8-13 March, 2020 Time to return cruising north

It has been a relaxing past few days.  The winds died off, the temperatures have warmed to almost hot in the afternoons. Our relief in finding a canvas shop and replacing our lost panel allowed a more relaxing pace.  Linda from the Discount Marine and Canvas shop preformed excellent work over the past weekend, completing final adjustments late Monday evening after she returned from a days work in Daytona. The panel fit well and the material was the exact color of our original canvas.

The marina has been nice.  Nothing fancy. The floating docks are nearly new and in excellent condition.  The power pedestals containing both electrical service and fresh water service are clean and well maintained.  The shore water pressure is very good.  Folks have been friendly, the restrooms and showers are clean and easily available.  Laundry on site.  Serenity floating in fresh water has been a plus.  Only down side is Deland is about 5 miles away.  Too far to walk.  But we did play bingo one night---cannot believe we did, but....

Did not win

Walmart in town has delivery.  Two resupply missions complete.  Except for drinking water which should be assessable along the way, we have food for a good while now.  Boat sits a little lower in the water.

I had a great visit with my friend Trapper Joe.  We braved the COVID-19 threat and had breakfast at Waffle house, visited the local airport and looked around.  Joe and Alison have recently purchased a beautiful country property with acreage north of Deland.  Joe took me there and we walked around the property before returning to the marina.  Great visit.

Maintenance tasks are complete.  Oil sample taken, mailed off and results emailed back.  Satisfactory report, nothing unusual noted.  This is a good thing.  Completed draining the engine oil and removing the filter.  Refilled with Rotella T-4 and new Yanmar filter.  Drained the external fuel filter; no water noted.  Replaced 10 micron filter with new.  Removed and replaced the engine fuel filter with a new Yanmar fuel filter.  Bled the fuel system of air until fuel seeped out of the bleed screw.  Sucked out transmission fluid and replace with fresh dextron ATF.  Drained, removed and cleaned raw water strainer.  Inspected and replaced.  Adjusted v-belt slightly and preformed overall inspection of the entire engine.  Nothing unusual noted.  Started up the Yanmar and ran for 10 minutes.  No water, oil or fuel leaks noted.  Good to go.  Topped off all four of the house bank batteries.  Installed new 10 AWG wiring from the helm station new 12 VDC fuse box to the v-berth area for the freezer/refrigerator.  Previously, the new frig has been running on inverter powered 110 VAC.  I wanted to get off the inverter due to about 15% energy loss due heat as the process converts DC to AC.  Oversized the wiring to account for voltage drop over the run.  New wiring is fused and switched.  Works great.  The Frig has been operating this week on shore power AC and will switch to DC if AC power is lost.  Tested and works perfect.  Good to Go.  Completed a very detailed outside wash of the boat and canvas. Serenity looks really good all clean.  Polished the newly cleaned Strataglass/ isenglass too.  Inside and out.

Exercise had been easy this week, as there is plenty of room to walk throughout the marina/campground area.  Next door is a state operated boat launch ramp and picnic area with waterfront pathways.  Lots of squirrels, wading birds and even a pair of Sandhill cranes.  

Sandhill cranes

A mother duck with ducklings will let you get reasonably close to look.  Muscovy duck is not native but feral and a growing adapting population in south Florida.

It is time to begin the migration with 1000s of others who spend the winter in Florida.  We will get underway today and slowly proceed down river toward the north.  A few days anchoring on the St Johns river then a brief stay and visit once again around Jacksonville, Fl.  Verify the weather, review the charts then finish the final miles of NW Florida traveling the AICW before entering Georgia.