SHIP'S LOG:
(Current Location - Still Lake Worth)
One thing I had forgotten about when you have high temperatures and high humidity and some cold water around is that you get fog.And so it is that I woke up to fog this morning that didn't burn off until late morning. It made it too late to make the run to Lake Bocca Raton. I suppose that I could have made it but I didn't want to chance it as there is something like seven bascule bridges between here and there and they are all restricted. That means they open only at certain times and not on request and if your timing is just the slightest bit off, you end up spending a whole lot of your day idling in front of closed bridges. It can add a lot of length to your trip at least in terms of time.
And then it got hot, went right up into the 80's and there was no air moving anywhere. It was positively oven hot and the water was mill pond smooth. Then after lunch, everything changed. The wind, non-existent up till this time shifted and filled in from the north east. And it began to blow, much like it did yesterday. A nice steady 20 with frequent gusts up to 30 coming about every three to four minutes. It would have made idling in front of the bridges really interesting especially if there would be other boats doing the same thing I was. As I said before, that idling skill, getting the boat to sit in one spot, not too far from the bridge so that you cane make it through when it opens (they don't stay open forever) and not too close so that you don't run into the bridge or the abutments or manatees and whatever and whoever else congregates around the bridges, takes some time to learn and practice to keep up and heavy wind, especially pushing you in the direction of the bridge(sailboats aren't all that good at backing up well under control) would surely make it exciting.
Then about 5pm the wind died and according to NOAA, that's it for the evening, though there could be showers coming. Right now Monday is still a possibility except for the "possibility" of showers in the morning and the "possibility of showers" in the evening. Back home, when NOAA talks about the "possibility of showers" it is usually an attempt to cover themselves as a summer shower is always possible. Down here, it seems that whenever they mention rain, it rains. So I will check the weather again tomorrow and make the call then.
No news on "The Screamer" and the boat parked next to him. They didn't exchange any more words as far as I could tell and they were boat floating peacefully in the morning light. It was interesting that neither shower an anchorlight last night. Not a particularly smart move in a crowded anchorage like this.
A few boats left this morning "heading NORTH?" and more came in, big trawlers and expedition-type powerboats making for an even more crowded anchorage. That's my one great concern on the next leg that the two spots where I can anchor will be filled. They only problem is not knowing until I get there and you can't reserve an anchoring spot!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Let It Blow, Let it Blow, Let It Blow! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
(Current Location: Same as yesterday. If you down load Google Earth and insert the Lat/Lon numbers with the N & W at the end rather than at the beginning, it will take you right to the spot)
So why am I still in Lake Worth? Well, a couple of reasons. First, the boat broke. Well, not really broke, just in need of some fixing. Way back when, before the start of this trip, ABISHAG's new inverter had a problem.If a certain wire was connected, it would allow for the use of the 110 volt outlets but would blow the circuit breakers if she was connected to shore power. Cliff and Chuck worked mightily to uncover the problem but we never got it correct before I shoved off. I had to use a small power inverter to run the computer, charge the phone and other various electrical gizmo's. It worked fine until last night when the portable unit gave up the ghost. It just couldn't handle all the use and abuse. So I spent part of the morning on the phone with Chuck reconnecting the offending wire and making sure I got it right. I did and I can charge things using the boat inverter but will have to disconnect the wire every time I hook up to shore power.
The second reason is that the next anchorage is 30 miles away(Boca Raton Lake) and the next anchorage beyond that is 10 miles further and there really is nothing between here and there that one doesn't have to pay for. By the time I got the inverter situation sorted out, it was after 11am and I didn't want to try and push that far in the remains of the day.
Reason three: the reason I didn't want to push and try to make 30 - 40 miles in that a front is moving through and we have had a steady 20 knot breeze with very frequent gusts to 30. I was in no mood for another bash, especially a long one. So I spent another warm, sunny though breeze day here in Lake Worth surround by mansions and obscenely expensive condos. I'll be staying again tomorrow if the winds do not died down.
A strange thing happened to me today, something that has never happened in all the years I have been sailing. I was nowt happy with the spot in which I had anchored last night. It was between two boats and a little tight and There was a crabpot buoy right off my stern to port. The wind shifted from SE to SW and brought that crabpot buoy o so close to my stern i.e. prop and rudder. I didn't like the idea that i might have to go swimming and unhook if it caught so I decided to move. First I tried just to move the boat a few yards further forward but this prove unsatisfactory, bringing to close in my swing to another boat. As I was bringing up the anchor so I could move to another spot, the anchor rode foul itself, creating a knot that need to be undone before setting it again. I move ABISHAG away so that I wouldn't compromise the other boats and took a moment to undue the knot. Then to my shock. the owner of one of the other boats who was down wind from me started screaming and yelling. They only thing I could think of was that he thought I was going to anchor in that spot and he was loudly and rather profanely warning me off. I was totally shocked. It had never happened before. Usually, if someone anchors to close, you talked with them and help them to see that they picked a bad spot. You don't yell and scream. Heck, whenever I anchor near another boat, I always ask the other guy if he is comfortable with the spacing. If not, I move. I did that last night. But this guy really lost it. I just couldn't believe it. When I finally picked a spot and lowered my hook, about 100yards in front of the "Screamer", he finally shut up, probably figuring that he had "scared" me off. I ended up near a home-built steel Chinese junk, "MELODOEN" from Canada. I asked him if he was OK with the spacing and he said it was fine. I said," The guy over there really lost it. I had no intention of anchoring there but he just went off." "MELODEN" respond, " I couldn't figure out what he was upset about. You were fine there." I spent the afternoon reading in the cockpit from which I could look back on "The Screamer," and fantasying about anchoring right next to him just to see what he would say and do. But I just stayed where I was. . . . .though another boat, which came in late in the day, did just that. There was a lot of screaming in after that though I couldn't hear what was said. I do know that the rather large dog on the new arrival to an instant dislike to "The Screamer" and surely seemed to want to take a bit out of him. The new arrival never moved and so far they haven't trade paint nor anymore words.
(Current Location: Same as yesterday. If you down load Google Earth and insert the Lat/Lon numbers with the N & W at the end rather than at the beginning, it will take you right to the spot)
So why am I still in Lake Worth? Well, a couple of reasons. First, the boat broke. Well, not really broke, just in need of some fixing. Way back when, before the start of this trip, ABISHAG's new inverter had a problem.If a certain wire was connected, it would allow for the use of the 110 volt outlets but would blow the circuit breakers if she was connected to shore power. Cliff and Chuck worked mightily to uncover the problem but we never got it correct before I shoved off. I had to use a small power inverter to run the computer, charge the phone and other various electrical gizmo's. It worked fine until last night when the portable unit gave up the ghost. It just couldn't handle all the use and abuse. So I spent part of the morning on the phone with Chuck reconnecting the offending wire and making sure I got it right. I did and I can charge things using the boat inverter but will have to disconnect the wire every time I hook up to shore power.
The second reason is that the next anchorage is 30 miles away(Boca Raton Lake) and the next anchorage beyond that is 10 miles further and there really is nothing between here and there that one doesn't have to pay for. By the time I got the inverter situation sorted out, it was after 11am and I didn't want to try and push that far in the remains of the day.
Reason three: the reason I didn't want to push and try to make 30 - 40 miles in that a front is moving through and we have had a steady 20 knot breeze with very frequent gusts to 30. I was in no mood for another bash, especially a long one. So I spent another warm, sunny though breeze day here in Lake Worth surround by mansions and obscenely expensive condos. I'll be staying again tomorrow if the winds do not died down.
A strange thing happened to me today, something that has never happened in all the years I have been sailing. I was nowt happy with the spot in which I had anchored last night. It was between two boats and a little tight and There was a crabpot buoy right off my stern to port. The wind shifted from SE to SW and brought that crabpot buoy o so close to my stern i.e. prop and rudder. I didn't like the idea that i might have to go swimming and unhook if it caught so I decided to move. First I tried just to move the boat a few yards further forward but this prove unsatisfactory, bringing to close in my swing to another boat. As I was bringing up the anchor so I could move to another spot, the anchor rode foul itself, creating a knot that need to be undone before setting it again. I move ABISHAG away so that I wouldn't compromise the other boats and took a moment to undue the knot. Then to my shock. the owner of one of the other boats who was down wind from me started screaming and yelling. They only thing I could think of was that he thought I was going to anchor in that spot and he was loudly and rather profanely warning me off. I was totally shocked. It had never happened before. Usually, if someone anchors to close, you talked with them and help them to see that they picked a bad spot. You don't yell and scream. Heck, whenever I anchor near another boat, I always ask the other guy if he is comfortable with the spacing. If not, I move. I did that last night. But this guy really lost it. I just couldn't believe it. When I finally picked a spot and lowered my hook, about 100yards in front of the "Screamer", he finally shut up, probably figuring that he had "scared" me off. I ended up near a home-built steel Chinese junk, "MELODOEN" from Canada. I asked him if he was OK with the spacing and he said it was fine. I said," The guy over there really lost it. I had no intention of anchoring there but he just went off." "MELODEN" respond, " I couldn't figure out what he was upset about. You were fine there." I spent the afternoon reading in the cockpit from which I could look back on "The Screamer," and fantasying about anchoring right next to him just to see what he would say and do. But I just stayed where I was. . . . .though another boat, which came in late in the day, did just that. There was a lot of screaming in after that though I couldn't hear what was said. I do know that the rather large dog on the new arrival to an instant dislike to "The Screamer" and surely seemed to want to take a bit out of him. The new arrival never moved and so far they haven't trade paint nor anymore words.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Getting To The Gold Coast
SHIP'S LOG:
(Current Location: Lake Worth N26' 50.356/ W080' 03.265
It was a lovely day today. It was supposed to be cloudy and getting cloudier but the clouds haven't shown up yet. Perhaps they won't. You won't hear me complain. It was a nice and easy 28 mile journey though we did do a number of bridges today. I am out of practice sitting in front of a bridge, waiting it to open, and going no where. It takes a little bit of skill so control ABISHAG so she basically sits still. Harder still with a 15-20knot wind blowing right on the nose and all sorts of wakes from powerboats going by at high speed. Around most of the bridges, there are Manatee Speed Zone and evidently you can really get a stiff fine for exceeding the speed limit but there doesn't seem to be anyone around to do the ticketing. Of course, if I could reach the "appropriate speed" I am sure that I would find out different.
It was most difficult around Jupiter Inlet where there are four bascule bridges in five miles and consequently a mad rush to get through them. One opens "On Request"; another tries to but has to deal with a lot of road traffic and so tends to wait for it to thin; the other two are at regular times, one on the hour and half hour, the other at quarter to - and quarter past the hour. What skill I had lost at hold a spot was quickly remastered today.
Jupiter Island is quite a place. Lots of people with lots of money and no taste. All of the houses are over down, like the architect didn't quite know when it was finished and the decorator definitely didn't. They obviously are for wealthy individuals but a number are up for sale . . . a steal at $750,000. One part of Jupiter looks something like Venice with canals and Italian style villas on the water. I believe the area is called ADMIRAL'S COVE. It's border on the ICW is a series of small islands and the breaks between them are chained off. You can only get in by boat at one of the two entrances. It is rather impressive. Most impressive was the Harbor House Restaurant. I don't know what they were cooking but out on the water it smelled wonderful.
I cruised into Lake Worth and found a spot in the free section. Here they don't charge for anchoring and as a result, we are packed in here like sardines. There will be no problem if the wind stays down tonight, otherwise it will be a nervous night worrying about someone breaking loose and taking others with him, or just a little paint rubbing.
I did see something in Jupiter that caught my eye: in a little cove there was a fleet of catboats. I really couldn't believe it. White hulls, wooden masts and spars, barndoor rudders and what looked like painted canvas decks. It was the last type of boat I expected to see down here! However, considering that from Stuart to here the average depth in the ICW was maybe 10 feet, they make a lot of sense. There was also another craft, a powerboat that had to be 100 feet long and was decked out with every toy you can think of. I am sure the interior was something to see but I didn't get to see it. I just got the name " 4 THE HULL OF IT!"
(Current Location: Lake Worth N26' 50.356/ W080' 03.265
It was a lovely day today. It was supposed to be cloudy and getting cloudier but the clouds haven't shown up yet. Perhaps they won't. You won't hear me complain. It was a nice and easy 28 mile journey though we did do a number of bridges today. I am out of practice sitting in front of a bridge, waiting it to open, and going no where. It takes a little bit of skill so control ABISHAG so she basically sits still. Harder still with a 15-20knot wind blowing right on the nose and all sorts of wakes from powerboats going by at high speed. Around most of the bridges, there are Manatee Speed Zone and evidently you can really get a stiff fine for exceeding the speed limit but there doesn't seem to be anyone around to do the ticketing. Of course, if I could reach the "appropriate speed" I am sure that I would find out different.
It was most difficult around Jupiter Inlet where there are four bascule bridges in five miles and consequently a mad rush to get through them. One opens "On Request"; another tries to but has to deal with a lot of road traffic and so tends to wait for it to thin; the other two are at regular times, one on the hour and half hour, the other at quarter to - and quarter past the hour. What skill I had lost at hold a spot was quickly remastered today.
Jupiter Island is quite a place. Lots of people with lots of money and no taste. All of the houses are over down, like the architect didn't quite know when it was finished and the decorator definitely didn't. They obviously are for wealthy individuals but a number are up for sale . . . a steal at $750,000. One part of Jupiter looks something like Venice with canals and Italian style villas on the water. I believe the area is called ADMIRAL'S COVE. It's border on the ICW is a series of small islands and the breaks between them are chained off. You can only get in by boat at one of the two entrances. It is rather impressive. Most impressive was the Harbor House Restaurant. I don't know what they were cooking but out on the water it smelled wonderful.
I cruised into Lake Worth and found a spot in the free section. Here they don't charge for anchoring and as a result, we are packed in here like sardines. There will be no problem if the wind stays down tonight, otherwise it will be a nervous night worrying about someone breaking loose and taking others with him, or just a little paint rubbing.
I did see something in Jupiter that caught my eye: in a little cove there was a fleet of catboats. I really couldn't believe it. White hulls, wooden masts and spars, barndoor rudders and what looked like painted canvas decks. It was the last type of boat I expected to see down here! However, considering that from Stuart to here the average depth in the ICW was maybe 10 feet, they make a lot of sense. There was also another craft, a powerboat that had to be 100 feet long and was decked out with every toy you can think of. I am sure the interior was something to see but I didn't get to see it. I just got the name " 4 THE HULL OF IT!"
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Happiness Is A Clean Bottom!
SHIP'S LOG:
(Current Location: Hooker Bay N 27' 11.584/ W 080' 12.194)
I got my bottom cleaned today. Well, actually, I got ABISHAG's bottom cleaned today. It has been uncared for since September and after the lay over in Fort Pierce, it was in need. "Danielle the Diver" did the deed. The bottom and prop were not too badly fouled but enough so that it effected hull speed such that I could tell the difference. And once cleaned, the change in speed was also noticeable.
"Danielle the Diver", who by the way looks great in a wetsuit, said that the keel was free of bottom paint. Of course, it is not supposed to be free of bottom paint but it is the sort of thing to be expected when one grounds 5 times and kisses the bottom numerous other times. It is called "polishing the keel" and is a favorite pastime for people on the ICW.
I ran into "HARBOR MIST" which I hadn't seen since Isle of Hope Marina back up in Georgia. They had been at Loggerhead Marina for almost a month. They blew out an injector in their diesel and had to have all of them replaced. Getting the right injectors seems to have been some sort of a problem so they were "forced" to spend their time in Stuart.
The day started out cloudy but they brightened to no clouds and not air and no wind and high, high humidity. Thankfully, I wasn't planning to go far(Danielle the Diver didn't finish until after 10AM) and I was planning only to travel back to where I had anchored in Hooker Bay. Good thing too as the weather when right in the toilet. The sun went away, the wind came out of the northeast bringing with it a pretty heavy fog. I had just gotten the hook down when it dropped in with a vengeance. The rest of the day was cold(relatively speaking), damp and raw. I used the time to plot out my next course which will take me to Lake Worth, across the ICW from North Palm Beach. I will only be able to stay there for one night. It's free! After that, you pay $30 for the right to anchor for 4 days - including the first one. There are a lot of municipalities who have similar ordinances that I will have to deal with between here and Miami. It is amazing how Florida seems to be doing a lot to kill the recreational boating.
Well, I will be off to Lake Worth on the morrow, weather permitting. Right now, the fog is still heavy and it looks a little creepy outside. The two other boats anchored here are visible only from their anchor lights, as are the houses and the bridges ashore. It looks like a wonderful setting from some sort of "horror movie" but hopefully all of us will be spared the horrors of the night and have a good night's sleep.
(Current Location: Hooker Bay N 27' 11.584/ W 080' 12.194)
I got my bottom cleaned today. Well, actually, I got ABISHAG's bottom cleaned today. It has been uncared for since September and after the lay over in Fort Pierce, it was in need. "Danielle the Diver" did the deed. The bottom and prop were not too badly fouled but enough so that it effected hull speed such that I could tell the difference. And once cleaned, the change in speed was also noticeable.
"Danielle the Diver", who by the way looks great in a wetsuit, said that the keel was free of bottom paint. Of course, it is not supposed to be free of bottom paint but it is the sort of thing to be expected when one grounds 5 times and kisses the bottom numerous other times. It is called "polishing the keel" and is a favorite pastime for people on the ICW.
I ran into "HARBOR MIST" which I hadn't seen since Isle of Hope Marina back up in Georgia. They had been at Loggerhead Marina for almost a month. They blew out an injector in their diesel and had to have all of them replaced. Getting the right injectors seems to have been some sort of a problem so they were "forced" to spend their time in Stuart.
The day started out cloudy but they brightened to no clouds and not air and no wind and high, high humidity. Thankfully, I wasn't planning to go far(Danielle the Diver didn't finish until after 10AM) and I was planning only to travel back to where I had anchored in Hooker Bay. Good thing too as the weather when right in the toilet. The sun went away, the wind came out of the northeast bringing with it a pretty heavy fog. I had just gotten the hook down when it dropped in with a vengeance. The rest of the day was cold(relatively speaking), damp and raw. I used the time to plot out my next course which will take me to Lake Worth, across the ICW from North Palm Beach. I will only be able to stay there for one night. It's free! After that, you pay $30 for the right to anchor for 4 days - including the first one. There are a lot of municipalities who have similar ordinances that I will have to deal with between here and Miami. It is amazing how Florida seems to be doing a lot to kill the recreational boating.
Well, I will be off to Lake Worth on the morrow, weather permitting. Right now, the fog is still heavy and it looks a little creepy outside. The two other boats anchored here are visible only from their anchor lights, as are the houses and the bridges ashore. It looks like a wonderful setting from some sort of "horror movie" but hopefully all of us will be spared the horrors of the night and have a good night's sleep.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Short Trip But A Good Trip
SHIP'S LOG:
I don't think I went more than four miles today, from Hooker Bay to Loggerhead Marina,but it was a good day. The weather was wonderful, the marina is very nice and I had dinner with Ron and Roland. And that was perhaps the best part. Unfortunately, I am in no shape to really plan tomorrow's journey so I will have to do that in the morning.
I got a call from an old friend who is help a friend of his convalese in Fort Lauderdale. The guy has a condo on the ICW and a dock. If the watery is deep enough, I'll have another place to stop which is good because the anchoring possibilities are slim between here and Miami as I have mentioned before.
I am going to make this short and hit the rack. Enjoy the SNOW!
I don't think I went more than four miles today, from Hooker Bay to Loggerhead Marina,but it was a good day. The weather was wonderful, the marina is very nice and I had dinner with Ron and Roland. And that was perhaps the best part. Unfortunately, I am in no shape to really plan tomorrow's journey so I will have to do that in the morning.
I got a call from an old friend who is help a friend of his convalese in Fort Lauderdale. The guy has a condo on the ICW and a dock. If the watery is deep enough, I'll have another place to stop which is good because the anchoring possibilities are slim between here and Miami as I have mentioned before.
I am going to make this short and hit the rack. Enjoy the SNOW!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Dropping The Hook In Hooker Bay!
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, I finally got out of Dodge(Fort Pierce). A quick trip across the Indian River for a "pump & Dump" at the Municipal Marina and then back on the ICW for the trip South some 20 miles.
The day was clear but the wind was basically on the nose at 20mph and steady. In the Shallow Indian River, it stirred up 3-4foot waves and I had a number of them crash over the bow. I hits those just right, being in the trough when then hit. But it was in the 70's and I didn't even wear a jacket.
I think that the month in Fort Pierce created a problem with the boat. I think that the prop is somewhat fouled with crustaceans for the speed was down. True, I was bashing into waves and true the wind was on the nose at 20mph but it still seemed as though the drive wasn't there. I am sure that the bottom is fouled too. Sitting for a month just encourages that sort of activity in a marine environment. The water never got seriously warm enough to make taking the plunge a serious consideration, but perhaps I should have done so before I mosey out. As soon as the water gets a little warmer, I will have to do some diving and scraping and cleaning. Nothing I like more!
It didn't take long to get back into the swing of traveling the ICW. I didn't go three miles before I came upon a fisherman afloat in the middle of the channel. Something just never change. I am about three miles as the dolphin swims from Chapman's and if the chance presents itself, I may drop in. Where I go from here is difficult to say but I think "south" will best describe it. The weather in the later part of the week is rather "iffy" and tending toward the cooler but I am less than 100 miles from Miami and you know that it just has to be warm down there.
After dinner with Ron & Roland tomorrow night, the clock is sort of running. I will be heading south with no real destination in mind. Where I get I get. But come the Ides of March, it is turn around time and I will begin the northward trek. That thankfully is over a month away and I have just got to get a real sun burn and a serious tan so that I can evoke jealousy and envy upon my return.
Well, I finally got out of Dodge(Fort Pierce). A quick trip across the Indian River for a "pump & Dump" at the Municipal Marina and then back on the ICW for the trip South some 20 miles.
The day was clear but the wind was basically on the nose at 20mph and steady. In the Shallow Indian River, it stirred up 3-4foot waves and I had a number of them crash over the bow. I hits those just right, being in the trough when then hit. But it was in the 70's and I didn't even wear a jacket.
I think that the month in Fort Pierce created a problem with the boat. I think that the prop is somewhat fouled with crustaceans for the speed was down. True, I was bashing into waves and true the wind was on the nose at 20mph but it still seemed as though the drive wasn't there. I am sure that the bottom is fouled too. Sitting for a month just encourages that sort of activity in a marine environment. The water never got seriously warm enough to make taking the plunge a serious consideration, but perhaps I should have done so before I mosey out. As soon as the water gets a little warmer, I will have to do some diving and scraping and cleaning. Nothing I like more!
It didn't take long to get back into the swing of traveling the ICW. I didn't go three miles before I came upon a fisherman afloat in the middle of the channel. Something just never change. I am about three miles as the dolphin swims from Chapman's and if the chance presents itself, I may drop in. Where I go from here is difficult to say but I think "south" will best describe it. The weather in the later part of the week is rather "iffy" and tending toward the cooler but I am less than 100 miles from Miami and you know that it just has to be warm down there.
After dinner with Ron & Roland tomorrow night, the clock is sort of running. I will be heading south with no real destination in mind. Where I get I get. But come the Ides of March, it is turn around time and I will begin the northward trek. That thankfully is over a month away and I have just got to get a real sun burn and a serious tan so that I can evoke jealousy and envy upon my return.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tomorrow Is Departure Day
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, it has been almost a month but I am finally leaving Fort Pierce. Tomorrow morning, it will be up anchor and over to the Fort Pierce Municipal Marina for a "Pump & Dump" and then down the ICW to Stuart and Hooker Bay. Wednesday night, I will be in one of the marinas down there so that I can dinner with Ron & Roland. Then Thursday, I will be off south, but to just where I don't know. Probably not far as the weather is supposed to be a little "iffy" and I hate traveling in the rain.
Brad finally showed up. It seems he and his brother drove from Fort Pierce to Key West to Tamp and back to Fort Pierce. That's a lot of miles in 3 days but he made it back so that I could get my "spares box" and other assorted items and so be ready to shove off tomorrow.
I installed the new blower fan and it seems to work just fine. I am insufferably proud of myself that i got it in without a hitch. Hopefully that is the very last problem/repair that I will have to face on this trip but I doubt that such will be the case. Then again, it might. Of course if they were all that easy and that inexpensive, it would be no big deal, but that blower fan is probably the exception to the rule.
As I thought last night, the powerboat the anchored close to the channel swung out into it during the night. He didn't really cause any problems but if the water police had come by he would have gotten a big ticket. He must have realized that for as soon as the other large powerboat vacated its anchoring spot and took of, he upped anchor and moved right into it and dropped the hook. looks like he plans to be here awhile. I can understand that. It is a nice spot. But there are other nice spots that i intend to find as well.
I am actually getting excited about going though the trip is less that 20 miles. Having been in one place so long taking off is like beginning a new adventure. I just hope it is not "too exciting." A nice, easy, fairly mundane journey is fine with me me . . . at least for the start. Of course, my friends at NOAA are calling for 30mph gusts tomorrow. Why would it be otherwise?
Well, it has been almost a month but I am finally leaving Fort Pierce. Tomorrow morning, it will be up anchor and over to the Fort Pierce Municipal Marina for a "Pump & Dump" and then down the ICW to Stuart and Hooker Bay. Wednesday night, I will be in one of the marinas down there so that I can dinner with Ron & Roland. Then Thursday, I will be off south, but to just where I don't know. Probably not far as the weather is supposed to be a little "iffy" and I hate traveling in the rain.
Brad finally showed up. It seems he and his brother drove from Fort Pierce to Key West to Tamp and back to Fort Pierce. That's a lot of miles in 3 days but he made it back so that I could get my "spares box" and other assorted items and so be ready to shove off tomorrow.
I installed the new blower fan and it seems to work just fine. I am insufferably proud of myself that i got it in without a hitch. Hopefully that is the very last problem/repair that I will have to face on this trip but I doubt that such will be the case. Then again, it might. Of course if they were all that easy and that inexpensive, it would be no big deal, but that blower fan is probably the exception to the rule.
As I thought last night, the powerboat the anchored close to the channel swung out into it during the night. He didn't really cause any problems but if the water police had come by he would have gotten a big ticket. He must have realized that for as soon as the other large powerboat vacated its anchoring spot and took of, he upped anchor and moved right into it and dropped the hook. looks like he plans to be here awhile. I can understand that. It is a nice spot. But there are other nice spots that i intend to find as well.
I am actually getting excited about going though the trip is less that 20 miles. Having been in one place so long taking off is like beginning a new adventure. I just hope it is not "too exciting." A nice, easy, fairly mundane journey is fine with me me . . . at least for the start. Of course, my friends at NOAA are calling for 30mph gusts tomorrow. Why would it be otherwise?
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