Windward Spirit's Adventures
Our first sailing cruise from Florida, to the coast of Maine, and all that happens on the way.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Well here the day has come that we head into our home waters. As per usual on our trip the wind was on our nose so we weren't able to sail in, but seeing as that is the way the trip started its only fitting that that is the way it should end. As we cruised by the Skyway Bridge it really gave us a feeling of being home, then we could see the Don Cesar the big pink building looming on the horizon.Yes its true we are really home. I must say I was getting pretty excited when we turned into Blind Pass and saw our favorite watering hole Woody's. As we got nearer we could see our friends John and Shelby standing on the sea wall and waving, then John gets the crowd on the patio to clap for us as we go by.. We were astounded and felt tremendous.. We couldn't believe it what a amazing welcome home..We anchored the boat in the pass and went ashore. Bella was having a fit, we normally take her when we go ashore, but they don't allow dogs at Woody's so she couldn't go.. As we pulled up to the rocks so I could get out of the dingy, out John was waiting to give us a hand and hugs, then Shelby came up also. We walked in the bar and there were lots of our friends who we had missed seeing, hugs were shared around the bar and we felt fabulous. You couldn't wipe the smile off of our faces...It is so nice to see everyone.. Even the bartenders remembered our drinks. I was very impressed to hear how many people we reading our blog, I never knew so many people from Woody's were reading along. Just knowing so many of our family and friends have taken this adventure with us makes us feel terrific.. This journey has been a fantansic voyage, with all the people we were lucky enough to meet, all the friends who put us up, all the trials at sea, the family that came to see us while we pulled into different ports. Even in the times of terror when I though it was all over, or the times we broke down and had to stay in different ports for repairs this has been a trip of a lifetime with memories made, are our greatest gift... We will forever cherish this adventure and be thankful for all the people who took it with us and cared enough to find out where we were, what we were doing and that we were alright. Knowing all of you were with us made all the hard times so much easier and gave me someone to hear me when I wanted to scream out loud.Carl and I got along great on this trip ,not to say we didn't have our times, like docking, but all couples have that. Thank you very much all of you for staying with us the whole time.. We love you all each and everyone one...Thanks again...Heading to our home dock we had 10 knots of wind from the east and had all sails up. That is the fastest we have ever sailed from Woody's to John's Pass...Sailing under blue skies to home.. As Carl told the John's Pass bridge tender, looking for an opening after being out to sea for 7 months headed in from the Gulf,.. Even the bridge tender welcomed us home..
Saturday, December 1, 2012
It was a beautiful sail all the way to Anna Maria Island. The sun was shinning the water was calm and the winds were fair, and with both sails up we made it there in only 4 hours. I took a shower on the boat since the weather was warm I could do it.. Only the water pump has been acting up and it didn't flow very well, at least I don't smell anymore.We tied up to the Bradenton Pier which is now closed, we couldn't figure out why that was so we stayed there anyway. There was another sailboat there and we asked him what the deal was and he said he didn't know either and he had been at the dock 3 days and nobody had bothered him, so what the heck..Once we were ready to leave the boat we put Bella on a lease and went and got some ice cream, don't worry we know right where the store is..I must say we got so spoiled on our trip with the rich ice cream we had had all up north, this just wasn't as good. But don't think that stopped us from eating it. We sat on the free trolley bench ate our ice cream and when the trolley came I hopped on the trolley to go have a pedicure. Carl and Bella went back to the boat so Carl could get a shower and wait for me. I was in no rush , how wonderful it was to have a pedicure and don't my toes look great...I stopped at a Publix to get some cash and called Carl to tell him I was on my way back, he said to met him at the open air bar on the corner. I did and we had a couple of drinks, chatted with the people next to us and then got back on the trolley to go to dinner. While on the trolley, a man got on who told all of everyone to sing. He was 92 years old and he would play his harmonica for us. He was very entertaining. Carl didn't find him quite as fun as I did. But the whole trolley clapped and cheered for him.. I choose a place for dinner called Sandbar and let just say I would not waste my time going there again. The service was good , but the food was not all that. I was really disappointed since it was the end of our trip and I really wanted a nice dinner. Back on the trolley we went to the Drift In the local bar at the end of the dock. We like this place we always go there when we are in this town. Its a great local place. We partied pretty hard then headed back to the boat, it was right to bed with me. We slept in till late then we got up and had breakfast at a Rotten Ron's. Then walked to a store where I bought this cool clock I saw the day before. Now we are in the gulf and headed for Woody's in our home water. Woody's will be the last stop on our trip.. Oh what a wonderful summer...
Friday, November 30, 2012
A beautiful morning it was to wake up with the temperature at about 60 degrees and the sun shining. We started the day in our jackets but Carl had his off by noon. The winds were just right and Carl put up the main sail before we even pulled anchor. With not much traffic, only a few small fishing vessels we headed out under full sails, this is a great way to bring our trip to its ending days. The life of a sailor the only life for me.. We stayed on the inside until Charlotte Harbor then we headed out into the Gulf. The inlet was very rough with the current going against us and the wind with us, we were getting rocked around pretty good. So much so I put Bella's life jacket on her and I put mine on also. I must make sure I get us those comfy kind of life jackets, when we get home, these bulky ones are tough..Sure dummy wait till the trips over to get those... Once in the Gulf and we were healed over and heading north, but we did have to go a couple of miles out of the inlet to avoid shoaling. The waves were on just off our bow and were about 3 feet but the winds were about 15 knots and we were sailing well under blue skies. We came in at Venice Inlet and found a place to drop the hook for the night. There were teams of rowers out with a coach boat next to them calling orders over a megaphone.These teams seemed to be high school students. They were moving along pretty fast. We like seeing them, and sat in the cockpit watching them. I cooked dinner and we played with the dog wondering what it will be like to be back home. Will Bella get use to the land, of course she will, she's a land lover... Today we head back out into the Gulf and make our way to Anna Maria Island, where we will spend our last day away from home. Hope its a really fun day..
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Well we made it to the other side. When we woke up at the dock in the park I walked over to the Citco to get my powerball tickets while we waited for the fog to lift. Once I was back at the boat it was time to leave. We weren't out in the river very long when Carl calls over a ranger in a passing boat to tell him of something like a log in the water that could be a problem with navigation. The ranger said he would check it out , he comes back and says when he tired to grab it it went under water and he would check on it later. Carl thanked him and we went on. I made bagels for breakfast and we kept on motoring on. About mid afternoon Carl says" Hey Rosie check this out, a gator is swimming next to the boat like the dolphins do, playing in our wake..." I can't believe it so I jump to my feet and run over to the other side to see it.. See enough there is no gator, Carl was pulling my leg and I fell for it.. Okay can we say DORK... So I'm a big dork, I'm sure I saw that in a Tarzan movie when I was a kid.. At 2pm we stopped for fuel and a free pump out in Ft. Myers. I walked the dog and called my friend Barb, who lives in Cape Coral to see if we could hook up for dinner, but she already had other plans.. Bummer.. Maybe next time we are here. We dropped anchor for the night in a anchorage in Cape Coral. We had dinner and sat in the cockpit under the stars to enjoy one of our last nights out. We are getting closer everyday, it won't be long now.. This. morning we got up early so we could make it to Venice before we stop for the night. We will be going out into the Gulf at Charlotte Harbor, it looks like it will be a nice day..Sailing, Sailing over the oceans blue. By the way I didn't win powerball... Nuts... I already had the money spent.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The day began with us waking up and hitting the lock just outside of Lake Okeechobee. It was an easy lock, just like all of them this time and we were out on the lake. The lake was smooth as glass, with almost no wind and no one else in site. We did about half way though when we see a trawler and on the other side we saw a couple of bass boats in the weeds,not easy to see. This lake is so big you can't see the edge of the lake while crossing it. Second largest lake in America. Our day went pretty fast and we were able to wear shorts most of the day.. Oh how happy that has made me...Yeah baby...Nothing much to mention this morning. We got as far as La Belle and had to wait for the bridge to open until 6pm. They don't open between 4 and 6 due to traffic. I got things ready for dinner while we waited, and watched the mosquito's come out, quick close the screen on the gangway.. You will not suck my crew's blood...Once the bridge opened we made our way to other side. The town had a free dock to tie up to for the night, but typical us we tied up to the wrong one at a county park. Well it was dark and I told Carl nobody would be by to check, so we stayed there.Besides it was a high dock and I didn't want to be to close to the gators..They like little dogs..Not my Bella.. True to my words no one did. When Carl got up it was a heavy fog, so he let me sleep until 9am and as soon as I got up I went to buy my lotto tickets for the big drawing. No need to get on I have the winner.. Today we hope to make the other side by the Gulf.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Good morning we anchored just off a bridge in Port St. Lucie for the night. When we went to bed there were lots of sailboats anchored, but when we got up at 7 am most of them were gone. What time do these people get up, the crack of dawn...I think they are in a race or something..Glad I'm not on those boats... It is so nice to have warmer weather..... We were able to be in the cockpit with jeans and a t- shirt most of the day, early morning we needed a light jacket..Now big whop.. Actually it is a big whoopee... We are back on the Okeechobee Water Way and it is just an easy cruise on a river. We did pass though Stuart where we spent 4 days on our way north,(boy was that fun) that's where we saved a woman's life on the dock.. We also passed a place in the river where we saw lots of horses at the waters edge, only this time there was only one horse. We stopped at the marina we docked at after the storm on Lake Okeechobee. This time we fueled up, and they remembered us, we make such an impression, good or bad...Or maybe it was Bella they remembered..It is also the place where the girls from New England told us we needed more chain on our anchor. Oh the memories... At about 3pm we tied up to the dolphins just outside of Port Mayaca lock. We will be crossing the lake today but it was to late in the day to make it before dark. On our way north we took the south rim route, this time its 10 miles shorter , the water is deeper and much faster to cut across.The weather today is beautiful, it should hit the high 70's or low 80's , YEAH BABY WE LOVE FLORIDA....
Monday, November 26, 2012
It was 8AM when we pulled up to the fuel dock at Telemar Bay Marina. This is the marina that Jim and Marie live at, so we decided to fuel up right there. Now the fuel prices were the highest we have seen but what the heck, we were right there. All eyes were on us as we pulled anchor, apparently right where we anchored there is a sandbar near us, and all waited to see if we would run aground, thank goodness we didn't. The head dock master was on duty with some new worker and we are the first fill up of the day. He hands Carl the hose and we fill up, after Carl stops pumping the pump still rolls up another 6 cents. We wonder what the heck, so I go inside to pay and tell the dock master that it kept rolling after Carl had stopped the pump at $50.01 and it said $50.07. The jerk proceeds to tell me maybe it was pressure in the hose , what did I think he was really gonna rip us off for a nickle. I didn't say anything except I will pay $50.01. Boy did he get mad... Then he charges me $53.00 because of tax, and is acting like I killed his mother..I go outside and tell Jim that the guy doesn't believe me and Jim says I saw it I will tell him. Then Carl pulls out the water hose to fill up and the jerk comes out and says " hey water is 10 cents a gallon". Then the jerk says " What you think we should give you it for free, we pay 6 cents per gallon.. You bitch about a nickel and you want water.." They don't have a meter so how could they tell how much water we used.. What are we in the Bahama's ...The guy just wanted to be a dick and we knew he would say some ridiculous price so we just put the hose away and left the dock..Then I say to Carl wasn't that the same guy who was a jerk last time we were here.. And low and behold it was.. So if you come this way don't give any business to this marina, the dock master is a big jerk.....Besides they have the highest fuel prices we have paid... Too bad because the other workers like Fred and a lady I don't know her name( Sandy Carl thinks) are very friendly..On the ICW is was a warm day with little wind. Carl had the main sail up all day it did help a little. We covered 67 miles by time we had dropped the anchor just outside Port St. Lucie..It won't be long now before we are in the Okeechobee Water Way.. Our trip is nearing the end and we have mixed emotions about that..Can't wait to see family and friends but hate to see it end..
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