CURRENT LOCATION: Southpoint Anchorage, a mooring field in Stuart, FL
27 11.827' N, 080 15.652' W (
CLICK HERE for Google Maps)
We have been listening to Chris Parker, weather guru for cruisers, the last few mornings on the SSB radio. This takes a bit of commitment, because he starts at 6:30am. However, his weather reports are worth the effort to get out of the v-berth a little early and start the coffee brewing. He advises other cruisers, who pay for his services, on the best times to find good weather to make specific passages. We listen in for free. Yesterday, he defined a weather window for crossing the Gulf Stream which will open up on Monday.
It is likely that we will allow this weather window to pass. During our recent offshore passage, all systems were functional; however, the autohelm needed a little help. For a while, it drifted up to a heading of 200 degrees and just stayed there, regardless of our actual bearing. I checked the owner's manual for ideas, thinking that we may have to turn circles to re-calibrate the instrument. Finding nothing in the manual which would explain the 'sticky' heading, I lifted the floorboard over the bilge where the fluxgate compass for the system is located. I tapped on it, and Sheryl shouted down from the helm, "Whatever you just did, it fixed it." We had to use the 'tappa-tappa-tappa' approach several additional times during the trip, so we ordered a replacement fluxgate compass upon our arrival here in Stuart. Therefore, we will not be jumping through any weather windows until our package arrives.
Until then, we are enjoying the Florida sunshine and getting some exercise. Over the past two days, we have logged over 13 miles walking around the Stuart area. Unfortunately, most of these outings have taken us no place more scenic than sidewalks along busy roads and stripmall parking lots. We have, however, picked up a few of the final items we wanted to get before departing the United States. Including ever more rolls of paper products. (We keep hearing that they are obscenely expensive in the islands, so we are stocking up here)
The biggest downside to this endeavor in commercialism (aside from spending our precious kitty dollars), is having to deal with the holiday shoppers. Christmas music doesn't seem to fit with this shorts & t-shirt weather. Holiday decorations seem out of place when suspended next to palm trees. And, elderly northern transplants will
always find a way to slow the checkout process (from arguing over the price of a loaf of bread, to having trouble figuring out the confounded charge card machine). This is how we spend the bulk of Sheryl's birthday.
One shining star in the strip mall collection was an Asian market, where (among other things) we found a seasoning packet for a spicy stew from the Philippines, called Caldereta (
Mama Sita's brand for any who are interested). I made a batch, sans meat, for Sheryl's birthday dinner and it was delicious. It may even be worth making a walk back to the Asian market for a few more packets.
Back on the boat with our sore feet resting, we are beginning to study the charts and guides for the Bahamas. It may yet be a week or two, but we will be going, so stay tuned. The next holiday will be done Bahamian style.