FINALLY TO FORT PIERCE!!

When we started this adventure last October, Eric Morrow was our captain. We were going to take the boat from Annapolis to Fort Pierce Florida....in about a couple of weeks.  Then Eric's dad got ill, so Steve had a crash course in driving a giant boat then Eric flew home... and Steve was captain! Here it is, after putting her on the hard for almost four months, repair delays, etc etc we finally made it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dinner was great!!!

Below are some pictures of the voyage today. Steve is Doing fabulous but he's very tired. Tomorrow we aregoing out on the ocean to avoid the 18 bridges that you have to wait to open and spending the night in Palm Beach!!!

We were escorted into Fort Pierce by dolphins doing tricks!! They followed us for several hours- Steve would talk to them and clap and they would roll over and jump out of the water!!! Very cool!!!!!!!

Coco Beach!!!

Fancy smancy!!!!

Jumping

water is getting better!

Limerick by Don Schauber

  

(Steve didn't see two guys in a little boat, was zooming by and accidentally sent a big wake to their boat- he always slows way down for fisherman and kayakers- he was screaming "I'm sorry"  We always call Don every night to tell him about the day and how far we got- here is his latest limerick!)

REVELATION

It's was March 31 and a fine, fine day,

When the Captain and Mate got underway,

Seems they left Canaveral just in time,

Not to be charged with a capital crime,

There are obvious omissions from the ship's log,

About screaming Kayakers left strewn in the fog,

So there slow and little and have no lights,

These little people still have their rights.

Also, two soul brothers picked a quiet place to fish,
A snook or cat was there only wish,
Not knowing the Captain wild with speed,
Traversed the channel very reckless indeed,
As they waved he sent a wake you wouldn't believe,
Exclaiming "here's a present from Captain Steve"

He suddenly realized as they called back in fear,

"We aint doin nothing man we just fishin here".

They clung and they clawed to stay afloat,
And shouted and cursed at that big, bad boat,
They didn't know as they began to bail,
That the Captains nerves were rattled and frail,
He meant no malice and flashed a peace sign,
They waved him back one finger this time.

Along with those kayakers raising a wail,

You had to be careful if you crossed his trail.

The Captain calmed down with help of is mate,

Explaining to him redemption can come late,

" I'll  change my ways I see the light",

Those little boats didn't come here to fight.

He contemplated life as the bridges passed by,

Proud with his promise to try, try, try.

No more speeding as he notched his oar,

Kayakers zero ......Captain Steve got four.

LOVE YOU GUYS ...... KEEP ON TRUCKIN.

ALWAYS.....DON&JENNY

Spaceland- Kennedy Space Center area

plane doing aerobatics 

We are spending the night in Titusvile. It is by the Kennedy Space Center. The industry had lots of layoffs over the past year and it shows. If they were to launch a shuttle we could see- and feel it!!!

Big Building for the Space Center

Restaurant on the water- great location, lousy food and service

Sunrise leaving Titusville

Limerick by Don Schauber

CALM WATERS
 
Latest on the crew from Belgrade,
Looking back at the miles they have made, 
It's well worth the cost,
As no member has been lost,
And the First Mate is a little less frayed. 
 
With St. Augustine Behind,
And First Mate of sound mind,
They sail the seas unafraid,
Seems Wilson left ship,
Gave the Captain the slip,
And headed to his home in Belgrade.
 
The First Mate now changed,
No longer deranged,
And doesn't even carry her sword,
She now clings to Captain Steve,
Who we all firmly believe,
Has thrown Wilson overboard.
 
Peace rules the day,
As they sail for Florida Bay, 
With the First Mate happily mopping,
She says with a smile,
I'm yours for a while.
But soon I'll be in Costco shopping.
 
LOVE YOU GUYS....HAPPY PROPWASH.......
ALWAYS, DON & JENNY
 
 
 

St Augustine Florida! Mile #778

Fabulous town!!!!! We got to the City Marina that is right in the middle of this bustling fabulous town- we are coming back here for sure!!! Cobblestone streets, shops about 100 restaurants and people having fun everywhere! It has a New Orleans feel. According to WIKIPEDIA it is the "oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement and port in the continental United States." founded in 1565 by the Spanish.

^{The first several restaurants we went to had an hour and a half wait. We took a shortcut thru an alley and found a fantastic restaurant named "Chianti" and being that we love Chianti we decided to get the only two seats at the bar. It overlooked the kitchen so we could watch the meals being prepared- too fun! We split one of the best meals ever- Filet Masala- soooooo good- and had tiramisu for desert along with a bottle of Chianti, of course.} 

^{Lots of people here for nighttime ghost tours. There are also several pirate ships- still looking for my “ghost ship!!!!!!} 

Made it 100 miles.Good day. Miracle really- so many kayakers and little fishing boats Steve always slows down, but felt so bad when he missed two guys in a boat- try went for a ride! Steve kept yelling he was sorry, that he didn't see them, but don't know if they cared!!! (see Don Schaubers latest Limerick) Here are some houses and sites we saw along the way.

mega dock!!

Florida Plantation style

still ugly water

house in Daytona Beach- you can drive on the beach

fun park

Big Boys Toys

another lighthouse for you Shan!!

Daytona Beach

pretty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fun!!!

Spring Break central- Daytona- these are all on the ocean

shallow!!

tile on the pilings- dolphins and manatees

Bird Island

From Jekyll Island past the submarine base, by Fernandina Beach

We got an early start this morning. It's raining but the water is pretty calm. I have to unzip the plastic dodger to squeegee the water so Steve can see! It is foggy when the rain stops- just as bad with moisture. We are finally making it to Florida!!!! Yeah!

As we go through St Marys Sound we see signs warning no one to come ashore- this is the submarine base! I kept looking for periscopes!!!

sign warning no one to tresspass!!!!!

Submarine lift???????

Navy boats

You can actually smell Fernandina Beach before you see it! There is a huge pulp mill! The town however is darling- we would like to come back and see it. when you ask people that live there how they can stand the smell, they just say "what smell???????"

Pulp Mill

Fernandina Beach

Jacksonville Florida, Tolomato River

look at this current going under the bridge!!

havin fun in jacksonville!!!

This is part 2 for the 28th. We are going to put in about 12 hours today- all the millions of trips Steve has driven to California have prepared him for this quest!!! There are areas of no population at all and areas that are packed. Below are some houses along the route.

Its all you need!!

Well, this guy doesn't think so!!

or this guy!!

Especially not this guy!!! This is ONE house

heres our bridge Ged!!!!

Don't hit the Manatees!!!! (Still haven't seen one- sorry Jon!)

do your own caption!

confusing signs and that go out to the ocean

You can see how close we are to the ocean!!!