We're off on the Loop March 11, 2013

The gods of  mirth have conspired to send us out on a journey north.  And so for better or worse (hey, I remember saying that once before) we have left the dock at Loggerhead in Stuart for parts north.  Of course we departed during an ideal period, at least from a mirthful god's point of view.  A high pressure ridge moving down across Florida is bringing higher winds than we'd like especially considering our intent to anchor out as much as possible.  And it was howling from the south at times coming up the ICW, but we were moving north and the winds were blowing us that way so it was an easy ride.

The previous few days we've spent in feverish activity getting the boat ready.  What's that?  It doesn't look any different?  Oh, but you should look on the inside.  Actually other than the new name, most of what we've done has been interior work, basically cleaning etc.  Otherwise yeah, it looks pretty much the same even though we've spent countless hours doing "stuff".

Nyla, a marvelous person we met in Stuart does upholstery kinds of work and did up these cabinet inserts for Mary.  She also refurbished the forward (guest) stateroom bed.

And our Bikes, essential tools of hauling food, implements, and other required boat stuff, fit on the sundeck.  Well, fit might be a bit generous, but they are in and not outside so hopefully they'll last a little longer before rusting out.  Cant wait to try grilling and getting at the freezer when we power it up.





So we intended on getting up at 7am and leaving the dock at Loggerhead by 8:30.  Right.  We got up before 8am though which is pretty good for us.  After saying good bye to some great people, Fred and Judy, Lou and Joanie, Bob, Ralph, Peggy and Terry we left our slip (Thanks Fred and Joanie for the line help!).  We tootled over to the fuel dock for a paltry 155gal of diesel. I wont mention the cost except to say I have owned several cars costing twice as much.  After pumping out the holding tank we started up the engines and with the wind pinning us to the dock, I attempted to use a bow spring line to move the stern out from the dock.  It did, but not enough or so I thought so I tried to pivot the boat to move the stern further off the dock all the while forgetting I had the wheel hard to starboard.  It was another exciting docking moment and another lesson learned!   At the very least we're certainly providing a certain level of entertainment.  Oh, did I mention we also snapped off a fender tender clip when we docked?  The fun never ends!

So Long Loggerhead

It's somewhat sad leaving leaving Loggerhead.  So many great people, but one must move on at some point and for us this was a good time since we have to be in WI by March 25th and leaving the boat in Jacksonville seemed like a good place to start stage two of the journey.  The impetus to stay though was difficult to over-come ... I mean heated pool, convenient shopping, cocktails, friends, and the sense of ease being tied to a dock during less than pleasant weather.  But ... the call of adventure proved stronger!  And so off we went.



The trip up the river was uneventful.  It only got exciting at the crossroads (spot where the ICW and St. Lucie inlet cross) where we met a barge southbound and had to jockey around to make the turn up the ICW to head north.  The first time we encountered the crossroads several months ago we had no idea where to turn.  Really confusing until we studied the charts more closely.


We were running at about  7  knots which is slow but quite scenic.  Certain others I wont mention by name, are less enthralled with slow and scenic but compromise isn't really an option in this boat.  Nothing spectacular to see really, but relaxing none the less.  Followed this sailboat most of the afternoon.

A turn to starboard after marker Red 188 gets you into the anchorage on the east side of the ICW almost directly opposite of the Ft. Pierce marina which they are currently expanding and remodeling.  One very helpful mantra for navigating the ICW is "green to sea".  Green day marks and buoys are always on the seaward side of the ICW.   There are a few areas here to anchor but in southern winds we were experiencing it looked pretty rolley so we decided to try and enter Favor Cove further inside.  Good decision!  It was analogous to flipping off the fan switch... the winds just stopped and the seas were dead calm once we entered the cove.

Coming into the Cove.

It was a little dicey coming in over a well documented shallow area (4.7ft) but we cam in on a  low tide so shouldn't present a problem for anyone if the tides aren't at the low end.  We draw 4ft 2inches.

It turned out to be delightfully  calm in there as opposed to the anchorage areas we passed through when entering.  We are the only boat in here.  Very nice!  And it's much easier to get the dinghy down without the high winds too.  We, of course have to take the dog to shore.

We were the only boat in the cove which is surrounded by private homes.  Maybe not as scenic as some anchorages but very calm and peaceful.  We picked a spot with about 12 feet of water and let the anchor down.  Also decided to get out the snubber for practice.

For the curious sort, this is a snubber

We've only taken the dinghy down twice before.  But we're old salts now so this will a breeze.  Dinghy went into the water easily, and Mary and the lines off and stowed in short order while I surprisingly remembered where the keys were and got the dog and two life jackets ready.  The dog, unused to the rather extreme height from the swim platform, was not squealing for joy as I lifted her down.  But apprehension disappeared quickly enough.

Cruising with a dog does have it's issues., especially with one who's finicky about what and where "its" done.  We haven't, at this point, started attempting the pee on an Astro Turf mat quite yet.  And in Favor Cove there is a decided lack of places to walk your dog.   But with the dinghy down we had the option of finding someplace for the dog to "go".  It was about 13 hours, a long time to hold it!



We ended up heading into a private marina about a mile from where we were anchored.  No place to land the dinghy but this kindly couple working on their Hatteras invited us to tie up to their dock so we could walk Cleo thus averting an exploding dog scenario.  They gave us some pointers on dogs and mat peeing too.

Then it was back to the boat and grilling before indulging in a peaceful nights sleep.





We did manage to get up at 7am the next morning.  And it was dark, a little cool and generally not the tropical morning one expects.  Dog didn't seem to embrace the early morning either.  We took her over to the marina again, and got the dinghy aboard and secured.  I started the engines and Mary engaged the windlass to bring up the anchor. But first we had to get the snubber off....

... and off came off.  Literally.  Well actually the shackle on the eye hook of the snubber lost its pin and the chain hook fell to the bottom along with the shackle pin.  Oh boy!  So no snubber for our next anchorage stop, Melbourne.