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Dave will have a link above this blog for a Belgium blog ... leaving June 13, 2012.
We left anchorage early this morning and arrived at the Lamb Yacht Center around 1pm. It was a great cruise ... nice weather (a little cool in the morning) and a nice pushing tide. Above is a bridge on the St. John's River just before Jacksonville. Jacksonville downtown area (right) is a very pretty and very boat friendly. There is a free dock right downtown and you can stay there for 3 days ... next trip we plan to take advantage of it.
We have Joysea parked in a covered slip that is all concrete ... hurricane prove. We probably have a few days worth of work before leaving her and heading north. Joyce and Dave are looking forward to moving into their condo ... and of course visiting neighbors and friends. Captain Dave and Admiral Joyce are also looking forward to traveling faster than 7-8 knots ... but both have really have enjoyed this fantastic boating experience!
Above Pine Island ... nothing but water and wildlife.
We left this beautiful neighborhood this morning around 8:15 am, stopped for fuel and arrived at our Pine Island anchorage around 1:30 pm. It was windy today so not as smooth as yesterday. We have anchored here before. It offers some wind protection, but not the greatest. Tomorrow is our last leg cruise to Lamb's Yacht Center where we will be storing Joysea for the summer-fall. Then we head back to Cloverdale/Greencastle .... yeah!!
Yesterday was going to be a short day but the weather was so nice we decided to go further. We found an anchorage ... but it was really exposed to the wind. Above Joyce prepares dinner and the bow of Joysea seems to be pointing to the ocean. Just a big lagoon ... called Mosquito Lagoon. We bounced for awhile, but it calmed down in the evening.
Today we traveled 56 miles and tied up to Susan, Crew and Jon's Florida home dock in Palm Coast, FL. A real nice neighborhood on water! Above picture isn't the greatest view of their home... it started to storm so a quick snap from Joysea's lower deck and back inside.
We left our Lake Sylvia anchorage (above) at 7:45 am and arrived at our Lake Worth anchorage round 4:30 pm. What a day it was! You may recall last year our little problem with Joysea's temperature leaving Ft. Lauderdale. We ended up with a emergency anchorage in Lettuce lake in order to resolve the problem. Well we cruised right by Lettuce Lake today remembering last years ordeal. Happy to wave the little lake good-bye .... wrong!
While waiting for the bridge to open Joysea's steering decided to quit. Of course we had a 90 ft. yacht behind us going north and another 100 ft. yacht on the other side of the bridge going south. And all Joysea could do was drive in circles. We manage to get her to the side so the large ships could pass and then called Toll Boat US ... and of course when we did that Joysea's steering returned. So we headed back to our favorite Lake Lettuce to be safe and hopefully resolve the problem. Long story short, Captain Dave got rid of the air bubbles in the hydraulic steering and all is again well. Except Joycie is going to have to wash Dave's shorts and Dave never wants to think about lettuce again ... probably won't ever eat salad again.
We pulled anchor this morning around 8:15 and dropped anchor in Lake Sylvia around 3pm. Crossing Biscayne Bay it was choppy with waves hitting Joyseas side ... so we rock and rolled a bit.
The left picture is our approach to Miami and above we are in ICW close to Ft. Lauderdale. How nice it is to be back in the protection of the ICW ... if only we didn't have to be so careful avoiding shallow water. Tomorrow we head for an anchorage in Ft. Worth.
Below this little guy didn't want to leave Joysea. We think it was a baby afraid to fly back to land. In the morning it was gone ... hopefully safely home.
Love this anchoring
out!
Evening sunset
Above our friends from Banana Bay help us leave the slip. We left this morning around 8:40 and arrived at our anchorage by Islamorada around 1:00pm.
It wouldn't be natural not to have dolphins playing in Joysea's wake. Tomorrow we head to Boca Chita to either tie off along the parks wall or anchor near by.
We had another manatee visitor today. Above Joyce using the boat hook to splash water in order to coax him closer. To the right mission accomplished!
We plan to leave marina this Thursday and head north to the Lambs Yacht Center marina which is on the Ortega River (just off of the St. Johns River). Weather permitting it should take us 11 days. We will leave the boat there for the summer and then head back to our condo in Greencastle, IN. We will be anchoring out all but one day ... so we may not be publishing the blog everyday.
David and Beverly Mckeehan had a slip next to Joysea last year. They built a winter home in Key Colony Beach last year and invited us to their open house. Above Pat, Joyce and George in front of their beautiful home.
... and the toy of all toys, David has a flight simulator in one room ... talk about unreal! Above we are about to take off from the Marathon airport. To the right we are in a simulated night flight approaching an airstrip (I forget which airport, but think New York). This thing is unbelievable because you really feel like you are flying. It can simulate wind, snow and other environmental conditions including hitting a bird mid-flight.
Living room above and master bedroom below
Today Steve, Pete and Dave took a fishing trip with the SeaDog charter. It was a nice day and the catch was okay, but not great.
First mate Tim (a real character!) posing with the catch before he and Captain John cleaned the Yellow Tail .... it's going to be good chow ... at a cost of approximately $80/lb. :-) Back to dingy fishing!
The AGLCA Sunset Celebration party grows every year. This year 124 people gathered for great food, drink and fellowship. A big thanks to organizers Pat, George, Joyce and Dave ... and volunteers Pam and Susan ... you all know how to throw a party! Also a big thanks to Dock Master Larry Wade and Banana Bay Marina - Resort. The facilities and help provided were excellent.
Banana Bay management has been recognizing people who recently completed the Loop. This year Doc Master Larry presented Pam and Steve along with Joyce and Dave an engraved leather log book cover in honor of their accomplishments.
Stacy inside tiki-hut with outside party in the background. An inside note; before Joyce and Dave purchased Joysea they looked at many (many!) boats. Stacy and husband Paul invited Dave and Joyce to Alabama to stay overnight on their boat "SEASEA" which at the time was for sale. We were so impressed with their generosity and hospitality ... who would guess that we would meet up with them again two years later. Now that SEASEA is sold Stacy and Captain Paul are in the business of providing boating services. Anyone looking for "on your boat" training, delivery, outfitting or maintenance, we highly recommend Stacy and Paul.
Dave and his buddy Crew have become great friends. Crew is a full sized dog that is full of energy and love ... and he really likes to go cruising in the dingy.
Kisses to my mommy for taking me along! John, Susan and Crew are our next door neighbors in the marina ... what delightful neighbors!
This morning Pat, George, Joyce, Dave and Captain Larry met aboard Reflection to participate in AGLCA's weekly radio show. To listen to the show go to:
http://www.greatloop.org/aglca-radio-is-here--cms-1222
and click on the "Great Loop- Sunset Celebration button.
George and Pat took Dave and Joyce out to lunch at the exclusive Little Palm Island Resort & Spa for a belated 50th wedding anniversary celebration ... wow! What a fabulous place ... a vacation spot for the rich and famous (I mean real rich!). Thank you both for the "over the top" lunch. More information about the resort at: www.littlepalmisland.com.
Cocktails before lunch.
Chess anyone?
Key deer almost eating off the plate. We actually petted one on the way out.
George, Pat and Joyce waiting in the lounge for the boat ride back.
Boat ride back with Little Palm Island in the background.
Steve and Linda invited Dave aboard "Yesterday's Dream" for an opportunity to troll for dolphin (i.e. mahi-mahi). Above Steve's friend Pete and Steve man the fishing rods. We were approximately 10 miles off shore in the Atlantic where we were suppose to find the fish ... but didn't:-(
Later on the way back, we decided to fish for yellow tail or snapper. Above Steve holds the one and only fish caught, a Mangrove Snapper, while Dave holds the fishing rod. Our next strategy is to go back to fishing from the dingy ... fish overhead is much lower!
Tonight we are back at the Marathon Yacht Club, for a "bring your own steak" event. Thank God it isn't a bring your own fish event!
BettysMatrix
Everyone agreed that it was a great game to watch no matter who you were rooting for ... but a lot more fun if you were a Giants fan:-) At right football fans enjoyed the food and game at Ed and Susie's house.
We had a great pre-super bowl party today at the Banana Bay resort. Above party girl organizers Joyce and Pat relax after decorating the tiki hut.
"Betty the Bookie" selling pool spots on her matrix ... check back tomorrow to see your numbers ... thanks for organizing this Betty!
Great food and fun people gathered outside the tiki hut.
Looking from the tiki hut to the marina outside. Said many times before ... boaters sure can deliver great food ... ate too much ... nap time!
Greg and Donna aboard "Lady In Red" joined Daryl, Janet, Joyce and Dave at Burdines today for lunch. Dave & Joyce took the dingy and met everyone at the restaurant.
After lunch Janet and Daryl joined Joyce and Dave for a dingy ride through some of the channels around Burdines. Joyce rode back with Janet and Daryl and Dave was happy ... water was getting choppy ... and without the Admiral he could speed back:-)
Vicky, Doug, Dave and Joyce left aboard the 100-foot Yankee Freedom II power catamaran heading for the Dry Tortugas National Park 70 miles due west of Key West. Quite a ride traveling 26.5 knots/hr at times into 4-5 ft. waves.
A lot of history on this tiny island. Here lies the Western Hemisphere's largest man-made masonry structure; the awe-inspiring, Fort Jefferson, a massive military outpost built (but not finished) during the Civil War. It also served as a military prison. Its most famous prisoner was Dr. Mudd, the physician who set John Wilkes Booth's leg following Booth's shooting of President Abraham Lincoln.
Doug inspecting a plague inside one of the Fort's massive hallways.
Doug on top level admiring huge cannon. Quite a view in all directions from top of the Fort.
Later, we snorkeled but saw more fish
when all of us walked around the Fort's moat.
Above Parrot fish feeding off of outside moat wall.
Interesting place ... food was good and service great!
We visited the Brannemans' again yesterday and had a great time ... and great dinner. Staying with Daryl and Janet are friends Roger and Pat from Dale Hollow lake in Tennessee.
Pat and Roger owned and operated the Cedar Hill marina/lodge and in early years built their own rental house boats. Twenty three years ago, Dave, Joyce, son David, daughter Angie, son-in-law Rob and grandson Chase rented a cabin at Cedar Hill. We didn't know Pat and Roger but talk about a small world!
Yesterday evening the McCoy's hosted a steak dinner at their condo .... yum ... Thank you Larry and Monica! Today a couple of manatees visited the marina. Above they are cleaning Joyseas bottom. Above right Dave, on Joysea's swim platform, scratches the back of one as the other manatee comes around the stern of the boat next door.
Yesterday afternoon Kathy and Frank joined us for a left over chicken salad lunch on Sombrero Beach. Later in the afternoon we took a dingy ride to the old marina Faro Blanco to see the large iguanas.
Daryl, Janet with friends Roger, Pat and our friends Frank Evans and George Hospodar took a cruise on Joysea. Above Captain Daryl heads towards the Sombrero coral reef.
George was the only one braving the water for a closer look at the brightly colored fish. There were several jelly fish floating around Joysea so the rest of the crew opted out on snorkeling.
Frank and Janet enjoying the view on the ride to the reef, while Roger and Pat (no picture) enjoy the view from below.
Above Matt McCoy with Captain Carl returning from Atlantic Ocean after a rough day fishing. Passengers Dave, Monica, Larry and Reilly enjoyed the ride ... but the 6 - 8 ft. seas (with now and then 10-12ft swells) was a bit too much. The anchor and rode were unfortunately lost, with high seas tearing off the swimming platform and being low on fuel, it was decided to head back. Oh yeah, Reilly did catch a red snapper (talk about two expensive filets!)
Above/right Larry sits in main fishing chair enjoying the calmer seas.
Later in the evening, Sue and Bob aboard Ragtime hosted a MLK party. Before a fried chicken and barbequed rib (with all the "fixens") dinner, Bob and Sue taught us (Joyce, Pat, George and Dave) a dice game ... a lot of fun but obviously a setup to later on take our money:-)
Our Cloverdale neighbors and friends, Janet and Daryl Branneman, arrived in the Keys last Sunday and enjoyed dinner on Joysea that evening. The following Thursday Joyce and Dave visited them at their place in Duck Key.
The rented condo is beautiful and sits on a channel that runs from the Gulf to the Atlantic ocean. It is like a place on a babbling brook ... except the current flows one direction and later the opposite direction (tide flow). A very comfortable and peaceful atmosphere.
Joysea says "Happy Birthday Joycie"! She is celebrating her 21st ... well actually her 50th anniversary of her 21st birthday. Today we followed George/Nancy and Skip/Karen on a long dingy ride to Burdines where we had lunch.
On the way back George had us stop at the old marina Faro Blanco to see the large iguanas hanging out at old slips damaged by hurricane Wilma.
Above George, Nancy, Carol, Karen, Skip and Joyce wait for lunch to be served. Later that evening we were treated to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Key Colony Inn, by Larry/Monica McCoy and Pat/George Hospodar.
This big orange guy had an attitude. He chased a black iguana and they both ended up in the water.
.. and yes they can swim!
A boat in the slip in-between Max/Mandy and George/Nancy's slip sank yesterday. Above, a diver places air bags beneath the boat.
Above the boat is up and pumped out as the owner ponders the cost of this mishap. The boat was taken to the ramp and hauled out . They discovered the location of the leak, however top priority is to get engine working immediately. Evidently if a "drowned" engine is not fixed quickly it gets more difficult and costly to repair.
We have been visited by manatees this year quite often. It seems like 2 or 3 times a week. They are very docile and will even let you pet them.
Our official "manatee look-outs" Nancy and George spotted this big boy today and called us over for a photo shot ... never get tired of looking at these magnificent animals.
Happy New Years day everybody! After our New Years Eve party, several couples had a wonderful brunch at Sombrero beach. It just doesn't get any better than this!
Joyce taking a stroll on Sombrero beach after a very satisfying brunch. Dave will be taking a nap ... two bloody Mary's before noon requires some down time.