SHIP'S LOG:
Yes, it is not snow, it is just rain but it has made the day cold and damp and raw. I almost had to change out of shorts and got to jeans. It probably was a good choice to hang for while the rain wasn't torrential or anything close, it was all day long and traveling in the rain on a sailboat, sailing or motoring, is a drag. So naturally I don't do it.
I have set out a course for Maule Lake which is about 12 miles or so down the ICW from here. It probably was a real lake that was spare the fate of Lettuce Lake by simple being off the direct line they laid out for the ICW. I haven't checked it out by satellite yet but it is probably surrounded by lots and lots of houses. It would be strange to anchor right in the middle of this "lake" and have people basically all around. A wired sensation.
I have also laid in a course to "Dumbfound Bay" a little further on and another all the way to Miami Beach itself. It is a little over 25 miles as the dolphin swims and really would be much of a push. The one nervous spot is the Julia Tuttle Memorial Bridge, the only fixed bridge on the ICW that is not 65 feet high. It is only 56 feet high. Not a lot of cruising boats can get under that bridge and end up going outside . . . which for the last few weeks and for the next few days will be "rather exciting!" Lots of wind and some very big waves. I am not sure what is driving it all but nothing from NOAA makes it sound like something I would wish to do. As it is, I can just sneak under Julia Tuttle, as my mast height with antenna is 54 feet. Well, at least that what it says in the owner's manual. I hope its right and I hope nobody fudged with Julia Tuttle's height either.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Further South I Go!
SHIP'S LOG:
Tuesday's location: 26' 13.277 N/ 080' 05.720W
Tuesday's trip down from Lake Worth wasn't a LONG trip but it was tiring. In 37 miles I had to go through 16 bascule bridges, one of which wasn't on the charts and wasn't in the cruising guides. That one was the Palmetto Bridge which is just north of Bocca Raton and around a corner. Had I been in a tall power boat, ignoring the speed restrictions as most do, I would have come around the corner and hit it! There is something good to say about not being fast.
One of the bridges decided to have electrical problems(Lake Avenue)and I had to bob around for a good hour while they go it fixed, though I did get through eventually. Basically however, I had to wait at least 15 minutes at each bridge which made for a long day. I got away at 8:30am but didn't drop a hook until 5:30pm. Like I said, a long day.
I have been trying to come up with a way to describe the houses down here. Some are tastefully done though most are not. They are obviously expensive undertakings, but whoever has undertaken them has no concept of taste. Not that that seems to matter much to the architects or interior and exterior designers nor the grounds crew. The best that I can come up with to describe the architectural barbarities that I have seen is to describe the whole genre as "A painting of Elvis on Black Velvet!" It sort of looks good but not quite and it definitely ain't worth the money they have spent. Going by one house that was almost complete, there was a sign out from from the builders saying, "You dream it, We build it." The person who ordered that house obviously had a nightmare!
Dropped the hook in Lettuce "Lake." At one time it might actually been a lake, but the ICW goes right through it so only a small part of it remains. The shore has looks of houses, cheek by jowl, and Tuesday night they all had chimas(?) ablaze and everyone sitting around them trying to stay war. I was only wearing shorts and trying to get cool. Things are not quite right with the people down here.
Wednesday's trip was to beautiful Fort Launderdale - The Yachting Capital of the World. Yeah, right! My first exposure to Fort Lauderdale was to run into the problem that has the boating industry down here in turmoil. Abandoned boats - some sunken others just disasters above water and in some cases people living on what you could only call floating slums. I can understand what sticks in some people's craws over this. It really looks awful.
I also ran into the phenomenon of "Flying Manta Rays. Man, they just pop out of the water and crash back in and some are rather large.The first one scared the living daylights out of me because he is equiped as they are with a stinger. Remember it was how the came up maybe five feet from the bat. I was wondering what to do if one made it on board, Crocodile Man died.
Getting into Fort Lauderdale, I began to run into huge boats, I mean private yachts the size of small ocean liners. I journeyed with "DELIVERANCE II" a floating fuel browser. Evidently when your boat gets big enough, they bring the fuel to you. Among the "GALLANT LADY"'s and the "LADY JANE" 's, there was one that stood out. Not quite as large or as grand as some but the name said it all - "SEA NILE!"
Went up the New River into downtown Fort Lauderdale and found the cheapest marina of the trip - under a buck a foot if you were a Boat/US member - The New River Municipal Marina. True you tie up to a wall that lines the New River, and not all their power stands work, but everything you need is right in walking distance.
I got reacquainted with the local insect life - the infamous "Palmetto Bug" - known to those of us in the north as cockroaches and they are big ones too. Thankfully, the Geckos keep their numbers down.
A front moved in on Thursday and it is raining on and off. Friday is supposed to be worse, but if it is not, I will head for North Miami Beach. It is just past 7:30 and humid with the temperature of 71. O, the suffering!
Tuesday's location: 26' 13.277 N/ 080' 05.720W
Tuesday's trip down from Lake Worth wasn't a LONG trip but it was tiring. In 37 miles I had to go through 16 bascule bridges, one of which wasn't on the charts and wasn't in the cruising guides. That one was the Palmetto Bridge which is just north of Bocca Raton and around a corner. Had I been in a tall power boat, ignoring the speed restrictions as most do, I would have come around the corner and hit it! There is something good to say about not being fast.
One of the bridges decided to have electrical problems(Lake Avenue)and I had to bob around for a good hour while they go it fixed, though I did get through eventually. Basically however, I had to wait at least 15 minutes at each bridge which made for a long day. I got away at 8:30am but didn't drop a hook until 5:30pm. Like I said, a long day.
I have been trying to come up with a way to describe the houses down here. Some are tastefully done though most are not. They are obviously expensive undertakings, but whoever has undertaken them has no concept of taste. Not that that seems to matter much to the architects or interior and exterior designers nor the grounds crew. The best that I can come up with to describe the architectural barbarities that I have seen is to describe the whole genre as "A painting of Elvis on Black Velvet!" It sort of looks good but not quite and it definitely ain't worth the money they have spent. Going by one house that was almost complete, there was a sign out from from the builders saying, "You dream it, We build it." The person who ordered that house obviously had a nightmare!
Dropped the hook in Lettuce "Lake." At one time it might actually been a lake, but the ICW goes right through it so only a small part of it remains. The shore has looks of houses, cheek by jowl, and Tuesday night they all had chimas(?) ablaze and everyone sitting around them trying to stay war. I was only wearing shorts and trying to get cool. Things are not quite right with the people down here.
Wednesday's trip was to beautiful Fort Launderdale - The Yachting Capital of the World. Yeah, right! My first exposure to Fort Lauderdale was to run into the problem that has the boating industry down here in turmoil. Abandoned boats - some sunken others just disasters above water and in some cases people living on what you could only call floating slums. I can understand what sticks in some people's craws over this. It really looks awful.
I also ran into the phenomenon of "Flying Manta Rays. Man, they just pop out of the water and crash back in and some are rather large.The first one scared the living daylights out of me because he is equiped as they are with a stinger. Remember it was how the came up maybe five feet from the bat. I was wondering what to do if one made it on board, Crocodile Man died.
Getting into Fort Lauderdale, I began to run into huge boats, I mean private yachts the size of small ocean liners. I journeyed with "DELIVERANCE II" a floating fuel browser. Evidently when your boat gets big enough, they bring the fuel to you. Among the "GALLANT LADY"'s and the "LADY JANE" 's, there was one that stood out. Not quite as large or as grand as some but the name said it all - "SEA NILE!"
Went up the New River into downtown Fort Lauderdale and found the cheapest marina of the trip - under a buck a foot if you were a Boat/US member - The New River Municipal Marina. True you tie up to a wall that lines the New River, and not all their power stands work, but everything you need is right in walking distance.
I got reacquainted with the local insect life - the infamous "Palmetto Bug" - known to those of us in the north as cockroaches and they are big ones too. Thankfully, the Geckos keep their numbers down.
A front moved in on Thursday and it is raining on and off. Friday is supposed to be worse, but if it is not, I will head for North Miami Beach. It is just past 7:30 and humid with the temperature of 71. O, the suffering!
Monday, February 7, 2011
"The Windy City . . Not Chicago But North Palm Beach!!!
SHIP'S LOG:
Same Spot, Different Day
Same Spot, Different Day
For some reason, I never thought of Florida as a particularly windy place. True there isn't much to stop the wind, the highest point of land being merely 60feet above sea level, still who ever thought of Florida as windy. Yet it has been a rare day on this trip when the wind hasn't been honking. I am sure that the average for the days that I have been in this state must be over 15mph steady. Today was another wonderful example. Got up to fog which burned off late morning. Then no wind and lots of hot, hot sun. Then about 1:30 wind! A good steady 15mph as you could tell from the white caps. And regularly there was more as the tops blew off the white caps. And then there were the gusts. I have a little Davis Wind Gauge which goes all the way up to 30MPH and the gusts pegged that. It made for a rollicking good time this afternoon as the anchorage in Lake Worth filled up and everyone was swinging to beat the band. It was very interesting to watch how everyone swing just a little different from everyone else because of the differences in type of boat(power or sail), draft, beam, type of keel, amount of windage, type of anchor rode(chain or rope) and amount of rode out. Thank goodness that is has pretty much calmed down for the night but there is still an occasional gust. It was interesting making supper tonight. Thank goodness for a gimbaled stove. I just wish the wind would stop. When it can heel ABISHAG, you know it is blowing.
I ran into something very interesting down here. I bought a case of drinking water in bottles that were made 100% from plants. The bottles are called "Prima Bottles" and evidently they are made from plant oils that is turn into a material like plastic which can be molded and shape and use and then the bottle can be dumped in a compost heap where it will decay and decompose like any other vegetable matter. You can even burn them and it is no more that burning plant material. They have a website (primabottle.com) Now this is an idea whose time has come.
The weather will be such that I will be off tomorrow and heading south again. I have a bunch of bridges to deal with and three potential anchorages at 23/ 30/ 37 mile so even with delays, I should have a place to drop a hook available.
I ran into something very interesting down here. I bought a case of drinking water in bottles that were made 100% from plants. The bottles are called "Prima Bottles" and evidently they are made from plant oils that is turn into a material like plastic which can be molded and shape and use and then the bottle can be dumped in a compost heap where it will decay and decompose like any other vegetable matter. You can even burn them and it is no more that burning plant material. They have a website (primabottle.com) Now this is an idea whose time has come.
The weather will be such that I will be off tomorrow and heading south again. I have a bunch of bridges to deal with and three potential anchorages at 23/ 30/ 37 mile so even with delays, I should have a place to drop a hook available.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The It Blow, Let It Blow, Let It Blow - The Sequal
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!
(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!
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.
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