Thursday, April 19, 2012

Headed out early again in order to make the 5th lock by the 1PM opening. As we made our way to Ft. Myers, we were now on the Caloosahatchee River, which was very scenic with many different sights along the way. 

As we were approaching the W P Franklin Lock (5th and last lock), I looked to our starboard & could not believe my eyes.  Believe it or not, the first thing I saw was this camel just enjoying himself so much that he decided to sit down & relax!  We were passing by (will have to stop next time) at the Rialto Harbor Docks, a one-of-a-kind marina providing you with an individual dock, your personal small deck area, BBQ's that will be lit for you, a flower delivered to the ladies, restrooms & showers that are almost like being at home. The harbor master will drive you anywhere you need to go & is happy to provide both camel & horse rides! Now that's a marina with everything!

Wednesday, April 18

Left Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart at 7:30am to make our 1st lock (the St. Lucie Lock) by the 9AM opening. The first leg of our crossing was up the St. Lucie River about 7 miles.  Upon arriving at the lock there were two other boats making the crossing.  At the St. Lucie Lock we had an 11 ft. rise. The Okeechobee is dropping daily because of lack of rain & was at a level of 11.8 ft. when we crossed, which provides a reported depth of less than 6 ft. in the west channel as you leave the lake.

Due to the low levels, the first and last lock have restricted their openings to every 2 hours.  When the Lake drops below 11.5 ft. they will open the locks only 3 times per day.  Our experience of following the GPS line across the Lake showed we were in 11-12 ft. of water, but when we reached the  west channel, we experienced shallow waters following the GPS, so we changed our course & visually stayed in the center of the channel, which kept the levels at the 7 + or - ft.  The picture below is the Okeechobee Waterway on the west side of the lake with 20 + ft. depths

Okeechobee Channel

After hearing all the reports of boats going aground in the lake, we were relieved to find sufficient water depths. First stop on the west side of the lake was Clewiston, FL.  We found dockage at the Roland Martin's Marina & Resort.  Roland Martin was a professional fisherman who moved his business to Clewiston to take advantage of the reported best bass fishing in the U.S., checkout the web site www.rolandmartinmarina.com .

We witnessed the fishing first hand after we docked as the marina sponsored fishing tournament concluded with over 30 boats coming for weigh-in.  We really enjoyed watching all the fishing boats come filing in one after another with boat loads of fish!  We heard one of the participants yell out to someone on the dock that they had caught 61 fish, not sure if he had the biggest!  If they didn't win, they had to be very close!  All fish were keep in water and released after weigh-in.

While we were settling in for the evening, I started noticing that there were at least 3 alligators swimming very close to the docks.  Then I noticed this photo of one sunning himself on the shore directly across from our dock.  I also noticed, people walking their dogs about 2 feet from where Mr. Alligator was resting, pretty scary!  They say if you can run faster than 22 mph then you won't get eaten, so I'm guessing that the dogs knew they could outrun the dude & certainly could run faster than his owner, so who cares!

Just gotta love those sunsets!  Had to take a few last photos of our great stay at Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart, Florida.  We owe a great deal to our good friends, Cherrill & Jerry who graciously lent us one of their cars, not to mention having us over for dinner many, many nights during our stay.

Thanks a million, we love ya bunches!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Since we will most likely be here in Stuart until next Wednesday or Thursday, I will probably update the blog after we leave Stuart & start across the Okeechobee Waterway. According to the Capt. we will be encountering 5 locks between the east coast to the west coast. Can't wait for that experience to happen!  Right!  Talk to you soon.  Chow.

Thursday, April 12

We made our way back to the Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart & as we were pulling up to our dock, this was the site we encountered docked directly across from where we are docked.  Absolutely an awesome site!  This beauty is 110 ft. long & the couple that owns this gem are 85 years old & from France.    I would love to learn the path they took through their lives to now.  I bet its a wonderful love story from rags to riches & they are still dancing to their favorite song!  That's my idea & if I decide to write a book about our adventure that's how the story will be told.

Wednesday, April 11

We pulled into The Melbourne City Marina on Tuesday afternoon, which was very nice with restaurants & shopping within walking distance. We enjoyed lunch in town on Wednesday, at the Fire House Restaurant, nice decor.  Then, of course, 'I' enjoyed shopping for awhile before we headed back to the B & B to enjoy the view & get ready for the Capt's birthday dinner.
                                                            
                                                            Fire House Restaurant

 

 

The Capt & Admiral celebrating Bobbie's birthday at the Chart House, which was within walking distance to the Marina, where we docked for a couple of days.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Pulled into the Sunset Bay Marina & docked about mid afternoon.  Met Jerry Patterson for dinner at the marina restaurant for 'prime rib night', which is one of Capt. Bob's favorite meals & we were not disappointed.  We also got to hear our favorite sax player Ronnie.  So all in all, we had a great evening. Off today, Friday to do some laundry, so for now, chow!

Monday, April 9

As we left the Halifax Marina I took a couple of pictures of the marina, which was a nice marina, but had limited shore power.  The Harbor Master informed us that they had lost city funding to install transformers on all of the docks.  So there were only 2 transformers for transients located on the T-head.  The marina was so large, it was too bad that it can't accommodate guests sufficiently, in our opinion.

Easter Sunday, April 8

Spent the day enjoying the historical St. Augustine, Fla. Founded in 1565 as a Spanish military outpost, this town is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the US. The original wooden fort, Castillo de San Marcos Fort, was burned to the ground by Francis Drake in 1586. Spain's Queen Regent Mariana realized St. Augustine was the keystone in the defense of the Florida coast, & ordered the fort rebuilt in 1672 in stone. It took 23 years to complete. They used coquina, a locally quarried soft shell rock. Coquina was easily shaped & did not become brittle & crumble under cannon fire.

In 1702, seven yrs. after it's completion, English troops from South Carolina besieged the Fort for 50 days.  1500 Spanish citizens fled into the security of the fort & refused to surrender.  The British finally gave up the siege & burned the town.  This event is why there are no buildings older that 1702 in St. Augustine today.

The English from Georgia attacked again in 1740.  They bombarded the fort & town for 27 days before they also gave up & left.  The coquina walls had held firm, absorbing cannon balls without breaking apart.  Amazing!

In the winter of 1883-84 Henry Flagler, co-founder of Standard Oil Co. visited the city & eventually made a major impact on the architecture & economy.  He built the Hotel Ponce de Leon, Hotel Alcazar, the Memorial Church and much more. Today, the Hotel Alcazar was transformed into the Lightner Museum, built by Henry Flagler in 1887 & Flagler College, built in 1888, now occupies the former Hotel Ponce de Leon  & is still a working college. The Casa Monica Hotel, built in 1888, is still a working hotel today.

Casa Monica Hotel

Flagler College Entrance

Lightner Museum & City Hall

The town is really fun to stroll through because everything has been kept in its original form.  You really do feel like you stepped back in time, it was so interesting.

Top of the Mill Restaurant
 

Shopping

Oldest Wooden School House in the US

Saturday, April 7

I just can't resist my sunsets & sunrises.  These were quite dramatic because we had a pretty strong storm blow through early, which left some interesting cloud formations. These were taken at the Halifax Marina in Daytona.

Sunrise

Sunrise

Sunset

Sunset

Tuesday, April 10 2012

We are off again, leaving Titusville City Marina heading south for Melbourne, Fla. Plan to spend a couple of days in Melbourne because: IT'S CAPTAIN BOBBIE'S BIRTHDAY TOMORROW! So, if you get a chance to wish him a Happy Birthday, he would love it.  Be sure to tell him how 'young' he looks!  You know when you get to be our age, that's very important to hear!  He will finally have caught up with me, so I won't have to hear,  'he married an older woman until my birthday in December!   Whatever floats his boat, as the saying goes!!

I thought I would share my absolute most favorite picture of my Birthday Boy, who is obviously 'a kid at heart'. I wanted to be sure that no one forgets this 'gem'.  Enjoy!

I started working on the blog while we were en route to Melbourne Marina & got some pictures downloaded, but as we got closer to Melbourne I lost the internet connection & so the trip to St. Augustine & a few more sunsets & sunrise pictures will have to wait until we reach Stuart.
Monday, April 9

We arrived at the Titusville City Marina mid afternoon for a 1 night stopover on our way back to Stuart, Fla.  As we pulled into our slip I noticed lots of splashing under the dock directly behind our boat.  To my surprise, there were 3 Manatee's playing & pushing each other out of the way of a dripping water hose that was leaking through the dock.  They love fresh water, obviously, as you can gather from these pictures.

Catching every drop of water

Floating on his back

This next shot, happened when Capt. Bob, once again, was rinsing down the B & B. This guy followed Bob around the boat because he was drinking water from the hose as it spilled over the sides of the boat.  He's so ugly, he's cute!

Resting his chin on swim platform



Still resting on swim platform - looking at me taking his picture

Easter Sunday, April 8

We decided to drive up to St. Augustine instead of taking the boat.  It's a really historical little town & we took lots of pictures, but again, no internet service, so pictures will be forth coming.

Thursday, April 5

Drove to Daytona Beach, not quite the way I remember it, when my family took vacation in Daytona Beach every year, for as long as I can remember.  But, just for old times sake, here is the only picture we bothered to take, as we walked along the beach.   There just wasn't any real 'wow' sights, so we didn't stay long & headed back to the Marina so that I could get a couple of my favorite pictures of the sunsets & sunrises.  Unfortunately, I've lost my internet connection, so I will send photos later.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Today, we will venture out & check out the surroundings here in Daytona Beach.  So, for now, chow!

Wednesday, April 4

Due to some incoming storms, we voided stopping at New Smyrna Beach Marina & continued onto the Halifax Marina in Daytona.  We arrived just ahead of a strong rain & hail storm that passed through Daytona very quickly. But, it cleared up beautifully & cooled down the temperature from 87 degrees to a comfortable 78 degrees, including a very lovely sunset.

This marina is really nice & I'm really becoming partial to T-head docking for providing great views.  Here are some photos I took from the B & B. (Capt Bob has warned me that with shifting winds out of the NE at 20+ knots tomorrow this will not be the best spot in the marina, but as it turns out the only slip with 50amp/240volt service allowing us to run the AC's).

Sunday, April 1

Headed out for  Cocoa Village Marina.  Really delightful ride, lots of beautiful homes, several bridges, & many boaters! 

Enjoyed dinner with two other couples, both on beautiful Freedom sailboats. They both came in the next day, & it so happened that they both had recently purchased their boats.  One of the couples noticed the Freedom docked next to us, & discovered that they were going to buy that boat, but waited too long to make an offer, & lost out to this couple next to us!  Sometimes, if you really want something badly enough, it pays to 'just do it'!  You snooze - you lose! Unfortunately, the camera battery died when I was trying to take the picture of the Freedom sailboats.

The couple next to us, Jake & Kay, offered to take me to Publix with them because they had rented a car for the day.  That was a stroke of luck for me, because I needed to purchase some heavy items, & was trying to figure out how I was going to balance them on my bike. 

A SIDE NOTE: My friend & neighbor Tonie Hanson, had given me a tip on purchasing some 'thank you gifts' for occasions just like this one.  So I followed her advice & finally gave my 'first' prior to trip, purchased 'thank you gift' to Kay & Jake!  Whew!!!  I was beginning to think, "I must be really stingy, because, so far, I've used 1/2 of my 'thank you gifts' for myself!!  But, that's what Admirals do - right? Of course that's what Admirals do!

Saturday, March 31

Biked to Vero Beach downtown area, had lunch at the Citrus Cafe overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, as well as, enjoying the 'sites' walking on the beach!  I actually never saw this particular 'site', but Capt. Bob obviously did not miss it!  Boys will be boys.  Fantasize to your hearts content honey!

After the Capt. finished his fantasizing, we headed to the Vero Beach Boat Show, where our friend Jerry was showing this Glacier Bay Ocean Cat to some potential customers.

Friday, March 30

Decided to leave the comforts of Sunset Bay Marina to head north to St. Augustine, this trip will take us up ICW via the Indian River into the Mosquito Lagoon and the Halifax River. Fist stop was Vero Beach City Marina.  Docked on the T-head, the best spot in the marina!  Loved the view, as you can see from the photos.

While enjoying the Vero Beach Sunset, this beautiful Anhinga diving bird decided to welcome the B & B while drying her wings!

Tuesday, March 27

Headed back to Stuart for some final repair work on the B & B performed by our guardian angel Charlie!  Had dinner with Jerry at our favorite restaurant, Sailors Return (this was Prime Rib night which Jerry/Capt Bob were looking forward too, only to learn they ran out just before we sat down.  Could that be a martini Capt Bob is drinking?).