The Season has STARTED

Tis the Season!  Boating Season in Florida...

As the weather turns cold up North, boats start making their way South to winter in sunny Florida.  Every day we have boats coming and going from the marina.  I have gone for months with empty births surrounding me, and now they are all filling up.  My views are being blocked by very large luxury yachts.  (I'm once again the poor white trash of the docks.)  Yesterday morning Chuck and Kathy Johnson of s/v Parrot Tales took off on their planned trip down to the Caribbean.

Chuck and Kathy's planned route is, go 1,000 miles due East, then turn South.

This is a very ambitious plan.  I wish them well and watch with great anticipation to see their safe arrival way down island after a couple of weeks at sea.  *More on them as I learn it.

the planned route for Prodigal

I am still in the planning stages, but am getting commitments to help me sail away.  More on Prodigal soon.  It's a lovely start to November here in Florida.       - Pirate Skip

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