12/31/14 Wednesday Ft. Pierce, Fla

Happy New Year!! It's 11:00pm so close enough!! Well this has been the poorest weather we have had the entire trip!!! Rained pretty much the entire day!! We got up this morning and decided to make the 2 mile bike ride across to the beaches of Ft. Pierce traveling across the Intercoastal bridge!! It has a great bike path over the bridge but we could not make it peddling, had to get off and walk pushing the bike till we got to the top!!! Hehe Steep hill!!!! Coasting down the other side was great!!!!

We went to the Ft Pierce History museum and they did not open until 10am, so we had an hour to kill. Rode on down a ways and found Dave's Diner. A small local place looked about like a Waffle House. Enjoyed great coffee, eggs bacon grits and hash browns!!! Ohh wee!!! 

The museum was about all the history and mainly the Indians and the wars here. Rod does love his history. Ha   Then went over to the aquarium center right in the same block as the history museum, but had to ride to it in the rain !!! Not hard rain but just enought to know it was raining.  When we were finished there the rain had stopped so we decided we had better get back across that HUGH bridge just in case it started raining again. By the time we got back to the boat, I started raining harder and keep that up all afternoon. We decided to watch movies and wait it out. It did not stop till almost 8pm. But being stuck inside we walked down to the Tiki Hut and I had calamari, and Rod had a Mahi salad that was crusted with sweet potato!! All was yummy and sure beat cooking!!! Ha. 

We returned back to the boat as the wind was horrible and sat on the back porch of the boat and watched the fireworks over the water.  Always a treat!! I will not make it to midnight, Rod is already snoring, soooo Happy New Years to all!!! We have many blessings to count in 2014 and I send blessing to each of you in 2015!!!!

Much love to all, Fran and Capt Rod

Dave's Diner!!! A local place,we had a great breakfast!!

A replica of the first Ft. Pierce !!! 

Rod decided to sharpen his pocket knife on a stone used at the fort. Foot peddle power!!! 

12/30/14 Tuesday Fort Pierce, Fla

What a wonderful day!!! We were not sure we would make it to Ft. Pierce today!!! We had a great tide that pushed us and little boat traffic and made it to the marina around 1:30pm. The marina is about 1/2 mile off the waterway and in a cove with little wake!! We need a good nights sleep with no movement in the boat!!  hehe. After docking and securing our lines to the dock we showered and off we went to check out the town!! But of course first we took Lexie for a nice long walk and went and check in at the dockmaster office and paid for our rent for the next 5 days! We rode the streets to check out some of the places we want to fvisit while here. Had a late lunch at McDonalds, always a treat after many days with out a French fry!! ha Stopped at the visitors center and picked up brochures. Visited the manatee center and there again talked to some people about what are some of the great things to do here. After returning to the boat, and checking in on Lexie we again decided to go walk and see some of the Christmas lights here at the Marina. What a treat!!! I took so many pics today there is no way to share them all, it it takes forever to download many pics to the blog. I'll post my favorites of some I took today. Another day tomorrow we will decide in the morning what we want to do first !!!

Love to all, It's almost 2015!!!!!  Fran and Capt Rod

I took 16 pics of these guys today jumping and playing in our wake!! Great to have a nice camera to  catch this treasure. I was hangin out the window of the boat!! 

Lexie kept looking for the Dolphins for an hour!!

Jupitor Fla Lighthouse!!!

HUGH marina they just built 4 new docks and preparing for 4 more!! This marina can probably accommodate a couple hundred boats!

There is an entre city block full of peacocks!! They walk right up to you in hopes of you throwing food!!

There was a good 30-40 of these guys!! They walk in the street and actually stop traffic!! They own the whole city block!!, hehe 

These Palm tree lights move to Christmas music!, incredible!!! 

The city's Christmas tree!!! Beautiful!!

A Christmas Gazabo!!

12/29/14 Monday N. Palm Beach

Well today was a much better travel better than yesterday!!! A lot less boat traffic. 

The one bad thing about coming back is you travel and see the same thing, only backwards!! Ha

There is no other way back except the same way you went down. Weather is still beautiful had a little shower on us last night and the bridge had to be dried this morning ( as we did leave the windows open) but the hot sun dried it very quickly. It was fun yelling Happy New Year to all those we passed today. This year is almost gone!! 

We have planned our timing to be in Fort Pierce on News Years Eve. Paula and Jim tell us it's the best ever!! Hopefully see lots of fireworks and lots of activities going on in town that night. 

Saw the same things and took pics on our trip down so few to post tonight! I promise lots of pics from Fort Pierce. 

As always I send much love to each of you as you follow our journey and still ask you to pray for us!!

Fran and Capt Rod

Somehow I missed these Carolers on the trip down! They were life size!!

Saw theses party barges sittin in a bay near Ft. Lauderdale. Rod decided this would be our retirement business !!!  Hehe

There were several of these sitting in the bay!!!

A HUGH collection of sail boats in a cove!! Picture really don't show the magnitude of this collection. 

12/28/14 N. Miami, Fla

We discovered very early this morning NEVER TRAVEL MAJOR CITIES ON THE WATER ON SUNDAY ON A HOILDAY WEEKEND!!!! Coming across Biscayne Bay was smooth and a beautiful day till we got closer to Miami!!!  OMG!!!! the boat traffic was worse than I 95 !!!!  People driving 90% of the boats have no manners and just down right rude!!!! After we finally made it through the major downtown area it did improve some but even tonight on the north side of the city our boat is rocking with every boat passing for as agiain no manners and courtesy of anchored boats!!! Enough said about that, we will make it through the night and be on our way again tomorrow. Hopefully a better anchorage situation tomorrow night. We have had the most wonderful weather so there are blessings in all of this!, Ha 

We anchored in Hollywood a suburb of N. Miami. Left overs for dinner to hard to cook wth the boat rocking!!ha   Had a few computer issues today so, thank you Jim, via a phone call, for coming to my rescue and correcting those!! We are just resting this evening, a few TV channels available,  and will try and sleep soon as I want to be up and moving early!!

I am posting some pics I took today. 

Love to all, please continue to pray for our journey!!! Fran and Capt Rod

A collection of gathered boats right in the middle of the bay in a shallow area!! Bet there was not a beer anywhere!! Ha ha

I wish I could have gotten a pic of these balls in the water!!  People were in these rolling on the water!! Cool huh!! They are HUGH!!!!

12/27/14 Saturday Key Largo, Fla

Our 3rd day in Key Largo!!, such a friendly beautiful town!! We have seen about everything we can but this morning we decided to pack a picnic and go to the State park. Off we went in our trusty double seated bicycle (we have put many many mile on this thing!!) only about 1mile ride and when we got there, they said it was $2.50 per bike. And said will I guess it's just one bike although there are 2 on it so they just charged us $2.50 hehe. They lady said they had never had a 2 seater bike come in before!!

They park was packed!!! OMG!!! I have never seen so many people in a park before. We found a nice bench and ate our lunch, enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery. Then decided to go check out the glass bottom boat tours. There wer 25+ people in line for the next tour which was 2 hours away. So we chose not to wait that long. We decided to just ride the bike. Had a great time there. We left the park and decided on ice cream!!! Just across the street from the park an ice cream shop!!! I I enjoyed Pineaple mango sorbet and and Rod had Strawberry!! 

We went back to a marine surplus store, more like a boat parts yard sale and looked at their junk!! Hehe    Never know when you might find a treasure. 

Returned to the boat and picked up Lexie and took her to the park for some exercise and met up with with the people from Georgetown. They were have a group drinking party in the park!! Not our thing!!,

When we returned from the park we began talking about our friends Jim and Paula and both of us really felt the need to go there and support them with all they are going through right now, Jim will be having knee surgery in 2 weeks, and his has one of his twin boys that starts chemo tomorrow with stage 4 throat cancer. We just really feel we need to be there. We called and let them know we were coming to spend the rest of our vacation time in Sanford!!! I thought Paula was going to cry!!! They were sooooo excited. She said she thought she was dreaming!! ha  We know it is a God thing !!! If we listen He will tell us where we need to be!!, Sooo, plans are made we will be leaving Key Largo tomorrow morning and head back toward Jacsonville beach turn inland and go to Sanford for a month. It will take us a week or better to get there. And we will stop at Fort Pierce and spend a few days in the way back up as we had planned. 

I have posted some pics from today!! So excited to finally catch that ugarina (lizard) and got a good pic of him today!! We have seen several around. They are fast big critters!! I can't imagine having one of those things even getting near where I live!!!

Ready to pull up anchor tomorrow and head back in a north direction to Sanford. It's another 2 1/2 days back south again  from Jacksonville. 

I know we have made the right decision !!

Love to all and pray for our travels!! Fran and Capt Rod

A picnic in the park!! A nice man took our pic for us!!

This critter is better than 3 ft long!!!! I took several pics of him!! This was the closest I could get before he bolted away!!

This sunset has been a daily view!!! 

12/26/14 Friday Key Largo, Fla

Another day at Key Largo!!! We did not even set the alarm this morning but Rod was up early as usual. Went out early and rode bikes and picked up some needed supplies at a Publix Grocery store and then Ace Hardware. Came back and Rod did some maintance and washed the entire outside of the boat, boy was it filthy!!!  I cleaned the inside!!! Fun fun!!  

We then packed up all the garbage and Lexie in the dinghy and headed for the park to let her run play and do her thing!!, she so enjoys a dinghy ride which we call our limousine service!!! Hehe While at the park we enjoyed the Sandhill cranes, but the best was this HUGH eguaina (lizard) I mean 3 ft Long or better. And could he run fast!!! Oh my gosh!! He ran across the entire yard of the park and into the brush in 3-4 seconds!!! He was bright green in color!!, what a surprise!! No pic of him he was like lightning !!

We brought her back to the boat and again we took off to ride and see the town. Rode some of the back streets to see where the locals live, found a West Marine boat store, and made a few purchases of things needed!! Always boat things needed when you live on a boat!!! It's like going to Lowes when you own a house!!!

Found a local farmers market and picked up some local produce. Also a lady there was making fresh guacamole !! Yum!!! Could not resist taking some of that !!!

Brought those goodies back to the boat and decided to check out a local restaurant for supper to night. We both had a great house salad, of which I chose the house dressing of mango and poppy seed!! It was fabulous!!! Rod had a seafood platter, Mahi, oysters, scallops, and shrimp !! I had fresh made lobster rolls with a tihia sauce. We could eat not more!!!! Rode off a few calories for a while and came back to the dinghy dock to go home and ran into a friend from Georgetown!!! What a surprise. Talked with him for a while, he said Marty his wife  was on their boat. we may get together tomorrow. 

On return to the boat we sat out on the front and enjoyed the beautiful sunset!!! What a treat!! Lexie just enjoyed our time with her !! Ha   pics below!  Not much for TV here so, movie night tonight!! Rod is choosing the movie now!! We saw a state park today so we may go there tomorrow with a picnic and spend some time. Fun day and a clean boat!!! Ha

Love to all, and hope all are still enjoying the Christmas goodies, food and presents!!

Fran and Capt Rod

Flocks of Sandhill cranes in the park. Lexie first stands and stares as she can not believe they are not afraid of her. The. She runs toward them and they fly off. But they come right back!!

Our limo service coming to pick Lexie and I up!!

The Fish House for dinner!!! Great local  place!!

Enjoying the sunset from the boat!!! What a way to end the day!!!

12/25/14 Thursday Key Largo Christmas Day

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!   I so hope that each of you have had a great day!!  Rod and I spent the day in travel and lots of time texting, calling & on face time!!! So much fun to hear from the grandkids and all about their Christmas day!!! Crossing Biscayne Bay took all day but as Rod promised we would be in Key Largo by Christmas, and we made it!!!!

The wind was bad today but did have it pushing us the entire trip across this HUGH body of water. We made 10 MPH almost all day. A little overcast but still almost 88-90 degrees!!!!

We docked at Tarpon Bay here in Key Largo and got the dinghy down and took a ride over to the park and let Lexie run and play a little and do her thing on grass as she loves to do!! Ha

We just relaxed after the long trip today and talked to Sherry a little to get the scoop on the family day they had. Rod then informed me that the wind had picked up and our anchor was not holding well. He was really afraid to leave us here for the night. So, up the anchor came and we moved about 1/4 mile over into a cove. Where we felt was holding much better and sheltered some from the wind. We now have a longer dinghy ride tomorrow, but that can be fun as it is mine and Lexie Limo ride to land, and we do enjoy the trip! Hehe    Our Christmas dinner!!! Chicken Bog!! It was yummy!!!

Showered and In my Jammys I am set for the evening. Planning to go bike riding tomorrow. It's a must to find some groceries!! Need some fresh veggies, milk and eggs!! The boat must be washed in the next day or so, it's a job, but a mess from all the salt water and crud from the waterway!!  Rod will clean the outside I'll do the inside!!! Even on vacation chores still must be done at some point!!!

We had a good Christmas and I do pray all of our family and friends did also!!! We celebrated Santa but also took time to remember the true meaning of Christmas the birthday of our Lord and Savior. I hope each of you did too!!  The year 2014 is almost over and we feel so blessed to have this opportunity to travel again!!  God has been good to us this year, and He has watched over us each day on this journey. 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers!! 

Much love to all and again, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Fran and Capt Rod

Rod loves sporting no shirt, and bragging about how hot it is!!! Hehe

Right in the middle of Miami bay!! Here was a board of directors meeting of the Pelicans and sea gulls!!

(I forgot to reset the time on my camera after I charged the battery last night, this was taken today) 

We are docked right in front of this resort!, beautiful place!! Of course we did have to move on down  little farther to get out of the wind as our anchor did not hold well here !!! 

12/24/14 Wednesday Miami, Fla Christmas Eve

Santa is on his way!!!! We have had a great trip today traveled 60 miles fighting a 15-20 MPH wind most of the day!! 88'degrees !!! You just got to love it!!!! Slow day as the majority of the old bridges in Florida are low bridges and require opening and closing for boat traffic every 30 minutes, so if you ar there early you have to sit and wait for the time of opening!!! Sure did put a kink in our time schedule as one bridge we had to wait an hour and 45 mins due to construction on the bridge!!, Rain is expected tonight!! We anchored just south of Miami at Hollywood !! Christmas Eve dinner was an assortment of leftovers, that needed to eaten!! We will contact the kids this evening and see if we can see what they are doing on his Christmas Eve!!! Fun day coming through Fort Lauderdale as it is city of mega yachts and homes!!! Decorations were fantastic!!! Hope for a good travel day tomorrow, sure would like to be in the keys tomorrow but I really doubt it!! Crossing the bay to the keys in a lot of wind is NOT fun!! Rod Is very optimistic and says we will be there!! Hehe    May have to delay!!!  Love to all, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!  Fran and Capt Rod

Got to love it when you want to see snow soooo bad you cover your yard in fake stuff!!  hehe

These people even put Santa ready to go down the chimney !!

OR we could have all just scheduled to get on this cruise ship as a lot of people were doing and go to the Bahamas!!! Our boat looked like a dinghy as we went by!!!  Hehe

12/23/14 Tuesday Palm Beach, Fla

Ok!!! This is our first and hopefully our last day of disaster !!! Got up as planned 6am. Pulled up anchor right at 7am, moved 50 feet, WE HIT A SAND BAR!!!! Boat stopped dead, would not move another foot. Rod did all he knew to do!!! We had to call a tow boat!!! Thank God for good insurance!! He arrived in about 30 minutes and after an evaluation of our situation ( not being able to see under the water) we told me to make sure the inside was stable as he was going to have to rock the boat off the sand bar!!! I tied down and secured all I could, but still my furniture turned over !! After about 30 minutes he was able to get us free and got us over into the channel, over about another 50-75 feet!!! What a mess I had to clean up, but thank you Lord we are safe and nothing was broken!!!! On down the waterway we went, but my stomach never recovered. I was either sick, sitting on the toilet, or lying in the bed pretty much the rest of the day!!!  I was not much good helping Rod with driving or being his navigator all day. About 4pm we found anchorage at Lake Worth in Palm beach. We had traveled 75 miles even leaving 2 hours late this morning. I'm beginning to feel a good bit better so I fix us a little supper and showered and ready for bed again!! Rod is already sitting in his recliner snoring!!! Ha 

Here in Lake Worth where we are anchored the Christmas lights are beautiful I wish a pic did justice to the beauty!!!  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve !!! Santa should be ready by now!! But let's don't forget the reason for the season, the birth of our Lord and Savior!!!!!

Blessing to all our family and friends!!! We love you all!! Please pray for our travels!!!

Fran and Capt Rod

I wish the pic did justice to the beauty!! There were so many down through here but this was on of the best I could get!

These Palm trees were HUGH!!! 

12/22/14 Monday leaving Titusville, Fla

8am!!! Untied and pulling away from Titusville Marina !! We have had a grand time with Paula and Jim!!!

There is just something exciting about cranking up the motors and moving on the water !!! Leaving this morning it was bit cloudy but a warm beautiful beginning for the day. I will post the pick of Cape Kennedy as we went by we could see the missile on the launch pad waiting another month before it will go up!!! Maybe we will be back in time or we may be able to see it from the keys!! Nothing too exciting today, it's a long trip 75 miles to Vero Beach. It's a large body of water so not too much to see. We saw a pirate looking ship anchored by an island that was just too cool !! Pic is posted. 

We decided to anchor for the night around 4:30pm just to the south of Vero Beach. It is still warm this evening, and I told Rod the blanket is going to come off the bed tonight!!  Yeah!!! I love warm weather!!

I had frozen my left over potato soup from a week ago so that was the meal of the evening!! No good TV so it's a movie night!! Bed early, early rise in the morning!!! I want to make it to the Keys by Christmas!!!   Only 3 days!!!! 

Love to all!! Please continue to pray for safe travels for us!!!   

Fran and Capt Rod. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Missile at Cape Kennedy waiting anothr month to lift off!! So sorry we missed it!!!😢😢

Cool Pirate Ship!!! Rod took this pic while I was downstairs in the kitchen fixing French toast &bacon

As soon as we anchored this evening Lexie wanted to go outside!!! She uses her potty patch well!! Good baby!!!

Rod still loves his paper charts!! He loves calculating how many miles we travel in a day and of course he always has a supervisor !!

12/21/14 Sunday Titusville, Fla

Had a grand day with all of Jim and Paula's family at their Family Christmas cookout!! Jim came and picked us up around 9:30 this morning and we went to Sanford Fla, where went last year and docked with them for 6 weeks!!!

They had reserved a picnic shelter there across from the marina where everyone met and cooked hamburgers, home made white chili. Lots of extras and many deserts!!! We exchanged gifts, Paula gave me 2 bottles of gourmet olive oil Tuscan Herb and Garlic infused !!! Yummy!!! She knew how much I would enjoy those!!! 

Rain was on the way so they brought us back to the boat, 45 minute drive from their marina, and we got here just in time for the downpour!!! Hope it's gone by the morning as we plan to untie and take off heading south around 7am if all goes as planned. 

A fun day but hard to say goodbye to dear friends!! We will see them again as we head back north in about 6 weeks!!!

Hope all is doing well and ready for Christmas!!! 

Much love to all, Fran and Capt Rod

Every one in the Spence family with a few good friends!! We have been adopted into the family!!!

Our BBF's. Best Boater Friends!!!

12/20/14 Saturday Titusville, Fla

OMG!!! 5 days till Christmas !!!! I hope all are ready for Santa!!! We had a day of getting ready to shove

off again and head south. We biked around town today and enjoyed this georgeous weather!!! We will be spending the day tomorrow over in Sanford, Fla with Paula and Jim. They are having all their family at a park reserved for the family Christmas!! A big cookout!! Looking forward to seeing all of them agiain as we have not seen them since last year. Monday morning we plan to leave Titusville and head on down the waterway!! We hope to be in Key Largo Wednesday afternoon, Christmas Eve!!!!

This evening 6:30pm we were sitting waiting for the gates to open at the Festuval of Hope Lights. It is right here at the park next to the marina. IT WAS FABULOUS !!!! We stayed 2 hours, and took some great pics. Had some good vender food of ribs, BBQ of pulled pork, and had to have popcorn!! We so enjoyed walking through the lights and sat and enjoyed a group of teenagers in a Jass band playing Christmas music!! Resting up tonight! BIG day tomorrow!!!! 

Love to all!! Posted some pics of the festival of light!!!  Fran and Capt Rod

Lexie sleeping on the footstool to Her Daddys chair!! She is so spoiled!!!

Entrance to Festival

Swan on a lake!!! It was 2 stories tall!!!

An archway of lights!!

Singing with Carolers!!! 

Good looking Santa!!!

12/19/14 Friday Titusville, Fla

What a day!!! Plans changed early this morning as we decided to wait and go to Kennedy Space Center on our trip heading back home in February. So what we going to do? Well we decided to go eat a late breakfast or early lunch and tour the city of Titusville!!! Headed for a local restaurant, Village Inn, much like a small Denny's. All had breakfast except me I decided on a BLT. We stopped by a small Sears store and shopped a little, then the guys wanted to go to a pawn shop, and as we drove there we passed by a Tattoo Parlor. Paula said "we should get matching tattoos" we laughed and then talked about what this tattoo should be!!  hehe. She has never had a tattoo, it's been 25-30 years for me!! After the pawn shops we decided to stop and check out the tattoo place and see what we could come up with, me I wanted to check how clean they were !!!!!  Great place, fun young people that loved entertaining us old people!!! A young girl, Sarah, took our ideas of linking hearts and the letters BBF. Paula and I have always called each other BBF (Best Boater Friends) before we new it Paula was on the table and a tattoo was taking place on her left ankle!!! She thought the pain was unbearable, and really thought she could not finished but Rod kept fanning her and Jim and I tryed to keep her laughing and distract her from the pain !! 20 minutes she was done!!!! I was up next I thought I had forgotten how bad the pain was, but all I can say is my pain tolerance must be a lot higher than I thought as I did not feel it was bad at all!!  We now have matching left ankle tattoos!! Yep!  We took 25 or more pics but I have posted only a few!! With my new camera of course!!

In the mean time Rod was talking to one of the guys about a Captains Crucifix, which is an anchor, a cross, and a ships wheel tattoo he has been wanting and by the time I was finished, Rod had his designed and drawn out by the artist and had it scheduled to have his done later. Paula and Jim needed to get home so they took us back to the boat.  We got on the bike and back to the tattoo place we went!! 2 hours later his was complete and the guys also did some reconstruction on the other tattoo on his back that really needed improvement. 

Subway salad, and chicken teriyaki sub, as they were just next door, for dinner, then we rode the 3 miles back to the boat and now just chillin !!! What a fun unexpected day !!!! A day neither of us will ever forget!!!

Never know what we may do tomorrow!!! Time will tell!!!

Love to all!!!   Fran and Capt Rod

My new left ankle Tattoo!!!

Mine and Paula's matching Tattoos!!!

Thank you Sarah for our new Tattoos!!!

Rods Capt's Crucificix !! 

The guy really Improved the look of this one that Rod had done 10 years ago!! He is the #1 Horry county original his 2 sons are #2 and #3  Horry county is Myrtle Beach area where they all grew up!!