Underway Again!

Weather: Partly Sunny; Temp range 70 – 84 degrees; West wind 10 – 15 knots

Comment: It feels good to be underway again!

We started the morning by catching the 0805 bus out of the marina to take care of some last minute business. Anna Marine went to the Publix for some shopping. I took another bus to take care of other business. We met back at the marina at 1000 hours. After riding the dinghy back to the boat, we stowed some gear, hauled the dinghy up on the davits and got the boat ready to head out in about 30 minutes.

At 1100 hours, after a few squeezes on the primer bulbs, we fired up the engines for the first time in quite a few days. They started easily. Anna Marie dropped the mooring line and we were on our way… to the fuel dock to take on water, pump out the holding tank and settle up with the marina.

We left the fuel dock at 1130 and were on our way to Nettles Island Marina in Jensen Beach, Florida (ICW Mile Mark 979.3). We completed the 30 mile trip in four hours (average speed 7.3 mph). We broke 9 mph for a sustained period of time while motor-sailing in the 10 – 15 knot west wind.

Today’s travel was uneventful. We enjoyed the scenery on both sides of the waterway. It included the usual McMansions and a power plant. There were some natural areas along the way as well. Observed wildlife included Osprey, dolphins, a manatee, fish (they jump clear out of the water around here) and other shore birds.

We received an e-mail from Reflection. They have successfully negotiated the Okeechobee Waterway and are enjoying the West Coast. We may see them next year in Marathon.

We will slowly put the boat to bed for our three week hiatus when we go home for the holidays! The boat will stay here in Nettles island Marina. We fly out of Fort Lauderdale on December 12, 2007.