Wow, hard to believe that 2008 is coming to a close. It has been one of those years that we know several people including ourselves, will never forget. This year the world had seen the worst global economy, horrendous recession and huge escalation and fall of oil prices. However the USA has elected its first African American President who's bringing hope and change.
We have wonderful memories of 2008 starting with our cruise down south aboard the Summer Wind,making so many great boating friends and visiting great places, seeing breathtaking sunsets and star studded nights. Last year will be remembered by the excitement of the great flood of our house. We'll be remembering with sadness of losing our loved one Dave Geiger. Last but not least our great joy of our wedding and now enjoying our wonderful honeymoon aboard the Summer Wind which in today's economy is a true blessing.
As our journey continues we decided to not go to our dock farther up the New River but went instead to an anchorage right near Miami Beach and Collins Ave. So here we go we launch the dinghy to explore and, alas, our outboard motor wouldn't work. Add that to the list of repairs. 2 days later we went back to Ft. Lauderdale and up the New River to our old friend Rudy and the dock behind his house. Here we will stay for the month of January.
Starting to make plans for this month and already have many days booked with friends and relatives, but also many projects to get the Summer Wind looking and running with perfection.
Tonight, (New Years Eve) we decided to just cook a nice meal,open a bottle of wine and bring in the New Year quietly with just us.
Since our journey began last September we have been keeping track of some statistics and have compiled some interesting numbers which we would like to share.
Days traveled.........96
Miles Traveled.......1628
Engine Hours.........210.5
Average Speed........7.7.MPH
Marinas...................72
Anchorages.............22
Fuel Cost...............$2,294
Average .................$2.86 Per Gal
Total Expenses.....$10,973.81
This trip has had many ups and downs. Our weather has been rough until we made it to Florida. We were stuck in many places for days because of Nor'easters or just high winds. That may explain why so many marinas. We had planned on anchoring out more often but, thank goodness we were in marinas during those storms. Also had to go back to NJ for necessary appointments and we're planning another trip back, brrrrrrrrr back to the cold.
On the good side, went to our Yacht Club Going out of Commission ceremonies, where we were joined with the whole Lassman clan for a beautiful brick laying ceremony in memory of Barbara.
Thanksgiving was marvelous in Northern New Jersey with again the whole Lassman clan and Sue and Buzz.
The Summer Wind was dressed for Xmas in honor of Elle and we lit a Menorah every night of Channukah.
So here we are on New Years Eve and my bride just brought forth a cocktail so have a very Happy and Healthy New year and we will continue in 2009.
OFF TO FORT LA DI DA
As our journey continues we get off the dock early in the morning as the Cormorants were still honking at us. It was like the bugle caller in the Navy saying get up and get moving. The morning was calm and we only had to traverse the Indian River to get to Vero Beach, which was our next port. It was an uneventful ride and as we pulled in to the basin and talked to the marina on the VHF radio they gave us our mooring assignment. Now this harbor has both docks and moorings but they raft up 2 to 3 boats on a mooring. So we found our assignment way back in the cove and sure enough it was a low long power boat with just a woman aboard. Her captain was off somewhere so to raft to this boat she had to help. Two problems. She didn't speak English and she didn't know what to do. So after many hand gestures and grunting and groaning we finally tied down. She went back inside and we never saw her again.
Down came our dinghy and motor and off to the marina to check in. Well, the motor dies half way and we have to row the rest of it. Vero beach is unique in that it has a free bus service that will take you all over town. Guess what, Elle wanted to go to Publix's again so off we went with our bags.
Next port was Stuart, Fl. where we anchored in a great place called Manatee pocket. As we were getting ready to drop the hook the heavens opened up and Elle was on the forward deck in her rain gear but got soaked anyway.
The next day we decided to go to an anchorage in Lake Worth where many boats wait for the right "window" to cross the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas. We were shocked when we arrived to find at least 100 boats all anchored waiting. Of those, we were one of only 3 power boats. Also, most of the sailboats were flying the "Maple Leaf" (Canadian) and, of course, Elle felt right at home.
Off to see our dock master friend at Del Ray Beach the next day. He welcomed us with open arms and told us he had a great slip ready for us in February where we plan on going. So off to Publix's again and as Elle put it, just for a few things. LOLOL. I must say, at this moment, she is the greatest of cook's, and we eat like gourmets, so it is worth it to make those trips to Publix's. That evening we went to our favorite restaurant (Carraba's) which is within walking distance of the marina. The bad economy seems to have hit here also. Where we usually would have had to wait for a table this time of year we walked in and was seated almost immediately. Still DELICIOUS!!!!!
Next is Ft. Lauderdale. The first day there we anchor down in the Middle River which is off the ICW near all the canals on Las Olas. Even though this trip was only about 23 miles it took many hours because of the bridges we had to wait for and the "no Wake" zones. Made reservations up the New River in Ft. Lauderdale at Cooley's which again, is normally full with a waiting list, but this time we got in with no trouble. We were suppose to leave today to go to the keys but a low pressure system has arrived with 25-30 knot winds so here we are staying put.
Our bikes came out and we rode downtown yesterday and today, guess what? Yep you know it, we are going to Publix.
So, our trip to the Keys has been postponed and we will go onto our reserved dock farther up this river for the month of January.
Happy Holidays to all and a Happy New Year.
Down came our dinghy and motor and off to the marina to check in. Well, the motor dies half way and we have to row the rest of it. Vero beach is unique in that it has a free bus service that will take you all over town. Guess what, Elle wanted to go to Publix's again so off we went with our bags.
Next port was Stuart, Fl. where we anchored in a great place called Manatee pocket. As we were getting ready to drop the hook the heavens opened up and Elle was on the forward deck in her rain gear but got soaked anyway.
The next day we decided to go to an anchorage in Lake Worth where many boats wait for the right "window" to cross the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas. We were shocked when we arrived to find at least 100 boats all anchored waiting. Of those, we were one of only 3 power boats. Also, most of the sailboats were flying the "Maple Leaf" (Canadian) and, of course, Elle felt right at home.
Off to see our dock master friend at Del Ray Beach the next day. He welcomed us with open arms and told us he had a great slip ready for us in February where we plan on going. So off to Publix's again and as Elle put it, just for a few things. LOLOL. I must say, at this moment, she is the greatest of cook's, and we eat like gourmets, so it is worth it to make those trips to Publix's. That evening we went to our favorite restaurant (Carraba's) which is within walking distance of the marina. The bad economy seems to have hit here also. Where we usually would have had to wait for a table this time of year we walked in and was seated almost immediately. Still DELICIOUS!!!!!
Next is Ft. Lauderdale. The first day there we anchor down in the Middle River which is off the ICW near all the canals on Las Olas. Even though this trip was only about 23 miles it took many hours because of the bridges we had to wait for and the "no Wake" zones. Made reservations up the New River in Ft. Lauderdale at Cooley's which again, is normally full with a waiting list, but this time we got in with no trouble. We were suppose to leave today to go to the keys but a low pressure system has arrived with 25-30 knot winds so here we are staying put.
Our bikes came out and we rode downtown yesterday and today, guess what? Yep you know it, we are going to Publix.
So, our trip to the Keys has been postponed and we will go onto our reserved dock farther up this river for the month of January.
Happy Holidays to all and a Happy New Year.
Celebrating the Holidays in Florida
12/07/2008 The last entry on our blog we had just arrived at Amelia River, south of Fernandina beach. This was a great anchorage, very well protected, lots of turning space and very little boat traffic. We dropped the anchor, sat down for a wonderful lunch and then the captain noticed a few birds on the rails. He knocked on the windows to scare them away, however they kept coming back. Well the captain wasn't going to let the birds get the best of him , so out on the deck he goes to shoo them away. The funny part was off in the distance we could hear the birds 'laughing' their call was like a chuckle and there were several loud chuckles in the marsh. When the sun finally set, there were no longer chuckles and the sky was pitch black.
The next morning 12/08 2008,we set out for St. Augustine, one of our favorite places to visit. Upon landing at the docks, we recognized the boat beside us and began carrying on a conversation with the couple as we were docking. We learned their yacht club was having a gathering out on the dock and we were invited to participate. We told them we'd be delighted to join them for appetizers after we took care of a few chores (laundry, boat cleaning and of course showering ourselves), the captain had also promised to take me out to dinner.This was going to be a very busy night. After all the chores were done, and we were decent enough for company we paid a quick visit with the group. Amongst the group was a couple we had met at an MTOA rendezvous. When they heard we were heading for Palm Coast in a couple of nights they invited us to spend a night at their dock, now isn't that grand.
There we were talking with the group, amidst brightly decorated boats and great conversation. Shortly thereafter we went for a lovely dinner, and toured the downtown area which too was brightly decorated.The next day, we had one of those lazy mornings, relaxed and enjoyed breakfast. Later on we decided to go tour all over St. Augustine, the Spanish architecture is lovely and the little shops and museums are great fun to explore. That evening we were invited again to participate with the yacht club and we joined in. Just before dinner, shortly after dusk it was time to turn on the lights decorating the boat. At the precise moment I plugged in the lights, the whole dock and all of St. Augustine went dark,,,, OH! OH! big OOPS! The captain emerged from the boat and said,, Elle what did you do??? LOLOL. Well, to be honest at the moment we were also experiencing heavy winds. The lights were out for about 10 minutes and then everything turned on. It was a beautiful sight and my heart began to beat again...
At our next stop 12/14 2008 we needed to purchase fuel and with the help of our favorite website Salty Cruisers Net we found diesel at $2.08/gal. The last time the captain paid that rate was 2004!!! We decided to stay at the marina for the night because the skies weren't looking too promising. We tied down at the slip and enjoyed the night at the marina. One of the neat things we enjoyed were watching the Cormorants coming in to rest for the night. Usually they are found swimming underwater and hunting for fish. At sunset it was like watching aircraft coming in for a landing at the trees nearby. You could literally hear and feel the breeze as they came in for a landing. They would land on a branch and call out to one another their position. They sound like geese, a deep throaty call and look out if another Cormorant doesn't approve of your landing position.
Can you sing...deck the halls with boughs of Cormorants???
The next morning 12/08 2008,we set out for St. Augustine, one of our favorite places to visit. Upon landing at the docks, we recognized the boat beside us and began carrying on a conversation with the couple as we were docking. We learned their yacht club was having a gathering out on the dock and we were invited to participate. We told them we'd be delighted to join them for appetizers after we took care of a few chores (laundry, boat cleaning and of course showering ourselves), the captain had also promised to take me out to dinner.This was going to be a very busy night. After all the chores were done, and we were decent enough for company we paid a quick visit with the group. Amongst the group was a couple we had met at an MTOA rendezvous. When they heard we were heading for Palm Coast in a couple of nights they invited us to spend a night at their dock, now isn't that grand.There we were talking with the group, amidst brightly decorated boats and great conversation. Shortly thereafter we went for a lovely dinner, and toured the downtown area which too was brightly decorated.The next day, we had one of those lazy mornings, relaxed and enjoyed breakfast. Later on we decided to go tour all over St. Augustine, the Spanish architecture is lovely and the little shops and museums are great fun to explore. That evening we were invited again to participate with the yacht club and we joined in. Just before dinner, shortly after dusk it was time to turn on the lights decorating the boat. At the precise moment I plugged in the lights, the whole dock and all of St. Augustine went dark,,,, OH! OH! big OOPS! The captain emerged from the boat and said,, Elle what did you do??? LOLOL. Well, to be honest at the moment we were also experiencing heavy winds. The lights were out for about 10 minutes and then everything turned on. It was a beautiful sight and my heart began to beat again... On 12/10/2008 we left St. Augustine marina to head for Palm Coast. Leaving St. Augustine proved to be a little hair raising for the both of us, the current was running swiftly and the boat wanted to go in a different direction then the captain was steering. With a little help we managed to get off the dock and head south for Palm Coast. The trip down was beautiful and believe it or not we were actually wearing t-shirts instead of track suits,,, YEAH!!!! Upon arriving at the dock we were greeted by Phil and Sara and they rafted us up next to their 2003 55'Fleming Sara G. They explained that their neighbourhood enjoys seeing the boats come into their little cove. Phil and Sara's boat is a beautiful boat which they had lovingly restored from sinking. It had been sunk in Hurricane Francis and currently up for sale after a beautiful restoration. They told us we were invited for dinner , there were going to be at least 6 couples from the MTOA, who were all near by, how delightful. That night weather came in and there were tornado warnings, so we stayed right where we were.
On 12/12 2008 we left Palm Coast and headed for New Smyrna Beach where we had a lovely dinner at our friends' Al & Fran Freem's home. They had invited another couple to join and we had a great time together.
At our next stop 12/14 2008 we needed to purchase fuel and with the help of our favorite website Salty Cruisers Net we found diesel at $2.08/gal. The last time the captain paid that rate was 2004!!! We decided to stay at the marina for the night because the skies weren't looking too promising. We tied down at the slip and enjoyed the night at the marina. One of the neat things we enjoyed were watching the Cormorants coming in to rest for the night. Usually they are found swimming underwater and hunting for fish. At sunset it was like watching aircraft coming in for a landing at the trees nearby. You could literally hear and feel the breeze as they came in for a landing. They would land on a branch and call out to one another their position. They sound like geese, a deep throaty call and look out if another Cormorant doesn't approve of your landing position.Can you sing...deck the halls with boughs of Cormorants???
See you on our next blog.
FLORIDA HERE WE COME
The last time we left you we were getting ready to go home for Thanksgiving. The Summer Wind was all snuggled down in a nice little marina in Beaufort, SC as we rented a car and started the drive north. It was a 2 day trip and got to Morristown on Sunday, 11/23. Now just to back up a little. Something exciting happened on our trip. Stopped over night a little south of Richmond,VA and went to a nice Italian restaurant. Ordering a bottle of wine the waitress asked Dick for ID. She was a little taken back when she saw his birth date. He was sooooooo happy to be carded!!!!!!! the waitress got a great tip that night. LOLOLOL 
Sunday we said all of our goodbyes and started our drive back but taking a side trip to our friends,Jerry and Kathryn Greenhoot, to see their newly built mountain home.Well after 9 1/2 hours of stop and go traffic we finally got into a motel just outside Washington, DC. The next day we made it to their house in Saluda, NC but got delayed with a flat tire in Lexington, NC.
The next few days we shopped and shopped and shopped. Couldn't believe the things we took to the mountains, but all were used.
Could you believe the one Condo we rented had a flood and couldn't be used (Does that bring back memories).The resort compensated with 3 condos, one being free, so everything worked out great. We had a wonderful weekend with everyone there and participating in many activities. (swimming, basketball,football,tennis,exercising in the gym, lots of walking and all eating to oblivion)We took a family portrait which I hope you all like.
Sunday we said all of our goodbyes and started our drive back but taking a side trip to our friends,Jerry and Kathryn Greenhoot, to see their newly built mountain home.Well after 9 1/2 hours of stop and go traffic we finally got into a motel just outside Washington, DC. The next day we made it to their house in Saluda, NC but got delayed with a flat tire in Lexington, NC. Their home is lovely but unfortunately our camera didn't work so no pictures. they were marvelous hosts with a delicious meal and great wine to ease our trip.
So back to the Summer Wind, refilled her fridge with more shopping and laundry and started our journey again.
Thursday,12/4, we left Beaufort, SC and found a nice new anchorage just south of Savannah, GA. The next day another anchorage. This one (Wahoo River)we had found last year and decided to go in again. We were the only boat and not a house in sight. It was so quiet without any wind we thought we were sitting on land which was not the case. Unfortunately, the weather still is cold so we couldn't sit out to watch the stars.
Saturday, 12/6, we decided to go to Brunswick, GA since we had heard some good reports. Thought to stay 2 days but were disappointed because the town closed up at 4 pm. So here we are on Sunday just south of Fernandina Beach, FL. Yes would you believe we made it to Florida, but it still feels like the north. We wake up in the morning and have to turn on the heaters. This morning was about in the high 30's and tonight they are calling for a frost warning. When is the warmth coming???????
Our friends from last year (Dolphins) don't seem to mind the cold because everyday as we are traveling they join us.
Ok, now some of you may not believe this, but the Summer Wind is dressed for Christmas. Since last year we lit Chanukah candles I promised Elle to dress the boat. We will still light the Menorah when Chanukah arrives.
Oh yes, one more thing we should mention. We have become grandparents again. This time it was on Elle's side. A bouncing 8 pound 22" baby boy named "CJ" born on November 29, 2008
Again we hope you are enjoying our adventure as much as we are. See you next time.
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