Thurs 13 Dec 2012 - Me tup- with my brother Mike, his wife Laureen & friends Darcy & Rachel, in town for the weekend. After determining that they were NOT in the hotel Mike originally booked we met for dinner & drinks on the beachfront. The weather had turned cool, something about Canadians bringing cold air in their luggage was mentioned.

Friday we took Mike & Laureen for a dingy tour of the back canals of  'Lauderdale, also referred to as "America's Venice". Then went for refreshments & a little music afternoon.

Sun 16 Dec 2012 - Ft Lauderdale FLA, last night was the "Santa Claus Parade" Ft Lauderdale style, boats of all sizes & shapes parading down the Intercostal waterway. What a sight & we had front row seats sort of...the parade passed the mooring field & we were able to see everything from our deck. Unfortunately the pictures do not do the boats justice & most are too blurry but below is a sample of some of the better shots.

Looking like Tues will have the weather window we need, so next update hopefully will be from some internet cafe on some Bahamian island.....

12 Dec 2012...12/12/12 WOW this is a neat day!! So what has transpired? We departed Beaufort SC, on Thurs 22 Nov for an outside run to Florida, to escape the cold that had been holding onto our stern since Sandy. A rough exit out to the Atlantic but once out a few miles we turned south & rode a following sea & wind overnight to St Augustine. Our original destination was to be Jacksonville but after making good time we pushed on to St Augustine.

An intersting entrance to say the least! We ran 2 miles straight in from the sea bouy with breakers on each side, a little anal pucker factor at this point. Once inside we dropped the hook, took off all our "northern clothes" we were sipping beers in shorts once again!!!

From St Augustine we went to Daytona Beach, then Titusville (just west of cape Canveral) & picked up a mooring ball for a week. Here we planned to provision, travel inland to check out  a possiblelayup location @ Green Cove Springs on recommendations from several boaters. with the rental cart we also ended up spending the night with an on-shore reunion at the home of Jim & Beth from S/V Dog Gone, and also Jeff & Katie from S/V Mezzaluna.
Jim & Beth were excellent hosts, & we were treated to Jim's special shrimp boil yyyuuuummmm. Everyone wore their "team shirts" from our first get together in Rock Hall MD.

We left Jim & Beth after the golf cart tour, thanks guys it was great, and venture to the west coast to visit with Bob's aunt & uncle in Palm Harbour just outside Tamp Bay for a long overdue reunion & time spent with family again. A brief visit as they were heading back to Canada for the Christmas season. Looking forward to a return visit this spring & and a round of golf as well!

02 Dec - Our return to Titusville found us once again in the company of S/V Mezzaluna, as well as S/V Sunkissed. Dinner together onboard & time to catch up on everyone’s travels.  A very pleasant eve to be sure.

04 Dec – departed Titusville & once again we were picking our way down the ICW under motor, finally arriving 3 days later in Lake Worth (West Palm Beach) only to be reunited with Time & Tide!!! Almost 6 months to the day they left Trenton…needless to say this was a very merry celebration.  2 boats, 2 routes, 2 very different stories.

Discussions revolved around the next steps for a crossing to the Bahamas, and the required weather windows for each vessel. Since the weather was not co-operating we picked our way down to Ft Lauderdale, where we now sit awaiting the arrival of my brother Mike & sister-in-law Laureen who just happen to be in ‘Lauderdale for the weekend.

13 Dec 2012 - Waiting for weather, enjoying the festive season WITHOUT snow…Christmas carols do not have the same effect in shorts & tee shirts, but we’ll persevere…

Next post will be soon, more pictures less words!!!!

Update Nov 21, Beaufort, SC

The past 2 weeks have been spent motoring in foul weather, except for 2 days in Carolina Beach NC, where the weather played a trick on us & got sunny AND warm!!!!

Taking advantage of the respite from the cold we stayed there & enjoyed the beach for 2 days.

Departed Carolina Beach to continue south & warmer climes...

Motor (cold-rain), anchor, motor (cold-rain), anchor, motor (cold-rain),  anchor,

Looking ahead through the rain @ S/V Mezzaluna

Dock -Charleston heater quits!!!! Thanks goodness there was a hardware store nearby bought a small electric heater during 2 days downpour uuuggghhhh!!!!! Bought an electric heater to dry out the boat.

We did manage to get a brief break & were able to do a walking tour of the old city, very beautiful.  Found an Irish pub (go figure) so stopped for a pint. 2 sips into our ales & a voice says "Monique"!  Nina & John from S/V Sunkissed who we first met back in Cape May NJ, had also decided to stop for a pint. Such is boating, chance meetings at the least expected moments, bright spots on a dreary day!

Charleston SC street scene

Southern belle in a driveway....

19 Nov, departed Charleston, moving south, to catch up with S/V Ishmael, &possible outside hop to Florida...

20 Nov Beaufort SC, we arrived as the weather began to improve, sun came out at least!  Met up with S/V Ishmael & caught up on our separate journey's thus far. Discussed the option of  an overnight trip to St Augustine FLA. After consulting the weather for the next 72 hours, the decision was unanimous...GET SOUTH FAST.

So tomorrow it will anchors aweigh at first light & down wind sailing for 24 hours in 15 knot winds. Should be a very pleasant voyage.

Stay tuned...next posting from FLA

10 Oct – 29 Oct

Departed Baltimore...meet up with our friends on S/V Mezzaluna  and continued buddy boating down the Chesapeake , looking forward to our destination at Tangier Island.

17 Oct, Tangier Island VA…Arrived at a very quaint and unique fishing village. Milton Parks, owner of Parks Marina greeted us at the dock. Milton, the gentleman, ensured the women were well briefed on all the island had to offer. Quite the character!!!!!!! Milton arranged a narrated golf cart tour with Alice, very informative and fun. These people are very proud of their island. Great scenery.

 

Going to work



Monique & Milton 

 

 

 18-20 Oct, Norfolk VA…Toured the USS Wisconsin, very informative, lots of history…

21 -23 Oct. Dismal Swamp Visitor Centre , NC.. Entered the Dismal Swamp, 25 mile man made canal, very narrow and straight but scenic. Overnighted at the visitor center, six boats rafted together with our boat rafted to another Prout  Snowgoose 37  (S/V Polar Pacer) from Toronto that we had met 5 years before, small world!!! Enjoyed the free rental of bikes and hiking the State Park.

 

23 Oct. Elizabeth City NC….Attended the famous Rose Buddy boater greeting. Wine and cheese, information session, and all women get a rose, long standing tradition of greeting transient boaters.

 25 OCT; Oriental NC: we arrived back in Oriental where it all began with a boat called Frodo! Felt like a homecoming of sorts. After a warm welcome we were reunited with Harry of M/V Osprey & crew, Terry & Russ.

26 Oct, news of the approaching hurricane sent everyone scurrying about taking down sails, canvas 7 packing shore bags. While in the process I was interviewed by the local tv station & found myself on the 6 o’clock news…

http://www.wcti12.com/news/Boaters-ready-to-ride-out-storm/-/13530444/17151770/-/hqkpeo/-/index.html

After all was completed we moved into the clubhouse for a hurricane sleep over, complete with food, drinks and nervous banter. Several trips in full storm gear over the course of the evening checking the boats helped to reduce the anxiety.

For the next 2 days we anxiously watched the water rise, tracked the storm’s progress & celebrated each change in direction that took Sandy a she steered farther & farther away from us. The worst condition was the rising water which threatened to overflow the docks, which if that happened we would not be allowed out to check or even adjust our lines if required. Thankfully by Sunday afternoon the water stopped rising & began to slowly recede. Wind remained strong around 20 to 35 miles per hour.

 

 

Thankfully Sandy decide to move east out to sea as she passed our location. Those north of us were not so fortunate. The resulting cold drawn south by Sandy`s passage was brutal!!! We have spent the last week in winter clothes, heater blaring! Not the warm south we had in mind.

08 Nov Oriental NC, still here!!!! 2 weeks of waiting for weather has allowed us to complete many upgrades & projects that we were not able to do while moving every day. BUT, now it is time to get moving again, today,s weather forecast included A freeze WARNING…..ughhhh!!!

So until next wifi… (booster did not yet get installed) hoping for pleasant seas
& warmer winds!

Scenes of Baltimore...

Camden Yards

Last Waltz at dock, Henderson Wharf Fell's Point

Tacky tourist photo

Fell's Point square

Another tacky tourist opportunity....

Thanksgiving dinner on board

19 SEP; we departed Georgetown, after spending 3 nights on a mooring during poor weather. While ashore on a bike tour Monique discovered crab traps for sale. After a lengthy discussion with shopkeeper, we purchased a trap & sage advice on how to catch, clean & cook crabs.

We met up with S/V Mezzaluna & S/V Dog Gone in Rock Hall, for a free dock & light dinner ashore. Next morning 21 SEP, we happened upon a bait shop that carried everything including more crab traps, which Kaite convinced Jeff to buy....the game was on!

All 3 vessels departed & made our way up the Chester River to Chestertown a quiet tourist town, & very active crab area. By mid afternoon we had 6 crabs between the 2 boats( Katie was named “Crab Queen” she got 4) & proceeded to have steamed crabs for an appetizer

Insert pictures

We continued to crab for the next couple of days (not much success)  interspersed with touring ashore, farmer’s market (Sat) , laundry, groceries etc...

Mon 24 SEP; we all left Chestertown & proceeded to go back to Rock Hall, however we moved inside the Swan Creek to a more protected anchorage.

Tues 25 SEP; Toured Rock hall & resumed crabbing, managing a catch of 5 to add to the soup Katie whipped up on Mezzaluna.

Wed 26 SEP; remaining at anchor with Dog Gone, as Mezzaluna has departed for Annapolis to pick up sailing company for a few days. We plan to head a little south until early next week when we head into Baltimore for a week of touring, boat show in Annapolis, and a visit from my sister Nancy & mother Barb for Thanksgiving weekend.

Tues Oct 2012-10-09

So...made our way slowly from the eastern shore to Baltimore...

The week is a blur, toured town after arriving Wed; Mom & Nancy arrived Fri while we attended the Annapolis boat show.

Boat show was very productive, to quote Monique “our bags are heavy, our wallet lighter...”.  It paid to have a list & a plan!

Mom & Nancy arrived safely on Friday,  we all had an early evening, long day for everyone.

Sat was the “Bob Carr Sr” memorial harbour front tour & pub crawl. Dad left us a legacy...

Baltimore is a MUST VISIT for everyone! History, pubs, great people, history, & pubs...

Sunday was Thanksgiving dinner on board,

Needless to say by Monday we were all pub’d out. Mom & Nancy headed home, we spent the day shivering in the Canadian cold front, No wonder we Canadians have a bad rap...

Dinner ashore ready to let the lines go & head south again...

Until the next free wifi...

Staten Island Ferry

Central Park bike tour

Central Park

New York city harbour

Our anchorage in great kills harbour Staten Island NY

Tues 11 SEP 2012

New York to Cape May NJ, departed Great Kills harbour for overnight trip down the New Jersey Coast on the Atlantic Ocean.  All in all the voyage was uneventful, calm seas little wind so we “motor sailed” maintaining 5 knots to plan arrival in Cape May early morning on an incoming tide...

Wed 12 Sep 0720 hrs entered Cape May harbour! Success,  a long voyage 2 hours on, 2 hours off for 20 hours.  Anchored astern S/V Mezzaluna, & went to bed for a much deserved rest.

After resting we provisioned, updated our chart plotter with a new chip. Met up with the crews of S/V Mezzaluna & Dog Gone for a quick cocktail, then off to dinner ashore (boater style) take out & eat on the restaurant premises all self serve.  

Thursday was beach day......

Friday 14 SEP, departed Cape May for journey up Delaware Bay to C& D Canal linking Delaware Bay & Chesapeake Bay, anchored in Cohansey River, then completed the trip on Sat

Sat 15 SEP, Entered the Chesapeake & anchored for 2 nights in the Bohemian River

Monday 17 SEP, We are currently sitting at a mooring in Georgetown Maryland, a quiet little out of the way place on the east shore of the Chesapeake. Weather has turned nasty but we are in a very protected location, to wait for the next couple of days.

If our updates seem to be overdue, be patient, cruising has become a full time job & wifi is very spotty.

Rest assured that we are keeping safe and loving every minute of this...

Some scenes along the way

Cape May beach

Typical evening view...

Chesapeake morning

Hudson River lighthouse

Till next post S/V Last Waltz continuing to adventure.....