Day 15 : Fishing Seaweed

Crystal River

Thursday, October 12

We decided to stay in Crystal River for another day to fish and do sea trials on our autopilot.  Autopilot checks out perfectly (woohoo!) then we head to a nearby fish haven.  We drop in our poles and troll along. Turns out in this fish haven it’s a lot easier to catch seaweed than it is fish.  We didn’t catch any fish, only a bunch of seaweed so we reel in our lines.  As we do our fishing line gets caught up under the boat and begins to wrap around the starboard propeller.  Yikes!  With dive gear on the boat Jacob is able to suit up and dive in to cut the line and remove it.  If he’s going in, “why knot” suit up the kids also. 

They get a refresher in diving and get in the water.  Jacob enters the water last.  By this time Joie realizes the visibility is terrible, possibly 1-2 feet, and decides she doesn’t want to go under.  Joie and Jayden hang out in the water while Jacob cleans up our fishing line mistake.  Once that’s all cleaned up everyone jumps back on the boat including Jeeno.  Of course he had to go for a swim too!  We really wanted to catch a fish for dinner so once we get back to Twin Rivers Marina we buy some live shrimp, borrow some poles, and start fishing off the dock. 

 Jayden almost catches a Shnook. The key word here is almost. No luck fishing, but Jayden and I were startled by a manatee.  It came up for a breath of air right by the dock.  At first, we thought it was a gator.  Our neighbors/dock masters gave Jacob a ride to the store, store bought fish it is…we grilled up our fish and some steak with our neighbors.  We also prepared baked potatoes, so yummy!  Our parting gift was a dozen fresh farm eggs!  Everyone all around has been so giving, a quality that the Vegas desert often dries up. 

Day 14:Crystal River: Supply Day

Wednesday October, 11

We ventured deeper in the Crystal River today searching for cheaper fuel and Manatees.  We saw a few from a distance.  We wanted to go to a spot where we could get into the water with them, but our boat was too big.  When we finished docking up for fuel a mommy and her baby were right in front of our boat, but just as we noticed them they swam away, out of sight.   

Here we are on the hunt for manatees...

After fueling we walked about a mile for some supplies.  Oh I didn't tell you.  After talking with a tech from Simrad, our autopilot maker, he said our compass is offset because of where its installed and we may possibly be missing a fuse.  Simrad are extremely easy to use, basically install and use.  Jacob moved the compass and got a proper reading and found that we WERE missing a fuse.  So...we headed out for a fuse, dog food, and engine oil.  I knew we were on the right path when I saw "222" 

 Those numbers seem to follow me/us everywhere.

Once the fuse was installed the autopilot began to work!!!  Sea trials tomorrow...

Day 13: Open Ocean

Tuesday, October 10

Apalachicola, FL – Crystal River, FL (163 mi)

We are awake and hitting the water before dawn breaks.  The water is like glass as we set off, but none of the buoys are properly lit.  I head to the bow with one of our super duper bright flashlights in hand to help guide Jacob.  Our spotlight just wasn’t cuttin’ it.  We make our way to Governor’s Cut, but won’t cross until the sun lights up the sky so we can see.  While waiting for the sun Jacob begins to calibrate the autopilot; turning it to the right and then to the left and around in circles.  After calibration he does a few more things, but for some reason it still won’t work.  He contemplates turning around.  He was really hoping and depending on having autopilot for this 12 hour trek.  That’s a long time to have to steer.  I never doubted his ability to do it and the thought of turning back never crossed my mind.

Day breaks giving us safe visibility to navigate through Governor’s Cut.  I go to the bow for lookout.  Large rolling waves greet us as we make it safely through the narrow channel; now it’s only us and the open ocean for the rest of the trip.  The rolling waves last for at least 5 hours.  It’s not rough, but it is difficult to keep our heading.  I steer for possibly 15 seconds and am freaked out, hahaha.  It’s my goal to be more comfortable behind the wheel of the boat by the end of this trip.  Joie came to me with an upset tummy.  I told her to look at the horizon.  Moments later, Jeeno barfed up his food.  Guess Joie wasn’t the only one with a queasy tummy.  Jeeno and Joie both looked miserable.  Jayden listened to some comedy he downloaded on his phone before falling asleep.  It’s amazing how much sleep these two kids have been getting on our travels.  Car rides and boats rides are a sure way to knock them both out.  I finally give in to the waves and have to close my eyes also.  Jacob was even battling the urge to nap.

The waters finally get smoother and from up on the fly bridge Jayden spots a sea turtle and a school of eagle rays.  I finally saw a flying fish race our boat.  To pass more time I watched an episode of Breaking Bad I downloaded from Netflix.  This is this first time that we lost service on our phones.

At last, we must be getting close! Our phones start buzzing catching us up with notifications and messages.  Jacob is still hanging in there.  Now we have to dodge crab pots and make our way into the narrow shallow entry to find our Marina. 

At last we reached our destination! I am so hot and icky that the first thing I do is take a cold shower!  

We already have some steak marinating for dinner.  We finish our night with tacos and Hulu.  We have wifi!!!!! 

Good night ya’ll        

Day 12: Leaving Apalachicola

Monday, October 9

Tomorrow we are leaving Apalachicola.  Though we have enjoyed our stay we are all ready to move on.

Jacob makes charting plans for us to leave and I try to do some prep work for Jeeno going to the Bahamas and Turks.  The Bahamas I almost have locked in, their requirements are pretty easy.  However, I have been told by the vet I was going to get the health certificate from in Stuart, Florida that I must go to Miami USDA to have it stamped.  That would be all fine and dandy, but I don’t have a car and Miami is 1.5-2 hours from Stuart.  Much too far for me to taxi or Uber, so I need to find another way.

We wanted to go straight to Clearwater, but it’s much too far for us to travel in one day so we decide to go to Twin Rivers Marina in Crystal River.  The approach is very shallow like most areas around here, but that Marina seems to have a direct entrance; the other surrounding marinas seem to be more complicated to get to.  Especially, since we aren’t familiar with the area.

I talked to some friends back home.  It’s been a week since the shooting in Vegas.  Thankfully my family and friends are okay, but of their friend’s friends were injured or killed.  We’ve been watching the news and listening to the stories from those who were lucky to escape without injury.  The lone shooter isn’t adding up and none of us buy the government/media BS.  It’s a scam, a ploy, a cover-up.  Maybe it’s another attempt t pull guns from citizens.  All around us seems to be chaos and destruction, but we have been blessed to be separated from it all.  Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by the recent hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and shootings.  May God continue to keep us safe and guide those who seek Him; I pray He guides even those who aren’t.

Day 11: Oktobeerfest

Sunday, October 8

Today was Apalachicola Oktoberfest.  We headed over to the Oyster city Brewing company around noon to join in the festivities.  We ate some yummy Brauts, people watched, drank some beers, and Jacob participated in a liter of beer drinking contest.  He got a little over half way through, needed to take a breather, then it was over; another guy finished.  

We got word today that our stuff from Vegas is still there.  It was supposed to already be in St. Thomas with our truck, but at least in Florida.  They called because apparently they didn’t know where it was going even though we gave them that information when they picked up our stuff.  I’m curious how I will feel about the items we decided to ship.  Will they have lost their significance?  Which items will I be thankful to have again, which will I laugh at myself for bringing?     

Day 10: Laundry Day

Saturday, October 7

I started my day with Yoga and meditation!  

We were able to find a boat electrician to help Jacob install the new auto pilot.  While he did that all the power was off in the boat and it was getting hot and humid!  The nearing storms raised the humidity to 99%.  The kids and I were excited to leave to do laundry expecting the Laundromat to have free wifi and air conditioning!.  We walked about 7 blocks, each of us carrying a load of laundry with all the laundry stuff and walking Jeeno.  When the sign came into view we were thrilled!  We were told it may be 10 blocks away and for some reason our clothes, though we didn’t have many were extremely heavy.  As we got closer we saw the doors were all open, meaning only one thing, no A.C.  Oh well, no worries.  They had fans and there was a slight breeze.  I applaud my children for not making a peep about the lack of air conditioning.  They also didn’t complain about not having wifi. 

I didn’t have any quarters, just a twenty dollar bill.  There wasn’t anyone around for me to get change from; guess I was getting $20 worth of quarters from the coin machine.  We waited around while the machines swished and swirled our laundry.  25 minutes later the loads finished.  Laundromats are great for shortening laundry day.  I can do multiple loads at the same time and typically trying to save a few dollars, sorting clothes pretty much goes out the window, Through it all in and…hope for the best.  If it doesn’t survive well…I just don’t need it anymore.  To my dismay, one of my loads didn’t seem to wash well, so we had to redo it.   Oh yeah, and laundromats have HUGE dryers!  We started the dryer while we rewashed the other load.  During this time another couple people came in, one of which Jeeno scared half to death. Jeeno has a very scary bark.  I found out later that she was bit by a dog earlier this year.  For some reason our extremely heavy dirty laundry once cleaned, fluffed and folded was much lighter.  How dirty were they??  We could have walked home much easier, but a nice gentleman we’d been talking with offered us a ride home.  I hesitantly accepted.  It’s not in my nature to hitch rides from strangers, though I talk about it and have a desire to help someone just as this man helped us

The guys were still working on the auto-pilot when we returned so we dropped the clean clothes at the boat and headed to the pool to cool down.  We brought Jeeno to the pool because the whole boat was opened up and there was no place for a dog.  Plus he would have whined when we left anyway.  As soon as we jumped into the pool Jeeno followed right in line even though we were telling him no.  He must have been just as hot as us.  Of course, we didn’t let him stay.  We tied him up to the wall.  Then he was just being annoying barking at everyone who passed the pool.  No one seemed to mind, not even the office lady.  Though she did tell us he wasn’t supposed to be in there.

It wasn’t much longer before the guys were done.  Then we made final preparations for the outskirts of hurricane Nate to rain down on us.  The weather channel made it seem we may get hot real hard  and even issued a tornado warning.  Scary!  We didn’t get very much rain and there was almost zero wind.  The only thing we noticed was in the middle of the night the water level rose about 3.5 feet.  By the time we woke up it was back down.  The flooding was no big thing for locals.

Day 9: Apalachicola becomes home

Friday, October 6, 2017

Water Street Hotel and Marina

The water level has risen 2 feet since we docked.  We are on a floating dock with about 7 more feet to spare before we need to worry.  Hurricane Nate has flooded Nicaragua, Slidell Louisiana (where we just were a week ago) is being evacuated for Nate and coastal flood warnings are in affect for Apalachicola.  As of today we are living the good life.

We slept in, did some maintenance on the boat, tried to check the props with our go pro, but the water is too mucky to see anything.  Jacob is going to have to get in the water, but probably not here.  This is gator country.  There is a sign on our dock that says, “DON’T FEED THE GATORS”.  Jeeno has fallen in the water 3 times here.  I feel like he’s begging to get eaten by a gator.  He hasn’t fallen in once on our trip and now that we are docked up in marsh country he does???

When we ventured out today we saw many of the same people; this place is already starting to feel like home.  

I love when mother nature takes over.  Does anyone know how long it takes for this to happen?  and does it harm the structure?