June 12, 2011

 These pictures are out of sequence but I can't figure out how to move them, so be it.

Leaving the boat in Charleston we went to Myrtle Beach with our children and grandchildren.

Picture of the Beach from our condo.

Cona, Vicki (daughter in law) and some old man, sunning by the pool.

Eric, Jackson and Becky by the worlds largest Ferris wheel.

Cona and Jackson playing at the arcade.

   Cona and Grandson Finn.

Cona and Pace playing in the surf.

This is the dock in St. Augustine.  Was off the beaten path but we were there to visit Cona's brother and sister-in-law Martha.  They were kind enough to lend us their car to run some errands and reprovision.  As always a great visit.

We had Cona's cousin and his wife, Bobby and Patsy, Steve and Matha and friends Bob and Ann over for drinks and to see Miss Ellen.  Not wanting to drive anywhere (not that it would have been far in St. Augustine) we decided to eat at the restaurant at the dock.  Turned out to have been a great choice, good food and a fun place.

Sun set in St. Augustine.

The light house from the ICW, entering St. Augustine.

After four days in St. Augustine we departed for Fernandina.  Bobby and Patsy joined us for the trip to Fernandina.  This is the picture of the bridge of Lions.

Passing the Fort.

Picture along the way of the banks of the ICW

Arriving in Fernandina.  Picture of Bobby, Patsy, Cona and Rudy on the City docks. This was right in the down town area and a close walk to everything.

Picture of the shark Cona and Patsy brought in while on the ICW.

On the dock with one of the many decorated shrimp.

We found a great little restaurant for breakfast.  Just off the main street and we wouldn't have found it if we had not ask a local for a recommendation.  Not much to look at from outside or inside, but good food and service.

On our way to Beaufort SC.  On the other side  is the Fernandina beach.

Arrival in Beaufort.

Downtown Beaufort

When we arrived in Beaufort they were  having their Gullah festival.

We stayed one night in Beaufort and left the next morning for Charleston. Can't find the pictures of this leg of the trip.  For those interested we found a lot of skinny water.  At a couple of spots I had 2 feet under my keel.  Not very comforting.  Didn't run aground, but made me aware I better check the tide charts from now on.  We left at a lowering tide but really had no choice as there were no marinas between Beaufort and Charleston.  Not even any good anchorages.  Being Memorial Weekend when we arrived in Charleston harbor there were thousands of boaters, and most were either drunk or didn't  care about the rules of the water ways. 

We dock at the Charleston Marina and Resort.  A great place to leave the boat for the month we will be away visiting our family.

Eric, our youngest picked us up and took us with them to Myrtle Beach where we stayed in a condo for a week.

Leaving Myrtle Beach, we rode with Kevin, Our oldest, to Clinton Mississippi.  We are here for two weeks in order to be able to attend our grandson's Christening.

This should have been close to the top, but its Eric, Jackson and Rudy at the Ferris wheel.

This is a picture from anchorage near Key Largo.  We really enjoy anchoring, it is quite and very peaceful.

   Cona and fatso, enjoying the sunset at anchorage.

This is a shot going through the mangroves through the keys.

Sky line of Miami as we entered.

This is leaving Miami, going past the cruise liners port.

Picture of one of the many bridges we had to go under going from Miami to Ft. Pierce.  Most of the bridges were to low and we had to wait or request a bridge opening.  Made going slow, but was an interesting part of the journey.

Jupiter light house from the ICW.

Fort Pierce was a great stop.  Restored town with many shops and restaurants.  Friendly people.

Looks real doesn't it?

But its a painting on a building.

The old court house.

More interesting art in Ft. Pierce.

Painting under the overpass in Ft. Pierce.

We had the best Irish meal at this restaurant.  Very crowed, that's why we picked this place to eat.

   
Sun set at anchorage on the way to Daytona.

Cona and her dog enjoying the sun set on anchorage.

Picture at anchorage looking over the bow with another boat at Anchorage.

The ICW getting close to St. Augustine.  May homes on the water and mostly NO WAKE zones.

We stayed at a Private yacht club in Daytona.  This is a picture from the boat watching the sun go down.

 Before sunset, Cona and Rudy getting ready to eat at the yacht club.

Cona's dog, Lucy, wanting to go.

Cona standing by the pool at the yacht club.

Leaving Daytona, and typical shore line on our way to St. Augustine.

This is Lucy's favorite seating spot while we are under way.

We are now in Myrtle Beach with our family.  Left Miss Ellen in Charleston, SC.  We will spend the week in a condo and then travel with Kevin and family to Mississippi where we will attend our grandsons christening.  Then fly  back to Charleston to continue the journey north.

June 3, 2011

This is a restaurant where we had breakfast on Isle of Capri, near Marco Island.

Our dock master and restaurant owner recommended this for breakfast.  We were warned that the owner was abrasive and treats customers rudely but had a  great breakfast.  We found the food as described but the owner just had a dry sense of humor and we enjoyed  talking  with him.

Don't recall if my last attempt to blog included our stay at the Isle of Capri or not, if not just wanted to say what a great stop.  The owners of the restaurant and marina offered free docking if you ate at their restaurant.  The restaurant was a gourmet spread of 5 courses and each were the best we have had.  However very expensive, even with free dockage.  But the owners were great host, offered us their car, gave us a golf cart to use on the island and told us we where welcome to stay and were not required to eat at their restaurant again.  We ate down the road at a crab shack which was OK and after we felt we should have eaten at the gourmet restaurant again.

 Picture of the gourmet  restaurant and dockage.  By the way, they only had two docks, you can see Miss Ellen in one of the docks in this picture.

 We had a great crossing of the gulf from the Isle of Capie, Marco Island.  The sky  was clear blue , the ocean calm and blue green.  We set the auto pilot, and navigation GPS for Key West buoy number 1.  We arrived per our ETA cruising at a speed of 15 miles an hour after 8 hours on the open gulf waters.  Weired feeling being out of sight of land for that many hours, hoping you set . the GPS coordinates correctly.  I guess I did it right because below is the picture arriving at Key West, a welcome sight.

This is one of the first things you see after leaving the port and walking toward the down town area of Key West.  We docked at the Westin Hotel Marina, located next to the Cruise ship port and the area where the entertainers perform on the dock. 

   This is one of the street performers.  You can see by this picture the large crowds they draw for donations.

 This is a picture of  one of our favorite sister in laws, Sue.  My brother and sister in law drove down from Miami to spend the weekend with us in the Keys. 

Picture of the Marina at the Westin Hotel. 

One of the restaurants recommended by our host at the Isle of Capri was Pepe's.  This is a picture of the restaurant.  Its been around since world war II when the original owner started the business and was a favorite place for the soldiers stationed at the naval base.  The place was crowed at 10:00 AM and we had to wait an hour to be seated.  It was worth it.

Rudy with one of his favorite waitresses.

This is a picture of my brother, sister in law, Cona and her brother Jim inside Pepe's, waiting to be seated.

   Rudy and Cona having a drink with friends on the dock  at the north end of Key West.

 Rudy being attacked by sponge man.

The three of us spent a day here.

Inside the garden of Eden.

We spent 3 days in Key West and had a great time.  We walked the streets in the afternoon looking and watching the strange local and weird tourist (like us).  We ate at a couple of great restaurants, and enjoyed having Royce and Sue join us. 

The next day we departed Key West and headed to Marathon Key.