Ship of Imagination for a Voyage of Dreams: December 2023

December 2, 2023 - Let the 2023 Winter Season Begin

We left Tennessee a couple days after Thanksgiving in a hurry to arrive to the boat and immediately leave for a rondeaux in Merritt Island with Bob to pick up the solar panels. We arrived and immediately rented a U-Haul trailer to haul the pallet to Bonita Drive. All went well with the pick up and then the unloading of the pallet into our new Conex. Carter had come down here about 1 1/2 months ago and purchased a 20' Conex. The delivery truck couldn't get it placed too far back into our property so Carter rolled it Egyptian style into place with 2 wenches. It worked great.

So onward to Merritt Island to pick up the pallet of solar panels.

As soon as we unloaded this, we went to return the rental trailer, and on the way back to the property, the truck decided to break down. We called triple A and got towed back to the property, leaving us with no ground transportation at all. So, we untied the Arc and headed for Palatka. Ha! There is always a solution. The first night we anchored out at Mason Creek. The next morning Carter pressure washed the top deck which is one of the first matters of business upon our return for the season. Later that day we continued on to Palatka and anchored at the SE side of Palatka Bridge which is within walking distance of the auto parts store and CVS pharmacy so I could pick up my meds.

We got the parts needed to fix the truck and headed back to the property after stopping by Crystal Cove Marina for the regular maintenance items.

Carter got the truck fixed just in time to head back to Tennessee for his final EPA Cert class in Lebanon. He will drop me off at the house and then head on over to the class.

We brought the Rebel down with us when we returned to the property and found the water was REALLY high after some pretty serious rain.

After the water receded enough, Carter and I pumped the water out of Ellen. Let the daily rowing begin!

Not much happening now until after the holidays and a trip to VA to visit Jeff and family.

May 30th, 2023 - Update on Driveway Culvert and visit from Jeff and Family

The winter season is over and we have completed all of the projects we started. Didn't get to all the projects that we would have liked to but...we are getting older and more tired.

Carter did complete the culverts for the driveway and they look good.

Jeff, Stacy and boys flew down for a quick visit so we took them for a short cruise over to Deep Creek. They also rented a house in St. Augustine so Carter and I went over to spend the day with them at the beach. It was all good. They also took my car and drove over to Pensacola to visit with Jeff's Marine buddy and family.

May 16, 2023 Update - More Paint Removal and Driveway Culvert

Carter has been keeping very busy with the paint removal on the superstructure and is almost completely finished. There is only one small section on the port side under the handrail and then the front side around the hatch. I've been helping him out by 'managing the fire'. The paint burns and I put it out so he doesn't have to stop his process. It goes a little bit faster. It's getting too hot to do this stuff but...he will continue until he gets to the primer stage. Next he will fix some spots with fairing compound, then sand, and then paint with primer. THEN it's time to head north.

Thought I would take a pic of the measuring stick we made to let us know when we can leave the dock.

See the tie wrap? I'll take another pic at low tide.

Work around here gets done when that specific area is in the shade. The driveway is in the shade in late afternoon so Carter was out last night until dark and got the north side culvert ready for inspection.

May 12, 2023 Update - Paint Removal

After testing several different methods of removing paint, Carter has determined that burning with the blow torch is the most effective, efficient and fastest method of removing 40 years of paint down to the fiberglass. It still is taking a generous amount of time...but it is getting there.

daily life

I've been rowing for the past 3 months. Gee, it doesn't seem that long. I've lost almost 15 pounds. That's good!

It's kind of hard to tell just how far away the sail boat is when you can't even hardly see it! Look for the mast...that's how far I am rowing...on a good weather day.

We've been taking time to explore a couple of the canals in the area.

Moccasin Creek