ON THE ROAD AGAIN (12/17)

12/17/2012 

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY:  86 NM

4:40 came awfully early this morning!  Despite all the unexpected glitches we encountered the engines were on and the anchors coming up by 5:00 AM.  Now Quest woke up to dead house batteries.  Strange as we ran all yesterday, were in by 8:30 and virtually used no power.  Guess that will be a much explored subject.  Dan started the generator and got that “all important” pot of Java going then cranked over both engines and pulled up the anchor with ease.  Not so easy for Algonquin that was anchored just a few yards from Quest.  Their anchor was thoroughly embedded in some rather sticky mud and refused to give up its treasure until Garth finally convinced it to give over.  A little dirty but with smiles on their faces Garth and Kathy finally escaped the anchorage.  Within a few minutes their engine’s cooling water temperature alarm began to shriek out a warning.  Not to be put off, Garth checked everything out and found all in order with the temperature right where it should be.  ----------- then Quest’s alarm began to chirp off and on.  I just think these old Hatteras boats don’t like to spend too much time at the dock and were complaining a bit about their prolonged attachment.

5 DARK-THIRTY AM

SUNRISE

ALGONQUIN TRAVELING WITH QUEST

Our two previous trips to Bimini began farther south in Miami’s Biscayne Bay.  Today’s longer journey is all new to us as we enjoy the fluffy clouds blue skies and eagerly anticipate arriving in that crystal clear waters of Bimini.

There was no question about when we entered the Gulf Stream this morning.  Wham!! The slightly rocky ride suddenly demanded all our attention and respect.  Zeke, the Portuguese Water Dog on Algonquin, was not a happy camper and ever so grateful to get his paws on stable ground.  As we neared the end of our 86 NM journey we began to see flying fish skipping over the water while evading pursuing predators.  These odd fish sport an unusually large pectoral fin that acts as a wing when they leap out of the water.  Kind of a useful trick when trying to avoid being a larger fish’s dinner.

Once again, Dan expertly (and slowly) entered the tricky channel that takes us to Bimini’s Alice Town and pulled into the welcoming and well-worn Blue Water Marina.  They must have heard we were coming because their was a raucous revival nearby and they were surely trying to save our souls with much fervor. 

After securing the vessels the guys went off to check us into the country while Kathy and I did the marina’s paperwork.  Customs granted Quest and Algonquin a 6 month stay but Immigration was closed by the time they got there.  Not to worry, tomorrow morning is just fine they were assured.  As they say here in the Bahamas, “It’s all good”.

GET READY, GET SET, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (12/15 & 12/16)

12/15/2012 AND 12/16/2012 

TRAVELED 36 NM ON 12/16/2012

Saturday went by in a blur with all those last minute things to be done like making sure all laundry was done (we will be paying for water by the gallon in the Bahamas), paying our final dockage fee, purchasing fresh produce and dairy products, visiting the local Verizon Store to have my failing broadband card checked out (dead battery-imagine that), retrieving Dan from the West Palm Beach Airport and returning our Enterprise rental car.  Thanks Marty for the ride back to the marina!

Sunday morning found Quest and Algonquin finally severing their tenacious grasp to the Sunset Bay Marina docks and beginning our day’s journey south to anchor in Lake Worth.

Once we made it through our day’s first bridge opening (the Old Roosevelt Bridge) right there at Stuart we deviated to Manatee Pocket to fuel up our tanks at the much more reasonable U.S. prices then continued south in the ICW.   We either passed under or requested an opening of 11 bridges today.  Yes  folks, this here Florida is a busy place.  Bless those bridge tenders!!!  Most are pleasant and patient with us wacky and demanding boaters.  Somehow they seem to keep everyone on track and traffic flowing.

LIGHTHOUSE BEDECKED FOR CHRISTMAS

 

By 3:30 we had reached Lake Worth and dropped anchor for the night.  Both the homes lining the lake and the boats in the marinas are stunning specimens.  OK, so perhaps there was a little drooling going on.  On a previous visit to this anchorage we spied Tiger Woods yacht, Privacy, for sale and even saw Jack Nicklaus reigning over a dinner party on his yacht, Sea Bear. 

Kathy thought ahead and prepared pasta ahead of time.  We gratefully gobbled it up, washed it down with a couple bottles of red and made our final plans for the pre-dawn departure for Bimini tomorrow.  We are all ready and keyed up for the adventure.

DECEMBER MARCHES ON WHILE QUEST STAYS PUT IN STUART

12/04/2012 THROUGH 12/14/2012

It’s been almost two weeks since my last post and I can tell you that I am SHOPPED OUT!!  All the "big-box" stores are here and I have done my best to spread the wealth.  We have also visited some mighty fine restaurants in and around Stuart.  We have enjoyed the following places that you might want to add to your list if in this area:

·         The Oceola Street Café at 26 SW Oceola St., Stuart

·         Maria’s Café at 10 SW Oceola St., Stuart for pumpkin pancakes

·         The Park Avenue BBQ at 769 NW Federal Blvd., Stuart for $9.99 Monday night ribs

·         The Key West Diner at 1619 NW Federal Hwy., Stuart for super breakfast of biscuits and gravy

·         Miller’s Ale House at 3611 Federal Hwy, Jensen Beach for Thursday night Prime Rib

·         The Thai Bistro at 5042 SE Federal Hwy., Stuart

·         Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza at 2343 SE Federal Hwy., Stuart for great thin crust pizza

Before Dan again took to the air and flew off for work we ventured out in the tender for some exploration of the St. Lucie River.  We had hardly left the marina when we were called upon to make a daring rescue at sea!!!!!  Well, maybe not so much but we did retrieve a wandering dingy and return it to its rightful and extremely embarrassed owner. 

ONE UNHAPPY BOATER

THE -CON TO THE RESCUE

S/V DEEP BLUE AND ITS DINGY REUNITED

 

Continuing on down the South Fork of the St. Lucie River we soon find ourselves in the St. Lucie Canal which leads to the St. Lucie Lock and the entrance of the Okeechobee Waterway.  This man made waterway stretches from Stuart here on the east coast of Florida to Fort Myers on the west coast and was built to create a short-cut across the state for boaters.  Maybe one day we will make the journey across in our own Quest.

THE ST. LUCIE  LOCK AND DAM

 

I commissioned some local folks to do the dirty and much dreaded job of sanding and varnishing the bright work while Dan took off for 10 days of work in both Michigan and Vermont.  We are really hoping that everything will come together nicely and the wood will be newly shined, Dan’s work will be done and Quest will be provisioned and ready to travel on Sunday morning.  And we thought we would be in Bimini for Thanksgiving!!!  Who were we kidding?

It is really “beginning to look a lot like Christmas” here in the marina with boats lit up and garland strung both hither and yon.  Our little tree is festooned and just waiting to be taken to those crystal clear Bahamian waters for the holidays. 

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

 

 

12/03/2012 VIZCAYA AND SOUTH BEACH

FROM THE ELEGANCE OF VIZCAYA TO  THE TRENDY OPPULANCE OF SOUTH BEACH

 

A total day of play for Garth, Kathy, Dan and me!   We even took Zeke for an overnighter at The Fur Seasons(www.thefurseasonsresort.com) where he could swim in a dog bone shaped pool and cavort with other doggie pals.

Our first stop was the incredible Vizcaya Museum and Gardens(www.VizcayaMuseum.org)  in on the Biscayne Bay in the Coconut Grove area of Miami.  This Renaissance styled villa was commissioned by industrialist James Deering of International Harvester as his winter home in which he took refuge from the harsh realities of the business world from 1916 until his death in 1925.  The 10 acre formal gardens are laid out and manicured to perfection.  We saw several young Cuban girls having photo sessions for their quince anos, or celebration of her fifteenth birthday.  This ceremony represents her transitioning to a young woman.

A AFTERNOON AT VIZCAYA

After our tour of Vizcaya we made our way to Miami’s famed South Beach, the place to see-and-be-seen.  Since its beginning, South Beach has been inhabited by many of the rich and famous.  President Harding stayed at the Flamingo Hotel, Jackie Gleason brought  his weekly variety show here for taping in 1964, it has been a center for illicit drug activities and during the 80’s it became a haven for those white-haired retirees on a fixed income.  Today the streets are lined with trendy restaurants and shops.  Luckily a portion of South Beach has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places and many of its Art Deco building are being preserved. 

 ART DECO IN SOUTH BEACH
THE MARLIN

THE SOUTH BEACH PALMS ALL LIT UP FOR
THE HOLIDAYS

 

11/23/2012 THROUGH 12/02/2012

QUEST AND STUART PREPARES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Lots to do!  We drove to Miami, once again, and picked up the blinds.  Boy did this give Dan lots of work to do!  They turned out great but there was quite a lot of “finessing” to do to make the new 2” blinds fit properly in the place of the old 1” mini-blinds.  I love them!!!

DAN DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF INSTALLING AND ADAPTING
OUR NEW FAUX-WOOD BLINDS

 



Daniel Craig at the Orange British Academy Film Awards in London's Royal Opera House (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All work and no play makes for cranky boaters so we took one day off for an afternoon at the movie theater.  The new James Bond SKYFALL with Daniel Craig is a must see so add it to your list.  What they did to that fabulous Aston Martin DB5 was a crime!



Deutsch: Aston Martin DB5 Saloon 1965 (Originalfahrzeug aus "James Bond 007 - Goldfinger") (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

Just to keep boredom from setting in, we had to move from B dock to C dock.  We will now be able to stay here until after Dan returns from his next trip to Vermont.  Yes, we are beginning to “gather moss” and develop the itch to be on our way.

QUEST'S NEW HOME ON C DOCK

 

 

MUSIC AT THE WATER'S EDGE

Stuart does offer much diversion that you can even walk to.  The River Walk is a lovely path to saunter from the marina to the town.  On Sunday mornings there is a small craft fair/farmers market and Sunday afternoon will find scheduled musicians playing for the gathering crowd at the water's edge. 

 

NIGHT AND DAY UNDER
THE BRIDGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas trees have been lit, holiday banners hung, boats festooned with a wide array of holiday do-dads and the annual boat light parades have started.  While enjoying all of the above, it does seem a bit strange not to be bundled up against the ever present cold of the north-eastern winter.  Mind you, I am not complaining one tiny bit, just stating fact. 

 

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.