Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

I thought about dressing up 'like a Pirate' 

but, that's my everyday clothes...

Pierced Cider House

It's COLD now - today.  A cold front blew in this weekend and it got down into the 50's at night.  I turned OFF my air-conditioner on Saturday and have only had Ports and Hatches open since.  (first time I've done that since returning to Florida back in June)  Last night i had to close hatches because it was so cold.  How cold is it?  It's so cold i had to sleep with socks on.  It's so cold i wore pajamas to bed.  It's so cold i turned off my fans.  It's so cold i'm wondering where i packed my warm sweater...  It's so cold i am considering actually wearing long pants!  (or at least wondering if i have any)

 A big school of Jacks are feeding in the marina. (the smaller fish are 18" and 3lb)

 Typical Sunset

A Handsome Pirate out bike riding

My Bike Routes

"No Go Zone"

 "Don't ride on the Alphabet Streets."  - city cops

Out Riding... a street in Ft. Pierce

Short Version;  i just learned, there are bad areas of town.   Areas where i 'might not want to ride.'  The NO GO ZONE.  Duhh.  Now you tell me?  I arrived in Ft. Pierce late June and have been riding Willy Nilly ever since.  Some Days i head North and other days i go South.  East is the boat and Atlantic, so everything is West when riding.  One day i left the marina and did a 'left, right turn' at every other corner.  Zig Zag along from street to street in a stair step effect.  Another spot i truly love to go is West along the Canal and then back down Avenue D.  Fast Forward to last week.  I'm sitting in Pierced Cider talking with some regulars and they ask me where i rode that day.  Great news, i had taken my SPOT device and made a Trek of the route.  So i showed them...   (put in scary Halloween music here) Oh horrors, i was riding in the No Go Zone.  They told me that Avenue D is the 'bad part of town.'  "That's where people get shot."  Well Shit.  Shot!  I have not heard any gunfire.  Everyone i meet is friendly and waves.  (perhaps they think I'M the crazy guy.  I'm the one to be afraid of?)  

Earlier this week i spoke with a police officer about where to ride.  He said, "dont go on the alphabet streets."  I'm more cautious, but still ride my same route.  Everyone still waves and i keep riding.  

Plans for AFTER hurricane season - TBD

Dont be skeered.  it's just Halloween.     -skip

The air is cooler but NOT cold. Fall in Florida.

I'm still working and planning for my next seasons voyage.  Hurricane season ends after November and then I can go spend another boating season over in the Bahamas.  I'm looking to go further south in December and head to George Town.  More on that later along with some maps and charts.  

This MAP above is my 'big bike ride' course.  It takes me about 3 hours to peddle this big loop.  Three long hot sweaty hours.  But at the far end of the western edge is the best Taco Shop in town!  So i always try to plan my lap to hit there at lunchtime.   Ahhhhh the good life!  I'll miss Tacos in the Bahamas.

- Pirate Skip

Wow what a week. Hurricanes, bike rides and meds.

My heart goes out to my friends in Apalachicola and all along the Panhandle of Florida.  I hope Hurricane Michael did not damage their spirits when he smashed their little towns.  It's our lead story on every news cast.  Hopefully things can get back to normal soon all along the coast.

Now, here on the East Coast...  The other day i put the SPOT onto 'hike mode' for tracking and carried it with me for a bike ride around the neighborhood.  I just go out for exercise and meander around taking different routes each day.   The marina sits on the extreme right edge (with the boat out in the water) and the La Haciendita Super Taqueria sits on the extreme left edge.  The Pierced Cider House is mark #14 near the marina.  This is my neighborhood.

Ft. Pierce City Marina

Today's Funny Story?  How i accidentally threw away all my meds.  I keep them in a Publix grocery bag.  (like the Walgreens bag shown in this picture from when i went and replaced them all)  But apparently when i was travelling recently i moved the meds from the Publix bag into the black tote that i moved 3 times while searching.  I didnt find them till after i went to Walgreens, spent $112 to replace everything and then finally when putting them back into the cubby i heard the little jingle of pills.  I had torn the place apart looking for that Publix bag with my vitamins in it...   I figured the only explanation was that I had accidentally thrown it out thinking it was a bag of trash.

The meds sit down in a cubby below the shelf.

multiple times i moved aside 3 bags to check the cubby looking for my Meds to refill the pill tray.

AFTER i replaced everything, i found them.  Ouch!

Now I'm keeping them in a clear ziplock bag

- Idiot Pirate Skip

Prodigal and I are safe

My thoughts are with those over on the Florida Panhandle.  I hope my little town of Apalachicola is OK.

Prodigal sits in Ft. Pierce on the East Coast.  South and East about 350 miles away.  We have increased wind but no fear of damage.

thanks for worrying.      -Skip

More PLANNING NEEDED

I have been getting more and more 

questions about my travel plans.  

"Where will you go next?"  "When do you plan to leave?"  "Where will you spend next hurricane season?"  GOSH.  Is it time to decide all this?  I've been taking life one day at a time this summer.  Now I'm expected to plan a year in advance...  Let me catch my breath.  I'll start thinking about all this now.

Any sailing ideas or advice are welcome.

On land, my recent 'work' has been boring but important.  Got a flu shot earlier this week.  Yesterday i 'saw' an Optometrist and got a new prescription for glasses.  (the little doctor was asking me when i got the old glasses?  i dont remember.  A long time ago.  I still use the original frames i bought with my first pair-o-glasses.  maybe 20 years?) I think i'll go out and do a very long bike ride today and think about sailing.  WHO will go with and help me?  Any interest in going?  Let me know.                                - Skip