728.9 Nautical Miles so far
We departed Little Stirrup Cay yesterday at daybreak and arrived here at Sunrise Marina in the Lacaya/Freeport area. Howard and Mary went on to Great Harbour Cay to make arrangements to leave NAZDAR at the marina and fly back to New England. It has been a pleasure to travel with them through the Islands but it was time to say "Adios" and head to Florida.
It was a bit tricky coming into Sunrise due to the shoaling at the entrance canal.
We timed our departure to arrive right at high tide and we succeeded.
I would not want to try this place at low tide until the channel is dredged.
Staff is friendly and the marina has floating docks.
At one time this Resort/Marina was first class. But today it is struggling to survive. It appears they are only using about 25% of the facilities.
The bar/restaurant is closed. One hotel room has been transformed into the marina laundry.
Only the lower rooms are being occupied and hardly no one here.
The grounds are landscaped nicely but some areas are showing their age.
This cabana overlooking the entrance channel looks abandoned.
The reception desk and lobby was in great shape and the girls at the desk were very friendly and welcoming.
The upstairs restaurant was not accessible but the old bar room down by the pool was open for guests to watch TV, workout, play pool and ping-pong.
We will wait here for a couple days for a good weather window to cross over to Lake Worth at West Palm Beach, Florida .
Tuesday, April, 14, 2015
While here we met up with a sweet lady named Mary Jo. She has quite a story to tell.
She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer 9 years ago, been thru all the treatments, etc. and lives life to the fullest each day.
She single handed this 45 foot sailing yacht from Ft. Lauderdale in January.
She is on her way to Hoffman's Cay to spread the ashes of her departed husband who passed a year ago. Her and her husband spent a lot of time in the Berry Islands and wants him to remain in their "Special Place". My hats off to this lady.
Christine is getting a tour of the cabin area and sleeping quarters.
This sailboat was built in New Zealand in 1976. The quality of workmanship is amazing.
Pictures do it no justice. All the hardware is bronze except the rigging and it is all Stainless Steel.
The woodwork was certainly done by a true craftsman.
Annie says "Thanks, but no thanks, I'll stick with Mystic Lady.
It's just too cramped aboard a sailboat for us but this one has more room than most due to it's wide beam.
She is definitely a sea-going vessel.
Mary Jo returning from a dingy ride to meet up with a friend she is teaching to sail.
She handles all the chores related to being a sailboater. She offered to teach me how to sail but I told her I was too old to learn another trick.
Mary Jo is a spirited person who isn't going to let cancer stop her adventures.
Sounds like someone else I know. That someone is my favorite daughter in law, Alison Chafton....
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Departed Sunrise Marina at Sunrise, isn' t that fitting.....
We weave our way through the maze of freighters and container ships as we pass the Freeport Shipping Channel.
Forecast is for calm seas and light winds, we'll see.....
Thought for sure there would be fireworks or something....
It was a boring ride but that's exactly what you want when you cross the Gulf Stream.
We had 1 to 2 foot seas and winds around 10kts. About as good as it gets this time of year.
Now, we will mosey on over to RiverBend and do a lot of cleaning and prepping for summer storage of Mystic Lady.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Looks like we are about to get those "Fireworks" I wanted. Just didn't want the Mother Nature kind.
Lightning all around us just as we enter an area called "Hell's Gate" near Sewell's Point. This is only 5 or 6 miles from our destination for the day.
Batten down the hatches, it's gonna get nasty.
This frame shows the rain moving across our path.
We have a bridge to clear just ahead.
Ok, here we go....Total "White Out" conditions for the next few miles.
Note the radar screen, lower left, showing us right in the middle of the cell.
For all you pilots out there, this is truly IFR conditions.
Just keep her in the channel and hope lightning don't strike and take out the electronics.
We made it to the bridge just as the rain let up a bit.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Coming across Lake O' on our way to Moore Haven for the night. One more day to RiverBend as this trip comes to and end.
You will have to enlarge this photo to see but there is eight boats following close behind us through the narrow channel into Clewiston, Florida. We felt like the Pied Piper leading everyone through.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
927.6 Nautical Miles
1067.5 Statue Miles
Our docking crew was waiting for us when we arrived at RiverBend.
What a great bunch of friends we have here at this park.
They helped make this chore a lot easier by helping us tie up "Mystic Lady".
It's not easy to put a 53 foot boat in a slip that was designed for a 20 foot pontoon.
And just as we finish tying up, Connie drops his $300 sunglasses in the river.
I put on the mask and jump in, but this river is so tanned and dirty that it's impossible to see the bottom without putting your face right on the mud.
I was not successful but will try again when the water clears up a bit. Too many boats stirring up the silt to find them today.
Sunday, April 28, 2015
Just a few TRIP FACTS for those who want to know:
We cruised for 96 days
We stayed in marinas for 32 days, the remaining 64 days was anchored or moored out
We traveled 1067 miles
We burned 824.6 gallons of diesel fuel
The engines ran 147.8 hours
The generator ran 413 hours
The Water Maker ran 69 hours making 2,691 gallons of water
Using .5 gph in the Generator = 206.5 gallons fuel
Total fuel less generator fuel = 618.1 gallons fuel for engines
618.1 divided by 147.8 hours = 4.18 gph for engines
OR 1.29 mpg including generator OR 1.72 mpg excluding the generator
Over a thousand miles and she still has the props on her. LOL.
Today we hauled out "Mystic Lady" and put her in storage for the summer.
It's off to Kentucky and some Hillbilly Off-Roading......
as soon as the Admiral's broken foot heals, yuck......
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Mystic Lady is shrink wrapped and resting for the summer.....
We'll be back in October to open the marshmallow and put her back in the water for a season of cruising. Stay tuned, check the blog, we will be cruising the waters of South Florida and the Keys.
WOW, what a trip. I have been following y'all as the internet connection allowed. The island waters are so beautiful. I bet you feel like a seasoned sailor with that many miles under your belt. We are still in Texas and will be in KY for Avari's graduation first of June. See ya then. Tell Chrissy to take it easy.
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