Completed first leg of the Florida Adventure - Successfully

A Gulf of Mexico Sunset 200 yards from our slip at Snook Bight Marina on the last day of phase 1 of the cruise. All is well --


Sunrise Jan. 22 with the boat "put away" for our trip back to 'land homes' to take care of end of month business.


Peter dropped George off in Orlando and continues to Hampstead, N.C. with a stop in Jacksonville, FL to replenish the CNG "safe gas" cylinder for the boat stove. It is kind of surprising that such a safe source of fuel has been so difficult to provision...

This is George signing off until we return to Fort Myers Beach on Feb. 1, 2009.

Commence Dining - Peter Loves to Cook

Even though we have had some excellent meals at restaurants, the meals on board are, day in and day out, the best dining on the water. Gourmet meals prepared with simple ingredients - simple and elegant ... like the Yacht ALEXANDRA!


By some standards, the galley on ALEXANDRA is small but, the 4 burner CNG stove / oven / broiler, HUGE top loading refer and deep sink provide good working spaces. The refer can survive 36 hours on D.C. battery and the boat still has 13 volts to start that CAT 3208 up on the first crank. It is not the size of the galley - it is the layout and experience that bring it "to life".

The Floating Office

Actually, we both are able to get a lot off 'work' work done online. Peter has been brokering his yacht sales and George works on his clients websites - as well as posting to this boat log. The most difficult aspect is jumping from WiFi connections at the different marinas -- the availability of high speed broadband has greatly improved but, we need to be more patient because it is no where near as fast as a good hardwired connection. Anyone have a satellite communications dish that they want to donate to the adventure?... ha-ha!

Sights along the way ...

Bridges, houseboats, mangroves, ferries, inlets -- lots to see on Florida's Gulf Coast Waterway!
Temp: 66 degrees -- warm on the flybridge inside the 3-sided enclosure







Bridges, houseboats, mangroves, ferries, inlets -- lots to see on Florida's Gulf Coast Waterway!

Smooth and sweet underway - 14kts @ 2050 rpm - - - 7 gallons hour

Clear, cold day at Snook Bight Marina

Wed. 1-21-2009 ... "felt like" 30 earlier, but 52 now and a pretty day. Here are some shots of marina activity today:

Brandy - Alexandra - Peter

There is no doubt that she loves her new boat / home... Brandy has around 40,000 blue water miles - making her the most seaworthy dog I have ever known. And, she always stands the "dog watch".

Voted #1 Duffy Flybridge Cruiser by Independent Labs

Alexandra Arrives Snook Bight Marina

It was a great cruise "inside" on the ICW from Sarasota to Ft Myers Beach - 6 hours at 14 kts. Many picturesque spots alond the way... notably the swing bridge southern Casey Key, Cabbage Key - Pine Island Sound and all the wildlife along the waterway; Pelicans, Herons, Egrets and Dolphins.

Once again Peter did an excellent job of navigating the Intra-coastal -- making the maze of bouys and markers look easy - paper charts, NavNet GPS and years of experience.

So, this is what we look like at Snook Bight Marina, Fort Myers Beach, Florida ---

More photos soon....

Sarasota to Fort Myers Beach

We leave tomorrow morning, Monday the 19th, 8-9 a.m. for Fort Myers Beach. We might stop and anchor along the way if something catches our attention -- weather permitting... no particular place to go.

... another great meal tonight from Pedro's Galley; Steaks, Greek zucchini and garlic mashed potatoes -- Brandy loved the leftovers!

Sunday Walk - Docks at Marina Jack, Sarasota FL

Walking the docks during Sunday Brunch - Clear & Sunny 64 degrees - Winds SW @ 11 mph Click Image to View Larger

Lunch Expedition - Sat 17th

Despite cooler temps, we returned to Jewfish Key and Moores Restaurant for a pleasant day trip. The grouper sandwich is excellent and the conversation varied. Fun times had by all ........

Snook Bight Marina - Fort Myers Beach Home Port

Friday, Peter & George took a 230 mile r/t road trip to Fort Myers Beach in the Suburban (Land Tender to Alexandra - "Green Machine") to scout out the area and discover a good marina for "home port" during February. We looked at 6 Marinas from old school commercial to brand spanking new. Surprisingly the new Snook Bight Marina offers ALL modern transient services in addition to being 150 yards to sandy Gulf of Mexico beaches and right next to a Publix market... at reasonable, competitive rates.

We leave Sarasota Monday morning the 19th and plan to arrive Fort Myers Beach by Tuesday evening ...

Sat 17th Day Trip - Longboat Key Pass

We plan to re-visit our 1st anchorage today with guests that we have met here in Sarasota -- hoping that it will warm up. "Feels like" 32 at sunrise and we expect mid 60's by the time we get there, 1 hour north. Leaving dock 11ish... I will post photos when they are available.

Cold as Hell

It has been unseasonably cold the past 2 days with the high barely reaching 60 and lows in the high 30's. And, it looks like this blue norther will persist through the next 2 to 3 days. Damn. Gone are the swim trunks and tank top... George, who gets cold when it dips below 70, has 4 layers on and says it is even too cold to go on deck to smoke ciggies -- hmmm, maybe that will help him quit the nasty habit. Not. He will just get a watch-ski cap and gloves...

Today is better though and the oil filled radiant heater (like an old fashioned radiator) works real well ... Tonight will be in mid 30's and over the next few days it should get back to 70 / 50

Swim Step Gets Oiled

After removing 20 years of varnish, the swim step looks real nice with a fresh coat of teak oil. The project began at Tarpon Springs City Marina and was completed at Marina Jacks in Sarasota over the course of 8 days.

Weather looks like this ...

Right Now for Sarasota, FL
Fair
42°F
Feels Like
38°F
Updated Jan 15 07:25 a.m. ET

UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: From NE at 6 mph
Humidity: 79%
Pressure: 30.30 in.
Dew Point: 36°F
Visibility: 10.0 miles

Sarasota Sunset

We have a great slip here at Marina Jacks; sunsets, fountains and dolphin statues ... had guests for sunset gathering - the Whitneys and "2 sailboats" George. It is pretty cold for here as a persistent cold front sits over the area.

Peter purchased some accessories for the boat today: heater, flat screen T.V., vacuum and toaster. Continue Yachting!

Week in Sarasota Planned

Cold weather front coming in with 30 kt winds. Scolley, who lives in Sarasota, gets in touch with Peter and some plans are made to stay in this area for a week ...THEN south to Fort Myers. We plan on going to Tarpon Springs this morning to retreive Peter's Suburban - our land yacht. Some local exploring and kayaking are considered into the weeks activities.

It is a brisk 42 degree morning, Wednesday 14th. It will warm up soon when sunrises at 7:22 but not much! Only going to 65 today -- I know... not really cold.

Sarasota - Marina Jacks

We are considering going onwards to Fort Myers in the morning -- more of a "beach town"... but for now, off to the goochie tiki bar!










Trendy and High End Facilities - Hotel like Showers - Internet Access - Restaurant & Bar - walk to Downtown

At Anchor - Nightime

1st Anchorage

We departed Tarpon Springs in a thick fog at 9 a.m. Peter's experience and the NavNet equipment got us through it w/o any problems and the fog broke after about 2 1/2 hours just north of Tampa Bay entrance. We arrived at Jewfish Key / Longboat Pass at 1:40 and set anchor, inflated Avon 'Rover' (outboard started on 3rd pull after no use for over a year) and prepared a great Shrimp Alfredo Pasta w/ brocolli and salads w/ balsamic vinagrette. Full moon - 68 nm @2,000 rpms = 13 knots. All is well. Tomorrow we will make Sarasota (a distant 14 nms) with no particular plan set in stone ...