A few pics of our Florida activities in March/April!

Mid March, Captain Guy and I, rented a car and drove to Clermont Florida to visit Guy's sister Karin, her husband Keith.

 

Here Guy ponders whether or not we should go for a one hour flight in this beautifully restored and maintained De Havillane Beaver seaplane. The seaplane responsible for opening up the North in Canada. Guy flew many times in these on his many canoe trips up in Canada. It brought back many fond memories of times with our son Erik, canoeing many lakes and rivers in Quebec and Ontario. The pilot spends his winters in Florida chartering flights and then heads North for the summers. He had just rebuild the engines and it was a real beauty!

We were treated to an afternoon in the Dora Canal by our hosts K & K. Below are some of the birds I was able to capture with my camera. This Bald Eagle was on a nest with several young ones. The nest was about 6 ft across.

With a sharp eye and that long neck he was concentrating on any water movement.

With beautiful big blue eyes and that head of feathers it reminded us of Rod Stewart!

This place was captivating....the Cypress trees were thousands of years old , yes thousands...many 6 feet around at the base. This swamp was on the Dora Canal near Mount Dora. Fantastic natural habitat that is preserved as it has always been.

The sun shone through and lite up the water to display such magnificent shades of amber and gold and greens

We were treated on this trip by Guy's sister and her husband. We were in a slow moving pontoon boat with a guide. It was truly magical.

How could we be in Florida all winter and not see alligators? These were females...taking care of their young. Not sure where the dads are! ? LOL!

Looks like a teenager and a baby sister!They were tough to spot on the logs as they blend right in to the logs and brush.

This mama seems happy to carry her baby on her back! The mothers are very protective since the males have been known to eat the young if given a chance.

Same mean mama as above...just a closeup of the threatening teeth! How prehistoric are those scales and teeth?

Random turtle milling around the alligators!

Karin , Keith (our hosts) with their daughter's Kerry and Kellie, husbands Dave, and Christopher. Grandchildren, Madeline and Drew.  Pat, (a cousin) and his wife Jane, and us.  Thanks Karin and Keith for a terrific fun filled quality time! I think Guy has spent too much time in the sun. ....he's pretty dark!

After a few days of fun in Central Florida, we continued on to the Gulf coast to Fort Myers!

The Birthday Party!  (Drew's)  We stayed with Drew & Janet 's at their place for a few days along with Peter and Libby . A little shopping, good food , great wine and lots of laughs made it all memorable! Thanks so much for everything D & J.

 

 

 

 

Once we got back to our boat, we were anxious to get further south to visit my uncle and his wife in Fort Lauderdale.

So we set out to sail on the outside (Atlantic ocean a opposed to the intercoastal). We left the Fort Pierce Inlet and set off to re-enter in the West palm inlet, an 8 hour sail in 5 to10 kts from the east, 3 miles offshore. It was a great day on the water. The closer we got to West Palm the slower we went SOG(speed over ground). It was the influence from the Gulf Stream. It is only 10 miles off the coast and it slowed us down enough to notice.

Some pics of what we saw along the way! This Tug was puling 3 barges behind it. It followed us for a long way until it turned back into shore.

Our approach to West Palm Beach! The wind was about 12 knots on our aft quarter. With the wind and waves behind us it made for a comfortable sail. The next day the wind piped up to 25 knots from the South with huge waves at the inlet. It made it too uncomfortable to sail further South without waiting for a weather window.

Since the wind was not in our favor to continue further south to Fort Lauderdale in the next few days,  my uncle picked us up from the Riverside Marina, in West Palm  (an hour drive ) and took us back to their place for super fun and comfortable stay at their winter home.

He even treated us to some ice cream! Thank you so much Andre and Elise for everything. We will see you next winter! Guy will buy the ice cream next time.....I hope to take my little grand daughter Sloane to this place some day! She will love it!

My aunt Elise was having fun trying on different sunglasses! I think they look good on her!

We left west Palm, and are now headed back North to Fort Pierce for a few days then we will make our way to Vero Beach and wait there for George (of S/V Heritage). He and Jackie are the couple we left Sarnia with last August! We had to go our separate ways when we committed to  re-powering in Annapolis last October.

Traveling on the intercoastal on a Sunday is both scenic and annoying. The wakes from inconsiderate big yachts are a hazard!

A few pics of "jaw dropping" beautiful Florida homes!

This one could have been right out of the Godfather Movie!`

This one had a corner lot and WOW what a mansion!!

This is a 1903 original Dutch 'Botter' boat. The owner had restored to 'bristol' condition. These boats have an easily stepped mast that can be dropped for canal clearance. They were work boats from the many canals in Holland and Europe . Notice the large leeboards on the sides. These are lowered for stability when sailing and raised for motoring. They have very shallow drafts and can go were many other sailboats with normal deeper keels can't. It was a real treat to see it. He must have repowered with a good sized engine because he wasn't lumbering along on the waterway. He was cruising at 6.5 knots.

Staying out of the way!

This was an odd looking boat. Since it was closely following a barge we figured it was a work boat that aided in dredge operations along the Intercoastal Waterway. Too much gear and strange side boats in davits.

We have seen many many Canadian Vessels. This one from Ottawa. We talked with these cruisers in Peck Lake were we anchored for a night. A heavy steel double ended staysail ketch. We will see them again as they are "Summering" in the same marina as we are. They too were heading North.

Another bridge!

Now on a mooring in Vero Beach, April 15th, Captain Guy is playing a tune! Great way to spend a sunny afternoon.

I'm drinking a gin and tonic! (glass half full of half empty?)  After a few of these everything was half full for me! LOL!

George arrived  in Vero Beach from the Bahamas Tuesday the 16th of April! Every Thursday, the Vero Beach cruisers at the Marina/Mooring facility have a get together for boaters. Everybody brings a snack and their own drinks. Here some of the boaters have brought their instruments to entertain the crowd. Donna played a banjo Eukelali and knew hundreds of tunes. She had a great voice also. John played the best Mandolin I have ever heard. He must have been a professional. He said he sits in with touring Bluegrass groups. I can believe it. He did a rendtion of Cinderella and her 'suggly stip sesters'that had us all laughing so hard we were crying! Fun times.

Lots of great talent....We were well entertained! Thanks to all the musicians!

Here Guy enjoys (or is about to) a meal out! and a night off cooking  for me!

Here, Friday April 19th, we are off the mooring ball in Vero Beach and are heading north to Green Cove Springs where we will be "summerizing" our vessel prior to leaving her for 7 months!

The winds crept up all day from the south.......started off at 5 kts and ended up seeing 30 + on our kt meter! We made great time since the wind was behind us. At one point we were sailing at 7 knots with only the jib.  It was fun until it came time to anchor! Stopped off and anchored right in front of the huge Nasa building and the shuttle take off station in 25 + kts of wind!!

The forecasted storm is on it's way! Yikes!!!

Looks like it's on it's way ! Double Yikes!!!

Still waiting!

This NASA building (which we are anchored in front of) is said to be so huge that clouds form inside of it!

The storm never developed! (so happy). The next day however, as we traveled to Rockhouse Creek in Smyrna, we were met with high winds from the north which slowed us down a considerable amount along with the current! The larger bodies of water we needed to cross were not so pleasant!

April 20th, in the haste of securing items on deck from the wind, Captain Guy has been injured! Kicked a stainless port on his way down the side decks. Thong sandals are comfortable but you pay the price of leaving those little toes open to damage. Looks like a small plum with a nail!! Poor thing....I will have to add "nurse" to my boat duties for the next few days! LOL! The next post will be of our last leg to Green Cove Spring and our preparations for Dry Storage. Gotta go for now...my patient is calling!