12.21.08 still at No Name Harbor

An exciting day…It started out with a  beautiful sunrise. Our first job for the day…do a load of wash early in the morning before the 1 washer and dryer were taken…..while I did that Jim filled 8 gallon jugs with fresh water and took them back to the boat. It took 3 trips to fill the fresh water tank. Then we took a 2 mile walk into town for groceries. Of course, we both over-shopped..Jim and I carrying 2 bags apiece (cloth “green” bags). Larry was carrying an insulated bag on his shoulder and had his hands full of plastic bags. The 2 miles back seemed more like 10….but we made it. That took care of the morning. Cruising can be a lot of fun…and a lot of work, but exercise is good.

Jim wanted to work on the alternator so Larry, Diane and I took River Nomad out and anchored in shallow water near the lighthouse. We used the ladder to go in for a swim. A bit later the wind started picking up and wakes from the boats heading home were starting to rock the boat pretty good so we got aboard, that in itself was a tricky maneuver in the rough water. Sure did miss some good chances for “Funniest Home Video.” We pulled up the anchor and headed back. Just outside the entrance there is a spot where many of the large sailboats anchor…so we decided to drop the “hook” and do some more swimming…11ft of beautiful water.  A few minutes after we got back aboard…but before we could get the anchor up…a huge boat went flying by…creating a 7’ wake that hit us broadside. The Nomad rocked a 50 degree heel…a 7’ wave from inside a boat that isnt more than  8ft tall from the waterline…can look mighty big. I know I was looking up at the top as it hit us. No one got hurt but it upset the alcohol stove, tea kettle and microwave…minor damage to the stove but Larry had that up an working before it was needed this morning. A less seaworthy boat than the Nimble Nomad could have been swamped and sunk. Inconsiderate boaters like that are the reason we stayed in No Name Harbor rather than trying to cruise  S on Biscayne Bay over the weekend. Small boats dont have much chance against high dollar monsters who could care less what damage they do. Since no one got hurt and the boat handled herself rather well….it gives us another good story to tell. We ended the day with a good dinner aboard and a movie.