Rockets' Tug Travels

17/04/2024

I'm starting my trip. Follow along at my MapShare site!

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04/10/2023

Sea tow to the rescue

04/10/2023

The wind is blowing so hard (29mph) that a 40 ft newish Mainship that had been anchored off shore has broken loose and is crashing into our sea wall. We've called everyone we can think of to try and prevent those fuel tanks from breaking open all over the coral reef. Wish us all luck

02/10/2023

The storm is blowing thru and everyone needs a place to hunker down. Hold tight my light friend, it'll be done soon

01/10/2023

The clouds stole our sunset. But, what a great sight they left instead

07/09/2023

Good morning.

06/01/2023

So this morning I saw something I've never seen before. Standing out on the cockpit, I looked to starboard and saw the beautiful, almost-full, setting moon slipping into the ocean. Stunning, then I looked port and there was the rising sun, waiting to light the sky. Which it did in stellar fashion. The gulf was wiped up to a mild froth with sustained 31mph wind. Lovely little whitecap splashing on the shore. Of course, I took pictures, but they look nothing like the amazing sight. Maybe tomorrow will offer a repeat.... I'm gonna look.

20/10/2022

Sunset from my patio. This is the condo we're staying at for a few month up in Central Florida. This is gonna be a good place to regroup. We are so very fortunate.

06/10/2022

Because life in a boat means change is your best friend, we are lining up for our next big change.
We live in Fort Myers Beach.
I'm sure y'all know what that means..
We don't live there anymore. ☹️

But we've been so very fortunate thru all of this. The fact that our boat is still floating and in the marina is a miracle. Of the 32 boats docked in our marina Serenity is 1 of only 4 left. Amazing. No idea of the extent of the damage yet but still hopeful for a full recovery. As soon as they can get to her, she'll be pulled out and hopefully put back together.
🤞She's a tuff old bird so.🤞

Now on to the changes. We will be moving onto the Ranger Tug, Harvest Moon. She was completely untouched up in storage 15 miles inland. Another miracle. We will stay on her in a safe harbor on Okeechobee until after the hurricane season finally ends.

Here's the exciting part. We're moving Islemadora Island in the Keys!!!

The company that owns our marina has lots of marinas all over. They are helping us pick the perfect match for us. We have a fabulous place reserved and I can't wait !!!
It's been our dream since we first got onto a boat. Now we are finally going to do it. And such a perfect spot for us. Rather than a huge resort, filled with tons of visitors, this is a much smaller and more nature based Only 6,000 people on the island. Right on a lovely beach with a gorgeous pool and tiki bar. Still only an hour and half drive from the airport. I never knew such a place existed. Now, we live there.
Amazeballs.
So, just wanted to update everyone that has been reaching out and sending prayers. .. we're safe and working on getting back up on our feet to move ever forward.
Thanks for the love and support

30/09/2022

Running with the big boys now.... that's what a call rapid response team. You can't see how many there really are here but, I'm impressed

17/09/2022

So here we are doing what we do best... pulling out.
On our way back to Florida

27/08/2022

Another exciting day on The Canal.
23 miles, 5 locks (2 in the rain)....
Then the sun came back and we landed at another charming little town wall. So sweet.
Today really showed us all the reasons we love the tug. It was so easy to go from pleasant morning to serious rain, with lightning !!.
The friends we're traveling with are in a 40 foot trawler, very similar to Serenity, so I know how hard it was for them to run thru the rain and handle those locks. And I am telling you it was totally different story for us today in the tug. It was so much easier and more comfortable and drier for us today. Close some windows, turn on a few fans and run along unscathed. So so so much easier.
Like when it was time to head out and grab a line on the lock wall,
On Serenity: I'd climb down a few stairs from the flybridge, run 25 ft in the rain (on a slick deck) up to the bow and grab my hook, lean over a rail that's 10 ft above the water line and get that hook and reach for your wall line.
On The Tug: step outside the door, grab my hook, lean over and pick up my wall line.... inches away....
OMG.... is this even the same event.
Enjoy the pictures we got today

26/08/2022

Do you know that feeling when you've waited really really long to do something, and it turns out to be better that you imagined? I do.
I'm totally in love with the Erie Canal. It is so lush, so many shades of green crammed together... and the water level is still a bit high from last week's rains. It gives the appearance of untouched wilderness. We even spotted a bald eagle. Sorry the picture is so bad. (Captain used his IPhone, yick.)
So calm, and quiet that it reminds me of the GICW only without all those darn alligators...
It's like floating down river in an inner tube with an ice cold drink.
Catching up with old cruising buddies just makes it all the sweeter. So much laughing, swapping travels stories and always looking for that perfect next cruise.
The locks are such an added bonus. They are super easy to use and such a pleasant experience . The Lockmasters are some of the nicest people I've met in New York so far.

25/08/2022

We finally launched and are on our way. Mohawk Harbor Marina was a lovely place to spend the night. Not more that restrooms, but they we clean and bug free..... haha.
Today we are going to cruise to Lock 10 and pull over at the wall in Amsterdam.
3 locks and crazy low bridges... haha. Should be a day.

23/08/2022

So it's finally time to stop all this family partying and lolly gagging around on Lake Erie. Time to get to it.
We pulled out of the lake on Sunday and headed to Schenectady NY to meet up with some old cruising buddies.
What should have only been a7 hour drive ended up taking 2 days. I forgot how much weather can mess up a float plan. Haha. But we found some wonderful places to hang out and stay dry.
So beautiful up here I can't wait for clear sky's tomorrow so we can head off to Amsterdam. Hello Erie Canal.

26/07/2022

When we first looked at Ranger Rugs the outdoor kitchen grabbed me instantly, you know me and cooking.
I tested it right away and saw that it turned on, got hot and I left it at that. But, today I put it to the real test. The ever popular "low and slow". What a delight to cook for as long as you want at what ever temp you want.
In the galley we have a 2 burner stove and complete oven that are propane. Lovely but I tend to cook a little more prudently with propane.
Today I grilled white beats, vadelia onions, a beautiful eggplant in Olive oil, seasonings,and sun dried tomatoes. Next I marinated chicken in my version of a Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce. I let the chicken barely sizzle and kept moping it with the light sauce for almost an hour. So so yummy.
I like my grill.
Excellent day for me.

24/07/2022

So I don't know if anyone else has had to replace the galley fridge in their Ranger Tug.... but lucky us,we've had to do just that. First big challenge
FIND ONE!!!
No joke, that took more than 3 days.!! We finally had to go with the AC/DC model (because they're is a 4 month wait for the DC only models.
And i am so over living out of a cooler)
The 2 models are exactly the same, with the addition of AC hook up, which we simply didn't attach.
Before we put the new one into the cutout,Captain build a subfloor to help support the fridge. Should add a lot more supported and relieve some of pressure on the counter cutout.
I am just so very thankful that we are fixing to cook our own dinner tonight instead of take out.

23/07/2022

Morning rush hour,
North East Ohio style...

12/06/2022

The first splash

12/06/2022

So here we go. Our summer adventure has us towing our Ranger Tug r27 up to Philly to start. We are just learning all there is to know about this but so far so good. It doesn't hurt that "Cap" is a professionally trained heavy truck driver and a retired fireman. But it's still a learning curve for sure. The Tug rides beautifully on the trailer made for her. So the first day was successful. Onward..

13/04/2022

Well it's Official !!!
Serenity has a little sister, welcome Harvest Moon. She just arrived Monday. Ya, shake down cruise is tomorrow. Yippee

08/07/2021

Well, now that was one for the books.... our top wind speed here in Harbortown last night was 54mph. We're fine, as are all our fellow dock mates. After a quick tour of the grounds this morning it looks like everyone did just fine. The beautiful landscape will take a bit of work. Thanks to all who spent the night checking in and on us. Now to get ready for company..... WOOT WOOT.

10/06/2021

Is been a warm sunny day, and it's finally starting to cool off after a light rain. So first we got a rainbow then this lovely sunset. What a way to enjoy the last cup of coffee for the day

02/06/2021

As we're travelling around, staying in a differant place every time we stop the engines, people are always asking me, "what do I look for in a Marina?"
Of course, we all want the basics;
we need clean showers, pleasant bathrooms, and good laundry spaces. Room for the dog, and friendly staff... but on the top of my list, what makes me wanna stay longer....is this:
just look at my view from our
"front porch"

31/05/2021

The ninja foodie straight up rocks. It's so easy to cook yummy stuff and my galley doesn't have to be a hot sweaty cave filled with smoke... yummy