Sombrero Resort Marina

Some pictures of our marina. (1) The DIXIE IV in slip #8 (2) The tiki bar by the pool (3) the pool (4) The resort lobby and office. Cheese fondue dinner planned for New Years Eve dinner. Happy New Year to all!



Chet

12/31

2:15 PM

Made it to Marathon

Arrived at Sombrero Resort at noon today. A busy afternoon getting the boat set up for a three month stay and its not finished yet.

The picture is of birds standing on a shoal about 50 feet away as we passed through one of the most hazardous channels in the Keys ICW. Less than 6 inches of water under the keel but we never touched bottom.

As has been written this was not the best trip south, but we are safely here.

Chet
12/30
4:24 PM

Anchored in Islamorada

We had a fast day to Islamorada where we anchored early (3PM). We are only 40 miles from Marathon from here but we just cannot make it in one day from Miami on the inside. The weather has been, as usual, lousy. Northerly winds last night that made us grateful for a good anchoring system. Some nature pictures, taken in the miles of mangroves we go through (1) a white heron standing around (2) a osprey that is not often seen this time of year (3) a egret looking around.

Marathon by noon tomorrow.

Chet

Tuesday 12/29

4:17 PM

Anchored in Miami

After a long day of bridges, 33 between West palm Beach and Miami only 5 of which we had to stop to open (mast enginering at work) we have anchored in the old abandoned marine

stadium. Leslie and Julie will remember going to the concerts and spending the night on the boat in No Name Harbor. Some pictures (1) from yesterday the Jupiter inlet lighthouse (2) going past Government Cut in Miami Harbor we saw a long stream of cruise ships waitng to get underway (3) and finally, a view of downtown Miami as we see it at anchor. The weather as usual is not good with a cold front going as far as Key West so we will go inside down the Keys expecting to get to our winter "home" in Marathon on Wednesday.

Chet

Monday, 12/28

6:43 PM

Palm Beach

We are anchored in Lake Worth next to the Inlet. We had hoped to go outside tomorrow but a cold front is going in tonight so inside and deal with the bridges, We expect to be in Miami tomorrow night and Marathon by Wednesday.

Chet
Sunday, 12/27
4:06 PM

A Quiet Christmas

We had a quiet Christmas, starting with our traditional fondue dinner on Christmas Eve. We had visits with boating friends. We meet a number of boaters we knew; Vero Beach is the place to find old friends. Another cold front is coming in but this far south it should be very mild. Off to Palm Beach tomorrow and then on to Miami and into the Keys. Should be in Marathon by Wednesday.

Chet
Saturday, 12/26
6:11 PM

Vero Beach for Christmas

Up early, as always, to get moving. A windy but otherwise beautiful day. At Vero Beach City Marina for next two days (three nights). A Christmas dinner fondue tonight in keeping with a long tradition. No pictures today. Merry Christmas to all.

Chet
Thursday, 12/24
4:55 PM

Five days in 34 hours

The last 34 hours have been intersting. We were incresingly frustrated by bad weather and constant delays. the weather turned favorable so we left Beaufort, SC, on Tuesday morning and went south with no specific plan other than to get as far south as possible. We set a new Marks record. 260 miles in 34 hours. We are now anchored just south of Titusville.
The net effect is a 5 day jump on the ICW and avoidance of miles of horrible ICW conditions in GA. We will be in Vero Beach tomorrow at least 5 days ahead of expectations. The weather was good but neither Dixie or I can sleep on an overnight; it is tiresome. But here we are; some pictures (1)please don't get tired of dolphins, we see hundreds a day and these followed us for quite a way (2) This is how a portion of Dayona Beach looks from 5 miles off shore (3) This sunset shot by Dixie was the end of a beautiful day.

A very successful overnight.

Chet

Wednesday, 12/23

5:26 PM

Arrived in Beaufort, SC

We are docked at Downtown Marina in Beaufort, SC (the correct pronunciation is aided by "beautiful Beaufort"). A beautiful day. The forecast is better for tomorrow. The current plan is to go outside, skip all of GA , and come into the St Johns River at Jacksonville Wednesday morning. Saves at least 3 days. Some pictures (1) This is Clemson Tiger territory as seen here with the flag (2) We had some traveling companions; here three dolphin moved alongside with us. We have seen literally hundreds of dolphins. Stay tuned, if there is no post tomorrow its because we are at sea.

Chet

Monday, 12/21

4:17 PM

Charleston, SC

Finally underway from Georgetown. An uneventful trip to Ashley Marina in Charleston. Some pictures: (1) Finally a beautiful sunrise not hidden by clouds (2) The flags flying in Fort Sumpter in Charlston (3) the new beautiful new bridge over the Cooper River in Charleston (4) a shot of the Charleston Battery and its overpriced homes (but beautiful). We hurry to get south to warm weather but winter storms keep coming. Beaufort, SC tomorrow.

Chet

Sunday, 12/20

4:50 PM

One More Day in Georgetown

The winds continued at gale force today, but tomorrow should be OK for travel. We hope to get to Charleston tomorrow. High winds and cold temperatures have so far made this a less than satisfactory trip so far. Will be better further south (hopefully).

Chet
Saturday, 12/19
2:48 PM

Gale from Georgetown to south of Charleston

It was immediately obvious this morning that this was not a day to be moving on the water. The National Weather Service labeled this a "major winter coastal storm" and it is. There is some small chance that this will blow out tonight but it may continue on through tomorrow also. All we can do is wait and see.

Chet
Friday, 12/18
11:30 AM

Georgetown, SC (serious question for how long)

We are at Georgetown, SC tonight and maybe for several more nights. A major storm is moving up from FL with heavy rain and gale force winds; we will probably have to stay right here. Some pictures: (1) Waccamaw River has many Osprey nests, all empty as its not spring breeding season yet. By April they will be full of families with babies (2) The transiant dock at Georgetown Landing Marina. We are the only boat here. In the last two days we have only seen one sailboat, and no power cruisers. The VHF radio is very quiet.

The Waccamaw River (about 25 miles long) is the most beautiful part of the ICW.

Stay tuned for the next report of weather effect on travel.

Chet

Thursday, 12/17

4:40PM

Barfoot Landing, Myrtle Beach tonight

We are at Barefoot Landing in N Myrtle Beach. No picture today. A long but routine day on the ICW. Down to freezing tonight. We are 200 miles south of where we started but the weather follows us. The only certainly is that the Florida border is magical; no more cold weather on the ICW. A number of days before we prove that again. Off to Georgetown tomorrow.

Chet
Wednesday, 12/16
5:07 PM

Wrightsville Beach Tonight

This "Pink House" is really ugly. Located 5 miles or so south of New River, when we see it we think the cruise has started. A overcast cloudy, foggy day but uneventful day. The forecast is for high winds tonight and tomorrow. If the wind dies down tomorrow we will try to get down the Cape Fear River to Southport. We'll see.

Chet
Tuesday 12/15
4:16 PM

FINALLY UNDERWAY!

After 10 days of delays we are finally underway. Staying at Caspers Marina in Swansboro and took on the least expensive diesel on the ICW (not cheap, least expensive). The nature shot of the day is a deer swimming across the ICW. Off to Wrightsville Beach tomorrow.

Chet

Monday, 12/14

6:10 PM

One problem fixed, now for the weather

This is what a burned out voltage regulator looks like. Looks "normal" but doesn't work. We replaced it yesterday. Now if the gales would stop we could move on. Looks like Saturday now.

Chet

Thursday, 12/10

3:55 PM

Have been trying to get underway

This is the first posting for what we hope will be the 2009/2010 winter cruise. With all the food and clothes loaded on the boat we are living on the boat behind the house.These are shots from the end of the dock behind our house. (1) Our house, which we left two days ago for the boat (2) A view of the swamp across the creek (3) and a view down the creek toward Northwest Creek Marina.

We tried to get underway Monday and discovered the latest delay, a failed alternator regulator. We are awaiting an overnight shipment of a new regulator.

There have been a series of delays. First Dixie developed an inflamed knee for no obvious reason. A trip to the doctor statrted the healing process but she still cannot stay on the knee for a protracted period. Then the weather turned, bringing a gale with it and another delay. Now the electrical problem which should be resolved by tomorrow night; but the current weather forecast calls for another gale starting tonight and lasting for the next two days. Looks like we will not get away before Friday. We still plan on getting to Marathon by the end of December, but boat plans are written in sand at low tide; we'll see how things go. Stay tuned.

Chet Marks