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.
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 …
The BIG rendezvous has traditionally been in October in the Chesapeake.
However, since CA is now the president of the rendezvous for this year, she'd like to see more rendezvous in more places.
What are the key ingredients? Whitby/Brewer …
Here are the symptoms: full pressure and no flow.
Pressure gauge reads 80 psi just like normal.
Propane solenoid clicks just like normal.
And.
No gas. Zero. Nothing flowing.
Here's the secret: turn the gas off at the cylinder. Disconnect it. Wait for the gas to hiss out. Reconnect it …
New Years Eve: Red Ranger, Creola, Joie de Vivre and Voyager II. Pizza, a little champagne. Whitby 42 talk. I waved the camera around, but didn't even get half the group. Rick got some better pictures, I'll try to post them.
CA has washed just about the entire deck …
The Commodore has two safety items for Red Ranger.
Class B AIS Transponder.
Radar.
We've got a good AIS receiver in our Standard Horizon GX2150 radio connected to our Standard Horizon CP300 chart plotter.
But that's not a transponder. We're only visible to big ships as a radar blip, not …
Not related to safety or sailing, but still a priority for Red Ranger. Also, it's something we'd like to do while we've got a few weeks with West Marine and Radio Shack less than ½ mile away.
We have a doddering old marine cassette player. Cassette. It has an auxiliary …
Christmas Day 2013 on Red Ranger.
The iTunes Christmas Mix in on shuffle.
It should warm up from …
Our friend Chris — from way back in the hazy past of high school — stopped by for the day. He was in Florida for a bunch of family-related things (weddings and some vacation and stuff.)
Nothing more helpful than a steady, extra pair of hands to work on a fiddly …
Started: 2 miles from ICW Mile 740, Marsh Island, 30°23.74′N 081°30.43′W
Docked: The Marina at Ortega Landing, 30°16.61′N 081°42.79′W
Log: 19.4 nm. Time 4 hr. Engine 4 hr.
What a hair-raising, sphincter clenching morning here in Jacksonville …
Started: ICW Mile 710, Cumberland Island, 30°45.943′N 081°28.329′W
Anchored: 2 miles from ICW Mile 740, Marsh Island, 30°23.74′N 081°30.43′W
Log: 31.2 nm. Time 5¼ hr. Engine 5¼ hr.
Yesterday we hiked Cumberland Island. I think we put …
Started: 31°21.414′N 80°55.513′W
Anchored: ICW Mile 710, Cumberland Island, 30°45.943′N 081°28.329′W
Log: 58 nm. Time 9½ hr. Engine 9½ hr.
We spent the night under a full moon, lighting the ocean all around us. Full main and stays'l …
Started: ICW Mile 464, Cooper River Marina, 32°49.94′N 079°56.02′W
Anchored: 10 miles from ICW Mile 505, Big Bay Creek, 39°29.790′N 80°19.523′W
Log: 56.5 nm. Time 10 hr. Engine 10 hr. Fuel 35 gal.
Sunday's weather promised to …
Started: Big Bay Creek, 39°29.790′N 80°19.523′W
Midnight: 31°21.414′N 80°55.513′W
Log: 83 nm. Time 16 ¾ hr. Engine 14 ¾ hr.
After getting a thorough ass-whooping yesterday, today's weather promises to be the polar opposite. Seas 2-3' Winds 10-15 …
There are three kinds of wind: too little, too much, and in the wrong direction.
Last Thursday was too much wind. We waited. Friday to Saturday was forecast to be the wrong direction. We're waiting.
We decided to walk the 2+ miles to the bus stop and take the #11 …
Yesterday's forecasts looked good for a run down the coast. We took on water, cleaned up, did laundry showered. We had a final checklist for this morning's departure.
Today…
Well. It was a difficult decision to make. And there's always the regrets after making the decision.
Did I do …