Beaufort, South Carolina

Renne' and I are sitting in the cabin, 1835 (6:35pm), on Sunday evening.  It is hotter than blue blazes outside and we have just finished dinner.  We arrived yesterday afternoon at about 1500 (3pm) and we are at the Downtown Marina of Beaufort, SC.  Now that is as in Beautiful Beaufort, not Bowfort.  They are Quite Specific as to that point!  Let me digress.

Our niece, Kali, left us in Jacksonville, and headed home to Columbia, on the 20th.  We had just landed at Sadler Point to have the boat fixed, when we were talking with her about heading for Hilton Head.  When she discovered she would not have air conditioning on the boat while off shore, we think she decided it wasn't worth being hot and sweaty if there wasn't a beach to get a suntan on!!

The first picture is Renne' and Kali at The Jacksonville Landing at Hooter's watching the final FIFA Women's Soccer Tourniment where the US Women's team gave up the last point to Japan.  She was depressed for a day!  LOL!!  Sorry Kali.  The second pic is Renne' and Kali at Jacksonville Beach - Great day and Kali got sunburned.  She is fair and I don't think we were out there an hour!!

So Kali rode home to Columbia, SC with her cousin, Fletcher, and that left Renne' and I on our own.  On Wednesday, the 27th, however, we were joined by Renne's Step Uncle Levi (Wilma's brother), and we departed Jacksonville for Hilton Head.  We were SO ready to get going!

We left NAS Jax about 0945 on Thursday and didn't hit the Atlantic until about 1345 (1:45pm).  Levi has sailed throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean, and we have been so impressed with his knowledge and we both have enjoyed learning directly for an expert!  We sailed north out of the Saint John's River to Tybee Roads, made the sticky crossing over the shallows and up the Calibogue Sound, behind Hilton Head Island. 

We landed at Windmill Harboar (South Carolina Yacht Club) and had to enter through a set of locks.  Now this was educational!  This was our first for this.  Neither Renne' nor I, nor Lee for that matter, have ever been through locks.  What is hard to comprehend it the 8 foot tidal range they have to deal with here on the east coast!

We had a great dinner at the South Carolina Yacht Club, and left Hilton Head Saturday morning.  We headed up and out of the Calibogue Sound and across the Port Royal Sound, and up the Beaufort River past Paris Island Marine Corp Recruit Depot.  Now besides the new Marine Recruits that are trained here, this is where all of the Marine Drill Instructors are trained.  Now I was a Naval Aviator, and as a flight student, I was instructed by the very best the United States Marine Corp could throw at us!

Now there is NOTHING in the world as intimidating as this picture!  I had to salute them as we were motoring by, just for memory's sake!!!



Just around the bend, we came on Beaufort's Downtown Landing.  Very nice, a bit expensive, and great docks!

So, last night, Lee, Renne' and I had dinner at Emily's here in town.  This is one of 7 sets of swings overlooking the riverfront here in Beaufort.  Comfortable.

So Levy decided this morning he needed to head back home.  He said we are a loving couple, and he missed that and wanted to go home and do his own adventure with one of the ladies he dates.  He is incredibly active, and we have really enjoyed his being with us during this portion of our adventure.  We wish him the very best.

So it is getting late, we have had dinner and sundowners.  Tomorrow we are headed for Charleston, SC for the next two months.  So we will meet up with you there for sundowners on the docks.  We miss you all!

JonNe'

The Engine Chapter Has Finally Ended!!

It is with a sense of relief that we have decided the engine issue in this chapter of our adventure has finally come to an end!  As we pulled out of the lift slip yesterday, we could tell immediately the performance of the prop was much improved.  When we left the marina at the Naval Air Station last Wednesday on our way to the boat yard, we struggled to achieve 4.5 kts, with the current, with the wind.  As we passed the bascule bridge yesterday, we opened up the throttle and with 3000 rpm, which is what this engine likes to operate at, we hit 6.4 kts against a 1 kt current and 15 kts apparent wind heading back to the marina.  We were both excited and relieved as we realized all of the issues with the engine we have experienced since arriving in Florida are now resolved.

The dinghy is being picked up today and we hope to have it back by Wednesday.  If that is the case, we will be in Hilton Head by Saturday - hopefully Friday.

 

 

Today, Renne' and I will head down to St. Augustine to see the oldest city in the United States.  We are going with Gina Gibson (TMCA) and her new husband Bruce Senay.  They are here in Jacksonville for a while.  Renne' has known her for several years and we have had a great time with them.  We will miss them when we leave.

So we had sundowners with Renne's sister, Priscilla and her son, Fletcher yesterday here at the boat.  It is the first time we have had others here for sundowners since we lelft Port Canaveral.  We look forward to more guests from here on out!

Come to sundowners with us tonite!

Jon Ne'

Amazing what a few hours will do!!

Shortly after writing the entry last Saturday, I was on the deck transferring diesel from our Jerry cans to our main tanks, Renne' was resting in the stateroom, and Kali was down below in her cozy nest in the main cabin.  I had been watching a 40 foot cabin cruiser, with twin screws, trying to back into a spot five slips down from us.  I walked over to assist in docking the boat, but after 5-6 attempts (looked like he was new at least to twin screws), I gave up waiting and went back to my refueling issues.  I remember thinking SPECIFICALLY, "Thank you for NOT trying to back into the slip next to us!!"

Well, somehow he got perpendicular to the boat line, and ended up in back of us kissing the dinghy on the davits.  He had been trying to avoid hitting another boat when he realized he was hitting ours.  He hits the throttle and turns away to escape the disaster, tangles up the dinghy, strikes the outboard, and kisses the stern!!  Holy Moly!  I realized what was happening and began running aft and shouting (of course not a single curse word was ever uttered), Renne' and Kali, below, came running up to the cockpit (Renne' thinking I had fallen overboard or had been injured and Kali thinking we were being boarded by PIRATES), and not a single witness around to see it happened!

When all was settled down, the guy on the cabin cruiser docked the boat on the the T-Head, properly embarrassed, and stunned at what had happened.  Much less that he had run into and damaged a boat owned by a NAVY CAPTAIN (O-6)!!  Now I normally joke about the fact I am retired navy, but he is active duty, a Warrant Officer (whom I have great respect for), and equivilant in rank to an O-1 or O-2.  He was petrified!!

Fortunately for us, his insurance company is Progressive and after discussing our situation (the fact we need to be out of there as quickly as possible), they sent a very nice young lady over to survey the damage Monday afternoon.  Tuesday afternoon, at high tide, we moved the boat to a nearby boatyard (Sadler Point Marina and Boatyard) but got there too late to haul out, Wednessday, they hauled and blocked us and began inspecting the stern.  Although not severe, the damage to the stern was a 4" x 1" x 3/8" deep gash right next to the back stay chain plate.  This could be very serious as half of the pressure on the mast is absorbed right there at the chainplate.  The inspection indicated nothing more than minor damage, so they got to that immediately!  Beautiful job!! 

Now here is the amazing thing and why we believe this was meant to be!!  When we left Grove Harbor Marina and Boatyard (Coconut Grove, Fl) after being hauled and blocked and the prop and shaft repaired (by Marathon Boat Yard), we have had very disappointing results with the prop!  The boat doesn't back for anything in reverse and we aren't getting much forward performance either.  We had been informed by Marathon Boat Yard (remember how satisfied we were with them?$#@#$%^&^%!!!!!) that our prop was now so efficient we were underpropped now and should have the prop pitch changed to reflect the efficiency gained by their reworking the prop!!

So with two recommendations for a prop shop, we chose the one owned by a Naval Architect.  I believed it was better to go to someone who designed and built custom props for the shipping industry if they would work on a prop this small.  As it turns out, Ellis Custom Props took all of the measurements of the prop, determined it was completely out of shape, and that THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER OF THE PROP!  This senior technician comes out with the prop in his hands and states that the die markings on the prop were his and he had ground this prop down from the original casting - now what are the chances of this????? 

This boat was built in Taiwan, rigged in Houston (possibly under the tutelage of our friend Jerry Moulder), and of all the prop shops in the world to choose from, we are standing in the manufacturing facility with the guy who cut the original prop!!!  Yesterday, we picked up the prop and WOW it even looks like a great prop.  I guarantee, they don't want a bad prop out there with their name on it, so I believe it is the best it could be today.  The measurements Prop Tech had given Marathon Boat Yard were all wrong and the work they did was the pits! 
Today, Saturday, I will reinstall the prop and we will be splashed this afternoon at high tide.  Our delay at this point will be the dinghy.  It will be picked up Monday and returned to us, hopefully, on Wednesday, and we will be out of here next Thursday, July 28th and above Latitude 31 by next Saturday.

Additionally, we had the folks at Martech buff and wax the freeboard, toerail to waterline.  I was very concerned about the soundness of our bottom paint, as we had been out of the water in Grove Harbor for 8 days and out here for three days.  We have 4 coats of Interlux UltraKote painted on two years ago this month, and I was concerned that we had killed the effectiveness of the paint.  I called Interlux, and their comment was the bottom paint will last for 30 days out of the water, but before we splash, we were to thoroughly scrub the bottom to remove all oxidation of the paint.  That was accomplished by using a plastic handled scrubby.  Today she looks brand new!  Thanks, MarTech!

Come on down this evening and catch the sundowners.  We hope our issues will be resolved today with the prop going on and the test run this afternoon.

Thanks family, friends, and fans.  We love you all!

JonNe'

Sadler Point Marina and Boatyard (904) 384-1383; www.sadlerpoint.com
MarTech Industries (904) 465-2346
Ellis Propeller Co, Inc. (904) 354-8233; www.custom-ps.com
Progressive Marine Insurance (800) progressive; www.progressive.com/boat

Day of Rest

Renne' and I are still in the marina in Jacksonville, but plan to be out tomorrow.  We have our lovely niece, Kali, with us for the next week or so.  She is a great addition to our shipboard family, and she is really enthusiastic about heading to Hilton Head and Charleston!!

Renne' was really under the weather yesterday, so it was an opportunity for Kali to get used to the boat.  We ran some errands, fixed lunch and dinner, and sat through this really monsterous storm.  Renne' feels a bit better today, so we will work on getting the boat secured.  I have to change the oil in both the engine and genset, and I have to tighten the  throttle linkage at the binnacle (the helm/compass-for those of you in Rio Lindo - hehheh - I'm kidding!!)  Actually adjusting the linkage is not a difficult issue, but I have to get a new, small screwdriver (I lost the other one) or maybe two now, from Lowes or Home Depot.  It would also behoove me probably to get in and clean the prop off.

I will tell you, grass hair seems to grow everywhere here, and it is very invasive!!  My two chains, which I use to hopefully reroute lightening, during a thunderstorm are completely covered with the stuff after only 21 days!  When we parked the boat here in June, I threw the chains overboard, and when we got back to the boat the other day, it was like "Holy crap, what in the world started this!"  So I think a trip around the boat and under it to clean the prop will be appropriate.  I also need to check the air condition and engine strainers today.  Hmmmm!  Glad Renne' will be out of bed today so I can get to the engine room.

Well, Renne's parents are feeling much better.  Renne' spent last week resolving their medical issues and taking care of Miss Wilma while I stayed at the hospital with her dad.  Turns out 86 is getting on up there and medical issues abound.  They are wonderful people, and Renne' came out of this last week exhausted, exposed to CATS!!, and probably exposed to my issues from the previous week.  Hopefully, she will be completely back on her feet today.

So, we expect to be back on our trek in the morning.  We will head for The Landing in downtown Jacksonville, to finish waiting out the thunderstorms, then out the St. John's River and north to Hilton Head Island on Monday if the weather permits.

See ya at The Landing tomorrow evening for sundowners friends.

JonNe' and Kali

A Whole Lotta Travelin' Goin' On

Renne' and I are not sure if we are cruising in a sailboat or living in the car anymore!!  We got into Jacksonville on Friday and split up on Saturday headed in different directions.  Renne' went north to South Carolina to pick up our grandaughter, Payton, so she could spend a week or so with us prior to leaving for Houston to stay with the other side of the family for the summer.  I headed south for Key West to pick up the car.  We were both back by Sunday afternoon, exhausted. 

By Monday, we had received information regarding the rent house we have in Clear Lake, and realized we had to have some repairs completed immediately.  So, to save some big bucks, Renne', Payton, and I jumped into the car - AGAIN! - and another drive west to Houston. We are so thankful for our friends in Pensacola, Fl and Hammond, La for just being there and allowing us to intrude on their lives when we need them.

So we arrive in Houston and meet with Mike Womack, and by Wednesday afternoon we are hard at work on the Little House.  While I am waiting for Mike to accumulate the materials we need for repairing the cross beam supporting the front of the house, I get busy caulking and painting the garage/storage unit we have built on the carport.  Renne' bought 5 gallons of paint for the exterior, a can of paint for the two doors (a stylish red contrast color), a case of caulking, two outdoor lamps for the front and side of the house, and six light fixtures for the ceiling of the carport!  I wore through two fingertips making sure the seams of the Hardy Board siding around the house were sealed properly.  Then, following my brother, Dave's advice and spray painted the place with 3 coats of paint rather than try to hand paint the place.  Renne' painted the doors below.  While I was waiting for the paint to dry between coats, I installed the two outdoor light fixtures.

Thursday afternoon and Friday were spent removing and installing two treated 2 x 10 x 14' beams to replace ones that had dry rotted - can't understand why in the world they would have put untreated lumber up originally - a real head scratcher!  Friday afternoon and Saturday were spent installing two full french doors upstairs, and by Saturday afternoon I was too tired to move.

We didn't get to see too many people while we were there.  Our friends, Dean and Patty were our gracious hosts until Friday night (even they didn't see much of us at all) and Greg and Linda offered up their spare bedrooms until we left Tuesday morning after that.  We had intended on finishing everything up on Friday and leaving Saturday, but that got extended; by Sunday, I was so run down I wanted to rest; Monday I began feeling poorly so we didn't even get to see the fireworks; Tuesday morning we left for Florida; stopped at Loretta and Charlie's in Pensacola again; Wednesday I was really feeling low, so I spent the day in bed there - Sorry Charlie and Loretta; Thursday we stopped in Orlando to meet our friends Sherman (in from Houston for the Shuttle Launch) and his new flame Cindy; Thursday night while settled snugly into the motel, we received a call that Renne's dad had gone to the Emergency Room, so we left there to head for the hospital!

As I was still feeling a bit under the weather, Renne' spent the night in the ER with her dad and I tried to sleep in the car.  Actually that was better than the motel room we were staying in - Great choice Sherman!! LOL

This whole trip was centered around getting back in time to see the Last Space Shuttle Launch on Friday.  Renne's dad was put in a room to get him back in shape and Renne' chose to stay with him to make sure he had a patient advocate. Renne' sent me to the launch.  As important as it was for her, she felt it was more important to stay for his sake.

So the weather broke just enough for the Shuttle to launch.  Sherman, Cindy, and I were there to represent Clear Lake.  It was a glorious takeoff.  For me, it completes the circle!  I had the opportunity to watch the first test shuttle landing at Edwards Air Force Base on September 17, 1977.  Yesterday, I had the privilege of watching the last shuttle launch 33 years later.  I wonder how many others at the launch might have gotten to see the first landing!  Wow, can't believe it's been that long since my early Navy days as a young Lt(jg).

Renne's nephew, Fletcher, will be here tonight and her brother Cary will be here tomorrow, so I think we will start north on Monday morning.  Renne' would like to see Savannah, so that will be our first stop when we leave the St. John's River. 

So come join us tomorrow evening for sundowners and we will be happy to provide the drinks!

Jon and Renne'

Arrived Atlantic to NAS Jacksonville

Renne' and I spent a lovely day meandering the St. John's River west from the Fort George Island Marina, almost on the mouth of the St. John's River and the Atlantic.  We departed about 1000, leaving the dock in a 2.0kt current outbound to the ocean, we muddled our way west.  This trip would be about 25nm and would take about the same time it takes to sail from our slip in Seabrook, Tx to Galveston, Tx.  Today it would take a bit longer as the current is against us most of the way.

Along the route, we passed the clean coal power plant, which is purported to be one of the 10 cleanest burning coal power plants in the world.  We passed a ship and a tug in dry dock for repairs, and only one major ship, an empty tanker called the "Overseas Texas City".  We had to call as he passed and tell him we were from the Texas City area.  He thought that was cool, but as he was getting underway, he didn't want to chance an episode on his watch, so we passed him one toot (port to port) and he and we were on our way.

We passed several potential anchorages as well as the famed "Jacksonville Landing", where, had we arrived off the ocean on Wednesday three hours earlier, we would have tied up to the FREE docks, paid $10 for electricity, and stayed for several days.  But we were not so lucky, so we decided on our way out of Jax we would stop for the night and enjoy the scene.

We arrived at NAS Jax about 1630 in the afternoon.  We were here about 90 minutes when a sheet of rain and thunder clouds passed over the top of us.  Winds picked up to about 30 kts.  Renne' had arranged for transportation to her sister's house to pick up a car when it hit.  She was sitting in the car while I was watching this sheet of rain approach from the west.  I flew down below to close up the boat when it hit.  Talk about rock and roll!  So for 5 minutes I watched from the boat, and as quickly as it came, it was gone farther across the city.

Renne' and I are on our way out again.  She is heading for South Carolina to pick up Payton for a couple of weeks, and I am headed back to Key West to pick up the car we left down there.  We both will be back here on Tuesday or Wednesday.

So we are settled down until the 10th of July - if you can call it that.

See you for Sundowners on the dock tonight!! Oh, ya gotta call us to get into the gate.  They don't just let anyone onboard - but then we just sailed up to the dock without any question.  HMMMMMM!

JonNe'

We Made Jacksonville!!

We made it to the St. John's River entrance and into a slip at Fort George Island Marina this afternoon.  A lot has happened since we left Coconut Grove on the 17th.  We had a great sail, but ended up motoring into Port Canaveral Saturday afternoon.  We were about 2 hours out of Port Canaveral and 2-1/2 hours from being tied up at the marina when there was a loud alarm on the boat.  I was sleeping in the cockpit with Renne' on watch when it happened.  With all that has happened to us, I came out of this deep sleep immediately and headed down the ladder to the cabin, ultimately heading for the engine.  As my head passed the radion I realized it wasn't the engine, but an alarm on the radio.  What in the world????  What we discovered was there was a Severe Weather Alert being broadcast.  We listened with interest realizing the alert was for our area!!  The next three hours, they were expecting quarter sized hail, 60-70 kt winds, ground to sky lightening.  Head for shore!!!  Get the heck out of the way of this thing.  The interesting point was there was nothing in the sky or on the radar that would indicate an issue.  So we hit the throttle, and headed into shore at a great increase of speed of .3 knots.  So we finally made port, got the boat tied up, and still not a big deal, so Renne' and I went below to take showers, fill the water tanks, secure everything that might be stolen, etc.  We got dressed and got back into the cockpit, when - Holy Smackeroooos!!  It was like night at 6pm!  The wind picked up from 10-27 kts and we realized we weren't going to dinner!  Had to secure anything that might blow away, double lined the boat down, closed all the portholes, and fixed dinner.  By the time we were done, we were in a full blown storm.  Amazing - 40 minutes from arriving, life went from dry to incredibly wet - then nothing!  huh!

That was Saturday.

Sunday, Father's Day, I had received a call from Cami, Renne' had talked to her dad, and he was heading for the boat with his lovely wife of 25 years, Wilma.  Now wilma is 86, 5'4", and 110lbs soaking wet!  Bless her heart, she got onboard to see what we have done with the boat, and she had her back to the companionway.  A canvas cover is over the opening to the companionway.  Wilma didn't realized it wasn't a seat, and she went to sit down on the canvas.  She assumed the identity of Houdini.  One second she was there, the next, she was lying on the floor of the cabin, six feet below on her back.  We were all at General Quarters.  Renne's heart stopped, I was panicked heading to give aid.  Got on the radio and called the Coast Guard for an ambulance and in 10 minutes or less, the paramedics were there.  Renne' had immediately applied ice to her back.  It took them 30 minutes to extricate her from the cabin and 6 men and women.  She was taken to the Cape Canaveral Hospital.  Five hours later, she was diagnosed with NO broken bones, NO bruises, and only pain to deal with.  Unbelieveable.  There are angels!!  They must have been lying below her to ease her fall!!  so we spent Sunday with the hospital and Monday recovering a bit. 

We left yesterday about 1300.  Beautiful day.  Nice winds, sailed for 8 hours then NO WINDS AT ALL!!  We motored for 20 hours over the last 30.  And doggone, nothing happened on this trip!!  We will leave the marina tomorrow morning for NAS Jacksonville.  It is a 25 mile motor up the St. John's River - 5 hours.  We will be there tomorrow afternoon.

The current plan is to watch the last shuttle launch.  It has been delayed until the 8th of July, so we are tentatively planning to leave about the 10th for New Bern, North Carolina. 

We have to find the Yanmar Dealer here for the 100 hour warranty oil change, the installation of the shaft saver, and we need to have the prop checked.

All for now, call us when you get to the gate tomorrow evening at the Naval Air Station we will come get you for sundowners at the docks.

Best for today,

JonNe'