Desperately Seeking Sunshine

October 13, 2005

Friday, October 07, 2005 - Bull Creek, , SC
By Tom

We waited for the tide to approach slack before we cast off from the marina. Milo and Mila both pouted. They like their air conditioning and cable tv.

We motor sailed down past Paris Island and back into the low lying marshes that seem to make up all of South Carolina. Our destination for this evening was a whopping 25 miles away in a little anchorage right off the ICW called Bull Creek.

On the way into said creek, we past another sailboat that appeared to have people our age on board. After we got the hook down, we called over to them on the radio to introduced ourselves and invite them over for some shrimp appetizers.

Don and Sandy on board Anam Cara are from Indiana and are also on their way south to the Bahamas. They have been sort of traveling in the company of another boat whose name I forget. That boat showed up around 5 pm and promptly ran aground on a large shoal.

We tried to help them off, but after about an hour and a half in the rain we decided to wait for the tide to come back in. Eventually they floated off and they too (Ed and Mary) joined in the shrimp eating festivities. A good time was had by all.

According to NOAA good weather is at least 2 days away, so we will continue motoring down the inside. Tomorrow we cross the border into Georgia.

Saturday, October 08, 2005 - Queen Bess, , SC
By Amy

Another day as a swamp thing. I came into the cockpit about 7:30 to find Ed and Mary, new friends from last night, right on our bumper. Their anchor, it turns out, was right below our boat. In a few moments, we were able to get out of their way and then we led the train down the ICW.

The dolphins were romping all day. I saw a lot more noses and tails than usual. Wonder if it's mating season.

We pulled into a lonely creek in the swamp. The water looks like it might get a little thin at dead low tide, but other than that it's quite nice.

Listening to NOAA, it looks like possible weather for offshore work tomorrow, so we are currently undergoing preparations. For Thomas, that means frying up some chicken, which is his favorite offshore food. It looks like steak fajitas/tacos for dinner and an evening meeting with Don and Sandy, who may wish to follow us into the great blue tomorrow. That would be our first offshore buddy boat experience.

Sunday, October 09, 2005 - Underway, Ocean, Ocean
By Amy

Sailing offshore. No log

Monday, October 10, 2005 - Saint Augustine, Saint Augustine, FL
By Amy

The best thing that you can say about an offshore passage is that it was uneventful. This one was.

We rose before dawn yesterday (yes, including me!) to finish prepping the boat and departed as soon as the light allowed. It was a mass exodus, as Anam Cara, Ed and Mary, and another boat that shared their anchorage all filed out. We motored down the ICW to St. Catherine's inlet and made it out to the ocean without much ado. Anam Cara followed, maybe an hour behind us at that point.

Thomas and I began our usual shifts, resting in the cockpit or down below when we weren't at the helm. The waves were less than five feet the whole way, making it a comfortable ride, but there wasn't enough wind to sail. The angry bees in our outboards worked hard and pushed us along at an average of 5 knots. The conditions would have allowed for more, but then we would arrive at St. Augustine before dawn.

As it was, we did get to the outer mark about an hour too early and hung out with the engines in neutral until we had enough light to find our way in. We caught the 8:30 opening of the Bridge of Lions and had the hook down soon after.

The successful passage was celebrated with showers all around. The ferrets didn't share our enthusiasm for this form of jubilation. They asked that future rewards be presented in the form of banana chips.

Our excitement was dulled a bit by our inability to contact Anam Cara on the radio or by cell phone. We lost touch with them overnight. When we heard the Coast Guard on the VHF discussing a boat that had gone aground overnight with two people aboard, one injured, we were a bit distressed, They finally said the boat name, and it wasn't Don and Sandy. We finally caught up with them about 10:30. They had some engine problems overnight and came in at St. John's River rather than continue to St. Augustine. That puts them a day behind us. We hope they can catch up.

With all friends accounted for, we headed to town. A quick grocery trip and a stop at the bar were in order. Nothing in St. Augustine has changed. We saw exactly the same people sitting on exactly the same bar stools as we had several months ago.

I think we will head on tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - Rockhouse Creek, , FL
By Tom

I was up at 5 and had the boat underway by 6. The rest of the crew slept in. I think Amy materialized around 9:30 with an offering of grilled chessies, so we let her tardiness slide.

Another uneventful day of motoring in the rain. I think it has rained everyday for the last two weeks.

Our destination for the day was Rockhouse Creek, about 10 miles south of Daytona Beach and after a quick fuel stop along the way, we had the hook down by 5 pm. More rain off and on through the night. Tomorrow we should hit Titusville. We spoke with Don and Sandi on Anam Cara and they should rendevous with us tomorrow

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - Titusville Bridge, Titusville, FL
By Amy

We saw manatees! In all our travels in manatee country last year, we had only one unconfirmed sighting. Today, you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting one. They are as blubberous as advertised.

That was about the only exciting part of the trip today. More motoring down the ICW in the rain.

Anam Cara caught up with us, and we had them over for evening cocktails. They don't currently have an outboard engine nor a real "rowing" dinghy, so they had to paddle over in the wet noodle. (See photo.) I think the wind pushed them sideways as much as they were going forward. Needless to say, they will be picking up an engine before they leave Florida.

It was a late night of socializing, so our appetizer steak quesadillas were the only dinner before hitting the sack for another early departure tomorrow. Maybe we will take a day down in Eau Gallie.

Thursday, October 13, 2005 - Eau Gallie, Eau Gallie, FL
By Tom

We gave the Anam Cara's an hour head start this morning. I upped anchor and set the sails to give chase while the rest of Team Dream Catcher slept in. Hmm.

It took about an hour, but we ran them down. I took some photos during the pass.

The next five hours were a sail/motor/ motor-sail depending on the time of day, alignment of the planets and general weather conditions. We arrived off of Eau Gallie (Oh Golly) around 2 and anchored on the south side of the cause way.

Later after Anam Cara had arrived, Don, Amy and I went into town to hit the West Marine store for boat parts. Sandi wisely stayed on her boat and avoided the deluge which struck 15 minutes after we landed. We tried waiting the rain out, but it was no use. We swam and waded back to the dinghy and then worked our way back to the boats.

Around 5 or so, we dinghied back into the local watering hole. Eau Gallie has been a favorite stop for us because of the phenomenal happy hour at Conchy Joe's, but when we went in to the bar, we discovered that the establishment has changed hands! No more free buffet! Ahhhhh! Stop the insanity.

Thoroughly depressed by the lack of buffet food, we consoled ourselves with a few beers on the outside covered porch and listened to the two man band play. Despite the lack of food, a good time was had by all.

Being that Conchy Joe's is no more, we will probably move on to Vero Beach tomorrow.