Cruising with Steadfast

 Nice stay at Safe Harbor Harborage Yacht Club & Marina.  Seems like a great place, didn’t have time to fully take advantage of it… but hope to be back next year for a longer stay.  Nice restaurant, pool, spa, wookout facility etc… and all FRE (or included with Safe Harbor Membership).  Leisurely start (a little before 10:30 for super short run to St Lucie Lock Campground & Marina where we will be 2 nights.  Very remote, and run by the part service (so cheap).  Very short docks, making secure tie up a challenge… but think we’re good.  Went thru the 1st lock (St Lucie Lock) enroute to Lake Okechoobee (which we plan to cross on Sunday).  Lock went well, but we found line handling more challenging that memory says… I think maybe we were closer to water inlet, any way, captain had to assist admiral as she was unable to keep stern under control without some assistance (in spite of valiant effort).  Looking forward to a quiet evening and da...

 Nice (but short) stay in Fort Pierce.  Chili on board for dinner… perfect for the cool weather.  Left a little before 8 for 4 hr run to Safe Harbor Harborage in Stuart… first time here for us, and a (free) spot became available so we jumped at it.  Nice easy run.  Cool morning, but mid 60s by the time we arrived before noon.  Here is today’s  Track

 Nice stay in Cocoa Village, highlighted by visit with Kate, Rory, Finnie, Maureen & John (Liam’s parents).  Kate & Rory spent the night on the boat with us… lots for a 3 yr old to explore!  A good time was had by all.  It was cold and blustery most of our time in Cocoa Village (can’t not mention great dinner at Hogan’s (Irish pub a short walk from the marina… wonderful “pigs in pretzels and bangers & mash with Guinness).  It was in the upper 30s when we left this morning (8:00), but the wind had died down, so not so bad.  Nice day traveling to Fort Pierce, warmed to 61 by our arrival at 3:45.  Here it today’s  Track

 Nice stay in New Smyrna Beach.  Quiet evening with Football playoffs, and leftovers from Saint!  Easy run to Cocoa Village, drizzle in the am, sunny and 72 in the afternoon.  Looking forward to connecting with Kate & family here!!  Here is today’s  Track .  

 Great stay in St Augustine.  Visit our favorite restaurants, Saint (great Italian) and Gaufres And Goods (Greek & Polish, great Perogies and Kilbasie).  This brought our time with Theodore and her crew to an end as they will be leaving the boat for a few weeks to travel north to visit family.   It was great traveling with wonderful friends.  Here is today’s  Track

 Nice stay, Sister’s Creek Free dock exceeded our expectations… we’ll be back!  Left about 10 for a very slow run to St Augustine.  Goal was to arrive at slack current (can be very fast) which is at 4:23 today.  We had a good current push much of the day, and ran basically at idle much of the day.  Still arrived a little before 4… no issues getting into the slip.  Looking forward to a nice stay (5 nights) in St Augustine.  Here is today’s  Track .

 We had a good week in Fernandina… but colder and windier than ideal, but no issues.  Lots of walking, good food, golf card exploring, reprovisioning, pump out (nasty but necessary), and an easier than expected repair/cleaning of black water tank level sensor.  Nice short run to the FREE dock at Sister’s creek.  We’ll just be here 1 night, then on to St Augustine (hoping for warmer weather in the not too distant future (ice on the deck this AM).  Here is today’s  Track .

 Nice stay in Jekyll Island.  Golf card, bicycles, walking, and great scenery, unique wildlife.  Cold morning, left about 11 for the 4 hr run to Fernandina (timed for slack current upon arrival).  Breezy day, but no issues.  Here is today’s  Track .

 Sunbury Crab Company did not disappoint… great dinner as always!  Beautiful morning… no fog!  Left just before 8 for the long run to Jekyll Island.  There are a couple of shallow areas… but the tide was in our favor, so no issues.  Beautiful day.  Here is today’s  Track

 Nice quiet night at Bahia Blue (Savannah).  We left at 10 (delayed from 9) by more fog… very think most of the morning and thru “Hell Gate” a narrow/shallow passage where we had basically zero visibility.  Thankful for radar, AIS and radio communications with other vessels.  Otherwise, a smooth trip to Sunbury, where we’re looking forward to dinner at Sunbury Crab Company!  Always a good time!  Here is today’s  Track .

 We had a nice couple of days in Beaufort… great dinner last night at Breakwater!  Very foggy today, delayed departure till 11… even then couldn’t see much.  Slow going and it finally cleared up.  Smooth run to Safe Harbor Bahia Blue (outside of Savannah).  Here is today’s  Track

 After a relaxing evening on board (even if the Eagles lost) and a great dinner on Theodore, we got off the dock at 7, headed to Beaufort SC.  Beautiful day!  Arrived Beaufort a little before 3.  We’ll spend 2 days (3 nights) here as it is FREE as part of the Safe Harbor family of marinas!  Looking forward to some down time in Beaufort!  Here is today’s  Track .

 Relaxing but rainy day in Georgetown…. Still always a nice stop.  We’re still battling respiratory infections… but making progress… so a down day was good.  Left at 1st light (7) for run to Charleston.  Cold morning, but warmed to mid 50s.  Beautiful day, and very nice smooth run.  Looking forward to the Eagles game this afternoon… tomorrow, we move on to Beaufort SC.  Here is today’s  Track .

 After a few weeks away from the boat for great Christmas celebrations with Family, we returned to the boat on New Years Eve.  Gwen battling a sinus infection, on 2nd round of antibiotics, and Jim close behind leading to an urgent care visit on New Years Day… We’re optimistic that we’ll soon be 100%, but in any case, great to be back on the boat, and enjoy the company of Theodore’s crew as well.  We left just after 8 today for Georgetown.  Nice run, and in particular the run down the Waccamaw river is one of the most picturesque of the whole trip!  We stopped for fuel at Waccawachi Marina (say that 3 times fast)… probably the best diesel prices on the east coast (2.959).  We took on just over 200 gallons… not bad since our last fueling was in Hampton on the way north last April.  Arrived Georgetown before 2:30, looking forward to a good dinner in town with Richard & Francey.  Here is today’s  Track .