Moor $tuff: 5/1/11

Monday, May 30, 2011

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA

Ancient City Baptist Church

Villa Zoryada Museum

Flager Memorial Presbyterian Church

The 1888 Ponce de Leon Hotel
now Flager College

Casa Monica Hotel

Oak tree lined street

Old Drugstore

Saturday May 28, 2011

81°19.332’ W

29°53.145’ N

Rivers Edge Marina

St. Augustine, Florida

Cafe Alcazar

Today the six of us purchased a three day pass to ride the trolley system that takes you to all relevant sites in St. Augustine. There are 23 stops to choose from and use of the trolley makes accessing most locations, very easy. We started by riding the complete loop to get the lay of the land then set out to see the sights! The six of us then split up and focused on our personal interests.

Lightner Museum

Courtyard at Lightner Museum

Other than lunch with Ricki and Carl, Barb and I spent the afternoon at the Lightner Museum. The content was very interesting but the building was something to behold! It was constructed as the Hotel Alcazar for the wealthy failed during the depression. The building sat empty for 30 years before Mr. Lightner purchased it to house his personal collection of art and collectables. We had lunch at Café Alcazar that was built over the deep end of the hotels swimming pool which was the largest indoor pool in the USA for many years.

The weather is hot, humid and just plain uncomfortable to be walking around outside. With that said, Barb and I were back on the boat by 5:30 to cool down and rest. Tomorrow we plan to visit the fort, a pirate museum and the lighthouse.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Friday May 27, 2011

81°19.332’ W

29°53.145’ N

Rivers Edge Marina

St. Augustine, Florida

Leaving Palm Coast

Along the ICW

We had an interesting cruise today – the charts didn’t match the channel markers and the channel was filled with shoals! The best way out of a situation like that is to watch what the locals do and follow when possible.

Along the ICW

ALong the ICW

San Sebastian River

Just before the storm

We arrived at our marina to discover it is not as advertised! In place of the swimming pool that was never installed there is a gravel parking lot filled with boats on trailers. The floating docks do float and we have power after they removed the wasp nest from under the pedestal cover. The harbor is filled with abandoned boats in need of repair with the dock littered with old disintegrating garden hoses. The marina is trying to make us as comfortable as possible and considering this is the only place in town due to the holiday weekend we will make the most of it and enjoy our stay!

We had dinner at the water front restaurant next to the marina. The food was good and we were entertained by a four piece band that played their version of Happy B-Day for Cricket!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Thursday May 26, 2011

81°11.597’ W

29°34.637’ N

Palm Coast Marina

Palm Coast, Florida

Leaving Daytona Beach

Supports under the Internatioinal
Speedway Bridge in Daytona Beach

SEATOW

Fishing Pier

The day started out great as the three of us departed the harbor turning north and headed toward Palm Coast. I took the lead and ten minutes into the cruise missed a buoy and ran Moor$tuff into the mud! I didn’t fight the problem I just dropped the anchor and called our towing insurance company, Sea Tow. Two hours later, Sea Tow had us back into the channel and on our way! The other boats went ahead as there was no reason for them to wait for us safely sitting on the bottom of the Intracoastal Waterway. Once free from our grounding, Barb and I headed north to catch up with Lucky One and Quest! There was no damage to our boat and we were grateful as hell that we had taken out towing insurance as the cost to free the boat from the mud would have been $1,450.00!

Home along the ICW

Getting to Palm Coast was very pleasant. The scenery is beautiful with homes and estates dotting the shore line. The further north we cruised the land between the homes became more spacious. The personality of Florida seems to change for the better as we move north!

Fox Cut on the ICW

Arriving in Palm Coast

The marina assigned us to a face dock in a channel off the Intracoastal Waterway. They had one space open behind Lucky One where we are now moored.

Home along the ICW

Docked at Palm Coast Marina

Dinner was at the European Village a new development with shops, restaurants, open space and condos. The restaurant we dined at named Europa was excellent in quality and ambiance. In addition t to the great people we were dining with, the food, music and service were over the top! Tonight we celebrated a pre B-Day for Cricket.

Wednesday May 25, 2011

81°00.826’ W

29°12.175’ N

Halifax Harbor Marina

Daytona Beach, Florida

Moor $tuff in the slip at Halifax Marina

We decided to stay another day! Everyone is kicking back and doing a lot of nothing! This is day seven at the marina where you pay for six nights – the seventh day is free! A free night at a marina that’s first class --- a winning combination!

Halifax Harbor Marina

I took one more try at getting the outboard started to no avail. I know what the problem is but don’t have the equipment to fix it. I’ll start calling ahead to locate a Yamaha dealer that can clean the fuel system professionally or trade up for a new one. Life is too short to be fussing with an outboard motor that won’t start on command!

Barb returned the car today so leaving at a reasonable time tomorrow morning will not be a problem.

Tonight we will dine on Lucky One and maybe walk into town for a few libations! Tomorrow will be a short cruising day --- about 30 miles. We are not sure if were staying one or two nights but what ever we do it will be enjoyable! Cricket has a B-Day on the 27^th so I’m thinking a party is in order! After Palm Coast the next port will be St. Augustine. We will probably stay three or four nights there before heading north to Jacksonville, Florida.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Tuesday May 24, 2011

81°00.826’ W

29°12.175’ N

Halifax Harbor Marina

Daytona Beach, Florida

Driving the beach

Barb got to drive on Daytona Beach today. The sand is as hard as concrete where the water washes over it. Higher up on the beach it gets a little soft so driving in the designated areas is a good idea!

Driving Daytona Beach

Getting our feet wet!

The pump arrived on schedule and has been installed. The boat is now ready to move on! Between replacing the water pump on the engine and the sea water pump the impeller on the AC generator went south! That has also been replaced. The outboard continues to plague me but it has become a personal challenge. Tomorrow is another day!

Daytona Beach

While I played mechanic the ladies took the rental car and visited the Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse and museum. I’m sorry I missed the outing, and I didn’t get a chance to climb the 203 stairs to reach the top --- but I’ll get over it!

Tomorrow morning we will decide if were moving on or staying for another day. At this marina, if you stay 6 days the 7^th day is free! Our next port of call is Palm Coast, Florida about 30 miles away.

Ponce de Leon Lighthouse

View of Ponce de Leon Inlet
to Atlantic Ocean

View west

View north

View south

Staircase looking down!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Monday May 23, 2011

81°00.826’ W

29°12.175’ N

Halifax Harbor Marina

Daytona Beach, Florida

Huen and I located a pump that will arrive in Daytona Beach tomorrow around noon! I consider myself lucky to have found one that I can get my hands on this fast. The quickest I could have one shipped from an internet supplier would arrive Thursday!

The weather is unbelievably hot which makes working on the engine not a pleasant experience. Our new sun shade for the aft cockpit is worth its weight in gold as it helps cool the engine compartment.

The out board motor continues to give us problems. I thought it was fixed but bad gas has again caused a problem. Tomorrow I will try again to resolve the problem! S--T!

Tonight the six of us went to dinner at Caribbean Jack’s restaurant on the waterfront! This is the second time we dined there and it was great both times.

Tomorrow we plan to drive on the beach before picking up our new pump then returning to work on the boat. With the holiday weekend coming up it makes sense for us to get out of here and move north and get settled before the long weekend starts.

Sunday May 22, 2011

81°00.826’ W

29°12.175’ N

Halifax Harbor Marina

Daytona Beach, Florida

The new pump has been installed and is functioning perfectly. The only problem is a second pump has gone bad and we are having problems finding one that can be picked up locally. I don’t think I’ll find a replacement until tomorrow and when I do it probably will need to be shipped from out of state!

Cricket arrived back to the boat today as her father is now recovering at home.

Today was supposed to be a fun day with plans made to visit the beach and a lighthouse. With our boat out of commission the day was spent working on the engine and surfing the web looking for parts!

The six of us had dinner on Ricki and Carl’s boat before calling it a day.

Tomorrow morning Huen and I will drive around looking for a replacement pump for our boat.

VIDEOS FROM DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

START / FINISH LINE

COMING INTO PIT ROW

Saturday May 21, 2011

81°00.826’ W

29°12.175’ N

Halifax Harbor Marina

Daytona Beach, Florida

Our tour guide - Ron

Skip - Barb

Rolex car

Watching a race??

It was a great day at the Daytona International Speedway. Barb arranged for a VIP tour of the facility. VIP meant we paid more than the regular tour. What we didn’t realize was the Daytona Race Track is developing the VIP tour and we were the third group to sign up for it. We were told that it would last three hours and we would access areas not normally accessible to the general public and other available tours. Before we were done, the tour had lasted over four hours! We had access to areas never before open to the public – even the sky box of the owners – what a treat!