Living the dream?
One more bit of evidence that we are not, as some people believe, on some kind of extended vacation: vacations are meant to be relaxing and drama free and cruising south on a sailboat is anything but that. Our friends on Cara Mia made a great post on their blog about how cruising down the Intra-Coastal Waterway was akin to some kind of super-challenging video game. Funny stuff, but very close to true. I commented to Rebecca yesterday that the narrow and sometimes very shallow channels make it difficult for the helmsman to really enjoy the scenery. Too much looking around and we often find ourselves out from between the markers and heading into not-so-good territory. Our good friends (I won’t name them but they might be in one of the pics below) went aground yesterday after taking a mark on the wrong side of their boat when the channel split in two. Although stuck for a moment or two, they were able to get themselves free without assistance, which in our books means that it doesn’t really count as going aground. 🙂
The daily drone of our engines while traveling, brought on by the complete lack of wind with which to sail, makes us long to get offshore once again. And that time is nearing as we get further south. Some of our friends are hoping to make the jump to the Bahamas in the first week of December and we know of others who have already done so. Perhaps we won’t be far behind them.
Today, we’re anchored in New Smyrna, FL, and will be spending (US) Thanksgiving with our friends, and perhaps friends of friends. I don’t need one special day of the year to give thanks though… I know I’m fortunate to be “living the dream” and even more so, for the fact that I get to share it with my soulmate, Rebecca. I give thanks for that every day we’re out here!
Mmmm… fish for dinner.
Christmas already?
We were trying to get shots of some manatee but these silly dolphins kept getting in the way.
Fancy!
If this guy can stay in the channel, we should be able to.
Yes, around that side of the marker!
I give thanks that it is once again bikini weather!
Oops!
The lighthouse at the inlet at New Smyrna.
Thanks for sharing your adventure. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
You’re very welcome Rich. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great Thanksgiving too!
What a wonderful post and as always pictures. You have a great attitude about this adventure and those of us stuck on land appreciate your sharing your life! We’re the ones still dreaming.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Thanks guys! 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving (American) from Cara Mia. Fair winds and deep water!
Thanks Tammy. You and Chip enjoy your Turkey today!
Hi Mike & Rebecca,
Happy US Thanksgiving from a fellow Canadian! I’ve been following your blog (loosely!) and contacted you back in the spring from Ottawa, ON. We were then in the process of selling our house and everything in it, and had thought we’d be in the Chesapeake this summer. I had thought we might be able to connect there. As things worked out, that never happened! We are currently a few miles south of your current position, in the Cocoa Village Marina where we have spent the summer working on upgrading our boat. We have an Island Spirit Catamaran called One White Tree. I’ll keep an eye out for you on the ICW as we have a wonderful view upriver to the 528 bridge. As you approach the marina on the Banana River, you should be able to see our Canadian flag flying. We expect to be leaving here in a couple of weeks. (We want to stay for the shuttle launch scheduled for Dec. 3rd). If you happen to stop in Cocoa look us up, otherwise we’ll maybe see you out there somewhere on the water!
Diana
Seven stars and seven stones. Cool!
Kirk & Donna
Ainulindale
Hey guys. We miss hanging out with you two. I was wearing my fancy Ainulindale shirt yesterday though.
Hi Diana
Thanks for the note. I do remember your message and it would be cool to meet up. We’ll keep our eyes open for you as we head south.
Mike
Hey! First of all, I missed seeing you guys in St. Augustine! 🙁 Bummer!
Second of all, the sooner you give up this “vacation” idea and realize that THIS is your new job, the sooner…..hmmmm, what was the point I was trying to make?
WHO CARES!
Keep on being amazed at the dolphins, the instant friends, the awesome sunrises, sunsets, moonrises, nights filled with stars, the engine repairs, why is there water in HERE, the pink sand beaches, is that a tear in the main, how much water do we have, etc, etc, etc. 😉
Fair Winds,
Mike
Yes, we too are sorry that we missed you in St. Augustine but I’d rather meet up with you and Susan when you’re back on TabbyCat anyway. 🙂
When are you heading back to her, Mike?
Happy Thanksgiving and I’m also thankful that you allow some of us to live vicariously through your blog. I was wondering if y’all were going to jump over to the Bahamas…. my daughter jumped over once she was a bit south of Jacksonville.
We have a few things to take care of here in Florida first but we’ll no doubt be there soon enough.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Nice to find this blog while researching PDQ 32’s for live-aboard potential. I really appreciate the insight of your day to day living conditions and adaptations.
You two seem to have the right spirit for cruising life. Looking forward to your updates and thanks for sharing the adventure.
Best wishes for fair winds, fresh water and clean laundry
Hi Steve. Thanks.
Clean laundry… I like that. That was a big thing on yesterday’s to-do list. Fortunately we had access to a car so that we could go to a Laundromat. 🙂
Every time we see ya’ll sitting in that comfortable looking chair while driving the boat we get envious. We don’t have quite that nice of a set-up in our sailboat cockpit! We have to stand up while at the wheel. Sounds like ya’ll enjoyed what we assume is your first US Thanksgiving! I bet you can’t wear a bikini in Canada right now =)
Bikinis in Canada right now? Ummm, no. Weather report from today was calling for wet snow.
That helm seat was not standard on the PDQ 32. It was added on by one of the previous owners.