We have just had the best two weeks. However, it is with the heaviest of hearts and with tears in my eyes that we are headed home. Sailing is what we love to do. We have such a passion for the way of life. We feel very fortunate that we can do what we love but with the taste in our mouth and sand in our toes it is very difficult to put it to rest for snow in our backyard.
We flew down to Fort Lauderdale to pick up the new boat. It was so sureal. But, when we stepped on the decks we knew she was ours. We loaded all of our luggage, dinghy that we shipped and numerous other items that we had purchased on to the boat and prepared to push off the docks. We started up the diesel Yanmar engine and she fired up right away. One problem though, the fuel gauge didn't work. We had no idea how much diesel was in there and if there was enough to motor up the new river to our destination, Los Olas Marina. We were told that we were not allowed to stay on the boat in the sale yard after 5pm when they closed. 5pm came though and everyone had left without as much of a whisper to us. The sales crew took our money, we signed the papers and we were on our own. We ended up finding the tank and knocked on the outside of it and decided that the tank was not empty. There were some service guys still in the yard and after talking with them we were told that the new river was closed because a sailboat with a 75' clearance took out some electric lines at the bridge and was rushed to the hospital for electrocution. Glad the sales guys told us that! So with no one around we decided to sit tight and stay the night.
We awoke early in the morning and called ahead to the bridge and found that it was all repaired overnight and the river was open so we started our motoring to Los Olas. We made it few a couple of bridges and then were stopped at the Downtowner marina because the next bridge was closed for openings for a couple of hours for rush hour traffic. We were told there was a Publix just a couple of blocks away so we went out for a walk with our empty bags in tow to do a little provisioning. The weather was warm and I was thrilled to put on my skorts and a tank top. Today starts the 2 week long no bra wearing. It is a wonderful thing to leave it in the drawer and not don it again until our flight home.
We are back on board with our groceries stowed. We had a cup of coffee while we were out and some sushi for breakfast! Mmmm! We start motoring again and stop at Bahia Mar for diesel. We want to top her off just so we know what we have. The tank only takes 3 gallons. awesome.
We arrive Los Olas Marina. We pull into the same slip that we had in 2013. It is a comfortable "coming home" feeling. For the next couple of days we spend preparing the boat. We hop on the Sun Trolley and take it to the Harbor Shops. We stop into the Dollar Store, Ross, Ace Hardware, Batteries and More and Publix. We are getting everything that we need for a 2 week stay. Pots and pans, utensils, food, linens, pillows, dish drainer, etc. We also had to purchase 2 new golf cart batteries. Batteries and More were very helpful and delivered them for us to the marina. What a great service they provided for us.
We spent New Years Eve night on the beach in Los Olas. The streets were filled with people. We had wonderful Tuna Tataki and drinks at The Big Kahuna . Later we headed down to the corner where all of the festivities happen and watched from the second floor railing of The Elbow Room. Next to me stood a girl named Shawnai. What a small world. We were instant besties!
The year of 2014 has brought many wonderful things to Mark and I. It was an incredible year. May 2015 be as rewarding for us and our friends and family.
Happy New Year to you all!
Captain Mark at the helm. We now have a wheel instead of the tiller. Thought there is an emergency tiller handle located in the floor if needed. Bimini and dodger frame was also included. We attached it all to get it out of the cabin. The canvas looks okay but all of the plastic zippers are shot. The teeth just pop out. We will have those all repaired. That will be a LOT cheaper than starting from scratch with no bimini or dodger. Good news.
We brought the Lowrance with us in our luggage on the flight. Mark will have to later install this at the helm. For now it works just fine. There is a nice swim platform behind Mark and the railing there folds down as the ladder. Handy. There is also a hot /cold shower there for when you get done swimming. We LOVE that! We showered there every night before bed. The boat has a total of 50 gal fresh water tanks. That provided us for 4 days worth of use including showers.
Heading down the new river to get to the ICW. What a beautiful area.
What kind of duck is this? A turkey duck?
This is a cool old boat I would think to see in New Orleans.
Endurance in the slip at the Los Olas Marina.
Our clearance is 48' and it is nerve wracking every time we go under a bridge.
The galley is very efficient. Double sinks with hot and cold water, a huge fridge/freezer, microwave that we will probably take out and put a cupboard door on, 2 burner propane stove and oven, lots of storage space. Pretty much all of these items were lacking in New Girl.
A very room cabin. Beautiful teak and holly floors. The table pushes down to add a cushion and make another nice sized bed. Four windows that open for a breeze, roomy V-berth up front with a door for privacy.
Nice navigation station for reading charts. Stereo with indoor and outdoor speakers, air conditioning, charging station for phones, tablets, etc., VHF radio inside and out in the cockpit, and a desk that opens to store all of our paper charts.
The head with a hot/cold shower. Medicine cabinet behind one of the mirrors. And the head has a door! YES!!
The year of 2014 has brought many wonderful things to Mark and I. It was an incredible year. May 2015 be as rewarding for us and our friends and family.
Happy New Year to you all!
Captain Mark at the helm. We now have a wheel instead of the tiller. Thought there is an emergency tiller handle located in the floor if needed. Bimini and dodger frame was also included. We attached it all to get it out of the cabin. The canvas looks okay but all of the plastic zippers are shot. The teeth just pop out. We will have those all repaired. That will be a LOT cheaper than starting from scratch with no bimini or dodger. Good news.
We brought the Lowrance with us in our luggage on the flight. Mark will have to later install this at the helm. For now it works just fine. There is a nice swim platform behind Mark and the railing there folds down as the ladder. Handy. There is also a hot /cold shower there for when you get done swimming. We LOVE that! We showered there every night before bed. The boat has a total of 50 gal fresh water tanks. That provided us for 4 days worth of use including showers.
Heading down the new river to get to the ICW. What a beautiful area.
What kind of duck is this? A turkey duck?
This is a cool old boat I would think to see in New Orleans.
Endurance in the slip at the Los Olas Marina.
Our clearance is 48' and it is nerve wracking every time we go under a bridge.
The galley is very efficient. Double sinks with hot and cold water, a huge fridge/freezer, microwave that we will probably take out and put a cupboard door on, 2 burner propane stove and oven, lots of storage space. Pretty much all of these items were lacking in New Girl.
A very room cabin. Beautiful teak and holly floors. The table pushes down to add a cushion and make another nice sized bed. Four windows that open for a breeze, roomy V-berth up front with a door for privacy.
Nice navigation station for reading charts. Stereo with indoor and outdoor speakers, air conditioning, charging station for phones, tablets, etc., VHF radio inside and out in the cockpit, and a desk that opens to store all of our paper charts.
The head with a hot/cold shower. Medicine cabinet behind one of the mirrors. And the head has a door! YES!!
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