May 2026
Friday, May 1, 2026
The last few days we have been waiting for Kim's prescriptions that are on a tour of the USA- Indy to NY, spent 3 days in NY, then NC, FL. After 10 days it finally arrived. We had to walk to the auto parts store for fuel filters and oil so Kim could change the oil in the engine and generator. Walked 3 miles to NAPA, only to find that they had moved 4.5 miles in the direction we just came from. Luckily Advanced Auto Parts was around the block. Stopped at the Funky Cuda for lunch and were tired and sweaty.
Kim discovered that they gave him two wrong filters, so Friday morning before the heat/humidity started we headed back out to exchange the filters. Stopped for breakfast and got back to the boat by 10:00 am. We did about 15 miles in two days!
Bull shark breeding season must be over. No fins popping out of the water.
We plan on leaving Fort Pierce on Wednesday morning to head North to prepare to take boat out for Hurricane Season. It is getting hot and humid so time to get back to Michigan.
Saturday, May 2
Got a pump out this morning and then we were off to the Farmer's Market. It is hot and sweaty already at 9:30 am. Storms are suppose to roll in later today. Wind is picking up. Got to the Farmer's Market and guess what Sarah? No Cajun Boiled Peanut stand!!!
Manatee's are just outside Skipper's Cove. It looks like a dad, mom and baby.
Oh! Fins in the water again. Sharks are back!
Google pic of a bull shark.
Dorothy's Gale 2 next to the Tikki Taxi.
Well, storms never came. Good for us! It is only windy and hot.
Now we are being swarmed by Love Bugs!
Monday, May 4
Well, today was interesting. Rub rail on port side HAD to be replaced per the Captain. So, in gale force east winds, blowing the boat away from the dock, we replaced the rub rail. Hot water was used to heat up the new rub rail but to no avail. Out comes the heat gun. That was the trick. 4-5 hours later we successfully replaced the rub rail on the port side. Dock tails with fellow loopers, Harald and Cathy from Ohio, at 5:00 pm. Dinner at Skipper's Dockside. Conch shell blowing at sunset ended our day.
May 5-6
Woke up to our last day in Fort Pierce. We needed to go to the store and get organized to leave. (At Publix we saw this bird on a car.)
After looking at all the weather apps and tide charts we felt it was best to leave. We were going to go out on the ocean and travel 2 days to Jacksonville. So we cast off our lines and left at 11:30 am.
As sunset on the water, the waves had settled down but the winds also lessen. We rocked and rolled all night. Very little sleep happened. I tried sleeping in the cockpit but after 4 hours I gave up. I went below to our bed and soon was mattress surfing. Didn't realize how much movement a mattress could make. So I then moved to the table bed for the hour sleep I got. Up at 5:00 am to relieve Kim from watch. Watched the sunrise and made coffee. ( While sleeping you had to hold on to the bar so you didn't roll off the seat).
The anchorage was 8 miles in so at 4 knots it took awhile. Passed shrimp boats, pilot boats, a car ferry, the naval yard where they had a chain across the entrance to stop any boats trying to get in.
The warning below was on our charts at the inlet. WWll left over mines.
Got to the anchorage right at 8:00 pm as the sun was setting. Only one other boat here so there was plenty of room. Anchor set. Made dinner and went to bed.
After about 30 hours we entered the Jacksonville Inlet. We left the Jib sail up due to the 2 knots of current pushing us back.
As we left Fort Pierce inlet it was a little sporty. The charts said 2-3 footers but we were in 3-4 footers with a 5 footer every now and then. Once we got our sails up it was better. An hour or two later, Coast Guard is coming for us. We were surprised that they would do a safety check in these waves. As they got close they called us on the radio. Asked where we were going and had we turned around from going South to going North. Which we hadn't. So they said ok and took off. What????
Pilot boats in the USA are specialized, high-speed vessels used to transport maritime pilots to and from inbound/outbound cargo ships, tankers, and cruise ships for safe navigation through harbor channels. (Al)
May 7
Woke up for a great night's sleep. No moving. This is a very protected anchorage from all sides. There is one other boat in here. (We are the solid red triangle.)
Sunny morning but storms are predicted tonight. Trying to get into a marina but if we can't get in anywhere we will stay here and weather the storm.
We could not get into a marina today. Either they were full or did not return my calls. So we are hunkering down. We reapplied the weather proofing on the enclosure top today since it started to leak. Hopefully the storm passes quickly and everything calms down for the evening. Another good night sleep would be awesome!
This pink cargo ship passed by our anchorage opening.
Storms all pushed north so we just had some strong winds but no rain.
Friday, May 8
We woke up after a calm night at anchorage. This spot is very nice for being on the hook. I started calling marinas again and finally found one close to where we are going to haul out so we raised the anchor and took off. A container ship had just passed the opening of the anchorage so we were hopeful we would get passed the loading area before the next ship came in or out.
We strapped down our totes of the stuff we are taking off the boat. So much stuff we started with and didn't need!
The last bridge was the Buckman Bridge. This bridge was 65' and we need 64' 8" to clear. I read many blogs about needing to go under this bridge at low tide. We were 4 hours past low tide. I called the marina we were going to and asked for their local knowledge and they said were should be fine. I looked for the board so say what the water level was. I saw 64' and sat down to freak out. Kim thought it was funny to capture my pain. We made it and did not hit anything on the top of the mast. (This boating life is so stressful!)
We had 7 bridges along this route. 3 of them could be a problem. The first 3 were high so we didn't have anything to worry about. The 4th one was a lift bridge which opened on demand. Kim called the Main Street Bridge to have it open. They agreed to have it ready. However, it opened so slow and we had to stop and back up so we didn't hit it. So stressful!
The next 2 bridges were immediately after the lift bridge. the railroad bridge was opened and the other bridge was 75' so we breezed through them.
It wasn't long before we had a container ship coming up behind us at 9 knots. We went to the far side of the channel to stay out of their way. Two tug boats came to guide the huge ship. We just watched as they maneuvered the ship.
We navigated some shallow water as we approached the marina. A storm was coming also!
We needed fuel so we went to the fuel dock. Then Kim had to back up to get to the slip. Bob helped us dock and tie up just as the first drops of rain came.
We grabbed out umbrellas and headed off to Julian Fish Camp for dinner.
Saturday, May 9
Busy day. Kim washed the salt off the deck of the boat. I cleaned the frig and did laundry. So glad we have a washer dryer unit on board! Walked to Enterprise to pick up the rental car. Yep, we got a 7 passenger white mini van. Ugh! However, all 6 totes fit with room to spare.
We took down both sails and folded them up. We are lucky to have a wide dock next to the boat. Made 5 trips to carry the heavy totes to the car. We are on the end of A Dock so it was a hike.
Went to Walmart and Home Depot to find the Damp Rid buckets to keep the moisture out of the boat while it's on the hard.
The picture of the fuel dock is where we got fuel. Kim had to get the boat in the haul out well. That was a new one for us. Bob was there to keep us off the wall.
Ended the day talking to some people from the marina over drinks. We were hot and tired by 9:00 pm.
Dorothy's Gale 2 from the bridge.
Things you do not see at Walmart in West Michigan-Crab traps.
This is new to us. KFC Saucy's. It seems like they have a few more choices than the regular KFC.
Mother's Day
Another work day. Walmart run again. Put dingy on deck. Outboard motor down in the locker. Winterized the generator. Hauled more stuff to the mini van. The van is getting full!
Mother's Day dinner at Julian Fish Camp. Good day!
Monday, May 11
Looking at the weather and determined today was a better travel day than tomorrow, Kim moved the boat down the St. John's River to Green Cove Springs Marina for haulout. I drove the rental car to the marina.
Green Cove Springs Marina docks used to be for WWll military ships. You need to go up ladders to get off your boat. The docks could use some maintenance.
We spent the rest of the day taking down the enclosure, securing the halyards, etc. It was hot and sweaty! Left to stay at a hotel about 5:00 pm. Went to dinner and enjoyed a good night sleep.
Tuesday, May 12
Rainy, windy day. So glad you came into the marina yesterday. We. had planned on coming in this morning. That would have been a challenge.
We are second in line to come out of the water. Last minute things to do before that. We covered the dingy with a tarp and put the lines that stay on deck in sand bags to protect them from the sun. Got that all done just as the rain starts.
First boat is out. They have pulled our boat back, closer to the haulout well. But the heavens opened up and we have to wait out the storm. One hour later, it's our turn.
Dorothy's Gale 2 is safely on the hard. She will get a sun cover and hurricane straps later this week. We said our goodbyes and headed home. It was a great winter in Florida and the Bahamas. We are ready to go home and see family and friends.
