New look at surroundings

We finally finished the big clump of laundry.  Took all day! It is nice to have a washer and dryer, but only one washer and one dryer is tough to share.  In between our load, folks snuck in and washed two shirts or two towels...wth...it slowed down our ability to get it all done.  One last load.  I got it in before the sneakers.

One of the local places we found was Killkenny Marina on Killkenny Creek in Georgia.  Georgia AICW is traveled down wild rivers joined by man made cuts.  The Killkenny Marina is located on the site of the old Killkenny plantation founded in the early 1800's.  The same family has owned the land since then.  The marina is a local fisherman/waterman stop.  We needed fuel.  I called and asked if they had diesel.  The said sure and come on over.  He told me not to bother with the radio because they were real busy and would be on the docks, off we went.  As we entered the creek, I ran aground.  Got off and found the deep water and progressed toward the marina.  Looked up the creek and saw a floating dock constructed of wood with 2x4's sticking up near the water edge side.  A man was waving and pointing toward the dock.  Matt looked at me and said...this must be it, take it in slow.  We pulled in, dock master helped us tie up and looked a bit perplexed.  He said, 'why didn't you use your fenders, you wouldn't have scraped the rub rail?'  Matt replied, 'that teak is sacrificial, fenders are expensive'.  The dock master laughed.

We filled up and went up to the office to pay.  The marina operates a sling lift to launch small boats.  A family was getting into a just launched boat.  An older gentleman walked up and extended his hand.  Matt shook it and wished him a great time on the water.  The man said he had never been on a boat before.  We told him that we hadn't been off our boat for two weeks.  We had a nice talk about boats and living aboard and waved to them as they sped off.  At the top of the ramp, there were two tanks.  What are these?  Bait, was the reply.  There were shrimp and little fishes swimming around. ' Are these snapping shrimp?'  The dockmaster shook his head and told us that he had heard about those snapping shrimp all is life but never saw one.  He said he thinks the noise you hear on the hull is from the reaction of tides and tempertures.  He pointed to the office and said his brother would ring us up. 

The office was a great little store.  Must have biting bug problems because they had lots of kinds of insect repellent.  Got some sodas and some beer and went to pay.  His brother was a bit cool to us until I said, 'this is such a beautiful place' he smiled and started telling us about the store and the marina and his family.  The atmosphere was warm and friendly.  His first impression of me must have been as a stuck up yachty.  I complimented him and his family on their good choice to make this beautiful part of Georgia their home and business.  He rung up our purchases on an adding machine with a tape.  He told us we were welcome back anytime.  We were tempted to stay.  They have a restaurant next door that cooks up what the local fisherman bring in to the marina.  They have live music and everyone just sits around and enjoys.  What a concept...people enjoying and talking and being neighbors. 

At Marineland yesterday we met a fellow boating couple from Germany.  They have been traveling up down the east coast of the USA on their way to Rio Dulce, Guatemala.  Walking back on forth to the laundry, Matt was stopped by a family walking around the docks.  They said, it is so peaceful here.  He agreed and said this was one of our favorite places.  The father shook his head and replied,' we are from Israel, and the USA just always feels so peaceful and calm.  The people are kind and generous.  You all seem to get along.'  'We try' , Matt said.  As the family walked toward the beach, Matt and I were a bit overcome by their statements.  We had just finished one of the most contentious elections in our memory.  It seemed that our country was torn up and at each other throats.  When you look around, you see that we are ok.  The parts of the world that are in turmoil look to us as a place of peace.  We are lucky.  We should be thankful.

OK, the laundry machines are free, time to again dominate. I found another load.  May as well get the linens washed. We shove off tomorrow for new track on the chartplotter into the heart of Florida.  Miami, here we come! 

From Maryland to Florida

We are now in Marineland!  This is how far we got last year.  The weather is warm and we are washing the boat and our laundry.  It is amazing how much laundry you can accumulate when you are traveling. 

Last year we were so tentative about the depths and about anchoring.  We would agonize about running aground.  Then when it was time to anchor, we would stay awake and monitor the position of the boat with graphs and charts.  Although it was so wonky and fun to make the charts and graphs, we were tired the next day and slept instead of traveling.  We went sightseeing and generally donked around.  We loved every minute of our trip.

This year, tides and currents are our friends.  We are covering 50 or more miles a day.  We sailed in the ocean twice.  We watch the sunrise, then anchor up and away we go.  It seems that every other day we run aground.  We work to get off or we make a pot of coffee and wait for the tide to come up.  Both work equally as well.  We battled 20 days of north winds and clouds.  We have gotten groceries in Beaufort, SC and here in Marineland.  We have cooked on the boat.

Over the summer we added an hydrolic (simrad) autopilot and a set of simrad chartplotter and an echo sounder.  The new instruments are such a good addition to the boat.  The autopilot is easy to use and we can let it steer and give us a rest.  The chartplotter is big and easy to read and the echo sounder shows the characteristics of the sea floor.  We can see fish and our anchor chain.

The things that have worked well: simrad instruments
                                                   windlass
                                                   washdown
                                                   Trader Joe Vacuum packed meats
                                                   freeze dried vegtables
                                                   camping meals

The camping meals are a welcome treat for lunch when the wind is cold.  Matt goes below and heats up some water and a nice warm meal comes delivered to the helm.  The last time we had camping meals they all tasted the same, lots of salt and something to chew.  Now the meals have taste and low sodium.

The election is over.  So glad we are done with all the commercials and signs.  All the towns and people seem to be less stressed and looking forward. We missed the whole Black Friday madness.  Since we live on a boat, buying 'stuff' takes on a new meaning.  You have to throw out a blouse or pair of pants if you get new ones.  A 50 inch flat screen will not fit on the boat.  There are also no big box stores out on the water.  I don't feel deprived.

Onward we go!  Can't wait until we get to the Bahamas.

on the move...2012

We are heading south again, this time to the Bahamas.  

First we got to go thru super storm Sandy.  We had been watching the storm develop for at least a week before it hit.  We knew we were going to be on the NE quadrant of the storm.  The storm surges and fiercest winds are in the NW quadrant of a hurricane.  New Jersey got hit by the NW quadrant.  We stayed on our boat during the storm.  The strongest winds we saw were in the low 50's.  We did a bit of surfing.  We left two days after Sandy.  The bay was full of all the commercial traffic that had been waiting out the storm off shore.  We played freighter dodge all the way to Norfolk. 

The weather has been cold.  Each day we got dressed in heavy pants, sweaters, double socks, and foul weather jackets.  Gloves and hats were a must.  Each time we go out in the fall I am so glad that we had the cockpit enclosure made.  We anchored out each night.  We did our best to run in front of the nor'easter roaring up the east coast.  We rode the storm out in Slade Creek, just north of Oriental.  Two days of blowing cold.  Rain was cold. 

As the sun returned we made our way down to south river, across from Oriental.  The river is wide and beautiful.  We saw eagles and pelicans.  No motor boat traffic.  Night time stars were putting on a show just for us.  Tried to look for meteors.  Didn't see any.

We got to hear the election results on XM radio.  It was a good night for the common people.  I was glad to see that the American people could not be bought by millionaires and billionaires.

Tried to stop along the ICW to get fuel.  Wind and tide were sending us straight for a gnarly metal bulkhead.  Hit reverse and backed out of danger.  On to the next fuel station.  We started sailing with the light air head sail  The winds decided to pick up.  I blamed Matt, he had been whistling earlier and just whistled up a blow.  As we dropped the sail the halyard escaped and sail, sheet and halyard took a swim.  Put the engine in neutral and wrangled the sail on the deck.    Got the boat anchored for the night and started to clear the decks.  Wet sails dried and stowed.  Next task crank Matt to the top of the mast, all 55 ft.  I am not that strong and it took a while with many breaks for rest.  Glad Matt is not afraid of heights!  He said the view was great, but we forgot the camera.  I was glad when his feet reached the deck. 

Pulled into Morehead City Yacht Basin.  Got fuel, got a shower and washed all our clothes.  Had a burger in town.  Our wash down hose nozzle got a hole in it and was spewing water every time you cleaned off the anchor.  Walked to the hardware store and found a Veteran's Day Parade.  Pulled up a piece of curb and were treated to marching bands, scout troops, mayors, small boats driving down the main drag.  What a fun time!  Senior housing vans filled with Vets were waving and trowing candy to the crowd  The street was lined with families cheering and shouting, "thanks for your service".  After the election, wasn't sure that everyone could come together and show love and support for each other.  The feeling was all positive.  People were cheering and enjoying each others fellowship.  Made me smile from ear to ear.