Gotta Smile!

Gotta Smile!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Mellow Me


January 20 - 27, 2013


Before we bought Gotta Smile, Brian and I were debating the future of the teak cap rail.  When we purchased the boat, the teak was natural.  I liked it that way.  Brian wanted to varnish it from day one.  For over two years the debate has continued.  On Sunday it ended.  I must be mellowing.  I conceded that since he is the one that does the outside maintenance, it was his decision.  Wow, does that mean I’m maturing? The sanding began immediately in preparation for varnish.  A good varnish job consists of a minimum of nine coats on bare wood followed by two more coats each year.  It is a big job and a big commitment to keep it looking good.  Brian is a perfectionist -- I know it will look great.                      

Sanding completed, taped to protect fiberglass, first
coat of finish applied.
The marina is a short walk to the funky town of Stuart with restaurants, shops and a theater that has a variety of live shows.  We were given tickets to attend the current play, ‘Don’t Give Up The Ship’.  It has good reviews and should be fun.            


We are enjoying a low key week visiting our dock neighbors and Krogen friends.  Even though the boat will be here for another month, Brian and I have a heavily scheduled month coming up.  Lots of travel and exciting plans.  

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!   

















Sunday, January 20, 2013

Feels Like Home

January 13 - 20, 2013

Do you see the last white dot in the line of boats?
That is Gotta Smile.  To make it worse -- the docks
curve to get there.  I need the exercise, but this is
crazy!!!!
We arrived in Stuart on Sunday the 13th and it felt like we were home.  We had spent about 2½ months here last year and made some really good friends.  Plus, many Krogen owners were already here that we had met at the rendezvous last October in the Solomons.  We didn’t realize what a popular marina Sunset Bay is – so, we didn’t make a reservation.  After a little begging and friends campaigning for us at the office, we were assigned a slip even though there was a long waiting list.  Our location was as far away from the parking lot and office as anything can be (¼ mile each way!).  Still, we were glad to have a slip.  Next problem – we were on a fixed dock.  When the tide goes down, which it does a couple of times every day, one must be quite nimble to get from the boat to the dock and vise versa.  Nimble is not a word that describes me!  With double knee replacement on my horizon and an ankle that needs to be fused, I am anything but nimble.  Consequently, the next campaign began.  Sam, the marina manager, took me on as his personal 'hardship case' and set out to find a floating dock for us.  This is no easy task, but after a week of near death experiences, we were assigned a new location on a floating dock.  Yea, we are so happy.  Now I can get off the boat by myself.  One less thing for Brian to worry about.   
 
The guys that are reupholstering our boat offered to store the Boxster for us at their shop while we went north.  We thought that we would be back in November -- not January.  We are grateful.  It was fun to get it back and the weather is perfect for convertibles.  On Saturday we needed a couple parts from the Porsche dealer and supplies from Costco.  Both could be accomplished by driving to Palm Beach.  It is only 40 miles from Stuart, but like entering another stratosphere:  exotic cars, pricey shops, huge mansions, mega yachts.  It just oozes old money.  A great place to drive through neighborhoods and ogle at how the other half live!

Most of the time we couldn't see the houses -- just
the intricate tall walls of shrubbery that insures privacy.
          

 

                           























Just a tiny segment of this cozy home.  Zillow
prices homes in this neighborhood up to $63 million!














Shops on Worth Avenue, where the beautiful people
go to be seen. 
 









 







Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!



Saturday, January 12, 2013

Back In The Land Of Bouncing Dolphins


January 7 – 12, 2013

A backstreet with shops and restaurants.
We had one really fun day in St Augustine!  When we were here in June, Christopher was with us and our days were busy with the fort, trolley tour and pirate museum.  This time it was just fun to walk this great city.  About 5:00 we stopped at an Italian restaurant for a drink with Bonnie and Jon.  Next thing it was 9:30 the restaurant was closing, we had enjoyed dinner, lots of laughs and it was time to walk home. 

 

Another cemetery with crumbling tombs and
tipped headstones.
Checking out a menu

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Twinkle lights decorate a city park near the marina,
Dense fog kept us in St Augustine until 11:00 on Wednesday.  Unseasonably warm weather and cooler water are the perfect combination for fog.  Because of the late start we had to find an alternate destination for the night.  We are members of Marine Trawler Owners Association.  The group has port captains that help members that are traveling in their territory.  Phil and Sara in Palm Coast offered docks to both of us.  We had never used the group’s service before, but Bonnie and Jon are active members and knew the routine.  It was great.  Nice people that just like helping others. 
This guy needs some lessons in anchoring and
reading tide tables. 





Must be a bachelor's pad.  The picture flatters it!

Three more days on the ICW with record warm weather.   The third day was my birthday!  Just three years until I turn 70.......then I can say anything I want and people will just say "she's old, she doesn't know what she's saying".  Brian claims that has been going on for years.          

As Brian prepared his famous Dutch Baby Pancake,
pirates arrived by kayak singing Happy Birthday. 
 















They didn't look too menacing so we invited them
on board for breakfast.

I was offered a difficult decision -- to keep the
treasure bag or my husband.  Hummmm?
Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, January 7, 2013

South From Charleston

January 4 - 7, 2013
After two great months in Charleston, we got underway on Friday as the sun was coming up.  It was immediately obvious that we had been tied to the dock too long.  I pulled in the spring and stern lines while Brian brought in the bow line.  "We're clear", I yelled.  Brian gives the engine a gentle nudge and we begin to move.  But, only a few feet.  The water must be too shallow and we will have to wait for the tide to come in.  As Brian jumps off to tie us up again, he notices that we have a second stern line attached.  Opps, untie that pesky line and we glide out of our slip and into the Intracoastal Waterway.    

Tube Dude is lovin the sunrise and big water!

It is cool, but the sun is shining and there is no wind.  It is a good day to go off shore. I quickly take my motion sickness pill and we head out to the big water.  The waves are two to three feet with occasional swells that are closer to four.  It is a following sea, which means the waves are coming from behind the boat giving us less roll than we would have had from any other angle.  Jon and Bonnie are traveling with us to Stuart.  Our goal of 90 miles ended in a sheltered anchorage just north of the Georgia line.
Saturday is more of the same.  Once again we are off shore.  Normally we prefer to be on the Intracoastal so we can see the homes and scenery, but we did all of that in the spring and there are too many shallow areas where we could get hung up.  Better to go in a straight line and enjoy the deep water.....it's time to get into that Florida sunshine!  

Our plan was to go 70 miles and anchor in a familiar location.  The sight of my biggest mistake since we have been boating (we've owned boats since 1970).  Oh, yes, we were planning to anchor next to Blackbeard Island.  That is where I ran us up on a pile of rocks (ballast from a slave ship) in June.  For a complete recap of the day and the rescue see "The Best And Worst of Days" June 30th.  As it turned out, we were able to go an additional 13 miles.    
Our third and last day off shore was still fairly flat, but the weather deteriorated from cloudy and overcast to a heavy rain.  We anchored at Fernandina Beach, Florida in the rain.  As soon as we were settled and I was ready to take a nap, Jon called.  He had contacted the fuel dock and although they were closed we could tie to their dock and they would fill both of our boats at 7 AM when they open.  So-----still in the pouring rain, we pulled up the anchor, drove to the dock, and tied up.  Since there is 7 - 8 foot tidal movement, tying up was not the simple job that it normally would be. Lots of adjustments had to be made -- over and over again.  Soaking wet, our work was completed.  Time to cozy into our warm cabin, throw our wet clothes in the dryer and have dinner.  



Adding fuel and keeping warm with a cup of coffee.
On Monday we began taking on fuel at 7 AM as promised.  650 gallons topped off our three tanks  that hold a 1000.  We are on the ICW today and as expected there are frequent shallow areas.  It didn't help that we were traveling at low tide.   Jon's boat has a draft of 4 1/2 feet and ours is 5 1/2.  He lead the way in an attempt to spare us the shallow hits.  Several times we are able to slide around shallow zones, but eventually we landed on one.  Luckily, Brian was able to maneuver us into deep water. An hour later, in the middle of the channel I hit rock or cement.  It didn't stop us, but it made a horrible noise.  One more reason to have a diver look at the hull when we get to Stuart.  Tonight we are anchored near St Augustine.  Tuesday morning we check into the city marina to spend a couple of days exploring St Augustine.  After this week, checking into the marina will feel like we're staying at the Hilton!   

Notice the dock compared to the boat in both pictures.
When we tied up we were able to step from the boat to
the dock, we were level.  Several hours later the dock
was above our roof.   

Gotta smile --
we're lovin the ride!


 





         


Tuesday, January 1, 2013

A Very Merry Christmas

December 20th - 30th, 2012

We arrived in St Louis on the 20th in plenty of time to pick up both Christopher and JAC as they were being dismissed for Christmas Vacation.  It was so much fun to see their faces as they dove into their Mom's car and found that we had arrived!  Steve and his family rolled in on the 22nd in time for dinner.  Now the fun, noise and excitement kicks up a notch or two.  Jennifer and Ian had the house decorated inside and out -- it was beautiful.  The only thing missing this Christmas was the snow, and to be honest, Brian and I were thrilled that it missed us! After 26 years of Minnesota winters, we prefer the mildest weather possible.

The Gateway Arch is 630 feet tall and was
completed in October 1965.  Only a few
months before Brian and I had our first date!
So far both the arch and our relationship are
aging well.


 
     


















A view of downtown St Louis from the top of the arch.
St Louis was founded in 1764 and became an
independent city in 1877 when it seceded from
St Louis County.  In 1904 the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition and Summer Olympics were held here. 














The Mississippi River.
We have traveled past the arch 6 times on our boat
going between Minnesota and Florida. 
This was our first visit on land.














St Louis is the home to Anheuser-Busch.
We had lunch at St Louis Brewery where a
local favorite brand is produced, Schlafly.
Brian had a ginger beer (ginger ale) and JAC
decided to get the last drops from the bottle. 


















Everyone tried skating except Grandma and Grandpa.














Grandpa reads 'The Night Before Christmas' just
before bedtime.












6 adults, 4 kids and 2 dogs -- Yikes, this is chaos!













Classic Christmas
A girl and her doll and
a boy with his new mitt and ball!













Just to add a little more excitement to
Christmas Day -- Niko and Addison turned 5!


















The girls have a tea party while we watch a movie.














On December 29th, Bonnie and Jon stopped in St Louis on their way back to our boats in Charleston.  We all stayed at Jennifer's and had dinner in the Italian District, before an early morning departure on the 30th.  It was a great visit and perfect Christmas with all of our family, but getting back home is wonderful too!   

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!