SHIP'S LOG:
It was another case of a doohickey being the wrong doohickey for a particular gadget. I tried once again to coax my dinghy's outboard motor into starting but despite all of my efforts it was still an NF - a Negative Function. So I rowed the dinghy, motor and all, over to a near by boat where they had two dinghies and asked for some help. The two guys were seriously into a couple of cases of beer but talked me through the procedures of checking out the engine. "Always start with the assumption that it is a fuel problem. 90% of the time it is a fuel problem," one burbled. They had me take the top off the engine and find the bowl under the carburetor. This is where the water in the fuel would end up . . if there was any water in the fuel. I opened the tap and nothing came out. That was both good and bad, good because there was no water, bad because there was no fuel either. "Looks like a fuel starvation problem to me," the other burped. They had me disconnect the fuel line from the carburetor and pump the bulb on the fuel line which gets fuel from the tank into the fuel line and so into the carburetor. After a couple of pumps, it was determined that the fuel wasn't getting into the fuel line in t he engine. That meant that a.) the hose was blocked (nope), b.) the bulb pump wasn't working(again nope), or c.) there was a leak some where.
Now the fuel line has two doohickeys( hose connectors) one to connect the hose to the fuel tank and one to connect the hose to the engine. They are made up of a grasping clamp to hold the connector tight in place and receiver that takes a fuel prong through which the fuel is passed. One of these connectors, the one at the engine didn't fit tightly enough and so the fuel was dribbling into the dinghy.(Thank goodness for water in the dinghy). After I rowed back to my boat, I tried the fix the limp clamp so that the connector would fit tight. Instead I broke it. I t was merely plastic and probably had seen to many years of sun and the ethanol in the new gas and just didn't have the strength it once had. Now I have to hunt up a new connector for the Honda engine. And that's not as easy as it sounds.
I contacted West Marine and one store had what I needed but it was 12 miles away, one way! That's a hell of a walk. I found a couple of Honda Outboard dealers closer, but none are open until tomorrow and I don't know if they have the part. I 'll call tomorrow and find out but it will still be at least a 2 mile walk one way if the nearest one has the part and 4 miles one way if he doesn't and one of the other two do. Well the weather's nice for walking. It will mean however, that I will also have to join the Miami Yacht Club for the day($18) so I can land my dinghy. At least I'll be able to get a shower and a check out their bar wand restaurant which are supposed to be quite good.
The weather today was disgustingly the same - 80/sunny/humid/light breezes and I spent a lot of time, after the rowing swimming. No sharks down here . . .at least none that I saw, though a large, sofa-cushion-sized Manta Ray launched itself out of the water and belly-flopped back in which served to launch me out of the water as well. Actually I went back in but those things give you one heck of s surprise when they do things like that. Spent the rest of the day enjoying the rest of the day.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
MIami CSI - Crusing In Style!
SHIP'S LOG:
I was surprised but not really at how stiff I was this morning. Wow, six miles of rowing can sure take it out of you. My shoulders especially were really sore and tight, but after a morning swim, everything felt just fine.
It was another one of those terrible Miami days, high was about 80, no clouds, a little wind and a lot of humidity. This is suffering like I haven't known since last August!
Being Saturday, everyone with a boat was on it. Some working on the boat, some like me just sitting and enjoying the weather, more going out fishing and a lot just rushing up and down burning gas and having a great time. Speaker systems are very big on runabouts down here and for the most part they blare out what is probably Cuban music. It really sounds great except when two or more compete with each other and then the music becomes noise and it is over powering. But since the boats are moving at a high rate of speed, the noise quickly passes. There is a local spot called Belle Island at the head of this "canal" and lots of boats congregate there for picnics and swing and whatever. Today you could barely see the beach for the boats on it or anchored off it.
Speaking of boats, I notice the boats around me since I have been here and as I was looking them over again today I spotted one that didn't look quite right. Actually it was the mast I saw, the boat itself blocked from view by other boats or so I thought. When the wind shift, I happened to look toward that mast and that is all that it was. Evidently, the boat had sunk on its mooring or at anchor. How long ago this happened, I have no way of knowing but it must have been a while at least for there was a red flag on one of the shrouds so people would avoid it. It is tough to estimate how big it is so maybe I will go over tomorrow to check it out. This makes two anchorages where there have been sunken boats down here in Florida.
Four huge ocean liners came in yesterday and loaded up and went out again today. I don't know how many people were on them but together they could have populated a small town if they were all filled. They all started playing Caribbean music when they unloaded and kept it up all day until they reloaded and all departed around 4:30pm, music still playing. I am not sure where they are bound but it ain't New York!
This anchorage that i am in off the Miami Yacht Club turns out to be the only free, no time limit anchorage in all of Miami. Every place else you get approached and told to move on after 7 days. I didn't realize it when I dropped my hook last week but I made a good choice nonetheless. Sometime next week though I will have to go to a marina for a"pump & dump" and perhaps I will use that as an excuse to move to a different location or head further south. This warm, sultry weather makes it so hard to get energized about moving.
I was surprised but not really at how stiff I was this morning. Wow, six miles of rowing can sure take it out of you. My shoulders especially were really sore and tight, but after a morning swim, everything felt just fine.
It was another one of those terrible Miami days, high was about 80, no clouds, a little wind and a lot of humidity. This is suffering like I haven't known since last August!
Being Saturday, everyone with a boat was on it. Some working on the boat, some like me just sitting and enjoying the weather, more going out fishing and a lot just rushing up and down burning gas and having a great time. Speaker systems are very big on runabouts down here and for the most part they blare out what is probably Cuban music. It really sounds great except when two or more compete with each other and then the music becomes noise and it is over powering. But since the boats are moving at a high rate of speed, the noise quickly passes. There is a local spot called Belle Island at the head of this "canal" and lots of boats congregate there for picnics and swing and whatever. Today you could barely see the beach for the boats on it or anchored off it.
Speaking of boats, I notice the boats around me since I have been here and as I was looking them over again today I spotted one that didn't look quite right. Actually it was the mast I saw, the boat itself blocked from view by other boats or so I thought. When the wind shift, I happened to look toward that mast and that is all that it was. Evidently, the boat had sunk on its mooring or at anchor. How long ago this happened, I have no way of knowing but it must have been a while at least for there was a red flag on one of the shrouds so people would avoid it. It is tough to estimate how big it is so maybe I will go over tomorrow to check it out. This makes two anchorages where there have been sunken boats down here in Florida.
Four huge ocean liners came in yesterday and loaded up and went out again today. I don't know how many people were on them but together they could have populated a small town if they were all filled. They all started playing Caribbean music when they unloaded and kept it up all day until they reloaded and all departed around 4:30pm, music still playing. I am not sure where they are bound but it ain't New York!
This anchorage that i am in off the Miami Yacht Club turns out to be the only free, no time limit anchorage in all of Miami. Every place else you get approached and told to move on after 7 days. I didn't realize it when I dropped my hook last week but I made a good choice nonetheless. Sometime next week though I will have to go to a marina for a"pump & dump" and perhaps I will use that as an excuse to move to a different location or head further south. This warm, sultry weather makes it so hard to get energized about moving.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Row, Row, Row Your Boat!
SHIP'S LOG:
Sorry about missing yesterday's entry, but there was a Happy Hour at the Miami Yacht Club, which you can become a member for a mere $18 a day, and things got a little happy shall we say. At least I was able to row back to my boat and get on and hoist the dinghy and not fall in. I consider those great accomplishments considering.....
Earlier, I did some more work on courses south. The real problem is not so much going outside as getting back in. To the unenlightened and inexperienced, Florida's coast looks like one big anchorage and the inside even more so but it ain't so. Some of the "cuts" are rather thin in the water department, usually at the entrance and the exit while the length between the two is often quite deep. You just never know what is really under your keel, depth-wise, and since there is so much coral down here, as opposed to the mud and sand of the ICW northward, it is not something that you wish to hit. If you do, odds are that it will be a "hard grounding" and the unlimited Towboat/US insurance doesn't cover hard groundings. And hard groundings are expensive. I can tell you that from previous experiences. We are talking thousands of dollars and that doesn't even begin to take into account the damage that one does running one's keel onto coral. It is not forgiving and it doesn't give and it is very often sharp. It can do a nasty, nasty job on your bottom. All the more reason to stay put. Still . . . .
I did some more work on my tan and did a little swimming and all those wonderful things one does by the beach in the summer. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Today was a day of frustration. being almost out of food, at least the fresh kind, I had to make a run to Publix Market in Miami Beach. It is about a three mile run in the dinghy, as one must go up the Collins Canal and its 5foot tall bridges. I put the motor on the dinghy, no small feet in itself and then put the fuel tank in the dinghy and then, and then, and then I couldn't find the hose line that runs from the fuel tank to the engine. It wasn't where I thought I had put it and I went through the boat, from stem to stern, opening every locker, every draw, every cabinet but no hose. I went and emptied the "In-Law Apartment Locker" but still nothing. I sat down and had a good think and then did it all over again. No joy the second time around either. Nor for that matter on the third time around. It was irritating, frustrating and a little maddening. So since it was noon( it was a three hour search), I had lunch(last of the fresh stuff) and forgot about it. After lunch, I went to the locker where it was supposed to be and there it was! Well , not quite where it was supposed to be but on the shelf below, covered with some stuff.
Well, I had it and went out and got into the dinghy and started the engine. Actually, no! I tried to start the engine. For a good hour I tried to start the engine. It steadfastly refused to start. So I disconnected the hose and hoist the fuel tank back a boarded and secured it. I hoisted the engine back aboard and secured it. And I then rowed off to Collins Canal and Publix Market three Miles away. It was a nice day for a row and it only took a couple of hours. I did my shopping d rowed the three miles back. I off-loaded the dinghy, hoisted it back onto the davits, put away the provender, had a glass of wine and collapsed. I am going to be sore tomorrow and I am going to have to find what gives with the outboard motor.
Sorry about missing yesterday's entry, but there was a Happy Hour at the Miami Yacht Club, which you can become a member for a mere $18 a day, and things got a little happy shall we say. At least I was able to row back to my boat and get on and hoist the dinghy and not fall in. I consider those great accomplishments considering.....
Earlier, I did some more work on courses south. The real problem is not so much going outside as getting back in. To the unenlightened and inexperienced, Florida's coast looks like one big anchorage and the inside even more so but it ain't so. Some of the "cuts" are rather thin in the water department, usually at the entrance and the exit while the length between the two is often quite deep. You just never know what is really under your keel, depth-wise, and since there is so much coral down here, as opposed to the mud and sand of the ICW northward, it is not something that you wish to hit. If you do, odds are that it will be a "hard grounding" and the unlimited Towboat/US insurance doesn't cover hard groundings. And hard groundings are expensive. I can tell you that from previous experiences. We are talking thousands of dollars and that doesn't even begin to take into account the damage that one does running one's keel onto coral. It is not forgiving and it doesn't give and it is very often sharp. It can do a nasty, nasty job on your bottom. All the more reason to stay put. Still . . . .
I did some more work on my tan and did a little swimming and all those wonderful things one does by the beach in the summer. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Today was a day of frustration. being almost out of food, at least the fresh kind, I had to make a run to Publix Market in Miami Beach. It is about a three mile run in the dinghy, as one must go up the Collins Canal and its 5foot tall bridges. I put the motor on the dinghy, no small feet in itself and then put the fuel tank in the dinghy and then, and then, and then I couldn't find the hose line that runs from the fuel tank to the engine. It wasn't where I thought I had put it and I went through the boat, from stem to stern, opening every locker, every draw, every cabinet but no hose. I went and emptied the "In-Law Apartment Locker" but still nothing. I sat down and had a good think and then did it all over again. No joy the second time around either. Nor for that matter on the third time around. It was irritating, frustrating and a little maddening. So since it was noon( it was a three hour search), I had lunch(last of the fresh stuff) and forgot about it. After lunch, I went to the locker where it was supposed to be and there it was! Well , not quite where it was supposed to be but on the shelf below, covered with some stuff.
Well, I had it and went out and got into the dinghy and started the engine. Actually, no! I tried to start the engine. For a good hour I tried to start the engine. It steadfastly refused to start. So I disconnected the hose and hoist the fuel tank back a boarded and secured it. I hoisted the engine back aboard and secured it. And I then rowed off to Collins Canal and Publix Market three Miles away. It was a nice day for a row and it only took a couple of hours. I did my shopping d rowed the three miles back. I off-loaded the dinghy, hoisted it back onto the davits, put away the provender, had a glass of wine and collapsed. I am going to be sore tomorrow and I am going to have to find what gives with the outboard motor.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Swimming In February
SHIP'S LOG:
Another beautiful day! I won't bore you with the details, suffice it to say that it was sunny and hot enough to go swimming. The water temp is 71 degrees. 'nough said.
I ran into the owner of another Camper Nicholson. He is an economist from Michigan who now lives in Oriental, NC. He and his wife are waiting for the proper weather window to make the dash across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas which is a trip of but 90 miles. They do this every year and wanted to know if I wanted to "buddy boat" with them on the trip over. I was tempted but I would be very hesitant considering I have no crew and I would hate to make the effort alone. Add to that the horrible state of my finances and it appears that while I may continue South, East is definitely out . . . at least this time.
I found out that the Miami Boat Show is this weekend and I have no desire to drop in and look around. The boat show would have little or nothing I could afford in the way of boats and I wouldn't want to become dissatisfied with ABISHAG. She has all that I need and almost everything works and what doesn't I have been able to live without. I get the impression that the marine industry is really hurting. I am sure that there will be a great winnowing in the near future. To many people are walking away from boats and I don't see how some of the builders and suppliers will be able to survive another year. It has been a real lean couple of years for them.
I laid out the courses today that I need to get down to Key West. It would take five days if all goes well. Now all I need is the "inspiration" to go. Right now the weather is perfect and my location is perfect and it is hard to come up with reasons to pull up and move south. Maybe if it snowed? Truth be told, what more do I need than I already have? I now have 28 days until turn around time, so I suppose, though, that I will probably make a dash into "the Keys" so that I can say that I made it that far. Maybe as far as Key Largo or Boot Key. Of Course, Biscayne Key is but 7 miles away!
The thing I always keep in mind is that wherever I go, no matter if I stay here or go further south, I will only be reaching the half way point. I will have to turn around one of these days and do it all over again in reverse. I think I need some rum and lime!
Another beautiful day! I won't bore you with the details, suffice it to say that it was sunny and hot enough to go swimming. The water temp is 71 degrees. 'nough said.
I ran into the owner of another Camper Nicholson. He is an economist from Michigan who now lives in Oriental, NC. He and his wife are waiting for the proper weather window to make the dash across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas which is a trip of but 90 miles. They do this every year and wanted to know if I wanted to "buddy boat" with them on the trip over. I was tempted but I would be very hesitant considering I have no crew and I would hate to make the effort alone. Add to that the horrible state of my finances and it appears that while I may continue South, East is definitely out . . . at least this time.
I found out that the Miami Boat Show is this weekend and I have no desire to drop in and look around. The boat show would have little or nothing I could afford in the way of boats and I wouldn't want to become dissatisfied with ABISHAG. She has all that I need and almost everything works and what doesn't I have been able to live without. I get the impression that the marine industry is really hurting. I am sure that there will be a great winnowing in the near future. To many people are walking away from boats and I don't see how some of the builders and suppliers will be able to survive another year. It has been a real lean couple of years for them.
I laid out the courses today that I need to get down to Key West. It would take five days if all goes well. Now all I need is the "inspiration" to go. Right now the weather is perfect and my location is perfect and it is hard to come up with reasons to pull up and move south. Maybe if it snowed? Truth be told, what more do I need than I already have? I now have 28 days until turn around time, so I suppose, though, that I will probably make a dash into "the Keys" so that I can say that I made it that far. Maybe as far as Key Largo or Boot Key. Of Course, Biscayne Key is but 7 miles away!
The thing I always keep in mind is that wherever I go, no matter if I stay here or go further south, I will only be reaching the half way point. I will have to turn around one of these days and do it all over again in reverse. I think I need some rum and lime!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
To Quote Jimmy Buffett, "Another Shity Day In Paradise!"
SHIP'S LOG:
I almost hate to say it but I really didn't do squat today. I took the whole morning to update my written logs and didn't even have the energy to finish them. Spent most of the afternoon working on my tan and checking out anchorages and marinas in the Keys if I decide to go there. It was hard work. NOT!
I became part of the Duck Boat Tour of Miami. They cruised through the mooring filed pointing out to the tourists that "many of these boats come from all over the world to visit beautiful Miami. Like for instance, that blue sailboat over there flying the Finish Flag. That must be the owner, everybody wave." You know, I am going to have to visit Finland one of these days!
One of the things I noted about the Keys is where there seems to be lots of places to drop your hook there is coral and harming coral down here is a no-no. And where there is no coral there is sea grass - the food of the Manatees - and harming sea grass is also a no -no. The rest of the places seem to be rocky or mud or sand. I would presume that the moorings everywhere south are taken. It is why people make that mad dash from Mile Marker "0" at hospital point all that way back in Virginia. It looks as though with some careful planning and a bit of luck that I could continue the trip and go further south. It is getting up the energy and gumption. I am sure it is very nice but how much nicer could it be than here? I suppose that I will have to make the effort to at least try and find out. I only have 29 days before it is turn around time.
OK I am sure you want to know. It was 76, sunny and humid today. There wasn't much in the way of wind. If it's the same tomorrow, I will go swimming. The water temperature is 71!
I almost hate to say it but I really didn't do squat today. I took the whole morning to update my written logs and didn't even have the energy to finish them. Spent most of the afternoon working on my tan and checking out anchorages and marinas in the Keys if I decide to go there. It was hard work. NOT!
I became part of the Duck Boat Tour of Miami. They cruised through the mooring filed pointing out to the tourists that "many of these boats come from all over the world to visit beautiful Miami. Like for instance, that blue sailboat over there flying the Finish Flag. That must be the owner, everybody wave." You know, I am going to have to visit Finland one of these days!
One of the things I noted about the Keys is where there seems to be lots of places to drop your hook there is coral and harming coral down here is a no-no. And where there is no coral there is sea grass - the food of the Manatees - and harming sea grass is also a no -no. The rest of the places seem to be rocky or mud or sand. I would presume that the moorings everywhere south are taken. It is why people make that mad dash from Mile Marker "0" at hospital point all that way back in Virginia. It looks as though with some careful planning and a bit of luck that I could continue the trip and go further south. It is getting up the energy and gumption. I am sure it is very nice but how much nicer could it be than here? I suppose that I will have to make the effort to at least try and find out. I only have 29 days before it is turn around time.
OK I am sure you want to know. It was 76, sunny and humid today. There wasn't much in the way of wind. If it's the same tomorrow, I will go swimming. The water temperature is 71!
Monday, February 14, 2011
I Made IT! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
(Current Location: 25' 47.219N/ 080' 10.094)
And that is right off of the Venetian Causeway and right in front of the Miami Yacht Club. I made it!
The journey down from Fort Lauderdale was semi-uneventful. Getting fuel was a bit of a hassle as I miss the marina I wanted to hit in Fort Lauderdale. I was just stunned by the Ocean liners and the huge, unbelievably big private yachts that are all over the place. These are big boats with big appetites. I was talking with one of the delivery people who noted that when they get that big, fuel is delivered in "tons" not gallons! For me it is a little bit more down to earth. Missing the marina I wanted to hit, I ended up at a place called the Haulover Marina just not of Miami. Cosying up to the dock was a thrill a minute as the current and the wind were contrary and caused some tense moments getting to the dock. In addition, it was small and really move for small powerboats than for sailboats, let alone one 39 feet. Still, with a little effort and a little luck and a little skill, I was able to tied up to the dock which turned out to be shorter thyan ABISHAG! I took on 25 gallons and paid $101.97!
As this marina was not really set up for sailboats or even large boats, I literally could reach the pumpout station and had to go hunting for one. I am surprised that for a state with such strict discharge law and rigged enforcement, that they don't have scores of "honey barges" cruising around or that every marina is not required to have pump out facilities.
I finally found one just north of Miami in Pelican Bay which is not really a bay. According to the chart, it is but a wide spot in the river. I had to cross through water that was not supposed to be passable to get to the marina but made it and got pumped out and got back to the ICW without touching the bottom.
I passed under the Julia Tuttle Memorial Bridge that is the only fixed bridge on the entire ICW that doesn't have the 65 minimum height. It is only 56 feet and even though I knew the mast of ABISHAG topped out at 53 feet, plus and other foot for the radio antenna, I was still nervoius going through. Looking up at the mast passing under the bridge from the cockpit was not a good idea. No matter how slow I was going there was no way that I could avoid serious damage if I hit. And from the cockpit, it look like I would hit, but there was no contact.
The next bridge was the West Venetian Causeway Bridge, a bascule bridge, which I weekends opens on request and I requested and it opened. I hung a left and went up waterway along the causeway and anchored of San Marino Island, in front of the Miami Yacht Club. Once everything was secure, I celebrated that I had really made it to Miami, basically the end of the ICW in the sense that the ICW Channel ends and now it becomes merely a course with the odd little canal to transit. And boy did I celebrate! That was the reason there was no blog yesterday!
Today it was hot and sunny and wonderful. It was the type of day that I have been looking forward to sense the fall. And I did littel or nothing all day but work on my tan. Actually, I did smoe planning for the possibility that they might actually enforce the "7 day anchoring rule" by looking for places in Biscayne Bay to drop the hook and also courses for the Keys.
I have found that I will have to go outside if I want to go the Keys. The inside, ICW route is not doable if you have a draft of more than 4 1/2 feet which rules ABISHAG out by a foot! There is access to the Hawk Channel along the Florida coast in several places which all seem to be about 30-40 miles or so which would allow me to duck inside at night after sailing outside during the day. This would require the right weather and especially the right winds and wind direction, North West is the ideal. I will have to lay out the courses in more detail and then begin to check the weather, that is if I really want to go any further south. I may just stay in the Miami area. I might get to meet Horatio Cane!
(Current Location: 25' 47.219N/ 080' 10.094)
And that is right off of the Venetian Causeway and right in front of the Miami Yacht Club. I made it!
The journey down from Fort Lauderdale was semi-uneventful. Getting fuel was a bit of a hassle as I miss the marina I wanted to hit in Fort Lauderdale. I was just stunned by the Ocean liners and the huge, unbelievably big private yachts that are all over the place. These are big boats with big appetites. I was talking with one of the delivery people who noted that when they get that big, fuel is delivered in "tons" not gallons! For me it is a little bit more down to earth. Missing the marina I wanted to hit, I ended up at a place called the Haulover Marina just not of Miami. Cosying up to the dock was a thrill a minute as the current and the wind were contrary and caused some tense moments getting to the dock. In addition, it was small and really move for small powerboats than for sailboats, let alone one 39 feet. Still, with a little effort and a little luck and a little skill, I was able to tied up to the dock which turned out to be shorter thyan ABISHAG! I took on 25 gallons and paid $101.97!
As this marina was not really set up for sailboats or even large boats, I literally could reach the pumpout station and had to go hunting for one. I am surprised that for a state with such strict discharge law and rigged enforcement, that they don't have scores of "honey barges" cruising around or that every marina is not required to have pump out facilities.
I finally found one just north of Miami in Pelican Bay which is not really a bay. According to the chart, it is but a wide spot in the river. I had to cross through water that was not supposed to be passable to get to the marina but made it and got pumped out and got back to the ICW without touching the bottom.
I passed under the Julia Tuttle Memorial Bridge that is the only fixed bridge on the entire ICW that doesn't have the 65 minimum height. It is only 56 feet and even though I knew the mast of ABISHAG topped out at 53 feet, plus and other foot for the radio antenna, I was still nervoius going through. Looking up at the mast passing under the bridge from the cockpit was not a good idea. No matter how slow I was going there was no way that I could avoid serious damage if I hit. And from the cockpit, it look like I would hit, but there was no contact.
The next bridge was the West Venetian Causeway Bridge, a bascule bridge, which I weekends opens on request and I requested and it opened. I hung a left and went up waterway along the causeway and anchored of San Marino Island, in front of the Miami Yacht Club. Once everything was secure, I celebrated that I had really made it to Miami, basically the end of the ICW in the sense that the ICW Channel ends and now it becomes merely a course with the odd little canal to transit. And boy did I celebrate! That was the reason there was no blog yesterday!
Today it was hot and sunny and wonderful. It was the type of day that I have been looking forward to sense the fall. And I did littel or nothing all day but work on my tan. Actually, I did smoe planning for the possibility that they might actually enforce the "7 day anchoring rule" by looking for places in Biscayne Bay to drop the hook and also courses for the Keys.
I have found that I will have to go outside if I want to go the Keys. The inside, ICW route is not doable if you have a draft of more than 4 1/2 feet which rules ABISHAG out by a foot! There is access to the Hawk Channel along the Florida coast in several places which all seem to be about 30-40 miles or so which would allow me to duck inside at night after sailing outside during the day. This would require the right weather and especially the right winds and wind direction, North West is the ideal. I will have to lay out the courses in more detail and then begin to check the weather, that is if I really want to go any further south. I may just stay in the Miami area. I might get to meet Horatio Cane!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Cold Rain, Warm Beer, Bad food And The Blues
SHIP'S LOG:
The rain hung on until mid afternoon and so another day was spent in Fort Lauderdale. One good thing was that there is a Blues festival going on in the city and one of the sites is a ho, skip and a jump away in a small par just down the Riverwalk. It was a good way to kill the day. The bands were pretty decent and were certainly courageous. Playing an electric guitar in the rain takes a special kind of crazy but no one in the bands seemed to mind, especially those who weren't play electrical instruments and the crowd, small as it was appreciated the effort. And as I said, they were pretty decent.
Other than that it was a low point day, again went and cold and generally miserable. I took as much of the rain-soaked music as I could and went back the the boat. If i had known where it was and could find a way to get there, I might have attended the Greek Festival at the Church of St. Demetrios. They say the food at this festival is really something if you like Greek food. What they do with lamb is out of this world. No one around here seemed to know exactly where the church was and I didn't have the cash for a taxi ride, after all it might be some fair distance away. I had to suffice on my own culinary skills and creations.
I shall make a valiant attempt to make it to at least North Miami tomorrow and possibly to Miami Beach and maybe even farther. I have a half dozen spots picked to anchor and one of them should be available. At least the rain has stopped and there is no more predicted in the immediate future, though it will be chilly tonight - in the 40's. Yes, I know that most of you would love to have it in the 40's where you are but trust me, after days and days and days of 70's and 80's, temps in the 40's is "really" cold!
I am still amazed at the huge powerboats going up and down the New River. Most of them have professional crews because over a certain length, 60 feet I believe, you really do need a captains license to run the boat. And unless these owners have lots of sons in their 20's, they have professional crews. A number of them even have to be towed up and down the river so tight are some of the turns and bridges.
I have a few days over a month before I will make the turn for home. And since it will be well over 1,300 miles, I am not too, too interested in getting too much further south. I'll only have to go over the same track on the way back and it doesn't make a great deal of sense to really push on too much further. I may have to move a bit in the Miami area as they don't allow for anchoring anywhere in the Miami area for more than 7 consecutive days, though I am not quite sure exactly what defines the limits of "the Miami Area."
I had several more people walk by the boat since I have been in Fort Lauderdale wanting to know if I am "Finish." They all seemed disappointed that I was not for some reason. And they are all surprised that I am by myself. I am beginning to get the impression that there are not as many people doing this solo as I originally thought.I guess it really is something special
The rain hung on until mid afternoon and so another day was spent in Fort Lauderdale. One good thing was that there is a Blues festival going on in the city and one of the sites is a ho, skip and a jump away in a small par just down the Riverwalk. It was a good way to kill the day. The bands were pretty decent and were certainly courageous. Playing an electric guitar in the rain takes a special kind of crazy but no one in the bands seemed to mind, especially those who weren't play electrical instruments and the crowd, small as it was appreciated the effort. And as I said, they were pretty decent.
Other than that it was a low point day, again went and cold and generally miserable. I took as much of the rain-soaked music as I could and went back the the boat. If i had known where it was and could find a way to get there, I might have attended the Greek Festival at the Church of St. Demetrios. They say the food at this festival is really something if you like Greek food. What they do with lamb is out of this world. No one around here seemed to know exactly where the church was and I didn't have the cash for a taxi ride, after all it might be some fair distance away. I had to suffice on my own culinary skills and creations.
I shall make a valiant attempt to make it to at least North Miami tomorrow and possibly to Miami Beach and maybe even farther. I have a half dozen spots picked to anchor and one of them should be available. At least the rain has stopped and there is no more predicted in the immediate future, though it will be chilly tonight - in the 40's. Yes, I know that most of you would love to have it in the 40's where you are but trust me, after days and days and days of 70's and 80's, temps in the 40's is "really" cold!
I am still amazed at the huge powerboats going up and down the New River. Most of them have professional crews because over a certain length, 60 feet I believe, you really do need a captains license to run the boat. And unless these owners have lots of sons in their 20's, they have professional crews. A number of them even have to be towed up and down the river so tight are some of the turns and bridges.
I have a few days over a month before I will make the turn for home. And since it will be well over 1,300 miles, I am not too, too interested in getting too much further south. I'll only have to go over the same track on the way back and it doesn't make a great deal of sense to really push on too much further. I may have to move a bit in the Miami area as they don't allow for anchoring anywhere in the Miami area for more than 7 consecutive days, though I am not quite sure exactly what defines the limits of "the Miami Area."
I had several more people walk by the boat since I have been in Fort Lauderdale wanting to know if I am "Finish." They all seemed disappointed that I was not for some reason. And they are all surprised that I am by myself. I am beginning to get the impression that there are not as many people doing this solo as I originally thought.I guess it really is something special
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