We had the best weather ever this year for our 1,100 mile trip south & the first year in 13 we never had to keep watch on any developing east coast tropical storm or hurricane.  While we certainly don’t want to tempt fate, the “experts” seem to be wrong more than right, so we didn’t get too concerned when hearing “the most dangerous hurricane season in years”.  Growing up in Connecticut, when they predicted a severe, extra snowy winter, it was usually the mildest.  Ironically, it seemed the experts were wrong 2/3 of the time, while The Old Farmer’s Almanac was right 2/3 of the time!

Once into Florida, you can view one or more rocket launches most weeks thanks to SpaceX

Dolphins are almost a daily sight – while they usually ignore us, often will chase us or lead us from our bows looking up as to say, “Go faster, go faster!”

The Brightline trains have begun running from Miami to Orlando, expanding later on to Tampa. While everyone talks the future of high-speed trains, Brightline got it done in record time & with little Federal funds. Yet for locals, the trains are noisy & deadly with several deaths per month. It’s taking time for some to realize these are NOT the usual slow, lumbering 100+ car freight trains taking 10 minutes to go by.  Fools are used to cutting around the down gates to beat the freight trains. Don’t try that with these – even when going (only) 80 MPH, they come & go in only a few seconds. But boy, those train horns are LOUD, so they have my sympathy there.

The Vero Beach area used to be mostly grapefruit groves (famous Indian River grapefruit). In between housing developments & stores, you’ll still see the occasional processing citrus operation.

Had a fun dinner at the Vero Beach Yacht Club with cruiser friends Tim & Ellen. It’s (partially) our fault they bought a PDQ powercat to go cruising, but they are lovin’ it!

While I usually clean our boat’s bottom & change the zincs myself in the Bahamas, not so much in the States – especially as this boat’s propeller zincs require removing & re-installing a prop nut, something I can’t do holding my breath.  Even the diver took almost an hour to replace both so installing a different style is on our list for our next haul-out.

Other projects included upgrading our anchor light to a brighter, LED model.

Before / After – A boat project such as this (replacing a broken water manifold supplying water in one hull) SHOULD have taken about 2 hours … but in boat-hours took 2 weeks. It didn’t help that the manufacturer no longer makes the same manifold & that our PEX-type tubing is 15mm – quite unusual, but that’s how it goes with boat repairs.

We had some beautiful sunsets anchored off in-between our marina stays.

HEY, we’ve been kicked out of better places than this!

Our very protected anchorage for this week of windy weather is 40 miles south of Vero Beach in Port St. Lucie. This anchorage is hardly used as it’s out-of-the-way with only 5′ – 6′ of depth.

To top off our protected anchorage, this little park is a scenic mile or so dinghy ride. Right across the street is a Post Office (for Lori’s Etsy shipments) & next to that is a Publix grocery store. For cruisers, this is A++!

After weeks of rushing around getting ready to cross to the Bahamas, time has now come to a standstill.  While we’re all ready to cross, our perfect weather has come to an end.  Our nearly perfect record of never having a bad crossing nor having to wait more than a few days may be coming to an end…

Strong cold front, after cold front are marching along with some massive wind & wave numbers.  For example, later this week the wind may hit 50 knots with offshore seas forecasted to be 12′ – 17′, occasionally 22′! Last week we rejected a borderline window of 2′ – 4′ seas with occasional 6′ (but with 16 – 18 knots on the nose, would not have been very pleasant).

So, crossing by Christmas?  Who knows?  We’ll get there when we get there!

Seeing double! We’re docked next to our twin “Beach Cat”. Ironically, this is the same marina in Southport, NC in which we first stumbled across “Cat’s Meow II”, now our “Twin Sisters”

Traveling the ICW, you never know what you’ll see along the way – someone towing their houseboat – complete with a basement!

We had to skip Charleston this time, as all of the marinas were full. This is a photo of the Safe Harbor Charleston Marina, nicknamed the “Mega Dock” as its main face dock is really, really long. The crane to the left is now adding a mega-million mega-mega dock in front of the old one! It will be able to accommodate several up-to 400′ yachts with sufficient power to “plug-in”, so they don’t have to run their generators 24/7 (as usual). Next year, maybe they’ll let us dock on their crummy, old mini-mega dock – we can hope!

A good stop again in Hilton Head in which we learned of The Purple Cow Bakery. A determined donuter(?) who was forced to close down when her landlord doubled her rent, but continues to bake her delicious donuts & cheesecakes in a nearby restaurant after they close for the night, then sets up a meet for you to pick them up in the AM.

Our (usual) last stop in Georgia is our favorite anchorage at Plum Orchard on Cumberland Island. The antics of the hundreds of egrets, along with dozens of wood storks & rosetta spoonbills keep us entertained, especially at dusk when they all come “home” to roost, fighting over who’s tree branch is who’s! For some reason, this particular spot is extremely popular.

It was dead calm & beautiful our entire stay

And “our” wild horses often stop by to enjoy the fresh shoots at lower tides

With a few days still to go before our insurance company allows us to cross over the Georgia/Florida line & with the wind set to blow for days, we decided to check out St. Mary’s, Georgia. A lovely little waterfront town which recently replaced their town docks as they are damaged every few years by storms. Their new docks are super-strong concrete with large 2′ diameter fiberglass pilings which will hopefully last for many years. VERY friendly, with the dockmaster insisting on driving us several miles to the grocery store.

Our first-time stop at a marina in Jacksonville Beach, FL & a bike ride to our first Parlor Doughnuts. WOW! A small chain featuring amazing “layered doughnuts”. In only 4 years they’ve grown to over 20 locations. We first heard of them last March when we were looking at our new boat in Venice, FL. A new Parlor Doughnuts location was opening up, but we were a few weeks too early. Maybe the best donuts ever?? We’ll have to let you know when the box is empty!

Our November/December plans remain a bit rough, as we haven’t found a marina who has room for us & that we can afford. We’ll likely bounce around anchorage to anchorage with a few marina days here & there for our appointments & Bahamas departure prep.