Tuesday, Feb.19 2013

Well, we have not made it far from Ft. Pierce.  One week ago today we left, planning to get to Miami by Thursday or Friday.  Our first stop on Hobe sound was serene and comfortable, and we continued on to West Palm Beach, where we anchored as planned on Lake Worth.  The trip was a motor the whole way but we saw some bald eagles and their nests plus one big red-headed woodpecker.  Also, LOTS of huge fancy mansions, reminding us this is Donald Trump Land.  Picking up our mail at the Palm Beach Sailing Club was a priority and a pleasure, as we ran into some people we have met here before plus met new sailing friends Dave and Diana on S/V Geonova, a beautiful 48 ft. Tayana sailboat.  We had drinks and food at the bar but soon ray was not feeling well (relapse of flu/virus?), so back to the boat and decided to stay another day.  Good choice as it rained all day and most of the next.  Then a big northeast system was on the way - of course - so, we are still here.  Weather decides our every move !  However, good place to hang out and we have shopped, eaten out, walked into downtown, etc.  The lesson to be relearned re' the cruising life is to just enjoy yourself where you are and not waste time trying to buck Mother Nature.  Tomorrow we plan to go off shore to Key Biscayne, a 71 mile trip, so will leave at 3 AM along with Geonova.  No new pictures but will try to put some of Orlando on just for fun.

Jane in the Lazy River

Erin's birthday

Mark and Mac on the Lazy River

Charlotte

Gig, Jane and Charlotte on the Lazy river

I Know it has been a long time since I have updated this blog.  I confess to laziness and also frustration with this blog site - it does strange things!  I write my text, upload a picture, then everything gets a little screwy - the picture and text move, I can't find a way to fix it, etc.  I meant to practice while we were home in Pittsburgh but mostly just didn't want to "ruin my day" by dealing with my poor skills.

Anyway, we have been busy, of course.  A trip to England this summer, Mom having coronary bypass surgery, a trip in the fall to a beautiful wedding on Whidby Island, Wash., which included an overnight train trip from LA to Portland, Oregon, on the Coastal Starlight.  We took advantage of being out West by visiting good friends Peggy and Neil from our cruising days in the BVI in Laguna Beach, CA - what a beautiful place.

We returned early November to Brunswick, GA, where Megerin had spent hurricane season in the water at a marina.  We really had a lot of work to do, as for some reason mold and mildew had gone on rampage inside and the birds had pooped all over the outside!  On the plus side it was great to see old friends Ginny and Jesse from Wind Dust, plus many more.  We then flew to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with Megan and Judd - COLD, but lots of fun.  We love that city.  Back to the boat, which we moved south to Satellite Beach, FL, after stops in Fernandina Beach and St. Augustine.  St. Augustine was beautifully decorated for Xmas and we had a very exciting time there meeting up with good friends and relatives-in-laws Marti and Larry Madson. 

While we were home in Pgh. for the holidays, Megerin's canvas was changed from tan to navy blue and we love it.  We also had the jib sail restitched and had a rigger repair our topping lift which holds the boom up - it had broken in the Bahamas last year and Ray had jury-rigged it with a spare halyard.

We loved the Satellite Beach-Melbourne area - we were on a private dock on a beautiful canal where dolphins and many tropical birds entertained us every day.  thanks, Dave and Marci !  But on the Ft. Pierce, where we had the boat hauled out at Cracker Boy to have the bottom painted and some other maintenance done.  We were lucky to stay in Melbourne Beach, FL, with our good friends and former neighbors in Upper St. Clair, Bonnie and Lou, while the boat was on the hard.

Then back in the water at Harbortown Marina, our favorite place to hang out with friends and get ready for the trip south and maybe Bahamas to the Caribbean.  We have fixed and cleaned and provisioned and planned and the DVD's are ready for the year (Downton Abbey, Homeland and Damages) - time to move!  It is always hard for me as I seem to nest where ever I am.

Ok, I have done the text, next will try to add pictures and hope it all works and will be readable.

Best to all, and hope to hear from you too.

   

Megerin with new canvas.  Spending boat $ helps the local economy - You're welcome !

While in satellite Beach it was a short drive to Kennedy Space Center, which was really interesting.  This is the actual Saturn rocket.  They call this area the space coast.  Ft. Pierce is on the treasure Coast.

Pizza at a local restaurant with a group of cruisers in Ft. Pierce

Megerin in the sling.  I always makes me nervous to watch this but these people know what they are doing.  The lift is  remote controlled.  We just drive it over the slings, then get off (on a narrow board) and they take over.  We highly recommend Cracker Boy in Ft. Pierce.  We had the bottom painted black - it was green - looks like new.

At Bonnie and Lou's condo - they run a great B&B - good food and company
(Just kidding)

Wew ent to Orlando to visit Erin, Mark, and kids while they were there for Mac's lacrosse camp.  This is Ray with Gigi, Charlotte, and Jane