Le Reve's New Home (at least for a little while)

Here we are, finally, at our "home" for the summer.  The Marina at Ortega Landing in Jacksonville, FL ... its a great marina with FREE laundry and a beautiful clubhouse and pool, clean, new bathrooms, etc....what more could you want!

The rain finally got down to a drizzle and we could move the boat on up the coast to get here.  Our favorite stop along the way was St. Augustine.  It was still raining, hard at times, while we were there....but the best part was we could don our rain jackets and walk across the street to the downtown section.  Tons of things to see and do, and lots of places to eat and drink.  We stayed 4 days as we were so excited to be able to get off the boat.  We took the trolley tour and really enjoyed the sights and the history of the city.  We left St Augustine on 5/21.  We wanted to arrive and get settled in before the "holiday weekend".  The marina here hosted a great Memorial Day picnic and we got to meet some of our dock neighbors.  We even reconnected with some "loopers" who we haven't seen since a bar in the Bahamas.    We all remembered the good time at Nippers, and can't wait to go back.

We are planning on staying here on the Ortega River, up the St Johns River, for the summer months.  However, in a couple weeks we will drive to Michigan and plan to spend a few months with the kids, grandkids, and our moms.  We have gone thru every inch of the boat to remove anything we haven't used in the last year of living aboard.  We think the boat rose 4 inches with all that excess weight removed.....our mantra was "if we haven't used it, or wore it in the last year, then we probably won't need it in the next.  It was amazing to "discover" stuff we thought we must bring onboard, that we haven't used.....we just laughed  (at least one of us laughed!)  We have employed a boat captain to keep watch over Le Reve while we are away and we are asking for prayers for a light hurricane season!.....We are located in what they call a "hurricane hole", meaning protected from winds and tides, etc.  This place faired pretty well during hurricane Matthew last year....we have even met some who stayed on their boats during the storm!....(by the way, they say they would never do that again!)

Speaking of storms, in the last few days,  we got TONS of HEAVY RAIN from the one that hit the panhandle of Florida.  Every day it just pours and unlike typical Florida summer rains, it doesn't stop.  In the midst of the heavy, sticky, humid rain our air conditioner pump quit!....Jane was NOT a happy boater, even with 6 FANS running day and night....most of the time it was raining so hard, you couldn't crack a window, and then when it wasn't raining, it was still very humid...(I love Florida, but it has to be air conditioned!)  Bob (once again) worked his magic and removed and replaced the old pump …..even paid extra (LOTS extra) to overnight it here....and now everyone on board is much happier!!  The sun even came back today!  I'm sooooo happy with my hubby and his talents, that I won't even mention the absolutely amazing two hunky divers that walk around here daily, cleaning boat bottoms, in their tight, spandex, diving suits that do nothing but accentuate their sculptured physiques!  (did I say that!????   oh well,  it certainly makes the rainy weather more bearable!)  Give an old lady a break.  Obviously I have run out of anything to blog about...….!  This blog will now take a break along with Le Reve.    (unless I can get a picture of the divers!)

Unplanned Journeys

SO, we got back to Michigan to see our family......especially the newest member!  Josie is such a good baby.  Gramps Bob kept her happy an entire day, while mom Molly and I shopped and had nails done, etc.   Then Grams did the same the next day while Molly went to work and Gramps fit in some consulting.   As you can see, she is so easy.....and so beautiful!  (my side of family.....haha)....actually she is a little Branham without a doubt. We enjoyed fun times also with Rob, Jennifer and boys... Had a great brunch with everyone all together.   It was good to see everyone again....first time since Christmas. 

Then, back to sunny Florida after 5 days in Michigan.  We drove to Treasure Island to help friend Deb turn 60....all the help you can get after 60 is needed!  We stayed in a beautiful Marriott on the ICW (as Rogers house was full of grandkids) I took this pic off balcony....the only "boat up" dock to a McDonalds that I know of!  Pretty cleaver idea.  Not sure if you can order off dock or have to go in? 

What a treat to have a huge bed ALL to myself....we had 2 in room...AND a real toilet!  Ah, the small pleasures of life.  We had a great time, even getting in some Monday Bingo at the Legion.  Ken was only one who won this time....oh well, there is always a next time.  We love Monday Bingo!

On the way back to boat, we took a "side trip"....actually went north(east) instead of east....and drove up to Jacksonville to check out Ortega Landings Marina.  We had tentatively pegged this as where we would leave the boat this summer, and wanted to see if it would be a good decision.   We checked it out, talked to harbormaster, and put a deposit down for 6 months.  It is a beautiful new marina and relatively safe from  "storms".  (I won't use the H word).  We are anxious to get LeReve to her "temporary" summer home.  SO ITS BEEN DECIDED.....to hold up in Florida, and next fall/winter go back to Bahamas, and Keys.....Then head up the east coast, next year this time.   We feel good about our decision to delay continuing the Loop, and our Bahama buddy boats were happy to hear we will join them next season.  I knew if we took boat back to Michigan and finished looping that we would probably never get back over (on LeReve, at least) and like (have I mentioned??) we really loved cruising the Bahama islands and have so many more to explore. 

We plan to spend a few months with family in Michigan and also check out how it would be to spend summers in Jacksonville area permanently, if north Florida is where we decide to land.  Some 50+ communities are intriguing to us......even though we are not yet 50 in our minds!  (bodies tell a different story)

While on our driving trip across Florida, we got the news that our props were done and ready to be put back on.  Back to Melbourne, returned rental car, got props attached, paid the bill  and moved on!  It felt good to be back on the water.  Our first stop was Titusville....stayed at the municipal marina where the highlight is .....THE MANATEE.

They hang out in groups of 5 or 6 (some babies) and drink the fresh water that drips off the boats.....This group hung out next door for the 2 days we were there.   It never got old watching them or hearing them snort!  Bob has some great videos.  He mentioned that I paid more attention to them as I ever do to him!   (speaking of getting old)!!@@##

It rained in Titusville, thus preventing us from seeing anything other than the ongoing show in the marina water.   We took off for New Smyrna Beach on Sunday, and have been here since.....in the rain.  We did get to take in a mothers day meal at "The Garlic".   We had to promise the Rogers that we would eat here and it didn't disappoint.  Tons of great Italian food that we will be eating as leftovers for a few meals.   Good thing, as it is still raining....hard.....so we play a lot of cards and read a lot of books.  We hope the rain gives us a window to move north tomorrow.  

a year "IN"

Well, for all who don't like the touchy, feely, type blog.....quit reading now.....

We are almost a "year in" to this incredible journey.  We left Lake St Clair on June 15 (fathers day) ....The other day (in Michigan...more on this later)  someone asked me....."seriously, what do you miss living on a boat for almost a year"......I thought and thought about this question and could only come up with ....."maybe a garden and a yard".   That question has been probing my  brain all week.   I honestly cannot think of a thing....besides "my stuff" that is in storage....and I don't miss it, I am just concerned about its care  (ie: are mice chewing holes in my custom sofa??,  where are those clothes I cannot seem to find in the boxes that are stored in my daughter basement??)....but, when it all comes down to it.....That is all about "stuff".   Had I had more time, and if I  knew then what I do now, a year later,.....tons of "stuff" would have been given away, sold, etc...  In hind sight, we didn't have time and/or the the mind set, to organize, donate, etc .  It is amazing what little you can live with....and what you can live without!

So now, here we are, almost a year "in".   What I do know is that whatever I pictured this journey to be a year ago, was sooooo small compared to what it has been!  We have seen a side of America that we only read about, met people (with opinions) that we never considered.....and traveled outside of the U.S....(to Bahamas)... that I NEVER  in my wildest dreams imagined could be so beautiful and so welcoming.  Our only experience up till now was Nassau (hardly a sampling)......  Because of this, we have decided to consider "plan B"....That is "holding up" in Jacksonville, Fla for the summer, taking a break from "the LOOP"....and picking that up a year from now.   What that means is we would summer in Jacksonville,  in a "hurricane safe" marina....fly back to Michigan for a few weeks at a time, and then......go back to Bahamas next winter..     We met some great friends that are going back for a few months starting in December 2018 and we would love to tag along.  We loved, loved, our time there this year, and feel we have missed a lot of islands, also swimming with the pigs!! that we absolutely need to experience!  Then a year from now, resume the loop up the east coast.  There is NO time limit on completing the loop.... our friends, Barbara and Bill, took 12 years !!!

Meanwhile, we are presently in Melbourne, FL.....we left Ft Pierce and headed to Vero Beach....we traveled with another looper boat we had connected with in the Bahamas....we enjoyed a lovely dinner out and the next morning, went our separate ways.   Our next stop was Melbourne.... with 1st mate, Jane following instructions from the "marina harbor master"....and relaying them to the captain.....we found ourselves "stuck"!!!! on something in the channel....  DUMB, DUMB!!  and first mate Jane, takes full responsibility  for any miss -communication with the harbormaster....WHY did Captain Bob listen to her!!!!  (he seldom listens to anything she says!)... from now on, we keep RED ON RIGHT RETURNING!!  now matter what anyone else says!

OK...long story short.....we needed to have our props pulled and inspected....one was really bad and needed work....which means a diver takes them off,  we stay where we are for at least 2 weeks while being worked on.....AND...(praise the Lord) it is not as expensive as NEW props would be!!  So, during this time off.....we decide to fly to Michigan and see our loved ones!   (That includes our 6 month old granddaughter Josie)    We enjoyed a "family reunion" with son Rob, Jennifer, grandsons, Bennett and Chase.....and Molly and Aaron , grandson Gabe, and Josie.  (also Mom, Alice, who joined us at Sunday Brunch!)   It was a great extended weekend visit, and the weather (almost)  made us miss the Midwest!  Here we are now,  back in Melbourne, and planning a weekend visit to St Pete to visit friends .....as props won't be repaired until next week....We think we have seen all Melbourne has to offer and are anxious to visit with "old" friends.....   (Deb turns 60 soon!!)  we must advise her on how to "navigate" thru these years!.....haha.  It has been an adventure  beyond our wildest expectations!