Weather

"I cannot command winds and weather."

                                              Horatio Nelson

 

Somehow, weather seems so much more important on a small boat.  Cece and I live by it, and move by it now.  For three months, we have traveled south, trying to keep up with acceptably warm temperatures.  We've lived by a 45 degree rule (If nighttime temps drop below 45 degrees, we tie up at a marina and swallow the higher cost to plug in the heater).  If small boat advisories (winds over 25 knots) are forecast, we stay where we are.  And, when heavy rains come, we would much rather hunker down in the cabin with some hot tea, than sit out in a wet cold cockpit.  We have become fair weather sailors.

 

 

 

I write todays blog from Eau Gallie, Florida.  We are holed up for three days waiting for stormy weather to pass.  Heavy rain throughout the day has resulted in a Scrabble challenge day with periods set aside for boat cleaning and laundry.  We are also starting to catch up on our reading.

 

Of course, the big news up north this week has been the blizzard that struck DC, Baltimore, and New York.  The same storm crossed Marineland, FL. where we were docked, and brought with it high winds, storms, and colder temperatures (40s - 50s).  But, behind the storms a high pressure system has allowed us three good days to continue our passage south.  We've run short days (7 hours), and stopped in South Daytona Beach, Titusville, and now Eau Gallie.  The Space Coast of Florida has proven to be a beautiful environment whose waterways included the Halifax River and the Indian River.  Much of the shoreline is lined with palms and tropical vegetation of all sorts.  These waters are dense with birds, pelicans, and dolphins.  The daily runs have gotten progressively warmer, and we're beginning to think that colder temperatures may finally have been left behind. Of course it is almost February.

 

The shoreline south of St Augustine is full of coquina rock - not your usual white sandy beaches of Florida.

 

We were able to watch the trainers with the dolphins at the Marineland research facility. It was a crummy weather day as you can tell by the sky.

 

This little fella wanted to join us for lunch!

 

Just hanging out in someone's front yard.

 

For friends that wonder what a boat day looks like underway, the routine has become set.  We'll climb out of our berths about 30 minutes after first light.  After checking boat electrical systems (refrigerator, anchor lite, heating systems, etc.) we start the day with our weather apps and a cup of coffee.  Breakfast and boat preparation follow, usually with a 9:00 departure.  Cece loves to start the day at the helm with her hot tea, and usually communes with the waterway till about noon, siting interesting birds and each pod of dolphins. The undeveloped areas of the waterway are best for these observations.  We will trade rolls about noon and Bob will take the helm.  We try to either anchor or pull into the slip by 3pm.  This allows us time to explore the area were we will dock. We will explore the area usually till sunset, which this far south is now 6 pm. Then there are chores around preparing dinner.  Our evenings are spent reading, playing Scrabble or, if we have any reception we will catch up on e-mail or even Dowton Abby, or college basketball. Of course this pattern will change when we arrive somewhere where it is warm enough to stay put.  That means the water has to be 70 degrees and the air at least 75degrees.  Until we reach that mecca, this daily routine will hold.  

 

Searching for the land of warm breezes and palm trees!!! 

Under-Way In A New Year

A more blessed holiday, we've never had.  We celebrated in Ponte Vedra Florida, before the holiday, with my 92 year old father and his wife, Keith.  Still living on their own, they continue to amaze us.  We spent Christmas in New Orleans where our daughter, Ryanne, and her fiancé, Andrew, hosted us in their new home and new city.  Our son, Bobby, and Chelsea also joined us.  Truly, a holiday visit we'll always remember.  Finally, we traveled back to Annapolis for a New Years celebration with family and friends.  A glass was raised with close friends, family, Justin, our daughter in law, and two granddaughters.  The joy and warmth of these visits, should sustain us for a long time.

But, we have now returned to our voyage south.  Embarking back onboard Second Wind in Jacksonville, we steered south through Saint Augustine and now we are docked in Marineland Florida.

Saint Augustine was founded in 1565 by the Spanish. It was named "San Agustín", for the feast day the Spanish settlers celebrated when they first sighted land in Florida.  The city served as the capital of Spanish Florida for over 200 years, and remained the capital of East Florida when the territory briefly changed hands between Spain and Britain. It was designated the capital of the Florida Territory until Tallahassee was made the capital in 1824. Since the late 19th century, St. Augustine's distinct historical character has made the city a major tourist attraction.  We docked at the city marina located in the heart of the historic district, just south of the "Bridge of Lions".  Docking was complicated by some of the strongest cross currents we've had to maneuver against.  Once docked, we went ashore to walk the historic streets of the city.  We walked by the Castillo San Marco, Cathedral, Flagler College, the old city, and the numerous historic districts that surround the city.  In the evening we enjoyed the St Augustine lights, a beautiful holdover from the Christmas holiday.

Wednesday, we  again got underway. This time we headed to Marineland, Florida.  In June 1938, "Marine Studios" (the name "Marineland of Florida" would later be adopted) began operations as a film studio, including a main attraction of trained bottlenose dolphins open to the public.  With its popularity, the studio gave way to tourist marine shows, with attractions and dolphin shows expanding through the 1950s and 1960s. Both of us remember going to the shows as children and taking our children there in the 1990's.

Apparently, by 1999, when major Hurricanes impacted the coast, the infrastructure of Marineland was near collapse.  In 2003 and 2004 demolition began on the original 1938 oceanarium and the age of the original dolphin show at Marineland ended. Today the park has reopened as a hands-on educational facility.  In January 2011, Marineland was sold and it is currently being operated as a subsidiary of the Georgia Aquarium, offering several dolphin programs as well as educational programs.

We are enjoying a few days touring the facilities, hiking the adjacent nature trails, and taking advantage of the educational programs offered before we continue south again.  We also plan a short sojourn across the state to St Petersburg Florida to visit with Cece's mother for a few days.  All in all though, we are glad to be under-way again.