We left Charleston and anchored at two points just off the ICW.  First was at Whiteside Creek.  Second at Awendaw Creek.  Both were excellent anchorages with plenty of water.  During these three days, we had a slow cruise up the intracoastal water way. We came upon this cool swing bridge.  It looks like a barge, but it actually pivots around the furthest most point and forms a floating bridge across the intracoastal water way.

 

 

Here you can see the huge out-board motor that causes it to swing.  This pivots into the water and pushes this end of the barge across the water way.  Cool eh??

 

 

I was sitting on the bow when I heard Bryce yell “ Crocodile… Crocodile… “ I thought, “well grab the camera”.. I turned around to look at him; he had found the camera in time.. LOL.  Did not know there were any crocodiles/alligators in the water way.  I suppose it makes sense.  Apparently, they are in South Carolina.

 

 

I am getting flash-backs from the Mississippi..  We passed this barge and tow.  It’s funny they are always waving as they pass by.   Bryce says, “Perhaps it’s the beautiful blonde on the bow waving”. (ADDED BY BRYCE)

 

 

We were passed by numerous big power boats as we crawled up the water way.  Fortunately, they always slowed down to pass us.  Thanks guys!!  It’s funny; the guy with the sore armed yelled over at me and wanted to know how I could be sitting on the bow with all the horse flies out driving boaters nuts.  I laughed and held up my flyswatter.

 

 

Saw this cool house just off the ICW.  I suppose these homes must be built on stilts just incase the water rises too much.

 

 

How would you like to walk this distance just to get from your house to your boat? Well, I would get my Fitbit steps in. LOL

 

 

After anchoring for the night, we sat down for a well deserved cocktail.  We anchored just down stream from Georgetown. It’s awesome to watch all the activity around when anchored.

 

 

We watched the crab pot boats collect their days catch of crabs.

 

 

And we watched the dolphins playfully slap their tails on the water. What a great way to end a day.

 

 

As always thank you for reading our blog. Have a safe Memorial Weekend.

What a crazy morning. We were only there a week and seems like we had so much to do before we could head out. If you are ever considering going to Charleston they also have a great resort by car at Charleston Harbor Resort.  And the Charleston Harbor Marina attached to the resort was awesome.  After fueling up and a pump-out we are on our way.  Waving good by to all our new friends… 

Yep..LOL it’s awesome to be on the move again….

 

This is the Ben Sawyer Memorial Swing Bridge it opens on demand.  With a few exceptions..LOL

 

were

 

Two guys waving as we went by.  I think people don’t understand that we are moving and the conversation can’t be in depth. LOL  I think they were still talking to me as we left them.

 

 

I thought this was a good piece of information.  When you are from the Great Lakes and see all the hurricanes on the news, I often wonder what all the boaters are doing and how far can they go up river.

 

 

 

We traveled up the ICW in a rising tide to assure we had plenty of water.  I love looking at the nice homes on  the water front.  I keep thinking that we don’t need a big house anymore! Or do I????

 

 

Boats fly pass us a we stroll up river.

 

 

I wonder how this vessel gets out of of this?

 

 

Wow.. seems like you can surly find thing to do on this ICW.  These guys stared at us as we passed.  Seems they never saw a sailboat pulling a jet ski.

 

 

Looks like someone ripped apart the engine on this little guy or did just time and grade just pull her apart as she drifted all alone.  I sure would like to hear some of the stories a boat could tell. 

 

 

We anchored in Whiteside Creek with plenty of water the depth was at 13.6 when we dropped the anchor.  We will wait till a rising mid tide tomorrow.

After a very eventful week in Charleston, we are once again on our way back into the ICW.  I want to share with you some of the awesome times we had while we were in Charleston. I think that some of the best times are the times we share with the new friends we meet. Charleston was a great place to regroup my mind.  Bryce picked out the best marina..hot tub, pool, bar, resturant and it had a boardwalk that takes you right into the area of Patriots point with the WWII Naval vessels.   There was the USS YorkTown: Aircraft Carrier, USS Clamagore: (SS-343) Submarine and the Destroyer Escort USS Laffey (DD-724).  The Laffey is 2,200 tons and is 376 ft 6 inch long.  This ship has the speed of 34 knots while our sailboat only has 5 knots. LOL I find that so amazing that  such a huge ship can go that fast. If you ever take a trip to Charleston, make sure to stop in at Patriots Point.

Our boat slip at  Charleston Harbor Marina was AWESOME!!! We were in slip E-42.  The boaters on E-Dock pride themselves as the best partiers in the Marina. They are all very nice and fun to party with.

We can see the ships right from our slip.  In the background is the Aircraft Carrier.

 

 

We walked and walked.. what an amazing time to learn I never stop learning about our history.   Here is a picture of the Destroyer.

 

 

For some reason I thought this was funny. Maybe because I talk so much LOL

 

 

Have you ever seen an Escalator in a ship? This escalator was built in1953 to carry the pilots and their gear to the flight deck from their Ready Rooms.  In world war II air groups that were in the Ready Rooms immediately beneath the flight deck suffered considerable losses when their air carriers were bombed or hit by Kamikazes.  So they moved the ready room and used this escalator to transport the pilots and gear.  The aircraft carrier was HUGE!!! It is the size of a small city with all the rooms and facilities to support 3000 sailors.

 

 

Bryce standing by the Marine Jet…For those who don’t know he was in the Marine Corp.  Semper Fi!!

 

 

Look at all these planes and there is three times as many in the inside.  The flight deck is so long.  We toured all three ship here at Patriots Point.  We started with the smallest ship: the submarine, then the next largest : Destroyer and last the aircraft carrier.  Good thing we did that last, we were worn out after walking all over the carrier.  On all three ships we were able to tour the engine rooms.. Bryce got a kick out of that.

 

 

Latter that evening we spent the evening in the resort hot tub.  We met up with a couple Vernon & Hope with little man Caper.  The next evening, we joined them on their vessel.  It was a 60 foot Jefferson.  We had an amazing night with them.  They took us on a tour of their vessel it was very nice.  This 60 foot Jefferson is for sale in Charleston SC.  It is in Yacht World.

 

 

We took a carriage ride around Charleston.  It was an interesting ride, but the $50 dollars that it cost seemed a bit steep.  We prefer the Red Train in Saint Augustine.  The Red Train covered quite a bit more ground.

 

 

Well some time has passed and we we decided to let thing settle and enjoy a Saturday night on the boat.   When all of a sudden a Catalina 400 (40) foot came back into the dock just across from us.  Bryce went over to help them in. But when all was said and done, they  didn’t really want to talk.  So I noticed a group of people in the middle of the dock partying. And if you know me, I went and joined in on the fun. They were the nicest people.  We really cannot remember all their names. But hello to you all if you are reading my blog.  Giggle…

One of the guys we met was Ollie.  This is Ollie; he came back to our boat for a few shots of Goldschlager.  A favorite drink of his.  He could not believe we knew what it was, let alone had a bottle on the boat.

 

 

 

Ollie given foot massages LOL

 

 

You can tell we had a great time.  This is Jennifer; Ollie’s wife, they are a great couple.   And a few others on the E-Dock.

 

 

The next day we went for a ride to Sullivan Island. I had a rental car so I could take Bryce to pick up the jet-ski.  Now it’ time to explore and have more fun.  We stopped in a had a pizza at Luke & Ollies’s Pizzeria.

Me and Ollie.. A second Ollie!!!

 

 

 

We walked the beach in Sullivan Island.  This was a pretty big jelly fish..

 

 

Me at the beach… Clearly in my element.

 

 

We stop in at Fort Moultrie ……I like this steeple on the church, just across the street.

 

 

Fort Moultrie was built, along with Fort Sumpter to protect Charleston and its harbor.  Fort Sumpter was just across the bay from Fort Moultrie.  Fort Moultrie was operating up until about 1947.  It was upgraded and manned to protect Charleston during WWII.   Bryce is seen here loading a cannon ball into a gun. LOL

 

 

And here, Bryce is pulling the lanyard to fire the 5 inch WWII gun.  Covering his ears from the noise!!!  Hey Bryce.. Don’t you think you should close the breach???

 

 

The inside picture of the Fort shows a number of gun emplacements.

 

Five broke loose at 4 AM on Sunday.  Two days later on Tuesday, she was found floating upright; none the worse for wear.  And she took on no water.  Just like the small lost dog that walked 30 miles to find his master, Five survived two nights alone on the raging Atlantic 30 miles off Hilton Head Island to make her way home.

A Shrimp boat Captain named Captain Skip Toomer found her floating tens of miles off shore.  Captain Skip kindly took Five in tow and seeing the seas building, hoisted her on board to keep Five safe.  He realized there was probably no one on board Five because the crossover tube was clamped for towing.

Captain Skip

 

 

Captain Skip contacted a DNR officer Jay Leary in Beaufort, South Carolina to find the owner.  Jay contacted the Coast Guard.  The Coast Guard found our telephone numbers in their log file from our conversation.  However, two of the numbers were swapped in the three digits following the area code.  So Jay searched the web for area codes and amazingly enough realized the mistake in the swapped digits and called us at 9 PM Wednesday night with the news.

 

You can see Five on the bow of Captain Skip’s boat.

 

 

This incredible sequence of events and the combined effort of a two amazing individuals; Captain Skip Toomer and Jay Leary resulted in a happy reunion of Five and her crew on Friday afternoon. Reunited and it feels so good. ( As the song goes.)  The smile has not gone away. We rented a car to go down to Hudson’s on the dock to pick her up.  Bryce drove her back to Charleston.  If you have a chance, stop by “Hudson’s on the Docks” and have a bite to eat.  The staff was quite helpful as we explained our ordeal. And the shrimp was great.

 

 

 

Captain Skip made a harness of lines to take Five off his Shrimp boat. She has a dirty butt. LOL  After dropping Five back into the water,  Bryce climbed on and checked for water in the bilge.  He checked the engine oil for any sign of water.  These two checks told him that Five never flipped over in the two days she was missing.  He then fired Five’s motor up and it purred as normal.

 

 

The two guy got to to a floating dock at the Hudson’s On the bay Restaurant where Captain keeps his boat.  Bryce loaded up supplies in Five.  He said his good byes to Skip and shoved off. 

 

 

I left the dock shortly after in the car.  A few hours later, I reached the marina. I looked at find my iPhone and noticed Bryce was about 30 miles away.   Just seconds later my phone rang at nearly 8:30 P.M.  “Jane I am nearly out of gas!” There were no gas stations near by.  It was just too dark to bring Five any further.  Bryce had found a launch ramp just off 174 and docked Five there for the night.  I routed the directions to the dock using my Phone and it took me right to him.  I took a large chain and we locked Five to the dock.  I brought Bryce back to Beauty at Charleston with me.    This morning we went back with the gas cans and 5-Alive got her breakfast of unleaded.

 

 

Bryce pulling into the marina with 5-Alive  I got to say, I would love to hear this type of story on the news rather than the constant line of murders and plunder.  “Small jet ski on the ocean gets rescued by a Shrimp boat, Captain and crew”.  I know it was quite the story for us!!  Thanks again Captain Skip!!

 

 

Once again Thank you for following our blog.

Bryce and I talked. We think we need to take a break from the ICW. We looked at Active Captain and we don’t think we would be able to time the tides right. So we will by-pass Georgia and go 170 miles to Charleston SC.  According to the weather map it should be great sailing for us.  We woke up early and headed out figuring about 25 hours to make it across.  At first we had perfect winds we couldn’t ask for better.  We really enjoyed our day.  There are no pictures because there is only water to see. LOL

Unfortunately,  our jet ski towing bridle broke and our jet ski became lost at sea.

  I will share our story with you if I can hold back my tears:

The day we got you.

 

 

The Atlantic Ocean has claimed another vessel.  5 alive (jet ski) is now missing.  The Atlantic took our jet-ski away from us!  Bryce was downstairs catnapping.  I was trying to let him sleep and get some good rest.  The clock was reaching 4 AM;  the winds spiked up  to 20 knots coming from our aft port side.  Up and Down; back and fourth and I am starting to see things.  I sipped on a can of coke.  I never drink coke but needed the caffeine.  I am starting to see ghostly blue shadows in front of me. I turned to see how 5 was doing.  She was having a bit of a time with the following sea too.   5 alive (jet ski) was twisting from side to side in the waves.

 

 

She would slide down one wave; but before she could settle, the next one would grab her jerking her back and fourth. Side to side her body twisted and turned dramatically.  I looked at the wind meter; 21 knots and the winds are starting to change directions.

I whispered in to our bedroom widow from the cockpit.  “Bryce, I am so sorry; but will you please come sleep up here. I feel so a lone and I need you with me. It is getting rougher out here.”  I heard moaning as he must have been in a deep sleep.  A few moments latter I hear, ”Jane are you ok?”  “Yes, but truthfully I am a little scared.”  Silence came.  I sat on the edge of my seat and waited. I didn’t hear another word. It seemed like an eternity before I finally saw him making his way up the companion way.  He looked at the wind meter and agreed with me.

I apologized for waking him.  He never gets mad at me; but I feel guilty. Bryce said, “please go get some rest. You really need it.”  But I rarely sleep when making a crossing.  My body will not relax enough.  But I decided to take my head set and listen to some relaxing music.

 

 

I put my headset on, but left one ear open in case he needed me.  I must have been down there 9 minutes and a few seconds. Because I listened to two songs.  Then I hear a four letter word.  And the boat started to turn;  the sails were flopping.  I ran up the stairs; what is going on!  “The lines gave way on the jet-ski!  Go grab the Justins light!!!!  Go …Go..  Sometimes I cannot move fast enough for him.  My heart was pounding. I couldn’t believe my eyes.  She was floating away from us.  Bryce had circled the jetski and he was pointing Beauty into the wind to drop the sails.  The white of the jet ski was clear in the waves.  However, the further she drifted, the waves were so big she disappeared.  We could not tell the difference between the white caps and 5 alive.  However, down came the sails.  We searched and searched for over 3 hours.  Tears, I cannot stop the tears!  Why do bad thing always happen at night? Bryce asked

 

 

We are now three hours past our scheduled transit into the Charleston inlet.  We have to give up the search. We called the Coastguard and Tow Boat US.  We had to warn people of a floating jet-ski. We didn’t need people to start a search for a missing person on an empty jet ski.

I will miss you! Thanks for the adventure you gave to us.

 

 

Thanks for following us….

After leaving Saint Augustine we headed up North on the ICW.  We really did not plan to spending the whole day on the river.  14 hours later, at sunset, we found our self stuck in the middle of the channel again.  The chart reads one depth, the GPS reads another.  Yet the ICW has her own depth not charted.  We were able to get Beauty unstuck with out any help.

I was down making dinner and turned to see Bryce.  Bryce called Tow boat us to see if they knew how we should approach the area. The young man said we had to stay two boat lengths off the green buoy side of the shore.  I asked Bryce what size boat length is he talking about?  I only received a funny look. Well, the following photos tell how nice the day actually was.

We had to wait till 7:30 for the bridge to open leaving Saint Augustine.

 

 

Boats started coming out of the marina and mooring balls to make the opening at 7:30.

 

 

The bridge tender stood watching the boats pass by.  I said smile you’re on Candid camera.

 

 

It wasn’t long and we started seeing working tows & barges pass us by.  Looks like someone is getting a new sea wall.

 

 

The ICW leads us through some pretty areas.  It narrows down going under this bridge. I was really surprised to see there was not a no wake zone with homes so close to the channel. 

 

 

The funniest thing happened.  I looked behind us. I believe it was nearing 2 pm; not for sure. I said to Bryce, I think Mike & Candy are coming behind us. I didn’t center the camera very well. They were headed to Jacksonville to have their boat pulled out. They are headed back to Australia and will return sometime next March.  

 

 

It is so scary to hear a plain take off and watch them go over your boat.

 

 

Dredging near the ICW at  the inlet to Jacksonville. Appears a lot of ships come though this area. 

 

 

We found an area where it looks like they build mega boats.

 

 

This was a really congested area lots and lots of big boats. They are building a new fixed bridge.

 

 

 

 

As we passed under the bridge. I was engrossed in watching all the people launching their boats and pulling them out.  I didn’t see who was tied up on the sea wall.

 

 

Mike and Candy again I yelled over to see if they were ok. Everything was fine; they just decided to stay there. They would head into the marina to get their boat  pulled out in the morning.

 

 

We were shortly passed by with another Tow and barge.  Sun River City is the name of this Tow. I have to wonder how they maneuver the ICW without getting stuck! Most of the tows draw 10 feet of water.  We draft 5.5 feet and have bumped bottom twice!

 

 

Well, it’s getting late. The sun will be setting soon. We really need to find an anchorage.  Bryce went down a looked at Active Captain every were they suggested. The water depth didn’t match up.   We just kept heading north. We tried 4 or 5 places to anchor; nothing to be found.  So this is where we headed into Fernandina Florida. After taking to Tow boat US we followed his directions and made it into Fernandina. Bryce called the marina but they were not open. The tow Boat guy haled us on the VHF and told us to take a slip or mooring ball and just touch base with the marina tomorrow.  Bryce had his eye on a mooring ball. 

 

Not a sight you want to see when you are headed into the same area to grab a mooring!  This double master sunk underwater.

 

 

Well tomorrow is Friday the 13th we will not leave till Saturday no sense in pushing fate. Thanks for following us. I am a few days behind in posting but please bear with me.

I woke up wanting to have coffee with the couple that helped us out with the anchor issue but they were gone. (last blog) LOL.. Bryce said it was time to take a break and get a slip in Saint Augustine for a few days.  I called the Saint Augustine marina; they said they had a slip for us. (I am happy). We love traveling the ICW; but after all the issues, it was time to get off the boat.  After settling down into the slip with air conditioning, I showered  and made breakfast.  I was trying to to figure out where in the world did Bryce disappear to.   I ate breakfast by myself. Hum.. where is he?

I finally found him on another boat next to us visiting with others. So I went and joined in on the conversation.  Mike & Candy they own the 43 foot Wellcraft aft cabin in the picture below behind Beauty. They are from Australia.

Beauty is resting in a slip next to Candy & Mike’s boat. They haven’t named her yet.

 

 

We really enjoyed talking with our new friends and decided to have them over for drinks later that night.  Bryce and I went back to our boat and he finished getting his shower and then we are off to explore.  We went up to check out the red train tour bus.  But the day was already gone, so that is something we will do tomorrow.

We crossed the street and went in to a local pub for a beer and dinner.  There was a 15/20 minute wait to sit outside. That was ok, I wanted air conditioning.  Bryce took a photo of me (of course) then looking out the window he saw the red train coming up to the stoplight.

 

 

He went out to take a few photos. I was sitting there enjoying my beer when he tapped on the window and asked me to come out he had something to show me.  Okay… I dragged my self out there.  Bryce pointed  to a table and there sat Steve & Judy.  They have become part of our boating family.  We met them first on the Mississippi a few times. LOL.. Then Marathon, Florida Keys. Now here, two months later in St Augustine.  We joined them at their table.

So we were talking about Bryce talking to a couple from Australia. Steve and Judy also talked about meeting a couple from Australia. Come to find out we were discussing the same couple! It was Mike and Candy.

Judy & Steve and me can’t wait to see them in October at the Annapolis MD sail boat show.

 

 

Steve you said it best so I will let you decribe the six degree of seprartion: LOL

Steve said: “Maybe you should write about the ‘six degrees of separation’….. Except, for cruisers, it’s two degrees of separation.
We met you on the Tenn-tom. We met Australians Mike and Candy on the Callossahatchee river. You met them at St Augustine. You ran into us at St Augustine and told us about Mike and Candy who we’d already met….but you didn’t know that.
Never mind!!….I just confused me…and I was there:-). “

Well as you can tell we all met up on Beauty we had a marvelous evening with everyone.

Candy, Mike Bryce & Judy and Steve. I am behind the camera… LOL

 

 

Bryce took Steve and Judy back to their boat. The water taxi had stopped running at 6:00 p.m.  LOL.. We enjoyed the rest of the night visiting with Candy and Mike. Mike and Candy were hungry so we headed up to a place were they could eat.  Till we meet again our friends.

 

 

On our second day there we had a lot to do.  Bryce finished up with work then off we went.  It was red train time.  We took a tour of the city.

 

 

 

Here is Bryce at Fort Marion.

 

 

What a great day exploring from the most photograph street to the Fountain of youth .

 

 

The Fountain of youth .  Yep.. I look younger. LOL

 

 

There were Peacocks walking about.

 

 

This church has the most interesting story behind it. This  Presbyterian Church was built in 1889 by Henry Morrison Flagler in honor of his beloved daughter Jennie Louise Benedict.  She died due to complications giving birth to her daughter. 

 

 

My silly pirate..

 

 

Bryce doesn’t like the dress I have on.  I went in to see what the $20.00 and under store had.  Everything I looked at that I liked didn’t have my sizes. Go figure.

 

 

This was the original (and only) entry to the city way back when.  And the walls to the city were considerably higher; 20 feet if I remember correctly.

 

 

We picked up a few more items at the grocery store.  Things hanging all over the bikes!!

 

 

What a great night. We walked George street and had pizza with Mike and Candy.

 

 

The following day we woke up early and headed North on the ICW. Thanks for following us.

What an amazing morning. For the first time in a while, I was able to have my morning coffee on the bow. Sunday is a glorious day. No morning issues to report we woke up early with plans to make it St. Augustine. We are able to enjoy the sunshine on the boat this morning.

After pulling up anchor we passed through yet another bascule bridge. I love waving to the bridge attendant as we pass through.

 

 

Just past the bascule bridge was another fix bridge I like the paintings of the sea world.

 

 

Ok, this young-man is enjoying a phone conversation on the water. When are people going to learn to put down those phones and enjoy what’s around them?

 

 

High rise condos are now leasing yeah, not sure what floor I would want to be on when Florida gets a hurricane. 

 

 

We are always seeing these eagles. I am at the point of naming them because I see so many of them. George is a good name. LOL

 

 

I didn’t realize that a crab picker gets so dirty. Then I thought of course the bottom of the cages are in mud or sand. Looks like an interesting job ( brother Joe ) I know you would enjoy it.

 

 

As we went further up the river, we noticed all these crab cages on a dock. Must be a market for crabs. Very nice home.

 

 

Ok, I am putting this out here!!!! To all who fish… Why do you fish in spots like this when vessels need to get through under the bridge?  It’s the narrowest part of the river! Look he is even anchored⚓️

 

 

Look a deer right in the back yard of a well manicured yard.  How pretty.

 

 

I want this house..colorful and it just looks like a fun house.

 

 

Sunday….last day of the weekend boats headed down river to there favorite anchorage spot.  The ICW gets a bit busy on the weekend!

 

`

Another Bryce & Jane with an umbrella & chairs sitting on the beach watching the boats. Wondering what they’re drinking. LOL

 

 

Now this house looks like they should call it fish bones…

 

 

Do you think this was once a real fish and they stuffed it or maybe it is from the prehistoric years and they dug it out of the mud when the tide was low? LOL it’s pretty neat.

 

 

Ok, now this is low tide down 6 feet according to GPS. Looks like they are barely afloat.

 

 

As we travel through the narrow ICW in low tide we have to keep our head on straight. It is total focus time in this area.  I am afraid to crack a smile for fear the water might disappear. Can you believe the water level is so low that when the tide rises all this will be covered in water.

 

 

The folks along this river really have to time the boating fun with the tide table.

 

 

An all lone fishing boat. My question is, will it float away when the tide comes in?

 

 

Wahoo! Today took us a lot longer then we anticipated on so we found a nice place to anchor 2 miles from St. Augustine. We decided the evening was cooling down so we went down to make coffee for Bryce tea for me. While all was cooking I went back up to the bow Bryce started to get our chairs ready when all heck broke loose..

We both noticed the current rotating around the boat. Darn those whirlpools keep following us!! LOL

 

 

Crap… Bryce said the anchor line wrapped around the keel of the boat. The wind was pushing us in one direction and the current in another. We had no choice, we had to figure out away to unleash its grasp. Bryce took out the jet-ski and tried to pull the boat. Nothing happened; so he set the rear anchor to unload the main anchor. Darn we are going to run out of daylight soon.

While we were working hard at figuring out what to do, we noticed a couple coming near us in a dingy.  Priss and Bouth; not sure on the spelling of your names sorry.

They saw we had an issue and offered to help us.

 

 

So the guys went out to pull up the anchor and line.

 

 

What a great team.  In the end, Bryce decided to disconnect the anchor line at the bow rather than try to pull it up.  He thought it would be quite hard to lift a big well set Danforth.

 

 

Prior to disconnecting at the bow, Bryce had to snag the line down line of the keel.  He used the jet ski anchor to snag the line so he could tie it to the springer cleat.  He then disconnected at the bow and pulled it past the keel from the springer.

 

 

Thanks for your help. We offered a beer, coffee or whatever.  But it was getting late. We still want to enjoy a glass of wine or coffee, tea with you.

 

 

As always thank you so much for following our blog. Have a great weekend.

Have you ever had a day that so much happened in it that it felt like a week had passed by the end of the day.  What an amazing day; I love the ICW (intercostal waterway) It’s sometimes a bit interesting with the tide; but if you time it right, it is fun!  I have to laugh because of all the years of our boating life 35+ years we are experiencing a number of first time issues.  I thought this was going to be just a normal day of traveling the river.  We were able to pull out our head sail to boost up our speed.

It was such a peaceful morning to sail a bit. 

 

 

 

Seeing the crab pot pickers pass us by was so neat.  They used a regular boat hook to reach out to the little ball that shows them where they placed there crab pot.  Each ball has a number on it so it identifies the owner.

 

 

A while later, we embarked up on Allenhurst (Haulover Canal ) Bridge Mile 869.2.  For some reason this was such a neat area to pass by and it was only maybe 1 mile long.  This channel provided us with a neat and easy passage from Mosquito Lagoon to the Indian River which is on the opposite side of Merritt Island. As we approached, we noticed these folks getting ready to kayak and do some fishing.

It looks like they are going to have a fun day.

 

 

 

As we entered the canal area toward the bridge,  we could see all the fishing boats. We really had to keep our eye out for their lines. We don’t need to have any of the stuff wrapping around our prop. 

 

 

Now, I was always taught to sit in a boat.  I wonder is he has ever fallen out.

 

 

As we passed the banks, it was still early morning and people gathered on the shoreline to fish.

 

 

We made it to the bridge it opened promptly on request.  Good thing; because the tidal currents were about 4 mph toward the bridge.  This Allenhurst haul-over bridge is only has a 27 feet vertical clearance.

 

 

Just past the bridge was this overlook area

 

 

OM (Oh My) This is a no wake area to protect the sea world that lives here or just swimming by. I like to call this a man and his paddle board dog.

But look what was licking his lips across from them on the other side of the bank! Next photo!

 

 

 

I hope he has already had his breakfast.  This crocodile/alligator is patiently watching.

 

 

Ever wonder where Santa Claus spends his summer? Even Santa Claus takes a day off to go fishing.

 

 

See these two round dots?  They are the noses of two Manatees. This mile long canal sure has a lot of interesting sea world in it.   I sure hope Santa Claus doesn’t get tipped over by these guys.

 

 

Well, we are heading to the end of this canal. It sure was a delightful cruise. Mosquito Lagoon is off the ICW near 855 to mile 870. This area can only be explored by small boats.

 

 

We followed the canal back into the ICW. As I turned around to look back, I noticed this cute trawler. It wasn’t long before he passed us. 

 

 

We are headed to New Smyrna Beach. It is still a ways to go.  So I will bird watch.. Wait Look someone ran over a Chanel  marker. Must of tried cruising in at dark.

 

 

People fished and kayaked off the many islands that surround the ICW.

 

 

We are back to seeing barges and tows again. This is the W.P Scott out of Jacksonville FL. Brought back memories of the Mississippi-Ten-tom.

 

 

There was a small issue for this poor sailor. He was anchored in the middle of the ICW and the W.P Scott told him it was illegal to anchor in the middle of the ICW. He had lost his engine some how and was told to use his dinghy to move off the canal or call a tow boat. The young man was finally able to move off to the side of the channel.  All was good.

 

 

LOOK it’s is a Manatee. Boy are they big. 

 

 

We passed through a small area full of homes that lined the shoreline.  A few sunken boats blocked their view.

 

 

OM! we have seen so many neat beaches along this route.  Next time I want to play more.  I think he is enjoying his day of fishing. LOL

 

 

This is some heavy duty fishing.  Look at his/her rigging.  

 

 

I say this group of people are going to have some great fun.

 

 

A number of racing dingys were having a race.

 

 

Now we are in Ponce de Leon Cut & Indian River North ( New Smyrna Beach FL).  Now my camera battery is depleted so I am using my phone camera. 

 

 

OM! these three are walking on a sand bar in the middle of the bay just off New Smyrna Beach

 

 

Our Story of hitting a sandbar in the ICW

As we follow the ICW we are now looking for a place to anchor for the the night.  We found the perfect place! As Bryce moves Beauty in slowly checking for the depth, I yelled out to a passing boat asking for the depth further in. They advised us to turn around. Not really knowing the area we listened to them and headed back out of the are area. I think Bryce was a bit disappointed. His heart was set on anchoring there. We are not sure how the other sailboats got in there; perhaps at high tide.   But the tide was low so off we went back into the ICW.

As we moved further on, there was a 90 degree turn in the ICW that caused us a bit of grief.   As we followed the channel, Beauty came to a screeching halt!!! Oh crap I said!!!  We hit a sand bar.  The people who told us not to anchor near the beach came back to help us off.

Bryce gave them our Main halyard.  They  tied it off to their tow bar and tried heeling us toward the starboard side so we could motor out. I was on the bow; I couldn’t move. Beauty was darn near on her side.  No way are they budging her. She is not moving. But me; well you all know I hate heeling.  I feared for myself; I didn’t want to fall off the boat.  But everything happened so fast.  I had no life jacket on.  I just wanted them to stop pulling her over.  After a bit, we realized she not moving. The captain of the tow boat told us it was 4 feet on the starboard side. Ok.. we best not tow toward that side!!  Crap.. what are we going to do. I was so shaken up.  Bryce had so much to deal with he didn’t need to know his wife was on pin and needles.

So we tied the tow rope onto the bow of Beauty and towed toward the port side. There was 10 feet on that side.  They wiggled us back and forth and finally Beauty was released us from her sandy grip.  Beauty was set free once again.

Thank you for helping us I yelled as they motored away.  It was our first stuck since leaving August of last year. Hopefully our only Stuck!!

 

 

We continued on up the river both shaken up a bit.  But we must carry on and find an anchorage for the night and settle our nerves a bit.  We ended up having to make it to Daytona Beach.

 

 

More boats down!  This time they are powerboats.  We anchored a short ways away from here.

 

 

Thanks for following our Blog

Boy; what a windy night it was and according to all weather maps it will continue all day.  Again NW 15-30 MPH (too close to sail); waves are 2.2 feet on ICW.  I can just imagine out on the Atlantic Ocean in some parts 40 knots.  So happy to be here.  Although it was windy, we had such an enjoyable day cruising up the river. I cannot get over all the boats traveling with us or near us.

Sailing in the ICW. We passed numerous boats sailing.

 

 

The funniest thing happened today. With all the boats passing buy  I asked Bryce if he would hail the big powerboat passing us and see how big it is. So he did: “My wife wants to know how big are you?” Bryce asked.  A voice came over the and said “ How big I am?”  I started laughing so hard.  “How big is my boat?” he asked.  The term should have been how long is your boat.  After the laughing was done the boat is a 73 foot Hatters.  

 

 

We saw a bit of damage on with river. Perhaps due to storms passing through.

 

 

I was told by a local that most  sailboats and powerboats sinking are the result of storms.  Unfortunately  the state has had trouble getting a hold of the owners to clean up their boats. I can see why Florida home owners are up in arms.

 

 

Our first tug on the ICW. Her name is Free State. Now I am getting flashbacks of the Mississippi.

 

 

He sure was a happy Chap.

 

 

Another destroyed dream.

 

 

I cannot get over all the bridges on the ICW. We had to make a sharp right ( Starboard) turn.  See where the barge is under the bridge?  Well we had to share the opening with it.  So glad we didn’t meet up with another vessel passing through.

 

 

Our anchorage for the night with WNW winds  near 18 wasn’t real bad. We rolled some but have had worse.  Not able to have coffee on bow; just too windy. If this weather doesn’t warm up, I will loss my Bahamas tan.

 

 

Cocoa to Titusville

 

We sure are seeing some chilly mornings here in Cocoa; 59 degrees.  I think someone forgot to tell Mother Nature it’s suppose to be warm in Florida.  We had a tough time trying to decide if we were going to spend an extra day in Cocoa or pull up anchor and head north.  With the pressure of having to be in North Carolina for our boat insurance on June first, we figured we better head north.  You never know when you must take an extra day or two somewhere; so I am saving my extra day till I really need to get off the boat.  On our journey to Titusville it was calm the winds not so bad.

 

I got a chuckle out of this photo. You silly Pelicans; can’t you read!!! Keep off the Fenders..LOL

 

 

On our way to Titusville, I noticed this vessel.  The Indian River Queen of Cocoa Beach Florida.  She is 99 feet long with a triple deck.  She is also a (pseudo) paddle wheel boat.  You can take an adventure on this paddlewheel boat; they offer food great music and southern hospitably.    www.islandboatlines.com for more info.

 

 

Bryce noticed this launch pad with a fuel tank and solid rocket boosters.  Not sure what it was doing there.  It does not appear to have a shuttle on it.  Perhaps it is only for exhibition.

 

 

Here NASA Causeway Bridge (SR 405) opening up for us. It is a double bridge with plenty of opening for our mast.. LOL  Normally, these bridges open on request except Mon-Friday between 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:00 p.m and of course we arrived at 4:45.  We believe this is for rush hour traffic.  So we had to wait a bit.

 

 

You know I cannot close this blog without a sunken vessel photo on our way to Titusville.

 

 

 

We anchored near a bridge in Titusville in 8 feet low tide of water.  What I haven’t shared with you all has been the train sounds.  Every since we hit Melbourne, we hear trains all night long.  Will we hear them tonight? LOL

Good night our friends and thank you all for following our journey