Follow Our Track
December 27, 2012
We lost our free Internet connection yesterday so we took the dinghy ashore to find a hotspot and check in with Customs before we leave. We found WiFi at a marina to check up on emails and weather and news. We walked over to the customs office in Riviera Beach because the online form we filled out made no sense, I tried to make an appointment but the next available was on Monday, but the lady their was really kind and went ahead and gave us our numbers. We will need them to get back into the US without a big hassle. So it appears we will try again to cross on Saturday morning around 4AM. The next time that the wind and seas are correct will be Jan 3. We thought about that option or going down to Key West or leaving from Miami. All are available options and who knows.
If we don’t post beforehand or even if we do, have a Happy and prosperous New Year.
December 26, 2012
We tried to cross over to the Bahamas this morning, we wanted to hit the inlet at Lake Worth (Palm Beach) at 4-4:30 but it was after 5AM when we got there. The tide was coming in so it was pretty rough thru the inlet, but once we were in the ocean the sea swells were about 4 feet coming every 5 seconds. Each one would kill our boat speed to nothing, there was not enough wind to sail which would give the boat the power to punch through those waves. So we decided to turn around and come back in, as Dan reminded me (watching our progress on Spot down in George Town, Bahamas) we are retired now there will be another weather window to make the crossing. So we are in a pretty spot just south of Peanut Island just southwest of the Inlet, the next possible crossing might be on the 29th, after that it will be next year.
Yesterday we had Christmas with our oldest daughter Elizabeth, Adam and Skyler. Old Santa was really good the got a big screen TV, Wii, lots of toys and games. I got a new Kindle Fire, Virginia got extensions on the top (Bimini). I’m not kidding that was what she wanted. When I installed the solar panels, the Bimini needed re-stitching after all the strong north winds we saw coming down the ICW. I found this canvas shop in Ft Lauderdale that did a great job on fixing the top so I asked them if he could add an extension to the front to join it with the dodger. Done.
I am without a cell phone, Chris let me keep my business iPhone until the end of the year, it went back today. We got Vonage which will work anyplace we have an Internet connection, cell phones will only work in the USA. I am in the process of transfering my cell phone number to my Vonage phone, should know today if that worked.