Ninety-Nine Problems but a Bridge Ain't One

 We are Done with Bridges. Yeah!!  We left St Augustine and continued down the intercostal waterway..it was still too unsettled to travel on the outside (Atlantic).  We ancored in Daytona, Titusville, the Indian River, Jenson Beach and Lake Worth each one night then headed through the last leg of 22 bridges to Ft Lauderdale. Its not so bad just a bit tiring. Each bridge has its own special times for opening.   In theory, you would be able to make the next bridge...by the way this is when your algebra comes in handy..."if our boat is going 5.8knots and the next bridge is in 6 miles and opens in 45 minutes...will we make the next bridge?"  Sometimes we do and sometimes the conversation goes like this with the bridge tender..."Lantana Bridge,  Lantana Bridge, this is Quicksilver sailing vessel,  southbound; standing by for your next opening "  "ok Captain,  our next opening is at 1:30, you just missed the 1pm opening "  then Jon and I do loop de loops in front of the bridge for 25 minutes. This goes on for 22 bridges, racing to the next opening...maybe we will get an extra push with the current.  Oh another fun fact, our water pump switch went....this happened coincidentally the last time we came through Ft Lauderdale six years ago. 

We stayed in Ft Lauderdale for two days to spend Thanksgiving with our nephew, Ben. We had a great visit with him but not before we had a brawl with the two pilings( large wooden posts) in our slip...the wind was blowing pretty good(away from the dock..but toward the pilings) and the current was with us...not necessarily a good thing as it pushed right onto front dock-but, thank goodness it was high tide as our bow pulpit and anchor went right on top of these concrete docks.--Oh did I forget to mention that the docks are fixed concrete!?) At one point one piling was between the dingy and our boom.  Not fun...lots of four letter words (mostly by me) lots of yelling directions (mostly by me)  but we made it without any damage.  Well, the teak had to have a quick touch up on the rail. The dingy and boom...perfect...now make a note, again, to take in consideration the current and wind.  I forgot to mention there was only one man in marina and no one from docks to help with lines...not like our friends in Fair Haven.   Just another reason to anchor out.

We named this 99 problems.....because we thought it was funny if you've ever heard the song..but we feel extremely lucky and blessed that we can call this our life. We certainly aren't bored in our retirement and we are learning all the time. Learning mostly to try to regroup fast and move on quickly from negative and stressful situations. 

Just anchored at No Name Harbor in Biscayne Bay.  Tonight we will anchor at Rodriguez Key off Key Largo and tomorrow we hope to be in Boot Key in Marathon(one of our favorite places)  Love to you and yours...live out loud!

Post note...sometimes it takes a bit longer to put together this blog. We are in a mooring field in Boot Key Harbor in Marathon. As soon as we sat up front to relax...a dolphin came up to say hi! Unbelievable...and today we spotted a manatee (see video below)

Most vivid rainbow we seen in a long time

just love Florida

one of the bridges we aren't going to make

Ft. Lauderdale-Hard Rock Casino....at night it sends five string lasers into the sky 

iguanas running all around Ft. Lauderdale 

the beach is really beautiful in Ft. Lauderdale

sailing past Miami

light house coming into Biscayne Bay

starting to see the beautiful water near Biscayne Bay

Sunset at Rodriguez Key

Look at that water

That is rain coming, glad we have canvas

Burdeen's in Marathon

Yeah we are having a good time

sailing to marathon....great motor sail averaged 7kts

 

spotted a manatee in Boot Key harbor

TROPICAL STORMS, TOILETS AND A SEA TURTLE

  "We're in the cone, no we're not in the cone.". "OK yep we're in the cone. "  next day.."I just looked at weather, nope, we're not in the cone good, don't worry, wait wait wait yes we're in the cone....definitely in the cone of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Eta."  If you look at the Weather Channel App on your phone it shows a cone of Hurricane and Tropical Storms' paths.  She is going smack over St Augustine, where we have been the last couple of weeks.  We had been watching her zig zag all over the Gulf. We were experiencing some of the rain and wind since it hit southern Florida the first time. So now batten the hatches..tie up the sail covers and check the mooring lines one more time. Actually, the build up was more work than the actual storm. We had some rain and I'm not sure we will ever dry out.  The winds were out of the south at 35 to 40knots with gust to 50. We were at the north mooring field so we have the marina and Bridge of Lions  in front of us...maybe it helps. We sleep pretty good..not much..checking and re-checking..my father even called to see what kind of anchor we have, incase we break away from the mooring and need to put an anchor down.  Needless to say we were all good...but that wasn't Jon's biggest problem 🤔 

Soooo, in the middle of the night I need to use the bathroom like ever woman my age, and notice we are heeling(that means leaning) to one side a bit..ok. no problem.   The wind is pushing pretty good.  As I pump sea water into the head (that's sailor talk for toilet) I notice that it isn't pumping as easily.....uggh its plugged. It probably sucked up sea weed or something...now it's around 3 am so I'm not telling Jon as he is snoring. Ok now I can't sleep. So when he does awaken to see if the storm is doing anything for him to worry about....I spring it on him as he is ready to check out the head(remember that's the toilet)  "it is a bit hard pumping...maybe I sucked up something?!"  

Jon kind of takes it in stride....this was our vacation stop....where we pretend that we're on vacation and don't do any work.  (Remember we have traveled over 800 miles on the boat, since August 10th) Hahaha. Well, the day before he took our y-valve to the holding tank apart because that was hardly turning.  It ended up taking him all day because the hoses were corroded with salt water. But before this happened,  a manatee peered at him off the back of the boat. "I told you its going to be a great day,  I just saw a manatee in back of the boat. He just looked at me and went on his way!"  

So there is a tropical storm over us and we can't use the head until it's fixed. Soooo.. Jon takes apart the intake valve and finds a pod looking thing (about the size of a large lima bean). But it still isn't pumping right, so he take the hoses apart to the thru hull (that is a hole in the bottom of the boat where we get sea water from) to see if it is plugged there. He ends up overhauling the head pump.....and so that's why Tropical Storm Eta was not Jon Edwards' biggest problem of the day.  Again, though, Jon is in the dingy cleaning the head parts and a dolphin comes up right next to him...he smiles and says "Hi buddy!" And all is well in our world. 

We really had a wonderful time in St Augustine.   We rode our bikes all over, to the beach and light house twice. Of course we rode to West Marine, Ace Hardware and the Sailor's Exchange (a couple of times) The Village had their "Night of Lights"  where they light up all the trees, buildings bridges and boats for the holidays.  The trolleys have Christmas music playing and Mrs Claus is driving a horse and buggy ride.  We could see it all from our boat.  Of course we did laundry and groceries.   On one of last days, Jon spots a sea turtle who peaks up at him...check out the video below.  We love our life and are truly grateful for all the wonders we get to witness. 

A bit to the Tropical Storm Eta

St. Augustine Light House..219 steps...Key West light house is 89

After the beach we stopped at O'Steen's for take out

views from the top

Us watching the Lights

rebuilding the head pump

view in the evening from our boat

always excitement ..not sure what he is doing

the Bridge of Lions

Check this guy hanging out at the dingy dock

There are a lot of street performers. Notice this drummers kick drum

Jon catches this little guy munching in the marina

Gales, Dolphins, Pink Flamingos and Mullet

 We pulled into the anchorage at Charleston and was pleasantly surprised to see dolphins surfacing all around us. --wait, before I forget, I have to tell you about my fear of running aground coming true. 

So we stayed at this beautiful anchorage just before Charleston and we(meaning Jon) have picked up the anchor and I'm steering out of anchorage as always. I'm doing fine, lots of water on a rising tide. As I'm going out of the mouth of Awendow Creek it looks like two crab pots are directly in my way  I check my chart and I have plenty of water both sides. I decide to go to my right between them heading up into the ICW.  The current is pushing me a bit and all of a sudden....I'm hard aground. I mean we don't sway one way or another. I try reverse. Jon tries reverse....nope stuck.  Ok now Jon is worried we are going to such up sand or mud,so he turns the engine off.  He's telling me "I told there was schouling there!" "When did you tell me?!!" "Yesterday!"  (You get the picture..from now on we take time before we leave the anchorage) In the meantime I'm looking at the depth and is is fluctuating from 5 to 6 feet but even when I hold on the spreaders(the heavy wires going from the sides of the boat to the mast) and hang way out nothing happens. I look at the chart plotter and see that we will have another foot in a matter of 15 to 20 minutes do I know its rising quickly. I get back hanging out holding on to the spreaders...feet on the side rail and start pumping like you would if you were on a swing. Jon says he thinks he felt us move and heads for the other side to do the same.  But I see we are just barely moving and I don't want the current to push us further on land. So I yell for Jon to start engine and be ready. ....I keep pumping...Jon feels it and puts it in reverse and we are off.....oh my gosh..I've never been so glad that I weigh as much as Jon (well maybe not as much but enough to get us off)  LIFE IS GOOD...oh a dolphin,  everything changes..no harm done. We only lost about 10 minutes...sigh.  

0k, back to Charleston and the dolphins. It was amazing and wonderful. After we got the anchor secure about 600 feet outside the channel.   We sat up on the front of the boat with snack and a beer and watched about 8 to 10 dolphins feeding all around us..even a mom and baby fishing together for about 2 hours. (Sorry, I didn't get pictures) We both were in heaven.   But..we were not anchored off the downtown area.  We were on the other side and it would be to far to try to go explore. We just wouldn't be comfortable being so far away from our anchored boat for several hours. Anyway  we were just as happy to watch dolphins and pelicans.   Night was a different story..look at pictures below to see the big ships that passed us...600 feet away from us. 

Leaving Charleston we anchored in south Edisto River. It was so beautiful and peaceful. We would be amazed as mullet would jump straight out of the water and land on their side. We of course figured this out by asking our friend, Google. Apparently they are looking for more oxygen or something.  

As we left the anchorage we saw dolphins eating breakfast and as we headed for Beaufort,  SC.  Jon noticed  first, a pink flamingo ...at first it was hard to believe your eyes and you have to ask someone else if it was true. I think we saw two so far on our travels. 

We like Beaufort. They really have made the most of their waterfront without making it to commercial. They have a beautiful park with lots of grass and a walkway along the water with about 15 old fashioned porch swings facing the water. You can sit their swinging and looking at the water. Behind and along the park their are restaurants and shops. We also walked into the historic district and marveled at the old trees and houses. 

After Beaufort we anchored in Herb River in Thunderbolt, Georgia and then North Newport River where a dolphin came over ot our boat and just looked at us.  It really seems like the dolphin are more active then the last time we traveled this way. Maybe we are more attentive.  We stayed an extra day to ride out a gale (winds 15 to 25 gusting to over 30 knots- maybe the dolphin was trying to tell us something) Next it was New Tea Kettle Creek. (There are so many interesting sounding creeks and rivers in Georgia) We stayed there two days...another gale. Now we are on Brunswick, GA. Again two days because a gale blew through. I have to say our anchor is a beast and we never moved. Tomorrow we get to Florida.  Yahoooo!

 We were greeted in Charleston Harbor when we put our anchor down by these guys and dolphin

of course it's race day

this is from our window next to our bed....hello, he is only 600 feet from where we are sleeping.....hope the Captain and navigator had their coffee

beautiful South Edisto River anchorage -where we saw mullet jumping

Ladies Island Swing bridge just before Brunswick/we can't capture all the great old trees and houses

low tide -blow up pic to see the crab about to go in potShrimp & Grits----sooo good

the park in Beauford is just beautiful

notice how far docks go out.  There is about a 7ft tide

 our anchorage New Tea Kettle Creek (not to be confused with old Tea kettle Creek) one of the places we waited our a Gale.

Jon talking to our dolphin friend while we travel toward Brunswick, GA on ICW

               this is the one shot I got of dolphin following us for about 45 minutes. Jon and I took turns watching and talking to him/her.