Day 10, March 6

We have a long travel day planned for today so we weighed anchor at about 6:45 AM. We hope to make it to Cumberland Island but if the currents slow us down, we will get to Fernandina Beach area. 

Sunrise departure

St Augustine Lighthouse

The scenery started to change yesterday as we got closer to St Augustine. A few marsh patches started appearing and less homes along the ICW. And just north of St A, it starting to look a lot like the Lowcountry!

Co-captain!

 Then we got to a narrow strip of the ICW again, San Pablo Island. And wow! The homes are amazing but the docks are super amazing! A real paradise here! And we mean SUPER Docks!

We anchored at about 4:30 just off of Cumberland Island so we made it up Georgia! We are just past the Florida-Georgia line, and that's how we roll.  (Sorry) 

Sunset off Cumberland Island 

Travel today: 68

Total miles traveled: 533.50

Day 9, March 5... Happy birthday Jordan!

Happy 18th birthday to our granddaughter Jordan! We got up this morning and sent her birthday videos!

We all slept great and late today, so I missed the sunrise photo. Oh well. I woke at 5 am with the sounds of Bob Marley as Bruce's phone decided it was time for that! We have no idea how that happened! But it was a beautiful morning on the mooring! This sailboat was next to us... I see a painting coming on here!

 We decided to stay in town today. The boys are changing  injection pump oil, cleaning the sea strainers and finally found the water level sight glass so they dropped me at the marina which had great laundry and shower facilities. I dried my hair for the 1st time in 2 weeks! 

We spent the afternoon in town walking around and having a bit of food and drink here and there, then having dinner at Columbia's, a Spanish with a Cuban flair restaurant that we have eaten at before. We got back home just before dark with full tummies.  We have a long day tomorrow so early to bed we will be! No sunset photo tonight either!

This is the view from our lunch spot. The boat is by the bridge.

Day 8, March 4

We lifted the anchor at 6:30 after a calm night. We made a good choice to travel a bit further yesterday to get to a good anchorage. We had a beautiful sunrise at New Smyrna and Ponce de Leon Inlet area. 

Ponce de Leon Lighthouse

It was a much smoother day on the waterway today. Again, lots of dolphins, manatees and birds. Tons of beautiful homes and boats all up the ICW.  It was a pretty ride. Lots of people along the way fishing and enjoying the Florida sunshine.

I pulled out the shrimp boat painting as I'm still not satisfied with it. Maybe now, I'll decide tomorrow. But I started another one, a sailboat that we anchored close to last night that I photographed at sunrise (pictured on top here).  The wind picked up in the afternoon so I had to put things away. 

We arrived in St Augustine a little after 4 and decided to use the city mooring field. We checked in via radio and got set up and of course, the wind picked up and it started to rain. Yeah. Our 2nd mooring ball attempt ever and it has rained both times! This was our 1st attempt with this boat. Bryan at the helm and 2 Gilligans trying to catch a bouncy mooring ball. But we did it. 

We were supposed to go into the marina office and officially check in and pay BUT it was windy and choppy and we didn't' want to deal with taking the dinghy down and we told them that we would go in the morning. But NO, they had to have a signature.  So, they came out to us. Pretty cool. They understood about the dinghy thing. 

Ok, so when the engines are running, only 1 of us can go down there at a time, cause it's LOUD and HOT and we only 1 ear protector thinghys.  So, I stopped going down there but tonight I went down to turn the generator on to cook dinner. So, I took my shower and in my lounging jammies and I went to the engine room and got OIL all over my hands. YUK! But I turned the generator on by myself! And we have a great dinner planned for tonight. So glad that we brought our private captain and also chef! Bryan is such a good cook! Of course, I taught him all I know.

Why am I smiling? I've got oil all over my hands!!!  &(&(^%%$*(*)&^^$#$

It's windy and cold and hoping for good weather tomorrow to take a day off and play in the old town of St A. We are moored just off the Bridge of Lions and the fort so it will be a quick dinghy ride to town.  

A couple of shout outs here! Our granddaughter is turning 18 tomorrow!!!! (or today by the time you read this... AND she just signed with UNC at Chapel Hill!!! OMG!!!!  We are SO proud of her! Love you Jordan!!!!! Wish we were there with you right now!

And...my sister's sister in law is having a BIG birthday! Happy birthday Judy!

Total travel today: 69 miles

Total: 465.50

Day 7, March 3

What a difference a day makes!

Even though it was blowing around 20 last night, it was not bad. We were protected enough from the shore and it was pretty calm and it didn't rain. It is predicted up be windy the rest of the trip. We lifted the anchor at 7:15 with Bruce on the anchor and Rosie at the helm. We are both learning how to handle 2 engines and how to swing the bow or stern with 1 engine. All new to us!

Bryan and Bella chilling and watching a video while we are alone on the flybridge. 

And it was not a nice day to be out on the water. No rain, just WINDY and CHOPPY. YUK. We all 3 stayed on flybridge all day. We were protected from the wind with the Isinglass and even though it was rolly, it wasn't too bad up there. Bryan pulled lunch duty since I was afraid of going down and he also started a pot of spaghetti sauce and it simmered most of the afternoon. 

The seas were about 2 feet and really choppy. This photo does not do it justice!

About 3:30, we entered Haulover Canal where it was smooth as glass! Manatees and birds were everywhere! But it's only about 1/2 mile so the smooth was short lived. 

We got to our 1st then 2nd choices for overnight anchorage and it was choppy so we voted to go another 2 hours to a better location since we could still make that before sunset. 

At about 4:30, our location in the ICW changed and the current and wind slowed down and it was smooth and beautiful again. 

Bella has had a tough day. She had 2 days of grass and then we put her back on this boat. 

We anchored just off the channel at New Smyrna at about 6:15

Travel miles today: 75

Total : 396.50

Day 6, March 2

It was an extremely calm and smooth night on the St Lucie River. We all had a great night sleep without a/c. Becky took a video of us as we pulled away.

We left our anchorage at 7:30 am and had 3 bridges to go under in Stuart. Then we had to do the "cross roads".  And when we got there, there was a lot of boat traffic and the army corp was dredging. Of course! But Captain Bryan had it under control. Another learning experience.

After that, it was pretty quiet ICW the whole way. Dolphins were all around as we traveled north. We passed some beautiful homes and blue Florida water along the way. We got to our scheduled stop by 2 so. we decided to push on for a few more hours. We are already ahead of schedule and this is good. 

So it was another painting afternoon after I took a bit of time at the helm.  I worked a bit on the shrimp boat and chose a scene from the foggy sunrise at Ortona Lock a couple mornings ago. It had been quiet and calm but we were close to a city and there was a lot of boat traffic zipping around us which made for a bit of really loose palette knife work!

Bryan and Bella on the aft deck

We stopped just south of Melbourne and the front is coming with rain and wind. So we are anchoring in a wide area of the channel and hopefully will be protected from the winds. Tomorrow promises to be WINDY with choppy waters even in the intracoastal. Yeah! This is preventing us from going offshore at this point. 

It was my turn to handle the helm as Bruce handled the anchor. I had been doing the anchor so far with Bryan. It's easy. Push a button. Since we had lots of room and no other boats around us, it was easy. Heavy clouds tonight with the storm approaching from the NW but still a nice sunset.  

Sunset storm clouds

Today travel miles: 79

Total so far:  321.50

Day 5, March1st

Entering into Lake Okeechobee (lots of gators!)

We left the marina at about 6:55 AM passing through the hurricane gates at 7. Within a few minutes, we are out in the lake. We passed through Port Mayaca Lock at about 10:30 leaving the lake and entering the St Lucie Canal. The lock was already open so we didn't have to man the ropes and cling to the side. Yeah!

We traveled along the canal for several hours, it's not a bad ride, a little boring for the captain. It was very calm so I pulled my paints back out again and finished the shrimp boat painting. It's now in the look and see what needs to be fixed phase. So far, I'm not happy with the masts, or poles sticking up.

We are getting close to more bridges and the lock. We arrived st St Lucie lock. about 1:40 it was a
14' drop and was actually easier to handle the lines and boat going down vs up.

1st mates ready to man the lines at the lock

Captain Bryan taking us through the lock

Bella and Bruce cruising along the Okeechobee Waterway.

We exited the Okeechobee waterway (yes, I got a t-shirt) and entered St Lucie River and headed to Becky and Charles house for dinner. Bella is thrilled about another land afternoon!
We anchored just off the shore from Becky and Charles' home and Bruce and I got to practice lowering the dinghy by ourselves for the 1st time. Sometime we feel a little like Gilligan but we did it! After showers and gathering our laundry and trash, we head to my sister's house. Nothing like inviting ourselves to dinner and coming with laundry and trash. We were back on our boat by 8:45 PM and ready for a good night's sleep. Though once again, I forgot to take a photo of them!

Becky and Charles home on the St Lucie River. We anchored just on the edge of the channel.

photo taken from the dinghy headed to shore

From Becky and Charles house

They have the best sunset views ever!

So, we are just about done with the Okeechobee Waterway. There were 26 bridges, some tall but may swing or raise bridges and 5 locks.

Miles traveled today: 60.5
Total traveled so far:  242

Day 4, Feb 28, 2107

The generator kicked off at 5:45 AM. Boys got up quickly to turn off the 3 ac units and back to bed for the 6 alarm. Then they went back to the generator to see what happened. They changed the fuel Racor as it was extremely dirty. The lock was to open at 7. There was heavy fog so they must've been running a little late because of it. Captain Bryan had been calling the Lock operator as they had not opened.  Once they opened, they radioed us to come in. This time it was 8' rise and they rushed the water in fast. It was a bit of a challenge for Bruce and I to maintain the lines with the rise. I requested gloves for the next lock. 

The fog had lifted by the time we "locked". In the midst of that, we did have a beautiful foggy sunrise.

We made a quick stop to see our old friend Bob Dazevedo (Bryan's last mooring partner from Miami), close to Moore Haven. After a quick hello and water fill up, off we were again with a promise for him to drive down to have dinner with us at Clewiston.

The Achievement, Bob's home

10:50. Arrived at Moore Haven Lock and got through within 15 minutes. It was an easy one as it was smaller and the water only rise about 3'. So back on a smooth ride again as we are on a canal that is on the side of Lake Okeechobee for a bit and back to painting for just a little while before arriving in Clewiston.

A bit after that, we arrived at Lake Okeechobee and entered the canal that goes around to Clewiston. Arrived at Roland Martin Marina at 1. We tied up at the Tiki Bar, went in to sign in for the night and had lunch.  And Bella is a happy puppy to get off the boat! It's been almost 7 days since she has been allowed to get off since we started the potty training a few days before we left. And she has done very well with her little potty spot. A patch of Astro turf in a plastic bin. After lunch, we walked around the corner to a marine supply store to buy a new fuel line and parts for the dingy motor. We had launched it a couple of nights ago and almost got stranded. The boys discovered that it had an incorrect fuel line. And they were right! They replaced it and it was a happy motor again. They played around with it enough to be satisfied for our next dinghy adventure. 

My favorite CAPTAINS!

 And Bella was literally kissing the ground she walked on! And she made full advantage of the walkie!

Docked at the Roland and Mary Ann Martin's Marina

Today was a short travel day, only 31 miles. While my Captains repaired the dinghy motor, I went to the marina and took a long, hot shower using all the water I wanted! But forget the hair dryer as it won't do any good out here! Bob was coming for dinner tonight! 

Sunset at Roland Martin Marina

Our 1st dinner guest! Happy hour on the aft deck (back porch) with Bob Dazevedo