Stuart, FL to DelRay Beach, FL

As you can notice from the title, we did not make Ft.Lauderdale. Once again, we were on the wrong side of the tides and currents. One week either way would greatly improve our speed. With current against you, you cannot make the alotted time between the bridges and thus keep missing the openings. One bridge was within one minute of opening and the lady bridgetender forced us to wait another half hour. Very frustrating.

However, near the end of the day, the winds reached over twenty knots making these narrow channels lumpy and with white caps. Our alternate marina in DelRay Beach has only jagged pilings on the canal side that we are tied up to and the tide range is over 6 feet. I will be up several times tonight to adjust lines as the tide falls again.

Tomorrow we stay in Miami before we begin the run for the Keys.

Melbourne to Stuart, FL

Left Melbourne at dawn to find the tides and currents against us for most of the day.
Arrived at St. Lucie Inlet to anchor out across from a marina hosting a SeaFood Festival. A very loud party. However, we were able to grill our salmon steaks for a delightful meal in 70 degree weather and a near full moon.

Off tomorrow for Ft. Lauderdale.

Smyrna to Melbourne FL

Another all motor day on the ICW. The weather was wonderful, 70's and for most of the day, no wind. Water was glass. We passed Cape Canaveral. No blast offs to note.

However, the dolphins and birds provided most of the entertainment. The photo above is of a dolphin who traveled with the Lady I by racing directly in front of her. We also had many birds watching our wake for little minnows. Lots of flying expertise demonstrated here.

Saturday is another ICW run with rain and wind predicted. We will end the day somewhere south of Hobe Sound. On Sunday we will open 24 bridges to arrive at Ft. Lauderdale.

St Augustine to Ponce de Leon Entrance/New Smyrna, FL

We departed St. Augustine at dawn and made the ocean jump to Ponce de Leon Inlet because the Bridge of Lions closed the ICW.

An absolutely beautiful day on the ocean. We made our run and arrived in Smyrna just an hour before sunset.

Tomorrow's plan is to make it to Melbourne, FL.

Crooked River Anchorage to St. Augustine

Departed anchorage fifteen minutes before sunrise. We then ran down the river into King's Bay. King's Bay is the home of the Atlantic Trident Submarine fleet. Once before I had seen a Trident going to sea. This time we saw one returning to port.

Just before sunset, we arrived at our destination, St. Augustine. This sets us up for the jump outside to the Atlantic. The Bridge of Lions has been under repair and the waterway is closed until Friday. So we will sail 68 miles out St. Augustine and re enter at Ponce de Leon entrance.

After our rocky crossings of four major sounds, a calm day on the ocean will be a joy.

Other news. We have a reservation for parking the boats in Cape Coral that will allow both crews to return home for the middle two weeks of February. We should return to the trip on the 18th and explore the keys more fully

Old Teakettle to Crooked River Anchorage

We departed Old Teakettle for a glorious day of sun. Back came the winds and we had to cross three sounds with opposed tides and wind. Another rough day of ocean exposure. Part of the idea of using the ICW is to keep you from using the ocean with its storms and foul weather and gaining the protection of a land passage. Well, so much for the philosophy. We have all the negatives and none of the advantages.

After a rolling run across Cumberland Sound, we arrived at the Crooked River Anchorage. Georgia does not do much in the way of dredging work. We both passed a tug and tow with only four or five feet of water. The Tug was actually dredging his way into the Brunswick River.

We arrived at Jekyll Marina for fuel and water. Winds were 30 knots onto the pier and the current was three knots against the landing. Jekyll Marina had four boats moored at the fuel pier with less than forty feet open to land with wind and current. Did I mention that this landing is under a bridge. The landing was aborted and the marina folks could not understand my irritation with their docking plan. Rob is using the word IDIOTs. So we are underway in the morning with a destination of St. Augustine. We will then go out to the ocean for a run to Ponce de Leon entrance. Phyllis is not excited about the run, but since the bridge is closed due to repair, we have no choice. Southbound we go!

Isle of Hope to Anchorage- Old Tea Kettle Creek - Monday

After the high winds of Isle of Hope, we thought it would be a peaceful run to our anchorage some 60 miles south. But that was not to be. We crossed every opening to the ocean with 30 knot winds. Most of the crossings were against the tide which makes the tempest in a teapot very interesting.

After a full day of bouncing around and wandering thru Georgia's ocean marshes, we arrived at a very comfortable anchorage on the Tea Kettle Creek. Winds at Isle of Hope, sailing part of the way, evening sunset shot, a stranded sailboat south of Savannah, and and the rafting up at the anchorage are the photos.