What are you doing with this extra February day? We are making what we hope will be our final leap down the ICW to the West Palm Beach area. We’ll see. Dave is conducting additional tests of our propulsion systems while underway, so there’s always a risk we may need to stop if they don’t perform as hoped. We’ll know later today.
I’ve woken up around 3:00am each of the past three nights with a busy brain, unable to get back to sleep for a couple of hours- and we’ve been getting up at 6:30 each morning. Sometimes I feel like my head might explode with all the things I feel have to be done before leaving the U.S. for the Bahamas. The list of things to do seems to get longer rather than shorter even though I’m spending most days addressing said list. I’m sure it doesn’t all need to be done, but it feels like it. I think part of my apprehension is just the anticipation of making the leap. Once we actually do it, then it’s no longer about preparation but rather about going with the flow and dealing with things as they arise. Still, there are several substantive items that need accomplishing before we leave the U.S.
We need to provision for four people for 4-6 weeks. We have to replenish our spare parts supply. Dave has to install the replacement generator controllers once they arrive. We have a shopping list of other items we need to acquire, things that would be difficult or expensive to acquire once we leave the U.S. We have to settle our cell phone plan(s) for the Bahamas & Caribbean, and set up our Iridium Go (hard installation, plus apps and both a satellite airtime and Predict Wind plan). On the up side, we will take some time to visit with family in Florida before we take off, some on each coast.
Thankfully, I’m not in this alone. I have family to help out and I have found some great online resources to guide me. I’m using resources from The Boat Galley to help me think about provisioning, storage, and comfort aboard. The Bahamas Land & Sea, SSCA, Women Who Sail and ICW Cruising Guide by Bob423 Facebook groups are very helpful. I post a question and have dozens of replies in hours from a vast pool of experience cruising in all sorts of areas and conditions. Predict Wind has fabulous online resources for Iridium Go and their own offshore weather app, plus a knowledgeable staff quick to respond to questions. I spent almost all day Friday reading installation and setup instructions, watching “how-to” videos and sending them questions. My cousin Susie in West Palm is an angel and is letting us have stuff we order online shipped to her house. Plus with four of us onboard there are plenty of hands to get everything done. I’m still feeling frazzled, though.
We continue to have issues with our propulsion systems and Dave continues to work with the companies involved to troubleshoot and understand them. Two days ago our port BIB shut down the batteries not long after we left our anchorage in Melbourne and got underway. We were able to pull up to a public dock and take care of it fairly quickly. The next day the same system shut down again, twice. Dave is still trying to troubleshoot that, which is why he is running tests while we’re underway today. On top of that, yesterday morning the saltwater pressure pump failed and the port shower sump pump clogged. He and Dad had to fix both of those after we anchored yesterday afternoon. It’s always something, sometimes two or three somethings.
I’ll end with some happy thoughts. We’ve stayed at some nice overnight spots since leaving Fort McAllister. The earlier ones were more remote and quiet, very relaxing. The past five have been closer to cities but still nice, not too noisy or busy (it’s not busy season on the ICW right now). Monday we got on a cheap mooring in St. Augustine with a sunny and warm afternoon to walk around a bit to see the sights, plus showers, laundry and a yummy dinner out. Wednesday was windy, but we were able to get another cheap mooring at Titusville Marina and it was calm enough in the morning for me to dinghy ashore and get a few groceries nearby. Thursday we anchored just south of the Melbourne Bridge and watched porpoises and dolphins playing not far from the boat; they were quite entertaining. Yesterday we had a beautiful, sunny afternoon and quiet, calm night at anchor in Faber Cove just south of the Fort Pierce inlet. The Florida intracoastal really is lovely.
So it’s not all sunshine and roses, but it’s not all gloom and frustration, either. Thus far I’m finding it to be more work than being at home on land, and I’m still learning to love living aboard. At this point I’d say I don’t mind it. 😉 I suspect the love will develop once we reach the Bahamas. I hear them calling me…
Life on Lady 
Love you honesty and detailed descriptions.
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