Leaving Clearwater & a boarding at sea.....

 Wednesday, January 27, 2021 Day 52.

Sadly, we have to leave Carlouel Beach and Yacht Club, and Clearwater. It had been an amazing visit. A travel advisory was in place because of heavy fog in the early morning; we couldn’t see anything.

Sometime around noon, the fog began to lift and we felt comfortable to cast off. No one was around and we left the dock on our own, one of the few times so far that we have handled docking or de-docking without assistance. Fortunately, the wind was in the right direction and therefore helped us off the dock, and because there were no other boats at the yacht club, it turned out to be fairly easy exit. Roland did almost all the work, although I did tie up the two fenders and secured them on the flybridge.

We went south the way we had traveled north to Clearwater, going through various fixed bridges and then those that required us to request openings.

 After an hour or so, the fog rolled in again and it became almost impossible to see. We slowed down and listened to the other captains on the radio requesting openings and letting the bridge tenders know they couldn’t see how far or close they were to the bridges. It was dense fog. Because of the fog, we had to change our plans. After a couple of more bridges, at 2:30pm, we reached the anchorage that we had stopped in last Thursday, on our way north. At 2:40pm, we were anchored and celebrated with an early happy hour. We were very happy that we had survived the fog.

Having arrived fairly early, we decided to experiment with dinner. Roland moved the grille from the flybridge to the staple on the swim platform, and opened the new the air fryer to make sweet potato fries. The dinner was excellent. I worked on my blog and hoped that the storm would move on. The boat was being moved around quite a bit; it rained for a while, and we had to move the grille under cover and prepare for a stormy day tomorrow.

Thursday, January 28, 2021. Day 53.

I was up before 7am. An alarm was beeping in the pilot house. I was concerned that we were in shallow water (my hope was that that was all it was; shallow water is handleable). I awaken Captain Roland to deal with the alarm. Fortunately, it was the shallow water alarm, and at this point, be were at the low tide and there was enough water for us to stay where we were. In fact, the tide has already begin to rise.

Until the storm passed, which would probably be around 1 PM, we would not be going anywhere. I took the opportunity to stretch, we had blueberry pancakes for breakfast, I did the dishes and thoroughly dusted the main cabin, the pilot house and one set of stairs. A lot of work.

When the winds died down a bit, we pulled up the anchor and Magic Moments, was on the move again. As we were on the Gulf ICW, we had to go through and under a myriad of bridges, so many that Captain Roland prefers going into the Gulf when the weather permits. The bridges can really slow progress.  We passed by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which is a spectacular cable stayed bridge. 

We were now in Tampa Bay and it was getting really choppy, but I needed to organize my vitamins so I can easily take them each night. vitamins together. I take 12 vitamins a day; every six weeks or so I organize my vitamins and put them in individual containers so that each night it is a simple process. There’s really no place on the boat for me to lay out these 40 to 60 small containers and fill them with my 12 vitamins. So, I used the table in the salon and after setting up these 60 or so containers,

 I heard Captain Roland speaking to someone. This was enormously surprising; we were in the middle of the Bay and no one was around. Silly me, I looked out the window and saw an inflatable dinghy with four Coast Guard officers talking to Roland. Really?? The officers were politely requesting to board the vessel. Requesting is just a formality, the answer, of course is: “of course”. After they determined the number of folks aboard, and were comfortable that we had no firearms, their inflatable dinghy moved to the stern to prepare to board.

How lucky! Are you kidding me?? Roland has been sailing for 50 years, he has soloed across the Atlantic twice, he has been living on the water full time for a total of 9 years, and he has never been boarded by the Coast Guard. And now, I have been on this boat for less than 2 months and we were now going to be boarded by the Coast Guard for a random safety check?!

First of all, there were now hundreds of small bottles and pills covering the salon, which is the entrance to the boat. I was freaked out; what if they thought the vials and pills were other than Vit C, A, D-3, etc., etc., etc.? Really, these bottles were all over the salon table.

So, Captain Roland put the motor into neutral and the throttle into idle, and as Magic Moments was bobbing heavily on the water, two of the four Coast Guard officers, wearing sidearms, boarded the boat (the other two stayed in the inflatable dinghy next to us). Keep in mind we really don’t know a lot about this boat; we are brand new owners, and we haven’t used most of the safety equipment (thank goodness!). 

One of the officers sat with me in the salon and asked some detailed questions as he filled out some paperwork. The other officer went through her list of safety items that we were required to have on board. Fortunately, we had everything on the extensive list (our PO was a volunteer safety reviewer, so things should have been in order), except that we were required to have three flares. We had between 20 and 30 flares, however, the officer checked every expiration date. We were 1 short, the rest had expired. BTW: they still work, but we will buy some current flares. The officer suggested that we donate the expired flares to the coast guard for their training use.

It was amazing that Roland could find every item on the list, notwithstanding our short ownership period. The officer was shocked that we had the required Rule Book (everybody else downloads it on their phone); 

she said we were her best safety check yet (we have no idea how many she has done). She issued her clearance (she was still blown away about the hard copy of the Rule Book), signed off on a yellow sheet, giving us the opportunity to skip another inspection for 6 months.

I was just thrilled that they didn’t ask me about the vitamins!

Carlouel Beach and Yacht Club

 It was such a pleasure to see Cynthia when we reached the dock. It was like a homecoming of sorts for me. Although meeting new folks during this voyage has been fun, there is something really special to see friends and family. We spent time around Christmas with my niece and her boyfriend, and Elise, in Charleston; Evin in St Augustine; and now Dan and Cynthia and their clan, in Clearwater..

It had taken us longer than we had anticipated to reach the Yacht Club (all the bridges!). Cynthia had lunch while waiting and arranged lunch for us on the Club patio, overlooking the dock and the waterfront. Does life get any better?

Cynthia, who was coming back with her daughter, son-in-law and grandson, and hopefully Jim and Betsy for dinner, left and we went back to the boat to put ourselves the boat together, and then walked on the beach a bit to enjoy the sunset.

Cynthia and Charlotte and her husband, and baby Tripp, arrived. Dan had a cold so he stayed home to recover. Jim came (I hadn't seen him for two years), but Betsy was busy; I was sorry I didn't get to see her this visit. It was wonderful to finally meet Charlotte and her husband and Tripp. Dinner outside (I ate very little; lunch had been so late), was again, a joyful event. With masks on and all the doors open, everyone took a brief tour of Magic Moments.

Back on the boat, I started our 4 to 6 loads of laundry, finished the dishes, and thought about the great evening we just had, and the joys of friendship. Cynthia and Dan are always so generous when I visit each January; this time, they outdid themselves! Cynthia even left us her car for the duration of our visit. Unfortunately, as we had anticipated, none of the three packages that were to be delivered on Friday were delivered. We did not know how long it would take and we were concerned about overstaying our welcome at the yacht club.

Saturday, January 23, 2021. Day 48.

It was a beautiful day in Clearwater Beach. The quiet of the morning, quickly came to an end as the families with lots of kids came to take advantage of the wonderful club facilities. Several boats came to the dock; it was a busy and active and cheerful place.

We spent most of the day doing errands: West Marine, Target, Publix, Walgreens, CVS, etc. etc. etc.; thank you Cynthia for your car! We even rode by Rumba (Dan's favorite lunch place; he always takes me there after picking me up from the airport). I was a little sorry we didn't get a chance to have lunch there (they have a really nice patio for outside dinning, but Captain Roland really wanted to use his opportunity for lunch to go back to Pollo Tropical (take out and eat in the car). I am glad we got Pollo Tropical out of the way; hopefully, we won't have to do that again. OK, so the chicken is good...but not that good!

Saturday evening was dinner at Cynthia's and Dan's new home. They have a very spacious screened in outdoor pool area. It was wonderful to see Dan and Arlo, and meet one of Dan's sons, Joe, and tour their new house. We spent most of the time outside, but when inside, everybody wore a mask, even though both Dan and Cynthia had already had their first vaccine (they are physicians and Dan had even had a test that had come back on Friday as negative); but we were all being very careful. Cynthia set us at separate tables so that we could socialize safely.

Their new home is just wonderful, spacious and lovely, all on one floor and they are loving it. I got to try out their new washer and dryer (which is immense and doesn't have a central agitator). I wanted to wash the blanket/bedspread which could not be done in the small boat washer and dryer. Cynthia graciously let me use her washer and dryer. I could have washed my entire 4 - 6 loads in one load in her machines.

It was Saturday and none of our three packages had arrived. We really did not want to overstay our welcome so if the packages don't arrive on Tuesday, we planned to leave and return when the shipments are received. I was not real happy about all that especially because we wanted to test the dinghy motor; we need a working dinghy.

Sunday, January 24, 2021. Day 49. Seven weeks at sea.

I was up early and ran on the beach for 3 miles. It was quite beautiful. Roland worked on the boat and, again, we did errands. We met Cynthia and Dan at the Countryside Country Club for a lovely outdoor dinner. Mike, the food and beverage director, had comped us a around of drinks; very kind. We were the only ones at dinner (we ate outside overlooking the golf course); it was lovely. The timing was a little awkward. We had dinner during the final for the Super Bowl here in near Tampa, and Dan and Cynthia, fortunately had recorded the game, but sat through dinner while listening to cheers from the employees inside the restaurant. We all assumed the outcome but Dan and Cynthia still enjoyed the game when they got back (the miracle of technology). I felt really bad that I had timed the dinner so that they missed this important game. Tampa hasn't won a superbowl for almost 20 years and this final game was huge.

But the dinner was was great fun, quite delicious, and they were very gracious.

Monday and Tuesday (January 25 and 26), at the yacht club was quite strange. The club is closed. What we did not realize is that they lock the gates. It was great to have no one around, so quiet, an having no one around meant that Roland was able to wash the boat, change the oil, and do other things that might be annoying to guests. The fact that the club was closed made it quite easy, without bothering anybody. Being locked in however, was not so great. Fortunately, Roland had found a way out of the club through the garbage area. It was rather bizarre to come and go through the garbage area, but we were grateful that we weren't actually locked in. One (meaning me), wonders what would have happened had they lock that gate as well.

On Monday, I called Brownys to let them know that we still had not received the motor, and left a message at Zekes that the inflatable standup paddle boards had not arrived. All these items were promised for Friday, and as of Monday, nothing!

Monday, January 25, 2021. Day 50.

Monday morning, Roland and I went for a long walk on the beach and collected some shells. We did even more errands (when we have a car only once a month, we go a little nuts!).

Roland installed the staple and the second set of cups for the staple, (so they can be moved for grilling), 

 and then we went to Safety Harbor where we were meeting Dan and Cynthia for an outside dinner at Parts of Paris. Safety Harbor is the location of my yearly TIAW, mid January rendezvous, canceled this year. I enjoyed walking around and showing Roland all our haunts. I took lots of pictures to send to Lisa to distribute to the “Old Girls” (a play on the old boys network). We had a fabulous dinner outside at Parts of Paris. Dan and Cynthia they had never been there before and of course neither had Roland. The food was terrific; we had escargot, polpo, foie gras, moules and frites, and great wine and fun cocktails; it was wonderful. Monday was half priced appetizers, and we tried several. We had an excellent evening, and I had the opportunity to treat everyone again.

Tuesday, January 26, 2021. Day 51.

Called Brownys and Zekes yet again. They both were convinced that their packages would actually arrive today. Roland installed the second set of cups on the swim platform for the staple and we did a few more errands, after my work out on the deck. Roland and I met Cynthia for lunch in Clearwater Beach at one of the five Frenchy's. She loves their original grouper (fried) specialty, and Roland and I shared an original (I would have mine grilled next time), and two appetizers. We sat in the back in the area where customers normally bring their dogs. Absolutely no one was there. The front of Frenchy's was packed. So we enjoyed a wonderful lunch outside, safely, socially distanced.

We walked up and down the street in Clearwater Beach a couple times, window shopping for beach towels (I am still steamed at myself for not bringing some from home; I must own 100), so buying more seemed absurd, but we we were in such a rush to leave in December that there are things that I forgot to bring. Packing for a small space; living on a boat for 5 months; weather for all four seasons.....OK, I am not perfect!

Tuesday evening,we were again invited to Cynthia and Dan's for dinner (everyone should have friends like Dan and Cynthia!). And, voila, the three packages had, in fact, arrived, plus a fourth package for Roland that had arrived timely; what a bonanza.

Cynthia made beef pot roast half on the stove top and half in the slow cooker; we got to try each. I did not think that one was tremendously better than the other (Roland said the slow cooker was better; he is the foodie).

After a fabulous dinner and a wonderful evening and an amazing visit for 5 great days, we drove back to the yacht club. Dan and Roland got the packages to the dock (the two SUP's were really heavy and bulky), Roland and I got them aboard (not an easy feat), and we said goodbye for now to Dan and Cynthia. It was one amazing visit. No cooking, great food and drink, a car all 4 to 5 days, “so fun” as JNG and HLG would say.

The only bummer of the day was the late afternoon travel warning from the CDC: forget the Bahamas for now. We are really disappointed.