Cruising Charleston to Ft Myers

[Freebird]

Okay, I can hear it already, I'm talking too much again. Looks like I was still talking too much when I took a self imposed one month leave of absence.

I have been fortunate enough to have met many interesting and informative people through this forum. I was also fortunate enough to have met with yet another member who shall remain nameless who has graciously invited me to help him move a large Hatt from Charleston, SC to Fort Myers, FL in a couple of weeks.

This is not going to be a thread about anything other than a request for a little input as to what those of you who have made this trip can offer in the way of advice on interesting points we may want to consider visiting on the way down. Advice on routes and current navigation issues would be helpful as well.

The gentleman who owns the boat has made the trip before, I have not. I don't plan to stage a mutiny and take over, but I think I know him well enough to know he too would like to hear from those who have been there, done that, hopefully either recently or previously during this same time of year. It should prove to be a welcome beginning to a new year. It will certainly be that for me.

And yes, I will take plenty of pictures, and I will waive to all the little people we encounter on the way down! Dang, something has happened to my smiley faces. Okay tech guys, where the heck are my smiley faces?

 

[Passages]

Here they are.

Are you going to set up a trip Blog site like MarioG?

 

[Freebird]

That might be cool, but maybe impossible for a guy who can't even get his smiley buttons to work! What the heck is going on? Dang laptop!

Your post looks like one of Pascal's dot slash colon deals where your smiley faces are.

SOS Somebody Offer Smiley info and how to set up blog. What the heck does blog mean any way?

 

[Capt.Erich]

That is a nice trip with plenty of good watering holes to be found on the way. The stretch across the Okeechobee is interstesting but with few good places to stop once you've started. If the boat can cruise at 18-20 kts across the lake, you can make it from Stewart to Ft. Myer in a long day. Have fun and keep us posted.

 

[thoward]

If weather allows I would run outside around Ga. There is nothing to see except salt winding salt marsh. A sail boat pulled in this week who had multiple problems with depth in that region. Floridas ICW is an easy run but, weekends will be crowded. Jacksonville has some free overnight dockage and a few restaurants with big boat access. St Augustine has lots of historical stuff. I would skip Daytona. Ft Pierce has a commercial basin with big fuel discounts. Do not use St Lucie Inlet! They are dredging as we speak but the channel moves and I would stay away. Across Lake "O" there is Clewiston which is rumored to have a good redneck nightlife on the weekends. If ya'll are shorthanded when you get down this way let me know as I would be happy to give a hand through the locks. Other than that there are some cool towns to stop in for the night. Woops...Back to work!

 

[Freebird]

Across Lake "O" there is Clewiston which is rumored to have a good redneck nightlife on the weekends. If ya'll are shorthanded when you get down this way let me know as I would be happy to give a hand through the locks. Other than that there are some cool towns to stop in for the night. Woops...Back to work!

Dear Mr. Howard,

We shall be moving a Hatteras motoryacht of sufficent proportion to allow us to simply wash ashore any lesser vessel that chooses to obstruct our preferred course of navigation.

To what are you referring when you use the phrase "redneck nightlife"? As to our being shorthanded, we have strict requirements for those who we consider for positions aboard our vessel. We have had similar problems filling such positions in the past as I believe you are aware. I believe you may have submitted a resume when I posted an available vacancy on a larger vessel than that upon which we shall be arriving.

The fact that you mention having to go back to work would indicate you are probably of unsufficent bloodline to be considered for a deck boy. Perhaps this is why you have not heard from my assistant as to the status of your resume.

We do appreciate your offer of assistance, and I am sure you would do the best you can with what you have to work with.

Sincerely,

Biff Howell
Personal Assistant to R. W. Register

 

[thoward]

FURRsPA

Clewiston is home to Roland Martin's marina. Someone of your stature may not have ever encountered this lowly man of bass fishing fame. I think he even was on tv a time or two but I am sure they dropped the charges. To the best of my understanding it is the can beer swilling types standing around the fire swapping lies and the rich folks have these wind boats that go really shallow. This is a remote area so I think you could write off a good portion of the trip as humanitarian aid if you were to bring some Busch Beer and a case of Vieana sausage for the locals.

As for me I am currently the Master Baiter aboard the Knotty Maid but would be willing to offer my assistance for a measley bowl of Grits, that is if it does not conflict with my bosses fishing trips. Well I guess I should get back to polishing the monofilament.

 

[Boatsb]

Well hell yaalll? Skip Ga? Thats just not right. All them good old boys be appreshiatin your comin in and spendin some of thet there caash.

Me and the boys would be proud to entertaan ya with our banjo/git fiddle duet.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Randy,
THERE IS NO FREE DOCKAGE OR GOOD RESTURANTS IN JACKSONVILLE (well least if you are onboard.....) I have taken the liberty to contact the Navy, Coast Guard, Florida Marine Patrol and the Jacksonville Police waterway division of your arrival.
Told them to keep an eye out to a constant line of cheap beer cans being thrown overboard.
Now if you want to try and bribe me with a free meal and drinks I "might" reconsider......
Have made the trip from Jax north to S.C. several times and from Jax south to S. Fla about 50-60 times (hey, was born/raised in S. Fla and now DO yacht deliveries) and several times across the state....

 

[Freebird]

FURRsPA

FURRsPA? Is that a good place to get a bikini wax?

ROFLOL, LMFAO It sure is good to be out of the closet! Man, I really need that trip from SC to FL. You are more insane than I am, and that's saying something!

Thanks to all you idiots for making things a little easier. I hope to end up with this boat, and if I do, you my friend will be welcome any time.

That goes for a bunch of you yahoos as well. You know who you are! At the rate I'm going, I'm gonna need a bigger boat to haul all of you around! Maybe my boss will let us use his 135 Custom Series or the 987' megayacht once it's properly repaired!

In the immortal words of Dr. Spock, "live long and prespire". And who could forget the Cling On quote "brrrraaaappp". Just goes to show them Cling On's ain't got no table manners. Never offer one of those guys a cold one!

 

[Freebird]

Randy,
THERE IS NO FREE DOCKAGE OR GOOD RESTURANTS IN JACKSONVILLE (well least if you are onboard.....) I have taken the liberty to contact the Navy, Coast Guard, Florida Marine Patrol and the Jacksonville Police waterway division of your arrival.
Told them to keep an eye out to a constant line of cheap beer cans being thrown overboard.
Now if you want to try and bribe me with a free meal and drinks I "might" reconsider......
Have made the trip from Jax north to S.C. several times and from Jax south to S. Fla about 50-60 times (hey, was born/raised in S. Fla and now DO yacht deliveries) and several times across the state....

LOL Charlie, please see the note that Biff sent to thoward. Just substitue your name in the place of his and leave the rest of it alone!

Yeah, you're another invitee! I'll call you when I get arrested for the above mentioned offenses. Then I'll sue you for less than false arrest.

Maybe I'll have the "crew" I told you about New Year's Eve! I think they liked you despite my warnings. I know they liked me, and each other!

 

[Freebird]

Well hell yaalll? Skip Ga? Thats just not right. All them good old boys be appreshiatin your comin in and spendin some of thet there caash.

Me and the boys would be proud to entertaan ya with our banjo/git fiddle duet.

Why am I having flashbacks of "Deliverance".

Hell, I skip GA all the time. May have to stop and see somebody I know next time through.

Hey, isn't "Deliverance" the name of Bill Clinton's Sea Ray? Seems like I saw a picture of his dinghy "Monaca" on the TNT lift.

 

[Capt.Erich]

Seems like I saw a picture of his dinghy "Monaca" on the TNT lift.

Not sure who saw what but I'm pretty sure Monica saw his little "dinghy"

 

[Freebird]

Not sure who saw what but I'm pretty sure Monica saw his little "dinghy"

Yeah, but like Bill, she didn't inhale!

Dang it, see what happens when I post a serious thread? Ya'll are gonna get me put in time out again, I just know it!

 

[thoward]

Well hell yaalll? Skip Ga? Thats just not right. All them good old boys be appreshiatin your comin in and spendin some of thet there caash.

Me and the boys would be proud to entertaan ya with our banjo/git fiddle duet.

Only good thing to come from that part of Ga. is the Low Country Boil. There is a really good restaurant at the end of Wilmington Island(I think that was it) A real old rickedy looking place, almost like eating on the docks. We even had a cat or two in there. I'll ask my wife if she can remember the name but it is worth a stop as you do not find much old south like that anymore.

 

[kwerges]

Okay, you folks finally got me laughin again, which usually means time-out for a certain someone. Man its good to have y'all back out of the closets!

 

[Wild Bill]

Hey BIRD,
I think I remember a 'REDHEAD' in Port Canaveral that could use some company. Not far from Cape Marina and if you run across Homer P. Overboard, he might give you a ride in his beat up ol' jalopy.

 

[Freebird]

Okay, you folks finally got me laughin again, which usually means time-out for a certain someone. Man its good to have y'all back out of the closets!

Hey, the way I see it, laughter is the best medicine. I'll bet happy people ride their boats more and break and buy more stuff from Sam's than unhappy dock dwellers. No offense, I'm sure we don't have any of those on here.

And to you, Homer, better dead than red is what I've always heard. I'll be looking you up real soon.

Are you a shrimpin' boat captain yet? You been there done that? Why don't you love me Jenny?

Hey Doug, send me a big old Sam's sign and I'll fly it from SC to FL for a very reasonable fee. Maybe even a get out of jail free card!

 

[CARL GUZMAN]

Hey CRAZYBIRD if Doug starts handing out get out of jail free cards I'll give you mine cause I know you'll be useing yours the first chance you get

It's good your back but keep the higher powers happy so we can have some good clean fun.. or I'll put the cover over your cage again

 

[Freebird]

Braaak, Freebird wants a cracker, Freebird wants a cracker!!!

Braaak, who turned out the lights, who turned out the lights!!!

Heck Bubbamigo, just Goose the Bird and he'll be good. Did you find that supersize bottle I left on your boat last time out?

I asked this question to you on another thread, and you did not respond. Or was your lack of response the answer to my question. Kinda like the silence was deafening you Cuban Goose thief!