March 10, 2024

Since leaving New Bern and seeing Frances and George there, we seem to have been on a friend visiting path south. Frankly I did not realize we had made so many friends in the boating world. A gift I had sadly overlooked. From New Bern south, we’ve had multiple opportunities to meet up with folks we’ve met over the years. Our visits south follow.

Ginna and Jay

Our first friend stop was in Mt Pleasant (just outside Charleston) with Jay and Ginna. We met them when we spent a month there 3 years ago installing the hydronic heat on the boat. We have seen them several times since as we’ve passed through. They are exceedingly generous with their car, friendship and food. We had a lovely dinner out one night, and a yummy left over dinner the next. We also got to meet Jay’s brother Mike who has been quite the world traveler. Sadly, I am not good at getting people pics so don’t have one of our visit. Dang!

Greg and Lara

Down the coast we head, through Georgia and more skinny water. No groundings! We stopped for a couple days in Palm Coast, FL, an area of Florida we’ve never really stopped in or visited by land or sea. Greg and Lara are on a Kadey Krogen (the same make as our boat). They winter in Florida and summer in Connecticut with fun adventures along the way. We first met them in Beaufort, NC during Covid when we were docked at the same marina and have synced several times since.

Lara is still working, so Greg took us around to see the sites in the area. We visited Fort Matanzas, a little watch fort which is part of the Castillo San Marcos (St Augustine) park complex.

We also visited a driftwood sculpture studio with amazing sculptures by Paul Baliker. Quite amazing pieces.

We had a couple of great meals with Greg and Lara, one that they prepared for us. Very yummy! I’m TRYING to get better at the people picture thing. Here is Greg and Jaz, but Lara was already busy at work.

Mike and Cindy

Next stop was Fort Pierce. Another Krogen buddy was there. We got to know them much better and spent lots of time together, learning from them. Very sweet and giving folks, also with a car, they were very happy to share! Many a beer was had with snacks and lots of boat talk. And ideas of life and boating exchanged.

Darn, another photo not taken!

Pete and Pam

Jim and I met Pete last July at a West Marine in Fort Pierce. At the time he did not have a Krogen but was very interested in getting one. We chatted and he came by and visited Rincon. We had lots of discussion of what we liked and disliked and things to think about in getting a power boat (he has a sail boat and multiple airplanes!) We kept in touch and amazingly, within a month or so, he had a Krogen! We’ve continued chatting and following each others activities since then.

We recently purchased some new blinds for the boat salon and through a long story ended up shipping them to Pete and Pam’s house (along with a bunch of other stuff we ordered). Thanks Pete and Pam! When we got to Ft. Pierce, they kindly delivered it all to the boat and we got to meet Pam in person! A fun dinner with too many martini’s was had.

I THOUGHT we’d taken a pic of the 4 of us, but apparently it was my semi-drunken state we had talked about a picture but did not get there. Darn again!

Gary and Barbara

I told you we were on the friend trip. Gary and Barbara are the previous owners of Rincon Feliz when she was named Eventide. We met them when buying the boat (brokers hate that!), got to know them a bit and Jim and Gary even negotiated the price. Gary and Barbara own a marina in Havre de Grace, MD and also have a a condo in Florida. Every time we’ve gone north or south in the Chesapeake, we’ve stopped to see them in Havre de Grace but have never gotten to visit them in Florida. They drove up from the Jupiter area and spent the day with us. We had a grad time catching up, doing some shopping and eating at a very authentic Mexican BBQ place. Lots of fun! We love these guys a lot!

Beth and Mark

We then headed south a bit to Stuart, FL. This is where we’ll turn right and take the Okeechobee Canal across Florida to the west coast of Florida. (side bar: When in Florida folks will say the west coast and most of us think that means the Pacific coast. Nay, nay. To Floridians that means the Gulf side of Florida.)

We met Beth and Mark the first time at the Hyde Park Marina on the Hudson. We were both docked there for a visit to the Culinary Institute. To make a long story a bit shorter, they recognized our boat. They had been docked exactly the same way when Gary and Barbara owned it, but in, I believe Georgetown, SC. We chatted a bit but did not get to know them better until a Krogen rendezvous. We have kept in touch on and off sense then.

Beth and Mark have been so gracious. Their car was at our disposal. You may be beginning to understand how useful a car can be. It seems groceries and marine supplies (the important items) are at least 2 – 5 miles or more away. Not easy. We could Uber’ed in most cases, but so much more convenient to have readily available wheels. Beth and Mark also set up a little together with another Krogen couple who were in Stuart, Greg and Lisa Smith.

George and Frances

Remember George and Frances who we met up with in New Bern? They joined us on the boat in Stuart in preparation for our crossing to Mexico. We have done some shopping, visiting, eating, drinking and crossed Florida on the Okeechobee Canal from Stuart to Ft Myers Beach. We are now headed south to the Everglades to anchor out for a night or two, then on to Key West. And more importantly, to await a good weather window to Mexico.

As I mentioned we have never traveled together, just met up at various places for a meal. We are finding we are good traveling companions and learning a lot from each others.

We had the holder modified so we could accommodate both lines with a divider between them. The stern anchor breaks down for storage. Attached the anchor to the white lin and let out the “appropriate amount of line” and bring the bow line in until the boat is somewhat snug between the two anchors. Easy-peasy!

Dean and Betty

I hope I have not worn you out with all our friends. I have to include Dean and Betty. Not boating friends, but land friends from Santa Fe. Theyhappened to be in Sarasota for a vacation and drove the two hours down to Fort Myers Beach to visit Rincon Feliz (and us!). They follow our travels but likely will not do a boat trip with us. They were excited to see the boat in person as opposed to just through our stories and pictures. And for us, it was wonderful to see some old friends from the dirt home.

Jim and I are so blessed to have so many friends and gracious boaters as part of our adventure. As I mentioned, I really had not realized how many boating friends we have made in our 4 years of boat travel. Very cool!

We’ll spend a day or two in the Everglades, exploring by dinghy if the weather cooperates then head to Key West (where we’ll touch base with more boating friends) and hopefully find a comfortable weather window to cross to Mexico. We are heading towards our planned anchorage and the water is turning to green, a good sign we are headed south.