10/12/08 - Leaving Charleston to Florida and Ft. Lauderdale.

Click on pictures to enlarge!                

We left Charleston with a somewhat optimistic weather report.  "The low pressure system that was forming offshore would be moving towards the North" and our southing in the boat would put us in progressively calmer weather conditions... not!  Ask the crew how calm it was when we finally reached St Mary's Inlet at the FL border and they'll compare it to something between the heavy duty cycle in a commercial washing machine and being flushed down the toilet.  The good part about this is that they got to taste the worst up front and the rest of the offshores' were a piece of cake (Devil's Food, Tim...).

Now before I go on, I have to apologize and explain... Apologize for this Log update being very short and explain why.  All my friends give me the "you're on vacation, what else do you have to do with your time?" when asking about why I don't do Log updates more often.  In response I try to explain that the cruising life is a busy one with staying up for a couple of days with no sleep on offshore passages to more mundane things like walking miles to and from a grocery store or Laundromat (great exercise but it does take time...)  Add to that the care and maintenance of the boat, sightseeing, get togethers with both old and new friends and you can start to see where the time goes.  To top it off, the first part of the trip, going down the east coast, is a shake down of all of the newly installed equipment.  Much time is spent in fine tuning or upgrading them.  So here I sit, trying to write the latest Log.  I should be doing the final shopping, filling the propane tank, upgrading the Wifi and casting off for the Bahamas because the weather window will close in about 36hrs. We would like to be in the Exumas  by then as apposed to still sitting in Ft. Lauderdale.   So I apologize for the punctuated log this time and will try to make it up once we get to the Bahamas...

(To our friends that will try and call to complain please note - the phones were shut off as of midnight last night (Thur.)... Ha!)

An interesting observation on the economy this year.  I've seen a huge decrease in the number of boats heading south.  I have the feeling that the Bahamas will be comparatively empty of cruisers this winter (not a bad thing...).  Ft. Lauderdale is empty!  We took the water taxi to the Las Olas waterfront and went restaurant hopping last night.  In years past, this time of year, the street and restaurants were overflowing with people and activity.  Last night, many restaurants were closed and the streets vacant of activity.  Kinda spooky...

I don't want to end this Log on that somewhat depressing note though so here are the highlights of the last 2 weeks.  A rough offshore from Charleston to St. Mary's Inlet.  A visit to magical Cumberland Island.  Fun and food in St. Augustine.  Offshore to Cape Canaveral.  Visit Peter, Vicki, Karl and Susan.  Do the final prep in Ft. Lauderdale before heading over to the Bahamas.

We're having a great time!  Wish you all well.

Enjoy!

Use your browsers back button or click below to go back to the Logs Page

Leaving Charleston for and overnite to St. Mary's Inlet at the FL - GA border.

After what my crew called "a miserable night" offshore they get to enjoy "a miserable day" offshore before  spending the night at the Fernandina Beach Marina.

Docked at the tiny Park Service dock at Cumberland Island, GA

The crew hanging back till the Cap'n finishes forages through the man eating spider colonies...

Hate to be cruising through here at night...

...or here...  But, eerily, VERY beautiful!

You know that you're in FL when you start seeing these signs.   Manatees... they taste just like chicken don't they?

Flagler College in St. Augustine.

Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine.

Scarlett O'Haras, nice casual dining.

After too many BBQ ribs and a couple cold beers, we leave Scarlett's and head for the Trade Winds...

We'll have fun now!

Michael cohersed into coming up on stage to sing a song... see the video.

Ahhhh... home sweet home.  A little slice of Heaven in Eau Gallie, FL owned by friends, Karl and Susan.

Docked right next to the dinner table.  For people that like to eat, it doesn't get any better than this!

Did I say eat... gotta have a "sun downer" first.

The Art Walk in Eau Gallie

Vicki working the crowds and  selling art.  See her Web site for some seriously cool hand painted silks!

My nephew was made to feel quite at home in Eau Gallie but this might be pushing it a bit!