Titusville Take Care Of Its Cruisers....BIG TIME!!!!

So Cocoa Beach was interesting and while we didn’t find the “surfer beach, we did come across what must be one of the biggest surfing stores we’ve ever seen!  It’s called Ron Jon’s Surf Shop and believe me….it has to be as big as a full city block!  So we had some fun wandering around the store and then went across the street to the Shark Pit Bar and Grill for one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time!

 

Cocoa Beach

Ron Jon's Surf Shop

The little village of Cocoa was just a delight, with cute boutiques, little street side bistro’s and a wonderful old fashioned ice-cream parlour…..guess where we ended up….the ice-cream parlour!  And all along the street music was playing to the tune of 60’s pop…it was hard not to just dance my way around and you really couldn’t help singing along!

 

City of Cocoa

 

We were very keen to see the Kennedy Space Centre and asked around at the nearby marina, unfortunately, they were of little or no help, assuring us we would have to rent a car if we wanted to anything at all, including grocery shopping!  When we asked about the next town along, Titusville, we were advised that the situation would be the same.  Well, off we went anyway, to see what the next stop had on offer and are we ever happy we did!

 Titusville Municipal Marina is a true gift to the cruising community.  The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, the facilities are clean and well cared for and I would recommend this as a stop on any ICW cruisers itinerary.  The amenities are awesome and they even have a free pump out station!  As if all of this weren’t enough, they even have a free…yes, that’s right, I said FREE, shuttle so we hopped aboard and headed off to the Kennedy Space Centre.  Honestly, we were at a point where we thought we weren’t going to get to the space centre as it would have cost us about $200.00 by the time we rented a car and so on, so we were just delighted!  Titusville, we salute you and the good people you have working hard for us cruiser’s!  If any of you do stop and take advantage of the shutte, don’t be afraid to offer a little donation to keep it going!  (http://www.titusville.com/sectionindex.asp?sectionid=52)

Our transit between Cocoa and Titusville was not uneventful.  We had a short storm cell come through where our visibility was about 100 feet and then to add to the excitement of this particular adventure, as we neared a set of overhead cables and checked the charts, the notation showed a mere 44 feet of clearance!!!  I don’t have to tell you that with our mast at 60 feet, we were more than a little concerned and no matter who we hailed on the radio, no one could “confirm” the cable height so we circled in front of it for a bit and considered our options….truthfully, we really thought we would be on our way back to Cocoa for some facts!  As we circled, I jumped on the i-phone (reach OUCH!!! In terms of $’s ) and did a look up of overhead cable heights on the ICW and found a site, current to January 2013 that confirmed we were good to go, so, hearts thumping, we motored through and it was no problem.  Gregg’s heart definitely got a good workout that day!

Kennedy Space Centre great fun and very informative.  We did it all, including the Space Shuttle Simulator and pictures in space suits!

 

We are now tucked into our little home for night and will enjoy a quiet day of of strolling the townsite and provisioning tomorrow before we continue our journey up the ICW.

 

Until next time….

 

Love and hugs all around,

Shelley and Gregg

Vero Beach is very cruiser friendly!!!

Today is June 22, 2013 and I can actually write and publish on the same day!!!  We have internet!!!!


While in Lake Worth, we spent a day at Peanut Island.  Fun fact, Lake Worth was the winter home for the Kennedy family and their home is still standing today.  There is also a bunker on Peanut Island built for the President's safety during the Cold War.  We took the tour and marvelled that so many people, including 30 days provisions for all, would be required to stay in a room not much larger than most peoples living room. We did a little snorkeling and playing in the water as well on this beautiful island park.

Our cruise from Lake Worth to Fort Pierce was an easy run along the Atantic coastline although securing an anchorage is always interesting.  I think about all of the times back home when we dropped "the hook", gave a ittle tug, and were good to go....this is definately not that!  The mooring field MUST be carefully reviewed on the charts prior to any attempt at anchorage as there are reefs, spoil areas and sandbars at every turn and when you have these areas all clear in your mind, there are many other boats at anchor that you get to wade through seeking that "mostly" perfect spot to drop anchor and call home.  Of course, there will generally be winds at 15 to 20 knots and a strong and steady current going in the opposite direction.  And did I mention that as soon as you begin your attempt, heads pop out of every companionway like groundhogs on a summer morning....this is, after all, the best entertainment of the day.  I think I can even see martini's in one hand and rating  placards in the other as the "judges" offer up their scores.  Gratefully, Simplicity II's Captain is keenly adept at anchoring maneauvers leaving my task of running the windlass ( he gives me the "let 'er rip" hand signal and I step on the down arrow button) an easy, breezy exercise.

From Fort Pierce, a short run up the ICW brings us to Vero Beach where we are on a mooring ball at the municipal marina for the lofty fee of $13.99 per day!  This includes a huge dinghy dock, showers, restrooms, an air conditioned "cruisers lounge", laundry, pump station service....seriousy, when you are cruising, this is the equivalent of hitting the mother load.  AND THEN, as if all of these wonderful amenties weren't enough, Vero Beach has a free bus service that will take you anywhere you wish to go...amazing...yup, life is good in Vero Beach!

We have yet to decide where we will stop next...the Captain is busy with maintenance tasks today, impeller changes, filter changes/cleaning and the like...life is busy for the retired cruiser!

One more thing......

I want to take a moment to remember my sister Linda and her family today as they lay nephew Tysons ashes in their final resting place.  It is always difficult to lose one so young and our Tyson was a special gem.  Big heart, big smiles, big hugs  he had the best sense of humour and a fierce loyalty to those he loved.  Forever in our hearts, dear nephew, your are with us in spirit always.

Tyson at centre
 August 11, 1984 - June 25, 2005

Until next time.....

Love and hugs,
Shelley and Gregg

We're back in Florida! Lake Worth and on Singer Island!!!! ;o)

June 8, 2013

We've enjoyed a wonderful time during our "maiden voyage" and first introduction to cruising in The Bahamas...it was so hard to leave!  A number of repairs were calling us back so we are now in Lake Worth clearing up some "details" (in boat speak, this means long hot days, sweating buckets and maintaining that you know you can complete this task as long as the manual and diagrams are correct...hmmmm) and getting ready for the next leg of our journey.

There was lots of storm activity as we sat at anchor near Mangrove Cay, thunder and lightening and rain in buckets.  We think we may have been sitting on the edge of Tropical Storm Andrea and are grateful it was only winds of up to 40 and lightening in the distance, not close enough to strike our mast!  We were anchored with 3 or 4 other boats, one of which slipped it's anchor and floated past us at about 1 in the morning!  Thank goodness Gregg took watch and even though he tried to raise the Captain, there was no discussing the situation.

Two days later we were on the beach at West End, Old Bahama Bay, snorkeling and swimming and generally enjoying the paradise of the Bahamas.  The resort hosted an evening of crab races for the kiddies...yup, with betting and a cash pool!  No time like the present to learn how to gamble!  Then there was even a Junkanoo style parade in costumes and dancing! As we sat in the cockpit looking back on our cruise through the Bahamas, we were reminded of the night right here in Old Bahama Bay when we looked across "the Stream" and watched a rocket launch off of Cape Canaveral!!!  What a sight to see, hard to believe but it was actually beautiful!   We are on to Lake Worth tomorrow to repair, replace, refurbish!!!!.

Our crossing was uneventful except to say that the wave heights were at 6 feet most of the way with winds of 10 to 15 knots and our girl handled the conditions beautifully.  We had the genoa sail up whenever it worked with the wind conditions but we were certainly relying on our Yanmar for this crossing of the Gulf Stream!  We arrived Lake Worth late midday and after trying to hook our anchor unsuccesfully, decided we were too tired and went in to the marina, Gregg docked our girl like a pro despite the fact that the eight pilings (yes, 8!!!!) that made up the slip were about a foot wider than our beam, the whole event was nothing less than impressive and it amazes me every time!

It is lucky for us that we have such a strong internet connection here at Sailfish Marina in Lake Worth, because we were able to enjoy a nice long Skype visit with Dustin, Cait and even Mr Man back home.  It was so great to see their faces and hear their voices!  Dustin certainly seems to have business "back at the Ranch" in hand and we coulldn't be happier to know he is taking great care of things.  I can hardly wait for them to come for a visit!  :o)

Beautiful homes here, some have even created a beach!

Until next time.....

Hugs all around,
Shelley and Gregg

Until next time......

Love and hugs all around!

Shelley and Gregg

Ahoy, Matey!!!! We have a stowaway!!!!! Arrrrrrgh.....

So, can I stay???  Please????
I haven't been to visit
the Florida fam in years!!!!!

Well, it's true...we've had at least one little Bahamian mouse aboard.  Keen to see the world aboard Simplicity II the little creature hopped on deck and checked out his new digs.  Silly little fellow didn't have the good sense to hide his "sign" and this sailor is not keen to share her home with one as messy and unwilling/able to clean up after itself...I mean really!!!  It's one thing to eat the last bag of crispy potatoe chips and quite another to leave fully digested food all through the ship!  Not a very respectful houseguest.....even if he is cute.  So, he has to leave!!!!  After a night of me being sure the little stinker was crawling in and out of our bed (doubtful, but the imagination runs wild in the darkest hours!) and poor Gregg banging his head on the cabin ceiling after yet another call out from his first mate and promising to stay up and bait the little fellow and nail him with his shoe if he shows his beady eyes, I got a wonderful nights sleep and Gregg....well....he did not.  And little Mr Bahamian Mouse....well, I guess he had a delightful eveining of hide and seek.

 

    Next day, in serious conversation with our neighbours, Dave and Kathy, we were the proud new owners of a mouse trap....baited and set!  We just love those guys, always a helping hand when you need one.  Sure enough, we went to sleep knowing our mouse adventure would soon be over.....Gregg assures me there is no longer a mouse onboard, but we are leaving the dock today and setting the trap again just to be sure.  Sorry little buddy....mouse heaven is a much nicer place for you than Florida.

  Given this great success, I settled in to some serious "cabin keeping", a good wash down of every surface I can access with antibacterial, anti "every mouse" cleaner and what the heck, might as well throw in a load of laundry while I'm at it!

Ha, ha...a weeks worth of laundry!
Still living the life and loving it!

 So, this afternoon, at high tide we will leave Little Grand Bahama and anchor out at Double Breasted Cay, will post pics when I can, it is truly paradise!  Tomorrow, we will move on to Mangrove Cay and next day to Old Bahama Bay in preparation for our next Gulf Stream crossing to Lake Worth.  Kathy hoseted a wonderful "departure dock party" last night with two fabulous salads and chicken wings on the "barby" !  There was dancing on the dock (video to follow if I ever figure out how to post it) and a good time was had by all!  Thank you again, Kathy, you are "the hostess with the mostest!" and we love you more every day.

We are going to miss these guys so much! 
And Dave....where did you go, Dave?
Are you still swimming with the sharks
looking for Kathy's sunglasses?
What a great guy!!!!

   It is unlikely I will be able to post again for a bit so, until next time.....


Love and hugs all around,


Shelley and Gregg

Ahhhh...Little Grand Cay... :o)

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Rosie's Place, Little Grand Cay

So here we are at Little Grand Cay and I find myself challenged to express how incredibly beautiful and honest this little community is.  We motored in, late afternoon, on a very windy Tuesday, winding our way through a very tricky passage filled with reefs just waiting to take out our keel.  Once again, Gregg, with great confidence guided our girl through it all realizing very quickly that we would not be anchoring out, but rather, finding our place at the end of the docks.  With Gregg at the helm, Simplicity II found herself gently gliding into the pier and what should she find, but two wonderful individuals, Kathy and Gil, waiting to take the lines and secure her.  What a warm and wonderful welcome from these generous folks!

Once we got our girl all settled in and enjoyed a little chat with our new found friends, didn't Kathy just go ahead and bring out a bottle of champagne to celebrate our new girl and the real beginning of our journey!  Amazing!!!  We shared a wonderful evening of appy's, champagne, wine and yes, Gil even brought out shots of scotch!!!  Our  very first "cruising family" and they are truly the best!!!  What a welcome!!!!  :o)

Dancing on the docks with Martine, Gile, Kathy, Gregg and Dave

Low tide has been awee might too low for our six foot draft so we have found our girl to snuggle a tad into the sand bottom mostly every day.....everyone assures us that this is "no worries, mon" although we continue to wonder.  For now, we are enjoying life from moment to moment and feeling incredibly grateful that we are able to be here.  Dave and Kathy have enhanced our experience exponentially by taking us under their wing and teaching us the ways of the Islands.  We have been fishing, snorkeling, diving for conch (pronounced conk, and everyone is getting one before we return home!) watching the rays cruise by and in general good times with good people.  We are truly bessed!

Gregg and Dave -  Conch Cleaning 101

In our few short days here, we have come to love this Island paradise, in part because of the gift of good friends and in part because of the incredible raw beauty at every turn.  No resorts....no shopping malls...just peace and tranquility.

Raw natural beauty in this island paradise!

It looks like Thursday will be our departure day as we wind our way back to the USA and up the eastern seaboard.  We expect to make Old Bahama Bay in a full day then a Gulf Stream crossing into Lake Worth, Palm Beach FL.  Maybe even meet up with Dave and Kathy again!  We'll keep you posted as the internet is available.  ;o)

Until next time....

Love and hugs all around!

Shelley and Gregg