It's been an unusual few days for our intrepid travelers: A scrubbed space shuttle launch, viewing the "wrong side" of a cargo ship, and watching history being made (a little too close for comfort) on the edges of riots in Charleston.
Day 5 (Wednesday, May 27). Leaving Stuart, today's travels were a bit less of an adventure than yesterday's. Mark and Megan continued up the coast and moored in Melbourne Florida. And while a plane did pass overhead (referencing Megan's "planes, trains, and automobiles" comment from the day before), they were nowhere near an airport, and they settled in for a quiet evening onboard Polaris.
Day 6 (Thursday, May 28)
Leaving Melbourne and headed to Ormond Beach, FL. Today’s anticipated event was to travel past Cape Canaveral as the SpaceX Space Shuttle was to be launched. Adding this historic event to the travels was certainly an added “plus” on the adventure, but sadly the weather didn’t cooperate, and the launch was cancelled. Ormond Beach was nice resting place, though, and they settled in for the night after a quiet stroll around town.
Day 5 (Wednesday, May 27). Leaving Stuart, today's travels were a bit less of an adventure than yesterday's. Mark and Megan continued up the coast and moored in Melbourne Florida. And while a plane did pass overhead (referencing Megan's "planes, trains, and automobiles" comment from the day before), they were nowhere near an airport, and they settled in for a quiet evening onboard Polaris.
Day 6 (Thursday, May 28)
Leaving Melbourne and headed to Ormond Beach, FL. Today’s anticipated event was to travel past Cape Canaveral as the SpaceX Space Shuttle was to be launched. Adding this historic event to the travels was certainly an added “plus” on the adventure, but sadly the weather didn’t cooperate, and the launch was cancelled. Ormond Beach was nice resting place, though, and they settled in for the night after a quiet stroll around town.
Day 7 (Friday, May 29)
Our fearless crew put in a long day of traveling and made it to Georgia, anchoring just over the border for a quiet evening.
Friday saw some interesting sights, one of which was pictured to the left. As Polaris headed north, Mark and Megan noticed a large “something” in the water. And by “large,” we mean kind of huge! As they pulled up to it, they realized that they were looking at the bottom of a cargo ship that is being dismantled. The 656 ft Golden Ray, had capsized as she was leaving the Port of Brunswick, heading for Baltimore with 4,200 new cars on board. The cause of the incident is still under investigation. For some great photos and more on the story, click here: https://www.npr.org/2020/02/27/810021749/overturned-cargo-ship-soon-to-be-sliced-up-and-removed-from-georgia-sound
Our fearless crew put in a long day of traveling and made it to Georgia, anchoring just over the border for a quiet evening.
Friday saw some interesting sights, one of which was pictured to the left. As Polaris headed north, Mark and Megan noticed a large “something” in the water. And by “large,” we mean kind of huge! As they pulled up to it, they realized that they were looking at the bottom of a cargo ship that is being dismantled. The 656 ft Golden Ray, had capsized as she was leaving the Port of Brunswick, heading for Baltimore with 4,200 new cars on board. The cause of the incident is still under investigation. For some great photos and more on the story, click here: https://www.npr.org/2020/02/27/810021749/overturned-cargo-ship-soon-to-be-sliced-up-and-removed-from-georgia-sound
Day 8 (Saturday, May 30)
From Brunswick, our crew traveled “outside” to Tybee Island near Savannah, then tucked back “inside” making it to Beaufort around 9:30 pm. Megan took the wheel which allowed Mark to head into the bilges to explore as the bilge pumps seemed to be running a bit more than they should. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it. A few adjustments later, he had things back under control, and he was able to once again don his Captain's hat. Taking a bit of time in the late afternoon to relax while underway, Mark's ingenuity came into play as he rigged up a temporary solution to the non-functioning autopilot. (For any "Red Green Show" fans out there ... you know the saying, "If the women don't find you handsome, they might as well find you handy!" We know we're lucky to have a handsome AND handy captain on board doing this delivery!)
From Brunswick, our crew traveled “outside” to Tybee Island near Savannah, then tucked back “inside” making it to Beaufort around 9:30 pm. Megan took the wheel which allowed Mark to head into the bilges to explore as the bilge pumps seemed to be running a bit more than they should. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it. A few adjustments later, he had things back under control, and he was able to once again don his Captain's hat. Taking a bit of time in the late afternoon to relax while underway, Mark's ingenuity came into play as he rigged up a temporary solution to the non-functioning autopilot. (For any "Red Green Show" fans out there ... you know the saying, "If the women don't find you handsome, they might as well find you handy!" We know we're lucky to have a handsome AND handy captain on board doing this delivery!)
Day 9 (Sunday, May 31)
Shorter day today as Polaris headed to Charleston. Parts for the autopilot are scheduled to arrive on Monday Plans were for a relaxing afternoon in Charleston, waiting for the parts to arrive, and Megan to then catch a flight home, as her portion of the journey is coming to an end.
But, as Robert Burns once said, “The best laid schemes o’mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley” in other words, so much for plans!
Mark and Megan arrived in Charleston during the second day of unrest as cities around the country have erupted in the midst of racial tensions.. Saturday night had seen riots and property destruction with 11:00 pm curfews in place. Sunday’s crackdown moved curfew up to 6:00 pm.
A short (early) Uber drive had taken M&M through one of the hard hit areas (King Street) with broken/boarded up windows and looted businesses. At one point, Mark found himself in sight of some of the “action,” and spoke to some of the college students nearby. He watched from a distance as police and National Guard surrounded crowds as the curfew hour approached. He also found that he wasn’t quite far enough away from the action as he was still within reach of the fumes of tear gas. Although his exposure was light, he was still feeling the effects when we spoke later in the afternoon.
Shorter day today as Polaris headed to Charleston. Parts for the autopilot are scheduled to arrive on Monday Plans were for a relaxing afternoon in Charleston, waiting for the parts to arrive, and Megan to then catch a flight home, as her portion of the journey is coming to an end.
But, as Robert Burns once said, “The best laid schemes o’mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley” in other words, so much for plans!
Mark and Megan arrived in Charleston during the second day of unrest as cities around the country have erupted in the midst of racial tensions.. Saturday night had seen riots and property destruction with 11:00 pm curfews in place. Sunday’s crackdown moved curfew up to 6:00 pm.
A short (early) Uber drive had taken M&M through one of the hard hit areas (King Street) with broken/boarded up windows and looted businesses. At one point, Mark found himself in sight of some of the “action,” and spoke to some of the college students nearby. He watched from a distance as police and National Guard surrounded crowds as the curfew hour approached. He also found that he wasn’t quite far enough away from the action as he was still within reach of the fumes of tear gas. Although his exposure was light, he was still feeling the effects when we spoke later in the afternoon.
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