Week 1 Floating!

SUNSHINE at her berth in Slip #4
with sea grass brought in by the
strong North wind in the foreground.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Floating!

We finished waxing the port side this morning. At 1400 hours, we had SUNSHINE in the ramp. The anchor was about to get caught up with the winch drum but GM/Dockmaster Barry hopped aboard to lift it out of the way. Before entering the ramp, we deployed the Extend-A-Hitch. It enabled us to get the trailer deep into the steep ramp. As easy as you please, SUNSHINE simply floated off the trailer, making it our easiest launching ever!

The motor fired right up and I eased SUNSHINE into Blackfin Marina Slip 4. Anna Marie expertly tied her up and in another hour or so, we were all set up with chairs, cooler and cold beverages.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Bicycling!

Blacken Marina's
fairway to the bay

The bikes have been retrieved from the truck and, after an hour of work, they are road worthy. Our planned shake down ride was only a couple of miles. It's a good thing too, because Anna Marie's bike developed the same problem that magically disappeared since she rode it last. A quick trip to the bike shop and $26.00 fixed the problem. On the way back to Blackfin, we stopped to watch the Bocci games at the city park. They only had one set, so we offered the use of ours. Eight folks were playing truncated games (7 points). We even played a game. Our rust showed as we got skunked!

We purchased a pair of cockpit lights and successfully mounted them near the entrances to the cockpit. Nighttime activities in the cockpit will be more comfortable.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Short Walks!

We have not yet settled into a groove. Our day was consumed by short walks and boat chores. The wind continues to blow in the 18 to 20 knot range with a high in the mid to high 70s and the low in the low 70s. Mornings have been sunny, but by noon, clouds start to appear. The evenings are very cloudy, masking the glorious sunsets we are accustomed to seeing.

Friday, January 13, 2017

A Little of This and a Little of That!

Today's boat chores included cleaning out the starboard quarter berth locker, shampooing its liner, and cleaning the fiberglass. All this in an effort to clean up the slight gas odor Anna Marie detected. I checked the tank, hosed and fittings for leaks and came up empty. It appears that the smell is fresh and clean now!

While she was doing that, I cleaned the port top sides. When finished, that side of the boat looked spiffy.

Chuck from the Island Time Band
playing the Conchelele!

In the evening, we went to Havanah Jacks to have a bite while listening to the dulcet tones of Island Time. Chuck played the "conchelele" on a few of the songs. Quite an interesting instrument!

Days 6 & 7 - In the Marina but not Floating!

Sunday, January 8, 2017
It's Windy!
Shortly after we arrived yesterday, and before we could launch the boat, a cold front arrived. It brought some rain, and it brought a lot of wind. So much wind that we decided not to launch the boat today either. Instead, we walked around town to see what hast changed.

Monday, January 9, 2017
Still Windy!
We didn't launch today either! We did manage to wax the starboard hull. We'll do the port side tomorrow, before we launch. The forecast says the wind will be out of the NNE at 20 to 25 knots for at least the rest of the week. The wind has blown seaweed into the harbor. Considering the forecast, the seaweed will only get worse. So even though conditions are expected to improve, it will be better to launch sooner rather than later.

Drive Day 5 - We Have Arrived!

Saturday, January 7, 2017
We Have Arrived!
After 30 hours of drive time covering 1400 miles, with two breakdowns thrown in for good measure, we have arrived at Blackfin Resort and Marina on Vaca Key in Marathon, FL. That's right, we are in the fabulous Florida Keys!

We picked up the truck from Advantage Ford at 0745. We are satisfied with their service and especially the fact that they went out of their way to save us money. Most unusual! I was a bit hesitant about this dealership because their social media reviews are not good. I discussed that with the service manager and told him our experience does not match the experiences of the folks who rated them on social media outlets. He was aware of the problems and the poor social media comments. "That's why I'm here," he said. "I just arrived here specifically to turn the problems around," he continued. According to our experience, he seems to be making a difference.

We accomplished the final 213 miles of our journey in a little under four hours. The turn into Blackfin is tight. I had just enough swing room to clear the coral heads used in the entrance way landscaping.

We parked the boat and trailer, had lunch at the Hurricane. We finished eating and departed the restaurant just as a cold front punched through with some rain and wind. It's supposed to dip down into the sixties tonight!

It's blustery Blacken Point.
We'll wait until the wind dies down before
launching SUNSHINE.

Drive Day 4 - Delayed!

Friday, January 6, 2017
Delayed!
What a trip this is! While hitching the truck to the trailer, the air pump froze up, causing the pulley and the serpentine belt to break. We were towed to the Advantage Ford for repair. This is the third time an air pump has failed in the last 3 1/2 years.

To make matters worse, the service manager told us the new alternator has the wrong pulley! Social media reports do not rate this dealership very well. Replacing parts for no reason is a theme. Knowing that, I told the service tech I wanted all of the parts they are replacing.

As luck would have it, they realized they only needed to replace the pulley. Rather than getting a whole new alternator, there would only be a small additional labor charge for the pulley exchange.

We rented a car for $35.00 so we could get around. Then we went to a matinee showing of Hidden Figures. I thought it was an inspirational movie. Here's my Facebook post about it:

Just saw the movie Hidden Figures. Saddened to be reminded the way minorities were treated before the Civil Rights Act. Beaming with pride at their contributions to the space program and their contribution to the American spirit. Then I departed the theater, came back to reality, and recognized that there is no hope for progress, inspiration or pride in American accomplishment for at least the next four years.

After the movie, we received a voice message telling us the truck is fixed. We'll get it when they open at 0730. The folks at Blackfin understand our dilemma and have changed our reservation to start tomorrow.

Drive Day 3 - Another Day on the Road!

Camping aboard SUNSHINE
in Phipps County Park,
Stuart, FL

Thursday, January 5, 2017
Another Day on the Road!
Our third day of driving with SUNSHINE in tow is complete, at least the driving part. We completed another 300 miles. It took six hours behind the wheel. The weather was sunny and warm; the A/C was on the entire time.

Our neighbor at Phipps County Park

Once set up in Phipps County Park Campground (Stuart, FL), we went for a walk. Even with all the driving, we have managed to log seven miles on our shoes these past three days. That's pretty good considering we have spent so much time driving, but we expect that to increase dramatically when we get settled in the Blacken Resort and Marina in Marathon!

Drive Day 2 - A Shorter Day!

Camping at
Crooked River State Park

Wednesday, January 4, 2017
A Shorter Day!
After a lengthy sleep, we were underway at 0930. The truck ran fine and the new alternator was doing its thing. As we made our way further south, the temperature began to rise. When we stopped for lunch, it was shirt sleeve weather. After lunch, it was warm enough to require the AC to be turned on. At around 1430, we checked our progress and found we would be going through Jacksonville right during rush hour. Rather than press on to Stuart, we decided to stay at Crooked River State Park, one of our frequently used migration stops.

We were set up in our site by 1530 hours and headed down one of the trails. The mile long trail provided nice views of the river.

We took the truck into town to fill up with fuel. We ate at Bessie's, right on the waterfront. The shrimp platter was very nice and quite the deal at only $8.00.

Back at the park, we took another walk before boarding SUNSHINE for the evening.

In two days, we have driven about 900 miles in about 30 hours.

Drive Day 1 of 2017 Cruise - Breakdown!

New alternator installed after
the breakdown.

2017 Cruise!
Driving to the Florida Keys
Tuesday, January 3, 2017 Departure!
14 Hours on the Road
After waking at 0500, we attended to the list of final activities to accomplish before we could leave. At 0535, we were in the truck and pulling out of the driveway.

We followed the usual route making our way on our local roads to the Garden State Parkway, more local roads to Route 40, the Delaware Memorial Bridge, US 13 through Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, across and through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, I 64, US 58 from Suffolk to Emporia and finally I95 south.

There were no jam-o's along our route, nor were there any construction delays. It didn't seem like we were making good time, but we passed our usual first night stop at the Dixie Crossroads somewhere around 1500 hours. Thanks to our earlier than usual departure, made possible by the fact we chose not to wait around for a slip at the town dock, it was too early to stop. Our new destination became the Bass Lake Campground at exit 193 in Dillon, SC. About 90 miles before reaching said destination, I noticed the battery was discharging. Things electrical started going south in a hurry. We limped off the highway in Selma, NC and pulled into a Burger King parking lot, across from an auto shop. There were people milling around it and the lights were on. Were we lucky enough to find a repair shop open at this hour (1900)? Yes and no! The shop wasn't really for repairing autos. They repaired cars to take to auction for sale and, they were closed! One gentleman (Donald) came over to look at the truck. He immediately diagnosed that the alternator was at fault. He used his commercial account to get a $250 one from the Auto Zone, just around the corner, for $148. In a matter of 40 minutes he and I removed the old unit, walked around the corner to Auto Zone to get the new one and install it. The key to the operation was Donald's long pry bar extension. Without it, we wouldn't have been able to de-tension the tension roller t\necessary to put the serpentine belt back on the pulleys.

By the time we finished, his wife showed up with his car. He positioned it to give us a jump and after a few minutes, the old F250 fired up. I offered Donald $70.00 for his trouble and he gladly accepted. We were on our way in 40 minutes from the time we stopped. Interestingly, two other folks offered to lend a hand while we had the hood up. How nice is that?

By 2030, we mad it to Bass Lake Campground and enjoyed a good night's sleep aboard SUNSHINE, our first night aboard since our mini cruise to AC last summer.