December 2 - 3, 2015 getting closer to the ocean

Gypsie Angel, Elaine and Audre'

St. Lucie Lock

some beautiful boats on the canal

anchoring during a heavy rain storm

sunset at anchor

heading into Sunset Marina

notice the brownish water, very typical

December 2, 2015

We spent the morning doing the blog, having showers, got gas for the dinghy motor (ouch $4.50 US gallon), visited with Gypsie Angel, Elaine and Andre', our French sailing friends, they took out dock lines in 2012 in Salaberry de Valleyfield, Quebec.

Joe finally got thru to customs to report in with our cruising permit, as I mentioned earlier our Canadian phone will not work with

Customs 1-800 #. We need to use a US phone. This will limit our calling in for sure, as we will be anchoring most of the rest of the time in the USA.

We said our good byes to SnowBird and Moonlight Maid and off the dock we went at 11am.  By 1:45 we finally locked thru St. Lucie Lock, down 18 feet.  Now we are getting into salt and tidal waters.  The sky kept getting darker and darker with thunder behind us.  Fifteen minutes earlier we could of anchored in the calms, but the sky opened up and the wind blew.

A squall hit as we dropped our new Rocna 15 anchor for the first time, the wind set us. (fast forward to the next morning, we had to motor over the anchor 3 times to break it loose .. HAPPY).  It rained very heavy and wind gusts turning us all around, but then it was over and the sun came out.

5 hours on the water 

December 3, 2015

Anchor up and we crossed the river to Sunset Marina, we could of anchored again but we wanted to use the facilities, so $26.50 got us the mooring ball.  We got diesel to fill our two on deck jugs, 2 jugs of water, showers, laundry, charged our iPad and phone, and got groceries at Publix (I like Save-A-Lot prices better, but not one within walking distance)

It has been threatening rain all day but nothing, it is cloudy, cool and the wind generator is nicely charging the batteries and fridge.  We started at 9 to do all of these chores and just finished at 4pm.  Lots of dinghy rides and lots of $ spent.

Joe adjusting the stuffing box again, it's not dripping enough.

We talked to 'OTHER GOOSE", Rick and Susan Schultz , from Owen Sound, on the VHF this morning, they are on their way to Lake Worth.  We will catch up with them on Saturday, to wait for the crossing to Bahamas.

The wind is picking up now from the north, rain and wind squalls coming thru the

mooring field .. good, no bugs tonight, and also we are out of alligator territory.

heading out to an anchorage this morning