Loving Florida Life; Driving Home for Christmas

To quickly catch you up on what’s been happening the past 5 weeks, we’ve been busy with friends, working on the boat, enjoying beautiful Downtown Stuart and even got some family time in.

We rented a car for Thanksgiving and drove to my mom’s house in Ocala for the night. Chuck repaired/replaced her kitchen lights and I worked on her computer. On Thanksgiving, we all went to my niece’s house in Jacksonville for a family feast. I think there were 18 of us. I forgot to take pictures! It was wonderful and we even got leftovers to bring back to the boat to enjoy for lunch.

We’ve been having a great time with our friends in Stuart and enjoying the Florida sunshine and warm temperatures.

Alan and Patti Blumberg, John and Joan Conover, and Ed and Gloria Hogan have been gracious hosts for dinner in their beautiful homes. It was great to see all of them and we look forward to having them on Sheet Music in January.

Boating friends Carl and Chris Gustavsen have made us many delicious meals in their home that we’ve enjoyed with Bill and Patti Turner. We anchored out last weekend in a raftup with them for the Martin County Christmas Parade of Lights. Some boats went all out in their decorating. We understand there was a $10k prize at stake. 

Chuck at helm of Annalee.

Bill and Patti raising the sail on Annalee.

One day we all went sailing on Bill and Patti's 41 ft. motor sailor, Annalee. They have a new mast and new sails and changed it to a gaffe rig tri-sail. Chuck had the opportunity to sail it and the six of us had a great time!

We had a great visit with Jim and Angela on Dec. 5.

Our oldest grandson, Jimmy, came up from West Palm Beach with his girlfriend, Angela, and we had lunch here at Sailor’s Return. We took a long walk around the area and I had the opportunity to get to know Angela a bit. She’s a sweet girl and I can see why Jimmy loves her.

Jazzy and I take daily walks along the Riverwalk, through the streets of Historic Stuart, where there are lots of little shops and restaurants and return through Flagler Park. Of course, Jazzy gets lots of attention and she loves that. Some places even put bowls of water out for the dogs.

Our address through January.

The dog walk.

One of many picturesque views from the Riverwalk.

Another pretty Riverwalk view.

Sheet Music is moving to the seawall on Sunday for the rest of December and the month of January. We’ll pull up the dinghy and scrub the bottom. On Monday, Patti is taking Chuck to the airport in West Palm Beach to pick up our rental car. We saved more than $100 by picking up the car at an airport. We’ll drive to my sister Penny’s house to have dinner, load up our stuff that we gave her in Daytona and at Thanksgiving, then drive home on Tuesday to spend Christmas with our kids and grandkids. We expect to be home for 10 days, then drive my car back here.

I’m loving this Florida weather and hate the thought of the snow and cold, but it’s only for a short time and it will be great to see the kids and grandkids.

I’m taking on a few writing projects in January, then we’ll either head to The Keys or Bahamas, depending on how Mom Mc is.

I’m looking forward to hosting our friends for dinner on Sheet Music while we’re at the dock! It has been peaceful on the mooring ball, but I like to be able to just step off the boat and take a walk without having to interrupt whatever project Chuck is working on. And it’s hard to have anyone over for dinner when they have to get a (maybe) wet dinghy to get here!

I am (mostly) healed up from my fall off the boat in Daytona. I still have some swelling on my shin and my back is a bit tender at times, but I was really lucky! I have an appointment to see my doctor while we’re home.

Enjoyed our visit with Jim Mosher on Valinor.

We caught up with our friend, Jim Mosher, who keeps his boat in Annapolis. He is working his way to Key West for the holidays, where he has friends awaiting his arrival. The day after the parade of lights, he arrived and rafted up to Sheet Music. He came aboard and enjoyed dinner and a visit. It was great to see him.

Chuck changed the zinc yesterday...or should I say,
put a new one on. There was a tiny sliver of the zinc left!

We've seen many beautiful sunsets here and are enjoying life on a boat.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of new years!

Arrived in Stuart, FL, Our Winter Home

Saturday, Nov. 9:

We left Vero Beach this morning under sunny skies and high winds. The forecast was 20-25 with gusts to 30, but we decided at 8 a.m. to leave and get to Stuart.

It was sunny and warm, high 70s. The Indian River was wide, but there were a lot of markers because the channel was narrow.

We arrived at North Fort Pierce Bridge at 9:45 a.m. It is an on-demand bridge, but the bridge tender had orders from the U.S. Coast Guard NOT to open the bridge until 11 a.m. So the skipper pulled out the sails and shut the motor off and we sailed around for an hour. At 10:45, he pulled them in to get ready to go through the bridge.

Hours later, as we were approaching the Old Roosevelt Bridge, it was readying to open for a barge and the tender told us she would let us through too and we should catch up. We did, but then had to wait while the barge slowly went through the bridge. It looked like it barely fit! There was another sailboat waiting with us.

We arrived in Stuart, FL, around 3:15 p.m. and hooked on mooring ball #30. We put the motor on the dinghy and went to the office to pay for the month. Then we went to Annalee to see Patti and Bill, former A dockers at Viking, who are liveaboards. They came up from Marathon to spend some time with all of us. They made salad, spaghetti, meatballs and sausage for dinner for us, so we went back to Sheet Music and got showers, left Jazzy on the boat and went to Annalee for dinner. Our friends, Chrissy and Carl, came as well and they brought warm Italian bread and a big bottle of wine for Chuck. It was great to see everyone.

We have plans to go to dinner Sunday night with all of them and Ralph and Bette, friends from our marina at home.

We all made it through the North Fort Pierce
Highway Bridge after a long wait.

A barge squeezes through the Old Roosevelt Bridge

We made it! Stuart at last.

Bill and Patti's new tender for Annalee.

Look who we found! Annalee and our friends Bill and Patti.

Bill, Chrissy, Carl, Chuck and Patti onboard Annalee.

Moored in Vero Beach; Surprised to See Empty Moorings Here

We left Melbourne around 7:45 a.m. and arrived at the Vero Beach Municipal Marina/Mooring Field at 11:40 a.m. We needed pump out, and it’s free here. So we had to circle around for half an hour because their city dock is small and they had a fishing boat getting fuel. There was another sailboat ahead of us waiting to fuel up.

We didn’t get fuel, because we are carrying 15 gallons in jerry jugs and Chuck wanted to use them since our destination is Stuart (at least for now) and we’ll be there tomorrow.

I napped a good part of the day because the flexeril I’m taking for my back is making me sleepy. I still can’t sit for very long, so I’m lying down most of the time.

There were dolphins playing around our boat after we grabbed mooring #54 in the south field. The last time we were here, each mooring had two or three boats on it. This time, there are empty moorings and no one is "buddied up."

I made home fries and boneless pork chops for dinner with applesauce.

Tomorrow: Stuart, FL

A barge passing us.

Waiting for pump out.

Chuck made new lines for the dinghy.

We Have Cable TV in Melbourne! Watching Parenthood Tonight

Thursday, Nov. 7:

I woke up at 6 a.m. and it was clear out. I looked out 10 minutes later and saw that fog was coming in. By 7:15 a.m., it was hard to see the bridge. We left the mooring at 7:45 a.m. and the fog was starting to dissipate. We put on the radar, hung the radar ball and turned on the steaming and navigation lights. By 9:15, I was able to turn them off and there was no sign of fog.

I took half a flexeril and another later in the day, so I slept a lot while we were underway. I just can’t get comfortable.

I called Melbourne Harbor Marina and made a reservation. We arrived around 1:10 p.m. I did three loads of laundry, then made Beef and Broccoli for dinner.

We actually have cable TV tonight, so we’re watching The Voice and our favorite, Parenthood.

Tomorrow: Vero Beach, FL

Jazzy sleeping with her favorite toy, Lamb Chop,
and her new mini Lamb Chop that Grandmom brought her.

My ankle and shin are black and blue and swollen from my fall.

The bridge in Titusville before the fog this morning.

The fog was starting to come in around 6 a.m.

My view of the clouds. I spent most of the day flat on my back.

There's a pretty park across the street from the marina
with lots of shore birds walking around.

Jazzy and Abby...the one on the right is Abby.
They look so much alike!

New Mooring Field in Titusville, FL

Wednesday, Nov. 6:

We left Daytona with winds and a few showers. We radioed the fuel dock and an attendant held out a long net to drop the bathhouse keys in. Never saw anyone do that before!

We went through the George Munson Coronado Beach Highway Bridge, through Sheephead Cut, down Mosquito Lagoon into Haulover Canal, Indian River, through the Max Brewer RR bridge and were heading to Titusville, near NASA.

We planned to anchor, but they put in a new mooring field, so we went in for fuel and took mooring #4.

Chuck played the keyboard for me, while I laid on ice for my back. It hurts to sit, so I don’t sit for very long. He played all old show tunes and sing-a-long songs he played for the local Kiwanis Club when he was a teen. My pop-pop used to enjoy those sing-a-longs at his Kiwanis Club meetings. I’ve often wondered if Chuck played for him when he was a kid!

When we got the mooring, Chuck spun the wheel and realized it was squeaking. He took off the floor panel and sprayed it all with WD-40. It was still squeaking, so he climbed into the aft cabin and took off the cover to get to the other side and found the problem. Nylon on nylon needed a little lubrication. Oh, the joys of boating!

Tomorrow: Melbourne, FL

We've seen LOTS of shorebirds along the way.

Mooring #4 in Titusville.

The TItusville Bridge.

Looking for the squeak

Found it!

The bridge is pretty at night.

Great Visit with Family

Tuesday, Nov. 5:

My sister, Penny, and her husband, Mal, brought my Mom to Daytona. My niece, Lisa, her husband, Jerry, and their daughter Zoe, brought my other niece, Lynn. They all live in Jacksonville. My sister, Susie, and her husband, Mike, were in Daytona celebrating their birthdays.

Penny brought me some bulky items and then took me to Publix to do some more provisioning. It’s the first major shopping I’ve done since Wilmington, NC, when my friend, Mike, took me shopping.

After I put the cold stuff away, we met the Jacksonville crew at Daytona Ale House for a wonderful meal. The guys sat together to shoot the breeze and all the ladies and Zoe sat at another table. They had two big groups there already and couldn’t accommodate us at one table, so we took two booths back to back.

I sat on a padded chair because of my back injury. It was great to see everyone! I can’t wait to see them again.

Tomorrow: Titusville, FL

The gang's all here...visiting with family in Daytona, FL.

Zoe was so proud she made her coat into a cape.

Arrived in Daytona Safely, then Fell Off the Boat and Injured My Back! Visit from Friends

Monday, Nov. 4

The sun was bright and shining at 6:45 a.m. when we launched due to the time change. Winds were high, 20-25 with gusts near 30.

The Crescent Beach Bridge was in 10 miles away and opens on demand. We reached SM 790 at 8:10 a.m.

At Fort Matanzas inlet, the markers were drastically changed from the last trip and, again, our GPS showed we were in the marshes. The sun went in for a while and it was cloudy and cool for about an hour before it came from behind the clouds.

The tide and current were pushing us at 10 earlier this morning, but was over our bow by 11 a.m. and was slowing us to 7.4. We were heeling without any sail out.

While going through Ormond Beach, we noted the ICW was wide, but the channel was very narrow. Winds were 18 knots.

We heard from our old Atlantic County Harley club friends, Cliff and Carol, who winter here, and invited them to Sheet Music to visit. I took Jazzy for a little walk after greeting them at the gate. When I got back to the boat, I lifted Jazzy up and went to jump up without realizing I didn’t have a hold on the boat and went down backwards, falling on the concrete finger pier/dock. I laid there for more than 10 minutes, breathing short, shallow breaths, which Chuck was panicking asking if I need an ambulance. It hurt so bad and my back was spasming. Thankfully, I was able to get myself together and Chuck lifted me up. I took a flexeril and ibuprofen right away.

I slept in the salon with ice packs off and on all night. My back is hurting, but I am better than I expected to be today. My shin took a few good hits on the way down, so I expect to see bruising tomorrow.

My sister, Susie, and her husband, Mike, are here celebrating their wedding anniversary. My sister and mom will be here around 3 p.m. Penny did some bulk provisioning for me and will take me to Publix for perishable groceries when they get here. Later tonight, my niece Lisa and her family and my niece, Lynn, are coming from Jacksonville to join us for dinner.

Looking forward to spending time with family and hoping my back holds out!

Sunrise leaving St. Augustine mooring field.

Daytona has the most beautiful bridge we've seen yet
 with tile mosaics of manatees and dolphins.

Adjusting the spring lines.

Cliff and Carol came to visit!

Laying on ice pack after falling on concrete floating pier. Stupid!

Fun in St. Augustine; On to Daytona!

Sunday, Nov. 3

We took Jazzy for a walk around the bulkhead down to the fort, then put her on the boat and went off for the day. My niece called and she was hungover from tailgating from the Georgia/Florida game, so we’ll catch up with her on Tuesday with the rest of the gang. Oh, to be young again. LOL.

Chuck and I walked around Historic St. Augustine, stopping at Kilwin’s for caramel apples. We looked at several menus along the way and nothing appealed to us, so we walked back near the marina to the A1A Ale House for dinner and some football.

We shared 10 wings with a mango BBQ sauce, lobster/shrimp tacos and a few glasses of their house lager. Delicious!

When we got back to Sheet Music, we took the motor off the dinghy and got the boat ready for the morning. It ended up being a long night, tough to get to sleep with wind gusts topping 30 mph. I was glad we weren’t anchored and they were new moorings.

Tomorrow: Daytona

Lunch/dinner at A!A Ale House. Yum!

Getting the dinghy ready for morning

Daddy and Jazzy resting

The mooring field at night...pretty!

In St. Augustine, FL, in New Mooring Field

We woke up during the night a few times to the sound of rain pounding above our heads. It was going to be a wet morning. Yuk. It can’t always be a beautiful sunrise!

I made scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and coffee for breakfast. Chuck pulled anchor about 7:50 a.m. and we were off to a rainy start.

I put a trash bag over a cushion and sat on that. When I got tired of the rain, I went below with Jazzy. At 10 a.m., I decided to give her a bath. It was time for her Frontline and she can’t have a bath for 5 days afterward, so I wanted to give her a bath first since she sleeps with me.

Then I made the skipper and I hot chocolate.

It rained off and on all day. We had the dodger window opened so we could see.

Chuck took a shower while we were in the narrow section of Tolomato River, while I was at the helm. We went through the 1:30 p.m. opening of the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine, then pulled into the municipal marina to top off fuel, water and get pumpout.

We’re hooked on our assigned mooring ball, #39.

We got settled, put the motor on the dinghy, and Chuck took Jazzy and I up to the marina’s laundry and I threw two loads in. After I put them in the dryer, we walked around a few blocks of the historic district and circled back around.

We dinghied back to the boat when the laundry was done and had soup for dinner…corn chowder for me and red crab for Chuck.

Tomorrow my niece, Lynn Leite McKenzie, is joining us for lunch. I can’t wait to see her!

Hauling in the anchor in the pouring rain this morning.

This huge container ship passed us this morning.

Navy ship

Jazzy after her bath

Sheet Music on Mooring #39

The setting sun shining on the harbor.

Rough Day on the Water; Anchored in the Mouth of Fort George River

The sky was red, the wind was howling and we were crossing the St. Andrews Sound. It was granola and fiber one bars for breakfast. It is All Saints Day and we hoped they were with us, and they were!

There was a lot of current in the Cumberland River. Wind were 15-20 knots. Our speed was less than 6.

We noted that at SM 701, markers 60-62A were moved and our GPS showed we were in the marshes, but we followed the markers, not the magenta line.

As the day progressed, we had up to 26 knots of wind in our faces. The tide reversed and was finally in our favor and we picked up speed to 6.5. The dodger was getting splashed and I was thankful for my stadium blanket with the windbreaker on the outside to keep Jazzy and I dry.

At marker 43, we started “hobby horsing,” because the waves were close together and we were moving at 10 knots. Chuck started tacking back and forth and that made it more pleasant.

At 11:40 a.m., we crossed into Florida. Once we turned into the Amelia River, the current was against us and slowed us to 6 knots SOW, 5 over land. We went through the twin bridges and the current was fierce, slowing us to 4.5 going under the bridges. Between markers 39 and 42 in the South Amelia River, we saw 4.6 feet in a few spots at dead low tide.

We crossed the Nassau River into Sawpit Creek and there was a dredge. It looked like it was going across the whole waterway and it was hard to see where to go. We looked with binoculars and thought we figured it out, then the skipper called the dredge to confirm before proceeding. We had to hug the bank to go to his starboard, go behind him, then turn left.

We are anchored just inside the mouth of the Fort George River. Chuck hated this anchorage on the way through the first trip because we had the wrong anchor, but we had no problems on the way back after buying a new anchor and there are few places to throw the hook.

Tomorrow: St. Augustine, where we have a reservation Saturday and Sunday nights for a mooring ball in the new mooring field. We’ll dinghy to shore, where my niece is driving down from Jacksonville and will meet us for lunch on Sunday.

The sky as we were leaving our marina.

The sky 10 minutes later.

The markers were moved since we were here
and our GPS thought we were in the marshes!

A homeland security boat by the Naval yard.

The current was whipping through these bridges!

The dredge in Sawpit Creek.

The dredge.