26 - 27 March 2018
So we're still learning some things about our boat. We were already aware that the drainage for the shower and sink was below the waterline, making that through hull valve of primary importance. Well on Monday Heather cleaned the forward head, which pretty much involves taking a shower yourself. The water collects at the bottom and you push a little rubberized button to engage the shower sump pump. The pump was draining even more slowly than usual. After a while we got tired and left it with a little water below the grate, and a new addition for our to-do list in the morning.
When we returned a few hours later in the dark there were several inches of water in the shower. Heather was brave enough to taste it - salty! We were taking on water, albeit slowly. Taking on water is the slower, more controlled version of sinking. It certainly sounds better, and appearances matter. The sump pump was still doing a pretty pathetic job, and when we gave up a second time there was still an inch or so of water left. We closed the shower through hull valve (this time), and went to bed.
In the morning the shower drain hose was still firmly double clamped to the through hull. No leaks there. I pulled a little portable peristaltic pump I use for moving water from various places and drained the rest of the shower water into the sink and overboard. This works because while the sink connects to the same through hull as the shower, the sink itself is above the waterline, and gravity still works.
In doing some research I learned that the shower uses a diaphragm pump. If any little thing gets between the diaphragm and the seal, like say hair, then the pump will be slowed if not disabled. Like what happens in any shower drain. As a result, there is a little filter upstream of the pump. Yup, there it is. I remove the housing which includes the little stainless steel mesh screen, and boy is that nasty. Probably should have been cleaning that over the last couple years. Connected it all back up and the pump works better than it ever has (or at least since we got the boat).
So there's one last part of having debris between the diaphragm and the seal. After you turn off the pump the line is still full of water, continuously, from the outside of the boat to the last dregs in the shower sump. Ever drain a waterbed? The shower sump is below the waterline, so it is a lower place than the water outside the boat. Hmmm. All that is keeping the water you just removed, and a whole lot more, from siphoning back into the boat is that little rubber diaphragm and its seal. New boat rule, the shower through hull valve shall remain closed at all times unless in use.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
The adventures of Dan and Heather as they travel on their sailboat, "Hiatus".
Friday, March 30, 2018
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Mooring then Renaissance
24 -25 March 2018
On Saturday morning we moved over to a mooring. In looking over the weather, tides and current forecasts it looked like the 9:15a bridge opening was going to be easiest. After some line wrangling Heather backed right out cleanly. We called the bridge and waited for the next opening. Over in the mooring field Heather pointed us right into what little wind there was and stopped right over the ball, making my job pretty easy.
After getting settled there we lifted the dinghy off the foredeck, loaded up the outboard, and scooted across to the other side. We were off to the last weekend of the Florida Renaissance Festival. We went to to the Arizona Ren Fest for at least the first 10 years they had them but then seemed to lose interest. When Ded Bob acquired a younger and squeakier, less cranky and lechy squire much of the appeal for me was lost. We hadn't been to one in a long time.
These-days there was a weird stream of Harry Potter themes mixed in. I'm not sure some of the kids knew what the Renaissance was but it didn't seem to affect their enjoyment. Since it was in the middle of a large metropolitan area it was in a city park instead of a remote but permanent, ever growing facility like in AZ. On the other had, mature trees and lots of shade was a big plus.
There were lots of interesting costumes.
There was a nice trebuchet exhibition, where they shot large rocks with remarkable accuracy into the lake. I think I need one of these.
We went to the fighting for the first time in ages.
On Saturday morning we moved over to a mooring. In looking over the weather, tides and current forecasts it looked like the 9:15a bridge opening was going to be easiest. After some line wrangling Heather backed right out cleanly. We called the bridge and waited for the next opening. Over in the mooring field Heather pointed us right into what little wind there was and stopped right over the ball, making my job pretty easy.
After getting settled there we lifted the dinghy off the foredeck, loaded up the outboard, and scooted across to the other side. We were off to the last weekend of the Florida Renaissance Festival. We went to to the Arizona Ren Fest for at least the first 10 years they had them but then seemed to lose interest. When Ded Bob acquired a younger and squeakier, less cranky and lechy squire much of the appeal for me was lost. We hadn't been to one in a long time.
These-days there was a weird stream of Harry Potter themes mixed in. I'm not sure some of the kids knew what the Renaissance was but it didn't seem to affect their enjoyment. Since it was in the middle of a large metropolitan area it was in a city park instead of a remote but permanent, ever growing facility like in AZ. On the other had, mature trees and lots of shade was a big plus.
There were lots of interesting costumes.
We went to the fighting for the first time in ages.
Heather went to the bird show while I hung out in the shade next to the mews. Maybe next year I could be a bird umbrella holder. Heather's favorite part was the glassblowing exhibition.
On Sunday I hooked up the bbq for the first time since Marathon last summer. We cooked up some skirt steak after marinating it in some Pirates Gold. So good.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Monday, March 26, 2018
More FtL
22 - 23 March 2018
I had picked up a couple of strap wrenches at Harbor Freight ("Home of the Single Use Tool") during errands. It's just a coincidence that there was a highly rated donut shop next door. I had been trying for weeks to get the very corroded one pound propane tank off the outboard. I had left it on last summer and it was corroded on good. I had sprayed some Corrosion-X on it in Brunswick, but so far no luck. Of course once I had two strap wrenches it came right off. The threads were wet with the Corrosion-X all the way thru. It just took some time.
Based on the weather and the length of our to-do list we decided to stay at the dock in FtL until at least Saturday. On of the things on our list was to figure out where we were going after Saturday. There was a small window to the Bahamas the next day, but then nothing good for the rest of the forecast. It looked like we could get to Bimini, and even across the banks to the other side, but no farther before Heather had to fly back to Arizona.
We checked out getting people to and from Bimini and dock prices there. Not terrible, but it left me in the middle of nowhere for 10 days. We started checking out FtL more. The only place cheaper than where we were was Cooley's Landing, where John K kept his boat when I went on a Bahamas trip with him. We went together to check it out. Lot's of bugs, cute ducks, and okay facilities. They actually had a place for us. Our other alternative was to catch a mooring on the other side of the bridge where we were. Less convenient but about half as much. We pondered some more and had a fried chicken dinner at the Red Cow.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
I had picked up a couple of strap wrenches at Harbor Freight ("Home of the Single Use Tool") during errands. It's just a coincidence that there was a highly rated donut shop next door. I had been trying for weeks to get the very corroded one pound propane tank off the outboard. I had left it on last summer and it was corroded on good. I had sprayed some Corrosion-X on it in Brunswick, but so far no luck. Of course once I had two strap wrenches it came right off. The threads were wet with the Corrosion-X all the way thru. It just took some time.
We checked out getting people to and from Bimini and dock prices there. Not terrible, but it left me in the middle of nowhere for 10 days. We started checking out FtL more. The only place cheaper than where we were was Cooley's Landing, where John K kept his boat when I went on a Bahamas trip with him. We went together to check it out. Lot's of bugs, cute ducks, and okay facilities. They actually had a place for us. Our other alternative was to catch a mooring on the other side of the bridge where we were. Less convenient but about half as much. We pondered some more and had a fried chicken dinner at the Red Cow.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Saturday, March 24, 2018
FtL To Do List
20 - 21 March 2018
Having arrived in FtL one of the first things we needed to do was rent a car and drive up to Vero to pick up our car. Since it was a small Enterprise store in a ritzy area but with few cars we somehow ended up with an Audi A6 sedan. It was pretty and comfortable and nice, but the electronics were already getting a bit fritzy. It occurs to me that future generations will be able to use the exact same phrase to describe their last girlfriend. In either case, not for us, but it got us to the Vero airport to pick up our car, which is old, comfortable, and has few electronics to fritz. Much like us.
In the morning we returned the rental and I ran errands while Heather did laundry. The 50 foot, 50 amp shore power cable is one of the top five heaviest things I have to lift regularly. Imagine an extension cord about as big around as one of those cute little juice or soda cans. Now fill that cute can with lead (okay, copper) and make it 50 feet tall. I hate it. Thing is, we very rarely need even half of those 50 amps. Pretty much only when both air conditioners are running, which is only when it's hot, we're at a dock, and we have guests in the back cabin. So far in two years - never. There is another unlikely permutation involving the battery charger that I now know how to manage.
An additional problem is poorly placed power pedestals on docks, sometimes necessitating more than 50 feet of cable. I looked at Boat Owners Warehouse and West for a 30A shore power cable longer than 50 feet, but no luck. I found a used Eel 50 footer in good shape at Sailorman for a third of new, and bought a new 25 footer to go with it (for just a few bucks less). They both checked out and now we were hooked up to shore power for the first time since Brunswick more than two weeks ago. With our two weeks of usage up and down and a night's charge on shore power the batteries were finally back to where they were when we arrived in Brunswick last summer.
On the giant lizard invasion front (nice transition!), it's bad enough that they are everywhere.
I draw the line at having to stop for them in crosswalks. Next we'll be hearing "iguanas are people, too". Lest you think I'm prejudiced, I'm not stopping for any corporations in crosswalks, either.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Having arrived in FtL one of the first things we needed to do was rent a car and drive up to Vero to pick up our car. Since it was a small Enterprise store in a ritzy area but with few cars we somehow ended up with an Audi A6 sedan. It was pretty and comfortable and nice, but the electronics were already getting a bit fritzy. It occurs to me that future generations will be able to use the exact same phrase to describe their last girlfriend. In either case, not for us, but it got us to the Vero airport to pick up our car, which is old, comfortable, and has few electronics to fritz. Much like us.
In the morning we returned the rental and I ran errands while Heather did laundry. The 50 foot, 50 amp shore power cable is one of the top five heaviest things I have to lift regularly. Imagine an extension cord about as big around as one of those cute little juice or soda cans. Now fill that cute can with lead (okay, copper) and make it 50 feet tall. I hate it. Thing is, we very rarely need even half of those 50 amps. Pretty much only when both air conditioners are running, which is only when it's hot, we're at a dock, and we have guests in the back cabin. So far in two years - never. There is another unlikely permutation involving the battery charger that I now know how to manage.
An additional problem is poorly placed power pedestals on docks, sometimes necessitating more than 50 feet of cable. I looked at Boat Owners Warehouse and West for a 30A shore power cable longer than 50 feet, but no luck. I found a used Eel 50 footer in good shape at Sailorman for a third of new, and bought a new 25 footer to go with it (for just a few bucks less). They both checked out and now we were hooked up to shore power for the first time since Brunswick more than two weeks ago. With our two weeks of usage up and down and a night's charge on shore power the batteries were finally back to where they were when we arrived in Brunswick last summer.
On the giant lizard invasion front (nice transition!), it's bad enough that they are everywhere.
I draw the line at having to stop for them in crosswalks. Next we'll be hearing "iguanas are people, too". Lest you think I'm prejudiced, I'm not stopping for any corporations in crosswalks, either.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Friday, March 23, 2018
Leaving Riviera
19 March 2018
This and the last post were reversed.
We didn't quite make the slack tide, and didn't realize how quickly it picked up. When we left at seven it was already approaching a couple knots in the opposite direction. Exiting the marina we turned right to continue our path south, but there was a white wall blocking our path. According to the law of gross tonnage it has the right of way.
We slipped behind the cruise ship after it passed and continued on our way. We were staying in the ditch on our way down to Ft. Lauderdale. We went outside on our way up, so we hadn't been this way before. You know those 1-percenters you keep hearing about? This is where they keep their boats!
The real estate got even more over the top. Apparently after you max out your McMansion you accessorize it by parking a big-ass boat in front.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
This and the last post were reversed.
We didn't quite make the slack tide, and didn't realize how quickly it picked up. When we left at seven it was already approaching a couple knots in the opposite direction. Exiting the marina we turned right to continue our path south, but there was a white wall blocking our path. According to the law of gross tonnage it has the right of way.
We slipped behind the cruise ship after it passed and continued on our way. We were staying in the ditch on our way down to Ft. Lauderdale. We went outside on our way up, so we hadn't been this way before. You know those 1-percenters you keep hearing about? This is where they keep their boats!
The real estate got even more over the top. Apparently after you max out your McMansion you accessorize it by parking a big-ass boat in front.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Back in Ft. Lauderdale
19 March 2018
We continued down the ditch to Ft. Lauderdale, with a record 19 bridges that we needed to open. Some open on demand (more or less), but others are on a fixed schedule that you either make, or you don't. Most open on the half (top of the hour and half past), some on the quarter (quarter after and quarter til) and even one on the 20 (20 after, 20 til, and top of the hour). They're spaced seemingly randomly, so this becomes a task to avoid missing a bridge by a minute and wasting a half hour for the next opening. We alternated between chugging along barely fast enough to maintain steerage and fast as she would go.
We made the bridge schedule for all but a couple, but it made for a 10 hour day where we only went about 40 miles. Along the way we could sense that we were being watched.
Once again being tracked by feral iguanas. They were on the bridges, everywhere.
We finally recognized the Biltmore from the water. Just upriver was an example of what passes for a fixer upper in Boca Raton. Someone woke up and just hated everything.
We got to the Los Olas marina and were assigned a slip to adjacent to the one we had last year. Heather did great getting us in a tight approach right next to the bridge, and a kind soul helped us with the lines to get us secured in there. When we got here last year the three foot tides just seemed crazy. After months in Brunswick with 9 foot tides it seems like no big deal.
We went to dinner at a place we had been going to for a few years called Kelly's Landing, specializing in northeast style seafood. We had some good calamari, some great clam chowder, and some of the best onion rings ever. I was full after the appetizers.
We're here! Now all we need to do is work down our punch list and get a weather window. We are running out of days before Heather needs to go back to AZ for a week for her medical appointments.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
We continued down the ditch to Ft. Lauderdale, with a record 19 bridges that we needed to open. Some open on demand (more or less), but others are on a fixed schedule that you either make, or you don't. Most open on the half (top of the hour and half past), some on the quarter (quarter after and quarter til) and even one on the 20 (20 after, 20 til, and top of the hour). They're spaced seemingly randomly, so this becomes a task to avoid missing a bridge by a minute and wasting a half hour for the next opening. We alternated between chugging along barely fast enough to maintain steerage and fast as she would go.
We made the bridge schedule for all but a couple, but it made for a 10 hour day where we only went about 40 miles. Along the way we could sense that we were being watched.
Once again being tracked by feral iguanas. They were on the bridges, everywhere.
We finally recognized the Biltmore from the water. Just upriver was an example of what passes for a fixer upper in Boca Raton. Someone woke up and just hated everything.
We got to the Los Olas marina and were assigned a slip to adjacent to the one we had last year. Heather did great getting us in a tight approach right next to the bridge, and a kind soul helped us with the lines to get us secured in there. When we got here last year the three foot tides just seemed crazy. After months in Brunswick with 9 foot tides it seems like no big deal.
We went to dinner at a place we had been going to for a few years called Kelly's Landing, specializing in northeast style seafood. We had some good calamari, some great clam chowder, and some of the best onion rings ever. I was full after the appetizers.
We're here! Now all we need to do is work down our punch list and get a weather window. We are running out of days before Heather needs to go back to AZ for a week for her medical appointments.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
To Riviera Beach
18 March 2018
Again our departure time was driven more by scooting out from the marina and all that expensive fiberglass around before the wind and current kicked in, rather than a needing the hours to make our next destination. We glided between the obstacles with feet (not just inches) to spare. Back down the ditch.
Since Vero it has really been getting warmer. Their motto is "Where the Tropics Officially Begin". I thought it was a little silly, but it appears to be true. I didn't have any underlayers on at all, and it was still getting warm. We ditched the hoodies and were in t-shirts for much of the day.
Not coincidentally, we are back in the land of party boats and overpriced real estate.
We had a 4 knot side current coming into the marina in Riviera Beach. Heather had to crab in sideway to counter it, but did a great job of getting us in. I had to lasso the cleats from a fair distance, but it all worked out. We had tacos on the boat and tried to get asleep early so we could catch the slack current at 6a.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Again our departure time was driven more by scooting out from the marina and all that expensive fiberglass around before the wind and current kicked in, rather than a needing the hours to make our next destination. We glided between the obstacles with feet (not just inches) to spare. Back down the ditch.
Since Vero it has really been getting warmer. Their motto is "Where the Tropics Officially Begin". I thought it was a little silly, but it appears to be true. I didn't have any underlayers on at all, and it was still getting warm. We ditched the hoodies and were in t-shirts for much of the day.
Not coincidentally, we are back in the land of party boats and overpriced real estate.
We had a 4 knot side current coming into the marina in Riviera Beach. Heather had to crab in sideway to counter it, but did a great job of getting us in. I had to lasso the cleats from a fair distance, but it all worked out. We had tacos on the boat and tried to get asleep early so we could catch the slack current at 6a.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Stuart
17 March 2018
We got a relatively early start so we could back out of our slip before the wind kicked up. On the way down there were multiple sets of sailing dinghies. This would have been good training when we were kids. Instead I was a tubby middle aged guy taking a dinghy class on Tempe Town Lake 10 years ago. Seems like it has been longer than that.
In the Stuart marina Heather did a masterful job of docking in a tight slip. To maintain control given the strong side current and wind she had to power in pretty hot then really gun it in reverse to stop before taking out the dock. Docking is still stressful but we are getting a little better at it.
We went to a dinner at a place called Getting Crabby. Heather had a plate of Royal Red shrimp, a salad then for desert another plate of Reds. They were that good. More little lobsters than giant shrimp.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
We got a relatively early start so we could back out of our slip before the wind kicked up. On the way down there were multiple sets of sailing dinghies. This would have been good training when we were kids. Instead I was a tubby middle aged guy taking a dinghy class on Tempe Town Lake 10 years ago. Seems like it has been longer than that.
In the Stuart marina Heather did a masterful job of docking in a tight slip. To maintain control given the strong side current and wind she had to power in pretty hot then really gun it in reverse to stop before taking out the dock. Docking is still stressful but we are getting a little better at it.
We went to a dinner at a place called Getting Crabby. Heather had a plate of Royal Red shrimp, a salad then for desert another plate of Reds. They were that good. More little lobsters than giant shrimp.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Monday, March 19, 2018
The Velcro Effect
16 March 2018
In the morning we were scheduled to leave, but the Vero velcro effect kicked in. Heather had been fighting a sinus headache for a couple of days so we decided to stay another day. After some haggling the marina let us stay where we were, and Heather slept in. That afternoon we decided to rent a car and move our car down to Vero, where the municipal airport parking was not just cheap but free (for a maximum of three weeks).
We had lunch at Mrs. Macs Fillin' Station, which was just as good and cheap as we remembered, and within walking distance of one of the the busiest Enterprise locations we have ever seen. We drove up to Orlando Melbourne and Heather drove the rental back. We went ahead and returned it three hours after we picked it up because we certainly didn't need two cars. That sounds weird considering that just a couple years ago we had five cars.
That night we dropped the car off at the Vero airport and Ubered back to the marina.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
In the morning we were scheduled to leave, but the Vero velcro effect kicked in. Heather had been fighting a sinus headache for a couple of days so we decided to stay another day. After some haggling the marina let us stay where we were, and Heather slept in. That afternoon we decided to rent a car and move our car down to Vero, where the municipal airport parking was not just cheap but free (for a maximum of three weeks).
We had lunch at Mrs. Macs Fillin' Station, which was just as good and cheap as we remembered, and within walking distance of one of the the busiest Enterprise locations we have ever seen. We drove up to Orlando Melbourne and Heather drove the rental back. We went ahead and returned it three hours after we picked it up because we certainly didn't need two cars. That sounds weird considering that just a couple years ago we had five cars.
That night we dropped the car off at the Vero airport and Ubered back to the marina.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Back to Velcro Beach
15 March 2018
When we pulled up the anchor in Cocoa it was covered with mud and shell all the way up the shank and even the first few feet of chain. It was well set. We headed south and saw that all the boats were now south of the bridge, but we're not sure why, other than a very mild north wind.
Someone had moved into one of the markers along the way south.
The way down to Vero was still littered with wrecks.
We arrived at Vero about 4:30p and topped up at the fuel dock. Vero Beach is nicknamed Velcro Beach because it quickly becomes too comfortable to leave. We were assigned a slip opposite the one we had last year. Heather did a great job docking us bow in, and we went out to a nice Italian place opposite a Publix, so we could kill two birds with one Uber.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
When we pulled up the anchor in Cocoa it was covered with mud and shell all the way up the shank and even the first few feet of chain. It was well set. We headed south and saw that all the boats were now south of the bridge, but we're not sure why, other than a very mild north wind.
Someone had moved into one of the markers along the way south.
The way down to Vero was still littered with wrecks.
We arrived at Vero about 4:30p and topped up at the fuel dock. Vero Beach is nicknamed Velcro Beach because it quickly becomes too comfortable to leave. We were assigned a slip opposite the one we had last year. Heather did a great job docking us bow in, and we went out to a nice Italian place opposite a Publix, so we could kill two birds with one Uber.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Friday, March 16, 2018
To Cocoa Beach
14 March 2018
In the morning it was slightly less cold and we got moving after 10a. We had just an average length day scheduled to get to an anchorage in Cocoa Beach.
When we got to the anchorage we were a little creeped out by the fact there were no other boats there, given that it was so crowded last summer. There was just one lonely mast sticking out of the water just north of where we had anchored before. We anchored and seemed to be set well. We had prodigious amounts of Heather's excellent spaghetti and drifted off into a carb induced coma.
The anchor alarm went off a little before midnight, as they are wont to do. We had a nice smiley face track pattern of us swinging at the anchor back and forth due to the conflicting wind and current until just before the alarm went off. In the last half hour we had drifted directly up from the smiley face, where we were now starting a new smile. A check of the tide table showed the tide had just turned and we had drifted to the opposite side of our swing range. I had set the anchor location in the app a bit off center and we had drifted just outside the alarm radius. In the app I moved the anchor closer to the center of our two smiles and we were good for the rest of the night.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
In the morning it was slightly less cold and we got moving after 10a. We had just an average length day scheduled to get to an anchorage in Cocoa Beach.
When we got to the anchorage we were a little creeped out by the fact there were no other boats there, given that it was so crowded last summer. There was just one lonely mast sticking out of the water just north of where we had anchored before. We anchored and seemed to be set well. We had prodigious amounts of Heather's excellent spaghetti and drifted off into a carb induced coma.
The anchor alarm went off a little before midnight, as they are wont to do. We had a nice smiley face track pattern of us swinging at the anchor back and forth due to the conflicting wind and current until just before the alarm went off. In the last half hour we had drifted directly up from the smiley face, where we were now starting a new smile. A check of the tide table showed the tide had just turned and we had drifted to the opposite side of our swing range. I had set the anchor location in the app a bit off center and we had drifted just outside the alarm radius. In the app I moved the anchor closer to the center of our two smiles and we were good for the rest of the night.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Not NSB Again
13 March 2018
It was really cold when we woke up in StA. We delayed for a good hour, but then we headed over to the fuel dock to top up. Sixteen gallons for two days travel and running for 2-3 hours for power/hot water for a week- not bad. The first hour or two heading south the currents were not with us, and we struggled to maintain 6 knots. We had a long day scheduled, so this was going to be tight. Fortunately by late morning we we running with them and easily going 7 to 7.5 knots.
As we travelled south there were continued signs of hurricane damage, like buildings with no roofs. As we were going through one bridge - what's wrong with this picture?
Most of the way down we would play chicken with powerboats that had minimal draft that were free to wander across most of the channels. It did not seem to occur to most of them that not everyone could do that. As Heather was pushing to the edge of one channel to avoid a clueless fishing boat we caught the edge and it spun us further to the side. After some ploughing we were back in the channel. The most important point here - it wasn't me this time! Heather seemed done deferring to powerboats for the day.
Making good speed we made our last bridge opening at 5p and were back at the New Smyrna Beach City Marina once again. We were stuck here 11 days last summer getting a water pump and gear repaired. We ignored the restaurant suggestions and went to a pizza place called Panheads, where once again H really liked their stuffed mushrooms and wings. We stumbled back to the boat after 8, from fatigue not the one beer I had. Travel days are long days and we were out of practice and shape.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
It was really cold when we woke up in StA. We delayed for a good hour, but then we headed over to the fuel dock to top up. Sixteen gallons for two days travel and running for 2-3 hours for power/hot water for a week- not bad. The first hour or two heading south the currents were not with us, and we struggled to maintain 6 knots. We had a long day scheduled, so this was going to be tight. Fortunately by late morning we we running with them and easily going 7 to 7.5 knots.
As we travelled south there were continued signs of hurricane damage, like buildings with no roofs. As we were going through one bridge - what's wrong with this picture?
Most of the way down we would play chicken with powerboats that had minimal draft that were free to wander across most of the channels. It did not seem to occur to most of them that not everyone could do that. As Heather was pushing to the edge of one channel to avoid a clueless fishing boat we caught the edge and it spun us further to the side. After some ploughing we were back in the channel. The most important point here - it wasn't me this time! Heather seemed done deferring to powerboats for the day.
Making good speed we made our last bridge opening at 5p and were back at the New Smyrna Beach City Marina once again. We were stuck here 11 days last summer getting a water pump and gear repaired. We ignored the restaurant suggestions and went to a pizza place called Panheads, where once again H really liked their stuffed mushrooms and wings. We stumbled back to the boat after 8, from fatigue not the one beer I had. Travel days are long days and we were out of practice and shape.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Getting Ready to Leave StA
11-12 March 2018
Sunday morning we got a pump out and ran the engine for a while for hot water and in anticipation of a cloudy day (little solar power). We had an interesting brunch at a cafe built into an old gas station, creatively called GAS, located on the east side of the Bridge of Lions. It turned out to be a wonderful day, and despite our best intentions, we got little else done. We had a very nice dinner at the Columbia, sister to the huge restaurant in Tampa.
Early on Monday the rain finally arrived and we decided to stay put. By mid-day the wind had blown most of the clouds out to see, but the wind hung around. There was a small craft advisory until early Tuesday, which was now our departure target. Heather did laundry while I did bills. We had one last dinner in StA at the Prohibition Kitchen.
Here's a last shot of the fort, this time from the seawall. We like St. Augustine a lot, and will be back.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Sunday morning we got a pump out and ran the engine for a while for hot water and in anticipation of a cloudy day (little solar power). We had an interesting brunch at a cafe built into an old gas station, creatively called GAS, located on the east side of the Bridge of Lions. It turned out to be a wonderful day, and despite our best intentions, we got little else done. We had a very nice dinner at the Columbia, sister to the huge restaurant in Tampa.
Early on Monday the rain finally arrived and we decided to stay put. By mid-day the wind had blown most of the clouds out to see, but the wind hung around. There was a small craft advisory until early Tuesday, which was now our departure target. Heather did laundry while I did bills. We had one last dinner in StA at the Prohibition Kitchen.
Here's a last shot of the fort, this time from the seawall. We like St. Augustine a lot, and will be back.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Still in StA
09 -10 March 2018
There was some significant rain coming in on Sunday. If we left on Friday as scheduled that put us on the anchor in Cocoa Beach for gusts to 25mph, which didn't sound fun. Whereas StA definitely was fun, and cheap. Since there appeared to be little behind this storm for the southeast, we decided to stay in StA until that blew through, ideally departing Monday. We are chewing up days, but we're working on things we had scheduled for farther south. With this new plan, instead of staging in Vero, we would head directly for Ft. Lauderdale, five or six travel days on the boat away. Right now we have little we urgently need in FtL, so we would immediately be looking for a weather window. Friday night we went to "A Wrinkle in Time". It was very pretty, but I must have been too old (or sober) for the intended effect. In its defense, a tough book to adapt.
On Saturday they had the (nations first in 1600?) St. Patricks Day parade and a Celtic music and games festival. They had the usual fair fare, plus more unusual things like scotch eggs, and haggis & chips. Pass. Heather bought a red, leather purse/backpack thing to replace her current one with failing zippers.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
There was some significant rain coming in on Sunday. If we left on Friday as scheduled that put us on the anchor in Cocoa Beach for gusts to 25mph, which didn't sound fun. Whereas StA definitely was fun, and cheap. Since there appeared to be little behind this storm for the southeast, we decided to stay in StA until that blew through, ideally departing Monday. We are chewing up days, but we're working on things we had scheduled for farther south. With this new plan, instead of staging in Vero, we would head directly for Ft. Lauderdale, five or six travel days on the boat away. Right now we have little we urgently need in FtL, so we would immediately be looking for a weather window. Friday night we went to "A Wrinkle in Time". It was very pretty, but I must have been too old (or sober) for the intended effect. In its defense, a tough book to adapt.
On Saturday they had the (nations first in 1600?) St. Patricks Day parade and a Celtic music and games festival. They had the usual fair fare, plus more unusual things like scotch eggs, and haggis & chips. Pass. Heather bought a red, leather purse/backpack thing to replace her current one with failing zippers.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Hanging out in St. Augustine
07 - 08 March 2018
We are on a mooring just south of the Bridge of Lions and the fort. It's a pretty cheap way to hang out, but you need to be able to get to shore. Yesterday afternoon we had brought the dinghy down from the front deck and loaded the outboard. We paid for three nights and went ashore for showers then dinner out.
Since we had a delivery address for a few days, in the morning we ordered a portable SSB radio to help us get weather updates when we are in the Bahamas. I also needed a new waterproof case for my phone. They seem to last at most a year in this environment.
That afternoon we grabbed our small cooler, rented a car, and drove back up to Brunswick to pick up our car. A day's travel in the boat is about an hour on the highway. About Jacksonville I yelped when I realized I didn't have my car keys. At this point a two hour mistake. Fortunately Heather had hers, so she saved the day. That makes up (partially) for the Mexico purse incident.
On the way back we stopped at the Costco in Jax and loaded up on high value provisions (meats and cheeses). They also had a square, lightly colored Coolaroo sun shade/tarp almost exactly the right size for the front of the boat, with corner straps already sewed in. That will come in handy as the weather heats up, as hard as it is to imagine right now. Even though we are only a couple days south of Brunswick, it is still about five degrees warmer on average. Every little bit helps.
That night we (parallel) parked both cars along the water within sight of the boat. Free until 8a, so we needed to get going early in the morning. When we got back to the dinghy with the loaded cooler it took several more pulls than normal for it to start. It was pretty cold, but I think a tune up and servicing may be in order.
In the morning we grabbed both the cars and hit a breakfast place along the 1. Down the 1 then the 95 we went to the airport in Melbourne. This is the first time we have moved the boat since having a car with us and we're still figuring out how best to keep the boat and car in sync. We dropped the car off at the airport ($65 a week) then headed back to StA. These smaller regional airports seemed to be the best bet for secure parking for a while, as little as $7 a day so far. We shouldn't need the car much in StA, and hopefully we will not be spending much time in New Smyrna Beach again. One night in NSB to hit the pizza place with the mushrooms Heather likes should be plenty. Then one night at anchor around Cocoa Beach, and we should be near Vero Beach again.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
We are on a mooring just south of the Bridge of Lions and the fort. It's a pretty cheap way to hang out, but you need to be able to get to shore. Yesterday afternoon we had brought the dinghy down from the front deck and loaded the outboard. We paid for three nights and went ashore for showers then dinner out.
Since we had a delivery address for a few days, in the morning we ordered a portable SSB radio to help us get weather updates when we are in the Bahamas. I also needed a new waterproof case for my phone. They seem to last at most a year in this environment.
That afternoon we grabbed our small cooler, rented a car, and drove back up to Brunswick to pick up our car. A day's travel in the boat is about an hour on the highway. About Jacksonville I yelped when I realized I didn't have my car keys. At this point a two hour mistake. Fortunately Heather had hers, so she saved the day. That makes up (partially) for the Mexico purse incident.
On the way back we stopped at the Costco in Jax and loaded up on high value provisions (meats and cheeses). They also had a square, lightly colored Coolaroo sun shade/tarp almost exactly the right size for the front of the boat, with corner straps already sewed in. That will come in handy as the weather heats up, as hard as it is to imagine right now. Even though we are only a couple days south of Brunswick, it is still about five degrees warmer on average. Every little bit helps.
That night we (parallel) parked both cars along the water within sight of the boat. Free until 8a, so we needed to get going early in the morning. When we got back to the dinghy with the loaded cooler it took several more pulls than normal for it to start. It was pretty cold, but I think a tune up and servicing may be in order.
In the morning we grabbed both the cars and hit a breakfast place along the 1. Down the 1 then the 95 we went to the airport in Melbourne. This is the first time we have moved the boat since having a car with us and we're still figuring out how best to keep the boat and car in sync. We dropped the car off at the airport ($65 a week) then headed back to StA. These smaller regional airports seemed to be the best bet for secure parking for a while, as little as $7 a day so far. We shouldn't need the car much in StA, and hopefully we will not be spending much time in New Smyrna Beach again. One night in NSB to hit the pizza place with the mushrooms Heather likes should be plenty. Then one night at anchor around Cocoa Beach, and we should be near Vero Beach again.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Friday, March 9, 2018
To St. Augustine
06 March 2018
We got an early start of 7a leaving FB and headed south. Around Jacksonville a yard was working on a ship that looked like a destroyer or something.
The current was working for us again, which was good because it was so strong in places there were standing waves, such as under this bridge. Up to about 4 knots, which is a little more than half our max speed.
Along the way I relieved Heather at the helm. I know what you're thinking - no we didn't run aground. I guess indirectly we almost did, but something else happened. We realized that we were going to miss the Bridge of Lions opening by a couple minutes, so we wanted to speed up. We were already at least close to maxed out. I had my had on the throttle and started applying pressure, but I'm not convinced the thing had moved yet. The engine died.
We tried restarting it but it was at least temporarily locked from pressure in the cylinders. We were in the ditch and drifting without control towards land, so we quickly decided where we should drop the anchor. We wanted to be out of the channel to avoid traffic, but not aground after the tide dropped. Not a lot of shades of gray there, so some quick mental calculations were required.
After a pretty good anchoring drill, considering the urgency and the lack of practice, we tried the engine again. It started right up. We are still pondering the significance of this, since this seems to be a new permutation. Among other things the diesel fuel has been in the tanks for about 8 months, although the fuel filters looked good and didn't show any significant back pressure. Hmmm.
We arrived in St. Augustine in time for the next bridge opening on the half hour, so not a lot of time wasted. This is a view of the St. Augustine fort from the water. This seems to be one of the few places in Florida that has some history beyond "there was this developer who bought some swamp land and turned it into subdivisions, strip malls and money." We picked up a mooring in the strong current with ease and rewarded ourselves with dinner out. We'll be here for at least a few days.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
We got an early start of 7a leaving FB and headed south. Around Jacksonville a yard was working on a ship that looked like a destroyer or something.
The current was working for us again, which was good because it was so strong in places there were standing waves, such as under this bridge. Up to about 4 knots, which is a little more than half our max speed.
Along the way I relieved Heather at the helm. I know what you're thinking - no we didn't run aground. I guess indirectly we almost did, but something else happened. We realized that we were going to miss the Bridge of Lions opening by a couple minutes, so we wanted to speed up. We were already at least close to maxed out. I had my had on the throttle and started applying pressure, but I'm not convinced the thing had moved yet. The engine died.
We tried restarting it but it was at least temporarily locked from pressure in the cylinders. We were in the ditch and drifting without control towards land, so we quickly decided where we should drop the anchor. We wanted to be out of the channel to avoid traffic, but not aground after the tide dropped. Not a lot of shades of gray there, so some quick mental calculations were required.
After a pretty good anchoring drill, considering the urgency and the lack of practice, we tried the engine again. It started right up. We are still pondering the significance of this, since this seems to be a new permutation. Among other things the diesel fuel has been in the tanks for about 8 months, although the fuel filters looked good and didn't show any significant back pressure. Hmmm.
We arrived in St. Augustine in time for the next bridge opening on the half hour, so not a lot of time wasted. This is a view of the St. Augustine fort from the water. This seems to be one of the few places in Florida that has some history beyond "there was this developer who bought some swamp land and turned it into subdivisions, strip malls and money." We picked up a mooring in the strong current with ease and rewarded ourselves with dinner out. We'll be here for at least a few days.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Thursday, March 8, 2018
We're Off!
05 March 2018
On Monday we were at the office at 8a when it opened, turned in our clubhouse keys, settled up our bill, then cast off the lines. It was a beautiful day, although not the warmest. We headed south to Fernandina Beach. The birds in the marsh across from the marina were there to wish us a farewell. The second shot is looking back at the marina.
We were able to use the routes I had programmed for the trip up the coast by just reversing them, which made the amount of time I had spend putting them together a little more worth it. On the way there were various signs of the past hurricane season. The bulldozer at left of the picture below was just crushing up these boats for the scrapyard.
We arrived at Fernandina Beach about an hour earlier than we expected because the currents were working for us almost the whole day, pretty much the opposite of our experience on the way up. This way was better. We had dinner at the Salty Pelican again, then crashed hard. Travel days on the boat are are long days even if they are good.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
On Monday we were at the office at 8a when it opened, turned in our clubhouse keys, settled up our bill, then cast off the lines. It was a beautiful day, although not the warmest. We headed south to Fernandina Beach. The birds in the marsh across from the marina were there to wish us a farewell. The second shot is looking back at the marina.
We were able to use the routes I had programmed for the trip up the coast by just reversing them, which made the amount of time I had spend putting them together a little more worth it. On the way there were various signs of the past hurricane season. The bulldozer at left of the picture below was just crushing up these boats for the scrapyard.
We arrived at Fernandina Beach about an hour earlier than we expected because the currents were working for us almost the whole day, pretty much the opposite of our experience on the way up. This way was better. We had dinner at the Salty Pelican again, then crashed hard. Travel days on the boat are are long days even if they are good.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
The Final Countdown
01 - 04 March 2018
Now we're getting back to checking the weather at least twice a day and looking at the tide tables. We don't want to be ploughing behind Jekyll Island again. The current tables are still a little bit of a mystery, but the tides take much of that into account. We plan on following our path back south to around Vero Beach, and finishing our final preparations there. First stop is a Fernandina Beach mooring, followed by a few days this time on a St. Augustine mooring.
We spent less time ON the boat in Brunswick than we did in Marathon, but we have still been here way too long. Between moving Chelsea to and fro, finishing moving out and getting the house ready to rent, and the holidays we had been away from the boat about five months of it, but still.
On Thursday we cleaned up and reinstalled the solar panels on the rails on either side of the cockpit then called it a day. On Friday we checked the diesel fluids, topped them up and started it up for the first time in four months, and only the third time in eight. It started right up - a good sign. That night we went to Bennies again for the steaks cooked Pittsburgh style. I haven't had many interesting pictures lately (mostly paint cans and electrical connections) so I took one of Bennies. Note the walk in fireplace. Last time we were here they had a huge tree stump burning.
On Saturday we loaded the dinghy back on deck, filled the water tanks, and Heather cleaned out the aft head with white vinegar. The solar panels had been stored in there for six months, and even with the door cracked open for ventilation it was getting a little moldy. On Sunday we finished securing the dinghy on deck, treated the holding tanks, updated our electronic charts, and notified the office that this time we really were going to leave. We went back to Bennies for the Sunday brunch buffet, then we went down to the SSI dock to compare our multiple, conflicting weather forecasts against our eyeballs. This guy on the dock apparently gets the leftovers after they clean the fish. I think he viewed us as competition.
We're leaving the car in Brunswick for a while until we get farther south. We tried to get to sleep early because we had a long day tomorrow.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Now we're getting back to checking the weather at least twice a day and looking at the tide tables. We don't want to be ploughing behind Jekyll Island again. The current tables are still a little bit of a mystery, but the tides take much of that into account. We plan on following our path back south to around Vero Beach, and finishing our final preparations there. First stop is a Fernandina Beach mooring, followed by a few days this time on a St. Augustine mooring.
We spent less time ON the boat in Brunswick than we did in Marathon, but we have still been here way too long. Between moving Chelsea to and fro, finishing moving out and getting the house ready to rent, and the holidays we had been away from the boat about five months of it, but still.
On Thursday we cleaned up and reinstalled the solar panels on the rails on either side of the cockpit then called it a day. On Friday we checked the diesel fluids, topped them up and started it up for the first time in four months, and only the third time in eight. It started right up - a good sign. That night we went to Bennies again for the steaks cooked Pittsburgh style. I haven't had many interesting pictures lately (mostly paint cans and electrical connections) so I took one of Bennies. Note the walk in fireplace. Last time we were here they had a huge tree stump burning.
On Saturday we loaded the dinghy back on deck, filled the water tanks, and Heather cleaned out the aft head with white vinegar. The solar panels had been stored in there for six months, and even with the door cracked open for ventilation it was getting a little moldy. On Sunday we finished securing the dinghy on deck, treated the holding tanks, updated our electronic charts, and notified the office that this time we really were going to leave. We went back to Bennies for the Sunday brunch buffet, then we went down to the SSI dock to compare our multiple, conflicting weather forecasts against our eyeballs. This guy on the dock apparently gets the leftovers after they clean the fish. I think he viewed us as competition.
We're leaving the car in Brunswick for a while until we get farther south. We tried to get to sleep early because we had a long day tomorrow.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Prep for Departure
22 -28 Feb. 2018
It always takes a while for us to get settled back on the boat, but this one was pretty quick because we had people coming to the boat right away.
The new dive guy came on Friday. From the sound of it it was a much easier job than last time. Chad put the 3rd coat of Cetol on the wood around the cockpit.
On Sunday I started emptying out back cabin, originally to find the new oil change pump. Some idiot had put it in the corner farthest from the door, behind a ton of stuff. Chad came for the 4th and final coat of Cetol, which I manage to put a thumbprint in, and Heather an arm. It still looked better. Heather cleaned and dried the the bimini canvas, along with the hatch and binnacle covers, all while being swarmed by those nasty biting flies. She's tough.
On Monday it was pretty rainy so I repacked the back cabin after organizing and thinning out some. Think of a regular closet. Now knock the closet over on its door side and move the access to what was the ceiling. The rule of thumb on a boat is that you have to move at least three things to get what you want. For the pump it was more like 30.
On Tuesday we removed the dinghy from the forward deck and Chad came back to remove the last of the blue masking tape. He gave the boat one last wash. Except for the aft half of the toe rail the boat probably looked the best it had since we bought her.
Wednesday we treated the canvas with 303, lubed the miles of zippers, then installed both segments of the bimini. Then we loaded the outboard on the dinghy. The one pound tank was disintegrating from corrosion, but I was able to install the hose and 10# tank. After a couple dozen pulls it actually started up. This was a gift because we really didn't lay it up last summer when we arrived in Brunswick last summer and it hadn't run since.
We wanted to leave by end of month because we had a plan to have Heather's niece in the Bahamas in April. Because of upcoming weather (gusts to 25mph) we weren't leaving just yet, and we still had quite a bit of stuff to do.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
It always takes a while for us to get settled back on the boat, but this one was pretty quick because we had people coming to the boat right away.
The new dive guy came on Friday. From the sound of it it was a much easier job than last time. Chad put the 3rd coat of Cetol on the wood around the cockpit.
On Sunday I started emptying out back cabin, originally to find the new oil change pump. Some idiot had put it in the corner farthest from the door, behind a ton of stuff. Chad came for the 4th and final coat of Cetol, which I manage to put a thumbprint in, and Heather an arm. It still looked better. Heather cleaned and dried the the bimini canvas, along with the hatch and binnacle covers, all while being swarmed by those nasty biting flies. She's tough.
On Monday it was pretty rainy so I repacked the back cabin after organizing and thinning out some. Think of a regular closet. Now knock the closet over on its door side and move the access to what was the ceiling. The rule of thumb on a boat is that you have to move at least three things to get what you want. For the pump it was more like 30.
On Tuesday we removed the dinghy from the forward deck and Chad came back to remove the last of the blue masking tape. He gave the boat one last wash. Except for the aft half of the toe rail the boat probably looked the best it had since we bought her.
Wednesday we treated the canvas with 303, lubed the miles of zippers, then installed both segments of the bimini. Then we loaded the outboard on the dinghy. The one pound tank was disintegrating from corrosion, but I was able to install the hose and 10# tank. After a couple dozen pulls it actually started up. This was a gift because we really didn't lay it up last summer when we arrived in Brunswick last summer and it hadn't run since.
We wanted to leave by end of month because we had a plan to have Heather's niece in the Bahamas in April. Because of upcoming weather (gusts to 25mph) we weren't leaving just yet, and we still had quite a bit of stuff to do.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Friday, March 2, 2018
There and Back Again
18 - 21 Feb. 2018
We got a late start the next morning but we were only trying to get as far as Las Cruces. Once there I was able to clean up the car a little before we went to Nopalitos with Heather's mother and brother and all of his family for the required green chili infusion. It was in an old church and Heather's sister Holly had worked there in high school. It hasn't changed much.
In the morning we got a fairly early start, but not early enough. We were still too far from San Antonio for dinner, so we went back to the Soaring Dragon in Kerrville for some good Chinese, same as late last year. Hotels in San Antonio not on New Years Eve and their 300th anniversary were quite reasonable and nice.
In the morning we ate at Pancake Joes, where Heather had an omelette to rival Butterfields. On the way out of San Antonio we hit the northern edge of the Buc-ees archipelago, then again on the way out of Houston. For those not familiar, they are the king of roadside stops. We had dinner at Parrain's again, just over the Mississippi in Baton Rouge. After dinner we made it to Biloxi. I had snagged a cheap room in the Hard Rock hotel. After a brief walking around tour I can confidently say our hard rock days are behind us, but I appreciate gambling subsidized four star hotels.
On Wednesday we started our last leg back to the boat. No stopover in Tallahassee since Chelsea doesn't live there anymore. We had lunch in Mobile at the completely awesome "Meat Boss". I had what was basically a grilled cheese on sourdough with tomato, with the late addition of a half pound of some excellent burnt ends. Heather had about the same but with pulled butt (because she liked the name). We'll be back.
In Florida we stopped at the Busy Bee truck stop past Tallahassee. They are similar to the Buc-ees, but just not quite the same. We got to the boat well after dark, never really stopping for dinner. Everything was fine on the boat, and it was about 20 degrees warmer than when we left. This was our sixth cross-country trip since August, counting the boat show trip up to Baltimore. Time for more more boating and less driving.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
We got a late start the next morning but we were only trying to get as far as Las Cruces. Once there I was able to clean up the car a little before we went to Nopalitos with Heather's mother and brother and all of his family for the required green chili infusion. It was in an old church and Heather's sister Holly had worked there in high school. It hasn't changed much.
In the morning we got a fairly early start, but not early enough. We were still too far from San Antonio for dinner, so we went back to the Soaring Dragon in Kerrville for some good Chinese, same as late last year. Hotels in San Antonio not on New Years Eve and their 300th anniversary were quite reasonable and nice.
In the morning we ate at Pancake Joes, where Heather had an omelette to rival Butterfields. On the way out of San Antonio we hit the northern edge of the Buc-ees archipelago, then again on the way out of Houston. For those not familiar, they are the king of roadside stops. We had dinner at Parrain's again, just over the Mississippi in Baton Rouge. After dinner we made it to Biloxi. I had snagged a cheap room in the Hard Rock hotel. After a brief walking around tour I can confidently say our hard rock days are behind us, but I appreciate gambling subsidized four star hotels.
On Wednesday we started our last leg back to the boat. No stopover in Tallahassee since Chelsea doesn't live there anymore. We had lunch in Mobile at the completely awesome "Meat Boss". I had what was basically a grilled cheese on sourdough with tomato, with the late addition of a half pound of some excellent burnt ends. Heather had about the same but with pulled butt (because she liked the name). We'll be back.
In Florida we stopped at the Busy Bee truck stop past Tallahassee. They are similar to the Buc-ees, but just not quite the same. We got to the boat well after dark, never really stopping for dinner. Everything was fine on the boat, and it was about 20 degrees warmer than when we left. This was our sixth cross-country trip since August, counting the boat show trip up to Baltimore. Time for more more boating and less driving.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Up the Hill, and Back Down Again
17 Feb. 2018
On Saturday we were heading up to Prescott to visit my grandmother. First we picked up Chelsea and Travis and headed over to Heather's favorite breakfast spot, Butterfields. After that we headed up the hill.
We visited with my grandmother and aunt for a couple hours. She had fallen at the beginning of the month and it was quite serious. In spite of this she had worked her way out of the hospital, then out of the assisted care facility. It was great to see her back at my aunt's house with a setup to keep her comfortable. I heard some stories I hadn't heard before (or had forgotten).
After some Thai food for a late lunch/early dinner, back down the hill we went. We dropped off Chelsea and Travis in Mesa and kept going south. I had reserved a room in Benson because the rooms were cheaper, but when we arrived they had overbooked. We went another 30 miles down the road to Wilcox, where for some reason even fewer people wanted to be, so they had room for us. Without trying too hard we had managed to have a 400 mile day.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
On Saturday we were heading up to Prescott to visit my grandmother. First we picked up Chelsea and Travis and headed over to Heather's favorite breakfast spot, Butterfields. After that we headed up the hill.
We visited with my grandmother and aunt for a couple hours. She had fallen at the beginning of the month and it was quite serious. In spite of this she had worked her way out of the hospital, then out of the assisted care facility. It was great to see her back at my aunt's house with a setup to keep her comfortable. I heard some stories I hadn't heard before (or had forgotten).
After some Thai food for a late lunch/early dinner, back down the hill we went. We dropped off Chelsea and Travis in Mesa and kept going south. I had reserved a room in Benson because the rooms were cheaper, but when we arrived they had overbooked. We went another 30 miles down the road to Wilcox, where for some reason even fewer people wanted to be, so they had room for us. Without trying too hard we had managed to have a 400 mile day.
sv-hiatus.blogspot.com
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