Ahhh slept well last night. Today we ride the bus to Publics Grocery. Not that we really need much but just to do some impulse food buying.
The dinghy dock is PACKED. Not too unusual but many dingiest are not tied up well -- painters too short for so many dinghies. We land and walk to the bus stop -- first ones there. Then some more folks come but there is no establish queue here so they maneuver to try to be the first ones aboard. All the folks that show up -- do. I haven't seen that aggressive waiting before here -- just a new crop of cruisers and I think most are from parts far north like VA, PA, MI, NY. Little manners displayed from there. Can't seem to turn that competitiveness off.
Great shopping experience as usual. We then look for the bus stop -- it's not right out front anymore. We have to go to the highway. Hmmm bus probably wont be here for another 40 minutes. Looked like we missed it by only 5 minutes. We will understand this schedule shortly.
Rather than wait we cross the street and catch the bus on its outward trip to the hub. It is different -- just an abandoned rode at the airport. Everyone has to get off and wait for all the busses to arrive and then get back on. BAck to the marina uneventfully.
After lunch I take my back to shore and put it together. I'm cautioned to be sure to lock it up since a passer by tells me his bike was stolen last week from here.
A trip to the hardware store and 7-11. Perfect afternoon for a six mile bike trip -- much further than I expected.
BAck on the boat to relax and then we have a social planning session on Victoria Gaye to plan our joint Thanksgiving Celebration on Salty Turtle next Thursday.
It was fun and Vickie served her dynamite corn dip -- sounds plan but it is not -- Great.
BAck on Temptation for a very light dinner and end to an enjoyable day here at Vero BEach Marina.
Tomorrow's forecast is for rain and thunderstorms so probably won't leave the boat tomorrow. That's okay.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Yee-oow
Well it was definitely rolly most of the night last night at Melbourne. The sea didn't settle down till about 4 am. Normally not an issue but I had filled our big water tank full the day before and if it is 3/4 or more full it makes loud sloshing sounds when we roll.
We had a nice fast run to Vero Beach this morning and made most of it before the winds really piped up again. Buck had negotiated a single mooring ball for all of us to raft up on. I didn't need fuel or water yet so I was elected to grab the ball first and they would raft to us.
All went well until I pulled the mooring ball painter in and saw were there was no loop in it. Just a finished end!! What do I do?! I quickly put a slip knot on the end to a cleat then tried to pull enough line in that I could cleat it properly. Unfortunately a gust of wind caught us and the part of the rope that my left had on that was pulling for slack got stretched out and pinched my knuckles between the rope and a stanchion. Ohh that hurt and there was nothing I could do., Too much pressure to pull my hand free so I had to wait for the gust to subside and then loosed my hand OUCH..
I got the line cleated then headed for some ice for my knuckles. Or maybe it was to grab a beer and then some ice.
Victoria Gaye and Skat had no trouble rafting to us Thus we had all arrived in Cruisers paradise -- Velcro Beach but my enthusiasm was diminished by my hurt hand.
Tonight it is much better and fortunately nothing broke or burst.
Here we will stay for at least 10 days and celebrate Thanksgiving here. Tomorrow it is a trip to the Publics Grocery for some needed treats -- provisioning is still good but can never have enough treats to share when entertaining which we hope happens a lot over the next several days.
We had a nice fast run to Vero Beach this morning and made most of it before the winds really piped up again. Buck had negotiated a single mooring ball for all of us to raft up on. I didn't need fuel or water yet so I was elected to grab the ball first and they would raft to us.
All went well until I pulled the mooring ball painter in and saw were there was no loop in it. Just a finished end!! What do I do?! I quickly put a slip knot on the end to a cleat then tried to pull enough line in that I could cleat it properly. Unfortunately a gust of wind caught us and the part of the rope that my left had on that was pulling for slack got stretched out and pinched my knuckles between the rope and a stanchion. Ohh that hurt and there was nothing I could do., Too much pressure to pull my hand free so I had to wait for the gust to subside and then loosed my hand OUCH..
I got the line cleated then headed for some ice for my knuckles. Or maybe it was to grab a beer and then some ice.
Victoria Gaye and Skat had no trouble rafting to us Thus we had all arrived in Cruisers paradise -- Velcro Beach but my enthusiasm was diminished by my hurt hand.
Tonight it is much better and fortunately nothing broke or burst.
Here we will stay for at least 10 days and celebrate Thanksgiving here. Tomorrow it is a trip to the Publics Grocery for some needed treats -- provisioning is still good but can never have enough treats to share when entertaining which we hope happens a lot over the next several days.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Blitzen today
This morning dawned cold here in Titusville -- 43 degrees. Still it was time to go. We thought we would wait till the Sun warmed the enclosure but it was cloudy and all our buds were leaving around 8am.
We prepped and left at 8:30am. Our exit was much more controlled and dignified than our entrance. Once under way we had a favorable wind from the North around 10 - 14. We motor sailed for a few hours but as we approached Cocoa Beach the wind was dead astern and the sail would flog at times. I pulled it in and then in about an hour the wind piped up to 20 to 30 kts but still dead astern. With no sail up we cruised at 7.3 - 7.5 kts. My big ol enclosure acts as a mini sail. It started to get a little rolly with the following seas building and pushing along. Not uncomfortable but had to stay ever vigilant at the helm or we were pushed were we didn't want to go.
Skat and Victoria Gaye talked me into going to the Melbourne Causeway to anchor on the south side and supposedly nice and calm. We passed Dragon point -- my preferred anchorage -- in these conditions to try something new. The Melbourne causeway was not bad but still a bit rolly where I knew there would have been none at Dragon Point. Unfortunately Dragon Point was now 4 miles upwind and we didn't want to bash into that.
The forecast is for the wind to die down tonight and so far it has gone down a lot but still rolly here.
The engine ran fine with its fresh oil change and new alternator belt. Belt was still fine after we pulled in here but it didn't do any real work today since we left with fully charged batteries. Tomorrow will be the test and again we should make Vero around noon, and then it is no fuss life on a mooring ball for at least 10 days and a few more until we see our window for crossing to the Bahamas.
As I sit in this 65 degree boat tonight with temps forecast to get down to 50 -- I can't wait to get to the Bahamas and put this cold stuff behind us for the entire WINTER!
We prepped and left at 8:30am. Our exit was much more controlled and dignified than our entrance. Once under way we had a favorable wind from the North around 10 - 14. We motor sailed for a few hours but as we approached Cocoa Beach the wind was dead astern and the sail would flog at times. I pulled it in and then in about an hour the wind piped up to 20 to 30 kts but still dead astern. With no sail up we cruised at 7.3 - 7.5 kts. My big ol enclosure acts as a mini sail. It started to get a little rolly with the following seas building and pushing along. Not uncomfortable but had to stay ever vigilant at the helm or we were pushed were we didn't want to go.
Skat and Victoria Gaye talked me into going to the Melbourne Causeway to anchor on the south side and supposedly nice and calm. We passed Dragon point -- my preferred anchorage -- in these conditions to try something new. The Melbourne causeway was not bad but still a bit rolly where I knew there would have been none at Dragon Point. Unfortunately Dragon Point was now 4 miles upwind and we didn't want to bash into that.
The forecast is for the wind to die down tonight and so far it has gone down a lot but still rolly here.
The engine ran fine with its fresh oil change and new alternator belt. Belt was still fine after we pulled in here but it didn't do any real work today since we left with fully charged batteries. Tomorrow will be the test and again we should make Vero around noon, and then it is no fuss life on a mooring ball for at least 10 days and a few more until we see our window for crossing to the Bahamas.
As I sit in this 65 degree boat tonight with temps forecast to get down to 50 -- I can't wait to get to the Bahamas and put this cold stuff behind us for the entire WINTER!
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Brrrrrr
I know I'm preaching to the choir but it is cold for us here today. Just yesterday it was 85 degrees and we wanted to run the AC for a while last night. The cold air came here around 3:30am today. It was 53 at 7:30am and then 47 by 3pm. Cold and rainy all day.
We did a little laundry today and I wrestled with that alternator belt for over an hour today. Putting a belt on a marine engine is not the same as a car. Access is very limited and you work mostly by feel. You can't see most of the fasteners you are working with.
We had a nice visit with John and Madeline Knie on the NEW Chanceaux. It is a 42 foot Juneau. Absolutely gorgeous and impeccably maintained by John and Madeline. We talked about previous trips to the Bahamas, the crossings, and what we hope for this year. I'm really looking forward to Christmas and New Years on Green Turtle Cay if possible.
Filled the water tanks today and got ready to move tomorrow. It will be cold at 43 with winds N at 15 - 20. We will wait till the sun warms our enclosure and then be off for Melbourne. Probably anchor either at Dragon Point or behind the causeway at Melbourne. Then Thursday onto Vero for at least 10 days there to celebrate Thanksgiving and look for our weather window to cross to the Bahamas.. Won't need the heat anymore once we do that.
We did a little laundry today and I wrestled with that alternator belt for over an hour today. Putting a belt on a marine engine is not the same as a car. Access is very limited and you work mostly by feel. You can't see most of the fasteners you are working with.
We had a nice visit with John and Madeline Knie on the NEW Chanceaux. It is a 42 foot Juneau. Absolutely gorgeous and impeccably maintained by John and Madeline. We talked about previous trips to the Bahamas, the crossings, and what we hope for this year. I'm really looking forward to Christmas and New Years on Green Turtle Cay if possible.
Filled the water tanks today and got ready to move tomorrow. It will be cold at 43 with winds N at 15 - 20. We will wait till the sun warms our enclosure and then be off for Melbourne. Probably anchor either at Dragon Point or behind the causeway at Melbourne. Then Thursday onto Vero for at least 10 days there to celebrate Thanksgiving and look for our weather window to cross to the Bahamas.. Won't need the heat anymore once we do that.
Monday, November 17, 2014
An Exageration -- again
Today dawned warm and humid and then got very warm -- 85 degrees.
I was off early to the NAPA dealer for 2 gallons of Motor oil Rotella T and a replacement belt for the alternator. Damn if they didn't have it all and I noticed some loose bearings for sale. BAck on Temptation I checked the part number for the bearings used in the KISS Wind Generator and they had them. I went back and got those. I'll change those later or when I have too.
Later Karen and I took the bikes and made some minor purchases at the Sav A LOT grocery and the CVS store.
Back on the boat to wait for the HUGE STORM expected. They had all kinds of warnings out for high winds and lightning this afternoon and evening.
In the meantime Victoria Gaye, Skat, and Chanceaux showed up and took slips. All had minor difficulties docking here so I didn't feel too bad about our poor performance yesterday. Bubbles checked in and they took a slip in the St. Augustine marina. All our buds are safely tucked in tonight.
The weather radar had a distinct cold front line coming here with a lot of red in it. When it hit -- not much. No real wind and minor rain which did turn heavy but no Armageddon.
It's cooling off slowly and winds still calm after the frontal passage. I'm sure it will come out later but nothing really out of the ordinary for now.
We will do some laundry tomorrow and some minor chores on the motor -- change that alternator belt. You have to wrestle it on so I'm hoping for cooler temps.
Still raining so I expect no games tonight. Just a comfortable early evening.
I was off early to the NAPA dealer for 2 gallons of Motor oil Rotella T and a replacement belt for the alternator. Damn if they didn't have it all and I noticed some loose bearings for sale. BAck on Temptation I checked the part number for the bearings used in the KISS Wind Generator and they had them. I went back and got those. I'll change those later or when I have too.
Later Karen and I took the bikes and made some minor purchases at the Sav A LOT grocery and the CVS store.
Back on the boat to wait for the HUGE STORM expected. They had all kinds of warnings out for high winds and lightning this afternoon and evening.
In the meantime Victoria Gaye, Skat, and Chanceaux showed up and took slips. All had minor difficulties docking here so I didn't feel too bad about our poor performance yesterday. Bubbles checked in and they took a slip in the St. Augustine marina. All our buds are safely tucked in tonight.
The weather radar had a distinct cold front line coming here with a lot of red in it. When it hit -- not much. No real wind and minor rain which did turn heavy but no Armageddon.
It's cooling off slowly and winds still calm after the frontal passage. I'm sure it will come out later but nothing really out of the ordinary for now.
We will do some laundry tomorrow and some minor chores on the motor -- change that alternator belt. You have to wrestle it on so I'm hoping for cooler temps.
Still raining so I expect no games tonight. Just a comfortable early evening.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
I saw a Manatee today
Man you would think that with all the manatee warnings signs, speed control, channel control those critters would be coming out of the woodwork. Mostly NOT. I have hardly ever seen a Manatee.
Today we ran from New Smyrna Beach to Titusville. I thought we would go further say to Cocoa then on to Dragon Point tomorrow to make a stand on anchor against the horrible weather forecast for tomorrow night and Tuesday. However -- today they changed the forecast to have more wind and thunderstorms. Wind expected now is 25 - 30kts instead of 20 - 25. Doesn't sound like much of a change but it is. At 30kts boats are known to break loose from their anchorages. That and the high Tuesday will only be 52. That is COLD in an unheated boat in the rain and on the hook.
We, or actually I, chickened out and decided to go into the Titusville Marina today to wait out this weather. It's time to change the oil in the main engine and we can plug our heat pump in.
Today was an unbelievable mild day with winds around 6 kts. Glass smooth across the Mosquito Lagoon, and temps in the low 80s this afternoon. A BIG change coming tomorrow.
We made it to the marina just before 1pm and tied up in a slip. It was not pretty because they put us in a slip for a much longer boat and we had trouble getting our lines on the outboard pilings. Fortunately with such mild winds no damage occurred.
Just as I was stepping off the boat to adjust lines I saw this big cloud of brown stuff come up from under the boat. It was a HUGE Manatee. Ohh man it was cool.
After checking in I changed the engine oil while it was hot and so glad I did. I noticed the alternator belt had a chunk of rubber out of it!! Oh boy it was going to let go anytime now.
The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing and planning our bike assault on Titusville tomorrow morning. No storms expected till the afternoon. Then all hell breaks loose for about 36 hours.
I'm glad I'm tied to a dock for a few days now.
Today we ran from New Smyrna Beach to Titusville. I thought we would go further say to Cocoa then on to Dragon Point tomorrow to make a stand on anchor against the horrible weather forecast for tomorrow night and Tuesday. However -- today they changed the forecast to have more wind and thunderstorms. Wind expected now is 25 - 30kts instead of 20 - 25. Doesn't sound like much of a change but it is. At 30kts boats are known to break loose from their anchorages. That and the high Tuesday will only be 52. That is COLD in an unheated boat in the rain and on the hook.
We, or actually I, chickened out and decided to go into the Titusville Marina today to wait out this weather. It's time to change the oil in the main engine and we can plug our heat pump in.
Today was an unbelievable mild day with winds around 6 kts. Glass smooth across the Mosquito Lagoon, and temps in the low 80s this afternoon. A BIG change coming tomorrow.
We made it to the marina just before 1pm and tied up in a slip. It was not pretty because they put us in a slip for a much longer boat and we had trouble getting our lines on the outboard pilings. Fortunately with such mild winds no damage occurred.
Just as I was stepping off the boat to adjust lines I saw this big cloud of brown stuff come up from under the boat. It was a HUGE Manatee. Ohh man it was cool.
After checking in I changed the engine oil while it was hot and so glad I did. I noticed the alternator belt had a chunk of rubber out of it!! Oh boy it was going to let go anytime now.
The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing and planning our bike assault on Titusville tomorrow morning. No storms expected till the afternoon. Then all hell breaks loose for about 36 hours.
I'm glad I'm tied to a dock for a few days now.
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