Well, as we had planned, we moved down the 
coast slowly. We actually departed St. Mary’s on October 20 and head to Cumberland Island where we are joined by Bob & Vicki on “First Look”. We all spend the next day exploring the island. During the Ranger Tour, we have our 
own guide in Bob, who as a hunter is so attuned with nature that we are shown things that left to our own devices, we never would have seen! We see not only horses, but deer, a palliated woodpecker and wild turkey. We also see evidence of wild hogs, and of all things, coyote, who have apparently immigrated to the island in the past two years. This is truly the most magical of all the Georgia coastal islands.
coast slowly. We actually departed St. Mary’s on October 20 and head to Cumberland Island where we are joined by Bob & Vicki on “First Look”. We all spend the next day exploring the island. During the Ranger Tour, we have our 
own guide in Bob, who as a hunter is so attuned with nature that we are shown things that left to our own devices, we never would have seen! We see not only horses, but deer, a palliated woodpecker and wild turkey. We also see evidence of wild hogs, and of all things, coyote, who have apparently immigrated to the island in the past two years. This is truly the most magical of all the Georgia coastal islands. For the next two days, we travel with First Look. Crossing the St. Johns is always interesting and this time is no exception. The currents at the southern entrance to the ICW are actually swirling with dolphins playing on both sides of the boat. We “crab” (move sideways in a forward manner) through the first three markers, as the outgoing current attempts to pull us onto the rocks.
Life on the ICW is never dull! We come to a bridge that appears to be completely blocked by barges. It isn’t till a small powerboat come through that we see the pass. We both pass through with 2’ on either side of the boats. Thank God neither of us were a catamaran; we would not have made it.
Mornings are early, just as the sun is rising. It is a beautiful time of day with mist rising off the water. One day we are even treated to our own private air show.
We watch “First Look” head south, as we pull into New Smyrna to spend time with our friends, Dave and Pam. We celebrate Shirley’s 60th reminiscing about past lives. Wonderful week!
The next week we spend in Titusville visiting with Sharon Kelly. We met her and her husband Brian, who died last year, on our first trip to the Bahamas. Titusville Marina has 40 resident manatees; such gentle creatures. We even see a baby! We have a delightful visit both in Titusville and in Melbourne, our next stop with not only Sharon, but once again with Bob & Vicki. We also meet up with Donald and Betsy, who we crossed with to the Bahamas on our first trip. Donald and Betsy go down to Long Island every year in “Molly Hawk” their 26 foot sailboat.
During this leg we really catch up with lots of folks. We are at Melbourne to attend the Seven Seas Cruising Association annual Gam. Not only do we see the folks we’d mentioned before, but we run into Carl & Kathy Peterson, old BYCY members, and we meet up with Phil & Margaret on “Sunshine”, who we haven’t seen since last year. Wonderful visits with all!
The next week we spend in Titusville visiting with Sharon Kelly. We met her and her husband Brian, who died last year, on our first trip to the Bahamas. Titusville Marina has 40 resident manatees; such gentle creatures. We even see a baby! We have a delightful visit both in Titusville and in Melbourne, our next stop with not only Sharon, but once again with Bob & Vicki. We also meet up with Donald and Betsy, who we crossed with to the Bahamas on our first trip. Donald and Betsy go down to Long Island every year in “Molly Hawk” their 26 foot sailboat.
During this leg we really catch up with lots of folks. We are at Melbourne to attend the Seven Seas Cruising Association annual Gam. Not only do we see the folks we’d mentioned before, but we run into Carl & Kathy Peterson, old BYCY members, and we meet up with Phil & Margaret on “Sunshine”, who we haven’t seen since last year. Wonderful visits with all!
Before departing the area we watch the last shuttle, Atlantis lift off for space which was spectacular even during the day and from 50 miles. We both reflect on the technological progress that our country has achieved in our lifetime. We remember watc
hing the first space shot 90 miles down range. Our next stop is to visit with longtime cruising friends Bill & Barbara Vermiggilio on “Anatini” who we also met on our first cruise in 1997. They bought a condo in Port St. Lucie and every year on our way south we stop to catch up. This year they entertain us with a dinner Dance at The Sons of Italy. The Italians are really huggers!
We arrive in Ft. Lauderdale to affix the last of our repairs before jumping off to the Bahamas. Las Olas Marina in Ft. Lauderdale has become one of our regular stops. We are 3 blocks from the beach and all of its entertainment, at least for those of us who are people watchers! Bus 40 will take you north to the Galleria Mall and south to Publix and West Marine. Bus 11 takes you east to the unique shops of Las Olas Blvd.
The new thermostat for the freezer is installed the first day we are in the marina – part $190 for a total of $800! We’re in Ft. Lauderdale where labor
is $100/hr. Mac contacts the company to replace the timing cover for the engine and hits several snags. Covers are not stocked and take 6 weeks from Japan, even with Mac’s contacts. So the Yanmar dealer here will take the cover off and have it welded, but they can’t get to the boat until after Thanksgiving. So it’s time to go have some fun! A delightfully warm Thanksgiving is shared with Bob & Penny on “Pretty Penny” and Clay and Rita Kay of “Carleigh”. Thanksgiving is all about enjoying friends and family. The group that has been here for the holiday, including the afore mentioned, as well as “Independence” and “My Sharona” all get the preverbal weather window and head off to the Bahamas on Sunday.
Still awaiting repairs, we share time with cruising friends, Ike & Barbara on “Carefree”. They have cruised this area much more than we and share secrets. We soak up the knowledge. We all watch the Dolphins loose miserably to the Buffalo Bills. Guess we’ll have to find a different team to follow to the Super Bowl, which is always an event in the Bahamas.
Barbara & Ike depart on Monday and we jump on the Water Taxi for the day. We get a tour of Port Everglades, the ICW and the New River without having to navigate the boat. At the Port we saw the largest cruise ship ever built.
It carries 6000 passengers and 2000 crew. The ship left on its maiden cruise that day. We take note of gossipy tidbits about many of the outrageously ostentatious estates along the river. Tour guides keep us entertained with a string of one-liners. We even return to the boat, dress for dinner and enjoy the sunset on the river, Christmas lights and a dinner out! It’s fun being a tourist. Vic & Gigi on “Oconee” join us mid-week. It’s great to see them. We met them last year at Sampson when they were cruising on “Gigi’s Island”. We spend time catching up and meeting friends of theirs. We hope to cross together as soon as our boat is up and running and we all get our weather window.
