Spring!

By on March 20, 2014 in M/V Adventures

Not only is today the official First Day of Spring, but the season has already arrived here in Victoria (the warmest place in all of Canada in the winter).  We’ve had temps in the 50s, and the cherry blossoms in town are already past their prime.  The daffodils have been up, and the adorable little water taxis have reappeared in the harbor in front of the Empress Hotel.

water taxis

Bob and Cathryn from Washington came up to Victoria on their boat for a few days, and we hosted a dinner party with them and our Victoria friends Diana (my knitting buddy) and Perry.  We used to have a lot of these kinds of parties, but we don’t know as many people out here… yet.  We did Roxy’s Ribs in the pressure cooker, and had a very fun visit!

dinner party

The days are getting longer by about 3 and a half minutes per day – it’s very noticeable.  To celebrate the arrival of spring, we headed over to the famous Butchart Gardens to see what’s in bloom this week.  I was afraid that I missed the cherry blossoms, but was happy to learn that the Gardens are a couple of weeks behind downtown.  We’ll go back in a week or two to see how things are coming along, but in the meantime we enjoyed the crocus…

crocus

…and the little daffodils…

daffodil

…and the look of the Sunken Garden with just the earliest hints of spring.  It should be fun watching the Gardens come alive.

sunken garden

The amazing thing at Butchart Gardens was their “Spring Preview” display, where they took over the entire restaurant, emptied it completely, and installed an elaborate indoor garden complete with stones, meandering pathways, a pond, and an explosion of spring flowers.  Incredible!!  The amount of work that went into that display was staggering – all to make something fleetingly beautiful.  Lilies, orchids, rhododendron, hyacinth… I can’t name most of the flowers, but it just blew us away.  I can’t wait to see what will be next.

As winter departs, I’ll share a funny Canadian story.  While waiting in line at the hardware store, the cashier told a story about her friend in northern Manitoba who left her purse in her car overnight.  The new Canadian money is made of plastic instead of paper, and apparently it doesn’t do well in extreme cold – she found that all the new bills broke in half when she tried to use them.  You can’t make this stuff up.

Spring!

By on March 20, 2014 in M/V Adventures

Not only is today the official First Day of Spring, but the season has already arrived here in Victoria (the warmest place in all of Canada in the winter).  We’ve had temps in the 50s, and the cherry blossoms in town are already past their prime.  The daffodils have been up, and the adorable little water taxis have reappeared in the harbor in front of the Empress Hotel.

water taxis

Bob and Cathryn from Washington came up to Victoria on their boat for a few days, and we hosted a dinner party with them and our Victoria friends Diana (my knitting buddy) and Perry.  We used to have a lot of these kinds of parties, but we don’t know as many people out here… yet.  We did Roxy’s Ribs in the pressure cooker, and had a very fun visit!

dinner party

The days are getting longer by about 3 and a half minutes per day – it’s very noticeable.  To celebrate the arrival of spring, we headed over to the famous Butchart Gardens to see what’s in bloom this week.  I was afraid that I missed the cherry blossoms, but was happy to learn that the Gardens are a couple of weeks behind downtown.  We’ll go back in a week or two to see how things are coming along, but in the meantime we enjoyed the crocus…

crocus

…and the little daffodils…

daffodil

…and the look of the Sunken Garden with just the earliest hints of spring.  It should be fun watching the Gardens come alive.

sunken garden

The amazing thing at Butchart Gardens was their “Spring Preview” display, where they took over the entire restaurant, emptied it completely, and installed an elaborate indoor garden complete with stones, meandering pathways, a pond, and an explosion of spring flowers.  Incredible!!  The amount of work that went into that display was staggering – all to make something fleetingly beautiful.  Lilies, orchids, rhododendron, hyacinth… I can’t name most of the flowers, but it just blew us away.  I can’t wait to see what will be next.

As winter departs, I’ll share a funny Canadian story.  While waiting in line at the hardware store, the cashier told a story about her friend in northern Manitoba who left her purse in her car overnight.  The new Canadian money is made of plastic instead of paper, and apparently it doesn’t do well in extreme cold – she found that all the new bills broke in half when she tried to use them.  You can’t make this stuff up.

3-19-2014: Mastered the Whale today

By on March 19, 2014 in Kim Jo III

We checked all the weather web-sites, Barometer Bob in particular, and it was a go for the Whale. The reports were swells from 3 to 5 feet in the Atlantic going around Whale Cay and from what we have heard, that is pretty common. We were on our way by 08:30 and made it around the Whale by 09:50. We encountered several swells in the 5 foot range and there were at least 2 swells that were 6 foot plus. We were rocked some but it was manageable. We found a nice little anchorage in Baker’s Bay just off of Great Guana Cay. 

We put the dinghy back in the water and went ashore on a little island to try some shelling again. We hit the jackpot. They were not big shells, but very nice little ones and lots of them. We had a good time. I have to thank the CO as he has been very patient with us in our search for shells.

N26.68921
W77.15439

CO’s comments: Another beautiful day in the Bahamas; I think I’m going to stay.

1st Mate’s comments: Going around Whale Cay was very interesting. From our anchorage, we can see Whale Cay and the waves. Doesn’t seem possible that the waters can be so violent and then be so calm a short ways away in the protection of a Cay.



3-19-2014: Sun rise at Bluff House Marina

3-19-2014: Leaving Green Turtle Cay

3-19-2014: Whale Cay with the huge waves splashing on the Atlantic side

3-19-2014: Video of the waves hitting the Whale

3-19-2014: Kim Jo IV at anchorage by Great Guana Cay

3-19-2014: Sun set at Baker’s Bay anchorage

3-19-2014:  Yacht leaving Baker’s Bay Marina

Day Off Today

By on March 19, 2014 in M/V Serenity

My decision-making activities got the day off today.  Well deserved, I might add.Since there really is always something to think about where boat building is concerned, I did visit the Lebroc website and read up on all the styles of helm chairs of…

Our First Overnight on the Hook

By on March 19, 2014 in Koloa

With our lovely early spring weather and no big projects in the works, we decided to do our first overnight at anchor. We headed up to one of our favorite spots on the Bay, China Camp. Its about 2 hours north of our harbor (at our slow and steady pace)…

Day 68 – 365 Project…Just add sun…

By on March 19, 2014 in Misty Moose

Welcome to day 68 of  365 photos…let there be sun. We had yet another drizzly, dreary day. I thought for just a moment this afternoon that it was going to clear and then the drizzle started again. I know, it could be worse but these dreary days are just depressing. This afternoon, Mr. B and… Continue Reading

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Finishing Wheelhouse Steps to Aft Deck

By on March 19, 2014 in Koloa

Here’s some pics of the final assembly of the wheelhouse steps, using the same planking as the interior decks. These steps lead up to the aft deck. Each tread is hinged and lifts up to access storage underneath. I think this will be the last of th…

Oh No! Now I’ve gone and done it!

By on March 19, 2014 in She:Kon

It was a relatively warm lazy Wednesday. Lori was moved to a 4-12 shift so she was home most of the day. Hey honey, I was thinking!!! Lets go to the chootin’ range after lunch and you can choot the lil’ chooter! Honestly, I didn’t think she’d accept bu…

Cruising Right Along

By on March 18, 2014 in M/V Serenity

Another successful conference call today with a most patient and encouraging KKY guru.Somehow, with the help of plan drawings (they give me the hiccups), pictures of other boats and a lot of help from Tom B., the following decisions were made today – a…

Off again, Dry Tortugas then Cuba

By on March 18, 2014 in Sylken Sea

Hi all, last post for a bit. Got the Alt replaced, changed engine oil etc. Have Ken & Carol on board. Tickets booked for Barcelona, taxes paid, OK anything else??Dry Tortugas with Dream Weaver in the am, then Habana we hope later in the week.