(To view Album scroll to end)Last year sure was very challenging. As you know we came to Jacksonville Florida to work on Sid’s back, which turned into the biggest nightmare. But before I tell you about it, we’re still at the Ortega Yacht Club Marina in the Ortega River (which is about 18 miles up the St. Johns River), a pretty protected place which we found out during last years hurricane season. We chose this marina knowing that convenient shopping was just around the corner since we didn’t have a car at that time.
We couldn’t’ just doing nothing while waiting to get Sid’s back fixed, so within a few days I got a job at Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grill which is only a two minute walk away. One month later West Marine was finally hiring and Sid got that job, also just a short walk away from the marina.
Ortega Yacht Club Marina is a good place to be and we had the best slip with an incredible view of the river, well that’s what we thought. This is a pretty busy river especially during weekends. I can’ t tell you how many boats just speed buy leaving a huge wake and knocking us out of our seats or even worse our of bed, that is pretty annoying. At times the wake would crash over the dock and even splash over the dodger. At first we tried very politely to slow them down, most of them showed us the bird. I got the speeders attention with my loud whistle; I guess after two months of that I now annoyed our neighbors because Nancy the dock mistress offered us a new slip further in. Wow, what a difference. The other thing we didn’t like and still don’t like is the trains. We were told that we would get used to it, we’ve been here for over a year and still haven’t gotten used to the loud train whistle. Some trains can literarily play a song with the whistle and you can here each train for about 10 minutes. Each train whistles every few seconds and they come buy every 20 to 30 minutes day or night (actually on a sleepless night I counted a train whistling 74 times until he got to the bridge, which is right where we are and then you know how many time until we couldn’t hear him anymore).
As unpleasant as this marina seems, it also has its beauty, when the water is low enough for the tree trunks to stick out of the water, turtle’s sun themselves on them. An alligator with baby cruises by, Canada geese are showing off their babies, raccoons play along the shore and during summer, pods of manatees feed off the grass and roll around in the marina. An osprey sits high atop the radio tower and we watch him catch fish, the funniest was when he caught an eel, that thing was so long and heavy he had a tuff time flying.
Best part of this marina, we catch crab and shrimp right from the dock (not to mention eels and catfish), and our neighbors are just wonderful, did I say neighbors, well I should change it to friends.
Ever heard the story of a friend of a friend? Well I have one: One of my co-workers had a friend who had a friend who was selling his car for 400 bucks. The car looked like a piece of crap but was running pretty good, so we bought it. It was a Toyota Paseo which had so many whisky dents; it looked like something you would find in Mexico, so we named it “LA BAMBA”. You should have seen the inside the blue upholstery was brown of dirt. It took Sid several days to get the inside clean. The funny thing about this was, we told Nancy the Dock Mistress that the trashy looking car in the parking lot actually belonged to us and not to a bum. The second day Sid was working on the car, he was lying in the back seat, he’s feet were sticking out of the driver side (you have to know the car was very small) and was scraping the tinting off the back window. Nancy’s husband came home from work, still in his car he calls Nancy and told her that a bum was sleeping in his car in the parking lot. She of course immediately knew who the bum was. After all we are the Boatbumms aren’t we?! The car was in such bad physical shape Sid even used soft scrub on the already dull paint to get the white back. La Bamba treated us well and we did many long trips such as New Bern, NC and New Orleans. Now that trip was fun. In March we met with Bob and Kara Kurth (remember the Z story), Shanna and Mark and her cousin Pheadra and Brad at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel and spent 4 fun days getting to know the New Orleans life style. We were shocked when we entered our room, for 139 bucks a night we could barley walk around the bed, the room size was probably 9 by 9 with a view over the next door roof. The television didn’t work so we complained at the reception, but nothing was done that day, the next morning we told them again and after returning from lunch still nothing was done. After confronting them again we found out that the TV was broken (daaaa) and that they had to move us to another room. No problem with us, especially when we walked into our new room noticing that it was a two story penthouse overlooking Bourbon Street, now it doesn’t get any better than that (they even dropped the price to 119 a night). Here is the fun part about it, Pheadra and Brad’s room was just two over from us and the room between us was vacant, so we just jumped over the terrace fence and had parties on either terrace. Shanna didn’t know yet that we had moved to that room and we pulled the biggest joke on her. While partying on Pheadra’s terrace I mentioned that we ran out of wine. Sid then said: “Well lets see if there is any at the room two balconies over with the open door?” and jump over the two fences to get to our room. He slipped into our room leaving Shanna standing there with open mouth. After a few seconds Sid comes out of the room with two bottles of wine in his hands telling us to come over and look at the room. As shocked as Shanna was she was the first one to jump over the fence and I followed her and went into the room while Shanna kept saying: “This is bad, this is bad” and “we all are gong to jail!” Then I picked up my purse and said: “Wow Shanna look at this beautiful purse lets see what’s in it.” She almost died and told me that I couldn’t do this; we really are going to jail and finally ran out the door into the hallway. I ran after her and as the door slammed I said: “Oh Shanna I forgot something”, she turned around and watches me open the door with the key. That’s when she realized that she was had. It was our room.
In April our good friends Bill and Jeannette from Costa Rica came to Florida and since 3 of their cruisers buddy were in Florida we met all at Liz and Brian’s house in Homosassa. What a great reunion, especially finding out their friends Dan and Donna are at the same marina as we are, small world.
Way back when we had planned to spend the summer up in Main we promised Kathy that we’ll be there for her daughter Alison’s graduation. Well the boat didn’t make it but we did. We flew up for a couple of days and had a great reunion with her and family. Main is absolutely beautiful; unfortunately it’s just a bit too cold for us.
As the summer started to progress heavier thunderstorm were pounding us. One afternoon one went by on the south side and we watched the lightning while sipping on a cocktail. All of a sudden the temperature dropped by at least 15 degrees. It was so noticeable we looked at each other questioning it. Not 3 minutes later Sid screamed “Hold on”, and then the boat was lying on its ear, I mean the toe rail was touching the dock. Sid was hanging onto the sunshade for dear life so that it wouldn’t get torn apart while being pounded by stinging rain. I was standing or kind of hanging sideways in the companion way and what I saw was just horrifying. Every single boat in the marina was on its ear and loud popping noise surrounded us from all the dodgers blowing out. The rain came in horizontal and the wind must have blown 100 knots, we encountered a microburst. Luckily we were in the cockpit and Sid hanging onto the awning when this happened, we would have lost it as well. The inside of the boat was upside down, even my heavy sewing machine tipped over. The marina office lost the roof, one huge tree and two little ones were uprooted, also a light pool threatened to fall over the parking lot. It sure was a scary moment, now thinking back I think it was worse then either hurricane Jeanne and Francise.
Yep, we spent another hurricane season on the East Coast and it wasn’t too comforting knowing that Florida is in the hurricane belt. I don’t’ have to tell you about the hurricanes you’ve seen it on TV or lived through it yourself. All I can say is that we’ll take an earthquake over any hurricane. At least they are over within a few seconds (had 2 while in California, didn’t like them at all, but don’t like hurricanes more). For a hurricane you wait up to two weeks and one day before it hits, you still don’t’ know if it’s going to be you or not, then another one is approaching. It’s very stressful; I lost 5 pounds for each hurricane. I don’t mind the weight loss but sure do mind the hurricanes. Luckily we’re in a pretty safe marina and it wasn’t a direct hit, although we still were in the north eastern quadrant. What are the chances of being in the NE quadrant of 3 major hurricanes in less than a year? We should have played the Lottery.
Now to Sid’s back. Way back in February 2004 Sid went to an orthopedic who referred him to a neurosurgeon, he was so busy that in June we finally received an appointment date which was not till 8th of September. A long wait but way worth it, he’s the best of the best here in Jacksonville. 10 days before the appointment they canceled it. In December we found out what the problem was, workmen’s comp refused to pay $750 upfront, they only wanted to spend $250. If we had known we would have come up with the difference. It was really a huge battle with workmen’s comp they screwed Sid around to no end. In December Sid finally told them that we were coming to California and no butts about it. On December 18th we left Jacksonville and were LA bound.
I have to add that the end of September Sid was involved in a car accident. A guy talking on his cell phone rear ended him, leaving Sid with a herniated disk in his neck. So he was going to therapy for that too and now that we’re back he has to continue with it. Poor La Bamba was totaled too, so we bought our neighbors Volvo, which the next day the dash caught on fire. We traded it in for a very nice Mercedes. Two weeks before we left for California I broke my little toe. Sure has not been a very good year for us especially loosing our companion Crystal.
In the meantime we lived three months in California in the most incredible house above Sherman Oaks with a view over the whole valley, with Jacuzzi and all (thanks Greg and Megan you guys were awesome, we didn’t just make friends we made family).
What Sid couldn’t do in Jacksonville in one year he could accomplish in less then two months in Los Angeles. On Feb. 15th he had his back surgery which was a success, he’s doing so much better, the shooting pain down his legs are gone and he has almost all the feeling back in all his little toes and he hasn’t stumbled once. He also can sit down for a long time and driving a long distance is not bothering him anymore. The best though he’s got his smile back on his face.
We had a wonderful time in California and caught up with all our friends. Dave and Joan Steele had an incredible party for us with all our old friends, thanks so much you guys. A huge thanks too to Pacific Mariners Yacht Club, you guys are still our family.
We had a wonderful trip out and back. We sure chose the right time to drive back; the desert was in full bloom “100 year rain”, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee’s sides of the highway were covered with colorful wild flowers”.
We spent a week in Tucson with Julie and Shane on Echelon, Irie organized a little reunion for us with other cruisers we met in Mexico (Irie, Echelon, and Austerity). It was great to see them all and catch up, but the main event was Sid and I renewing our vows, thanks to Julie for making it possible and it was a surprise for Sid.
Next stop was Fredericksburg where I heard for the first time the “Luckenbach” song, what a funky little place consisting of three wooden buildings and one of them was a bathroom. The population is 1 and it has its’ own zip code. Sam and Fred Forgarty spoiled us. Fred used to work with Sid at LAPD and Sam was our favorite bartender. We haven’t seen them since 96, so we had a lot to catch up. We love their house they are in the middle of nowhere and full of wild life, we sure enjoyed it.
80 miles further in Austin Dar and Michael on Mimosa welcomed us to their beautiful home. We had a day of hiking to the most beautiful waterfall with a cave, enjoying a gourmet picnic and cocktails overlooking Lake Travis, what a neat area. Fredericksburg and Austin was a big eye opener on how beautiful Texas really is.
Aunt Alice in Baton Rouge was next on the list. After fixing this and that on the house it was time to head on.
Then our favorite spot of all” Casa de Kurth” the best Mexican Restaurant, bed and breakfast we’ve found. If you need the address just ask us. Kari and Bob are true friends and it’s always nice to visit with them, never a dull moment. Kathy and Jim barbequed the most incredible ribs we’ve ever had and we were a happy family. “Go Vols!”
Next stop was Sid’s mom in her new rest home. It was really good to see her but rather depressing on her new surrounding; it’s a pretty sad place. She has adjusted to her new home but is getting worse on her Alzheimer’s.
Least but last was New Bern to see Chris, Tracy and Ron, sure miss them too.
We had a wonderful time seeing old and new friends but it is so good to be home again. Our dock mistress organized a welcome potluck for us, which was a huge turnout. I think we’re very blessed, we make the most wonderful friends, no matter where we go.
Tika by the way did awesome traveling in the car and challenging every place we stopped. You should have seen her when she got back on the boat, her eyes lit up like a Xmas tree, her head was spinning, she didn’t know what to look at first, then she ran back and fourth and up and down on everything. She had to sniff and touch everything on the boat and went right back into her old habits (us too), bless her heart.
Well, here we are again in Jacksonville FL we get to sit out another hurricane season and then bail southbound. Sid still has to deal with his neck from the accident but we’re hoping that will be short. And since we’re stuck for another summer in Florida Sid is sending me to Malaga, Spain to study Spanish from May 15th to June 30th, so for all our friends who like to send jokes via email, please hold them back because Sid is computer challenged and I will be too busy studying Spanish and will not have time for much email stuff, unless it is in Spanish.
Sorry this is so mundane and trivial, but this is just to let you know that it’s only another page in our resume (why would we need one!).
Love you all and thanks for being friends and following our adventures
Sid, Manuela and Tika in and on Paradise
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