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.
Started: Vero Beach Marina, 27°39.69′N 080°22.35′W
Ended: Coconut Grove near Dinner Key Marina, 25°42.92′N 080°13.63′W
Log: 155 nm. Time: 24 hr. Engine: 24 hr. Fuel: 29.1 gal.
Dropped the anchor at the edge of Biscayne Bay. Not …
It's not that we're hopeful about leaving. We're leaving. We're hopeful about the weather.
Meanwhile, we're cleaning and cleaning. Books, in particular, need frequent airing out to prevent mildew damage. Here's a typical example.
Our friends at 4ShadowsBooks were horrified that we would let good books degrade like this …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Each time we think we're getting more skilled at running up and down the Bay, we learn that the Chesapeake is a tough old bitch and doesn't suffer fools gladly.
The dodger is done. So we're headed south to Deltaville so we can turn around and make a trip up …
Waiting for weather is a skill we're trying to learn.
In Pungo Creek, last fall, waiting for the end of hurricane Sandy was unpleasant: no place to go; nothing much to do.
In Norfolk, however, we have to be a little careful about waiting too long. There's lots to do …
Big Milestone: we've closed the loop on our home port of Norfolk, VA.
While we started this voyage in Deltaville, VA, Norfolk is our home port. I like to think that the first four weeks of living aboard—prior to Norfolk—are a kind of prologue.
Because of Hurricane Season …
Two tasks: Fix the propane. Get to Norfolk.
Note that we left the Bahamas due east of Ft. Lauderdale, ICW mile 1064. Norfolk is 283 ICW miles away. A hair over 25% left to go.
No trip is uneventful. In addition to propane weirdness, which cleared itself up, we had …
The goal was Annapolis in early April. Clearly, that objective is blown. Sky High.
Letting the big picture sort itself out, we've got a bunch of little steps to take.
Get to Charleston, SC. 125 miles rhumb-line mile, 25 hours. 208 ICW miles. We're hoping for sailing, but we'll settle …
This was painful, but necessary.
Stuff broke. We knew something was amiss when Mr. Lehman developed an unusual new smell on Saturday or Sunday. Really. A new smell. We'd learned all of his various noises. And a diesel engine has a characteristic smell. But this smell was new and different …