The Long Way Home

Normally our drive back to Illinois takes 2 days. Not this time!. When we left Tourist the car took off in a Northeasterly direction. We skirted around the Western edge of Lake Okeechobee and before long found ourselves on I-95 headed North. Traffic was light so we made good time passing by towns that would have taken us days to reach in Tourist. Jacksonville came and vanished in our mirror before the afternoon rush got going and presto! A short time later we were entering Georgia.

Almost as quickly as it was on our minds it was gone!

Of course we made a few stops for food and other requirements but at days end we found ourselves in South Carolina. Amazed at how far we seemingly had traveled that day compared to boat travel.

Day two had us on the road by 8a.m. with a destination in mind. Wilmington, NC., to have lunch with Paul & Sandy Tyndall. Paul & Sandy had spent the last 2 years living on their boat (M/V Going Yaweh) in various places including Legacy but had recently sold it and moved back to Wilmington.
It was a pleasant drive into Wilmington where we met them downtown on Front St. which is only one block up from the Cape Fear River and the waterfront area. Lunch was at the Front St. Brewery and very good I might add. It was fun seeing these two again and finding out what they had planned for the future now that they have returned to being dirt dwellers.
Before we left Paul and I had time to enjoy cigars by the waterfront while the girls snooped in the many shops of the downtown area.

Lunch with Paul & Sandy.

Downtown Wilmington.

Battleship North Carolina moored across from downtown.

Pam & I got back in our overloaded car and continued heading North for a few more hours ending our day somewhere in Northern North Carolina.

Day 3 of our road trip found us entering Virginia and making a right turn at Richmond on I-64. We travelled East for a few miles then exited and headed north and east crossing the Rappahannock River and ending our day at Bru & Sandy's (M/V Coconuts) house near Weems, Va.

It just seemed appropriate!

Bru & Sandy have a beautiful home on the banks of the Rappahannock which they opened up to us for the next 2 nights.

River view from the screened in porch.

Once we had lunch and got settled in it wasn't long before the girls decided they needed something from town and off they went. I really don't remember them bringing any goods back with them. I think it was more an excuse to take a ride in the convertible!

Girls gone wild!

The area we were in is referred to as the Northern Neck which consists of a bunch of small gatherings of older buildings that are considered to be towns. The biggest seemed to be Kilmarnock which had a Walmart. Overall it is a very nice area with plenty of trees, not overpopulated and a colonial air about it. Our hosts took us around on our full day there and showed us the sights.

Bloody Mary's with bacon & peppers. Yummm!

Exploring the shops where Sandy picked up a sliver and risked amputation while Bru tried to remove it while ignoring directions from both women.

Afternoon drinks at the Tides Inn. (www.tidesinn.com)

We finished the day back at the homestead with snacks and drinks while watching a marathon of the Horatio Hornblower mini series on vhs! Yes, I said vhs!

All too soon it was time to keep moving although it wasn't what I would call an early departure.

I think they locked themselves out of the house!

Like I stated before. It wasn't an early departure. We made our way back to Richmond and continued west on I-64 into West Virginia before calling it a day.

Almost Heaven!

I-64 & I-71 run together for some distance as the West Virginia Turnpike. Years ago when I travelled it in a bus it was the only 2 lane toll road in the country. Now it is all 4 lane and a beautiful drive. Unfortunately it was a cruddy day for pictures as we ran in and out of rain and at one point detoured onto a 2 lane back road due to a stock truck that had overturned and was blocking both westbound lanes.

Our view for most of the day.

Once into Kentucky we jumped off of 64 and followed a route that paralleled the Ohio River to the Southeast side of Cincinnati.  A quick hop over the Ohio and we were pulling into Pirates Cove for a visit with Rick & Sarah (M/V Private Affair).

Just like Legacy.

We spent the evening visiting with Rick & Sarah, eating good food and listening to the music. Pirates Cove (www.piratescovecincy.com) has live music every night and the band on this day was very good as was the company. If you're in the area make it a point to stop in.

Our last day on the road was uneventful and seemed to be centered around food. Our morning stop came at a Big Boy in Indiana. Once inside we found that they had a buffet. We opted to order from the menu but were seated close to the aforementioned buffet. Wow! I had forgotten just how much people can pile on one plate. Not a pretty sight. Those of you who know me know I'm no slouch when it comes to eating but these folks made me look like an infant in both appetite and size.

Our meal was good but both Pam & I left feeling as though we had a lot to learn about building a mountain on a plate!

We were now on I-74 which took us around Indianapolis and into Illinois near Danville. Only 220 miles to the river where we turned north on Hwy 84. Next stop....Manny's Pizza where we met all of Pam's family and my Mom & Dad for pizza & taco's. We both kidded ourselves into thinking that they all came to welcome us home but we know that it was actually for the pizza!

Sign made by prisoners. Some of who are our former Governors!

I can't believe I took time out from my taco's to take a picture.

Filled with some of the best pizza we've found anywhere we made the last 50 miles to home without popping the shocks on the car. Time to unload and get into land life.

Left Turn Clyde!

After three nights in N. Palm Beach it was time to get going again. The weather was good for a day before another front was taking aim at the Treasure Coast. A good time to move a little further up the line.

Sunrise over our anchorage.

The anchor was dug in well and when it came up the chain was coated in a muck that smelled as though we had anchored next to a treatment plant. Thankfully Tourist is equipped with a wash-down hose at the bow.

Went past this classic old yacht.

We motored past Jupiter looking out at the Atlantic through an angry Jupiter Inlet as we turned North on the calm ICW. Ana was gaining strength and had things churned up in the deep water.

Jupiter Lighthouse.

Jupiter inlet. The picture doesn't do the sea state justice.

Above Jupiter the landscape along the ICW transitions back into its' natural state with fewer homes and more vegetation. I must say that I think both Pam & I found this to be a welcome sight after days of being surrounded by concrete as we travelled.

Finally back to nature.

Ever since we left Ft. Myers we had been pondering where to go this summer. We had been into the rivers last year and we have been up the East Coast a couple of times. It was a discussion that kept coming up but with neither of us getting that warm fuzzy feeling of knowing it's the right decision for this time. After our stop in Boynton Beach I think it was when we both had the light turn on as to what we should do. And so the decision was made to make a left turn at Stuart and head inland to River Forest and store the boat for hurricane season.

 We reluctantly cruised past the entrance to Manatee Pocket.

That quick decision left us with a lot to do in just a few days. Like make sure they had space. Notify our insurance company of the changed cruising plans. Get our car out of storage in Ft. Myers. And eat as much of the food that Pam had onboard thinking that we would be going up the coast as well as get Tourist ready to sit idle for several months.

Remember also that there is a storm front predicted to come through the area. And with that in mind we made arrangements to stay at the Loggerhead Marina in Stuart for 4 nights. Not the best protection from East winds but otherwise a top notch marina. They are currently in the process of building a sea wall to help deflect the waves from the river.

Of course while we were there Pam did laundry and started to organize things to take off the boat. We also rented a car for 2 days and drove to Ft. Myers to get our car and drop it off at River Forest as well as doing some errand running.

We found time to celebrate Cinco d Mayo.

We also found time to hit Happy Hour at Shrimper's. We spent a few evenings there during my Chapman's days.

The front did come through and provide us with some strong winds and plenty of rain but once past the weather was beautiful with cooler temps and diminished winds. Before leaving Loggerhead we topped off the fuel tanks and relieved Tourist one more time.

From Stuart we made our way along the St. Lucie River and through the St. Lucie and Port Mayaca Locks, the latter of which we drove right through and into Lake Okeechobee.

Made it through the Roosevelt Bridge.

Went past American Marine outside Stuart.

River Forest (Stuart) entrance.

Concrete Easter Island replica's being produced for duty as artificial reefs.

Found a few horses along the way.

Port Mayaca lock open because of high Lake Okeechobee levels.

Entering Lake Okeechobee.

For days we had been running in minimum wake zones and needed to unleash Tourist's horses. Lake O provided just the right setting to accomplish that task. So once outside the marked channel leading away from the lock I throttled up and ran across the lake at around 22 mph. It was just the right place since we could cruise at speed without upsetting anyone or thing with our wake. In no time at all we were closing in on the marsh lined channel leading into Clewiston.

Channel leading from the Lake into Clewiston.

Originally our intent was to overnight tied to the dolphins just outside Moorehaven Lock but with the threat of strong evening thunderstorms and the 90 degree temps which had returned we decided to pass through the lock and take advantage of the Moorehaven city docks and the power they provide for our a/c units. All for $1.00 a foot!

At one point along the rim route we were attacked by what the girl at city hall called horseflies. Much different and much larger than what we in the Midwest refer to as horseflies.

Brown and an inch in length and they bite!

We were the last boat through the lock before their 5 pm closing making for a calm night at the dock. The thunderstorms went around us but provided a threatening sky throughout the evening.

Thunderstorm moving past to the southeast of us.

The next morning I dropped the dinghy in the water and took a little cruise to run some fresh water through it before storage. Once reloaded we moved on across the Caloosahatchie for our final cruise of the Spring.

Tourist at the Moorehaven City Dock.

A calm day on the river.

It wasn't long before we were turning into the canal leading to River Forest. Now the work begins!

Steady as she goes! It's wider than it looks.

We docked at the one floating dock right in front of the office and convenient to the parking lot.

River Forest dock.

Our view from the flybridge.

River Forest.

The next couple of days we had the place to ourselves except for a couple of freeloaders who came in one evening when they couldn't make the last lockage at the Ortona Lock. I'm pretty sure they used the power and secure docking without paying since the place is closed on the week-end. Although I could be wrong.

One of the squatters pulling out.

Pam and I worked inside and out gathering clothes and shoes and other items we wanted to take home with us and moving them into the car. In the process Tourist rose in the water and the car settled on it's springs.
Tourist also got a bath from the top to the waterline. After all you gotta look good tucked in with all those other boats.

We did find time to take a dinghy ride over to Turkey Creek to check on boats that belong to our friends.

One of the canals at Turkey Creek.

Friends boats stored for the summer.

We also were entertained by the resident alligator who leisurely swam around the lagoon at River Forest like he owned it. Who's going to argue?

Only about 5' but that's big enough to keep me out of the water!

There was one casualty during our preparation work and that was my flip flop which flipped then flopped.

Pam made me throw them away. I thought a little 5200 would make them good as new.

Monday morning came and it was time for the haul out. We off loaded the last of the items that needed to go home and stuffed them into the car then it was time to move over to the travel lift.

Ben who runs the travel lift is a magician. He controls it by wireless remote. When I asked him if they needed lines or fenders on Tourist he said no, just bring her in nice and slow and he'd catch us in the slings. And that's just what happened. In no time Tourist was in the air and moving to get her bottom cleaned.

All looked good underneath although there was a rope hanging off the port side prop. It wasn't wrapped around the shaft so I must have kicked it up in the lagoon. This is better than the last haul out when a snake was laying on the trim tab!

Short rope on port side prop.


While they cleaned the bottom Pam & I snooped in the massive buildings and found our friends boat Broulee tucked in nice and tight.

Broulee lookin good!

Good thing the transom gate is open!

They moved Tourist onto a wireless remote trailer making her into a motorhome for the trip into the building.

Tourist now a motorhome.

Into the building and out of the elements.

Why did we go back to River Forest? A number of reasons. Buildings that are rated to withstand 140 mph sustained winds. Circulation fans in the buildings that keep the air moving to help prevent condensation build up. (One of the buildings is sold as air conditioned). Probably the cleanest boat yard/storage facility I've seen. In the center of the state so no storm surge. And one more is that to get there you have to run through miles of fresh water which allows you to flush out all of the salt water from the generator, engines and a/c units. It's not cheap but for storage in the hurricane zone it gives us peace of mind.

Knowing and seeing that Tourist was tucked in safe and sound we hit the road a little after 10. I hope the car doesn't burst!