Is anybody still out there?

If so, here are some more pictures of where we are. We moved from the fuel dock but basically we're in the same place as indicated by the Lat/Long.

We took a side trip to the Turtle Hospital - they operate on donations and fix up any Turtles people find injured or sick. This guy had a gouge in his shell.

When you just have to be there!

The 'In' or Outlet is just ahead on the left.

We're on the dock finger viisible behind the Tower. We're the last boat before the gap with the Blue Bimini.

West Palm Beach

And this is the ICW just follow the parade of boat wakes! Wish we were going with them.

Wow what a trip!

Well we made it, our Scottish friends said as we head further south it'll just keep getting better and they are right. Unfortunately it stops here. But then think of all the surprises still to come next year when Sue and I do the same trip on Solent Breeze.

The guy at Harbour Town Marina where we docked last night thought I was joking when I said we'd be leaving at the crack of dawn. He didn't even see us leave. Up and at em at 6:00 am underway by 7:00 am, wind was NNE and asap we had the sail up doing 9.3 knots. On the way out an Osprey dove and caught breakfast. It's going to be a good day.

There was a boat at Harbour Town that had a sport fishing boat dry docked at the back of it. I kid you not - they flooded the back end dropped the transom and he'd take off fishing in this three storey fishing boat. We saw at least five crew and there must have been more working in the engine room etc.

Flipper brought the kid with him today - just a quick visit. The water looks more blue/bluer o.k. cleaner then. This is  the Florida of TV and Movies, look at this house.

His driveway is water and thats the runabout you see in front of the main game behind the boat in the foreground

We're passing through Hobe Sound, Burt Reynolds, Greg Norman and Perry Como live here abouts. Catch a falling star................

This is where we're at - third floor from the top. Up there with the Vultures.



Our neibours on the dock, which is designed in Montreal by the way

The previous owner of our boat said you see a better side of the US from the water.

What do you think?

Again no Sunset (what a relief) Jeffs Dad took us out to dinner, sorry. If you go to our position on Google Earth look at the Marina to the North West - the second big boat at the dock is Tiger Woods boat, or was.

I fly home on the 1st December so I guess that's it except to say it's been a great experience with two great guys and I thank you all for watching.

Just one day away

Wow, isn't it funny how far it seems to be when you start and then all of a sudden you're there!

Yesterday I missed sunset and promised sunrise - the Scottish couples daughter is complaining about all the sunset pictures. They are spectacular but first sunrise as we were leaving Cocoa Beach

Sunrise on the Indian River, we are in the middle so as you can see its wide!

Strange phenomenon as we headed down - the fixed bridge ahead (10 miles off approximately) had no ends. All you could see was the bridge rising above the horizon but it wasn't attached to land. At about 5 miles distant it became attached as of course it is. I drew a sketch of what we saw - lots of exciting things to see.

It was a beautiful day again, later we even took our shirts off (not pretty)

I was at the helm when Flipper paid us a visit once again but this time I had the camera and got some footage. Then Jeff took the wheel and I got some more. Later a friend of Flipper stopped by, we knew it wasn't Flipper because part of his dorsal fin was missing.

Some spectacular properties along the way

Whats rewarding about doing this trip this way (slowly) are the events you witness because you have the time to watch. For instance, today I noticed what I thought was another Black Vulture but somthing was different so I looked again through the binoculars. Well it wasn't a Vulture it was a Bald Eagle and he was being harrased by an Osprey who obviuosly thought the Eagle should go find his own fishing spot. The Osprey kept dive bombing the Eagle and heres the spectacular part the Eagle did a 360 barrel roll to avoid a hit - kind of took my breath away.

Our Scottish friends were with us again today but alas this will be the last time we'll overtake them on this trip. Its been great watching for them and fun when  they'd pull into the same Marina and we have the time to swap thrills and adventures. So here they are for the last time in their boat Elnamea. Now ain't she pretty.

And so its time to bring yet another brilliant day to a close but not before mentioning that sitting up here atop the companionway steps is just about the best office I have ever had. I don't even mind the bugs biting.

Now you have to agree this is pretty! More of the same tomorrow.







Another 55 Nautical Miles

Nothing too spectacular today, up and away by 7:00 am cloudy and rain but its supposed to clear up later. There are a couple of shallow streches ahead so we will take alternate routes, don't want to spoil our unblemished record of no groundings!

Lots of Dolphins in Ponce Inlet but too engrossed in finding our way to take pictures.

At 11:45 am we are crossing Indian River (looks more like a lake) anyway its only 6' deep at the deepest points a lot less in most places and the temperature of the water is 78 degrees. No wonder the fish are jumping, they are trying to cool off.

Some pictures along the way.

Always nice to know the Coast Guard is nearby

Its better when you have something to look at

We are here, Cocoa Village Marina

This place was recommended viewing

The above is a Hardware Store, actually to call it that is an understatement - this is a museum but everything in it is for sale. When we were driving across Canada we found a Hardware Store like this in Kenora. They had stuff from way back when the first settlers arrived! They had stuff I don't think they knew they had!

Our Scottish friends are in the next slip so we were talking about the trip and Sunset slipped by without any picture taking - maybe I can get a Sunrise!

Daytona Beach

Well just a bit south of Daytona to be exact. This is a cute place (Adventure Yacht Harbour) we can hear the waves crashing on the beach, went there earlier for a swim, Jeff made sure I didn't get swept out to sea.

North

South

Is that Charlie Sheen? He can't see me but I'm out there in the surf.

Its been a great day, early start at 7:00 am and right away an exciting bird sighting, Jeff will confirm it. I was looking at a group of Wood Ibis and there in the middle was a blob of pink. No not a Flamingo a Spoonbill!

Then shortly after a Linx (Bobcat) - I could hardly believe it myself but there it was, a large cat with a short tail and sideburns picking its way along the shore of the ICW.

Flipper stopped by again too and guess who was at the helm - right first time, so again no video and after all the trouble we went to to get tape.

So here I sit at the top of the companion way stairs with the hatch half closed and the laptop perched on top of it and why you may ask - well so I can get WiFi of course. I just put my Renrod fleese on, I only have shorts and a 'T' Shirt on and it still cools down of an evening.

What a great day, good progress exciting sightings and a nice salad to finish it off, well that and a sunset to die for. Here too are more pictures of our day.

End of a great day!

Great endings usually start with great beginings, leaving St Augustine.

This ones for sale. One of many.

All fixed bridges are 65' thank goodness.

Beautiful boat, lovely lines!

Captain has retired, another early start (will hate to leave this place) and so to bed, Cape Canaveral  tomorrow or as Buzz would say "to infinity and beyond". 

Now its only Two Men in a Boat

Having seen Wayne off we were underway by 7:50 am.

Good day on the flats (exposed mud when the tide goes out) Oyster Catchers, Willet, Sanderlings, probably Turnstones, Wood Ibis, Egrets, Little Blue Herons (they really are little compared to the Great Blue) and a whole lot more just too far away to identify.

Looking at the birds on the various docks as we pass by because you never know what you might see. Like the one we just passed - Cormorants of course Pelicans, Bonapart Gulls, two Osprey and two Plastic Owls. Folks those palstic Owls do not work save your money!

Its a birdy day 9:11 am White Pelicans (up to now they have all been Brown Pelicans) so basically the climate is now suitable just 56 NM south of where we were yesterday.

Bird and Fish day lots of Dolphins hopefully I can pick up some more tapes in St Augustine and shoot some video.

11:15 Spotted a Bald Eagle up in a tree - my binoculars finally dryed out. Remember way back we started out in the rain, they got wet and fogged up! $200 binoculars and they aint water proof!

Just crossed the St Johns River in Jacksonville, its a lovely day and theres another Osprey atop a tree munching on his catch they are so common down here. In Scotland they kept the location of their nests a secret so Joe Blow public wouldn't disturb them.

There are lots of Egrets and you need to be able to spot the differences quickly. The large one is the common - yellow beak black legs, there are two smaller Egrets the Cattle and the Snowy. The Snowy has a black bill, black legs and yellow feet so if you don't see them its a Cattle Egret! Then there's the Great White Heron! Yellow beak and yellow legs simple and he's huge!

Coming into St. Augustine I'm getting a crick in my neck, I don't know which way to look the place is teaming with wildlife. We tied up at the Municipal Marina on the right as you go through the Lions Bascule Bridge. Neat place very Spanish, well they founded the place and then sold out to the Americans in 1800 and something. It was the Festival of Lights so at 6:30 they lit up the place - everything that you could attach a string of lights to, trees buildings even the bridge. A huge cheer went up as they threw the switch, kind of like 'A Christmas Vacation' with Chubby Chase when he lit his house!

This is why I thought some of the birds on the flats were these guys, Turnstones on the dock St Augustine



Thats a big boat, the dock sinks so it can enter then they float it to lift the big boat out. Aint no Travel Lift that could handle this baby!

Day 23 Sunday. First we changed the oil on the boat then we got a Taxi to the Avis Rent a Car office so we could drive to Green Cove Spring Marina to have a look see where Dave (previous owner of Solent Breeze) kept her during the summer. It wouldn't win the best looking Marina award but then those plases win the most expensive award too. We talked to a number  of people, all of them are more than happy with the facillity, certainly worth consideration and theres a great little diner opposite!

No sunset picture this time sorry. We're going into town for dinner tonight, we had roast beef, mashed potatoes and veg last night, with gravey, yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

We'll be heading just about due south tomorrow, past Daytona Beach to wherever we can find a spot to anchor which it seems there are not too many of.

You really should paste into Google the Lat Long from 'Where we are' there are some great pictures of this place better than I can take.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!

Two Blogs in one

O.K. folks this may be the last Blog for a while - Wayne is jumping ship tomorrow morning as we leave for St. Augustine. Yesterday evening we anchored in the middle of the worlds biggest marsh and try as I might I could not coax a connection with our HotSpot! The battery on the camera is dead and needs charging which its doing so pictures come later. Its now 9:15 pm Day 21 in Florida so like I said, the pictures came later.

Guess what? Note the star in the sky, aint that neat! Anchored in Back River Day 20.

On Thursday morning we got underway by 7:55am. The storm we were expecting really didn't materialize although we did get a bit of a light show. At the Bascule bridge we met up with our Scottish friends in Elnamea infact they are next to us here in Fernandina Harbour Marina tonight. We miss timed the bridge opening and lost an hour - could have had a cooked breakfast, doh!

The real highlight of the day happened when I was at the helm - Flipper paid us a visit right next to the boat. I couldn't get any video as I was at the helm but Jeff got a good shot. He stayed with us (Flipper not Jeff) a while, surfacing again and again untill we slowed to alter course. It was thrilling watching him come up breach and down again, I hope I can get some video we do seem to be seeing more Dolphins as we continue south.

Flipper



There are no Vultures? Well maybe the odd one now and again - having thought about it maybe endless marsh is not ideal Vulture habitat!

We were in Bear River that entered St. Catherines Sound and once across we entered North Newport River which suggested a South Newport River which indeed there was and we got to it via Johnson Creek. Now a question - when does a Creek become a River become a Sound?

New bird sighting today - a Marsh Hawk haven't seen one for a while now. Common back in Manitoba.

At 4:40 pm we dropped the anchor in Back River and let out about 170' of rode - boy did the wind howl, still is howling, supposed to drop at sunset - hah! As we entered the river a Shrimp Boat was coming out and another was anchored up stream a little - didn't forget to put the Anchor Light on last night!

We decided last night that with such a long haul today we should get going as soon as possible, so when the alarm went off we scrambled into clothes raised the anchor and were off by 6:50 am our earliest start yet.

Sunrise Day 21

The wind is still howling Jeff took this picture of the Wind instrument when it was recording 29 knots.

7:55 am and the tide is turning, in the next six hours it will rise six and a half feet. 8:45 with the tide in our favour we are doing 8.3 knots. Its going to be a good day the current (tide) is with us all the way to Brunswick. This picture shows what happens when its against us.

5.5 knots is the best we can do when the current is against us!



Took a five mile detour today at St. Andrew Sound, with the wind blowing consistanly in the mid 20's we were sceptical of this crossing and when we got close enough to look we were persuaded to take the alternate route. Again the tide was in our favour - you cannot take this route at low tide.



12:08 another Marsh Hawk thats about three today and then at 1:15 a group/flock of Grebes in winter dress I think they were Horned Grebes. 2;30 pm in Kings Bay on the Cumberland Sound (boy this is complicated) a British Sub, we knew it was British because it had dents in it (Canadian joke) and was flying the Union Jack.



Crossing Cumberland Sound we entered Florida the sunshine state, only the sun wasn't shining but the wind was still howling and the temperature was such that we have our Foul Weather jackets on.

Arriving at destination on left 3:48 - see what the tides can do for you, we weren't supposed to be here until 5:17 pm. Picked up a lot of salt on the way so first thing we did is hose down the boat, cocktail and then to dinner at The Crab Trap yummmm!

O.K. Batteries are recharged so lets make this blog pretty! Hold on, I'll plop them in where they fit!

Tied up in Fernandina Harbour Marina and this is the first sunset in Florida.

Untill I blog again TTFN

Still Fall

A number of observations - the Turkey Vultures seem to have gone and as you can see Fall is just getting underway. As we came across Port Royal Sound to Hilton Head Island we saw numerous Dolphins which is hardly surprising - we were off Dolphin Head.

We managed to get under way at 9:30 am, winds gusting to 10 NM blowing the fog away. Entering the ICW we were 8th of 10 boats in the Parade heading south.

What manner of boat is this? Four spreaders that you can see above the trees!

Mirabella V largest single masted yacht in the world - she is 247' LOA 48.5' Beam weighing in at 765 Tonnes

There isn't a bridge in navigable waters that she can fit under!

We needed gas and a pump-out so we pulled into Isle of Hope Marina. Wayne is upset - don't believe the advertisments in the Cruising Guides. This place has a fleet of loaner cars (2) unpararlled views from every slip (of the ICW) well at least the WiFi works - its a nice place.

 This is as close as you get to Sun-Set we needed groceries and it was dark when we got back.

A Hercules Transport plane just flew over - must be a base near here somewhere. Jeff has a theory, the ceasefire is over and the South is amassing military might here in readiness for a counter attack against the North.

Sleep tight - but keep a gun under yer pillow ya-all might need it! Oh and if you didn't notice we are now in Georgia.

Onward and Southward

What do you do when its foggy and you can't cruise? Your right - go for a bike ride. The Dataw Island Marina is part of a Golf Course community, when you're not golfing you take your boat out. Anyway because we couldn't leave on account of the fog we borrowed bikes and went in search of Aligators. We saw one when Frank was showing us the sights and we found two more - just little ones. We didn't fancy our chances getting closer to take pictures, maybe they were some big mama's kids or something. You-all know what Aligators look like so no need for a picture. Took some shots of the scenery though!

Concrete made with Oyster Sheels is called Tufa - looks neat don't you think

There was a problem with the electrical here at the marina so we didn't have any over night and we had to run the motor for a while, just before we went for the bike ride. While we were riding the fog started lifting so we peddled madly back to the boat and at 12:10pm we left Dathaw, Dataw or what ever it is Island Marina.

Back in the ICW we are cruising down the Coosaw River we'll pass Beaufort on the Beaufort River heading south to Port Royal Sound where the Parris Island Recruit Depot is, hopefully we can make it across to our desired anchorage in Skull Creek. If its clear we should get a good view of the ocean as we cross the Sound.

3:56 pm large bank of fog hiding any view we might have got of the ocean. 4:00 pm changing course back to Cowen Creek as we won't make it across the sound. As we dropped the anchor and settled in for the night we could here the Sergent Major drilling his men and the sound of M16's being fired at Parris Island.

Good night John Boy!