We are done... almost

We are in Amelia Island Yacht Basin, just 12 miles from where the boat will be hauled.  There are no services at that boat yard so we are staying here and enjoying the surroundings.

We left New Smyrna on August 8 after hitting the farmers market near the dock in the morning.  Pam loaded us up with fresh fruit and vegetables.  We found a bakery there too so we are eating well!

Got a newspaper?

Did 10 bridges on the ICW and stopped in the planned community of Palm Coast.  Huge apartment complexes and neighbourhoods on the canals.  I wonder what the prices are like given all the commotion about Florida real estate.

All along the ICW - thousands of boat lifts.

the ICW

August 5, 2009

We’ve come a long way! After our rush with the Gulf Stream we stopped in Fort Pierce at the Pelican Yacht Club. Pool, bar, groceries across the street – a virtual oasis! We have realized that our destination isn’t that far away but we have many days. We flirted with the notion of heading over to the Bahamas, but the days are so hot it does not appeal. We are on a mission to deliver this boat, learn how she works and get her ready for the post retirement launch.

So, we stayed 4 days at the Pelican Yacht Club and enjoyed the amenities – and the AC in our boat.

On Wednesday, we set off at 6:30 for Melbourne. We motored up the ICW, thinking about putting up some sails. We don’t know if there are rules. Are you allowed to sail on the ICW with all its constrictions?

We are mapping out our final stops… Titusville, Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville Beach and finally Fernandina Beach before our haul-out in St. Marys, Georgia.

We need to “burn” a few days so anything close enough with charm becomes home. We feel slightly guilty staying at marinas – but it is over 90 everyday and our AC can get it down to 75 if we get it going soon enough. In the winter and spring, the temperature will be in the 70s at night. That will be much more do-able.

August 8, 2009

Stopped on Thursday at Titusville. Cool seeing the NASA buildings from the ICW. Got up early to leave and were at the “Always Open” NASA railway bridge by 7:30. It was closed. Asked the maintenance workers when they would be done and they said, “About 11!” So for 3 and a half hours we waited. On the good side, we befriended a manatee. After he got comfortable with us, Pam squirted him in the face with fresh water – which ended that relationship. Travel on the ICW is calm but we see lots of dolphins, people in boats, interesting homes and docks. Moved on to New Smyrna Beach (not sure if there is an old one.) Going through Daytona for Palm Coast tonight, St. Augustine tomorrow.

NASA train bridge

Friendly manatee

Gator waiting for lunch

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A map!

We've added a new page with a map of our progress moving the boat.  There's a link on the right side, or you can click here to see it!

Halfway!

Brad left us on Tuesday. We will really miss him. He was great to have around fixing things and good company.

Wednesday we got up early and took off. We were underway by 6:30 and sailed the 50 nautical miles to Key Largo. Too bad Brad missed this part. We had all the sails up and were going 6 to 7 knots most of the time.

At Key Largo, Glen put on an amazing display of boat handling trying to back into a slip. In the end, we tied up alongside a seawall in the Key Largo Marine Boatyard. Not many people witnessed the attempt or they were too polite to say anything. Gary made the mistake of coming down from the canvas for a walk and Pam and Glen ushered him off the boat. He stared at us from the dock for a couple of hours but the next day - no Gary. We miss him... but just like we got over Brad, we'll get over Gary.

Sailed (and motor sailed) another 50 nm to Miami. All along the way we listened to the Coast Guard helping people who lost lobster divers in the water. How can you lose a diver? After a time they all seemed to get found. The Coast Guard must love lobster season! Spent Thursday in a so-so marina in Miami. Could have been terrific but was a bit run down and lots of seedy characters around. Glen fit right in!

Leaving Miami

We've done 100 nm in the past 2 days and used the motor less than 20% of that time.

It is 20 nm to Fort Lauderdale and 50 from there to Palm Beach. We thought about doing the 70 and then decided to take it easy so we slept in a bit and didn't get going until 10:30. Too bad. We caught the edge of the Gulf Stream and at one point we were doing over 10 knots. We could easily have done the 70 had we left earlier.

Our preferred route is outside but we could choose to take the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) The problem is that there are only a few places where you can cut between the two. If we get weather when we are out on the ocean we are stuck with it.

Fort Lauderdale is halfway from Bradenton to St. Mary's, Georgia - our destination. Champagne tonight?

To Marathon

We are in Marathon in the Florida Keys. Arrived just in time, too. Tremendous thunder and lightning - including a couple of water spouts. We are going to google water spouts to see what they might do to a 22,000 pound boat.

Water spout

The trip from Naples was interesting. If you draw a line from Naples from Marathon you can see it goes completely over Florida Bay - about 100 nautical miles (about 200KM.) Our boat does 5 knots, the wind was in our face - so we motored for 20+ hours. At 11 PM on Thursday night we stopped and put out the anchor in the middle of the bay.  In the middle of Florida Bay without a speck of land in sight, we slept under the stars until dawn.

Florida Bay

Overnight on Florida Bay

It is only 30 feet deep at the deepest. Started up again on Friday and came under the 7 Mile Bridge at Marathon around noon. About a mile from the marina the engine temperature alarm went off so that's when Glen learned to shut off the raw water strainer seacock, remove the strainer and take out all the crap that was choking the engine.

7 Mile Bridge at Marathon

We are here for a couple of days before heading north to Georgia. We are going to have a diesel mechanic show us how to change the raw water impeller pump, change the engine coolant and check out a few other things.

We noticed our friend Gary the Gecko during our Florida Bay crossing.  He doesn't seem to want to leave.

Gary the Gecko on the canvas

We were met by Captain Jim Stengel who is a VERY knowlegable IP owner... and a colourful character.  He was helpful as we looked to purchase our boat and is proving to be a valuable resource as we get repairs done.  He is our Marathon ambassador.  We will spend a few days getting some work done (supervised by Captain Jim) and then head to Largo, Miami and points north.

Little Jumps...

Sunday:

We left Longboat Pass (Jewfish Key) and motored to Marina Jack  in Sarasota where Brad first decided that his throat was sore enough that he needed to get to a clinic.  Looks like strep – although he wasn’t that sick… he tore apart the autohelm, determined to get it working.  The autohelm won.  It still isn’t working.  The doctor sent Brad to Publix for free antibiotics.

Marina Jack

Monday:

From Sarasota we travelled along the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) to Venice and tied up at a free dock called Higel Park.  That’s better than the $96 for one night at Marina Jack.  We are torn, though.  The electrical at the dock provides delicious air conditioning.  You can sleep at night… unlike last night.
Tuesday:

We are headed to Pelican Bay in Charlotte Harbor to jump off the boat and swim.  First time!

Swimming off the boat

Washdown

We travelled through 5 bridges enroute, some opening on a schedule and others that we had to radio for an opening.   Later in the day, Brad completely dismantled the autohelm.  Late into the evening we heard him muttering as he tore the boat apart again. When he leaves we'll have to get all the King's horses and all the kings men to put Autohelm together again.

Autopilot technician

Wednesday:

Up early for a long day.  Pam got this photo...

In a couple of hours the rest of us got up

Glen has been calling Brad, "MacGruber!"  We have the autohelm that came with the boat and the broken one that Paul and Mary gave us for spare parts - all bits and pieces in the cockpit.  But joy... he got it working.  Unbelievable.  We are impressed!  All those years at UBC paid off.  He actually seems to know how it works... something about an "H" bridge of power transistors and getting rid of some corrosion.  So all day today we've had our new crewmember, "Otto," steering the boat.  Look at the lunch Pam made while Otto steered.

Lunch

Dolphins everywhere!

Flipper!

We're off!!!

Captain Chaos here!

We did it! We left Bradenton. We took our time in the morning and packed away all our loose “stuff.” We have no idea where to stow an anchor, 100 feet of chain and 150 feet of rope. The big, starboard lazarette locker looks like a tornado hit it. Almost every good locker - with lots of space, is filled with a compressor, a waste tank or a motor of some kind. So we worry about putting an anchor into a locker with a compressor... God knows what will happen in rough seas when things go crashing around.

We motored way out around Anna Maria Island, between Passage and Egmont Keys. Many disagreements about the correct passage.

Checking our course.

Once we got near the Gulf all heck broke loose. It was like a roller coaster looking straight up at heaven and then plunging down, sticking the bow in the water. Not part of the dream!!! Finally, with a grim look from Pam, we put up a sail and things actually calmed down considerably. We sailed in no more than 25 feet of water for 2 hours.

Headed towards Longboat Pass bridge - only a couple of hours south. Saw dolphins - which we mistakenly believed would bring us good luck. Guess the good luck was seeing the dolphins.

Getting close to the bridge we looked back and saw black, black skies. Really black.

Sky not looking great!

Our timing was close and all we needed to do was to radio to the bridge tender to raise the bridge so we could get into our anchorage. Tried the handheld radio twice and it didn't work. Brad tried the main VHF radio in the cabin and it didn't work. Finally figured it out and the bridge operator opened the drawbridge just in time.

Thanks Mr. Longboat Pass Bridgetender!

Now this crazy storm was on us - Brad was sandblasted with hail and when we looked back at the bridge we couldn't see it through the rain. Did an emergency anchor right inside the bridge - realized it was our first time anchoring the Blue Pearl. After 20 minutes of lightning, a deluge and hail it cleared away... and cooled down.

So, faithful reader... all done and clear, right? Wrong. We upped the anchor, moved to the spot we were aiming for and navigated our way... onto a sandbar.

Helpful Floridians towing us off a sandbar.

They say boating in Florida is one of two things... you're either aground or about to be aground. After fretting about, we were rescued by a nice couple and finally put down the anchor. Champagne and burgers for dinner.

Celebrating our safety. We live to enjoy another adventure.