Magic Journey

Vessel Name: Delphinidae
Vessel Make/Model: Fuji 32
Hailing Port: Islamorada
Crew: Captain K, Sir Rutherford (AKA Ruffy, Bum Fatso, & The Beast) - the Ship's Cat
About:
Extra: Because... Life is a Magic Journey!
01 November 2014
29 October 2014 | Community Harbor - Tavernier
20 October 2014 | Cowpens Basin
19 October 2014 | Anchored off Lore-lie in Islamorada
18 October 2014 | Community Harbor - Tavernier
17 October 2014 | Community Harbor
03 August 2012 | Green Cove Springs Marina
01 August 2012 | Green Cove Springs City Docks
31 July 2012 | Riverside courtesy dock
30 July 2012 | Sister's Creek
29 July 2012 | Pine Island
22 July 2012 | St Augustine
21 July 2012 | Marine land
18 July 2012 | Daytona
17 July 2012 | Chicken Island (new symrna beach)
12 July 2012 | Titusville Mooring Field
08 July 2012 | Cocoa
07 July 2012 | Sirenity Island
28 June 2012 | Uncle Jim's Marina
15 June 2012 | Sunset Bay Marina
Recent Blog Posts
01 November 2014

Socked in

A small cold front arrived yesterday, and it's bigger sibling should arrive this afternoon. I like cold fronts. They motivate me to get moving. First there are the beforehand tasks

29 October 2014 | Community Harbor - Tavernier

Repair

Swapped out the electric fuel pump with a brand new one of exact manufacture and model - so the install was a simple no brainer. Hey, I had to wait for it to come in. Actually it came the next day from Amazon.com - god I love those guys. Shipped it to the marina office, but didn't install until today. [...]

20 October 2014 | Cowpens Basin

Traitor took a Picture

So here we are, sailing along close hauled in 10 - gusting 15 of wind. We were almost home from the Lorelie, when coming up on cowpens cut, which narrowly goes through a strip of islands and with Zero wind inside. I turned on the motor, and we no sooner rolled in the jib and closing in on the entrance [...]

19 October 2014 | Anchored off Lore-lie in Islamorada

Oh Lore-lie, let me count the ways I love you.

Motored over to lore-lie. Tried to sail, but there was just no wind. Some derelict boat was hanging on my mooring so we threw the hook. Leaving Delphi in plain view of the restaurant. Since local government has been cracking down on lived boarders and chasing them off from their anchorages, a few [...]

18 October 2014 | Community Harbor - Tavernier

Recharge

Got Lucas settled in nicely with his own dinghy so he could come and go as he willed, and the kayak so he could do some early morning exploring of the harbor. We hit the marina for laundry and showers. Turns out the little fellow was somewhat road-beat after having been living out of a bicycle and [...]

17 October 2014 | Community Harbor

Crew on deck?

Got an unexpected visit from a cousin or nephew, six generations apart, but his mother is my age, and he's like 21 or something, so to me he is my nephew. In other words, my job is to look out for him - not take him out and get him hammered, into a fight, and then arrested. Besides, he's from Germany. [...]

Socked in

01 November 2014
Windy
A small cold front arrived yesterday, and it's bigger sibling should arrive this afternoon. I like cold fronts. They motivate me to get moving. First there are the beforehand tasks
- restocking of water
- maybe laundry
- trash, ice, hot shower at the marina
- run to the grocery store - don't forget the lasagna!

And then the front arrives. Always with a little short roar. And afterwards a treat of cool weather followed by a good high... No I'm talking weather here.

Because I'm nestled in a cozy little harbor, wind and fetch is a limited issue. Getting back and forth to shore by dinghy - now that's a chore. Especially since I've decide not to use the outboard unless absolutely necessary. So far, it's a feat that's been doable - and I see no need to return to shore for at least a few days. By then the high (still talking weather here) has a good hold and the wind settles down a bit.

It is these moments when I am most motivated to write.

Repair

29 October 2014 | Community Harbor - Tavernier
Sunny and mild
Swapped out the electric fuel pump with a brand new one of exact manufacture and model - so the install was a simple no brainer. Hey, I had to wait for it to come in. Actually it came the next day from Amazon.com - god I love those guys. Shipped it to the marina office, but didn't install until today. Well, It's done, isn't it?

Traitor took a Picture

20 October 2014 | Cowpens Basin
Cloudy and gusty.
So here we are, sailing along close hauled in 10 - gusting 15 of wind. We were almost home from the Lorelie, when coming up on cowpens cut, which narrowly goes through a strip of islands and with Zero wind inside. I turned on the motor, and we no sooner rolled in the jib and closing in on the entrance to cowpens, the engine gurgled, spit, and died. Dozed off would actually be a better term. I knew immediately what the problem was. And I knew if I was correct, I wouldn't be able to make the repair underway. I was right! The electric fuel pump had pumped it's last drop and was, for all practical purposes, in a comma.
It was the kind of repair, I might have been able to jury rig, using a fuel can placed above the engine, or taking the pump off and shake, hammer, and shake it till it started working again.
There was one problem, however. The winds were light, but the gust were reminding me nasty weather was on the way and in short order. And as much as I hate the idea of being towed into an anchorage to my mooring ball, the thought of using up the few daylight hours on a Hail Mary repair and getting towed to port in the dark appealed even less. Thank god for Tow Boat US towing insurance. I made the call and in 30 minutes were underway.
The last leg up to the mooring ball, was a complete "tug of shame". There we were, all pretty like, everything stowed neatly, the sun just setting, everyone in their cockpits watching the day fizzle away... and we're following behind the pretty red towboat with FLASHING LIGHTS. We passed the other boaters so close I could see the whites of their smiling teeth. Those who had teeth anyway.
And now I see my nephew took a picture? Paybacks are hell son...

Oh Lore-lie, let me count the ways I love you.

19 October 2014 | Anchored off Lore-lie in Islamorada
Sunny and calm.
Motored over to lore-lie. Tried to sail, but there was just no wind. Some derelict boat was hanging on my mooring so we threw the hook. Leaving Delphi in plain view of the restaurant. Since local government has been cracking down on lived boarders and chasing them off from their anchorages, a few have found their way to the anchorage behind the restaurant. Some of these cats are the real nastys. If only those cameras could zoom in close to that pretty sailboat silhouetted by the beautiful sunset. Or that ugly #^%+* sitting on my mooring. This is not the kind of anchorage you want to leave you home out of sight in the dark.
Steve Webb and Billie Davidson was playing. Hung out at table with Connie Webb, Steve's lovely other half, Gary and Marsha who wanted to take Lucas home and adopt him.
For dinner, I had a Blackened Dolphin sandwich, Lucas downed a huge bacon cheeseburger. Then I think he went on to try every odd duck local beer in the house. No need to worry, the Germans are trained at birth for this... The ones in my family anyway.

Recharge

18 October 2014 | Community Harbor - Tavernier
Sunny and warm
Got Lucas settled in nicely with his own dinghy so he could come and go as he willed, and the kayak so he could do some early morning exploring of the harbor. We hit the marina for laundry and showers. Turns out the little fellow was somewhat road-beat after having been living out of a bicycle and sleeping on the ground for a week.
Think I'll take Lucas sailing over to lore-lie tomorrow.

Crew on deck?

17 October 2014 | Community Harbor
Sunny... Not too hot
Got an unexpected visit from a cousin or nephew, six generations apart, but his mother is my age, and he's like 21 or something, so to me he is my nephew. In other words, my job is to look out for him - not take him out and get him hammered, into a fight, and then arrested. Besides, he's from Germany. He just happens to be bicycling through the florida keys.
Picked up Lucas at the boat ramp, hauled him and his gear out to the boat. But not my boat... Not Delphi anyway. Instead, I put Lucas up on the S2 sailboat that I also own. In this game, wealth is determined by "how few boats you own". But for once, the S2 can pull her own weight.
Speaking of "pulling weight" well wouldn't you know it, the S2 - having been closed up for two years... Well let's just say she needed a little cleaning. And I had crew! To be honest, I had already started airing out and cleaning the boat yesterday, before I knew Lucas was coming. God I love how the universe provides.
Lucas and I had the S2 spruced up and live able in no time. I think Lucas enjoyed the experience of his own boat over bunking on my settee. Besides, have you seen my settee lately? Whew!

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