New paint, antenna and air horn on cabin top

New floor

Windows and new space

All complete with ice box and locker door

Follow us on another trip with CrossOver

FOLLOW US ON ANOTHER BOAT TRIP

I am back blogging again.  That means we are headed out on CrossOver.

Since our return to NMB in April of 2013 Dave built me a real laundry room on the first floor and a studio on the second floor.  Love that man he is so good to me.  He couldn’t wait to finish that so he could begin the next upgrades on CrossOver.

They began in the nearby boat yard in October of 2013.  He stripped the boat of all the outside hardware and readied the hull and bottom for paint.  That was complete by the time our cold winter began.

 Old windows were removed and replaced.  He has added blinds and valances to that upgrade.

The 20 gallon water tank in the aft was replaced with a 40 gallon tank under the V-berth, forward.

A reverse cycle Heat/AC unit was installed.  With that completed Dave was then able to design the remaining space. This is all in the area on the port side between the galley and the V-berth.  The space allowed for three long drawers, a hanging locker, with shelves atop. (Dave packed light and I went overboard and it all fits.) On top of the AC unit he built a removable cooler that is the same height as the counters and shelves.  This will be used in conjunction with an Engel Cooler that freezes.  (Located in the cockpit under my feet, a great foot rest.)

Teak and holly flooring in the saloon area.

As the weather got warmer Dave fashioned gunnels around the deck to allow better fit for the bow rail.

Next he sanded and put down a non slip surface on the deck.

The external hardware was reinstalled and we were back in the water.

Engine alignment and new mounts make for a smoother running engine.

The 41 year old windshield wiper motors rusted tight so those have been replaced with an up graded model.

A TV antenna is installed on the cabin top and we are all set for on the air or cable shows.

Adrienne gave us a super set of air horns.  You will know when we arrive!  You will think there is a barge at your dock or an 18 wheeler at your door.  Sail boats without names visible will know when we want to pass and jet skies will scamper.

A new larger capacity port a potty is an added plus.

I did all new coordinating canvas for the exterior and throw pillows for the interior and bought new linens.  (the female touch)

How wonderful to be married to a man who is so talented!  Of course he is already thinking of his next project.

Meanwhile, yes we are heading on another trip.  This trip is to the Chesapeake Bay where we will visit our good friends and special, memorable spots along the way.

Departure date is Thursday, May 29, 2014.  Wednesday evening after the boat is readied for trip we are going to dinner with 3 couples then back to the boat, show it off and then sleep aboard.  We will be under way in the AM with a planned anchorage at Wrightsville Beach. 

Friday, May 30th  we will spend the night in Swansboro at Casper’s Marina with the former owner of CrossOver.  Danny and Irene have been keeping up with all the changes and are anxious to have a first hand look.

Saturday, May 31^st (our daughter, Adrienne’s, 45^th birthday) will find us on the way to Windsong (where we lived in NC for 7 ½ years).  It will be good to catch up with friends there for several days.

More to come!  We are so excited to be heading back to our roots of sailing on the Chesapeake Bay and friends there.

Sunrise St Augustine

The famous Bridge of Lions from the water (refer to first pictures in the blog to see the Lions at the base of the bridge)

St Augustine from the ICW before the bridge

Sunset Jekyll Island

The ocean; no land in site

We hope this was a controlled burn like we saw on Campbell Creek, NC

Sun setting on the shrimping fleet

Shrimp fleet at early light

This is home, red #14 on the ICW North of the Little River Swing Bridge, give us a toot as you travel by or even better call us and we will get together.

Last four days Cross-Over's trip

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

  The sun came out as we left River Edge Marina in St Augustine.  We departed at daylight for our destination, an anchorage off of Jekyll Island Marina in Georgia.  We arrived there mid-afternoon, a 96 mile day.  A few discourteous boaters gave us some nasty rocking until late in the afternoon when they all had to return after their weekend.  The view to the west gave us the advantage of enjoying a marvelous sunset.  It is a nice deep anchorage and the wind was calm overnight as were the temperatures.

  We took time for breakfast on Monday morning to fortify us for another long day; 100 miles to Thunderbolt, GA.  Thunderbolt is on the ICW; 5 miles from Savannah.  The marina was very quiet and we only saw 2 other couples in the marina.  Strangely no one seemed very friendly other than the dock master.  We walked part of the town but found nothing of great interest.  The showers were great and a vanity in the ladies room between the two complete bathrooms was a nice touch.  This would be our last night to eat out.  Dave had oodles of noodles and Alfredo sauce left.  Another comfortable night and here they bring you a ½ dozen Krispy Crème donuts and a paper in the AM.  The draw back was the gnats swarming us and the condensation on the inside and outside of the windshield.  We fueled despite them and off we motored onward.

  Twists and turns in the GA area are really boring and when we got to the North end of Hilton Head Island into Port Royal Sound Dave got anxious to be on with the trip and go into the ocean and save time.  He promised we would come back if conditions were not good.  This meant we could bypass Parris Island, Beaufort, and a good portion of the Charleston Harbor, SC.  We spent 4 hours out there in 3 foot swells that were not too organized.  The captain had a tiring time steering and told me as we came in to the Charleston, SC Inlet to give him a “NO” next time he gets an idea to go out in the ocean again.  I did alert Adrienne that we had taken another course and our life jackets on the seats. 

  We fueled again in Isle of Palms and continued on to McClellanville.  We were not happy with the anchorage so went into the village.  Lucky for us we got to the seafood dock just before closing and walked a short distance to the seafood store.  We bought 3 pounds of shrimp a $5.99 a pound.  Down the creek Leland Oil Company has a small dock with hookups and a facility.  The locals told us, “If no one is there just tie up and someone would catch you in the morning.  If you need to leave early call them and just give them your credit card number.”  Is that laid back or what?  We saw the owner in the morning  and paid up.  Cheapest dockage on the trip.

  Cocktail time was enjoyed with a nice chat with a man on the dock who reminisced about Hurricane Hugo devastating their village and how folks from Toms River, NJ came down and helped.  They took a collection last fall to send them after Hurricane Sandy, some $14,000.    Folks, that is sizable, this village is comprised mostly of shrimpers and their industry; just a few large homes built recently.  The town had recently received a nice thank you from the mayor and the towns people of Toms River.

  Well, this was the last night of our trip and the left over Alfredo and noodles sure were bumped up with the shrimp.  So tasty!  A nice sunset and then the gnats arrived.  We got to use our screens for the first time. Early to bed, we had 141 miles under our butts that day.  By the way the time in the ocean saved us 14 miles.

  The morning brought more gnats and condensation.    Getting the air moving blew them away.  The last leg of the trip was a familiar one.  Just ahead was Georgetown.  Last summer we had done an overnight  trip there on the boat.  North into the Peedee River and the Waccamaw Rivers.  The Cypress trees along the banks make  the area so very different than anything else you see on the ICW.  The trip is almost complete and things are looking so very familiar, the excitement of reaching home is heightened.

  Our trip came full cycle at 2:00 P.M. on that Tuesday when we pulled into our slip at Harbor gate Marina.  We got a wave from our friends the Jones’ at Barefoot Resort with a welcome home over the VHF and a hug from Susie at the marina.  Our neighbor, Julian, taxied us to get our vehicles to go back to the marina and transfer our possessions to the house.  Lots of lifting and lugging with the tide full low and then the steps at the house.

  This morning it was interesting to hear the boats on the river but not feel the wake.  Sitting on the porch is not as compelling as last season.  We have seen LOTS of boats!  Our boat is not empty there are still canned goods and books and such to off load.  (Being close to the marina is a big plus.)  After that the boat needs a good cleaning but an 80% chance of rain on Friday may help.  Today I sorted clothing and aired some things and washed 7 loads of laundry and folded it and stored it.  I walked from room to room to room putting things away.  So funny how I had to think twice about where things were or were they belonged.  The house seems huge after the square footage of a 28 foot boat.  I love its space……

  Dave sorted a month’s worth of mail, fertilized the lawn and mowed it, washed the tenacious yellow pollen off the porch and the furniture.

STATS:   179 hours on the engine

               2,344.5 miles traveled

               5.527 average fuel used an hour

               13.05 mph average speed

By the way, neither of us gained weight………  

Thank you for following along on our trip with us and commenting via e-mail.  We enjoyed your company and want you to feel free to share the blog with other friends if you would like.  They are invited to comment also to jgammons@sc.rr.com. 

      

Cross-Over out.   Jane and Dave standing by.

Terry and Lisa Locatis, Stuart, FL

Our church on Easter Sunday,  Communion is handed to you when you come in the gate.  Baskets are passed for the offering then taken to the front in a golf cart.

Suerae and Jim Ballard

On the the beach in Daytona with Mel and Mary Jane Portnoy.

My new re-sale shopper guide from Ohio, Carolyn and husband Fred.

Us on Cocoa Beach

My college roommate, Jean and husband John. in Cocoa Beach, FL

This is a site in one of the neighborhoods near Jean's condo.  You see them where there are grubs to eat.  Maybe we need one in N. Myrtle Beach.  Here, however,  they are getting over populated.

Homeward Bound

April 5, 2013

  We are in Riveredge Marina in St Augustine  and have a good internet connection so here I am again.
  Our last 2 weeks have been spent in marinas and enjoying good friends along the way North.  
  The leg from Stuart to Cocoa Beach was a good one.  My college room mate directed us to a nice marina in Cocoa Village.  Jean and John picked us up and gave us a tour of their vacation area, Cocoa Village, Port Canaveral interesting neighborhoods and their condo and beach.  After drinks at their cozy abode we joined them at their favorite Italian Restaurant.   So great to see them again and renew our friendship.
  Next leg was a stop in Vero Beach at a Loggerhead Resort Marina.  Unfortunately it was to cool to use the wonderful heated pool. We contacted Victoria unfortunately Oliver was not well enough to get together with us that evening.  Hopefully they will be able to stop and see us in NMB.
  On to our way to Daytona we fueled in Titusville and spent an hour with Mary Jane and Mel Portnoy, so good to see them and do some catching up on their adventure.  There would be more stories to come as we make our way North together. That night we were back in Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona.  That made a circle from our start on the 19th of January.
  The Ballards picked us up to go to dinner.  They graciously gave us the use of one of their cars for the rest of our stay.  We renew our prescriptions, reprovisioned and I got to do some very successful re-sale shopping.  Dave and Jim, with a suggestion from Jim's friend Carl and repaired the injector leak with a bit of Teflon tape.  Yippy, no costly repair, the Cummins dealer is in Orlando!  The Portonys arrived and we taxied them around and found a wonderful restaurant, Rendezvous, who reopened their kitchen for us on Easter evening. 
  Easter Sunday we joined the Ballards for 8:30 AM service at a drive-inn church, (see photo).  Afterward we went to the Municipal Country Club for brunch with their numerous friends.  Next a visit with Bill and Theresa Nilles.  What an Easter Sunday!
  Our beach day was a bust due to blowing sand.  Dave was brave enough to go in the ocean.  The Portnoys, Ballards and us piled into the Buick and rode the beach with commentary from Jim on various changes during the years they have been wintering there. Another evening we had a delicious dinner at the Nilles' with their wonderful view of the Halifax River and sunsets.
  Before leaving town I was bound determined to return to Caribbean  Jack's for a Fish Taco. It happened in good company , Jim, Suerae and their friends Carolyn and Fred. 
  Great evenings and days with wonderful friends.  Thanks everyone!
  We passed on the opening baseball game in Daytona due to weather concerns. Thursday we left the marina at 6:50 and headed North.  It had rained during the night but our trip to St Augustine was a dry one.  We arrived at 10:30 and are tucked in a marina in the San Sebastian River.  the weather went to the South.  We biked for produce and to Sailor's Exchange then into downtown and convinced the Portnoys (who are at the Municipal Marina) to join us at the famous A1A Brewery for a brew.
  Back at the marina we met two couples who invited us to join then for happy hour at Hurricane Patty's next to the marina.  Candi and Alan are from Colorado and on a Tartan 40 and Julie and Alex are in a Bavaria 44 and call Caratoman Creek, VA their home.  A fun time.  One boat card left.....
 This AM we woke to a gentle rain but too much to carry out the plan to meet the Portnoys for a tour of Flagler College at 10 AM.  Maybe the 2 PM tour?  This evening we will be joining Joan and Jim Dorsey for dinner.
  Next leg will be Fernandina Beach,  inside on the ICW or outside in the Atlantic, that is the Question?  Outside would save lots of switch backs in the ICW in Georgia.  Regardless we should be home by the end of next week........