PHOTOS from the Gulf

A 'gathering spot' in St. Pete and the start of Ricks Irish Car Bomb...

Calm seas in the gulf as I'm on watch.

Sunrise

Cousin Rick styling (not just a pretty face)

Some of the many oil rigs in the gulf

It's great to be back in Kemah, safe, and tied to the pier.

-tired pirate skip

 

Safely across the Gulf of Mexico

 

calm seas in the gulf all week

the MANY big boats at anchor awaiting their turn at the docks

Cousin Rick and I arrived back in Texas to a big band and surprise party in my honor.  (not)  It's great to be back and safe!  Thanks to all 3 crews for your help and to all the Mom's who prayed for calm seas and safe passage.  It was very calm!

More later,   Skip

Departure

St Pete in my rearview mirror. Look out, here we come.

 

Depart WEDNESDAY 6.23 for Kemah TX

We are scheduled to depart in the AM.  

We will hit the SPOT to show you our position along the way.  (if using a cell phone, you need to 'find' the spot.  at the very bottom of your screen is a link to: "View Web Version."  this link will take you to a different view where the SPOT lives. *the Web Page will come up and in the right hand column is the link to the SPOT.)

WEEK ONE:

Key West barmaide

A colorful group.  (see crew photobombing)

Cam, David and I going through Miami

WEEK TWO:

Charles, Skip, Cam & Doug

St. Petersburg FL

crew departing for the airport

Marathon where the weeks met.

St. Petersburg looking at flights.

St. Petersburg FL

WEEK THREE: 

TBD

Departure Wednesday 6.23rd

Prodigal will begin her voyage home tomorrow.  

Cousin Rick arrived with a minimumal delay.  ("our plane got hit by lightening and they are flying in a replacement to DFW from Cabo San Lucas.")

Today we will do some last minute grocery stuff and boat prep.  I plan to work in a nap somewhere...

hope all is well with you.

-Pirate Skip

Crew #2 is flying out in the AM - St. Petersburg FL

 Cam, Charles and Doug have flights home tomorrow from Tampa.  (tampa airport is about 20 min East of here.)  Cousin Rick is scheduled to fly in on Monday for crew #3 and the leg across the gulf.  Now that the storm has landed and moved north its going to be safe to cross the gulf.

I'm tied up to the St Petersburg City Municipal Dock...  the AC is chillin and beer is cold.  Wish you were here too.

-Pirate Skip

Living the dream?

 At sea under sail to St. Pete, the city marina for my 3rd crew....

Thur to Venice

 

At sea with rain...

Any port in a storm...  it rained hardest whenever I got out of the enclosure. 

We are tied to the marina Venice Fl.  Depart 7am to St. Petersburg Fl, to the city marina.

Don't tell my crew but I'm tired...  I plan to set a record and get to sleep before my usual 8pm.  🤪

Route change to avoid storm - going to St. Petersburg

 

Crew for leg2.  skip, Cam Prock, Doug Haye, Charles Anglin arrived yesterday.

I have made a decision to sail up to St. Petersberg and let this storm cross safely in front of us.

We will just do some day sails and arrive St. Pete Friday 6/18th.  (Lord willing)

Shark River 55ml

Naples 67ml

Boca Grande 60ml

Venice 46ml

St Petersburg - city marina 

*Yes Aunt Nona, I've already called Cousin Rick to see if he can help me move Prodigal from St Petersburg to Kemah....   More on that later.  It's bedtime here.  6am will come early tomorrow and  the adventure will begin, again.

-skip

Safe at marina dock Marathon.

 In a bar.  

Today we are taking a DAY OFF @ Biscayne Bay

Ken and Keke Reed, Daphne AL. from my 'auto portion' of the trip.

Crew: Cam and David shown in Ft Pierce and Miami

Prodigal pushed against the pilings on my first attempt to depart.

Our anchorage the second night.

A 'cattle boat' fishing off Ft Lauderdale

Another super yacht like mine and Miami in the background.

Skip mud splattered from the chain but happy to be anchored on the second try and enjoying a coctail just off Key Biscayne.

 

Anchored just north of Ft. Lauderdale

 Today we went under 18 bridges and made it to our 'chosen' anchorage by 6pm. 

Sunrise at our anchorage.

"Under" is a bit tricky...  Most bridges today were about 30 feet and I need 57 feet clearance to get under.  *Calling the bridge tender is another story.  "Hey, can you open the bridge / raise the bridge for me to get under."  But most bridges are on a schedule of every half hour.  So if we show up early or late we dont get under.  We have to go in circles till it's time.

Tomorrow we are going to sail down to Key Biscayne.  Hopefully everything goes smoothly and we can just sit and rest the next day....

Im tired now and must go to sleep.            -Skip

Today we had an answered prayer.

I met "the Early Bird" at the marina 3 yrs ago.  Chris works on our Ft Pierce city marina docks every day.  Most days he's there working before I get out and about.  He washes and waxes luxury yachts.  (not like mine - the big expensive ones.)  Anyway, Chris and I have a passing friendship where we wave and say hello.  Well one day I gifted Chris two bacon wrapped filets.  One for him and one for his little wife.  

Last week I met the wife on the dock - as she often came over to drop Chris off, or pick him up.  Wifey asked me whether I wanted banana, chocolate chip, or blueberry muffins.  I requested the blueberry please.  

Cut to the chase.  I saw Chris on the dock yesterday and told him goodbye since I was leaving.  That night he informed Wifey I was leaving so she made some fantastic blueberry muffins.  AND she "prayed we would not be able to leave before she could deliver the muffins."

*The punchline?  When we pulled Prodigal off the dock this morning to depart at 7:30am, the very very strong current and wind pushed us sideways into the pilings.  We didnt hurt anything, we were just sideways waiting for the tide to turn so we could sail away.  We tied Prodigal to the posts and sat...    About 20 minutes later up walks Wifey with a basket of blueberry muffins.  SHE made us crash with her praying!  I thanked her for the muffins and asked her to change her prayer to a safe transit and arrival.  She obviously has an "in" on the prayer scene....

My great first leg crew: Cam Prock and David Cox.

We are anchored now just north of Jupiter Florida in a fat area just off the ICW.  We finished a great dinner of chicken stir fry and are now thinking about sleepy thoughts.  Tomorrow we have about 45 miles to transit for our next anchorage in Ft Lauderdale.

All is well - for now.           -Skip

Be careful what you pray for!