I have made it to Florida, and visited with my good friend Rick Glasby (the kind gentleman who keeps up my blog), and he persisted in reminding me that I have been negligent in writing my updates, so here goes:
The last time I wrote, I was moving from North Carolina to South Carolina. I have spent nights in South Carolina just off Winyah Bay, just south of Charleston, and in Beaufort. The only stop I went ashore at was Beaufort, where I did a wine tasting and had dinner. Then on to Georgia. I anchored in Thunderbolt (just south of Savannah), and in the South River. It was finally starting to warm, and Florida was just around the corner. In fact, I made Florida the next day, after going by the Navy’s Kings Bay submarine base, which never fails to impress me.
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| Navigator Entering Satellite Beach |
The first stop in Florida was to anchor just off the waterway about 10 miles south of Fernandina Beach. The next stop was St. Augustine, where I picked up a mooring in the city mooring field. There, I went ashore, did a wine tasting (it seems I do like my wine), and had dinner with friends that I crossed the Gulf Stream with 2 years ago, Dennis and Georgia. They were traveling in their motor home and happen to be in St. Augustine at the same time. (Dennis and Georgia, it was good seeing you again). The next day I made it to Daytona Beach where I anchored and it was finally a warm 77 degrees.
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| The Neighbor's Dock in Satellite Beach |
It rained on Monday, the 14th, but I still got to Melbourne, FL and spent the night at anchor in preparation for visiting my friends, Rick and Clayton, and picking up a crewmember for several days of the trip. On Tuesday, I went up the Banana River to Satellite Beach and docked next door to Rick and Clayton’s house, as the dock was longer next store and NAVIGATOR fit better. I had a great time with Rick and Clayton. In addition to feeding me, they drove me all over town so I could do repairs on NAVIGATOR, the biggest problem being I needed a new engine starting battery. On Thursday, I had a visit from a volunteer crew member to help me get to West Palm Beach. In the afternoon, the 4 of us went swimming in the ocean. It was cool, but not cold once you got used to it. Then went out to dinner, and later had a swim in Rick and Clayton’s pool, which was also cool, probably cooler than the ocean.
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| Clayton and Cliff on the Nature Trail |
Friday we went to a park to walk the trails because it was very windy for the beach. Had lunch in Titusville along the water, then made a stop at the famous surf shop Ron Jons.
Saturday was time to get on the waterway again. My crew and I went to Vero Beach the first day, and tied up to RIVERDANCE, owned by John and Connie, that was on a mooring. We all had drinks and appetizers together, thanks to John and Connie. The next day we continued on to Stuart Florida, where we anchored and took the dinghy ashore to walk around Stuart. Had lunch, did some walking and window shopping, then had a glass of wine. As we were heading back to NAVIGATOR it started to rain, as we were raising the dinghy on the davits, it started to pour, and boy did I get soaked. But it was a fun day, and a little fresh water never hurt anyone, saved on the need for a shower.
Monday we continued down to West Palm Beach. We used the dinghy to go into town and make arrangements to get my crew to the airport the next day, and had a drink at a waterfront tiki bar. Came back to the boat for dinner. The next day, Tuesday, my crew had some time before the flight, so we went ashore again and had lunch, walked the ocean, came back to NAVIGATOR for a quick dip in Lake Worth, and then off to the airport. It was a fun day.
Now I am all alone again, and it feels odd somehow, but I am sure I will get used to it quickly again. It is time to decide about crossing, and I am pretty sure I will wait for my friends John and Connie to get ready, as well as another friend Rejean, who I met in the Abacos two years ago. He keeps his boat in Titusville over the summer and has come down to pick it up. He should be ready to cross in about a week or so. With any luck, we may all cross together.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Stay in touch. Some pictures are being added to the blog so don’t forget to visit.
Cliff
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