We woke up and went to the clubhouse for breakfast. Michael Kirkman made his famous pancakes. A little before 9 we headed back to the boat and got ready to head out. We had a nice crew to come down and see us off.
We passed the camera and had a family picture taken.
You can see from the sweats, jeans and jackets, it was a chilly send off.
The lines were cast off at 9:10 and away we went with our buddy boat, Last Boat, with Captain Nelson and crewman, Charlie. We were so fortunate to be able to travel with these two great sailors, who are not only friends, but had traveled these waters several times before.
The first day we sailed down the Neuse, turned into Adam's Creek and had the anchor down by 2:45 pm near Morehead City and Beaufort.
Monday, October 19
Anchor up by 6:45 am. Our first time to really ocean sail. Great day of calm waters and good wind blowing in the right direction. We made it to the Masonboro Inlet near Wrightsville Beach, NC. Anchor down at 5:55pm. The boys put the dinghy in the water and went to pick up Nelson and Charlie to join us for dinner.
Tuesday/Wednesday, October 20-21
We had the anchor up by 7:20am. Last Boat had gone around the corner for fuel. We met them and followed them out to sea.
Going along the inlet, we got a call from Charlie on the VHF radio to see if we could pick up a life jacket they had seen floating in the water. The boys quickly grabbed the boat hooks and rescued it.
We were going along so well, we all decided to go for our first overnight motor/sail.
Our family started about 8pm with each person taking a two hour watch, except Nathan. Brian slept in the cockpit to be available if any trouble arose and to wake the next person for their watch.
I had 8-10, Caleb took the 10-12, Luke took 1-2, got queasy and traded an hour with Brian so he could rest. Jacob had the 4-6am watch, then I came back on from 6-8, then made breakfast.
We came into Charleston, SC at 7:20am. Our friends on two other boats, Tom and Ollie on Our Freedom, and Doug and George on Windfall, that had left three days prior to us, were just ahead of us, so they waited and we traveled with them that day. We traveled down the ICW and anchored in the Coosaw River at 4:45pm.
Thursday, October 22
Anchor up at 7:30am. Short jont down the river to Lady's Island, SC. Anchor down at 9:30am. Time for a partial lay day. Once settled, Brian went with the other men to scope out the town. After the boys were done with school and we had lunch, we went to town with Brian. We walked to the hardware store and got one of our propane tanks refilled and bought two new water jugs to store on the rail of the boat. Brian and the boys especially liked this store because they had free popcorn. Another stop at Dollar Tree for a few things and then headed back to the marina.
Our family was invited to happy hour on Last Boat at 5pm.
From back to front: Tom, Doug, Brian, Ollie, Kerri, Charlie, Nelson, and George.
Afterward, the boys went back to our boat while Brian and I joined the others in town for dinner.
Each weeknight, they have a special one plate dinner. No choices or substitutions, but for $5 that night, we got a huge plate of two giant pork chops, scalloped potatoes, corn, and green beans.Brian and I each just ate one pork chop and planned to take the extra two for the boys. Nelson and Charlie generously gave us their extra pork chops as well, so each boy could have their own.
Friday, October 23
Caleb's 12th Birthday!!!
We had biscuit sandwiches and pop tarts for breakfast. Calzones for lunch, and enchilada's for dinner.
Our Freedom and Windfall decided to stay longer in Lady's Island, so we left with Last Boat at 8:25am. I didn't think we would be going back into the ocean that day, but the weather was such, the captains decided to go for it. The decision was made just as I was too far in lunch making to go with something simpler. The motion of the ocean even on a calm day is more pronounced down below more than up in the cock pit. By the time we were ready to eat I was a little green, but fresh air and saltines helped immensely.
Jacob and Caleb put the anchor down at 7:15pm. We were in St. Catherine's Sound in Georgia. Nelson and Charlie came over to join us for dinner again and celebrate Caleb's birthday.
Saturday, October 24
Anchor up 6:55am. Back out to the ocean. Anchor down 5:40pm in Fernandina Beach, FL.
Sunday, October 25
Anchor up 6:55am. Back to the ocean. Anchor down 4:15pm in St. Augustine, FL. That evening Last Boat treated us to dinner in town at Pizza Time. Then we went for a short walk and saw some of the sights and the old Fort.
Monday, October 26
Our friends on the other two boats, were about two days behind us. We thought about hanging out in St. Augustine and waiting to travel with them, but in the end we all wanted to continue and get to our final destination of Melbourne.
So anchor was up at 7:30am. We stayed in the ICW and reached New Smyrna, FL about 5:15pm. Along the way, Charlie radioed to point out a bald eagle perched on a tree.
We went through several bridges. some fixed and some we called ahead for an opening.
Tuesday, October 27
Anchor up at 7:05am ICW down to the Eau Gallie Bridge in Melbourne, FL. Anchor down 5:10pm.
That evening, Charlie and Nelson had Brian and I over to Last boat for a farewell dinner. They would be moving on the next morning.
I can't say enough how thankful we are to Nelson and Charlie for being such great friends and leading us safely down south through the ICW and ocean voyages.
Wednesday, October 28
My parents live in Melbourne, so we have been looking forward to seeing them and having an extended visit. They came to meet us for lunch at the park near where we are anchored.
Thursday, October 29
Mom and Dad took me to breakfast at Eddie's Sunrise Diner, then back at their house, I worked on weeding the flower beds. After lunch, Mom took me to the grocery store. That evening we took dinner back to the park for Brian and the boys.
They not only survived without me, they seemed to have thrived. Brian got out my cookbook and made pancakes for them for breakfast!
Brian and Luke had been checking the local Craigslist for a new to us phone. Our old one has been such a pain, we just wanted to chuck it overbaord many, many times. They found a Galaxy S5. The guy showed up to the park and it was a done deal.
Nathan and Jacob went home with mom and dad for a couple days with them. Luke and Caleb will have a turn next.
We are in this location for a couple weeks. Mid-November there will be a Seven Seas Sailing Association Gam at Eau Gallie. After that, we will move down to the next bridge in Melbourne, closer to my parents house, and stay through Christmas.
Eau Gallie Bridge
Eau Gallie Library and Park
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