| bahamas Cruise 09/10 |
|
Comments [0]
On of the most wonderful things about cruising has been all the friends we have made. We didn't anticipate that. We felt that we would resent the intrusion of a bunch of strangers knocking on our hull at all hours, wanting to thrust themselves upon our good time. Boy, were we wrong about that!
I had begun blogging and joined a couple of social networks for sailors before we even left. It was amazing how these cyber-friendships blossomed and the way we were able to keep in touch as we all made our way towards the Bahamas.
I remember Veranda (boat name) hailing us as we passed through Beaufort, SC. Saw our yellow canvas and knew it was us. Later, it was Prim hailing in St. Augustine, as we passed through. Saw our yellow canvas and knew it was us. After a few more of these incidents from boats who had not commented on the blog, but knew Journey by her canvas, Al realized we were sailing around and among friends all the way to the islands.
After we arrived in the Bahamas, we made friends with other sailors in every anchorage, on every island as we went along. And still, we kept running into people off the internet sites. There was a memorable few days with Linda and Duane as well as Gigi and Vic who all hailed from our area of NC. We made new friends Shirley and Mac, Robert and Debi, and Guy, Steve and Sue. Too many new friends to mention them all. One of the special experiences was meeting my friend from SeaKnots: Suky.
One the way back, the story continued, as we came across a friend still going south, Seeker, from Oriental NC. As always on these occasions, a short VHF radio conversation had to suffice to share all the news and best wishes for our friends. And then Synergy, a couple which we had meet and traveled with at the start of the trip, and then left as they had to wait on their own issues, headed toward Journey, knowing her by the bright yellow canvas. Karen hollered her name, as I waved, then ducked below to grab the mic and hail Chris for the cheerful reunion conversation. Once again, it was too short.
The next afternoon, we were passing alongside A1A near Mananzas Inlet, FL. It's one of the few areas where the ICW channel and the road can share a view of each other. Al was steering, I was reading aloud. He interrupted," Our picture is being taken again." "A boat?" I ask. This has been a common happening since starting our cruise, and no longer a reason to jump up and wave. Must be the yellow canvas. "Maude, yer never gonna believe the gaudy boat I saw today! Looky here, I got Pictures!" Al goes, "Do we KNOW these folks?" "Why hon?" I ask. " You should look at these people, they're jumping up and down and waving like mad crazy." I turn around and look. He's right. I wave. These folks are too far away to identify, and they are hopping and waving like a couple of kooks. If we don't know them, they are defiantly certifiable.
That evening I get on the computer, and see that in fact this was Prim waving like a couple of loons ( their words!) and they are still in St. Augustine. They had recognized the boat by her yellow canvas. Calls were made, plans were laid, and we were able to meet and have dinner with Pete and Pokey that night. You know that feeling you get when you meet someone and feel as though you have known them all your life, and in fact just rejoined an ongoing conversation with them. It was just like this for us with Pete and Pokey. As it was also with everyone we met. No matter what turns our life takes, these are friendships that we will cherish forever.
| bahamas Cruise 09/10 |
|
01/24/2010, with too much time on my hands
It's amazing how a disaster brings out the calls from friends and well wishers. No, I guess what's really amazing is just how many people have gotten in touch to say they care about us, and wish us a safe rest of the way home.
And with thanks to all of you, Al and I have to report that we are now behind schedule, due to weather waiting once again. After leaving St. Aug., we were able to make only 40 of our planned 50 miles Saturday. Winds were increasing, and coupled with an unfavorable tide slowing us to 4.7 MPH, we tucked into Ft. George River and set the hook with extra aplomb. We had a feeling we would be in store for a few days of forced R&R because of a front coming from the west. It is set to bring a violent increase in wind Sunday night and Monday as it passes.
Yea. It's Sunday afternoon now. We started the morning with winds in the 18 MPH range and they have built to a steady 30+ MPH as of now. I really don't want to see the "increase" from this. Part of being a cruiser, I suppose.
So here we sit. It's quite lovely out, temps in the upper 70"s, sunny, just windy as anything. If you've read the blog lately, you will understand the reticence on our part to go anywhere while the forecast is for more wind. So here we sit. We are 635 miles from our home port. At an average of 50 miles per day, that's 13 days from now. But for this wind. And it looks like Tuesday might be the first day we can get moving again. And if I sound like I'm getting anxious to get back home, you are probably right. After all, that is our destination now. And I would like to reach it within a reasonable time.
With no way to get off the boat, I have to ponder the fact that the return trip has just been so much of the same. Three days sitting at Rose Island because of wind. Six days at Bimini due to winds. Three days at Ft. Pierce, for a wind storm. Laid up and hauled out for a day in St. Aug. 'cause of the wind. And now two days here ---WIND! Too much wind for a little boat like ours on the channels of the ICW. SO much for the theory that state one can still travel the ICW when the weather offshore is bad. This wind has grounded nearly everyone, with the exception of the trawlers and large motor yachts. And of course, there's no reason to be in a hurry, because the bridges won't open when the wind is higher than 25 MPH.
So here we sit.
| bahamas Cruise 09/10 |
|
01/22/2010, St. Augustine, Fl
| bahamas Cruise 09/10 |
|
01/22/2010, St. Augustine, FL
We checked the weather before leaving Daytona Beach on Thursday AM. We knew we were looking at a 70% chance of rain with the possibility of thunderstorms in the mix. No sweat, we had been wearing our foulies every day to help keep the cool breezes at bay, so what was a little rain? We passed under the bridge at Crescent Beach, and were under motor only, in the ICW channel, heading towards the same dark sky we had been chasing all day.
Suddenly, a wall of dark charcoal descended before us, followed by a high wind that was warmer than anything we had felt so far. "This is tornado weather." I said to Al. "Maybe we should turn back." I no more got that out when we were hit by a wall of wind and water, all coming west to east.
We were traversing north in a narrow channel, marked by pilings stuck deep in the sand. Journey was immediately turned around by the high winds, and was now heading back south. I knew we would never be able to bring her back up into the wind. We had troubles doing that in lesser storms. This was MUCH worse than anything we had ever been through before.
Al battled the tiller, trying to keep her from floundering, as we were put hard over on our side. I couldn't believe how he fought to keep Journey in the channel, as there was now way we could see the channel markers, shore or even the bridge. He was on instruments alone, and we knew they weren't exact enough to keep us away from danger.
Al noticed our speed was 11.8 MPH, and we were only about a mile north of the bridge when the storm struck! We were headed toward the bridge! We would hit if nothing else stopped us first. Like a channel marker- we still could see nothing!
I was on the "high" side, and watched as the toerails under my feet (which were flat on the side coaming) were swallowed by the water. Then the genoa track went under. And I next saw the coaming I was standing on succumb to the water. Our boat was going over, and we could do nothing to save her! I glanced behind me, into the fury of the storm, and saw the entire keel laid out sideways. My feet were in the water, IN THE COCKPIT, but I could have stood on the keel and had dry shoes!
Suddenly, right ahead, we both saw it at the same time. A dock! And another! "Turn Al Turn right NOW!" We were near the bridge, too close and running nearly into some private docks near it. I don't know how he did it, and we both thought Journey was going down right then and there, but he got her turned and we next spied a red channel marker.
"Put her out of the channel, run her aground!" We were reduced to yelling to be heard over the wind and rain. Al was my hero right then. He got Journey hard on the shoal, and we kept her in gear, as he clipped on and crawled forward to push the anchor over the front.
We huddled in the cockpit, holding each other in the downpour, until the storm abated a bit and then called TowBoat US. Capt. James came to our rescue and pulled us of the shoal. As he prepared to cast us off, I realized I had a stuck tiller! It would turn right, but not left. We then realized we had more problems than just a dangerous storm and grounding.
James took us in tow to St. Augustine, and while we were still numb and clueless, arranged a slip and haulout for us, for Friday AM. He took us to Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor for our slip. Our haulout was to be with Camachee Yacht Yard.
What on earth had happened to our cruising? Was the whole trip going to fall apart, or come to a screeching halt? A new rudder or even rebuilding ours would be financially impossible for us. The next morning, we met the marina and yard facility personnel. I have been given a warm welcome at marine facilities before, but the folks here made us feel like family. That said a lot for their establishment to us. Of course we had been through a lot, but the level of care was exceptional.
We were hauled out and much to our relief, we were able to have the binding rudder ground away from the hull edge, and we will continue on our way Saturday AM. We are both aware of how lucky we are to have our lives and our boat. The bridge operator had said the winds were measured at 60MPH during the storm. He had been concerned also, and had lost sight of us during the storms full fury.
Several marina boaters came by the boat on Friday to inquire if we were the boat that had been towed in after the storm the night before. They all expressed amazement that we were OK. They too, said the storm and tornados it spawned were as bad as they come.
| bahamas Cruise 09/10 |
|
01/17/2010, gulf stream
| bahamas Cruise 09/10 |
|
