Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:24.70511
Longitude:-81.09644
GPS location Date/Time:12/20/2013 11:20:29 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/E-tuI/24.70511N/81.09644W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:24.73611
Longitude:-81.05392
GPS location Date/Time:12/19/2013 13:37:52 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/E-IIm/24.73611N/81.05392W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:24.93714
Longitude:-80.62671
GPS location Date/Time:12/18/2013 12:36:42 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/EzY3V/24.93714N/80.62671W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:25.15605
Longitude:-80.39639
GPS location Date/Time:12/17/2013 15:57:59 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/EyxjR/25.15605N/80.39639W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:25.74540
Longitude:-80.17032
GPS location Date/Time:12/16/2013 15:48:09 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/EyAEC/25.74540N/80.17032W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:25.90766
Longitude:-80.13567
GPS location Date/Time:12/15/2013 13:59:29 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/ExR3Z/25.90766N/80.13567W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:26.34584
Longitude:-80.07346
GPS location Date/Time:12/14/2013 15:38:46 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/EwtNd/26.34584N/80.07346W

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Bad news

Well we won't be getting to Marathon on schedule.  Our windlass broke today so we are in a marina for repairs.  If we lose more than a day, we will be stuck here for a week because of weather. Yuck!

Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:26.83886
Longitude:-80.05526
GPS location Date/Time:12/10/2013 16:02:16 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/Et-xE/26.83886N/80.05526W

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Fort Pierce

Made it to Fort Pierce today.  Once again the wind was on the nose.  Even so, we passed four other boats, a first for us.

Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:27.46539
Longitude:-80.29572
GPS location Date/Time:12/09/2013 14:21:12 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/EtApC/27.46539N/80.29572W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:28.09086
Longitude:-80.58475
GPS location Date/Time:12/08/2013 14:14:12 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/EsWlI/28.09086N/80.58475W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:28.62463
Longitude:-80.80466
GPS location Date/Time:12/07/2013 13:54:27 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/Erwo-/28.62463N/80.80466W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:29.06236
Longitude:-80.93053
GPS location Date/Time:12/06/2013 14:59:16 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/ErJT6/29.06236N/80.93053W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:29.57743
Longitude:-81.19296
GPS location Date/Time:12/05/2013 15:50:42 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/EqddJ/29.57743N/81.19296W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
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Pine Island anchorage

North of St Augustine, our third night.

Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:30.05254
Longitude:-81.36306
GPS location Date/Time:12/04/2013 16:28:57 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/EpxZV/30.05254N/81.36306W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
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Sunset at Brickhill River.

Finally under way. Our first sunset at anchor, this trip.

Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:30.66626
Longitude:-81.47418
GPS location Date/Time:12/03/2013 12:37:27 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/Ep3cj/30.66626N/81.47418W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:30.90015
Longitude:-81.45236
GPS location Date/Time:12/02/2013 14:03:42 EST

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/EoOiU/30.90015N/81.45236W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:41.57987
Longitude:-74.58041
GPS location Date/Time:08/02/2013 12:12:46 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/DCs0b/41.57987N/74.58041W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:44.37209
Longitude:-103.75449
GPS location Date/Time:07/27/2013 21:16:06 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/D7I4p/44.37209N/103.75449W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:44.67410
Longitude:-111.17215
GPS location Date/Time:07/25/2013 11:39:30 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/D54WX/44.67410N/111.17215W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:40.77321
Longitude:-111.93272
GPS location Date/Time:07/21/2013 21:45:00 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/D1Tur/40.77321N/111.93272W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:35.26060
Longitude:-112.11816
GPS location Date/Time:07/18/2013 21:22:02 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/C-XEi/35.26060N/112.11816W

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The car & Sequoia

Well, I suppose it had to happen.
We were driving up the mountain to the Sequoia National Park when suddenly the car simply stopped moving. The engine revved but the car wouldn't go and smoke was coming from under the car. Yep...blew the transmission.
Of course we were out of cell phone range. So we waited until a Ranger came by. He took us to the park museum where we called AAA. It took a while, but AAA sent a tow truck and he towed us all the way back to Visalia, about 40 miles. So glad we had upgraded to the gold membership!
The first quote we got to repair the transmission was $4,800! Ouch! Later, the same shop called back to say they had made a mistake and it would "only" be $4,080. Yeah, right...4 grand to fix a car that only cost 2 grand to begin with. Sorry, no sale.
AAA towed the car to another shop who fixed the car for $1,800. Still a big hit, but less than half of the first shop's price.
Bottom line is that the car is fixed, but our trip plans have to be reevaluated. We never made it to Sequoia but just drove to Lemon Grove (near San Diego) to stay with Bev's son Ben and his family.
So now we're hanging out in San Diego, visiting with Ben, Sarah and little Daniel. We went to the county fair and are planning a trip to the zoo and a few other outings. We might have to stay here a while until the bank account gets recharged enough to make the journey back east. Stay tuned...

Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:32.74604
Longitude:-117.02420
GPS location Date/Time:06/23/2013 15:47:14 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/Cb-V-/32.74604N/117.02420W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:36.34948
Longitude:-119.40669
GPS location Date/Time:06/17/2013 21:08:31 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/CWNkj/36.34948N/119.40669W

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Bev inside...

The Telescope Tree.

Morgan and I...

INSIDE a tree.

The telescope tree.

Here's a tree that was completely hollowed out by fire. You can walk inside, look up and see the sky - through the tree trunk.
Amazing!

Yosemite again.

Since we get free (senior pass) we went back to the park today.
We hiked 2.5 miles - uphill - to 6,600 feet altitude in the Mariposa grove of Sequoias. Here's a shot of Bev and Morgan (in backpack) at the museum near the summit.

Bridal veil falls.

Here's a shot of Bridal Veil Falls at Yosemite.
For future travelers to the park, the south entrance requires nerves of steel. It's 35 miles of swtchback mountain roads, no guardrails, no shoulders, just a white line on the pavement then Bam! 5000 feet straight down! But the views...wow!
They say life isn't measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away. I certainly had a few of those moments today. One was the half mile hike to the foot of these falls. We were close enough to feel the spray.
Pictures cannot do this place justice. It must be felt.

Yosemite!

Just a quick post for now, more later.
Here we are at the "tunnel view" area at Yosemite. You can see Half Dome in the distance as well as one of the falls.

Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:37.74437
Longitude:-119.58333
GPS location Date/Time:06/14/2013 17:26:28 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/CTQjV/37.74437N/119.58333W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:37.53783
Longitude:-119.65659
GPS location Date/Time:06/14/2013 13:59:02 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/CTFKG/37.53783N/119.65659W

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Check-in/OK message from SPOT Mike's Spot

Mike's Spot
Latitude:37.24546
Longitude:-119.70909
GPS location Date/Time:06/14/2013 09:28:46 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/CT1NS/37.24546N/119.70909W

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The Redwoods

Well, we are finally getting a little time to relax.
Chandra's graduation went without a hitch. What an amazing kid. Earned the "Silver Tassel" for high grades while earning 3 black belts in martial arts. You go girl.
We are now in Eureka, just hanging out at our campsite. Yesterday we drove the Avenue of the Giants through the redwods. Here's a picture of Bev by a fallen redwood. These trees are huge, and some are 1000 years old or more.
Tomorrow, maybe a little sightseeing and/or wine tasting.

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Mike's Spot
Latitude:40.82473
Longitude:-124.08118
GPS location Date/Time:06/08/2013 21:26:59 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/CO8Z9/40.82473N/124.08118W

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What a couple of weeks!

If you've been following, you know we are now in California.
Since Matt's wedding, we've had quite the time.
After leaving MA, we drove to Albany to spend a few days with my son, Mike and his lady Kari. Had a great, if too short, visit with them. We saw the new Star Trek movie in IMAX 3D, and went to dinner at the City Beer Hall. It's a neat place. If you order at least a pint of beer, you get a ticket for a free personal pizza. So...if you have 3 pints...no way you leave hungry!
When we left Albany, we stopped for an overnight visit in Gloversville to see our friend Carol. Carol lost her long time companion, Peter, last year and now she's ill herself. In spite of her illness, she was a great hostess and cooked us a great dinner and a great breakfast the next morning. Hope you get well real soon, Carol!
Then it was a mad dash all the way across the country to California. Coast to coast in 5 days! Whew!
Crossing through "tornado alley," we dodged storms all the way. We left Lincoln, Nebraska hours ahead of a severe storm that spawned several tornadoes. We did get some rain and wind, but it could have been a lot worse.
The changes in temperature we experienced along the way were profound. Cold, wind a rain in the plains, snow in the mountains, and searing heat in the Sacramento Valley in California. Today, it's over 100 here, and expected to be near 112 tomorrow! At least it cools off at night. We drove across the Continental Divide, Donner's Pass and right past the Bonneville Salt Flats. We would have liked to stop, but we were on a schedule. We needed to get to CA in time for Chandra's graduation.
We've spent a good bit of our time here visiting with my daughter, Jennifer and granddaughter, Chandra. This past Tuesday, Chandra graduated from high school. Of 289 students in her graduating class, only about 8 got the silver tassel (for really GOOD grades) and she was one. And on top of that, she's got 3 - count 'em THREE - black belts in martial arts! At 4'11" and 90 pounds soaking wet, she's still not someone you want to mess with. College boys - watch out!
Yesterday, Bev, Chandra and I drove down to San Francisco. We visited a great little tea room in Chinatown, and spent the afternoon at Fishermen's Wharf. We saw the tall ships being restored there, an old steam tugboat and an old steam ferry boat. I also picked up my lifetime "Senior Pass" for the national parks. What a deal. Free admission for life at all national parks, $10! If you're over 62, it's hard to find a better bargain than that.
Tomorrow, we'll be leaving the heat behind and driving to Eureka, CA. We've booked the KOA there and hope to do some hiking and sight seeing among the redwoods. After that, it's Yosemite for a few days, then the Grand Canyon. When all that's done, we'll be making a stop in San Diego to see Bev's son Ben, Sarah and baby Daniel.

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Matt's wedding.

We came to Plymouth for the wedding. Matt married Laura on Saturday. The weather was great. Bev's grandkids Kahlenn, Kenzie and Daniel were flower girls and ring bearer. The reception was the very first event at the newly rebuilt Haddad's. In all, a really great day.
Tomorrow we"l be heading to Albany to visit with Mike and Kari. My sister will be joining us on Saturday for a cookout. After that, a long drive to Sacramento for Chandra's graduation. 

Road trip part 2

We made to MA.
After a too brief visit with my sister Jane in the Catskills, we drove up to MA to see Bev's Granddaughters Kahlenn and Kenzie. What a pair of princesses!
Last night we stayed with Matt and Laura - the groom and bride of next week's wedding. Today we are in Plymouth and staying with Bev's sister Chris.
While we were at my sister's, we bought a tent for our summer trip across the country. When we arrived at Chris's we set it up to test it and learn the set-up process. It is BIG! 2 rooms in a double dome arrangement plus a screened front porch. We expect some rain tomorrow, so we'll leave it up to test the seams before we depend on it to keep us dry. Report tomorrow.

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Road trip part 1

Driving up I95 through South Carolina we spotted a sign that reads "James F. Byrnes Memorial Highway."
Byrnes was governor of South Carolina and Secretary of State of the US under Truman. He was also married to my Grandmother's cousin.
We should reach my sister's place in the Catskills sometime tomorrow.
It was a bit sad putting the boat to bed and leaving her in Georgia, but we're bound for yet another new adventure.
Last night we had dinner with some friends, Mike and Shantee, at Tipsy McSway's. They were the folks who watched our van for us while we were in Marathon for the winter.

Brunswick

Finally.
We have finally arrived in Brunswick, and none too soon. We reached the dock about 1 pm, and within a hour the sky darkened and there was a thunderstorm. Whew! I do hate to be out on the water in a storm.
The storms had been predicted so yesterday, we ran almost 50 miles to reach Cumberland Island. We knew that Brunswick would only be 6 hours away. We had a very peaceful night at anchor in Cumberland, got up at 6 this morning, made coffee and pulled the anchor to head here. We were able to use the sails for a good portion of the trip today. As we headed up Jekyll sound, we had the current and the wind with us and were surfing the waves at over 9 knots! Wow! What ride!
Now we are safe and sound on the dock and getting ready for our road trip. We need to put the boat to bed for a few months, pack the car and hit the road. NY, MA & CA look out! Here we come!

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Manatees!

Whew! What an interesting day.
We slipped our mooring at Titusville about 7:20 this morning and headed out through a dead calm toward Mosquito Lagoon. After we passed the bridge at Haulover Canal and entered the lagoon, there were manatees everywhere. Dozens! Maybe more. Hundreds? Didn't think there were that many left.
Bev took the helm while I stood on the bow to watch for the graceful, but slow moving critters. You could almost walk from shore to shore on their backs and not get your feet wet. Well, OK, that's hyperbole, but I saw more manatees today than in the last 7 years combined.
We also saw a pair of bald eagles, butterflies, dragonflies, racoons and even a mother dolphin and her young calf.
And people wonder why we live on a boat.
We usually stay in the marina when we're in New Smyrna Beach, but after spending way too much money in Ft. Pierce, we opted for the anchorage at Rockhouse Creek. So far, two other boats have joined us here. Lots of current, but the winds should be light tonight.

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Wind!

So we wake up this morning to a "wind advisory." NOAA was saying that winds were expected to run about 25 knots this afternoon. Of course NOAA was wrong. The wind was running about 30 most of the day.
As a result we pulled anchor and checked into the city marina at Ft. Pierce. Thinking about being at anchor in 30 knot winds doesn't seem like fun.
We will stay here at least through tomorrow so the cold front can pass.
We made use of the stop by getting laundry done and checking out happy hour at Cobb's Landing. Great beer - Iniquity Black Ale - and great munchies - blackened shrimp & bacon flat bread - but way too much money.
Tomorrow, there's a great farmer's market, so we'll stock up on bread, veggies & meat for the rest of the voyage.
So now that we're 4 or 5 days behind schedule, we'll have to hustle to get to Brunswick before the month is out.
More tomorrow.

Ft. Pierce

Finally rolling up some miles. 44 nm today.
After getting a late start while waiting for a pumpout at Old Port Cove in Palm Beach, we got underway and made it to Faber Cove, just outside Ft. Pierce. It's a very well protected, but small cove about a mile east of the ICW. There are 4 other boats in here and not much room to swing on the anchor. I set the scope a little shorter than I like, but the wind is supposed to ease overnight. I set the anchor alarm just in case.
When we set the anchor, we got a radio call from "Second Wind," a boat we had seen in Marathon. During the day today, we travelled with 4 other boats, among them "Autumn Bourne," another boat we knew from Boot Key Harbor. Small world.
Last evening at Old Port Cove, we stopped by the newly refurbished restaurant/bar to sample their happy hour. The beer was nothing to brag about, but the blackened chicken alfredo flatbread was wonderful. The folks at OPC have really turned the place into a world class marina, but they haven't raised their rates. Good job, OPC!
The next few days will be interesting. Not many bridges, but a "weak" cold front is expected with showers and T-storms. Yuck!
For a good part of the day today we were able to motor-sail by rolling out the genoa part way. We peaked out at 7.8 knots! Whoo hoo!

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18 bridges!

Whew!
Finally getting some miles under the keel. Today we made it to the Lantana anchorage, about 38 miles from.Hollywood. It's not the miles that take the time, it's the draw bridges. Most of them open only on a schedule that no sailboat can meet. So, you end up waiting at the bridges for an opening. It took us 9 and a half hours to do 38 miles, but - that is the most bridges we'll see in one day for the whole trip. Tomorrow we'll see only 4 and each day after that only 1 or 2.
We are planning a short day tomorrow. We'll go to Lake Worth, stop for a pumpout and some provisions and maybe meet up with our friends on "Paradigm."
If the weather holds, we"l be back on schedule in another day or so.

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Julia Tuttle Bridge & more storms

We finally worked up the courage to attempt the JT bridge.
More storms were predicted for today, so we decided to stay inside and try the bridge. After some emailed suggestions from others, we waited until low tide this morning, 7:10 AM. We worked our way to the bridge dead slow and entered the span just east of the main channel. The overhead beams are about 1 foot thinner there, allowing just a bit more clearance. Upon emerging from the other side, having heard no sickening cruch, we both felt like tossing breakfast. As the adrenaline left our bloodstreams, we both sighed in relief. Whew! We did it.
But that still left us with the prediction of strong to severe T-storms in the afternoon. A look at radar and sky confirmed something was headed our way. Out came the guide books for a frantic search for a marina that wouldn't bankrupt us. Hollywood city marina it is.
About a mile before the Hollywood bridge, the deluge came. Water everywhere, visibility zip. We called the bridge tender and he said he'd open for us even if we were up to 3 minutes late. We made it just as the rain started to ease. Just as we got tied up, the sun came out! Figures. But, there is still that prediction...
So we'll sit here tonight and head out in the morning. The next 4 or 5 days are supposed to be more "settled" according to NOAA.
By the way, that story about frigate birds bringing good luck? Believe it. We've seen two every day we had good travels, didn't see any the days we stayed put.

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So here we sit

And glad of it.
This morning, after checking the forecast and calling BOAT/US to get sea conditions, we decided to stay put another day.
Last night a T-storm hit about 3:30 am. NOAA said this morning 80% chance of more today and for once they were right. An intense line of storms hit the coast between here and Lauderdale. If we'd gone, we'd have been on the ocean when they hit. Whew! Dodged a bullet.
I hate to lose a day, but I'd hate to lose Bev or the boat more.
So here we sit.

Miami

What a day!
Your captain was nervous because of the possible T-storms predicted, but your admiral said "what else is new?" So, we left Gilberts around 7:40 this morning and had an absolutely great sail up the length of Biscayne Bay. The wind was SE at 10 to 15. We roled out the jib alone and averaged 5 knots all the way. A really nice relaxing, quiet 37 miles.
Except - your captain forgot to take the slack out of the roller-furling line. This caused A) a huge jam in the line when we tried to take the sail in or B)Morgan learning some new "salty" words or C) all of the above. You're right C.
Hats off to "Calypso" and "Seminole," two trawler crews who actually understand Rule 13. You might guess, this is rare in Florida.
So now we are anchored at Marine Stadium in Miami, planning tomorrow's run outside to Ft. Lauderdale.

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GPS location Date/Time:04/12/2013 15:40:00 EDT

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Gilberts

After 3 days of motoring directly into a 20 knot headwind, we decided to treat ourselves to a night at the dock and a meal ashore. We stopped at Gilberts, spent way too much on dockage, rinsed the salt off ourselves and the boat and enjoyed Gilberts famous German burgers. If you've not had a German burger here you're missing a real treat.
Tomorrow, if the weather cooperates, we finaly get to hang some dacron and sail across Biscayne Bay to Miami Marine Stadium anchorage. There is a chance of T-storms so we have keep an eye on the weather. Wish us luck.
If we make Miami tomorrow, it's out on the ocean Saturday to Ft. Lauderdale. After that, it's a pretty clean shot north - except for bridges. Ugh.

Check-in/OK message from Mike's Spot SPOT Personal Tracker

Mike's Spot
Latitude:25.18384
Longitude:-80.38882
GPS location Date/Time:04/11/2013 14:27:31 EDT

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Sunset Islamorada.

Our 2nd night at anchor. Jealous?

Crabs!

Don't get me started on crabbers who set their pots inside the navigation channel! Think Banner's saying about "Please don't make me angry..."
Yesterday, we made a short trip around Vaca Key just to get the 7 Mile Bridge out of the way. We watched a great sunset from off Crane Point and had an uneventful night. Uneventful is a good thing at anchor.
Today we motored 29.4 nm, against a 15 knot wind right on the nose. We pulled into the anchorage at Islamorada, got the hook set and then Bev says "What's that line trailing out behind the boat?"
Well, after tugging, pulling and trying to cut the crab pot float line free, your captain suited up, grabbed mask, snorkle and fins and went for a little dive. Thank goodness the #$%^&* thing was only twisted around one blade of the prop. It came free easily once I could see it. We're not really sure when or where we caught it, but the area north of Channel Five was a mine field of pots. Lobster season is over so they must be crab
Damned if I'll ever eat crab. 

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Mike's Spot
Latitude:24.92863
Longitude:-80.63115
GPS location Date/Time:04/10/2013 15:44:24 EDT

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Mike's Spot
Latitude:24.72151
Longitude:-81.08206
GPS location Date/Time:04/09/2013 13:39:45 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

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Tomorrow?

Well, we're full on fuel, water, food, beer wine and all the essentials. The boat is as ready as we can get it. The oil leak is fixed, the windlass is fixed, the manual bilge pump is fixed (along with the two electrics) and the boat is as sound as we can make it. If the weather cooperates, we'll let go the mooring lines tomorrow morning and start on the trek back to Brunswick.
Thank you Marathon for another great season.
Bev got a new work opportunity at Dr. Smith's office filling in for someone on medical leave and now they want her back in the fall. So if the hospital doesn't give her hours, she should be able to work with the doctor.
I did a small show at the theater. It was a "reading" called "Looking." A very cute play about 4 middle aged people on blind dates. It was very funny and had a short rehearsal schedule. I also tried out for next season's "A Few Good Men." That will be interesting.
So, here we are trying to relax and get a good night's sleep so we can start out rested. Watch for our SPOT updates here and on Facebook.
Wish us luck. Our next post will be from an anchorage.
Watch out Tispy McSway's, here we come!

Getting ready

After a good season in Marathon, we're getting ready to head back to Georgia. The first good sailing day after this Friday and we will be setting out. The bottom's been cleaned, the engine oil leak fixed, cooling system leak fixed. The electric winch is operational and the anchor windlass has been repaired. We just need to fuel up and provision and we'll be on our way.
I just tested the link between Blogger and our SPOT messenger and it seems to be working. You will be able to follow our travels either by Facebook or by this Blog.
On an different note, we have discovered that our little Monk Parrot, Morgan, has high cholesterol and will have to go on medication. We have an appointment with the vet on Wednesday to learn how to administer the meds to the little guy. This all started when he had a weird reaction to having his talons trimmed. His feet curled up, he had trouble keeping his balance and seemed disoriented. The vet did some tests and found the cholesterol problem. We'll see how this develops.
I tried out for another play for next season at the Marathon Community Theater. It will be a challenge if I get the part - it's "A Few Good Men." Yeah, me in a uniform, strange, huh? Hey, that's why they call it "acting!"
It should take us about two weeks to get to Brunswick, weather permitting. Then we will hit the road in our minivan on a long road trip. Matt, Bev's son, is getting married in MA in May, then it's off to California for Chandra's High School graduation, Fourth of July with Ben, Sara and Daniel. After that we plan on taking our time getting back to Georgia by way of a few National Parks. This is all assuming that the minivan holds up.
In the mean time, look for our SPOT posts. Each of these SPOT posts will include a link to Google Maps which will show you where we are anchored. Clink the link to see just where in the world we are.

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Mike's Spot
Latitude:24.70907
Longitude:-81.08865
GPS location Date/Time:04/01/2013 15:00:00 EDT

Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!

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So what have we been up to?

Cruising Couple Raises Money For Childhood Diabetes Camp | Cruising Outpost