Final Details and the Long Trip Home!

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - Decommissioned and Departed!

The final push began at 0700 when we left the campground. On the way to the yard, we picked up some bagels, donuts and coffee for the marina employees to thank them for the service they have provided and the service still to be performed. They seem to be a nice group of people.

Between the hours of 0800 and 1000, we finished the decommissioning of SUNSHINE, at least the work that we could do. The yard has offered to pickle the motors and flush them as well.

I wasn't able to remove the old and now defunct lock down chains. I'm going to write to Bill Watson to ask him to remove them if he thinks they are an issue with potential buyers.

Returning to the campground, we quickly hitched up the Cooter and started the long drive home at a few minutes past noon. We drove for six hours and stopped for the night at the Crooked River State Park off Exit 1 in Georgia.

We hope to drive for 10 to 12 hours tomorrow so we are within easy driving distance to home. We're hoping to have a short six hour drive on Friday.

Thursday, February 27, 2014 - the Longest Day (of the three day drive home)!

Yes, it was a LONG day, but not for the anticipated reason. Our plan to drive from Crooked River State Park in Georgia to Kiptopeake State Park on the Delmarva peninsula in Virginia came to a screeching halt at about 1310 hours when the dashboard idiot lights showed an engine overheating and battery discharge problem. A quick look at the gauges confirmed that there was a problem. Within seconds, we were slowing to a stop on the shoulder of I-95 at milepost 186 in South Carolina. 

At first we called AAA for assistance then we called Tow Boat US since we had the boat in tow and we have their trailer assistance insurance. 

Truck Service of Florence came to our rescue. The plan was to replace the serpentine belt that had parted, but when the mechanic looked under the hood, he found the vacuum pump was seized. We waited another hour before a tow truck arrived. On the way to their shop, we got caught in a traffic jam for 1 1/2 hours. By the time we got to the shop it was after 1900 hours. The tow driver dropped us off at a motel for the evening.

Friday, February 28, 2014 - Another Long One!

The repair took all morning. At 1200 hours, we pulled out of the repair facility driveway and resumed our drive home. The rest of the trip went smoothly and we pulled into the Red Shack's driveway at 0130. We off loaded a few of the important cargo items and got the heat turned up. The pipes are frozen, hopefully there aren't any leaks, so we haven't any water, but we need sleep. We'll resolve the water issues in the morning.

Almost Done... Delayed!

Monday, February 24, 2014 - Almost Done!

We attacked our tasks again and we're almost ready to leave SUNSHINE after this short season. Rather than listing everything we did, let's just list what is left to do tomorrow:

     -   The pump out boat is scheduled to be here tomorrow;

     -   We have to off load the ice maker, freezer, guitar, Apple computer and some tools;

     -   Wash the decks;

     -   Tie up all the halyards to keep them off the decks;

     -   Haul out;

     -   Meet with Bill Watson.

With any kind of luck we should be finished in the early afternoon.

We picked up the Nimble from the storage yard early this afternoon and parked it in a campsite in Phipps County Park on the St. Lucie River near the Corp of Engineers Park at the St. Lucien Lock on the Okeechobee Waterway. We tried to get a sit at the COE Park, but they were full up. They had one tent site, but rather than pack up the tent on Wednesday morning, we'll just hitch up and go. We should be on the road faster that way.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - Delayed!

SUNSHINE didn't get hauled today. It seems the travel lift has two flat tires. New tires won't arrive until after 1200 hours and then it will take a couple of hours to put them on.

It looks like nothing will happen until Thursday. Of course, we're supposed to be home on Friday. Brian offered to have his guys move the boat and pickle the engines. We may have to take him up on that!

Everything but the computer and the guitar has been off-loaded. We need to sanitize the fresh water tank, sweep up a bit, and clean the refrigerator. 

We talked with Bill Watson. He said he'd take the main and jib to Mack Sails for repair. He'll also check the baby stay every couple of weeks or so to make sure it doesn't leak.

We asked Brian to have the boat washed once a month. Tomorrow, we'll need to ask him to add water to the wet cells once a month.

After working all day, we think SUNSHINE is almost ready for her layup.

On Our Way!

At 0645, we slipped our lines and departed Vero Beach. It was most certainly a pleasant stay and we enjoyed mostly mild weather.

Our trip to the Hinckley Yard in Manatee Pocket, Port Salerno, was relatively easy, especially for the first three hours. After that, the wind, which had been in the 8 to 12 knot range, picked up to 18 knots. That and a foul current that we met after the Fort Pierce Inlet caused our speed dropped from 5.8 mph to 4.8 mph. 

Oh, during that time, the autopilot belt broke. I'll need to order one and install it when we return to SUNSHINE.

As we approached the marina, the guys directed us to a tight slip. They wanted us to back in. At first, I thought the strong breeze would push us into some expensive boats, but the wind died down to about a knot and we slid gracefully, in reverse, into our slip. The captain next was watching with some concern. As we easily slipped into our space, he admitted that he was very impressed!

Almost Ready to Leave Vero Beach, But Where to Go?

We are rethinking leaving SUNSHINE at the Hinckley yard in Stuart. Brian, the dock master, has been very slow in returning calls and nonresponsive in getting someone to evaluate some work we would like to have done on SUNSHINE.

We're going to check other alternatives today.

After much conversation and debate, and a trip to the Hinckley Yard, we decided to stick with our plan and take SUNSHINE to the Hinckley Yard. 

South Pacific!

Joining us for lunch at the Riverside and South Pacific at the Riverside Theater were Pat and George and Wendy and Bob (our Olympics watching friends). Lunch was very good and the show was SPECTACULAR! We have come to really appreciate musical theater and this show reinforced that fact. 

The actor who played Emile Dubraque was spectacular. He has a powerful voice and brought such emotion to the role that he had tears in his eyes at the conclusion of the song "This Nearly Was Mine." 

It was another great show at the Riverside Theater.

Nimble Cushions Again!

Picked up the cushions for the Nimble. This time the foam is very firm. I put a five prong plug on the trailer to accommodate the brake actuator wire. 

Once again we went to the lounge at 2000 hours to watch the Olympics. Bob and Wendy. We're their when we arrived.

More Olympics!

For the last week or so, we've been gathering in the lounge to watch the Olympics. We were joined there by three other couples. The pair from Annapolis moved on after a couple of days. That left us, Ian and Jan, Scots who live in Canada, and Bob and Wendy from Bainbridge Island, Washington. Ian and Jan are headed north and left a couple of days ago. So now it's just us and Bob and Wendy. They are going to lunch and South Pacific at the Riverside with us and the Henkel's on Wednesday.

We talked to Sandi a couple of times yesterday. She's going through some pretty bad times right now. Anna Marie and I  talked about heading home early to see if we could help. Last night she asked if we could come home. We said yes, but it'll take a week to move the boat and lay it up. We're going to try to get home early next week.

Uh Oh!

Are you up for a bike ride? Sure! We rode to South Beach, had lunch at the South Beach Pizzeria and headed back to  Hummiston Park. On the way, Anna Marie's bike broke. When she pedals, the gears just spin. I'll have to look up how to repair it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The rain stopped by 0700 but the wind continued to blow strong until late in the evening yesterday. It has become a bit chilly with a high temp that reached only 67 degrees. Today promises to be sunny with a high of 70.

We have big plans today! First on the agenda is a long walk. We started out right after breakfast. Then we went on a date. Lunch was at Subway in the Mall and then we went to see The Monument Men. It is a good story, but the acting was average or below and there was little detail presented. Still, it was enjoyable.

Anna Marie made a delicious Valentine dinner complete with a salad, filet mignon and baked potato. Then it was off to the lounge to watch the Olympics from Sochi, Russia. We brought a Key Lime pie to share with the two other couples who are regulars for the evening Olympic program. By the time we got home, it was bedtime.

Anna Marie and I have celebrated 44 Valentine's Days together. Most have not been very memorable. I think I used to put a lot of energy into the earlier ones, but my efforts to come up with really special celebrations haven't always been on target. I remember a very special one in 2006 when we danced under the moonlight at the Anchor Inn in Key Largo. The music wafted across the waterway from Gilberts. That was special even though our boat was disabled at the time. It was our first trip down the ICW and the transmission in our Atlantic City Catboat blew out. We were stuck at the Anchor Inn until we could make arrangements for repairs. We made the best of a bad situation and had a wonderful time.

I guess you can't make every Valentine's Day special, but you can try. Our celebration today probably fits in that category. We tried to make it special, but ten years from now, I doubt that we'll think of this as one of our better Valentines Day celebrations.  

Returned!

It started raining yesterday and last night we had a storm complete with strong, gusty wind, thunder and lightening, and rain. The rain and wind lasted most of the night.

In the morning, we returned the cushions and told the guy only one of the cushions had the right foam. He said he would put the firmer foam in all of them and that he would call us on Monday when he finished them.

Anna Marie got tickets to the Riverside Theater's production of South Pacific. We're going to the matinee next Wednesday, February 19. Our seats are right next to George's and Pat's.

Cushions!

It has been a little over a week since we took the Nomad's cushions to Golden Eagle. We ordered new fabric and new foam. About mid-day, we received a telephone call telling us the cushions were done. 

We picked them up and made a run to the boat to install them. Although they look good and we are happy with the workmanship, we are not happy with the foam. One cushion is firm, the others not so much.

A 6 Hour Drive!

We're back aboard SUNSHINE after the 6 hour drive home. We have put Key West and Marathon in our rear view mirror perhaps until next year.

Our focus now turns to prepping SUNSHINE for her move to a new home for the summer. We plan to take the next week to or so to do everything.

A Busy Day!

The day started with breakfast at the Cracked Egg then the Flea Market, both housed on Big Pine Key. Then it was off to Schooner's Wharf in Key West for a dose of Mike McCloud. Following a light lunch there. We went to the Tropic Theater where we caught the movie "Labor Day." 

After the show, we walked back to Schooners Wharf to catch the Doerfel's first set. Ben is the front man now that Kim is off taking care of her new baby. Dad Doerfel told us that TJ and Angelica are out west taking care of the California band.

After our busy day, the drive home seemed long but then, It always seems longer in the dark.

Spending time with Joe and Dee is always enjoyable and as usual, we had fun today.

Poolside!

We are wasting away again in Marathon! Today's "activity" was very relaxing. We spent the better part of the afternoon hanging out at the Banana Bay Resort and Marina pool. I caught up on some sleep missed when awakened by a group of people who arrived at 0230 to set up their tents in campsites near ours. They were loud and boisterous, frequently shouting as they went about their business. They didn't settle down until 0400. 

Our dinner venue was Boonedock's. After an enjoyable meal, we went to the Sugarloaf KOA to hear Howard Livingston and they Mile Marker 24 Band. They were very good and we had a nice time until the evening turned cool. As we headed back to Marathon.

We got caught in a traffic jam for 45 minutes. A traffic accident brought out three fire trucks, two ambulances and a police car or two. Once clear of the accident, we made it home in no time.

Touring Marathon!

We spent the day touring various locations in Marathon with Joe and Dee. Along the way, we visited Richard, a gentleman mentioned in two previous blog posts because he has a Honda Ridgeline painted in the scheme of a Pennsylvania RR GG1. 

Dinner at the Dockside Tropical Cafe was a highlight because the Eric Stone Band was playing. We enjoyed the meal and the entertainment.

Driving to the Keys!

It's 0820 and we're on the road, after having received our "customer appreciation" "T" shirts from the marina. The six hour drive went by quickly, with a quick Bagel/coffee stop at Dunkin Donuts and lunch at the Fish House in Key Largo.

By 1500, the tent was up in Knight's Key RV Resort. We drove to Banana Bay Resort and Marina to meet Joe and Dee and promptly went to Sparkey's for a Happy Hour dinner 25 cent wings and shrimp). 

After dinner we went back to their boat and gabbed until it was time to head back to the CG.

A Third Day of Chores?

WTF! Another day (3 in a row) of chores! What is going on? Several things actually. We're going camping in the Keys for four days and we're leaving tomorrow. After we get back, we will move SUNSHINE to another facility for summer storage. We head for home no later than March 8 this year. So, in reality, all the chores we are doing now are just to get a jump on what we have to do when we get back from camping on February 10.

What? Another Day of Chores!

Our chores started early. Anna Marie straightened out the cab of the F-250. After fueling up both tanks, we checked out a marine upholstery shop. We like their showroom and the quality of work they do. After checking out a few sample material books, we selected one that we liked. To get an accurate estimate we had to get the cushions off the Nimble. That is a task for after lunch. 

Before returning to the boat, we checked out Loggerhead Marina in Vero Beach. The facilities are first class, much nicer than the City Marina where SUNSHINE is berthed, but the place has no bus service and it's a long walk to the new Publix. 

We gathered some things that will ride back to NJ in the Nimble and headed off the collect the cushions, put some stuff aboard, and remove the handrails that are on the roof of the Nimble. 

We dropped the cushions off at Golden Eagle Upholstery Shop. They say the new cushions will be finished in one week! By the time we made it back to SUNSHINE, it was we'll after 1400 hours. 

After a short rest, we walked for an hour and a quarter before settling in for supper.

A Day of Chores!

Our exercise for the day was a bike ride. We pedaled to Coco's Village where we thought we'd have a delicious Shrimp Salad Sandwich. When we arrived, we discovered virtually the entire shopping center, some 12 (+ or -) stores, shut down. All of the shops were being renovated, painted and had recently received new roofs. 

We spent a couple of hours sorting organizing the truck. It was Day 1 of our preparation for departing Florida. We have some items to sell before we leave, some to ship home, and some to move to the Nimble. We managed to empty the front two lockers ob SUNSHINE. we plan on taking a short camping trip to the Keys. When we return, we will empty out the stern and cockpit lockers. That'll make a pretty good dent in removing our personnel items from SUNSHINE.

Back on the Bikes!

The daytime temperatures are back in the 80s; nighttime temps are in the mid to high 60s. With the wind at 15 knots or less, we are experiencing great weather. This morning we took to the bikes, pedaled over the Barber Bridge and made our way to Publix to return the movie we rented yesterday. On the way back, we planned to stop at the Art Museum to see the GardenFest. It was around 1330 and they were already breaking down the booths. We missed it!

After relaxing for a bit, it was time to do the laundry and get ready for the Super Bowl. It was a rout! Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos were terrible. Seattle looked good and clearly deserved to win.