The crew getting ready for our Panama Canal transitPlease oh please, catch my line…A celebratory swim in Lake GatunThe Captain concentrating through the first set of locks.Getting ready to snuggle up to SpringDay in the Miraflores Locks
Another shot of the Memphis neighborhood — and a few thoughts
Currently, we’re in Jupiter and the weather’s been nice.
Our Hood —
Cinematic City from jason allen lee on Vimeo.
A look at Memphis.
Music by Tim Hecker.
Radar and I are up early, watching the sun rise over the top of a big yacht named Sea Bear, it’s nice visual.
Looking out over the stern of Istaboa, it appears to me that life seems to be getting better for many folks. This marina is filling up with big yachts where just a year ago it had more empty slips than full. The size and number of vessels has increased dramatically.
On the docks are marina worker bees swarming around the boats like in year’s distant past. Older boats are being fixed up or traded in for newer and bigger ones. Lots of upgrading and polishing, lots of captains and owners specing out projects. I’m seeing smiles on the faces of the boat fixer-uppers like I haven’t seen in a long time.
The marina operators are all reporting the best year they’ve seen in more than a decade. Some are getting cocky again, like they were around the turn of the century. (Yep, we’ve been doing this for a while.) Maybe they’ll remember what happened last time and not let this new found prosperity cloud their humility. Probably not.
Even our new little venture, onSpot wifi, is feeling like a young Dogwood tree at the commencement of a fruitful spring; laden with buds, fomenting a bloom the likes never seen.
And such articles are starting to appear —
Now Do You Believe We’re In A New Tech Bubble?
Yeah, times do seem to be recasting into the mold of the late nineties. Remember $20.00 bottles of water and $500.00 cigars? (The good old days of my generation.)
I recollect something an old fishing boat captain from Panama City told Mel and me years ago; we were leaving Carrabelle, FL about to cross the Gulf of Mexico for the first time and his advise was, “Just don’t get excited.”
Hopefully this old age I’m experiencing will bear some wisdom and we don’t get excited.
We haven’t yet, but we are enjoying the sun while it shines.
It feels good.
Adios,
Istaboa
Nordhavn Exumas Abacos Bahamas trawler Caribbean Pickwick Boat dogs
Memphis Downtown
Memphis Downtown
Day 147 – 365 Project…Young Bluebird
Welcome to day 147 of 365 photos…this young bluebird is one of about four hanging around here but I don’t see them all together for a photo op. This one landed on the feeder pole right outside the window. It is probably one of the ones that fledged on May 21, 2014. Seems like the… Continue Reading
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Lohr
Motor-und Segelboot Club Coburg
Bischberg am Main
Guten Tag,
Today Mary and I went cherry picking and there’s a cherry cobbler in the small oven even as I type.
It is 92 degrees on the thermometer inside the pilot house. Luckily it cools down after dark and we’re even still using our down comforter. Not sure for […]
FPB 78 – The Strongest Cruising Yacht Hull Ever Built? And Other FPB Progress Photos
Bottom plate this thick is heavy, very difficult to fabricate, and costly in the extreme. It is two times or more the Loyds Special Service rule requirements. Does it make sense? The weight is low, so it contributes to stability. It will allow the FPB 78 to do things that no normal yacht would consider, […]
Feeling the affects of
advancing decrepitude. *sigh* When I took my tumble down the stairs two years ago I also pulled something in my back. It didn’t seem to be a pressing issue but it’s kicking up more and more lately. I need to peel off some beef, I know that. …
Alaska 2014 – Petersburg Interlude
June 4, 2014
Our planned maintenance day in Petersburg took several interesting twists. There are a group of Kadey Krogen yachts in the three harbors in Petersburg that we have met in prior years, everywhere from Swanson Harbor in 2007 to a Krogen rendezvous in Craig, Alaska in 2010. At the Craig event in 2010 we were the lone Selene surrounded by a dozen Krogens and their Krogenite crews.
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| Spirit at the new North Harbor docks in Petersburg |
This year, in Petersburg, many of the Krogen yachts are here for the book signing event at the Sing Lee Alley bookstore for Rolynn Anderson’s new book. Steve and Rolynn Anderson are moored right across the dock from us on their Krogen 42 “Intrepid” and we met them in 2012. We will go to the book signing event on June 5, 2014, so have decided to stay until Friday morning.
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| Some public art in Petersburg |
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| The fishermen’s memorial outside the “Sons of Norway” hall |
While working on “Spirit” during the morning, two children, a boy and girl, were on the docks with their fishing rods and buckets, jigging for herring and other fish. There were also some men jigging for herring close by, rather than buying bait. Herring are plentiful and easy to catch, even from the docks, and one of the best locations is just off the North Harbor docks.
Patrick happened to be watching the children fish when the girl stumbled and did a slow roll into the water. Fortunately she was wearing her life vest, but the current along the docks in North Harbor was swift. Patrick rushed out of Spirit and grabbed her arm, while one of the other men ran over and helped. The two of them lifted the girl back onto the docks, which are higher than the older docks. The girl was wet, a little scraped up from the wood edges of the dock, but otherwise unharmed. We thought it appropriate that the girl was wearing a “kids don’t float” life jacket. Miriam had a towel ready and she helped the girl, whose name we never found out, dry off. Later that day, her dad stopped by Spirit and thanked us for helping. The dad was part of the crew of “Kestrel”, moored at the end of the North Harbor, only 75 feet away. Kestrel is an Alaska fisheries enforcement vessel. Not long after the incident, the two kids showed back up in dry clothes and fished the rest of the day. Life jackets for kids (and adults) are important, especially with the new higher docks!
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| Kids fishing on the dock, one of these fell in! |
By afternoon, the sun started peeking out and the cool morning temperatures started to climb. We attended a late afternoon gathering in South Harbor, a BYOB and BYOA event on a new Krogen 48, and then went to Papa Bear’s Pizza, almost the last remaining place in Petersburg for an evening meal out. The 8 couples were all people we have met on earlier cruises up here.
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| Some of the BYOB attendees on the Krogen 48 “Salty Dawg” |
June 5, 2014
The skies remained mostly sunny, but cool in the morning, and even in the afternoon the temperatures were on the cool side when the sun briefly disappeared behind a cloud. We spent the morning working on maintenance projects and laundry. In the afternoon we attended the “book signing event” at the Sing Lee Alley Bookstore, where Rolynn Anderson, from the Krogen 42 “Intrepid” was signing copies of her newest book “Lie Catchers”. This latest novel is set in the town of Petersburg, so it was really appropriate to have the book signing event here. In late afternoon, we, the Krogenites, and some De Fever trawler folks all went to the Elks Club for fish tacos. The fish tacos were good, but the conversations with the group were better, and after an enjoyable event in the crowded Elks club dining room we all dispersed, with Patrick & Miriam ending up on the DeFever 49 “Adventures”, which will be spending the winter in Petersburg. At 2230, still light, we finally returned to Spirit and began preparations for an early departure from Petersburg.
June 6, 2014
Today is “D Day”, with clear blue skies as we prepare to depart on the morning ebb tide and head out into Frederick Sound, past the lower end of Sumner Strait and across Chatham Strait to the east side of Baranof Island. We will decide later which inlet or bay will be our destination for the evening.
We have had a great time in Petersburg and can appreciate why three of the boat crews we reconnected with have decided to relocate to this delightful town. We will be out of cell phone and internet for the next few days as we fish our way the 160 nautical miles to Sitka.
Wandering around Miltenberg
On the way to Schleuse Knetzgau Kilometer 359.8 on the Main
Guten Morgen,
The biggest lock so far back at Ottendorf was so bad. But we had to wait a while for it. First there was a barge already inside and then we had to wait for a barge behind us to arrive for the lock […]
….Master and Guest Staterooms on Display!
I have to admit that when Tom B. emails me pictures of the boat, I print them for a scrapbook I hope to eventually have time to create. That folder is growing quite large, a constant reminder that I really do need to slow down to do the fun thing…
Day 146 – 365 Project…Yates Mill
Welcome to day 146 of 365 photos…Yates Mill County Park has been on my radar for a while and I finally got to see it. Mr. B had an early morning procedure scheduled in Durham today so on our way to Durham yesterday, we stopped at Yates Mill in Raleigh. It is amazing that you get… Continue Reading
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