December 2005

12-01-05 (Wed.)- Slip, Brunswick Landing Marina, Brunswick, GA (N 31.09.15, W 81.29.97), ICW M 680: 
0630 - Up; spiced tea (not coffee), cheese & bagel (We've got bagels again!). BP 30.61, Temp 55, clear & sunny.  (NOTE: We wanted to visit St. Simon & Jekyll Islands. However, these visits will have to wait for our return trip; we are now on a mission to get to Daytona / Port Orange, FL to pull Weal Sea to get her a new coat of bottom paint, and then get to Melbourne, FL in time to catch a flight "home for the holidays". Susan, our daughter, telephoned us & has arranged a flight for us out of Melbourne, Fl on Dec. 12.   That's the same  day we were scheduled to arrive in Melbourne. However, we telephoned the Telmar Bay Marina and they agreed to allow us to have the slip a day or 2 earlier. 

0755 - Slip our docking lines and depart. Our Canadian colleagues have decided to stay another day in Brunswick.  We hope to see them down the road. Heading east on St. Simons Sound, we pick-up the ICW again at M 680 and turn starboard (S) to enter Jekyll Creek which separates Jekyll Island from the mainland.

We enter Jekyll Sound, cross it then continue into the Cumberland River. Heading south we officially "leave Georgia and enter Florida" at the junction of the Cumberland and St. Mary's Rivers where they both empty into the Cumberland Sound at ICW M 713.  The ramparts of old Fort Clinch are located on the south shore of this intersection of waters. The old fort guarded the entrance to Cumberland Sound about 4 miles north of the city of Fernandina Beach.  Entering the Amelia River, we pass Fernandina Beach, and enter Kingsley Creek (ICW M 720) which we follow to its junction with the South Amelia River which in turn empties into Nassau Sound at ICW M 729. Crossing Nassau Sound we continue south into Sawpit Creek to its junction with Ft. George River at ICW M 735 where we have decided to anchor. 

1630 hr - Turning to port, we enter and move up Ft. George River looking for an anchorage.  There are 2 other sailboats already anchored just east of the junction of the Sawpit & Ft. George Rivers.  This is a narrow river with considerable current.  We continue slowly up the river another 0.5 mi to a "wide (sic) spot" where we drop 2 anchors (N 30.26.46, W 81.26.31), as recommended by Skipper Bob's book.  We definitely agree; you will need 2 anchors to feel comfortable in this anchorage! We are in ~ 9 ft of water. However, the river is very shallow along both shores and as you proceeds upstream. Later in the evening a very large power boat arrives and anchors just downstream of Weal Sea between ourselves and the 2 other sailboats. He only puts out just one anchor... Bad decision.

12-02-05 (Fri.), Anchorage, Fort George River, FL (N 30.26.46, W 81.26.31), ICW M 735: 
0530 - Up, Coffee, cheese & bagel.  BP 30.70, Temp 40 F. Clear & wind out of NW. NOAA reports wind chill 32 F.  0645 - Lots of "motor throttle activity" coming from the power boat anchored (single anchor) downstream of us.  His boat has drifted off to one side of the river & he is aground.  There is all kinds of activity on deck as several people keep moving around trying to figure out how to get free. After about 20 minutes, he eventually manages to make it to deeper water.  I check my anchors & they have twisted 180 degrees during the night.  One anchor, the one with 50 ft of chain, is upstream.  The other anchor (mostly rope rode) is downstream & off to the port side of the boat.  Unfortunately, the bitter end the rode of the latter anchor (attached to the cleat in the anchor locker) is on the starboard side of the boat.  Thus, the rode trails from bow anchor locker, down the starboard side of the boat along the (wing) keel, around the back of the keel & off to the port side of the boat where the anchor embedded in the mud.  The current is much too strong for me to swing the boat 180 degrees even using a wench.  I dare not use the engine since the rode would likely become tangled around the prop shaft.  Solution: I am able to pull in the anchor with the chain rode by-hand just enough to put some slack in the rope rode of the other anchor.  I then use the small ("lunch") Danforth (the one I had previously used as a kedge when we went aground), to "hook" the rope rode of the anchor on the port side.  Although under considerable tension, this rode has just enough slack & stretch to allow me to grab it & pull it up level with the deck where I am able to secure it to a lifeline stanchion with a short piece of line. Pat also stood by & held the rode just in case the securing line gave way.  Going forward, I pull on the rode. Pat tells me she can feel the rode tighten as I pull it.  Therefore, I now know it is not tangled completely around the keel!  I untie the anchor's bitter end from its cleat at the bow, unwind it from the chain rode of the other anchor, & dropped it overboard!  Back to the port side, Pat & I simply pull in the bitter end of the rode.  Taking it forward, I reattached it to its cleat in the anchor locker.  We now let out on the chain rode of the other anchor allowing the boat to drift downstream until its bow & the port-side rope rode anchor are 90 degrees from one another.  Even with the current, I am able use the rope rode to pull the boat to port & over the anchor.  Once directly over it, I take in the slack & re-secured the shortened rode.  At this point, it is often possible for the anchor to break loose from the bottom just from the up & down movement of the boat in the waves / swells. This time, however, there is not much wave action.  Therefore, Pat starts the engine & moves Weal Sea very slowly forward so as to break the anchor loose from the bottom without over running the either anchor.  Once it's free, & we haul in the rope rode anchor.  0755 - The other (chain rode) anchor is easily weighed & we are on our way. 

0800 - Continuing south we follow Sisters Creek to the St. Johns River (ICW M 739.5) where the it empties into the Atlantic (St. Johns Inlet). The tidal current on the St. Johns River where the ICW crosses the river VERY STRONG; i.e. as high as 4 knots! In deed, we even saw whirlpool vortices where various channels intersect.  Just before we entered the river, another sailboat decided to pass us.  He seemed to have "made this run before" & we elect to follow him.  We made the right decision!  The tide was coming in against us from the ocean. By watching him, we were able to avoid many of the more difficult spots... sometimes we were actually moving sideways / dogleg / side drift against the flow tidal current! Skipper Bob's book specifically mentions this problem with the tidal currents which are often encountered when crossing the St. Johns.  If you follow this route, be prepared.

The ICW south from the St. Johns River (ICW M 740) meanders a bit for the next 5 miles to Jacksonville Beach.  1100 hr - We pass through the through the McCormick bascule bridge (M 747.5); opening hours for this bridge are restricted (check Skipper Bob's book for times & dates). South from M 750 to M 760 the waterway is a relatively straight channel (dredged canal) & is lined by the Cabbage Swamp on its west bank & by cottages & homes on its east bank. This straight segment of the ICW is a relatively easy cruise & I was able to use the Autohelm, and even the head sail, for short periods of time.  At M 760, the ICW joins the Tolomato River which continues to parallel the Atlantic coast to St. Augustine, FL (ICW M 177).  Here the Tolomato meets the Matanzas River at the St. Augustine Inlet. We carefully navigated the St. Augustine Inlet which, because of the mixture of ocean inlet (red-right-return) & ICW Buoys & Day Markers, can be confusing!  You need to pass Red #60 on its ocean side.  "It is easy to cut this turn short & run aground",  according to Skipper Bob. 1400 hr - We decide to drop anchor among 20 or so other sailboats in 10 ft of water on the east shore of the Matanzas River just north of the St. Augustine's "Bridge of Lions". This anchorage is immediately in front of the Castillo de San Marcos, the famous Spanish fortress (& National Monument), and a St. Augustine landmark. The city itself was founded in 1565, while the fortress was built in 1679. What a spectacular setting for an anchorage!  It's magnificent.

1430 hr - It's still early & we decide to dinghy to shore & dock at the St. Augustine Municipal Marina (A 24 hr dinghy docking fee is $10.50). It was a warm 70 F, & great afternoon for a stroll down the streets of old St. Augustine. The city was decked out for the Christmas Holiday with lights everywhere. We walked the length of George Street with its restored shops & houses, & then visited the moats & ramparts of Castillo de San Marcos at twilight.  After sunset we found a Greek restaurant (one of Dan's favorites foods is gyros), & had dinner. They also had non-Greek food (steak) so Pat was happy!  2000 hr - Return to Weal Sea & hit the sack at ~2100 hr.

12-03-05 (Sat.), Anchorage, St. Augustine, FL (ICW M 777):
0545 - Up, coffee, cheese & bagel. BP 30.75, Temp 60 F, clear & sunny. Transfer 11 Gallon diesel from deck Jerry cans to fuel tank. Our destination today is Daytona Beach.  0745 - Weighed anchor & departed; we wanted to make the 0800 opening of the Bridge of Lions which has restricted hours: on the hour & half hour weekends & holidays. We follow the Mantazas River south past the Crescent Beach Bridge (opens on request) at ICW M 788.6.  Although not visible, except at some "inlets" from the ocean, the ICW parallels & is often a mile or less from the Atlantic between St. Augustine & Daytona Beach.  In fact, we could often see beach homes "on stilts" off our port side in the distance as we proceeded south down the ICW. 1030 hr. - We pass ICW M 800 at Palm Coast, a community consisting of large (translate "very expensive") homes situated on a network of interconnecting canals with BIG motor yachts "parked" out front. The ICW south of here to its junction with the Tomoka Basin at M 818 consist of relatively straight dredged canals / cuts. At ICW M 810, we pass Flagler Beach.  1320 hr (ICW M 818) - We enter the very shallow Tomoka Basin which is a "wide spot" at the north end of the Halifax River. The ICW now consist of a narrow dredged channel which initially hugs the east side of the river then moves to its center. 

1345 hr. - We pass under the fixed bridge at Ormond Beach (ICW M 825). 1500 hr. - Continuing south to Daytona Beach, we pass the bascule Seabreeze Bridge. Upon clearing the bridge we continue down stream ~ 300 yd. then veer off the east side of the river channel where we drop anchor in 7 ft of water near 2 other sailboats.  This small anchorage is directly across from Caribbean Jack's Marina which occupies the west side of the river at ICW M 829. (We find out later it's also a bar / restaurant & can be a bit noisy at night due to the load music). Although we've pushed ourselves, it's been an excellent day; we made 52 miles in a little over 8 hours. We wanted to be close to the "Seven Seas Marina" (ICW M 835) in Port Orange where we have arranged to have Weal Sea hauled out for new bottom paint & zincs the day after tomorrow, viz. Monday, 12-5-05.  But, I still have not purchased bottom paint.  However, I knew there was a West Marine in Daytona (We keep a copy of their catalog on board) & telephoned them.  It turns out they are located at the Daytona Beach Municipal Yacht Basin immediately downstream of our anchorage at ICW M 830.8. They tell me I can dinghy down to their store & tie-up at the dock out front.  I check to see if they have the type ablative bottom paint I want.  They do.  However, they close at 1800 hr & Pat & I still have not eaten dinner. "No problem," they say, "we'll set 3 gallons aside for you to pick up tomorrow." After dinner I do a bit of exploring in the dinghy.  BOY is it shallow outside the channel!  I hit bottom with the dinghy's motor 3 times while checking out the shore near Manatee Island, a city park at ICW M 829.8. Fortunately I didn't shear a prop pin. 2100 - Hit the sack.

12-04-05 (Sun.), Anchorage, Halifax River, Daytona Beach, FL (ICW M 829):
0800 - Up, coffee, cheese & bagel. BP 30.80, Temp 70 F, clear & sunny. Today is a "relaxation day"! Pat decides she wants to relax on the boat while I go to West Marine (WM) and pick up bottom paint and a few other items. I am also instructed to refill our gallon water jugs with fresh drinking water for her "Tea"! No problem, I can handle this. 

1000 - Its getting hot and I dinghy to the WM store downstream at the Daytona Municipal Yacht Basin where I tie up at the dock out front.  Paul, an English fellow and store manager, has my bottom paint set aside as promised ready for pick up. In addition, Pat has wanted a second "reading light" in the salon (I'm always using "her light" when entering my "Weal Sea's Log" updates on my pocketmail composer).  She said I could get her an additional light for "Christmas". I find one exactly the same as the one I had installed "for her" several months ago. We will now have a matched-set of "His & Her" reading lights!  I need to do a bit more shopping in town and ask permission to leave my purchases in the store and the dinghy tie to the WM dock out front for an hour or so.  "No problem," Paul says. It's Sunday and most places are closed. However, I check out a few open stores and also call Pat on VHF channel 68 using the hand-held to see if she has thought of anything she needs. She can't think of anything urgent so I head back to the WM store.  Paul helps me load the paint into the dinghy. Before heading back to Weal Sea, I dinghy over to one of the open slips and fill our gallon jugs with fresh "Tea" (& drinking) water. On returning I telephone Seven Sea's Marina to confirm our haul out scheduled for tomorrow.  They verify our reservation but say they also have one other boat scheduled, and its first-come-first-served. Pat and I decide to leave early tomorrow; we'd like an early haul-out so I can get started cleaning and sanding the bottom. (We have been using fresh water VC-17, a Teflon based ablative bottom paint, on Weal Sea.  In order for the new salt water ablative anti-fouling paint to stick, I will need to wash then sand off the VC-27 down to the barrier coat - not something I'm looking forward to).  Pat & I spent the rest of the day doing a bit of organizing and enjoying the warm sun in the cockpit.

12-05-05 (Mon.), Anchorage, Halifax River, Daytona Beach, FL (ICW M 829):
0600 - Up, coffee, cheese & bagel. BP 30.60, Temp 65 F, clear & sunny. 0700 - Weigh anchor and pass through the Main Street and Memorial Bridges, both bascule types which open on request. However, the Memorial also has some restricted hours but we manage to make their deadline. It was a short run to Seven Seas Marina at ICW M 835.2.  We radio the marina and receive instructions on where they want us to dock. Its low tide and they are a bit concerned about our entry. However, we believe we can make it. We approaching Red channel marker #56 (just before the Port Orange Bridge over the Halifax) and make a sharp port turn to follow the very narrow channel into the marina which is marked by pilings. The tide is just starting to come in and we do in fact "gently" bump bottom as we pass between the 2 outside pilings. There is plenty of depth at the docks.  However, we discover that the lift is located close to shore and there is no way we can get close enough at low tide for them to haul us out.  Although we are "first in line", we will have to wait until 1300 hr (high tide) to be hauled.  Thus, Pat and I decide to have breakfast at the on-site diner. It's not much to look at but it's very crowded with locals and the food and prices are great. (Skipper Bob also makes mention of this diner). 

Returning to the boat I loosen and remove the back stays and take down the bimini so the lift can straddle the boat.  We have also been noting a lot of squealing of the generator belt and I decide to check it.  I discover that the bracket that holds the generator to the engine block is broken!  We are lucky it did not give-way completely while under way.  I remove it and one of the yardmen drives me to a local welder where I have it fixed; $42, but worth it.

1300 - Although we are schedule to be hauled at 1300, there is a powerboat using the lift.  Seems it had some engine problems and the mechanic was late getting to the marine to fix it before it was launched.  Everyone, viz. the entire boatyard crew, lift operator, foreman, the owner and us, are standing around while the mechanic tries to finish up. They are quite irritated since the mechanic simply forgot his appointment and they had to telephone him.

1345 hr. - They finally get the power boat launched and Weal Sea is hauled and put on jack stands.  It's amazing how clean the bottom is.  The VC-17 we use has done a remarkable job.  However, I do find a few barnacles on the prop shaft and on the underside of our winged keel (I never used VC-17 there).  I pay the yard extra to have the boat power-washed so as to reduce the amount of sanding I'll have to do.  The fresh-water (Mg) "zincs" on the prop shaft are also pitted badly.  I purchase "real" salt-water zincs and a set of disposable paper Cover-Alls at the on-site marine store. I try hand sanding for about an hour... I'm exhausted and it's getting late. I need a power sander (I have one at home; a lot of good that does me!).  I talk to Pat.  It's to dark to work so we decide to take a bus into town to K-Mart to purchase a small hand-held vibrating sander. We catch to bus into town (only 50 cents for seniors!) & get a sander. We also decide to eat at a steak house and then catch a taxi back to the marina (the bus stops running at 1900 hr).  2100 hr - Hit the sack.

12-06-05 (Tue.), "On-The-Hard", Seven Seas Marina, Halifax River, Port Orange, FL (ICW M 835):
0600 - Up, coffee, cheese & bagel. BP 30.60, Temp 60, overcast. 0800 - Start sanding. It's still slow. 0830 - One of the owners of the marina approaches me & tells me I cannot use an open type-non-vacuum sander in their boatyard; It's a "dust-free" working yard (It is posted in several places but I did not see the signs). He explained that they are concerned about copper contamination (bottom paint) as well as paint dust drifting on to other boats in the yard that are being waxed or painted. I realized he was correct.  He explained that the marina does rent heavy-duty sanders with special vacuums at a few dollars an hour.  I take him up on the offer.  Great decision!  The sander is, in fact, a heavy duty job attached to a vacuum which collects paint dust in a special container. It's much faster & does a much better job than my tiny hand-held sander.

1400 hr. - Finish sanding.  I can't get "all" the Teflon off but I get most of it removed. From the above you may get the impression that I'm doing all the work.  WRONG! While I've been working on the outside, Pat has been busy doing laundry, cooking, as well as washing, waxing and organizing in the cabin. Somehow, she also finds time to help me tape on along the water line.  The marina store has paint shakers which are free if you purchase your paint at their store.  Otherwise it cost $2 per can.  I had purchased my paint from West Marine & therefore I decide to have only 2 cans shaken to start with; (turned out to be a good decision). The paint rolls on easily & I finish at 1700 hr. I shower & we have dinner on board.  2030 - I spend time unwinding by working on Weal Sea's Log while Pat reads.  2230 - Hit the sack.

12-07-05 (Wed.), "On-The-Hard", Seven Seas Marina, Halifax River, Port Orange, FL (ICW M 835):
0530 - Up, coffee, cheese & bagel. I'm anxious to get started.  If I can get the 2nd coat on by 0900, we can still launch today; you can re-launch 6 hours after the 2nd coat. 0700 - Start the 2nd coat.  0830 - I'm done 30 minute earlier than planned! I contact the marina office & they tell me they can launch us as late as 1630 hr. While waiting, I have time to wash & wax the hull. Weal Sea's hull is really dirty & she has a "brown ICW mustache" on her bow.  1430 - Finished waxing & the boatyard crew moves in the lift & launches Weal Sea.  1600 hr. - We had planned to depart & anchor downstream as soon as we were launched.  However, it has cooled off & clouded over. It looks like rain & I still have not put up the bimini or reattached the back stays.  We decide to stay at the dock for the night.  Good decision; the wind really came up & "The Rains Came." However, we managed to get the bimini up & stays reattached before the rain. We had met another couple David & Gillium (s/v Gilly-Q) in the marina the previous day.  They own a 38-foot catamaran which they lived on but were putting up at the marina while the retuned north to visit family.  Since we were staying the night, we invite them over for refreshments & snacks. I was a very enjoyable evening.

12-08-05 (Thur.), Slip, Seven Seas Marina, Halifax River, Port Orange, FL (ICW M 835):
0630 - Up, coffee, cheese & bagel. BP 30.25, Temp 69, Windy (20-30 mph) with overcast skies & "driving rain".  We want to make Melbourne by Friday & decide we need to get to an anchorage listed by Skipper Bob's book south of Titusville, FL at ICW M 885; that's 50 miles south. 0800 hr. -Depart.  The wind-driven rain is really cutting but my rain gear keeps me dry & warm.  Pat also gives me hot cups of spiced tea to keep the chill out. Never thought I'd need hot spiced tea in Florida! 

0940 hr. - Pass ICW M 845 at New Smyrna Beach, then Red day marker 20 & Green day marker 35 in Mosquito Lagoon at 1200 hr. & 1230 hr., respectively. This lagoon, which is part of the Canaveral National Seashore, is very shallow off to both sides of the ICW channel & I had to remain alert; this is definitely not a sight-seeing day! While the waves were only 3-4 feet, there are white caps. Also, because of the rain, it was sometimes difficult to seen the next day marker in the distance & it would have been easy to drift off to one side & go aground; not a pleasant though under these conditions. However, it's under conditions such as these that having our large-screen daylight color Navman chart plotter really pays off!  I nearly steered off course trying to sight the day markers on several occasions, but caught myself in time using the chart plotter & depth meter.

1245 hr. - The wind is really blowing out of the east over our port beam as we approach the 90 degree starboard turn into the Haulover Canal (a cut) at Red day markers 44 & 46 (ICW M 869). This Canal / Cut, which runs east - west, connects Mosquito Lagoon & Indian River. It is crossed by the Haulover Bridge which is used by the Kennedy Parkway to connect the mainland, to the north, with the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, to the south.  We are really being pushed by the east wind which is now astern.  As we approach the bridge, we radio ahead & explain that, under the current conditions, it would be extremely difficult for us to hold up ("tread water" so to speak) in front of the bridge waiting for it to open.  The lady bridge tender understands & the bridge is open by the time we arrive. Exiting the canal / cut we enter the shallow (1 to 6 ft) Indian River at ICW M 860.  We cross this "river" heading SW in a straight line following the day markers carefully for about 4 miles.

1335 hr. - At green day markers 11 & 13 we turn south to the Jay Jay railroad (bascule type) bridge at ICW M 876.6.  This bridge is usually open but closes automatically when a train approaches. No trains; it's open. We continue south through the Titusville swing bridge (ICW M 878.9) & then past the Addison Point fixed bridge at ICW M 885.  Indian River is 2-3 miles wide here & there are 6-8 ft deep regions on both sides of the ICW channel where you can anchor.  1600- It's been a LONG day & we are both TIRED!  While it's not well protected from the wind, we decide to anchor on the west side of the channel at ICW M 885.5 using 2 "hooks". (Note - Surprisingly, we never saw another boat "on the water" this entire day; they must have listened to NOAA!)

12-09-05 (Fri.), Anchorage, Indian River, Titusville, FL (ICW M 885):
0630 - Up, coffee, cheese & bagel. BP 30.18, Overcast with a thin fog / mist over the river; visibility ~ 1 mile.  However, it's warm again - Temp 70+ F & there is no wind.  Through the mist, we can see several other sailboats already on the ICW heading south.  It's a short run for us today to Melbourne, FL & our final destination, Telemar Bay Marina at ICW M 914 - only 19 miles! 0845 hr. - Weigh our 2 anchors & head out. The ICW is smooth. The mist lifts by mid-morning & sun breaks through the clouds which eventually dissipate entirely. Merritt Island is on our port side the entire trip as we past Cocoa (ICW M 897) then Palm Shores (ICW M 910) on the opposite (west) shore of the Indian River. 1230 hr. - As we approach the fixed bridge crossing the river between Melbourne & Merritt Island, we telephone the Telemar Bay Marina to announce our arrival. They are expecting us & give us instructions on how to enter their marina at Indian Harbor Beach. The marina is located on the Banana River which is separated from the Indian River by a thin segment of Merritt Island. We make a 90 degree turn to port just before the fixed Melbourne Bridge & head for green buoy #1 at the tip of Merritt Island's "Dragon Point".  (There was a 100 foot long green concrete statue of a dragon ("Annie") here; a local landmark for 30 years. However, it collapsed in July of 2002 & only a pile of rubble remains to attest to its previous existence.)  The inlet at the dragon point is very narrow & should be approached slowly. Clearing green buoy #1 we again turn 90 degrees to port & make our way slowly up the very narrow Banana River dodging the numerous sailboats anchored or on mooring balls in the channel. Telemar Bay Marina is located on the east shore of the Banana River about 0.25 mile north of Dragon Point & before the Mathers Swing Bridge.  1245 hr. - We pull in & tie up to the fuel dock just off the river. We've arrived! We sign-in & Karen, who is in charge of the marina desk, gives us our slip assignment. This is a large, well maintained marina. There are about 20 "live-aboards" here, two of which help us tie-up to our slip.  We spend the rest of the day exploring the marina & doing laundry & odd jobs.

12-10-05 (Sat.), Slip, Telemar Bay Marina, Melbourne, FL (ICW M 914):
0630 hr. - Up, breakfast. BP 30.30, Temp 70 F, Clear & sunny.  Spent the morning washing & waxing the deck then pulled out the dinghy & put it on the fore deck for storage. 1100 hr. - One of the marina live-aboards we met the previous day told us there was a West Marine in a mall about a mile down the road.  Because we had purchased 3 gallons of bottom paint but used only 2, we want to return the extra (unshaken) gallon ($89.00!).  Pat & I decide we need the exercise & walked to the mall. While there we also explore the other shops & have lunch at a Panera Bakery before walking back to the marina.  There is a small vegetable stand near the marina where Pat stops to purchase a few potatoes & other vegetables for dinner. After dinner, we spend the warm evening relaxing in shorts in the cockpit talking to a few friends on the cell phone then hit the sack @ 2200 hr.

12-11-05 (Sun.), Slip, Telemar Bay Marina, Melbourne, FL (ICW M 914):
0600 hr. - Up, breakfast. BP 30.05, Temp 70 F, overcast. Spend most of day making final preparations for our trip home. We telephone the local airport shuttle service & arrange for a 0945 hr. pick-up on Monday for our flight home out of Melbourne Airport. Moved the fuel Jerry cans from the fore deck into the cockpit, put on the dodger window covers, & have the holding tank pumped (Wow - $20; this is the most we have ever had to pay for a pump-out! Pump-out usually cast $5 to $10). Finally, pack all of our luggage for the next day. We are ready to roll.

12-12-05 (Mon.), Slip, Telemar Bay Marina, Melbourne, FL (ICW M 914):
0530 hr. - Up, breakfast. BP 30.20, Temp 70 F, clear.  Clean out refrigerator & give perishables to some of our live-aboards we've met during our stay. Move luggage out to the parking lot.  0945 hr. - Airport shuttle arrive right on time. It's a short 15 minute run to the airport. Our plane(United Airlines) is scheduled to depart at 1140 hr. & we are there in plenty of time for check-in. Our itinerary calls for us to fly (1) from Melbourne, FL to Atlanta, GA departing at 1140 hr. & arriving at 1320, then (2)from Atlanta, GA to Indianapolis, IN departing at 1435 & arriving at 1645. Our son Mike is to meet us at the Indianapolis Airport. We depart Melbourne & arrive in Atlanta on time. While waiting in the terminal for our Indianapolis connection, the gate attendant announces that they are looking several individuals who are willing to be "bumped" & place on the next plane which leaves 2 hours later.  They will reimburse each "bumped" individual with a $400 United Airline voucher with no lockout dates. The vouchers are also is also good for overseas flights! Our current round-trip tickets cost us $223 each ($426 for 2). Although Pat & I have never done this before, we decide to volunteer to be bumped. We telephone Mike & he has no problem with picking us up a bit later.

1645 hr. - The gate attendant announces that the windshield ("screen" for our European friends) of our plane to Indianapolis was damaged by a bird during landing must be replaced.  Our departure is delayed while they find another plane & we are moved to another terminal. We telephone Mike & explain the delay.  1735 hr. - Our new plane departs. 1945 hr. - We arrive at Indianapolis... lots of SNOW on the ground!  Our luggage had arrived on the earlier (original) flight & is waiting for us at the United Airline luggage-holding office. Mike meets us in our Jeep outside the baggage room. 2250 hr. - Arrive home.  Mike had tuned up the heat in the house & turned on the hot water heater earlier in the day.  He had also picked up milk & a few groceries; He's a thoughtful son! 2345 hr. - It's been a long day.  However, Pat still has her cup of hot tea & we hit the sack.

Pat & Dan Harrington
s/v Weal Sea
 

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