December 1, 2010
Wednesday
Low 70’s, sunny
1829 engine hours
Daytona to Cocoa Beach, FL
We unleashed the beast at 6:30 AM to get out of the anchorage prior to dead low tide or we would not have been going anywhere. It was windy and at times a rocky ride, but otherwise a great cruise, as is the norm, to Cocoa Beach. Panda continues to be defiant and if she keeps this up she will never be let out of her cage again! We pulled into Cocoa at 3:30 and managed to get a spot at the town dock…200 ft. of splendor! It is so nice to be able to dock the boat…very convenient to town. Our friends, Randall and Kim, joined us and then whisked us away to their home…great house right on a canal…to enjoy cocktails and then treated us to a magnificent dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant that they frequent often…so very good! Also got in some puppy time with their two dogs…got my fix for a while as I do miss Michelle’s dogs at home! Randall, being a captain himself, and very, very well versed on places to go filled us in on a lot of great spots to visit on the west coast of FL…thanks for all your great ideas!
December 2, 2010
Thursday
1836 engine hours
Very nippy at 44* when we got up!
Cocoa Beach to Ft. Pierce, FL
As we cruised things warmed up…to 64*. Not as nice as it has been, but certainly better than 44*. Tonight promises another chilly one and back down to the 40’s again. Better days are coming as it should warm up toward the weekend. So many dolphins in the Indian River! Wow…they just kept popping up everywhere. Still no manatees. Our seven hour cruise today seemed to fly by and we hit Vero Beach at 12:30. Upon calling for a reservation we were advised they were rocking and rolling….no empty mooring balls and we would have to raft with another boat. Not a happening for the captain. Ironically, we met Randall at Vero when he rafted with us for a night! So, it can be a good thing but not this time. It was so early we decided to forge ahead and stop at Ft. Pierce. We pulled in to the anchorage at 2:00 and had one heck of a time getting the anchor to bite and also had an episode of the rode getting knotted in the storage area! Fun times! Third time was a charm…it is so freaking windy at 15 kts and the anchorage is full to the brim. Not sure another boat could even find a space. Taking the dinghy for a ride up the creek for a bit of exploring is out of the question. We had to anchor so far away…exploring and stretching will have to wait another day. So, R & R on the boat for the afternoon…perhaps Upwords or cards…it is a beautiful day to be sitting on the aft with a cocktail! Love to all.
December 3, 2010
Friday
1846 engine hours
59* warming up to 70’s
Ft. Pierce to Stewart, FL
We got to sleep in a bit today…we left at 9:00 anticipating a short cruise to Stewart and an arrival at 1:00. It was slow going as there were many other boats traveling along with us. Another gorgeous day and very warm on the bridge. Lots to see along the way…gorgeous homes lined the waterway through this area…lotta bucks here! We arrived at the St. Lucie River around 2:00 with the hopes of tying up at the Riverside Pier..great spot close to all the happenings in historic Stewart. I so wanted to check it out and also meet up with my cousin, Marie, and her hubby to catch up. After several attempts it was determined fruitless…the wind and current, not to mention the 4 feet of water we were in, put a big-time damper on that plan and we aborted! No wonder there were no other boats on this simply gorgeous floating dock! Rats! Sunset Bay Marina’s mooring field was full. Their slip fees at $2/ft. was not appealing, especially with all we cough up for fuel along the way, so we passed. We anchored across the river along with many other boats for the evening at 3:00. We also had to say nay to Terry and Marie’s offer to be picked up and brought to their home for dinner. It was almost a mile long dingy ride to the marina and as it has promised to drop to 40* later in the evening…we must be getting old, but reluctantly we had to pass on their offer. The dingy ride back later in the evening was not so appealing. Regardless…the view is magnificent and we are quite happy where we are for the evening….till tomorrow. Ciao!
December 4, 2010
Saturday
1849 engine hours
American Custom Yachts
Fuel $2.91/148 gal/ $430
Chilly start at 50* warming to 78*
Stewart to Belle Grade, FL on the
Okeechobee Waterway
Early start and a beautiful cruise across half of the OWW. We decided not to do the rim route, which is along the edge of the lake, until half way across…not much to see. Lots of skull boats along the waterway…looked like they were in training for competition, along with some elders just out for some exercise. The St. Lucie lock was a biggie…it brought us up about 25 ft., but the second, Mayaca, was a joke…I don’t think we even rose a foot above the level where we already were. Whatever! Lots of wild life on the OWW gave us lots to look at, along with all the homes, almost every other, for sale…so bad! We got through the swing bridge at Torrey Island and decided to pack it in for the day at 2:30. The free dock was a hazard and not an option, but just a bit south of that were three beautiful wooden floating docks with no other boats at them, just one fisherman. We took a chance at docking and figured we would leave if we got pushed out. Just a bit north of these docks was Slim’s Fish Camp, a variety store of sorts that was just setting up for business. The owner advised we were just fine…yay! The city of Belle Grade has just installed these docks and soon they will also have power…what a wonderful thing for transients like us. We took a long walk and the bird life here is magnificent…so many different varieties and we even saw an owl. Egrets, heron, ducks, crows, gulls…and on and on. Quite nice and we got some splendid pics along the way. We are docked right at the edge of a RV park which is a haven for them. They bring in their RV’s and boats and fish for bass and ducks along the river. Nice here…but certain would not want to live here…it is a nice place to pass through. A gentleman who has his sailboat docked just north of us came by to ask if we would keep an eye on his boat overnight…duh! what! He says this area is notorious for crime…OMG thank you very much…we will lock up overnight and I am sure all will be well, and certainly not be watching his boat overnight!
December 5, 2010
Sunday
1858 engine hours
Belle Grade to Olga, FL
Jack’s Marine South
Slip fees, 3 days $100
All inclusive
78*
Water temp…70*
Three locks today… all uneventful…the worst being an 8 ft. drop…no big deal. Lots of locals line the locks to get a gander of boats coming and going. We cruised and cruised…nice scenery all the way. Barry wants me to add that we were boarded in Stewart, FL by the sheriff’s office…checking the cock and making sure we were not “dumping”. Duhhhh…don’t think so. Our pass through Alva on the Caloosahatee was quiet nice and named after Thomas Edison as he had a home there. The weather forecast proves to be quite testy for the next few days so we decided to stop at a marina for a few days prior to our journey to Naples. Waiting out the cold front coming through will keep us from 6 foot seas! Yikes! Jack’s was a shot in the dark..the first marina I called and is a perfect spot…managers, Lori and Bob from West Warwick, RI were very kind. Three days of dockage was calling us! Nice spot! We met a county sheriff who rents an apartment at the marina, John Lopez, and he advised us to knock on his door if we need anything…it works for us…
December 6, 2010
Monday
Nippy, nippy at 46*
Windy
So glad to be at a marina this morning, as was Panda I am sure. Great day to stay snug as bugs in a rug! Laundry and online Christmas shopping occupied our day. Met our new friends, Bob and Lori, very nice people and as expected we knew a lot of the same people being Rhode Islanders!
December 7, 2010
Tuesday
Cold again…43*
Breezy
More online stuff…making appointments for doctors and such while we are home! Augh! But it needs to be done. We hoofed it to Winn Dixie today…not far and a great walk that was much needed. I hate Winn Dixie! Where is my Super Wallymart??? Publix is another southern favorite, but not mine. I am so screwed. Winn Dixie offered a 2 for 1 deal on pork tenderloin today…by one for $16.99 and get one free…are you kidding me!!! We bought one at Wallymart last week for $5.99! I am going to have to have food shipped from home or become vegetarians. Florida supermarkets suck…and we remember this well from spending time in Marathon, FL. Enough bitchin’….we are off to Naples tomorrow and I am looking forward to warmer weather. Nuff said! Love to all and g’night!
December 8, 2010
Wednesday
1864 engine hours
Where is the warmth???
Olga, FL to Naples, FL
It was a chilly but nice ride to Naples. The Caloosahatchee River is beautiful, but traveling is very slow going due to many manatee no wake zones. We reached the gulf coast and it was pretty smooth cruising. Once we reached Gordon River we were astounded by the homes along the way….one bigger and more beautiful than the last. We pulled in to Naples City Dock at 1:30 with the sun shining! Just outside the marina we found a very cool ships store along with several restaurants and a deli….we are liking it here! We decided to dine at The Dock for dinner, but the appetizer of nachos and shrimp was huge and filled us to the brim! That was dinner and very, very tasty. We are going to like this spot…
December 9, 2010
Thursday
Rain??? What???
A gloomy 50*
We awakened to rain and clouds. So much for warming up over the next few days. Hopefully, the remainder of the week will be better prior to the, yet next, cold front that is expected on Monday….more cold weather. Larry, Barry’s partner, and his wife, Nancy, joined us on the boat early afternoon for cocktails and then a wonderful drive around the area…more and more gorgeous homes to be seen…it is amazing…who needs this much space…homes of 5000 sq. ft. plus….simply beautiful. Cocktails and appetizers continued at their home….we want it! We want to know when they will move out so we can move in…perfect! So, we know they are not going anywhere too soon and our quest for a home continues. Yes, another wonderful day with more to come!
December 10, 2010
Friday
Upper 60’s
Sunny
Larry called us this morning with a wonderful gift…their car while they go back to RI for the holidays. It was a beautiful thing. Later…dinner on the boat with Larry and Nancy and a very busy weekend coming up.
December 11, 2010
Saturday
60’s and showers
We had all intentions of getting off the boat prior to our guests arrival…Pam, Tom, Tim and Mary were heading over and we had plans for dinner in Naples. Busying myself with house hunting became an all-day affair and before we knew it, it was late afternoon and upon peeking outside noticed droves of people coming down the docks with tons of food in hand! Parties, parties…so we thought! We soon realized it was the annual Naples boat parade and they would be cruising right by our boat. The group arrived and we nixed dinner plans in town and we able to get a reservation at The Dock instead. That gave us the opportunity to watch some of the many boats all decorated in holiday fashion and then just a walk up the dock for dinner. The judge’s table was just off the bow of the boat so we had front row seats to the gala…so much fun.
December 12, 2010
Sunday
75* and sunny
Our early morning started by panning through the many brochures and ads that Larry had left behind containing house thoughts. We picked an area and headed out early afternoon to explore. We found ourselves at Isles of Capri, an area just north of Marco Island. I guess we won’t be living here anytime too soon….a small 1200 sq.ft. home…with an asking price of 1.2 million would be out of the question. I am still wondering….”what are they thinking?” It wasn’t even like…wow! I want to live there! We stopped and had lunch at one of the many, and I mean many, restaurants on this little island…quite delish! Onward….. Thoughts of purchasing a condo gives us shivers up our spines but there were many options in Old Marco and since we were in the vicinity we decided to check them out. We love the area and the price tags are more within our price range. Okay…so we will get our realtor to make some appointments…but the thought of a home still circles around my brain! Next, and last, stop was Goodland. What a funky place. It is a remote island but evidently a party place. The restaurants were hopping, live bands playing, and many people walking around like it was PTown! We even went to a small outdoor produce market and picked up a few wonderfully fresh veggies grown on a local farm. This was our original thought of where to dock the boat for a month and also while we went home for the holidays and we may still come here for a month in January…it would be lots of fun even though it is off the beaten path.
December 13-December 15, 2010
Monday-Wednesday
Mid 40’s
Sunny
Are we in Naples? Cannot believe the cold weather. Have been doing some condo/house hunting, to no avail. But we will forge ahead. Lots out there to see. Spent the entire day on the computer Monday viewing listings to see and on Tuesday actually went to see a few….OMG, they were boxes with a bed and couch in them. This is not going to work! Where will be put all our stuff? Delish dinner with Pam and Tom afterwards was great! They have a gorgeous place right on the beach, so Barry and I figure they should move out so we can move in! And, the baby grand would have a home also! Wednesday morning was spent pawing through house listings and tomorrow we will do some drive bys and decide which to actually see.
December 16-December 19, 2010
Simply beautiful weather, other than Sat morn
Low to upper 70’s
With the GPS in hand we headed out to discover properties for sale….and there are so many of them. On most streets there were at least 6-8 available. We jotted down addresses and scoured the neighborhoods for other potential sites. That was on Thursday and by Saturday our wonderful agent and now great friend, Dawn, dragged us from house to house and condo to condo from 10 AM to 5 PM. Our tour ended at her beautiful home on Marco Island where she relentlessly continued searching for yet more homes on the computer….does this girl ever rest??? We found yet more…We left her house and headed over to the Esplanade with Pam and Tom to watch the boat parade. This is a magnificent display of boats all decked out for the season and it was beautiful to see. On Sunday we
discovered another condo complex where we were able to see 4 more options…very nice and this could be it. Our search will continue when we return from our visit home for Christmas. Jay and Deanna scooped us up and we headed to Blue Fish for dinner. Yummmy! Sushi and Chinese buffet along with a hibachi grill. There was something to be had for everyone here and we dove right in. Once we stuffed ourselves to the gills we headed to Victoria Park. Victoria Park is an older development in Naples that decks the halls to the max! Each and every street had its own theme and most of the homes were decorated to the hilt! Beautiful sites to be adorned…it was much fun! We headed back to the boat and crashed for the evening. Tomorrow is packing day and we need to drop Panda off at the sitters, Sally and Kelly…another wonderful couple we met and we will rest assured Panda will be safe and sound with them, their 3 dogs, 3 cats, and 3 birds! Oh my!!!! Hoping to see as many of you as possible while we are home for the holidays. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all! Love you!
