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.
The trip from the Mojave to Ft. Worth passed through Carlsbad, NM. (And El Paso, TX.)
History:
Where are we at the start of the year?
Waiting for some repairs to Red Ranger.
Traveling through New Mexico. This is in Carlsbad Caverns.
Here's how I figure out what week we're in.
>>> from datetime import date
>>> start = date(2021, 10, 20)
>>> today = date …History:
Vegas was family time …
History: - Weeks 1-4 Cross Country Week 1-4 - Week 5 Cross Country Week 5 - Week 7 Cross Country Week 7
Where we are now:
From Carson City, we drove to Ely.
There's nothing along the way. Seriously. Nothing.
History: - Weeks 1-4 Cross Country Week 1-4 - Week 5 Cross Country Week 5 - Week 7 Cross Country Week 7
Where we are now:
When we left for …
We've arrived in Nevada.
History: Weeks 1-4 Cross Country Week 1-4, Week 5 Cross Country Week 5
Where we are now:
We're not on the boat. Nor are we in our hurricane-season hide-away near Asheville, NC.
On October 20th, we loaded the truck and started west. Some places are bivouac locations, other places are proper destinations. Catch up on mail. Do some birding.
It's been about 54 days since Hurrican Ian. We have a mechanic, a canvas company, and a carpenter working on things. While Red Ranger is getting fixed, what have we been doing?
We've been seeing our kids (and grandkid) on the west coast.
And -- of course -- seeing the west coast …
Tied To Dock. 26°52.3529′N 082°14.0032′W.
This was a "Sphincter-Clenching" day.
We started by deflating Scout and removing the head sails. Easy things to do at anchor when there's not a breath of air moving.
The Rocna anchor would not …
Anchored. 26°57.0662′N 082°11.2751′W.
We're cruisers. I think all cruisers carry jerry jugs of spare fuel on deck.
Since this is the end of this cruising season, we poured the fuel from jerry jugs into the tank.
This can be messy and involve …
Anchored. 26°43.6071′N 082°15.2692′W.
The early morning part of the trip was delightful. We had 10-15 knot winds from a direction that was ideal.
For a while.
Our boat has a 40-gallon (150L) holding tank. Plus a Nature's Head …
Shifted to Ft. Myers Beach Mooring.
Moored. Ball 5. 26°27.3728′N 081°57.0415′W.
We had a Docwa confusion with the mooring ball assignment.
We find Docwa to be handy for making reservations. The Docwa dance involves you making a request and the …
When we depart, we always say we're "bound for" a destination, like Marco Island. We're not necessarily going to actually get there. It's the ocean: things will change.
The plan is an 18-hour overnight passage. Leave at noon, arrive at dawn. Due to DST, dawn …
Anchored at 24°37.5312′N, 82°52.3086′W.
Fort Jefferson -- centerpiece of the Dry Tortugas.
From Boo Boo Key, it's a solid 6 hours to the Dry Tortugas.
We had 1-3' seas, which is manageable, but unpleasant. It's at the edge of being …
Anchored at 24°34.1905′N, 82°10.1428′W.
This is the start of Phase V -- The Dry Tortugas.
The first leg of the trip to the Dry Tortugas from Key West is to Boo Boo Key. This is a patch of mangroves they call "The …
Moved! We're now docked in Slip A-15 at the Key West Bight Marina. Our location is 24°33.775′N 81°48.0516′W.
We're at a dock. This means several things.
We moved from the mooring field.
Top off the water. We're down about 50 gallons in the …
We've moored in the Garrison Bight Mooring Field. Our location is 24°34.704′N 081°47.151′W; putting us on one of the furthest balls out in the mooring field, a full mile from shore.
Big Lesson Up Front: Taking your own boat to Key …
We've anchored near Pye Key and Torch Key. While we dropped the anchor at 24°39.803′N 081°25.583′W, we didn't stay there.
I did not read the coastal pilot carefully. The "controlling depths" for the channels near here are 3½′ and 4′. This is a place …
Our fourth Island-hopping "day sailing". (Ugh. Again. Not actually sailing, the wind was almost on the nose, so it was a 5-hour motor.)
We're moored on ball K-9 (at 24°42.250′N 081°05.550′W) in Boot Key Harbor. It's between Boot Key and Vaca …
Our third day of "day sailing" to go island hopping. (Again, not actually sailing, the wind was on the nose, so it was a 5-hour motor.)
We're anchored at 24°51.762′N 080°44.516′W, not far from Lower Matecumbe Key. There's …
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