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Man-O-War Cay, Mooring Ball

By Trawlers on March 21, 2014 in Kim Jo III

3-20-2014, Thursday: Another beautiful day in the Bahamas. Went 13 + miles to Man-O-War Cay and picked up a mooring ball for the first time since 2010. It took a while, but after some help from Sharon, we finally got it hooked. Very tight spaces for the moorings but we all swing the same direction so it was OK. We ran into Steve, Mary, and their son from Dream Chaser who are also here for a few days. We took the dinghy into the little town of Man-O-War and did some shopping and looking around. We walked up to the Post Office to try and get some stamps for Post Cards and she wasn’t open. This is the second place we tried to get stamps at a Post Office in the Bahamas and the person wasn’t there. We were told in both places that they have regular hours but pretty much only show up when they want to. So, we will try again tomorrow.

3-20-2014: Man-O-War Cay, clear water, can see bottom at 30 feet deep; well, maybe not quite that deep.

3-20-2014: Man-O-War mooring field

3-20-2014: Supply boat dropping off supplies for the town

3-21-2014, Friday: Stayed a second day. Took our time and had lunch before taking the dinghy back into town. We walked up to the Post Office and she wasn’t there again. As we were leaving, a voice came from a home across the street and it was the lady who ran the Post Office. She said she would be at work from 14:00 to 16:00 so we said we would be back later. We walked to the beach to check it out, the ocean was beautiful. We walked it for about an hour and didn’t find any shells. By this time it was after 14:00 so we went back to the Post Office and we finally got some stamps. She was very helpful and explained why Conch Shells were on some beaches and not on others and she also told us how they cut the conch out of the shells. It was very interesting. From there we went back to the shopping district. Keith got a very cool conch shell that had this huge Hermit Crab in it; dead, of course. Sharon and I each got a conch horn. Sharon was better at blowing the horn than I was. It is harder than it looks. This evening we went back into town and had dinner at the Dine and Dock restaurant at the marina; very good meal.

3-21-2014: Sewing canvas covers for our ladders, thank you Sharon.

3-21-2014: Yacht coming into Man-O-War Marina

3-21-2014: Posted notice on the First Caribbean National Bank. Do you think a bank in the US could get away with this?

3-21-2014: Walking down to Man-O-War beach

3-21-2014: Sharon walking the Atlantic ocean at Man-O-War beach.

3-21-2014: Keith patiently waiting at the Beach, Man-O-War

3-21-2014: Lignum Vitae; National Tree of the Bahamas

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CO’s comments: On all the inhabited Cays that we have been on, the transportation has been by golf carts. A big America car would not fit on their roads. Excellent meal last night; Mahi Mahi.

1st Mate’s comments: Really enjoyed our lessons on the Conch shells from both the Post Office lady and the man who sold us the horns.

Day 70 – 365 Project…Boat planter

By Trawlers on March 21, 2014 in Misty Moose

Welcome to day 70 of 365 photos…this boat won’t float ever again but don’t you think it would make a great planter. Pretty plants instead of weeds would look much better if it has to sit in the front yard. What do you think?Camera: Nikon D7100 – Lens: Nikon 18-300mm Focal Length: 65mm – Aperture:… Continue Reading

The post Day 70 – 365 Project…Boat planter appeared first on Moosetique Musing.

Decided on a lot today (yesterday)

By Trawlers on March 21, 2014 in M/V Serenity

Sorry for the delayed post. My days are so jam packed, that I seem to just run out of hours. At 11:40 pm, I was still scurrying around and didn’t want to rush my post. I actually look forward to the time of night I can sit down and go…

Mar. 20 – Thunderbolt, GA (Savannah)

By Trawlers on March 21, 2014 in The Pearl

Bahia Blue Marina

“When the sun is shining I can do anything; no mountain is too high, no trouble is too difficult to overcome.” —Wilma Rudolph

The first day of spring was beautiful, and we enjoyed every minute of it. We slept in and didn’t pull away from the dock until noon. The tides around Savannah are a little crazy…10-12 feet and the current is very strong. For that reason the captain decided we’d leave later today so we could arrive at the marine close to slack tide. Leaving late meant we would arrive late, but that’s ok, we spent a month in this area on our way north in 2011 and did a lot of exploring then. We did make it in time to go to Tubby’s for their sunset celebration and wonderful crab stew. It’s one of our favorite places to eat in Savannah.

We had lots of company today…dolphins were everywhere. They seemed to be enjoying the first day of spring as much as we were. We never get tired of watching them play in our wake or gliding in front of our bow.

Beaufort, SC

What a great way to enjoy the first day of spring

Spring…being enjoyed by everyone

The Captain

Musical entertainment at Tubby’s

Weather Forecasting, Storm Tactics, and Successful Cruising

By Trawlers on March 21, 2014 in Wind Horse

If you are looking for a magic elixir to successful cruising it will not be found in the marine hardware catalogs or boat shows. It will not come with state of the art electronics, or a different boat. It is much simpler than that. Of all the things you can do to enhance your cruising […]

Day 69 – 365 Project…turning the corner

By Trawlers on March 20, 2014 in Misty Moose

Welcome to day 69 of 365 photos…hooray it’s the first day of spring and we are finally turning the corner after a very LONG winter. Just look at those blue skies. Have we seen the last of winter? The weatherman says it isn’t over yet (sigh). But hey – he’s been wrong before. Only time… Continue Reading

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Los Suenos to Golfito Costa Rica

By Trawlers on March 20, 2014 in Thor

The water continues to stay blue, calm and beautiful as Anna Mae and crew move down the coast of Costa Rica. We have been anchoring in bays and staying in marina’s along the way. We anchored one night in Bahia Herradura and took a panga to shore. The Marina Los Suenos was hosting The 2014 Triple Crown Fishing Tournament. The docks where full to capacity with sport fishing boats.

A fun panga ride to shore

Fun on the beach

Our next stop was Quepos. We stayed at Marina Pez Vela and struggled with more surge… The facility was very nice, along with helpful and friendly marina staff. Surge continues to be a problem with our heavy trawler. Anna Mae groans with the pull of the turbulent currents that tug her lines. It makes for a noisy bumpy night and a frustrated crew. Our bumpers and dock lines are looking sadly used.

While at Quepos we explored Manuel Antonio National Park, the most famous biological reserve in Costa Rica. Our guide pointed out various animal and plant life, we would not have seen much without his help. The tour was relaxing and interesting, but not as much wildlife as we had anticipated.

The whole family

High up in a tree, a Sloth with her baby.

A male iguana relaxing in the sun. The razor wire didn’t seem to bother him.

I have decided that we are all very spoiled with the amazing wildlife we have experienced while at sea. It doesn’t matter how many times I watch the dolphins race to our bow and perform for us, it’s always a thrill. We have learned to lean out and wave to get the dolphins attention. They turn sideways and look up at us as we clap for them. Yesterday I took Bill’s harmonica out and blew a few notes. They stayed on our bow for about twenty minutes. We slowed the boat hopeful they would hang around to swim with us. No such luck, as soon as we slowed, they swam out of sight.

Dolphins on the bow of Anna Mae

Anna Mae anchored at Cane Island

Our one night stay at Isla del Cano or “Cane Island” was magical. It lays 12 miles NW of Oso Peninsula. There are at least 5 plateaus with 10 spectacular dive sites. Tom and Susanne paddled over on their SUP and checked us into the Isla del Cano National Biosphere Preserve. We paid our $6.00 anchorage fee, $8.00 per person snorkel fee and the numerous documents needing our signature. We set our anchor and settled in for the day. We snorkeled coral reefs with pinnacles reaching up from the white sandy bottom. The fish life was colorful, plentiful and amazing. Several sea turtles entertained us with their slow easy movements in the clear blue water. Numerous Manta rays hugged the bottom as we swam above. A couple of white tipped reef sharks swam by along with a large school of grouper.

We have learned many lessons while in the waters of Costa Rica. Don’t try to check into a Port or a marina on the weekend or before 9am and after 5pm. When asked how long you will be staying, alway request the longest amount of time available and get your fingers ready to sign, sign, sign on the dotted line. This country is very ecologically friendly but they use an entire forest each and every day with the mountains of paperwork they require. The country is lovely, but not boater friendly. We anticipated more boats in these waters, now we understand why. We are still working on paperwork to exit the country. Hopefully we can get everything resolved prior to our scheduled flight home to Oregon in the next few days. Currently tied to the dock at Banana Bay Marina while will continue to struggle with customs and emigrations issues. Thankfully we are in paradise…

Narsh Harbour

By Trawlers on March 20, 2014 in Esperanza

Yes the never ending fuel injector problem, I went to tighten the two bolts that hold the injector housing when snap. It broke fuel leaking everywhere.
Well it just happens that there is a old Perkins mechanic who born and raised outside the Perkins fa…

Narsh Harbour

By Trawlers on March 20, 2014 in Esperanza

Yes the never ending fuel injector problem, I went to tighten the two bolts that hold the injector housing when snap. It broke fuel leaking everywhere. Well it just happens that there is a old Perkins mechanic who born and raised outside the Perkins fa…

Mar. 19 – Lady’s Island, SC

By Trawlers on March 20, 2014 in The Pearl

Lady’s Island Marina

“It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go.”—Jim Rohn

We’re finally on the move…we left Charleston this morning on a cold grey day. All bundled up to stay warm. It definitely felt and looked like winter. By the time we arrived in Lady’s Island the sun was shining and it felt more like spring…hopefully this will be our last real cold day. We passed seven or eight boats heading north…that’s the expected flow of traffic for this time of year. Everyone heading north to spend the summer in cooler places or on their way home from spending the winter somewhere warm. Heading further south definitely is going against the grain, but we’ve never been ones to do the expected or follow the crowd. We’ve traveled this way before in 2011, but it’s been long enough that neither of us remembered that much about this section of the waterway…it’s kind of like having a new adventure. I guess living on a boat is a new adventure every day…definitely not your ordinary life.

Lady’s Island is across the river from Beaufort, an old southern town packed with history and charm. We enjoyed exploring it during our first stop here. Today we stayed close to the boat, we visited with people on the dock, walked to the grocery store and had dinner at a very causal spot above the boat. It was really more of a bar that grills on their deck…hamburger on Wednesdays, pork chops on Thursdays and steaks on Fridays.

One of the best things about cruising is making new friends and spending time with friends we’ve made through the years. One of the hardest things about cruising is leaving those friends behind when our plans take us in opposite directions. Although saying good-bye is a little sad, we know our paths will cross again somewhere on the water, and it will be like we’ve never been apart. We’ve made a lot of good friends in the past three years and look forward to meeting many more. It’s fun to pull into a marina or anchorage and see a familiar boat and have a chance to catch up on all their adventures.

Last picture with Pam