A Day in the Life (Underway)

 

The decision to pull up anchor and proceed to the next anchorage is finalized during morning coffee.  All data is rechecked and if all looks good – away we go!  This morning dawned clear after last night’s “storm” fizzled out with only moderate rain and a bit of lightning.  Twenty miles is our goal today.

 "Fred", as I named him, spent the morning singing to us!

 Pulling up anchor can be challenging if there is strong wind and/or current but this morning was easy.  The anchor chain is rinsed as it pulls into the chain locker by a winch.  I have foot controls so my hands are free to spray the chain as it comes up.  Sometimes the anchor has black thick mud or debris (it was way worse in Riviera Beach!).  If left unwashed the mud can become very smelly in the locker and permeates the boat.  Yup, lesson learned!  When the chain is in position, whether down or up, there are two safety measures to ensure it doesn’t accidently move.  The first is a flip gate and the second a line clipped to a link and then a cleat.  Both we forgot about this morning!  Just when we thought we had mastered something!

My camera gets a fresh battery and sits near the helm in a little pocket so I can grab it easily.  Paul motors us back into the ICW while I stay at the bow with the ostensible purpose of watching for objects.  That point is mute though since the water is so brackish.  Once we are back in the channel I move around while Paul drives.   

 

This morning the super narrow channel was filled with dolphins.  I doubt I will ever tire of them “playing” with the boat.  Once the river widens, they lose interest and return to their feeding. 

When we began this journey, I would hover on the sunny side of the boat (mostly starboard since we are headed north).  Now, I try to stay in the shade.  Thankfully Paul is on the port side which mostly is shaded until the afternoon.  Sunscreen is liberally applied.  And since we entered Georgia – bug spray!

Paul lets me drive occasionally so he can check the engines or take a bathroom break.  Have you ever seen the movie Failure to Launch?  The scene where Sarah Jessica Parker takes the helm and is worried about hitting something (and there is nothing in sight) is me in real life. 

Wind behind us?  Awesome!  We get a push and it’s smooth.  Wind coming across our beam?  Awesome!  The bugs get blown away and we get cooled off.  Not so good – makes for a rockin’ ride!  Wind coming off our bow?  Ugh!  Slows us down considerably.  Good though when sitting in the swing!

If the wind is enough that I can be in the sun, my preferred spot when moving is one of the dolphin seats on the bow.  I can see the dolphins easily and today I got to see a sea turtle!  It is 88 today (feel like 92) and the water temp is 88.  The wind is 8-13 and makes moving around comfortable. 

Since we arrived shortly after noon, lunch was late today.  I prefer to eat after settling.  A quiet afternoon spent reading while Paul worked on our cockpit lights.  There are three overhead lights and the one directly over the helm needs to be red so night vision is not disturbed.  Lights have been ordered.  Another look at the sail plan for tomorrow.

Dinner and a movie.  A cold shower!  Another perfect day.