April 18 – St. John’s River

By on April 19, 2014 in The Pearl

Morrison Island – Anchorage

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”—Jawaharial Nehru

After Stan had breakfast at the little café above the dock, we decided to leave Welaka. We knew it would be a rainy windy day but we were ready to move on. We crossed Lake George before any of the thunderstorms come in. Lake George is the second largest freshwater lake in Florida; it’s a shallow lake 11 miles long by 6 miles wide. Three major springs flow into Lake George on the west side. Salt Springs, Silver Glen Springs and multiple springs that comprise Juniper Creek. Hopefully we will explore a few of these on our way back down the river.

We anchorages in an oxbow in the river, called Morrison Creek, a beautiful spot with only a few homes along the north bank. Morrison Island is home to LOTS of birds. We watched and listened to them all afternoon. We also were entertained by several alligators cruising along the bank of the river…several times they came towards the boat to check us out. They seemed to be keeping a close eye on us. They even came close to Stan’s fishing line a few times…that could be why he didn’t have any luck catching any fish today. We took the dinghy for a ride around the oxbow before the storms started, there were birds of all kinds where everywhere, such a beautiful place. The thunderstorms finally moved in about six with heavy winds and rain, luckily it didn’t last long and our anchor held tight. With the cloud cover and no moon, I think this is the darkest anchorage we’ve ever been in. When I looked outside there was nothing but darkness and the sounds of birds, frogs and bugs coming from the island.

Crossing Lake George

Our anchorage in Morrison Creek

These two eagles were perched in a tree right by the boat.

Common Moorhens 

 

An American Coot

I’ve never seen pelicans roosting high in a tree before…maybe they are trying to stay away from the alligators.

Last Days at Legacy and we’re off!

By on April 19, 2014 in Tourist

It’s getting time to empty the dock box and point Tourist to the North. Our destination for the summer is somewhere in the Kentucky Lakes area. We don’t have any particular schedule as to when we want to arrive there but I know from past experience that once we’re underway it’s hard for me to stop and smell the roses until we reach our destination.
Before we left we had time to take in one more Art Walk in downtown Ft. Myers which started with dinner at Ichiban.

Pam & Bill too full to move after dinner.

We finally got them off the chair in time to see Jesus.

 This young lady was more than happy to strike a pose for the camera.

 By now Bill was in need of support.

 Not to be left out the NSA had a drone watching the festivities.

 We were amazed at how this VW came through the wall unscathed.

 There was even an aerial show in the middle of town.

 This guy was performing spray paint art. And oh yeah. We hit the Cigar Bar.

 A few days later we got Bill, Mary, & Ted to pose for a family picture before they headed back to Canada.

For the past couple of years we have been wanting to return to a German restaurant we had eaten at one of the first years we wintered here. Luckily Rich & Diane (M/V RiDi) asked us to join them and Bob and Linda  (M/V Erika Lyn) for dinner. It was buffet style and did not disappoint. Yumm!

 Pam surprised Diane on her birthday with flowers.

As I stated earlier we are planning on boating in the Kentucky Lake area this summer. Good plan but it does present a logistical problem. What to do with the car? Answer: move it to Kentucky. So we did. We got a rental from Enterprise and Saturday morning we took off. Me in the rental and Pam in our car. Up I-75 we went. All was well until we got to Tampa and then it stopped. Bumper to bumper, sometimes moving, sometimes stopped. We wasted time in this mess until Ocala where we decided to go cross country. Past Tallahassee and into the panhandle where we bunked for the night. The next day we cruised through Dothan, Al. home of the National Peanut Festival! On to Montgomery and Birmingham. Through Nashville and into Kentucky.

 Pam in my rearview mirror somewhere in northern Florida.

Rest area near Huntsville, Alabama.

 We dropped the car off in a lonely parking lot to await our return.

 The view of our summer marina.

After dropping the car we did a U-turn and headed back to Florida.

 Of course no road trip for us is complete without multiple stops at Pilot for their coffee.

 We found this cow in southern Georgia. The same place we ran into a guy smacking a pipe into the bed of his pick-up truck. Turns out he was killing a rattlesnake that was in the bed of the truck! No Lie!

 Monday afternoon we arrived back at Legacy after 1926 miles and stayed awake long enough to take this shot of the full moon.

 Wednesday came and it was time to go. One last shot of the marina and Highpoint condo’s.

 Our first night we made it to Cayo Costa and decided to hang it up for a couple of nights.

 The second afternoon rain moved in and curtailed our tanning.

Friday we were on the move again passing through the Boca Grande Bridge enroute to Venice for a couple of nights to visit my Uncle Leo and wait out a weather system.
 
While we were tying up our last days at Legacy my son Addam’s favorite girl turned 10.
 

Future Harley rider? Happy Birthday Kate!



Day 98 – 365 Project…American Goldfinch

By on April 18, 2014 in Misty Moose

Welcome to day 98 of  365 photos…this American Goldfinch was all fluffed up in a tree near the feeder today. I’m thinking that it is a young one because it it seems much smaller, fuzzier and lighter colored. Baby bird or adult, it sure was cute sitting on the branch.Camera: Nikon D7100 – Lens: Nikon… Continue Reading

The post Day 98 – 365 Project…American Goldfinch appeared first on Moosetique Musing.

Houston, we have ignition

By on April 18, 2014 in M/V Serenity

We have pictures!!!!!!!!!Stay tuned.  They’re on their way!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Short Cruise on the St. Johns River

By on April 18, 2014 in Beach House

A weeks worth of great weather was all the excuse we needed to get out of the slip and do some cruising on the St. Johns River, south of where we have spent the winter. What a spectacular trip it turned out to be. The weather was perfect and the river …

Chasing A Stabilizer Problem Far From Home – A Primer On Teamwork

By on April 18, 2014 in Wind Horse

Last week we worked with Peter Watson aboard the FPB 64 Grey Wolf to resolve a stabilizer system issue. We thought the communications regarding this might be of interest since these things do occasionally occur – typically somewhere far from home base.Saturday, April 12- Received an email from Grey Wolf describing stabilizer problem:Have developed a […]

April 17 – Welaka, FL

By on April 18, 2014 in The Pearl
Bryant Wharf Public Dock 

“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” —John A. Shedd

We may have to change our residency to Welaka, FL! I’m sure the town didn’t mean for a boat to just move in and stay on their free dock forever, but the weather just doesn’t want to cooperate with us moving on. We get a little nice weather each day and no rain to speak of, but the wind is blowing hard and there really isn’t a marina to move to that is close. We will have to anchor the next few days after we leave Welaka…so here we sit waiting on the wind. There is plenty of company, another boat came in a day ago and looks like they maybe here a while too and there are a lot of people who use the dock to fish. Stan has even started fishing for the little brim and catfish the others are fishing for. It’s a lazy type of fishing…he just throws the line out from our door and an keeps an eye on it. He’s caught quite a few Brim and had one large catfish on the line, but of course the big fish got away, but he’s having fun. It’s not a bad place to sit and relax, the town has a few nice places to eat, a convenient store for a few essentials, a nice  view of the lake and nice people.


Stan decided to move over to the dock to fish. What a hard life he has!

The first step off the boat is a big one! 

Views from the boat

The view from dinner at Cafe Bleu 

Day 97 – 365 Project…Splish-Splash – Mallard

By on April 17, 2014 in Misty Moose

Welcome to day 97 of  365 photos…Splish-splash,  mallard was taking a bath. It is amazing how much splashing a duck can do. They are common ducks but so colorful. Thought I would share. Camera: Nikon D7100 – Lens: Nikon 80-400mm Focal Length: 400mm – Aperture: f/8.0 – Shutter Speed: 1/500  second – ISO: 400From allaboutbirds.org:… Continue Reading

The post Day 97 – 365 Project…Splish-Splash – Mallard appeared first on Moosetique Musing.

Florida Interlude

By on April 17, 2014 in Spirit
Sunday April 13

Miriam and I spent the day visiting with Joe and Sarah and meeting their son and his family for lunch.  The weather remained pleasantly warm and breezy.  Returning to the hotel in the evening we checked our bags for weight and called it a night.

Monday, April 14, 2014

This morning we had an early breakfast at the hotel and drove to the Nashville Airport where the check-in process and security lines were painless.  We arrived way too early, so spent some time in the Admirals Club, making use of our lifetime British Airways Gold Card.  The flight departed early, arriving early in Charlotte, which was good since our next gate was at the opposite end of the airport.  That flight was also on-time and we arrived without incident in Fort Lauderdale ahead of schedule.  By the time we collected our checked luggage and picked up the rental car it was nearly 5 PM.  However, traffic was not heavy and we arrived at Gary & Suzanne Patton’s it was early 8 PM.  We joined Gary and Suzanne for a late supper by their pool, enjoying the warm evening.

April 15, 2014.
Patton Residence at Burnt Store Marina

After a morning workout, with Gary and Patrick walking briskly for over 5 miles around the Burnt Store marina complex where Patton’s live, with Miriam and Suzanne taking a more relaxed walk and golf cart ride we had a light breakfast before the day’s travels.

Our first stop was “Beall’s”, where we shopped for some additional warm weather clothes, taking advantage of the Tuesday senior citizen discounts.  A driving tour of Fort Myers followed, including a stop at the “Shell Factory”, a local attraction that seems to have been transported from the 1950’s, with an incredible collection of stuffed game and the most extensive collection of tacky tourist souvenirs we have seen in a long time.  We followed that with a stop at Total Wine for some beverages for the upcoming cruise and then back to the house for “Cuban” sandwiches.

After lunch we headed for Punta Gorda and the Visual Arts Center where Suzanne sells some of her handmade jewelry and also volunteers.
While Miriam and Suzanne spent time there, Gary and Patrick were a few blocks away at Fisherman’s Village and Harpoon Harry’s before we all toured Punta Gorda by car.  We ended up at a local Irish Pu, “Celtic Ray” for a pint of Guiness and some chips (fries) before heading south to Matlacha and Michelis restaurant.  The restaurant is located along one of the canals and we had Bada Bing shrimp and some raw oysters while seated outside, listening to a local perfomer unsuccessfully trying to emulate Jimmy Buffet.  After dinner it was back to the house for home videos.

Gary & Suzanne at CelticRays

Guiness and Cider at Celtic Rays
April 16, 2014

Today we woke up to cool cloudy skies with a brisk NE wind as we headed to Punta Gorda and boarded a tour boat for a day long tour south across Charlotte Harbor to Cabbage Key.  Our route took us past the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico at Boca Grande Pass where we entered the Intra Coastal Waterway and headed south to Cabbage Key where we stopped for lunch.  We were glad we had packed lightweight jackets for the trip as it was cool for Florida.  As we approached Cabbage Key the sun finally appeared and the temperatures soared.  The Cabbage Key restaurant was unusual in having the walls and ceilings totally covered in dollar bills that guests have taped up with their names in marking pens on the bills.  All the food, including the mahi-mahi burgers, was good.  After lunch we had an hour or so to wander over the trails on the island before boarding the boat for the 2 ½ hour trip back to Punta Gorda.  The dolphins were scarce on the trip; we only saw a few and those from a distance.  The shallow waters of Charlotte Harbor were a real surprise for us, being used to depths far greater than the 8-12 foot depths over most of the trip.

Waiting for the boat to Cabbage Key

Windy Day on Charlotte Harbor for the Patton’s
We needed jackets all morning in Florida!

Some of the “wallpaper” at Cabbage Key Restaurant

Shower anyone?
After docking at Fisherman’s Village we stopped at Monty’s Pizza and picked up two large deluxe pizzas loaded up with all kinds of toppings to reheat later at Patton’s house.  By the time we returned to the house the skies had fully cleared so we sat by the pool and later in the pool where Gary and Patrick ate their pizza.

April 17, 2014

After breakfast Gary and Patrick loaded up the kayaks and went for a 2 ½ hour paddle though the mangroves near Matlacha.  Without a GPS to lead one back, they would have been hopelessly lost, since one channel looks so much like another.  Suzanne and Miriam made a short shopping trip for last minute cruise essentials before we all met up for lunch at Patton’s and a relaxing afternoon smoking pork ribs for dinner.

Pool Pizza Party – Life is Good!

Tennessee River and Tenn-Tom: Spring 2014

By on April 17, 2014 in Idyll Time

Spring is finally here!  With warmer weather and the river levels rising, it is time to go cruising.  Idyll Time has patiently awaited our return.  A turn of the key and she starts up just as if she was run yesterday.    Our destination is Mobile, Alabama.  Our route will take us 262 miles along with […]