Plymouth to Pepperrell Cove

Whaleback Light says Welcome Home!

We had sat in Plymouth long enough waiting for the wind and rain to calm down so on Sunday morning we headed for Gloucester MA.  We did a lot of pitching as the seas were still rough.  We had a lot of wind too, right on our nose, so the trip was slow and long and not very comfortable.  However we did make lovely Gloucester Harbor and picked up a town mooring. 

We left Gloucester Monday morning for home.  The day was beautiful, calm seas, sunny and we had a little wind to fill our sails the whole way.  We had a nice greeting in the harbor and are excited to be home.  Geoff picked us up at the dock and Greg and the dogs were soon to come home to greet us too, followed by Renee and Holly.  It was our 47th wedding anniversary so we celebrated with our evening dinner out.

Today we emptied out the boat and tomorrow it will get a good cleaning.  We hope to keep Snow Goose in the water for the summer.  The laundry is high and the appointments many, but we are home.

Cape Cod Bay

It is very breezy but sunny and supposed to be warmer so we will seek some help getting out of this slip against the wind and cruise today. 

How about those Bruins!!

Yes, it is June.  Can you believe it?

Down, up, up down

Canal from the stern of Snow Goose

Senility anchored in the Thames River because Snow Goose was on her mooring.  She is pretty.

Coming Home

June 10, 2011, Friday


Yesterday we left Jerry and Sandy's mooring in the cove on the Thames River heading outbound. The railroad bridge informed us they had a problem and could not open for us. It turned out they had been struck by lightening in the storm the previous evening. We hung around doing circles in the channel, anchored out for over an hour, and then at 8:30 am we decided we could not make our Block Island destination even if the bridge was fixed and called Jerry and Sandy and asked if we could hang out with them another day. It was a great day. We visited for awhile and then did Mystic Seaport, which was very interesting, and then dinner out. Then they had a Tstorm and high winds. Glad we were not out in it. Some things are meant to be. Anyway, we left our friends while they hopefully were stiill sleeping at 5 AM, went back to the Snow Goose on their mooring, had breakfast and did some boat things, and then went down the Thames. We had the tide going with us from the time we left the mooring, all the way around the Race and all the way into Block Island Salt Lake Harbor. We did 36 miles plus by 12:30 pm. at an average of 5.8 knots. I saw 7 plus knots on the helm many times. The Salt Lake Harbor is evidently having a regatta this weekend and it is lucky for us that we are in so early because about 2 PM many, many sailboats starting arriving. They are rafted, anchored, in the marinas, etc --many, many sailboats. We took the dinghy to get ice and checked them all out.

We hope to be able to continue on up Buzzard's Bay tomorrow, but the weather predicts high winds. We will see how it plays out tomorrow. Buzzard's Bay is not a place to play against high winds or against the tides. We miss everyone at home and Snow Goose needs some tender loving care after two years away.

June 12, 2011, Sunday

We are still sitting out the winds and rain here in Salt Lake Harbor, Block Island. It was cold, windy and rainy all day yesterday and we never left Snow Goose. We did some cabin cleaning and some odd jobs. We also did a lot of reading. All the sailboats that came in on Friday went out into the channel for a couple of hours and played in the rain, then they all came back in.

Today it has rained this morning, but the wind is calmer, 15, 16 knots, and the skies look a little better. However, thunderstorms are predicted for this afternoon. All the sailboats that came for their regatta left this morning. I am sure they had a disappointing weekend. A couple of guys came by the boat last evening in the driving rain paddling a kayak. They had lost a bet. Today we would like to be able to get ashore to see some of Block Island.
NOAA tells us we should be able to leave Monday.

June 13, 2011, Monday

We did finally get ashore to walk through the streets and shops of Block Island on Sunday afternoon. It is a very pretty island, catering to the boaters. It looked as though they had put a moratorium on new construction as all the buildings were older.

We got an early start, 6 AM, and left Block Island headed for Buzzards Bay. The going was tough as the tide was against us the whole way (who can figure out why) and the wind wasn't very beneficial. However, we hung in there for 53 miles and pulled into Mattapoisett Harbor at 5:30 p.m. We picked up a mooring at the Mattapoisett Boatyard.
June 14, 2011, Tuesday

The wind and rain will keep us here in Mattapoisett today. I called BoatUS for the Cape Cod Canal tide flow. We will leave here by 7 AM to get the flow through the canal and then probably go on to Plymouth, MA. Today is cold and tonight and tomorrow are supposed to be too. With the air at 55 degrees and the water at 51 degrees, there is nothing involving warmth. We have gone from sleeping with just sheets to a down comforter.

June 15, Wednesday
 
We left Mattapoisett Harbor a little before 7:00 AM for the Cape Cod Canal.  We had a beautiful ride through the canal doing between 6 and 7 knots the whole way.  The main was flying and we motored too--you have to through the canal.  The railroad bridge went down for a train ahead of us so security came out and asked us to turn into the wind and ride with them until the bridge went back up.  All went find until we stuck out nose out into the Cape Cod Canal, and found our nose directly in a stiff 25 knot wind.  Small craft warnings had been raised.  Okay, back into the canal and into the Sandwich Marina.  We filled the tanks and headed into a slip.  That too was a difficult task with the wind pushing us sidewards and no line handlers.  Anyway, we made it and here we are.  We walked into town for lunch and a few groceries and to find a sports bar where we hope to watch the Bruins win the Stanley Cup tonight.
 
Tomorrow is another junket of our journey that is turning out to be quite a long one home.
 

Getting out of New Jersey

Friday, June 3 We seem to be stuck in Atlantic Heights NJ. I knew we couldn't get by it as easy as it was going. We pulled in here to avoid a front coming through on Wednesday. That did happen on Wednesday evening with thunderstorms and tornado warnings. The winds picked up during the night and blew up to 35 knots on Thursday. Nothing changed last night (it was one of those mooring ball banging against the hull, line lifting the anchor and anchor crashing down nights). Today more of the same. However, we are supposed to calm down tonight and tomorrow. If so, we hope to be able to get to the fuel dock tomorrow and prepare to leave on Sunday through the Narrows, by the Battery, through Hell Gate and into Long Island Sound - all planned around the tides. I am looking forward to sailing past the Statute of Liberty again. This morning was a good clean up the cabin, galley, head day. Bill is splicing some dock lines. We do have a launch available, so we can get to shore without getting very wet. We will do that this afternoon for a good walk and showers.

Sunday, June 5th We left the Atlantic Highlands mooring at 6:08 AM bound for New York Harbor. We flew the jib, fought the tide, but arrived at the Battery in time to catch the incoming tide thru Hell Gate. What a ride! Snow Goose set a record of 11.4 knots--unbelievable! We ran the tide out of New York Harbor into Long Island Sound and then hit the wall--between the 15 knot wind and the tide against us we were lucky to be moving. We went 50 plus miles into Oyster Bay and are anchored here. Repeat performance of two years ago, however then we picked up a mooring ball and bought new batteries. This year it is free, and feels really good!

Simply outstanding!

Ferry boat traffic

Empire State Building

Note the top speed--yes, we were flying!

Wooden boats in Oyster Bay

Monday, June 6th We did another long day, leaving Oyster Bay and sailing 51 miles to Duck Island. The anchorage was rolling and it was a long night.

Tuesday, June 7th We sailed on to the Thames River this morning. The tide was with us. We called Sandy and Jerry Bishop and Jerry met us in the river. We are on their mooring and visiting with them. The weather has turned very warm.

Hell Gate Here We Come!

Tuesday, May 24th Today was just the perfect sailing day. The wind was blowing, the tide was with us and the sun was shining. The only downside to the day was the bugs, all kinds and very many. We sailed from Solomon's Island to Galesville VA and are tied up at the end of a fuel dock this evening. The cruise guide lead us to believe we could get provisions here in Galesville, but not so. Howver, a very nice woman in the marine supply store loaned us her car so we could buy drinking water--very heavy to carry. Yes, we still are meeting the greatest people. So we at least were able to stock up on water and in this wind and heat we need it. The Hobie Cats raced in the harbor just off our boat in the evening. They were flying their main and sometimes two head sails. They were very colorful. Tomorrow is a continuation up the Chesapeake.

Wednesday, May 25th We got an early start with sails up and went out to play around the ships anchored in the channel. The day was again beautiful but we were fighting the tide and decided to pull into Fairlee Creek. We were hoping to get some groceries and laundry. We did get the laundry done, but no stores around here. Tomorrow we will go at least to Chesapeake City and perhaps do the C&D canal if the conditions are with us. Anyway, we will be saying so long to the Chesapeake Bay.

Thursday, May 26th We are in the Summit North Marina this afternoon off the C & D. It is again hot and humid and we really had very little wind. We played with a couple of ships in the channel. As there is no place to pull over at the Delaware end of the C & D we decided this was our stop. We found Mosey here in the marina. We know Mosey from Georgetown, Exumas.

Friday, May 27th We finally found food! Bill was getting worried. We left the Summit North Marina at 6:30 am and had the tide with us as soon as we entered the C & D canal. Once into the Delaware Bay, we had the wind too. We were thinking about making Cape May. The boat saw 8 plus knots, averaging 7 plus and as the wind was getting stronger we decided to go into the Cohansey River. I feel like I have come home. This is the dock where we huddled in front of the dryers in October 2009 to stay warm. Everyone is still so friendly. Bill gave us the use of his car, and we went into Bridgeton :NJ (with the help of our Garmin) and purchased food. What great people!! Tomorrow is Cape May, weather permitting. We are working out of our Northern cruising guide and are ready to break out our northern district charts -- home is getting closer and closer. I just need to get through the hardest part of our journey, New Jersey.

Saturday, May 28, 2011 We waited for the tide to exit the Cohansey River and pushed the boat off the dock at 8:15 am. We had a great ride with the tide for the first 20 miles, then it was a ride against the tide and the southerly wind blowing 20 knots. The wind turned up the bay so the final 17 miles were wild and wet. And the Cape May canal has really shoaled in--that low water alarm never shut up. We are anchored off the Coast Guard station again. It is the same place we anchored two years ago when we came down. We can hear the troops marching and calling. We saw the M/V Barbara pass us by in the harbor. We saw that trawler in Two Way Marina in Brunswick GA. We also have noted that the Canadian boats there were anchored in Hampton Roads and then with us along the Chesapeake are here also. We have befriended a British couple who have friends in Kittery Point. Tomorrow we hope to move on to Atlantic City.

Sunday, May 29th Here we are anchored in front of all the huge casino resorts and the Coast Guard station in Atlantic City. The long holiday weekend has brought out all the boaters and they are really stirring up the waters around us. We are not leaving the boat for shore as the waters are just too choppy. We had a nice sail down from Cape May with the tide pushing us and a 10 knot wind adding its power. We realized today as we opened new charts that we are really heading North and quite fast. We spoke with Release and Skipper too yesterday who are in Vermont. We are missing them. Tomorrow, weather permitting, it is on to Manasquan Inlet or the Shark River depending upon running conditions.

The Neighborhood Watering Hole

Anchoring off Atlantic City

Atlantic City at night

Monday, May 30, 3011 The last day of Memorial Day weekend and the boaters paradise. We hauled the anchored at 6:15 and started out of the channel before all the fisherman and pleasure cruisers could stir up the waters too much. We had listened to NOAA but when we got out about 15 miles we saw obvious storm clouds. Yes, Tstorms at 7:30 west of us. We somehow managed to avoid them and a bad situation as they were creating 35 knot winds. Around noon the wind came up to give us some push in the butt (we have had Southerly winds, falling seas for 2 days). We discovered Shark Rover Inlet, 59 miles from Atlantic City, and headed for it;. A bascule bridge, tricky entrance, was just inside the harbor, but the tender was great and opened immediately and then gave us navigation instructions to the anchorage.; Here we are in another beautiful place and tomorrow we will head for Sandy Hook and the end of our New Jersey run. The best news of our day however was that our Grandpuppy Gus is getting better!!! Yeah!.

Tuesday, May 31st We found a gem for an anchorage in Shark River. What a small, pretty place with all the information we would want from the bridge tender and another boater. We had to pull a few bushels of kelp off our anchor line and then hauled anchor to head for Atlantic Highlands. It is good that we were no going too many miles because the wind was out of the north right on our bow--no sails--and the tide was against us too. Anyway, with some low water alarms going off and a very high mooring fee, we are here in Atlantic Highlands. It is not the place we found two years agao. We anchored then, but no room for a good anchor now. They have added moorings to the field and are charging very dearly for them. We will supply tomorrow and then, weather permitting, head out through New York City and the Long Island Sound.,



.

Saturday, May 21st We are anchored off St. Mary's River which is off the Potomac. We were in Deltaville last night. We intended to anchor but the anchorage was full by the time we arrived, so we docked at Deltaville Marina. We left the dock at 6 AM this morning with the sails raised and sailing against the tide. By afternoon we were straight into the wind and still against the tide. Bad day to get anywhere. We had hoped for Solomons Island, but that will wait for another day. The boat continues to hum along without any engine problems although Bill curses the fuel it eats. I am just glad it runs!
Sunday, May 22nd We left the anchorage in St. Mary's early under sail. The wind and tide stayed with us so we maintained approximately 5 knots into the Patuxent River and Solomons Island. We arrived just after lunch and in time to watch the ceremony at the yacht club for the blessing of the fleet. We anchored in the same area we used on our way South in 2009, but we didn't recognize it until we arrived. This is the anchorage where we had a close encounter with a cement boat. We took the dinghy ashore for a walk and to watch the blessing of the boats out in the river, and then to the marina for ice. It threatens rain. Our goal tomorrow is Annapolis, 50 kn miles, but the tide and wind have not been with us the past few days, so it is probably a reach.

Monday, May 23rd The weather report for the afternoon has small craft warnings - 25 kt winds. So we stay put until noon and then move into Calvert Marina here in Solomon's Island. We didn't like the poor holding we were at anchor in. Hopefully, we can move along tomorrow.

Yorktowne VA

 The Red Headed Kid introduces his new friend Harrie to his version of shopping.

Oookkay.  I do conclude it is true.

Chesapeake Bay

May 19, 2011  We intend to leave today to start our journey North up the Chesapeake.  We had a wonderful visit with the Parkers.  The weather extended the visit, but what a great place for a layover.  It was great to get off the boat for awhile.  It was the first time we have slept in a bed on land or driven a car since November, 2010.  

Dismal Swamp

May 11th We left Elizabeth City NC at 6:30 am to make the bridge and entered the Great Dismal Swamp. What a ride! Talk about green and everywhere. We loved it and evidently were lucky as we never had low water. We went through South Mills lock and Deep Creek lock and rafted with Release outside Deep Creek for dinner and cribbage.

May 12th We steamed down the Elizabeth River through Norfolk and on to Hampton Roads. We are in the Hampton Municipal Piers tonight as we were two years ago. We plan to spend some time visiting Pati and Harrie.

May 13th  Pati picked us up in the morning and took us to their home.   They treated us to a seafood buffet this evening in Colonial Williamsburg at the Williamsburg Lodge.  It was wonderful!

May 14th  We called Release and Ken, Francie and Skipper joined Pati and Harrie and us to have lunch and walk around Yorktowne.  We all went back to the Parkers and then out for dinner.  Toby and Skipper kept each other company and seemed to enjoy each other.

May 15th  This was Busch Gardens day.  We took the European tour on the simulated helicopter--what a ride!  And then we saw the show with the Celtic dancers:  an Irish wedding.  Very good!  We strolled through the wolves and rescued Eagles and the Clydedales.  We also took in a rescued pet show.  The Gardens are to be continued this evening, and we are really enjoying.

Elizabeth City NC

 A welcome to cruisers like no other happens in Elizabeth City NC

Release and Snow Goose in the slips at Elizabeth City

Moving North

May 2nd, Monday Again we got up early to catch a good tide and were on the waterway by 7:00 a.m. We traveled along the Waccamaw River at break neck speeds with the sails flying. The river is a beautiful wildlife preserve and we saw many, many eagles and birds. We also sailed the ICW through Myrtle Beach. We are anchored with Release in Little Neck, SC. Less than a mile away is the NC/SC border, so South Carolina is behind us. We were in this same anchorage last year with Mike and Youla Cole on Kismet. We cut the corner too wide leaving in the morning and went aground. However, we did manage to kedge off.

May 3rd Tuesday We did the waterway through Cape Fear today and it was a struggle against the tide most of the way. We did have wind, but most of the time in the wrong direction. However, we did manage to put in 51 miles to the anchorage in Wrightsville Beach, NC.

May 4th, Wednesday Ashore at Wrightsville Beach we had pizza with Release and met some of the other cruisers. We did anchor checks all night as the wind blew hard, and so we slept in. After doing some catch up aboard, we went ashore and walked to Harris Teeter for groceries. The weather threatened but it blew over and we didn't get wet. We hope to travel tomorrow with Release, weather permitting. It is supposed to be in the 60's though and that is COLD!

May 5th, Thursday We made our way up the waterway to Swansboro, NC. Tried anchoring off the small fishing village, but the current and wind were against us backing down. We decided to pull into Casper Marina. The shower was worth it. We walked around the pretty, neat as a pin, little village.

May 6th, Friday We enjoyed the marina for awhile Friday morning, and then sailed through Beaufort on to a channel leading into the mouth of the Neuse River. We rafted there with Release. We had some rain in the evening but managed to avoid the predicted thunderstorms. The temperatures have taken a downturn and we are struggling to reach the 70's. We are enjoying our time with Ken, Francie and Skipper. They will leave us after the Dismal Swamp as they plan to leave their boat on the Chesapeake and we plan to visit in Williamsburg.

May 7th, Saturday We worked our way down the Neuse River, passing by Oriental and sailing on to Belhaven. We anchored off the town with Release and Newsboy. We had good holding. All three boats went ashore for a walk around a pretty little town and to get fuel at the very small marina.

May 8th, Sunday - Mother's Day. We left Belhaven at 7 am just as the rain began. It was cold and rainy for most of the morning as we motored in the Pungo River, but the rain stopped around noon. Soup for lunch hit the spot. Then we steamed through the atmosphere of smoke for many, many miles along the Alligator River. Evidently there was a very big woods fire some place along the ICW. The marina we had planned for our stop couldn't be reached (no cell phone coverage) until we were almost there when we found out they couldn't handle our draft. So we steamed on for another three or four miles and dropped anchor where the Alligator River meets Albermerle Sound. We are rafted with Release and Ken is preparing a Mother's Day feast. Tomorrow we plan to cross the Albermerle Sound and pull into Elizabeth City. Next junket of our trip will be the Dismal Swamp.

May 9th Monday We pulled anchor and left the anchorage only to go aground in a dogleg area. We managed to power dig a ditch and were released. We sailed across Albermerle Sound, down the river into Elizabeth City. On our way into the slip the accelerator lever broke off into our hands. Quick, vice grips and we avoided any accident. We were greeted here in Elizabeth City royally with a wine and cheese fest and roses. We will do some laundry, get a few supplies and head into the Dismal Swamp.

 Hilton Head, Easter Sunday

 This is the life, house boat and dinghy

Dad's new chapeau

North Carolina

May 2nd, Monday Again we got up early to catch a good tide and were on the waterway by 7:00 a.m. We traveled along the Waccamaw River at break neck speeds with the sails flying. The river is a beautiful wildlife preserve and we saw many, many eagles and birds. We also sailed the ICW through Myrtle Beach. We are anchored with Release in Little Neck, SC. Less than a mile away is the NC/SC border, so South Carolina is behind us. We were in this same anchorage last year with Mike and Youla Cole on Kismet. We cut the corner too wide leaving in the morning and went aground. However, we did manage to kedge off.

May 3rd Tuesday We did the waterway through Cape Fear today and it was a struggle against the tide most of the way. We did have wind, but most of the time in the wrong direction. However, we did manage to put in 51 miles to the anchorage in Wrightsville Beach, NC.

May 4th, Wednesday Ashore at Wrightsville Beach we had pizza with Release and met some of the other cruisers. We did anchor checks all night as the wind blew hard, and so we slept in. After doing some catch up aboard, we went ashore and walked to Harris Teeter for groceries. The weather threatened but it blew over and we didn't get wet. We hope to travel tomorrow with Release, weather permitting. It is supposed to be in the 60's though and that is COLD!
 
May 5th, Thursday.  Yes it certainly was cold this morning.  51 degrees as we hauled the anchor at 8 AM.  We dug out the foul weather gear, warm gloves, wool caps and SHOES.  I haven't worn long pants and shoes forever.  We now feel as though we have been skiing on a sunny day.  The temperature never went above 62 degrees, but our faces have wind burn from the cold North wind.  Please keep your North wind up North.  We tried to anchor off Swansboro but the current was running one way and the wind blowing another and we just couldn't set the anchor.  So we pulled into a marina here in Swansboro.  Skipper is visiting Snow Goose as I write this.  He is mad at Release because they shut him in the cabin while they were docking.  We will keep him and report his owners to the SPCA.
 

Mike and Youla Cole friends in St. Augustine

Leaving Florida

April 19th We left the mooring at St. Augustine saying goodbye to one of our favorite stops. Traveling with Release, they pulled off the waterway in Jacksonville Beach to pick up a new anchor. We attempted to anchor that afternnon by the railroad bridge outside of Jacksonville Beach, but Snow Goose didn't want to catch and it was close quarters. We headed down the ICW along with Release in search of better anchorage. Forgetting it was a moon tide which drops low tide by about 18 inches lower than normal, the boats started to experience low water. After bouncing over numerous shoals, Snow Goose managed to make it through. The Release who draws 6 ft (we draw 5 ft) was not that lucky and had to sit on bottom until the tide came in. We anchored just below them in nice 15 ft of water to watch Release. Beyond our anchorage was a yawl sitting on bottom, although he had poorly navigated. The tide came in to Release in a couple of hours and they were freed to anchor just beyond us.

April 20th We traveled on to our last stop in Florida and took a mooring off Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach. It was a short sail from our previous day and so we had all afternoon to enjoy Amelia Island.

April 21st Again we did a very short cruise to Cumberland Island in Georgia. We anchored off the island with the dolphins playing all around us and spent the afternoon touring the island, playing on the beautiful beach and watching the wild horses. We saw the Georgia 30 to 50 lbs. deer and Skipper had a wonderful time chasing turkeys.

April 22nd We decided to take a break from the shallow waters through George, so we left Cumberland Island and had an enjoyable sail outside. We had 10 to 15 knot winds, beautiful sunshine, trailing seas and managed to tuck away another 50 miles. We came back in at Doboy Sound, Georgia and dropped anchor about 5 miles into the inlet.

April 23rd Motored out of Doboy with the sails flying heading for St Catherine's inlet. Another beautiful day with light sailing winds. Anchored just inside St. Catherine's across from a busy beach for small boaters. Prepared Easter eve dinner shared with Release.

April 24th Calm winds and beautiful sunshine. We flew the main sail. We have been having problems with navigation system. We suspect it might be the batteries. We anchored in Broad Creek off Hilton Head where sailors were celebrating Easter. Skipper, Ken and I went in for a dog walk and purchased ice. After doing some investigating, we have decided to purchase new batteries.

April 25th We made some phone calls this AM and ordered new batteries from West Marine. They will bring them down to the dock here at Palmetto Bay Marina. Bill cleaned out the locker, pulled out the old batteries to make room for two additional larger batteries throwing out more stuff and cleaning up more exhaust leak soot. Anyway, Hilton Head is a nice place to be stuck for the day, and we should be all set to head North tomorrow. We need to find a place to settle in for the Wednesday and Thursday's front with high winds.

April 26th We are in Beaufort in a hurricane hole tied up at a private dock. Long story short, Snow Goose did not want to hold at anchor. The first night I woke up to look out the V berth port only to find that we were snuggled up to another anchored unmanned boat. This was at one o'clock am. At 2:30 pm freed finally from the anchor tangle, we again tried to anchor. It was a no go two more times; Finally, at 5 am we rafted to Release. We waited for the tide wind and current to take another direction in the morning and anchored again. By 2 pm we started drifting and within seconds were alongside another abandoned boat tangled in their mooring line. Once freed from there, we headed for a dock very kindly offered to us by a resident of the river. The storm system bringing wind and rain/thunderstorm has in fact hung around for two days. Hopefully tomorrow, Friday, April 29th, we will be heading north again on our way toward Charleston. We have never had anchoring problems before, and I hope we never have them again like this. It was a combination of tide and wind setting and resetting our anchor. Anyway, another adventure I do not care to repeat.

April 29th We said goodbye to the Montreal friends who loaned us a dock. We started out up the ICW again from Beaufort and did the 40 plus miles to Steamboat Creek. We rafted with Release in the anchorage and had a pan of nachos and rum together. 7:30 AM we pulled anchor and headed for Charleston and beyond. The sailing was beautiful both days. We did a top speed of 8.1 knots along the way although we had to wait one and one half hours for bridges. We ended up doing 10 hours, going beyond Charleston, with another 40 miles to go tomorrow to get to Georgetown. We will go into a marina in Georgetown and stay overnight. We are again rafted to Release tonight -- it is so fun to be with our friends and Skipper. We connected our chart plotter directly to the battery and all is now fine. 

April 30th  We had a slow day today against the tide the whole way.  We pulled the head sail in and out all day trying to get some help with power.  We FINALLY spotted allegators--many of them!!! And also two bald eagles.  We are in a marina tonight in Georgetown SC.  The shower was wonderful!  We needed fuel and water.  Tomorrow we are off again.

Waiting for the North to warm up

April 11th We waited for the tide to leave Palm City Marina as we would be passing through very shallow water. I called TowBoatUS to get local knowledge as to the passage on the Matanzes River. The tide was with us and we were advised to hug the red buoys from 82 through 79 and we made it safely, although tense the whole time. This was the area last year at this time when we had to call TowBoatUS to tow us off a shoal which we hit while in the middle of the channel. Sometimes you just can't do anything right! Release contacted us during the sail and we advised them of our knowledge. They bounced once but made it off the shoal with some finesse at the wheel. We pulled up to the St. Augustine Marina fuel dock, filled our tanks and ice box and picked up a mooring. Release came in after us and picked up a mooring. Skipper recognized us as they came in and we took the dinghy over, picked him up and took him to shore for a swim and all the other necessities.

April 12th We needed a new anchor line and Release needed a new anchor, so Bill and Ken took the bikes and rode 10 miles to and from the marine supply stores. Of course, we ended up with more than the necessities, but what are marine supply stores for! Francie and I and Skipper walked to the hairdresser for very needed hair necessities. We met for lunch at one of our favorite outdoor restaurants we discovered in December (dogs allowed), but then the rains came and we headed back to the boat to make sure all those marine supplies purchased worked.

April 13th. Bill and I hiked to the grocery store and pharmacy. We met Ken, Francie and Skipper there. They had ridden their bikes. We shopped and called a taxi -- Skipper opted to ride in the taxi too. Laundry was next and that pretty much took care of the day. We ran into Mile and Youla, cruising friends we met in Coinjack on our trip down who live here in St. Augustine. They were out working on their boat. We plan to connect with them again before heading out. Snow Goose and Release had a couple of games of cribbage in the evening.

April 14th. Still enjoying St. Augustine and will through Sunday.

Uncle Henry; waterway activity; Pegasus in Ft. Pierce; Snow Goose at anchor;

Tt. Pierce, Palm City, Daytona to Isles of Palm

April 4th

Saturday Daniele the diver scrubbed Snow Goose's bottom and said our paint was holding up well We had a lot of barnacles and some grass. We took the shuttle to Walmart and bought supplies again, hopefully for seven days.

Sunday we topped off the water tanks at the fuel dock (Bill had filled up the jerricans on Friday).and headed for Ft. Pierce. It was a little tense for the first few miles after leaving Manatee Bay heading north on the ICW as we had only 6 to 8 inches under our keel (close to grounding out) which makes for holding your breath. It seemed to go on forever. Then it opened up, we furled our headsail and had a beautiful sail into Ft. Pierce. We anchored early and enjoyed the downtime.

Monday, April 4th, we woke up to winds of 25 to 30 knots. We decided to hang out here and do some bright work. While doing bright work sanding, we saw a large fish come out of the water, do a 180 flip and go back into the water and it was big! We managed to get the stern done with one coat of varnish and the toe rail (the first one third) sanded. While sanding the toe rail we spotted a very large sea turtle and hundreds of little yellow tailed fish swimming along the hull. At 8 pm the wind is finally subsiding. We received a phone call from Ken, Francie and Skipper that they had crossed the gulf stream from Grand Bahama and had arrived safely in Ft. Worth. The winds picked up again and didn't die out until some time early AM. Bill and I took turns up during the night checking the anchor. Another boat here in the anchorage had a bad night, dragging anchor into the swallow water. However, they got off bottom with the tide and moved to a deeper area.

Tuesday, April 5th, as predicted the cold front came through about noontime, blowing and raining with a little thunder, but we missed the high gale winds and lightening. It is 4 pm now and the temperature has dropped from the morning high of 78 to 62 degrees. The rain has stopped but a lighter wind continues to blow at 15 mph.

Thursday, April 7th. We left Ft. Pierce on Wednesday AM April 6th. The wind continued to blow and the waterway was choppy. We had to wait for a couple of bridges, but we managed to get in 30 miles and anchored behind a spoil in Palm City. We promised dinghy he too would have his bottom cleaned, so we took dinghy into the beach on the spoil island and have him a good cleaning.

Today, we probably set a record in Florida with the bridges and actually traveled better than 50 miles! We are anchored in Titusville .The day was sunny and traveling much easier as there was a whole lot less wind. We did experience the typical Indian River lack of water and managed to clean the kelp off the bottom of the keel in a couple of places. There was also a dolphin who I am sure got a thrill when he came right up out of the water next to the boat and Barb at the helm. Tomorrow we plan to fill the tanks, get ice and continue on Daytona.

Saturday, April 9th we had an uneventful trip to Daytona -- again doing over 40 miles.  The waterway was very busy with weekend boaters.  We picked our anchor spot before the first of three bridges over Daytona.  As we were positioning the boat to drop the anchor we hit a shoal and bottom.  However, those weekend boaters came to our rescue creating rolling wake that lifted us off.  We chose another spot to anchor but it was silty and holding was not great.  We decided in the middle of dinner to move again.  I felt like Release.  Anyway, it was a restless night on anchor watch. 

Sunday, April 10th, we started through the three bridges only to find the last one, Main Street bridge out of order.  We pulled over to one side of the waterway and dropped anchor with two other Northbound sailing vessels.  However, luck was with us because as soon as the anchor was overboard the bridge tender called that they were putting up the bridge.  Just a little anchoring practice.  We fought the tide all morning and decided we were not going to make St. Augustine.  We have pulled into Isles of Palm Marina and treated ourselves to showers and a meal of very tasty pizza at a place we discovered in January.

Monday, April 11th, we are waiting for the tide so it will be coming in when we get to Devil's Elbow in the Matananzes River--the shoal we had to be towed off last year.  We should see St. Augustine today.

.

Lantana, North Palm Beach and Stuart, FL

Ft. Lauderdale to Lantana
Lantana to North Palm Beach
North Palm Beach to Stuart (check out the little guy in the dinghy)
We leave Stuart Sunday morning, weather permitting, for Ft. Pierce.

April Fools Day

March 28th

When we woke up at 6 am the temperature was 80 degrees. We pulled away from the Los Olas Marina dock at 7:45 a.m. when the temp was 85 degrees. Connie and Patti had emailed us not to hurry because it was cold in their neck of the woods. Anyway, we traveled North thru the numerous bascule bridges noticing along our way that the temperature was dropping. Yes, and then the black clouds appeared and yes, followed by the thunderstorm. The temperature was now 62 degrees, lower than we had seen it since December in St. Augustine. Anyway, eventually the rain did stop and we reached our destination and dropped anchor in Lantana, Florida. Luckily, just in time because then the rain really came down, for hours, and the wind really did blow.

March 29th

Yes, the rain came down and the wind blew, but Snow Goose held her anchor and by sunrise all was well again. We caught the 9 AM bridge schedule and headed north. We arrived at North Palm Beach about 1 pm. We had a number of bridges and shallow water until then. North Palm Beach bridge informed us they had a malfunction and it would be at least an hour before the repair personnel would arrive. We decided to go into the anchorage just off the waterway. It is like a hurricane hole and there were strong thunderstorms forecasted for the afternoon, so it seemed like a prudent thing to do. As it turned out, the thunderstorms missed us, but you could tell by the wind and clouds that is was an almost. We took the dinghy into the mall area and walked around and then we explored the river around this beautiful community. We only did 20 miles today, but they were against the tide with the wind at our nose. Tomorrow we hope to get an early start and make Stuart. Snow Goose needs her bottom cleaned and we hope we can get it done there.

March 30th

We got the early start and made Stuart by 5 p.m. We picked up a mooring ball. We fought the tide all day and the wind really blew hard in the afternoon. There were storms all around us, but we managed to evade them. When heading into the Sunset mooring field in Stuart there are three bridges, one right after the other. The railroad bridge had closed for a train so we had to play around in the high winds for half an hour while the train passed and the bridges could open.

March 31st

This month is roaring out here in Stuart. Tornadoes all around us, thunderstorms again predicted and the winds are blowing 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. The sky has had a vicious look to it all day. Around noon we went into the marina for a shower and to walk around on dry land, but the blow really came and the trip back in the dinghy was not fun. So much for that fresh water shower! Bill has tried to find someone to scrub Snow Goose.

April 1st - April Fools Day and Duke's Birthday

We had a call from Daniele this morning, Bill picked her up at the dock and brought her out to scrub Snow Goose's bottom. 

We had sad news today as Ed and Tricia lost Bingo.  Bill and I will miss her. 

We will provision tomorrow and head North on Sunday.

March 27, 2011
Just hitting the right keys to write this log is going to be a challenge.  We are rocking and rolling tied to the dock as the Ft. Lauderdale waterway is humming with activity this Sunday.  It is also spring break time and the beach is packed.  We have had to walk in the water to walk the beach.  Great people watching though.

Snow Goose is starting to look more like herself.  We have been working on her bright work with only the port toe rail to be done now. 

The jerry jugs are filled with fuel, the ice box is stuffed with ice blocks and food and we have full water tanks.  So we are ready to leave here tomorrow morning.  We are anxious to get started again.

Back in Ft. Lauderdale

Tuesday, March 15th

Mike here at the boatyard gave us a going away present yesterday, so I guess that means we should leave. It was a new fire extinquisher. We had to use our previous one to extinquish a fire created when we overfilled the alcohol stove. No harm done, but it was a mess to clean up the chemical.

We were given guest passes to the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens, and took the trip out there yesterday. We have gotten pretty good on the metrorail and with the bus system. The gardens are huge. We took the trolley tour and then a walking tour.

Ken and Francie called us from Cat Island in the Bahamas. We never made it there last year, but they say we must put it on the itinerary. Beautiful beaches, snokeling and shelling. They are planning to cross the first or second week in April from Abacos probably into Stuart, Florida. We hope to be able to see them there.

Friday, March 18th

We left Anchor Marine and made our way outbound down the Miami River thru the seven bridges behind Osprey, a motor yacht, on Tuesday. It was more than two hours on our newly re-repowered engine and the engine just hummed along like a finely tuned machine. We have anchored back in Sunset Lake. We need to save some money to offset our re-repower expenses and anchoring here is free. We are working some more on the bright work, sanding and urethaning. It really needed it and it looks so much better once done. Bill's hearing aid went out so we have sent it on to his audiologist and Greg will send it on to Ft. Lauderdale where we intent to go on Monday. We need showers and haircuts! We want to connect with Release when they come back across from the Bahamas, probably in Stuart. We are feeling so much better these days with confidence our new engine is installed correctly.

March 22nd

We had a lot of wind, choppy waters and ten bridges along the ICW to Ft. Lauderdale. But we arrived safely and Snow Goose just traveled along smoothly with no problems.

We secured the boat and then headed for a hot shower! Incredible how wonderful it can make you feel after two months of sun showers. Hair cuts happened today and now we look like civilized humans again.

This place is alive with people. However, unlike Miami, we do hear the English language being spoken. I am still blown away by the number of Cubans and the Latin influence in Miami.

And the rest of the gang.

Yes, Marcy is at the end of the pier and if the tide would come up higher she would be in the boat.  These guys kept us sane during the past weeks. 

Anchor Marine

March 10, 2011

Yesterday they finished up the work on our engine. What a huge difference in the quality of workmanship and the way she runs. Today we started to do some boat cleanup. Tomorrow a diver will come to look at our cutless bearing to make sure it hasn't been damaged. We plan to hang here until Monday and then follow the Retriever down the river through the 7 bridges. The Retriever is the ship docked here that does the Exuma runs with supplies.

Bill and I got off the boat yesterday and went to Key Biscayne to the seaquarium. What fun! Key Biscayne is simply beautiful. The Rickenbacker Causeway runs from the mainland to the Key. At the seaquarium we took in the dolphin show, the Flipper (the real Flipper and all his family) show and the Sea Lion show - all were wonderful. Finally found some crocs, but no allegators. I can't believe I have yet to see one. There were also sharks and manatees which we've seen many of in the waters. There were beautiful tropical birds everywhere.

Mike and Mary here at the boatyard took us out for Argentina cuisine one evening. We went to their home in Coconut Grove and then into the Grove for dinner. It was very weird to get into a car again. It has been since November. However, we are almost experts now traveling on the Miami transportation system.

The four dogs here at the boatyard have befriended us. Marcy comes down the dock and sits looking into the cockpit until we see her. She is the food driven Beagle and knows how to get a treat. Sebastian is a Yorky that is one tough guy with a big dog attitude. He and Jack wrestle endlessly. Jack is a mixed breed black something that loves to run and does not want to be petted. Samantha is a shepherd mix and a hard sell. However, our persistence and the treats have won over all the dogs. Sammie will even shake both paws and count for me. I will attach pictures.

Stuck in Sunny Miami

February 20th finds us still anchored in Sunset Lake, Miami with many other cruisers almost all of whom we have met along the way. The boat show was this weekend and it was huge. They had many venues and we decided on the Strictly Sailing venue. There were some beautiful boats and all very big and expensive. The booths were informative, especially the Yanmar engine section.

We met an interesting young couple from the very huge yacht Magic while waiting for the boat show shuttle. He is the first mate and from Miami. She is a crew member and from the Abacos. Magic stays here in Sunset Harbor in the winter and in the spring makes it way to Charleston and then on to Southwest Harbor ME for the summer. They are both sailors and just wanted to talk about Maine. They guided us around the boat show.

Fred, our neighbor in the $11,000,000.00 house who doesn't like sailboats anchored in the lake, has been creating havoc since all the cruisers have arrived for the boat show. He launches his boat playing rap music and tells the cruisers he wants them to move in foul langage. The use of a gun was mentioned this weekend to one of the cruisers. A boat with two small girls had to leave because of the language. The other cruisers are not moving, as he would like. There are only so many openings in this anchorage. The police were called twice on Saturday. We dealt with him on our previous trip here, and this time he has circled us but left us alone. Of course, we are not anchored in "his zone" now.

We have done some work on the bright work this past week. It was really looking bad. I'm not sure how much work will get done, but the deck rails and doran boxes that we sanded and put three coats on look great.

A couple from Middlebury VT on a 20 foot Pacific Cruiser just stopped by. They have an inflatable kayak they use to get to shore and yesterday they tore holes in it at the tie up. They bought a new one at the boat show. He is on a sabbatical and they hope to cross to the Bahamas. And I thought we were small!

We did the fresh market today on Lincoln Road and had lunch in the market place. That is the happening place on weekends.

February 22nd, and still here in Miami. We've been doing some of the bright work on Snow Goose and once all that work stuff is done heading for the beach. We have gotten the attention of the Yanmar reps from the company where we bought the engine and we are communicating with them. Through email and pictures, he has identified our engine installation issues, which are many. He has given us some recommendations as to places to be fixed.

March 2nd
We had decided to leave Sunset Lake and go to Ft. Lauderdale to a mechanic there with our installation issues. However, we just about got out into the harbor when the engine overheated. Decision made. We were towed to Anchor Marine on the Miami River. Doug from Yanmar has contacted Mike and his team at Anchor and together they have identified our issues and we are essentially being re-repowered. Mike is from Castine, Maine and still owns a family farm there.

It is difficult to live on a boat while they are repowering the engine - and we are in a boatyard, not a marina, at that. Bill loves being in the boatyard. Anyway, it is now very obvious we definitely made a bad choice in a mechanic to repower initially. As the engine is pulled and remounted and then reinstalled, more and more is discovered.

Since we can't get on and off the boat while they are working on the engine, Bill and I have been exploring. We have taken the dinghy up and down the Miami River and discovered a great fish market and good seafood restaurant. The shrimp are outstanding and so fresh!

We also have taken the Metrorail to Coconut Grove and explored the seashore and downtown there. The bus system also takes us to downtown Miami, although we weren't impressed. Miami Beach is definitely better and we have been back there a couple of times for the beautiful park walk along the channel.

Yesterday, March 3rd, we went to the Miami Zoo via the Metrorail. The zoo is beautiful - no fences to speak of. They use moats to enclose the animals. The animals had so much space amount the trees, rocks, etc.it was sometimes hard to find them. We watched the giraffes with their long black tongues and long eyelashes being feed by the kids - they were so gentle. I thought of Erik and the pet frog in used to have as we walked through numerous frog aquariums. That red headed kid Skipper would have liked all the lizards we encountered. Gus would have appreciated the size of the porcupines and the fact that they were huddled up in a cave -- he could have barked and barked until they were mad and then run like the devil, hopefully Oskar with him.

March 4th we have spent the day on the boat deck sanding and painting brightwork. Tomorrow, Saturday, they plan on working aboard again, so I guess we will have to find some activity to take up the major portion of the day. As I said, living aboard while the work is being done is not easy, and the work is taking longer than the mechanics expected. However, we can't go anywhere until this boat is fixed.

Seeing Miami

Friday, February 11th

We are beginning to know how to get around Miami. It a short dinghy ride from the boat into a tie up where we can walk into the city. We have found the laundry, clean and fold. We walked to South Beach along the park and stopped for a beer and then on to the famous Joe's Stone Crab for lunch, crab cakes and grilled tomato slices w/spinich and cheese. I am always disappointed in crab cakes. Nobody makes them as good as Greg's.

We took the dinghy down along Miami Beach where they are setting up for a huge boat show next weekend. They actually have a sailing section. We think we might hang out here in Sunset Lake long enough to take that in. By the way, I need to insert here that the dinghy motor has taken a turn for the better and is behaving itself since we gave it a new carburator.

We have been following the "real winter" happening at home, so I will only say that sunny Florida is living up to its name for us. Today is cloudy and rain threatens, but it is 75 and the sun peeks out now and then. Snow Goose could use a good fresh water wash so it is okay.

There are only two other cruisers here anchored with us, Kismet and Casual Class. One of the cruisers aboard the Kismet lived in Portsmouth growing up. She had heard of Snow Goose and had been watching for us. What a small world. We have chatted about the world of Portsmouth back when.

We have discovered the 25 cent bus. We boarded it and rode all around South Beach. We thought we knew our way around by our walks, but we had missed alot. We hopped off and walked Southpointe Park along Government Cut. The cut was very busy with boats coming in for the boat show and boats coming in to get out of the weather predicted for tomorrow. The dog park along that walk proved to be as much fun as ever. We actually are getting to know some of the dogs and they us. Bill has noticed that every pretty girl has at least one dog, usually a little fluffy something.

Saturday, February 12th

It is raining this morning and was a good morning to work out with the bands and then do some clean up activities. In the afternoon we took the 25 cent bus to the other side of South Beach, more residential area, and walked around. The North wind has picked up.

Sunday, February 13th

Bill threw a line over in the morning and caught enough Snapper for dinner tonight. What a surprise! Jim and Laurie from Kismet came over and visited. We took the dinghy to shore and walked around the public markets. We bought some fresh fruit and bread to have with our fish. The North wind is still blowing, keeping the temperatures cooler - upper 60's. We heard from Release in Norman's Pond Cay where they are sitting out a blow and playing watch the anchor.

Beautiful Miami Beach

Staying Stateside

Saturday, February 6th
We are anchored back in Sunset Lake, Miami after making the decision not to cross the Gulf Stream to Bimini. We have just too many concerns about the engine. Well, not so much the engine but the way it was installed. We still have too much vibration in the lower gears. Bill would like to have the mounts reinstalled. He would like to have that done at Sabbastian Marine. It has been a difficult decision, but parts and labor are much more available and affordable stateside. We are content to hang out and enjoy Florida. The weather has been in the high 70's and 80's and there is so much to see. Miami is so huge. Today we walked through the market place, and took the dinghy through the set up for a huge boat show that will be held next week. The market place was held on a street shut off to traffic with tents set up for the vendors. Good thing I have no space to store anything to purchase. However the people watching was fun! We are both fine, tanned and healthy. Thanks for caring to check our blog.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach


January 31

We had a great day making our way down the waterway from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami, Sunset Lake. We anchored near our cruiser friends who had arrived the day before. While putting dinner on the grill, we were visited by a resident near where we were anchored along with some kind of an official person - security guard or PD, not sure which. It was a courtesy visit to request that we move. His wife was nervous with us anchored "near" their home (mansion). After some discussion about welcoming boaters, the right to anchor, and being able to see into their home without high powered binoculars, we did agree to move in daylight the next day. We did as promised, while he is yelling from land the whole time that we have not gone far enough away from his zone. Sometimes we just don't hear that well.

We are now in Miami Beach. Quite the place. Talk about the fast life! The beach is beautiful and the boats are huge. People watching has never been better.

Moving On

We will be leaving Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow and head for Sunset Harbor in Miami.  Saturday weather still looks like it might be okay for a crossing.  We enjoyed the night life at the beach in Ft. Lauderdale last night - but it isn't something you can afford to do often.  Beers $5.00; liquor $10.00.  Not much drinking went on, but the music was great in Pirates Bar. 

Tonight we will dine aboard the Tiaga, a 44 ft. catamaran.  Should be fun just to get the tour.

When you see Bill again, don't forget to ask him about the paper towel conflict - much better story when he tells it. 

All is well with us and we are anxious now to move on.

Ft. Lauderdale