Time with My Children in Pictures

Rachel and Jim in St. Petersburg park by large tree.

Rachel, me, and Hugh.

Rachel and Jim.

Hugh and Lisa.

Louis and Jarvis go for a swim.

All at Fort Desoto, Flordia beach

Hugh in a cutout.

Fun with Friends

TUESDAY:   Last night after cleaning the boat all day, we had a relaxed visit with friends and traded boating adventures. 

New style in boat attire, as modeled by Punk, when shoes are left at the door.

Some ate a little and. . . .

Some ate alot!

 

In St. Petersburg at Last!

SUNDAY – This was a moderately long day filled with many bridges and narrow, often shallow channels. Leading the way was our anchorage neighbor, “Cutie Girl”, a similar-sized trawler, whom we had befriended by radio the afternoon before. Our heights were similar so we both needed the same bridges opened and St. Pete was our common destination. Anchors were up at 8:30AM and we reached St. Pete Municipal Marina at 5:00PM.

Kathy and Jim McQuade, fellow GH owners of Lone Wolf, greeted us at the dock and caught our lines. Wind and current were nil so backing into the slip wasn’t difficult. Adjusting the dock lines lines just so, for our month-long stay, took awhile, but we were glad to settle in. After freshening up with showers and a change of clothes, we joined Jim and Kathie for dinner at a nice little airport restaurant nearby. Catching up on boat adventure news is always fun.

We have lots of time to enjoy St. Petersburg. Rachel, Jim, Hugh & Lisa will arrive Saturday to visit. Rachel and Jim are coming from distant (and chilly) Seattle and will surely enjoy the balmy, beautiful weather here.

Birds nested in marker.

"How low can you go?"

Tall ship in Tampa Bay. (notice dinghy behind)

St. Pete in view.

Dock at St. Pete Municipal Marina.

Louis with his catch.

Our Last Night Before St. Petersburg

SATURDAY – After hauling SeaDream’s dock lines about 7:30 AM, we continued on the Caloosahatchee River toward Fort Myers. The morning was beautiful with cool, light north winds and a sky floating puffy white clouds, glowing with sunshine.  From that point on nothing went as expected….. it was much better!

Despite being a Saturday, few boaters were on the water, evidently because of the chilly breeze and…. the charts, though accurate, had lied. The many channels weren’t nearly as confusing as the cluttered chart had threatened. Even passage through the much-hated “miserable mile” was easy with the sparse water traffic.

Finally leaving the river, we turned north up the WICW (West Intracoastal waterway), passing between the Gulf and many barrier islands like Sanibel and Captiva. The water is that familiar light aqua color, partially hiding the many sand bars.

About 3:45 PM the hook was set in a very secure anchorage near Englewood. We decided not to go ashore tonight; the anchorage is very peaceful. Tomorrow we tie up in Saint Pete!!  

SeaDream's lifesaver on aft deck.

Anchorage in Englewood, Florida.

Rain Through Morning, Sunshine This Afternoon

We had thunderstorms all night but the rainy gray morning cleared in mid-afternoon to blue skies, fresh breeze and comfortable 70’s. Dodging showers before lunch, we walked to the marina office and explained Active Captain to the dock master. It‘s surprising how many marinas are unaware of this wonderful website that shows navigational information for most water areas in the U.S., continuously updated by the boating members. We use it constantly for the latest information on bridge heights, anchorages, marina details and navigational hazards along our route. It’s generally superior to quickly-outdated guidebooks.. The dock master was pleased to see Sweetwater Landing had two favorable reviews…. we’ll add a third.

After lunch we studied charts, & plotted our last two days cruising north to St. Pete. The unfamiliar area is very congested and shallow with many islands & inlets. Friends have warned us about one bad leg with an especially narrow and shallow channel called the “miserable mile.” They warn “don’t go through on a weekend.” So, we’re making it on a Saturday!!

I also flagged all our bridges and possible anchorages on our paper charts. The trip should be two 60+ mile days however the weekend boat traffic may make for slow progress. If there are just too many weekend-crazy boaters, we’ll anchor for an extra day.

The day was, in hindsight, pretty lazy but Louie and Mike got in quite a bit of Frisbee and stick throwing, not quitting until sunset.

Picture of Active Captain flagged with information about the area.

Clearing evening sky.

An Unexpected Swim

THURSDAY - This morning, clouds promised rain so Mike & Louie left for quick Frisbee play just as I settled with coffee, talking to a friend on the phone. I heard nothing amiss but, as Mike later explained, things happened quickly.

When leaving the boat, Louie slipped during his dock leap and, after briefly dangling in his harness on the leash, slipped from the harness, dropping five feet, behind a wooden fender board under the dock.

Hardly thinking, Mike jumped in and swam under the dock. Earnestly conversing, I heard nothing and no one else was anywhere close.

Under the high dock, with struggling Louie in arms, Mike assessed their predicament for several minutes then swam across a wide fairway, finding chin deep water along a concrete dock wall with a rescue ladder. Side stroking three boat lengths holding Louie couldn’t have been easy. Needless to say, Louie clung tightly to Mike’s shoulder climbing that welcome ladder! Next I knew there were two wet figures standing on the dock. The entire episode had taken about 15 minutes.

Mike had minor shell cuts on his hands & legs along with Louie’s nail digs but both guys were fine and took good baths.

If Mike wasn’t a decent swimmer things could have ended badly so we discussed what one should do next time at some length. Simple lessons we won’t forget: attract attention first then quickly grab a flotation device before jumping in! Be darned sure you can save yourself to save the other.... only too easy to forget when you’re in a hurry.

The rest of the morning we stayed inside and relaxed, did chores, washed clothes and cleaned as rain fell and wind blew.  During a respite this afternoon, we took a walk and Louie found a favorite stick in the grassy field beside the dock. Tonight we’ll have movie night with popcorn. Much, much more rain is expected through Friday evening. 

Rainy day overlooking where Mike and Louis swam.

Playing keep the stick away with a view of the boat at dock behind.

Last Lock Behind, Bad Weather Ahead

WEDNESDAY - What beautiful weather! Cruising the Caloosahatchee River toward San Carlos Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, we passed rural farmlands, beautiful homes and transited two more locks. The Ortona Lock lowered us 8 feet and the Franklin Lock dropped the last three feet to sea level. The lockmasters were kind and patient, giving us time to prepare before operating the gates. We had very little wait and SeaDream was alone in both locks.

Nearing Fort Myers we faced a quandary: two days of thunderstorms are blowing in, there are virtually no anchorages and those few look lousy (but many, many, many expensive marinas), the chart is densely covered with channel markers, boats of all sizes are numerous and we’re completely unfamiliar with the area. Taken together, these signal “stop and hole up for two days”…… prudence demands we wait out the weather when facing so many unknowns.

Nearing Fort Myers, we passed the small SweetWater Landing Marina. Mike called and negotiated an acceptable rate for three nights, so here we are, tied dockside until Saturday brings glorious weather again to continue toward St.Petersburg. We’re a little outside the city but there are bonuses, too: cost is okay, there’s a large grassy field next to SeaDream for Louie to run, we can relax and catch up on chores (like washing clothes) and have full time A/C ….. and, the marina people are really nice and helpful. Oh yeah, and we can take naps!

Cypress Tree with many knees in Moore Haven, Florida.

Paper chart with notes for bridges and locks.

Square rigged wooden boat that passed us.

Early Start to Cross Lake Okeechobee

This morning we made ready to leave in the first twilight. However a closed train bridge blocked our path, with three long trains crossing, one after another. Still, we were on an early start and made St. Lucie Lock in good time. It raised SeaDream 14 feet, nearly to the level of Lake Okeechobee. The lockmaster was kind to us newbie’s and it was actually kind of fun.

Very few other boats were making the Okeechobee crossing today.  It was nice navigating fairly deep water in the canal, nearly alone, and we enjoyed the many birds and occasional gator.

Lock number two, at Port Mayaca, held both its gates open and allowed us to pass straight through into the lake. The present 13 foot water level is unusually high for Okeechobee but that’s still very shallow for such a large lake. When crossing, there is no anchoring and no deviation from the marked channel. It must be crossed in one day so the timing of the trip is very important. Our trip today was 67 miles. We left Stuart at 6:45 AM and by 5:10 PM we were tied up to the city dock in Moore Haven, Florida.

Louis and I were glad to get ashore and walk this small, lazy town. Mike connected the dock water and washed the entire deck and pilothouse. He took special delight in blowing the midge flies off the aft deck.

We expect to travel about the same distance tomorrow but we only pass through two locks, then spend the night in Ft. Myers, finally on Florida’s West Coast!    

A beautiful day to cross Lake Okeechobee.

Some of the wildlife in sea grass.

SeaDream docked in Moore Haven, FL.

Happy Easter!

Would you believe? The Easter bunny came this morning and left candy for us and a bubbling little fish toy for Louis!

The wind died overnight so hauling anchor was easy about 9:45 AM. We had a long sunny day making our way south to Fort Pierce. Of course, a SE wind freshened as the day progressed, frequently sending water over the bow this afternoon.

At 6:00PM we dropped the hook in our favorite anchorage on the south side of the South Fort Pierce Bridge. Unfortunately it’s fairly exposed to these 15-20 knot SE winds. The night will be, once again, very windy but subsiding by morning. We should be sailors, since we attract so much wind. And…. across the water, the wind has lots of room to build.

Now it’s time to rest and study the charts for our Lake Okeechobee crossing in two days. No going ashore today, either.

Easter Bunny left foot prints and candy.

Birds sitting on rail watching us pass under bridge.

Long Day but Made a Good Way

About 9 AM, we retrieved a sticky, mud covered chain & anchor and used lots of water washing it to keep the muck out of the chain locker. The deck was a mess with muddy streaks. The really important part? The anchor held perfectly all night.

Much of today was spent picking our way through small fishing boats determined to fish the main channel meant for large vessels. Much of the ICW in this area looks large and expansive but most vessels of size are confined to an often narrow, dredged channel. In several areas people were standing in just a few feet of water ridiculously close to the channel.

Tonight we’re anchored at Coco Beach on the Indian River, about 600 feet from shore in 15 knot SE winds. We’ll not go ashore but we did speak with George & Christy, living aboard our sister ship Christina Sea, in their marina slip here in Coco. Next time here we’ll have a good visit. It will be a galloping night with the wind and waves heaving the bow.  Sweet Dreams! (sounds familiar somehow)

Oh, and Louie just had a bath… now we have a wild dog!!!

Tomorrow we venture on to Fort Pierce. 

Old fashion paper charts showing narrow channel and shallow depths.

Man standing in water as Capt. Mike keeps SeaDream in channel.

End to a long day. . ZZZZZ.

Dolphin Sightings and More. . .

What a beautiful day, with a cloudless sky and temperature reaching 68 F! St. Augustine to Daytona is a nice section of the ICW. Areas of swamp and sea grass, without a soul in sight, intersperse with canals leading to big beautiful homes. 

We’re southbound too early to encounter the Spring migration of northbound boats, perhaps because it’s still a little cold; the oncoming boats we do see are mainly Canadian. After Easter, the parade will begin in earnest as boats head north for the summer, some probably beginning the Great Loop. 

Mike and I saw two kinds of dolphins today. I photographed one type and Mike the other. The ICW was full of swimming dolphins today and several, with young ones, followed SeaDream for about a mile, close alongside, as if racing us. They would leap out and “spy” us, amazingly playful.  An unexpected sight was hundreds of palm tree trunks with their tops twisted off… just stumps, we suppose from a windstorm.

We’re anchored just south of Daytona in about 8 feet of calm water for the night. Tomorrow brings the Coco Beach run.

"Wooden dolphins" used to moor very large boats. Photo by Linda

"Swimming dolphins" racing by SeaDream. Photo by Mike

Louis jumping the hoop on the deck of SeaDream in Daytona, FL.

Running with the Big Boys in Jacksonville

We hauled anchor at LaVista Point, south of Jacksonville, about 8:00 AM. Both the chain & anchor came up unexpectedly clean…. hooray! Luck was with us, too, entering downtown Jacksonville…. the low-to-the-water FEC Railroad bascule bridge opened as we were approaching! With the low morning sun shining brightly on the tall buildings, we cruised under the many bridges. Farther on, the Big Boy ships started coming in from the sea, one after another, to unload their cargo of containers at the countless piers lining the St. Johns River at this busy port. Each is escorted by up to four large tugs and we gave them all plenty of room. They’re impressive and huge. Luckily the river is wide…. and deep all over.

Just before reaching the ocean outlet we turned south into the ICW, heading for 450 year-old St. Augustine. The tide was in, so water was high as we cruised the narrow, often shallow “ditch”. After tying to a mooring ball on the north side of Lions Bridge about 4:30 PM, a free water taxi shuttled us ashore for a couple of hours of pleasant leg stretching with Louis. Dinner was back aboard, watching the evening news on TV, like countless people in earthbound homes. Tonight will be slightly warmer night with little wind…. tomorrow brings the Daytona run. SeaDream in running well.

Railroad bascule bridge raised open as we entered Jacksonville.

One of the "Big Boys"

Mike and Louis in St. Augustine with SeaDream in background.

Finally Letting Go of Land

After two months of delays and two unexpected trips home, we re-boarded SeaDream Sunday afternoon and finally untied her docklines this morning, heading toward Jacksonville for the first day of journey to St. Petersburg, FL, where Rachel & Jim are meeting us April 13^th.

Among other delays, severe winds damaged our Nashville home’s roof. Bad weather slowed replacement but the crew worked very carefully and the new roof is much improved and super nice.

The last few days at the dock were very busy, mostly cold and relentlessly windy. The many-miles-long, open fetch of the mile-wide St. John’s River gave us steady 20-25 mph winds across our dock with frequent gusts well over 30….. and biting low temps as well. This is Florida?

Then….. last night our duck bills complained! Quack, quack!! These black rubber duckbills reside in a toilet waste pump. We had spares and Mike installed 4 new ones. Easy access made replacement simple; Clorox disarmed the little bit of mess. The pump now sounds very happy!

Today we arose bright and early, to 34 degrees and a 10-12 NW wind. Yep, this is our Florida. After storing the car and walking Louie, we disconnected shore power, topped off the water tank and warmed the engines, then waved goodbye to friends as wind and current pushed us off the dock at Reynold’s Park Marina for a short trip to our anchorage just south of Jacksonville. This first day we’ve taken it slowly, getting our sea legs and enjoying the boat. The next nine days will be much longer, traveling to Florida’s West Coast by way of Lake Okeechobee, through locks and canals ending at Fort Myers. New cruising territory…. new adventures. Hopefully the weather will co-operate and…… please turn warmer.  

 

 

Rubber duck bill for waste pump.

Louis wanted to show "Pinky's" bill.

New Year Fun but Not Much Sun!

Many boater’s celebrate New Year’s at 9:00PM for an early start on the drinks and bed. We toasted at 9:00PM after a ham, black-eyed peas & greens dinner with Dee, Brook, Brother Neil and Kay but we also managed to stay awake and play Farkle until midnight. Neil, Kay & poodle Joe stayed the night for more visiting and a nice morning walk in the huge field here at the marina. Being with friends and family is so nice! Louis and cousin Joe had great fun and loved racing in the field.

2013’s first few days are whizzing by as we huddle, warm and dry, aboard SeaDream. Now our plans have changed a bit. Tomorrow (Monday) we’re taking a road trip to the Florida panhandle to see the little towns and marinas and visit Randy and Barb aboard Lazy Dolphin in preparation for our voyage to the Florida west coast soon. We’ll also drive from Mobile back to Nashville, as I have doctor’s appointment January 28^th. Mike & Louie will return to SeaDream early for some boat projects, with me flying down to join them at month’s end. Plans change and so may the weather. Perhaps it will be warmer. 

New Years Eve with Neil, Kay, Brook and Dee on boat.

Christmas in the Sun

Who would have thought we would be in the pool on Christmas day?

Mike, Louis and I spent the holiday in Fort Pierce at Crystal and Merwin’s new beach house. Christmas eve we went stocking stuffer shopping for little silly gifts for each other. Stuart was the perfect little town to shop and then we had lunch. In the evening we went to a candle light service at a local church. Merwin shared his traditional Norwegian flat bread with us at Christmas dinner the next day after our present opening and swim. Our last days, Crystal and I shopped while Mike and Merwin went to marine shops and the Navel Museum. What a great time we had and didn’t even miss the snow. Pictures are the best way to share our visit. 

                                          Christmas eve in Stuart with Merwin & Crystal.

                                          Gilligan & Louis looking over presents.

                                         Christmas Day in Fort Pierce.

                                          Christmas Feast!

The Big Switch - Land to Boat Living

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After dinner Tuesday evening in Atlanta with Moly, Matt and Will, we stayed the night and had some early Christmas. What fun to see family over the holidays!

The next morning we bypassed most traffic using I-285 and drove seven hours to Green Cove Springs, FL where Sea Dream was waiting, all shiny and clean.

After unpacking the stuffed car, we settled into our water-borne home once again.

At first we’re always a little disoriented, not quite remembering where things are or where they go but soon we even had our little Christmas tree decorated in the salon. Living aboard also requires really economizing on our water & power usage.

Dee and Brook came over to welcome us and we all had dinner at our favorite Mexican Restaurant with the sassy waitress. 

A heavy rain front came through last night and the temperature dropped 20 degrees to the fifties, with howling wind but we still have sunshine today. Louie is enjoying his Frisbee runs with Mike in the big field at Reynolds Park as we settle in, once again, to living on aboard Sea Dream.

                                          Molly, Matt & Louie opening presents.

                                          Clean & shiny Sea Dream.

                                            Decorated for Christmas.

Stuffing the Car for Christmas

What to take and what not to take? Oh well, let’s just take it all!

Packing the car to leave for the boat and the holidays gives Mike a real challenge.

We are leaving for Atlanta to visit Will for a while and spend the night and have a gift exchange with Molly and Matt in the evening. Wednesday morning we will drive to Green Cove Springs, Florida where Sea Dream has been in Holland’s Boat Yard having her bottom cleaned and painted. The shaft seals are being checked and snugged and Sea Dream will start the New Year looking good freshly waxed. Wednesday she will be put in the water and ready to board.

The last time we were all on the boat was in May. We’re ready for more adventure and a lazy cruise over to the West Coast of Florida.