2020-02-24 — Palm Beach Gardens (still)

We have some friends that suggested the best Key Lime Pie is actually at Publix Grocery Store. A quick google drove us to a two mile walk…each way to investigate the legendary Key Lime Pie. It was pretty darn good. A good start to our 5 week stay in Palm Beach Gardens.

Yes of course there is chores. A little epoxy filling required on the teak deck to feel a couple of cracks. On the list is replacement of a few teak plugs but that is for another day,

A winter without these two is just not as fun. Al & Michele from MV Kindred Spirit came to town for a visit. The Loggerhead Sea Turtle Hospital is very close to the Marina so a visit seemed in order. I am happy to report everyone (turtles) seemed to be on the mend. Magnolia and Kindred Spirit both going to Quebec this summer so there was much looking at charts guides. While Al was here it seemed appropriate to take on a small wood working chore. We recently upgraded Pots & Pans and then somewhere along the way it was decided we needed drawer in the cabinet to house said pan….hence the drawer! A visit will Als brother Bill was also on the plan. You might remember Bill who helped with the purchase of Magnolia.

With the sadness of Watsons departure there was but only chores to turn to. A fresh coat of varnish on the NavStation along with installing some additional hand holds eased the pain. Then we had a happy surprise to have Joe & Christine in town to visit his sister Donna & Jack. It was a wonderful couple hour catch up….and then to top it off Al & Michele stopped (I think for Ice Cream) on their way back from the keys!

Roses on Valentines and Head Maintenance for Anthony. The joys on living on a boat. The guy in the shell was showing off and passed me while I was on my bike! For Valentines I went with Annette to a beach cleanup. Sadly it was raining and it was the cleanest beach I have ever seen…I struggled to find a cigarette butt! My niece is getting married this weekend so trying to make myself look respectable…off to Detroit where the forecast high is 27 freaking degrees…

Will let you know if we survive! Be Safe, Vessel and Crew are well.

2020-02-01 Stuart & Palm Gardens

Coming back to Stuart always feels good. It is where our second act of cruising commenced. It is where we found and re-fit Magnolia and where we met lifelong friends who helped make Magnolia what she has become. As I write perhaps some wonder what the hell he is talking about…its a boat, its like a house on the water right? The truth be told she is nothing like that…well to us anyway. Magnolia is our home but she also shows takes us on these wonderful adventures and she keeps us safe and gives us shelter whether that is in a quiet anchorage or 150 miles off the Georgia coast….just feeling grateful…..

Many of our cruising friends pass thru Stuart so its always a great place to catch up. We were able to meet up with MV Unforgettable and MV Way-To-Go along with the bunch of others at the Korgen Breakfasts. We also were lucky enough to meet up with Annette’s Sister Rochelle and Robbins while we were here.

We also had two jobs to complete while in Stuart. One was to replace a solar panel that failed. We pulled the old one in preparation and then….

opened the packing of the replacement. This was not a pleasant sight. Highly unpleasant! Another replacement though arrived meeting us in Palm Beach Gardens.

The other job was to have a small repair made to the pilothouse sole and have two coats of varnish applied. This is Rebelsi giving the deck a good sanding in preparation of the varnish.

This is the result….and of course no shoes are allowed!!

Out last evening in Stuart we able to coordinate a visit with Ted & Lucy Seward from the Pentagon Sailing Club. Ted was Annette’s first “Close Quarters Maneuvering” instructor. Its where is got her start driving Magnolia around docks. Ted & Lucy “winter-over” about 30 min away and it was a real treat to meet up with them.

We were departing the restaurant heading back to Magnolia when we find this guy perched on Blossom, our dinghy. He would not depart until I got in the the dink with him….he left no “presents” thankfully.

We got underway and made the short trip down to Peck Lake which actually nothing more than a wide section of the ICW with a small sit of land between it and the ocean. Beyond the mostly quiet setting you hear the roar of the breaking waves all through the night which is just very cool!

We had a visit from Beverly-S while at Peck Lake. Larry & Sue started their adventure on the west coast in California. What an amazing journey.

Beverly-S at anchor

Sunset on the lake, just beautiful.

After a long weekend visit it was time to head down to Palm Beach Gardens. There is a lot of consternation regarding Florida attempting to crack down on anchored boats in FL. Part of me agrees because this is often what happens when boat get anchored too long.

Annette went to a cooking demonstration at Williams & Sonoma where Ellie Krieger from PBS’s Create Channel was doing book signing…I think she really enjoyed herself.

We will be in Palm Beach Gardens through early March so if you are in the area be sure to let us know. That’s all for now from Magnolia