Heading south

Yup, time to move back on board Neverland and head south toward warmer weather. Tuesday November 28 we loaded up the car in Annapolis with boat stuff and drove south to rejoin our sailboat in Brunswick, Georgia where she has been waiting for us since last May. This year we'll cruise the east coast of Florida, the Keys, the Dry Tortugas, and the west coast of Florida for 6 months.

We've spent about a week working longish days to get the boat back into the condition shown in the photo above. Checking all the systems, cleaning, unpacking stuff, sorting, repairing stuff, bending on sails, provisioning with food, drink and other supplies, etc, etc. There's a well-known saying that the definition of cruising is "fixing your boat in exotic places". Well, Brunswick is far from exotic, but here I am, lying sideways squashed into a cockpit locker with a wrench in hand, tightening 4 nuts on stanchion bolts in a t-i-i-i-ny little space. The spaces you need to work in on boats are sometimes so limited, it's hard to understand how anyone got all the pieces put together in the first place.

Brunswick is a quiet little town that has seen better days, frankly. But the locals are friendly, some of the old buildings have interesting facades, there are the kinds of stores cruisers need (although they're outside downtown and only accessible by car or Uber) and it's generally an inexpensive place to hang out when not actively cruising.  We walked into town one evening for "First Friday" - antique stores, restaurants and art galleries were all welcoming us with open doors and sometimes complimentary wine and apps, hoping for decent holiday sales...

The marina where we keep the boat - Brunswick Landing Marina - is sort of unusual. It's very large and located 'way up a river, so it's pretty safe from bad coastal weather. There are free washer/dryers, free beer 24/7, free wine at 3 happy hours a week, a huge lounge and book exchange, yoga get-togethers, free bikes to borrow, and tons of cruisers who like to party and help each other out and share crazy stories in their spare time. A lot of people spend MONTHS here, often working part-time and needing reliable wifi, or just reluctant to break away from their routines and the convenience and comforts of hot showers, plug-in heaters and the cruiser-friendly atmosphere.

Earlier today we were ready to leave Brunswick tomorrow morning to make a run down the Intracoastal Waterway to Fernandina Beach, just past the northern Florida border. The weather has been lovely for the last several days, but now it's very suddenly turned cold, with driving rain and gusty winds that rock the boat at the dock. Weather forecasts have led to us to deciding to stay put another couple of days until the weather is a bit more cooperative. It's not very pleasant cruising on Neverland in cold, wet conditions. We have an open cockpit and the rain coming down steadily on the dodger windows makes it impossible to see ahead without craning your neck outside the dodger. No windshield wipers!!! The rain drips down your neck and arm and it gets pretty uncomfortable.

Since we haven't really taken any time to get photos to add to this blog, for now I'll say 'bye and try to get more photos for the next post.  Cheers till then!