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TIDBITS/INTERESTING THINGS

1) Portable Generator - purchased one for last half of trip, but never had a real chance to test it out . - used 3 times . Much cheaper and easier to use (wear and tear) than using diesel to charge batteries, Quieter as well 2) Rain days and bad weather - sometimes stuck on boat 2-3 days- have a plan on what to do to fill your time. - generally solar panel and wind generator may not be enough to keep batteries charged - need portable generator or start boat engine - ideas what to do - videos, maintenance, cleaning. - be aware that the boat won't be necessarily still . Wind may pick up, boat may pitch and roll, claustiphobic/ seasickness (nausea) - turn day into a treat day. 3) if weather is bad, many boats head to marinas to weather it out.  Need to pre-think weather and/or pre-book marinas or you may be stuck paying a premium for your slip  - upwards of 3=$3/ft in high demand areas. (Miami, Marathon, Key West) 4) Pump outs in Florida - generally free . Many marinas ha...
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BITTER END /NEW BEGINNING

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There is a place in the BVI's called the Bitter End Yacht Club, which we actually visited in the mid 2000's. The title of this final blog seemed to be appropriate, however , not in terms of being bitter, but rather, how abrupt one's world and dreams can come to a earth shaking realization where priorities and focuses change. Be clear that we have absolutely no regrets, we have had a terrific ride. The fact that we got to do what we wanted, complete our journey and earn our Gold AGLCA flag and get home.  We set out on this adventure with the understanding that if we didn't do it this year, we probably would never do it. The planning, the risks, costs etc., we were aware of. In fact, we were more prepared, than our trip in 2014-15, as we had better skills, knowledge and understanding of what we were undertaking.  We  started this journey with the mindset that regardless what happens, whether we only get 100 miles into the trip, 500, 100...
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COMING HOME

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February 21, 2019 update As Frankenfurter in the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" said... I'M GOING HOME. Due to a few unforeseen circumstances, we are on our way home about a month earlier than we original intended. This is not entirely a bad thing... just life. We experienced a flooded living room at our 'dirt' home in January. The January thaw, combined with 2 days of intensive rain resulted in water coming in our back door, soaking the carpets and 'wicking' up some walls damaging insulation and drywall. We ended up losing the carpet and some drywall/insulation. We are so appreciative of our kids for dealing with this, while we helplessly supported them, 2500 miles away and no "real way" to  physically help and/or get home. This incident however, showed what family can do when confronted with an emergency. As it is, the damaged areas have been removed and the house has dried up. Another circumstance but as important , Joanne hurt her wrist. ...
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VELCRO

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February 6, 2019 One might say, that with the amount we have traveled in the last 3 weeks, that we have developed the boating attitude of "VELCRO". Velcro refers to many boaters that never use their boats for what they were intended. Tied up to a dock or even a mooring ball, one tends to slip back into that 'Dirt dwelling " attitude of security. We've been on a mooring for the last 8 days having gotten the call from the City marina that we now had a mooring but needed to claim it in the next few hours.  As you recall we were about 21 on the list 2 weeks ago and with the weather being so bad, no one was leaving to go south and /or north as there was nowhere to get into ( marina or anchorage) as the weather had been bad there as well. A 2-3 day weather window opened up the weekend of January25/26th. Many boats gambled and left Boot Key. As you recall, after the anchor dragged in our last big blow and we have been residing at Marathon Marina at $110/night. Wha...
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Angel on my Shoulder or someone looking out for us.

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January 23, 2019 Boot Key Harbor, Marathon. Well up to last night we were making out okay at the anchorage. When we came in 10 days ago we registered for a mooring ball. We were number 21 on the waiting list. As of today we are 13.   The problem is that because the weather is so bad and the Atlantic kicking up 6' waves... no one is going anywhere. We know there are several groups waiting for the weather to change so they can make the jump to Cuba, the Islands or the Bahamas.  Some of these boaters have been here a lot longer than they anticipated and making the most of this "usual" stop in paradise.Weather here has been fairly okay except for the high winds, in excess of 15 knots most days and night with gusts up to 25-30. Because the harbour is so crowded, all 226 moorings taken and about another 100 in the anchorage, there is not a lot of space around to anchor and throw out adequate chain to be safe. Typically we like a minimum of 50-60 feet of chain for 6-9' de...
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Now a bit of INDULGENCE

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Bear with me in this post, while I partake in bit of Indulgence. Many may think, what we are doing is in fact indulging, but let me remind you not all this adventure is a walk in the park.... After approximately 6000 miles (at about 6-8 miles an hour) Jo, I and Indulgence ( the boat) crossed our wake in Marathon, Florida. For those not versed in boating lingo, "crossing one's wake" in the cruising world refers to returning to the place you started and crossing over that imaginary starting place. In our case, officially it was any place we chose to cross over from the west shore ( Gulf of Mexico) to the Atlantic side ( Atlantic Ocean). In 2015, we sailed as south as Marathon, Florida and on Monday January 14, 2019 at 11pm, we returned. This blog is being written from Boot Key Harbor where we will be for about a month, To refresh everyone of this 6000 miles and the timelines involved, this is what it looked like. Aug 2014 -departed south from Barrie, Ontario., down the...
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Back to the Boat and Down to the Keys

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January 12,2019 I'm writing this segment from Fort Myers Beach. We arrived late afternoon and as is the case on Saturday, steak dinner and a (surprise, surprise) NFL football playoffs. I'm able to watch both playoff games having watched the early one in which the Chiefs beat the Colts, now I'm settling down to the Cowboys and Rams. We are anchored in Fort Myers Beach in San Carlos Bay, just off the Gulf. We have just arrived at Mile 0, where the Gulf Intercostal Waterway is finished.. This is the end of protected water travel for us.  Originally, it was our intent to travel up the Okeechobee Waterway through  a canal, lake and river system to the Atlantic side but... we are unable to get under a 49' bridge at Port Mayaka due to our 51' mast. We could have it dropped and re-stepped on the other side of the bridge but the cost of about $700 -$1000 (for taking down and putting up again) is a bit too much.  When we started, we were going to hire a fello...
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