December 29, 2011 Averill Park

 The holidays are rapidly coming to an end.  We feel most fortunate to have been able to visit some family and lots of friends and neighbors since returning home from Melbourne in late November.  Our health is once again assured as evidenced by numerous doctor visits with OK's from all of them!  Wow!  Other things will occupy my "concerns list" instead.

Missing Fiu goes without saying, however, I have enjoyed my time here at home.  Bonnie has, as always, created a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere with her exceptional Christmas decorating skills! I am, though, looking forward to listening to more eclectic music!

We are moving right along to gather the requisite items to return to Fiu this Tuesday, January 3rd.  Packing will be light with a mix of clothes and small tools filling my bags.  I am hopeful the new canvas enclosure around the cockpit will be as nice as I envision. It's necessary to make Fiu as comfortable as possible since it is our home for several months each year.  The enclosed cockpit becomes an extra room while at anchor not unlike a covered porch at home.

Tentative plans include traveling to Marathon in the Keys then on to another great adventure to the Bahamas in early March.  Our buddy boats have both been there before and will be great assets to us on our trip. Fiu is an ocean-going vessel I am excited to see how she behaves on an extended stay away from the mainland!

Repairs were made to Fiu while I remained behind in Melbourne in late November.  The freshwater leak in the raw water cooling exhaust was small and is fixed!  The oil pressure gauge is 100% now and provides a large measure of comfort while motor-sailing.  Both head (bathroom) hatches no longer leak and one can relax while there during a rain storm without fear of taking an unwanted shower!

My nephew, a Melbourne resident, checked on Fiu with an "OK" delivered  to me just the other day.  He is an exceptional young man who has worked diligently and continuously to achieve his 200 ton masters captain's license.  He is currently awaiting his very own tug to captain.  Interestingly enough he is scheduled to travel with diesel fuel deliveries to the Bahamas from Miami this winter and spring!  Perhaps we will pass each other enroute.

Enough for now.  I wish everyone a safe and happy New Year!

Captain Sid

November 11-18, 2011 Melbourne, FL

 Notice the very rough surf a a result of the off shore low pressure stalled!  It's great to be off the water for a while and being able to sit and walk at the beach!

Bon at Melbourne rough surf!

surf at Melbourne

Sunset is at about 6:20pm!

Bike ride on Merritt Island quiet neighborhood

Still a little windy after several days here

These are some of the things we have seen in and around Melbourne on our bikes!

Captain Sid

November 10, 2011 Thursday Titusville to Melbourne, FL

Our trip today was about six hours and the weather was warm and sunny!  Pulling up the anchor was relatively easy.  When I get to Melbourne I'll remove the electric motor and have it tested.  It just may be time for a new windlass.  Ouch!

Thinking about being here in Melbourne reminds me of my three reasons for heading south for the winter:  sun, warmth and salt air at the beach!  Also, just a side thought, the most worriesome part of the entire journey was not the rough seas on the Chesapeake Bay or the ocean legs around New Jersey and Beaufort, NC to Wrightsville Beach, but instead it is crossing Route A1A and US 1!  I have said it before but it it so apparent when one rides a bike on these heavily traveled roads.  The volume of traffic is so heavy!  It is critical as a driver that you stay with the flow and  virtually race between stoplights and enter the flow from  a side road at any even small break in traffic and immediately "floor it!"  While there are bike lanes it is not bike friendly.  Bon and I cross at intersections and only when the walk light is on.

We are staying at the Anchorage Yacht Basin at 96 E. Eau Gallie Causeway, Melbourne, FL.  I need to have the windlass fixed before we return from home after New Years.  I will get an estimate for a new canvas enclosure of the cockpit and I have to troubleshoot a slight raw water leak somewhere on the engine which gathers in the bilge.

Looking forward some time off the water.

Captain Sid

November 9, 2011 Wednesday Daytona to Titusville, FL

We said our good-byes to Ed and Patty Ann and Ed helped us get out of our slip.  We will reconnect in early January when we head down the coast to the Keys.

While much of the day was cloudy we still had plenty of sunshine at anchor here in Titusville.  Our 7 hour day on the water included some motor sailing, large wakes from the dark side and more dolphins than one can count!  Again, I have no pics of Flipper since they are only above the surface for a half second!  My auto-focus camera takes a full second to snap the pic!

Rian Syd

The windlass is acting up again.  What this means is I have to manually drop the anchor (45 lbs) plus pay out the chain!  Leather gloves are my best friend in this situation.  I think the electric motor is having an identity crisis!  The hardest part will be to pull up the anchor and pile the chain in the chain locker without incident!  There are only 50 feet of chain out since we are anchored in 8 feet of water with no noticeable tide change in this part of Florida.







 We will reach our goal tomorrow and arrive at Anchorage Yacht Basin in Eau Gallie by early afternoon.  We will work together to get Fiu back on line.  Bonnie returns home November 17 and I will stay to see that other necessary work is completed on Fiu for the second half of our adventure.  I return home December 6.

AJ

Thought you might like to see our granddaughters!  We miss them very much!








Captain Sid

November 6, 2011 Sunday St. Augustine, FL

We stayed an extra day due to the high winds (25-30kts) at Rivers Edge Marina.  I suppose sailors who are racers would enjoy the high steady winds! We need to feel comfortable with Fiu and these persistent winds take some of the fun out of our journey.

We walked about 4 miles today and managed to get a few necessary items off our list.  The exercise feels great and there are only so many laps to make on deck!  Getting off the boat periodically is important.

We will debark in the morning and try to get to Daytona before early evening.

Captain Sid

November 7-8, 2011 Monday Tuesday St. Augustine to Daytona, FL

Great location and break wall

 We had a wonderful day motor sailing from St Augustine to Daytona.  After all the wind it was fun to be in the sunshine!  Many of the homes and break walls were quite striking while some were just over the top.  The power boaters send wakes that are harsh treatment for any break wall!  Residents here tend to spend a lot of money and energy to build lasting waterfronts.

 The motor sail to Daytona took most of the day.  Ed and Patty Ann were gracious hosts and we slept away from Fiu for the first time since Charleston.  We took a slip at Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona.  The price was right and the services were above average!  Ed met us at the Fiu (his boat is docked here) and he drove us to their condo at Ormond Beach .

Condo view

 The surf has been rough and advisories warn against swimming and surfing!  The rip tides can be deadly!  This three week period of northeast winds has created high surf and many small craft advisories.  The beach is littered with seaweed!

Difficult to take a walk

I'm still waiting to get my "day at the beach!"  While some of the weather has been uncooperative we have had some fun and we did relax here on the beach for a short time!

End of a fine weather day!

 Captain Sid

November 5, 2011 Saturday Ft George River to St. Augustine FL

Delinquent Sailboat in St Augustine

I am skipping back to the original posting settings to see if your comments can be received without you logging in to a site!  The problem here is that now you can't see the location.  Dilemma!  I think it's most important to see the exact location of Fiu on any given day.  Therefore, I will once again return to the new format with location and comments if you are willing to sign in.  Personally, I don't like to sign in places in general so don't feel obligated.  I'm just glad you are reading about our trip!

Bridge north of St Augustine Harbor

Today will not be forgotten!  We started out with clouds and cool winds.  The winds eventually changed to gusts and then changed still again to steady high winds with gusts!  In English this means by early afternoon the wind was a constant 20 knots and the gusts reached 31 knots.  Keep in mind a gale is 36 knots of wind!  We tried two recommended anchorages and both were bogus!  The water was much shallower than reported and we were at near high tide!  We traveled down the Matanzas River five miles south of St Augustine, FL to reach the second anchorage.  It was so shallow I nearly became hung up.  That's it!  I turned around and headed back to a marina in St Augustine I like from previous trips.  While this seems like a waste of time and fuel we were safe and had peace of mind that we wouldn't be up all night worrying about the shallows or anchor dragging in the high winds.  I treated the cost of the marina and Bonnie treated me to a seafood dinner and draft beer at "Happy Hour" at Hurricane Patty's!





There are few pics from today because we were so concerned about the high winds and their effect on the water and the safe handling of Fiu.  While sailing requires wind sometimes the wind is at extremes.  We are not equipped to handle this kind of wind and enjoy it.

Ft in St Augustine Harbor

Captain Sid

November 4, 2011 Friday Jeykll Island, Ga to Ft George River

I am returning to the original format for the posts to see if you can make a comment without signing in.

The weather has been cold in the mornings and cool when the sun doesn't shine. The wind has been above average in knots and the cold front seems to be hanging on!

Leaving Jekyll Island was a little frustrating since the St Andrews Sound was very rough with the wind opposing the tide which created waves to be concerned about coming in from the ocean! I turned at Red 2 instead of traveling a little further and turning at Red 32. I went about a mile and quickly came to my senses. When the channel has large numbers on the buoys like 32 and you see a number 1 or 2 then the 1 or 2 means a channel leading off the ICW. I thought to myself that I really need to check the Coast Guard's Notice to Mariners for buoy number changes. Then as I thought about it and returned to my large Map Tech chart it was very clear the mistake I made. Feeling a little embarased I quickly turned Fiu around and of course first Mate Bonnie (resting down below) shouted up to me, "Are we lost?" "No," I said, "It's just that I haven't turned to the left yet today!"

Some of the bodies of water and places we were at today included: Cumberland River, Little Cumberland Island, Amelia River, Amelia Island, Massau Sound, Black Hammock Island and eventually Ft George River anchorage between G3and G5. We had great anchor holding despite the constant 15- 25 knot winds that blew all night!

Once again for the third time passing this area we saw many dolphins at Gunnison Cut.

Captain Sid

November 3, 2011 Thursday Wahoo River to Jekyll Island, GA

North End Jekyll Island

I love it when things like anchoring go well the first time!  We have been getting good, so to speak, about setting the anchor right the first try.  Current, wind and cloudy judgment all have an effect on anchoring safely.  Seriously, it feels like we are working better as a team.

We covered a lot of ground (water) today and wound up in an anchorage near Jekyll Island.  The island is basically a park.  Some of its history includes the formation of the Federal Reserve by a few of the wealthy families I believe back in the 1930's.

Shrimper Going Home for the day

The pics today are of our approach to Jekyll Island.  We stopped for the diesel we were unable to get at Isle of Hope Marina and a tee shirt for the First Mate.  Then we headed down the ICW for a quarter mile to an anchorage near the water slide park on the island.

Some of the bodies of water we passed through today include:  Sapelo River, Front River, Crescent River, Old Tea Kettle Creek, Doboy Sound, North River, Little Mud River, Rockdedundy River, Altamaha Sound, Fredricka River, St. Simons Sound, and Jekyll Creek.  Yes, they are all spelled correctly!

Water Taxis

We hope to be in Florida in two days.  I would very much like a beach day!

Ferry Boat Dock

Captain Sid

November 2, 2011 Wednesday Thunderbolt to Wahoo River Anchorage

It is always exciting to see the dolphins so close!  Just before leaving the dock at Bahia Bleu there were two sets of dolphins next to the boat!  We have seen bald eagles, alligators, dolphins, cormorants, pelicans, and sea gulls.I have no pics of the dolphins since it takes a full second for a digital camera to focus and shoot.  Dolphins asre out of the water only a half second!

On the way to our Wahoo River anchorage we passed through the following rivers, creeks and sounds:
Wilmington River, Skidaway River, Burnpot Island, Isle of Hope,Pigeon Island,Moon River, Burnside River, Vernon River, Hell Gate, Ogeechee River, Bear River, St. Catherine's Sound,Johnson Creek and Wahoo River.I think of rivers like back home.  You know, they run for miles.  Down here the river might only connect two other rivers and be a mere two miles in length!  It would be interesting to find out how they got their names.

We stopped at the Isle of Hope Marina to get diesel a pump out.  That worked fine but their diesel pump had an electrical problem and they couldn't figure out how to get it to authorize and then pressurize!  They were so concerned about our wait and not being able to deliver diesel they gave us the pump out for free!  Both dock-hands Andrew and Jeremy were perfect gentlemen.

Today was a 48 mile day!  It's nice not to be rushed and be on the water during all of the daylight hours!  We are anxious to get to Melbourne, FL but we are having fun visiting relatives and friends along the way.

Captain Sid

October 31, 2011 Monday Brickyard Creek to Savannah, GA

Nordic Tug from Holland

Bonnie and Dawn

We were in a small parade of ships heading south on the ICW.  We followed a small catamaran and a 38- 40' Catalina.  We were in some chop but for most of the day we were able to sail and motor!  We just made the last opening the of Causon Bluff Bridge in Thunderbolt, GA just outside Savannah.  It closes from 4:30-6:00pm daily to accommodate rush hour traffic.

Dinner at Tubby's, Thunderbolt, GA

Dawn our niece lives just three blocks from the Bahia Bleu Marina where we were planning to stay for two nights.  We made plans to have dinner tomorrow.

We rode our bikes to get groceries and the Krispy Creme doughnut store was nearby.  The apple cinnamon
tasted as good as it looked.  Our bike ride to the "Piggly Wiggly" for groceries was a test of our ability to negotiate the busy roads in the area!  The exercise was welcome and I look forward to being in one spot for a length of time in order to ride on a  daily basis.

Exercise at last!

We managed to get the laundry done and it's always socially acceptable especially in a confined space like the boat to wear fresh clothes!

Dinner with Dawn was a good time to catch up on her latest accomplishments.  We had fun reminiscing about Shannon's wedding and reception!

The Marabele V is at the next marina down from us.  It is over 200 feet long and is supposed to have a mast over 300 feet tall!  The mast is so tall it has a red beacon on top to warn low flying planes!  No joke.  I am going to google it and get more info.  It was built for the founder of AVIS car rental.



The weather has been warm and I'm happy to be out of the cold!

Captain Sid

October 30, 2011 Sunday Charleston to Beaufort, SC

The Brickyard Creek was an interesting anchorage.  The current was about two knots and that's pretty strong when you consider Fiu weighs about 20,000 pounds and the anchor is 45 pounds with 5/16". chain links as anchor line.  The bottom was soft enough to have the anchor buried deep so that there was no anchor dragging!  I never sleep well in anchorages like this but on the other hand we haven't had anchor issues of any consequence. 

Anchor chain marked every 10' with orange paint

We needed to weigh anchor and it was near low tide with a strong current still present.  The channel was as fraction of the width it was when we anchored the night before!  First mate Bonnie managed to steer Fiu away from the shallows to mid channel.  The windlass is still working fine and in these situations it's important the anchor comes up quickly!

Captain Sid

October 29, 2011 Saturday Charleston, SC

Nav Station

Radar, VHF radio,chartplotter, depth,speed and wind speed gauges, battery monitor asre some of the electronics you see here.  All are used daily!

The pic below is of the service panel next to the nav station.  On the left is is shore power or the Honda generator power monitor showing 120 volts being supplied to the service panel.  The middle panel are the switches for the lights, bilge pump and macerator.  The right panel are all the electronics used to run Fiu like GPS.

Service panel

Elliot Cut joins the Stono River where our marina, St Johns Yacht Harbor is located, with the Wapoo Creek.  Once you leave Charleston harbor you exit under a 65' fixed bridge and enter the Wapoo Creek which has a bascule bridge to pass through before reaching Elliot Cut.  The difference in elevation and the abnormally high and low tides were  the cause of potential disaster!  Elliot Cut had such a current it was nearly impossible to pass through this quarter mile channel.  If ever I have this to do again I will anchor in Charleston harbor and wait for high tide.  I will explain this story when I see you!

Sunrise in Beaufort, SC

This pic is sunrise leaving the Brickyard Creek just north of Beaufort, SC.

GPS by Garmin

Karen was most helpful and we were able to get propane, groceries, my monthly blood work and have a dinner out at The Grille near her home.  Fresh seafood has been on my list of dinners since we left home!  James Island where she lives is a busy place on the highways but quiet neighborhoods are everywhere.

Mega yacht passing with huge wakes

Captain Sid

October 28, 2011 Friday S Santee River to Charleston, SC

To pull up anchor is not always that easy!  We managed to do everything right in the current of the S Santee River anchorage.  Anchoring in the rivers is a little complicated since you have to remember that in this area close to the Atlantic there are strong tides.  The tides mean you will reverse directions at least twice while anchored overnight!  That means swing room, enough scope and current need to be carefully considered before dropping the hook!

As we left the river and turned into the ICW on the left or port side of the ICW a short ways south was a creek named Alligator Creek.  Well, we now know how it might have received its name.  You got it!  There was a 5-7 foot alligator swimming next to our boat.  It looked like drift wood but as we got closer it was easy to see the head and especially the eyes above the water!  Wow!  That was our first and only alligator siting so far. As you view this pic the head is visible in the middle.  The grass floating is not the alligator!  Enlarge the pic and you will see the eyes!  We made a good run today and ended at St Johns Yacht Harbor in Charleston, SC.  More to come about our visit there!
Captain Sid

October 27, 2011 Thursday Osprey Marina to S Santee River Anchorage

First Mate Bonnie

Pat and Walt, our buddy boat friends left Waves of Grace and headed home for a month.  While we are glad for them to be able get home and take care of things there, we will miss them and will travel to Melbourne, FL on our own!

Fire Tower from yesteryear

This part of the ICW is rather desoate.  Lots of trees and a wide river to float but not much boat traffic or houses. 









We are asbout five miles inland and that helps Osprey to be a great "hurricane hole!"  This is mile 373 of the ICW.  That is mileage recorded from Portsmouth, VA as the starting point.

S Santee River Anchorage

I am hoping the Google Earth will show our location.  I am not receiving any comments so I think it's my settings.  I will attempt to fix that but keep trying!

S Santee River Anchorage

Captain Sid