Sunday, still at Lady’s Island Marina. Supposed to be stormy but storms didn’t come until 10:00PM. Really nasty storm at 11:00pm. But the day wasn’t bad. Walked to Publix because Larry needed milk. We got to stretch our legs.

Monday, tomorrow expect strong storms. So, again, we’ll sit here. Next stop is an anchorage. Not with the electrical issue. Went for Mexican food and antiqued. Of course, I buy heavy items. Thank you Larry. The large stone vase could be used as anchor. Just fit in his backpack. Larry spoke to Eric today. He owns the marina where we store PB, and they do our maintenance.

Tuesday, 6/22. Borrowed the marina car. Went for our favorite barbecue. KC Mike’s. A bit too far for a walk, especially with the constantly threatening weather. The Brunswick stew is awesome. Back ad settled in around 3:30. Mom has eating issues. She still rattles me. Especially since I know that her caretaker is an excellent cook.

Wednesday, the 23rd. My birthday. Departed Beaufort 0750. Overcast keeps the heat down. Anchor down just south of Charleston (mm 471), a 65 mile run.

Thursday, anchor up at 0700. Passed through Charleston Harbor. Wind on the nose, N 15 and the tide against us. Decided to pull into Leland Oil, McClellanville (mm430). A new stop for us. Nice rural area. We also found another Manatee here: Sterling Lady with Sterling, Jill, and Peanut on board. We all went for dinner at the only restaurant in town. I got to bring home a Pawley’s Island pie, which I usually get in Georgetown, which is not on the schedule this trip. Saw the oldest tree, over one thousand years old then took an enjoyable walk around the

“downtown” area.

Friday, the captain decided to sit for the day. He has boat chores such as changing the oil. I painted.

Saturday, departed Leland Oil 0740. Dark and overcast. Then it poured rain, and thunder and lightning. We both thought we were going to get hit. Went through the Waccamaw River-a favorite. Tied up at Osprey Marina (mm 373), around 3pm. I got drenched with the hose, cleaning up the boat. Larry went to visit several other boats we know that are here while I ordered Instacart groceries. Ok, the forward TV stopped working, the microwave is on its last leg, and we still have the electrical/battery/inverter problem. Poor Panda Bear….just need to make it to Maryland. Afraid to say it…..at least the engine, etc is working properly.

Sunday, departed Jekyll around 0905. Strong north winds. Easy run to Brunswick, GA . Arrived at the Brunswick Marina by 11:00. Brunswick is off the ICW-slight detour. The idea was to leave Jekyll Creek with good water level-it’s always tricky. Kind of a wasted day. Let Larry rest. Around 1:00, the rain, thunder, and lightning began. Not as bad as yesterday. After weather passed, we walked the town. Almost everything closed on Sunday. Dinner was either at a Subway, or a 45 minute wait at the only restaurant open. It was 7:00 already, Subway would do.

Monday, departed Brunswick (mm682) at 0730. Easy exit from slip. Egret posed for me on the dock before we left….I paid for it…..bird poop everywhere on the back deck and mast. Lots of dolphins then the green head flies! Yep, it’s Georgia. Lots of big fish jumping. I wonder what was chasing them. Long day. Arrived at Queen Bess Creek (mm 607) at 7pm. Larry looked beat. This is a favorite anchorage; in the middle of nowhere. Ran the genset to cook. Later, quieter, I got to sit on the back porch and watch the sunset, the crescent moon, listen to the cicadas or just tons of crickets. Dolphins breathing in the dark; Mars, very bright.

Tuesday, anchor up at 0900. Nice day, but already hot. Went through Hell Gate (the GA one LOL) with plenty of water. Arrived at Delegal Creek Marina (mm601) around 10ish. Fueled up. Met some folks that know some people we know that own a Manatee too. She took our picture to text them. Not a great shot of us….Did our chores then took the marina golf cart to restaurant and Publix. The restaurant, Village Grille, is the first restaurant at which we have eaten (vs takeout) since March 2020. Felt as if we never stopped. Food shopping and back to the marina. Larry confuses golf cart with go cart! Still in the 90’s at 7pm. So we decided to forego a walk.

Wednesday, sat in the back porch looking for the wild boars and just enjoying the creek. Departed 0815. While still in GA, a little boat yelled at us “Yankee go home”, the Boston hailing port on our stern. Then we crossed into SC. Anchored out (mm 539). Uneventful day. Now Larry thinks something is wrong with the inverter….not the batteries. Can not do anything without the generator running.

Thursday, up early and moving. Arrived at Lady’s Island Marina (mm 536). They called an electrician for us; but he didn’t call back. Walked to Publix. We got dinner at a small strip mall near the marina. Larry got a boiled dinner. He said was good but lots of work. I got a turkey pesto bacon, and a salted caramel milkshake. Oh the calories!

Friday, Larry talked by phone to the electrician. He thinks it the batteries; second one to think so. Walked over the bridge into Beaufort for lunch at one of our favorites, Plum’s. Went shopping for a tank top but bought two dresses instead. Walked back and settled in. Nice walk.

Saturday, storm Claudette not coming here-we are out of the cone but expect storms. Walked to town again, after workout and yoga. Lunch at Q. Barbecue joint. Larry couldn’t figure out what a Q-ban sandwich is….LOL. Sat on the swings by the water-could sit there all day. Walked back.Glad we went-no rain.

Departed Titusville around 0820. Hot and muggy. 92% humidity at 6:30 am. 93% now…Yikes. Next came the Haulover Canal; a favorite of mine. It’s a narrow cut through a preserve. A skate jumped right next to me. So glad that I didn’t drop the camera. A manatee swimming in circles; an alligator who quickly dove into the brackish, dark water. Saw a strange-to-me jellyfish: orange,maroon and white, with, apparently, no tentacles. Dolphins everywhere……

Anchor down in Daytona (mm 832). Had to use the generator to cook and charge phone/iPad….not good…

Monday, up and moving by 8am. Bounced all night….nasty, even bounced off walls as I got up in the middle of the night to use the facilities. Arrived at Marineland Marina (mm 796). Worked on cleaning up the exterior of the boat. For that year+, could not access the sides of the boat (pier’s too short and boats packed too closely together.) Wow, sitting did a number on her. Will have to have teak stripped. It’s peeling. I can scrub off chunks of varnish.

Had a great sunset! I even caught a heron posing in front of it.

Tuesday, departed Marineland at 0750. Once again, hot and sticky…..it’s Florida. Arrived at Camachee Marina (mm775) early afternoon. Ok, we tied up portside to today, so I got to clean the other side of the boat. We had a new battery installed to see if it would help our electrical problem. This one, a small one, was not changed out in 2018.

Uber eats delivered Mexican for dinner.

Wednesday, stayed put. Walked over the bridge and the underpass….nice walk. Then borrowed the marina car to go into St Augustine. I bought some Sumbrella fabric for my shed awnings at home. The fellow who cares for our yard sent me a photo….the old ones on there are ripped and stained. We also had to do some food shopping. At night, Larry got to watch the Bruins get eliminated from the playoffs (aww!), and I worked on artwork.

Thursday, departed Camachee at 0800. Going to be another hot one. (Duh!) Near the St John’s River, many dolphins swam with us; then a beautiful roseate spoonbill flew by, very close to the boat.

Spent quite a while booking doctor appointments for us in August. Booked 15 appointments and still not done. Not easy, due to COVID. Seems everyone is making appointments now.

For a flash today, saw 8.3 knots….go Panda Bear! Off Amelia Island, the chart read 13-14 feet…the reality was less than 3 feet. Stuck, but we plowed our way off. A sailboat, not quite as lucky. We couldn’t have pulled him off…..he couldn’t plow ….New moon, approaching low tide in 1.5 hours and then thunder and lightning….triple fun! Arrived at Fernandina Harbor Marina (mm716) around 3:45. Still, weather alerts for storms. Ate dinner and walked around town. Too crowded for my liking considering COVID…nope…nope…nope…even though we are fully vaccinated. Great sunset with very dramatic clouds.

Friday, departed Fernandina around 0850, having slept in. Breezy, with some west in it so it feels a little drier. Crossed into GA. Not stopping at Cumberland Island, an awesome stop…..bummer. Arrived in Jekyll Harbor Marina (mm 685) by 2:30. Settled in then borrowed a golf cart from the marina for a tour of the island. Dinner on board.

Saturday, bad weather. Not moving today. Around 2:00, Larry wanted to go to the restaurant on the premises for oysters. As we waited on the restaurant’s porch, a squal blew through. Driving rain and a bolt of lightning that struck a field within 100 yds of us! There was a collective “wow”. A man said he didn’t make “one Mississippi”. The

now-abandoned porch was drenched and chairs turned over….we weren’t comfortable eating inside, way too crowed. So, we took the oysters for Larry and pecan pie for me back to the boat. Eat on our back porch as another squall blew through.

We were in Florida, in the Hollywood marina when COVID hit…and we could not leave spring of 2020 as planned. I have a then-95 year old mom, who lives alone in our condo, in Miami Beach. The net result was that Larry was isolating on the boat (71, at the time) and mom at the condo. I had everything delivered to the marina or to the condo. I took over mom’s caretaker’s role (but continued to pay her). Mom was way more self sufficient than she is now so the woman’s role was not as involved as it is now and we are blessed to have her. So…..back to COVID: We were totally isolating except for our 4 times a week 4 mile walks which would begin prior to sun up. This was to avoid bumping into people and to avoid the heat. The a/c on the boat was on from April to November 2020, without being turned off, except for our walks. I cooked more than in my previous almost 40 years of marriage. Poor Larry didn’t have a real pizza for over 15 months. My grilled flatbreads just didn’t cut it. And, our marriage survived isolating on a 36 foot boat for almost a year and a half.

Back to the present. June, 2021. We are fully vaccinated. Mom is set up with her caretaker. On June 2nd, we departed the marina. Always tough getting in and out of the marina slips-very narrow- not much room to maneuver. As usual, Larry aced it!. Setting out from mile marker

(mm) 1070. Beautiful day. Felt good to move the boat. Larry saw the first skate jump, around Pompano. We anchored at Lake Worth/West Palm (mm1015). Of course…. The strut that facilitated opening and closing of the hatch up to pilothouse deck broke. That is going to make the trip home hard on my shoulders. It is a heavy hatch.

Then, the electrical/battery issues began too. The joys of boating….

Next day, Thursday, we traveled to Vero. Breezy with threatening skies. We stayed at Vero Loggerhead Marina (mm 949), one of our favorites. Settled in for the evening. It rained harder than we had heard in years.

Friday, Ubered to buy a strut for the hatch. Found one, not as good and it cost way less than the Uber ride. Later, we walked to Davila’s for Italian take out, and to Publix. First visit to an actual supermarket in 14 months. (We had used Instacart while in Hollywood.) Felt surreal to enter the produce department. I finally got to select my own veggies and fruits. We, of course, got carried away shopping and poor Larry was loaded down for the mile plus walk back. Once inside the gated community, a golf cart offered us a ride back to the boat, cutting the return trip in half. Larry took him up on his offer. I decided to walk. It’s a very nice walk. Really enjoyed our Italian lunch that afternoon. First time we ate in a restaurant in over a year.

Saturday, we fueled up when the marina opened and headed out. We turned onto the ICW at 8:52. Not bad, considering that the marina opened at 8am and there was one boat before us. Nice folks at this marina. Beautiful morning; however, hot and sticky. Doesn’t even feel as if I showered. Once we were on the ICW, a little blue and yellow plane started flying around us, sometimes very low. What a treat. Then we were surrounded by a jet ski club. Larry counted at least 41. We are headed for Cape Canaveral area. There is a rocket launch tonight. Made it to the Titusville Marina, mm 8780. I set the alarm for 12:25am and got up. Larry had been stationed at Patrick AFB, just up the street, so a rocket launch was nothing special. I got up and enjoyed it….orangish rocket and white boosters….clouds actually added to the launch. The noise and the rumble were almost better than the visual…..it was a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, sending up a Sirius satellite.

So ends our week.