Norfolk, VA
To see as much of the world as we can,
Using the smallest carbon footprint we can,
Spending the least amount of money we can,
Making as many friends we can.
Well, hellish winter storms for all our friends up north. Just chilly here in Vero Beach.
The Whitby sandwich is great because our friends are right next door. Want to chat with the neighbors? Bang on their hull.
But the last two days have been rough on Red Ranger.
We've lost track of our mystery case files, so I don't know what number to assign this particular case, but it was as baffling as any case we've tackled.
Earlier this week, CA went looking for her favorite black hoodie. And came up dry. No hoodie.
Clearly. It's misplaced …
Cravings. Coffee (good coffee!), Power, and Wi-Fi. A short hop from the beach in the posh resort section of Vero Beach. This appears to be called Ocean Side.
It's a pleasant 1+ mile walk from the marina. Perfect.
Good, fast Wi-Fi helps with our passage planning. We're looking at the …
There's a standing Thursday night party here at the Vero Beach City Marina. Fabulous. We got to meet many of the cruisers who are staying at Vero. Some are leaving soon to get south ASAP. Others are leaving eventually.
And more are showing up, too. Today, for instance, we …
Started: Eau Gallie (N), 28°08.16′N 080°37.53′W
Moored: Vero Beach Marina, 27°39.69′N 080°22.35′W
Log: 31.5 nm. Time: 6¼ hr. Engine: 6¼ hr.
Rafted up with Creola here at Vero Beach. This is a small mooring field, very well …
Started: Titusville (N), 28°37.83′N 080°48.44′W
Anchored: Eau Gallie (N), 28°08.16′N 080°37.53′W
Log: 32.2 nm. Time: 5½ hr. Engine: 5½ hr.
Making progress toward Vero ("Velcro") Beach and some anticipated repairs. We chugged down the Indian River in …
The only thing open on Sunday in Titusville appears to be The Coffee Shoppee with no electrical outlets nor any WiFi. Friendly. Good food. Antiquated.
The Municipal Marina screen porch has outlets. That's a start. And it has WiFi. That's good, too.
It was so foggy this morning…
How …
Started: New Smyrna Beach/Sheephead Cut, 29°01.65′N 080°54.93′W
Anchored: Titusville (N), 28°37.83′N 080°48.44′W
Log: 28.5 nm. Time: 5 hr. Engine: 5 hr.
Great visit in NSB with some more friends who date back to high school. Breakfast …
Started: Daytona/Seabreeze, 29°13.79′N 081°01.26′W
Anchored: New Smyrna Beach/Sheephead Cut, 29°01.65′N 080°54.93′W
Log: 16.3 nm. Time: 3 hr. Engine: 3 hr.
Quick trip down the river from Daytona Beach to New Smyrna beach. Three separate lift …
Started: St. Augustine Municipal Marina, #26, 29°53.30′N 081°18.44′W
Anchored: Daytona/Seabreeze, 29°13.79′N 081°01.26′W
Log: 57.1 nm. Time: 8 ¼ hr. Engine: 9 hr. Fuel: 46 gal.
Did not get up in a big hurry. Didn't hustle to …
Yesterday we dismounted the windlass to check out it's internals. CA says it feels like it's "grinding" or "rough".
We took off the four huge bolts that secure it through the deck.
We took off the dozen 10mm bolts that hold the bottom in place.
What greeted our eyes …
Check this out. It's 8.5" x 11" — a full page of letter-sized paper.
The city of Green Cove Springs has some kind of officious streak that causes them to issue this kind of document when you use the public pier.
So, what do you do with …
Started: Marsh Island, 30°23.74′N 081°30.41′W
Mooring: St. Augustine Municipal Marina, #26, 29°53.30′N 081°18.44′W
Log: 38.0 nm. Time 6½ hr. Engine 6½ hr.
Last of the Sweet Potatoes. CA bought a bushel. A bushel! of potatoes from the …
Started: Green Cove Springs, Governor's Creek, 30°00.72′N 081°41.26′W
Anchored: Marsh Island, 30°23.74′N 081°30.41′W
Log: 42.6 nm. Time 7½ hr. Engine 7½ hr.
We've heard mayday calls before. They've always been far enough away that we haven't been …
Yep. Looks like Congress Park. Little Gazebos. Trees. Grass. Very cute.
Here's our official home address: 411 Walnut Street. It has a cute "Main Street USA" look. Sort of gentrified. We joke that we're on the 9th floor. Odd side of the hall looks out over the river. Really …
Started: The Marina at Ortega Landing, 30°16.61′N 081°42.79′W
Anchored: Green Cove Springs, Governor's Creek, 30°00.72′N 081°41.26′W
Log: 18.5 nm. Time 3½ hr. Engine 3½ hr.
Feels good to move after a month at dock.
The boat works …
Ahh. Vacation. Seems a little odd when we live on a boat. But time off the boat makes the time on the boat all the sweeter. You can play, too. We're thinking more seriously about the "Guests in the Bahamas" alternatives.
We visited our kids for the pan-holiday celebration: Thanksgiving …
The problem is stuff that's loose in the head when we're under way. In the ICW, a few things rolling around the counter tops don't count for much. But on an offshore passage, loose bits wind up getting scattered around the head, making life unpleasant.
The commodore saw a …
Three Whitbys left the Ortega River this morning, heading for slack tide at the railroad bridge.
We're so jealous.
We had a kind of a smell the other day on Red Ranger. A new and unpleasant smell.
Found the cause.
Not happy about that.
It was a Samlex/Cotek ST1500-112 Pure Sine wave inverter with a 30A transfer switch and a 30A circuit breaker.
Emphasis on the was …