ADVENTURES OF TIME OUT

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

MAY 1 & ALMOST HOME


YES WE DID MAKE IT TO THE BAREFOOT MAN CONCERT & HAD A BALL

WE DEPARTED BOAT HARBOUR ON 4/27 & ANCHORED OUT AT BAKERS BAY & MEET PAUL & MARY THERE WAITING FOR GOOD WEATHER TOMORROW TO GO THROUGH THE WHALE PASSAGE THIS IS AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THE CUT TO THE OCEAN & BACK IN. WE DID IT BUT IT WAS ROUGHER THAN EXPECTED.

FROM THERE WE WENT TO ALLENS-PENSACOLA AN UNINHABITED CAY TO EXPLORE & ANCHOR OUT FOR THE NIGHT. WE MEET DOUG & LESLIE THERE. ALSO WE MEET BOB & PATTY ON ORINOCO FOR THE FIRST TIME , THEY GOT THERE AN HOUR BEFORE US.

THE NEXT DAY WE ALL WENT TO MANGROVE ANOTHER UNINHABITED CAY. WE ANCHORED OUT FOR THE NIGHT & MIRIAM & I TRIED TO EXPLORE THE CAY BUT AS WE STEPPED OUT OF THE DINK WE WENT THROUGH THE SAND TO OUR KNEES IN MUCK, SO MUCH FOR EXPLORING THIS CAY. ALSO THE SHARKS WE SAW IN THE AREA DIDN'T HELP ANY.

AT SUNRISE WE DEPARTED FOR THE LUCAYAN CANAL & ON TO LUCAYA. THIS BOATING RESORT IS BEAUTIFUL. HEATED POOL , TIKI BAR , ETC., YOU GET THE PICTURE. WE WERE GOING TO STAY 4 NIGHTS & THEN CROSS THE GULF STREAM. BUT OUR RAW WATER IMPELLER NEEDED REPLACING AS WE WERE GOING OUT THE CUT, SO IN WE WENT & SPENT THE DAY DOING IT. THE NEXT DAY WAS EVEN CALMER FOR CROSSING THE 90 MILES TO N. PALM BEACH BUT WE HAD TO DO IT ALONE -THE OTHER BOATS HAD DEPARTED YESTERDAY.

WE ARRIVED @ RIVIERA BEACH MARINA AROUND 5:30 PM & ATE AT THEIR TIKI BAR - GREAT FOOD. THE FOLLOWING MORN AFTER A BREAKFAST AT THE TIKI BAR WE WENT TO CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION TO CHECK IN . WE ALSO DID SOME SHOPPING BEFORE DEPARTING FOR FOR PIERCE. WE MEET DEN & GEORGIA THERE & WE ALL WENT OUT FOR PIZZA.

NEXT WE ANCHORED OUT @ COCOA.

WENT TO DAYTONA & EXPLORED.

THEN ON TO ST AUGUSTINE WHERE WE MEET DEN & GEORGIA AGAIN & MIRIAM COOKED US A LOIN OF PORK EASTER DINNER. ( WE LOOKED FOR LAMB BUT THE SUPERMARKET HAD NONE ??? )

THEN WE WENT TO CUMBERLAND & EXPLORED & SAW THE WILD HORSES UP CLOSE ON THE BEACH.

ON TO BRUNSWICK GA TO DO OIL CHANGES & LAUNDRY.

WE ANCHORED OUT THE NEXT NIGHT ON THE HERB RIVER.

FROM THERE WE WENT TO HILTON HEAD TO CHECK IT OT FOR 1 NIGHT BUT THAT NOR'EASTER CAME THROUGH & WE STAYED 3 NIGHTS INSTEAD. LIFE IS TOUGH. THEY HAD A HAPPY HOUR WITH 40 CENT OYSTERS.

THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO B&B SEAFOOD ON THE MOSQUITO CREEK FOR FUEL & SHRIMP & ANCHORED THERE FOR THE NIGHT.

THEN WE WENT TO 5 FATHOMS CREEK TO ANCHOR FOR THE NIGHT.

THE FOLLOWING DAY WE WENT TO DOCK HOLIDAYS IN MYRTLE BEACH & ONCE AGAIN A GREAT HAPPY HOUR WITH $1 BEERS CHEAP SHRIMP, MAHI MAHI, OYSTERS , YOU GET WHAT I MEAN.WE MEET SOME LADIES THERE THAT SAID WE SHOULD STAR AROUND THAT TOMORROW STARTS SOS. THAT'S SHAGGING ON THE STRAND (DANCING). THEY SAID ABOUT 10 THOUSAND WILL SHOW UP FOR THE PARTY-WE DECIDED WE BETTER MOVE ON.

WE ANCHORED OUT BEHIND TOPSAIL ISLAND THE FOLLOWING NIGHT. THIS IS WHERE THE PIRATES USE TO HIDE & YOU COULD SEE ONLY THE TOPS OF THEIR SAILS WHEN APPROACHING IF YOU KNEW WHERE TO LOOK.

THE FOLLOWING 2 DAYS WE ANCHORED OUT IN THE SOUTH RIVER & THE ALLIGATOR RIVER. AT THE ALLIGATOR RIVER WE CAUGHT UP WITH DEN & GEORGIA & THE RAFTED WITH US & THEY INVITED US ON THEIR BOAT FOR DRINKS & SHRIMP.

THE NEXT DAY WE MADE IT INTO NORFOLK WHERE THERE IS A PARK WITH A DOCK TO TIE UP TO FREE. FREE IS FOR ME.

THEN IT WAS UP THE WARWICK RIVER TO VISIT WITH MY SISTER NORA. SHE LIVES A STONES THROW FROM THE RIVER. IT WAS DIFFICULT GETTING UP THE RIVER @ HIGH TIDE. MANY BOATERS GAVE US ADVICE WHEN I ASKED FOR IT ON THE CR USERS GROUPS OVER THE INTERNET. WE HAD A GREAT TIME VISITING FOR 3 DAYS WITH NORA & RICH.
THE FIRST NIGHT WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE BOAT IN THE DARK , THE BOAT HAD DRAGGED ITS ANCHOR DURING A BRIEF THUNDER STORM & WAS AGROUND IN THE WEEDS AT LOW TIDE. WE HAD TO GET UP @ 5AM HIGH TIDE & WORK IT BACK INTO DEEPER WATER. THAT'S BOATING.

WHEN WE DEPARTED AFTER 3 DAYS THE WINDS WERE BLOWING SO WE WENT INTO HAMPTON VA & TOOK A DOCK SPACE FOR THE NIGHT.

FROM THERE WE WENT TO TANGIER ISLAND . THIS PLACE IS FROM A HUNDRED YRS AGO. FISHING & CRABBING IS THEIR LIFE. THE MAN ,MILTON PARKS, WHO OWNS THE SIMPLE MARINA IS A REAL CHARACTER. WE ATE TWICE AT HILDA CROCKETT'S CHESAPEAKE HOUSE WITH LARGE CRAB CAKES , CLAM FRITTERS, VIRGINA HAM, CORN PUDDING ETC., ALL FAMILY STYLE & ALL YOU CAN EAT. HER BREAKFAST WAS JUST AS GOOD.

NEXT WE WENT TO CRISFIELD MD. A VERY BIG STATE RUN MARINA. VERY REASONABLE PRICED FOR OFF SEASON. NOT MUCH HAPPENING ON SUNDAY BUT THERE WAS A NEW TIKI BAR OPENING WITH GREAT ENTERTAINMENT, SOFT SHELL CRABS & DRINKS OF COURSE.

WE CROSSED BACK TO TO WEST SIDE OF THE CHESAPEAKE & WENT TO SOLOMONS ISLAND TO GET OUT OF THE WIND & SMALL CRAFT WARNINGS- THE SEAS WERE REALLY GETTING NASTY.

TODAY WE ARE IN ANNAPOLIS FOR A 2 NIGHT STAY. FROM HERE WE WILL GO TO THE SASSAFRAS RIVER TO MEET UP WITH OUR FRIENDS DEN & GEORGIA AT THEIR HOME FOR DINNER WITH THEM. AFTER THAT IT WILL BE CHESAPEAKE CITY, CAPE MAY , ATLANTIC CITY, ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS & HOME FOR ABOUT A MONTH TO BE WITH OUR MOST OF OUR CHILDREN & GRANDCHILDREN.

NEXT WE WILL START THE GREAT LOOP, UP THE HUDSON , THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES , DOWN THE RIVERS TO THE GULF OF MEXICO, THE KEYS, THE EXUMAS & BACK UP THE EAST COAST JUNE 08 .