| WINTER/SPRING 2010 MARCH-APRIL Page 3 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS TO ENLARGE FOR DETAILS. |
APRIL 4 EASTER
Today we went to the First Presbyterian Church of Daytona. It looked like
a Spanish mission church with the red clay roof, tan walls, walk ways and a
garden. They had a chamber orchestra and soloists that did Mozart,
Handel, Beethoven, as well as the familiar Easter hymns - all the Easter
music I used to do an organist in my church. We stopped at IHOP to a late
breakfast, then off to Marie's in Palm Coast. She and Dom invited us for
dinner, as well as Lily who had a great time looking at all the birds at her
feeder and have the freedom to trot around her house after the confines of
our boat for so long. She was a happy girl! We had a nice visit with our
friends and plan to have them over for a crock pot dinner April 12 when we
are in Palm Coast with Golden Lily.
Today we went to the First Presbyterian Church of Daytona. It looked like
a Spanish mission church with the red clay roof, tan walls, walk ways and a
garden. They had a chamber orchestra and soloists that did Mozart,
Handel, Beethoven, as well as the familiar Easter hymns - all the Easter
music I used to do an organist in my church. We stopped at IHOP to a late
breakfast, then off to Marie's in Palm Coast. She and Dom invited us for
dinner, as well as Lily who had a great time looking at all the birds at her
feeder and have the freedom to trot around her house after the confines of
our boat for so long. She was a happy girl! We had a nice visit with our
friends and plan to have them over for a crock pot dinner April 12 when we
are in Palm Coast with Golden Lily.
APRIL 5
Bob and Donna arrived with their motor home at the nearby KOA. They stopped by early in the day when
their motor home was being serviced in Sanford. Their dog, Cinnamon, wanted desperately to meet and
play with Lily, but Lily has not been very dog friendly to dogs she doesn't know especially in a confined
area such as the boat or dock. As long as the dog gives her space, or is on a leash, she's fine. They
picked up their coach and settled in at the KOA. We picked them up at 6:00 for dinner at Duff's Buffet.
It's very easy to over-do it there with eating, but I was careful to make up 2 huge servings of salad to
fill up with first, then had some chicken and small portion of baby back ribs. The weather has been in the
80s, no humidity, and bright blue sky each day. We are hoping it keeps up for when we leave!
This morning Jim and I got up at 6:00 AM to watch the space shuttle launch. Ten minutes before the
launch, the space station passed right overhead. It was a light much larger than a star and with the
binoculars, you could tell it was a round light and moved quite fast. The launch was spectacular! It looked
like a candle bursting in the sky, leaving a white tail behind it. It was amazing to think there were people
in it!
Bob and Donna arrived with their motor home at the nearby KOA. They stopped by early in the day when
their motor home was being serviced in Sanford. Their dog, Cinnamon, wanted desperately to meet and
play with Lily, but Lily has not been very dog friendly to dogs she doesn't know especially in a confined
area such as the boat or dock. As long as the dog gives her space, or is on a leash, she's fine. They
picked up their coach and settled in at the KOA. We picked them up at 6:00 for dinner at Duff's Buffet.
It's very easy to over-do it there with eating, but I was careful to make up 2 huge servings of salad to
fill up with first, then had some chicken and small portion of baby back ribs. The weather has been in the
80s, no humidity, and bright blue sky each day. We are hoping it keeps up for when we leave!
This morning Jim and I got up at 6:00 AM to watch the space shuttle launch. Ten minutes before the
launch, the space station passed right overhead. It was a light much larger than a star and with the
binoculars, you could tell it was a round light and moved quite fast. The launch was spectacular! It looked
like a candle bursting in the sky, leaving a white tail behind it. It was amazing to think there were people
in it!
APRIL 12 - Palm Coast Marina, Palm Coast, FL
Bob and Donna, Jim's brother and wife spent the last week with us while they stayed in their motor home
at a nearby KOA. We had a great week together and it was good to spend time shopping, eating out, and
playing miniature golf at Congo. We played 4 games yesterday, 2 in the afternoon, and 2 more in the
evening because we bought an all day pass. We played there last year, and it's a really interesting and
challenging miniature course.
We departed Halifax Harbor this morning at 9:00 after spending 3 weeks there. It turned out to really
be a fun place with the beach just a short bike ride away. As I predicted after 2 glorious weeks of warm
sun and no wind, the front moving in for the next 5 days has brought winds 20-25 MPH and choppy on the
ICW, ocean 4-6 feet.
We were invited to a happy hour in the marina office with some of the boaters here. Marie and Dom
came over for dinner, comfort food...crockpot beef stew and mashed potatoes! Lily enjoys herself here as
we are docked on a floating dock next to the marina office and sidewalk. She can see everyone who walks
by.
Bob and Donna, Jim's brother and wife spent the last week with us while they stayed in their motor home
at a nearby KOA. We had a great week together and it was good to spend time shopping, eating out, and
playing miniature golf at Congo. We played 4 games yesterday, 2 in the afternoon, and 2 more in the
evening because we bought an all day pass. We played there last year, and it's a really interesting and
challenging miniature course.
We departed Halifax Harbor this morning at 9:00 after spending 3 weeks there. It turned out to really
be a fun place with the beach just a short bike ride away. As I predicted after 2 glorious weeks of warm
sun and no wind, the front moving in for the next 5 days has brought winds 20-25 MPH and choppy on the
ICW, ocean 4-6 feet.
We were invited to a happy hour in the marina office with some of the boaters here. Marie and Dom
came over for dinner, comfort food...crockpot beef stew and mashed potatoes! Lily enjoys herself here as
we are docked on a floating dock next to the marina office and sidewalk. She can see everyone who walks
by.
Jim on the beach View of a large hotel
Miniature Gold at Congo River
APRIL 13
We got underway at 6:45 for an 82 mile trip to Fernandina. The tide was high at Matanzas Inlet where
shoaling has been reported, but we followed the direction to hug the red buoys and stay to the west of
the channel. The winds picked up more and more, hitting 30+MPH. I had to tie up all the burgees and
American flag. We had a few rain showers and cloudy sky all day. The only real problem was as we made
the approach to Fernandina, the tide was VERY low. We had 1 foot under us several times and suddenly
the depth sounder read ----- and we started to stop. We were right next to the red marker which
technically should have been ok, but not here! Luckily, Jim kept the impulsion so we didn't have a chance to
"sink" in the mud. Our good old tug was able to pull out of it. We arrived around 5:00 and were greeted by
Kathy and Art aboard "Fortuity". We planned to travel together to Charleston, where they will stay for 5
days, and we will continue on.
APRIL 14
Today was our day to cross St. Andrew Sound and after 3 days of strong winds, Jim decided we would try
Floyds Creek which is a trip through the salt marshes of Georgia and a back by-pass channel for St.
Andrew Sound. We entered it at 8:45 one hour before high tide and exited it in Jekyll Creek in 1 hour
and 15 minutes, only 15 minutes longer than the ocean route. For St. Andrew we would have to go several
miles out into the ocean before heading back in. We had plenty of water in the creek, and only found 7
feet in one place. It was a nice ride and we saw wild boars and dolphins. Jim and I took a bike ride to the
historic district at Jekyll Island along a beautiful bike path. We had dinner at the restaurant here and all
4 of had the low country boil buffet: shrimp, sausage, red potatoes, corn, and cole slaw. This would be a
nice spot to spend a another day to bike to the ocean, but we need to move on to Savannah where we will
spend an extra day to rest up after these several long days. Georgia is very tricky with a 9 foot tide,
front and back ranges, and lots of "skinny" water to watch out for.
We got underway at 6:45 for an 82 mile trip to Fernandina. The tide was high at Matanzas Inlet where
shoaling has been reported, but we followed the direction to hug the red buoys and stay to the west of
the channel. The winds picked up more and more, hitting 30+MPH. I had to tie up all the burgees and
American flag. We had a few rain showers and cloudy sky all day. The only real problem was as we made
the approach to Fernandina, the tide was VERY low. We had 1 foot under us several times and suddenly
the depth sounder read ----- and we started to stop. We were right next to the red marker which
technically should have been ok, but not here! Luckily, Jim kept the impulsion so we didn't have a chance to
"sink" in the mud. Our good old tug was able to pull out of it. We arrived around 5:00 and were greeted by
Kathy and Art aboard "Fortuity". We planned to travel together to Charleston, where they will stay for 5
days, and we will continue on.
APRIL 14
Today was our day to cross St. Andrew Sound and after 3 days of strong winds, Jim decided we would try
Floyds Creek which is a trip through the salt marshes of Georgia and a back by-pass channel for St.
Andrew Sound. We entered it at 8:45 one hour before high tide and exited it in Jekyll Creek in 1 hour
and 15 minutes, only 15 minutes longer than the ocean route. For St. Andrew we would have to go several
miles out into the ocean before heading back in. We had plenty of water in the creek, and only found 7
feet in one place. It was a nice ride and we saw wild boars and dolphins. Jim and I took a bike ride to the
historic district at Jekyll Island along a beautiful bike path. We had dinner at the restaurant here and all
4 of had the low country boil buffet: shrimp, sausage, red potatoes, corn, and cole slaw. This would be a
nice spot to spend a another day to bike to the ocean, but we need to move on to Savannah where we will
spend an extra day to rest up after these several long days. Georgia is very tricky with a 9 foot tide,
front and back ranges, and lots of "skinny" water to watch out for.
Sunrise at Ferandina Inlet Wild boars in Jekyll Creek Hotel on Jekyll Island Jim on the bike path
APRIL 15
Golden Lily and Fortuity departed Jekyll Harbor Marina at 6:45. It has been hard getting up the past 3
days at 5:15 AM! Our day today consisted of winds and turns around the salt marshes of the low country
of Georgia, watching for buoys and ranges, most of them back ranges going north. We had 4 sounds to
transit as well: Altamaha, Sepalo, St. Catherine, and Ossabaw. They were all choppy and we headed into
the waves which was good, as our Nordic slices through head seas easily. The worst chop was St.
Catherine where the waves hit at least 3 feet. Then we had to transit Hells Gate, a very narrow and
shallow passage and we were at low tide! Luckily, they dredged the passage, and we had at least 3 feet
of water under our keel. Lily does not like slapping of the waves or the movement in bigger seas, and went
back and forth from her bed in the guest stateoom, to the couch in the saloon, to her place under Jim's
feet, and then to her spot to sightsee out the pilot house doors. She is one tired dog tonight...poor little
thing!
We are tucked away safely at Isle of Hope and tomorrow will be a rest up day and day to go to the
grocery store. Our trip today was 95 miles and we are very tired!
Golden Lily and Fortuity departed Jekyll Harbor Marina at 6:45. It has been hard getting up the past 3
days at 5:15 AM! Our day today consisted of winds and turns around the salt marshes of the low country
of Georgia, watching for buoys and ranges, most of them back ranges going north. We had 4 sounds to
transit as well: Altamaha, Sepalo, St. Catherine, and Ossabaw. They were all choppy and we headed into
the waves which was good, as our Nordic slices through head seas easily. The worst chop was St.
Catherine where the waves hit at least 3 feet. Then we had to transit Hells Gate, a very narrow and
shallow passage and we were at low tide! Luckily, they dredged the passage, and we had at least 3 feet
of water under our keel. Lily does not like slapping of the waves or the movement in bigger seas, and went
back and forth from her bed in the guest stateoom, to the couch in the saloon, to her place under Jim's
feet, and then to her spot to sightsee out the pilot house doors. She is one tired dog tonight...poor little
thing!
We are tucked away safely at Isle of Hope and tomorrow will be a rest up day and day to go to the
grocery store. Our trip today was 95 miles and we are very tired!