Happy Anniversary

An odd circumstance today - I'm in Britt, on Georgian Bay, on the same weekend as I was two years ago. And that was a pretty special time, a lot of fun and a lot of good memories. Not a day I'll quickly forget, especially as a lot of great things and a great friendship,  came about because of that day...

So, here I am, again, in Britt. It was a great sail from Killarney, which is one of the most spectacular stops in the North Channel. Anchored out in Snug Harbour - I honeymooned there 34 years ago - oh my! How did that happen, all those years gone by?
A friend came by for a visit and we were going to sail...so of course, the winds just vanished (they were 15 knots earlier in the day) and the rain poured down. What the heck, put the anchor down in Covered Portage Cove and spend the afternoon drinking wine, snacking on cheese and crackers and laughing. It's all good.
So of course, the next day the winds pipe up again, too wild to head out on Georgian Bay, which has 6 - 9 foot waves.  Go figure. Tie up to the dock at the liquor store - what a civilized community this is! Chat with locals and tourists, walk the dog, catch up on some writing and boat work. Meet some of the locals, get fresh pickerel dinner at Herberts.
The next day, the winds have gone light - again. Head out under motor....about ten miles out, the winds pick up, the last three hours were great sailing, finally. Watched a 36 foot powerboat struggle in the six foot waves about a half mile from me - while I was having a great time and Gypsy Wind was just roaring along in conditions she was made for. Talked to the guy and his wife later at the dock...they were NOT having fun...couldn't believe that I was having an easy time of it and enjoying myself.
Got into Britt, headed for the dock and BANG! Hit something under the water hard and lost my steering. Not good at all. Managed to get the anchor down, and lines to two people on the dock and pulled the boat in. Far more luck than skill involved. It could have gotten ugly. Not happy at all, not the least because it turns out other boats have hit the same obstruction - it should have been marked.
Today, dove under the boat to see if there was any damage. None thank heavens, that would have been a disaster. Might have had to spend the winter here in Canada and go back to work supply teaching in the Catholic high school board. Not that that would be a bad thing, mind you....but winters in Canada are just too cold and I hate to shovel snow. I would need to find some way to stay warm...
So tomorrow, my chum Gerry is driving in from Sudbury with some parts I need to do the repair and that aren't available in Britt, which is a small town...make that very small town....Tuesday, off to Parry Sound, then the day after that, Collingwood. Now, given that I'm going to be underway, can you predict the weather? Yup, you got it....no wind at all! Damn. Another motor trip....
Here's Covered Portage Cove...enjoy...

This coming weekend, I'm speaking at the Port Credit Inwater Boat Show.  For those of you in the area, see you there. It's a good show.

Sailing in God's Country

Ahoy all - I'm finally back in Lake Huron's North Channel. Picture this - protected fresh, deep waters, with hundreds if not thousands of beautiful anchorages, no tides or currents, nothing in the waters that will bite or eat you...although the mosquitoes are literally teeth with wings. And the black flies can be far worse, although this time of year, thankfully, they're over with.
Getting up here was a bear. The winds did not co-operate on Lake Huron, so I listened to the drone of the diesel for the entire distance to Tobermory. From there, the winds were predicted to be favourable - but believing the weather forecasters is about the same as believing politicians and car salesmen....
So of course, the day I get to Little Current - where there is actually the sole strong current in the North Channel, and it reverses too - don't the winds just go wild? Thirty knots no less, and because it's Haweater Weekend, a big festival, in Little Current, there's not a slip or spot on the face dock to be had. One boat anchored out had already been blown onto the rocks - yes, we have rock up here, not sand, and lots of them.
I decided to try the small bay beside Picnic Island, where two other boats were anchored. I anchored with 100+ feet of line in twelve feet of water and went below for a moment. When I came back up, the boat was dragging, very quickly, towards a broken-up crib - one that would do serious damage to the paint job Doc and I did last summer. And if I missed that, I'd be aground in front of the beach, so things were not looking real good. Racing to the bow, I managed to get the anchor off the bottom and pulled away from the danger, raced back to the bow, raised the anchor another few feet, raced to the helm and pulled ahead again - the boat was going backwards nearly as fast as I could get it to go ahead with the engine. Am I having fun or what?
Giving up on this little adventure, I returned to Little Current to look again for space at the dock - and lucked out, when Wally's - no relation, honest - opened up one space for me. Now this was so much better...

Gypsy Wind in Tobermory, entrance to the North Channel

Strawberry Island Lighthouse, near Little Current

Little Current Swing Bridge at sunset...

I come home for sunsets like this one...

An hour later, one of my closest chums whom I've known since high school showed up with a bottle of wine. All is good. And here are a couple of photos of the North Channel for you...

I'm back...sort of!

Ok, you all had your chance to become a world famous blogger by posting here, and you all passed on it! I can't believe it. Ah well....
Since my last post, I've traveled the rest of the Erie Canal (fleeing YeeHaw Junction), stepped the mast at RCR Yachts in Buffalo, and gotten through Lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River, leaving me at Sarnia at the moment.
Sarnia has always been one of my favourite stops, ever since my first visit. Went ashore, asked someone at the club where there was a grocery store. He handed me a hamburger AND A BEER!, and asked, "What do you need a grocery store for?" 
Well, he certainly had a point, didn't he? 
My first night here, I tied to a mooring ball rather than anchor because of the storm threats. Wasn't that a good idea? About a half hour after getting here, a storm hit and the winds spun the boat 180° in a heartbeat. Aduana was out of the v-berth and sitting on my lap about a half a heartbeat after that, poor pup. The winds probably hit close to 50 mph and stayed there for an hour and there I was, tied to a big fat mooring ball - something I usually don't do. Thing is, when I went to anchor, the ball was right there in the dark, so I thought, 'what the hey!'...another example of WallyLuck© in action.
Here's a map of my travels for the last while. Stopped in Port Colborne, Long Point, Port Stanley (some great memories of fun times there), Erieau (which I've often referred to as Eerie-oh! - there's a very shallow gene pool there that someone needs to put some heavy duty bleach into!), Pelee Island (met some great new people there, hello Jay and Aimee) and then Windsor.
Couple of notes of interest: 10% cream for my coffee is $4.09 a quart (litre) as opposed to $4.25 for two quarts in the US. Diesel fuel is $5.25 a gallon, compared to under $4 in the States. Beer, $5 or more per bottle in a pub, vs an average of under $3 in the US, and wine - don't ask. But we have 'free' health care here. 
Folks, the offer to guest blog here remains open....and I'm a bit surprised not to have heard from a certain lady sailor and writer in Boston (helloooo Meredith?), her boss (helloooo Peter?) and a certain Pirate in Urbanna (HELLLOOOOO Doc?) with some interesting tales...Oh yes, a Seafarer owner in St. Simons (helloooo James?), and some people who own a gorgeous Hinckley Bermuda 40 (helloooo Pat and Joe?). And Terri! 
Helloooo, is anyone listening?

Erie east, out of Buffalo - light winds, motored most of the way

Winds on the nose - as per usual

Actually got to sail from Point Pelee to Pelee Island. From Pelee Is. went to the Detroit River

Ever Wanted to Be a World Famous Writer?

As you all know, I'm working on a project to produce a tv show about cruising around Cuba 
This will be keeping me very busy over the next few weeks, as I try to put the funding together to make it happen, using the Kickstarter funding website. If you want to know more about that, check out Cuba - Forbidden Paradise
So, in order to make it all happen, and keep the fun happening here, I'm opening up LiveBloggin' the ICW to you! Yes, that's right - you too can be a world famous blogger, right here on LiveBloggin'! Ok, maybe not world famous, but there are people reading this blog in places like Russia, South America, Australia and South Africa. That's a lot of the world. It's actually amazing how many people in so many different places are finding this blog.
So - here's the deal: if you have a boating story of your own, or other story that you think would fit well in LiveBloggin', send it to me at bloggintheicw@gmail.com and I'll see if it fits. If it does, you're in! 
It can be about boating, about what you think about boating, about your favourite boater, favourite boat....whatever you come up with is fine with me.
For those of you who aren't professional writers, or who aren't comfortable having others see your writing skills, relax. I'll gently edit whatever you send so that it reads well - that's work that I've done for over 20 years, so your missive will be in good hands. If you're really shy, we'll publish you without using your name.
And for those of you who ARE in the business of writing - we all know there are some great stories that have never been told. Well, here and now would be a great time to put them out, as I'll guarantee anonymity - er, unless I get a really good cash offer or a subpoena! But barring that, I'll protect your identity to the death. Um, maybe make that to moderate pain... more than a hangnail, less than a really bad toothache.
So....who's going to be the first guest blogger here? Let's have some fun with this.

p.s. those of you with outrageous boating stories that include me in them....be gentle. Remember, I know where you live!

A Visit to YEEHAW Junction...or How I Survived a Visit to Redneck Heaven!

I was nearly to Baldwinsville NY, sailing west towards Lake Erie on the Erie Canal, about a half hour before sunset. The boat was running fine, but a 20¢ gasket on the secondary fuel filter broke just 2.4 miles from my destination and there I was, stranded in front of this guy's trailer site. Picture a nice small camp, nothing nearby, with a ratty 27 foot camping trailer, I think this was an old Rambler trailer, and a bunch of people hanging around the campfire. Looked nice, people having a good time. I went ashore to borrow a phone to call the Boat US towing service.
The guy who was renting the trailer, Al, walked up with beer in hand, no shirt of course, introduced himself - nice enough so far. But then there's the rest of the cast of characters....Dennis, skinny, long hair nearly to his waist and tattoos everywhere, and drunk - he was also only wearing shorts. George - short, stocky, stumbling drunk out of his mind. Do you discern a pattern here? Then there's Carol Ann, who is a brunette version of Ellie May Clampett from the Hillbillies...her mother, who is NOT Granny, but damn near as old. A creepy woman in black, hat and all, who sat and stared into the fire the entire time I was there. Carol Ann's son, Peter, 25. A woman about 35 or so, said she was a Gypsy, about as flaky too, and who apparently had arrived with George and didn't know anyone else. There were others but they were bit players in this drama.
So...let me put it this way...another partier, Lee, loaned me his wife's phone to call Boat US, who indicated they would contact the tow captain and call me back. While I was waiting, Dennis fell in the fire, too drunk to realize it. Burned his legs badly, so badly the tattoos there were burned off. One couple took him to the hospital...and didn't return.
This left Granny and the Woman in Black pissed off because both thought they were going to jump his bones - and he was no prize, believe me. Were I a woman, I'd hate to ever get that lonely. I actually wouldn't have thought it possible, but I was coming to realize, this IS YeeHaw Junction.
Worse however is that I now became a possibility for Granny, since Dennis was out of the picture. Oh no! And I can't leave until I get a phone call back from Boat US, who I'm hoping will come get me at 6:30 the next morning. Or sooner!
While all of this is happening, Al is being as chummy as possible with Ellie May - er, Carol Ann, who is actually his niece. At one point, he tells me she had a fling with his brother (who is of course also her uncle), and he wouldn't mind a bit of that action for himself. Also, apparently, two of her ex husbands (no idea how many she has!) committed suicide. You have to wonder about that one...
The Gypsy, Jessica, had avoided George so assiduously that he got drunker still, and how he did that without alcohol poisoning I have no idea, then fell on and destroyed the beer cooler, then left. This left Jessica with Peter, the 25 year old, and they kept wandering behind the trailer where it was nice and dark. 
I was grateful for this because prior to this, Jessica the Gypsy wanted me to row her out to my boat, coincidentally named Gypsy Wind, which she found just fascinating. Fortunately, I had to remain and wait for my phone call, but things were getting dicey. I'm trying to be polite and social here since Lee is helping me out, and I have three scary women who are looking at me like I'm the winning lottery ticket.
My return call still hadn't come, so I was starting to panic...I needed to get out of there. It was getting dangerous by this point. Carol Ann has decided to chat me up and her mother is resenting the competition - and I didn't have the nerve to tell her there was no competition in any case. 
The woman in the black dress continued to stare into the fire and say nothing; more than a bit creepy let me tell you. A bit later, noticing my lack of interest, Carol Ann heads into the trailer and falls asleep in her uncle's bed. Al, of course, was pleased that she was wouldn't have to sleep in her tent, or some such reasoning...
Finally, my call came. YES! Yes, the tow was arranged for the next morning. Yeee Haw - er, I mean, yahoo! I could make my excuses, tell everyone how nice it had been to meet them, and head back to the boat, anchored at a distance that none of these people would be likely able to swim....I hoped, although, earlier when I was trying to fix the problem, Al had tried to canoe with Carol Ann out to the boat and tipped over. Neither one can swim, but it led to the high point of the evening.....picture Ellie May in a wet t-shirt contest and you'll get the idea.
So that was my Saturday evening. I grew up in a blue collar mining town, so I kind of understand redneck mentality - but the main difference was, we wouldn't sleep with anyone closer than a third cousin! Ok, just kidding, but you know what I mean.
The towboat the next morning was, of course, late by several hours.

GET ME OUT OF HERE!

At the canals....

Since my last post, I've made it to Castleton on Hudson, made some great new friends there, taken the mast down, and sailed up to Waterford, NY. I'm now less than 100 yards from the entrance to the Erie Canal and the trip west to Lake Erie, and Canada. 
I've also been busting my butt putting together the website, Facebook page and funding program for the tv show I'm doing about Cuba next winter - Cuba, Forbidden Paradise.
So if you've wondered where I was hiding, I wasn't...I was here, at the keyboard, just not on this blog. And man oh man, am I beat!
If you're curious about what I've been up to, here it is for you to check out - http://facebook.com/cubaforbiddenparadise, http://CubaForbiddenParadise.com and also http://kck.st/LKbOP7, the tinyurl for the funding website where, if you're so inclined, you can donate to 'Cuba, Forbidden Paradise' and get some really spectacular prizes, including a cameo appearance in the video, and your name in the credits as an Associate Producer. If you're not so inclined, then please like the Facebook page, share the funding link on your Facebook page, email it to really wealthy friends - whatever it takes! After all, you don't want to find me on your doorstep, begging for kibble for Aduana, and beer for me.
Well, perhaps some of you do, but you're in a minority I'm afraid!

Hooking up on the Jersey Coast...oh my!

Ok, you're thinking....just what has this goof done this time? Well, I got hooked up with a couple of lovely young things on my way up the Jersey coast....one was named Bonita, as in Tuna, and the other was Spanish, as in Spanish Mackeral. Yes, I had the fishing line out, because everywhere you looked, and I do mean everywhere, you'd see the water jumping and splashing as big fish (like the ones I caught) were chasing little fish. You could actually see the fish as they rolled at the surface - not one or two, but ten or twenty at a time. I've never seen the water so active! So I 'hooked' a couple of fish...what did you think I meant?
Aduana of course got really excited as I reeled these beauties in, barking and peering over the side of the boat as they came up to it. 
So - it was fresh fish for dinner three nights in a row, and mmmmm...was it good! 
Congratulations to my friends Wendy and Mike - they've just bought a new boat and are now nearly home in Toronto with it, having brought it up the Hudson River and through the Canal - in fact, only a few days ahead of me. 
I'm currently in Kingston, NY - beautiful little town. One more day to Castleton on Hudson, where the mast comes down, then the next day, into the canal system. I'll be taking a day out early next week to drive up to Boston to visit the crew at SAIL Magazine (you've been warned guys!), then it's 'west young man, go west', heading for Buffalo and Lake Erie...and home.

In case you've been wondering.....

...where I've been....I'm in Nyack, NY and have been working on my newest project. Check it out at Cuba - Forbidden Paradise and on my Facebook page. Please make sure you like and friend us on Facebook to help give this project new momentum. Oh, make sure you tell all your friends too...thanks.
Now, back to our regular programming...next post will be about two naked hookers I met while sailing up the Jersey coast....really! (he says, tongue firmly in cheek...)

On leaving Chesapeake Bay...

I'm guilty of forgetting that many of you aren't active sailors....so sometimes my posts don't make a lot of sense for some of you either from lack of sailing knowledge or not knowing the area I'm talking about. It's ok, my posts sometimes don't make a lot of sense to me!
Still....here's my route from Annapolis, heading for New York. Leaving Annapolis, we go north up Chesapeake Bay to the C&D Canal. At this point, you want to be watching the tide so you get the current behind you - it gets quite strong here.
I usually layover in Chesapeake City, then head out the next morning for Delaware River. The trick is to get the tide behind you, which then pushes you along as much as two to three knots faster. On a five knot boat, that means you can do the 42 mile trip in five hours, rather than 8 hours. Makes for a much easier day. Ask Doc about that!
The challenge of Delaware Bay is that there are a LOT of big ships - I've seen as many as a dozen in one day. As long as you stay to the side of the channel, there's no problem.
Delaware River and Bay are not pretty - it's just a part of the trip that you have to get by. At the south end, you come to Cape May, an attractive tourist town. One thing about it I don't care for though - they charge you to go on their beach. Coming from where I do, that's just wrong but of course, this is New Jersey.
From Cape May, it's north on the Atlantic to New York, 118 miles away. I make a point of picking my weather for this part of the trip. I've seen it get nasty out there - this is the North Atlantic after all. In fact, just a few months ago, a 38 foot sailboat was wrecked at the entrance to Barnegat when it hit a shoal. That ought to bring some memories back to Terri, right? Except that was Absecon Inlet at Atlantic City...another story for another time.
In all, this part of the trip, Annapolis to New York, can take from three to five days, unless the weather kicks up and holds you back, as it did two years ago when I was coming south - had to hang out in Manasquan for about a week, until high winds and 10 foot plus seas laid down.
Do I know how to have fun or what?

Cruisin' Cuba

Most of you know I've been to Cuba twice now - and you can catch some of the video action on SAIL Magazine at Paso Malo and on TheSailingChannel at Forbidding, Forbidden Cuba. You can also read several of my stories on Cuba at SAIL telling you what this amazing country is like. 
My current project involves returning to Cuba next winter to put together the video for a PBS television show, a one hour look at what it's like to sail, cruise and explore Cuba. 
The show will explore some of the aspects of Cuba we expect - we'll look at cigars and rum - may even smoke a cigar and sip a little Havana Club Anejo or order up a mojito. This will be a truly authentic look at Cuba and its people - not some fluffy production - and as such, there will be some nitty and gritty to it...kind of like me I suppose!
I'll be announcing the kickoff of the sponsorship program here in just a few days and I hope that all of you will at least be curious enough to take a look at it - and impressed enough to pass the information on to their own contacts. 
In the meantime, here are a couple of photos of Cuba to tempt and intrigue you...

Dominoes is big in Cuba - they play everywhere, this game is on the street

Rolling cigars...it's a manual process

 Ok, that's it for now....back to work everyone!

Naked News No Longer on Top...

Ha! That got your attention, didn't it? For months now, my post on Naked News has been the most read post on this blog. What did I expect from a bunch of pirates, right?
According to the blog stats, Tahiti Teasing, the blog previous to this one, is now first in page views for the week, with Naked News coming in second. NN still has the number one spot for the month, but TT is in second and closing in, and fast!
Now, here's where it gets really interesting. I checked the all time figures and, naturally (he says with a broad grin), Naked News is in first place. Tahiti Teasing, as a newer post, is in fifth but that's only after a few days. I suspect it will rise to second place in short order and perhaps even take over the all time top spot.
But like the gag says, Who's on first, What's on second? Rather than tell you, here's the link. Why am I not surprised that that particular post would get big views from a group of sailors?
Nice to see everyone has their priorities in place! Naked, free and tropical sunsets...I'm proud of all of you!

Tahiti Teasing....

I know, I know...I promised to tell you all about cruising in Tahiti. Then I got here to Annapolis, and caught up in the social whirl with my many good friends. Since it's about time to sober up - er, take a break, now seems a good time to tell you about Tahiti.
Simply put, everything you've ever heard about how beautiful Tahiti is - is true, but times 10. It's that spectacular. 
I was about to leave for South Africa in 2010 on an assignment for SAIL Magazine when I got an email from my editor: "Would you like to go to Tahiti?" What kind of a question is that? Of course I do. I've never typed 'yes' and hit 'send' as fast as I did then.
SAIL wanted me to cover the Pearl Regatta, which coincidentally has just finished this year. This regatta is one of the world's top regattas for cruising boats, with entries of nearly every conceivable type of boat.
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For example, in this video (click here), the yellow boat you see is a ferro cement boat that was one of the top performers, but there were even boats under 30 feet racing.
Here's another video of the event, taken when I was there...
I just went looking for photos of the event for you - found a blog from Tahiti - and darned if the article on the event they linked to wasn't my own, in SAIL - here's the link - SAIL article.
As you read in the SAIL article, one of my crew was a Japanese sailing writer - well, guess who ended up on the cover of Japan's national sailing magazine? Yup, you got it. Isn't that a hoot? The Japanese magazine cover is shown below in the photos.
Ok, that's it for today, more photos next post...enjoy!

Two of the crew...

This is what Tahiti is all about...

Bora Bora in the background, and look at the colour of the water...

The sailing was fabulous....

Can you believe it?

Coming soon....Tahiti...

Tahiti - yes, it's this beautiful...

...a couple of people have asked me to talk about my trip sailing in Tahiti...so just putting together some photos - Tahiti is so beautiful...you'll love it.

Early morning sunshine coming over Bora Bora, complete with thunderclouds

Annapolis is bad for your health...

...more accurately, you're liver's health, especially if you have friends like Mike, Dennis, Jeff, Joe, Cheryl, Michelle, Matt, Crystal...which is not to discount friends such as James, Joe, Pat, Susan, Troy and the Timinator® in St. Simons, GA, who are equally as dangerous!
I have managed, barely, to survive my first weekend back in Annapolis. Friday evening, Mike and I got together for a brew at the Boatyard. That led to Pussers (Kathy, you like that place don't you, or is it their Painkillers, lol?), then Middletons....you get the picture? Got to hear some good music at Middletons, which has always had good bands if you enjoy classic rock and roll and dancing. I do believe we also dropped into the Rockfish and a couple of other pubs...it must be age, my memory isn't quite what it used to be. Yeah, that's it - age!
Saturday, I felt it important to relax (read sleep in and recuperate) and work on the boat, then visit some friends at the nearby marina. Perhaps read up on memory enhancing techniques...
Sunday - oh oh, here we go again. Got a call from Dennis, everyone is meeting at Pussers...well, that took care of the afternoon and Aduana made all kinds of new friends while I reacquainted myself with some of my old ones. While shuffling - er, walking - back to the boat from Pussers, who do I run into but Joe and his lovely new ladyfriend Amy, and Joe's brother, at Davis' pub - so near to my boat and safety, but too late, too late. 
Sat down, chatted, then Joe suggests I check out his new place, we'll play some music (Joe's plays guitar and sings, I sing, badly) and perhaps have a Fat Tyre (type of beer) or three and some laughs. Well, a good time was had by all....Aduana got into what was left of the shrimp dip while no one was watching, and turned her nose up at her kibble later...spoiled pooch.
We won't discuss what time I got back, but I've never seen the streets of Annapolis so quiet. 
Thank God for Mondays...

Annapolis, storms and the dock goat...

I know, I know, you all want to hear about the storm and the dock goat... well, here's a photo of the damn dock goat...

and this is a photo of the little bastard about to eat my furling line... welcome to Reedsville, VA!

Ok, now about the storm - there are no photos. It was dark, and I was too busy saving my life to take video. Ok, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it WAS dark. Honest. Ok, it's a lot of an exaggeration, as in an Olympic gold medal whopper. However, just at sunset, about 20 miles outside of Annapolis, NOAA weather came on the radio with their 'Armaggedon' message. Basically, it's this - the weather is about to take a nasty poop, you had best bend over and kiss your butt goodbye because it's going to get nastier than you'll enjoy out there and why are you so stupid anyway?
So I looked up and yup - sure enough - there's a roll cloud coming out of the west. Picture a rolled carpet, with evil looking clouds behind it, lightning crackling every which way coming out of it, and moving towards you FAST.
Everything in front of it - i.e. the weather I HAD been enjoying, was a light grey. Everything behind it - the weather I was about to experience - was dark, broody, ugly, mean looking grey. You know, kind of like the look your ex-wife gives you when you suggest -well, when you suggest almost anything other than increasing her support.
The NOAA guy on the radio was telling those of us idiotic enough to be out on Chesapeake Bay at this time that 'winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour can be expected, with gusts to 40 mph'. He went on to describe 'cloud to ground lightning', thunderstorms ("winds and waves may be higher in thunderstorms"), gee, thanks for that bit of cheery news...and on and on. About the only thing that wasn't mentioned was fist sized hailstones. One must be grateful for whatever mercies the weather gods may choose, in their mercy, wisdom and kindness, to bestow. Do I sound cynical or what? Especially when they say 'Mariners should seek shelter'....right, and just where will I find shelter when I'm 10 or 20 miles from shore? According to Employment Stats, there are 80,000 comedians out of work. Where did they find this guy?
Ok - the truth? I wouldn't have even been there had I not gone to Reedsville (home of the damn dock goat), instead of carrying on to Solomon's Island, as was the plan. However, the dockside bar, Leadbelly's, has the world's best crab bisque ($7 for a big bowl) and it had been a couple of years since I'd feasted on it. The locals are friendly, if a bit - (HA!) - redneck and always good to chat with. (They must be redneck, they like goats...)
So, like a fool, I abandoned the 15 - 20 knot south winds that were blowing me cheerfully and quickly up the bay from Deltaville to head in to Reedsville, VA. Loved the soup, as good as ever. Tanya, the owner, told me she puts two pounds - yes, that's pounds - of crab in every pot to make this soup. You ever priced blue crab? Do you have any idea how much two pounds of picked crab meat costs? But it was oh so good. I didn't quite have the nerve to lick the bowl, but I'll admit to thinking about it.
Later, on my way back to the boat, I walked behind the restaurant, following Aduana on one of her wanders along the dock. Found a bunch of aquariums and probably three to four hundred blue crab in them. No wonder the soup tastes so good. They pick the crab meat right there. Anywhere else, this bowl of soup - were it even possible to get it like this - would cost closer to $20 and would be worth it at the price.
Next morning, got up at 6 am - yea yea, I know, those of you who know me don't believe that, but there are times I actually LIKE getting up that early, given a good enough reason - rowed Aduana to shore for a walk (not a good enough reason!), and headed out. Winds had abated from the 15 knots the day before, so with 80 miles to go, I fired up the diesel to help the emergency white things - you know, the sails. Most sailors only use them when their motors quit, hence the 'emergency white things' nickname...
Ok, NOW can we talk about Annapolis? Sheesh, the things I do to keep you guys happy!
Sailed into Annapolis at 12:30 am, 17 hours after leaving Reedsville - had it not been for the storm, I would have made it by 11, dry and comfortable, instead of wet and miserable. Had I gone with the winds of the day before, it would have been even sooner and I would have missed the storm entirely.
Put down the anchor, made sure it was backed down well, given how strong the winds were - and then rowed to shore to walk the pup. In the rain.  Do I know how to have fun or what? Meredith, one of my editors at SAIL, is now laughing at this - aren't you? Busted!
I love this place. Annapolis is my second home, the place I should have been born. I left Canada with people I knew thinking I was out of my mind, going to travel on a boat, explore the world, when I could stay home and shovel snow for six months of the year...(and just who is out of their minds here?). Basically, most people thought I wasn't normal. Most people still think that, come to think of it.
Got to Annapolis, and discovered....I was just another damn sailor. Walked the docks, met all kinds of people doing what I was doing, some in fancy boats, some in better boats, lots in similar boats and some in really rough boats, old, young and not so young, healthy and not so healthy, sober and - well, not so sober but by and large, all happy about being there - there being out there, doing it. Felt at home here ever since, and always feel like I'm coming home when I return. Only my liver shudders in fear....this town started the t-shirt that says 'A sailing town with a drinking problem'. Oh yes, indeed.
Ok, that's it for tonight. Oh, the storm? About ten minutes of strong winds, rained for a half hour, ruined the sailing and slowed me down a bunch, but that was about it. So much for NOAA and their ability to predict weather.
Time to walk the dog. It's still raining. Meredith, STOP laughing.
Sheeesh!

Fair winds....

This is actually rather hard to believe - I'm heading out of Deltaville tomorrow, going north - and the winds, for once, will not only be strong enough to sail with, they'll be from the right direction. That is so rare, ask any cruising sailor with a destination. So should be a great day on the water tomorrow - wind, sunny and mild. Life is good.
The goal is to make Annapolis, MD, which is about 85 nm from here. I don't expect to do it all in one jump - I'd be looking at about a 15 hour day and I don't need to push that hard tomorrow. So I'll split the trip into two days and probably anchor out at Solomon's tomorrow evening. That's about 55 miles - still a long day, but doable in daylight, provided I don't oversleep.

You can see by the lines on the chart what my route will be tomorrow. Red in, and blue out. Probably won't have internet access tomorrow, but you never know, so be prepared! I may just surprise you...

Red Neck Yacht Club Party...

Deltaville's premiere marina is Regatta Point, and that's where I am now. This weekend, the Virginia Yacht Club is partying here - big powerboats everywhere you look, bedecked with flags and bunting. Friday evening when I pulled in, there were close to 100 people on the deck, men in white pants and blue jackets with ties, women all dolled up, everyone with fancy drinks in hand - and on the docks were the sailors - scruffy t's, shorts, beers in coozies, every one of them looking a bit bemused at the ostentatious display of spiffery up on the deck.
Of course, I headed to my natural environment, after donning a good shirt and tie and polishing up my black oxfords - ok, ok - stop laughing so hard people. Some of you are going to hurt yourselves. But I do have a nice shirt, tie and good shoes on board, and a jacket. You never know when some hottie might want to go out dancing someplace hoity toity!  Mind you, you could fly a small plane using the lapels of that jacket as wings, but I digress here...
What really happened is that a couple of the sailors from the next boat over grabbed my lines and I joined them for some beer and laughs. Someone suggested the next evening we have our own 'redneck yacht club' party at the barbecue pit - and as fast as that, it was decided.
So last night, there we were in our scruffiest outfits - and where sailors are concerned, that's SERIOUSLY scruffy, hokey hats, beers in hand, cooking dead animals on the grill, going 'hyuck hyuck, y'all havin' fun now?' Had to laugh when a couple of the yachties wandered over from their dinner party to chat - seems they weren't all as hidebound as they looked. A couple of the guys looked as if they wanted to hang with us, but with wives pulling on their arms like a terrier on a leash, off they went.
Five of us ended up the evening helping the marina 'social directors' prep for the marina breakfast some seven hours hence, slicing potatoes and fruit, setting out tables and chairs. Raiding the fridge, we found a huge piece of smoked salmon, cream cheese and crackers left over by the hoity toitys. Well, since we were busy prepping and working, it only seemed right that we have a nibble...I mean, no point in wasting good smoked salmon is there? I'm sure you would have agreed. 
So there we were, noshing on smoked salmon and cream cheese, sipping 18 year old rum that one of the guys had - an incongruous end to the Red Neck Yacht Club party when you think about it.

Fog, and other things...

Left Hampton today, and started up the Chesapeake to Deltaville. Not a very long run, about 33 miles, but the wind never picked up and so I motorsailed (motor and sails up) for most of the trip. 
There was some fog early on - that always makes for some nervousness. Funny thing about sailing in fog - it's a bit like life in its way.  You can see just far enough for your next step, but have no idea what might be hiding behind that grey veil. It's a matter of proceeding cautiously, knowing where you want to be, while hoping there is nothing unseen out there that can cause you harm or damage. There's always that risk, in sailing and in life, but you don't get the joy out of either one if you don't accept at least some risk.


Some people however would rather play it safe, not risk the fog and the uncertainty of life, and they miss out on some of life's truly great adventures. Yet as you travel through life, there will be fog at times - it's unavoidable - and staying tied to the dock gets you nowhere. You miss out on some truly amazing adventures when you do that.
Today, the fog cleared off and the day was sunny, warm and beautiful, and the trip was fabulous - beautifully scenic. I'm so glad I didn't stay at the dock and miss all that. But before I could experience the beauty of this day, I had to take the risk and travel through that fog. It was certainly worth it.

Just got a text from one of the crew about her pirate name - we can welcome Dirty Mary Flint aboard....now, how about everyone else? What is YOUR pirate name? Check it out at Ye Olde Pirate Store... and let us know who you really are!
Arrrrrgggghhhhh!

Lights, Camera, ACTION!

So there we were, Aduana and I, sitting at the coffee shop by the marina when a young woman comes over to tell me that the guy with a gun shooting the two policemen is all faked - a movie shoot. How entertaining. So we walked over to watch 'the show'. 
Let's see - anyone famous? Nope, in fact, it's quite likely that I was the best known person there, based on my own media exposure, but no one asked for my autograph...got to work on that.
The show they were shooting is for the Discovery Channel, one of their crime features. The action involved some clean cut young guy walking along, when a white van pulls up, two policemen leap out and tackle the young guy. They struggle, then the young guy falls to the ground, pulls a gun from his waistband and shoots the policemen. That's it.
Interestingly enough, there was no gunfire - no sounds, no flashes. That's all added in during post production I was told. Made the entire scene very surreal, it would be interesting to see what the final cut looks like. I would think it will appear quite different from what I saw. 

 

Pirate Names....

Had a great evening tonight, the marina staff invited me to a party locally. Met a great bunch of people, had a really good time. Even met a fine old pirate, and he's got a message for everyone.

This be Bloody Roger Reid here speakin' to ya. I just be discoverin' that not all of ye has yer very own pirate name - arggghhhh, and what's that about lads and lasses? If ye be good pirates (where's Doc - oh yes, he's out plundering on his chum's Sabre 42), ye need to be havin' yer own piratical name.
So, hurry yerself on down to Ye Olde Pirate Store and be orderin' up yer very own Pirate Name. Just be clickin' on that there link, then be ye mailin' us and tellin' yer pirate name for everyone to be knowin' just who ye are!
ARRRGGGGG! That's right mateys - I be hearin' from all 40 and more of ye!

Shark vs. Octopus....an amazing video

This is an astounding video, you're going to have a hard time believing what you're about to see...

Cruisers' U a Hit!

I'm back on Gypsy Wind in Hampton after spending a very busy weekend in Annapolis at Cruisers University. I gave three seminars - two on Cuba and one on the ICW. I'm quite pleased to say that the comments that came back from those in attendance were very very good. Everyone enjoyed themselves, including myself, and the students felt that they'd learned something from the experience. I had several people come to me over the course of the weekend and thank me for the seminar they had attended - very gratifying for me of course. 
A heck of a contrast to the seminars I gave at Port Credit during Hurricane Irene, when I was terrified that my boat, on the hard in Virginia, would be destroyed by the raging winds that were howling around her even as I was speaking in Toronto. Those seminars were - shall we say - not my best ones? I felt badly about that, but was way too stressed out about the boat to do as good a job as those attending deserved.
After my last seminar, I got together with some friends at Pusser's for some Painkillers, a rum concoction that should be taken in moderation. I must remember this in the future...anyway, I survived that experience to find myself and several of the group at the Spinsheet Magazine party a bit later in the afternoon, where free rum was on offer....oh oh, here we go again...this is gonna hurt! 

Exciting, Busy Day....

Today was a hectic one, made moreso by the fact that I couldn't get to sleep last night and woke up quite early, ready to crush and destroy the alarm clock blaring beside me. Tomorrow morning is beginning to look like it might well be similar...
I had two seminars to give at Cruisers U, an educational forum here in Annapolis for boaters planning on heading out cruising. The roster of speakers includes some of the best known sailors in the world, and I am very humbled by the fact I have been selected to be amongst these sailors whose abilities and accomplishments in this sport far exceed mine.
My talks today were on Cruising the ICW and Cruising Cuba - both popular topics. Because this seminar is US based, I made substantial last minute revisions to the ICW seminar to reflect the interests of those attending and the most recent information from my just finished trip north - and I'm pleased to say that this seminar was particularly successful. The Cuba seminar was well attended - not up to expectations but I was speaking opposite Gary Jobson, so what was I to expect? 
As usual, Americans long to sail to this forbidden (to them) land and experience the Caribbean as it once was - and my goal was to give them a sense of what they were missing, and some ideas on how they might accomplish their goal - legally of course. Fact is, more and more US sailors are traveling to Cuba and then heading on into the Caribbean, thus avoiding US restrictions on going there. On my last visit to Marina Hemingway, I met a number of US boaters doing just that, in boats from 27 feet to a 100 foot plus US registered megayacht.
The crowd at my ICW seminar was particularly friendly and we had a lot of fun and laughter - the best chuckle was when someone noted that a water bottle was shadowing part of a chart projected onscreen where I was highlighting a navigational problem. He suggested, to much laughter, that there was a 'bottleneck' causing the problem in that area, and I responded by moving the bottle and stating that we had saved the US Corps of Engineers the trouble of dealing with this problem.
Always great to speak to a receptive audience and they had lots and lots of questions at the end - another good sign that you've engaged your group.
Tomorrow I've got the Cuba seminar again, then the SAIL Magazine luncheon, then an opportunity to wander the show and touch base with industry friends.
This boat show also features the maritime flea market, at which you can find some great deals. I scored an on demand propane water heater, so hot showers on board will soon be the rule - and since I'm feeling 'impish' today, I'll ask if anyone cares to join me to lather up once it's installed? (ps Doc, that invitation was NOT for you...)
Doc, who traveled up from Florida with me, has been busy posting photos and comments on Facebook about our trip. I came back to the hotel to find dozens of remarks and tags awaiting me - including some clever jabs at me which I had more fun defending myself on. 

Here's a photo of my new water heater.... the best part of a tankless unit when used on a boat in the Great Lakes is that as long as you have propane....you have hot water. How nice is that? Now I've got a generator and/or solar energy to power hair dryers and a hot water shower capability. Gypsy Wind will be just like home...only better!
What more could a wandering sailor ask for? Depends on how impish he's feeling I guess!

So Much Happening...

Where do I start? Ok, I'm in Annapolis tonight and for the weekend for Cruisers' University, where I'll be speaking on Cruising the ICW and also on cruising Cuba. If past experience is any guide, both seminars will be packed to the doors, which is always exciting for me. Tonight, I'll be tweaking the seminars, before heading out to a nearby pub, Red Hot and Blue, a top notch blues bar I've always wanted to check out here, and since it's close to the hotel, well....just had their takeout for dinner here in my room and if the music is as hot as the food - WOW!
The hotel...well, it has hot showers, if you're really patient...I mean really, really patient - as in 'forty days and forty nights' patient. It's been a while since I've stayed ashore, since the Toronto Boat Show actually, and there was this big square thing covered in linens in the middle of the room. Wasn't sure what it was for a moment, until Aduana jumped up on it and curled up, then realized, hey! it's a bed! Cool. I can't remember the last time I was in one (I can remember other things, but not sleeping - and I'll go no further so as not to embarrass anyone reading here...).
It's not five star by any standards, but fortunately, other than Aduana and I, we seem to be the rooms only occupants.  I suspect that whoever at SAIL Magazine booked these rooms was looking closely at the price, and I'm grateful for that at least... er, Peter, you HAVE stayed here before? This isn't punishment for some transgression of mine? 
Drove down here in a bright red rollerskate - well, a Mazda 3, but I've had rollerskates not much smaller - yes, I have big feet. Lucked out and found a great classic rock station out of Hampton to listen to while driving - 106.9 FM, the Fox - check it out online at http://www.1069thefox.com/, I'm listening to it now in fact. May have to get up and dance even....hey, it's a Friday night, it's ok!
Ok, time to pour a glass of wine, work on tweaking the seminar material, listen to the Fox, and chill...more later, about sailing north from Florida with Doc, including some photos...which reminds me, where is this early warm spring everyone was telling me about? It's damn near freezing here, I'm wearing long pants and my tan is disappearing even as I watch...what's that all about, eh?

Meanwhile, for your viewing pleasure, some video of sailing in Biscayne Bay - where it's sunny and warm....need I say more? Ahhhh......

Heading north....

Hi all - now in Hampton VA after a challenging, and interesting, trip north to the Chesapeake. I'll be driving to Annapolis for the boat show tomorrow, where I'm speaking on Saturday and Sunday, on both the ICW and on Cuba. Ought to be an interesting weekend.
Stay tuned for details of the trip north from Beaufort - storms, crazy winds, torn sails - FIRE! - and more.....once I've rested up enough to write the story.
Some interesting comments on my last blog post - about why - everyone has an answer to that of course. My goal was to make people think about how they're living their lives....seems I touched a few hearts here by the comments I've received.

Why Why Why....

.... do we do this? I'm sure the question occurs to everyone out on the water, from the Newfoundland freighter captain in a north Atlantic blow, far from his family and loved ones, to cruisers like myself, who find themselves thinking how nice it would be to be out dancing on a Friday evening with a special lady - rather than fighting 20 knot winds and a foul tide in the moonless dark (that was last night!) to make it to a chosen anchorage, only to spend the night worrying if the anchor will hold, and will that boat over there come loose and run into us at o'dark thirty in the night?
For that Newfoundland freighter captain, it's a time honoured way of life, one well understood and accepted by those who live it and (hopefully) by their families who are left behind. For those who do this for recreation, or as a lifestyle, the answers are not nearly so simple.
The question struck me most forcefully however, the day I found myself on a beautiful beach in the Bahamas, waves lapping at my feet, while small fish nibbled at my toes, the boat I was delivering floating fifty yards away in the turquoise waters. It occurred to me how fabulous it would be to share beautiful moments such as these with a special someone...
Of course, most people my age continue to work, to accumulate wealth towards their retirement. I think of my friend Jim and his wife Julie, who bought a beautiful cruising boat, a Cabo Rico 38, with plans to work and save, then head off for the islands. Time went by as Jim worked on, their boat sitting in its slip in Tampa Bay, ready to go whenever Jim and Julie decided it was time.
Then...cancer struck. Instead of endless days in the sun exploring the islands they came to, or strolling on sandy beaches in paradise, Jim found himself lying in a hospital bed, doing chemo, and dealing with estate issues, in case the worst came to pass. Eventually, against his doctor's advice, Jim and Julie chose to take the boat to the Bahamas and on into the islands. Jim would fly back for treatment, chemo and radiation, as required.
This went on for about three years, until finally, Jim's strength waning, they sailed the boat back to Florida where they lived. A few month's later, Jim was gone, leaving Julie a widow at 48. Eventually, the boat was sold, and Julie went on with her life.
But they'd lived their dream, together, even if it wasn't for as long as they had hoped. They had at least had that.
Only a few of us know of Jim's thoughts however, when it became clear that his days in the sun were not going to be the endless series of beautiful sunsets he and Julie had envisioned for themselves.
"I didn't have to work as long as I did. We certainly didn't need as much money as we made. We should have, could have, left sooner, long before the diagnosis in fact. We could have enjoyed life more." Jim's sole regret, other than leaving his wife alone, was that they hadn't lived their lives more for each other, rather than for others who clearly didn't matter as much.
His former employer, for whom he'd worked for over twenty years at a senior level, didn't even send a wreath.

North Carolina

It's just not fair - the weather guys say south winds, we get north winds....so far, in over 50 hours of sailing, we've sailed MAYBE 10 hours. The rest of it has been listening to the diesel chug chug chug....sigh....
Anyway, we're now on the ICW where we'll remain until we get to Chesapeake Bay - there's no advantage in going offshore at this point, and the winds don't work in our favour anyway - gee, quelle surprise!
A friend of Doc's, in Jacksonville, took the picture below - ok, so I look a bit scruffy, it had been a long day.
Aduana has done amazingly well on this trip - despite being aboard for between 24 - and 30 hours, she's hung in there - although she doesn't take very long to find a suitable piece of grass when we get ashore, as you can imagine.
Caught a lovely Spanish Mackeral the other day, but it shook off the hook just as we were about to bring it aboard. Then, later, something HUGE grabbed the hook and tore it away....so much for fishing. 
Doc noted that at 9:43 pm Wednesday evening, Gypsy Wind had clocked 6000 nautical miles, that since leaving Collingwood a year ago September. That's nearly 7000 statute miles. So we had a glass of wine to celebrate - any ol' excuse will do! 

We're off again...

Heading out...

I woke up briefly about half past four this morning (yes, I really did!) and realized that I didn't hear any wind - at all. And at 7:30, that hadn't changed. So here we are, about to head out for a 140 mile sail on the Atlantic, and there's NO wind. Yesterday, the wind was howling out of the south while we partied around the pool. Go figure!

I'm hoping the wind will pick up once we get out there and the predicted 10 knots out of the south will materialize. The long blue line on the chart is our route out of St. Simons - at one point, we'll be about 17 miles or so offshore. The line starting midway is an alternate route out of Hilton Head, should we decide to break our trip to Charleston up.
But the sun is shining, so away we go!

Sailing Requires Flexibility...

The plan, as all faithful readers know, was to go offshore from Fernandina Beach to St. Simons - of course, that requires some cooperation from the wind gods, who were not in the mood yesterday. Thus, we listened to the chugging of the diesel for all but the last five miles yesterday, when our course put the northeasterly winds on the beam. 
Naturally, we sailed right up to the docks (for the style points!), then tied up behind Joe and Pat's Hinckley Bermuda 40. This is a sweet boat to sail, and Joe and Pat practically stole it, at well under half of what they usually sell for - I keep figuring on getting an email one day from Joe asking for bail money! Pat is doing the varnish on it, it looks great now and she's still got four coats to go. Now that is a labour of love...
This afternoon there's a pool party with a band called 'Soul Gravy' - ought to be interesting. Tomorrow morning, we're out of here and offshore to Charleston, about a 24 hour sail. The winds are 10 - 15 out of the southeast, perfect for this run, I'm really looking forward to it.
Doc is quite at home here - in fact, it was a friend of his who brought me here in the first place, and with this visit, Doc and James, who have the same make of boat and knew one another from a group site,  have finally met. 
Now, time to head for the grocery store and stock up.....cheers everyone, talk to you next from Charleston. Keep those cards and letters and comments pouring in!

A Special Request...

Well, tomorrow evening Doc and I (and Aduana, the Super Puppy®) will be hanging at St. Simon's Island and I have a special request....Doc, and Tim (the Timinator®) are two of the most piratical of boaters and we shall be drinking quantities of rum, etc. along with James, Pat and Joe and the rest of the crew there....
As a result of all this fun and mayhem, bail may well be required, even though the Timinator® is a duly sworn police officer - in fact, given those circumstances, bail will probably be higher...please save up your pennies for us, just in case! I know that those of you who know Doc will understand completely...ARGGGGHHHHH! 

Seriously, we'll be heading offshore tomorrow morning early, to enjoy the 10 - 15 knot easterlies...it'll be a great sail. There's the route, above, in blue. It's about 30 miles, a short day.

Here's the inlet at Fernandina

Here's the inlet at St. Simons

 

Everyone's favourite pirate is aboard....

My favourite pirate, Doc Hogan from Urbanna VA, came aboard in Jacksonville Beach to help me bring the boat up quickly to the Chesapeake.  Doc helped me paint Gypsy Wind last summer - and today, he's complaining about red paint on a shirt he bought. Sloppy work, what can I say?
We're now in Fernandina Beach today, need to do some serious rum shopping for the trip, then heading to Brunswick GA tomorrow.
Along with rum, Doc has brought favourable winds - out of the south and southeast for the next week! Perfect for heading north. Seas from 2 - 4 feet, so it's going to be a great ride. 
After Brunswick, we'll go offshore again to Charleston, then Southport, then inside to Wrightsville Beach, then offshore to Beaufort, then back inside to Norfolk rather than around Cape Hatteras, then into Chesapeake Bay and north to Annapolis.
I'll update here as often as I get internet access.

Onward, ARGGGGG!

Heading north, now in St. Augustine, leaving for Jacksonville Beach to pick up Doc, my favourite pirate, who is helping with the trip north. We'll be stopping again at St. Simon's Island to visit with the crew there, including the Timinator® - there may be serious alcohol intake, particularly as we'll be tied up behind Joe and Pat's Hinckley Bermuda 40.
Onward, ARGHHHHHH!

Why do I do this?

Sometimes I wonder! I spent half an hour jigging around the north Atlantic at the entrance to St. Augustine, waiting for the Boat US guy who was bringing a tow in, as there are no lights in the inlet, my spotlight wouldn't charge up so I could find the markers, and it simply wasn't safe to enter after dark under those conditions without assistance. Two boats have been wrecked there in the past year, one a 52 foot sportfisherman worth several millions - I didn't plan on being the third wreck. I was joined by a Lagoon 42 catamaran, also waiting on assistance to get in the inlet. 
The Boat US guy showed up and we simply followed him in. No big deal. A nice ending to a good sailing day.
But despite nights like tonight with their frustrations, there's also the days you get to spend with folks like Al and Joyce, friends of mine in Melbourne. They 'get' the sailing thing, lol....a beer in the hand, a drive to the grocery store, a shower and the chance to do laundry! If they're hoping to build points towards similar 'karma' when they go cruising again, they've got it ACED!
I suspect that I put on ten pounds in the three days I spent there just prior to Easter...it's Joyce's margueritas, and Al's superb eggs benedict, honest! Do I know how to have great friends, or what?
Al, Joyce, I know you're reading this - hope Easter with your son was great, and thanks again for a fabulous time - even if Aduana and I have to walk for miles to lose the weight we've both put on, lol! And I know she's missing playing in your backyard.
Tomorrow, Jacksonville, and meeting up with Doc, from Urbanna VA, who is helping me to get the boat north to Annapolis.
My liver may never be the same!

Four day report...

I'm finally out of Miami Beach and Biscayne Bay, heading north, destination Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. This may take a while!
The first day, I went up the ICW as I didn't want the extra three mile run back to the restaurant I planned on docking at just north of Lauderdale. Being Sunday, the boat traffic was incredible. At one popular sandbar by Bakers Haulover just north of Miam, there must have been three hundred or more boats anchored or beached, some as big as 40 or more feet. Music of every sort, and a strong whiff of suntan lotion as I sailed by. Yes, I actually had the 'emergency white things' up the mast. It happens sometimes.
From Lauderdale the next day, I headed offshore for Palm Beach. The Gulf Stream comes in close here, so I hitched a ride most of the way, cruising at over 6 knots. 
Some days on the water are simply better than fabulous and this was one of them. There we are, the pup and I, on the turquoise blue Atlantic, warm sun, great wind from behind, dolphins playing about the boat, and wham! - a skipjack tuna, about three pounds, gobbles down the lure I'm dragging behind the boat. We have dinner! Sailed in to Palm Beach and anchored off Peanut Island, poured a glass of wine and sat on the foredeck, just chillin' before going ashore to let Aduana run on the beach.
The next day sucked! Yep, it did. The Gulf Stream is about 11 miles offshore at Palm Beach and 17 at Fort Pierce, my next destination. I was sailing in close, about a mile or so offshore. What I didn't realize is that a back eddy peels off north of Palm Beach and as a result of that current and the light north wind, I struggled to make 4 knots to the endless drone of the diesel. Long, long day, came in well after dark, tired and frustrated.
The highlight of the day was getting a big hit on my fishing line - no idea what it was, but it was big enough to create a big splash when it hit the lure, breaking the line and getting away.  So much for fresh fish for dinner.... might have been a mahi mahi, but more likely a big mackeral. Both great eating...
My next stop being Melbourne to visit Al and Joyce, I headed up the Indian River on day four with a lovely west wind pushing me on my way. Even though at times I was only making two knots, it was worth it just to sail in peace and quiet. I was passed by several sailboats - all of them with sail up....and diesels running to make time. Hardly sporting, and the stench of burning fossil fuel was terrible, if I'm not being too sanctimonious to say so! I simply had to turn up the stereo and pour an ice cold beer to deal with it, while trimming my lovely, quiet sails...and we sailed on into the night, with the full moon trailing a shimmer of coppery light on the water. 
Today, the winds are out of the north and strong, so I'm taking up Al and Joyce's invitation to do laundry and catch up on some chores. Next stop, St. Augustine.