Updating 2024-25

 After reviewing my last couple posts, I see that I have not updated some of the work Carter has accomplished since Thanksgiving last year.  As an explanation, I'll tell you that this past January, I (Diane) was diagnosed with cancer and was pre-occupied in Tennessee with surgeries and treatments for the next six months.  Carter made a couple trips down to Florida and accomplished a few projects whenever I was well enough for him to step out for a minute and of course, I joined him when I was able.  I am happy to report that at this point in time, I am cancer free and feeling fine. 

Before all the work got started, Carter and I took the Archimedes out to participate in a Christmas boat parade in early December.  Each year, we try to participate in a boat parade somewhere in the area that we currently happen to be, which we chose Ponte Verde this year.  This cruise up the St. Johns River and down the ICW to Ponte Verde was awesome!.. Super COLD but Awesome.

Jacksonville is always an experience.  The free City Dock was closed due to damage caused by the latest hurricane forcing us to run late into the evening to reach a spot behind an island that is safe for us to anchor, out of the way of cargo ships.

The night lights in Jacksonville are a stunning site to see.

Sunrise means it's time to get on down the road so we can make it to the ICW in time to ride in on the flood tide and follow it on down the ICW for as long as it lasts.

It's nice to be back in the waters where the dolphins play!

Ponte Verde for the Christmas Boat Parade.

Unfortunately, it was SO cold that entire trip that we were unable to stay outdoors long enough to get all our lights out but we feel that we got enough out to make a decent showing.  We normally have all the solar panels outlined.  The forward main array did not get done this year.

Now, for the work that got done ... 

The top deck finally got it's last coat.  I think it looks SO nice!

At the same time, Carter worked on the sun deck.  He finished scraping all the old paint off , I had been working on that for several months last year, and he repainted it with liquid rubber with non-skid.  

We really like it.

Carter also put a fresh coat of polyurethane on the companion way doors to spruce them up a little.

Main Companion Way

Engine Room Entrance

And then it was back to Tennessee for the summer. 

See you in the fall when we will be installing the last of the new solar panels 

and the new electric motor!!

June 1, 2025 - Life Gets Wonky At Times

 It's been a little over a year since I've posted here.  Our summer in Tennessee went well last year completing several projects to the property and a fun project for Carter.  He found a "free to a good home" 27' Buccaneer and decided it would make a great electric boat for the lakes in Tennessee.  So...it came home.  Carter and his son Nick loaded up the boat from Watauga Lake onto Nicks flatbed trailer and it stayed in the yard for quite a while until Carter found a proper trailer for it.  But now they needed a way to transfer the boat from the flatbed onto the trailer.  Nick got hold of some leftover scaffolding and the two of them built a boat lift.  Works great!

On our last trip to Palatka to pump out and fill up water before heading back to Tennessee, we ran into a boat from the days back in LaBelle.  The Amara Zee.

We spent the first night out in Deep Creek after running away from a huge storm front.  We anchored just inside Deep Creek when the storm passed right over top of us.

The next morning we headed down to Palatka and ran into a young couple that has begun their journey to 100% solar power travel.  Their sail boat is Horus and they have a YouTube channel named Sailing Horus.

We returned back to our home port and departed for the summer in Tennessee.