Saturday, January 22, 2011
On the road again - January 2011 - and the perils of Dock 13!
This year we decided to drive to Florida. We'd heard many cautionary tales of the perils lying in wait on the icy mountain passes, and in the snowy conditions we could expect along the way, but decided to risk it. The thought of the delights of exploring the U.S. east coast, and calling off at lovely spots like Savannah and Charleston, on our return trip in the spring, kept our eyes on the snowy highways and our hands steady on the wheel. We set off on Sunday 16 January and made it to Fort Pierce, Florida on Tuesday afternoon - a total of 1,500 miles. We were lucky with the weather, although there was snow on the ground almost to the state border with Florida. As we cruised into the sunshine state the temperature showed 14C, the sky was overcast, and the rain and mist reminded us of England!
But by the time we'd reached our destination the sky had cleared and the temperature had risen to a very respectable 24C. 'Southern Vectis' had been launched the previous day, and gleamed and glittered in the blue waters of Fort Pierce's 'Harbortown Marina'.
And then the real work began! When a boat has been shut up for eight months in extreme heat, and has been used as a storage area for all manner of things from dinghies, to sails to electrical and mechanical fixtures, it takes a bit of sorting out! We did manage to carve out a niche to sleep in the first night, and things have improved daily since then!
The one thing we did not bargain for was being tied up in dock number 13!! The gremlins had been at work during the summer months: our four batteries were 'fried', the fridge was out of action, and there was a mysterious chunk out of our fibreglass 'gel coat' on the stern swim platform. To add to this, we tore our newly configured mainsail as we attempted to pull it up! But things get fixed quickly here, and we've already had all but the small gelcoat repair fixed. We hope to have that done on Monday and then head south towards Lake Worth (West Palm Beach), Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
The important part of the boating life, apart from managing to stay afloat, is meeting fellow boaters. Since we arrived at the marina we have met so many friendly people. Al, on the neighbouring boat, took Bill to get new batteries at 'Sam's Club' in Vero Beach. 'Sam's Club' is the wholesale wing of 'Walmart', and because Al was a member, we bought the batteries at a really good price. Other boaters have come along with good advice, and we've also been invited out to cocktails and expeditions out to the local Italian restaurant, 'A Taste of Brooklyn', a little pizza place with 'real' Italian cooking and wonderful 'garlic knots' of bread!
Yesterday we had a long walk along an almost deserted, golden sand beach in the nearby Fort Pierce State Park. It was warm and a few surfers were attempting to catch the almost non-existent waves. Today is a little cool, 20C, so we can catch up on things that need to get done.....like writing this blog! More anon.
But by the time we'd reached our destination the sky had cleared and the temperature had risen to a very respectable 24C. 'Southern Vectis' had been launched the previous day, and gleamed and glittered in the blue waters of Fort Pierce's 'Harbortown Marina'.
And then the real work began! When a boat has been shut up for eight months in extreme heat, and has been used as a storage area for all manner of things from dinghies, to sails to electrical and mechanical fixtures, it takes a bit of sorting out! We did manage to carve out a niche to sleep in the first night, and things have improved daily since then!
The one thing we did not bargain for was being tied up in dock number 13!! The gremlins had been at work during the summer months: our four batteries were 'fried', the fridge was out of action, and there was a mysterious chunk out of our fibreglass 'gel coat' on the stern swim platform. To add to this, we tore our newly configured mainsail as we attempted to pull it up! But things get fixed quickly here, and we've already had all but the small gelcoat repair fixed. We hope to have that done on Monday and then head south towards Lake Worth (West Palm Beach), Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
The important part of the boating life, apart from managing to stay afloat, is meeting fellow boaters. Since we arrived at the marina we have met so many friendly people. Al, on the neighbouring boat, took Bill to get new batteries at 'Sam's Club' in Vero Beach. 'Sam's Club' is the wholesale wing of 'Walmart', and because Al was a member, we bought the batteries at a really good price. Other boaters have come along with good advice, and we've also been invited out to cocktails and expeditions out to the local Italian restaurant, 'A Taste of Brooklyn', a little pizza place with 'real' Italian cooking and wonderful 'garlic knots' of bread!
Yesterday we had a long walk along an almost deserted, golden sand beach in the nearby Fort Pierce State Park. It was warm and a few surfers were attempting to catch the almost non-existent waves. Today is a little cool, 20C, so we can catch up on things that need to get done.....like writing this blog! More anon.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Going home!
May and November are the best times of the year to sail in Florida and the Bahamas, or so we have been told. The cold fronts have melted away, the winds have swung around to the south, and the locals are preparing to set sail into the waveless, windless, clear and untroubled blue yonder! While we.....we have said our farewells to our lovely 'Southern Vectis', and tomorrow (May 6) will fly home to Toronto.
Today the temperature has been over 90F - the hottest day yet.
But Toronto temperatures are not far behind we are told - in the respectable mid-70s! Shall we travel back in shorts and flip flops, or our heavy jeans and sweat shirts? We'll make the decision once we get our 5:15 a.m. wake up call!
The past week has been idyllic. We met up with some great people during our time on a mooring at 'Sunset Bay' in Stuart: Valerie and Ross from Toronto, who also, like us, keep two boats - one at the Toronto Island Marina and one down south. We also met Roma and Martin from.........the Isle of Wight... on their boat 'Apple'. They have sailed across the Atlantic and around the Caribbean, and are preparing for the trip home via the Azores. We hope to see them when we go the Isle of Wight this summer.
So that's it from the sunny south. We've had a wonderful time seeing new places and meeting new faces.... but it will be good to be home once again with all the dear familiar faces.
Watch this space though..............same time next year!
Today the temperature has been over 90F - the hottest day yet.
But Toronto temperatures are not far behind we are told - in the respectable mid-70s! Shall we travel back in shorts and flip flops, or our heavy jeans and sweat shirts? We'll make the decision once we get our 5:15 a.m. wake up call!
The past week has been idyllic. We met up with some great people during our time on a mooring at 'Sunset Bay' in Stuart: Valerie and Ross from Toronto, who also, like us, keep two boats - one at the Toronto Island Marina and one down south. We also met Roma and Martin from.........the Isle of Wight... on their boat 'Apple'. They have sailed across the Atlantic and around the Caribbean, and are preparing for the trip home via the Azores. We hope to see them when we go the Isle of Wight this summer.
So that's it from the sunny south. We've had a wonderful time seeing new places and meeting new faces.... but it will be good to be home once again with all the dear familiar faces.
Watch this space though..............same time next year!
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