Merry Christmas – Season Greetings – Happy New Year
Carol and I wish all of you a Merry Christmas. May you find happiness, health, and prosperity in the new
Read MoreAuthor: Captain Greg
Boat Parade Party Deemed A Success
Last night (December 8th) Carol and I hosted a boat parade party here at Cocoa Village Marina. The smoker was
Read MoreHappy Anniversary, Almost Sink The Boat Day
Besides remembering Pearl Harbor, December 7th is the day the set screws backed out of the PSS dripless shaft on
Read MoreWe are finally home…
Sweet Dreams is back in slip 51 at Cocoa Village Marina. The launch and trip back went off without any
Read MoreBig haul out task 1 is completed!
Well it took almost 3 gallons of paint, lots of sand paper and oh the fiberglass, epoxy, and barrier coat
Read MoreSkeg and Rudder ready for paint!
After sanding the new fiberglass, the skeg and rudder were ready for the barrier coat. Barrier coating is an epoxy
Read MoreIn process work … boy this is fun
Once out of the water we got a look at the bottom. Besides the rudder and skeg it looks good.
Read MoreOut but two days late
Wednesday we canceled Sweet Dreams being pulled. We had a full gale with gusts in the 30’s or more. With
Read MoreWe have not forgotten you – Full Moon
Below are nice shots of the moon from our marina overlooking the Indian River / ICW. Wednesday, November 1 we
Read MoreWow… best part
Of living on a boat is being woken up at 2 am with your sun tarp flapping hard in a
Read MoreOur first sea monster…
And we are in the slip. About 8 tonight, Carol is in the aft cabin with the port open, she
Read MoreMemorial Day Update
Thursday we had a wind storm. Not sure how much wind we had, but you had to push the car
Read MoreWe moved! … and a general update
First the general update. Life is good in Cocoa. Carol’s issues with her eyes are coming alone. I am pleased
Read MoreGoing home it will be fun
So Carol, all the animals and myself started towards home. We include Anthony P. to pickup his car in Brunswick
Read MoreMerry Christmas from Sweet Dreams
First Carol and I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas. Please stay safe and remember the less fortunate.
Read MoreThanksgiving weekend on Sweet Dreams
Wednesday night was pie and salad time. We were going to have a diner with our friends in Terry’s condo
Read MoreIt’s been a while
We had some excitement here, two hurricanes. For Ian we (that is Carol, Sassy, Tinker Bell, and Boo) all went
Read MoreHow are we entertained?
Often people ask what we do each day. The following summarized our evening on Saturday Oct 8th. Each night we
Read MoreMaintenance and Life Continues
Remember the water intrusion (almost sinking) late last year. I finally have the new primary bilge pump installed how I
Read MoreMaintenance and rockets continue
Carol and I are still at Cocoa Village Marina Cocoa Florida. Since we last reported we have enjoyed watching several
Read MoreKeeping food simple on the Space Coast
Dinner tonight, the Omnia comes through again. It is the perfect size for us.
Read MoreFood experiment…
Dinner tonight was done using two, yes two experiments. The first is how it was cooked. I used our new
Read MoreDiesel stories, the good and the bad
On the good side Sweet Dreams ’ is back together with a new rear main seal and there are no
Read MoreWell that was fun…
We woke up to substantial wind and waves. This dock is not well protected from the North. Not to big
Read MoreEaster of Sweet Dreams
I admit I started it… I got the boats in the marina to participate in pitch-in Easter Sunday. There is
Read MoreStill in Cocoa Florida…
Carol and I are still at Cocoa Village Marina. We have enjoyed visiting with my brother Chuck and his wife
Read MoreCocoa finally
After two and half months and some troubles we finally reached Cocoa Florida. This is our planned farthest point South
Read MoreSt Augustine (cont), Palm Coast, and anchoring
Beside the nice marine in St Augustine our Racine WI friends Thomas and Maria came to visit us. They treated
Read MoreSt. Augustine home for 3 days
After the second night at anchor at Pine Island ( a fine anchorage not to deep and enough room to
Read MoreWe made it to Florida baby
Carol and I are anchored in Fernandina Beach after a nice 6 hour motor. The autopilot WORKS!, not sure if
Read MoreDay 2 on the hook
This the second night out on our trip to Brunswick GA. This part of Georgia is a maze of rivers
Read MoreWaiting on the mail
Literally this is the second day we have stayed at Thunderbolt Marina because the USPS is slow delivering our mail
Read MoreSweet Dreams is on the move
We finally got out of Isle of Palms and are sitting at the Beaufort Safe Harbor dock, we will be
Read MoreWhat’s new in the Arctic…aka Charleston SC
What a yucky couple of days. We got the rain and cold as expected. The boat stayed warm and we
Read MoreWeather just sucks
We are holding at Isle of Palms Marina waiting on decent traveling weather. We are paid up through the 30th.
Read MoreLast few days at Isle of Palms
Remember that runners knee I got? I went to the urgent care, the PA took one look at it and
Read MoreThat was fun…
The cold front that passed through the night of January 2nd had some wind. I saw 51 mph gust for
Read MoreWelcome to 2022 and Charleston SC
We hope everyone had a safe and fun New Year last night. We had new sailing friends over for cocktails
Read MoreSweet Dream – back in Charleston after 19+ years
It has taken 19+ years to get back. We are staying at the Isle of Palm’s Marina just North of
Read MoreBack head South
Today we had an uneventful trip from Georgetown to Mcclellanville. Mcclellanville is a small town and marina with some shrimp
Read MoreReady fire aim…
My old boss JK would tell me ready aim fire is how some people operate, less prep more action. Usually
Read MoreMerry Christmas from Sweet Dreams
Carol and I want to offer a heart felt Merry Christmas to everyone. We feel oh so blessed. We did
Read MoreUpdate on water intrusion …
Friday night we were able to get a hotel room but had to walk a little to get there as
Read MoreWow that was fun…not
Today while motoring South of Georgetown SC we started having a few issues. First our wind directIon instrument quick working.
Read MoreEnd of the day reward
After somewhat a long day a beautiful sunset is just one of our rewards, pic is below. Today we made
Read MoreMade it back…
It took almost 20 years but Carol finally lives in South Carolina again, even if it is only for 4
Read MoreShower finally doesn’t leak
Everybody has one or two tasks that should be easy but they aren’t, mine is the shower and sump. Today
Read MoreFog and some new friends
We started the morning in Beaufort NC as I posted last night. I was up half the night on anchor
Read MoreWrestling with the chip
Hello from Oriental North Carolina. Carol and I have been visiting and resting with our friends D and Don. While
Read MoreTravel, Wind, & Shrimp
Well the Coinjock prime rib reputation is a little hyped up. Friday night I had mine and it was good
Read MoreFriday after Thanksgiving
We have been traveling for 2 1/2 days and are a little tired. On Thanksgiving we tried to make it
Read MoreTrying it again
The stars have aligned and Sweet Dreams is once again away from her slip. They last delays were from a
Read MoreLast major cabin improvements….for a while
Getting the cabin on a small sailboat fixed up to suit both of us is not easy. We are getting
Read MoreNew home for Sweet Dreams – Fishing Bay Marina
Carol and I have found a new marina. Yankee Point was just too rural, 35 minutes to restaurants, hardware, and
Read MoreHot as heck and Hurricane Ida
We cry uncle, it has been unbelievable hot for the last 3 weeks. Because of that we decided to enjoy
Read MoreWe are actual cruising
Hey we actualyl got out on the Chesapeake, this is a big deal for us as it starts our cruising.
Read MoreScrape and go…
Sweet Dreams has been in the water since September. She needed her bottom cleaned. Today we pulled her out and
Read MoreCooling System check and upgrade
If you remember during our first outing last week the diesel ran a little warm. Coupling that with similar issues
Read MoreShe started and what no power…
Yesterday (April 11th) I decided I would start the iron ginny. With less than 5 seconds of cranking she fired
Read MoreHalf of the new cabinet doors are up
Carol and I have stained and poly coated all the doors. Today we installed half. I still have some adjustments
Read MoreFirst dinghy ride in the Cheseapeak
Finally… we were able to get out on the water. Today it was in the mid 60s and sunny. I
Read MorePlanned upgrades complete
I just completed installing our new battery charger / inverter. The fire at the power plug a couple of weeks
Read MoreCrap that was close
We started having problems with our heaters (we thought) and changed them out a few times. We were trying to
Read MoreNew house batteries installed
What a b#@ch of a project. We have two group 921s as the house battery bank. I replaced them with
Read MoreSails and Windlass…and other news
Other news, first we have decided to stay in Virginia until after Carol gets her hip replaced. We were not
Read MoreRetrofit Continues…
A brief side track… a nice man gave me a few white perch. So I had a chance to try
Read MoreAdding a light / Overcoming a fear
Today I installed a steaming/deck like on Sweet Dreams. The lens on the old deck light was the only causality
Read MoreWell…we changed marinas
Regent Point was nice and we would have enjoyed staying there but we have moved to Yankee Point Marina (URL
Read MoreSweet Dreams is in
While not ready to sail we are in the water. Yesterday we rented a trailer to bring the hard bimini,
Read MoreSweet Dreams has a new home
After a three day trip with a 16′ trailer in tow Carol and I have made it to Virginia with
Read MoreWe are out…
A lot has happened since the last post and I finally feel like I have some things to post. Below
Read MoreBig step completed
It has been a while since we posted. We have successfully emptied the house. Possessions have been distributed to kids,
Read MoreGentle reminder about the part June 27th
Suggest you bring a lawn chair, hope to see you soon. This is a big outdoor space… On June 27th
Read MoreBig step toward full time cruises today
Today Carol and I moved out of the house and onto the Sweet Dreams full time. While we still have
Read MoreSweet Dreams is in – latest launch ever
After dealing with the virus shutdown and excessive rain we were able to launch on May 27th 2020. Plumbing and
Read MoreDone….Sweet Dreams is waxed
Each year besides bottom pain the hull is waxed before the boat is put in. After rubbing compound the water
Read MoreBottom Paint – Step 3 of 1,000
The bottom is sanded and 2 coats of paint are on. Someday the paint will wear off my hands (yes
Read MoreEnglish Muffins from Scratch
Fresh bread is import when you get away from it all. Below is my first try at English muffins. I
Read MoreSleeping Upgrade
Below are a few pics of our new cabin mattress. We selected McWhorter Bedding to manufacture a custom bed for
Read MoreAutopilot – most important crew
It may come to a surprise but we almost never steer the boat. “Auto” does most of that task. Autopilots
Read MoreGoing green next year
Carol and I got a great deal on bottom paint. Less that $90 a gallon we need 2. This stuff
Read MoreShore power rebuild is complete
The rewiring of the 110 volt shore power is complete and tested. Sweet Dreams has 100% new wire, 10/3 for
Read MoreThe trip that started it all
Carol and I have enjoyed the questions from our friends trying to understand why we are moving aboard. The film
Read MoreBoat show – new toys
Carol and I purchased a new dinghy. The dinghy is the cruisers main “car” and an important decision. Our old
Read MoreIn deep now…
I am retired…Friday I just finished my last meeting. I have a few regrets but I am largely satisfied with
Read MoreGetting it done…
The process to shed the dirt dwelling is in full swing. Success this week include: The boat winter tarp is
Read MoreSnow really
November 8 and we have had ~10” of snow…maybe a long winter
Read MoreStarting out…
December 1 I start my retirement from GE Healthcare. Swinging into cleaning out, selling and generally purging most of our
Read More