We finally made it to Millers Marina in Suwannee. It's fine family run business that always treat's its customers with respect.  The area reminds me of "old" Florida.  It took at least an hour to set up the rig.  This after getting up at 3 am   and driving 6 hours.

Yes, I am afraid that's Captain LardAss filling up at the marina fuel dock.  I only hope time away from the largess of the home table coupled with constant work aboard Belle, will lead to a reforming of the captain's physique!

Karen was invaluable in helping set up Belle. She drove the truck and trailer home through a pelting rain, so deserves kudos for that as well!

 The navigation station showing my progress through the shallow southern channel out of the Suwannee river.

It took only two hours of motoring to make the anchorage at Cedar Key

The setting sun painted the Cedar Key docks with evening shades.

It's a classic Cedar Key sunset. The hook is down.  All is well aboard Belle.

Just a quick note to say, I am leaving Sunday instead of Saturday.  When I filled the water tanks and checked the pump, I found major leaks.  I have fixed the leaks by completely replacing the flex hose. I now have a very neat plumbing job with hard quick connect tubing much as is used in RV.  It really works!
It is done. But, I will be cleaning up and doing final prep tomorrow.  See you on the water!

I'm thinking about leaving Saturday.  We'll see.  I have the necessary routes in place on the GPS mapping units.  The Garmin 198C is the primary unit for navigation.  The NMEA 0198 sentencing is "talked" to the autopilot, the VHF for DSC location information,  and the EPIRB emergency location beacon. The same data parallels from the Garmin 78sc as full backup for the main unit.  A large stock of AA batteries can run the 78cs for weeks.
Both the netbook and the laptop are loaded with SeaClear II which is connected to a USB GPS  for moving map and also planning purposes.
I will be posting SPOT location messages on my SPOT share page starting Sunday.  You can access the share page HERE

I realized that the tiller handle had serious varnish deterioration.  So I refinish it with three coats of Sikkens Cetol 

The louvered cabin doors also needed refinishing.  Both of these jobs were done yesterday.  Belle has been pressured washed.  The masts will be lowered and secured tomorrow.  Final packing of clothes and perishable fruits and vegetables will be finished tomorrow.

 A 25 watt VHF amplifier was installed and connected between the Kenwood TH-D72A handheld with built in APRS TNC and the 2 meter/440 MHz antenna. This will provide VHF APRS beaconing of my location while near land.  Offshore, the Yeasu FT-857D HF radio will provide beaconing on the 30 meter band via the TinyTrak 4 GPS position encoder.This combination provides a signal which can reach stations across the US.  Position data is available on the website under my call sign (WB4FGF).

The solar charge management unit continues to show  good voltages and ongoing charge activity.  The house shore-power charger is hooked up to maintain at night and on cloudy days.  It looks like I will be in good shape energy-wise on this trip
When I think of holing up for wet cold days like today, I am thankful for my well stocked library.  My Kindle reader is also stocked with 35 books to read and is currently on charge in its place on the same shelf.



So we shall see if all comes together to leave 4 am Saturday morning.  If not, no particular loss. I can always leave next weekend.  Weekends are the only choice because Karen is riding with me to drive the truck and trailer back.  She has to work.
P.S. We decided tonight:  it's a go.  We're leaving around 3am Saturday.  Friday, the masts come down, the clothes, perishables and computers go in---we're off!

Last night we had the local members of SeeYouThere club over.  Jeff (founder) Diana, Genise and Bernard, I had such a good time, I forgot to take out the camera and record the festivities. Andrea, we missed you. Sorry you couldn't make it!  The purpose of our gathering (and generally, not much excuse for celebration is needed) was to wish me well on my trip down the coast of Florida. Jeff came armed with a nice boat-warming gift: a really neat flashlight. We had burgers, salad and various deserts.  Karen's efforts were much appreciated!

Since last night, I have added four mesh bags to the cabin doghouse sides.  These are here to stuff light items like warm underwear, sleeping clothes, mosquito nets, etc.

I added a holder for the USB puck GPS which plugs into the 7 port powered I/O USB multiport.  All USB devices can be plugged in here leaving one cord to go to the net-book.  The device is powered by 12 volts so no draw is placed on the net-book supply

To clarify a question by Genise: This is the composting head.  The blocking baffle DOES pull out of the way for "business."  Then closes securely.  The head is ventilated by a low-power fan. Notice some supply holes were drilled on the opposite side to provide ventilation.  The fan eliminates odors and provides oxygen to the composting process.  These babies retail for $1800.  Mine cost $50 to make and works just as well.

Belle's solar panels are soaking up the rays and keeping a good charge on the battery bank.

Storage on Belle

Here's the latest addition to the storage.  The idea is to have everything easily accessible.  I will store a couple of days supplies of food, coffee and clothes. Karen will help me prioritize and organize.

New Porta-Bote

This is our new 14 foot Porta-Bote.  Notice the convenient attached wheels for easy "portability" even on land.  Here she is "decked out" with the new casting platform, swivel chair, rod holders, trolling motor and of course the necessary 46 amp-hour battery in it's fine carrying case built by fellow ham Paul Kelly, W4KLY.

I mounted a Buddipole antenna for three amateur radio bands on the bow.  Note the lashing with 1/2 inch CPVC tubing for three-point stability.  After hours of frustration, I finally traced the problem with the vhf radio to a bad solder joint at the radio.  Now the SWR is 1.2:1 on channel 16 (156.8 MHz).  Even with the duplexer for the FM broadcast radio it measures 1.5:1.  I wish I could blame that cold joint on someone else:).
My appointment for taxes is 2/6/2013.  If everything is OK I will be shoving off shortly thereafter.

Some of you are aware that during the rainy spell recently, I fell off my boat--ouch! So as promised, I have placed tread-plate in all the important places.  I may add a few more.

Small Victories

I guess you'd call this an unsound method.  But it gets a 120 lb behemoth of a motor up 6 feet and over the rail.  The hernia isn't too much worse for the wear:).
Belle's motor has been at the shop to get the water pump impeller replaced.  I want no nonsense on the trip.  The oil and filter are new as well.

It's hard to imagine how a simple set of plastic shelves like this could be so helpful.  The were a royal pain to install though.

Tomorrow I will install the batteries and check the solar charging system.  In another couple of weeks. The water will go in and the pumps and plumbing will be checked.  We're almost there folks.  Caveat: when the water and food goes in I have to heat the cabin from then on until I go.