There are disorganized/conflicting weather disturbances in gulf. Three difference lows will fight for some control. “The general consensus is that it has little chance of organizing.” (Humm. . . .)
Saturday, 10/5/24 ~ During my phone visit with Betty, she mentioned Milton is the tropical storm that has formed in the southwestern area of the Gulf. The folks at the weather service think it has the potential of being a major storm. Shame on me for not checking Marv’s Weather Report this morning! I missed the upgrade.
Sunday, 10/6/24 ~ The blog was posted for September.
Hurricanes Kirk and Leslie are well out in Atlantic and heading NE without posing any problems to North America, but now there is Hurricane Milton in the Gulf. He is predicted to hit Florida’s west coast on Wednesday as Cat 3. We touched base with Marilyn and Jon and are invited to spend the hurricane with them along with Debbie and Mike, SV RESOLVE, in Vero Beach. Currently, Daytona is in the center of the projected track of the storm as it crosses the state as it becomes a Category 1.
Predictions
Monday, 10/7/24 ~ Traveling on 95 South for a medical appointment, we saw a sandbag filling station close to the highway. The line of waiting cars must have stretched a good mile and a half from the multi person access to the sand piles. On the way back, highway crews were lowering the lights on the tall light poles around interchanges. There were also people cutting “U” shaped holes in the billboard signs. Once back at the marina, PEKABU's canvas was removed, the jib secured, lines rechecked, and extra fenders put in place.
The exodus from the Gulf coast, the barges of Tampa Bay anchored by their spuds
& lines for filling sandbags
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| Pre-Milton rains |
Wednesday 10/9/24 ~ Emptied, then defrosted refrigerator, packed, and loaded the car in in rain. The portable generator and power cords were also loaded as a “just in case.” The rain bands were heavy as we drove to Vero.
We arrived shortly before 2. The house was already prepped. All the storm shutters were secured except for the doors. Thankfully, we unloaded the car before the weather alerts started for tornado warnings blared on our phones, the TV, and the house phone rang. It seemed to continue endlessly over the next few hours. We watched the local news stations reporting locations of tornadoes as they were forming. Today’s radar is very reliable between the red and green colors, which show rotation and the blue showing debris from the tornado.
The tornados (screen shots from TV and Facebook)
There were 126 tornado warnings, 48 confirmed tornados spawned from Milton’s dirty side; 19 of those were between Palm Beach Gardens and Titusville (along the coastline, mid-state). The head of the Sherriff’s department reported not only on the destruction of their storage area for 45 police cars, highwater rescue vehicles and other equipment in Ft. Pierce, but more importantly, his people on patrol identified 17 tornados in just 20 minutes in St Lucie County! Unfortunately, one of the tornados contributed to 6 deaths. The tornado that hit that area had a twin that hit the same area only moments later. The closest tornado came within 3 miles of the house in Vero Beach.
****
Per CBS NewsPlanet.com:
It is not unusual to see tornados with hurricanes, but the number was extraordinary. It occurred on the dirty side (right front quadrant- worst storm surge, strongest winds and tornados) in front of the hurricane. It was unprecedented with 19 simultaneous tornados and 126 warnings for a hurricane on a single day in a single state. It is second only to 134 warnings issued in Alabama during The Super Outbreak of 2011. What dropped Milton from Cat 5 to a Cat 3 was the dry air bands pulled by the jet stream moving in different direction from the hurricane winds. Add friction from land that causes the twist. With mid-day temps in 90s, record warm water temps, and all extra moisture in air led to the combustible situation.
From the Weather Channel:
Here are a few notable factoids from Milton:
- Highest rainfall total: St. Petersburg, Florida: 18.87 inches
- Highest wind gust: 105 mph in Egmont Channel, Florida
- Highest known storm surge: 5-6 feet in various spots in southwest Florida include Naples and
Photos from the Associated Press on Facebook
Friday, 10/11/24 ~ We had a great breakfast, then said our goodbyes and thanks to Marilyn, Jon, Debbie and Mike and headed back to Daytona Beach. Along 95, we could see where high winds toppled trees or broke large branches. Crews were already working on the cleanup. There was heavy flooding in Daytona due to 16+ inches of rain. Lots of trees and large branches down as well as many new tree stumps. Traffic lights were out. Side streets are a mess of branches, high water debris as well as damaged furniture. There’s damage to a few buildings and lots of downed trees along the park on Beech Street. All bridges over to the beaches opened this morning after being closed since Wednesday. We counted 4 different jibs shredded on sailboats docked in the north basin. A relatively new, West Marine 9-foot dinghy is up on land waiting to be claimed. Thankfully, no damage to our boat. A few things on board were displaced by the rocking caused by the winds. Once unpacked, we put the canvas back up. Before we went to bed, the air conditioner gave the “HPF” message again. The storm took away the heat and some of the humidity, leaving behind a nice 15-17 NNE breeze. It was a great night to sleep with the hatches open.
This is the first time we have been close to a disaster area and able to monitor social media postings on Facebook. First come the requests for information. Then description of the destruction and closures, and request for help.
However, that is quickly added with postings of people with community reaching out with equipment and people to help. Their services were free of charge. Water, food, supplies as well as folks cooking warm meals for those in need. There were even trailers equipped with showers, washers and dryers. Roofing companies offering free tarp instillation for roofs with damage. Landscape companies from as far as Texas came with people and chainsaws. Building companies showed with trucks, backhoes and other equipment. The group “DoYouGiveARuck?” out of Vero Beach is a “group of military veterans and supporters dedicated to making the lives of veterans better through raising public awareness.” They were organized and communicative in helping with the debris removal. They went into the heart of some of the most damaged areas on the Treasure Coast to provide aid. They posted where they were working and at what time they would be in another area. Then additional volunteers would show up to lend additional hands. Every request for assistance that came in through the feed was responded to and contact made with the person in need usually on the same day. There is a special place in heaven for all these first responders and dedicated volunteers.
Saturday, 10/12/24 ~ We emptied lazarette that contains the AC unit. Pete went in to remove hose from unit to overboard drain hole. It was definitely clogged. I cleaned out the hose for AC by beating against piling. The whole process took about 2 hours, but it is now working fine. Pete spoke with a group of liveaboards. Apparently, this has been the worst year for mussels in AC lines. They have caused problems for everyone.
We were too tired to check the sky after sunset for the Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023-A3) Hopefully, we will get to see it over the next few days before it disappears for the next 80,000 years.
Today, the Starship was launched from the SpaceX Starbase in Texas. It was the first time that the booster returned to the launchpad to be recaptured. The video on ‘X’ was amazing. Way to go Elon!
Monday, 10/14/24 ~ NASA and SpaceX launched NASA’s Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Falcon Heavy launched from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Europa Clipper will be the largest planetary science mission ever developed by NASA and the first mission to perform an in-depth investigation of Europa and its potential habitability.
Monday and Tuesday 10/14-15/24 ~ The temps and humidity continue to be lower, so I enjoyed my 3-mile walk on Beech Street. The park is still closed. Most of the fallen trees are being replanted. I saw only one tree that was cut up. Once back, I enjoyed reading along with Pete in the cockpit.
The night time launch and later, the moonrise from the marina
Saturday, 10/26/24 ~ Well, the boat prepped; fall cleaning done both inside and out, with the topsides polished. It was quite a challenge trying to undo lines. The hurricane winds pulled them tight. The water hose is detached and coiled. Tillie and Zoey had a final playdate and we said our goodbyes to friends on the dock. I picked up some last minute provisions. We’ve checked the weather and it looks like we will have very light breezes on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday we will get an assist from easterly breeze predicted to be about 15 to 20 mph. We should be docked in Ft. Pierce before the stronger winds come in on Wednesday.
We also got a notice today from Halifax Marina that they are going to be placing a barge into the alleyway between E-dock and F-dock, beginning on November 2nd. They will begin repairs to the dock damage done by Milton. It’s a good thing we’re leaving before the barge arrives because once it’s here, there’s no way to get out of our slip on E-dock.
Tillie, before shearing with Pete, her clippings on the cockpit sole,
Sunday, 10/27/24 ~ We were up and out of the slip by 8 AM. We had a nice ride over to the fuel dock for fuel, pump-out and turn in our keys. Once all was complete, Pete went to start the engine, but it wouldn’t even click to start. Pete reasoned that it must be the mystical, magical fuse hidden on the engine in a place that’s impossible to access. He reset it a number of times but the engine would not turn over. Our original fuse lasted 18 1/2 years. It was only replaced about 18 months ago! It didn’t last long! BUMMER! Pete did a lot of internet investigating and ordered multiple new fuses. It will take 2 days for it to arrive. We sat on the fuel dock as we waited the 2 hours for BoatUS to come to tow us back to our slip. With the help of neighbors on the dock, we were secured and back in our slip by 11 o’clock. Our reservations for Titusville, Eau Gallie and Fort Pierce were modified. We are stuck here until at least Tuesday, when the fuses should arrive. Thankfully, Pete can do the replacement installation and it shouldn't take a long. So, with any sort of luck, bright and early Wednesday morning, we will be heading south for the winter.
Tuesday, 10/29/24 ~ I took advantage of the beautiful weather and went for a nice long walk along the River Esplanade. It has reopened. Yes, some trees are supported since they were knocked over by Milton. The docks just north of the library, are still waiting for repairs. There’s a lot of debris that washed onto the warped docks and the floats under it are inverted or missing. After walking the 3.5 miles, I definitely needed a shower.
Repairs completed & the alley between E- and F-docks
We are the furthest sailboat on the left
Wednesday, 10/30/24 ~ Tillie was walked, boat prepped, and lines cast by 7:45. Temps in the mid 70’s with winds 14-20 out of the east. Of course, we had the current against us as we left the marina. It finally turned as we hit the Ponce de Leon Inlet. That also means we had it against us heading down the North Indian River as well. Instead of our cruising speed of 7 mph, we were only doing 6. That added a full hour to our travel time. Even with the slower speed, we planned to be docked before 5 so we can enjoy the 5:12 Starlink launch.
Sunrise and the seagulls searching for their morning meal
We departed to almost cloudless skies. The closer we got to New Smyrna Beach, the more cloudy the sky became. As we waited for the opening of the George Munson Bridge, we noticed a heavy haze, but not quite a fog on the land and water. Then we watched the rain arrive. Once through the bridge, the rains trailed off. They returned along with freshening breezes once we entered Mosquito Lagoon.
It was a good day for dolphin and manatee spotting. We encountered a number of boats heading both north and south as we traveled the lagoon. We were both shocked to see a 60+ foot Viking Fishing yacht heading north between what he though were channel markers. They were actually the red marker and a manatee speed waring sign, and he was on the wrong side of red! Thankfully, he quickly realized and corrected his error. Earlier in our travels, we heard the USCG announcement that Haulover Canal Bridge was closed to traffic. Pete called and it was closed to land not water traffic.
Boat relocated under bridge, jib shredded on boat in anchorage
and a juvenile eagle on one of the islands
Skies cleared for the Falcon 9 Starlink launch
Thursday 10/31/24 ~ Knowing we only had a 5-hour day, we planned a slightly later start so we could get fuel. Since they open at 8, we were going to head over to the fuel dock shortly there after. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans. . . . The mystical, no longer magical, engine fuse blew again! GRRRRR!!! After 2 attempts, Pete decided to stay put until the new fuse arrives. Yes, he intended to order multiples of the fuse, but only one arrived. The marina made space for us to stay until the parts arrive. Apparently, lots of boats are on the move and space is tight. Looks like we are here for another 2 days. Pete was in contact with Pedro, the mechanic in Ft. Pierce. After describing the problem, he thinks that it probably is the alternator. Once the fuse is installed and working, we are going to make it a very long day, traveling from Titusville to Fort Pierce without stopping the engine.
Oh Yea, hope the ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night behaved and received plenty of goodies. Happy Halloween!
~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P
Per CBS NewsPlanet.com:
It is not unusual to see tornados with hurricanes, but the number was extraordinary. It occurred on the dirty side (right front quadrant- worst storm surge, strongest winds and tornados) in front of the hurricane. It was unprecedented with 19 simultaneous tornados and 126 warnings for a hurricane on a single day in a single state. It is second only to 134 warnings issued in Alabama during The Super Outbreak of 2011. What dropped Milton from Cat 5 to a Cat 3 was the dry air bands pulled by the jet stream moving in different direction from the hurricane winds. Add friction from land that causes the twist. With mid-day temps in 90s, record warm water temps, and all extra moisture in air led to the combustible situation.
From the Weather Channel:
Here are a few notable factoids from Milton:
- Highest rainfall total: St. Petersburg, Florida: 18.87 inches
- Highest wind gust: 105 mph in Egmont Channel, Florida
- Highest known storm surge: 5-6 feet in various spots in southwest Florida include Naples and
Fort Myers. This was likely underestimated, and numbers are likely higher in Sarasota or
Charlotte Counties.
- Milton was this season's 5th Gulf Coast hurricane landfall.
- Milton was Florida's 3rd hurricane landfall this season.
- 126 tornado warnings issued. This is the highest number of tornado warnings issued in a single
- Milton was this season's 5th Gulf Coast hurricane landfall.
- Milton was Florida's 3rd hurricane landfall this season.
- 126 tornado warnings issued. This is the highest number of tornado warnings issued in a single
state in one day. The second highest reported ever.
- Its pressure dropped to 897 millibars, the lowest observed in any Atlantic hurricane since
- Its pressure dropped to 897 millibars, the lowest observed in any Atlantic hurricane since
Wilma in 2005. That also ranks as the fifth-lowest pressure on record for any Atlantic
hurricane.
10/4/24 - A swirl began to brew in the Gulf of Mexico around October 4 as the remnants of the East Pacific's Tropical Depression Eleven-E passed northward from the Gulf of Tehuantepec into the Bay of Campeche. (At this time, the authorities were in agreement that due to 3 areas jockeying for some sort of organization along with the dry air aloft, the chances of this becoming a tropical depression were slight.)
10/5/24 - Tropical Depression Fourteen formed this morning in the southwest Gulf of Mexico and shortly thereafter was deemed Tropical Storm Milton.
10/6-7/24- Milton underwent another incredible round of rapid intensification. Winds increased from 90 mph at 1 a.m. CDT on Oct. 7 to 180 mph just 15 hours later at 4 p.m. CDT
10/8/24 - After weakening to a Category 4 the night of Oct. 7 because of an eyewall replacement cycle, the hurricane regained Category 5 intensity over the Gulf of Mexico on the afternoon of Oct. 8.
10/9/24 - Milton held at that strength into the morning of Oct. 9 before increasing wind shear caused its winds to weaken on approach to Florida. The hurricane was beginning to gain influence from nearby frontal boundaries and a strong jet stream aloft.
Hurricane Milton's power across Florida didn't just come from warm Gulf of Mexico water, but also from jet stream winds aloft and a boundary over the Atlantic. Milton began this transition of energy as it approached Florida's west coast Wednesday evening and completed it Thursday afternoon. This transition helped Milton grew in size and also reoriented some of its threats as it came over the state. It will now feed on differences in temperature across a frontal boundary as a winter storm does. Numerous tornadoes were spawned by Milton in southern and central Florida ahead of its landfall Wednesday. At least one EF3 tornado has been confirmed to have hit Palm Beach. Two additional EF3 tornadoes were confirmed in St. Lucie and in Glades County. The Fort Pierce/Spanish Lakes tornado was an EF-3: Top winds were 155 mph. Path length 13 miles and 500 yards wide.
Water levels rose about 8+ feet near Sarasota close to landfall Wednesday evening. A storm surge of 5 to 10-feet was recorded from Naples to Siesta Key, including Charlotte Harbor, with inundation toward the higher end of that window likely occurring in Manatee and Sarasota counties. A blowout tide north of Manatee County emptied out much of Tampa Bay and caused lower water levels along Pinellas County. Water levels dropped by around 5 feet at the northern end of Tampa Bay while the mouth of Tampa Bay saw a climb in water levels by 1 to 2 feet. Naples saw a storm surge of 5.75 feet.
The hurricane then made landfall south of Tampa Bay as a Category 3 at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 9.
10/10/24 ~ Milton accelerated across the Florida peninsula in the pre-dawn hours of October 10 and then into the Atlantic after sunrise. It then became a powerful post-tropical hurricane-strength low.
****
Tampa Bay's Tropicana Stadium, where the Rays will be finishing out their season, was already set up with cots for power, lines men & others helping with recovery, had its roof blown off. It was designed to stand 105 mph winds. Much of the west coast areas that flooded 2 weeks ago with Hurricane Helene, flooded again with another 8 feet. Now there is more sand and more destruction to homes.
10/4/24 - A swirl began to brew in the Gulf of Mexico around October 4 as the remnants of the East Pacific's Tropical Depression Eleven-E passed northward from the Gulf of Tehuantepec into the Bay of Campeche. (At this time, the authorities were in agreement that due to 3 areas jockeying for some sort of organization along with the dry air aloft, the chances of this becoming a tropical depression were slight.)
10/5/24 - Tropical Depression Fourteen formed this morning in the southwest Gulf of Mexico and shortly thereafter was deemed Tropical Storm Milton.
10/6-7/24- Milton underwent another incredible round of rapid intensification. Winds increased from 90 mph at 1 a.m. CDT on Oct. 7 to 180 mph just 15 hours later at 4 p.m. CDT
10/8/24 - After weakening to a Category 4 the night of Oct. 7 because of an eyewall replacement cycle, the hurricane regained Category 5 intensity over the Gulf of Mexico on the afternoon of Oct. 8.
10/9/24 - Milton held at that strength into the morning of Oct. 9 before increasing wind shear caused its winds to weaken on approach to Florida. The hurricane was beginning to gain influence from nearby frontal boundaries and a strong jet stream aloft.
Hurricane Milton's power across Florida didn't just come from warm Gulf of Mexico water, but also from jet stream winds aloft and a boundary over the Atlantic. Milton began this transition of energy as it approached Florida's west coast Wednesday evening and completed it Thursday afternoon. This transition helped Milton grew in size and also reoriented some of its threats as it came over the state. It will now feed on differences in temperature across a frontal boundary as a winter storm does. Numerous tornadoes were spawned by Milton in southern and central Florida ahead of its landfall Wednesday. At least one EF3 tornado has been confirmed to have hit Palm Beach. Two additional EF3 tornadoes were confirmed in St. Lucie and in Glades County. The Fort Pierce/Spanish Lakes tornado was an EF-3: Top winds were 155 mph. Path length 13 miles and 500 yards wide.
Water levels rose about 8+ feet near Sarasota close to landfall Wednesday evening. A storm surge of 5 to 10-feet was recorded from Naples to Siesta Key, including Charlotte Harbor, with inundation toward the higher end of that window likely occurring in Manatee and Sarasota counties. A blowout tide north of Manatee County emptied out much of Tampa Bay and caused lower water levels along Pinellas County. Water levels dropped by around 5 feet at the northern end of Tampa Bay while the mouth of Tampa Bay saw a climb in water levels by 1 to 2 feet. Naples saw a storm surge of 5.75 feet.
The hurricane then made landfall south of Tampa Bay as a Category 3 at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 9.
10/10/24 ~ Milton accelerated across the Florida peninsula in the pre-dawn hours of October 10 and then into the Atlantic after sunrise. It then became a powerful post-tropical hurricane-strength low.
****
Tampa Bay's Tropicana Stadium, where the Rays will be finishing out their season, was already set up with cots for power, lines men & others helping with recovery, had its roof blown off. It was designed to stand 105 mph winds. Much of the west coast areas that flooded 2 weeks ago with Hurricane Helene, flooded again with another 8 feet. Now there is more sand and more destruction to homes.
Photos from the Associated Press on Facebook
Around the house in Vero, there were down branches and leaves, along with high-water debris lines around the retention ponds, but no damage to houses, cars or trees.
We spoke with our kids once the worst had passed. It was a day of memorable atmospheric happenings. Ours was heartbreaking for many, but what our kids saw were awesome and beautiful. Greg, Jenn, Heather and Chris all spotted the Aurora Borealis over the Jersey and Pennsylvania this evening courtesy of a solar storm that happened earlier this week. It was equal to the one in May. People reported seeing it as far south as Marathon, FL! No way could we see it tonight. Seeing it is definitely on my bucket list!
 |
| Jenn's photo |
 |
| Tillie is exhausted and full of Debbie's treats |
Destruction and high water
Cleanup and portable power
This is the first time we have been close to a disaster area and able to monitor social media postings on Facebook. First come the requests for information. Then description of the destruction and closures, and request for help.
However, that is quickly added with postings of people with community reaching out with equipment and people to help. Their services were free of charge. Water, food, supplies as well as folks cooking warm meals for those in need. There were even trailers equipped with showers, washers and dryers. Roofing companies offering free tarp instillation for roofs with damage. Landscape companies from as far as Texas came with people and chainsaws. Building companies showed with trucks, backhoes and other equipment. The group “DoYouGiveARuck?” out of Vero Beach is a “group of military veterans and supporters dedicated to making the lives of veterans better through raising public awareness.” They were organized and communicative in helping with the debris removal. They went into the heart of some of the most damaged areas on the Treasure Coast to provide aid. They posted where they were working and at what time they would be in another area. Then additional volunteers would show up to lend additional hands. Every request for assistance that came in through the feed was responded to and contact made with the person in need usually on the same day. There is a special place in heaven for all these first responders and dedicated volunteers.
We were too tired to check the sky after sunset for the Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023-A3) Hopefully, we will get to see it over the next few days before it disappears for the next 80,000 years.
Sunday, 10/13/24 ~ We were awakened by the tapping sound on the hull. It turned out to be a turtle, not another cooler, asking to be adopted. It was a good day to clean, do laundry, and do some food shopping.
 |
| Europa Clipper Mission Launch |
Monday, 10/14/24 ~ NASA and SpaceX launched NASA’s Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Falcon Heavy launched from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Europa Clipper will be the largest planetary science mission ever developed by NASA and the first mission to perform an in-depth investigation of Europa and its potential habitability.
Monday and Tuesday 10/14-15/24 ~ The temps and humidity continue to be lower, so I enjoyed my 3-mile walk on Beech Street. The park is still closed. Most of the fallen trees are being replanted. I saw only one tree that was cut up. Once back, I enjoyed reading along with Pete in the cockpit.
Wednesday, 10/16/24 ~ Fall has arrived. Today is windy, cool and raw. Jackets were needed to sit in the cockpit. Pete only lasted about an hour and came down frozen. It was a great day for homemade soup. As I worked on the blog, our favorite Tuscan ham and vegetable soup was cooking in the crock pot.
Thursday, 10/17/24 ~ This morning I took another walk along River Esplanade Park. Once back we took a ride up to Green Springs Cove to pick up the car and boat registrations and mailed in our ballots. Pete will need to renew his driver’s license in person, before we leave.
Today is the first day of Biketoberfest here in Daytona. There are lots of bikers all over town.
I saw another Starlink launch late this evening It is the first time I remember hearing the rumble this far away. (Wind just have been in the right direction to hear it 60+ miles away!)
I saw another Starlink launch late this evening It is the first time I remember hearing the rumble this far away. (Wind just have been in the right direction to hear it 60+ miles away!)
The night time launch and later, the moonrise from the marina
 |
| Billie and Zoey with Pete and Tillie |
We also got a notice today from Halifax Marina that they are going to be placing a barge into the alleyway between E-dock and F-dock, beginning on November 2nd. They will begin repairs to the dock damage done by Milton. It’s a good thing we’re leaving before the barge arrives because once it’s here, there’s no way to get out of our slip on E-dock.
It was once again time to groom Tillie. We have often joked that we take off so much, we could probably make another dog. Well, as we gathered her cuttings, another dog appeared.
and exhausted with her front legs out straight
Tuesday, 10/29/24 ~ I took advantage of the beautiful weather and went for a nice long walk along the River Esplanade. It has reopened. Yes, some trees are supported since they were knocked over by Milton. The docks just north of the library, are still waiting for repairs. There’s a lot of debris that washed onto the warped docks and the floats under it are inverted or missing. After walking the 3.5 miles, I definitely needed a shower.
Speaking of showers, Mother Nature created some pretty artwork when she supplied showers later in the day. These were taken through our hatches.
The part arrived by about 4:30 in the Amazon Drop Box by the marina office. Pete had it installed by 6:30. We be leaving tomorrow!
Repairs completed & the alley between E- and F-docks
We are the furthest sailboat on the left
Sunrise and the seagulls searching for their morning meal
It was a good day for dolphin and manatee spotting. We encountered a number of boats heading both north and south as we traveled the lagoon. We were both shocked to see a 60+ foot Viking Fishing yacht heading north between what he though were channel markers. They were actually the red marker and a manatee speed waring sign, and he was on the wrong side of red! Thankfully, he quickly realized and corrected his error. Earlier in our travels, we heard the USCG announcement that Haulover Canal Bridge was closed to traffic. Pete called and it was closed to land not water traffic.
New Smyrna Beach
Boat relocated under bridge, jib shredded on boat in anchorage
and a juvenile eagle on one of the islands
By the time we exited the canal, winds were between 15-20 with stronger gust. It made for interesting docking. Pete backed down the fairway, past the slip, then went forward into the slip using the east wind for positioning. A perfect "10" on the docking!
Tillie went crazy during the docking. She was soooo excited over the “her new people on the dock” that she just had to meet right now! We had the great forethought to have her on a safety line. Even with that she tried to go forward on the boat, with her high-pitched, excited, yapping/cry made our concentration and communication with the dock crew a bit of a challenge. No one fell overboard or got hurt during this noisy demonstration. By 4 PM we were settled in our dock in Titusville!
While recording the readings, Pete confirmed that the gauge for the fuel hadn’t moved all day. It showed “Full” even though 8 hours of running time uses about 8 gallons of our max 39 gallons of fuel. We will top off the tanks before leaving in the morning just to avoid any problems before we replace the sender unit.
Everything was put back in its place, lines were organized, Tillie walked, fed, and we had time to relax while waiting for the 5:10 Launch of a Falcon rocket with Starlink. We are still about 14 miles away from the launch, but it is always awesome to see and hear. Pete says it does not sound or feel like the Saturn rockets used for space shuttles, which is so much louder and jiggle one's innards!
Tillie went crazy during the docking. She was soooo excited over the “her new people on the dock” that she just had to meet right now! We had the great forethought to have her on a safety line. Even with that she tried to go forward on the boat, with her high-pitched, excited, yapping/cry made our concentration and communication with the dock crew a bit of a challenge. No one fell overboard or got hurt during this noisy demonstration. By 4 PM we were settled in our dock in Titusville!
While recording the readings, Pete confirmed that the gauge for the fuel hadn’t moved all day. It showed “Full” even though 8 hours of running time uses about 8 gallons of our max 39 gallons of fuel. We will top off the tanks before leaving in the morning just to avoid any problems before we replace the sender unit.
Everything was put back in its place, lines were organized, Tillie walked, fed, and we had time to relax while waiting for the 5:10 Launch of a Falcon rocket with Starlink. We are still about 14 miles away from the launch, but it is always awesome to see and hear. Pete says it does not sound or feel like the Saturn rockets used for space shuttles, which is so much louder and jiggle one's innards!
Skies cleared for the Falcon 9 Starlink launch
Oh Yea, hope the ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night behaved and received plenty of goodies. Happy Halloween!
~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P
