We've have little luck in accessing the internet and my 'new' laptop doesn't seem to like blogger and won't let me update our blog...so...I'm on Capt Peter's computer and will make this entry short and sweet, as most of you already know our daily events since first arriving in Punta Gorda. Suffice to say, it's been an adventure getting to know trawlers in general. Nothing like monohulls! We love her and both Roland and Julie Daniels (previous owners) have been absolutely amazing, wonderful, delightful people who have helped us make this major adjustment into their Sea Dog.
THE FOUR AMIGOS!
Thai Julie Peter @ Burnt Store Marina
Brief synopsis:
Feb 23 - departed Toronto
Feb 24 - boarded Sea Dog at Gasparilla Marina
Feb 26 - boat is delivered back to the Daniels docks, with Roland, Julie, Thai and Peter onboard, 'Cocktail Hour' drinks around the pool...until 1:30AM
Feb 28 - Capt Wendy delivers trawler lessons, docking, 3-point turns...and how to depart the Daniels docks slipping sideways through the pilings. ahem. Watched Canada and US hockey, with Julie cheering on Canada to a win...out for dinner/drinks/laughter
Feb 29 - Trawler lessons from Captain Roland and 1st Mate Julie - fabulous, relaxed day filled with brilliant little snippets of tips and tricks from the Daniels.
Mar 1 - out for dinner with the Daniels and their friends from the FedEx days (Roland was one of the original 30 pilots for FE)
Mar 2 - Thai/shopping all day Peter/out galavanting all day with Roland: Muscle Car Museum (a Wal-Mart sized place jam-packed with corvets and the like....both men enjoyed drooling over the vast collections) then off to the airport to visit Rolands plane, a mint twin engine Beechcraft B55, 1974. Stunningly beautiful! And of course, well-maintained, just like his boat! Cocktail 'hour' again.....until the wee hours of the nite! Roland keeps threatening he's not going to come to these one hour cocktails anymore.
Mar 3 - diesel fuel delivered straight to the house for filling the BIG tanks on the trawler. 115.5 gallons/$2.80=$371.04 Great price!
Mar 4 - lots of bits and pieces done on the boat to prepare for departure (wifi installation was a big one!) Steak dinner (YUM!) up at the house and the notorious 'cocktail hour' turns into midnite...again. :-)
Mar 6 - departure/arrival at Burnt Store Marina. Dinner with R&J at Porto Bella. As Churchill said 'it was the best of times, it was the worst of times'....this is our last day with R&J, and it is their last day with Sea Dog. They feel just like family to us, and separation anxiety is in the air for a multitude of reasons as we say our fond farewells.
Mar 7 - depart Burnt Store Marina and head down ICW to Bimini Basin. Big powerboater passes with full wake, just as Thai is in the galley making lunch.....now Thai is wearing lunch, as is the galley floor. Anchored out for the nite with lots of bedding....it's about 45F....and it's been a 50 year record of really cold weather for Florida. Lucky us! :-(
Mar 9 - our first lock going through Okeechobee lock system - Franklin Lock. We are both nervous, but all goes exceptionally well and the linesmen are excellent. Let's hope that holds true with the location in Stuart...heard some not so pleasant stories about an old buzzard linesman there. Anchored at Tranquility Cove La Belle in 3.5 feet of water. Think we'll stick ok without the anchor lifting. A lot of very grubby live-aboards/boats...at least a few are loaded with junk everywhere. Not the nicest place we've seen. I ensure the cabin door is locked fast before crawling into bed.
March 10 - One lock today had a family of Manatees, including a baby...right alongside our boat. Very cool! Arrived in Clewiston at Roland Landing Marina. 700 foot dock at $70US a nite. Little restaurant/bar, diesel and showers...nothing else, and I mean, NOTHING else. No stores, nothing to walk to. Dinner on the lower aft deck, with an aligator swimming alongside. Peter did NOT have rum tonite...just to be sure he doesn't accidentally fall in and become dinner!
March 11/12...stuck in Clewiston. Very bad weather..high winds, rain and thunderstorms. The heading to Stewart shows tornadoes on the radar, so best we sit tight. This afternoon, another rain storm so hard that we cannot see past the aft deck. But since nothing lives in the aft scupper any more, the aft deck "she be dry mates".
DEPARTING ST LUCIE LOCK
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