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Test Run
  • betty staugler
  • betty staugler

Test Run

Molly Brown got A LOT of work done after our year on the boat. Today we launched for our shakeout cruise. Maybe one day, could be three days or even a week. Read more
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  • Trip start
    December 27, 2025
    betty stauglerTest RunTraveler
    2We're on the boat 👍
    MB sporting her new paint job.2Water TaxiNew Starlink Mini draws less power. If only it worked!!2Cemetery on the island. Graves from early 1900s.Trails are sandy service roads.Lots of orchids in the oak trees.MB from last major business trip to shore.

    Day 1 - Cayo Costa

    December 27, 2025 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 70 °F

    So many problems!! The good - the weather is nice. No bugs. We have good shore access. Dogs are not allowed on the beach but are allowed on the trails which is perfect. We walked the Cemetery Trail. Eight grave sites each lined with Lightning Whelks. And should be nice stars tonight. Also stove fired right up. Always good with a Wallace. The bad - my day started with a headache that never quite went away. The animals lost their sea legs and both threw up. The depth finder isn’t displaying correctly. The Starlink won’t connect. Actually it connects and disconnects. The radar has a communication issue to the radôme and James phone won’t receive messages for some odd reason. Tomorrow we are going to meet our tech savvy daughter Sara and hopefully work thru at least a couple of these. In the interim we are on the water anchored in Pelican Bay and it should be calm tonight. Not at all bad.Read more

  • betty stauglerTest RunTraveler
    Red right returning
    Getting three animals to look at the camera 🤣🤣American Legend stop in Punta Gorda. Cruises between Tampa and Key West. Punta Gorda is day 7Great blue at our island tonight.When Luna's out on deck we know she's feeling good.Moki's islandLuna watching the sun go downNo cloudsSteaks on the grill tonight.

    Day 2 - Alligator Creek

    December 28, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    We had some success today. My headache is gone and the animals are happy. The radar is working. Turns out it wasn’t plugged in to the back of the display 🤷🏼‍♀️. The Starlink is working on AC Power although we still want it to run off USB-C. We think the issue is our USB-C port… even though it’s rated to 100 watt. Still not sure what going on with the depth finder. It doesn’t work at all when we fire it up. Then it will work for a bit. Then it just flashes. We had a nice visit with our amazing daughter who helped us troubleshoot the Starlink and James phone which once again can receive iMessages. Tonight we are anchored at the mouth of Alligator Creek. This is the creek we live on. Moki has his own private island 🏝️. It’s tiny but enough for him to be able to explore without having to be on a leash.Read more

  • betty stauglerTest RunTraveler
    Lounge day
    Good bread on a boat is a blessingSolar panel did good today. 113 max watts out of a 200 watt panel. Total 520 watts.Luna on the bimini.Sunset tonight

    Day 3 - Back to Cayo Costa

    December 29, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    We decided this morning with the weather coming we either needed to pull out or hunker down somewhere out of the wind until Friday. So we’re back at Cayo Costa because we weren’t ready to come home. Moki and I walked another trail but mostly today was a down day. That said I did make bread today. Well mostly. I prepped four baguettes. Two are proofing in the fridge and will get baked tomorrow and the other two are in the freezer. Fingers crossed they come out good. Tomorrow will be much cooler than today.Read more

  • betty stauglerTest RunTraveler
    From yesterday's hike.
    242' yacht off Cayo Costa. Built in the Netherlands in 2022We walked out to the old quarantine dock 1901. These were probably from an associated structure.Boca Grande Lighthouse4Bread with our GoSun solar oven.Even the animals have enjoyed the down timeBald eagle hanging nearby1James kayaked!!MBIbis behind us2A rare photo smile 😀4Last sun setting of 2025

    Day 5 - Last day of 2025!

    December 31, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    We’ve had a nice relaxing end to 2025. I will say I needed this. Yesterday Moki and I hiked 5.5 miles after which we can say we’ve officially covered the Cayo Costa trails. They are so nice this time of year and the park staff did a great job getting them back in hiking condition after the hurricanes of late. My bread came out excellent! We’ve struggled with making bread on the boat. We have the stovetop Omni oven which works great for some things but I haven’t gotten a good loaf of bread from it. However we just got a solar oven and that’s the bread ticket! Look forward to testing some other foods with it. Weather has been chilly but nice out of the wind. Not many boats here and there was no one on shore today when Moki and I went. I am one kayak paddle away from getting to relax for the evening. Happy New Year!! Hoping for a great 2026. Last trip to shore here we come!Read more

  • betty stauglerTest RunTraveler
    MB before the sun came up. First trip to shore
    2Moki enjoyed his private beach.Back at the ramp

    Day 6 - End of trip

    January 1 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    We headed back to Punta Gorda after a quiet evening with no fireworks! We expected a busy ramp but it was virtually dead. Molly Brown is now home all clean and tucked away in her barn. We have a list of things to do for the next trip (C-Dory Gathering in Feb.) which was the goal so all in all a success!! Happy January 1, 2026!!Read more

    Trip end
    January 1, 2026
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