Friday, January 24, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
In Miami flyboarding
Since we've discovered we have to replace our holding tank Drew has been researching, contacting Island Packet and fellow boaters, visiting a boatyard, trying to decide who and where we should have the work done. I have been watching, reading, helping, walking the dog, googling mooring sites, working.
Look at this new sport called flyboarding. These two were doing this near our boat for the afternoon. For a mere $6,000 you can do this too.
We are anchored near a canal where we dinghy in for groceries, entertainment, walking Mazu day and night.
Also a picture of government cut on a nice day overlooking the Miami skyline.
Miami Beach, 2 acres of Botanical Gardens open to everyone free.
Look at this new sport called flyboarding. These two were doing this near our boat for the afternoon. For a mere $6,000 you can do this too.
We are anchored near a canal where we dinghy in for groceries, entertainment, walking Mazu day and night.
Also a picture of government cut on a nice day overlooking the Miami skyline.
aMiami Beach, 2 acres of Botanical Gardens open to everyone free.
Friday, January 17, 2014
On to Miami Beach
Waiting and waiting so we did a few last things in St. A. Waiting through the tornado watch, waiting for the right weather and doing essential repairs.
I realize all these pictures do not show the lousy windy cold weather because when I took pictures on those days they came out blurry with the movement of the boat or my shivering hands.
Watched the changing of the guard as they marched down the street to Government house.
Slept in a couple of mornings. (Mazu and Drew)
We took down the wind generator off the stern davits. Me (hair pulled back in ponytail) sitting up on the davits to help lift it down to Drew.
The Bridge of Lions all lit up. During our last few days this drawbridge stopped working. No one with a mast higher than 25' (ours is 55') could go north or south. We had to wait 2 days for them to fix it before we could go outside for a sail and head to Miami.
Drew coming up the companionway to see a beautiful sail for a few hours before the wind changed and came straight at us from the south.
Our nightly entertainment is the sunset. They've been spectacular.
We took 64 hours to sail and motor to Miami from St. Augustine, about 276 miles. [Mazu went once the whole time.] I made sandwiches and had food ready that we could grab: yogurt, cheese sticks, chicken stew warmed up, crackers, zone bars. With 20+ k of wind there is little cooking in the galley for us. I always put on the transdermal patch behind my ear for the trip and have no problems the whole way rocking and rolling. Still, I'd always rather go outside and get to sail once in a while. We miss a lot of historic sights not following the ICW but we are eager to get to warmer weather. Still haven't taken a swim.
We arrive in Miami. Water is 75 degrees. The first night we spent at a marina right at the entrance to Government Cut (no picture). I love Miami - very friendly, beautiful unique architecture, fun, colorful. Below is our anchorage, love the blues.
I love the colors with Miami (not Miami Beach) in the background. You can see other boats also anchored here. We finally anchored off of Belle Island just north of Government Cut where we came into this fairly well protected area. The tall buildings at night were so impressive, so many colors. The winds continue to blow. I can only take pictures when it's calm otherwise they are all blurry. I have also used more pixels for these pictures so they are clear. May take a while to download. This is the Miami Beach side.
The Disney Cruising ship docked in Government Cut.
Note the Micky Mouse on the smoke stacks. It was very impressive as we headed down Government Cut to our anchorage.
Miami Beach has a wonderful canal with bridges over it. We could get everywhere because there are little docking areas for dinghys along the route. When we shop we lock up the boat with a heavy chain. It's a very boat and animal friendly town. Here is our first trip. It's easy to go at night because everything is lit up.
Earlier in the day while Drew did marketing I walked the dog up to the Holocaust Memorial in the center of town. The hand sculpture is in a pond with water lilies. Climbing up the arm are people. It's very sobering.
Tomorrow I'll go to the Miami Botanical Garden on the other side of the Memorial.
I've never seen this kind of tree with white blobs of "flowers" hanging out of a pod. Looks like palm but not. The trunk was not typical palm either.
Tonight I played a solo game of Bananagrams on the table in the salon. Used all the letters.
Sadly we found out today that our holding tank needs to be replaced. We used our new endoscope (a $37 50' cable with a tiny camera at the end with a light that can reach places that are not in direct view. It plugs into the computer with photo booth to see.) We looked under and at the side of the tank and found it has a leak : ( a huge expense. It involves cutting out the floor in the fore cabin to remove it in pieces then installing a new one made out of a better, longer lasting material. Fortunately, there has been no odor because of Odorloss, a liquid that is put into the holding tank. This cruise is becoming the shake out cruise where we fix all the kinks. Somehow it seems never ending.
Hopefully the work will be done while we are away in February and overseen by this terrific guy, Craig Olsen, we met at the Miami Beach Marina who does Boat Systems Maintenance and Repair. We met him while we were doing our laundry. Lucky. He knows the previous owner of our boat. It's a small Island Packet world.
Tomorrow, if it's sunny, I will do a little video of the area.
Of course there are terrific Cuban restaurants and we'll visit one tomorrow recommended by AJ. Today we ate at a terrific French cafe with THE best croissants and crepes, A La Folie Cafe. They let Mazu sit at our feet. I had poached pear, brie and walnut crepe ooh la la good. The city is beautiful, clean, warm, international, fashionable. We hear many languages as we walk down the streets. We are having a great time now that we're warm. Again it is a place where they are experiencing one of the coldest winters.
I realize all these pictures do not show the lousy windy cold weather because when I took pictures on those days they came out blurry with the movement of the boat or my shivering hands.
We took down the wind generator off the stern davits. Me (hair pulled back in ponytail) sitting up on the davits to help lift it down to Drew.
It wasn't working at all. We sent it off to Tampa for repair that took a few days. Now it's working and spinning with all these big winds we're having.
The Bridge of Lions all lit up. During our last few days this drawbridge stopped working. No one with a mast higher than 25' (ours is 55') could go north or south. We had to wait 2 days for them to fix it before we could go outside for a sail and head to Miami.
Low tide at St. Augustine waterfront. muddy, full of muscles. 
Our nightly entertainment is the sunset. They've been spectacular.
We took 64 hours to sail and motor to Miami from St. Augustine, about 276 miles. [Mazu went once the whole time.] I made sandwiches and had food ready that we could grab: yogurt, cheese sticks, chicken stew warmed up, crackers, zone bars. With 20+ k of wind there is little cooking in the galley for us. I always put on the transdermal patch behind my ear for the trip and have no problems the whole way rocking and rolling. Still, I'd always rather go outside and get to sail once in a while. We miss a lot of historic sights not following the ICW but we are eager to get to warmer weather. Still haven't taken a swim.
I love the colors with Miami (not Miami Beach) in the background. You can see other boats also anchored here. We finally anchored off of Belle Island just north of Government Cut where we came into this fairly well protected area. The tall buildings at night were so impressive, so many colors. The winds continue to blow. I can only take pictures when it's calm otherwise they are all blurry. I have also used more pixels for these pictures so they are clear. May take a while to download. This is the Miami Beach side.
Note the Micky Mouse on the smoke stacks. It was very impressive as we headed down Government Cut to our anchorage.
Earlier in the day while Drew did marketing I walked the dog up to the Holocaust Memorial in the center of town. The hand sculpture is in a pond with water lilies. Climbing up the arm are people. It's very sobering.
Sadly we found out today that our holding tank needs to be replaced. We used our new endoscope (a $37 50' cable with a tiny camera at the end with a light that can reach places that are not in direct view. It plugs into the computer with photo booth to see.) We looked under and at the side of the tank and found it has a leak : ( a huge expense. It involves cutting out the floor in the fore cabin to remove it in pieces then installing a new one made out of a better, longer lasting material. Fortunately, there has been no odor because of Odorloss, a liquid that is put into the holding tank. This cruise is becoming the shake out cruise where we fix all the kinks. Somehow it seems never ending.
Hopefully the work will be done while we are away in February and overseen by this terrific guy, Craig Olsen, we met at the Miami Beach Marina who does Boat Systems Maintenance and Repair. We met him while we were doing our laundry. Lucky. He knows the previous owner of our boat. It's a small Island Packet world.
Tomorrow, if it's sunny, I will do a little video of the area.
Of course there are terrific Cuban restaurants and we'll visit one tomorrow recommended by AJ. Today we ate at a terrific French cafe with THE best croissants and crepes, A La Folie Cafe. They let Mazu sit at our feet. I had poached pear, brie and walnut crepe ooh la la good. The city is beautiful, clean, warm, international, fashionable. We hear many languages as we walk down the streets. We are having a great time now that we're warm. Again it is a place where they are experiencing one of the coldest winters.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Yes a wee bit cold everywhere
We came for warmth and a sail, and instead we are cold (18 degrees this morning with the wind chill - hard frost warning last night) and motoring the ICW.
As we hunker down for the cold I listen rather than see the cold here as we snuggle in our cabin, layers of fleece blanketing us. The wind through the rigging is a howl at about low c, up and down to 30 knots. Every night when the tide, 3 k current, and strong wind change, just so, the mooring ball hits up against the hull; random but constant bumping that lasts a while. Mazu jumps with the first banging. The water flows by the bow, gurgling as it moves so fast with the current against the wind. Sometimes there's a little clicking sound -- they say it's shrimp scooting through and kissing the hull. And happily there's the low hum of the Espar heater as it comes on and off throughout the night.
Looking out the bathroom portal I see the flags out straight like postage stamps in the sky, Florida state and the red white and blue. There's no furl, flapping, flutter or fold only the flattened flag lit up against a black night sky, my anemometer.
On Sunday before the predicted cold - we took a beach walk on St. Augustine's wide beach. However to get to the surf is a drop off, no slow slope like New England, Jersey or Delaware shores. A few surfers were out, but taking few rides because of the chop. We enjoyed the beach.
Mazu, kind of camouflaged into the sand. That's why she wears a red bandanna.
Another ship came in bigger and better than Magellan's, the Spanish Galleon. Note the flags, but the wind had died down a little. They'll stay about 6 months for tours.
We still had fun with a Sunday bike ride tour on the last 69 degree day. I got it for half price on groupon and put the coupon in Drew's stocking: Drew with John, the guide, ahead of me. Ideal way to see the city at a nice pace.
On Magnolia Street under the line of live oaks overhanging with Spanish moss dripping down.
In front of the Mission cross where the first mass was said in 1565 or thereabouts.
A beautiful little chapel of the Sisters of Joseph who worked on converting Indians to Christianity.
Always MAINTENANCE: replacing a leaky faucet to keep our precious water.
not leaking any more : )
Cleaning the speed and temp transducer that sits below the hull (accessed in the bilge. The black knob is unscrewed from the hull and is removed for cleaning 3 months of growth, then replaced:
As we hunker down for the cold I listen rather than see the cold here as we snuggle in our cabin, layers of fleece blanketing us. The wind through the rigging is a howl at about low c, up and down to 30 knots. Every night when the tide, 3 k current, and strong wind change, just so, the mooring ball hits up against the hull; random but constant bumping that lasts a while. Mazu jumps with the first banging. The water flows by the bow, gurgling as it moves so fast with the current against the wind. Sometimes there's a little clicking sound -- they say it's shrimp scooting through and kissing the hull. And happily there's the low hum of the Espar heater as it comes on and off throughout the night.
Looking out the bathroom portal I see the flags out straight like postage stamps in the sky, Florida state and the red white and blue. There's no furl, flapping, flutter or fold only the flattened flag lit up against a black night sky, my anemometer.
On Sunday before the predicted cold - we took a beach walk on St. Augustine's wide beach. However to get to the surf is a drop off, no slow slope like New England, Jersey or Delaware shores. A few surfers were out, but taking few rides because of the chop. We enjoyed the beach.
Another ship came in bigger and better than Magellan's, the Spanish Galleon. Note the flags, but the wind had died down a little. They'll stay about 6 months for tours.
We still had fun with a Sunday bike ride tour on the last 69 degree day. I got it for half price on groupon and put the coupon in Drew's stocking: Drew with John, the guide, ahead of me. Ideal way to see the city at a nice pace.
On Magnolia Street under the line of live oaks overhanging with Spanish moss dripping down.
In front of the Mission cross where the first mass was said in 1565 or thereabouts.
A beautiful little chapel of the Sisters of Joseph who worked on converting Indians to Christianity.
Always MAINTENANCE: replacing a leaky faucet to keep our precious water.
Cleaning the speed and temp transducer that sits below the hull (accessed in the bilge. The black knob is unscrewed from the hull and is removed for cleaning 3 months of growth, then replaced:
Plants growing out of the top where the wheel spins to show our speed.
I have to mention 2 fun places: www.pirateshipblackraven.com The pirate ship is on the dock where we dingy in each day.
St. Augustine bike tours we rode were great, highly recommend them. John was a great tour leader.
AND we went to COUSTEAU'S. It's a waffle and milkshake bar on Hippolyta St. that opened recently and served THE BEST waffle desert I have ever had called Jaguar Shark - real maple syrup, candied pecans, candied bacon and Bourbon whipped cream on a freshly made waffle - amazingly delicious! The owner has a passion for these two items like Cousteau had for the ocean. There are photos of Cousteau all over the little shop, and the staff wears red winter caps as Jacques Cousteau wore.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Still in St. Augustine in the cold and WIND!
BULLETIN: I got hacked today - if you get an email from me with a link do not open it.
This ship, nao Victoria, is here for tours from Spain. On a nicer day . . . the exact replica of Magellan's ship, Victoria, that sailed around the world in 1519 from Spain. Portugal's king would not supply his needs. He began with 5 ships. 18 men and one ship returned with riches without Magellan who died in the Philippines. Pretty amazing to see how little they sailed with, and the mostly girls who crew it today with a female captain. : ) Another Spanish ship is coming on Monday. There is also two pirate ships here that go out on the weekends for all kinds of fun. Fun harbor.
Crows nest
Pirate from the Black Raven
The wind has been blowing 20 to 25 for 2 days. We have used the launch rather than the dinghy. We'll go in and do something tonight.
This city might be called the city of churches, though that probably wouldn't draw a lot of tourists. There is an amazing cathedral on the site of the original catholic church from 1565. This picture is of the Memorial Presbyterian church. (It was closed to tour.) They are all beautiful, well kept and frequently have schools attached. Every religion seems to have a beautiful building.
The city of lights. Having dinner outside the first night back when it was warm. Now it's windchill of 32. They turn off all the Christmas lights at the end of this weekend.
Half tide. You cane sand another 30 feet at low tide.
Very high tide with a north wind storm and moon in the right phase.
We are still doing daily maintenance. Today - replacing the water filters for the water maker.
This ship, nao Victoria, is here for tours from Spain. On a nicer day . . . the exact replica of Magellan's ship, Victoria, that sailed around the world in 1519 from Spain. Portugal's king would not supply his needs. He began with 5 ships. 18 men and one ship returned with riches without Magellan who died in the Philippines. Pretty amazing to see how little they sailed with, and the mostly girls who crew it today with a female captain. : ) Another Spanish ship is coming on Monday. There is also two pirate ships here that go out on the weekends for all kinds of fun. Fun harbor.
Crows nest
The wind has been blowing 20 to 25 for 2 days. We have used the launch rather than the dinghy. We'll go in and do something tonight.
This city might be called the city of churches, though that probably wouldn't draw a lot of tourists. There is an amazing cathedral on the site of the original catholic church from 1565. This picture is of the Memorial Presbyterian church. (It was closed to tour.) They are all beautiful, well kept and frequently have schools attached. Every religion seems to have a beautiful building.
The city of lights. Having dinner outside the first night back when it was warm. Now it's windchill of 32. They turn off all the Christmas lights at the end of this weekend.
Half tide. You cane sand another 30 feet at low tide.
Very high tide with a north wind storm and moon in the right phase.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Happy New Year
We're back ...in St. Augustine, FL. Spent New Years on the boat rather than the cold rainy beach. watched the ball drop via computer live stream and saw a picture of people lining up in Times Square at 11 am from my son's office window at new job at Met Life.
MAINTENANCE: We took down the KISS wind generator today and sent it off UPS to be repaired in Tampa. A wind generator produces electrical energy to charge the batteries like the solar panels do - free. I have to sit up on top of the davits to ease it down, take it apart, put it in the bag. (Would have been a good picture)'Kuivato, another Portsmouth boat sailing south- blog suggested that we check zincs since we've been in the water for 6 months. Zincs protect anything metal in the salt water that corrodes by electrical reaction. We have zincs on the prop, the shaft, the bow thrusters and the dinghy motor though that is not in the water as long. We might try to check the corrosion on the zincs with Drew's new waterproof endoscope he got for Christmas from Santa. It just plugs into the computer and is a webcam for anywhere it goes - down pipes, in the water tank, wherever. Get one on Amazon. If it works it would be easier than hiring a diver --then again if they need to be replaced we need to either haul out or hire a diver. Other items to address -- I also need to wash the water line and transom from engine and water line dirt.
It was 65 today and rained almost all day except when we got the wind generator down. The temperature is suppose to go way down tonight -- 35 tomorrow. Wind is kicking up too. Better than the blizzard in Exeter, NH with temperature at 7. Sorry to miss our annual x country ski weekend with friends this year -- should be great skiing.
MAINTENANCE: We took down the KISS wind generator today and sent it off UPS to be repaired in Tampa. A wind generator produces electrical energy to charge the batteries like the solar panels do - free. I have to sit up on top of the davits to ease it down, take it apart, put it in the bag. (Would have been a good picture)'Kuivato, another Portsmouth boat sailing south- blog suggested that we check zincs since we've been in the water for 6 months. Zincs protect anything metal in the salt water that corrodes by electrical reaction. We have zincs on the prop, the shaft, the bow thrusters and the dinghy motor though that is not in the water as long. We might try to check the corrosion on the zincs with Drew's new waterproof endoscope he got for Christmas from Santa. It just plugs into the computer and is a webcam for anywhere it goes - down pipes, in the water tank, wherever. Get one on Amazon. If it works it would be easier than hiring a diver --then again if they need to be replaced we need to either haul out or hire a diver. Other items to address -- I also need to wash the water line and transom from engine and water line dirt.
It was 65 today and rained almost all day except when we got the wind generator down. The temperature is suppose to go way down tonight -- 35 tomorrow. Wind is kicking up too. Better than the blizzard in Exeter, NH with temperature at 7. Sorry to miss our annual x country ski weekend with friends this year -- should be great skiing.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas (not from Shawnee)
 |
| pathetic fake Florida Christmas decore |
For Christmas we drove two days from St. Augustine up to Schenectady, New York to visit family, my daughter, Sarah, her husband, Yeang, my first husband, Angus, and his 101.5 year old mom and Mazu came too. Having a great time. The drive was rather grueling. The boat is being watched by the cruisers net members, a wonderful group we got in touch with the day we arrived in St. Augustine.
Big news came in the form of ten Christmas balloons for my mother-in-law, Rhona. One of the balloons said "It's a girl!" We all thought, Gee they must have run out of Christmas balloons. But no, the card said, "Merry Christmas from Dillon, AJ, Tate, Violet and ... Celia due June 14, 2014." Wow, were we all surprised. So the family grows, another granddaughter.
Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year.
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