tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424645131192633422024-03-14T01:47:22.943-07:00gtgourmetcruisesgtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-26194478997205771312017-09-16T15:48:00.000-07:002017-09-17T15:07:26.816-07:0030th Anniversary Cruise<br />
Although Cindy’s early summer broken leg caused a postponement of the major
aspects of the planned 30<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary celebration in
September, we have been able to salvage some truly fun times in the past few
weeks nonetheless. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We departed Traverse City on
September 2 aboard the Balia with our great friends Gary and Ann from
Indianapolis.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNazlPq7GIPX8gBxnZSbEP40OyI1bHG7IYQKRfUkFfeIZE7NcIxkjgtVxkbpdJphpy7YXyNLn2I26qd1ahT84FOVwHQd5_cRf8AOX8ut79FAEQogEkj-HliLL3wDYpH2_HvlT6mIzKGw/s1600/Balia+anniv+30th+boat+gary+and+ann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNazlPq7GIPX8gBxnZSbEP40OyI1bHG7IYQKRfUkFfeIZE7NcIxkjgtVxkbpdJphpy7YXyNLn2I26qd1ahT84FOVwHQd5_cRf8AOX8ut79FAEQogEkj-HliLL3wDYpH2_HvlT6mIzKGw/s320/Balia+anniv+30th+boat+gary+and+ann.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_lSjmKkt7sw6teG6BH_KWnPdcAPWKyLuPvS0Kf8zcCsiE8no-PUMW5152L-nvRzVPQ9Mcqh3yRQCuXg_DWYVl2YfF3S9oOHAySUOf0MQZtBpFQRQiXjkMUP3w1LP5HCUFadWUDKA0SI/s1600/Balia+anniv+30th+dock+cc+j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_lSjmKkt7sw6teG6BH_KWnPdcAPWKyLuPvS0Kf8zcCsiE8no-PUMW5152L-nvRzVPQ9Mcqh3yRQCuXg_DWYVl2YfF3S9oOHAySUOf0MQZtBpFQRQiXjkMUP3w1LP5HCUFadWUDKA0SI/s320/Balia+anniv+30th+dock+cc+j.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">that's Cindy with 3 fingers and Jay with OK for our 30th on Beaver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Leaving in late afternoon we accomplished a short sail to Suttons
Bay for the night and dinner at newly renovated Village Inn (although our
favorite dining place in the town is Martha’s followed by Boones, for this trip
we opted for the closest acceptable restaurant easily accessed by game but
gimpy crutch ladened Cindy).<br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a strong west wind the next day
we made the trip to Beaver Island on one tack in a record 7 hours as we
averaged 7 knots the whole way with 5 ft partially following seas. First
night’s dinner was at the classic bar Shamrock, and then Gary and Ann made a
terrific dockside dinner for our actual anniversary on the 5<sup>th</sup>.<br />
Gary
and Ann now share our love of quiet Beaver as Gary even took an early morning
stroll down the middle of main street with no cars in sight the whole time.
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNRfRU1gobRrUlp0y6lON9PcyqS8_XrwW2tFpQAGz8h7L_PrgGqK8yF4fdiM185eoF4ZlLewPTKLxgxWfPVAwPylcoFf9giIXSl_VENm9GAGMs0Vub8iO1_9vjFbllPkdUD6e53eMu4M/s1600/Balia+anniv+beaver+view+lodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNRfRU1gobRrUlp0y6lON9PcyqS8_XrwW2tFpQAGz8h7L_PrgGqK8yF4fdiM185eoF4ZlLewPTKLxgxWfPVAwPylcoFf9giIXSl_VENm9GAGMs0Vub8iO1_9vjFbllPkdUD6e53eMu4M/s320/Balia+anniv+beaver+view+lodge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Before dinner we shared a bottle of wine sitting on the lawn at the Beaver
Island Lodge, whose restaurant was closed but we were given permission to
trespass, so we could also share one of the prettiest views in Northern Michigan
from the bluff looking north to Garden, Squaw and Whiskey Islands. Cindy rented
an adult tricycle, odd feeling to steer and then sit on the bike when you stop,
and then biking master Gary whizzed all the way out to the lighthouse in record
time looking like the wicked witch of the west pedaling in Dorothy’s tornado as
he zoomed by. Jay of course had at least one ice cream cone a day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoR0tudi4g3iMsSX8sXJDUpSDjK0yop-_bCRIq80vAlRRX3-dukY36SBUyELg09l2JYd_w4eWIG88eOIFWqv8yG7ERncdsbK2ckcj-H0ruB8W02MV7Xttt0KRVbbNqY81VjHLmXly6bg/s1600/Balia+anniv+trip+Jay+ice+petosky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoR0tudi4g3iMsSX8sXJDUpSDjK0yop-_bCRIq80vAlRRX3-dukY36SBUyELg09l2JYd_w4eWIG88eOIFWqv8yG7ERncdsbK2ckcj-H0ruB8W02MV7Xttt0KRVbbNqY81VjHLmXly6bg/s200/Balia+anniv+trip+Jay+ice+petosky.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2uU2FLwZM7OyYpl_nBD-AdsR5ZY4RltwjoooyYGfTCKIryK8IgJA-QEJq4Xl6VI7YAgYc-o4RZ1Wl7DqudsaIfHJQe2snClw6MPoqHqA18ScqjB9asP1rOndMonzf3mimk-Slg_X8yo/s1600/Balia+anniv+jay+ice+beaver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2uU2FLwZM7OyYpl_nBD-AdsR5ZY4RltwjoooyYGfTCKIryK8IgJA-QEJq4Xl6VI7YAgYc-o4RZ1Wl7DqudsaIfHJQe2snClw6MPoqHqA18ScqjB9asP1rOndMonzf3mimk-Slg_X8yo/s200/Balia+anniv+jay+ice+beaver.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 3 nights of quiet and breakfast
at Dalwhinnie’s it was off to historic Petoskey for shopping and dining, the
highlight of which was the Chandlery happy hour hors d’oeuvres on the patio. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-7kAYgLZrqnwcsCcfDoa0WcLKXFiBvBmSG_6BbNvmZbEmD-B90yDcnz-9gGsjMJniu5iN0PQQgwz4zdEuK2HzJri0gCFOXvnvmpvQYWVPS_esjDE-HYamljZPXsYLkeTUxNLyVdSTpQ/s1600/Balia+anniv+petosky+chandlery+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-7kAYgLZrqnwcsCcfDoa0WcLKXFiBvBmSG_6BbNvmZbEmD-B90yDcnz-9gGsjMJniu5iN0PQQgwz4zdEuK2HzJri0gCFOXvnvmpvQYWVPS_esjDE-HYamljZPXsYLkeTUxNLyVdSTpQ/s200/Balia+anniv+petosky+chandlery+food.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZrf-aimdw7ce0mQXr5yCcANft7z_QeN78aJXrZ9TpaK9U4I-bB7kAjq4lafCaHySgP7hzQmEom-sQlaEulTwNuIkcM4mKdpQNhhELCuime73pVLpxfIu__EmsYLuqJX0iV-MU7bEXYI/s1600/Balia+anniv+petosky+chandlery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZrf-aimdw7ce0mQXr5yCcANft7z_QeN78aJXrZ9TpaK9U4I-bB7kAjq4lafCaHySgP7hzQmEom-sQlaEulTwNuIkcM4mKdpQNhhELCuime73pVLpxfIu__EmsYLuqJX0iV-MU7bEXYI/s1600/Balia+anniv+petosky+chandlery.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jay, Gary and Ann at Chandlery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQ52fvf3jw_jyI0P6CGMI4BtABcYQYazPXHuenvQCci-FMdnSJj5LP7Rd_0OGK7bJFO2RVuTHvXF4lHcPf3ILE4DU5RkdZGQie7t7pYw6mi-a4npWGd79WYecm8WyDiZvyiuWryIblHQ/s1600/Balia+anniv+petosky+marina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQ52fvf3jw_jyI0P6CGMI4BtABcYQYazPXHuenvQCci-FMdnSJj5LP7Rd_0OGK7bJFO2RVuTHvXF4lHcPf3ILE4DU5RkdZGQie7t7pYw6mi-a4npWGd79WYecm8WyDiZvyiuWryIblHQ/s320/Balia+anniv+petosky+marina.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petosky marina</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We
finished the trip in Northport taking A & G to our favorite coffee and
pastry place, Barb’s, then home for a final dinner together at the best
restaurant in Traverse City, Amical.<o:p></o:p>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0vMJUbvvizYaVTkTzLMApAJXcKHisyNzREMVejRz0nKF4sTjoSRijWmyLAnTVavpDnrui8bpmJtj7I9qPTyVhHXMRliKZXxfwGNGjha9raTnrIHOjEOKuXDu0ThxbF9Jen1d0zjB8es/s1600/Balia+annive+petosky+chandlery+cc+j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0vMJUbvvizYaVTkTzLMApAJXcKHisyNzREMVejRz0nKF4sTjoSRijWmyLAnTVavpDnrui8bpmJtj7I9qPTyVhHXMRliKZXxfwGNGjha9raTnrIHOjEOKuXDu0ThxbF9Jen1d0zjB8es/s1600/Balia+annive+petosky+chandlery+cc+j.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The anniversary couple looking good in Petosky</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then spent 3 days in Traverse City partly
enjoying our own town as tourists, but also to attend 2 meetings, do some
toilet repairs (Jay still is apologizing, now publicly, to guests Gary and Ann
for not rebuilding the head before they arrived) and for Cindy to have some
additional physical therapy as the healing of the broken leg is proceeding much
more slowly than expected. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that we began the second
portion of our trip solo with a first night in Elk Rapids, then two in
Charlevoix, after which we will return home much more relaxed and ready to face
the end of the summer/fall tourist season with enthusiasm.<o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsDN7z47OUyJ3cgNhm6k7YResdM6diPGGSpcyuSQIvBTeORAwoAweEZZEOwT95xqD_aMIGWOwZEaHsdwam4wXcUtPkXN35NssiVmjWFMeL7NzKNUt9VC4NAMSQQY6KdEZtO6UEv4-L6k/s1600/Balia+anniv+cc+sail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsDN7z47OUyJ3cgNhm6k7YResdM6diPGGSpcyuSQIvBTeORAwoAweEZZEOwT95xqD_aMIGWOwZEaHsdwam4wXcUtPkXN35NssiVmjWFMeL7NzKNUt9VC4NAMSQQY6KdEZtO6UEv4-L6k/s1600/Balia+anniv+cc+sail.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing stretching exercises</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Getting around the
boat for Cindy has gotten much easier with a cane versus crutches to get to
anything nearby. Jay’s so happy not to be cleaning bathrooms and doing dishes
as well as cooking, as he had to pick up all of the slack for the summer with
Cindy being mostly in a wheelchair. gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-83866229227725728322017-03-31T17:34:00.003-07:002017-03-31T17:34:30.621-07:00Abacos again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadEJfh_LI3L0fjzqmiy5t3bJVjORKkMA6KPL-2ZV-wFKAR0MOqstICKDuuOCbcO2vrRf6CCP-B7_wDK3p4UWJAOO5eCD_-FSyKkBTDMFV3l1at_V44pvlBsOu2hfhQVGVsbkjTQsAT3E/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadEJfh_LI3L0fjzqmiy5t3bJVjORKkMA6KPL-2ZV-wFKAR0MOqstICKDuuOCbcO2vrRf6CCP-B7_wDK3p4UWJAOO5eCD_-FSyKkBTDMFV3l1at_V44pvlBsOu2hfhQVGVsbkjTQsAT3E/s320/IMG_0291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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e have returned again to one of our favorite places on the planet - Parrot Cay, Abacos . Lots of wind this trio, but some snorkeling and as always good eating. Enjoyed especially pour first evening back at Captain Jacks for "Jacks", aka bingo with bottle caps, great fish melt sandwich at on Day Beach today.gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-53098167903687146452016-10-18T08:18:00.003-07:002016-10-18T08:18:41.451-07:00Boating again but not on ours<br />
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Now that the Balia and its Bowers Harbor mooring have been beached for the season, we decided to take another kind of boat trip using alternate yachting options. So with innkeeper Suzi fully in charge off we went to Beaver Island for 2 days followed by a few at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.<br />
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We absolutely love traveling to and from Charlevoix to Beaver by the ferry Emerald Isle<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lounging on the sunny Lido Deck</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chapel Rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Munising Falls roots</td></tr>
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Pictured Rocks is absolutely amazing and completely lives up to its hype in beauty. Yesterday we took the Pictured Rocks Boat Cruise for two hours along the southern shore of Lake Superior, and even though the weather was a bit drizzly the sights were still mesmerizing. And the numerous waterfalls in trailed parks rival those of Hawaii.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wagner Falls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lover's Leap Rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Munising East Channel Light</td></tr>
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gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-49622362487113618982016-04-16T09:01:00.002-07:002016-04-16T09:01:27.199-07:00More Abacos photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-13072464656309124632016-04-16T08:26:00.001-07:002016-04-16T09:02:15.444-07:00back to the AbacosWe have finally arrived in the Abacos, but this time by convenient air travel, and are once again staying on the bit of Paradise, Parrot Cay in the South Cottage. The past 4 days have been filled with snorkeling on Sandy Cay and Fowl Cay underwater preserves in the sunny warm weather<br />
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<br />gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-72998182009370441682015-11-11T16:57:00.000-08:002015-11-11T16:57:12.655-08:00Portland, Bar Harbor and AcadiaWe truly enjoyed the town of Portland as it reminded us quite a bit of a the culturally, culinary eccentric blue collar place we experienced in St. Paul Minnesota many years ago. Probably the most photographed lighthouse is the Portland Head. <br />
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Just amazing! On our way we stopped in quintessentially nautically scenic Camden and Cindy enjoyed the best lobster roll yet at Cappy's.<br />
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Our second day "DownEastCoast" was spent at Acadia National Park and lunch in Bar Harbor at the "Thirsty Whale" where our server Sarah, no kidding, grew up in Traverse City!<br />
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Instead of commentary this spectacular area is best described by photos.<br />
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gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-24529985092223256832015-11-09T17:14:00.000-08:002015-11-09T17:18:03.773-08:00More Coastal Sights<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwzVPD5ceCDfp4SdnPH-VKBo4FfvNfxR1TE1b5DNWVg2QEgB4KXIeN6SyyufomaerGT91rz8xbCp4t_sT9nOoj1ur_bWfjeYaHCRXKIHJchRD3xtyMmh7KsRhLKnMECmilhLyLX5CuNA/s1600/MA+VIneyard+Haven+harbor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwzVPD5ceCDfp4SdnPH-VKBo4FfvNfxR1TE1b5DNWVg2QEgB4KXIeN6SyyufomaerGT91rz8xbCp4t_sT9nOoj1ur_bWfjeYaHCRXKIHJchRD3xtyMmh7KsRhLKnMECmilhLyLX5CuNA/s320/MA+VIneyard+Haven+harbor.jpg" width="320" /></a>After an all day fog on Friday, as can only be experienced in New England (so time was spent at the Woods Hole aquarium), we journeyed under partly sunny skies to Martha's Vineyard for the day by ferry from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven. The harbor there was filled with so many classic sailing yachts that we would swear there wasn't a stone of fiberglass to be found anywhere. <br />
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One of the most scenic locations on the island was the Aquinnah Cliffs. Indian legend tells of giant Moshup who slayed and rendered whales with the blood being the red in the cliffs and the black the ashes of the fire on which he cooked the fat. <br />
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Witness the windy selfie for the days weather. <br />
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We also went through Mememsha where scenes from the movie "Jaws' were filmed, and particularly enjoyed Edgartown which is so much like the quintessential whaling village it was in the past. <br />
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Finishing in Vineyard Haven with what else, ice cream for Jay.<br />
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Then our travels led north to Maine, via one of our favorites Gloucester. As we did the last trip into this area we have been on a quest for the best clam chowder, and while Norwalk has it pretty good the best truly is still at the Gloucester House.<br />
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So many places use canned clams rather than chopped fresh ones and the difference is noticeable. The one at the Gloucester House, where we visited 20 plus years ago and Cindy first ate almost 50 years ago just does it all well, but she just wishes she had enough appetite for what looks to be the world's best lobster roll as well.<br />
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We spent today touring Portland, which is definitely a foodie haven with streets of the port area filled with restaurants, yet another chowder at J's Oyster, and one of the most unique Calamari presentations we've ever had at DiMillo's. The lightly breaded calamari was served with a balsamic vineyard reduction sauce drizzled over it along with a tomato caper bruschetta scattered over the top. Amazing!<br />
But the most beautiful sight of the day belonged to the Portland Head Lighthouse!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKfvDGIWEqVmylOvbEoinG8LxxywNd2y4J9KXKfTNlODPfp-MUMxNz0Mir_I0aQACgnQzHUgLmLsBnxq4-CiC_tZrGWio9sDgD24-tzI-_ZBGb02MtWvIfkK5Rkxva1r-Qos_OSRsPDM/s1600/ME+Portland+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKfvDGIWEqVmylOvbEoinG8LxxywNd2y4J9KXKfTNlODPfp-MUMxNz0Mir_I0aQACgnQzHUgLmLsBnxq4-CiC_tZrGWio9sDgD24-tzI-_ZBGb02MtWvIfkK5Rkxva1r-Qos_OSRsPDM/s400/ME+Portland+light.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-26049540470395602152015-11-04T17:39:00.001-08:002015-11-04T17:50:09.009-08:00On a New (England) Road againDeparting Maryland through New Jersey, where all gas stations are full service by mandate, and New York we arrived in Connecticut. After successfully but blindly finding a Norwalk riverside place we'd had a New England Chowder over 20 years ago that we'd since labeled the best ever, at the SoNo <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5Bw0UVEPUf_M98IYwAqH6qVFPpf4hsZtAA9uMsEXtxzjyX_IrqgIUwl2KiXsxfj_qkWM5XV0e643iaAzI4OJ0vz4pOru3eUtfjZx_LvCXRJ45RdGggpPHl5aQuPJs96ysvPqq7lDrcI/s1600/Norwalk+Sono+seafood+cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5Bw0UVEPUf_M98IYwAqH6qVFPpf4hsZtAA9uMsEXtxzjyX_IrqgIUwl2KiXsxfj_qkWM5XV0e643iaAzI4OJ0vz4pOru3eUtfjZx_LvCXRJ45RdGggpPHl5aQuPJs96ysvPqq7lDrcI/s320/Norwalk+Sono+seafood+cc.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQFEpMMjN_c7saKX8EnoaKboEcQ3vAbm7gWzntgqQWJWNvxJsrYcnk6Rf4wKVCm6z1SW-GP4hWXGzD_XSNUyTKvGYLXZ4mX2WAdy6e8uA_jJXsKmdVp5ZvUUgLeEifxB2WtZaemMyGOI/s1600/Pawcatuck+Bridge+J+chowder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQFEpMMjN_c7saKX8EnoaKboEcQ3vAbm7gWzntgqQWJWNvxJsrYcnk6Rf4wKVCm6z1SW-GP4hWXGzD_XSNUyTKvGYLXZ4mX2WAdy6e8uA_jJXsKmdVp5ZvUUgLeEifxB2WtZaemMyGOI/s320/Pawcatuck+Bridge+J+chowder.jpg" width="180" /></a>Seafood restaurant we journeyed forth to our days destination of Mystic Seaport. <br />
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After checking in to the local pet friendly La Quinta (and yes Pounce is still enjoying his hotel rooms, especially when they have a window sill he can sit upon) we journeyed at dusk as always to anything on the water, in this case the Bridge restaurant (actually in Pawcatuck) for an amazingly tender and buttermilk crusted fish and chips after another chowder. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho960neUCwv92mC8g3oWLJ-H8ZuM5lBLc8bnDpS0J5Si3_9RPDUllIbShVSav-gVI09ooas6cBHCH4FtCWIccRHxr9HFre7CuH4LFkV0RNDigfM2QgBQhuFyiCE_3gPv1iJOWnYIRLvuU/s1600/Mystic+street+best.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho960neUCwv92mC8g3oWLJ-H8ZuM5lBLc8bnDpS0J5Si3_9RPDUllIbShVSav-gVI09ooas6cBHCH4FtCWIccRHxr9HFre7CuH4LFkV0RNDigfM2QgBQhuFyiCE_3gPv1iJOWnYIRLvuU/s200/Mystic+street+best.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QcPRLb5sF0l67QiMBDaijvqUngX_WroUSEqksegfpO9BlHj68ZA4URWhajSE7ym2eYXLKpqZzPTQ7bCk7T5VSXbvQNUNiBZZxE-HDmX7A7BPGURuVXoyU_zuKYscmw3YpRTq_KHs-J0/s1600/Mystic+CWM+J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QcPRLb5sF0l67QiMBDaijvqUngX_WroUSEqksegfpO9BlHj68ZA4URWhajSE7ym2eYXLKpqZzPTQ7bCk7T5VSXbvQNUNiBZZxE-HDmX7A7BPGURuVXoyU_zuKYscmw3YpRTq_KHs-J0/s320/Mystic+CWM+J.jpg" width="240" /></a>Today (just to keep track, Wednesday Nov. 4) we arrived at the entrance of this amazing historic village just minutes after opening and stayed until closing time. It was almost a mecca like pilgrimage to see the Charles W. Morgan (especially meaningful since we'd met one of the principal players in the ship's reclamation, Matthew Stackpole, and his wife Martha when they stayed at our bed and breakfast 2 years ago when doing a presentation to the Maritime Heritage Alliance Association in Traverse City). <br />
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We enjoyed so many of the whaling exhibits as well the re-enactors and their stories. Quite an amazing place<br />
and we bumped into one of the crew on the Denis Sullivan at last year's Schooner Festival in TC, Kathryn, who was a was on another boat in Mystic waiting for a second crew to arrive; so small sailing world it is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKawTHmHz6-xspGcODoKMyQy9VxVdh12djjyIdwI6AmbeH8-FLt1fv5173gA5EFk3MkSQG4AH8ol5ooZeMTzp2ve8tKNYV_Sz6GiG57V6TcxeTxowSbhh8GEd_YJ0zW1Fj6yMUJXpc_jk/s1600/Mystic+CP+Oysters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKawTHmHz6-xspGcODoKMyQy9VxVdh12djjyIdwI6AmbeH8-FLt1fv5173gA5EFk3MkSQG4AH8ol5ooZeMTzp2ve8tKNYV_Sz6GiG57V6TcxeTxowSbhh8GEd_YJ0zW1Fj6yMUJXpc_jk/s320/Mystic+CP+Oysters.jpg" width="180" /></a> At the end of the day we stopped in to CP Oyster Co. in Mystic for some local oysters for Cindy and Jay continued his clam chowder comparisons.<br />
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All three selections, SoNo - Bridge - and CP have been good with only minor flavor differences - Bridge a bit hotter with pepper (which Jay preferred), CP more clammy broth with smaller pieces of clam. Cindy's take on the oysters, in the photo foreground with the Mystic River past the bar's windows - a selection of a Danbury, MA and two Rhode Island - a Ninigret Nectar from Ninigret Pond , and Conway Pearl RI all were small and salty with very minimal differences due to the closeness and similarities of their waters and all delicious.<br />
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Tomorrow on to the Cape and Martha's Vineyard.gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-34579784802184371612015-11-03T04:37:00.002-08:002015-11-03T04:37:35.538-08:00End of the Adventure, for now After brainstorming the electrical issues on the boat Wed/Thurs. it was determined that all 3 batteries had completely drained, so new ones (and yes they are expensive) were purchased on Friday. We traveled north to the dealer Tri-State to pick them up and Jay installed them on Saturday along with fixing the bilge float ( a possible culprit in the battery drain but not solely responsible). With the delayed departure date we explored our options again and made the decision Monday to ship the boat back to Traverse City by truck. So the rest of our time was spent taking sails off and removing as much of the rigging attachments as we could before the mast is stepped next week.<br />
Many factors such as the logistics of sailing home in the spring and early summer, as we have as yet to secure innkeepers for enough dates, and the flow of waters against our travel at that time of year; but mostly because of the disappearance of our cockpit canvas which makes travel in marginal weather so much more comfortable (and we are getting too old to suffer), and the accumulation of aggravation from last winter's problem led to this decision. A sad day for sure but we believe the best decision right now.<br />
In between all the decision making and working on the boat we did get to spend Sunday at the Downrigging Tallship Festival in Chestertown put on by the Sultana Education Foundation. <br />
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The highlight of the show was the Dutch Barque "Kalmar Nyckel" from Willimington DE. <br />
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Historic Chestertown was charming of course as well.<br />
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gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-91529473677473099382015-10-30T16:14:00.000-07:002015-10-30T16:14:25.561-07:00On the Road Again or Bridge Over Continuing Troubled WatersAfter surviving the Storm of Aug 2, which devastated so much of the beautiful foliage in our area (40 trees down on our property), and enjoying some late but terrific fall colors in Northern Michigan,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKM4OCpNNbX83RQ5FuQxSHDeykR5UrIhttKx2kXzx4nYG9wwAx4zv8z9REB7umncNM9kLkStFimcDsao_ximznOubPiqHa-7aXLM99CZyaGHqSwwsbWsKrsdrjxuetZLUnvix_np8iUtA/s1600/Fall+colors+better.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKM4OCpNNbX83RQ5FuQxSHDeykR5UrIhttKx2kXzx4nYG9wwAx4zv8z9REB7umncNM9kLkStFimcDsao_ximznOubPiqHa-7aXLM99CZyaGHqSwwsbWsKrsdrjxuetZLUnvix_np8iUtA/s320/Fall+colors+better.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
we departed on Monday October 26th to get back into the proverbial saddle by sailing the Balia back south for the winter. The intent was to take a few weeks to enjoy the Chesapeake, since our trip home last spring was so rushed, and get to Southport, North Carolina by Thanksgiving; then return to Traverse City for the holidays and back to the boat in February for a few points south then begin the journey back up the east coast and take the alternate route back to the Great Lakes through the Champlain Canal and Montreal.<br />
As we began our travels our cat Pounce quickly adjusted to hotel life by finding new places for relaxing.<br />
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But alas the sailing god curse was upon the Ruzaks again as two days before we left the charter operator in Maryland reported that the batteries were not holding a charge. So upon arrival Tuesday we have spent the first 3 days here testing the batteries to determine if one or all had a problem and today we purchased 3 new ones. If all goes well and this is the fix, versus something else draining the batteries; we have decided that we are going to miss our original timeframe for leaving. So instead we will either winter the boat "on the hard" here in Maryland then return next spring to pick up the trip north; or if after Jay installs the batteries tomorrow we discover more problems then we would still leave the boat here to have the yard try to determine what else is going on. Or if all well at just the batteries we may call it quits and ship the boat back to Michigan by truck. <br />
We vacillate daily between the options but by the early part of next week we will make the final decision, then leaving the inn in competent hands we are going to take the opportunity to travel north to Massachusetts and Maine by car before returning home for the holidays. And what an odd coincidence that the day after we arrive a blimp from the Aberdeen Proving Ground just south of where we are breaks loose and roams for 200 miles west into Pennsylvania wiping out power lines along the way. Is this some electrical anomaly or a balancing of nature forces. Who knows but we are definitely frustrated and apparently our canvas cockpit enclosure has gone walkabout and no one knows where it could be!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrvFWmoSLqpHsAJGKz25QOCV7SMtDb8iWMiyz1Yn04Q5qGUxbLab7qMNtcboPIrDE3NU7c9fsUFzLR9vkDJQ_7LktvdHlZFJVpj2OjwgOhJ0td5cwnyKavAtNOLfKXdNEZdSWmyTqHVA/s1600/HDG+Tidewater+Grill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrvFWmoSLqpHsAJGKz25QOCV7SMtDb8iWMiyz1Yn04Q5qGUxbLab7qMNtcboPIrDE3NU7c9fsUFzLR9vkDJQ_7LktvdHlZFJVpj2OjwgOhJ0td5cwnyKavAtNOLfKXdNEZdSWmyTqHVA/s320/HDG+Tidewater+Grill.jpg" width="320" /></a> In the meantime we are enjoying the area with a great, albeit expensive, crab soup at the Tidewater Grill while Jay enjoys the north end of the bay scenery on the Susquehanna River.gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-24903100962306840762015-04-27T07:12:00.003-07:002015-04-27T07:23:26.617-07:00A Naval Battle of our own<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 7 days we are beginning to
finally recover sufficiently from the incident that occurred last Sunday during
a beautiful sail on Chesapeake Bay to be able to recount the story without
further emotional consternation, well almost! On the morning of our departure
from Norfolk a most ominous fog bank rolled in that had the appearance of a
dust storm thousands of feet high, perhaps a portend of things to come but once
that cleared we enjoyed a two hour motorsail up the River to Hampton Roads then
out onto the Chesapeake sailing north between Cape Charles and Cape Henry with
a destination of Yorktown. With 12 knots on an east wind beam reach doing about
7 knots we suddenly heard a “thunk” but saw nothing in front or behind. About
10 minutes later we recognized that our bilge was filled with water and Cindy
went on communications detail calling in the MayDay to the Coast Guard while
Jay investigated the source of the leak. The short version is that our propeller
shaft was “gone” (later found to have slipped backward and jammed against the
rudder) so Jay commenced stuffing the hole while Cindy coordinated assistance
and packing the kitties into a single carrier with lifevests attached around
it, and threw the valuables into a backpack in case we needed to abandon
ship.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within minutes 2 powerboats were on
escort duty while we sailed on (no motor drive available and limited steerage)
toward land, then the Coast Guard arrived in about 30 minutes to board us to
assist in water control and to help take the sails down later under wind
pressure. Under escort we sailed up the York River about an hour more until the
towboat arrived to take us to Jordan marine (on Sarah's Creek in Gloucester so literally "up a creek without a paddle"), where the boat is once again up on
the hard for repairs. The gist was that the set screws which hold the propeller
shaft in place in the coupler had either managed to vibrate loose (the shaft
being kept in place by the forward motion of the propeller shaft when we were
motoring, but once under a strong sail set pulled backward by the resistance of
the water on the prop) or were not properly installed in the first place. The
jury and insurance coverage is still out on this one!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have tried to make the best of our
time while here this week and the owners of Jordan Marine have been great
trying to get our boat repaired in less than 10 days (in 2 days the prop dent
had been fixed and the shaft checked with a new more stable system in place for
the set screws, and a new strut – holds the shaft for those who don’t know –
ordered and shipped in) so we can still get north in time for the opening of
the charter season on the Chesapeake and return home.<br />
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Owners Charles and Julie
Duke also invited us to their home for a crab/oyster bake as they have a
seafood business as a second business to the marine repairs, and it was amazing
to taste blue crabs , clams, and oysters fresh within hours of their removal
from the water. Well at least for Cindy as Jay does not care for crustaceans of
any variety except shrimp and snails, but he did manage to swallow a quarter of
an oyster Rockefeller.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During our time we have been
cleaning the boat and relocating storage items up to Havre de Grace Maryland,
things we were going to do once we arrived there but doing now to save time at
the end of our travels that we now won’t have to spend. <br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
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We also ventured to
Yorktown Battlefield where we learned that at the beginning of this momentous
battle that was the turning point of the Revolutionary war, there was a naval
confrontation between Cornwallis’ English fleet and the newly allied French one
just off the entrance to the Chesapeake from the Atlantic very close to where
our own seafaring battle began (Jay stood next to a cannon with a view of the
area in the background).<br />
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Walking the trenches and redoubts were awe inspiring,
and Jay made a new friend of the owner of the local Ben and Jerry’s, Bob, who
gave him a lifetime 10% discount pass on their ice cream – he’s in heaven. Most
interesting artifact at Yorktown Battlefield visitor center was the Lafayette<br />
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cannon with a dimple in it caused by a shell, which allowed Lafayette to
apparently emotionally recognize it during a later visit.<br />
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We skipped the more Disneyland like Historic Williamsburg, now at $41 per
person for entry, for a trip to Jamestown. This first permanent English
settlement took place in 1607 predating the arrival at Plymouth, and was the
site of the Virginia Company’s council of government upon which our current
governmental system later became based. <o:p></o:p><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPjPePqUvdO6SFY-Y1q8mauv1fwBJa5AmH5vXD8SEbhZ5TblTislNq9p8pbSILBM9LQ-6zgxRuwEbqcEBLetwXf1IZMDE9CIH5Zumm8jHCLLCn_yl1J-4sCYxYbvD8CeOLVXh8c3-MHY/s1600/York+Jamestown+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPjPePqUvdO6SFY-Y1q8mauv1fwBJa5AmH5vXD8SEbhZ5TblTislNq9p8pbSILBM9LQ-6zgxRuwEbqcEBLetwXf1IZMDE9CIH5Zumm8jHCLLCn_yl1J-4sCYxYbvD8CeOLVXh8c3-MHY/s1600/York+Jamestown+church.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a>A truly amazing story of survival
against horrendous odds including a multi- year drought that strained the at
one time friendly relations with the Powhatan Indians, a situation that was
made peaceful with the marriage of Pocahontas to planter John Rolfe. The marshes
offered the makings for tar and the church was rebuilt over the initial
foundations in 1907 to commemorate the 300 year anniversary of the landing, as
was the obelisk. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAeq2XSbA8L6Dn2w9yGyClcpQztm2h6ugT4cagheh9ecY99xpf4vO4a_l5QwqT0j9gK12iXDntrOz9eWlTm-G4VdqXuh8hhGiGpGOMtnLaJ7PwWu58uKvKxRkgk2pZUsr43ceXt4mjC0/s1600/York+Jamestown+marsh+cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAeq2XSbA8L6Dn2w9yGyClcpQztm2h6ugT4cagheh9ecY99xpf4vO4a_l5QwqT0j9gK12iXDntrOz9eWlTm-G4VdqXuh8hhGiGpGOMtnLaJ7PwWu58uKvKxRkgk2pZUsr43ceXt4mjC0/s1600/York+Jamestown+marsh+cc.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><br />
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<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So our revised revised revised
revised revision of the trip is that instead of taking 10 days to enjoy some
areas of the Chesapeake, once the boat is repaired (cross our fingers just two
more days) we will motor or sail the last 200 miles in a very crunching 2 max 3
days; then the drive home now that the truck has also been repositioned at the
north end of the Chesapeake in Havre de Grace for charter over the summer with
BaySail.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our next and last entry will be a
recap of the “best of”s. For now we are happy to be dry and safe. This has
admittedly not been the trip of which we dreamed, but has provided other
insights into our characters that may not have been possible otherwise. Perspective is Everything!<o:p></o:p>gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-15479684311968364522015-04-19T05:43:00.001-07:002015-04-19T05:43:11.513-07:00Nights in Norfolk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our crossing of Abermarle Sound was
peaceful after again negotiating the tricky Manteo channel, arriving in
Coinjock in time for a much deserved nap after worrying most of the previous
night. After a brief stop at Atlantic Yacht Basin for the most reasonably
priced dockage anywhere at $1 per ft., we travelled the lock and bridges
leading to Norfolk. We used one very long 14 hour drive day to retrieve the
truck from its storage in Charleston, with a brief hi to friend Brad Wade. Then
decided an extra day or two was needed to explore Norfolk a bit more after we
had enjoyed one of the most unique experiences ever.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUr6xUj9APxddG781gCNO3pCuYmRtFzSufWe-898SKPxd4Z1SXPEaX82B4kuUy7Ei_bijnosMaFR8fyF7aC26Uc-0wJ-IiBuJRBq6rshCTcC0EeJMjD-TQ_3vBvdoRItnZm3DZaoyZ9_Y/s1600/Norfolk+commodore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUr6xUj9APxddG781gCNO3pCuYmRtFzSufWe-898SKPxd4Z1SXPEaX82B4kuUy7Ei_bijnosMaFR8fyF7aC26Uc-0wJ-IiBuJRBq6rshCTcC0EeJMjD-TQ_3vBvdoRItnZm3DZaoyZ9_Y/s1600/Norfolk+commodore.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just blocks from our Portsmouth
dockage is the Commodore theater which is styled in a nightclub dining set up
with tiers of tables for two and four people, but instead of live entertainment
you watch a movie while eating. So just hours after our arrival we found
ourselves at the Wed. matinee eating sandwiches that were quite tasty, popcorn
and a pitcher of diet coke while watching “the Woman in Gold” which we can
highly recommend. The persons who recommended we do this are the owners of a
nautical reclamation and antique store that is amazing, Skipjack’s which has a
website at www.skipjackmarinegallery.com.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrmc_FYWsicrCnYiC3-xi9f7c3YZxQlGocBD2ZXvYHBUivialahep65yTwF8pQ2wO_fMeeajGCJqUbTnDn3rrFkj_cZGA3h222QglIR2sWFBgV0qI9XdB-z8ewKhLtW44DT9nmsXn2QY/s1600/Norwfolk+Dumars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrmc_FYWsicrCnYiC3-xi9f7c3YZxQlGocBD2ZXvYHBUivialahep65yTwF8pQ2wO_fMeeajGCJqUbTnDn3rrFkj_cZGA3h222QglIR2sWFBgV0qI9XdB-z8ewKhLtW44DT9nmsXn2QY/s1600/Norwfolk+Dumars.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friday we walked around Norfolk
downtown with its amazing MacArthur Mall, and drove through the historic<br />
district and Hague<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXdzXks5uw9qRZR2VAGLXNExv1xJw_6cZa6VoSEQRQKbs4ZE8YdiV_CxVkYzaz4p4QR2VKoubozf10tUUdr9xvEEuKBKBF1sinSfIlQzay8iS4k2gvUI5OWFxoNFGyKzWdPQMKj7LrUY/s1600/Norfolk+historic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXdzXks5uw9qRZR2VAGLXNExv1xJw_6cZa6VoSEQRQKbs4ZE8YdiV_CxVkYzaz4p4QR2VKoubozf10tUUdr9xvEEuKBKBF1sinSfIlQzay8iS4k2gvUI5OWFxoNFGyKzWdPQMKj7LrUY/s1600/Norfolk+historic.jpg" /></a></div>
residential areas, and stopped at Dumar’s – flagship drive
in of the inventor of the original waffle cone machine, which is still at this
location but originally at Coney Island where Abe Dumar first displayed his
idea. Ice cream connoisseur Jay was in heaven - Out to dinner at local Lobscour restaurant with a terrific early dining
special that included some of the best hushpuppies we have ever had.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided there was so much to do
and see in this beautiful waterfront city<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyYYnVBQqnz4q3FFXB-PLVg9qQ8nL62uhqjoJRRfwaetBKCH35d0s5T3fq6O09vCVX0FTGkYrlRAgmmTUDfMQqDZjG-3NzNUwm1SNPikjsnq51jXIF8rdqkpcllfPBMxH1vywiOytuSo/s1600/Norfolk+skyline+ferry+dock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyYYnVBQqnz4q3FFXB-PLVg9qQ8nL62uhqjoJRRfwaetBKCH35d0s5T3fq6O09vCVX0FTGkYrlRAgmmTUDfMQqDZjG-3NzNUwm1SNPikjsnq51jXIF8rdqkpcllfPBMxH1vywiOytuSo/s1600/Norfolk+skyline+ferry+dock.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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that another day was justified to
take the Naval Base cruise. Learned more about battleship, submarine and
aircraft carriers in one day than in several years (and for Cindy a lifetime’s
worth), followed by a walking tour of the USS Wisconsin (one word - huge)<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-j3u3q17UWMfJOMVXqiTKdtwKSr7EKKu3wfYwauTVBic0KhwZk2AFHdtBRF5jtDywDjeWImuz9yV4oBPgGiUIVhj4OthCWzr38EHLtt9ZTeBFR9ZtoYmywZGOXiuBNnWoVU2mqOF8Jl8/s1600/Norfolk+USS+W+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-j3u3q17UWMfJOMVXqiTKdtwKSr7EKKu3wfYwauTVBic0KhwZk2AFHdtBRF5jtDywDjeWImuz9yV4oBPgGiUIVhj4OthCWzr38EHLtt9ZTeBFR9ZtoYmywZGOXiuBNnWoVU2mqOF8Jl8/s1600/Norfolk+USS+W+selfie.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJF2edwlmImUGZ1a0bioG6GcBVEpoxhfb0K1oRQ9asm0Tm1xSYxBAtapWKRCC_B27zb2bUwyel16tTXWMAXRn8Rto3nASqhyphenhyphen5gD3A0BG2L52kewD-SBC-wo4zTmbHk5zfvyQ-6NadKcY/s1600/Norfolk+USS+W+cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJF2edwlmImUGZ1a0bioG6GcBVEpoxhfb0K1oRQ9asm0Tm1xSYxBAtapWKRCC_B27zb2bUwyel16tTXWMAXRn8Rto3nASqhyphenhyphen5gD3A0BG2L52kewD-SBC-wo4zTmbHk5zfvyQ-6NadKcY/s1600/Norfolk+USS+W+cc.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7ggmk2O1or3jEz2uzZbbWH40-JMNszm82aYGMPhQYsWp_GTQ7F_mPAwUjpaJHMeGMDY5jdOICBDAfa1M9B0a6EtYoDHJJR4YLwazXZ6hyphenhyphenyP4U3jskDSbOv8ofAJ64_XEABj3HeCmWHo/s1600/Norfolk+ferry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cI0AiVWE84D0NrbOO_MNCfvsEMOCnbpUN4EW8xS7xzaCFtRBU3gKsMBr1fAAvxHngN6YMH0HQiftHVOypbo-Z1wTHTgFtx_HXkH4jM_Vus2LPDgsQAut4YtHEBDUlzeF_b8037h0Lrg/s1600/Norfolk+USS+W+cc+huge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cI0AiVWE84D0NrbOO_MNCfvsEMOCnbpUN4EW8xS7xzaCFtRBU3gKsMBr1fAAvxHngN6YMH0HQiftHVOypbo-Z1wTHTgFtx_HXkH4jM_Vus2LPDgsQAut4YtHEBDUlzeF_b8037h0Lrg/s1600/Norfolk+USS+W+cc+huge.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a>, and the Naval Museum.
The might of our nation’s navy was never more evident, and really evokes pride.<br />
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<br />
<br />
We enjoyed the convenience of a ferry just blocks from our Portsmouth marina to
downtown Norfolk<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7ggmk2O1or3jEz2uzZbbWH40-JMNszm82aYGMPhQYsWp_GTQ7F_mPAwUjpaJHMeGMDY5jdOICBDAfa1M9B0a6EtYoDHJJR4YLwazXZ6hyphenhyphenyP4U3jskDSbOv8ofAJ64_XEABj3HeCmWHo/s1600/Norfolk+ferry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7ggmk2O1or3jEz2uzZbbWH40-JMNszm82aYGMPhQYsWp_GTQ7F_mPAwUjpaJHMeGMDY5jdOICBDAfa1M9B0a6EtYoDHJJR4YLwazXZ6hyphenhyphenyP4U3jskDSbOv8ofAJ64_XEABj3HeCmWHo/s1600/Norfolk+ferry.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7ggmk2O1or3jEz2uzZbbWH40-JMNszm82aYGMPhQYsWp_GTQ7F_mPAwUjpaJHMeGMDY5jdOICBDAfa1M9B0a6EtYoDHJJR4YLwazXZ6hyphenhyphenyP4U3jskDSbOv8ofAJ64_XEABj3HeCmWHo/s1600/Norfolk+ferry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-87755329038872523552015-04-12T10:14:00.001-07:002015-04-12T10:14:19.631-07:00Mastering the shallows
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxWUv2PUC10NyGp9DD7ZXXDoLbyzTmpOPDPhiJKezWzBaMkguXDlDmsWGB-3hlFBykJ6zJMoNpPphDf1GJoqQlxu1rjg8tVKJ5KiskikNo0glFvfUWcUhlDIVOl45llTheL4qcvbgY8w/s1600/Southport+Provisions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxWUv2PUC10NyGp9DD7ZXXDoLbyzTmpOPDPhiJKezWzBaMkguXDlDmsWGB-3hlFBykJ6zJMoNpPphDf1GJoqQlxu1rjg8tVKJ5KiskikNo0glFvfUWcUhlDIVOl45llTheL4qcvbgY8w/s1600/Southport+Provisions.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a>With a great weather forecast we departed from the ICW at Little River Inlet,
and for the first time sailed into the Cape Fear River going past the shoals at
Bald Head Island on a well planned wing-on-wing sail set. By doing so we
enjoyed a beautiful sail on the Atlantic and bypassed two of the more notorious
shoal areas of Shallotte Inlet and Lockwood Folly to arrive in Southport just
in time for their Spring Festival, which we opted out from in favor of a burger at
one of our favorite waterfront restaurants, Provision Company.<br />
<br />
Then it was a successful passage thru a very tricky area at marker 63 where
the depth was less than 5 ft at high tide with a quick S turn between two
temporary buoys about 25 ft off the shoreline, the same spot we first ran
aground last fall when 7 boats were stuck in the same area. This time we not
only had our own experience but followed a fellow cruiser, seasoned on their 6<sup>th</sup>
trip, thru the area after we both had anchored at a terrifically scenic basin
at Camp LeJeune. It was Easter Sunday so no live fire maneuvers were taking place luckily.<br />
On to a couple of nights in Beaufort to catch up on our mail,
thanks to Sharron for forwarding, get re-provisioned,<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEisOQxxhOVYYE6jyStS04A7GNJGF-yOBjXzdi7qQWuFRTnxtwoE_J1ons5SK_MxQJna4CCc978nYvjyfpuQi-udZN376o-WyTwTAjgefqiLsNwLKU1PgZZIOGzxJg79Q8pdRgQu0gfg/s1600/Beaufort+dinghy+cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEisOQxxhOVYYE6jyStS04A7GNJGF-yOBjXzdi7qQWuFRTnxtwoE_J1ons5SK_MxQJna4CCc978nYvjyfpuQi-udZN376o-WyTwTAjgefqiLsNwLKU1PgZZIOGzxJg79Q8pdRgQu0gfg/s1600/Beaufort+dinghy+cc.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
and a dinghy ride to
Shackleford Island and the Rachel Carson preserve. This was definitely a
highlight of the entire trip as we took a walk through the marshes and got to
see the wild horses up close and personal. <br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCz_2MwjfVl1sjcjdZt2gwNcsuPx4ei5C96GrsxNjth660o0HnH1wtHwZ1hvPIGBGEZm3Q9sHldaT_Yge_jq-ZExGz6hFETliJvJ3ws6Sh3BVI3accJB0LbrMuogWTdEXxwsZwIWOxag/s1600/Beaufort+horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCz_2MwjfVl1sjcjdZt2gwNcsuPx4ei5C96GrsxNjth660o0HnH1wtHwZ1hvPIGBGEZm3Q9sHldaT_Yge_jq-ZExGz6hFETliJvJ3ws6Sh3BVI3accJB0LbrMuogWTdEXxwsZwIWOxag/s1600/Beaufort+horse.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>A nice crossing of Pamlico Sound and
two more nights at anchor, one somewhat windy but wide open and nice depth and
the other very protected <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(which was very desirable after a close encounter with
a massive storm cell during the day) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9tw9YUHm389slwkkX_WxJZBO2hyphenhyphentJNGt6fBPR_kbVa9z53p4-vp4yFWKsdDArxOprN46iTTLqQQu3r0d1S7620ossI6r872LRJyLgB8qVlzFSTowiX4J-CTlDpq1VnevlNKD8jN2KB4/s1600/Manteo+storm+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9tw9YUHm389slwkkX_WxJZBO2hyphenhyphentJNGt6fBPR_kbVa9z53p4-vp4yFWKsdDArxOprN46iTTLqQQu3r0d1S7620ossI6r872LRJyLgB8qVlzFSTowiX4J-CTlDpq1VnevlNKD8jN2KB4/s1600/Manteo+storm+image.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></div>
but shallow, and then to one of our not so
favorite places at Alligator Marina (aka the Shell Station) but nicely position
for the next day’s journey across the Abermarle to Manteo on Roanoke Island,
yet one of the very most shallow and narrow entrances we have ever witnessed
(there is even a video on youtube to explain how to get into this place).<br />
<br />
A
procedure often done but Harbormaster Carl was one of the most friendly for our
check in<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CR3KnTJn3vgxobIO739Z6se38hx7Qqx2ksNZH8wSYZ5ai_R3WHFwS1Ka5GmnZocDvEvPRwHPAN2mq4XhpsT1Re8HHj1JqWVhPohgb61aCeX2caxLUHedDhO7rGEcSCJXAh2r3mfXO2E/s1600/Manteo+harbormaster+Carl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CR3KnTJn3vgxobIO739Z6se38hx7Qqx2ksNZH8wSYZ5ai_R3WHFwS1Ka5GmnZocDvEvPRwHPAN2mq4XhpsT1Re8HHj1JqWVhPohgb61aCeX2caxLUHedDhO7rGEcSCJXAh2r3mfXO2E/s1600/Manteo+harbormaster+Carl.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a><br />
, and then it was on to another traditional first stop around the
corner for Jay’s ice cream,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiIZ7BElWnr72ZtE93-U9j6jsLGxCYHonlqUvKyereGjSHxjP-PYnz__5kLpoexNCIzbGEMhAErf2D64PtAb5tuC6jtkBMy0mAV_xwvqVKJ6q-Pn2CoCPeFn55JiZ4ttc9thQ8P_2VJM/s1600/Manteo+J+ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiIZ7BElWnr72ZtE93-U9j6jsLGxCYHonlqUvKyereGjSHxjP-PYnz__5kLpoexNCIzbGEMhAErf2D64PtAb5tuC6jtkBMy0mAV_xwvqVKJ6q-Pn2CoCPeFn55JiZ4ttc9thQ8P_2VJM/s1600/Manteo+J+ice+cream.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a> and to a bar to watch the Masters, along with a
grooms party prior to their wedding at the Manteo Lighthouse.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GuQYcYES1qG_6wk3NWodrvZbJ79uOG8GMctOBfgSQyXmL5m8Qn0IYMaPz3HRr-QkdLC4tKYhgUVG4S5rnTtp8ZmbMrGdauQcok1SZENb7gL_vSyKmurPciqKiRndeweq8egS7RJ1Mts/s1600/Manteo+lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GuQYcYES1qG_6wk3NWodrvZbJ79uOG8GMctOBfgSQyXmL5m8Qn0IYMaPz3HRr-QkdLC4tKYhgUVG4S5rnTtp8ZmbMrGdauQcok1SZENb7gL_vSyKmurPciqKiRndeweq8egS7RJ1Mts/s1600/Manteo+lighthouse.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manteo Lighthouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
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<br />
A bittersweet
year as not only are we not home to host our annual Masters Golf party but friend Ben Crenshaw played his last competitive round. this year on Friday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1ejs4GlHRlwZzZOF8bX355JApEUcsR2FUfVuI5yebAVvbPDgNGKSZuv1vKVfL8RAPvdUFybX_7oRXKCROXDMA3DUbXA31kENEitYFbsDXGd_Ic5M-NmVd88_05SpEtkWK6w5h0SfxXU/s1600/Pounce+undercover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1ejs4GlHRlwZzZOF8bX355JApEUcsR2FUfVuI5yebAVvbPDgNGKSZuv1vKVfL8RAPvdUFybX_7oRXKCROXDMA3DUbXA31kENEitYFbsDXGd_Ic5M-NmVd88_05SpEtkWK6w5h0SfxXU/s1600/Pounce+undercover.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
But no matter what the situation the cats always seem to find a place that feels
safe.<o:p></o:p><br />
gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-77181027172351647202015-04-02T06:54:00.001-07:002015-04-02T06:55:19.692-07:00No April Fools<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD_b5GNauGRgai09snHORkAHzy2p7vEgWHusFoSumlfRsZrN1Mk2zXqNuxaxIASQ__H-jS1G5-JUeHq8h3knT705l7eOw0ZCyrXHT1vTBb23habj5i6eGMmsaSA3LGyYMq6rFi6J1SbA/s1600/Harbortown+lighthouse+boat+j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD_b5GNauGRgai09snHORkAHzy2p7vEgWHusFoSumlfRsZrN1Mk2zXqNuxaxIASQ__H-jS1G5-JUeHq8h3knT705l7eOw0ZCyrXHT1vTBb23habj5i6eGMmsaSA3LGyYMq6rFi6J1SbA/s1600/Harbortown+lighthouse+boat+j.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a>April 1 No April First Fooling our boat is finally performing well after 5
days in Savannah getting the alternator problem correctly diagnosed and
repaired. We left last Friday and spent several nights at beautiful anchorages
with an overnight at Hilton Head’s Harbortown marina and an afternoon of golf.
Then on to Georgetown with several more overnights in the marshes and a day
sail on Charleston Bay waiting for the tide to rise enough to make it through a
shallow area near Isle of Palms. It is amazing just how many areas of concern
there are and we have several more to go in the next five days, so we plan our
times of being on the water to correspond as best we can with a rising tide.
However, we are at a bit of an awkward time as the sun comes up around 7 and
high tides are an early 8-9a or pm after sunset for the next several days in SC
heading to NC; but then get more midday allowing for greater distances just as
we get to the sounds where it won’t matter as much. All thrown off by our
unexpected delay in the additional repairs but we are still on schedule for
reaching our Chesapeake destination by May 1.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjyB_lEEcxejpQSGMpDgAGtxdAQxyNlBChl_hLP33NMhRfGkV-ea_7HfHUouQxa1gGuYUiWlpLSTsw0oeu4r2KCmrGtvKKOf_ylflDqTV1wxIDjOhsHhYhldEBQXLiDwVcl2fUUa3fjk/s1600/Georgetown+big+tuna+cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjyB_lEEcxejpQSGMpDgAGtxdAQxyNlBChl_hLP33NMhRfGkV-ea_7HfHUouQxa1gGuYUiWlpLSTsw0oeu4r2KCmrGtvKKOf_ylflDqTV1wxIDjOhsHhYhldEBQXLiDwVcl2fUUa3fjk/s1600/Georgetown+big+tuna+cc.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIU9H0EFd88IkXuGaC8NI6tywO1ybr6G3hxusp6uogXfClaaedX5jVoviuVMCE1gqCkNq_SwdOpnhjsAC2LQLdsvLjt_4f0X_H9F99A6xLAdqpmj78nqjLWCRKJUat-QF-698yIr-ses/s1600/Pounce+companionway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIU9H0EFd88IkXuGaC8NI6tywO1ybr6G3hxusp6uogXfClaaedX5jVoviuVMCE1gqCkNq_SwdOpnhjsAC2LQLdsvLjt_4f0X_H9F99A6xLAdqpmj78nqjLWCRKJUat-QF-698yIr-ses/s1600/Pounce+companionway.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a>After several nights at anchor the shower was great and we celebrated with a shrimp po'boy "dinner" at Big Tuna's while Pounce watched over the boat.gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-37269159046058906172015-03-24T12:12:00.003-07:002015-03-24T12:12:45.215-07:00The Ups and Downs of Cruising<br />
As we again find ourselves waiting for mechanics to arrive to see if they can find out why our batteries are not being charged for a second day, we watch the tides rise and fall in daily anticipation of continuing our saga.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFKYq96XTBEa3F_-jGMmpGc_LnO5BlnTylubM-QwD-TihlU7q9lKK_p47gqE1t2NhFzkbaE4OY3Jx9kTA8xndE3e29k3jWbiNt0tq57-vds97PIVkeZNIATVRPp0B63jKhknPfJ3mLOo/s1600/Thunderbolt+highs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFKYq96XTBEa3F_-jGMmpGc_LnO5BlnTylubM-QwD-TihlU7q9lKK_p47gqE1t2NhFzkbaE4OY3Jx9kTA8xndE3e29k3jWbiNt0tq57-vds97PIVkeZNIATVRPp0B63jKhknPfJ3mLOo/s1600/Thunderbolt+highs.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High tide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxmjvZhs7_cDDv_w8oo48vZ2Sh9HseiMblEtwDtpviCDEbVGnl5Nd7VoAZv0MxNs5yO_P7QqqEtK_UzVn0p_IrFmdNcLcjWtjihE6edbHBA_rsPfm05ZYkOlS5Hry_Y_RXCO3tx8AwLU/s1600/Thunderbolt+low+tide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxmjvZhs7_cDDv_w8oo48vZ2Sh9HseiMblEtwDtpviCDEbVGnl5Nd7VoAZv0MxNs5yO_P7QqqEtK_UzVn0p_IrFmdNcLcjWtjihE6edbHBA_rsPfm05ZYkOlS5Hry_Y_RXCO3tx8AwLU/s1600/Thunderbolt+low+tide.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low tide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-64200379994818096582015-03-23T07:31:00.001-07:002015-03-23T07:31:42.589-07:00Starting North<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJjLuwU6gaUOaJW36XEXU4X6WquiwTUt-8t8_lLS5KLoAIXMxqpyiKXJD1exdeuzZVVBFWnPHPPWjzoY-MpQWR59tfT8FAFv4cvtwAoaHgYJTybZ5ZODwSRf-C7Ju3l2Lq1T8b_j6yRI/s1600/GA+Cumberland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
After an enjoyable dinner with Cindy’s grade school friend Jim Stocker and
his wife Annette in Fernandina, we began our journey north first anchoring
overnight near Cumberland Island.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73vgkF5cyzPQMQNgTxi6Tbb52wBgq3m5Cdyx9mDwFcGbyEoaoZA-7ww7YG-k8Op_OFXjIU1nTIc41tc2OSNeRrGB9D7x1wEywVsxPZl88PBZXMeDRSMw16fWN8CxDYF0nrFoiGdc_fjI/s1600/GA+Comberland+tree+path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73vgkF5cyzPQMQNgTxi6Tbb52wBgq3m5Cdyx9mDwFcGbyEoaoZA-7ww7YG-k8Op_OFXjIU1nTIc41tc2OSNeRrGB9D7x1wEywVsxPZl88PBZXMeDRSMw16fWN8CxDYF0nrFoiGdc_fjI/s1600/GA+Comberland+tree+path.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJjLuwU6gaUOaJW36XEXU4X6WquiwTUt-8t8_lLS5KLoAIXMxqpyiKXJD1exdeuzZVVBFWnPHPPWjzoY-MpQWR59tfT8FAFv4cvtwAoaHgYJTybZ5ZODwSRf-C7Ju3l2Lq1T8b_j6yRI/s1600/GA+Cumberland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJjLuwU6gaUOaJW36XEXU4X6WquiwTUt-8t8_lLS5KLoAIXMxqpyiKXJD1exdeuzZVVBFWnPHPPWjzoY-MpQWR59tfT8FAFv4cvtwAoaHgYJTybZ5ZODwSRf-C7Ju3l2Lq1T8b_j6yRI/s1600/GA+Cumberland.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9Ksrpe4Kk9RxQph4IO_YfQg5Y7Cl3Os61snJQc5X_vtxpKNf0nhQNKp1BWOJviLayJkPYbDTa5F9EqjrGKRC-tBVkOI8GEuWDLPYkgU7N9lvaqTlKS5F-mOuJcPOPc9eoNVrKSWKsqo/s1600/Cumberland+Tso+BOARD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9Ksrpe4Kk9RxQph4IO_YfQg5Y7Cl3Os61snJQc5X_vtxpKNf0nhQNKp1BWOJviLayJkPYbDTa5F9EqjrGKRC-tBVkOI8GEuWDLPYkgU7N9lvaqTlKS5F-mOuJcPOPc9eoNVrKSWKsqo/s1600/Cumberland+Tso+BOARD.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
Did not see any of the wild horses but had a
beautiful spot from which to call in for a Traverse Symphony Board meeting.
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Then it was a day of rough weather motoring back to St Simon Island, a repeat
dinner at Coastal Kitchen, tune up on the alternator belt by Brunswick since
that unit wasn’t properly charging, then off to two nights of anchoring on our
way to Savannah in order to hit the very shoal prone and shallow areas of Mud
River and Hell’s Gate.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Vkfp6YGC7mbbUKvBIbkGrjX79BEnjhMzxUgcG3t6pkpdWWdElMmVMYQkuQTAAxUZCTCJ_Zwtbu-_mrinSthBYc7yv75zQeTVxmbD5-ZWpV2juuqAIo6xffWMvTxGnVqC7ev2poISFfE/s1600/GA+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Vkfp6YGC7mbbUKvBIbkGrjX79BEnjhMzxUgcG3t6pkpdWWdElMmVMYQkuQTAAxUZCTCJ_Zwtbu-_mrinSthBYc7yv75zQeTVxmbD5-ZWpV2juuqAIo6xffWMvTxGnVqC7ev2poISFfE/s1600/GA+sky.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7lAn-YAi9vISXrGI8d1-FPUixuOnlNzn26Z__DiF2M8xHsV0WpWtJXbgVTpVlSnj2WKLmhikR5mmNaGyCxqmmVmldPUWL-eFSz0oMIWlsHcSTXM9-eaaEImM_Dm4aZrfVyW86A_gfG0/s1600/GA+island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7lAn-YAi9vISXrGI8d1-FPUixuOnlNzn26Z__DiF2M8xHsV0WpWtJXbgVTpVlSnj2WKLmhikR5mmNaGyCxqmmVmldPUWL-eFSz0oMIWlsHcSTXM9-eaaEImM_Dm4aZrfVyW86A_gfG0/s1600/GA+island.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a><br />
Along the way some beautiful marsh scenery<br />
and sunsets, amazing weather, and even an idyllic island, and some quality kitty time at sunset.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKRfVRZ8NqflluZvcRVE9ag5Mf4iWz6OLHBOqM696Yw7qkCsCKqvatOO1GD65Vmw-nS-_XjMYJ81Z0-oO4hrBjxMyJdJIHM0RBuVy6xXE0oh0Gk95IHzaSLEDYd52PI4np8WPXCZbt4U/s1600/Cumberland+cats+at+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKRfVRZ8NqflluZvcRVE9ag5Mf4iWz6OLHBOqM696Yw7qkCsCKqvatOO1GD65Vmw-nS-_XjMYJ81Z0-oO4hrBjxMyJdJIHM0RBuVy6xXE0oh0Gk95IHzaSLEDYd52PI4np8WPXCZbt4U/s1600/Cumberland+cats+at+sunset.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
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Now back at Thunderbolt Marina in Savannah awaiting the
arrival of marine technicians as we completely ran battery power to nothing the
second night meaning the alternator is still not functioning. Plus our
directional magenta line on the brand new navatronics disappeared right at
Sapalo Sound (where we ran aground 3 months ago) and doesn’t pick up again
until north of Charleston; so we now feel that is our version of the Bermuda
Triangle, and the autohelm is functioning intermittently as well.gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-73460064681159224412015-03-16T08:48:00.002-07:002015-03-17T09:12:22.961-07:00The Adventure Continues<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBF-d9RMH5wM6-S2_dWaEN2ot-tTa8m-NoiKZ3UYXgbvHxW8wm1WwwDF4UPtiY7d3mtZ_Gd788mmss1UXblFGoGbd4wFSvFoa0B8Ll_A20ZmqTvxJ2uefHtjjDkOuYfG1D3Flzfi2Y03w/s1600/Jay+Gary+Indy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBF-d9RMH5wM6-S2_dWaEN2ot-tTa8m-NoiKZ3UYXgbvHxW8wm1WwwDF4UPtiY7d3mtZ_Gd788mmss1UXblFGoGbd4wFSvFoa0B8Ll_A20ZmqTvxJ2uefHtjjDkOuYfG1D3Flzfi2Y03w/s1600/Jay+Gary+Indy.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
The boat was finally finished March 10 so we took a leisurely 3
days to return via a visit to friends Ann and Gary in Indianapolis,<sup>th</sup>
,with a quick lunch at favorite Bazbeau’s pizza – still one of the best, Mexican dinner at a Fountain Sq. place; and a stop in scenic Oak Ridge TN to Priscilla and Scott McKinney’s. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f0SElCFZlXZ-pkjRqJc-s0cSQyP8j_MQ8s5M-axGdWBOKmJI0ikAtW35yqf7HKoXxBwww9LheTktb6XKT8FihKVXAkre2PidJNuFgZW1BFqLb6wTjEjxOVCod60SJqaLO3L_Kl_BkM8/s1600/Patches+bino+watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f0SElCFZlXZ-pkjRqJc-s0cSQyP8j_MQ8s5M-axGdWBOKmJI0ikAtW35yqf7HKoXxBwww9LheTktb6XKT8FihKVXAkre2PidJNuFgZW1BFqLb6wTjEjxOVCod60SJqaLO3L_Kl_BkM8/s1600/Patches+bino+watch.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patches on "watch" for birdies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then it was a perfect 65th Birthday weekend for Cindy as we returned to our healthy boat, played golf at Jekyll Island, sat in wicker rockers at the Jekyll Island Club, had peel and eat shrimp at the waterside “Rah Bar” listening to a 60s band. Then Sunday
sailed from Brunswick to Fernandina Beach FL out on the Atlantic once again,
with kitties readapting to life at sea and ending the day with a shrimp and
grits dinner at waterside Brett’s restaurant.<o:p></o:p><br />
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After a restful two days we will
begin our journey back north through the Carolinas to the Chesapeake.gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-4677547352142952852015-03-01T08:00:00.002-08:002015-03-01T08:00:58.871-08:00Winter wonderland in TCNot totally surprisingly but disappointing the boat repairs have been delayed even further so the Bahamas are pretty much out of the realm of possibilities for this winter. However, with luck the boat should be finished by the end of this week and we will return to Brunswick, GA. Then maybe a few days a bit south to Fernandina and Jacksonville, then it's head back north so the boat can be on the Chesapeake by May 1 to charter for the summer out there. Then we will go back next fall to again attempt the voyage.<br />
In the meantime we have enjoyed the cold weather as best we can, taking a walk out on frozen Grand Traverse Bay at the end of the Old Mission Peninsula yesterday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFky__2hgLxjj5UeLqqrO8fYI56FS9KTxTgup6NcuEG7GbVZ8MVwvQ_bfc3Lah4Xcd6oTMPdSf2pQsRqlBY2iOR8ldLwS-9Es2Gg7wPO9f4Nboc-SJBKHtEl7Omwo5iBLVfXeJG0PmGY/s1600/Winter+ice+walk+J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFky__2hgLxjj5UeLqqrO8fYI56FS9KTxTgup6NcuEG7GbVZ8MVwvQ_bfc3Lah4Xcd6oTMPdSf2pQsRqlBY2iOR8ldLwS-9Es2Gg7wPO9f4Nboc-SJBKHtEl7Omwo5iBLVfXeJG0PmGY/s1600/Winter+ice+walk+J.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaQwcWzJ8bbuQDhuF98RIMwfi2rfzqTYIkNCdmLwJTJZgb3s27pxFBW91UI1v_A_mFyIZOKa5zsIDBY_tHN4p6mqz-iPVhaK0AehlCatSBh4xG3LS1nIJL3_6PnerRd24DhAnzgWf2FE/s1600/Winter+ice+wallk+cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaQwcWzJ8bbuQDhuF98RIMwfi2rfzqTYIkNCdmLwJTJZgb3s27pxFBW91UI1v_A_mFyIZOKa5zsIDBY_tHN4p6mqz-iPVhaK0AehlCatSBh4xG3LS1nIJL3_6PnerRd24DhAnzgWf2FE/s1600/Winter+ice+wallk+cc.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a> The bay only freezes about once every 7 years and now we have had two winters in a row with most of the Great Lakes completely frozen. The downside of this beauty is that our grapevines are taking a major hit, with just a 25% crop last year and now in danger of complete die back to the ground so we start from scratch.gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-16393145808367493812015-02-07T16:18:00.000-08:002015-02-13T09:00:11.521-08:00Back home in Traverse and travels along the way<br />
Feb 7 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once receiving the prognosis of
at least 5 more weeks of boat repair on or around Jan. 8, we took off for
points north. Then after a very purposeful 3 days on the road to NJ, after
dropping off new friend Cathy (her husband Tom aboard Bluetrust in Brunswick)
at her home in Annapolis, to pick up the truck left there at the beginning of
our coastal journey we then arrived home in Traverse City. Since then it’s been
back to involvement as usual with the Traverse Symphony, Township Zoning
issues, Maritime Heritage Alliance for Jay, and reconnecting with friends while
we get some projects done. So far we painted a bathroom, re-grouted the Jacuzzi
tub deck, had the wrought iron curtain rod in the Vineyard suite cleaned and
recoated and had the 20 year old chairs in that room recovered, Jay pruned the
entire Vineyard over two weeks in the cold, and laid plans for a new chicken coup.
We have and enjoyed the extravagance of cooking with 6 burners and baking
homemade bread after months of tuna helper and soup.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cats have been real troopers, and
while all of us reacted to the cold winter air with sneezes little Patches
really had a hard time. So back to our local and wonderful vet Dr. Dana for a
chest xray to see how progressive it was with her heart issues. She now has a
full- fledged murmur and then with increased Lasix and Flovent inhaler she got
better over two weeks, but then began experiencing some weakness in her
hindquarters. So we upped the blood thinners, increased prednisone, and added
potassium and she now a week later is better than ever. What an amazingly
strong kitty. But prior to that one of the more humorous moments on the first
12 hour day of the drive home occurred as we left Steak N Shake and Patches,
trying to pee in her small cage litter box, squirted a bit of urine out through
the cage door onto Cathy’s hamburger paper wrap. But another sailing trooper
she wiped it up and on we traveled with Cindy in the back holding Patches so
she could use the litter box on top of the cage more easily. Needless to say
perhaps, but a funny image, it was a bit crowded in our mid-size (what was in
days past a compact) rental with 3 adults, luggage, and 2 cat carriers.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just yesterday we received the
anticipated news that the transmission was damaged and is in need of
rebuilding, but with the indication that getting parts from Japan could take at
best 3 weeks or more likely months; we opted for a brand new one in a week at
just twice the cost. So our plans for the Bahamas are pretty much shot for this
year, and depending on when the boat actually truly finally is ready to go we
will decide on plans for the next two months before we reopen the inn.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizii3pW2TznugCeCkVZSuPHn7NscL1GfrAHTtg02KgrNHzSXpxHMiVE4i5N9QLInMvCtgSkzdCIQPmmRHiAMobpJvLljq9FXMRLlhiH7E95-_jAd8E3ZCCFIPAbtk4rMVMABiW60BVJls/s1600/Rosenbergs+at+Jacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizii3pW2TznugCeCkVZSuPHn7NscL1GfrAHTtg02KgrNHzSXpxHMiVE4i5N9QLInMvCtgSkzdCIQPmmRHiAMobpJvLljq9FXMRLlhiH7E95-_jAd8E3ZCCFIPAbtk4rMVMABiW60BVJls/s1600/Rosenbergs+at+Jacks.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also got a text that same day
from our friends Craig and Mary Rosenburg with whom we were supposed to rendezvous
on Elbow Cay Feb. 7<sup>th</sup> on our boat for 3 days, as they were enjoying
a beer and trivia night at our favorite Hopetown haunt Captain Jacks. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there is no denying that this
whole sequence of events has been a bit depressing to say the least as a major
disappointment from our initial plans, even if we stopped right now it has been
a unique wonderful adventure and we have met some interesting people.<o:p></o:p>gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-90077745039490466772015-01-05T07:10:00.001-08:002015-01-05T07:10:04.749-08:00The Unbearable Lightness of Being in Brunswick
<br />
As we were standing in line for the Haunted Mansion at DisneyWorld the day
after Christmas (and yes that is singularly the worst day to go to this theme
park as lines everywhere were 1 -2 hours) we received more bad news about the
boat. When the final engine realignment was being made and new engine mounts
installed it was discovered that the mounts could not be tightened due to a
damaged stringer (for the non boaters that’s the piece of wood to which the
engine is mounted), plus the propeller shaft was off center to the transmission
coupler, meaning either a new coupler or complete transmission would need to be
installed and of course everyone was still on vacation until after the New
Year. The gist of all this is that we are looking at another month or so in
Brunswick while the boat is again hauled out of the water, so we began the
process of changing our mental outlook from one of stress release/escape to
being in the moment and accepting of the fact that our winter plans will likely
not include the Bahamas. So we might as well enjoy where we are.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So for the last week we have hunkered
down doing projects on the boat, which has never been so clean, and getting
more immersed in just being in Brunswick. In our process to find long term
accommodations once the boat is again hauled (because our budget for
hotel/dockage is being blown out of the water already) we connected with the
relatives of some of our very good friends in Traverse City, Bob and Nancy
Brick. Bob’s sister, Mariclare, and her husband Scott live on nearby St. Simons
Island and graciously have offered their home for us to stay at while they go
to Florida for a couple of weeks. Depending on the final decisions by the
marina what repairs are going to be necessary and how long they will take, we
will either take them up on this offer or return home to do some spring
projects there as it now appears we may barely be back in time for summer
opening so that would get us a bit ahead of the game. And then return to the
south once the boat is ready.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Thursday evening we went to the
Mariclare and Scott’s house for cocktails (and to watch the end of the Michigan
State victory) and then to meet some of their friends at another person’s
condo, several of whom also live in Traverse City during the summer months. One
of the most amazing connections was with fellow boaters Vic and Betty Peirce;
as Vic grew up in Cindy’s home town of Hinsdale about the same time so we had
lots of fun describing homes we lived in and other “do you know” connections.
Saturday we went to M & S house for an amazing Mexican buffet dinner
(favorite were a layered guacamole dip with beans, Mexican rice of Mariclare’s
and a red lentil hummus from V & B). Three of the ladies there were in the
same sorority as Cindy, Pi Beta Phi, so secret handshakes went around; and just
generally a fun time.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friday night we went to see the movie
“Into the Woods” – quirky and interesting but didn’t live up to the hype. We then went to the first Friday street party in Brunswick with music in the park next to one of our favorite local places, Tipsy McSways (home of the green gobbler and an amazing angus burger). Then
Sunday it was more cleaning and football (sad loss by Detroit to Dallas, thus
missing an opportunity to face off with Green Bay). And tonight the group from
Saturday is coming over to the boat for cocktails. So <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">B</b>eing in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">B</b>runswick ain’t
so <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">B</b>ad afterall.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-25233239982720443622014-12-26T06:49:00.001-08:002014-12-26T06:49:18.347-08:00Christmas in Orlando
<br />
Disappointment once again as Monday<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>came and went with the person doing the work on the boat “unable” to
work in the rain and then came Christmas short days so a half day Tuesday when
it was discovered the newly ordered chain didn’t fit. But thankfully Dave and
Mary in the next slip had the appropriate size (unbelievably the manufacturer’s
manual listed the wrong “short” link, and you would think between them, the
marina staff, and West Marine someone could have figured the correct linkage spacing out. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBabc6vhF_76xCV_U7CQMyVMCkDj4ShjfUNBRDctR4Mfuo3vv0YQxG4LnpC3J-kzLsH7XE64cUfRdCzSwb4O1bpE7aWeSpO2ojRLmSRhpgCYX_SMuPncUUjCptnJLraFnRXBJhk2qq2Vk/s1600/xmas+tree+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBabc6vhF_76xCV_U7CQMyVMCkDj4ShjfUNBRDctR4Mfuo3vv0YQxG4LnpC3J-kzLsH7XE64cUfRdCzSwb4O1bpE7aWeSpO2ojRLmSRhpgCYX_SMuPncUUjCptnJLraFnRXBJhk2qq2Vk/s1600/xmas+tree+boat.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in order to get away from this
very frustrating situation, even though we had our “tree” up <o:p></o:p><br />
on the boat
already, we decided to invoke our motto “when the going gets tough, the tough
get going”.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEuCvdZNWG1rvP9zRNkH0kgpgj1r3syHpunwRO42QpYHFCmaDJzd8QAsKfzb9uZfu24vol4L9mr-kEYd8PcpVccFWJtePM1WVZTN_iiwTgZ6N-xuHP1mFr7z0QvWKGKmC9Hf_txW9p3Q/s1600/Disney+hogwart+station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEuCvdZNWG1rvP9zRNkH0kgpgj1r3syHpunwRO42QpYHFCmaDJzd8QAsKfzb9uZfu24vol4L9mr-kEYd8PcpVccFWJtePM1WVZTN_iiwTgZ6N-xuHP1mFr7z0QvWKGKmC9Hf_txW9p3Q/s1600/Disney+hogwart+station.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a><br />
In this case a trip to the fantasy worlds of Orlando. So realizing
our boat would now not be ready for at least four more days if not more (now
approaching the end of 3 weeks!!), off we went to Disneyworld and Universal
Studios. Christmas Eve was spent at Universal Islands and Studios for a two
park pass so we could ride the Hogwarts Express train between parks, <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qfXqrJ334JaAHEgsuxI2LsYkBKNd81aXLzFCULBgsUDQQnCAgUD_-NS3LALheCY8mpanHOzME6iKgLgNMvbaEHjab-JL0_1RMkoIzhgQeSuJxj6s6fdX4Y2X0S9TlBBQlPonMDYrkrw/s1600/Disney+train+ccj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qfXqrJ334JaAHEgsuxI2LsYkBKNd81aXLzFCULBgsUDQQnCAgUD_-NS3LALheCY8mpanHOzME6iKgLgNMvbaEHjab-JL0_1RMkoIzhgQeSuJxj6s6fdX4Y2X0S9TlBBQlPonMDYrkrw/s1600/Disney+train+ccj.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
and go to
the new Diagon Alley section. We covered a lot in 10 exhausting hours, ending
the day in the New York section watching the Blues Brothers and a Macy’s
parade.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kGW-Hkrg1G1Hn7_DDmD2rkIeiH9xjHDCKYDP4UHnT73IG4kCrvDe7YuuaQXAP11ZTMnSYC03nYOFQuG1OKgmxEkP31kO1uYMSh97z2zNq-HzVpbGEt7AJ0uP3lN4idToBHk8usydUlo/s1600/Disney+wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kGW-Hkrg1G1Hn7_DDmD2rkIeiH9xjHDCKYDP4UHnT73IG4kCrvDe7YuuaQXAP11ZTMnSYC03nYOFQuG1OKgmxEkP31kO1uYMSh97z2zNq-HzVpbGEt7AJ0uP3lN4idToBHk8usydUlo/s1600/Disney+wheel.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are stayed at another pet friendly
La Quinta right next to the upcoming large ferris wheel being built similar to
London’s Big Eye. We are also just awed by the rampant consumerism and prices,
such as $4 at Diagon for a small tub of ice cream or water or $16 for a video
game at Dave/Busters, $25 for parking and a whopping $134 per person for park
entry, but there is a certain Vegas style city that never sleeps excitement at
the same time.<o:p></o:p><br />
gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-67937071053585479102014-12-22T07:01:00.001-08:002014-12-22T07:01:16.536-08:00Two weeks in Brunswick and still counting
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9JX8sEjJ1fvVOCfZjRVBraiFFaDMHKJZAcTNShCwmAmzeqDMXx-LwQNSWTFV66fG5OsoBGNkFpGKkoPdmOrVEwECHGFmsQb0OupEmAZw5Fr4V7TVBIUNCTdnfoSC2ERTnu4BMLTy3_k/s1600/Jekyll+golf+palm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9JX8sEjJ1fvVOCfZjRVBraiFFaDMHKJZAcTNShCwmAmzeqDMXx-LwQNSWTFV66fG5OsoBGNkFpGKkoPdmOrVEwECHGFmsQb0OupEmAZw5Fr4V7TVBIUNCTdnfoSC2ERTnu4BMLTy3_k/s1600/Jekyll+golf+palm.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a>Our repairs have taken longer than initially predicted partly because damage
to the boat from the pounding on the shoal we took had aggravated some
additional issues that necessitated removing the propeller shaft and fixing the
strut, and we had to order a new windlass that would arrive in several days,
plus one of the guys working on the boat got sick for two days. So plan is that
all will be finished today, Friday Dec. 19<sup>th</sup>, and the boat put back
in the water to sit for a couple of days after which they will realign the
motor again once the boat reshapes itself and we should be off again by
Tuesday. So that’s two and a half weeks in Brunswick and instead of Vero Beach
by Christmas it will be Fernandina, the most northern most of Florida cities. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxX-nzwFy9xRSmEmApe4EV0E903BrzSPiNupzOtvagGQPrrUzhCyljN4SqclS_SpIDyvJJNpPYLdiHcTxhlvoaWNoM9u-TChxwZsBED9NFdaHHXJ9t85TYRWWNoP_0sph3qN5985rkY0/s1600/Jekyll+golf+palm+reflect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxX-nzwFy9xRSmEmApe4EV0E903BrzSPiNupzOtvagGQPrrUzhCyljN4SqclS_SpIDyvJJNpPYLdiHcTxhlvoaWNoM9u-TChxwZsBED9NFdaHHXJ9t85TYRWWNoP_0sph3qN5985rkY0/s1600/Jekyll+golf+palm+reflect.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FOOZJWLBl2fZU-pFtEI2JOup1tHf4NaqVSaa68RH3O2BIHfDanUc5PYrIGInI0xdu_iNywnsUnH8SROBiHNrT9dQUUtRNIInW-qkqwwiWA5SVN2-VGzX-cIj6jXlkckziRXgkkBEOH8/s1600/Jekyll+golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FOOZJWLBl2fZU-pFtEI2JOup1tHf4NaqVSaa68RH3O2BIHfDanUc5PYrIGInI0xdu_iNywnsUnH8SROBiHNrT9dQUUtRNIInW-qkqwwiWA5SVN2-VGzX-cIj6jXlkckziRXgkkBEOH8/s1600/Jekyll+golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FOOZJWLBl2fZU-pFtEI2JOup1tHf4NaqVSaa68RH3O2BIHfDanUc5PYrIGInI0xdu_iNywnsUnH8SROBiHNrT9dQUUtRNIInW-qkqwwiWA5SVN2-VGzX-cIj6jXlkckziRXgkkBEOH8/s1600/Jekyll+golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FOOZJWLBl2fZU-pFtEI2JOup1tHf4NaqVSaa68RH3O2BIHfDanUc5PYrIGInI0xdu_iNywnsUnH8SROBiHNrT9dQUUtRNIInW-qkqwwiWA5SVN2-VGzX-cIj6jXlkckziRXgkkBEOH8/s1600/Jekyll+golf.jpg" /></a><br />
At least we have really gotten to explore this beautiful area,<br />
and play golf three times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here are a couple of scenes from that venue on Jekyll Island, <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V0_YXx2vLyvVKOI2lh1NqXBNe7AToLfkPuPKiminAvCZOXXyKWVwNmUCNAoozWSt5H03o9ALtePcuu4BtX6eM5xwhMcULXLkCujwodnPk7w-eP8nMz4BcQDwhrEjtV0dZLuZv6DqVLk/s1600/jekyll+club+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V0_YXx2vLyvVKOI2lh1NqXBNe7AToLfkPuPKiminAvCZOXXyKWVwNmUCNAoozWSt5H03o9ALtePcuu4BtX6eM5xwhMcULXLkCujwodnPk7w-eP8nMz4BcQDwhrEjtV0dZLuZv6DqVLk/s1600/jekyll+club+bar.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Including the bar at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel which was featured in a scene from the golf movie 'Bagger Vance'.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIEL5Sy9JesK-_sNABuRoEVKYx0ry7P8Jfw853EOgHjOdHZgOawP8opjgGgqezmwDnqIiTPkze0QWi9-9-OliLznUyIyM_8yDfAUWHoiXSt_NPIOwcZlf-u34rYinb5mK20GCC9Y0eww/s1600/Jekyll+golf+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIEL5Sy9JesK-_sNABuRoEVKYx0ry7P8Jfw853EOgHjOdHZgOawP8opjgGgqezmwDnqIiTPkze0QWi9-9-OliLznUyIyM_8yDfAUWHoiXSt_NPIOwcZlf-u34rYinb5mK20GCC9Y0eww/s1600/Jekyll+golf+3.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LqkIDg4mNqZkwwPvQS6orEsHKQZa7lxsF4xe9lRJny3UgwiZ1r1XcvJq8-D2Z_5vIYC6HeTNKYN61WT4tvGTvzo6In_wMTLBD5vVTb1het1KHbchOyoqEYwbE3FFhEnCph2hukdqmf8/s1600/jekyll+golf+Jay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LqkIDg4mNqZkwwPvQS6orEsHKQZa7lxsF4xe9lRJny3UgwiZ1r1XcvJq8-D2Z_5vIYC6HeTNKYN61WT4tvGTvzo6In_wMTLBD5vVTb1het1KHbchOyoqEYwbE3FFhEnCph2hukdqmf8/s1600/jekyll+golf+Jay.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoogTeNbzNYmseGT4HGWFrdO5oCGJk0Sq_gu-ZMozx1_TsKYtIaT5wK7Jdq3qt_xcd7f-imfc_XZWQUG4UjI5qj10ZDbLVwf5xu_624tB5rrpD3iy3D7YWG0O3cj1FFx70KAOZmvxRQns/s1600/Jekyll+Lites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoogTeNbzNYmseGT4HGWFrdO5oCGJk0Sq_gu-ZMozx1_TsKYtIaT5wK7Jdq3qt_xcd7f-imfc_XZWQUG4UjI5qj10ZDbLVwf5xu_624tB5rrpD3iy3D7YWG0O3cj1FFx70KAOZmvxRQns/s1600/Jekyll+Lites.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
And on our third visit witnessed their fine display of Christmas Lights<br />
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and the ICW side Rah Bar.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsazIw-wVhkWTqbYzh9nb1JseTnYkrDvd5TwI2v6h1H3n7yMcQUmB0goso90S9jG9TuIoWGDUve_4MVEKJJjhSNC4ZtB2KrjqIEwxS3TmsH9NAhlm-RgB3hKbVMmDwHbMMsl0sY7aano/s1600/Jekyll+Rah+Bar+J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsazIw-wVhkWTqbYzh9nb1JseTnYkrDvd5TwI2v6h1H3n7yMcQUmB0goso90S9jG9TuIoWGDUve_4MVEKJJjhSNC4ZtB2KrjqIEwxS3TmsH9NAhlm-RgB3hKbVMmDwHbMMsl0sY7aano/s1600/Jekyll+Rah+Bar+J.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Meanwhile during our two weeks we have begun a study of fast food
establishments, and some other local establishments. So far locally one of the
best sandwiches was from Tipsy’s in Brunswick – a Green Gobbler (turkey,
avocado, on grilled texas toast, wow), Hungry Hannah’s – average well cared for
food preparation at an amazingly reasonable price (owner’s attitude is great as
a sign proclaims they will not take your order if you are talking on a cell
phone, preferring to wait ) . Others have been so far Taco Bell, Pizza Hut,
Burger King, IHOP twice since we got bored with the continental breakfast at La
Quinta accompanied by barking dogs and screaming children, local Fox Pizza that
was better than the much proclaimed Moon Doggy’s pizza, Krystal Burger – sad
imitation of White Castle; and saw an original MacDonalds layout,<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zD_G1ciqu50j3ID3oec4i76cnGNayeW5YRiJsEca9thmf6BIPE6nhucOTh7XwUYj5MVbvmr2rNV5TK1hcEk7jwvBWEpGYft9c0EO4f_kXYTRDbWPiWsFchAL5Q7h0LOlTRRFa9oosa4/s1600/Brunswick+Mac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zD_G1ciqu50j3ID3oec4i76cnGNayeW5YRiJsEca9thmf6BIPE6nhucOTh7XwUYj5MVbvmr2rNV5TK1hcEk7jwvBWEpGYft9c0EO4f_kXYTRDbWPiWsFchAL5Q7h0LOlTRRFa9oosa4/s1600/Brunswick+Mac.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
to the point
that one night we actually microwaved frozen tv dinners in the hotel room as a
healthier alternative.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were putting the boat in on
Friday it was suddenly discovered by the marina that our existing chain would
not fit the new windlass, and the amps required a new breaker (first question
was of course why did this just get discovered on Friday rather than on Mon.
when the unit arrived) so now a new chain had to be ordered and HOPEFULLY will
be here on Monday and we can still make our departure Tuesday. If not then we
will make do in Brunswick for Christmas. Tonight went on a three peat Sunday
football watch at Marsh Grill and met Jimmy Orr at the bar,<o:p></o:p><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56BZ8VNJNK56zfl3wLBvwwGx-mOdWxUbD0quCE3YBaUUwpgaITjo2YUdWZBzhKB4Z68sM78JeHCxQe_zn9SGWBJtDpWWBPfK9EJzqtByty1NA3v9PE1KOleS-8zekKYJgxasEBMI8SBE/s1600/Brunswick+football+Orr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56BZ8VNJNK56zfl3wLBvwwGx-mOdWxUbD0quCE3YBaUUwpgaITjo2YUdWZBzhKB4Z68sM78JeHCxQe_zn9SGWBJtDpWWBPfK9EJzqtByty1NA3v9PE1KOleS-8zekKYJgxasEBMI8SBE/s1600/Brunswick+football+Orr.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim Orr on left and friend Larry at Marshside Grill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQs3Fx3S6UBtDf-EWRW751fbPe_fOqiVTj65eNb7TT_NFW1UpCp-GHZNUwBmX210lm-V9Afvcu1qs0djB1L1hIR-ikIY_eKfbVdHzaaScmpPiAUH3N1KZn_U1oxXLm1JeQacN1gndXzY/s1600/Brunswick+Marsh+Grillers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQs3Fx3S6UBtDf-EWRW751fbPe_fOqiVTj65eNb7TT_NFW1UpCp-GHZNUwBmX210lm-V9Afvcu1qs0djB1L1hIR-ikIY_eKfbVdHzaaScmpPiAUH3N1KZn_U1oxXLm1JeQacN1gndXzY/s1600/Brunswick+Marsh+Grillers.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a> a received form the
1960s Baltimore Colts and two time Super Bowl winner, and again enjoyed the
kitchen staff antics (one a Cowboy fan and another the Steelers).<br />
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Meanwhile the cats are still enjoying hotel life, and we put Christmas
lights on the Balia to try to join in with the local boaters.<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas to all<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-19064506496777557102014-12-13T07:00:00.000-08:002014-12-13T07:00:01.191-08:00Polishing sunsets and golf
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_39QrZFUgJSRoRAy3R6oyXAoTVk-Ww4Jbp086KXQnA7bY43HjD-wZQfYZ1wyRf965UykJHVOd1tPmlrhhXiQUcxU7kDYT709TQbDz_fOAGDK_aDVfVwPGsjOPN7kokUzM_bhz0ECWxBU/s1600/Jekyll+golf+palm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_39QrZFUgJSRoRAy3R6oyXAoTVk-Ww4Jbp086KXQnA7bY43HjD-wZQfYZ1wyRf965UykJHVOd1tPmlrhhXiQUcxU7kDYT709TQbDz_fOAGDK_aDVfVwPGsjOPN7kokUzM_bhz0ECWxBU/s1600/Jekyll+golf+palm.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJzu8ZJv0-kQFwEhgSEtGoHGA4OS5MWm2ztvugepb5o7xVDQoAk_VaNDkTi-58pVoJ-bHczdZWeGPSdCHoUsoVIUz7_BCvWAOEXMDJO7GoI3TENT0fbli3u0WEHdIy8Ed6kfgCHqRDS8/s1600/jekyll+club+rocker+cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJzu8ZJv0-kQFwEhgSEtGoHGA4OS5MWm2ztvugepb5o7xVDQoAk_VaNDkTi-58pVoJ-bHczdZWeGPSdCHoUsoVIUz7_BCvWAOEXMDJO7GoI3TENT0fbli3u0WEHdIy8Ed6kfgCHqRDS8/s1600/jekyll+club+rocker+cc.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi2p3gpOux4-4KL4vb0ExmiQfw5GzWKE2UnfL9ZvS_GQBvd5s6BUZybt5ZahIylVrsA24X-iz-TdONVOwlGS4CvOVDzL1X2vXXrx9JPu7D1x6iFX2ZM5jOuFPqiaIUdfo-FL-OukVy9Y/s1600/Jekyll+hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi2p3gpOux4-4KL4vb0ExmiQfw5GzWKE2UnfL9ZvS_GQBvd5s6BUZybt5ZahIylVrsA24X-iz-TdONVOwlGS4CvOVDzL1X2vXXrx9JPu7D1x6iFX2ZM5jOuFPqiaIUdfo-FL-OukVy9Y/s1600/Jekyll+hotel.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out Pounce was more than
stressed with a flare up of his food allergies necessitating a trip to an ER
vet, but now four days later he is on the mend with medication. While boat
repairs began we took some time to enjoy our coastal surroundings by playing
golf at the historical Jekyll Island Club, once the most exclusive private club
in the country and now an elegant hotel with resort cottages. Built in the late
1800s the founding members included names of Rockefeller, JP Morgan, Marshall
Field. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay enjoyed a nice rusty round, while
Cindy was creating some other sport that was some sort of golf hybrid, on the
Indian Mounds course – one of 3 on this quiet Island resort. <br />
<br />
If there's rocker then Cindy will find it<br />
<br />
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<br />
We then enjoyed
the sunset at the local 685 (that’s the ICW mile marker there) restaurant.<br />
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXw1O0JrVTfEdrbbjpm2ey_1aUB6I8GypZ4y0ozyPToEaYUBjImDHevCvd9Rzp6jV_yu4F07o3K9UDE9xkMUwB9Or77IDYKU6fzSKQQpIJ8IFdG3iOYo0qJa8LEHGJefBYgep28hJrDM/s1600/BBQ+J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXw1O0JrVTfEdrbbjpm2ey_1aUB6I8GypZ4y0ozyPToEaYUBjImDHevCvd9Rzp6jV_yu4F07o3K9UDE9xkMUwB9Or77IDYKU6fzSKQQpIJ8IFdG3iOYo0qJa8LEHGJefBYgep28hJrDM/s1600/BBQ+J.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7cNOWxDLpPt5KKm0s-AtYVww0-3j2Lm-7W7m8yb0awP2jKxPwiAk9DAuz3GMYC_ZtuG_7RYPEv5K47iUfB8rZ3263erbcAmhlPqj58lvca7REi5nC2zNVEWj6KqKjxJKyswiUSolNY4/s1600/BBQ+Southern+Soul+St.+Simon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7cNOWxDLpPt5KKm0s-AtYVww0-3j2Lm-7W7m8yb0awP2jKxPwiAk9DAuz3GMYC_ZtuG_7RYPEv5K47iUfB8rZ3263erbcAmhlPqj58lvca7REi5nC2zNVEWj6KqKjxJKyswiUSolNY4/s1600/BBQ+Southern+Soul+St.+Simon.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wednesday and Friday we worked on
cleaning/waxing the hull to take advantage of the boat being out of the water,
so between that and golf we are two very stiff people today. Today, Saturday we
are venturing back out to sightsee on St. Simon, where last night we enjoyed
another water spot sunset. Perhaps a repeat , from our first one on Wednesday, visit
to Southern Soul BBQ where we enjoyed the best pulled pork sandwich ever at
this iconic establishment featured on the Food Network’s diners and dives show.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDKEr8qUmew_ZyPePlUUHyZzwlrCVkMhlWE5ZPV2CgxlPbIUU1TAX2Cg55FEtqxMZBSb1GGj54ugM7Tq44PNES4pVU13IYuTltRN7OPT01GxKgM4_edkNQB_gScUuf1xsqXoSF8pXBMg/s1600/Sunset+St+Simon+Coastal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDKEr8qUmew_ZyPePlUUHyZzwlrCVkMhlWE5ZPV2CgxlPbIUU1TAX2Cg55FEtqxMZBSb1GGj54ugM7Tq44PNES4pVU13IYuTltRN7OPT01GxKgM4_edkNQB_gScUuf1xsqXoSF8pXBMg/s1600/Sunset+St+Simon+Coastal.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
Sunset on St. Simon Friday, we are thinking of doing an entire series of bar sunset shots<o:p></o:p><br />
gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-91373482409683370482014-12-09T10:11:00.002-08:002014-12-09T10:11:25.804-08:00Some unfortunate bad times amongst the good
<br />
So much for schedule planning as we have had several days of glitches, but
are trying to make the best of the situations presented. Admittedly it has been
emotionally difficult at times as the trip has presented a few more challenges
than we anticipated. We arrived in Savannah to stay at one of our past trip
repeat marinas Thunderbolt, where they deliver Krispy Kreme donuts to your boat
early every morning.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had planned to spend 2 or 3 days
there but ended up staying 4 as we needed to accomplish several things and then
still have some time to enjoy one of our favorite southern towns. The first day
we did errands of restocking including finding special kitty food and Christmas
gifts. Then we really felt it necessary to spend half a day reviewing the next
few days charts because of the detail required to negociate various shoaled
areas, with such enticing names as “hell’s gate”, and planning to arrive at the
correct tide time for some areas. The stress of navigating virtually constantly
for 6 – 8 hours each day really makes us appreciate the wonderful sailing area
of the Great Lakes even more, and we realized we needed to de-stress by staying
put for more than two days.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then to increase our stress level
Cindy’s leg vein issues reared their ugly head, probably due to the inactivity
of standing or sitting for hours at the helm each day. With a history of DVT
she headed in to a local vein center for an ultrasound to confirm a blood clot,
and was put on blood thinners; then having the as always frustrating experience
of trying to get a prescription filled at an “in network” drug store when out
of town compounded by the fact that the physician wrote the prescription for
the “start up kit” which the drugstore didn’t carry. And although the hospital
drug store did have it, they were out of network and at $700 a bit expensive so
it was back to the doctors office to get a prescription for the specific dosage
redone so the participating pharmacy could process it. The office ended up
given me a second sample so I could get thru the first two weeks of the drug
start up to end the frustration after 5 hours of driving all over the place. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That 4<sup>th</sup> and final day
ended with a late afternoon bus tour of Savannah’s historic district and dinner
at the famous Pirate House restaurant. The beauty of the live oak trees with
hanging moss constantly awes, and Jay found a terrific ice cream place as
always.<o:p></o:p><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGh2bOKD6HJQZs8zQugckCeJOke2cK1cbFdn9F-6Al2R4MWFhiU5WCmNq1xAmGwxqemoD_TQKnuuQLXhyzDG5b8MKkWHo8JUuVJniczPQjWHcH8orqjyIkTcSM3ytBV29lk1debU1UCw/s1600/ice+cream+savannah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGh2bOKD6HJQZs8zQugckCeJOke2cK1cbFdn9F-6Al2R4MWFhiU5WCmNq1xAmGwxqemoD_TQKnuuQLXhyzDG5b8MKkWHo8JUuVJniczPQjWHcH8orqjyIkTcSM3ytBV29lk1debU1UCw/s1600/ice+cream+savannah.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
On Saturday the 6<sup>th</sup> with favorable calm weather we ventured out
into the Atlantic and truly enjoyed the tranquility of not having to negociate
potential dangers every bit of the way. The fog that we had 2 of the past 3
days lifted early, but then returned as we made our way back to the ICW coming
into Sapalo River Inlet to complete our 50 mile day by anchoring at peaceful
New Teakettle to await the next day’s rising tide through the difficult Mud
River as the wind was going to pick up overnight making the ICW the better bet
for Sunday to Brunswick than out on the ocean. So much for the plan.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we turned to enter the inlet the coastal
fog returned, odd at 2 in the afternoon; but with radar to locate buoys, GPS,
and “local knowledge” to “just follow the buoys in” (confirmed by a fishing
vessel in the same area we contacted once we saw them on radar)we proceeded slowly.
With only 3 more hours of daylight to get back in, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not enough to make it all the way to Brunswick
channel another 35 miles away, we continued cautiously. We were in 14-20 ft
charted waters but only about 100 ft of visibility when we ran aground on an
uncharted shoal off “experimental shoal” about 100 yards further into the
channel than expected but well to the correct side of the buoys.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beating we and the boat took was
severe as several things went wrong. After our initial attempt to reverse off
the 3 ft shoal failed, we set an anchor to prevent drifting more onto the shoal
while we waited for the rising tide to help lift us off. A pan-pan was called
in to the Coast Guard and a local vessel was headed our way to assist if
possible, presuming they could even find us in the fog. Probably about 10
minutes into the wait, and maybe 15 more before we realized what had happened
since we had returned to the safety of the cockpit as the boat crashed back
onto the shoal lurching with each wave (thankfully the seas were only 2-3 ft).
The cleat holding the anchor line had sheared off from the pressure so line was
paying out and we were going more onto the shoal with each wave. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we realized what had happened we
began to take up the anchor line by revving the engine with each wave rise
before crashing back down but making slow progress back to our initial anchor
location. By that hour later , and about 70 hits on the bottom, the tide had
risen enough that we were able to get off the shoal to deeper water. The local
vessel, Good Buddy, that had come was too small to physically assist but stayed
in the area in case the boat would have broken up and we would have had to
abandon ship, and then helped lead us in the shortest direction to deeper
water.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The situation also literally scared
the piss out of the cats, so we stripped the wet sheets off the bed and slept
in the main cabin and guest room and tried to comfort ourselves and them as
well as we could at our anchorage.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday we made it into Brunswick, and
even though at the time the only visible damage was to the windlass which took
a beating trying to pull us off the shoal we decided it would be prudent to
have the boat hauled out and inspected. First task at the dock was laundry so
we could have our bed back, and off to a stress relieving cheeseburger and football
at a local sports bar that we realized we had visited on a previous trip,
Marshside Grill. <o:p></o:p><br />
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So yesterday, Monday, we did so and discovered a bent rudder
post with the packing around it destroyed plus fiberglass damage. So we began
the process of filing an insurance claim and today find ourselves waiting for
damage estimates and the final determinations by the surveyor/adjuster who
arrived last night. So the kitties, and we, are recuperating at a La Quinta
while the boat is on the hard waiting for authorization to begin repairs. <br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it has definitely been a very
stressful week, and both Jay and Cindy are experiencing classic hyper
sensitivity to even minor potential inconveniences resulting from a high alert
status created by the grounding. Cindy has lots of bruises from the pounding,
not a good thing to do when on blood thinners, and Jay got his hand caught
under the anchor chain as he was manually lifting the anchor under those
difficult circumstances. Patches seems, as always, to have forgotten the whole
incident but Pounce is definitely still being more than usually skittish.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it’s hard to remain
positive, and we have several times thought of going home, but try to focus
instead on some of the positives in our decision making and boat handling
capabilities even in those bad circumstances. We talk with other travelers and
there are many stories of delays due to necessary repairs, but we just didn’t
realize how frequent those events happen and thus hadn’t really expected it.
The Mud River is one of the shallowest areas on the entire ICW and in our frame
of mind it was nice Sunday to be able to follow “Sea Mistress” along the
magenta line through the area, a boat that has made the trip several times;
because if we had had a second issue that day I am not so sure we might not
have given up. So sorry for the rather bleak blog but it is as much a part of
our experience that we want to share with everyone as are the good times.<o:p></o:p><br />
gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042464513119263342.post-37616131954327450632014-12-01T06:53:00.002-08:002014-12-01T06:53:53.775-08:00With the Wadey Bunch in Charleston
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<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well we are almost on schedule for
Georgia and Florida thru December. Friday we arrived at Isle Of Palms and
joined up with the Wadey Bunch (Brad, Amy, Mason and Maddy Wade) for dinner.<o:p></o:p><br />
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And then they joined us for a short day of sailing in Charleston Harbor past
Forts Sumter and Moultrie, several dophin sightings, a sunset hour of fishing
on the dock and a spaghetti dinner overnight on the boat at Charleston City
Marina.<br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday we cruised south again to a
repeat anchorage on Tom’s Creek just off the Modesto River, with the cats
alternating strolls on the deck and some amazing quiet. It is the first night
that it has been warm enough, just reaching a low of 45 degrees, to be able to
anchor out and we relished the opportunity to be part of the marshland beauty.<o:p></o:p><br />
gtgourmetcruisescaptainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206004394369054353noreply@blogger.com0