolphins played around the Snow Goose for a long time.  What a treat!  We anchored on the lee side of an spoil area.  This morning we were awaken by a crow sitting on our grill crowing at us to bring food.  We finally go the message and discovered he loved corn chips.  He made several trips back and forth and even requested seconds.  Our sail today was in higher winds 20 to 25 and we again made great progress.  However, we were held up almost 1 1/2 hours by a bridge.  Because anchoring would have been rocky at best, we are in a marina a Titusville tonight.  With good sailing, tomorrow we should be in Daytona.  What a life, huh!

Snow Goose breakdown

Apparently Snow Goose has deemed it needs a rest.  Upon fueling up and leaving Stuart, Fl, the batteries started overcharging.  A call to TowBoatUS put us in Manatee Pocket at a transient dock and they searched for an electrician (on a Saturday).  A gentleman stopped in and looked over the alternator, told Bill to pull it out, and he would be back on Monday morning and take it to his shop.  I am thinking Snow Goose wanted some more time in sunny Florida.  We have used the time to do some walking, exploring Manatee Park.  We saw our first two manatees when we were coming into the dock.  Wow, are they huge.  Unfortunately, I was distracted by the crippled boat and didn't get pictures!  Anyway, it seems we will be here in Manatee Pocket through Monday at best.  So much for sailing North. 

St. Lucie River - Sunset Marina

April 6, 2010 - Tuesday We left Las Olas Marina in Ft. Lauderdale this morning heading North back on the waterway again. We had to go under a bunch of bridges. Some bridges open on the hour and half hour - some on the quarter hour and some on request. Anyway, it takes awhile and manages to slow down progress. We are anchored this evening in Lantan, Florida with Release. We will travel together until we get to Ft. Pierce where they will leave their boat and drive to Vermont. The day was in the mid-70's and partly sunny - beauitiful on the water. We took the dinghy into town and walked around. Lantan is a very pretty place. We had dinner aboard listening to the on shore Key Lime Marina live band.




April 7 - Wednesday We traversed the ICW to Manatee Pocket, but could not find good anchorage. There were a lot of boats already anchored and no room for us. So we headed for the St. Luicie River and anchored on the north side of the bridge. There is a beach there for Skipper to go ashore. Tomorrow we will follow Release probably to Ft. Pierce or wherever they decide to park for a couple of weeks. We need diesel and ice, so we need to be close to a marina, if not in one.



April 8 - Thursday We decided to pick up a mooring ball at Sunset Marina in Stuart, Fl today to renew our ice and diesel supply. The trip into the facility involved going under 3 bridges, but the marina is beautiful and a good stop. Release has decided to leave their boat here on a mooring while they drive home to Vermont. Weather is still very warm and sunny.

April 9 - Friday  I'm here at the marina doing laundry.  Bill has the boat torn apart performing various tasks.  Release is preparing to leave their boat here during their Vermont trip.  We will depart tomorrow AM heading North on the ICW.  Skipper spent the morning aboard Snow Goose.  I suspect he knows something is up with all the preparation for departure that is going on aboard the Release.  Again, today the weather is wonderful, breezy and warm.  We hope to get some play time in this afternoon and check out the city of Stuart. 

Ft. Lauderdale

Our crossing last Thursday was beautiful.  The weather was sunny, we had both sails up and saw 8 knots more than once (that's fast you realize for Snow Goose).  It took 6 1/2 hrs, so we were in Ft. Lauderdale before cocktail hour and pulled into the Las Olas Marina where we were in December.  We have been busy with boat repairs - making sure our account at West Marine was up to date - and provisioning.  We have fresh vegetables again!!!!  And the best part, we have showers and water, water, water - free from the hose!!!  Water has been like gold.  It is bitter sweet being here because it means we will be parting from our new friendship with Jackie and Chris on Higheeled.  They will be going on to cruise the Keys and then south - perhaps Cuba and beyond.  Ken and Francie and Skipper on Release will leave with us tomorrow but will leave us in Ft. Pierce, FL to drive home to Vermont for a couple of weeks.  Then they'll come back to their boat to continue their cruise.  We had Easter Dinner with all of them aboard Release.  We are back in the communication world again and it was wonderful to call our family yesterday and hear their voices!  And so we are today preparing to follow the magenta line down the ICW, with some outside sails, toward home.