Vilamoura to Faro

By on April 21, 2010 in Mad Sunday

Since Travis is due to (finally) make the trip down to visit us we decide to take the boat to meet him in Faro.  It is only a short passage and a very enjoyable trip up the Ria Formosa.  The Estuary has an enormous variety of natural hab…

April 2010 – Ashiya, Japan

By on April 21, 2010 in Seabird

Weather has been downright crappy since we got back to Japan.  I don’t know why, but we were expecting a bit of balmy weather and sunny skies.  People here tell us that “normally”, March and April are fairly nice months with moderate te…

April 19-20, 2010

By on April 20, 2010 in Grateful
Ft. Pierce to Melbourne to Titusville, FL

Just a quick note to say that we have had two beautiful days to cruise. Monday morning we left the Ft.Pierce area – an easy passage to the Atlantic Ocean and a port of entry. Many cruisers use this port to return to USA and to clear customs.

We are still in the Indian River ICW. The river is wide and dotted with islands – very beautiful, but shallow outside the channel. (We didn’t know it, but yesterday we passed very close to Tiger Woods’ and Greg Norman’s estates on JupiterIsland. In fact, after looking at their places on Google Earth, I am pretty sure I remember both – no pictures, though.)

Florida is starting to bloom and we were close enough to some homes to enjoy the beauty.

We had many dolphin sightings along this stretch of the ICW. And you’re not going to believe this…. Both Mark and I saw some sort of ray jumping out of the water. These guys were little and they sure didn’t “launch” themselves at a passing dinghy. I guess now, at least, we know what we are looking at.

In the river area local boaters set their traps for something. We heard today that they catch “river shrimp” (like small lobsters). Whatever, he is going for, he has an audience waiting for handouts.

We were in the MelbourneHarbor by 2:00 and enjoyed the rest of the day. Shortly after landing I went out to the front of Grateful to read and enjoy the view when I saw a Manatee. I ran back to get my camera, but didn’t see any others, however, a dolphin came into the harbor for dinner as the sun was setting.

Our trip to Titusville was equally terrific. We were still in the Indian River, but it was wide and open. We were so excited because the shuttle, Discovery, was landing this morning. We had been told that we would hear the sonic boom (possibly two) as Discovery flew in over Orlando @ 600 mph and slowed to 200 mph to land at the airstrip on Cape Canaveral. This was supposed to happen at 7:30 am. I was up and ready with Porter out for a walk in hopes that I would not only hear it, but possibly see it. Mark elected to let the sonic boom be his alarm clock. We were both disappointed as we heard nothing. So a little after 8:00 we started our trek to Titusville.

Titusville is the closest town to the KennedySpaceCenter and many cruisers will watch shuttle launches and landings from there. As we progressed north we began to hear radio chatter that Discovery had not landed earlier. It was about 9:30 and every boater was looking to the sky and listening. I was out on the bow straining both eyes and ears and of course, had the camera. After a few minutes Mark called out that Discovery was already on the ground. NOTHING! But we weren’t the only ones – by the chatter on the radio in our area no one heard or saw anything. I guess we were still a little too far south – “missed it by that much”. Later as we neared Titusville we were able to see the KennedySpaceCenter and the launch tower.

On the west shore of the Indian River, was the Titusville power plant – liked the “candy-striped” chimneys.

Bridges weren’t an issue these last two days. Today we squeaked under one and then our last one of the day was the Titusville Hwy Swingbridge. This bridge will soon be replaced by a 65 foot fixed bridge.


April 19-20, 2010

By on April 20, 2010 in Grateful

Ft. Pierce to Melbourne to Titusville, FLJust a quick note to say that we have had two beautiful days to cruise. Monday morning we left the Ft. Pierce area – an easy passage to the Atlantic Ocean and a port of entry. Many cruisers use this port to re…

The Warf Marina to Point Clear ], Mobile Bay

By on April 20, 2010 in M/V Gumbo

This Great Blue Heron had good luck fishing of the dock he caught this Mullet, about 10″ longThe pictures tell the story better than words.All down but the mullet’s tail Before we left the Wharf I saw this Geat Blue Heron fishing on the dock and took t…

MVGUMBO 2010-04-19 18:02:00

By on April 19, 2010 in M/V Gumbo

An overcast but calm Monday morning at Redfish PointMother dolphin and baby, they and another large one (the father?) swam alongside the boat for several minutes.Gumbo at The Wharf Marina in Orange BeachSunset over the ICW at The Wharf MarinaWe had an…

Far Out Man!

By on April 19, 2010 in Emily Grace

The crew of Emily Grace is way out there! As in we are mighty close to the one place on Earth that is the farthest away from any land. I googled that fact before we left the Galapagos and, sure enough, it’s a spot in the Pacific Ocean. The actual sp…

Lagos to Vilamoura

By on April 19, 2010 in Mad Sunday

What bliss to finally have a mooring without the swell!  Calm at last and a lovely marina, surrounded by smart bars and restaurants.  Unfortunately, it is a bit “Brit”ish but the town is immediately adjacent and a delight to wander through.&n…

What do we see? We see the sea!

By on April 19, 2010 in Lone Wolf

Two gulls have moved aboard and nothing we can do, short of wringing their necks, will make them go away. They are crapping all over the deck. Everything is good on Lone Wolf. The sea is eerily calm and deep blue, and all systems are go. We have covere…

A Kick up the Arse.

By on April 19, 2010 in Wendy Ann 2

Big tings a g’wann. I’ve been down to the boat absolutely loads lately, as B and I are working on something radical which will hopefully bear fruit next week. So it’s been all go with me making regular forays boatways to prepare, either long day …