Remember my last post? Plans for Sanibel? Scratch that. Boca Grande? Nah. Useppa/ Cabbage Key? Anchored there now -- but just a port in the oncoming storm. A front is heading in, precipitating a change in plans.
Holding tank issues kept us in Ft. Myers for two nights -- allowing for some long walks and a visit to the Edison-Ford Estates -- and a better smell down below!!
Tomorrow morning we head to Sarasota where we will ride out the front at Marina Jack for 2-3 nights until we head north to St. Petersburg. Crewmate Jim has taken the disappointment of not stopping at Boca Grande well. Our traveling companions, Jeff, Ellen, and Bunker aboard Trinity are providing companionship, technical assistance and a great view (they are our sister ship -- and we can't get over how good looking they are!)
Don't feel bad for us -- the weather is ideal: bright blue skies, clear sunlight, dolphins jumping alongside. We just need to be as flexible as the sea life as we move up the coast to greet Andy and Christine.
Showing posts with label Selene53. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Selene53. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Monday, October 1, 2012
Summer ReCap, Part 2
After our stay in Cape May it was time to go north. The Admiral headed home, while the Cap'n and his crew waited out a few days of stormy weather before pulling anchor. Shore leave followed while Freedom's freezer had a new compressor installed in New Bedford, but late July found us back on board and ready for some New England cruising. Along with friends Kurt and Donna we visited Martha's Vineyard and Natucket -- where we just happened to be at the start of Race Week. Needless to say, the harbor was hopping. We spent a good amount of time in the dinghy winding our way through the mooring field oogling the beautiful old boats being readied for the regatta.
The Cap'n spent a second week aboard with Jeff and Kristin returning to Martha's Vineyard, and then it was time for more shore leave, and the chance for Freedom to have her stabilizers serviced. Now she is back on the Bay being readied for our trip south -- set to begin later this week.
This year we have employed these primary provisioning rules:
1) Stock as much of the heavy and bulky stuff as you can. Canned goods, boxes of soup, juices, bottles of wine, batteries, and paper towels are all a challenge to carry from the grocery when you are traveling by foot, bike or even marina mini-van. As the Cap'n says, "There is no such thing as Light Beer when you are walking."
2) There are no Trader Joe's near the ICW. So, our pantry is filled with all the TJ's Italian Roast coffee it can hold.
We will spend this week doing last minute hunting and gathering of food, supplies, clothing, and books. It's October and time to head to head south.
The Cap'n spent a second week aboard with Jeff and Kristin returning to Martha's Vineyard, and then it was time for more shore leave, and the chance for Freedom to have her stabilizers serviced. Now she is back on the Bay being readied for our trip south -- set to begin later this week.
This year we have employed these primary provisioning rules:
1) Stock as much of the heavy and bulky stuff as you can. Canned goods, boxes of soup, juices, bottles of wine, batteries, and paper towels are all a challenge to carry from the grocery when you are traveling by foot, bike or even marina mini-van. As the Cap'n says, "There is no such thing as Light Beer when you are walking."
2) There are no Trader Joe's near the ICW. So, our pantry is filled with all the TJ's Italian Roast coffee it can hold.
We will spend this week doing last minute hunting and gathering of food, supplies, clothing, and books. It's October and time to head to head south.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Cruising in Company
When we first set out from Stuart a week ago we did not have much company on the Waterway outside of fishing boats and local traffic. We decided we were a little ahead of the snowbird migration, and we could be in for a lonely north. Yet, once we made it to Cape Canaveral a few days later we fell in step with other travelers
After several hours alone in the anchorage in sight of the Shuttle Assembly building we were joined by 4 sailboats and one motor vessel. (The final sailboat to arrive did so just at sunset, and without consulting a chart, we think, for they soon found themselves on one of the many shallow spots. Their calls to Sea Tow and their resultant tow to deeper water kept us engaged throughout the evening)
Soon after we anchored off Daytona Beach the following day, we were joined by the blue hulled trawler we had seen at Cape Canaveral, Castaway, and one of the sailboats: A Sparkman and Stephens Yawl named Jacunda. Friday was a lay day for us, but when we arrived at the St. Augustine mooring field on Saturday, there just a few boats over was Castaway, along with the sailboat C:/[esc] (pronounced "Sea Escape") who we had heard on the radio the day before but had last seen in November on our trip south. We have also overlapped anchorages with C-Gull Seeker, a green hulled sailboat.
A hour or so ago we anchored just off of Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island and off our stern is Jucunda! Who knows how long we will cruise in company with this set of boats, but for now it is fun to see their familiar lines and hull colors as we enter an anchorage or pass them on the ICW.
After several hours alone in the anchorage in sight of the Shuttle Assembly building we were joined by 4 sailboats and one motor vessel. (The final sailboat to arrive did so just at sunset, and without consulting a chart, we think, for they soon found themselves on one of the many shallow spots. Their calls to Sea Tow and their resultant tow to deeper water kept us engaged throughout the evening)
Soon after we anchored off Daytona Beach the following day, we were joined by the blue hulled trawler we had seen at Cape Canaveral, Castaway, and one of the sailboats: A Sparkman and Stephens Yawl named Jacunda. Friday was a lay day for us, but when we arrived at the St. Augustine mooring field on Saturday, there just a few boats over was Castaway, along with the sailboat C:/[esc] (pronounced "Sea Escape") who we had heard on the radio the day before but had last seen in November on our trip south. We have also overlapped anchorages with C-Gull Seeker, a green hulled sailboat.
A hour or so ago we anchored just off of Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island and off our stern is Jucunda! Who knows how long we will cruise in company with this set of boats, but for now it is fun to see their familiar lines and hull colors as we enter an anchorage or pass them on the ICW.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Cruising Along
Freedom's engines were fired up Monday at 6am and with the Manhattan skyline barely visible in the distance, soon we were heading east across the Long Island Sound, destination Stonington, CT. It was an uneventful day, few boats were out and we made it to our (first) mooring at Dodson's Boatyard about 3:30. Some technical difficulties with the mooring necessitated a call to the dock master. Happily, they led us to a second, more protected mooring, and it wasn't long until we were secured.
According to our guidebook, "Stonington lays claim to having the most beautiful harbor on the East Coast." We will let you know what we think when our trip is complete. Stonington is also home to Connecticut's only fishing fleet.
We hoped to have another early start today, giving us the opportunity to visit with friends and family in Rhode Island later in the day, but we had to delay our departure while we waited for the water maker repairman. Yes, Freedom can make her own water -- don't ask me how. At a rate of 35 gallons an hour, we can go great distances, and take daily showers, without a stop at the dock - as long as all is going well. After not to long we were on our way and we are now anchored off of Jamestown Rhode Island.
Like any harbor there is lots to look at. Just after we anchored yesterday the afternoon sailing class came through the mooring field - the Optimist sailors singing, laughing, commenting on the boats nearby, and having a grand time. Late this afternoon the Captain
stepped into the cockpit just in time to see our friends Jack and Laura Gregg from Philadelphia sail by - a complete surprise for all.
Tomorrow we head for Martha's Vineyard where we will meet Carla and Tyler for a week of cruising Northward. A portent of good luck and happy days ahead was seen in the sky:A rainbow over Newport.
According to our guidebook, "Stonington lays claim to having the most beautiful harbor on the East Coast." We will let you know what we think when our trip is complete. Stonington is also home to Connecticut's only fishing fleet.
We hoped to have another early start today, giving us the opportunity to visit with friends and family in Rhode Island later in the day, but we had to delay our departure while we waited for the water maker repairman. Yes, Freedom can make her own water -- don't ask me how. At a rate of 35 gallons an hour, we can go great distances, and take daily showers, without a stop at the dock - as long as all is going well. After not to long we were on our way and we are now anchored off of Jamestown Rhode Island.
Like any harbor there is lots to look at. Just after we anchored yesterday the afternoon sailing class came through the mooring field - the Optimist sailors singing, laughing, commenting on the boats nearby, and having a grand time. Late this afternoon the Captain
stepped into the cockpit just in time to see our friends Jack and Laura Gregg from Philadelphia sail by - a complete surprise for all.
Tomorrow we head for Martha's Vineyard where we will meet Carla and Tyler for a week of cruising Northward. A portent of good luck and happy days ahead was seen in the sky:A rainbow over Newport.
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