Destin again....

Destin, Florida.  I think I'm almost a regular here?  

I have a couple of shout outs today.  First, David Cox asked me today "why are you not hitting the spot?"  i informed him the Spot is for transit, to show movement and i only hit it when i'm moving.  He said, "Bull Shit.The SPOT is so WE can tell where you are. So hit it once a day."  Well, i've given this some thought and i cant find fault with his logic.  If he is checking the spot to see where i am, then yes, i have to hit the spot to be seen.  If  i'm not moving then once a day is plenty of hitting.  So i'm going to hit the spot when i make coffee each morning.  Then David will know where i am.  Thank you David.   (David threatened me some months ago with 'dragging me down to a local Veterinarian to implant a dog tracking device in my neck.'  So this seems a pretty fair compromise.)

Second shout out is the lovely and talented Rachel Wing.  (recently married so back off guys)  Rachel works in the marina office in kemah and she asked today, "Why are you anchored out in the middle of a channel?  Couldn’t someone run over your anchor line or hit you?"  Another great question...

Rachel, yes.  Yes they could.  BUT i'm all lit up.  Plus, i'm in an anchorage.  (they tell us to anchor here) I use my anchor light at the top of the mast and also put out some extra lights so i will be very visible because yes there is a lot of boat traffic through here.  It pretty much dies down after dark though.  Here are some shots i took of the boat at anchor.  (note: the first few days i was here they were having an outlaw challenge with lots of fast noisy cigarette boats so i put out the extra lights and decided to leave them)

 These two are hung on the lifelines forward at the bow.  blue & white.

This shows where i'm anchored.  Right out in the middle.

 My great photography work showing here!  stop rocking the boat...

I'm not worried about other boats not seeing me.

The entrance to the harbor is very narrow and always busy with boat traffic.  I'm down on the other end where it's quiet and slower.

It was a lovely day with a nice breeze.  I got a bike ride in and took some photos.  All good on the water in Destin.  I hope your anchor does not get hit wherever you are anchored.  -Capn Skip

Destin with Card

I got it.  My new MasterCard arrived.  thank goodness.  I dont know what else i could have done? But now i am back - a spending machine!

First thing this morning i did some paperwork.  Paid some bills.  Same stuff you do on shore.  (it's just more exciting here on the water)

Then I did my entire normal Destin routine, lower dingy, put the bike in and go to shore.  Ride 1.3 miles to the UPS store. While there shop at WinnDixie next door.  Get a gallon of milk and race back to the boat with it.  Eat lunch then lower dingy and go to shore.  Buy a slice of PIE and slowly savor each bite. Return to the boat and take a short nap.  Cook dinner and type something.  Next stop - sleep.

Tuna (from WinnDixie)

It was a great day here on the water.  The wind has clocked around from the other direction and picked up a little blowing a nice 10-13knots.  (E/NE)  No one seems worried about the weather. However they all talk about it.  Thanks for the breeze!

I think i'll read my book on Kindle now and practice going to sleep.  The sun comes up early here!

-Capn Skip

Monday in Destin FL

My goals were few and they included PIE.

6:28am at anchor

i worked on the boat till after lunch.  In fact i took a very short nap right here on the couch.

Then i took the dinghy to shore and rode the bike - past this - the laundry place.

2:30pm. TO THE KEY LIME PIE.  The waitress handed me the plate and asked, "do you want extra whip-cream?"  I'm sure my mouth dropped open and i just locked up.  I was dumbstruck.  EXTRA whip cream?  Is that done?  Why had i never known about that and / or ever been asked before?  She just laughed and grabbed the plate back and did her business.  It was not extra, it was perfect!

Then i rode to the UPS store 

to get my replacement MasterCard...

Remember they cancelled mine due to fraud.  I am waiting here in Destin for it's arrival.  That was Thursday.  So, you guessed it - no card.  I called MasterCard to inquire.  "Hey where's my card?"  (the Filipinos told me Saturday or Monday arrival)  This time i got a lady at a call center in Delaware.  She looked me up in the computer and informed me, they sent it regular mail to my old PO box in Texas.  I was livid.  (that means very angry with extra disappointment on top, kinda like whip cream)  I told the lady, "i hope you are recording this call for training purposes like your message says."  Then she says to expedite a shipment to me she will charge me $6.  (expedite?  i've been waiting since last Thursday)  i had a similar situation years ago where i was on a flight and when i landed they - MasterCard - had left me a message about card fraud and that they had cancelled my card.  They overnight-ed me a new card to my hotel, into my hand the next day.  This time i speak to the Philippeans and cant get anything, plus they want to charge me $6?  The lady on the phone acts like it's my fault.  "Sir you could have asked for a transfer to a US phone contact."  (duhh  like i knew about that?  that's as secret as extra whip cream)  I DIDNT KNOW i could request an english speaking person.  Life is tough with all this learning....      The lady today said they removed the fraud charges, but i dont trust them anymore.  I'll call again tomorrow and request an honest person.  'Do you have an honest english speaker i can talk to?'  --- So picture this, while this conversation is going on, i'm sitting on the floor in the produce aisle at the WinnDixie.  the english speaking lady in Deleware is asking me for the address to the UPS store i want the card overnight-ed to.  "Lady, i dont have the address with me.  Look in your computer, i gave it to the Filipinos."   she looks - it says, "cant send" and they never even tried to send it where i told them.  Never wrote down the address.  Breaks my heart.  Where is the trust?

Sunset photos.  one from the cockpit view.  

Sitting here relaxing and not talking to anyone, about anything!

Remember if you call and cant understand them, dont hang up, ask to be transferred to the US.  

I hope you dont have any fraud.  i guess that's kinda like i was attacked by Pirates?

Aaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrr!  Capn Skip

Sunday - Destin

I only had one thing on my agenda for today....    Key Lime Pie.

I never got any.  On the way there it started raining and i took shelter at some condo's where they were having an open house.  (figured they wouldn't throw me out since i was invited)  While standing on the porch waiting for the rain to pass, a local stopped to visit.  It seems that they have a "great Sunday Brunch special at the british pub.  (the other way from the Pie)  so i took off following the rain and got the special.  Six egg omelet with a Filet.  Plus it comes with an Irish coffee, grilled potatoes and two beignets.  (i've got half of it in my fridge now)  After all that i didnt get the pie.

I was started back toward the pie when i met a lady at another condo place.  I asked her if their building had a washer and dryer?  (duhh)  She about talked me to death but they had two really nice ones.  So i blew off the pie and ran back out to the boat and did 2 loads of laundry.

A few Tee Shirts didnt dry completely so i put them in the cockpit.  Real White Trash!

That was pretty much my day.  Oh, and i listened to church on the radio this morning.  It was the story about Jonah again.  They always follow that with the Prodigal son and it makes me feel wanted. So, here i sat on the s/v Prodigal, listening to church in Pensacola talk about the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  I went full circle today.  BUT i never got any pie.

My bike, in front of my dingy, in front of my sailboat.

Tomorrow is Pie Monday!     from the water in Destin,   Skip

Saturday in Destin 8.27th

I dont know for sure what I'll do today.  

But let me tell you, I'M SORE.  

I'm sore from head to tail.  I hope at the end of the day i have nothing to post.  Perhaps that i fell asleep in the shade, or that i finished a good book.  Instead I'll probably try to get some laundry done. It's tough being a Pirate.

I was just enjoying my coffee and remembered i never posted the shots of the WWII airplanes from Thursday.  I guess I'm slipping.  Here are a few shots of the harbor.

 Note:  I'm anchored in the middle of the harbor.  These two boats are both coming right at me, but they split and went one on each side.  Imagine how many boats came by today a busy Saturday.  It was like sitting on the curb watching a parade.

Destin, FL. a lovely day for a bike ride....

I am still sitting on the hook in Destin.  MasterCard cut up my 'fraud card' yesterday and I'm waiting for a replacement to arrive.  (that story about the Filipino call center was yesterday.) So today i decided to do some minor chores.  Clean the Filters to the Fridge and Freezer,  Go find that key lime pie and shop for a few minor items ashore.

PIE!   Yum...

But first clean filters and de-frost Fridge and Freezer.

The fridge and freezer compressors are air cooled and live up in a tiny cabinet.  i had to buy a miniature screw driver to open the case for cleaning.  The photo makes it look like i've never cleaned it before....   It was a little dusty.

After doing the routine maintenance on the Fridge and Freezer i gathered up the bike into the dingy and went out to have some lunch and PIE.  I was also in search of a Micro SD card, some Carburetor cleaner and to copy 2 keys.  (it's always good to have spares in an environment where dropping a key means a loss.)

As i coasted up to the pie shop i broke the shift changer on my bike.  it would not come out of first gear.  So i looked up a bike shop while i ate lunch.  It looked just down the road on the tiny phone screen....   7.5 miles each way.  It took me hours of riding.  More new muscles to protest.

Start at the black dot in the harbor and then dingy to shore off on the left end.  get on your bike and ride to the right, into another town.  My butt is tired!  I'm sunburned.  But i want to give out a big shout out to Rose and John of Coastal Cruisers for such quick customer service.  $26 and a few hours riding is all it took to get me back in the saddle.  (i left the boat at 11am and got back at 6p.  All that time spent riding)  If you are in Destin and need anything related to bikes, or scooters, call Rose!

note: the outboard ran fine.  I'm about to eat my fresh Grouper - From Sexton Seafood Market.  How could life be better?  I bought Grouper cheek meet.  It's said that it's sweeter.  *Fresh daily key lime PIE for desert!  Yes, be jealous.

Good Night Sweet Cheeks.

-the tired and sore Capn Skip

ps.  i almost forgot.  When i got back to the dingy one of the kids who work at the Marina was on his cell phone talking.  As i walked by he said, "hi" to me.  then the other person on the phone must have asked him 'who was that.'  Because he said into the phone, "Oh, just some old guy who lives on his boat and uses our dock for tying off his dingy."  *This kid looks just like Buzzy did in College.  he does not remind me of Buzzy.  He looks just like him.  i'll try to get a photo if i see him again.

Here i am today with coffee at 7:15 am.  before riding to hell and gone.  Now, do i LOOK like "some old guy?"  yep i guess i do....