Dec.29-30

December 29-30

So on the 28th we went to get our exit permit and once again the last few things we forgot. When we got back the cowling was off the dinghy motor and long-story-short: it had to go back.

In the morning of the 29th the service guy picked up the motor and the replacement we were expecting never materialized. I already ranted about this on facebook]. Many of you kind friends told me not to take a bus back to Ontario, and Jeanne gave me some particularly helpful advice which I tried.

Last night around 5 pm we got the call: there was nothing wrong with the motor - final word from the service department. This morning it came back. We were already anchored out and Rick rowed against the 20+ knot winds [luckily the tide was coming in] to pick it up. I had visions of him having a heart attack on the dock but he survived...

So guess where we are NOT?! In Riverside!!! We got under the bridge, fuelled up and pulled into the anchorage just past the South Causeway Bridge...okay so we only went three miles but, hey...we anchored in daylight!

Good thing, too, because we went aground in this anchorage!! And the dinghy pushed us off the sandbar!

 [I know some of you think I make this stuff up...but I don't. If there were ever two people who should just quit while they're ahead...]

But hey, the winds have died... well, maybe not ...we are sitting behind a bank of high rise apartments,  beside a trawler that just pulled in called Loose Goose from Midland Ont. The sunset was spectacular and we are eating hot soup and drinking tea. And we might even make it to where C-Soul is anchored for New Year's Eve. Life is good...again...for now...

Goodnight, stay warm and safe! HUGS

going to get motor

one bridge down...

two bridges down

don't I look happy??

end of day!

December 25-28

December 25-28

This has been an interminable week...oh, wait...only 3 days...see what I mean?

Christmas Day was fine...we spent the morning trying to start the motor...no luck. So we left and met up with C-Soul. The movie was great - Rogue One- so sad about Carrie Fisher. [ I took the Star Trek / Star wars test...I am either Spock or Leia depending on what galaxy I am in]

26th we talked to Tim about returning the motor. He said to take it to a repair place that was Honda certified. In the meantime he looked at it and made some more adjustments...and it ran for him...grrrrr.

27th ...okay it runs...every time Rick starts it. So either we're morons when it comes to mechanics [I don't believe that] or we're cursed [ closer to the truth of it].

We picked up or spark plugs, spent the morning with _Soul and came back to move the boat. Decided that we needed a source of internet and spent the evening searching [by car] for the proper plan to add to our unlocked phone to give us the maximum coverage for the best price. Everyone one was sold out!!!

Today we leave the Marina proper and anchor outside the channel. We will slowly head south after we get fuel, water and our exit permit. We will be in Lake Worth by Monday. We will head out between midnight Monday and 6 am Tuesday morning and should be on the Bahama bank by Tuesday night. At least, that's the plan today....

December 24

TO all our family and friends; thank you for all your thoughts , well-wishes and advice.
First: we bought it new from a dealer (through the Marina). Reputable dealer.
Mark Fischer came back yesterday and between him and Rick they fixed the problem...slight adjustment to gas ratio/ start vs slow idle set-up and several other tweaks that I'm not sure I want to know about.

So now it starts...several times ...after letting it sit, or running it, and we are confident that it will be a good motor. It may take awhile for me to get the hang of starting it, but I learned how to start the little Yamaha.

It's Christmas Eve and we have just finished a great dinner of smoked turkeys, smoked ham, green beans, lima bean soup, sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, gravy, cheese, buns, pickles, cranberries and tons of pies and apple crisp with whipped cream. The Marina people put this on and we brought side dishes. It was great. Mark and Gail came over too. Not a traditional Christmas Eve for us, but nice.

Tomorrow we are going to meet Gail and Mark and go to a show then have dinner at their Marina. After that we are going to set out and I will be without internet on a regular basis until we cross over to the Bahamas and get our internet set up.

So if you don't hear from us for the next while, we are fine. we hope you all have a great Christmas and Happy New Year.

Take care; be kind to each other. May the Universe provide you with what you need. And be happy. There's no fun in being anything else.

December 22

December 22

We are still at the dock. The last chore is propane before we park the car and head off to the ICW, and anchor out. We have been invited to Christmas Eve dinner here at the boatyard, and we aren't sure if that means we can stay at the dock for a couple more days or what...

We could go out to anchor, but the new dinghy motor is a learning curve. I read the manual to him and he ignores it. So needless to say, he has a hard time starting it.

I still can't get used to getting up and having nothing to do, or at least no rush to get anything done. Sorry for all of you who are still working and trying to keep to a schedule.

It rained here last night and cooled off here considerably. So it's maybe 72 and gray.

Our last chore ashore is to get the propane tanks filled. If we move out to anchor we will lose the internet access until we are over in the Bahamas and get our Bahamas phone activated. I am not ready to cut myself off yet.

Okay, neither of us can start the new motor. What a good deal!!! Where is that god's eye? Maybe we need to get it back!

December 20

December 20

It's not feeling a lot like Christmas here...it's friggin' hot and we are getting frazzled...still stuck here. Tomorrow we hope to get our boat papers. That 4 feet of snow is starting to look not so bad.

Gail  [C-Soul] has been sick in hospital for three days...we are visiting her in hospital tonight...a bit of an infection from a bite, possibly. Hopefully she should be coming "home" tomorrow and we can plan our crossing.

On a different note, Sue H, I've had just about all I can handle from the Universe, so I hope it backs off a bit!! We had to find a bigger charger for our batteries and we've been charging for 2 days. Thank god for shore power. The small trickle charger bit the dust and while investigating the type and source that we needed, we found that a trickle charger will kill deep cycle batteries...funny, that information didn't turn up last year when we were trying to get them fixed!

Today, after 3 days of battling with the 8-hp motor that got 'fixed' in Tobermory, and finding that there are NO parts for 2-stroke Yamaha engines available in the USA or Canada...they aren't sold here anymore, and screwing around with jury-rigging 4-stroke parts, we finally had to bite the bullet and buy a new Honda 5-hp motor. It should be here tomorrow... Merry friggin' Christmas!

Hope yours is looking better!

December 18...Another day ...

December 18

Another day of running around...Rick's drill bit the dust so we needed a new one. Looked for a car cover; there's no place to leave the car inside...only boats and RV's. Rats!

There was a manatee swimming around us this morning but the water  isn't clear enough here to get pictures.

We can't get the dinghy motor started...what a SURPRISE!! Rick spent the very last day in Canada working on it, with a mechanic "supervising" but they never tested it. Sam, the motor guy will be in tomorrow so maybe he will have time to help.

However, we saw the peacocks today on our way to Home Depot, and managed to get a picture!

Oh...Home Depot... a new Ryobi drill with 2 batteries for $99.00 and comes with your choice of another Ryobi tool!!  And because we couldn't get a Home Depot card [it wouldn't accept a Canadian SIN number, they gave us another $10.00 off!!! So that was his Christmas present.

So another day of stupid little chores, and hopefully the weather window will hold on Thursday...we only need 12 hours of good winds and clear skies!

FYI - For those who have not seen them, these are the stained glass windows my brother, Joe made up from my logo. Love them!

December 16

December 16, 2016: In the Water

Wow, it took awhile to get sea legs back. I am still bouncing off the bulkheads trying to move from one room to the other.

We are still floating in the slip. It was so dark and late last night that they didn't want us to move down to a dock; besides, there isn't one ready for us yet. We will move out to anchor when we have finished the laundry, provisions and sorting the workshop.

We didn't check the bilges when we launched, partly because Rick wanted to move the car out of the way of the travel lift and over to the boat. So an hour later I went looking for him...he was helping them set up another boat. He was covered in mud and needed a shower so by the time we had dinner it was 9 pm. Anyway, we don't have wet floors so w must not be leaking!

There are still big fish in the channel here, not sure what they are but they sound like whales. They chase small fish around body-slam them into the boats to catch them. Sounds like we are being invaded!

The little critters here didn't take long to attach to the boat, either. There is a crackling noise all the time, with these little shrimp-like organisms chewing at the boat...either they are cleaning it...not likely; or they are eating the bottom pain...more likely.

There was a beautiful purple ibis standing on the floating dock behind us this morning, but I couldn't get the camera out before he left.

Today we rig the sails, sort the workshop, fill the trailer with stuff we don't need right now but might need when we come back. We are floating a little low on the port side...200 pounds of t-shirts, art supplies and the tool shed will do that but there is no way to balance off the load according to Rick, "we aren't bad"

Mark and Gail, C-Soul, are waiting for us so we can cross together. We are going to try to get to the Abacos to meet up with Diane and Andy on Windreka for Christmas Day. Our problem is that we have to get our documents from Homeland Security and then we have 48 hours according to the last officer we talked to. Our weather window isn't until next Wednesday, 21st...Cutting it a bit close...

We did the final provisioning today. Got our frozen food and some more peanut butter and coffee.  It was a very long day.

When we were ready to move out of the launch slip [because they were going to drop another boat on us] we headed down to the dock Tim had picked out. Sam [Tim's assistant] came with us because the winds were 20 knots into the channel and we had to make a right angle turn into the dock space. We didn't fit and the wind drove us against the ends of the other boats. This place is unbelievably crowded. 

We stayed wedged in the slip while Tim moved another boat out of a wider slip and we are now parked right beside the launch slip. Bonus...I can access their internet from the boat without going into their office ...at least on the I-pad. My stupid Acer computer, from which I blog, can't do it.

Anyway, we can get over the humps! It's not snowing here!

 

In the water [in the morning]

Burning the sugar cane fields

December 15

December 15

Emptying the trailer was more of a chore that we thought, but it was gratifying to see the trampoline go up! I forgot to bring my sewing machine to finish the sock for the little jib. Rats, but I brought the cord for it! Today we were supposed to be launched...not happening. It's now 4:30 and they are still working on the "Flying Dutchman"...no mast, no motor or shaft. Don't know how he got it in here, unless he pushed with a dinghy! Been there, done that !!! 

We went to Jacksonville to pick up the t-shirts and stuff for the Regatta. 9 boxes!!! We managed to stuff them into 7 and pack them into the "Study/ guest room" We went to Ft. Lauderdale the day before [and the opposite direction, of course] to get the blades, switch and nose cone for the wind turbine. We called twice to make sure they had the parts, and they assured us that they did. Of course, they didn't, but we got the most important parts...the blades!!!

We put the old prop back on... the extra ones we brought didn't fit.  And we discovered that the whole drive hangs slightly under-hung on the back.  This pushes the nose down but we can't change that until we re-install the locking mechanism so that will have to wait until we hit a beach with really clear water [so when Rick drops the parts, I can find them].  So once again it will be a slow slog over there.

Not much else happening... gotta get the laundry done. 

Dec. 8-9

December 8-9

We got to the boat this morning to check it out... FYI Magic is just fine!  Beguiler and Pearl have left and we searched for Amazing Grace before we realized that you probably aren't here! Haven't seen Copper Penny either.

So the boat has only a few bits of mould...the fridge and a couple of pillows that soaked up the condensation. The pillows were going to be turfed anyway. But what's really creepy...I found a Rubbermaid container of spaghetti sauce sitting on the shelf beside the freezer.  It doesn't smell, has hardly any mould in it!  So either the commercial spaghetti sauce is filled with preservatives or Rubbermaid makes one helluva great seal!!!

We wandered around helplessly wondering where to start and then decided to go visit Mark and Gail in Indian Town, about 20 miles away. They are in the water ready to go, but now the question of a weather window comes up...when is it good to leave. We are all hoping to be in the Abacos by Christmas.

The boat beside us, and the one behind are being launched on the 15th so we need to get moving and get ourselves ready so that they don't need to move us twice. But we have to go to Jacksonville on Monday to get the Regatta stuff.

The boat was fine for sleeping so we ended up in our OWN bed. We loved living with Jack for 5 months but it feels good to be home... on the boat! The batteries need to be supercharged; one of the solar panels had something hit it or rub on it so it will need to be replaced or fixed, and Rick had to go to MacDonald for coffee this morning but we're going to be fine! The cold front hit last night and the temperature went down to about ...16? Sorry! It's grey and drizzling but that makes it easier to work.

My fingernails and toenails are mostly pink and only turn purple when my feet and hands get wet. (OK...before we left, my awesome daughter treated me to a manicure and a pedicure, and they had nail polish that turns colour depending on your body heat...it's really cool...I am going to make it last as long as possible!  It's not going to be easy tripping through the gravel boatyard and working on the boat parts.)

Today we order the new blades for the wind generator, then Rick starts on the drive re-assembly. I will start washing the inside until he needs help, and then we can start unpacking the trailer. Yaay!!

Deember 7

December 7

Last night we stopped and picked up a cooked chicken and salad and dinner in the motel. This morning I took off my socks. The temperature outside was 11 degrees so I packed the socks away and am wearing just shoes. As we fought the morning rush hour of transport trucks, we passed the burnt one that had closed the highway all night. It was the cab that was burnt...hope the driver got out ok...no details available.

We spent the rest of the morning dodging trucks and bumps in the road... these highways are crap!!!! In Georgia, we passed work crews cleaning up the massive sections of fallen oak and pine trees from the hurricane.

At noon we stopped at a rest stop/ information center and made lunch, sitting outside in the 20 degree sunshine...sorry...okay, not. It was great and now we are running with the A/C on!!! We can smell the tidal flats, salt water and Georgia Pacific [the company that supplies bathrooms around the country with paper towels.]

Now we are running along the coast. The clouds are disappearing and we are getting more glimpses of the ocean in the distance. The vistas of grassland swamps and ocean are counterpoint to the anxiety of screaming trucks whizzing by! It is amazing to see the number of trees ripped out by the hurricane, especially through south Georgia and North Florida.

We arrived at the boat at 6 pm but it was too dark to do much except make sure that the dinghy is still intact [yay!] and the stuff we left on the deck is still there.  We went to Steak and Shake for dinner and then we checked into an America's Best motel for the night. It is stupid noisy with a bunch of contract workers in town on some project. They're still partying and it's 10:30. I guess you get what you pay for ...only $44.00 a night. I hope the boat is ready to sleep in tomorrow night !!

Hopefully the projected temperature change won't bring precipitation so we can get the boat ready to launch as soon as possible.  Later...

December 6- Virginia to SouthCarolina

December 6

Today was a tough day...lots of hard rain, transport trucks and huge mountains. There's no way to describe the enormity of the Appalachians, because they are so round and treed all the way to the top. Sections of the road were reduced speed due to fog danger. Okay...that's a joke. The speed limit is 70. (115 km) The speed was reduced to 65. (105 +/-) REALLY?!?!?  I can barely get up to 60 without freaking out...that's over the limit on ANY Canadian !

We went through two mile-long tunnels in Virginia and as we headed south the air warmed. Right now we are in South Carolina, almost at the Georgia border and the temperature is 13 degrees (Can). It's supposed to get colder by the end of the week, so we will head to Value Village and get a coat or sweater. We left all our winter clothes up in "winter country".  If we are lucky the "cold" weather coming will be Canadian Sweatshirt weather and we can forego the coats!

Later!!

Tied down !!!

Heading into tunnel

Inside the tunnel

Lots of trucks

Lots of ra

December 4-5, 2016

December 4, 2016

We're back...no, no, no, not back back. I'm back to blogging again. I'm just hoping there are still people out there who are reading still and interested!

First I want to apologize to all the people we didn't get to see this summer. Working made it difficult: he worked Tuesday to Saturday and I worked Thursdays through Monday. Sometimes we had a day off together but it was a fluke when we did. And Rick worked until the end of October. When we weren't working we were fixing, looking for parts and collecting the stuff we needed to bring back down to the boat.

Yesterday at noon we left after packing the trailer. We went through Southampton and Port Elgin... the closest border crossing for us, and managed to stop at the gymnastics club to say goodbye to Quentin, where he is a coach now. He is really good at gymnastics!! Luckily Liz arrived at the same time to pick up Natasha and she had Todd with her,  so we got to say goodbye to all of them again, except Geoff but we had seen him at the house earlier., as we were heading to Port.

It was cold and blowy and by the time we got south of Port Elgin, it was raining and snowing on and off all the way to Grand Bend, after which it just drizzled a bit here and there.

 We crossed the Bridge at Sarnia / Port Huron with absolutely no hassles except the guard wanted to know how many cabins we had. But we are on the wrong side of Florida apparently...he prefers the Gulf. We stopped at a Super 8 - whoa expensive in the States - but comfortable. We left this morning at 9 am and started south.

The car is handling the trailer well. The roads in southern Michigan SUCK!!! Our mileage is up probably because of the rough roads but gas is less than 60 cents a litre! Woohoo! Add exchange and it makes it around 75 cents.  Ohio roads are 100% better!

Our next stop is to visit the Iguana Man [Dr. Iverson] at Earlham College, Indiana, then on to North Carolina to catch up with Carol and Ross. Hope to be at the boat by the weekend, but...y'all know how well we plan things!!! Later!

December 5, 2016

We stopped in Centreville, just outside of Richmond Indiana, and visited with John and Sheila Iverson. They have a magnificent property that they are converting back to indigenous forest, and we talked about everything from tiling floors, raising dogs [they have a beautiful Doberman named Rosie], to the election tragedy! We had a great visit, played a fun game of Rummikub [?] and talked some more. We stayed over night and after a morning coffee were on our way to North Carolina.At one of the Rest stops about 4 hours from Indiana, we checked the trailer.

Uh-oh the whole box had shifted backwards off the frame. So we had to unpack it and find the spectra line [super rope for sailors] that we picked up. It was just long enough to tie down the box. When we got to a town with stores in the Appalachian mountains [West Virginia] , we stopped to buy ratchet straps. It seems to have worked. When we stopped for the night the box was still where we put it back. We have been discussing ways to re-build or re-attached it when we get to Florida.

Seems the weather is going to change and snow will be chasing us down to the boat. We are hoping it will turn to rain but the amount of rain predicted for Georgia the Carolinas and North Florida is a bit scary...5-10 inches..

But tomorrow we will be on the road again.