Back Across The Gulf

Nancy delegated the responsibility of writing the last blog to me, as she was flying home and had no interest in sailing across the Gulf.  She always says that she is the smart one.  I dropped her off at the Tampa airport on Friday February 21^st for her flight back to Corpus. 

I had made arrangements with two of my sailing friends from Indiana to help me take Kathryn across the Gulf to Corpus.   Buford had already arrived and was on his boat, which is currently located in Twin Dolphin Marina.  Lee was arriving Monday.

Lee Watson & Buford Eddy

 I also enlisted the help of a professional weather router who would help us with weather forecasts while on the trip.  We would communicate with him via Single Side Band Radio and Satellite phone. 

Our planned route across the Gulf would be just short of 800 nautical miles.  It should take about six days to complete barring any adverse weather or other problems.

I will tell everyone that crossing the Gulf on a 40 foot sailboat in the winter months, especially this winter, isn’t the easiest thing to do and not the best idea I have ever had.  The problem being cold fronts move in from the north and create rain storms and high winds on the Gulf.  Our weather router confirmed that leaving Tuesday would give us a good chance to cross the Gulf and only have to deal with one cold front that would cross our path late Wednesday. So, the decision was made to leave at noon on Tuesday, February 25. 

Our first day out was a combination of motoring and sailing.  The seas were calm and the weather was OK, but that was about to change as the cold front we were expecting was about to arrive.  We hit the squall line in the afternoon and encountered high winds up to 35 knots and heavy rains for about an hour. The winds continued from the north at around 20 knots for the next day and the seas were 5 to 7 feet.  We were expecting these conditions from this front, but that made them no less pleasant.   The constant movement of the boat makes doing any task very difficult.  Think about trying to fix a sandwich for lunch while the kitchen is being shaken like a martini.  Lee and I were both experiencing some sea sickness which didn’t make things easier.

The Winds are Increasing and the Gulf is Beginning to Get Rough

 On the 27^th, we were advised by our weather router that a strong cold front would be hitting Corpus Christi earlier than anticipated, with wind in excess of 40 knots.  We may have been able to make it to Corpus before the front, but decided not to take a chance and changed course to Grand Isle, LA.  We arrived there early on Saturday morning under clear skies with calm seas.

Lee on Watch Dressed for the Cold

We spend a day in Grand Isle drying out our clothes and equipment and having a great lunch.  On Sunday, we headed up the Barataria Waterway to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and on to Houma,LA.  Sunday was a very pleasant day and we all enjoyed the trip to Houma.

The Crew Relaxing on the way to Houma

Monday was a totally different story.  The cold front was coming through and skies were cloudy and the wind was cold.  We made it to Morgan City by late afternoon and tied up at the city dock.   Tuesday’s weather forecast was even worse with lots of wind, cold, and rain.  There was even a small chance of freezing rain.  Not my idea of boating weather.  The good news was that Wednesday the weather was supposed to clear and the next few days on the Gulf were going to be pretty good.  We decided to stay in Morgan City on Tuesday and then head back into the Gulf first thing on Wednesday and set a direct course for Corpus Christi.

By Wednesday afternoon, we were sailing in the Gulf headed for Corpus.  We had one mild front that came through with 20 knot winds that lasted for about 16 hours and made for a rough ride with 6 to 8 foot seat   By Thursday night, the seas had calmed and the skies had cleared.  Friday morning was a beautiful day as we arrived at Corpus Christi.  We made our way to the Yacht Club and arrived by mid afternoon. 

Friday was Great!

Passing Under the Kennedy Bridge



Back Home Again...  Nancy & Lee

Getting Kathryn Tied Up in Her Slip



Buford, Steve & Lee

It was certainly a wonderful feeling to be home.  Nancy and several friends were at the Club to greet us when we arrived.  I want to thank Buford and Lee for being such great crew members.  We made a number of memories on our crossing.  Some good ones and others that we may want to forget.    (Hanging over the side of the boat feeding the fish, is a moment I’d like to forget! )  

Some of the good memories are:

• being able  to sleep soundly in my berth at night knowing that Burford or Lee were at the helm keeping the boat on course. 
• the solitude watching the stars on the clear nights while standing my watch from midnight to  4:00 am.  
• being hit in the chest by a flying fish while on night watch, that woke me up for sure!
• having a hot cup of coffee early on a cool morning as the sun was coming up.

This is the end of this year’s blog, but Nancy and I are planning another trip for next year, but it will not begin until March or April.  We have had all the fun we can have on the Gulf in the winter months.  Spring sounds like a more pleasant time to head out next year. 

Kathryn's Track Across the Gulf, down to Key West, and Back to Texas

Sailing The ICW….Slow But Sure Wins The Race!!!!

We're Here... Bradenton, FL

Winds moved into south west Florida, so we decided to take the Inter Coastal Waterway from Ft. Meyers Beach up to Bradenton.  The Gulf would have had some BIG waves and this 1^st mate didn’t want to give that a try!  Our first jaunt was from Ft. Meyers to Gasparilla Marina near Englewood, FL.  This was one of many lovely marinas we enjoyed on our three month adventure. Steve always uses a service called Active Captain and they always have info and ratings about places to stay.  Gasparilla was to have the cleanest showers and restrooms anywhere on the Gulf….so what’s not to like, right?  They lived up to their write up and even had a busy little bar and grill that was just the ticket for dinner that evening.

Saturday we sailed from Gasparilla to Sarasota.  A front went through by mid-morning and it turned cool and windy!  We had eight bridges to pass through on the trip.  Our mast has a height of 51 ft. so we usually have to ask for a “lift” from the bridge keepers along the way.  A big “shout out” to the bridge keepers in Florida for being the friendliest and nicest we have experienced on our whole trip!  Most of these bridges were “on demand” (we radio them and they lift the bridge) but two only opened on the hour and half hour.  If you get there at the “wrong” time you get to wait!!!!  I must say we made it through in record time, so that was a plus!  Due to the cold temps, we decided on Marina Jack’s Marina in downtown Sarasota for Saturday.  Our heating system was very welcome that night!  In fact, I think on the whole trip, we’ve used the heat more than the air conditioning….figure!

Marina Jack in Sarasota

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The last section of the trip was to Bradenton and was only a four hour sail.  I think I have failed to mention that all the way along the ICW you see all sorts of beautiful homes and boats.  Just when you think you have seen the biggest one, there’s another one around the bend.  Also, there are many dolphins, birds and fishermen.  The ICW is narrow in many areas and the water is shallow and so clear that you can see the fish and dolphins swimming by the boat.

We are now in port at the Twin Dolphin Marina!  We’re doing some necessary cleaning, washing and relaxing.  I have my ticket on South West Airlines for Friday to fly to Texas.  Steve has two buddies who are coming in to help him crew and sail Kathryn home to Padre Island.  The weather conditions on the Gulf are forecast to be MUCH calmer than his trip in November.  As I look at the map of the Gulf, I am amazed at the distance we have travelled in the course of four months.  The places we’ve gone and the people we’ve met have been amazing!  Thank you for joining us along the way.  I told Steve he is going to have to continue the blog to document his Gulf journey!  SO, stayed tuned, he may just do that for all of you readers!

Buford, Our First Crew Member Has Arrived

 

Lots of Houses

 

 

 

The Last Bridge

 

Birds

 

Downtown Sarasota

So Long Key West….We’re Heading Home!

Oh no, we’re not heading west to Corpus Christi…we are now on our way up the coastline of Florida to Bradenton.  This will be our final destination in our three month adventure of the Gulf states.  I made reservations today to fly back to Texas on the 21^st and Steve and his “crew” will bring Kathryn back to our home port on Padre Island in a few weeks (the weather Gods better be on good behavior for him this trip!).  BUT the adventure isn’t over yet, as we have a few more ports to visit before we head into Bradenton.

On my last blog, we were enjoying Key West and what it had to offer.  We always have a way of finding some good eating establishments/bars to enjoy.  On Saturday, we strolled along the wharf where there are hundreds of boats and many more people. A mommy manatee and her baby were entertaining the tourists, so I was able to get some good close ups of these delightful animals.  We, also, stopped by at the Schooner Wharf Bar and Sloppy Joe’s to hear some music and enjoy the crowd.  Dinner that evening was with Jimmy Buffet…well, his restaurant, that is!  Our mode of transportation, once again, was the local bus line.  The bus driver even had to stop the bus and reprimand three rather rowdy fellows in the back whose language had gotten a bit out of hand.  Either they were going to quiet down or enjoy walking!!!  I sat next to an author who proceeded to tell me her life story and the context of her new novels.  When I asked her a question about one of them she said, “Wow, you were really listening to me!”  Sunday, we took the dingy to a local restaurant near our marina called Hog Fish Grill.  I don’t think I have seen hog fish on many menus other than in Florida.  It is quite delicious and the restaurant has quite the following.  On the dingy ride over to Hog Fish, right next to our marina, was an old, large yacht.  The name on the side was Platinum.  This yacht belonged to Mick Jagger (probably purchased after one of his albums went platinum) and he later sold it to someone in Florida.  They had let it go into disrepair and it was being torn apart there at the boatyard.

Steve Enjoying Downtown Key West

Mama Manatee and Her Baby

 

 

Sloppy Joes on Duval St

Platinum

Dinner at the Hogfish Grill

If you are familiar with the map of Florida, you’ll remember that Key West is directly south of Ft. Meyers.  So, for the quickest route from Key West to Ft. Meyers Beach is to go north for 120 miles and you’re there!  So, on Monday that is just what we did!  This meant we had to sail for 21 hours, which is an overnight sail.  The seas on the Gulf were absolutely perfect!!!  CALM and FLAT!  There was no trouble with sea sickness on this little trip!  We arrived in Ft. Meyers around 10:00 AM on Tuesday.  We both were a bit tired, since we had to take turns doing watches, but there isn’t too much happening on the Gulf during the night.  There was almost a full moon, so we had our own personal lighting!  The only other thing of interest was a giant sea turtle swimming with his flippers in the air.

A Couple of Cruisers Flashing Us as We Leave Key West

Good-bye Key West

 

Sunset on the Gulf North of Key West

We are leaving in the morning to follow the Inter Coastal Waterway up to Bradenton.  Today we have had rain and wind, which tends to “stir up” the Gulf’s waters.  The ICW is a waterway inside the coastline and tends to be much calmer.  So, those are our plans for the next week.  The trip is coming to an end soon, but the fun keeps on going J.  Thanks again to all of our followers on the blog!  We get some very nice feedback!

The Keys…Marathon and Key West

It’s a BEAUTIFUL day in Paradise as I begin my blogging this AM.  As they say, “What’s not to like?”  Blue skies up above, warm temperatures and MANY interesting people to meet and enjoy!

As I had mentioned in my last blog, we had just arrived in Marathon.  Marathon happens to be a very likeable place for boaters to spend the winter, leave for the Bahamas from and a fun place to party, so…..we found “no place in the inn”.  We did find safe harbor in the city marina, but were given #13 just to be in line for a mooring ball.  This place almost looked like a city in its self…..hundreds of boats for as far as you could see.  SO, we spent two days there anchored and then decided Key West was in our best interest.  In the meantime, we had fun riding around in the dingy and finding fun little places and a restaurant with a pull up dingy dock.  A local (or probably I should say Gulf Coast) singer/band leader, Eric Stone owned the Dockside Bar and Grill.  He’s the chef as well as the entertainment in the evening.  As we sat at our table we were entertained by a manatee swimming up to the dock.  They are such graceful creatures and seem to be everywhere down here.



Kathryn at Anchor in Marathon



Dingy Dock in Marathon



Lunch at Dockside

Manatee Stopped by for Lunch Too

Wednesday we headed out into the Atlantic for our sail to Key West and Stock Island Marina.  I couldn’t wipe the smile off of Steve’s face, as this was our all time best sail EVER!  No motor, just sailing along at around 6.8 to 7.4 knots (for you sailors out there) surrounded by aqua colored water and the Keys to our right!  It is about 40 miles to Key West from Marathon and we made it in record time, also!

If You Look Real Close You Can See She is About Ready to Feed the Fish, But She Didn't

Stock Island Marina is very new and we are loving the facilities!  We are a ways from downtown Key West, so we’re using the local bus system.  That, in its self, is an adventure!  One quickly learns to appreciate the little things in life, like a car in the garage that you just hop into and go!  BUT the interesting people you meet on the bus is a “hoot”.  Some locals, some boaters and tourist….one never knows.  In fact, one evening we met a couple who had lived in Chesterton, IN and he had been a professor in education at IUN until he took a position in Texas!  Small world, heh?  

Key West is known for its quirky side and you just never know what you’re going to see or who you will meet.  With that in mind, I’m going to give you a few examples of some of our favorites!

*Another “bus adventure”.  We met an artistic couple waiting for the bus.  They had just finished their “gig” on Mallory Square selling their wares.  (You have to be asked to be there, and then draw numbers for where you can set up.)  We talked to them the whole way to our “stop” at the marina, but saw them on Mallory Square the next day.  We were like their long lost family and just had to have a picture taken with them!

Our New Artist Friend Lucinda

*Mallory Square is known for all of its “acts” or “talents” to watch while people wait for the sun to go down!  It’s one busy place.  We stopped to watch a young acrobatic juggler perform and Steve was picked to be in his act.  They not only have to be quite talented to do what they do, but they, also, have quite a comedy show to go along with their act.  Steve and two other fellows had to hold his unicycle while he mounted it and juggled a sword, burning torches and an ax!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*The Green Parrot Bar….As we walked into this infamous establishment, it was PACKED!  A very friendly gentleman told us there were two bar stools next to him and we could have them!  He was quite sure Steve was Kenny Rogers (Gee, have we heard that before???)  Anyhow, he was VERY outgoing, or maybe had been at the Green Parrot a little too long, but he had to tell us who he was!  For you sports fans of the 70’s this might jog your memories!  Louie Griammona came out of Utah State (now a Hall of Famer there) to play for the NY Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles as a running back and has a Super Bowl ring to prove it.  Oh, the people you meet!  Just to prove it, Steve had to buy a tee shirt J

Nancy and Her New Friend, Louie...

I could probably go on and on, but won’t bore you with any other quirky things we have had the pleasure to do or see.  It’s a great life in Key West and the weather is wonderful.

Dinner at Antonio's

 

Drinks at Mallory Square

 

A Ford Model TT, Converted to a Bar

 

Cruise Ship Ready to Leave Key West