Eight Days, Seven Nights

We are now home. Arrived at the home dock about 2:20. The water calmed as we approached the Eastern shore of Charlotte harbor and we put Pretty Girl on plane for the last few miles.

We had salt spray all over the outside of the boat. After unloading, we spent the next 2 hours scrubbing the outside and flushing out the motor and dinghy motor.

We really hated to get off the boat. When we in Stuart, we could have continued so easily in another direction. This was an amazing trip and we are looking forward to some weekend mini-trips before it gets too hot here.

Here are a couple picture of us on the beach at Cayo Costa Thursday evening.

Slowly But Surely

Up anchor at 10:45. Wind 15 to 20 kts out of the NE. Forcast was for the wind to abate late AM then pick back up late afternoon. Good forcast, except that it's wrong!

We are doing trawler speed through Charlotte Harbor. We are at the mid point of a rising flood tide--good for a push. The problem is the wind is opposite the tide flow giving higher waves in this shallow water. We generally have 2 foot waves with some 3 footers (and an occasional 3+ footer). The Pretty Girl will need a good bath to wash the salt water off everything when we get home.

The autopilot does a great job, even at slow speeds which greatly reduces the work load. We like trawler speeds, especially with this sea state. It makes for a nice, comfortable, no-stress ride.

As we are about to turn the corner at marker 5, it appears to be calming some. We always prefer calm water.

Stay tuned, more later.

Flipper--Is That You?

Took our showers last night after we came back from helping the sun set off the beach. Anchor lamp lit and deployed and crawled into the V-berth to allow ourselves to be gently rocked to sleep. Suddenly we begin to hear clicking noises, like someone tapping rapidly on the hull. Eight to twelve taps, then nothing. Got up to investigate. In the cockpit I became convinced it was coming from the starboard quarter--maybe the dinghy was rubbing on it's fender, no it wasn't. Just then the tapping was on the port side, then the bow. I checked the anchor line, no problem, bimini wasn't the source. We were puzzled.

Sometimes the clicking seemed near, sometimes distant. It remained at odd intervals.

Just as it was getting dark, we had been visited by a bunch of dolphins. They were actively feeding all around us. Could they be the ones clicking? We don't know the answer, but observed at least one other boater at anchor running around his boat checking out the same stuff we had done on ours. The clicks finally left and we were peacefully rocked to sleep with the sounds of the gentle waters lapping at our hull.

Stay tuned, more later.

Cabbage Key

Took the dink out of the back way in/out of here. Shallow except for a twisty channel that the local folks know and we are still trying to learn.

Cabbage Key is just 2.2 NM from us in a straight line--we likely traveled at least 3 NM. There is a restruant there--good food.

Two things about this that I am aware of: 1) This is suppose to be the place where Jimmy Buffett ate, then was inspired to write "Cheezeburger in Paradise"; 2) For years, tradition has been to write your name (or whatever inspires you) on a dollar bill and attach it to the bar wall (ceiling, etc). This place has been in operation since the 30's and was thick with 1 dollar bills. They were all removed after 9-11 and sent to NY for relief. As I understand, over $90,000 was removed and the owners pitched in and made it an even $100,000.

KaHanaPonoDreamn 2009 now has it's place on a dollar bill attached to the bar wall.

Nearly cocktail time. Stay tuned, more later.

Good Morning From Pelican Bay

We've decided that this is our San Juan Islands. It's so peaceful and quiet. Our favorite (current favorite that is) is right off an osprey nest. We think there are chicks in the nest.

We were entertained by a bunch of dolphins last night. They were in the area for at least 40 minutes. Sometimes you only notice them when you hear them "blow". It can catch you by surprise (especially when they are right next to the boat)because it is a sound that doesn't belong--it's really fun.

Today is another non-movement day. Some of our favorite days are like this. We will continue to relax, Gail will do some more fishing. We have settled into a nice rhythm with the boat and the water. Life is good, but sometimes requires some more boat chores.

Stay tuned, more later.

Pelican Bay

Tucked in our favorite anchorage at Cayo Costa at 2:15 PM. Very nice run by Ft Myers and glad to have fewer boats in the narrow channel to deal with.

The island (Cayo Costa) is mostly a state park although there are a few private residents living there. The beaches lack the condos and mega-mansions that occupy so much of Florida's shore line. Like the air force beach at Cape Canaveral, it gives us a glimpse into what it all looked like years ago.

We like to take the dingy to the bay side dock and hike the 0.9 mile road to the gulf beach. Shelling is generally good, if one is in the mood. We have actually seen the green flash at sunset.

I had always wondered if that was myth or legend based on some one's drug crazed claim--but rest assured, we both saw it, no chemicals involved.

Time to entertain our fellow inhabitants of the anchorage by putting the dingy together.
Stay tuned, more later.

Great Morning

A very good decision to put into Rialto Harbor Marina last night. Rain, lightning around--but never too close. Wind around, but not here.

We hooked up electric and ran a small fan for the night. The front has cooled things off a bit and the weather calls for light winds the remainder of our trip.

We are planning to head down river in a bit. Likely get to Caya Costa (Pelican Bay) for the next two nights then home on Friday.

Before we left Rialto, I had to snap this photo. Conversations on the Trawler List frequently turn to anchors. One member says that if you have an anchor that is so large everyone points and laughs that it is right size. Maybe this one would take the prize.

Stay tuned, more later.

Rialto Harbor Marina

Our first marina in FL. It's very nice and nicely protected as well.

We've walked the property 13 acres, pool, shower and bathroom. Beautiful trees and gardens.

The water is not tidal-fresh water with the level controlled by the damns associated with each lock, so they do fixed (not floating) docks and they are substantial.

The new dock lines that we prepared prior to this trip are being put to good use. There is a good breeze right now with some gusts. I expect it to increase later today. We are in a very safe place. The boats here do very well in hurricanes!

Time for lunch. Stay tuned, more later.

West Bound Again

Nice night in Lollipop. Up early and slow underway at 07:30. Locked straight through Ortona (6 foot drop) and continue to pretend that we're a trawler doing just over 5 knots.

Wind advisory for later today so will find a place to tuck into early. Glad we are West of the lake!!

Stay tuned, more later.

Lollipop Part 2

Just a little after 4PM we pulled back into lollipop anchorage. I think this may have been a gravel pit prior to the waterway. The bowel (or sucker) at the end of the canal (stick), is 30 to 36 feet deep. We anchored at the end of the stick in 10 feet. It's narrow here, but no tide and the wind should be out of the South all night. We have the place all to ourselves, at least at this point.

Where to tomorrow, we're not sure. Maybe a marina for a night or two. Something we have not done. There are high gusty winds forcast for Wed--which is why we decided to get across the lake today. We have many options, but will need to find a good "hole" for Wed.

Stay tuned, more later.

Out of Stuart

Left this AM at 0900. Got across the Lake and stopped at Roland Martins again (fuel--55 gal, and lunch).

Almost to Moore Haven lock. Trip very uneventful--time to lock

More later

Cocktail Time

Had a nice walk into town. The boardwalk into town is finished. Found a Sports Bar open. We had a beer and a flatbread pizza--pretty fine. Came back to the marina, did some boat chores and had a great chat with a guy from Montreal. He and his wife are leaving their sailing cataraman (35 feet) at Indiantown Marina on the hard and will return next Nov. Pretty cool.

We just read that Navy popped 3 pirates and rescued Capt Phillips. Now that is really cool!!

We think we may start back West tomorrow. The long range forcast has some high winds predicted for Wed and we would like to be West of Lake Okeechobee prior to that. We flew by some areas that we could spend more time in and that would give us that experience on the way home.

Stay tuned, more later.

Stuart Mooring Field

Up anchor 09:30 this AM. Pretended we were a trawler and motored the 3 or so miles down river to the mooring field--the same one we felt was too rough yesterday, at just over 5 knots. We like traveling at slower speeds, especially for short distances.

For $12.50/night, we now have access to nice showers, bathrooms, all the water we need and a dingy dock.

We were off the boat for a bit. Back on for lunch. Then a nice walk to town later.

We met a nice fellow, Joe on a Morgan 35 sailboat, from Canada. They left there last June and are starting their trip North. Really fun talking with him.

Stay tuned, more later.

Here we are--Welcome to Stuart

The last lock, St Lucie, dropped us 12 feet. The first drop and the largest excursion on the whole trip.

As we got closer to Stuart, we noticed a large increase in the boat traffic. Also a huge mix with folks being pulled on tubes, wake boards etc along with folks fishing, trawlers, and others at planning speed. All of this is occuring in a narrow channel that is constantly twisting and turning. It does keep you on your toes!!

By 4 PM we dropped the hook a ways up the North Fork of the St Lucie river. We looked at an anchorage in Pendarvis Cove, but it was crowded and not as well protected as we wanted. It appears that the city mooring field is open, but it currently in directly down wind (big waves). I didn't thing we would have a very good (restful) night there and it would have been pretty rough to launch the dingy.

So here we sit, nice breeze, 5 million $ homes just off our bow and a part of Stuart off our stern. Now if Gail would only start catching fish!

Stay tuned, more later.

East Bound

Out of Lollipop at 9AM. A lot of fog kept us in place longer than planned. It did give us time for coffee and such.

It's about 1:30. We are in the St Lucie canal on the East side of Lake Okeechobee.

The lake was non-eventful. 8 to 10 feet most places. Saw 6.5 just west of the Port Mayaka locks. The locks were open on each side so we just slid through. Easiest locking to date!!

We stopped at Roland Martin's Marina in Clewiston and fill up at the 10 hour mark. 65 gallons to fill. I learned many years ago to not trust fuel gauges and was glad to have her full.

The picture is the railroad bridge just East of the Port Mayaka lock. It only lifts to 45 feet. As we approached we were able to observe Captain Billy loading on 55 gallon barrels to the port side of a sailboat, fill them with water until the boat was healed over enough to allow the mast to pass under the bridge. A very interesting process. I'm glad that we did not have to participate!

We are less than 20 miles from Stuart. One more lock to go. More later

Lollipop

4 PM. At anchor at a place called Lollipop just East of the Ortona locks.

Ortona was our second set of locks today. We got some instructions from Huston (the lock tender) at the Franklin lock that has served us nicely. Gail told him that we were novices and he was happy to answer all our questions.

I am surprised how long it took to get here. Four hours out from home put us under the 41 Bridge going through Ft Myers. It's been a good trip.

Gail is fishing (surprised aren't u) and I'm glad to be stopped for a while. Final destination????

Soon

Hiram Chittenden locks in Ballard (Seattle), built around 1917. Two locks, a smaller with floating bollard walls and the larger lock that required constant attention while being raised or lowered. Frequently, the travel in the lock would exceed 15 feet. Been through these multiple times, but not for many years.
Tomorrow we will need to negociate 5 separate locks on the Okeechobee waterway. It should be interesting. I hope I can figure out how to post a picture as we move along.

The boat is mostly loaded. A few last minute things to pack and load (including ice chests) and we hope to have an early departure.

Stay tuned.

The Plan

The current plan is to load PRETTY GIRL this week and launch towards Ft Myers probably Fri morning, up the Okeechobee waterway towards Stuart. Sights to be seen, locks to experience and adventure to be had. The plan is loose, dependent on our mood and the weather. We will likely spend a few days on the East coast, then reverse course and come back home by the end of the week following.

This is our first attempt at blogging. If successful, we will be able to post pictures and a little update as the adventure unfolds. More later.