Sunday, November 09, 2008
Arrived Stuart Yesterday
Our final day on the water was warm, calm and an easy trip down the reminder of the Indian River, then into the St Lucie to our dock at Circle Bay Yacht Club Condo in Stuart, FL. Since it was a weekend we saw quite a bit of small boat traffic and the usual few who do not know how to use a boat. There was also an airshow in Stuart this weekend and we saw some of the planes from that event. We arrived at the condo about 12:30 Pm just 1 hour ahead of our friends the Hoopers aboard "Liberty".
Today's Stats: Location Circle Bay Yacht Club Condo, Stuart, FL ICW MM 987 ( plus 8 miles up river ). Distance traveled 51.53 miles, avg. speed 8.36 MPH
Our final day on the water was warm, calm and an easy trip down the reminder of the Indian River, then into the St Lucie to our dock at Circle Bay Yacht Club Condo in Stuart, FL. Since it was a weekend we saw quite a bit of small boat traffic and the usual few who do not know how to use a boat. There was also an airshow in Stuart this weekend and we saw some of the planes from that event. We arrived at the condo about 12:30 Pm just 1 hour ahead of our friends the Hoopers aboard "Liberty".
Today's Stats: Location Circle Bay Yacht Club Condo, Stuart, FL ICW MM 987 ( plus 8 miles up river ). Distance traveled 51.53 miles, avg. speed 8.36 MPH
Friday, November 07, 2008
Loving the Florida Sunshine!!
Today started warmer than any day of the trip - 65 degrees and by early afternoon over 80 degrees in the sun. It was a perfect day to cruise down the wide Indian River past Melbourne and on to Vero Beach. I decided to count large boats today: we had 4 sailboats pass us going north; going south with us I passed 1 sailboat and 5 large powerboats passed us. This section of the ICW has very little tide or current so we made good progress at the boat's normal speed, around 7.75 knots or 8.9 MPH. One treat today was many shows of dolphins running and jumping next to the boat. There is a short movie of the show below. We are anchored tonight about 4 miles above Vero Beach just off the ICW across from multi-million dollar homes. We should be home to Stuart by tomorrow afternoon.
Todays Stats: Location - Pine Island, Vero Beach, FL ICW MM 946.4, distance traveled 62.01 miles, avg. speed - 8.71 MPH
Dolphins Next to our Boat Movie ( large 10 Mb file-needs high speed connection ) - CLICK HERE
A Pass on the Indian River ICW:
Today started warmer than any day of the trip - 65 degrees and by early afternoon over 80 degrees in the sun. It was a perfect day to cruise down the wide Indian River past Melbourne and on to Vero Beach. I decided to count large boats today: we had 4 sailboats pass us going north; going south with us I passed 1 sailboat and 5 large powerboats passed us. This section of the ICW has very little tide or current so we made good progress at the boat's normal speed, around 7.75 knots or 8.9 MPH. One treat today was many shows of dolphins running and jumping next to the boat. There is a short movie of the show below. We are anchored tonight about 4 miles above Vero Beach just off the ICW across from multi-million dollar homes. We should be home to Stuart by tomorrow afternoon.
Todays Stats: Location - Pine Island, Vero Beach, FL ICW MM 946.4, distance traveled 62.01 miles, avg. speed - 8.71 MPH
Dolphins Next to our Boat Movie ( large 10 Mb file-needs high speed connection ) - CLICK HERE
A Pass on the Indian River ICW:
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Time to Put on Shorts
Finally, shorts and Florida weather. A mild morning in Daytona Beach at 58 degrees quickly warming to mid-70's with some sun.
Winds were light from the north and we quickly made our way down Mosquito Lagoon, across the Haulover Canal at the Space Center and then into the wide indian River. We anchored for the day just south of the NASA Causeway where we can see the launch pads and space shuttle assembly building.
Today's Stats: Location NASA Causeway, FL, ICW MM 885, distance traveled 57.68 miles, avg speed 8.71 mph
Finally, shorts and Florida weather. A mild morning in Daytona Beach at 58 degrees quickly warming to mid-70's with some sun.
Winds were light from the north and we quickly made our way down Mosquito Lagoon, across the Haulover Canal at the Space Center and then into the wide indian River. We anchored for the day just south of the NASA Causeway where we can see the launch pads and space shuttle assembly building.
Today's Stats: Location NASA Causeway, FL, ICW MM 885, distance traveled 57.68 miles, avg speed 8.71 mph
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Short Day to Daytona
Yes, we have turned the weather corner. Another mild morning and by later in the week it should be about 80 degrees...YES!!!!
Today we just had a short run from Palm Coast to Daytona Beach. Its all inside now and we can relax and enjoy the view from the boat. Once again we saw almost no traffic on the ICW and did not pass even one boat. We are anchored tonight in Daytona Beach between two sets of large bridges in a no wake zone. Behind us sits two large 25 story condo buildings called Marina Grande. There were supposed to be 4 towers, but only two are built. The look 100% empty and I suspect many investors walked away from their deposits rater than take an immediate loss on the unit in todays market.
Todays Stats: Location Seabreeze, Daytona Beach, FL ICW MM 829.2, distance traveled 29.45 miles, avg. speed 8.41 knots
Empty Marina Grande Condos - Daytona Beach
Yes, we have turned the weather corner. Another mild morning and by later in the week it should be about 80 degrees...YES!!!!
Today we just had a short run from Palm Coast to Daytona Beach. Its all inside now and we can relax and enjoy the view from the boat. Once again we saw almost no traffic on the ICW and did not pass even one boat. We are anchored tonight in Daytona Beach between two sets of large bridges in a no wake zone. Behind us sits two large 25 story condo buildings called Marina Grande. There were supposed to be 4 towers, but only two are built. The look 100% empty and I suspect many investors walked away from their deposits rater than take an immediate loss on the unit in todays market.
Todays Stats: Location Seabreeze, Daytona Beach, FL ICW MM 829.2, distance traveled 29.45 miles, avg. speed 8.41 knots
Empty Marina Grande Condos - Daytona Beach
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Still Rolling South
What a difference being inside on the waterway makes. Temperatures were reasonable this morning at 62 degrees but it was still very cloudly. Every day the forecast is for sun tomorrow - so we will see what happens Wednesday. We talked to our friends and they are still in the Charleston area waiting for a better window to keep going south. We are glad we pushed on.
Today we ran almost due south through the city of St. Augustine and then on to a friends dock in Palm Coast which is about 20 miles south of St Augustine. It is a community directly off the ICW with a maze of canals. They are deep and wide and there are many boats in the 50 foot range in front of the homes.
Have you looked at the "My current location" to the left of this post? It is scary how good Goggle Maps is. If you zoom in for example on today's location using the satellite map you will see the boat I am tied next to!!!
Todays Stats: Location Palm Coast, FL, private dock, ICW MM 801, distance traveled 54.50 miles, avg. speed 8.84 MPH
What a difference being inside on the waterway makes. Temperatures were reasonable this morning at 62 degrees but it was still very cloudly. Every day the forecast is for sun tomorrow - so we will see what happens Wednesday. We talked to our friends and they are still in the Charleston area waiting for a better window to keep going south. We are glad we pushed on.
Today we ran almost due south through the city of St. Augustine and then on to a friends dock in Palm Coast which is about 20 miles south of St Augustine. It is a community directly off the ICW with a maze of canals. They are deep and wide and there are many boats in the 50 foot range in front of the homes.
Have you looked at the "My current location" to the left of this post? It is scary how good Goggle Maps is. If you zoom in for example on today's location using the satellite map you will see the boat I am tied next to!!!
Todays Stats: Location Palm Coast, FL, private dock, ICW MM 801, distance traveled 54.50 miles, avg. speed 8.84 MPH
Monday, November 03, 2008
Clouds and Lumpy Seas to Florida
Our original plan was to stay 2 nights at Jekyll Island but the forecast changed and both Monday and Tuesday now have the same wind forecast ( 10-15 mph ). We started the morning expecting to stay and Sandra started doing some of our laundry when I asked the boat that was blocking us at the marina if he was going to leave. When he said yes I decided that we too would go. The problem was I did not allow enough time to dry the clothes so Sandra was ticked and the boat full of damp clothes. As we went toward St Andrews Sound I asked a boat ahead of me how the crossing was and he said that nearr the ocean the sound was a"little lumpy" but otherwise OK. Well...WRONG... a little lumpy was a nasty swell right where the ICW almost touches the ocean. So now I had two strikes with Sandra. The rest of the day was OK, bout cloudly and with wind. It did not feel like the 69 degrees that was todays temperature. We crossed into Florida, stopped for some fuel and then decided to continue on when I saw that the anchorage I wanted to use had no protection from the Ne winds. We also had a lucky break getting to a railroad bridge that had been closed due to mechanical problems and just opened an hour before we arrived there. Once again we had good luck with currents making for a fast trip. We are in a marina tonight at Jacksonville Beach.
Today's Stats: Location Palm Cove Marina, JAX Beach, FL, ICW MM 747.4, distance traveled 68.03 miles, average speed 9.72 MPH
Our original plan was to stay 2 nights at Jekyll Island but the forecast changed and both Monday and Tuesday now have the same wind forecast ( 10-15 mph ). We started the morning expecting to stay and Sandra started doing some of our laundry when I asked the boat that was blocking us at the marina if he was going to leave. When he said yes I decided that we too would go. The problem was I did not allow enough time to dry the clothes so Sandra was ticked and the boat full of damp clothes. As we went toward St Andrews Sound I asked a boat ahead of me how the crossing was and he said that nearr the ocean the sound was a"little lumpy" but otherwise OK. Well...WRONG... a little lumpy was a nasty swell right where the ICW almost touches the ocean. So now I had two strikes with Sandra. The rest of the day was OK, bout cloudly and with wind. It did not feel like the 69 degrees that was todays temperature. We crossed into Florida, stopped for some fuel and then decided to continue on when I saw that the anchorage I wanted to use had no protection from the Ne winds. We also had a lucky break getting to a railroad bridge that had been closed due to mechanical problems and just opened an hour before we arrived there. Once again we had good luck with currents making for a fast trip. We are in a marina tonight at Jacksonville Beach.
Today's Stats: Location Palm Cove Marina, JAX Beach, FL, ICW MM 747.4, distance traveled 68.03 miles, average speed 9.72 MPH
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Four Georgia Sounds Done - One to Go
Finally - mid 50's in the morning; almost calm over the Georgia marsh with a feeding dolphin and the birds making a little noise as the sun came up. We had an early start at 6:15 am with another long day ahead. It went very well with light winds to start and later in the day winds were in the low teens. We crossed four sounds. On the larger ones which are very close to the ocean we had some swell and chop but nothing uncomfortable. You might ask what is the big deal about these sounds. The deal is they can get nasty with just moderate winds due to how close they are to the ocean and the possibilty of wind and tidal currents going in opposit directions. Today we were passed by quite a few power boats and we also had maybe 8-10 power boats heading north from what was probably a weekend trip between Florida and Savannah for a group. During most of the day we had favorable currents on a rising tide. The higher tide also helped get us over the many shallow spots in the Georgia ICW which has not had any dredging in over 5 years due to lack of funding. We are now at Jekyl Harbor Marina where we had dinner and enjoyed the grounds. The live oak trees and hanging spanish moss are a unique part of this area. The weather is still unsettled and we will see Monday morning if we stay or push on across the Florida line just 20 miles or so to our south.
Today's Stats: Location Jekyl Harbor Marina, GA, ICW MM 681.3, distance traveled 76.28 miles, average speed 9.03 MPH
Finally - mid 50's in the morning; almost calm over the Georgia marsh with a feeding dolphin and the birds making a little noise as the sun came up. We had an early start at 6:15 am with another long day ahead. It went very well with light winds to start and later in the day winds were in the low teens. We crossed four sounds. On the larger ones which are very close to the ocean we had some swell and chop but nothing uncomfortable. You might ask what is the big deal about these sounds. The deal is they can get nasty with just moderate winds due to how close they are to the ocean and the possibilty of wind and tidal currents going in opposit directions. Today we were passed by quite a few power boats and we also had maybe 8-10 power boats heading north from what was probably a weekend trip between Florida and Savannah for a group. During most of the day we had favorable currents on a rising tide. The higher tide also helped get us over the many shallow spots in the Georgia ICW which has not had any dredging in over 5 years due to lack of funding. We are now at Jekyl Harbor Marina where we had dinner and enjoyed the grounds. The live oak trees and hanging spanish moss are a unique part of this area. The weather is still unsettled and we will see Monday morning if we stay or push on across the Florida line just 20 miles or so to our south.
Today's Stats: Location Jekyl Harbor Marina, GA, ICW MM 681.3, distance traveled 76.28 miles, average speed 9.03 MPH
Saturday, November 01, 2008
A Long Day to Georgia
Looking at the possibility of nasty weather along the SC and Georgia coast starting Sunday night we decided to try and make it past most of South Carolina's and Georgia's open water in two days. It would normally be a three day trip to cover that distance but protected places are not that easy to find in the Georgia marshes and marinas on this part of the ICW are far apart. That gave us a long over 80 mile run today. It was in the high 40's when we started and warmed to the low 70's. We have turned the corner on the weather we hope as far as temperatures go. The trip today took us past the Marine Base at Paris Island, then across Port Royal Sound, past Hilton Head and then across the Savannah River into Georgia. We really were surprised how few boats we saw today since it was a weekend.
Tonight we are anchored in a spot we used some years ago to protect us from a big NE storm. It is south of Savannah on Queen Bess Creek and we are again all alone enjoying the quiet. In the morning we had some wind and chop on the water but tonight it is calm.
Today's Stats: Location - Queen Bess Creek, SC ICW MM 606, distance traveled 86.39 miles, average speed 8.54 MPH
Looking at the possibility of nasty weather along the SC and Georgia coast starting Sunday night we decided to try and make it past most of South Carolina's and Georgia's open water in two days. It would normally be a three day trip to cover that distance but protected places are not that easy to find in the Georgia marshes and marinas on this part of the ICW are far apart. That gave us a long over 80 mile run today. It was in the high 40's when we started and warmed to the low 70's. We have turned the corner on the weather we hope as far as temperatures go. The trip today took us past the Marine Base at Paris Island, then across Port Royal Sound, past Hilton Head and then across the Savannah River into Georgia. We really were surprised how few boats we saw today since it was a weekend.
Tonight we are anchored in a spot we used some years ago to protect us from a big NE storm. It is south of Savannah on Queen Bess Creek and we are again all alone enjoying the quiet. In the morning we had some wind and chop on the water but tonight it is calm.
Today's Stats: Location - Queen Bess Creek, SC ICW MM 606, distance traveled 86.39 miles, average speed 8.54 MPH
