Tag Archives | Nordhavn

Exumas Return ~ Exhale…

By on June 19, 2017 in Istaboa

It’s nice to be back; though there was a disturbing moment as we walked onto the boat hearing a highwater alarm.  But, barring a faulty primary bilge pump, after a quick look all was well.
Backup?
Yeah, but still –

Our stay in Jupiter was longer than we had expected. After all that had happened there was a lot to be taken care of and high-speed internet / reliable cell phone service certainly made life more manageable.

Finally, after a week’s stay, we caught a ride to Ft Lauderdale and hopped a little Watermakers plane back to Staniel Cay. Tucker had dispatched a small boat to pick us up and the last leg was a beautiful ride back to Compass and Istaboa.

Crew Istaboa – Happily boarding the Watermakers flight back to the Exumas
(Thanks to Norman, from Chicken Cay, for the pic)

So, literally, at the end of the day, we’re back on the boat; a bit tired, but happy to be home. For the first time in more than a week we’ve stopped to take a breath. Then an apt end to a week that had only gradually improved — we look out to the west where another amazing Compass Cay sunset was painting a sky that would’ve made Maxfield Parrish envious.

exhale…

It’s going to take a couple of days to re-acclimate and the wind is puffing up a good blow — so we’ll be here a while.

After that?
Who knows…

It’s nice to be back

Nordhavn 57-26 Istaboa

For Thought ‹

By on June 16, 2017 in Istaboa

Nordhavn 57-26 Istaboa

James Fort

By on June 15, 2017 in M/V Dirona

Construction began on James Fort in 1602 after the English victory over the Spanish and Irish in the 1601 Battle of Kinsale. The fort fell into neglect, and became known as “Old Fort”, once contruction began in 1678 on Charles Fort across the harbour. While James Fort isn’t nearly the tourist attraction that Charles Fort…

Kinsale Pub Crawl

By on June 13, 2017 in M/V Dirona

Despite our best efforts, we didn’t come close to visiting all the pubs in Kinsale, let alone all the restaurants. The problem seems as challenging as in Halifax, NS, despite Kinsale having a population of only 5,000 compared to Halifax’s 316,000. We’re told that at one point Kinsale had 38 pubs. And we didn’t have…

Charles Fort

By on June 12, 2017 in M/V Dirona

Charles Fort was completed in 1682 at Kinsale and is one of the largest military installations in Ireland. The fort is open to the public and receives over 85,000 visitors a year. It’s an easy 45-minute waterfront walk from the marina, with two pubs along the way. Trip highlights from May 27th in Kinsale, Ireland…

ENVOY’S FIRE DAMAGE REPAIRS PROGRESSING IN EARNEST

By on June 11, 2017 in Envoy

Envoy is in Lefkas Marina undergoing repairs for cosmetic damage caused by fire on an adjacent boat. We spent last week in Corfu with our friend Chris but are now back in Lefkas staying in an apartment near the marina.It’s now three weeks since YachtPa…

Cork, Ireland

By on June 11, 2017 in M/V Dirona

Cork is Ireland’s second largest city and is about a 45-minute bus ride from Kinsale. The main reason we went there was to pickup a SIM card for cellular data, and after we we had a great time touring around this urban but historic river city and, of course, checking out a couple of pubs….

Catching up and some big news

By on June 10, 2017 in Seabird

Start your own blog now! Free!

Catching up (and some big news)

By on June 10, 2017 in Seabird

Start your own blog now! Free!

Islands Interuptus

By on June 8, 2017 in Istaboa

Just as we’d eased into that restful state of mind that being in the Exumas brings about, the phone rings and reality says hello.

Life’s been good. Lots of old acquaintances have surfaced, some we see often around Jupiter, others we haven’t caught up with in years. The weather’s been nice, hot, but better than you’d expect for June.

And to keep our mind from lulling into total cognitive dissonance, we’ve enjoyed taking on a little technology refresh project on a nearby island.

 The famous “Pickle Barrel Houses” 

Of course a stay at Compass Cay wouldn’t be complete without a brief visit by Beacon Won. Capt Bruce and Sheila brought a charter crew in from Memphis. It was interesting to see folks from home all the way down here in the Exumas. They were thrilled to see homeys as well.

From aboard Beacon Won… another stunning Compass Cay Sunset
As always, Capt. Bruce invited us over for a Fried Turkey Dinner… and as always a feast aboard Beacon Won was enjoyed
Just as we were about to say how life just couldn’t get any better… Reality rings.
I’m awfully sad to write, Mel’s mom has passed away. Not a tragedy, more of a blessing, but sad all the same.
Oddly enough, here on Compass, just a few years back, I got the same phone call regarding my own mother.
As we did then, we’ll do now… Friends will run us down Pipe Creek to Staniel Cay where we’ll catch a plane back to the states to take care of what we must.

So it’s off to Florida where we’ll switch gears and clothes then drive up the coast to Brunswick, Ga for services.

Life goes on ±

Nordhavn 57-26 Istaboa