Friday, April 11, 2014
home!
Home, sweet home. The kind that has endless HOT water, electricity, and lotsa room! It's nice to be home. All trips end in a "glad to be home" but, this year, yeah, it's really good to be home.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Landed
Out of the water! Latitudes has been pulled from the water and is now in the sling, awaiting being put on jacks on the hard. Luke backed her into the marina's sling at high tide.
A good spray down with a power washer (lotsa spray) cleaned the bottom scum
That didn't begin to attack the barnacle field on the keel. These are SERIOUS barnacles! We put good bottom paint on Latitudes before we left in January -- but MAY have scrubbed a bit off in our long journey down the ICW, where depths are not necessarily as specified or charted! The smaller isolated barnacles on the undamaged paint are certainly unexpected after only 4 months in the water.
And a beard of growth. Yuck. We do have a bit of work to do before we leave next fall.
Now we're awaiting being put on the jacks in the morning. What we are actually doing is living in the hanging boat, seen in picture 2. Now, the keel IS sitting on a little chunk of wood so we aren't actually swinging, but we are certainly hanging in the lift until tomorrow. Hopefully, then we'll be settled in, pack up the car, close up the boat, and start the trip home.
A good spray down with a power washer (lotsa spray) cleaned the bottom scum
That didn't begin to attack the barnacle field on the keel. These are SERIOUS barnacles! We put good bottom paint on Latitudes before we left in January -- but MAY have scrubbed a bit off in our long journey down the ICW, where depths are not necessarily as specified or charted! The smaller isolated barnacles on the undamaged paint are certainly unexpected after only 4 months in the water.
And a beard of growth. Yuck. We do have a bit of work to do before we leave next fall.
Now we're awaiting being put on the jacks in the morning. What we are actually doing is living in the hanging boat, seen in picture 2. Now, the keel IS sitting on a little chunk of wood so we aren't actually swinging, but we are certainly hanging in the lift until tomorrow. Hopefully, then we'll be settled in, pack up the car, close up the boat, and start the trip home.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Plans to go home
Plans are moving along, The car has been retrieved in a quick trip, Latitudes will be pulled and put on the hard on Wednesday, and we hope to leave St. Marys on Thursday. We still need to pick up a car from Charlotte, but that is just a detour.
Smoke doesn't know that her wonderful, calm house awaits her - she dozes like a cat, lazing with me while I blog.
Smoke doesn't know that her wonderful, calm house awaits her - she dozes like a cat, lazing with me while I blog.
The packing has begun, bags to put in the car are starting to pile up in available spaces.
There are a lot more bags to pack. We will work on them on this dreary, rainy day. The goal is to be able to unload most of the stuff from Latitudes before she is actually put up on stands. The whole area has an 8 ft tidal range, and the boat yard docks are too shallow for us to use about half the time. That's why we're still at anchor. Luke has made a friend with the next-door shrimper ---- who just happens to have a deep water dock next to the boat yard. He is willing to let us use his dock on Wednesday morning to unload the boat. Here is St. Mary's Boat Services, the small marina where Latitudes will live for now.
After Latitudes is out of the water, we will still have to do last-hours closing chores like taking down the dodger and bimini, securing the dinghy, getting the last few things off, and closing up Lats for the summer. That always takes longer than anticipated. But it means we're going home!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Back in GA
We finally got that elusive weather window to leave Miami. Left around 8 am on Tuesday, went east to about 35 miles out into the Gulf Stream, and motor-sailed our way for 48 hours into St. Marys, GA, Latitudes' summer home this year.
Forgot this picture from the Marine Stadium in Miami - the Goodyear Blimp! It hovered over Key Biscayne for a day during a big, professional tennis tournament. The next evening it hovered for hours near the ocean side, probably at the site of the opening Miami Marlins baseball game.
The Gulf Stream was fast, + 3.5 kts, - and a bit rough. It did have the forecast 2 to 4 ft, occasionally 5 ft swells from the NE, and the wind was mild, but also ENE, making for an irregular choppy ride as we headed north -- not attractive for another 24 hours. This confirms a noted sailing book title "Gentlemen don't Sail to Windward". So, we considered calling it off at Lake Worth, about 65 miles up the coast from Miami. But Luke moved us partially out of the stream, the wind died a bit, and we had the promise of a good night of sailing. We verified our learning experience by edging back out into the Gulf Stream searching for more speed, and again finding unpleasant conditions. Sunset was beautiful. It was my first watch of the night and I caught this picture of the crescent moon, actually setting early, about 30 miles from land.
Knowing the location of the GS and its edges, and its south flowing counter currents, we plotted a course along the GS's western edge, gaining 1/2 to 1 kt, and avoiding the counter current along the coast - up to - 1.5 kts. This took us out to about 35 miles off the coast of Florida near St Augustine. Luke had the last of the night watchs and caught sunrise. We love sunrise!
Motor sailing along, about 35 miles off shore and I took this picture. Looks normal, doesn't it?
But look carefully in the very middle - a small, bright yellow warbler of some sort has landed on the boat!
She wasn't the first - a dark little bird flew into the enclosure and back out earlier! I don't know how they survive a flight of at least 70 miles - 35 out and back - without a place to stop. We certainly were the only solid "ground" around. Smoke nearly had a heart attack. A bird to stalk on her boat! After a few attempts to find a suitable long term perch, the bird flew off.
Birds weren't our only visitors. Dolphin! Several of them! We saw splashes in the distance, working their way rapidly towards the boat. They dove and played for a long time along the bow. This one seemed to look up at us.
Here come more of them, barely under the water.
While we were watching them, I noticed a huge Great Hammerhead shark, maybe 10 feet long, swimming slowly about 2 feet underwater, leaving the side of the boat. Didn't get a picture, but he sure made an impression!
Not much else to see - very few ships. I caught this big tug pulling an even bigger barge. Guess they like calm water for this type of tow.
Luke saw a couple of these container ships, off to far away places.
Sometimes maintenance is necessary on these long runs. Latitudes got sprayed pretty well with sea water during the first day. In the calm of the next day, Luke played window washer. Did a good job, too!
Smokey was just bored. She succumbed to playing with the strap from the video camera (as if she doesn't have any toys on board!) Maybe I was the one who was bored...
Finally, after a second night at sea, we arrived at the St. Marys Inlet, the inlet that separates FL and GA, 366 watery miles and 48 hours from Miami. We had to time our arrival - the current was running out to sea until 6:30 a.m. Plowing into current in an inlet is never smart. First landmark is the old Ft. Clinch, FL. for a website click here
A left turn at the end of the inlet takes you to a nice city marina in Fernandina Beach, FL. We took one of their moorings last year and did some sightseeing. It was fun. Today we just took water and diesel.
We left, heading for St. Marys, GA, about 4 miles from the marina. Our insurance doesn't allow Latitudes to be below the FL/GA border during the summer due to hurricane threat. Oh well. Anyway, we actually sailed most of the way to St. Marys, past the very stinky pulp plants.
Past the shrimp boats (they bring in some REALLY GOOD shrimp!)
Oh, well, we thought. A quiet 3 mile sail left, just up the river a bit. But no! Suddenly an impressive Coast Guard patrol boat, maybe 30 feet long, complete with a gunner and mounted machine gun on the bow, came after us, blue lights a blaring, and calling on the radio. crap. With sails up, tired and lacking good sleep, we really didn't want to be boarded for some "safety inspection"! I went outside to see if they REALLY wanted US, and yes, they did. I don't believe we could have outrun them...
The very nice men (yes, they really were) let us know that an "escorted naval vessel" was coming into the channel, and we needed to stay 500 ft away and off to the side of the river. A submarine was coming in to Kingsport Naval Base!!! Such entertainment!
The sailors really stand on top and watch, just like in the movies! (probably the first fresh air they've had in forever) I wonder if they ever fall in...
The Coast Guard also used the expression "protected asset" - they weren't kidding! At least 6-8 armed boats of assorted sizes were escorting them. As the sub passed Latitudes, there were 3 vessels between us. There was also a modest size (200 ft long) flat deck boat on each side, loaded with what looked like containers forming what could have been intended as a projectile barrier,
ahhh, back to the coastal saltwater marshes of GA and FL.
Smoke was so glad to be in a quiet, still boat. She claimed a bed on the chartbook - no more sailing!
She is right - no more sailing. Not for this trip. We will leave the boat here in St. Marys for the summer. The decision to not take her back to New Bern was based on the desire to have shorter travel next year and more exploring and relaxing time. We hated not going back there, though. There is the car to retrieve from NB, cleaning out of the boat, and getting her pulled from the water and put on the hard. Maybe a week at most and we'll be driving back to Roanoke. Hurray!!!!
Forgot this picture from the Marine Stadium in Miami - the Goodyear Blimp! It hovered over Key Biscayne for a day during a big, professional tennis tournament. The next evening it hovered for hours near the ocean side, probably at the site of the opening Miami Marlins baseball game.
The Gulf Stream was fast, + 3.5 kts, - and a bit rough. It did have the forecast 2 to 4 ft, occasionally 5 ft swells from the NE, and the wind was mild, but also ENE, making for an irregular choppy ride as we headed north -- not attractive for another 24 hours. This confirms a noted sailing book title "Gentlemen don't Sail to Windward". So, we considered calling it off at Lake Worth, about 65 miles up the coast from Miami. But Luke moved us partially out of the stream, the wind died a bit, and we had the promise of a good night of sailing. We verified our learning experience by edging back out into the Gulf Stream searching for more speed, and again finding unpleasant conditions. Sunset was beautiful. It was my first watch of the night and I caught this picture of the crescent moon, actually setting early, about 30 miles from land.
Knowing the location of the GS and its edges, and its south flowing counter currents, we plotted a course along the GS's western edge, gaining 1/2 to 1 kt, and avoiding the counter current along the coast - up to - 1.5 kts. This took us out to about 35 miles off the coast of Florida near St Augustine. Luke had the last of the night watchs and caught sunrise. We love sunrise!
Motor sailing along, about 35 miles off shore and I took this picture. Looks normal, doesn't it?
But look carefully in the very middle - a small, bright yellow warbler of some sort has landed on the boat!
She wasn't the first - a dark little bird flew into the enclosure and back out earlier! I don't know how they survive a flight of at least 70 miles - 35 out and back - without a place to stop. We certainly were the only solid "ground" around. Smoke nearly had a heart attack. A bird to stalk on her boat! After a few attempts to find a suitable long term perch, the bird flew off.
Birds weren't our only visitors. Dolphin! Several of them! We saw splashes in the distance, working their way rapidly towards the boat. They dove and played for a long time along the bow. This one seemed to look up at us.
Here come more of them, barely under the water.
While we were watching them, I noticed a huge Great Hammerhead shark, maybe 10 feet long, swimming slowly about 2 feet underwater, leaving the side of the boat. Didn't get a picture, but he sure made an impression!
Not much else to see - very few ships. I caught this big tug pulling an even bigger barge. Guess they like calm water for this type of tow.
Luke saw a couple of these container ships, off to far away places.
Sometimes maintenance is necessary on these long runs. Latitudes got sprayed pretty well with sea water during the first day. In the calm of the next day, Luke played window washer. Did a good job, too!
Smokey was just bored. She succumbed to playing with the strap from the video camera (as if she doesn't have any toys on board!) Maybe I was the one who was bored...
Finally, after a second night at sea, we arrived at the St. Marys Inlet, the inlet that separates FL and GA, 366 watery miles and 48 hours from Miami. We had to time our arrival - the current was running out to sea until 6:30 a.m. Plowing into current in an inlet is never smart. First landmark is the old Ft. Clinch, FL. for a website click here
A left turn at the end of the inlet takes you to a nice city marina in Fernandina Beach, FL. We took one of their moorings last year and did some sightseeing. It was fun. Today we just took water and diesel.
We left, heading for St. Marys, GA, about 4 miles from the marina. Our insurance doesn't allow Latitudes to be below the FL/GA border during the summer due to hurricane threat. Oh well. Anyway, we actually sailed most of the way to St. Marys, past the very stinky pulp plants.
Past the shrimp boats (they bring in some REALLY GOOD shrimp!)
Oh, well, we thought. A quiet 3 mile sail left, just up the river a bit. But no! Suddenly an impressive Coast Guard patrol boat, maybe 30 feet long, complete with a gunner and mounted machine gun on the bow, came after us, blue lights a blaring, and calling on the radio. crap. With sails up, tired and lacking good sleep, we really didn't want to be boarded for some "safety inspection"! I went outside to see if they REALLY wanted US, and yes, they did. I don't believe we could have outrun them...
The very nice men (yes, they really were) let us know that an "escorted naval vessel" was coming into the channel, and we needed to stay 500 ft away and off to the side of the river. A submarine was coming in to Kingsport Naval Base!!! Such entertainment!
The sailors really stand on top and watch, just like in the movies! (probably the first fresh air they've had in forever) I wonder if they ever fall in...
The Coast Guard also used the expression "protected asset" - they weren't kidding! At least 6-8 armed boats of assorted sizes were escorting them. As the sub passed Latitudes, there were 3 vessels between us. There was also a modest size (200 ft long) flat deck boat on each side, loaded with what looked like containers forming what could have been intended as a projectile barrier,
ahhh, back to the coastal saltwater marshes of GA and FL.
Smoke was so glad to be in a quiet, still boat. She claimed a bed on the chartbook - no more sailing!
She is right - no more sailing. Not for this trip. We will leave the boat here in St. Marys for the summer. The decision to not take her back to New Bern was based on the desire to have shorter travel next year and more exploring and relaxing time. We hated not going back there, though. There is the car to retrieve from NB, cleaning out of the boat, and getting her pulled from the water and put on the hard. Maybe a week at most and we'll be driving back to Roanoke. Hurray!!!!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Guess how far the sound of music travels?
We can vouch that it's almost 3 miles for sure, across open water, especially it is music you don't care for! We are apparently fortunate to be here for Ultra Festival, a wildly popular event that drew over 55,000 attendees last year. The genre is EDM, house, dance, electro house, D&B, hardstyle, and dubstep. oh, yeah, I know what all of those are.... I do know that the venue is almost 3 miles across into downtown Miami, and we can sure hear it. Hard to catch the photo, but we can watch the light show, too. It's even more effective after dark, but harder to catch. Oh, BTY - General Admission? $400.... the local TV station showed throngs of young folks jumping the fencing and gates. Soooo glad I'm old.
As you have probably guessed, we are still in Miami. Up at 6 a.m. to recheck the weather and finally decided that the forecast was not worth the risk. Strong thunderstorms in the area where we intended to go in, about the time we would be there. This stretch of FL is not geographically cruiser friendly. There are no frequent ports that we can use as alternates in the case of bad weather. Seems that we made the right decision -the forecast bore out and it looked pretty ugly around Lake Worth at our estimated arrival window. Tomorrow and Monday will be clear but the wind is from the north; blowing directly on our bow. Not a good choice for heading north. Guess we'll be here a few more days.
Not much today - the skies are filled with those little airplanes that drag big signs behind them. There is a group of 5 of them that are all promoting Las Vegas and fly together. We caught 4 of them.
A nice sunset last night (along with the music to go with it....)
It's probably just as well that we stayed here. Luke hab a bad told. I know he doesn't feel good when he naps during the day. Hoping he's better soon, but those things tend to drag out way too long. I'm trying to stay as far away from him as possible on this small boat!
As you have probably guessed, we are still in Miami. Up at 6 a.m. to recheck the weather and finally decided that the forecast was not worth the risk. Strong thunderstorms in the area where we intended to go in, about the time we would be there. This stretch of FL is not geographically cruiser friendly. There are no frequent ports that we can use as alternates in the case of bad weather. Seems that we made the right decision -the forecast bore out and it looked pretty ugly around Lake Worth at our estimated arrival window. Tomorrow and Monday will be clear but the wind is from the north; blowing directly on our bow. Not a good choice for heading north. Guess we'll be here a few more days.
Not much today - the skies are filled with those little airplanes that drag big signs behind them. There is a group of 5 of them that are all promoting Las Vegas and fly together. We caught 4 of them.
A nice sunset last night (along with the music to go with it....)
It's probably just as well that we stayed here. Luke hab a bad told. I know he doesn't feel good when he naps during the day. Hoping he's better soon, but those things tend to drag out way too long. I'm trying to stay as far away from him as possible on this small boat!
Friday, March 28, 2014
Broken ties that bind to Dinner Key
Wednesday morning roared in with wind. I mean WIND. It was blowing from the east, a direction that feeds directly and unbroken into the mooring field at Dinner Key. Too rough to go out, so we did "stuff" around the boat and waited. Thursday made Wednesday look like a mild day. The dinghy, still in the water behind the boat, flailed and bounced about, making awful noises. The boat rocked. Smoke curled up in one of her most secure spots. All of this at a mooring! Unfortunately, this "mooring field" is open to the wind from the NE to the SE, with about 3 miles of "fetch" (open water) across Biscayne Bay. So, what did we do? Gamely put on our rain gear and set out to shore in the dinghy. For a purpose, though - we took showers, did a last bit of fresh grocery shopping, paid up at the marina, and when we returned to Latitudes --- left! Lesson learned -- we knew the forecast well enough, should have done our errands on Wednesday, and left by Wednesday afternoon!
Once we left the mooring field, we gradually motored into the protected lee of Key Biscayne. The winds were largely blocked and it was a pleasant 7 mile motor to a marina for diesel and water. Topped off now, we are ready for our weather window to head north; hopefully a long way north.
After filling up tanks, we actually sailed from the marina to our new anchorage at Virginia Key, another mercifully protected spot. We did have to go under the Rickenbacker Causeway Bridge, backed by the Miami skyline.
Our anchorage is in front of the old Marine Stadium. The now derelict stadium was built in the early 1960's for watching marine sports - mostly, boat racing! Fast boat racing! Also concerts and boxing. This stadium held over 6000 fans. web article marine stadium
Damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the structure was declared unsafe and left to deteriorate. A renovation project has been started, but apparently needs a lot more money. For an AMAZING fund raising video, you've gotta see this U Tube video. Even Luke said "gotta put that in!!!" Give it a couple of minutes to see what we're talking about. This is my first video in the blog, so I'm hoping it works. Let me know!
Smokey was glad to be on a quiet boat.
Sculling teams practice here in the relatively quiet waters.
As night fell, we had a beautiful view of the Miami skyline. Not the best picture, but you get the idea.
By daylight this morning - a better view.
Even in our protected anchorage, we were subjected to wind last night. Luke estimated at least 25 knots allll night long. It's calming a bit now. His careful analysis of the weather is --- if the forecast stays the same -- a good outside run tomorrow to Lake Worth, wait out north high winds on Sunday, and a possible overnight on Monday/Tuesday or Tuesday/Wednesday to our final destination, St. Marys, GA. THAT would be wonderful. Of course, it would also be wonderful if the weather forecast wouldn't change!
Just for Luke, as we wait out the weather - chocolate chip cookies on order! mmm...can you smell them!?
Once we left the mooring field, we gradually motored into the protected lee of Key Biscayne. The winds were largely blocked and it was a pleasant 7 mile motor to a marina for diesel and water. Topped off now, we are ready for our weather window to head north; hopefully a long way north.
After filling up tanks, we actually sailed from the marina to our new anchorage at Virginia Key, another mercifully protected spot. We did have to go under the Rickenbacker Causeway Bridge, backed by the Miami skyline.
Our anchorage is in front of the old Marine Stadium. The now derelict stadium was built in the early 1960's for watching marine sports - mostly, boat racing! Fast boat racing! Also concerts and boxing. This stadium held over 6000 fans. web article marine stadium
Damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the structure was declared unsafe and left to deteriorate. A renovation project has been started, but apparently needs a lot more money. For an AMAZING fund raising video, you've gotta see this U Tube video. Even Luke said "gotta put that in!!!" Give it a couple of minutes to see what we're talking about. This is my first video in the blog, so I'm hoping it works. Let me know!
Smokey was glad to be on a quiet boat.
As night fell, we had a beautiful view of the Miami skyline. Not the best picture, but you get the idea.
By daylight this morning - a better view.
Even in our protected anchorage, we were subjected to wind last night. Luke estimated at least 25 knots allll night long. It's calming a bit now. His careful analysis of the weather is --- if the forecast stays the same -- a good outside run tomorrow to Lake Worth, wait out north high winds on Sunday, and a possible overnight on Monday/Tuesday or Tuesday/Wednesday to our final destination, St. Marys, GA. THAT would be wonderful. Of course, it would also be wonderful if the weather forecast wouldn't change!
Just for Luke, as we wait out the weather - chocolate chip cookies on order! mmm...can you smell them!?
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