Things I learned along the way.

On a previous trip North, along the Intercoastal Waterway, I made a list of items I learned along the way. You can look back in the blog, to May of 2006 at 31 Things I Learned This Trip | How Stuff Works, if you want to learn more.  So here starts the list for the 2013 trip.

1. Alligators and manatees sound remarkably alike when they hit the water.

2. Shining for alligators is allowed. They will rest along the shore at night. If you are anchored along the shore you may be able to see their eyes. We did not know this until the next morning. Darn. Maybe Inslept better not knowing. The lock master stated there is a 13' long alligator living at the St. Lucie lock area. Him or her and about 200 vultures waiting for leftovers.

2. The bilge pump sounds like a cell phone on vibrate as it checks to make sure it does not need to be pumping water from bow decks; all night long. Can you hear me now. LOL

3. The Mullett jump out of the water because they are being chased by a tarpon or a 30" snook.

4. Skulling or rowing along the waterway can be hazadarous for the person rowing due to oversize wakes; make that any wake.

Day 6 Sanibel - Intracoastal Waterway to Ft Myers

Schools of fish danced on the water, like cloud shadows, while the birds flew, in flocks that looked like rain,  as they moved toward the dining fish. Hmmm. Need I say what happened next? 

Somebody else got lunch too.

There was also a formation of about 7 white pelicans that flew just ahead if us swooping down low over the water.. Usually you only see the brown pelicans sitting or fishing. 

 After 3 days of cleaning, stowing groceries and supplies, and getting the boat back in the water we are enjoying being underway. Ran 7 hours yesterday about 35 to 40 miles. :) the diesel fuel is about $4.10 a gallon here. The trawler burns 2 gallons per hour. A car that gets 23 to 25 miles to a gallon can drive about 50 miles in an hour for $8. We are spending that every 10 miles; Still much better than one with 2 engines or a racing engine.

Today we motored through Ft Myers and have been heading East towards the Big O along the way we saw the big power plant, experienced the Franklin Locks and started seeing lots of Florida gentlemen farmer ranches with cattle and horses.

 

This afternoon we plan to stop early so that I can try out the inflatable paddle board I brought down with me.

We anchored in a canal called Lollipop just before sunset. I heard a Loud splash in the water and thought it must be an alligator!  So the paddleboard became a dual purpose item for our dinner. 

I did finally go paddling; watching for alligators and manatees :). Tomorrow we cross Lake Okeechobee where they have some of the biggest bass in the country!

Ft Myers to Stuart on Okeechobee Waterway

Coming up! Lake Okeechobee The Big O

The Big O and I am not referring to Opra but to Lake Okeechobee. According to the Florida Cruising Guide the Okeechobee Waterway is not as great as other man-made paths between seas like the exotic Panama Canal or St. Lawrence Seaway for commercial  vessels. It is, however, a major trip and shortcut for recreational vessels.

The trip starts at Ft Myers and follows the Caloosahatchee River 152 inland miles through cow pastures and the 25 mile trip across the lake itself, ending at Stuart, Florida. The alternative is the 350 nautical miles trip around the southern  tip of Florida through the Florida Keys.

This is Captain Don's first trip on this waterway. When he and my Mother, Linda, traveled aboard their 47' sail  oboist, Majestic Dream their boat needed at least 6' of water and that would be risky with a draft of 5' 10". On Ring of Fire we only draw 32" so let's say 3'.

We are excited about our journey on this "new to us" waterway. As I write this we are passing the Burnt Store Marina, which I find to have a rather thought provoking name. To more about the Okeechobee Waterway and the lake known as the Big O with  see pictures follow the  Wikipedia link below.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Okeechobee

Day 5 Charlotte Harbor

After a day 3 and 4 making ready to leave Charlotte Harbor Boat Storage, we traveled along the canal to the South Gulf Cove Lock at Cattle Dock Point.

Today we got a free ride since the lock was receiving some routine maintenance. Normally this is a self service lock. We had the help of 3 handlers on shore so we did not have to get off the boat to operate the lock ourselves.

Traveling on a 34' trawler made our time  departure much simpler. No waiting for high tide or traveling through the locks in the dark at 1 in the morning. 

We have reached the bigger water at the beginning of the 26 mile long Charlotte Harbor on our way to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Captain Don is still sporting his trademark Stetson just on his new boat, Ring of Fire instead of the sailboat he traveled with 6 to 8 months of the year.

New Boat New Adventures

News Blast: We have crossed over to the dark side. Living Aboard A Sail Boat is now Living Aboard a Trawler. Captain Don purchased a Mainship 34 soon after the sale of his Vagabond 47 ketch. Pictures coming soon.

Latest:

Robert and Cynthia Timberlake are the new owners of Majestic Dream. You can follow their adventures here:

Axeman and Crew

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/axeman/?show=profile

It's December 2013. This is Sheree and I am back in Florida with My father, Captain Don, getting his new trawler called Ring of Fire, ready to launch. It turns out that Majestic Dream is back here at the same storage yard too. We visited her this AM. It was bittersweet. Felt really odd to see her just sitting there with us on another boat. 

Last March I flew down to FT Myers to stay with my parents on Ring of Fire. This is not her maiden voyage. They cruised with her last winter as well.

Day 1 we arrived after a 2 day drive from Pennsylvania where we spent Thanksgiving with family (after a 1 day drive from  Michigan).

Day 2 we cleaned the boat, uncovered the decks from sheets of sun protection, put up the Bimini and more. Hope to launch in 2 days after more prep work.

I brought an inflatable SUP with me and can't wait to explore a new place each night as we move the boat from the gulf side of Florida to the Arlantic.

Today's big job, putting lanolin on the prop and washing down the boat. Yje lanolin is suppose to keep barnacles from growing in the prop. A fellow sailor and electric guru also suggest that Dow Corning Silcone #33 works well too.  The lanolin was great for my hands, Who knew you could protect the boat and get soft hands all at the same time .

We also had a stowaway. So cute.

The Adventure Continues

by Sheree Lincoln

Until 2010, Majestic Dream spent every summer at the North East Yacht Club in North East Delaware. She was a weekend cottage for brother, Rick Hanson and his wife Susan, and the home office office for the North East Yacht Club sailing school run by my nephew, Kyle.  They participated in sailing races with their own boat, Born to Run - a J80 which, while a fantastic sailboat to race with. After they purchased a larger J-Boat, Majestic Dream started staying in Florida all year.  The past few season she has been in Ft. Myers Beach with Captain Don and wife Linda aboard 9 months of the year and in dry dock the rest.  I have not had the opportunity to travel south these past two years, thus no new stories from the waterway.  Don and Linda have not moved the boat as much and chose to enjoy the Ft. Myers area more with short runs in the vicinity.  This year a trip was planned to the Bahamas for the winter. As many of you know Majestic Dream has been for sale for a few years and it seems the the perfect Captain, First Mate and family have been found to continue the tradition.   Sea trials are in October. We will keep you updated as her journey continues.

Navigating the Intercoastal Waterway

 

Firstmate Linda and Captain Don

Sheree Lincoln

Safe journeys...

Sheree

Leaving Marco Island

We had a nice ride up from Marco yesterday.  Weather has been great is rainy today. Majestic Dream needed a wash down anyway. We are on mooring ball 53. Probably for 3 weeks or 4 maybe. Haul out is schedule for mid May. We will be leaving the boat on the hard near Fort Myers this summer.  Great time for someone to purchase her and get ready for a winter sail to the Bahamas or Carribbean! We are ready to go trawler shopping after 42 years of sailing.


See our listing at http://www.contemporaryyachts.com/vagabondcentral.htm

Here she sits near off shore near Key Largo and Rodriguez Key, Florida.

I am looking forward to a summer of golf in Michigan. Keep you posted.

 

Moving Day

Happy Easter from Majestic Dream anchored of the city marina in Marco Island. April 1st was moving day. Came up the Shark River. Will be here a few days to meet some old friends and then on to Ft Meyers Beach next week one day.  Depends on the weather man.

Not all Play - keeping that teak pretty

Cool February weather provided a good tie to update the varnish aboard out 47 Foot Vagabond.  Look in Good! Captain Don and son-in-law, wooden boat builder (kayaks..dinghies, prams.. of BrassWind Boatworks, Fremont, MI) Richard Lincoln varnished the entire boat the 3rd week in February with time left over to play in Key West for a day.

Sea Food Festival is almost here.. Marathon Key

We spent the better part of Saturday afternoon at the Marathon City Park enjoying gospel music. several churches in the are have small bands and entertain for about hour by each church. Some good, some not so good.

The sun has been shinning so if you fine a spot with no wind it's very pleasant.

The last two weeks my daughter and sometime, first mate (when Linda jumps ship to avoid the long trip down the intercoastal waterway) Sheree and her husband Lincoln were here. More photos and updates from that trip coming soon.

Next week end is the annual Sea Food festival. So Yawl Come!!

Have a great Sunday!

Don and Linda

Lost Post - Leaving Miami Post Superbowl - From February 13

Well we all get our turn in the barrel so to speak, east coast west coast and last evening here in Miami.  Winds were around 50 knots for a short while with walls of rain.  Fortunately we stay put on our anchor as did our close neighbors.  Then it calm down around midnight and got a good nights sleep.  But this morning it was only 52 degrees.  BRRRR!

Looks good to head towards Marathon tomorrow with a stop off Key Largo.

Have a great day, Don and Linda

Settling in at Boot Key Harbor

We moved into the main harbor today, thank goodness, very rolly outside Boot Key Harbor. Still at anchor, but it's cheap.
Many boats are waiting for the "window" to go somewhere!

Don and Linda