Thanksgiving at St. Mary's GA and outside to St. Augustine FL

We can't believe that November's over. Wow.  We sailed from Charleston, SC outside, to the St. Mary's  Inlet, thus skipping most of the SC, and all of the GA ICW.   That got us to St. Mary's GA on Friday, before Thanksgiving.   We spent a week anchored in the St. Mary's River (30 feet deep, and a 3 to 4 knot tidal current).  During that week the cruisers started arriving...mostly from the north.... and mostly coming down the ICW.  Thanksgiving was great.  90 Cruising boats were represented, and filled in the supplementary dinner dishes (the Town's people cook, and bring the Turkey's and hams).  YUMMM

The picture at the left shows just a little of the St. Mary's river anchorage.  (A lot of the cruisers had left when this photo was taken.  It was crowded on TG. 

The triple masted schooner in the center is the S/V Steel Away belonging to Anne and John Fazzio.
Great people, who, I guess now, could be classed as "locals" (at least for a while).   They were a great help to all the cruisers.   

Anne and John are pictured below.

 After Thanksgiving we stayed a day or two to relax after all the parties, and festivities.   Parties like happy hours, and "pain-killer"parties are "Work"....  :)

Anyway... then Susan and I set sail, and went outside and sailed down to St. Augustine FL, (about 65 nm including the 5 nm it takes to get out of the St. Mary's River).  
We made good time, but still just made St. Augustine before dark.
The trawler shown here passed us on the way into the St. Augustine Inlet.   The following birds were phenomenal.    Presently (DEC 2nd, and 3d) we're anchored north of the Bridge of Lions (still under renovating contruction).

We took a nice walk in St. Augustine today, before the storm hit...  Sydney even got ashore at the end of the day. 

The panorama below, taken from the Spanish Fort, shows the AB anchored out in the Harbor.   The St. Augustine Inlet is just to our stern (leading out to the Atlantic).

Love the gated yards, and architecture of the South.

St. George's street ALLEY (nearly empty)

Nor'Easter storm - North Carolina- Waiting for Weather

The remnants of hurricane Ida, wouldn't have been bad, but when they joined forces with a low pressure trough off the coast here, a wild nor'easter storm formed.  Many of the cruising boats took cover at marinas. Many found secure anchorages like the one we're in at Mile Hammoch Bay (Camp LeJune) NC.
We're anchored here with an average of about 11 other boats.  Plenty of swing room, and seems like good 'holding' for the anchor. 

The TV last night gave the rainfall totals for Onslow County of 9.26 inches, and then it rained again last night.
Wow.    We knew we got "pasted" with rain. The dinghy, which is floating at our stern, was filled with water, right to the top of the stern plate (and that's about 10 or 12 inches tall. 
( I bailed it out on Thursday, during a brief respite in the storm; changed the filter and water separator, and started the outboard (first pull -- Yeah!).
There was just enough play in the gas tank hold down straps to allow the tank to float a little and saved us from getting water in the fuel tank.   Second Yeah !!

The wind is really howling now.... but most of the rain has gone....   Very cloudy, and not inviting to move at all.     So...  second cup of coffee, projects, and reading day.    Move south on Saturday, weather willing.

Visit to "LIittle Washington", NC

It's October and we're secured along the docks of the Pamlico Plantation (Broad Creek off the Pamlico River) for about 6 days.  Morris and Elizabeth Thorpe are our hosts here at the Plantation.  It was great to see them, and an excellent time to complete the refrigeration work, and some electrical work (Generator Grounding System).

This weekend we'll shove off here, and make our way back down the Pamlico to meet the S/V Myosotis. 
The goal is to be down at St. Mary's GA for Thanksgiving.  That should be doable without major effort. 
Weather permitting we'd like to go offshore more than the ICW, but we'll see.

While at the dock here we replaced the Lube OIL heat exchanger that cools the lubrication oil for the main engine (Perkins),and the transmission (BorgWarner C-71).  Either something inside  the oil cooler (like a tube brazing joint) came adrift, or it just corroded a pinhole in the tubes, but we started to literally "pump" our engine lube oil over board through the engine exhaust.  Not Good!.  Three years ago, Susan and I replaced the transmission on the AB, while at a dock in Dinner Key, FL.   Not a fun job.  We seriously want to take care of this transmission, and, of course, the Perkins.

Another new addition (actually a relacement)  was a Toaster Oven.  The controls on the old oven bit the dust, and this one will take a full 12" frozen pizza...  yeah !!!    Plus it has a convection oven feature too.

Going South once again - Fall 2009

We're sailing south once again.  It's now the Fall of 2009.   It was sad to leave the Albany NY area, and it's close proximity to our many friends in Western New York. 
We had a easy trip down the Hudson River, past the Statue of Liberty, and over to Atlantic Highlands. 
Gar and Sandy Davidson came to spend a day with us while at the Highlands anchorage.

We waited one day for weather then went around NJ on the outside (ocean) for an overnight passage to Delaware Bay.   We had planned to anchor at Cape Henlopen; rest; and then catch the next flood tide up the Delaware (you can make nearly 10 knots SOG if you do this, and the early morning flood tide would give us the WHOLE day to make the C&D canal too).  WELL... change of plans.... (by the way... never do this...change plans when you're tired).  Anyway, the timing was such that as we crossed the bottom of Delaware Bay the flood tide of the afternoon had just begun.   SO we turned north, and continued up the Delaware.
Things were going OK, except the wind was building and coming from the north (our direction of travel).
The north wind AGAINST the north flowing flood tide made for some WILD waves (square and BIG).
We did make the Reedy Island Anchorage, but just before dark.   One wild passage around NJ.

We stopped at the Sassafras River and had a great Birthday dinner for Susan.   Our next stop was Annapolis to see our friends Deb and Scott Taber.   We also met some cruiser friends, Rob, and Bev Davidge, in the Weems Creek anchorage.  We had dinner and a day in Annapolis with Rob and Bev.
Rob and I went to the Power Boat show, while Susan and Bev went shopping.    Deb Taber picked us up the next morning for breakfast, and another day of touring the town.   We had breakfast at Chick and Ruth's diner (a classic NY style deli with huge portions, and wonderful food).  Nice!

On the way down the Chesapeake we stopped at the Solomon Islands again for two days.  We waited there for the S/V Myosotis to catch up with us (They had "worked" both boat shows at Annapolis !).   We had a great re-union cocktail hour, and dinner with the Rice's.
Our time with Jeanette, and Bill was too brief, as the next day they split off the southern track at the Potomac, while we headed for Deltaville, VA, which is where we are now (as this is posted).   Tomorrow, if the weather prediction is correct we'll catch a North wind for the sail down to Norfolk, and the beginning of the ICW.

Above is Deb Taber, and to the  right (and below) are the Davidges (Rob and Bev from the P/V R&B Haven). 

Our daughter also had a great season with her National Rugby Union team, the Albany Knickerbockers.  Not only did they fly to San Fransico to play in the National Sevens Tournement, but they won the northeast championship of their NRU club, and now fly to Houston, TX to play for the National Championship.   Way to go Knicks!

(Ruth will have a slight disadvantage to overcome (called jet lag), as the TX tournement starts, the day she gets back from a business trip to Japan).  Picture of Championship team below.

Summerfolk - 2009 - Owen Sound (Lake Huron)

A lot has happened since we rented the cabin along the shores of Lake Erie in July. We returned to the Autumn Borne for about a week, assembed camping gear, and took off with part of the HERD for Lake Huron's Owen Sound, and Summerfolk 2009 (folkfest).

Gar and Sandy Davidson, Kelvin Jones, Bill Pomerhn, and Susan and I were the attendees at the folkfest.







The Owen Sound festival is significanty smaller than the Philadelphia Folk Festival that we had usually attended in the past. Owen Sound is very "laid back", but had GREAT talent. We camped at a KOA on the east side of Owen Sound (about a 15 minute drive to Kelso Beach Park where the festival was held).


It was a beautiful venue, with the main stage amphitheater over looking the water of the Sound, and Georgian Bay (first photo, above).

There were half a dozen stages (aka workshops) going all day Saturday, and Sunday, and three night time concerts on the main stage. The music in the beer tent was great... (last photo).

Summer in New York State 2009

So far the Summer of 2009 has been one of travel, Family, and the start of the required Boat Projects.

We rented a cabin at Lake Erie State park, and had the grandkids, family, friends, and the HERD out. It was a very relaxing time. We left a little early so we could visit Nancy and Darrell (cousin) in Erie, PA, before we split back to the Albany area, and the boat at Catskill.

One of the first projects I wanted to do for the boat is to add an additional raw water filter to the Watermaker system. AND to move the original 5 micron filter to somewhere that we can see it, and change it without crawling under the work bench in the Engine room. So, now they're both on the back wall of the Engine Room... (picture).

Miscellaneous photos - comments - going North 2009

Spring 2009

After spending the bulk of the winter in the Exumas, we returned to Miami from North Cat Cay. Easy sail across the Gulf stream. Met a wild T-Storm about 7 miles off of Miami, but it was over by the time we entered the Gov't cut. Then the culture shock of Miami VS. the Bahamas... Wow! Over powered, Overcrowded, and over-speakered go-fast boats were everywhere !!!

We picked up my TWIC card on Dodge Island from Homeland Security. That's a story unto itself!

We stopped at Dinner Key to enjoy a little of the good life at Scotties, and Cocanut Grove, then started north to see our friends at Titusville, and Annapolis.

We mostly did ocean hops from large port to large port with a few ICW days (poor weather). We have grown to accept the ICW days, but much prefer the ocean, with "NIGEL" (the wind vane) steering, radar on watch (with alarms) and freeing us for visual watches, reading, etc. (as opposed to the constant vigil that is required on the ICW).

The AB was hauled at Titusville for some bottom work (patching the skeg; and repainting some of the lower keel; changing Zincs, painting the prop., etc.) .

We had some guests there at Titusville; The Jones'(Lauren and Kelvin) stopped in. They were visiting friends nearby in Cocoa.

We swam, and truly enjoyed our time in the Indian River, except for seeing the 7 foot alligator, just after we (including Sydney) had our swim. HUMMM ????

We had a great time with Brian and Sheila Strutt (our friends that were with us in Miami, before we crossed to the Bahamas, but returned to Titusville for the remainder of the winter).

Brian and Sheila were kind enough to let us, (including Sydney) stay on their boat (Moonshadow) during our stay "on the hard" at Westland Marina.

We rented a car, and went to NY for a party with Ruth, and James, and the Memorial Day HERD gathering in Bethlehem PA. This was during the week the AB should have been "drying OUT" on the hard.... (IT rained almost continuously in Titusville while we were gone)... So much for drying out.

After splashing, we moved smartly up the coast to the Cheasapeake where we visited with Deb and Scott Taber near Annapolis.

We had a WILD storm while we were anchored at Atlantic Highlands, waiting for Ruth and Savannah to join us for the trip up the Hudson. 49 knot winds hit during the frontal passage; followed by horizontal rain, thunder and lightening. Quite the evening!!! Anchorage went from dead calm to malestrom.

We had great weather for the trip up the Hudson with Ruth, and Savannah. The only incident occured right at the end of the trip. Ostensibly Savannah "knew" there was only hours left in the trip, and "exited the boat" in the middle of the Hudson River.... "Doggie OVERBOARD - All Hands on deck !! " No problem... ruth, and I got her smartly back on board in a hurry. We think she was "surprised" that no one followed her into the water.... "seemed like a good idea, at the time !!!"

The boat is now at Hop-O-NOSE Marina in Catskill Creek, and we're at Lake Erie in a cabin in a state park (enjoying grandkids, relatives, and friends).

More later,

Underwater Photos-Bahamas

Underwater photos- Bahamas

Warderick Wells reef - striped Grouper and friends.

Drug Plane - shot down at Normans Cay.

What you see from the surface.

Drug Plane - Fuselage

Side view of engines, and fuselage.

One entrance into Thunderball Grotto that Susan and I used.

Then...we swam out the other side, around the island, and back into the grotto near the dinghy mooring.

floor of Thunderball Grotto -varied from 20 feet deep to zero inside.Ceiling of Thunderball Grotto - Staniel Cay

Exumas - Bahamas -- Georgetown - Trip North

Exumas, Bahamas (Highborne Cay to Great Exuma (Georgetown)

After island hopping down the Exuma chain of islands to Georgetown, we decided that we'd slow down on our trip north. I'm not sure it worked out that way, as we may have spent a little more time in Georgetown than we anticipated, AND the sailing on the way north was GREAT! (Sometimes it was a shame to pull in and drop the hook). The pictures here are from the trip north.

We had a great time with Ruth, and James, the last part of February, in and around Nassau (all the way down to West Bay and Goulding Cay); sightseeing, scuba diving, and in general "being on Vacation". They had some great dives with a local dive group too (Blue Hole; caves, reefs, etc.).

Then, Susan and I split for the Exumas for some island hopping, going south.

The islands were full of gorgeous sights, both above, and below the water. We did some drift dives (through navigable cuts to Exuma Sound); snorkeled Thunderball Grotto; snorkeled reefs; even did some work on the boat's hull underwater (scuba). In general, we had fun.

We met up with some fellow cruisers at Blackpoint, then separated again, only to meet up with them several islands down (Great Exuma). Such is cruising.

We finally made it down to Georgetown on the Great Exuma Island. We anchored at Stocking Island which is where about 90% of the cruisers "hangout". Some have called it an "adult-day-care" center. It really IS full of activities.... But it has to be. Cruisers sometimes spend the entire winter there (months, and months). So there's volleyball, dominos, bridge, Texas-Hold-Em tournements; dances, etc. There is something to keep you busy all the time.

The beach parties were great. And they had a get-to-gether one Friday night called a "Rake & Scrape" (We had no idea where this name came from .... so we asked). It turns out that in some of the old Bahamian Bands one of the main "instruments" was a hand SAW. But it's not played like a saw here in the USA (mountains)....They beat on it, and scrape it with a handle. AKA rake and scrape.

On the way north, Susan and I got a chance to fly the spinaker (asymetrical) twice. It was great sailing.

The only part of the trip north, and then back to the USA, we probably would not do again, was the anchoring on the Bahamas Bank on the way, west, to North Cat Cay. That was a very rough night... Done again, I think we would have just continued on through the night.

The other resolution that Susan and I made regarded provisions. We'd load the AB to the "gills" in the USA. Prices of everything in the Islands are double what they are in the USA.

Exhumas -- Bahamas

We're working our way down the Exhuma Chain of Islands in the Bahamas.

Today we're at Warderick Wells; We've seen Highborne key; Norman's key; and Warderick, so far.

We skipped Shroud; we'll see that on the way back north.

Gulf Stream Crossing to the Bahamas

the Gulf Stream Crossing to the Bahamas started early (0300) from Dinner Key.

By noon we were nearly around the north end of Bimini, and headng for Machie Shoal, where we'd anchor for the night.... 10 to 15 knot winds during the crossing from the correct direction... SW.

Water like a mill pond that next night (see sunset photo).

Randy took some great shots of AB... (some posted here).

We checked in an cleared customs and immigration at Chub Key, then came down toward New Providence. We sailed through the harbor, just to get the "lay of the land"... and went on to Rose island for a couple of days.

Now were back in Nassau... Ruth and James should arrive tomorrow for a visit.

More later.