2013 - May - Crossing the Okeechobee to the East Coast - north to Green Cove Springs

We left the docks May 6th @ 07:45 (that's 'AM' folks' & 'yes, I can get up early despite what Wayne says) & went through the Franklin locks @ 9:30; Ortuna locks @ 1:00; Moore Haven locks @ 3:00. All locks were manned by only one person & without issues. (sequester in action I'm told)  No problems except at Moore Haven. Just as we entered ready to tie up on the Starboard side this crazy man started the process before we were secured - he closed the back gates - the front gates were open about 1-2 ft this caused a huge current & BLUE MAX was all over the place. The bow thruster was useless. After what seemed to be an eternity, we were finally able to tie up on the port side but I only had time to get one fender down. We never saw him or heard from him.  I reported this incompetent  A-hole to his supervisor. We anchored on the west side of the lake. It was a cold & choppy crossing. Through Mayaca lock at noon; St Lucie at 3:00; anchored at 6:00 by Jensen beach. On the 8th while going out Jupiter inlet, we encountered a small overturned boat next to the jetty with 2 people clinging on for dear life. We made a quick U-turn & called the Coast Guard - they didn't answer. (???) Two fishermen in their boat rushed over & were able to get close enough to rescue them. We couldn't get close enough but I was ready with a rescue line. The coast Guard finally responded after another call to them then Sea Tow showed up.

It was a gorgeous day, flat & calm. It took 8 hours to get up to the Canaveral Inlet, go through the lock & anchor just inside the inlet. We stayed on anchor the next day, left at 9:00 on the 10th  & anchored in Mosquito Lagoon about 2. More vegging...went to the clothing optional beach. YIKES! just like Fantasy Fest, some people should never be seen in public without clothes! I can't post the picture I took cuz it's really gross.
I finally reached by best buddy, Donna, and we tied up at the New

 New Smyrna City Docks

 

Smyrna City Docks on the 15th. The great thing about cruising are the people you meet (I know, I know, I've said that a hundred times-but so true) We met 3 people, Marc, Winann & John, who were relocating Steve

Winann, Marc & John

 

Wood's boat, INDIAN SUMMER, from Key West to Maine. Gorgeous 'picnic' boat but not a live-aboard. He's an author who

Wayne, Marc, Me, Jack, David & John

 

lives in Key West & Maine. We also met Dolphin Davis, lives on a trawler, who is the personal chef of the owners of NASCAR, Bill France, Sr, - Mr France died, but Davis still cooks for his wife in Daytona. Wow...celebrity week!

Great to see Donna & Ken again. We chatted some on the boat, went to see their beautiful home then out to dinner at our old haunting ground - Merks on the North Causeway. 

Donna in her beloved convertible

 

Me, Kenny & Wayne @ Merks

 

 

The next day, we hiked 2 miles to an animal clinic where Jack was checked out & given his 12 week shots by Dr. Cox - really nice guy. We took a taxi back to the marina. That night, went to Donna & Ken's favorite haunt, That's Amore, & listened

Joe Calabrese playing @ THAT'S AMORE

 

to the great music by Joe Calabrese. On the 17th, we spent the afternoon  at Donna & Ken's beautiful home. Some snacks, some lounging in the pool, more good food & conversation, mostly about what we did "in the day"
 

Home on the golf course

Sadly, we left the next morning about 9:30, went out Ponce Inlet...a bit rolly but tolerable.

Ponce Inlet & Lighthouse

I put a line in - a few strikes, but nothing stuck. I laid down for a power nap & soon my line was zinging out...I jumped out of bed racing to grab my pole - too late, whatever it was took off like a shot & took every bit of my line. We're still wondering what the hell it was. We haven't had fresh fish in ages. We anchored at 6:30 in St Augustine but didn't stay - maybe on our return trip. Heavy rain at bedtime. Onward North up the ICW the next day at 8:00 - sunny & warm - pleasant crossing. Free docking at Jacksonville

Tom, Scups, Kyle, Wayne & Capt Jack

Landings at 3:30. Tom, Laurel & her son, Kyle, met us at the docks. Live music & a dog show happening. We quickly got Scups & Jack & headed towards the action. Lots of free gifts & met many happy dogs & people. Dinner at the American Grill. 

It's Laurel's birthday - who knew ?? - 55 years YOUNG

 We left the docks @ 12:30 & anchored in Black Water Creek, near Middleton, about 5 miles from Green Cove. Not a whisper of breeze & absolute silence except for the horny frogs. One unseen group somewhere in the darkness of the trees starts a symphony of what sounds like jangling in a tin can - the pitch increases in intensity. Then another group starts up somewhere else - same jangling, same intensity. It's wild & exciting &  and, all of a sudden, it stops...

On anchor - picture taken by our new found friends, Russ & Elaine

 

total silence again.  One has to wonder what happens when the racket stops ??  It was a gorgeous night - full moon with all the glitz.  Lots of wild life but I never did get to see even one frog. 

BLACK CREEK

 

                        

                                               DRAGON FLY (check out the detail on wings & body)

 

There's also an echo. The dogs bark then they hear the bark - they bark back...it's entertaining to watch their confusion. It's a gorgeous spot to be 'stuck' in - we're not actually stuck, we chose this secluded spot to try to get our heads on straight

Manatees playing next to the boat

 

 



about the work that will be done at the boat yard, sanding & painting the teak on the fly bridge, removing some hardware in preparation of painting the 'house' &, of course, continue planning our upcoming European sojourn. So peaceful for 5 days then - Memorial week-end! YIKES. It was only Saturday & this boat was rockin N rollin from the tons of boats & jet skis flying by us - & the noise was deafening.  

We were out of OJ, wine & cigarettes & that's not a good thing. Laurel came to our rescue by bringing the 'goods' to a near by park where we met her via dinghy.   So...about the smoking issue.  I  decided to quit - or try to again. Tom has been successfully using a vapor E-cigarette & he picked up a starter kit for me. Laural delivered it on her last rescue trip.

Monday, Memorial Day-27th  - Laurel told us about a festival being held in the park downtown Green Cove Spgs park. We anchored outside the park, got the 'kids', tied the

 World War II soldier 

dinghy up at the dock & met Tom & Laurel. Good food, live music, weather was perfect & beautiful

Green Cove's natural Spring & the Avenue of Flags

fireworks -  all in all a very pleasant day.

Avenue of Flags



Next stop - Holland Marine (Tom & Laurel's boat yard) also on the St John's river. We planned to be there several weeks before our trip on 7/1 so we could do a good bit of work ourselves in preparation for repairs & painting that will be done on

BLUE MAX while we're gone for 6 weeks.  I hate being at a dock for so long but seeing Tom & Laurel daily makes it much better. Also, getting to know Russ & Elaine who live aboard on a 37' Great Harbor at the marina next to us. They have meticulously remodeled this boat & it's gorgeous & very comfortable. We hope to cruise a few

Elaine, Ike (the dog) & Russ

 

places together after our return. We've been playing Mexican train dominoes too...think they're hooked as they just
bought a set of double twelves.

                              Twelve Stones