Almost there!!

Just arrived in St. Augustine - we were just here 5 weeks ago with the trailer!!  We have cruised almost the netire length of the East coast of Florida.  Today was almost balmy compared to the last 4 - record setters!!  Our days are usually about 7 hrs long and we are pooped by the time we get in.  Standing all day either driving or reading charts (Mary) and  finding the markers to compare to the charts (me).  Alan is really catching on to driving Panacea - she does handle beautifully!! Today we had a strong current when coming into the dock and Alan did great  with a little guidance from  Mike.  Much more boat than we are used to dealing with and current/tides are a big issue to learn to deal with here.   We have eaten  all of our meals on the boat using the grill - food always tastes great on the water.  We have taken some pictures and will try to figure out how to post them ?!  We are leaving in a bit to have our first meal ashore as we will be "home" tomorrow in Fernadina Beach!!
We are docking in a boat yard as they will be able to do some of the work we need to have done on the boat, and Mike and Mary wil be our neighbors!!  We have developed a real friendship so it will be nice to be close to them.  They have gone out of their way to make sure we are comfortable with Panacea and are a wealth of knowledge.   Would never deal with any other broker than them. You can find more pictures on Mary's blog  with  Paradise  Yachts.  First of May we will head out for the summer to visit kids and grand kids  so we have a lot to get done on the boa t.  Walt and Diasy will come up Tues with  the dogs - we  have missed those boys!!

Our New Boat

A new adventure has begun  for us - with our new boat Panacea.  She is a 42 ft Nova trawler and we found her in Ft Lauderdale.  We have spent the last 2 weeks on her getting her ready for the trip North to Fernandina Beach, Fl where she will spend the summer while we are traveling in the trailer visiting all of the kids.  Three days ago our broker, Mike and his wife Mary, joined us for the cruise to  Fernandina and will teach us the ropes about cruising on a trawler. We are having a blast!!  Spending this evening in Titusville, Fl and hope to be in Fernandina on Sunday.  Our boys, Salty Sam and Trawler Ted are staying with our dear friends, Walt and Daisy, while we are on this trip.  We so appreciate   their help with the boys.  The boys have adapted pretty well to the boat - just another new thing in their lives, which they have come to expect from their parents  To see more pictures of our current trip go to Paradise Yachts blog .

2002 Novatec