Sunshine almost always makes me high! (John Denver)
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Final Days of Cruise 2012
Sunday - Wednesday, April 1- 4, 2012 Decommissioning Activities Continue
Recall that we are back in Indian Rocks Beach for a couple of days. We're visitingWillisand Lucille and we'll also attend the wedding of Erica Fritz before heading back to SUNSHINE and Titusville.
On Sunday, April 1, we joined Willis and Lucille on their Bluewater powerboat for a trip to Dunedin. We docked at the town docks (very rolly), walked the town and lunched at the Jolly Mon. It was another great day with the Gray's!
We returned to SUNSHINE in the evening.
On. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, decommissioning activities continued. Besides decommissioning, we started a list of projects that we'll do when we return to SUNSHINE. The list includes new stainless port lights, relocating the BBQ Grill, and putting new lenses in the hatches. The standing rigging should be replaced and new sails are in order, but we'll hold off on those items for a year or two.
Thursday, April 5, 2012 Engine Service!
BT Marine is scheduled to service the engines today. The tech arrived at around 1400 hours, went straight to work and completed his tasks by 1630 hours. He asked if I ever had trouble shifting the port engine into reverse. I described a minor situation to him. He made an adjustment after lowering the lower unit. He reported that it needed an adjustment. He said the previous service tech had left it about 1/4" out of adjustment.
Meanwhile, we worked nonstop all day, to complete SUNSHINE's decommissioning. I think we were finally finished by 1800 hours. Without a break, we hit the road to New Smyrna Beach. We had dinner and a visit with the Fritz's. We'll leave from their house for our rendezvous in Myrtle Beach.
Note: There were a couple of blisters on SUNSHINE's keel this year. I poked at them and pulled off some fiberglass only to find some moisture behind them. I contracted with Tom Musto, a fiberglass repair guy recommended by Rick, to do the repair. He'll peel the keels and some of the hull, dry the keels, apply three layers of glass and Interlux Interprotect Epoxy. We'll apply bottom paint when we return.
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What Happened?
Wow! I checked the blog and see that I never finished the log of this year's cruise! So, this post covers the last week of March 2012:
Saturday, March 24, 2012 Antique Car Show!
Lay Day: Vero Beach
Weather: mostly sunny in the morning and early afternoon, then partly cloudy to cloudy by evening, showers and a thunderstorm in the evening and showers overnight; high 83, low 65; wind SE @ 10 or less except higher overnight
Comment: Today was a busy day! It started with a bus ride. The beachside part of the route has been altered a bit. We got off at the West Marine where we bought a couple of items for the boat. We returned on foot, but took a detour to check out the antique car show. There were lots of antiques in the show, with many cars and trucks dating back to the 1920s.
Even though we plan to take advantage of the predicted 15 knot SW wind tomorrow, we didn't secure the dinghy. We thought we head back to the lounge in the evening. A late dinner and chores that needed to be done prevented our going ashore. We'll secure the dinghy and motor in the morning before departure.
Sunday, March 25, 2012 Gusty Conditions!
From: Vero Beach, FL AICW MM 951.7
To: Cocoa, FL. AICW MM
Weather: Mostly cloudy in the morning, showers before noon; high 85, low 65; West wind @ 15 knots gusting to 20+ knots
Comment: The destination for today is the anchorage at Dragon Point, although if the wind holds, we might try to make Cocoa. Reaching Cocoa would be helpful because the forecast indicates the wind will clock to the north on Monday, making it a motorboat ride into 15 knots. We'd rather do that for four hours from Cocoa than seven hours from Dragon Point.
We raised the mainsail while sailing in a northerly direction and partially unfurled the jib. Because of the gusty conditions, I opted to motor sail in order to keep our speed up through the lulls. Although I'd rather have shut the engines down, the choice allowed us to reach Cocoa by 1630. On the day, we traveled almost fifty-five miles in eight and one-half hours. That's the distance record for this trip!
Monday, March 26, 2012 Home?!?!
From: Cocoa, FL AICW MM
To: Titusville, FL. AICW MM
Odometer:
We arrived in Titusville by 1030 hours. After attending to some minor chores, we took off the rest of the day.
Tuesday - Thursday, March 27 -29, 2012 Decommissioning Activities I
Titusville, Fl. AICW MM
Decommissioning activities have been moving forward. Kieth (Custom Marine Canvas) picked up the Bimini. Repairs should be completed in a day or two. Arrangements have been made for servicing the Yamaha 9.9's with BT Marine. Service is scheduled for April 5.
Friday and Saturday March 30 & 31, 2012 A Weekend Break!
Time Out! Decommissioning activities are on hold for the weekend so we can celebrate my completion of another trip around the sun, visit our friends, Willis and Lucille in Indian Rocks Beach (again!) and attend the wedding of the Fritz's daughter Erica. She is marrying a really terrific young man, Jared Ochs.
We really enjoy hanging with Willis and Luce and they were so gracious to invite us to stay with them in Indian Rocks Brach for a couple of nights. It was especially nice because we got to visit with their son, John, who is home from son school. He's a geologist who is going to start graduate school this summer.
The wedding was stupendous... A great party with lots of fun. The blessing of the hands was unique; the exchange of vows was sincere and passionate; the best man made a magnificent toast to the newly weds and the DJ was awesome. The meal was tasty and we enjoyed the company of the folks seated at table 6!
It really was a great party!
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Saturday, March 24, 2012 Antique Car Show!
Lay Day: Vero Beach
Weather: mostly sunny in the morning and early afternoon, then partly cloudy to cloudy by evening, showers and a thunderstorm in the evening and showers overnight; high 83, low 65; wind SE @ 10 or less except higher overnight
Comment: Today was a busy day! It started with a bus ride. The beachside part of the route has been altered a bit. We got off at the West Marine where we bought a couple of items for the boat. We returned on foot, but took a detour to check out the antique car show. There were lots of antiques in the show, with many cars and trucks dating back to the 1920s.
Even though we plan to take advantage of the predicted 15 knot SW wind tomorrow, we didn't secure the dinghy. We thought we head back to the lounge in the evening. A late dinner and chores that needed to be done prevented our going ashore. We'll secure the dinghy and motor in the morning before departure.
Sunday, March 25, 2012 Gusty Conditions!
From: Vero Beach, FL AICW MM 951.7
To: Cocoa, FL. AICW MM
Weather: Mostly cloudy in the morning, showers before noon; high 85, low 65; West wind @ 15 knots gusting to 20+ knots
Comment: The destination for today is the anchorage at Dragon Point, although if the wind holds, we might try to make Cocoa. Reaching Cocoa would be helpful because the forecast indicates the wind will clock to the north on Monday, making it a motorboat ride into 15 knots. We'd rather do that for four hours from Cocoa than seven hours from Dragon Point.
We raised the mainsail while sailing in a northerly direction and partially unfurled the jib. Because of the gusty conditions, I opted to motor sail in order to keep our speed up through the lulls. Although I'd rather have shut the engines down, the choice allowed us to reach Cocoa by 1630. On the day, we traveled almost fifty-five miles in eight and one-half hours. That's the distance record for this trip!
Monday, March 26, 2012 Home?!?!
From: Cocoa, FL AICW MM
To: Titusville, FL. AICW MM
Odometer:
We arrived in Titusville by 1030 hours. After attending to some minor chores, we took off the rest of the day.
Tuesday - Thursday, March 27 -29, 2012 Decommissioning Activities I
Titusville, Fl. AICW MM
Decommissioning activities have been moving forward. Kieth (Custom Marine Canvas) picked up the Bimini. Repairs should be completed in a day or two. Arrangements have been made for servicing the Yamaha 9.9's with BT Marine. Service is scheduled for April 5.
Friday and Saturday March 30 & 31, 2012 A Weekend Break!
Time Out! Decommissioning activities are on hold for the weekend so we can celebrate my completion of another trip around the sun, visit our friends, Willis and Lucille in Indian Rocks Beach (again!) and attend the wedding of the Fritz's daughter Erica. She is marrying a really terrific young man, Jared Ochs.
We really enjoy hanging with Willis and Luce and they were so gracious to invite us to stay with them in Indian Rocks Brach for a couple of nights. It was especially nice because we got to visit with their son, John, who is home from son school. He's a geologist who is going to start graduate school this summer.
The wedding was stupendous... A great party with lots of fun. The blessing of the hands was unique; the exchange of vows was sincere and passionate; the best man made a magnificent toast to the newly weds and the DJ was awesome. The meal was tasty and we enjoyed the company of the folks seated at table 6!
It really was a great party!
Sent from my iPad
Friday, March 23, 2012
A Hike and Visiting Friends!
Friday, March 23, 2012 A Hike and Visiting Friends!
Lay Day: Vero Beach
Weather: High 83, low 65; SE wind @ 10 knots, mostly sunny to partly sunny
Comment: Today's exercise consisted of a two hour walk across the Route 60 bridge to Panera Bread for breakfast, a visits to a few shops and back to the boat. We arrived back at the boat in time to stow our purchases before heading Bach to land where we were to meet one of our all time best friends and a great guy, George. He whisked us back to his Florida residence where we reunited with Pat, not to mention Nutmeg and the cat. Their friend Ruby and Curtis joined us for a delicious dinner prepared by our host.
Then it was off to a concert in the park. The Sebastian High School Jazz band and the Steel Drum Band performed. Both bands were great! I was especially impressed to see a high school steel drum band. I was further impressed to see they had more players than pans. In fact, there seemed to be enough pan players to form two bands. They took turns playing songs and hand held percussion instruments ( marimbas, tambourine, etc.).
Pat invited everybody back to the house for a fabulous dessert. We talked for a while, but all too soon, it was time to go back to SUNSHINE! Thanks Pat and George!
Lay Day: Vero Beach
Weather: High 83, low 65; SE wind @ 10 knots, mostly sunny to partly sunny
Comment: Today's exercise consisted of a two hour walk across the Route 60 bridge to Panera Bread for breakfast, a visits to a few shops and back to the boat. We arrived back at the boat in time to stow our purchases before heading Bach to land where we were to meet one of our all time best friends and a great guy, George. He whisked us back to his Florida residence where we reunited with Pat, not to mention Nutmeg and the cat. Their friend Ruby and Curtis joined us for a delicious dinner prepared by our host.
Then it was off to a concert in the park. The Sebastian High School Jazz band and the Steel Drum Band performed. Both bands were great! I was especially impressed to see a high school steel drum band. I was further impressed to see they had more players than pans. In fact, there seemed to be enough pan players to form two bands. They took turns playing songs and hand held percussion instruments ( marimbas, tambourine, etc.).
Pat invited everybody back to the house for a fabulous dessert. We talked for a while, but all too soon, it was time to go back to SUNSHINE! Thanks Pat and George!
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| The Sebastian High School Steel Drum Band sounded GREAT! |
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| ... as did the Jazz Band! |
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| Statue of Paul Krogel, the first Superintendent of the Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge. Pelican Island was created by Teddy Roosevelt and was the first Wildlife Refuge in the United States! |
Thursday, March 22, 2012
A Sailor's Dream!
From: Sunset Bay Marina, Stuart, FL OWW 8.0
To: Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL AICW 951.7
Odometer: 44.2 miles
Latt: 27 39 37 N
Long: 80 22 22 W
Weather: SE 10-15 knots, 83, 65; partly sunny
Comment: This is the kind of day Sailor's dream about. The wind was out of the southeast, perfect for sailing in a northerly direction. SUNSHINE enjoyed broad reaching up the Indian River from the crossroads at St. Lucie Inlet to Vero Beach.
We sailed on a starboard tack the entire Way. Only minor adjustments to the sails were required as the waterway is relatively straight. Our speed range was 7.0 - 9.3 miles per hour. Yes friends, it was a beautiful day for a sail!
Our departure from Sunset Bay was perfectly timed. We began the process of disconnecting from the mooring ball just as we heard the train whistle. It was 0704 hours and a train passed by yesterday at the same time.
Why all this talk of a train? Adjacent to Sunset Bay Marina and Anchorage is the Roosevelt Bascule Bridge and only 100 yards further down river is the railroad bridge that said train must cross. Roosevelt Bridge does not open when a train is coming.
By the time we slipped the mooring ball and approached Roosevelt Bridge, the RR Bridge was opening. The Roosevelt Bridge Tender opened the bridge and we didn't even have to throttle back.
We even got lucky with the current. The flood tide was just starting and would provide a foul current until we reached the crossroads where we would turn northward. We made it to the crossroads before the strong foul current arrived. Immediately afterning to the north, our speed increased from 4.9 to 8.3 knots. The current would be our friend all the way to Vero Beach!
Shortly after heading north, we raised the sails and lifted the engines out of the water. That how our great day of sailing began! It ended in Vero Beach when we doused the sails about 1/2 mile from the mooring field. Before securing SUNSHINE to the ball, we pulled up to the fuel dock where we took on 21 gallons of gasoline, 30 gallons of fresh water, and pumped out the holding tank. The dock hand called it the "trifecta" of services available at the fuel dock.
Once shoreside, we took a 1 1/2 hour walk from the marina, through streets lined with Live Oak Trees, to the boardwalk, town and back to the marina.
To: Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL AICW 951.7
Odometer: 44.2 miles
Latt: 27 39 37 N
Long: 80 22 22 W
Weather: SE 10-15 knots, 83, 65; partly sunny
Comment: This is the kind of day Sailor's dream about. The wind was out of the southeast, perfect for sailing in a northerly direction. SUNSHINE enjoyed broad reaching up the Indian River from the crossroads at St. Lucie Inlet to Vero Beach.
We sailed on a starboard tack the entire Way. Only minor adjustments to the sails were required as the waterway is relatively straight. Our speed range was 7.0 - 9.3 miles per hour. Yes friends, it was a beautiful day for a sail!
Our departure from Sunset Bay was perfectly timed. We began the process of disconnecting from the mooring ball just as we heard the train whistle. It was 0704 hours and a train passed by yesterday at the same time.
Why all this talk of a train? Adjacent to Sunset Bay Marina and Anchorage is the Roosevelt Bascule Bridge and only 100 yards further down river is the railroad bridge that said train must cross. Roosevelt Bridge does not open when a train is coming.
By the time we slipped the mooring ball and approached Roosevelt Bridge, the RR Bridge was opening. The Roosevelt Bridge Tender opened the bridge and we didn't even have to throttle back.
We even got lucky with the current. The flood tide was just starting and would provide a foul current until we reached the crossroads where we would turn northward. We made it to the crossroads before the strong foul current arrived. Immediately afterning to the north, our speed increased from 4.9 to 8.3 knots. The current would be our friend all the way to Vero Beach!
Shortly after heading north, we raised the sails and lifted the engines out of the water. That how our great day of sailing began! It ended in Vero Beach when we doused the sails about 1/2 mile from the mooring field. Before securing SUNSHINE to the ball, we pulled up to the fuel dock where we took on 21 gallons of gasoline, 30 gallons of fresh water, and pumped out the holding tank. The dock hand called it the "trifecta" of services available at the fuel dock.
Once shoreside, we took a 1 1/2 hour walk from the marina, through streets lined with Live Oak Trees, to the boardwalk, town and back to the marina.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Thwarted!
Lay Day: Sunset Bay Marina, Stuart, Florida OWW MM8.0
Weather: Rain; east wind 15-25 gusts to 30; high 80, low 70
Comment: Our planned early departure from Stuart was thwarted by wind and rain. We awoke at 0630 and shortly thereafter the showers started. The wind was already whistling in the rigging and the forecast predicted even more rain and wind. We had hoped to leave the mooring field before the wind picked up. Motoring SUNSHINE into the teeth of 20+ knot wind makes for pretty slow going. With only eight miles to the crossroads, we figured we needed reasonable wind (say 15 knots or so) for an hour and one-half before we turned north on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and away from the wind. If the ESE wind picked up after that, it would just blow us toward Ft. Pierce or maybe even Vero Beach.
After deciding to postpone our departure from Stuart, we rode the marina bus to WalMart. The bus also made stops at Harbor Freight, West Marine, Publix and Nautical but Nice. Our trip took an hour and a half and was followed by a 20 minute walk, lunch and then a one hour walk across the draw bridge that we'll have to ask to open for us tomorrow.
John and Honey invited us over for dinner. We had another delightful evening with them before John took us back to the marina. Thanks, Honey and John!
Tomorrow promises to be a better sailing day. In fact, I'm looking froward to sailing in a 15 knot breeze all the way to Ft. Pierce and, if the wind holds, perhaps all the way to Vero Beach.
Weather: Rain; east wind 15-25 gusts to 30; high 80, low 70
Comment: Our planned early departure from Stuart was thwarted by wind and rain. We awoke at 0630 and shortly thereafter the showers started. The wind was already whistling in the rigging and the forecast predicted even more rain and wind. We had hoped to leave the mooring field before the wind picked up. Motoring SUNSHINE into the teeth of 20+ knot wind makes for pretty slow going. With only eight miles to the crossroads, we figured we needed reasonable wind (say 15 knots or so) for an hour and one-half before we turned north on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and away from the wind. If the ESE wind picked up after that, it would just blow us toward Ft. Pierce or maybe even Vero Beach.
After deciding to postpone our departure from Stuart, we rode the marina bus to WalMart. The bus also made stops at Harbor Freight, West Marine, Publix and Nautical but Nice. Our trip took an hour and a half and was followed by a 20 minute walk, lunch and then a one hour walk across the draw bridge that we'll have to ask to open for us tomorrow.
John and Honey invited us over for dinner. We had another delightful evening with them before John took us back to the marina. Thanks, Honey and John!
Tomorrow promises to be a better sailing day. In fact, I'm looking froward to sailing in a 15 knot breeze all the way to Ft. Pierce and, if the wind holds, perhaps all the way to Vero Beach.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Meeting Old Friends!
Lay Day: Sunset Bay Marina, Stuart, Florida OWW MM8.0
Weather: Sunny then partly cloudy; high 80, low 63; east wind @ 15 knots
Comment: After breakfast, I called friends who have recently become landlubbers again! John and Honey have been mentioned in this blog for years. When they left Marathon last year, they took the boat (Hielan Lass) back to NJ. On the way home, they stopped in Stuart where they got a great deal on a great condo with a view of the St. Lucie River. When they got back to NJ, they put the boat on the market. It didn't take long for the boat to be sold.
Anyway, we met John and Honey for lunch and they invited us to see their Florida home. The park like setting was very nice. Their two bedroom home was even nicer! We managed to fritter away the afternoon on their porch talking and enjoying the scenery and the delightful breeze. As the afternoon gave way to early evening, our hosts invited us to stay for dinner. We feasted on the most delicious ham and cabbage!
All to soon it was time to return to SUNSHINE. We surely wish John and Honey well in their new digs!
Weather: Sunny then partly cloudy; high 80, low 63; east wind @ 15 knots
Comment: After breakfast, I called friends who have recently become landlubbers again! John and Honey have been mentioned in this blog for years. When they left Marathon last year, they took the boat (Hielan Lass) back to NJ. On the way home, they stopped in Stuart where they got a great deal on a great condo with a view of the St. Lucie River. When they got back to NJ, they put the boat on the market. It didn't take long for the boat to be sold.
Anyway, we met John and Honey for lunch and they invited us to see their Florida home. The park like setting was very nice. Their two bedroom home was even nicer! We managed to fritter away the afternoon on their porch talking and enjoying the scenery and the delightful breeze. As the afternoon gave way to early evening, our hosts invited us to stay for dinner. We feasted on the most delicious ham and cabbage!
All to soon it was time to return to SUNSHINE. We surely wish John and Honey well in their new digs!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Stuart!
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| This hulk, lying less than a mile to the east of Indiantown Marina on the Okeechobee waterway, was in the same location when we passed by during our catboat voyage in 2006. It was in much better shape then! |
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| Once we made it to shore at Sunset Bay Marina, we saw this craft. Apparently the wind drives the large propeller which is connected to an under water prop. |
To: Stuart, FL OWW MM 8.0
Weather: Bright and sunny; low 65, high 80; east wind 5-12 knots NOTE: We've had east winds since leaving Indian Rocks Beach on Wednesday, March 7!
Today's start time was about 1/2 hour later than normal. There was no rush to get underway as we only had 28 miles to go. We were underway by 0800. As usual, there was a light mist over the water. We started out in calm conditions. The wind picked up to about twelve knots by late morning.
The St. Lucie Lock was flashing the red light, but it changed to green as we approached. SUNSHINE, the only boat being locked through, quickly came to a rest in her assigned position. The Lock Master worked the controls and in no time, we were lowered thirteen feet. SUNSHINE and crew are back at sea level!
As we exited the lock, there were two manatee playing around the east end of the lock. We coasted past their position, but didn't get a very good look at them.
The trip down the St. Lucie River was uneventful. At one point there were five cranes in the waterway. A new bridge is under construction.
We picked up mooring ball #23 at the Sunset Bay Marina. After rinsing the engines with fresh water, we launched the dinghy, mounted the engine and headed off to register and walk the old town. The walk lasted an hour. Back at the marina, we checked out the facilities before walking across the Federal Highway Bridge to the other side of the river. Monday is half price rib day at Park Avenue Ribs. They were great as usual!
By 1900 hours, we were back aboard. We ran the generator for two hours.
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