pix

Can you find the dog in this picture?

Sam, the guard dog, sunning on the foredeck.

 

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Winding down, winding up

Past week or so have been busy. The time had arrived to begin to secure the boat while we are gone, get packed up and make arrangements for picking up the trailer for our summer sojourn to north. We were hit with a 3 day nor'easter - rain, heavy wind and HIGH tides. Normal tide here is around 6 ft - we were closer to 7 or more. In addition to the wind blowing the water up the creek, there was a full moon - resulting in the high tide.Very strange sensation to see what was the opposite creek bank now below us!! The creek was over it's banks and we were floating on top. We were sure the Ark was going to show up! The cold weather encouraged the manatee to come up our creek - they would literally be rolling in the mud on the creek bank as the tide went down. They were having such a good time!! Spent a day driving an hour north into Georgia to visit a couple of prospective marinas for when we get back. We need to get out of Fl at that point to avoid paying sales tax on the boat. Looks like we will probably to go the marina on Jekyll Island - small, but lovely people, lots of doggies and very laid back. Also, for the first time, we took the boat down to the pump out dock and fuel (about 20 min away) - all by ourselves!! We picked a day when the winds were calm and the time that the tide was slack - all went very well - we were pretty proud of ourselves and of course our confidence had a huge boost! The dogs spend the time down in the fore cabin as the noise from the engines is pretty loud and we just want them to have time to adjust to it all. They are doing amazingly well at adapting to the boat. There is a sub base just across the state line into Georgia. Our dock neighbor, who was out in his small fishing boat one day, said that the Trident surfaced about 75 yds from him - a small boat approached him and asked him what he was doing (duh- fishing??), told him not to pull his anchor and keep the nose of his boat pointed away from the sub. No actions that would indicate any sort of approach to the sub. Wow - they really take this stuff seriously! What an experience - think I would have had to change my pants! We are currently in Bradenton visiting Walt & Daisy - will leave tomorrow to pick up the trailer and make sure all the systems are a go. Leave Thurs for Gillian and family in Tenn. This blog will change from trawler talk to trailer talk so if you're interested in our summer adventures - stay tuned!

 

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Maybe

We have decided that "maybe" is the operative word while boating. The couple I mentioned previously, that came in on Sunday, is having their boat hauled out hopefully tomorrow and then will rent a car to drive back to Pensacola, Fl to pick up their vehicle and they will head back home for the summer. We asked them to go out for pizza tomorrow eve and their response was "maybe" - depending on if their boat was hauled or not. Another couple came in Mon eve - had problems with their steering and the yard is looking at what repairs need to be made. We asked them to go for pizza and the response was "maybe" depending on whether or not the yard figured out the problem. We find ourselves saying "maybe" a lot as you just never know from day to day what problem may arise, how the weather will be etc. - crazy, but that is what we love about the boating life - everyday is something different, some new challenge. This am a small fishing boat passed us going fairly fast. This is "no wake" zone and he rocked all of us pretty good. He was coming back later as we were leaving the boat to go run errands. Our neighbor, who has lost his steering, got on his loudspeaker system and told him he was breaking the law and that people get hurt when you create a wake like that. He stopped at the bait shop dock and she read him the riot act and he left with his motor barely running. The "motor" boaters just don't realize the rocking motion their wake leaves and the damage/injury it can leave behind. It is also the law, in most places that are anchorages, that it is a "no wake zone". Right now Alan is down the dock having a beer with one of the single guys on our dock - just him and his dog. Such nice people everywhere we go. Loving life!!

WE KNOW HE IS FULL OF IT!!

 

Motoring down the ICW

 

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pictures

lunch time

dawn on our creek

 

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week review

Things are starting to settle down a bit. The list of boat projects, both short and long term, is becoming clearer and longer!! We will have new canvas for the flybridge and sun deck installed over the summer while we are gone. This will provide great protection for the boat, and us, from the weather and sun. She also needs to have her bottom cleaned and some mechanical work done over the summer. There is PLENTY left for us to do - as I said before, there is ALWAYS something that needs attention on a boat. We do, however, make plenty of time for relaxation and fun. Meeting very nice people on the dock and a new couple arrived last evening. They brought their boat across the Gulf from Texas, thru Lake Okachobee (sp?)in Fl and the same route up the coast as us. They will be here a couple of months getting work done on the boat and plan on doing what we plan on doing i.e. the Great Loop. Quite a "club" out there either doing the Loop or planning on doing it. Great camaraderie!! Teddy got a haircut this week - ouch - sticker shock!! In Mexico it would cost $12 - here it was $51!!!! He is awfully handsome, tho. He has taking quite well to using the carpet pad at the front of the boat to do his business (most of the time). They both will have to learn this trick once we are away from the dock for several days at a time. Sam isn't buying it. We had great fun one evening visiting friends who have set up a still in their home. Yup!! He is brewing cognac at this time and we did some "taste testing". It was pretty darn good!! The still is amazing - very small and compact. No, we are not getting one. Being close to the boat ramp we see some pretty interesting things. One day a young man was test driving a boat he had just bought. It was a strange little thing with some odd controls and he just couldn't get the hang of it. Kept going around in circles and we were keeping an eye on our boat!! They finally had to go out and rescue him. - he did not buy the boat. I think I mentioned that we use a fiberglass ramp for Sam to get on/off the boat as the tide can be 7 ft. Well, the winds were from a different direction last week (pushing the boat away from the dock) and when we came back after a dog walk we saw the ramp floating down the creek! Alan hopped from boat to boat trying anything he could to grab it, but it was on it's way! Our dock is very long - about 75 yds or so - Alan ran down and got Charlie who has a small fishing boat and they went out to retrieve it. Until then - Sam was boatless!! Another adventure - another lesson learned!! Needless to say, the ramp is on the dock whenever we leave! Alan has been busy installing new fire extinguishers and carbon dioxide sensors per the insurance requirements as well as tracking down a water leak. Tomorrow we are heading to the Jekyll Island area in souther GA where we will probably dock the boat in Sept Need to check out marinas - should be interesting!!

 

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Untitled

Testing new app blog at

 

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Dirty job (someone has to do it!)

As I promised - a "dirty" story.  As they say,  if you haven't experienced repairing the head (toilet) you aren't a serious boater.  Well, we (Alan) has jumped  into this delightful situation right away.  The head has been "acting up" ever since we have been on board.  After the third time (thankfully we have another head) we decided enough was enough.  Marine heads are fairly uncomplicated and drain into a holding tank.  Alan found the schematic for it in the boat papers and proceeded to take it apart - part by part ( I have a picture I hope to get posted - priceless!) and then cleaned each part.  I gave moral support!!  We found the problem.  When you have to replace a part in a head, you can buy a kit that contains most of the essential parts and you just go ahead and replace all the parts in the HOPE that this situation will not rear it's ugly, stinky head anytime soon!  Alan says we will know if he completes the project sucessfully when there are no parts left on the floor!  We drove to Jacksonville yesterday with Mike and Mary to West Martine - the mecca for boaters - and ordered the kit (it will be here today) and picked up some other items that we needed i.e. new lines (dock rope) and fenders (inflatables that keep the boat from rubbing the dock).  Of course, we had to make a quick trip in to Costco - aaaaaahhhh - it soothes my soul!!!  It isn't really the ideal store for boaters as we just don't have much refridge/freezer space but we figured out the items we just cannot live without!! Pathetic
We did get a leg of lamb that we will do on the stovetop. We don't have an oven and really don't miss it, but hope to get a convection microwave in the future for those times that you really do need/want an oven type meal..

The afternoon was spent making all the campground reservations needed for the trip to Tenn, Minn and Colorado - done!!It took more time than usual as the phone signal/internet was off and on.
Isn't this the 21st century???

Catching up

We arrived in Fernandina Beach  last Sun around 2 pm and it has been a whirlwind ever since so late in getting this blog out!!  We arrived to find that there had been a water pipe broken on the dock so no water hookup.  We carry a large tank of our own, so that wasn't a huge issue (for awhile) but the electricity pedestal wasn't working , or I should say, we didn't have the correct cord to connect to it.  As a result, we didn't receive the correct one until Tues and the phones, computers etc. all were down or close to down.  Life without cell phones and computers - guess what - we survived!  Mike and Mary were kind enough to charge one of our phones and a dock neighbor offered an elec cord (which was not the right one either) and a step stool to get on/off the boat.  Boating is a real community and it warms your heart that strangers are so generous!!  The tide here can be around 7 ft (the docks float with the tide) but the boat has a steep freeboard  (surface above the water) and we didn't have any steps!!  Walt & Daisy had loaned us a doggie ramp  that their dog no longer uses and Sam has taken to it like  a pro.  Ted is handed off between the two of us.  Both of them have decided this is home, for now. Walt & Daisy arrived Tues eve with the truck  and doggies.  They were so glad to see us as we were to see them!!  However, they had a very good thing going with Aunt Daisy and Uncle Walt.  They have a doggie so they know how to spoil them.  Sure made our trip a lot easier not having to worry about them in a kennel.   Thank you, Daisy & Walt!!  They stayed until Fri am and we had a great time.   Daisy and I were able to spend some "girlie" time together and the guys hung out doing "manly" things.  We have spent the last couple of days cleaning up the boat - amazing how dirty it gets.  The salt water and spray are very corrosive to anything it lands on, so maintenance on a boat is constant.  Wash downs are a way of daily life.  The stainless steel (railings etc.) have been neglected so need to  get after them with some cleaner, as well as the fenders (keep the boat from rubbing against the dock). Yesterday M&M took us to the local farmer's market on Saturdays - beautiful produce and gorgeous baked goods etc.  We stocked up (altho our space is limited - usually need to go to store about every 3 days) and had some kale this eve sautéed with garlic and onion - delicious!!  More tomorrow on a very dirty subject!!??!!