Fauss start 3rd year cruising Catalina 350!
HI Everyone, Mon. Feb 13, 06
For those of you who are wondering, so are we! Where is the nice warm Florida weather. It has been windy and cool until now and it is getting down right cold.the wind is howling and causing the chill factor to activate. It is Threatening a freeze and the possibility of snow in Tampa. Some Floridian told us that you dont shovel cold in Florida. While that may be true, the exercise would help to warm us up. After a week of using the heater in our "tree house".... we are finally going into the water today... we hope. Most experiences here in this yard have been iffy.
What are we doing here is another good question....Working our butts off... It certainly has not been any vacation. We have been on the boat 3 weeks and it finally looks like our home afloat with canvas and rigging and one sail on... and we look like floatsom ... Any nails that may be left are permanently stained blue from the bottom paint..... people hesitate to shake hands and bumping elbows here (as in bird flu greeting) isnt much better as we have indelible grease, grime and paint spots everywhere... The plus is that we off loaded to the dumpster some ragged paint clothes and lots of rags for cleaning etc. Actually have gone thru most of the boat gear and personal stuff and put a lot of it in the car to go home or get recycled. It is great having the car as we are out in the boonies and very far from anything... The nearest store is 4 miles away and boat stores and other shopping is at least 10 miles. Be quite an adventure on the bikes on these roads. No bike paths here. And Florida has wierd drivers (us too) But seems like more of them here than in Michigan.
My brother Bob will take the car for us until we get into a marina. Hopefully will be out of the canal and thru the locks tomorrow. And heading north to Bradenton. We are both looking foreward to being out of this yard... Its like a heavily populated industrial area with all the motors and odors around us. It is quiet at nite and there are nice people and dogs here... so you know that it isnt all bad.
Another Day:
As usual there was a "hitch" in the launch. The boat ahead of us for launch developed a leak and had to be held up in the sling until the captain could fix the thru-hull leak... would we mind waiting till morning? Of course not. Poor guy. Bob took the car and we were set to launch in the morning. Valentines day... We did get "splashed" in the morning and tied up at the dock temporarily to get the boat organized to leave. The engine ran for over half hour and as we were saying goodbye to everyone and just about to step aboard for departure, the engine quit... It would not start. The big power boat from the day before's launch and the sail boat after us all had engine problems... We decided it was a slip virus. Mike and a friend from the yard worked on the engine for the rest of the day and part of Wed until it finally started. They think it may have been air in the fuel line but not sure as they did check so many things. We were thankful not to be underway in the canal when it happened. The power boat left just ahead of us on Wed. but the other sailboat was waiting for a mechanic when we left.
We anchored in a small inland lake and put the jib sail on and furled it. Then passed thru the self operating lock near to high tide and had some anxious moments in shallow water to the bouys... Thats why they say to be at the locks at high tide or rising tide, otherwise you might be "stuck" waiting for the tide to lift you off ... It was more shallow than when we went in months ago... Made it out to the open and deep (7-9 ft) waters of Charlotte harbor... We hoped to get to an anchorage before dark but it was dark and 8 pm before we settled in. Off the ICW near the Boca Grand inlet..It was a calm and peaceful nite and very comfortable. The next morning we got a late start at 10am and headed outside (ocean) to sail north ... The sails were up and looked good but the wind died and we had to motor. Got to Venice inlet and went in to find and anchorage... too shallow in there and no docks available... Went north on ICW to another shallow anchorage and spent a quiet nite. Were glad to get back to the "deep" water in the ICW (6-9ft)... and made it to this resort marina in Bradington about 2 pm.... The boat did and looked great... we were a mess. A shower helped a lot but it will take a few days rest to get set here. We passed a couple of beautiful anchorages in the river and may try those out when we can. We will be here a while as family things going on. Kids will come and stay and hopefully my sister too.
Have checked some of the area out already. There is a nice river walk area here and guys fish along it. Saw a kid (about 10 years old) catch a big Lady fish. It isnt good to eat but fun to catch. We saw it jump right out of the water.. Mike got our light tackle poles out of the car and put them on the boat... We saw a huge Snook in the marina... they are good to eat and fun to catch. And another fellow caught some flounder... we could go for that. There is a museum, aquarium, and planatarium a block from the marina office (we are a block from the office out on the dock)...There are resturants within walking distance. On the way to breakfast yesterday we happened (happily for me) upon a street fair... Produce and arts... they have it every weekend... how fortuitous for us...or me! Mike, silly man, suggested that we take another "less crowded street"... no way that was going to happen.. He found a paper and happily read it while keeping an eye on me in and out of the booths. And we had a good breakfast at an outside cafe.. Win, win.
We are going over to Palmento to see Joe and liz this afternoon. They have been busy painting the outside of their house... Bob (my brother and Joe's dad) has been helping and is proud of their progress. We are anxious to see it.. They have a big old house and have been steadily improving it.
Mike is jogging and I am thinking of rounding up some laundry to do as I get my shower. There is a nice hot tub and pool and the weather is warming up nicely... I still wear long pants but the snuggies, coats and hats are done... They have a patio with gas grills that we can use... Ought to think of something to char up there. We even have cable tv... may never leave the boat... Life is good... even though it is cloudy today.
Hoping all of you are well and happy... love to hear from each of you.
Mike and Judy on Odyssey
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