and found this while surfing aimlessly. Thought I’d pass it on.Nordhavn Exumas Abacos Bahamas trawler Caribbean Pickwick Boat dogs
Memphis Downtown
Couldn’t Sleep
Isla Isabel and San Blas
A friendly iguana…Anna Mae anchored at Isla Isabel, an amazing day!Extra special feathered friendsYUCK, that’s all I have to say!If you look close I got a crock and a turtle.
My friends from The San Blas River Cruise
This iguana had a great attitude and so stylishHe blended in so well I almost missed himI asked this guy to say cheese and he did…
Isla Isabel Blue footed Boobie
An acrobatic Boobie
San Blas crocodile
Up close and personal
GLIDE "to move smoothly and continuously along, as if without effort or resistance".
And that is what we are doing now after the prop, rudder and bottom fix. As promised Sailcraft Services splashed us on Saturday and we have to say we could not be more pleased with the job and their entire crew. In the past 13 years of cruising -…
Kill Spider Mites Fast
Some friends ask, “What do you DO all day?” These are people who don’t know about boats — there is always a longer list of things to fix or clean than you ever want to spend the time doing. (Continued…)
December 10, 2013 – Anchorage, Alaska.
I had intended to post this before leaving La Paz but ran into technical problems. First while I was trying to load up the video of the mobulas, Earl helpfully sabotaged me by unplugging the modem. Then when I did finally get the video loaded, I found I could not open it on line. Nuts! I will get one of my techno kids to work on it and may get it posted later. So instead of posting this from sunny La Paz, it comes from icy Anchorage where the sun will rise after 10 and set well before 4. Nevertheless, we are in holiday mode and off to get a tree. Merry Christmas to everyone!
December 7, 2013 – Marina Costa Baja
Today
we leave for Anchorage, ice, snow and family.
While I could happily skip the ice, I am looking forward to the rest and
to celebrating Christmas with 4 of our sons.
Stuart, his wife, daughter and her friend will be joining us. What a treat to have them in Alaska again
after 10 plus years.
we leave for Anchorage, ice, snow and family.
While I could happily skip the ice, I am looking forward to the rest and
to celebrating Christmas with 4 of our sons.
Stuart, his wife, daughter and her friend will be joining us. What a treat to have them in Alaska again
after 10 plus years.
Of
course, since Earl is involved, we are ready to go 90 minutes before our ride
will come to get us. So I have plenty of
time to bring this up to date before we leave for Cabo, Seattle and ultimately
Anchorage.
course, since Earl is involved, we are ready to go 90 minutes before our ride
will come to get us. So I have plenty of
time to bring this up to date before we leave for Cabo, Seattle and ultimately
Anchorage.
As if
to make up for the weather we enjoyed during Jon and Becky’s visit, our visit
with Richard and Britt was not been blessed by the gods. They arrived as scheduled, around 9 on
Saturday night, and we went up to Azul for dinner. The next morning we took off early to show
them the islands. The weather report
indicated that we would have a day of bad weather on Monday, but we hoped to
get as far as San Francisco before it hit.
We started off to check out the whale sharks, but quickly found that the
seas were lumpy and headed off to Bahia San Gabriel to anchor up for the day. After naps, Earl took them for a tour of the
frigate bird rookery, we swam and all enjoyed the sunset.
to make up for the weather we enjoyed during Jon and Becky’s visit, our visit
with Richard and Britt was not been blessed by the gods. They arrived as scheduled, around 9 on
Saturday night, and we went up to Azul for dinner. The next morning we took off early to show
them the islands. The weather report
indicated that we would have a day of bad weather on Monday, but we hoped to
get as far as San Francisco before it hit.
We started off to check out the whale sharks, but quickly found that the
seas were lumpy and headed off to Bahia San Gabriel to anchor up for the day. After naps, Earl took them for a tour of the
frigate bird rookery, we swam and all enjoyed the sunset.
 |
| Unsettled seas |
After a peaceful night, we headed north and
got as far as Ensenada Grande. It was
cool and windy, and as evening approached we moved to a more secure anchorage
at Caleta Partida. And a wise move it
was. It howled!
Tuesday
it was still blowing and, much more serious, Britt was very much under the
weather and in bed. We headed back to
the marina.
it was still blowing and, much more serious, Britt was very much under the
weather and in bed. We headed back to
the marina.
 |
| Captain Rick |
The
next day, while Britt was feeling better, she was nowhere nearly 100% so we took
it easy. While Earl did some boat work
related to the water pump, Richard and I took a quick tour of town.
next day, while Britt was feeling better, she was nowhere nearly 100% so we took
it easy. While Earl did some boat work
related to the water pump, Richard and I took a quick tour of town.
Finally
Thursday, Thanksgiving, weather and health improved we took off for an
overnight on the islands. We ran up the
east side of the Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida. Earl caught a lovely dorado and had the
chance to test the tequila method. We
were prepared with a squeeze bottle full of cheap tequila. Earl squirted it into the fish’s mouth and,
sure enough, out he went. No blood
splattered back deck. Now that we have mastered the technique, this is definitely
a trick we will be using in the future.
Thursday, Thanksgiving, weather and health improved we took off for an
overnight on the islands. We ran up the
east side of the Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida. Earl caught a lovely dorado and had the
chance to test the tequila method. We
were prepared with a squeeze bottle full of cheap tequila. Earl squirted it into the fish’s mouth and,
sure enough, out he went. No blood
splattered back deck. Now that we have mastered the technique, this is definitely
a trick we will be using in the future.
 |
| Tequila delivery system |
 |
| Giving the dorado the micky! |
We
stopped at Los Islotes to see the sea lions.
We found it full of other boats and many people swimming with the sea
lions. None of us was brave enough to
try, but we heard later from our friends on Paradise Found that it was
wonderful. Not only were the seals very
playful, but the variety and number of fish was the best they had seen in the
Sea of Cortez.
 |
| Islotas |
 |
| Britt and Richard |
 |
| Sightseers at Islotas |
We
split our fish with Paradise Found. Thanksgiving
dinner was grilled dorado and steak.
Pretty good!
split our fish with Paradise Found. Thanksgiving
dinner was grilled dorado and steak.
Pretty good!
That
night, Earl was up and wander as usual and was treated to a mobula ballet in
our blue lights. He woke me and we
enjoyed a very special display. We made
a video, and Peter on the Solana cut it down so that I can post it here.
night, Earl was up and wander as usual and was treated to a mobula ballet in
our blue lights. He woke me and we
enjoyed a very special display. We made
a video, and Peter on the Solana cut it down so that I can post it here.
But
then, it was Friday and time to go back to the Marina. We had just enough time to take Britt and
Richard for a quick trip around time and have a farewell dinner with them
before they took the 8 am shuttle to Cabo for a long day’s trip to San Miguel.
then, it was Friday and time to go back to the Marina. We had just enough time to take Britt and
Richard for a quick trip around time and have a farewell dinner with them
before they took the 8 am shuttle to Cabo for a long day’s trip to San Miguel.
The
weather has continued unsettled and we have stayed at the dock. Earl finds many
tasks. He fixed our head. It was not broken, but had never worked as
well as the forward head. He dug out the
instructions and determined that we needed more water in the bowl that in turn
required changes to the discharge hose.
A complicated (and not particularly pleasant) task, but what a
difference!
weather has continued unsettled and we have stayed at the dock. Earl finds many
tasks. He fixed our head. It was not broken, but had never worked as
well as the forward head. He dug out the
instructions and determined that we needed more water in the bowl that in turn
required changes to the discharge hose.
A complicated (and not particularly pleasant) task, but what a
difference!
While
at the dock, we had the chance to visit with other boaters. We enjoyed a fun evening with Peter and Mary
Rose (Solana) and Jay and Lisa on Paradise Found. Sarah and Darrel on Tiburon are tied down the
dock from us. We first met them in 2009 on
our way south in Monterey. Great to see
them and their lovely dog Sparky. And last
night was another fun night with David and Sharon on Cipango across from
us. There are some wonderful people that
we have met while cruising.
at the dock, we had the chance to visit with other boaters. We enjoyed a fun evening with Peter and Mary
Rose (Solana) and Jay and Lisa on Paradise Found. Sarah and Darrel on Tiburon are tied down the
dock from us. We first met them in 2009 on
our way south in Monterey. Great to see
them and their lovely dog Sparky. And last
night was another fun night with David and Sharon on Cipango across from
us. There are some wonderful people that
we have met while cruising.
While
Earl was busy with the boat jobs, I loaded up on ‘princess’ dresses for little
girls and pottery for me. Now they are
all stowed and ready for our trip. And
in another hour, it will be time to go.
Earl was busy with the boat jobs, I loaded up on ‘princess’ dresses for little
girls and pottery for me. Now they are
all stowed and ready for our trip. And
in another hour, it will be time to go.
December 10, 2013 – Anchorage, Alaska.
I had intended to post this before leaving La Paz but ran into technical problems. First while I was trying to load up the video of the mobulas, Earl helpfully sabotaged me by unplugging the modem. Then when I did finally get the vide…
Crew Quarters – What Is The Best Layout – A Call For Input
We are in the process of designing crew quarters for our FPB 78. With no experience cruising and/or living with crew, we are working in a theoretical world rather than reality. If you are a professional crew, or an owner who has lived with crew, we’d love to hear from you. There are a series […]
