I’m always surprised by how many boaters rarely use their onboard grill. The usual excuse is that it’s a hassle to fire up and a chore to clean afterward. Aboard “Moments in Time”, we’ve found the opposite to be true. Here’s how we clean our grill—faster and easier than tackling a sink full of pots and pans. Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts. Subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/

This is Sandy, our beloved 1979 Bay Window VW Westphalia camper. Sandy was mint in all aspects. She took the family on adventures while Toni and I were in-between boats. We miss Sandy, there are times I regret selling her as the kids grew older. But life moves on. Yes, she had a deadhead sticker on the back window, because that is how we rolled, back when we were young and cool. Another Moment in Time . . . Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

We are reluctantly planning turning our bows north again, this time with an actual schedule to keep. Toni has surgery on the horizon, and we’re watching for the next good weather window to open. Until then, we’re savoring these final days in Fernandina Beach — time with Monica and friends, long walks on the sand, and a few last meals at our favorite haunts. We’ve spent the winter here, and it’s bittersweet to say our farewells. Our journey continues, and we invite you to subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

Toni and I hadn’t planned on making it to the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show this year, but with the logistics of getting back to Charleston and "Moments in Time", we found ourselves with a free day and decided to go. With the City Dock upgrades underway, the show felt noticeably smaller than in years past, but still worth the stop. We enjoyed a relaxed breakfast, caught up with friends, wandered through a few boats, lingered over lunch, and let ourselves get swept up in the boat show energy. Sometimes you have to become part of the vibe. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

We raised two kids, which naturally put a pause on building our next boat or chasing horizons under sail. While we were landlocked, we poured our energy into other projects. Recently, while flipping through some old photo CDs I made years ago, I was reminded of other Moments in Time worth sharing. One of them begins with a trunk. We found this trunk in an old barn. It was never in great shape, but my parents used it for storage until the day they tossed it into a dumpster. I pulled it back out—something about it had always spoken to me—and that rescue became the start of my addiction to restoring old trunks. Every trunk carries a history. What stories could they tell? Who owned them? Where did they travel? What treasures did they hold? This particular trunk was a high-class piece in its day, originally built in Baltimore, Maryland. Camelback trunks were more expensive because the domed top required extra craftsmanship. That curved lid also served a purpose: it prevented other trunks from being stacked on top of it in a ship’s hold, reducing the risk of damage. The ornate metalwork, brass fittings, and leather coverings all point to a trunk made for an upper class traveler. I wanted to bring this circa 1880 Camelback trunk back to the elegance it once carried. What follows is its restoration journey—a collection of moments in time. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

There is no job on a boat crappier—literally—than working on the heads. Our starboard head has been a thorn in our backside since the day the boat arrived brand new. First it was a leaking black water tank, which had to be replaced under warranty. Then came a mysterious leak somewhere around the toilet itself. Add in chronic backflow issues, and we finally just gave up and used the owner’s head in the port hull. But when the port head went down for maintenance, the starboard head demanded its moment in the spotlight. Marine toilets have a whole cast of characters that can fail, and in this episode the villain was the joker valve—the little rubber gatekeeper that keeps raw sewage from washing back into the bowl after a flush. While replacing it, we also uncovered the source of the leak and fixed that too. What started as a truly crappy day ended with a working head and a smile. Victory never smelled so sweet. Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts. Subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/

People love to say that sailing is really just doing boat maintenance in exotic places—and they’re not wrong. During a routine engine check, I spotted some gunk in our port Racor filter and knew it had to be cleaned before we head north. Tackling a new maintenance task always brings a bit of anxiety, so I dove into the manuals and a handful of YouTube videos. With the Admiral’s help, I rolled up my sleeves and completed my first Racor replacement on the port engine. The second one went much faster. Once you understand the process, everything becomes easier. Skipping maintenance simply isn’t an option. Our journey continues, and we invite you to subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

I pay more attention to wind direction than wind strength. Here in our side tied slip at Fernandina Harbor Marina, it’s the west by northwest winds that give us pause. They race across the shallow bay, piling up whitecaps and rocking the floating docks and boats. This night, the cold northwest blasts hit 45+ knots, turning the evening into something between uncomfortable at best and downright hazardous for those that did not make the proper preparations to their boat, for it is these boats that endanger the others. Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts. Subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/

This wasn’t the plan. We were supposed to retire and sail off to quiet, palm fringed islands where warm breezes drift through the rigging and the only agenda is deciding which anchorage looks prettiest. But that’s the price of cruising with a timetable—life has a way of reminding you who’s really in charge. A handful of unexpected health issues surfaced, forcing us to change course. Now the priority is getting ourselves patched up so we can get back to the retirement we envisioned. Even so, life hasn’t been all that bad. We’re living at Fernandina Harbor Marina—Front and Center—and making the most of it while we work through these challenges. In this episode, we share where things stand and offer a glimpse of what day to day life looks like here in Fernandina Beach. Getting older isn’t always fun, but it sure beats the alternative. Our journey continues, and we invite you to subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

With the weather finally warming, the farmers market has returned to 7th Street South at Centre—just an easy seven block stroll from Moments in Time. It’s the perfect chance for us to stock up on fresh vegetables, fruits, and all sorts of tempting treats at friendly prices. Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts. Subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/

On Saint Patrick’s Day 2024, Toni and I climbed aboard "Moments in Time" for the first time—five years of dreaming and preparation finally becoming real. It was a surreal moment. We marked the anniversary today with a quiet celebration.

Fernandina Beach, at the northern tip of Amelia Island, is steeped in history. In many ways, little has changed—but look closely and you’ll notice the quiet passage of time: trees have grown tall and full, roads are now paved, sidewalks line the streets, and modern touches continue to appear. Yet the Victorian architecture of the historic homes remains remarkably intact, looking much as it did more than a century ago. Most of these houses were built between the mid 1800s and early 1900s, and many have been lovingly maintained or restored to their original splendor. They were crafted with pride and attention to detail—qualities rarely seen in today’s housing market. Some of these homes are true works of art. Join us as we wander these streets, admiring the architecture and stepping briefly into a bygone age. Our journey continues, and we invite you to share in the adventure. Subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

Sunsets happen every day. It marks the end of the day and the beginning of the night. However, sometimes a spectacular sunset marks the end of a spectacular day, recording a special moment in time. Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts. Subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/

While snow and ice storms were wreaking havoc back home in southern Maryland, Fernandina Beach was basking in the 70s. Monica joined us as we drove the short two miles east to the Atlantic side of Amelia Island. Warm air meeting cold seas draped the shoreline in a soft veil of fog. We wandered along the surf in search of treasure—shark’s teeth, unique shells, and perhaps a stray Spanish silver real or gold doubloon from the old treasure fleets. No silver or gold revealed itself, but we did come away with pockets full of shark teeth and a pair of pristine conch shells—a true moment in time. Treasure, after all, lies in the eye of the beholder. And it certainly beats shoveling snow and scraping ice back home. Our journey continues, and we invite you to share in the adventure. Subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

We experienced some rough seas on our journey south off the coast of South Carolina. “Moments in Time” was tossed in every direction. At some point, the emergency light attached to the life ring was knocked off the stern. We do not know how long we were dragging it but during the night we noticed the light behind us and realized it had come loose. The plastic clips were spongy and no longer could reliably secure it any longer. We drilled out the pop rivets and bolted stainless steel clips in its place. Another easy and inexpensive fix. Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts. Subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/

We left Moments in Time tucked safely in Fernandina Harbor Marina and drove back to Maryland to spend the holidays with family. When the celebrations wrapped up and we returned south, we traded Maryland’s biting low 30s chill for Florida’s welcoming warmth in the high 70s. Monica drove up from Jacksonville to spend the day with us, and together we wandered to the Amelia Island Lighthouse, taking in the sweeping views and the old oaks draped in Spanish moss like nature’s own lacework. From there, we headed to Fort Clinch, exploring its grounds and historic brick corridors before the rising temperatures—now in the 80s—pulled us toward the beach. We ended the afternoon combing the shoreline for shark’s teeth and other small treasures, the kind only the sea decides to share. As the sun slipped below the horizon, painting the sky in soft golds and purples, we made our way back to Moments in Time for the night. It was one of those rare, perfect days—a true moment in time. Our journey continues, and we invite you to share in the adventure. Subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

Treasure is always in the eye of the beholder. Whenever I’m walking along a beach, my gaze is constantly sweeping the sand for shark teeth, arrowheads, unusual shells, or—if luck is really on my side—a stray gold doubloon. Even with the beach packed with people, we still managed to uncover a few shark teeth and some small shells. At day’s end, we laid out our finds for comparison. And, well… it appears Skipper Pete claims the prize for both quantity and quality, despite Monica’s spirited protests. What do you think? Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts. Subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/

We first visited Monica in 2019, when she introduced us to Fernandina Beach for an afternoon. From the start, it felt like our kind of town. I remember strolling the docks at Oasis Marina—now Fernandina Harbor Marina—and thinking, if I ever sailed south, this would be a place worth lingering. Six years later, here we are, and settling in took no time at all. The town brims with restaurants, cafés, pubs, and saloons, making the hardest decision simply where to eat or drink—a challenge we happily embraced. The marina sits along Front and Centre Streets, right in the heart of the historic district. In this chapter of our journey, we wandered Fernandina Beach, savoring local flavors, enjoying lively pubs, and joining the “Dickens on Centre” festival. Even so, we’ve only skimmed the surface of what this town offers. Leaving will not be easy. Our journey continues, and we invite you to share in the adventure. Subscribe and share in the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

We love Fernandina Beach. It is a walking town and we want the exercise. Join us as we take a short stroll through Fenandina Beach. There are no shortage of restaurants, pubs, and saloons to sample. We plan to do our best to try sample as many as we can while we are here. Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts. Subscribe and share the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/

The seas favored us as we rounded the last of the three sister capes—Cape Fear. Navigating its crowded waters proved our greatest challenge, threading carefully among the many vessels making their passage. Once clear, we steered south toward Fernandina Beach, while others chose a more westerly course. The sailing was at times exhilarating, at times less forgiving, as the weather strayed from the forecast. Ultimately, we arrived safely and marked the occasion with a well-earned dinner and drinks. Our journey continues, and we invite you to share in the adventure. Subscribe and share in the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.