Beginning our DEL (Downeast Loop) was quite different! On 4/17/2024 we left Pasadena Yacht Club with long time friends and traveling buddies, Mike and Leann Rowe/Rowe Boat. All in all an uneventful day until Rowe Boat realized they needed a mechanic and we had a small issue that turned into a larger issue! Our starboard engine died as we were entering the Franklin Lock. It was scary as Joe tried to figure out the issue…
Well, all I can say it is a different world out there these days! There was a small barge with 3 rough characters on it that were not pleased they couldn’t go into the lock. They didn’t have their radio on the correct channel so the lockmaster asked us to tell them they couldn’t go into the lock with the other boats. They thought I made that decision. They called us every name in the book and wanted to fight with us. I called
Marineland Beach the lockmaster and she came out and told them, “if you don’t calm down you aren’t ever coming through this lock”. They eventually did and got to go through. When we got our boat under control with the engine that had died we got to go through the lock also. We rafted up with Rowe Boat just on the other side of the lock for the evening. The end of a stressful afternoon!
Next day, 4/18 all is good til about 3:30 pm…roughly the same time as yesterdays encounter…this time a derelect looking boat accused Rowe Boat of causing major damage to a boat and hurting 2 people. I remember specifically looking at their wake because we slowed down immediately too. No way did they cause that much damage. By the time we got to the Port St Lucie Lock there were these individuals that said they weren’t going to let us through…of course, they did eventually. They took some info and off we went.
This night we anchored out at Hoggs Cove in Stuart. We cooked and fell into bed. We were all worn out from the drama! This trip has to get better right?! Well not right away.
We finally end up getting to Ft Pierce on Friday 4/19 where FWC came and interviewed Rowe Boat. Ended up there was one scratch on this boat that was something neither of us would own! Like we said to Mike and Leann, how do they know you even caused that scratch. The wake they made could not have done that damage. Those people were just trying to get a money grab! No mention of a hole in the hull or two people getting hurt. They’ve seen too many attorney commercials! We were ready for some R n R. We had dinner and played some cards Five Crowns. Rowes were the winners best I can remember! I must say that sleeping on the boat has been good, at least FitBit tells me it is!
The whole reason we came to Ft Pierce was to go to their Farmer’s Market. If you have never been, you must go! The crab cakes are delicious and the bakery isn’t half bad either! We bought some pink carrots, celery, scones, cinnamon bread, hummus and baba ghanoush. Joe wandered through the farmers market eating his breakfast as I shopped! Funny thing, after talking to our friends Kitumba…Brian and Michelle told us a mutual friends son was the head of the farmer’s market. Of course we ran into him. We walked to town later that evening to see what the 4/20 celebration was all about. Not much! I wish I could have taken a picture of the older lady (I’m guessing 55) with breast the size of cantaloupes and not wearing a bra. OMG! That was not a good look.
Sunday was a day of rest. We ended up walking to the Oyster Festival. I bought some homemade pasta and Joe bought a straw hat.
We had heard from our friends Brian and Michelle that had just crossed from the West End of Bahamas to Stuart. They ended up surprising us by renting a car and coming for dinner Monday night. Towing a bottle of champagne and his sabre with them, we christened our boat, Balahula before dinner. It’s always a good time when we are with Kitumba/Brian/Michelle!
Monday was suppose to be the day Rowe Boat had a mechanic coming. He ended up coming Tuesday. Not the best of news…no parts in the U. S. that were needed and the best fix was a whole new heat exchanger. That night the 4 of us went out to dinner and they were ready to throw the towel in on the DEL. Sad night! We had planned for over a year for this trip! Joe decided we were taking off on Wednesday morning. The four of us love to play cards and ended the night with two rounds of Five Crowns. Hugs, Kisses and good byes were made. We left with a basil plant and 16 rolls of their toilet paper. 🙂
Wednesday morning we got up around 6:30 and about 7 or 7:05 we left by ourselves from Ft Pierce saying bye bye to Mike and Leann and trying to wrap our brain around the changes to our trip. I have to admit that tears rolled down my face. The trip we planned for 18 months had taken a strange turn. We went 150 miles on Wednesday to Marineland which we had stayed at 5 years earlier on our Fleming. One night and then we were off to Fernandina Beach. After we had docked we got a phone call from Mike and Leann. They had another mechanic come which they loved. They ended up committing to getting the new heat exchanger and one other fix. So, they told us to slow down, they are going to get the boat fixed Friday and start to catch up with us on Sunday. Surprises never ended this day, Michelle and Brian called and said that Kitumba was going to meet us on Friday in St. Augustine. We were blessed with four great friends…so as it stands we are meeting M & B 4/26 in St Augustine and 4/28 M and LA in Fernandina. Of course, before we published this we found out Rowe Boat didn’t get the heat exchanger they had anticipated and one was coming from Belgium now. Fingers crossed they get that one in 3 to 4 days then get fixed and head North to meet us!
Fingers crossed and lots of prayers that this crazy trip we are on starts to get fun and the stress is behind us!