Prepping for Tomorrow

All systems are still "GO" to slip off the lines tomorrow and get this thing underway.

This Blog will change slightly tomorrow so as to incorporate daily statistical information on our trip so that all who are interested might keep up with miles, locations, etc. At the top of each day's Blog, this heading will appear:

Days on the Cruise 8

From: To:

Statute Miles XX

Time X hrs XX min

Cumulative Miles 440 sm

On Board Chuck, Susan, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut (any other visitors)


Now, we need to explain a thing or two where we are starting this from. WE HAVE TECHNICALLY ALREADY TRAVELED 440 SM ON THE LOOP, AND WE HAVE A CUMULATIVE TOTAL TIME ALREADY TRAVELED OF 8 DAYS! This is because last year we cruised from Jacksonville to Captiva Island on the West Coast of Florida, then we cruised back to Jacksonville. So, we technically started the Loop at Captiva Island, FL in April of 2012. We have traveled 440 statute miles over 8 days. Each day's travel from here on out will increase the cumulative miles above 440 and the cumulative days above 8. As we add miles and days, especially as we get into the mid to late Summer, these starting numbers will fade into oblivion, but early on here, it is important to clarify how we are starting out.

So what does one do on the day before a big boat trip? Still fooling with the anchor. The new anchor arrived right on time. John from Sailor's Exchange right up the street from the Marina, called me at 9:30 this morning and told me it was at the store. I ran over and picked it up and it was huge! I started having second thoughts as I brought it back to the boat.

We unloaded all of the chain anchor rode and laid it on the finger pier next to our boat. We did the same with the anchor rope rode that was spliced on the chain on Saturday. Rodger came by during the afternoon and finished connecting the anchor. We then put the rope through the windlass, then the chain and everything worked great. The anchor is not too big, thank heavens, and it pulled up on the anchor roller just fine. Check that baby off the list. I now have 100' of chain and another 125' of anchor line, so I can probably do 35' or 40' of water depth. (not that I want to)
I bought two new Type I life jackets this morning for guests to use. These are the big, bulky jackets that you see on cruise ships. Susan and I each have one, and we wanted two extra for guests. As someone told me when we got the boat, you want the best life jacket you can get if you are actually going into the water. Amen Brother!

We continued to stow things that we bought yesterday and today. I had to wrestle the old anchor into the engine room (bilge) and lay it into an open bay. I got a rubber mat to put under it to protect the bottom of the boat from the sharp point on the anchor.

Susan finished provisioning the food and drinks. We have more water jugs and bottled water than we can store in the cabin, so tomorrow it either goes in tubs in the engine room or under the seats on the fly bridge.

We kept having people stop and talk with us as they knew we were getting ready to leave. They were feeding us all kinds of information from places to eat to marinas to tying up to mooring balls. Great resources, and we will be sad to say good bye to all of the friendly folks on the docks. I even got a call from one of my buddies, Charlie, from Columbus, OH. We are going to catch up with he and his wife Maggie at her parent's house at Put-in-Bay in Lake Erie in late July!

We cleared out with the Marina office and made arrangements to leave our gate keys in the morning.

We took our car to where we will store it, and daughter Beth gave us a lift back to the boat. So here we are on the boat with no car. We have to go cruising now!

Weather looks OK for tomorrow. More clouds than sun. Winds around 10 mph from the ENE. The tide will be with us getting out of JAX until we get to the container ship port, then we will buck an incoming tide until we turn into the ICW. Tide should be incoming at Fernandina Harbor. This will make for an interesting approach. Oh well!

Thursday is layover day at Fernandina because of projected weather. Susan got us a reservation at the Jekyll Island Marina (instead of St. Simons) for Friday night. Sunbury Crab Co. Marina is Saturday night. Then Savannah for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights.

Tune in tomorrow. Thanks for Reading!