MONDAY 11/12/2012 THROUGH THANKSGIVING DAY, 11/22/2012

How quickly the last eleven days have gone by docked here in Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart, Florida!  Everything you could want is either right here or nearby.  Garth and Kathy did a great job keeping me company during Dan’s absence, sharing meals and including me in shopping trips and walks about town.  I spent quite a bit of time cleaning poor Quest.  She had been quite neglected by me during Richard and Charlene’s visit.  Woodwork was oiled and laundry done, along with the dusting and vacuuming.  Somewhere along the line, I got a “bee in my bonnet” and decided to have the window coverings redone.  I yanked down all the existing, rusted and bent mini-blinds and tossed them into my rental car then measured all the other windows and portholes. Armed with all this, I headed to the House of Blinds in North Miami Beach where they will magically be transformed into new, non-metallic, faux-wood blinds.  The proprietor assured me they will be ready on Friday, 11/23.  Wish for the best!

LIKE I SAID, YOU CAN FIND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HERE.
HOW ABOUT THIS OLD LAND CRUISER WITH THE ELEVATED TENT?

 

The weather has been a quite lovely on the whole but one night we had so much rain that Algonquin’s dingy became waterlogged and the gas tank was floating.  Quite a bit of bailing was required to keep her afloat.  Kathy and I helped Garth out by going shopping!

ALGONQUIN'S TENDER IN DIRE NEED OF SOME BAILING OUT

Dan returned from his Vermont trip on Saturday the 17^th but was able to fly into the closer Palm Beach Airport instead of Fort Lauderdale.  I was glad to have him!  Since returning he has wired in the new portable Honda generator, made necessary repairs to the shore power electrical cords, installed the new starboard salon window and repaired that screen, constructed  new screens for the two large portholes in our master stateroom and exicuted an idea of mint to enable the port holes to be partially opened while the shades are down.  How nice that is!!!

DAN SNAKING WIRES UP, DOWN AND ALL AROUND FOR
THE NEW GENERATOR INSTALLATION

Sunset arrives at 5:27 PM now but we are looking forward to December 8^th when that time will slowly start to be pushed back.  Dan did a good job catching the glow of the setting sun over the boats.

STUART SUNSET

 

Thanksgiving Day found the docked and moored boaters sharing a wonder meal together.  Sunset Bay Marina hosted and provided the site, the paper products, the turkey and several other trays of food.  The participating boaters all brought dishes to share.  What a feast it was!!  Thank you Sunset Bay Marina for organizing such a super gathering.   

THE BOATERS BEGIN TO GATHER FOR THE THANKSGIVING FEAST

LINE UP!!!

KATHY HAS A HERD TIME DECIDING FROM THE
TOO NUMEROUS CHOICES OF YUMMY DISHES

AND WE ARE TOGETHER, THANKFUL FOR OUR BLESSINGS

Our family was spread all over.  Our daughter Erin and her family in Hawaii celebrated Thanksgiving with friends and Dwayne's family.  They gathered and cooked a pig in their Cuban-Pig-Box.  It was just another work day at Jet Blue for our son Robert and he spent it training a new employee.  Our youngest, Steven is spending another Thanksgiving in Annapolis with his friend Andrew and family.   We all have much to be thankful for and I am most thankful for my wonderful family and many friends.

DWAYNE FINISHING UP THE
THANKSGIVING PIG

 

The following poem was written by fellow boater Aime’ Lerner on the Lady M and recited to all us appreciative diners after our Thanksgiving meal. 

A BOATER’S THANKSGIVING

Boaters give a special thanks

On each Thanksgiving Day

First is for the sea of blue

So somber when it’s gray

We’re thankful for the lack of waves

When going port to port

We’re thankful for the harbor safe

When in a storm we’re caught

 All boaters know the dangers

Of going off to sea

We hope someone will hear us

If safety is our plea

We’re thankful for the sunsets

The rays of red and gold

The beauty of those moments

When sunrise does unfold

 When light appears at daybreak

And all is quiet and still

The sailor knows awakenings

Will always bring a thrill

 When out on flowing waters

When serenity abounds

We thank our lucky stars above

We’re not tied to the ground

 The dolphins down below us

The birds that soar above

Are surely quite symbolic

Of nature’s constant love

 But really most important

As all true boaters see

Is our sense of “all together”

Our true camaraderie

 Boaters always gather

To help in times of woe

Our joy in someone’s pleasure

When hearts are all aglow

 Thanksgiving Day is special

To all who gather here

So let’s give thanks to Neptune

For all we hold so dear

SUNDAY 11/11/2012 RICHARD AND CHARLENE TAKE OFF

RICHARD AND CHARLENE LEAVING THE QUEST

Charlene and Richard were great guests and we will miss their assistance and their company.  Boy did the time ever go by fast.  I took them to get their rental car and off they went but this time down the scenic A1A.

READY TO ROLL

Dan finally made it to Burlington in the wee small hours this morning, got a little sleep at Roberts then Steven picked him up and toted him down to the office/apartment to begin his busy week.

Garth and Cathy’s friends, Steve and Peggy, were at Algonquin when I returned and they were deep into playing cards.  There were no prisoners taken, these guys mean business!!  We had met Steve and Peggy in Fort Lauderdale when docked on the New River while Dan attended his Captain’s school.  It was good to get reacquainted and visit for a while. 

THIS CARD GAME IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!

We were all treated to the final day of the Stuart Air Show at Witham Field.  Planes dating from WWII to modern-day were showing us their best.  The Aeroshell Aerobatic Team dazzled us in their T6 Texans, looping and diving across the sky.    Both the Navy Legacy and the USAF Heritage perform with current fighters on the wing of World War II, Korea and Vietnam era aircraft fighters.  We just sat on our boats and they swooped across the sky, delighting us one and all.

THIS GUY WAS SHOOTING ACROSS THE SKY

THE AEROSHELL AT-6 ACROBATIC TEAM

PUTTING ON A SHOW FOR US

 

 SATURDAY 11/10/2012 DAN FLIES TO VERMONT AND WE EXPLORE FORT LAUDERDALE

 

After Dan got his gear ready we headed to Stuart for breakfast at the Osceola Café right here in Stuart. What a good find! They make their own breads daily and all was yummy.

JUDY, CHARLENE AND RICHARD AT THE OSCEOLA CAFE

Charlene informed me that Osceola (1804-1838) played a huge part in the Second Seminole War when he led Seminole Warriors rebelling against their forced relocation from their lands by the United States.  Osceola was born Billy Powel to a British father and Creek mother.  By the way, any of you Carl Hiaasan readers can find an abbreviated accounting of his capture in his novel Nature Girl.

We made the hour and half drive to Fort Lauderdale, dropped Dan off at the airport and set off to stroll down  the lovely Las Olas Boulevard.  ( http://www.lasolasboulevard.com/)  No rest for us wicked!  Incoming phone call from Dan--------“Didn’t make the flight, come get me so I can play too!!”  Everything is so close here that we soon had Dan in tow and were back by the New River having lunch at rok brgr, one of our favorites.  Check out their menu and note all the wild burgers they offer.  :// http www.rokbrgr.com/eat/ft-lauderdale-menu/

THE LAS OLAS ELEPHANT SLOWLY BOBS HIS HEAD
AT RICHARD AND CHARLENE

YEP!  THIS DOG IS CARRYING THE TRAY OF
 COFFEE CUPS DOWN LOS OLAS BLVD.

THE TEAM AT ROK BRGR

NOW THAT'S SOME BURGER

We also had the opportunity to visit the new West Marine here in FLL and, wow, it is gigantic.  It proved a fortuitous visit for us as the Garmin 441s that we had been looking for to install in the tender was on a great sale.  We snapped that up right and Dan will install it when he returns.

It was back to the airport once again, boot  Dan off for his next possible flight then on with our drive back up to Stuart.  Richard and Charlene now have the Fort Lauderdale area down-pat and they will have no problem getting around when they come here tomorrow for a couple of days before flying back to California.

GIVING DAN THE BOOT!

 

FRIDAY 11/9/2012 SEBASTIAN TO SUNSET BAY MARINA IN STUART

50 NM

Leaving Sebastian was quite a process this morning.  The wind was blowing and there was no room for Dan to spin Quest to head out forward.  So, I took the tender out into the main channel and Dan backed the Quest, and backed the Quest, and  backed the Quest until he was far enough into the cut to spin her around and head on into the main channel.  Whew!!!   Reunited, we all sailed on.

SEBASTIAN RIVER MARINA

QUEST PREPARING TO BACK OUT THE CUT

We all tried to enjoy our last day sailing.  Richard and Charlene basked in the intermittent sunshine while watching for visiting dolphin.  Dan kicked back in his “driving” position while taking in the ever changing sights along shore.   Quest sailed past Winter Beach, Vero Beach, St. Lucie, Fort Pierce and Jensen before heading up the St. Lucie River to our destination in Stuart.  In Fort Pierce we passed this Patrol Boat loaded down with decked-out personnel.  We weren’t sure what they were up to but were totally prepared to be boarded.  Didn’t happen!

RICHARD AND CHARLENE BASKING IN THE SUN

CAVORTING DOLPHIN

REALLY, THIS IS HOW DAN DRIVES MUCH OF THE TIME

THE LOADED PATROL BOAT

 

In the afternoon we began to see (and HEAR!) jets screaming all around us.  We saw one go straight up, stall out, drop then quickly recover and zoom off.  There were big ones, little ones, fast ones and faster ones all around us.  It just took your breath away to watch.  Later we found out that they are preparing for an airshow this weekend and we will have a grand view from the marina.

ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM

 

Our arrival at the Sunset Bay Marina was heralded by some gusty blows.  Off in the tender I went while Dan and crew headed into the marina, spun Quest, backed into the slip, tied up and prepared a place for the con-Quest to reside.  How nice it has been having Richard and Charlene’s able assistance during our journey south. 

WELCOME TO STUART

 

Garth and Cathy on Algonquin greeted us at the dock.  These are the folks we met in Ft. Lauderdale on the New River while Dan was attending his Captain’s Class.  They have a 53’ Yachtfish Hatteras and we were going to travel to the Bahamas with them last winter.  Hurricane Irene put the kibosh on that idea when she shut down the Erie Canal Locks with Algonquin in Toronto.  Being the resourceful couple they are, they “made lemonade” and continued on to do the “Loop”.  We were so glad to meet back up and Dan has left them in charge of keeping me amused while he is back in Vermont.

THURSDAY 11/8/2012 NEW SMYRNA TO SEBASTIAN RIVER MARINA

73 NM

Passing through the Haulover Canal Bridge behind the tow, Anger Management, and the S/V Breaking Wind brought Quest into a “wildlife heaven”.  The Haulover Canal is infested with wonderful creatures.  Dan spied several Manatees as we crept through this narrow passageway.  We also saw numerous screeching Ospreys, darting Kingfishers, Pelicans, Herons, the ever present Cormorants and lively Dolphin.  We were like kids in a candy store, running all around Quest, snapping photos, calling out sightings of new species and just plain ogling at everything.  That Dan Querrey sure knows how to put on a good tour!

ANGER MANAGEMENT AND BREAKING WIND LEAD THE WAY

IDLE PELICANS HEED THE SIGN

OSPREY

CAN YOU SEE THE MANATEE BREAKING THE WATER?

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MANATEE

 

Upon further investigation I discovered that this area is home to amazing, single-cell plankton called Dinoflagellales that creates a nighttime bioluminescent effect.  Kayak tours can be arranged and this will surely be on our list for another time.

As we neared our destination in Sebastian we were gifted with a spectacular dolphin show.  They surrounded the Quest, swam at the bow, cavorted in our wake and even splashed Charlene.  What clowns they are!

RICHARD'S VIDEO

 

In 1715, somewhere near Sebastian, several Spanish ships loaded with valuable treasure went down.  To this day only a small portion of this booty has been recovered.  Hmmmm, sounds like some mighty fine pickin’s in these here parts! 

WHITE PELICANS IN FORMATION

 

WEDNESDAY 11/7/2012 ST. AUGUSTINE TO NEW SMYRNA BEACH

61 NM

The landscape has changed drastically from the low country we saw in South Carolina and Georgia to canals lined with personal docks and condos filled with sun seekers.  We have seen everything from trailer parks to mansions today.

DOCK AFTER DOCK AFTER DOCK AFTER DOCK

Well, we are back in that section of the ICW that is wealthy with bridges, some posing no issues at 65’ and some needing to be opened to allow our continued passage.   Today we needed five bridges to open for us.  At the L.B. Knox Bridge, located south of Flagler Beach and north of Ormond-by the-Sea, we followed Runaround Sue and pretty much stayed with her most of the day.

FOLLOWING RUNAROUND SUE THROUGH THE
L.B.KNOX BRIDGE OPENING

YEP, EVEN WITH THE 4 EXTRA FEET IN THE CENTER
WE STILL NEEDED THIS BRIDGE TO OPEN FOR QUEST

DROPPING THE ANCHOR

 

 

Tonight’s destination was an anchorage on Sheephead Cut at New Smyrna Beach.  After setting the anchor we took off in the con-Quest for a little exploration of the area.  We found all the marinas and the New Smyrna Yacht Club, checked out their boats and looked for manatee.  No luck on that front but we will continue our search.

HOME FOR THE NIGHT

 

New Smyrna was settled in 1768 when Scottish physician, Dr. Andrew Turnbell, transplanted 15000 settlers from Smyrna, Crete, Minorca, Majorca, Ibez and Sicily to these shores to grow hemp, sugarcane and indigo.  Mr. Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railroad brought a steady influx of people in the late 1800s and Prohibition found the river islands populated with moonshine stills and provided hideouts for the rum-runners from the Bahamas.

We enjoyed the peaceful night on-the-hook with Dan barbecuing steaks and toasted Richard and Charlene on their 42ed anniversary. 

SUNSET OVER NEW SMYRNA BEACH

 

TUESDAY 11/6/2012 A DAY TOURING ST. AUGUSTINE

ELECTION DAY

QUEST AND LITTLE CON-QUEST AT THE DOCK

For a day we thought might be a washout, today turned out to be a gift filled with balmy temperatures and blue skies after the morning rain.  We discovered a most wonderful Cuban restaurant, La Herencia for breakfast and feasted on their famous Guajiro before beginning our tour of St. Augustine on the trolley.

DAN AND RICHARD READY FOR
BREAKFAST AT LA HERENCIA

GUAJIRO

AS SEEN ON PBS??

On our trolley tour we saw The Old Senator, a towering oak tree that is over 600 years old, Flagler College that was originally built as a luxury hotel for the industrialist and railroad pioneer Henry Morrison Flagler, the old Woolworth's building where the 1963 sit-in took place, as well as the ancient Castillo de San Marcos.

FLAGLER COLLEGE IS A PRIVATE, FOUR YEAR,
 LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOL

THE WOOLWORTH'S DOOR

 

Castillo de San Marco, the oldest masonry fort in the United States, was constructed by the Spanish in 1672.  The fort is constructed of coquina, a type of rock that is formed from shell fragments.  This type of stone was perfect for the old fort because its soft texture allowed the cannon balls to sink into it rather than shatter the fort’s walls.  British General Oglethorpe brought his troops down to defeat the Spanish and take over the fort in June of 1740.  After 27 days of bombing the soft coquina walls of Castillo de San Marcos and 27 nights where the Spaniards snuck out to repaint the damaged walls, the baffled British resorted to blockading the Matanzas River and all roads leading into fort in an effort to starve the people of St. Augustine. Soon Oglethorpe was forced to retreat due to their own lack of supplies and low morale. 

CASTILLO DE SAN MARCO

NOTICE REMNANTS OF THE WHITE PAINT,
 WORN  AND FADED OVER THE YEARS

Let’s see, there was some afternoon sangria at Mi Casa Café, a little shopping on old St. George Street, oohing-and-awing a the dock’s resident herons and dinner at A1A.  All in all, a very good day.

MI CASA CAFE SERVED UP SOME
MIGHTY NICE SANGRIA

JUST ONE OF OUR DOCK NEIGHBORS