Friends and Family in Frigid Florida

By on April 29, 2010 in Sojourner

As we prepare to rejoin Sojourner on a permanent basis, we depart Orlando with many great memories of a Florida winter that wasn’t at all what we anticipated.  We thought keeping Sojourner on the east coast would facilitate more time on her, and we had visions of sharing weekend cruises and overnight anchoring-out adventures with […]

We have arrived in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia!

By on April 29, 2010 in Lone Wolf

       Lone Wolf at anchor in Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva.28/4 11,30.pmWe have made it acoss the Pacific!It’s dark, so I can’t tell you what Nuku Hiva is like, but it looked very dramatic in the moonlight. We are now anchored, bow and st…

Pass Christian MS to Harvey LA

By on April 28, 2010 in M/V Gumbo

Following a shrimp boat out of Pass Christian harbor.Construction of Mississippi River Gulf Outlet floodgateEntering the Industrial Canal locks on the East side of the river.New Orleans Skyline from the riverGumbo tied up at the Boom Town Casino, Harve…

Faro to Gibraltar

By on April 28, 2010 in Mad Sunday

With Travis safely arrived back home we turn our attention to the next passage – Gibraltar.  We have consulted the weather and the forecast is for nothing more than a force 3/4 for the entire journey, so we up-anchor and set our course directly fo…

The Future is Now.

By on April 28, 2010 in Wendy Ann 2

Becky and I went to the boat for four whole days last week. It is simplest to say that we had about the best time it’s possible to have whilst boatbuilding on a shoestring. I absolutely love the rare occasions that B is able to pull herself away from…

April 23-26, 2010 Daytona Beach

By on April 27, 2010 in Grateful
We left Titusville on a very calm morning and had another nice cruise. The NASARailroadBridge was open as it usually is. We have read that on April 28-30, the bridge will be closed for repairs.

The HauloverCanal is a connecting canal between the northern Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon (makes me itch just to write it). On many sections of the ICW it is prudent to stay in the channel unless you have a shallow draft boat.

We passed through NewSmyrnaBeach and the Ponce de Leon Inlet. It is not recommended to use the inlet unless you are a local as there are shoals. At the same time it seems the locals were anchoring and getting ready for the weekend – reminded me of Hudson on the St. Croix.
We saw beautiful and interesting sites on our way to Daytona Beach.

We arrived at Daytona BeachHalifaxHarbor by 2:30. Our slip assignment was the first one on J Dock. Great access to the bath house/laundry and we met most of the folks who had boats on the rest of the dock. Actually, Porter is the ambassador and paves the way to conversations. The marina is very nice with a big waterfront park next to the marina.
During the weekend we rented a car – one of those $9.99/day deals. By the time we called and got the car, we had to take an upgrade – DARN!!
We drove around enjoying the neighborhoods and then had to go past the Dayton International Speedway – which is HUGE. Mark had to drive me out to The Ponce de Leon Lighthouse (Ponce Inlet Lighthouse). It is the tallest lighthouse in Florida with 203 steps to the top. Mark elected not to go to the top but rather enjoy more of the interesting museum on ground level. I stepped to the top and was rewarded with a wonderful panoramic view.

The storm that had spawned the tornado in Mississippi passed 15-20 miles north of Daytona on Sunday evening. We delayed our trip one day because we thought the weather was going to be rainy and stormy. As it turned out Monday would have been a perfect day to travel. We used it to do chores on the boat instead.

April 23-26, 2010 Daytona Beach

By on April 27, 2010 in Grateful

We left Titusville on a very calm morning and had another nice cruise. The NASA Railroad Bridge was open as it usually is. We have read that on April 28-30, the bridge will be closed for repairs.The Haulover Canal is a connecting canal between the nor…

MVGUMBO 2010-04-27 18:15:00

By on April 27, 2010 in M/V Gumbo

Leaving Point Clear at daybreak.A tug and barge on Mobile Bay’s ship channelA freighter goinu up the channel to Mobile. I woke up at 4 AM this morning and the wind had died down. We got everything moved down to the boat and left the marina at 6:30. Th…

Thing 2.

By on April 27, 2010 in Wendy Ann 2

Do you remember me posting about Thing one, my wooden access ramp and staging that I constructed last summer? Well, perhaps calling it thing one was an ill portent because recently I turned up to the boat with a car boot full of heavy stuff and the bug…

Back to Business: Part 2

By on April 27, 2010 in Seabright

This is our last full week in Long Boat Key before we head out for Kilmarnock VA. Next weekend we are planning on driving home to return the car, get the house opened up and running, as we are meeting Katie and Max who are flying in from San Francisco …