April 18, 2017 

  Happy Birthday Melissa!  Hope you had a great day.  Wish you were here to celebrate with us. We  are back on the boat tonight after a very enjoyable shore leave.  Unfortunately the 'no see ums"

were still around along with very hungry mosquitoes.  For those lucky people who have never experienced "no see ums" let me explain.  They are tiny little biting bugs that fly.  You can not

see them only experience them.  They love your head or hair and they bite .  The bite is like a sting and it burns.  They like to find the wrinkles in your arms, knees, neck, mid drif, and other places.

The bite doesn't show up for about 24 hours and then they drive you crazy by itching intensely.

As soon as we got to the boat, we were driven inside and stayed there for the evening.  I personally don't know how people can stay outside and work or even relax with those bugs flying around.

Becky and Doug settled in nicely and seem ready to take on the duties of ship's crew.

We are heading to Myrtle Beach and beyond.  Hope every one had a pleasant tax day and helped

our country pay its bills. The government thanks us. 

Look closely, black flecks are "No see ums"

April 17, 2017

We are still in Charleston today and explored more of the city.  Today we went to Middleton

Plantation and walked the grounds of history.  Yesterday we were at Boone Hall Plantation.

It is known for the brick ovens, and that plantation was the brick supplier for the south.  Their

slave quarters were even made out of brick.The house is not original but it sure was pretty.

The oak lined drive took your breath away.  The owner planted 88 trees in the early 1800's

and 86 are still standing today.  I felt like Scarlet walking down the dirt drive.Middleton Plantaion

was more like the was it was in the 1800's.  There were sheep wandering around the yard. 

It has the largest formal gardens in the USA.  The house is just a third of the original one,

but Sherman,s troops burnt the other 2/3.  The Middleton's still own the place but it is under the 

care of the state.  Tonight we will be saying so long to Lea and Nikky. Tomorrow we head back to the boat with Becky and Doug and break in a new crew. Pictures of Middleton will be shown tomorrow.

Bridge in Charleston Harbor

Boone Hall Plantation

Our departing crew

St. Phillips, Charleeston

Boone Hall slave quaters

April 16, 2017

Happy Easter!   We spent Easter with  family and friends.  We had an Easter 

drink hunt at  9:00am.  It was very successful and fun.  Doug found lime and basil vodka, Nikky found cinnamon bourbon, Lea found whipped cream vodka, Becky found spiced rum, Jim found 

cucumber vodka, and I found whatever they couldn't  find.  Jim couldn't find his , because he was looking for candy nor booze.  We went Boone Farm Plantation this afternoon, and explored the 

Gullah culture.  This afternoon we went to the board walk in Mount Pleasant and an excellent

Easter dinner. After wards we  enjoyed each others company and laughed at each other until we were crying. Tomorrow we will see another plantation and more fun.  Hope the the Easter Bunny was good to you.  It sure was good to us. You really had to be here to appreciate all the fun and drinks we had.

April 15, 2017

Today we went to McCellanianville, SC to park the boat for a few days so we can change crews.

Training for the new crew will begin Tuesday evening for a Wednesday morning launch to

Myrtle Beach.  I had Nikky and lea list their 5 top best , 5 5 worst ,  and 5 nerve wrecking

events on the cruise.

  5 Best

  1.  Jim's bumper pole experience ( see April 13th blog)

  2.  Bird's in the rookery at night

  3.  Sunrise, and sunsets

  4.  Champagne at noon

  5.  Thomas Crowne Affair with Chocolate, rasberry martinis

   5 Worse

   1.  Leaving the boat and going home 

   2.  No See Ums Bugs!

   3.  1 ply toliet paper

   4.  Changing sheets on the bed

   5.   Spider shower at Kilkenny Marina

   5 Most Nerve Wrecking Events

    1.  Leaving the dock in Beauford affair

    2.  Broken Latch affair

    3.  Lea's hair in the fan affair

    4.  Lost bumper in Savannah affair

    5.  Having to make a liquor run affair

        (Must be on the boat to appreciate the affairs)

3 feet = 4 corns

Colorado Cat Crew

April 14, 2017

It was Good Friday for most people today, but for us it was Great Friday.  The 

captain started the engines at 6:15am and made the best exit from a marina ever.

The water was right, the weather was perfect, and the crew exceptional.  We

left Beauford without a hitch.  It was a beautiful thing.  We were in the crowded waters of Charleston Harbor by 1:00pm, another great feeling.  Found our slip and had our

"Good Job Crew" celebration.  While we were moving  through the lonesome waters

of  South Carolina this morning the dolphin came along and swam with us for several minutes.

This afternoon Becky and Doug came for "Happy Hour", and we made plans for our excursion 

to their house and for them to join us when Lea and Nikky leave.  It was also a bitter sweet

Sun setting on a great Good Friday

day too because Lea and Nikky are packing up to go home.  Time seems to go faster in

Charleston Harbor

Georgia and South Carolina than in Florida.

Sunrise on the ICW

Fort Sumpter

Dolphin at dawn

April 13, 2017

   We left Savannah bright and early and crossed the border into our 3rd state

within an hour of departure.  The port of Savannah  was still in our sights.  Once again 

we were in the crooked  rivers of Georgia and South Carolina.  Our goal of Beauford

was reached before noon and we went by Paris Island.  Jim searched the grounds for marines in training, but everybody must have had the day off.  Our slip was in the middle of the 

outside row of the marina.  Very easy to get park. We tied up, secured our lines and noticed

we came in at high tide, that made it easier.  After wandering around the town for several

hours we came back and found the boat still securely tied to the dock, but about 10

feet below from where we had tied our bumper to keep the boat off the dock.  We had experienced the famous tide deveations of Georgia, now South Carolina.  Our bumper did look pretty silly

10  feet up on a pole all by itself. After several more hours and a lot of teasing, the tide came up and our bumper came down.  There is always something to learn and relearn on a boat.  Lea tried her hand at driving and being Captain.  I think she came away with a new appreciation of the Captain's seat.  We are hoping to reach Charleston tomorrow but first we have to get out

of the marina.   While the tide was going out, other boats were coming in one after another until the place was full.  Unfortunately our big space had been cut down to a very tight spot and we have to pull out of our  slip fighting current, wind, and no help.  Imagine parallel  parking a

semi in a compact car parking space during rush hour.  Should be interesting, nerve wracking, and

Lunch in Beauford, SC

hopefully successful.  More crossed fingers please.

Paris Island

Changing of the flags

Our high tide bumper

April 12, 2017

Today was very memorable for me.  My family, and friends treated me to a 

very special birthday.  I started the day with mimosas, and it continued throughout the day.

Dolphin saying "Here's Lookin at You"

We left at dawn with a beautiful sunrise and pulled into the Savannah Bend Marina at noon with another toast to my birthday.  The afternoon was spent exploring Savannah and then dinner at a 

ICW cruise ship  "American Star"

Mimosas at 8:00am

restaurant by the boat.  The older I become the better my birthdays are.  I LOVE it too.  I have decided that the ICW through Georgia is like  a maze.  It is very difficult to set the auto pilot as the river is so twisty turny you can't take your eyes off of it for a minute. Georgia is known for their large tidal differences up to 8 feet. Yesterday we were in the low tide and very shallow water.  Today the tide was high and smooth sailing all the way to Savannah.  Last night we had two experiences that were special.  One was a full moon rising over the water and the other was the Egrets roosting in the trees right next to the boat.  The birds glowed in the moonlight, it was very spooky.  Pictures couldn't do it justice, and believe me we tried.  This mornings sunrise was spectacular.  All in all it was " One of the best days ever".  Thanks again for all the birthday wishes. and gifts.  I love you all.

sunrise

Birds in the tree

April 11, 2017

We are moving through Georgia at a good pace.  Today we made to the Kilkenny River Marnia,

somewhere close to Richmond Hill, Georgia.  That is about all I know about  the place.  We went about 70 miles and had no problems, all in all a very good day.  Nikky is going to write the blog tonight, enjoy. 

     Traveling on the Co Cat is a River Cruise that is marvelous. There are gourmet meals, posh sleeping quarters and views from the top deck that would rival any Disney cruise ship.Included are tours are wild life sightings, we have seen today, dolphins,

new house rule champagne at noon

(mom and baby), 2 eagles, storks,  and a cow. there also was a blue parrot on the dock where we are spending the night. Now yesterday, waterways had lots of traffic, but today, we were in a world by ourselves and wildlife. the day was sunny, cool, and breezy. we all took tons of pictures, a few were keepers. Being with the Baileys is sure a joy,  you always have fun.

 .

April 10, 2017

We had a very good day today.  Many memorable things happened, the most important one 

was we left Florida and enter Georgia!  Couldn't believe it but it did happen.  Only 6 weeks

to do it too.  The other memorable event was shortly after we crossed into Georgia we crossed the

1000 mile mark.  On such a great day I am going to have Lea write the blog today,  take it away Lea.

Georgia at last

empty tanker

If duffel bags could talk, the one with me now would have many tales to tell.  It is the bag that gets to travel with the Bailey's, from the grandeur of Yellow Stone National Park, frozen on the back of a snowmobile, to its current position, cruising up the inter coastal waterway aboard the Colorado Cat.  We are on day two, and it is exciting and gloriously peaceful at the same time.  Today we saw white pelicans fly in formation, a bald eagle, and dolphins.  We cruised by major industrial ports, watched tankers unload, and the isolated areas off the coast of Florida and Georgia.  The weather is perfect, the scenery is beautiful, and the company is awesome.

Lea and Nikky

1st Georgian lighthouse

April 9, 2017     

We made it back to the boat, and ready to take on the coastal waters of Florida again.  Our big

goal is to be out of Florida by sundown tomorrow.  Time will tell.  We brought back 2 guests,

Lea and Nikky and a lot of stuff,  mostly wine, beer and booze.  We want to make sure we don't

get thirsty.  Our shore leave was very enjoyable.  We saw our grandson, Ben in his Court of Honor program for Boy scouts, and Whitney in her musical play, "South Pacific".  Congratulations to both of you.  We also saw alot of friends and ate out every night as we were camping in our house.  We found a

fun restaurant Friday night,

Nauti Nancy's.  If you like rock and roll, and loud music, it is the 

place to go.

Tomorrow we head to Georgia, and new adventures.  Sure good to see everyone.

Whitney

Ben

Our provisions

 April 2, 2017   1, 0.2  Colorado Cat Voyage Date

Today was another stay in port day.  The big difference was that is was "we ant to,

not we have get something fixed or looked at".  Much much nicer.  Made arrangement for

a rental car, and will head back to Clearwater tomorrow.  The weather reports sound like we are leaving at just the right time.  A cold front is blowing in and will be here all week.  The

yacht club was packed last night with all the boats slips full of every size and shape of boat.

Come to find out they were having a "Blessing of the fleet" this afternoon.  It was interesting to

watch.  We didn't get the boat officially blessed but hopefully some of the holy water floated onto our boat.  The priest and his 2 alter boys got into a boat and went out into the river.  Everybody jumped in their boat and went out and surrounded the priest.  The small sailboats from the sailing school came out

and then the blessings began.  First the sailing school boats got in line and sailed around the priest's boat and 

then one by one the boats circled the priest's boat and came back into the yacht club.  All together there were about 40 boats and it took about 2 hours.  Afterwords they all went to the bar and had drinks. 

We hung out on our boat and watched and of course had a couple drinks too. Not sure if I will write

the blog while we are off the boat.  So if you don't see it, not to worry, we will be back April 9th with more exciting tales from the Adventures of the Colorado Cat. 

 

Blessing of the boats

sailing school boats

Penny writing her blog

April 1, 2017    4.0  Colorado cat Voyage Date

Happy April Fool's Day, or We can't believe it has been one month.  We returned from our 

exploration of the St. John's river with the impression we really didn't miss that much.

Coming back to the Florida Yacht Club was like coming home.  We are going to keep the boat here for a week and make a quick run home.  Whitney is in the play "South Pacific" and we are looking forward to seeing her. We will be be bringing  2 guests back with, Lea and Nikky.  The fire last night made the morning sky very smokey, almost like a thick fog. There was also a steam coming from the river so our visibility  was poor.  The trip back down river was very smooth as we were with the current, until

we came to a point where the current hit the tide.  We could really feel the  meeting point.

Jim enjoying April Fool's Day

Jim's docking skills are getting better every day.  Pulling into the yacht club we had to park in a very crowded area and he pulled it off like a pro with an audience to cheer him on.  All in all it was a very good April fool's day for us. Hope yours was too.

Traveler driving the boat

steam coming off river

March 31, 2017 3.6+3  Colorado Cat Voyage Date

Today was a non moving day.  We decided to spend another day at the Acosta Creek Marina on the St. John's river because of another slight electrical problem.  This time it was a chord, and the wind let us know it was still alive and blowing.  Those to things have been our anchor where ever we go.  I hope we just are about to put that anchor away.  We could have gone on with the wind blowing, but why?  The further up river it means more bugs, the river gets narrow, and more shallow.  We did want to see gators, but not that much.

Jim changed oil and I did some major house cleaning. By 11:00am we were done for the day.  This marina is not like a yacht club.  Here everybody works on their boats, at a yacht club the members watch from the bar people working on their boats.  Can't really complain about the cost either.  Acosta Marina is $1.00 a foot,

the marina in Marathon was $4.50 a foot, but the best deal is the yacht club, one night free.  Our sunset was something very different.  A fire started somewhere and the sky was full of smoke, and the sun was blood red, even the water reflection was red.  I am glad we got to see it.  Tomorrow we head back north or down the St. John's river and hopefully by April 9th we will be out of Florida.