Admiral’s Weekly Log

August  10-15, 2009

Monday

We remained tied to the Riverside Marine, Fort Pierce, FL for the first two days of this week.  The last of the mechanical issues identified from last week were being worked and rechecked by close of business (5pm) on Monday.  (Photo #132)

 
Photo 132: Batter Load Check

Tuesday

Captain Rob, who had disembarked from our vessel on Thursday, August 6, remained in St. Petersburg through this day to finalize some business matters.  Thus, as the saying goes, “When the cat is away, the mice will play.” Thus, the Admiral and Captain Michael, decided that this might make a FINE day for the two of them to take the 68-foot vessel out on their own and try their ‘sea legs’.  Afterall, we reasoned – Now WE’RE Ready!

Now, it is worth noting that up to this day, neither  the Admiral or Captain Michael had done such maneuvers, even under the watchful eye of the ‘official’ Captain.  Not a problem, piece of cake was the thinking.  Morning hours are calm, tide low, and currents running in our favor for BACKING this vessel out through narrow entrance of the Marine, turning her around in the open water and then ‘paddlin’ up and down for short way and then return, dock and high five one another. (Photo # 136)

 
Photo 136: Rivera Marina at Sunrise

Another saying pops into mind…”the best laid plans”.  Alas, as an earlier entry around this date describes…the results were much different from the plans, beginning with that we did not depart in the morning, but in the afternoon with a steady 10-15 knot breeze on our aft, tide high, and depth finder not turned on.  As mentioned previously, no photos take of this little adventure…only short written description with hopes that the experience taught us much and images may slowly recede from memory!  It was UGLY.

HOWEVER, the final result was that no other boat was harmed, no damages were done to the houseboat (other than egos), and we DID a high five with relief that everything was in one piece and we were fully content to await for the BIG CHEESE to return and take us towards home.

Wednesday

8:45am ET – Now We’re Ready once again.  We are once again under power and underway.  Almost one full-week we were laid up in Fort Pierce and while at the Riverside Marina, there were several people and ‘spots’ that shall be remembered. 

We are most thankful to owners, Dan and Sally…and their son Jason and chief mechanic, Walton.  Many a mornings and evenings did the Admiral sit outside the office building with another transient boater, Regent Laplante.  While swatting mosquitoes, each would check email from the concrete benches where wireless internet could be accessed and chat it up. As a retired Canadian Army Sergeant, now making his home wherever his catamaran might dock, Regent was to be our hero in many ways on that unforgettable Tuesday.   (Photos #134, 147, 123, and141)

 
Photo 134: Mechanic Crew, Rivera Marina

Photo 147: Farewell Rivera Marina, Ft. Pierce, Florida

Photo 141: Canadian Boater Helping

Photo 123: Rivera Marina Office

We officially dubbed this day as ‘NASA Day,’ since we spent a good part of this day moving closer and closer to the Kennedy Space Center and looked forward eagerly to spotting on the horizon landmarks like the Vehicle Assemble Building (VAB) and shuttle launch pads. Also, as we got closer, bridges were to bear the name NASA.  (Photos #156, 159, 172, and 167)

 
Photo 156: Vehicle Assembly Building, Kennedy Space Center
 

Photo 159: NASA Bridge Sign, KSC

Photo 172: Launch Pads 39A and 39B

Photo 167: Shelly Points Out NASA Railroad Bridge

This day was to be exceptionally long. We attempted at dusk to drop anchor and settled down for a night out in the middle of a bay, between New Smyrna Beach and Titusville, FL.  Unfortunately, the squishy bottom of the channel would not allow the anchor to hold and so we pulled up and continued.  Dusk turned to dark and very slowly we continued on towards New Smyrna Beach, swatting mosquitoes as we ran at a top speed of 5mph through the 10-mile long Mosquito Lagoon.

10:00pm – Docked for the evening at the New Smyrna Beach City Marina. 

Total distance: 120-miles

Thursday

6:50am ET – Off and rumbling once more

8:45 – Time for the Admiral to pull her weight and put hands to the wheel.  She did very well…so don’t believe everything that you see.  Images can be deceptive and the two captains are known for trying to gang up on the Admiral and make things look worse than they actually are!  (Photo #181)

 
Photo 181: Admiral Shelley Driving -- YIKES!

1:30pm – St. Augustine comes into sight.  It is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States.  Traces of the Spanish heritage are everywhere.  We pass the fort, Castillo de San Marcos, and soon come up on the first lighthouse of this voyage – St. Augustine Light. (Photo #196, 193)

 
Photo 196: Old St. Augustine Fort

 
Photo 193: St. Augustine Lighthouse

The afternoon brings the first day of rain and very soon it is raining so hard that everything is collected from the Flying Bridge -- navigation charts, compass and GPS – and everyone retreats to the lower bridge to paddle through the afternoon storms.  (Photo #202)

Photo 202: Driving in the Rain

6:45pm – Amelia Island Yacht Basin served as the resting spot for the evening.  Excitement is felt from the crew – approximately seven miles to go until we are in Georgia.  We go to sleep with “Georgia on Our Minds”

Total Distance: 124 miles

Friday

7:00am ET – Departure into the fog.  Once the channel is reached, the sun has risen and the fog has quickly dissipated. (Photo #231)

Photo 231: Departure Channel, Amelia Island, Florida

7:43am – We have passed the marker indicating Georgia.  All is well….or at least for the next 30 minutes.

8:15am – A more descriptive account of what occurred has been captured on this date.  At this moment, we were feeling not too welcomed by Georgia.  On the other hand, another way of looking at this was that Georgia was up close and personal to us to the point of providing us escort service by the US Coast Guards for what could have been a troubling part of the Intracoastal Waterway! (Photo #218)

Photo 218: More Escorts

7:15pm – Isle of Hope Marina, Savannah, GA was to be our home away from home this evening.  We celebrated this first day in Georgia by ordering out.  Yep, Papa Joe’s Pizza was located near the marina and delivered.  Yummy! 

With full tummies, we now hunkered down dreamin’ of Sweet Caroline ... South Carolina.

Total Distance:  131 miles

Saturday

6:55pm ET – Breathtaking sunrise is captured.  The first and only one from Georgia.  (Photo #251)

 
Photo 251: Last Georgia Sunrise

With gas tanks still approximately ¼  full the plan is to head into South Carolina and towards Hilton Head Island for a fill-up.

8:30am – Two states behind us and now into the third state – South Carolina.  Once again, we capture photo of the marker that serves as our ‘Welcome To’ the state. (Photo #258)

Photo 258: Farewell Georgia, Hello South Carolina

10:15-11:00 – Fill-up accomplished.  Now We’re Ready is a BIG vessel and was plenty thirsty.  A 380 gallon tank takes 280 gallons at this fill-up.  Admiral’s immediate thought as the pump keeps clicking are “Mom and dad, send money!”  (Photo #263)

Photo 263: Gassing at Hilton Head, South Carolina

As the miles pass, we have passed the following cities during the morning and early afternoon – Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, Parris Island.  We concluded today’s journey in Charleston, SC.

I close this week’s log with a final photo taken in honor of the new NASA Administrator, Charles M. Bolden, a retired two-star Marine General.  For you sir, a photo of perhaps an old stompin’ ground  -- Parris Island.  (Photo #269)

 
Photo 269: Parris Island, South Carolina

Total Distance = 120 miles

FOOTNOTE:  One month ago, this journey got underway.  A 12-14 day trip has certainly had its’ detours’ and taken a more ‘scenic’ pace.

_____________________________________________

From: Anderson, Bill
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 10:58 PM
To: Canright, Shelley
Subject: RE: Admiral's Weekly Log -- August 10-15, 2009

Sorry I got to this late.  I was at Peg’s.  She’d brought pork back from Iowa along with fresh Iowa corn and she threw a party on her patio.  Watermelon, corn on the cob, barbecue pork, potato salad, home made bread, home made ice cream, blackberry pie … mmmmmmm……

From: Canright, Shelley 
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:01 PM
To: Anderson, Bill
Subject: RE: Admiral's Weekly Log -- August 10-15, 2009

Late, nothing…just had the pelicans carry this to your homestead, Bill.

Yummy…sounds like you had a wonderful day and just reading your description makes my mouth water.  Blackberry pie and homemade ice cream.  I am envious!

We shall have to throw a boat party soon after we get ‘home’.  I’ll have to see if Peggy does any catering!  J

From: Anderson, Bill 
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:03 PM
To: Canright, Shelley
Subject: RE: Admiral's Weekly Log -- August 10-15, 2009

I’ll have the pics up shortly.  What’s your ETA for DC?

From: Canright, Shelley
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:06 PM
To: Anderson, Bill
Subject: RE: Admiral's Weekly Log -- August 10-15, 2009

I'm almost afraid to predict ETA.  However, we are averaging about 110 miles a day.  We have about 700 miles to go…but the challenge will be once we hit Virginia due to all the low bridges and having to time ourselves for openings…and be forced to wait until the next opening…which could be anywhere from quarter of an hour to close to one hour.  BUT, if I just do rough calculations of 100 miles a day and 700 miles more…then seven days until ETA.  Fingers crossed…next Saturday or no later than Sunday.

From: Anderson, Bill
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:08 PM
To: Canright, Shelley
Subject: RE: Admiral's Weekly Log -- August 10-15, 2009

Shelley and Mike’s Excellent Adventure

From: Canright, Shelley
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:09 PM
To: Anderson, Bill
Subject: RE: Admiral's Weekly Log -- August 10-15, 2009

Too funny.  Well, Mate.  Sunrise shall roll around too soon and thus, I need to turn in so that I can get my rest and get the two Captains up and rolling in the AM.

All is well here in the harbor of Charleston, SC at this hour