Labor Day Cruise

Labor Day weekend we did our annual cruise with our sailing friends from Green Bay and Punta Gorda. Years ago we were all members of Windjammers Sailing Club in Green Bay. We headed to Fish Creek on Thursday, dropping a hook there for a short time. We then decided to head to Horseshoe Island with the forecast for storms in the picture. Horseshoe Island is an island that is a part of Peninsula State Park. It has a protected anchorage when winds blow from the north. When we got there it was still blowing out of the southeast with no other boats in the anchorage. We ended up tying to the small sheet pile wall on the island and stayed for two nights. Our friends Les and Barb showed up the next day.

We then headed to Cedar River Michigan to hold our annual croquet championship tournament. Barb and Gary, also former Windjammers, showed up at Cedar River. The harbor was the busiest we had ever seen as the bridge walk was scheduled for Sunday. This is a very small community on State Highway M-35 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The biggest event of the year for them is to have a walk across the highway bridge during labor day weekend. They even had a beer tent and live band. The most elder female in the community is crowned the bridge walk queen for a day.

From there we headed 22 miles south to Menominee Michigan as winds were forecast to blow hard out of the north on Labor Day.  Barb and Gary also headed that way and we dined together that evening. Labor Day morning we were out of the Harbor by 9 a.m. and home by 11.

Cocktail hour on Horseshoe Island

A walk along the banks of  Cedar River

All gathered to celebrate Cathie's upcoming birthday

Headed to dinner in Menominee, MI

Summer finally arrives...

It has been the coldest spring that I can remember. But it has finally warmed up. In June we took one overnight trip across the bay to Menominee. This past July 4th weekend was very nice however. On the 4th we headed 20 miles north and spent the evening on the hook in Fish Creek. Friends had told us there was a newer Rosborough on a mooring there. Unfortunately the owners were not around. With the winds forecasted to be out of south, the next day we spent the night anchored with friends in North Bay on Chambers Island. The next morning we headed south for an evening on the hook in Egg Harbor. The water temp in Egg Harbor was actually warm enough for me to take a swim. I am a wimp when it comes to cold water...

Entertainment

I find I have never posted a photo of a part of Buddy's Entertainment System. A recent inquiry to the Rosborough owners group inquired about what systems owners used for television. This 15" 12 volt TV/DVD is about 5 years old. It uses very little power. For a signal when on the hook, we use a Shakespeare amplified Digital antenna:http://shakespeare-marine.com/antennas.asp?antenna=2020-G

With Buddy's 200 watt Solar System, there is plenty of power to run the TV/DVD, two refrigerators, led lighting and inverter for the laptop.

Launch Day!

When we hauled Buddy out a month ago, in Punta Gorda it was 90 degrees. Today it's a balmy 55 degrees in Sturgeon Bay...

Last Florida Spring ride

Our last spring ride on Buddy was another overnight to Cayo Costa State Park. Our friends Bob and Bev trailered down from Venice,  launching on Alligator Creek to run the 17 miles south along side of us. They had never been to Cabbage Key, so we went there for breakfast the following morning. The winds really started picking up about noon so we both decided it best to head back north. It was good we had a following sea... Video: Rough ride North

We hauled Buddy out the next day and prepped for the 1,600 mile tow back north. Buddy is now in the barn in Wisconsin while I prep our trimaran for spring launch.

River run

Yesterday we hitched a ride up the Peace river for lunch at Nav-A-Gators with friends Bob and Bev. The forecast wasn't the greatest with wind and rain to come. The weather held off for most of the day allowing us to enjoy an outdoor lunch with a search for alligators afterward. We saw a number of gators further up the river before turning around and heading back to Punta Gorda. Toward the end of the ride a few showers passed through, but for some reason, we didn't melt...

Beach time!

On Thursday we took a couple of days cruise to Cayo Costa State Park. Remnants of the last cold front were still hanging on, but day temps warmed up to 70 degrees. In preparation, our 13 year old dinghy decided to part company with its floor. So... we went without it. As usual, we met up with sailing friends on the island. Friday's cocktail hour was spent on the beach playing bocce ball. The nights were beautiful with calm winds and a near full moon. Sunrises weren't bad either...

The park is 17 nautical miles from our dock, an easy hour and a half run at 12 knots.

Rossies in the neighborhood

With winds reported to be 15 to 30 out of the WSW, the Admiral suggested we take a little sightseeing cruise up Alligator Creek this afternoon. Before doing so I poked Buddy's bow out into Charlotte Harbor at the entrance channel. The chop didn't appear to be much from the helm...

We turned around and headed back up the Creek. When we got to the entrance to our channel by Riviera Marina (another land of broken dreams), we stayed to the right and headed up the creek. About 20 minutes later we discovered two HSV 246s moored at Windmill Village marina. One appeared to be a fairly new, well-equipped model that was named "Wind Drift". I couldn't see a name on the other. It was tight getting into the harbor through narrow canals, but I managed to do so without hitting anything... We took a couple photos and headed back out.

Our plan was to meet up with friends for a few days of cruising, but another nasty cold front is passing through. Perhaps we will be able to rendezvous at Cayo Costa on Tuesday...

Buddy leaves the dock!

Only to go to another...

Well, this winter cruise certainly hasn't gone as planned... Our original intent was to use Fisherman's Village as a base, going out for short cruises, then returning. Buying waterfront property in Florida was certainly not on the agenda. Well, this week we closed on our "new" canal property in Punta Gorda. So... Our time has been consumed buying furniture, house goods, dinnerware, etcetera,  etcetera, etcetera, for our unfurnished winter abode. This stuff was stored in a mini 10x10 that we rented for a month... None of the above was in the budget either...

The dock at our place was blown away by Hurricane Charley in 2004. The house that was here also took a hike... A new neighbor has graciously offered us temporary use of his dock across the street from us at the vacant lot he also owns. This week we will be contracting for a new dock that will probably get built after we head back to Wisconsin.

The photos are of the "palace", Buddy's quarters for the next month, and our canal where the new dock will be built. It will be big enough to accommodate friends that come to visit by water...

C c c c cold!

37 degrees in southwest Florida! It's March for cry aye! We had a hard time rolling out of the sack this morning... I immediately started the coffee and all other sources of heat. We are hoping the more typical winter that has occurred back in Wisconsin will help raise the Great Lakes water levels...

Buddy leaves Fisherman's Village

After 2 months at Fisherman's Village, Buddy has moved. Except for a 4 day cruise to Fort Myers Beach and back and a few day cruises, Buddy has remained tied to the dock. We met many nice people at the marina and enjoyed the times we spent at cocktail hours with them. We have now moved to a friend's in Punta Gorda Isles. We will stay with them until we close on our "new" southern headquarters up Alligator Creek on March 12th.

That's not Humphrey...

It was a quick trip by land yacht this week to deliver Cathie's new yacht to its new owner.  A Gentlemen from Key Largo decided he wanted it more... He paid us to deliver it and it was a great opportunity to see our good friends Candi and Larry at Marina del Mar. When we got there the African Queen was headed out for a little ride...

Low tide...

We're having a super low tide this morning with the passage of a big cold front yesterday. Buddy hasn't left the dock lately as we have been working on our dirt deal...

Never say never

We have lived on the water for 17 years. Friends and family have heard me say that our current residence is our last waterfront property. The reason Buddy has been chained to the dock for the last 3 weeks has to do with today's cruise up Alligator Creek in Punta Gorda. We have a deal pending on a new winter home for Buddy and ourselves. The dock is missing thanks to Hurricane Charlie, but that can be remedied. It looks like we will be hanging around Punta Gorda for the rest of the winter... To my friend on Tonic, the gentleman fishing in the photo says it's really good!

Notice to Mariners

If you were touring the Intercoastal in the Cape Haze area, be advised, you may have to give way to this guy... He is known to make erratic turns, with no signals of intent. He may have an aquatic in tow, but again, no proper day shapes will be displayed. Regardless of what may be in tow, all evidence of such actions will have been released by the time of his return to port. It is not known if proper permits are in his possession. Once this individual is back ashore he is known to advertise his supposed nautical prowess on the internet using devious technologies that may or may not have been fabricated. Be advised, stand clear...

Having Cold beer...

...is important. The Admiral is a gourmet cook and I enjoy a cold beer now and then. As a result, the 2.5 cu. ft. Fridge in Buddy's cabin doesn't quite cut it. So we have always used our Waeco portable fridge in the cockpit of Buddy while cruising or living aboard. A big problem developed when we launched Buddy a month ago. The thermostat on the Waeco quit working... Except for one 5 day cruise since launching, Buddy hasn't left the marina. So... my solution? Another trip to Walmart for a light timer. It works on 110v anyway... More later on why Buddy has been chained to the dock...

More of the Golden Conch...

Watch "Golden Conch Regatta Start" on YouTube

Golden Conch

We spent the past weekend sailing on Pam and Jim's F-39 "Screech", racing out of Burnt Store. Not many multihulls showed up, but still a good time.

Thin water...

After a painful evening watching the Packers, we decided to head back "home". On the way out of Fort Myers Beach we passed this Corps of Engineers dredge working on the entrance. To cut about 10 miles of our trip, I decided to head north on the east side of Pine Island. The Channel south of the bridge was quite shallow. We "touched" bottom once after being forced to the right by an approaching boat. Fortunately there was no prop damage other than removal of a bit of paint. Once we passed under the bridge we noticed larger boats. The Channel on the north side of the bridge was much deeper all the way to Charlotte Harbor. Been there done that. we don't need to do that route again...
When we reached Punta Gorda we passed a sister ship of ours drifting about in the bay.

Game day!

Our second evening at Cayo Costa was spent on the beach having a cookout with the Cheesehead Navy. There ended up being 7 boats from Wisconsin on the hook that night. The bochi ball tournament got quite serious, just we experienced another beautiful sunset. Yesterday four of the fleet headed south to Fort Myers Beach. It's game day with Packer fans congregating at Parrot Key Caribbean Grill for the game tonight. The Grill is owned by a gentleman from Wisconsin. Go Packers!

Cheesehead Navy Revisted

Yesterday we headed south 20 miles to Pelican Bay at Cayo Costa State Park at Boca Grande Pass. There were quite a few boats on the hook for the evening. Included in the fleet were 3 boats from Green Bay, all sailing friends of ours - Jim and Pam on Screech, Les and Barb on Revision, and Guy in Debbie on Redeye. Go Packers!

Run to the beach..

Yesterday we joined friends in Venice for a day on the Intercoastal. We took a run north for lunch and then headed to the beach, stopping at Midnight Pass. The pass it isn't an opening to the Gulf anymore, after it was filled in by  adjoining property owners in 1983. It's a nice public beach now...

Cathie's new yacht!

You says you can't go sailing when cruising on a power boat?