Update

It's been a long time since I've updated our blog site!! We are currently in Lake Worth, Florida, waiting for a window to cross to Lucaya, Grand Bahama Island en route to the Exumas. We are, or at least we were, a month ahead of last year's schedule. Unfortunately we don't anticipate a suitable weather window until at least next week so .... Just to recap our adventures since October:

We left Oriental and travelled the ICW to Beaufort, NC; visited our favourite spice shop to stock up on hot stuff. After an overnight from Beaufort and we arrived early morning in Wrightsville Beach; weather was crappy and sooooo cold we decided to stay in the ICW for the next leg to Southport where we splurged on a marina night at the St. James Plantation Marina (electric heaters). We had a great trip down the Cape Fear River with the tide and actually clocked 10.6 knots - the fastest Sea Holly has ever been!! Stayed inside to Charleston since the weather has stayed so cold - can't believe we have turned so soft - you would think we should be used to the cold north wind!

Overnight from Charleston to Fernandina Beach - Florida finally!! but it's still cold. Had a great visit with Jean and Bev (our Nova Scotia neighbors) on El Rio as they were just getting the boat ready to put in the water.

Outside again from Fernandina to St. Augustine and this time anchored north of the bridge opposite the Castillo San Marco, what a beautiful spot. We stayed in St. Augustine for my birthday - visited Sailor's Exhange and ate caramel apples, my favourite.

It's turned cold AGAIN so back inside. Stopped at New Smyrna Beach at the newly renovated City Marina (dug the electric heaters out again). New Smyrna is a great little town and the farmer's market was wonderful, especially the bread truck!! Many of us got stopped by the Environmental Police checking sanitation disposal and unfortunately many got fined as well; pretty stiff $250 per head. Luckily all waste on Sea Holly automatically goes to a holding tank so although we were checked, we passed!!

Bad weather coming so we pushed to arrive in Vero before it. Back in Vero Beach for provisioning but determined not to stay toooo long this year. We were here for the US Thanksgiving celebration and what a great time it was. About 180 cruisers got together for dinner - that's a lot of food and we sampled most everything - WOW!! Had a lovely visit with old friends; did the bus route to Walmart, etc. and then on our way again.

We anchored in Peck Lake for several days as it's one of Abby's favourites. We walked the beach for miles and Abby dug trench after trench looking for crabs. She's pretty good at finding them but I don't know how she stands all that sand up her nose.

Next stop - Lake Worth to wait for a window to cross to Lucaya. At least we are far enough south that it is warm finally, although the wind is supposed to be northerly for the next week so we'll see if the sweatshirts come out again. Surely we won't need the heater????

Ok, the easy way to transit the ICW, good seat at least until one of those darn power boats speeds by!! 

Abby's not minding the cold weather too much! 

The sunsets are incredible!! 

St. Augustine's North Anchorage 

We anchored off the Castillo San Marcos in St. Augustine, Fl. 

We are ready for Oriental's annual Block Party. About 200 cruisers and locals gathered for the event, fabulous food and even better atmosphere. Oriental has to be one of the best places to visit. The logo for the town is of course a dragon but apparently the town got it's name from a ship that went to the bottom back in 1780 just when the little town needed a name. You guessed it, the name of the ship was Oriental. We plan to leave today to head for Beaufort, NC and then go outside the ICW to Wrightsville Beach. We are enjoying each stop on the trip this year, it's nice not to hurry. 

Here's the host of the Oriental block Party, Tenessee Bob. The gloves are to serve the pig, everyone got a huge handful of roasted pig with BBQ sauce (used a spoon for the sauce). Note the mason jar, Bob's famous Tenessee moonshine. Of course, Sea Holly's liquor cabinet has been stocked. 

Pies lined up for the apple pie contest. The cruisers at Deaton's Yacht Services got together and we submitted a pie with a sailboat on it. We didn't win anything but it tasted good! 

Block party in Oriental, the tables were loaded with amazing food. 

Shrimp Boats in Oriental Harbour 

This Mainship trawler has one of the best names. In case you can't see it on the photo, the name of the boat is Miss Mymoney. 

Abby and I outside the "Girls Club" in Elizabeth City. 

One of the historic homes on Main Street in Elizabeth City, North Carolina 

We arrived in Elizabeth City at the end of the Dismal Swamp Canal. What a wonderful stop. The dockage is complimentary and every lady is presented with a rose. There is also a complimentary wine and cheese get together for all the cruisers every afternoon - fantastic hospitality in a beautiful city. 

An aft view of the Dismal Swamp. 

After leaving Norfolk we decided to try the Dismal Swamp route instead of the busy Virginia Cut. It was absolutely beautiful and serene and except for the occassional "bump" with our 6 foot draft we were fine. There was plenty of water, just a few things under the water! 

We left Annapolis and spent the night in this beautiful anchorage on the Rhode River en route to Norfolk. 

The other side of Port Annapolis Marina 

Port Annapolis Marina, we needed a sketch to find Sea Holly! 

We've been in Annapolis since Oct 3 at the Port Annapolis Marina in Back Creek. It's pretty neat; we dinghy across Back Creek to the public dock at the end of Sixth Street and Walk about 5 blocks to the Bascule Bridge that crosses Spa Creek and we are in Annapolis. We spent two full days at the boat show; climbed on and off so many boats that we can hardly tell one from another any more and attended as many seminars as our old brains would allow. This afternoon we concentrated on the "high end" boats - wow. I think our favourite was the Cabo Rico 54, right down to the hand carved bed posts! The Halberg Rossey and Gozzard came a close second. We actually didn't like the Oyster or Swan even though the Oyster was a boat show bargain at just $950,000. Although our primary purchase was at the boat show was to be a glass bottomed bucket so we could see our anchor - we couldn't find one!! We did buy an auxillary fridge/freezer so we can have ice and frozen veggies instead of canned! Ray collected more free hats, tee shirts and pens than he could carry. Lots of neat stuff, beautiful boats and zillions of people. We stopped at the Pusser's Rum booth on the way home and had a "painkiller" with take home tin cups! We plan to leave Annapolis on Tuesday and head "south". 

The Annapolis Boat Show - we walked every inch!! 

Spa Creek in Annapolis, lots of boats!! 

Here we are in historic Annapolis.  

Our holly leaves look pretty tiny from the deck. 

I know that frog is in here somewhere!!