12/13/22

The last time I posted we were in Jacksonville, FL heading to Fort Pierce.  We had a fast downwind sail!  Here's a video Jerry took.  Downwind means north wind.  Even though we're in Florida it feels damp and chilly sailing along the coast.  In the video you'll see the blankets we hang at the aft of the dodger to protect us from the wind when we're on watch. 

We anchored in Fort Pierce and went to shore to try to find the place that makes authentic roti such as Jerry remembers from his time in Trinidad.

Chicken Roti from Caribbean Cuisine on Avenue D in Fort Pierce

According to Wikipedia: Originating in the Caribbean with Indian roots, a roti is a wrap style sandwich filled with either curried or sometimes stewed meats or vegetables wrapped inside a dhalpuri,^[3] paratha, or dosti roti.^[4]   You can have chicken roti with or without bones.  Other choices vegetable, mutton, shrimp.  We always opt for the boneless chicken roti - the natives prefer a chicken roti with bones to suck the marrow out as they eat.  Jerry says it was one of the best he's ever had!  And as you can see - very filling.  I ended up having roti for lunch the next day as well.  Delicious!

We moved from Fort Pierce to Stuart where we spent time visiting with Aunt Susan and Ken.  They live in a waterfront house directly across from where we anchor.  Handy!  Dale and Roni live a couple of miles down the waterway towards the Okechobee.  About 10 minutes by dinghy at top speed.  We enjoyed Thanksgiving with Dale and Roni and another good friend, Arno.  You may remember hearing about Arno as Jerry met Arno and his daughter Benedict almost 20 years ago when they were anchored next to each other at Ocean City, MD.

Making apple pie to take to Dale and Roni's for Thanksgiving.

We use Jerry's grandmother's recipe.  He prepares the filling.  I make the dough.

Here's the view from the anchorage at Stuart looking across towards Ken and Aunt Susan's place.

Ken and Aunt Susan's place is around the corner to the right past all of the festive lights.

Another view from the anchorage looking west after sunset.

There are a number of boats at this anchorage that are neglected.  The big trawler in the picture below is one of them.  Every morning just after sunrise flocks of grackles invade the anchorage.  Anywhere from 50 - 500 grackles swarm in.  They flit from boat to boat landing and making a racket.  We spend an hour shooing them off our mast.  Then they all decide to leave the area and don't return until the next morning.

Frenzied Grackle chaos every morning in Stuart.

Between our walks around town, fixing a few things on board, and visiting Jerry finds time to work on an outboard someone was throwing out.  He loves a challenge.

Of course he had it running in no time.

We also bought a $20 bike from the yard sale at Dale and Roni's park so Jerry will have transportation while I'm in NY for the holidays.

Jerry tuned up the bike, added a luggage rack (a donation from Dale's bike parts), a milk crate from the side of the road, and he's on his way to UPS to mail a present I bought for his Mom. 

As you can see, the weather has been fabulous!  A few rainy days when we first arrived in Stuart but then sunshine and 80 degree days for the whole time!

Our friends we saw in Jacksonville, Dustyn and Brandon, came up the St. Lucie River to Stuart to anchor next to us.  So nice to spend time with them again!  And their dog Rita.  They had boat parts delivered to Ken and Susan's and Brandon borrowed Jerry's bike to go get more parts.  That's the nice thing about Stuart - there are a number of marine chandleries nearby.  After a few days of visiting they were on their way to the Bahamas.   

Dustyn, Brandon and I shared the wine Stephanie left onboard when we were in Jacksonville!

Our time in Stuart was coming to an end - I had a plane ticket to fly home from West Palm Beach for the holidays.  Again, our friend Dale helped us out by lending us his van.  We made our way to the grocery stores, gas station, propane depot filling Dale's van.  We'll be ready to head to the Bahamas when I return in 2023.

From the store, to the van to the dinghy to the boat!  Load #1.

One last trip to the boat!

Okay, you may ask why we're transporting a set of aluminum rims to the boat.  Jerry said, see if you can find a set of rims for the Airstream here in FL where they're not all corroded like what we see in NY.  Ta da!  A set of aluminum rims from Port St. Lucie picked up courtesy of Dale's van.  Jerry cleaned them up a little and then took them to store at Ken and Susan's for the winter.  Doesn't seem right to sail to the Bahamas and back with a set of rims on board.  We'll have to pick them up when we return from the Bahamas and then take them for a sail.

Our last night in Stuart - we joined Dale and Roni for their annual Christmas caroling expedition via golf carts.  Pizza and ice cream sundaes after the caroling.

Here we go, up and down the lanes of the Riverland Park with a gaggle of golf carts!

Roni and Dale all decked out caroling to their neighbors.  Dale wearing his "Rebel without a Claus shirt"

Thanks for the cap loan and for inviting us Dale and Roni!  

We left Stuart with full sail up and little wind.  Exiting at St. Lucie Inlet can be a challenge with the current ripping in or out.  This time the current was slightly against us and a large NE swell was curling at ocean's edge.  Jerry gauged the swell to be about 9 feet with huge curlers breaking across the inlet in sets of 3 every 2 minutes.  We almost expected to see surfers.  We looked at each other and thought maybe we should turn back.  But as luck would have it a big set broke right in front of us as we approached the inlet prompting Jerry to push the throttle down as hard as she would go racing through the treacherous inlet to reach the calmer waters of the deep ocean.  Phew!!  With the wind behind us, the mainsail with a preventer to keep it from flopping around with the big swells, we made our way to West Palm.  Jerry will be here until the new year while I'm back home with Mom and Dad for the holidays.  If you're in the area - give him a call!

Looking towards the city of West Palm from Persephone at anchor.

West Palm Beach at night

Wishing you the best for the holidays!  Write when you have a chance to share what's going on in your lives.

Karen & Jerry

SV Persephone

PS SPOT GPS tracking (top right hand corner) shows our current position here at West Palm.  Thanks Brian for sponsoring this month!

11/12/22

 Who would have guessed we had to worry about a possible hurricane when arriving in Jacksonville, FL in November!  I guess hurricane season is not officially over until the end of November.  

It seemed most prudent to stay anchored behind Blount Island off the St. John's River near Jacksonville when we heard of the tropical storm that was forming in the Caribbean.  We had good protection from the NE winds which were supposed to be quite brisk for a few days ahead of the storm's arrival.  The first few days anchored here we dinghied to shore and enjoyed walking a several miles each day.  The sun was out and the weather warm.  Nice!  Our friends Ralph and Leslie from Now and Zen live on their catamaran near here and came by car to meet us for lunch.

Lunch at Palms Fish Camp with Leslie and Ralph

We took the bimini off the frame and made sure everything else on deck was put away or tied down.  We've been anchored in 60 knot winds before and even had a gust one time to 90 in the Chesapeake but never a storm with a name!  Our spare anchor, our Fortress aluminum anchor, was put together and on deck just in case we needed it. 

And then the wind started to pick up, Tropical Storm Nicole had formed turning into a hurricane as it reached the coast of south Florida on Wednesday.  There were only 4 other boats anchored nearby - lots of room so everyone had plenty of room to swing with the current and wind.

 3 days of wind in the 20 - 30 knot range with gusts to 40.  Lots of rain!  

We stayed onboard and worked on projects, played backgammon, read books and kept an eye on the weather forecast and conditions.  And then it was over.  Jerry took advantage of the rain that had collected in the dinghy to do his laundry!  

Jerry collects about 30 gallons of water in the buckets from the dinghy.

We had company!  Conor and Stephanie & dog Toby (who live here in Jacksonville) and Brandon and Dustyn (who are anchored next to us right now) came out for dinner aboard Persephone.  What a wonderful evening!  Lots of reminiscing about our time together during the beginning of Covid when we were all "isolated" in the Ragged Islands and lots of catching up since we last got together.  Nice!

Brandon and Dustyn sail "Ada" into the anchorage at Blounts Island.

  

Let's go back to the Ragged Islands!

Dinner aboard Persephone

Now we're ready for the next passage - a short hop from Jacksonville to Ft. Pierce!  You can follow our progress on the SPOT GPS (Thanks again Brian!) starting late Saturday or early Sunday.  Should be about a 36 hour sail.

Karen & Jerry

PS - Happy Birthday Dad!  83 tomorrow on the 13th!

11/5/22

Our questionable weather window leaving from NY turned out to be an opportunity to sail all the way to the Chesapeake.  The wind was tight on the nose from the WSW gusting to 25 until we sailed past Ocean City, MD where the wind clocked to the NW and we were able to ease the sheets.  Jerry always keeps a log when we're offshore.  I thought you might appreciate seeing it.

The log for our passage from Sandy Hook to Norfolk.

The roughest part of the trip was coming around Cape Charles into the Chesapeake Bay.  We happened to arrive at maximum ebb and the wind shifting to the SW - right on the nose again.  With the motor assisting we rounded the Cape slowly - with a 2 or 3 knot current we were crawling.  Sometimes only making 2 knots.  

The screen of our GPS showing how on a sailboat you can't always take the most direct course to your destination.  The dashed line is our path with the zig zags as we tack to get in.

Passing an interesting air boat on the Chesapeake.

Lots of shipping traffic coming into Norfolk.

You'd think we'd stop and anchor for the night after sailing for the last 2 days when we came in the Chesapeake.  Nope.  We continued on through Norfolk and down the ICW waiting an hour for a bridge to open for us and then going through the Great Bridge Lock.  Just after the sun set we pulled out of the lock and tied to a wall for the night at Great Bridge.  Then we had a good night's rest!!

We made our way south on the ICW leaving Great Bridge at 5:30 before the sun came up and in the fog navigating by instruments only.  Glad we had radar as we relied on that to see what was ahead!  We made our way over the next few days to Oriental, NC where we stayed at our friends, Donna and Jerry's, dock.  It's a hectic time of the year as they were trying to prepare their boat and acquire all the provisions to head to the Bahamas for the winter.  We were able to squeeze in a couple of dinners together, a couple of card games and helped with projects and loading the boat when we could.  Our hope was to be able to sail south together but when the weather window opened we had to go on by ourselves while Donna and Jerry continued with their organizing and packing.

It was a weather window with northerly winds - we were able to sail downwind all the way from Beaufort, NC to the St. John's River/Jacksonville, FL.  Jerry made scrumptious shrimp scampi one night for dinner.  The shrimp was fresh from a NC local shrimp trawler!  

An example of a shrimp trawler that was docked in Oriental.  I had to take a picture for my awesome great-niece, Kayden.

Another video: ocean sailing downwind with dolphins!

After 57 hours from Beaufort, NC we approached the inlet at Jacksonville.  Of course it happened to be maximum ebb again when we came in the inlet. The northerly swell rolled us around and slapped the side of the hull as we made our way in.   It was just before midnight with the moon lighting the water and warm temperatures.  And we had plenty of time to admire the sights as we motor sailed up the St. John's River at 2 - 4 knots depending on the strength of the current.  Looks like we'll be here for a week or so - there's a low pressure system churning just offshore that will bring rain and high winds along the entire SE coast.  We have a protected anchorage off the St. John's River behind Blounts Island with access to a public dock so we can get out to walk.  

And lastly - Thanks to my big brother, Brian, who is sponsoring the next 4 months of the SPOT GPS tracking.   When you click on that link above in the right hand corner say, "Thank you Brian!" 

10/16/22

 Remember how I ended the last post - "Hey - if you're bored, love to sand with an orbital sander over your head and turn blue from paint dust- come to Kingston!!"  I chuckled as I wrote those words in the last post but would you believe we had friends show up in Kingston?  All the way from Ontario, NY (near Rochester)!  

I mean - doesn't this look like fun....Not!

Yes....the nasty blue dust goes all over.  Think Smurf.

Rolling on the bottom paint.

Ed and Sandy Zogg with their dog Fiona arrived in their vintage VW camper van and spent 5 days parked next to Persephone helping out, sharing meals together, reminiscing, and trying to stay dry.  It rained hard for 2 of the 5 days!   (Ed grew up in Baldwinsville, NY and went to school with Jerry.). What a treat to have time to spend with friends we haven't seen in a long time!

A view of the camper from Persephone.

Ground level view.  Nice camper!

Ed and Sandy have been living in the Dominican Republic for the last 9 years working as Pastor/Missionary at Christian International Foundation. Their lives have been all about helping people - in so many ways.  We celebrated Ed's birthday with an apple pie that we made together!

Happy Birthday Ed!

Ed and Sandy aboard Persephone.

Though Ed and Sandy are in NY now, they are still involved with the community back in Santo Domingo, DR.  They are currently facilitating the construction of a community building in Santo Domingo that will be a children’s center, a church, school, and clean water facility. They are calling it the New Beginnings Hope Center.  The project has begun with fill brought to the site and the new cistern completed.  With the cistern in place they will be able to mix cement to continue with the building process.  I've added The Zogg Newsletter at the bottom of this post if you'd like to read more. 

When the sun came out we took a walk out to the Hudson with a view of the lighthouse that marks the channel to come in to Rondout Creek.

Thanks, Ed, Sandy and Fiona for sharing your time with us!

After Ed and Sandy left more friends stopped by!  Bob and Susan Church stopped to have lunch aboard Persephone as they were on their way home from a cruise ship docked in NJ.  

With projects finished Persephone went back in the water, the mast up, and the sails installed.  Ready to head south on the Hudson!

After making our last apple pie for Vince of Hideaway Marina and waiting for the tide to be up we ventured under the bridge on Rondout Creek, watching the top of the mast and hoping to clear.  We tied up to a restaurant's dock for the night.

 

Heavy fog on our first morning on the Hudson - we left in the dark at 5:30 am.  Here we pass an anchored ship.

Going under the bridges at Poughkeepsie.

 

After spending a night at anchor in Nyack near the Mario Cuomo bridge we continued on our way again leaving early.  No fog today!  Here's a view of the George Washington Bridge.

Sunday in New York Harbor - quiet!  A lot less ferry traffic than on a weekday.

Passing by the Statue of Liberty - on our way to anchor at Atlantic Highlands, NJ to wait for the right weather window.

With any luck, the weather window will open tonight around midnight with winds that will allow us to sail south along the east coast.  You should be able to follow us using the link for SPOT at the top right hand corner of the blog page.  And speaking of SPOT....When we arrived in Kingston my Dad wondered about the status of the SPOT GPS Tracker.  He tried to find us and I told him I hadn't signed up.  He enjoys keeping track of Persephone via the SPOT.  He paid for the first monthly installment of $16.15.  If you're interested in becoming a SPOT sponsor I have PayPal, Venmo and Mom, my accountant, back home.  Let me know - I'm sure there are others, besides Dad, who like the ease of clicking on the link to see where we are.  If you've clicked on it - don't forget to zoom out so you can see something besides water!

Karen & Jerry

SV Persephone

9/27/22

 

I've forgotten all about starting this page until I received a phone call from my friend Elsy wondering where I was.  She was watching the news of Hurricane Ian and wanted to make sure we're safe.   No worries - today we just finished the Erie Canal and we're docked in Waterford, NY for the rest of the day then on towards Kingston, NY tomorrow.  (If you look for us on the Waterford's Visitor cam you can't see us - too many boats hiding Persephone)

It rained pretty much all day with a high temperature about 50 the first full day on the Erie.  Before I could find my foul weather pants I made a foul weather skirt from a garbage bag.  Worked well.  And quite fashionable too.

Not much traffic on the Erie.  Here's the one sailboat we locked through with at some point.  The guy bought the boat in Muskegon, Michigan and is taking it to Florida.  His diesel inboard motor died and he's been running on a 3 hp outboard clamped to his stern ladder.  

We know it's not far to Waterford when we spy the Crescent Bridge.

If you have ever traveled the Erie Canal and spotted smiley faces drawn in the slime on the lock walls you'll know I've been through recently.  Lock graffiti.

I'll send you a post once we get to Kingston, start making pies with the 100 lbs of apples on board and start sanding the bottom.  That's our current plan - haul out in Kingston, sand and paint the bottom, put the mast up and then take a peak at the weather.  Hope all hurricanes will be gone by the time we're done!

Hey - if you're bored, love to sand with an orbital sander over your head and turn blue from paint dust- come to Kingston!!  

Send news when you can!

Karen & Jerry

SV Persephone