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We departed Norfolk's Waterside Marina this morning at 0840 and arrived at Deltaville at 1500. It took an hour to tie up and off load all the perishables and get a ride home. Both my front tires on my car were low on air, and I immediately turned the water heater up to a high temp setting. I washed all the pollen of the car, filled the tires with air and shopped for groceries for a party this evening with the neighborhood friends. A looooong shower felt good. I can hear Nanc entertaining everyone as I write this. It is good to be home. S

Marcnicliz carried us back to "Ole Virginia"

We departed Carlene and DK's on Monday at 0725 and arrived at the Alligator River Marina at 1715. The TV would not pick up Dancing With The Stars, the cable did not work, nor the WIFI. I went to bed while the "Girls" made "Cabin Boy Joe" work to their beck and call.! We departed this morning at 0710, motor sailed across the Albemarle Sound and up the ICW thru many bridges, one lock to Waterside. Had a que of 4 power boats and 5 sailboats fighting to be the first thru the bridges. Docking was interesting due to the wind and an extremely tight space to turn into a strong wind to tie to the dock. I almost swiped the side of a Canadian's boat, but no marks or scars. Arrived at 1920. Had a guy cut right in front of me yesterday at the bottom of the Alligator River, and I could have T-boned him. He waves as he went by. Probably a nice guy who doesn't know crap about boating. Nanc and Cathy are watching the results of Dancing with the Stars, and Joe and I are having a stiff rum and coke. S

Friends everywhere or Carlene and DK's dock

We departed Beaufort, NC at 0845 and motored to Sea Scape and refueled and added water and were back on the ICW in 15 minutes; not a record but a good average. We sailed to the Pamlico River and were planning on going to the entrance to Pungo Alligator River Canal. As we sailed by the mouth of the river, I called Carlene and told her I was knocking on her front door. Nanc had told me they had gone to Columbus to see their daughter Bonnie. Nope, she had it wrong and they were in Washington at their condo. We turned left and arrived at their dock at 1755 after sailing up the river at 8.2 knots with a howling wind. We are tied to the dock, with the AC going full blast and having a Rum and Coke. Life is good. S

MORE BLING AND CHICO'S

We departed Southport Marina at 0930 after Cathy and Joe had a tour of the quaint little town. We motor/sailed up the Cape Fear River into a 4 knot head current. After encountering all the weekend crazies who own boats, but no knowledge of the water ie huge wakes, etc, we went outside again at Masonboro Inlet and sailed to Beaufort/Morehead City. Made 8.4 knots most of the way, and up to 8.8 at the end as we surfed down the following waves. We had a rough ride the last hour as we sailed into the inlet with 5/6 foot waves on the beam after dark, thus Bling and Chico's! Nanc cooked a pot roast in the pressure cooker and we ate at 2230, drinks before. S

A Spinnaker kind of day or more Bling

We departed Charleston at 0635 and motor sailed to Southport, NC and saved two days of ICW agony, but arrived after dark. The wind was behind at 8 to 10 knots, so up went the spinnaker for 8 to 10 hours, and increased the boat speed by a knot. One knot over 10 hours is equal to and hour and 20 minutes less travel time. Wore Joe out as you can see. The weather forecast was dead on except for a decreasing wind which happened much later than forecast. As those of you who have read our previous blogs know, sailing after dark results in jewelry for Nanc. Had Joe on the foredeck with a light to see the unlit day markers. We are tied to the dock at Southport Marina for the AC vice on anchor, but we will now tour the town in the morning. Stiff drinks are the order of the evening, as the humidity drops inside Marcnicliz. We hope to make Clair's tomorrow night for shrimp. Life is good. S

Charleston at anchor

We got underway at 0815 this morning and motor sailed off and on. The wind blew us down the Coosaw river at 9 knots and then came the narrow channels and low water. We hit bottom one time, but moved on thru while scraping barnacles off the bottom of the keel. We are anchored short of Charleston this evening and will go to the Charleston City Marina in the morning and tour around, wash, and get a few vittles. Dinner at Magnolias. Friday we will motor up the ICW to Georgetown. S

Beaufort and the Big Chill Tuesday

We departed Steve's dock at 0800 and made the Causton Bluff Bridge at 0900. It is the only bridge between there and Beaufort that has to open for Marcnicliz to pass thru. I got to spell Marcnicliz, again! We made the City Dock at 1355 and sent Cathy and Joe off on a city horse and carriage tour. The "Big Chill House" is here. Part of Forrest Gump was filmed here, also. Nanc and I walked the main street shops, and we all had dinner at Panini's, a super place. We are tied to March Harbors dock with the AC running and looking at 65 miles tomorrow to Charleston. We had a super sail past Hilton Head and down the Port Royal Sound with 18 knots of wind. There is quite a current here and large tidal range. We passed many shallow spots getting here, but I have them marked and we never hit bottom once. I talked a guy on another sail boat from Halifax, Nova Scotia thru several of them. The secret is where to be in the channel, and when. I will probably be hard aground tomorrow for bragging. S

Savannah Day Off

We put the motor mount on the stern rail that Joe modified in D'ville and mailed to me in Key Largo. We then put the motor on that I bought here two months ago with Steve and left in his garage until now. Some friends don't know how to say NO. Beth loaned us her car, and we went down town and took the Savannah City tour with a professional company and saw all of the sights. We stopped at Belfords for a great lunch, and then walked to the water front for the ladies to shop, and I got to watch the big ships cruise by. We had a great time with Beth and Steve's daughter Rebecca last night, and she is coming to dinner tonight. We hope Beth and Steve are going to stop by D'ville and use my garage and car while they are there for something. The city tours of D'ville have not started yet, and I am not sure how much of the town is left after the tornado last month. I am putting together a business plan. Beaufort tomorrow. We may be home by the 19th; stay tuned. S

Savannah and Steve's dock

We departed Fernandina Beach at 0650 and arrived at Steve's at 1835 after motor sailing outside for 100nm at an average speed of 8.5 knots; not too bad for a sail boat. Nanc fixed a super dinner as I washed the salt off the boat and got rid of the trash. I know it is Mother's day, but she is not my mother! I fixed a board in Steve's dock and am contemplating an early bed time as Nanc talks to Kath on the phone. S

Mother's Day

We departed St Augustine yesterday at 1100 hours after a city tour and sailed outside to Fernandina Beach, arriving at 1830. We had a good dinner in town and spent the night on a mooring ball. Weather looks good for a Mother's Day sail outside to the Wilmington River and Savannah. We should be at Steve's dock tonight and will take a day off tomorrow to tour. S

St Augustine on Friday

We departed the Halifax Harbor Marina at 0750 and made the Memorial Bridge 0815 opening. We sailed thru rain showers to St Augustine and arrive at 1430. Robin and Charlie joined us for the ride up, and their son Brent who is attending Embry Riddle drove up to pick them up. We are staying in the City Marina tonight and hope to go outside, depending on the wind, to Fernandina Beach tomorrow. Lot of fish jumping out of the water today to avoid being a bigger fish's lunch. S

Easy Thursday

We departed Tittusville Marina this morning at 0750 after some effort to get away due to the East wind pinning us. We motored sailed to Daytona and arrived at 1415. Joe and I spent an hour washing and waxing the boat after pumping out and fueling. Nanc's niece visits tonight, and we will have to stay on the ICW up to St Augustine tomorrow. Hope to make Fernandina Beach on Sat, and then sail outside to Savannah/Steve and Beth's dock on Sunday. They are sailing on the Great Loop voyage with Ryder. They are around Norfolk and will stop for a Grand Banks Rally; since that is the type boat they own. They then will motor up the Chesapeake, hopefully stop in D'ville, then thru the C and D Canal and up to New York. Then up the Hudson to Montreal, down to Chicago, and on South to the Gulf of Mexico, around Florida, and back to Savannah. Makes our trip pale in comparison. You can visit them at www.geminiloop.blogspot.com. If you see Gemini, say hello. I told Nanc I may have to put her hair in pig tails by the time we get home. S

Titusville and Cape Kennedy

We weighed anchor at 0740 and motor sailed all the way to Titusville past Vero Beach and Milbourne. Another 82 miles. The wind continued to build before frontal passage which occured about 1330 with no rain over us. I had to reef in the main and jib. We refueled and put our trash off and are now tied to the Titusville City Marina Dock. We can see the shuttle off in the distance. We are going to Daytona Beach tomorrow which is only about 48 miles, and Nanc's niece and family are joining us for dinner. Nanc is trying to program the TV to get American Idol. She already saw the sunset. S

Ft Lauderdale to Ft Pierce or 82 NM down

We departed Miami yesterday morning at 0815 and arrived at Las Olas bridge at 1200. We spent yesterday touring Ft Lauderdale by water taxi with Cathy and Joe and ate on the beach. Great day. Departed this morning at 0715 and made the 0730 17th St Bridge opening and then out to sea. Arrived at Ft Pierce at 1800, and I could not convince Nanc to press on to Vero Beach, so here we are. The Indian River and Titusville tomorrow night.

One day down and 20 or so to go

Departed Key Largo at 0730 and arrived at Miami South Beach at 1500. Wind was too much on the nose to sail most of the way until the last 2 hours. We walked down to Lincoln Blvd and had the best burger ever at Burgers and Beer, then a Lager at Hoffbrau House. All the beautiful folks were out tonight. Off to Ft Lauderdale tomorrow if the wind cooperates; since we have to go outside into the ocean to get there. S