Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
South East Coast Turtle Tour
4/12/13
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| Leaving Ft. Pierce, FL for Jacksonville |
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| Sunrise at Ft. Pierce as we exit the inlet |
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| Hitchhiker on the ocean just north of Ft. Pierce |
I think “South East Coast Turtle Tour” is the perfect title
for our two passages from Ft. Pierce, FL to Jacksonville, FL and from
Fernandina, FL to Beaufort, NC. Since we
patiently waited for south winds to sail north we were rewarded with smooth
downwind sails. Both passages required
the on and off use of our engines as the southerly winds rose and dropped in
speed. The ocean swells on the beam
rolling us side to side as we sailed forth.
Did you know sea turtles spend some of their day just
lounging on the surface of the ocean?
The calm conditions offered superb turtle viewing. We’d sit in the cockpit in the warmth of the
sun and spot turtle lumps. Though
encrusted with barnacles and other clinging sea growth a turtle top protruding
above the water catches the eye. Some of
them shine as the sun reflects off the wet round dome. A number of times we’d spot a turtle directly
ahead and watch as it lazily paddled just out of the way of Persephone and slid
by the hull almost within reach.
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| Turtle! |
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| Loggerhead, I believe |
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| Turtle! |
Our 2
days on the first leg and 3 on the next were filled with “Turtle!” and “Dolphin!”
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| Dolphin! |
Beautiful spotted dolphin, some with a
defined white stripe along their sides highlighting their black spots. I just know that when they’re swimming along
the boat near the surface on their sides they’re looking at us. Ever make eye contact on the ocean with a
dolphin? Incredible!
So our passages thus far – no storms or squalls, no broken
boat parts, and no winds on the nose.
Just turtles and dolphins. Oh,
and a few hitchhikers stopped by for a rest.
Purple Martins I believe.
Between our passages we had the opportunity to visit our
friends Chris and Amy in Atlantic Beach, FL.
Baby Andrew had celebrated his first birthday just ten days before our
arrival. Next – his first life jacket
(which he did NOT like) and his first dinghy ride and evening at anchor aboard
Persephone (which was fine AFTER the life jacket was removed). Thanks for bringing and creating a sumptuous
dining experience aboard Persephone Chef Chris!
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| Andrew, Amy, Chris & Jerry |
Traveling vs. at a dock or at anchor presents a challenge
for Jerry’s cardio-rehab walking schedule.
If the dolphins looked into the cockpit at the right time they could
have watched us marching, jumping, sliding, dancing. Each of us in an 18” x 3’ space in the cockpit
to the rhythm of the rolling seas and the tunes on the i-pod. Back to land here in Beaufort provides the
freedom of the open road for walking and continued heart strengthening.
Our plans are to continue our journey north hoping this
warming trend lasts the rest of the spring.
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| Horses & Loons off Carrot Island, Beaufort, NC |
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