Christmas in Miami

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Well the wind gods have not been smiling down on us as we remain here in Miami Beach and not looking like we will cross until Sunday or Monday.
Can't really complain, it's a fabulous spot to hang out. Very warm and sunny. A short dingy ride into town, all amenities at our fingertips plus beautiful beaches with fabulous shops and restaurants. A very vibrant and active community, tons of fun!
We have been here over a week now at anchor. We are having to run our engine for an hour a day to keep up on the demands. I have turned our fridge into a freezer and it is running a lot more than we had expected. Movie night, most  nights, also is proving to put a strain on our batteries but we are managing. For the second time since we have been here Al's made a very short dingy ride over to fill up our water jugs to replenish our tank.
From our anchorage we can see all the cruise ships docked in Government Cut and were able to catch the fireworks for one of them setting sail the other night. One day there were 7 total at dock, we were told that each ship can turn around a sailing in one day from when the passengers disembark from one cruising, clean restock and load the next sailing passengers then leave that night- talk about efficient!!

Miami sky line from our boat

We enjoyed a fabulous cocktail party for Christmas Eve aboard Amarone (Claude and Bruce) also from Toronto joined by 2 other boats. Al and I spent a quiet morning after opening Santa's gift - a Bahamian Spear Gun for fishing - my name was on it but I think I'll leave the hunting up to Al and I'll just be in charge of cooking it! After a breakfast of Eggs Benedict Al and I took a long walk into Miami and then took a ride on their free rail system (like the Sky Train in Vancouver) to get a birds eye view of the city then made the long walk back to the boat. Christmas day meal, this time aboard Harmonium. We were handed a most delicious Pain Killer upon boarding to start the celebrations, Phil made a delicious Paella (pressure cooker!) and I brought Key Lime Pie. An absolutely wonderful night, again feeling blessed to have made such a great connection  with such awesome people - no money was exchanged for me to write that! Unfortunately Krista's sister Lisa was very under the weather and spent the day in bed missing out on the festivities. She was greatly missed, but I hear she is feeling better.

The sky opened up on us yesterday dumping record amounts of rain across Miami. I thought I could just pop into the store between downpours, a mistake, I looked like I had just got out of the pool by the time I returned to the boat.

  

We are finally going to move this morning over to No Name Harbour setting up for a potential departure on Sunday. Looking forward to a change in scenery. We will stop for fuel, pump out and fill our tanks with water on the way over.

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and all the best for 2014!!

Hanging in Ft. Lauderdale

So close yet so far away...
It's looking like we will head to Miami in the morning - Biscayne Bay - drop the hook and wait for the next weather window for a good crossing over to Nassau in the BAHAMAS. Really hope to be there for Christmas but we have been warned that sometimes those windows don't come when you want them to. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed!
Can't believe it's almost Christmas. Lots of holiday cheer all around us.  Lit up palm trees are taking the place of our pines, Santa and reindeer make appearances down here too.

We spent a few days in Boca Rotan, Fl. at a great anchorage. Lots going on all around us, a big spot for the locals to come and hang out on weekends. We swam a lot, had the paddle board out and managed to just relax for a couple of days. Spent some time on their beaches, lots and lots of people, lazing around, surfing and skim boarding and a multitude of other water sports. Met up with some fellow boaters we haven't seen for a long time and met a couple of new ones. 

Saturday night we sat on Harmonium eating yet another fabulous meal and catching our first Christmas boat parade complete with fire works being set off in multiple sites along the route. Just beautiful. 

Traveling the ICW has had it's challenges as we headed south from Lake Worth, mainly speaking of bridges.  There are so many of them, I will actually have to go back and re count, but I think something like 24-26. Few are on request but the majority are on a schedule and these schedules didn't seem to correspond to any  of the books we were following! Hurry up and wait seemed to be the pattern of the day.  Ultimately we got in the habit (between ourselves and Harmonium) to call ahead to each bridge and confirm openings, worked great!

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY is what we are seeing a lot of these days. The concentration of SPECTACULAR homes and massive yachts is mind boggling, what recession?

Due to another Christmas boat parade (full marinas for floats etc.) are plans changed from our original destination in Ft. Lauderdale. We were redirected to a City Marina, Cooleys, up the New River in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. We had to anchor just before the first bridge to go up as it is important to hit the timing for slack tide to transit this waterway. A hair raising adventure as we poked our way through the "wiggles" never knowing what we were going to meet heading in the opposite direction through this very narrow River. At one point we had a large tour boat come up fast behind us and they radioed us to "pull over a bit" and let them by. Al and I looked at each other, where are we suppose to go?? The captain gave us directions and all was well. Our next corner we ended up tying up to a dock as we waited for the train to pass by. Lots of fun and the River was so beautiful as we head into the heart of the city we are so thrilled to have experienced it.

The week has been great here, Great city. We rented a car and have now completed our provisioning for the Bahamas. It has been very overwhelming to me, trying to buy supplies and food for such an extended period of time and then finding places of it all on board. Task complets, and the boat only has a slight tilt to port.  Hopefully when we fill the fuel tank we'll sit a little flatter. Most importantly, I found a space to stow all 20 bags of wine!

Yesterday we headed over to Naples to visit our most amazing past neighbours from Brighton who winter down hear. Had an awesome visit, as always, and managed to see our first alligator while crossing I-75, very exciting. 

Tonight we are off to watch the parade with a number of other boaters here at the marina then an early departure down the New River tomorrow. We are going to take the outside pass down to Miami for a little sail shake out before crossing to Golf Stream, should be fun.

See you all again once we're in Miami, take care. xo

  

Warming up!

Even though one of our coldest days yet was when we were actually over the Florida border we are finally living the life of beautiful warm weather, sun and palm trees!

Trying to warm up using the engine room as a heater

Yes, toque weather

We are anchored in a great little spot in Ft. Pierce Florida called Faber Cove. A short dingy ride to shore where we have access to laundry mat, groceries, hardware store and a short walk to the beach.

Our trip heading down from Savannah has been uneventful really. The Georgia coast was much less intimidating than we had been reading about. We really enjoyed the trip and are glad we chose to do the inside (ICW) at least this one time. We did encounter very strong winds, rain, sunshine, extreme cold and beautiful warm days. A real mixed bag which can mess with you emotionally as well as effect our productivity, I know, I shouldn't be complaining but human nature is taking over.


We have visited some amazing places. Cumberland Island National Park being by far one of our highlights of this trip. Managed to catch a few days of lovely weather before it was to turn nasty again.  Anchored with great protection and was able to explore the island. Incredible beaches, sand dunes, forest, feral horses and history. We missed out on seeing any armadillos that are also said to be roaming the island.  A definite must stop if passing by.

Cumberland Island

Feeling like kids!

Cumberland Island anchorage

Trying hard to save some money by sticking to anchorages but with some expected very high winds and needing to get some laundry done we chose to make our way into a marina at Amelia Island just outside Fernandina Beach. We spent 2 nights utilising the courtesy vehicle to check out town and get caught up on laundry, groceries etc. The wind had not totally let up when we were heading out, the anticipation of us getting out of our very tight dock space was VERY stressful for me. Certainly being at anchor has its clear advantages.  We called the marina and had them send down a couple of guys to assist us and it couldn't have gone smoother! Awesome job guys - Al and I did a pretty good job also.

A couple of nights at a free dock - Jacksonville Florida. Again waiting out a storm that was suppose to be coming through. 

Jim King Park

Mooring - St. Augustine. Fabulous place. Different than anything we have seen yet. Oldest city in America. Spanish settled for over 300 years (??) Spent American Thanksgiving here. Wonderful light show throughout old town as we took a little trolley tour at night. 

Another moment to reflect on what we are thankful for. Our family being absolutely at the top of the list, our friends, old and new, being in good health and the fact that we are able to be out here fulfilling our dream.

Speaking of new friends. We are having such a blast with our "boat buddies" Krista and Phil aboard Harmonium, that crazy couple from Toronto. Thank you to Krista for her impeccable research and planning (your worrying does pay off!) and to Phil for his second to none music collection and sound system. 

St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine mooring field

oldest street in America

trolley ride - running on a sugar cookie and apple cider high

Anchorages - Daytona Beach, Titusville and Rocky Point. 

windy night in Daytona 

Titusville - look closely to left you can just make out Cape Canaveral 

morning at Rocky Point

Fuelled up and filled up with water in Vero Beach then made our way here to Ft. Pierce. 

Krista and I managed to do laundry and grocery shop and be back at the boat by noon yesterday. Al was finishing up on some work (AIS finally working) then off for a walk to the beach. 

Faber Cove

Ft. Pierce Inlet

South Beach, Ft. Pierce

Happy hour was aboard Serenada, Diana and Gil's 32' Ontario from Orilla. Joined by Krista and Phil who were thrilled to be aboard as there previous boat was the exact boat of an early year. While sharing some awesome food and cocktails we had the extreme pleasure of catching the rocket launch from Cape Canaveral. It had been postponed so many times I had totally forgot about it. What a great night.

 Rocket launch

Weather has been perfect so we decided to stay another day here and continue to catch up on jobs as well as soak up some sun. 

Heading for Ft. Lauderdale for a few days then down to Biscayne Bay (Miami) to wait for a good weather window to make our crossing.

(We are so very excited to find out Paige is coming to join us in the Bahamas in January. She has a real keeper for a boyfriend who has given her an early Christmas gift!! We love you Blake.)

Talk to you all again soon, Lots of love from sunny Florida.

November 18, 2013

Life aboard "Haven" has been going great these last days.

Wonderful new places to see, people to meet, and history to learn.

We have been feeling good and the boat is holding up well. 

Days under way feel like a long and lazy Sunday drive, everyday. Yet these waters are still challenging us constantly. Water depths, FOG, currants, bridges, navigation aids, trip planning etc. etc. never a dull moment. Well, ok at times, when you've past your hundredth "McMansion" (as pegged by our friend Anne) or wound around another bend of grassy flats, some days can seem longer than others. 

The docks are so long that you would need to pack a lunch just to get to your boat.

The new fresh water pump was installed and the engine in working order once again. After a night of socialising we got an early start in the morning and was once again heading south. (although we spent way to much time actually going west on the ICW) We were under way with Sea Angel as a buddy boat - they were keeping an eye out for smoke from our boat:)

We ended up in Myrtle Beach one night on dock (Lightkeepers Marina), laundry and a thorough boat clean inside and out. Next was Georgetown anchored out. Made it in time to be able to explore the small town for a short while. Harmonium was also anchored and they were very kind to lend us their dingy so we didn't have to take the time to put ours in. Another evening of sociables aboard Harmonium with Sea Angel, time got away from us on this one as it almost hit 11 pm before we realised. (way past Al's bedtime) Lots of fun. 

The following morning we left thinking that we would put in a shorter day and drop anchor before we carried on to Charleston. We were able to motor sail a lot of the way and made better time than we thought and the anchorage wasn't that appealing so we carried on. Just missing Ben Sawyer 2pm bridge opening and having to wait out the hour and catch the 3pm we still made the harbour and were anchored by 3:50pm. Harmonium was an hour behind us as they needed to stop for fuel, but managed to be anchored before last light. We shared a fabulous meal, with the star being fresh shrimp that Krista and Phil prepared,  stuffed with feta cheese then wrapped in bacon - absolutely fabulous!! Another great night. 

As the weather report continued to promise terrible winds we headed in to the docks, Harborage at Ashley River. Fuelled up, pumped out and then spent some time securing the boat well before going ashore to explore beautiful Charleston.

The best stop for us yet. Incredible beauty everywhere, lots to explore and tons of fun with friends.

Boone Hall Plantation - Avenue of Oaks

Walking the city streets, trolley rides, open air market, museums, happy hours and a plantation visit on the last day. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We would recommend Charleston to everyone as a must for a wonderful place to visit.
We managed to fair really well through the winds - up to 35-40 knots as promised lasting overnight and bringing with it some very cool weather! We ended up at dock for 2 nights then back out for our last night on the hook. Al installed a new Alternator.
Next was Beaufort, South Carolina (pronounced buford) opposed to Beaufort, North Carolina (bowford). Isn't the English language great. We anchored, then headed into town were we took a self guided walking tour (saw the house that was used in the filming of The Big Chill) then had a nice lunch on a waterfront patio then back to the boat. This is also where a lot of the movie Forrest Gump was filmed.
We are now in a place called Wilmington Island just a short distance from Savannah, Georgia. Anchored in a great spot up Turner Creek. Everything was here at our finger tips other than laundry.
Our trip here from Beaufort was very stressful. The morning was lovely, sunny and warm but a few hours later the fog set in like a stone. We managed to get off the ICW and dropped anchor to wait it out and assisted in a few other boats making there way into the anchorage also.
After about an hour we managed to get under way again. We hit another fog wall about an hour later but came out within 10 minutes. More shoaling and shallow depths to navigate through "cuts"
definitely (as Krista says) "enough stress to make you feel alive"
We took the city bus into Savannah yesterday and spent the day walking around. Nice place but I ended up disappointed overall. Oh well, now I can say  I've been to Savannah, GA.
100 miles now to get through Georgia then we will be in Florida. The weather is so back and forth it's crazy. Yesterday it must have been close to 80 degrees, now today we went for a walk and had our sweaters and a jacket on. Tonight we also have the propane heater on full!  It will be nice to get some constant warm weather, hopefully soon.
I will try and put pictures on another time as the internet connection is VERY slow.

Beaufort-Southport

To try and avoid the prolonged process of putting too many pictures on the blog, I've put a quick link to our facebook page on the top right hand side. Click on this to see more of pictures of our adventures.

Well here we are sitting in Southport, NC.  We had left Carolina Beach early yesterday hoping to put 50 miles behind us. While under way, the engine started sounded different. Upon further investigation Al found the fresh water pump wobbling like crazy. Fearing it was about to pack it in and we were only about 3 miles from here, we came to dock and have ordered a new pump. Should be delivered today and Al will install.

An unexpected stop

The last week have had a good week, other than the pump, the boat is holding up well with no major issues. I've been making some fabulous dinners using my pressure cooker.  No better way now to cook up some beef ribs and I've officially made the best stew I have every cooked or eaten.

Al's very glad that we found a place to stow this gigantic pot!!

Go big or go home!

At anchor in Town Creek (Beaufort), calm before the storm

Leaving River Dunes we crossed the Neuse River and headed into Adams Creek Canal that would take us all the way into Beaufort. Not great for sailing, but a lovely trip non the less. Sunny and warmer than it had been watching tons of Dolphins chasing bait fish that have been running recently.  We anchored for 2 nights at Town Creek in Beaufort. Tight anchorage with some good winds, 20 knots gusting to 30,  but with our new Rocna anchor we stuck like glue. It sets fast and hard, feeling like we "put her in park", money well spent!! Beaufort was lovely. We took a self guided history tour through town including the local grave yard. Also visited the Maritime Museum and learnt all about the infamous Blackbeard.

Lots of neat shopping and restaurants in the area, and across the bay on Carrot Island we managed to get some pics of the resident wild ponies - very cool.  On our way back to the boat we ran into Phil and Krista (Harmonium), and were invited aboard for a sun downer - Krista makes a mean Dark n' Stormy.

Wild horses on Carrot Island

Al discussing pros and cons of being a pirate!

Town Creek Anchorage

The next piece of the inter coastal waterway has kept us on our toes every minute of the way.  With extensive shoaling and vast numbers of buoy makers, to more exposed anchorages and trying to time bridge openings.

In 2 days we witnessed 3 boats go hard aground right in front of us. As well,  at both anchorages, seeing multiple boats dragging anchor. Lots of excitement and we have been so thrilled that we haven't been included in those statistics (yet, anyway)!

We follow markers with the tiny yellow triangle on the top, indicating the ICW.

both of these vessels are sitting on a shoal

On the strip between Mile Hammock Bay anchorage and Carolina Beach we were able to motor sail.  Picked up some great speed as we were travelling against the tide. Oh, that's another thing. You can't try and plan a trip based on your tide. One hour you are getting a great push only to find the next hour you are fighting it then back again. With all the inlets opening into the Atlantic from the ICW the waters swirl around the land very unpredictably.

In Carolina Beach the weather started to cool off again and we had rain and more wind. We spent 2 nights at anchor again enjoying the fantastic beach, boiled peanuts and a fabulous walk to Carolina Beach State Park. We had read that only here, or within 100 miles of this area, is where the plant Venus Flytrap grows wild and we had to get there to see it.  Our search turned up nothing, and we thought we would be leaving disappointed. When we started to head out of the woods we ran into a class of Eco Management students on a field trip and managed to sweet talk the teacher into letting us tag along so he could show us the plants. How awesome! Turns out the park has stopped marking the areas to view the plants as poaching has become a huge problem. 1000's of plants have been dug up to sell on the black market even though if you let them go to seed they are easy to propagate, such a shame.

Carolina Beach

Taking in a class!

Venus Flytrap

Long hike back to the boat stopping for a beer and a small bowl of some "famous" clam chowder - delicious. Took awhile to dingy home, stopping to chat with 3 other boats in the anchorage.

So here we are, still awaiting our new water pump. The temperature has been dropping again but the sun is out. Sea Angel just pulled in to a slip a few boats away and we have made plans to visit with them tonight. Hopefully Al will have all his work finished before then so we can get underway again tomorrow as planned.

See you again once we're in Charleston, South Carolina.

Dismal Swamp

We have just had a beautiful trip down the Dismal Swamp. The oldest canal system in the US, hand dug by slave labour in the late 1700's, connecting Albermarle Sound and Norfolk/Portsmouth. It was like its own world and we found it very magical.

quite the ride up!

Not everyone is able or wants to take this route while heading south. It is not a deep canal, we followed a boat down with a 6 foot draft and witnessed him "bump" ground many times. Actually, 14 in total is what he told us when we stopped for the night at the visitors centre about half way to Elizabeth City. Some find it boring or mundane as the upper part of the canal is extremely straight with tree after tree. Anyway, not for everyone, but we thought it was the best couple of days on the water yet.

We stopped for the night at the visitor centre about 20 miles down. Service to both canal transistors as well as the freeway. Lovely, friendly staff in the visitor centre. Washroom facilities and park like setting.

After all the boats transiting were tied up together, Al and I pulled our bikes off and went for a tour into the woods and down the canal.  Later on we had drinks and visited with many of the other 9 vessels that were rafted with us.

leaving the visitor centre in the morning

lower Dismal Swamp

We are having so much fun meeting fellow boaters. Jim, Barbara and Harris who were out for a weeks vacation from Williamsburg. Al and I were talking earlier about whether "local" used this waterway other than snowbirds. So there was our answer. They were doing the loop in Jim's 39' Bristol, Manitou, down the dismal swamp then back up the Virginia cut on the other side and back home. Very adventurous for late October, they were clearly having a fabulous time.

free town dock in Elizabeth City - So, interesting story...the boat to Haven's starboard side is "Harmonium". Turns out that their home port is Ashbridges Yacht Club out of Toronto. We had actually seen this boat and talked to the owners last year while visiting Paul, Joanne and Chloe on our summer holidays. Small world eh!  Great people and we hope to meet up with them again on our journey.  

We had a blast visiting with lots of folks in Elizabeth City at the free dock. The locals through a little wine and cheese meet and greet at the docks called the Rose Buddies, a tradition that has been going on for over 30 years. We visited with the crew aboard Manitou and Phil and Krista from Harmonium. After the bourbon tasting we all walked over and had a fabulous meal across the street.

Barbara and I with our roses (and free fly swatters!)

dinner with some new friends

Gus, the unofficial dock master. Here he is helping me fill up with water.

The camaraderie in the sailing community has been so incredible. You never feel like you're out here all alone, always meeting new sailors or bumping into those you have met from somewhere along your travels. Sharing stories, cocktails and a laugh. I didn't think Al and I had it in us to be so social. I guess it's easier when there is such a common bond. I had my first "emergency" doggy question and I was glad to be of help.

Impromptu social, it started with Al sitting in the sun on the yellow chair. Lots of fun.

Our time in Elizabeth City was great spent 2 nights. The locals are amazing and really go out of their way for the boating community, they are so happy to have us stop in their community. They recently received a grant to build washroom/shower facility dock side and have already begun construction. Should be up and running for next season. It was a shame to see how much the town is struggling. So many businesses in the downtown area are closed up and real estate sitting empty. Hopefully times will change soon for them.
There is a beautiful museum a short walk away. Highlighting the history of the area, a civil war exhibit as well as a really neat exhibit on the making and history of Gone with the Wind. Lots of fun.
I scrubbed the bottom of our dingy and Al managed to check something else off his list (New nav light)

outside the Museum

Leaving Elizabeth City, Anne took this photo aboard Sea Angel

We travelled 71 SM down Albemarle Sound into the Alligator-Pungo Canal. We hadn't planned on going so far but we were having a great day on the water and the plan A for anchoring wasn't very pretty. We anchored for the night just before sundown then up early heading off towards Oriental, about a 45 mile run.

Swing bridge entering the Alligator River

Alligator-Pungo Canal

At anchor in the Pungo River

Ducking out of some very snotty weather, we are now at dock about 5 miles from Oriental NC. A place called River Dunes, the nicest marina we have stayed in by far! Amazing setting, and facilities with a beautiful club house and fabulous folks looking after it all.  A community living development with spectacular vision.  The restaurant is usually closed during the week but because the docks were so full they threw a impromptu party with live music and a buffet dinner for $15/person. Great night!  There is a courtesy car that we took advantage of the following day, sharing it with  3 other boaters as it booked up quickly. Did a little touring of the VERY small Oriental, some grocery shopping and had our propane tanks topped up. Shrimp boats have their fleet tied up to the docks downtown and we were able to purchase some fresh shrimp for dinner last night. Incredible, taste like we were back home on the west coast eating the prawns we had just pulled from our traps. 

The boat cabin is clean again and the V Berth re organised.

Entrance into River Dunes

River Dunes club house

Boaters meet and greet

View from across the bay while on our bike ride

The weather has switched around this morning and the winds have eased so we are heading out again soon.

Bye for now.