Travels of YOUNG AMERICA

January 9, 2012

2012-01-09T12:19:00.000-08:00

2012. Who’d a thunk it? I can remember when 1958 was far out into the future…that’s when I’d graduate from high school. And it came and I did. And now here we are…

Fred and I spent a couple of days just reading new books and hanging out after Christmas. Very soon it was time to prepare for the Marina’s New Year’s Eve Party (which occurred without benefit of camera...). Fred helped set up the decorations and I pickled a batch of shrimp. It was a grand party with paper hats, noisemakers, fireworks and a champagne toast to the New Year! We learned that 9pm is Banana Bay’s midnight, and by 10:30 we were back aboard YA. A well attended and fun evening.

Fred flew the big flag in honor of the New Year. Other than that is was a normal day with book reading and engine room activity---today’s project is the new pressure gauges (glycerine filled so they won’t jiggle so much) for the fuel filters! A bonus is the extra piece of starboard behind the filters that makes them more accessible when it is filter replacement time.

Monday morning Nancy came to tell us that there was a manatee visiting near JENNA STAR. And it was a big one! George petted it and scratched its back and belly and finally it moseyed off to wherever manatees go.

Where I went from there was to the 7 mile bridge with Sharon from STEVADORE. She’s been a power walker for years. I haven’t slowed her down much, but I only did the 4 miles---2 out and 2 back---one time. Now we walk Monday and Wednesday mornings, go 3 miles and pick up litter. And what a lot of litter there is to pick, sad to say. All the bending certainly adds another dimension to a walk. Belly, be gone!

While we were busy strolling, Fred greased the windlass motors. They’ll be most appreciative when next we deploy Knute!

Sharon and I also went shopping one afternoon, and I’m pleased to report that I found new pillows and a throw that make us happy. Marathon has some fine shops, and also some great restaurants. We have a minor obligation to check these out!

This was the chilly week. Temp got down to the 40’s one morning, and the wind has been reeeeealllllly blowing. So cool and breezy that the free Yoga class at the City Dock was cancelled on Tueday. By Thursday the wind had slowed and moving the class to the deck (further from the water and out of the shade of the tiki hut) made for a sunny class time.

Larry the Dockmaster says he is attempting to bring more events to the Marina portion of Banana Bay Resort. This weekend we had sailboat races. Eight Coronado 22 sailboats (a lot fewer than had actually signed up for the event) went out into Florida Bay (Gulf of Mexico?) and raced on both Saturday and Sunday. CHICKEN SHIP, I’m told, is the National Champ in this class, and boat and crew came from the Atlanta area to win the races both days.

Another ‘happening’ at the dock on Saturday was the discovery that “AIN'T HAPPENIN'’” was underwater. Not good. Sea Tow was called, and came to raise the boat and take it away. Apparently the problem was bilge pump related. Instead of water flowing out of the scuppers, it was being pumped into the boat. Really not good! For you non-boaters, the idea is to keep the people in and the water out. The people were in---they fished 17 miles away from shore on Friday afternoon. Happily the water stayed out while they were away from the dock. There is always something to be grateful for!

We have a movie theater within walking distance of the marina. It is adorable---has tables and chairs and limited seats. The movie changes every Thursday. This week saw “My Week With Marilyn”. Not a bad movie—one I'd like to see again to get all the people straight. Sigh. The premise of the movie was that 'Marilyn' was acting with Sir Laurence Olivier. Inspired us to find his old movie, Marathon Man. We await it's arrival. Surprisingly, I phoned TCM to order the DVD, and not only do they not have Olivier movies, the young lady on the phone said "Who?" End of an era, I guess.

This afternoon, Steve came by with the new exhaust fan he's building for the galley of STEVADORE. Using that [port]hole that already exists on the boat turns out to be a pretty good idea. We certainly are getting milage from ours!

The weather has returned to the FL standard we’ve come to expect, and we’re

enjoying each day. Hope you are as well, wherever you are and whatever you are up to.

December 31, 2011

2011-12-30T14:24:00.001-08:00

December 31, 2011

Sigh. The happy holiday has passed---and a happy holiday it was. For the sake of the record, I shall highlight each of the days since last we … what? Spoke? Wrote? Read? Dunno but here goes…

Fred and I spent a day or two readying the boat for guests---even though no one but us would sleep here. We cleaned and decorated, and finally, after 3-1/2 years, decided how to hang the four Hudson Valley prints we’ve never been happy with. We are now happy, and Jen’s decal (from last Christmas), a Winnie-ther-Pooh quote, is perfectly placed above the Hudson. To wit:

Rivers know this.
There is no hurry.

We shall get there someday.

Does not that sum up the cruiser’s life?

Fred found a Charlie Brown tree (turns out it is a large fern, but hey…), we put up the Advent Calendar (on the 19^th, and according to Molly, who quoted Luke, Mary and Joseph ought to have arrived first, not last. Oh well)

A red bow on the bow (isn’t English fun?) of the boat and we’re good to go. Let the party begin!

Molly and JT arrived on Tuesday the 20^th in time to drive us to Castaways Restaurant for sushi—the eating and ordering thereof. Next a.m., the three of us left Fred to do boat work while I observed as the Whritners swam with the dolphins at Theater of the Sea in Islemarada. ‘Twas a fish and dolphin and sea lion and reptile and parrot filled day, and events were both enjoyed and recorded for posterity.

We arrived back at the marina to find that Kris, John, Tarryn and Devyn had taken residence in the motel room next door to Molly and JT.

On Thursday, Molly and JT were off to Key West, while Kris and I finished up the shopping and ordering for Saturday’s dinner. By 7 p.m. the 8 of us were all together for dinner nearby at Adrienne’s. A good meal and entertaining, to boot!

Molly and I did a 2 mile walk on the 7 mile bridge Friday morning, and were rewarded with a glimpse of a manatee. Where are those guys? Signs everywhere in FL warn to be careful of them, but we almost never actually see ‘em. JT, who’d stayed behind to fish, was disappointed to miss this one.

The McGrath clan spent the day in Key West, and the French’s, Chris, Jen, Matt, Casey and Becca arrived and took up a position at the pool and hot tub. At dusk we saluted the sunset on the Banana Bay Sunset Point, then had pizza at the picnic tables on the lawn. Linda Lee arrived just in time for a slice!

Saturday, Christmas Eve, after a New York breakfast from Zabar’s (courtesy of Alan and family) we took the 14 of us to Sunset Grille, a restaurant near the 7 mile bridge. Not only do they have the usual outdoor dining, but also an inground swimming pool and ping pong tables. Needless to say this was a major hit with everyone! Food was good, well priced, and served with aplomb by our new best friend, George. What a great afternoon!

Back at the boat, everyone donned a Santa hat and at 5 p.m. we gathered at the Point to have a ‘Marathon moment’—doing something that made it a Keys Christmas. We toasted the sunset, each other, and our tremendous good fortune at being able to share the moment, then returned to the boat for a buffet supper, long distance conversations with Ada and Geoff and their families, and the opening of gifts. Grandpa Fred ended the evening with his reading of "A Visit From St. Nick".

Amazingly, we had 14 folks aboard YA for nearly 3 hours, and it worked. A good time was had by all---much laughter and flashing of cameras! Santa had been notified of the change of venue for the children, and they were off to bed by 8 p.m. To sleep? Another matter entirely!

Fred and I were up early Sunday, and the French’s arrived at 7:30—5 and 8 year olds do NOT sleep in on Christmas morning. We played bananagrams until the others rolled out and came for coffee cake, (did I mention that the convection oven blew a gasket and refused to bake, so the traditional sour cream coffee cakes were baked in the bread machine instead. Not bad.) By noon it was time to bid Molly, JT and Linda a sad farewell as they headed back to New York.

Christmas Dinner was a pot luck affair with 20 or so of our marina-mates. The weather was perfect, food was delicious (especially Chris’ grilled salmon and roasted asparagus with fennel) and there was plenty of room to move about as well as visit. Perfect.

As I usually did as a kid, but haven’t done for years, Chris, Fred and I went to the movies on Christmas Day evening. Saw Mission Impossible and thought it was pretty good. A trip down memory lane on a lot of levels.

Monday and Tuesday flew by. Those who wished to, found time to shop, see a movie, swim, soak in the hot tub, visit Crane Point, get manicures and pedicures, as well as return to Sunset Grille for another relaxing, splash filled afternoon. A special event there (just for us?) was the rescuing of a sea turtle who was carried off to the Turtle Hospital. Becca says there were 21 resident turtles when they toured on Thursday, and “now they have 22”.

Suddenly it was Wednesday, and after the 9 of us gathered for a farewell lunch at the Hurricane Grill, the cars drove away and silence descended. Sigh.

Everyone is home safely, albeit with a few flight delays. We’re relaxing, reading our new books and doing what it is that we do while preparing for 2012.

I'm borrowing my closing New Year's wish from daughter Jenny, who in turn adapted it from her yoga instructor's closing message at class. Each of us has varied it to suit. Thanks, Abby!

May all who read this awaken from forgetfulness, lose the path of pain, suffering, anxiety and regret, and step forward boldly on the path of healing, happiness, joy, laughter and just plain old fun!

Namaste.

December 18,2011

2011-12-18T08:08:00.000-08:00

Ho ho ho! Three weeks just slid by when I wasn’t looking, and here we are at the jolly holiday season. Once again, I’m playing catch up. So here are the highlights of the recent past.

At the southern end of Georgia we opted to go up the St. Mary River a ways, to the town by the same name. What fun! It was holiday time, and we hit the parade day. Santa was in a horse drawn sleigh with Mrs. Claus and a local child. At each of the 10 corners along the boulevard the procession stopped and a troupe of 6-12 year old dancers regaled the crowd with recital numbers. The DPW then hit a button and lit trees along the next block’s boulevard. What a hoot. When the procession finally reached the reviewing stand (where a local talent had been entertaining) and the huge Christmas tree, Santa took the little girl by the hand and walked to the tree. As he reached out to touch it, the lights of the tree came on! MAGIC! Who knew that Fred would be invited to press the magic button and bring the tree to life for Santa?

Was a very special evening. Next morning we bought shrimp fresh off the boat, and headed south.

This issue of the Blog covers the entire east coast of Florida—slightly more than 750 miles. Florida has nominally been divided into 4 sections, to wit: the northernmost First Coast (St. Augustine etc.) with it’s historical towns and forts, followed by the Space Coast, dominated by the Kennedy Space Center and including the towns of Cocoa, Melbourne and Titusville. Interestingly, the technology industry rules here, but Kennedy’s 140,000 acres also harbor lots of wildlife (of which we’ve seen little). Next is the Treasure Coast, so called because of shipwrecks that occurred here, (Ft. Pierce is the major port) and finally, the Gold Coast, described in Managing the Waterway (our cruising bible) as ‘wealthy, opulent, decadent, crowded and expensive’. Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami are the cities here.

Florida is flat. And mostly at sea level---the highest elevation in the Keys is 18 feet above sea level at Key West. The coast is also peppered with islands, large and small. Here is a quote from MTW--a description of the Islands of Florida:

If an island is covered with hardwoods, such as live oaks or pinelands in sawgrass, it’s called a hammock, or more precisely, a hummock. If the island is mangrove or pine, then it’s a key. If the island is covered with willow or bay trees, it’s a head. An island of cypress is a dome. Florida is so flat that a few inches of elevation make a huge difference. Raise the soil a tiny bit above the waterline and a the island becomes a buttonwood hammock instead of a mangrove key… And an island created by canals and covered with houses is called a development.

In the First Coast St. Augustine is always a favorite stop. This time the wind was whipping and at docking time, we had to ‘stand by’ while a ‘situation’ was resolved. Seems the big sailboat ahead of us got turned sideways in the slip. So glad it wasn’t us! We spent two days—had some boat work done by Darryl, shopped, and walked to the Lighthouse Theater to see the local production of “Duck Hunter Shoots Angel” written by Mitch Albom, (he who wrote “Tuesdays With Morrrie”). It is a funny show with lots of valuable messages; was well done and a delightful evening.

Our main stop in the Space Coast was at Cocoa Village where we docked next door to CHRISTINA SEA, a Great Harbour 47. Fun to visit with George and Christy! Andy Allen from CEE DEE (he lives in Cocoa Beach, across the Indian River) also stopped by, and we’d followed PELICAN down the coast, so we had a Mirage good time of it!

We languished in Cocoa Village for a couple of days while Fred recovered from an infected wound on his cheek (ask him why people set orange cones on docks…) He’s all better now and won’t walk into any more anchors anytime soon!

Our favorite Treasure Coast stop (especially in Dec.) is Ft. Pierce where the Christmas Light show at the park near the marina entertained us, as well as a whole lot of locals. How great to see the little kids run and jump and dance with the music and synchronized light show!

We have a special stop in the Gold Coast. My high school classmate, Marilyn, generously hosts YA at her beautiful (and again newly dredged and upgraded) dock in Ft. Lauderdale. Getting there is the trick. Florida’s huge population requires many, many bridges over the Waterway, and while most of them have been upgraded to 65’above the water so even the high-masted sailboats can move freely, between Ft. Pierce and Ft. Lauderdale (roughly 100 miles) no less than 26 bridges required our serious attention. Only 11 needed to be opened to accommodate our 19’ height. Like ‘Location’ in Real Estate, with bridges, Timing is Everything. Fred has become masterful at using the GPS to adjust our speed for the correct arrival time, thereby reducing the amount of ‘hovering’ while awaiting the scheduled opening of the bridge.

South of Miami (not your-ami, it’s MYami), we found a great new stop at Boca Chita! What a delightful little Key—first developed by Mr. Honeywell, yes, THE Honeywell, it now is managed by the National Park Services. With our Golden Passport we paid a hefty $10 for one of the most pristine stops we’ve made. Palm trees, ocean beaches, manicured walkways—who could ask for more?

Next day we got a spot at the non-marina in Blackwater Sound, where Sr. Frijoles Mexican Restaurant has been a favorite stop when we travel by car. And while there we did rent a car, and go to and from Ft. Lauderdale airport to spend a delicious day with son Geoff. The Army sent him from his current posting in Seoul, Korea to Washington, DC for meetings, and bless his heart, he added 2 days of leave to fly to FL and spend a day with us. Nice.

One more day of travel (a day in the boat is an hour in the car, remember?) and the last 50 miles were covered. We’re back in our favorite slip (#16, in case you wondered) at Banana Bay in Marathon, FL, the center of the Keys. We’ll be here at least through January, and next week expect 4 of the 7 ‘children’ to arrive for Christmas! Banana Bay has an attached motel, so we’ll have plenty of room for all 14 guests and are looking forward to a very special Holiday.

And may yours be special as well! Remember to breathe, and share love and peace as you celebrate in your unique way!

2011-12-08T11:01:00.000-08:00

November 29, 2011

2011-12-03T14:31:00.001-08:00

Monday, Monday. Something new we’ve discovered last week is that we have digital tv. Don’t have to hook up the cable for coverage. Who knew? Sunday and Monday we watched the Woody Allen documentary on PBS, and a fine, sharp picture we had. Mostly we use the tv for dvd’s. Perhaps now we’ll use it more.

From Barefoot Landing we made the ‘oft suggested but usually forgotten’ stop at the Osprey Marina. They had great fuel prices (with $.10/gallon off for Boat US membership) so we added 100 gallons to our tank. We’re averaging about 3 miles to the gallon. Very good for a boat!

By 3:30 we were tied up at the Harborage Marina in Georgetown. Had a great walk, and we love the grocery store and the gift shop next door. Neat stuff. Where else can you but Wasabi Flax Seed?

With the short days at this time of year we were again off and running before 8 on Tuesday. Mornings also have low tides this week, and by the time we reached Isle of Palms, just north of Charleston, we were pooped. (But not too pooped to have happy hour with Jeanette and Larry from WYE NOT.)

The new moon has pulled the water away and tides are not just low, they are low low—2-3 feet below normal low tide. 20-30 feet of mud on either side of the channel, and only a momentary lapse in attention required to put YA outside that channel. If I seem to whine, it is because on Wednesday, we again left the marina on a falling tide—in the rain. In just a short time, 5 feet of water had rushed out to sea, and once again we were picking our way along. We met a tugboat whose captain really wished he was pushing his barge. He needed 7 feet of water for the tug; he was stuck in 4 feet. Barge and tug will sit until the water returns. We slogged on with our 1 foot under the keel, and bless Fred, he was able to keep us moving. Slow, but moving.

Plan A was to ride up the Ashapoo River to Mosquito Creek and the B&B Shrimpers marina. (Gotta love these names!) With little or no water we went to Plan B—Beaufort. Unfortunately, dark and the strong currents (at one point the water was moving at 2.5 knots against us) had us rethink that plan as well. 3 miles above Beaufort, while it was still light, we discovered Marsh Harbor, and spoke with Peter, the owner, who invited us to tie up. It was a great long dock, easy dockage and lots of interesting boats and equipment to puruse. Chris, former owner of the Marina, and now getting SECOND CHANCE ready to take him far, far away, offered us rides in his car to wherever we needed to go, and was generally good company. Gotta love people!

Thursday morning, we covered the last 3 miles and tied up at the Beaufort Marina with plenty of time to clean up and get to St. Helena’s Church. It was our third Thanksgiving there, and we had a great dinner, and then helped with clean up and re-setting the room. Met 3 Marines from Parris Island who also were helpers. Fun.

Friday was a beautiful day. We motored past Hilton Head (the hook came out to pull us in, but we resisted) and for a change went up the Savannah River. Tied up at the Hyatt Dock, in the center of the historic part of beautiful Savannah. What a hoot! We had hotel privileges—including (but not limited to) the swimming pool, fitness center and room service, should we choose to avail ourselves. We spent the evening walking along the RiverWalk, On Black Friday it was mobbed with people. Live entertainment at every other place and a really fun atmosphere. We looked in vain for dessert---ended up at the Hyatt for crème brulee and coffee. We sat inside rather than have room service on the boat.

The rest of the night was interesting to say the least. We learned that Savannah is, indeed, a major port. Cargo ships went back and forth---with tugs and huge wakes and stirring up debris. The dock literally moaned each time one of those city block long affairs passed. We had extra lines and 4 fenders holding us as still as possible, and at that it was quite a ride. An early morning swim (in the hotel pool) was relaxing and then we strolled the waterfront where we were given a traditional Gullah rose Sadly, we once again missed lunch with cousin Kay Scardino, but we’ll keep trying.

Next stop was ‘Suburban Savannah on the water’—Thunderbolt Marina, where we re-met and visited with Canadians Heather and Ray, aboard NE’ER DO WELL. We’d shared a table at Thanksgiving dinner… Nice couple and no doubt we’ll see more of them along the way.

Our week ended with a 2 day trek along the coastal islands of Georgia. Georgia’s coastline is only100 miles long, and the Intracoastal Waterway twists and winds enough to add 38 miles to the trip. We considered going off shore and just avoiding all the back and forth-ness, but high winds with higher waves predicted for the ocean changed our minds. So back and forth we went, going generally south, but sometimes actually heading northwest as we meandered through the rivers and ‘cuts’ that connect the Sounds, or inlets to the Ocean. It is fun to monitor our speed as we approach a Sound—either we’re being yanked along at 9 knots (warp speed for us) as the water rushes out to sea, or, without touching a speed lever, but by crossing the inlet, we’re reduced to 4.5 kn. as the water on the other side also heads out and we are now opposing. Tidal range in Georgia is about 8 feet, which means that a whole lot of water moves in and out every 6 hours!! We were happy to run from mid high to mid low tide each day, and thereby avoid the mud we’d encountered the week before.

And so the weeks pass, and the end of 2011 is drawing nigh. Next week will begin the 12^th month of the 11^th year of the ‘new’ millennium. Where, I ask you, has it gone? We hope you, too. are collecting happy memories, and that your holiday season is the best ever!

November 22, 2011

2011-11-29T16:43:00.000-08:00

From Oriental, we zipped across the Neuss early in the a.m. (8 o’clock) while the winds were calm. We anchored in Adams Creek for awhile to get done the things we didn’t do yesterday (some interior cleaning) and around 11a.m. lifted Knute and headed for Morehead City.

Tom and Patsy Conrad, aboard their new Nordic Tug TRUE NORTH had saved us a place at the Town Docks, newly purchased by Denard, who has owned Portside Marina for some time. The current is vewwy twicky there, but by 2 p.m. we were secured. Spent the afternoon and evening with the Conrads, ending with a great dinner at the Ruddy Duck and a very brisk walk home!

That current tried to slap us around as we backed out of our slip at 7:15 Friday morning, but once again, Fred won! After no boats in the water in the Chesapeake, we now are in a 7 boat parade. One of the boats confused us a bit when we heard “[garble] America” on the radio. Turned out they were saying “Yacht America”, and indeed she was a lovely yacht. All 7 of us hovered at the Onslow Bridge where the Marine on duty actually chatted and seemed to have a sense of humor. (No offense to Marines, but we’ve had some less than happy experiences at Onslow.) Tom, on TRUE NORTH allowed AMERICA, who was able to go fastest (and burn the most fuel) to move to the head of our little‘fleet’. Next bridge is Surf City, and using the chart plotter, we were able to time the trip, arriving just in time for the opening.

Our home for this day is Harbor Village Marina, just past Surf City and about 10 miles north of Wrightsville Beach. Fred’s cousin Jane and her husband Pete very kindly made the trek from their home near the W’ville bridge, and took us to dinner at Baja, and then to Harris Teeter for groceries. Bless them. What a great evening!

By noon on Saturday we were through the Figure 8 bridge, and at Wrightsville, where a flock of paddle board sweepers were having a ball! We waited for the bridge to open although we believed there were 21 feet of air at the center of the bascule. The bridge tender says 19 means 19 so we chose discretion and waited.

It was a gorgeous day, and lots of boaters were out enjoying it! The water was calm and the Cape Fear River held no fear for us. we passed by Southport, and stopped at St. James Marina. What a delightful spot! Very low dockage rates, clean, well marked floating docks, a nice store and restaurant, and for a special bonus, a fork lift taking boats out for winter storage and stacking them in the gi-normous shed. We could have spent a few days relaxing here, but we have a Thanksgiving date in Beaufort! We laughed as we left St. James---the retaining wall was so clean that the barnacles almost looked like copper-y art intentionally placed.

We passed through Lockwoods Folly easily; couldn’t raise our old friend Phil Robinson at his dock. His Shrimp store may or may not have been open, (but dockage is still available) so we continued on and by noon were in South Carolina! First stop, Myrtle Beach. We didn’t shop at the outlet mall at Barefoot Landing, just took a long walk around it. Delicious evening—the end of a delightful week.

On that note, I’ll depart, and see you all next week. Have a happy Thanksgiving. Heaven knows we have oh, so much to be thankful for—and we are!

November 16, 2011

2011-11-16T22:00:00.000-08:00

11-11-11. Some numerologists say it doesn’t have much great significance, but I say it’s kinda fun. For us, it’ll be a day in port, as the Bay is kicking up a celebration---not the kind we want to take part in. There’ll be high winds, lotsa waves and probably some rain just to make it special. The date kinda looks like corduroy, doesn’t it?

We’ve not had much rain since arriving back in Solomons. Has it been chilly? You bet. Nighttime temps have been in the 40’s many times. Our dandy new furnace sprung a leak in its muffler, and as the exhaust fumes were going into the engine room instead of outside, we shut it down until further notice. Gook and new clamps are waiting in the wings to tighten things up and keep the air we breathe fresh, clean and warm. Fred has it rigged so that when the engines are running, he can turn on the fans and blow heat into the boat without running any motors. Silent, free heat (if you don’t count the installation costs…).

Tuesday was our last day in Solomons, and the weather was beautiful. Crisp and clear. Our trip south began with a long stop at the marina’s spiffy pump-out station. I’m not sure if you are interested in the waste removal system on our boat, but it is an important topic for us, and this pump out machine is the best! It is tied directly into the hotel sewage line, and self operated so we were able to run large amounts of water thru and really wash out the holding tank. It seems we bought some TP that doesn’t dissolve, and the holding tank motor was letting us know regularly that a problem existed. So once again, the tp test was done with three brands. Turns out that cheap works best—7-11’s house brand won the test by breaking right up in the test glasses. Walgreen’s came in a close second. West Marine’s new WM brand? We won’t be using that any more. The motor is now happy, and this is good.

By the time we finished the pump out, cleaned up and lingered on the dock over lunch, it was mid afternoon, so we spent Tuesday night anchored at the mouth of the Patuxent River in Mill Creek, a run of about 3 whole miles. In the morning, it looked as if we would have yet another late start. The fog was oh, so thick, and in no hurry to burn away. Schools in the area had 2 hour delays, so we weren’t the only ones held up! By 10:30 though, we were off, and after 6 hours tied up in Reedville.

We had a good time watching, and maneuvering around, the fishing boats. Reedville is one of the major centers for the processing of Menhaden---a member of the herring family that has a long history. Native Americans taught the Pilgrims to use menhaden as fertilizer for their corn crops, and today it continues to be used as fertilizer, bait and the manufacture of fish oil products, as well as providing food for wild and farmed fish. So heavily harvested is the fish that today the population is only about 10% of what it was in colonial times. This week the Atlantic States fishing commission decided to impose limits, to phase in over the next year, in order to give the species a chance to build up its numbers. The estimates say that reducing the catch by 25% will leave about 60,000 metric tons of fish in the water. The boats we saw netting and scooping the fish out of the nets are big business!

It is too late in the season for the Crazy Crab Restaurant to be open every day, but we docked there and left our fee in the mailbox provided. Walked downtown to Tommy’s restaurant for dinner. Hallowe’en in Reedville was a very highly decorated event, and Tommy’s, as well as many houses along the street, still had goblins and ghouls on display.

The Bay was friendly early on Thursday, with a promise of winds and waves kicking up late in the day. We decided to investigate the Rappahannock River, and by noon had made the turn, leaving the large black cloud behind.

Remember the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis? An identical one (only this one is 110 ft. high) crosses the Rappahannock. After the Mpls. event, tests were done, and 80 stress points found to need reinforcement, we’re told. I’d not want to be that guy doing the work. We’re happy that the bridge held as we passed under it—twice.

Our destination was a resort hotel/marina called the Tides Inn. It’s on the Northern Neck of VA, an area we’ve not explored before. Only 40,000 folks live in the 4 counties of the Neck, and they reportedly love the ‘small town’ flavor. The Tides is an old, used-to-be-family owned resort that has retained the family feel and offers lots of amenities--- including a ride to and from the grocery store, a bonfire on the deck every nite with complimentary s’mores, and then milk and cookies in the ‘View Room’ at bedtime. We especially enjoyed meeting Craig as he delivered the newspaper to the boat every morning!

At this time of year, if you want to get anywhere, early starts are mandatory. Daylight only lasts until 5 o’clock or so. Even being underway at 7 (who, US?) we weren’t able to make it to Portsmouth and the Commodore dinner/movie. Enjoyed Hampton Marina, though, and had a nice long walk. We did stop in Portsmouth the next day for fuel, and then headed for the Dismal Swamp. The 1:30 p.m. lock was the earliest we could make, and once inside the Canal, couldn’t resist the Mexican Restaurant. George, the Lockmaster joined us, and shared stories of his 18 year career at the Canal. Robert, the usual lockmaster at Deep Creek (the northern end of the Swamp) was docked by the lock when we finished lunch. Last time we were through, Robert said he was planning to open a Dismal Swamp Tour Boat service. He now has 4 boats and 3 captains and is a frequent speaker at meetings and events in the Norfolk area. Good for him!

That thing about dark came into play as we motored along the Swamp. Couldn’t do 17 miles to the Visitors’ Center, so we tied up opposite the Feeder Ditch. Lake Drummond supplies the water for the Canal, which is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers strictly for recreational boater use. One of the duties of the Lockmasters is to monitor the water level in the Canal. Dry weather last spring had forced a cutback to 2 lockings per day, instead of the usual four, but Hurricanes Irene and Lee took care of that problem very nicely, thank you.

If you have a wee boat (under 1000 lbs) you can ride up the Feeder Ditch and across a railroad (not unlike the Big Chute in Canada, we think) and go boating in the lake. Sure enough, around 8 pm a little boat came paddling out of the Ditch and headed for Deep Creek. In the dark. And man, was it dark! We’d planned to go for a walk at dusk, but when we saw the “What to do if you meet a bear” signs, returned to YA and had a delightful dinner on the foredeck under the dark, dark sky.

It was still dark when we tossed off the lines in the a.m. and so still and beautiful as we hummed along toward South Mills Lock. 3 sailboats were tied up at the visitor’s center, with a fourth waiting at the lock. We were happy to see more travelers, and led the parade out of the lock at 8:30 a.m., through the gorgeous Turner’s Cut, and on down the twisty Pasquatank River to Elizabeth City. It was only 1 o’clock, and the wind was barely blowing, so we decided to pass on the traditional wine and cheese party (given to groups of boaters by the Mayor of Eliz. City) and hop right across Albamarle Sound. Our usual plan is to cross that Sound in the early a.m. as it is very shallow, and it doesn’t take much wind velocity to create a really unpleasant---even unsafe---ride. We lucked out though, and were snuggled into the Alligator River Marina before dark!

In the morning we passed through the Swing Bridge that we drove across last July when we went to the Outer Banks. Headed south in the Alligator River, and then the Alligator River-Pungo River Canal. The canal is another straight line with a deep channel and very little water on either side. We saw a sailboat actually sailing ahead of us, a rare sight, as we see a lot of ‘masted motorboats’ but rarely see boats under sail---especially in a heavily wooded canal where the wind is puffy, gusty and unpredictable.

Turns out that Dale, aboard CHANCE ENCOUNTER with his English Springer, Chili, was counting on the wind to get to Belhaven—about 25 miles away. His engine was running on fumes and he was pretty much ready to choose a spot to drop the anchor and call for a tow boat. A few minutes later, we became that guy. The boats were rafted together and we all had a pleasant afternoon ride. And the best part? Dale was heading south from Rondout Creek in Kingston, NY. He'd had the boat hauled at Certified Marine, where YOUNG AMERICA 2 lived for 17 years! Gave Fred a good excuse to call and say hi to Sharon and Fred! How small is this world, anyhow? CHANCE went into the River Forest Marina just inside the breakwater on the Pungo River, and a few minutes after we were tied up at Belhaven Marina, Dale and Chili drove up on a golf cart.

We were soon joined by Brant Wilson, with whom we chat whenever passing by Belhaven, and enjoyed a happy happy hour in the marina’s gazebo.

This morning the weather persons announced small craft advisories and 2-3 foot waves in Pamlico Sound, but it looked so lovely at 7 a.m. that we decided to go as far as was comfortable, and then anchor if necessary. Wasn’t necessary. The waves were low, as was the wind, and it wasn’t until we rounded Maw Point in to the Neusse River (our old friend!) that the bow began to slap the water. By then we were too close to quit so we just endured until 2 p.m. when we made the turn into the Oriental Marina. Our July slip was damaged by Hurricane Irene, so we’re snuggled in by the Tiki Bar. The wind and lots of rain are my companions as I write this.

So it took me from 11/11/11 until today, 11/16/11, to get to the blog. Biggest deterrent was the 1522 page book, 11/22/63, Stephen King’s latest. (Those are e-pages. I think the real book is only 800 or so pages long.) It is a hard-to-put-down story of ‘what if JFK hadn’t been assassinated?’ But now it is done, and so off I go to post photos.

Be well, and keep in touch!

November 2, 2011

2011-11-02T14:23:00.001-07:00

AAAAAAHHHHHH Baltimore! Loved it. Stayed for 5 days, docked at the Inner Harbor East Marina. It is owned by a USPS member, and gave a discount to us Power Squadron persons. Love that, too.

The Tall Ships made a parade through the Baltimore Harbor before departing for the to race to Newport. It was a windy, rainy, sludgy day, but they braved it, and so did I. The Marina had a lovely waterside area with tables and benches! Turned out (according to Mary, aboard the WHALER) that during the race, the Bay got so nasty that few prizes were awarded. Many boats turned back and their crews drove to Norfolk for the festivities. The WHALER arrived at the end of the race, but had motored thru a calm before the storm, and so did not place this year.

We spent a day at the Annapolis Power Boat show. Drove down with Mike and Linda Borum (SEA DREAM is also in Baltimore), and had a fun dinner with them and also Ron and Tina (SEA GYPSY) at Mike’s Crab Shack. Phoned CAROLYNN ANN to include Joe and Punk in the evening. Earlier in the day Bettie and Klass (MOON BEAM) and Richard and Shannon (ESMERALDA) were known to be at the show as well. Great Harbours everywhere!

Also did some sight seeing in Baltimore…Fred gave a submarine tour aboard the TORSK, and I gave the USS CONSTELLATION a cursory glance before walking to the American Visionary Museum. What a fun place that is---lots of inspiring and waaaayyy out there exhibits. My favorite was the screen painter, who showed how to decorate your door or window screen. The technique was used by Baltimorians to a) distinguish their home---with 12’ wide row houses everywhere, that is important, and b) provide air and privacy inside. Very nifty, and she made it look oh, so easy. Maybe I’ll paint our porthole screens one day. Maybe.

We had dinner with Lynn, Jeffrey and Denia one evening, and the next day after shopping at the Whole Foods store—walking distance from the marina---headed out. We took a side trip up Curtis Bay looking for the US Coast Guard construction site. We were able to get under the first bridge, but not the second. We could see tall masts in the distance; maybe the EAGLE?

Back in the Bay and on to the Magathy River. We did the upriver U-turn. all the way to the Causeway. From there you can look across the road (accessible only to members of the Club on the private island and their guests…there is a guard, we’re told) and watch the traffic on the Bay. We opted for a more protected anchorage ‘back a bit’.

The next morning was beautiful, and the Bay calm and quiet, so we simply motored on until about 4 when we were tucked neatly (stern first) into A-2, our Solomons slip at the Holiday Inn Marina.

A day later, the car was packed and we headed north. Our new urban travel mode is to depart at 0-dark-thirty and avoid the commuters. Worked like a charm and by noon we were back in Condo-land.

While there I helped out with a couple of UU fundraisers and we attended the Annual meeting of the Condo Association, where, sadly we were 6 signatures short of a quorum. On Thursday we gave what Fred calls our ‘dog and pony show’ at the Westchester Power Squadron Meeting. Talked (with power point) about the boat and living aboard it in general and the Great Loop in particular. People seem amazed that we have shared 37x16 feet of living space (592 sq. ft.) for 3-1/2 years—and still enjoy each other’s company. Other ‘live aboards’ understand. And yes, it really has been 3-1/2 years!

We went to the Power Squadron’s D2 fall conference in Danbury, CT, and changed our plans a bit to include the Arlington High School Marching Band’s Parents concert (Alan’s son Paul marches). Sadly, we had to go to Plan C on Saturday when the October blizzard arrived. Concert cancelled. The snow began in mid afternoon and the ride home from Danbury was exciting to say the least. Our Jeep held the road, unlike many cars and trucks whose passengers were shaking their heads and wondering how to get out of the ditch. The best part was being the only people in a Dunkin’ Donuts near Fishkill, soaking up a Dunkin’MochaChino (or whatever they call it) and giving the teenaged employee someone to talk to. He’d had a very quiet day!

On Sunday the family gathered at HPC to celebrate the three J’s. Son-in-law Jimmy and daughter Jenny had birthdays during that week, and it was with great gratitude and thankfulness that we welcomed grandson JT (age 15) home from Westchester Hospital. He’d been airlifted there on Friday after a car bounced him from the school bus stop onto the highway. He was thrown 25 ft. through the air, lost consciousness for about 5 minutes (lying in the highway's traffic lane) and miraculously suffered only scrapes and bruises! As Jenny said, “It’s official, JT is made of rubber!” It can’t hurt that he plays ball, of the foot, base and basket varieties, and so is in great physical shape! ‘Twas a harrowing experience for all, with, thankfully, a happy ending.

We’d decided not to bring the car back to the boat, as our journey now will take us to Marathon in the Florida Keys. So on Monday we packed, once again, and Tuesday a.m. set out for a many-legged trip back to the Boat. Kris drove us (and our 4 suitcases, 3 large tote bags and a pocket book) to the shuttle bus. The bus took us to the Metro North train. Elevator out of order, but a nice lady helped us up the 40 steps, and we made the train by at least 10 seconds! In New York a taxi got us to Penn Station where another kind man helped us down the steps to the Amtrack level. Somewhere there must have been a down escalator, but we sure didn't see it. At the station level we found a Porter who loaded everything on a cart, found the secret escalator to the track level, and got us into a quiet car well before the throng of passengers arrived.

Our friend Lynn was waiting when the train pulled into the Baltimore train station. She’s a Private Investigator who conveniently has a case in Solomons, and needed to take photos of a restaurant about 10 minutes from our marina. It certainly worked for us! Had time to chat during the drive, and also over lunch. Now we are ‘back in boat’, and happy to be so.

When next we meet, our journey south will have begun, and, as we’ll be cruising, I’m thinking of returning to the Monday Messages. We’ll see. In the meantime, be well, live long and prosper!

October 12, 2011

2011-10-13T19:30:00.001-07:00

WE DID IT! We left the comfy shore, and are mushing about in the Chesapeake.

We enjoyed the National Power Squadron meeting in Greensboro. On a bonus side trip, I was happy to tour the Replacements Store, a huge conglomeration of warehouses stocking, well, replacements, for your china or your cutlery. Yes, I was able to find the missing knives and spoons for our High Point Circle dining use!

On the way back to the boat, we lunched with Ted and Rita (can you tell from the picture that he’s Fred’s brother?). A day later, we were underway by car for NY. No, we didn’t race home to try out the new spoons---there was a Condo meeting to attend as well as the September birthdays with daughters Kris and Linda to celebrate. Had a good visit and returned to YA for some very serious exterminating.

Sometime after the hurricane, we began to see the occasional Palmetto Bug (a euphemism for the I-can’t yet-say-the-word-roach), god help us, inside the boat. Immediately set traps and used spray, but there are way too many hidey-holes and entrance ports, so immediately upon our return to Solomons, we attacked with vengeance. Removed the bed, the floors of all galley cupboards, got behind the refrigerator and compactor, and into every other low-lying space we could think of. All flat (and gently rounded) surfaces are now liberally coated with Borax—death to the little buggers. We also liberally applied a (supposedly) 12 week spray on vertical surfaces. Uffda.

Wouldn’t you know that after all that, one of the creepy scurriers had the audacity to wave his feelers at Jerry and Teresa (SHA LA LA) when they stepped aboard? Double uffda. Finally, today, after finding only the occasional very dead body for several days, I can speak of the (?) infestation—never did we feel exactly overrun with critters, but one indoors is one too many. With spray always at hand, we are ever vigilant, no more and no less clean than we have ever been, and guardedly optimistic that we’ve won the battle AND the war. Many folks say (I’ve read a lot of ads, editorials and blogs on the subject) that with the joys of the southern climate comes the ‘ugh of the bug’. We’ll never know if they blew in with Irene, hitch hiked home from the grocery store, or rode aboard in a book swapped at a marina office. We are grateful that they are, by our best indicators, gone.

Cruising the Chesapeake has been our summer goal, and so in early October we headed right out! Crossed the Bay and spent a night at St. Michael’s, always a treat. As we left on Friday morning about a bazillion boats were heading in. Ah, it is Columbus Day weekend, and a gorgeous one at that. We spent some time making loop-d-loops in the Bay to calibrate our magnetic compass. Fred plotted the data, drew the curve and was mostly pleased with the accuracy. There is always some room for improvement.

Next, the Wye River called us, and at Shaw Cove, we chose the Eastern leg. Moseyed along the beautiful, pristine shores, noting the beautiful homes as well as anchored and rafted boats along the way. We dropped Knute (our Rockna anchor) just past Wye Landing. It took an hour to get both halves of the anchor light to shine (the aft part has always been problematic. It is time for a replacement), and by then it was too late for the dinghy. So we had a leisurely dinner, and spent some time on the bow of the boat just enjoying the stars, the nearly full moon and the silence.

Early in the morning we were joined on the water by crabbers—lots of crabbers. They have such a smooth, practiced handle on the trot-line baited with chicken necks. It is indeed an art to flip the crab into the wire net and deposit him in the bushel basket without missing the next crab on the line.

We did get the dinghy down, and had a fine ride around the little bay. Saw a flock of black sheep contentedly munching on the lawn of a waterside estate, and rafted the dinghy to a crabber whose motor had failed. He was happy that we picked him up so he did not have to paddle to shore.

By noon we’d raised Knute, washed away the sticky mud he’d been grabbing, and were again underway. It seemed to be a ‘tow’ sort of day. In the Eastern Bay, we passed (as other boats had been doing for ½ hour, we were later told) a 22’ cigarette boat with an open engine compartment. They did indeed need help, so we rafted the boat to YA’s starboard side, and had a pleasant ride to Kent Narrows. There we swung around and they tossed starboard lines to friends on a big boat in the marina. We released their port side, and they were safely home.

The bridge tender at Kent Narrows was convinced that we’d fit under the ‘flat steel’ or approach road openings next to his bascule, but it was only 2 minutes to opening time, so we just waited it out. He was an unusually chatty bridge guy, and we had a chuckle with his banter. On the north side of the bridge we tucked into a space on a town dock and spent an hour or so enjoying the Chesapeake Festival at Kent Narrows.

Fred had checked with the operator of a passing SeaTow boat about the water depth at the town’s wall, and we were told “I’m showing about 12 feet”, so we tied up. In the morning, when checking the steering to get underway, Fred found that the right rudder was not moving. No, it wasn’t the stick we’d seen being carried under the boat by the current the evening before, it was, of all things, the tide. We showed exactly 0.0 feet of water under the keel. So we went for a walk and had a second cup of coffee before motoring off to the Chester River. Chestertown, a few miles up the river, has been on our list of ‘places we missed last time we passed thru this area’.

Chestertown is an adorable little old town, and we’d just tossed our lines over at the Chestertown Marina when the phone rang---it was our friend Mary (from Newburgh), who is, for her tenth year, crewing aboard the schooner MYSTIC WHALER. Like us, the WHALER is ‘mushing around in the Chesapeake’ for a few days before she participates in the Schooner Race from Baltimore to Norfolk at the end of the week. She came in just behind us, and we caught her lines as she tied up in the slip usually occupied by SALTANA, Chestertown’s Tall Ship—already en route to Baltimore.

We walked the uneven brick streets enjoying the colonial architecture, and had dinner at the ‘olde’ Imperial Hotel. Later, aboard the WHALER, folk and shanty singer Jeff gave a wonderful concert singing a cappella, as well as with his guitar and other hand-held percussion instruments. For a finale, Jeff’s wee wooden friend, Jack, danced with great precision and enthusiasm to Jeff’s tin whistle. Most entertaining.

On Monday we went back to the Bay, and then north to Worten Creek, where fall has fallen. The nearest town is Chestertown---9 miles as the crow flies—40 miles by boat. There was a skeleton crew at work and zero boats were moving in the water. So we had a sort of quiet evening at home listening to the geese. Apparently this part of the Bay is the winter destination for many northern geese, and there were mobs of them flying in all directions, calling greetings to each other. What a hoot!

Tuesday the wind was from the east, and blew us across the Bay. It is really fall, now. We were the only boat on the Bay! There are many more northern stops to make, but we’ll save them for our run north in the spring of 2012. For now, we’re Baltimore bound!

September 12, 2011

2011-09-17T04:09:00.001-07:00

Still here at Solomons! It’s been a comfortable, interesting two weeks since last we spoke. Our plan, of course, was to head out and cruise the Chesapeake. Well, as we’ve always said of plans (“What good is a plan if you can’t change it?”) we’ve stayed true to form and changed this one.

For the first few post-Hurricane days, we just puttered. Took long walks every day, swam in the hotel’s beautiful outdoor pool (once it was cleaned and back up and running), and enjoyed moseying around Back Creek in the dinghy. That really is one of our favorite things to do—just look at boats, neighborhoods, birds and other critters, not to mention the occasional dockside restaurant. We got to try out the new painter Fred spliced out of a piece of AmSteel. Worked just fine.

One afternoon I went to see “The Help” with Sherri (GYPSY CRICKET) and Diane, (MOJO), a couple of other Solomons Dock A residents. Once again, I found that the book was better than the movie. This I know, but must always check, just to be sure!

One thing that boaters must be is responsive to the weather. In the case of the days following Hurricane Irene, the fine weather lasted a week which, happily, included Labor Day weekend, and it was beautiful. Sunny and clear, and by Sunday the humidity was down and a delicious breeze was blowing as we motored (the Jeep) over to the Navy’s Bi-annual Air Expo.

We had a good afternoon looking at the planes on exhibit, talking to test pilots, maintenance guys and officers of the law who very generously provided us with chairs to put in the shade and watch the Blue Angels. I’d not seen the Blue Angels before, which is why we went to the show. I was rewarded with several great photos, and we had a great time. Thank goodness for earplugs!

That breeze we enjoyed so much on Sunday puffed up a bit on Monday—we spent a totally Labor Free Labor Day. I did swim several laps in the Hotel pool, and found out (when the rain stopped a week later) that the season ended and Pool closed on Labor Day. Humbug.

By Tuesday the rains came. This was due to the next---no the one after the one after the next---hurricane, Lee, which flooded Louisiana. Weather moving westward (did you know that it does that?) as it does, we spent the week pretty much indoors. Instead of taking YA up the Patuxent, we left the lines in place and read, cleaned and occasionally dodged the raindrops to go for a ride in the car. We were fortunate. Many others were really suffering from the flooding exacerbated by the heavy rain.

On Thursday, we agreed to meet Mike and Linda Borum, (SEA DREAM) who were in Washington, DC., for dinner. We set out (by car), but a section of a highway we needed to cross had disappeared into a sink hole and we were re-routed to Annapolis in order to get to DC. Didn’t seem like such a good idea. Also, it was pouring in DC, which meant Mike and Linda would have been drenched. We turned around, discovered Harrington Harbor Marina on Tracy’s Creek (just off the Patuxent) and had a fine dinner at the Calypso Run. Would you believe they plant palm trees every spring and take them out in the fall so the winter doesn’t’ kill them off? What price ambience?

Sunshine on Friday afternoon! As an added bonus, our computer arrived by FedEx from our friends at Progressive Technologies in Hilton Head. They tried everything to make it work; finally put in a new motherboard and sent it off. And it didn’t work. Fred had to take it apart and discover an unplugged wire (did that happen at the same time as the tear on the shipping box?). Plugged it in, put it back together, and Viola! We once again have navigation, speed and depth displayed, along with the gazillion other functions that little puppy can perform. We looked at Weather Works and saw that the rain was past, so we tossed the lines and cruised up the creek to buy fuel and get the holding tank pumped out.

An hour later the ‘cruise’ ended and we moved back to our ‘Irene’ slip, tied up to the new starboard piling, and here we are.

Saturday we went to the Naval Air Museum across the river. A highlight for Fred was seeing the Grumman S2F airplane that his submarine played war games with in the ‘50s. I was a bit disappointed as I’d read on the website that there was a cool restaurant and an IMAX theater at the museum. Oops. That would be the Navy Air Museum in Pensicola, FL. Fine print on the website, I believe.

Sunday we re-visited the UU of the Chesapeake, and then enjoyed a leisurely brunch at Lenny’s Restaurant, next door to the motel where we stayed in May. While Fred was industrious and changed impellers on both engines, I languished at Happy Hour on dock B. I did help with the generator impeller this morning. Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance!

Today we’re preparing to go to the USPS Governing Board meeting in Greensboro, NC. Plan to drive away in the a.m. We’ll see.

Yesterday, thank the Powers that Be, there were no major incidents to mar the remembrance of 9/11. The day here was calm and the morning beautiful, as Fred’s photo attests. Peaceful. May peace prevail.

August 30, 2011

2011-08-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

The Honda motor on our dinghy hasn’t worked for a very long time, and Randy and Barb knew a mechanic just up the Potomac in Washington, DC who could fix it, so off we went to Washington Marina. Spent 4 days there and we were able to wander about in the City—and ride a tour bus! Nice.

I’m convinced that all members of Congress should be made to walk through the memorials and read aloud all the inscriptions—at least once a month. Probably wouldn’t alter their behavior much, but I’d like to hope that they’d be forced to consider why they’ve been sent to Washington. For instance:

“In these days of difficulty, we Americans everywhere must

and shall choose the path of social justice—the path of faith,

the path of hope, and the path of love for our fellow man”.

Or:

“We have faith that future generations will know that, here,

in the middle of the 20^th Century there came a time when men of good will found a way to unite, to produce, and to fight to destroy the forces of ignorance, and intolerance, and slavery and war.”

Sigh.

With the dinghy running smoothly and re-parked atop YA, our plan was to cruise the Chesapeake, so off we went on a two day run down the Potomac to the Bay, and then up into the Patuxent River—destination, Solomons Island. By the time of our arrival, Hurricane Irene was becoming a big story, so we chose a marina around a bend in Back Creek, where we felt there would be maximum protection. First day there, our task was to go back to Aquila Harbor to retrieve the Jeep. Enterprise is our friend.

On our second day at Solomons, I looked out the window to see the dock jumping up, down and sideways. When I went outside, I was asked “Did you feel it?” Lo, the 5.8 earthquake had just jolted the Eastern Seaboard. The boat didn’t notice, but things on land did move and shake!

Having survived the earthquake, we spent a day removing anything that we thought Irene might want to take away with her and storing it all in the 'basement'. When we began to look, it was truly amazing how many things there were, large and small, that qualified.

With that job done, we drove home to Newburgh in time for a StonyBrook Board meeting, and on Thursday, the grand opening/ribbon cutting by the Dutchess Co. Chamber of Commerce of Group 82. Son Alan and his pal Eric have, for two years, operated their marketing business from their homes. Now they are ‘bona fide’ and have a beautiful office with a Group 82 sign on Washington Street in Poughkeepsie! We wish them all the best for their business (and personal, of course) future!

After the ribbon was cut and the festivities died down, the family crossed the street to have dinner and celebrate Fred’s 80^th birthday. ‘Twas a nice time, and I must say that my favorite comment about Fred’s octogenarian status came from Katie Rae in Chester, NY. When her mom, daughter Ada, reminded Katie that ‘Grandpa Fred is 80 today’, Katie paused for a second, said “NO WAY!” and carried on with whatever 8 year old task was at hand. We feel the same way. No way!

Friday we drove back to Solomons, and continued with Hurricane prep. By noon on Saturday, with everything we could think of taken care of, we moved into the Holiday Inn connected to the Marina. No one knew what Irene would do, and the TV folks, with their need to have continuous coverage 24/7, painted a very dire picture. Our adage was ‘prepare for the worst---hope for the best’. So we hopefully took with us to the motel all the food in the refrigerator (wasn’t much, by design), the important boat papers, a couple of days change of clothes, the book Kris made about the building of YA---you know, all the really important stuff!

Our 5th floor motel room overlooked the marina, and we could see that the water didn’t rise above the docks, and that the dock lights remained on—a sign of safety! By morning the winds were gone, and the anticipated surge didn’t reach us, although many other areas experienced the power of the water. We discovered that a tree was blown over along the shore (no damage) and 3 pilings were ripped loose by a really strong gust of wind. One of the pilings was connected securely to our starboard bow, but more loosely to the port bow of our neighbor—and his starboard piling snapped also. And the one next to that. Thankfully, the gusts of wind didn’t hold, and the sustained winds were not strong enough long enough to do serious damage. NBC TV came to survey the situation, and about an hour after they moved on, Barb and Randy phoned to say that they'd seen YOUNG AMERICA on TV. Nice.

On Monday night, boat owners gathered dockside for a “Survivors” potluck dinner. Words to Goodnight Irene had been re-written to fit the occasion and we all sang along!

We continue to be grateful for our good fortune. We know that many, many folks did not fare so well with Irene and we send them thoughts and prayers for speedy cleanup and return to the normalcy we are fortunate to be experiencing!

Today Fred made some modifications in the basement to simplify storage, and we’re looking seriously at what, exactly, to return to that space on the boat. Seems we might have a fair amount of ‘stuff’ that, if we didn’t need it doing the Loop or during 2 natural disasters, maybe it can go into the Jeep (which sat politely in the huge open parking lot while the winds howled about) and return to New York. Or EBay. Or Craig’s List. Hmmmmmm.

Now then, about cruising the Chesapeake…will keep you posted!

August 14, 2011

2011-08-14T14:46:00.001-07:00

WE’RE BaaaaaaaCK!

Man o Manashcevitz!!! We had such a good time in New York---it probably isn’t legal to enjoy ourselves so much, but we did!

The drive to New York was not unpleasant. To be able to say that when you circumvent Washington, Annapolis, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark and New York City is pretty astonishing. We took the advice of our GPS and apparently missed all the major traffic malfunctions. YAY!

On Thursday we headed north to Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks where we spent a delightful 2-1/2 days celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Fred’s kids’ Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jim. The event was held at the ‘Swim and Trip’ Camp owned by Uncle Joe and Aunt Lori and operated with the help of cousins Carolyn, Susan and Martha. The celebration was organized by Nancy and Jim’s daughter D’maris, and nearly 60 relatives came from AZ, CA, CT, ME, NJ, NY, OH, PA and Washington DC. From the kick-off dinner, through time spent at the waterfront, to the final evening when kids young and old jumped into the creek from the 10’ bridge (with supervision, of course), it was great to ‘catch up’ with family, to see slides from many years ago, and to be in the woods, at camp, even when the rains came and everyone puzzled, gamed, slept or chatted by the fire in the Lodge. What a great time!

From there, we meandered to Bridgeport, CT where we joined the D2 Power Squadron Spring Conference. Had a fun afternoon playing Texas Hold ‘Em (I lost big time!) and then enjoyed a lobster dinner. It was great to visit with PCC Serge and Jocelyn San Martin from Canada, as well as to hang out with D2 buddies.

Back in NY, we said adieu to Amy and Pete, who by now (with their faithful cat, BC) have flown to Seoul, Korea to join son Geoff for their 2- year tour of duty with the 8^th Army. Say your prayers for peace on earth, please. Our grandson-in-law Austin remains in Afghanistan until next April.

Fred and I spent a couple of days on R&R, and on Thursday, welcomed Maureen from St. Louis and Freddie from Ventura, CA. In the 60’s, we were Swedish Hospital nursing school classmates and then San Francisco roommates. Since the early ‘90’s, we’ve planned bi-annual weekend visits, and we take turns hosting. The ‘August in New York’ weather couldn’t have been more co-operative. It was neither beastly hot nor suffocatingly humid when we visited Ground Zero in Manhattan on Friday. We heard a long, informative first person story told by Rita Schwartz, a volunteer at the museum. The museum, operated by surviving families, is designed to make one feel surrounded by towers, and the faces and voices of those who perished were everywhere. Powerful.

We took the Metro North train back to Cold Spring, caught a shuttle to beautiful Boscobel in Garrison, NY, where the expansive lawns look down on the gorgeous Hudson Valley. There we were treated to not only a VERY generous wine tasting, but also to a fabulous, funny and hugely entertaining outdoor performance of Around the World in Eighty Days. There had to be a lot of ad-libbing going on, as so many members of the cast were surreptitiously cracking up! How fun is that???

On Saturday, the three of us relaxed on the Pride of the Hudson, with a guided boat tour from Newburgh to West Point and back. Returned home in time to join Fred and drive the hour to Bethel, NY, where we spent a couple of hours in the Woodstock Museum prior to enjoying a Boston Pops Concert at the (relatively) new Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts. Memory Lane for me, as the Woodstock festival took place on the opposite side of NYS Rt. 17B from Pucky Huddle, the hunting camp where my kids grew up. From 1970-84, our family drove to Bethel nearly every weekend from April-Dec. Were we nuts, or what? Somehow it seemed like a good idea at the time.

It also seemed fitting that it rained like mad (Maureen got an awesome Woodstock souvenir umbrella in the gift shop, and our seats were nice and dry under the roof!) You may recall that it poured on the original festival in 1969! The Pops brought two singers to do a second act performance of Cole Porter music. Sigh—it was just too fabulous.

On Sunday, Maureen and Freddie joined me at the UU for a relaxed summer service, and then we spent the afternoon lounging at the Stony Brook Pool with all 5 daughters and their families. Doesn’t get much better than that! It was a delicious way to wind down the visit.

Fred and I spent the week doing the things that we can’t seem to stop doing---he had 18 Power Squadron folks show up for a seminar at our home on Tuesday; I managed to finally meet with the By-Laws committee for StonyBrook, and we took the train back to NYC for a matinee performance of Billy Elliott. Was great…

Today, Saturday, we did a 9 hour drive (how do we turn a 5 hour trip into 9 hours?) back to the Boat. We were really, really happy to find that all is well with YA, and now we’re off to have dinner with Barb and Randy.

And so, for now, farewell…………Linda and Fred

July 25, 2011

2011-07-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

Let’s see, where were we? The a/c part arrived on Friday, and bless his heart, Asa the ‘A/C guy’ was right there when FedEx dropped it off---literally, he was sitting under a tree waiting to see if our part would be on the truck. Don’t hardly find guys like that anymore!

The weekend was predicted to be too windy to head out on the Neuss River, so instead, we took the Jeep to the Outer Banks. What a great weekend! Saturday was my birthday, and we arrived in Nag’s Head around 5 p.m. with no reservation. Had been told by the Visitor’s Center folks that we were in big trouble, but we are oh, so very lucky. Fred got us a 5^th floor room at a Comfort Inn—overlooking the ocean! Dee-lish. I spent about an hour taking pix of a wedding that took place below us. What fun.

On Sunday we wandered around the Wright Brothers Memorial and museum. It is very neat to be able to walk up to the bronze plane—and bronze people who were there when that 12 second flight took place! After the Nat’l Park Service talk about the history of flight (Wilbur and Orville really took the matter to heart. Ignored all the conventional wisdom and built everything they needed themselves—even a wind tunnel to test wing adaptations), we drove south to Cape Hatteras.

Fred was very interested in learning how the tallest lighthouse in North America could be moved back ½ mile from the eroding beach. The thing is nearly 300 ft. high (196 steps to the landing near the top) and was moved intact. Never tilted more than ¼ inch. Those engineers.

Meanwhile I was panting my way up those steps, only to discover when I reached the top that I was scared to go out on the balcony. Finally did—used the boat adage: “One hand for the boat” and held on to the rail—as if that would save me should whatever unthinkable event occur. Really. Did ask a Park Employee to preserve the moment for posterity—and proof!

We took the ferry to Ocracoke Island, and after a quick drive around noting the quaint shops and parks, hopped the next ferry back to the mainland. It was an hour drive to the next ferry connection, and while we did the ride in an hour, because we were ‘last on and last off’ the Ocracoke ferry, we pulled up to the dock about 2.5 minutes after the boat left. Such a sad feeling, but all was not lost, we drove around the long way and were home before dark.

Monday morning we began a familiar trip up the east coast to the Chesapeake. Stopped at the Belhaven Waterway Marina, then at the Alligator River Maring—both places we’ve enjoyed before. On our walk around the marina, we discovered some gorgeous spider webs. How do they do that???

We arrived in Elizabeth City, NC around 1 p.m. on Wed. and decided to tie up for the night. The free dock is great, but our favorite restaurant/movie theater has sadly closed, and the water was really, really rough. Time for Plan B. We decided not to get beat up all night and instead motored up to the South Mills Lock and tied off to await the 8:30 a.m. opening of the lock, the entrance to the Dismal Swamp.

At 8:15 the Jeannie B, a 70 foot schooner manned by a group of camp kids pulled in behind us. They were taking a two week sail around the outer banks—what a great experience!

We transited the canal, had lunch at the Mexican Restaurant, and headed for Norfolk. Again spent the night at an old friend, the Hampton Roads City Dock, and we were up at the crack of dawn to head up the Bay to the Potomac.

The Bay was very,very nice to us. We had a smooth run to the Potomac, and by 6 p.m. were ready for a swim at White Point Marina. Very refreshing as the temps have been very close to 100 every day—here, there and everywhere. We’re extremely grateful for that A/C.

Saturday we did an 8 hour run up the Potomac to Aqula Harbor Marina where we were greeted by Barb and Randy Semper, who are cruisers, temporarily stopping to tie LAZY DOLPHIN to the pier outside their home, here. The Homeowners Assn. here has just re-done the Marina--all brand new, and beautiful!

Sunday was our day for the 6 hour drive (6 day boat trip translates to a 6 hour drive) back to Oriental to pick up the Big Red Jeep. On the return trip, a storm and stalled traffic on our old friend I-95 forced us into a Hampton Inn, where we slept from 8 p,m. to 2 a.m. In the wee small hours, we experienced clear weather and NO traffic (until the commuters joined us from 5:15-6 a.m.).

Lay day today—we’re cleaning and preparing to drive back to New York for a couple of weeks.

See you when we return!

July 13, 2011

2011-07-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

Greetings from North Carolina! Oriental, that is. Where YOUNG AMERICA has languished for nearly 7 weeks while we did what we do while in New York.

Actually, the first weekend in June found us on the shores of the Patuxent River in Maryland. Fred took a class to become certified by the USPS as an Inland and Coastal Navigator. He had a good time—especially with the part where the instructor caused the power to ‘die’ on the GPS and Fred and another student had to navigate and steer a pre-plotted course the old fashioned way, by dead reckoning. For you non-boaters, that means they knew from the chart where they were and where they wanted to go. Using the speed and distances involved, they read the compass, timed the turns and steered to the destination. And arrived—at the same moment the GPS said they should. Sure am glad we can rely on technology (and the two backup systems we have in case of power or other failure) and don’t have to do all that all the time!

Once again, while he was afloat, I went off to meet friends—this time I drove to Baltimore to see Lynn, and had a great visit. Got to see the ‘other’ daughter, Denia. (Saw Jess in NYC last month)

Fred and I returned to New York in time to spend a couple of days grandparenting with Peter. The world as seen by a 12 year old is a joy to behold. We returned him to RI on Wednesday, and then Fred and I became boaters for the long weekend. Well, OK, the truth is that SHA LA LA never left the Naval Station Dock, but we were oh-so-happy to live aboard and be right in the center of all the War College graduation festivities. Thank you, Thank you, Jerry and Teresa!

The diplomas and Masters degrees were conferred under a tent on a beautiful sunny morning. The sea of flags and uniforms was an impressive sight. It’s called the War College, but what I heard is a focus on learning to create peace. May it be so. Geoff and his family’s next duty station is Seoul, Korea. He’s there now, enduring the monsoon season while getting acclimated to his new position.

On June 18 the four graduates (Devyn’s high school event took place June 23) hosted a delightful get-together to celebrate their accomplishments. Orange County has made Kowawese Park on the shores of the Hudson River into a great venue. The weather couldn’t have been more co-operative and the food was to die for! (Chris’ pesto dressing on the tomato-mozzarella skewers? Sublime!)

After the party, we had a Mangelsdorf dinner with Alan, Holly and their kids; then on Tuesday, Devyn and I drove Tarryn to the Newark airport so she could return to ‘the 808’, as she calls Hawaii. Dev drove me into Manhattan (her maiden voyage behind the wheel, and she got a ‘stress pimple’ for her trouble—I drove us out of the city…) for a bit of shopping. Devyn will be attending Manhattan College in the fall, working toward an Education degree on her way to a Master’s in Occupational Therapy.

At the end of June, Fred and the District Education Officer for USPS gave an on-the –water training course for 7 prospective Inland Navigators. Boating on the Hudson provided a good time for everyone. It was a good day.

With Geoff off to Korea, Amy and Peter came by for a few days on their way to visit Amy’s parents in Ohio. Pete and Fred finished building the trebuchet that now will slay a dragon (well, a small one) at 40 paces! Fun, interesting, and the best part is the together time with the grandchild. Pete will finish 7^th and 8th grades in Korea, and is preparing to learn the language while there.

We all, but especially Ada and Jim, were saddened by the death of Jim’s dad on July 1. He’d been ill for two years, and knowing that lung cancer rarely has a good outcome, ‘Pop’ made the most of the time allotted to him. It was said by many that a more peaceful death rarely occurs. Good role model for us all. Thanks, Pop.

The night before we planned to return to YA we got a call from Joe and Punk Pica aboard CAROLYNN ANN. They were reveling in a gloriously beautiful cruise up the Hudson on their way to the Erie Canal and points west. We met them at the New Hamburg dock and had a dee-lish Thai dinner in Beacon. Stepping onboard CAROLYNN ANN made us both feel very strongly the pull to ‘get cruising!’

And off we went. Did a one day drive to Oriental and arrived at the marina at 7:30 p.m. to find that the temp inside YOUNG AMERICA was 96 degrees. Five minutes of investigation showed that our 50 amp. 220 Volt power cord had been moved from the working side of the post to ‘our’ side, where only 110V were available. Turns out that because the air conditioners were running when the switch was made (no one knows for sure by whom—we’ll refrain from conjecture.) the circuit board on the salon a/c blew. The good news is that Fred had rewired the galley a/c and made it 220, so although it couldn’t start up again on its own, at least it didn’t fry. We are very, very grateful that it worked when given full power.

Opening the refrigerator was an act that required great courage. Suffice it to say that we gagged our way to the trash, then went out to an air-conditioned restaurant for dinner while the lower a/c fought the heat, and then Fred, bless him, cleaned the refrigerator. Without so much as a gas mask. He is a wonder.

Next day (Sunday) we grocery shopped—bought lots of baking soda and dispersed it liberally in the ref. and freezer. Now (Wednesday) we continue to await the shipment of the new circuit board. Perhaps by Friday the salon will be cool, and no doubt there will be a co-incidental easing of the unseasonably hot, humid weather that is gripping the southeast corner of the US of A.

And THEN we’ll be underway, heading for the Chesapeake!

May 25, 2011

2011-05-25T22:13:00.001-07:00

Hello, you all! Here I am once again playing catch up. The blog serves as a journal for us, so I hope you don’t mind if I ramble on… The cruising saga continues…

Leaving the Cattle Pen Creek, we waited for a huge Ferry bound for Savannah to pass by--the SC section of the waterway feels like a superslab compared to the twists and turns of the Georgia section. Even so, we never cease to be amazed that those big guys wend their way through that maze! I inadvertently deleted the photo of the ferry, as well as several other fabulous shots that I know you would have enjoyed. Now I have a backup thing-y for the computer, and may even use it!

Our cruising destination was Oriental, NC, as it is 1 degree north of the 35 degrees N line established by our new insurance policy as safely out of the hurricane zone. We’d decided to do the trip in +/- 50 mile days, so it was an easy run to Thunderbolt Marina in Savannah. Bless him, Hal the dockmaster, still offers Krispy Kreme donuts in the morning, so of course we (Fred) had to have them. Thunderbolt has a nice walkway into town, and it felt good to get some exercise, and some dinner!

After our extended stay in Hilton Head last year, we sort of expected that ‘the hook’ might reach out and grab us as we passed the entrance to Broad Creek. Didn’t happen, and we went instead to Beaufort. (Byoo-fort) Tied up at the Downtown Marina, and called Klass and Bettie (MOON BEAM). They met us at the boat after we’d walked to the Post Office to mail my AP Exam to the US Power Squadron. (As of this writing date, I now know that my self study worked, and I passed!) It was fun to visit Klass and Bettie’s beautiful home and we all enjoyed a delicious Thai dinner.

Also in Beaufort, we shared the dock with several Loop-ing Boats. Our gold burgee makes us part of the group, and it was fun to visit with the crews and find that we have friends in common.

Friday’s 50 mile run brought us to another anchorage—Tom Point Creek. Our anchor light was out—we’d used the spreader light in Cattle Pen Creek. (For the non-boaters, it is imperative to have a white light showing from all directions on an anchored boat. Helps prevent things that go bump in the night.) Fred hooked up his special pulley system to lower the mast by using the power of the dinghy davit rather than shouldering the mast’s weight, and an hour later the bulb’s contact had been cleaned—an easy fix, for once—and the job was done.

Anchoring is delightful, especially in great weather that doesn’t require running the [noisy] generator for heat or air conditioning. Knute, our Rockna anchor gives us great peace of mind, as he really grabs and holds that muddy bottom. According to the electronics, we travelled over a mile during the night, swinging in our circle with Knute at the center. Pretty amazing.

On Saturday, we blew by (at 7 knots) Charleston. I drove the boat through the harbor, in case you are interested… We stopped and spent Kentucky Derby Day at the Isle of Palms Marina, next door to a party boat that was having a really good time preparing for and watching the race! We’d forgotten it was to be run, and so missed it clean, but we did go for a nice walk around the neighborhood, followed by dinner on the boat accompanied by the singer at the nearby restaurant. It worked just fine!

Next stop, Georgetown, SC where on our evening walk we stopped and watched the 3x/week paper being printed—one of the printers saw us watching, opened the window and gave us a ‘hot off the press” copy of the paper. Next day we paused for a moment at SM 337.9 on the ICW to note the passing of the last pontoon bridge in the Atlantic ICW. A new 65 foot bridge requires no stopping. Evidently the Gulf Coast ICW still has pontoon bridges. One day we’ll check that out, maybe.

Our last stop in SC was the Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach. Mark and his non-water dog, Otto, continue to maintain the ¼ mile dock. Loopers that we’d seen in Beaufort were there, so we had the customary---and fun—visit with wine and munchies and the crew of the OLD GROUCH.

Tuesday we went onward through the Rock Pile, which hath no fear for Fred, and on past Lockwood’s Folly (newly dredged) into the Cape Fear River. We had fun staying on the ranges (for the non-boaters, ranges are markers that you align to create a straight line course that gives you a good opportunity to keep the boat in the channel.) We’d planned to stop at Southport Marina where a copy of USA Today is delivered to the boat in the a.m. but got such a push from the wind and current that we blew by (at 8.5kn.) and checked out a new marina at Masonboro. Nice. We’d go there again.

We were in ‘boro mode and it was an easy run to Swansboro. Also a new stop for us, and we strolled the town. Very cute and quaint, and also someplace we’ll re-visit. We were up and out early on Thursday morning—‘hold ‘er, Newt, she’s heading for the barn’. (Unless you’ve been astride a horse that suddenly realized she was heading home, that phrase probably doesn’t compute. I learned how to hang on for dear life at my cousins’ South Dakota farm.)

Cruising is never dull. The inlet from the Atlantic at Morehead was quiet—no major boats moving, but plenty of interesting boats and equipment and people to watch as we moved through Beaufort (Bo-fort) and Morehead City. Through Adam’s Creek, across the Neusse River, and we were north of 35 degrees Latitude, and waaaaay out of the hurricane zone. Yee Hah.

The boat is now parked in Oriental, NC. We’ve rented a car and driven to Green Cove Springs where our Jeep was waiting on the dock next to LAZY DOLPHIN. Had a dee-lish lunch with Barb and Randy, and then drove back to YA. We spent a ‘lay’ day in preparation for the next leg, and on Tuesday and Wednesday drove home to New York. As we passed through VA, we stopped at the Visitor’s Center in the Dismal Swamp, and lo, there was a Mirage N-47! Sha La La is en route to Newport, RI. As usual in the spring, the Swamp Landing was packed and we had to climb over two rafted boats to spend an hour visiting with Jerry and Theresa.

On Friday, daughter Kris Tina received her Bachelor’s Degree from Marist College in a beautiful outside ceremony on the banks of the Hudson River. Amazingly, the rain fell all around but not upon the graduates. It was wonderful. Saturday I flew to Minneapolis for a luncheon reunion with the nurses from Swedish Hospital. Friend Freddie was a ‘golden girl’, that is, she’s a member of the Class of ’61 in 2011. Next year will be, I can’t believe it, my 50^th anniversary of graduation. Yikes! It was fun to re-connect with classmates, and nephew Jeff and family came by for a quick visit as well. I’d have been home on Sunday, but for the difugilties of air travel. Spent the night in Detroit, and returned to Newburgh Monday at noon.

While I was in MPLS, Fred took his newly cemented anchors with gallon jug buoys to the Hudson River and messed around in boats with 5 Mid Hudson Power Squadron buddies. The members are preparing for on the water certification, and Fred is preparing to become a certifier. A good time was had by all!

Tuesday, daughter Linda Lee received her MBA degree from Fordham University, in a ceremony held at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center in Manhattan. The evening was gorgeous, weather wise, and although we sat outside enjoying the City until 4 long lines had formed to enter the auditorium, Fred found us seats that were so close to the stage we almost could have flipped the tassel on Linda’s mortar board as she passed by with diploma in hand. It was a big accomplishment for both graduates and we’re really, really proud of them!

We’ll be in NY for the month of June, and one day I’ll return for another chapter in the saga!

‘till then, be well, and enjoy each precious day!

May 2 (almost) 2011

2011-05-06T14:26:00.001-07:00

This is very unusual. I’m writing a Monday Message ON A MONDAY. I intend to post it to the Travels of YA Blog—and YA is actually travelling! Imagine that!

Last week was busy, fun, interesting, adj. adj. adj. Eight or nine Great Harbour boats and their parents and pets gathered in Green Cove Springs. Was fun to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Ken and Becky Fickett, owners of Mirage Manufacturing (where the GH boats are built) hosted their annual seminar in Gainesville. About 35 members of the Great Harbour Trawlers Association were there, and the casual format allowed for lots of catching up, comparing notes and learning about what is new in the world of cruising.

Darryl came to YA once more and finished up the heating system. Fred was excited to create hot water in the tank using the furnace in ‘summer’ mode. Hot water but no heat. Pretty clever, I’d say. I’m excited as Darryl also built us a file cabinet drawer. Makes it much, much easier to access the space under the dinette seat! Yay.

Our intention was to head north on Saturday. We’re reluctant to use the word ‘plan’ anymore, as you know what happens to the best laid plans. In any case, we stayed on for just one more night, and enjoyed a Low Country Boil on the Dock at GCS. Ed the organizer did a fine job of putting it all together.

Sunday morning we were up, up and away by 8 a.m. At 9, we met Bob McNally, a friend of NY friend Gerry Bethje, who had a package of frozen fish for us. We’d missed connections the day of their actual fishing trip, but were able to catch Bob at his dock south of Jacksonville. Stopped long enough to hand off the package and we were on our way again.

It was shrimp festival week at Fernandina Beach and we arrived at the tail end of the festivities on Sunday afternoon. Verizon Wireless still had their tent up, and Fred is now the proud owner of a Blackberry. Watch for emailed photos and messages ‘sent from my blackberry’ as he learns to navigate that little feller!

Sunday evening was warm and lovely, and we spent about 2 hours scrubbing down the boat. Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. The bugs and spiders leave a serious trail---and it doesn’t let go easily. The aluminum rail is shiny with the salt washed away, and it is nice to have white decks again!

Monday we were underway at 11 and crossed into Georgia. Every time we go through southern GA, Fred hopes there will be submarines around the naval base. We hit the jackpot this time! Not one, but two! The Coast Guard hailed us on the radio after we crossed the St. Mary’s Enterance and told us there was an ‘escort’ coming and would we please stay out of the channel with our bow pointing toward land. We chose to do that very close to the two tugs that were waiting to meet the submarine we could see coming in from sea. Not good enough. The next message we got came from a young man who had both hands firmly planted on a machine gun. He was close enough to speak, not shout his request that we move on more quickly. We moved on. Quickly. Were able to watch, though, as the sub motored in, was met and boarded by people on the tugs, and then sidled up to another sub that was ‘parked’ in the Navy yard before turning back toward (we think) St. Mary’s. Those things are huge, and I think, sinister looking. Fred thinks they are beautiful.

The dredges have been at work, and the skinny corner that stopped us in our tracks in March had lots of water, and a big pile of debris. TARP dollars at work, perhaps?

Our next stop was Jeckyll Island Marina. That place just seems to call to us, and we’ve met others who feel the same way. I sat on the fantail at sunset listening to popcorn shrimp crackle, and was treated to a show by several dolphins playing nearby. I think the unsettling state of the world evidenced by the message delivered by Pres. Obama late Sunday night made it especially delicious to see those graceful, peaceful creatures curl out of the water again and again—seemingly just for entertainment—mine and theirs.

Today was our day to wend our way through the squiggles of Georgia’s IntraCoastal Waterway. The big black flies have been out in droves and pelicans and gulls have been our constant companions as we stir up the water. Our path varies from 3-30 feet deep,a and we often see birds standing on the bottom just a few feet away from us.

Tonight we are anchored in the Cattle Pen Creek where the tide has risen about 6 feet. The tall marsh grass that was waving in the breeze when we arrived at 5:30 is now nearly covered by water on either shore. It’s pitch black out there and Knute, our anchor, is happly snuggled in the mud, holding us steady in the creek.

So off I go until next week. Happy to be chronicling cruising. Happy to be enjoying all the many connections with family and friends. Shoot. I guess I’m just happy.

Hope you are the same.

April 25, 2011

2011-04-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

Well, mid April has arrived…All the New York tasks are completed, and today we’re back in Green Cove Springs—on the boat. The weather is very Florida. Mid 80’s and low 90’s and actually quite delicious. Today started out looking hot and windy, and by tonite it is a gorgeous starry evening. The same stars are shining on us here in FL as are shining on you, wherever you are! We hope you are enjoying them, also!

Our ride north was pretty uneventful—favorite way for a trip up the East Coast to be! One highlight was when we made a lunch stop at Ted and Rita’s new digs in Cary, NC. We were pleased to see them ‘settled in’ and looking well and happy.

Our main reason for going to New York was the inevitable tax season. April is the month of choice, and Fred checks out the new regulations. Fun, fun, fun.

We spent the first weekend in Saratoga Springs at a Power Squadron event. Returned to Newburgh to attend the funeral of my good friend, Mary Lou Fulton. Sorry to lose her, and happy that we got to New York in time for one last visit before she died.

Casey’s first grade celebrated grandparents day, so Grandma Connie (Chris’ mom) and I shared the experience. Was fun to be read to by the young man, and to see his work on display. That afternoon, Casey, Becca, Jen and I journeyed to the NYS Museum in Albany. If you’ve not been, I heartily recommend it! The special display (in addition to a lot of NY history, geology and wildlife) was Can-tastic! A group of architects, using canned food donated primarily by Price Chopper Supermarkets, created ten sculptures. What a hoot! The tulip won best in show—the most realistic looking, and Nemo was judged the best full meal! If you ate the food from the cans used to create him (and families will—al cans will be donated to food banks at the end of the month) Nemo provided the most well-rounded meal. It was truly Can-tastic. Additional food was donated by the public—you brought your cans of food and ‘voted’ for your favorite display by placing cans in collection bins at each entry. Really well done, and a most worthy cause.

Kris and I took the train to NYC one evening to meet Lynn Levy (in NY from her home in Baltimore) and her daughter Jessica (who lives in the City, bless her!) for dinner. Was great to spend some time, and a good reminder of how easy it is to go to New York. How lucky are we, I ask you.

We also spent a delightful afternoon at West Point with Linda, Jen and family. A tribute to the 50^th anniversary of WWII was presented at Eisenhower Hall, called In the Mood. Big band sound with lots of nostalgia. We really enjoyed it.

One fine afternoon we perched on the bleachers to watch the Newburgh High School baseball team play. JT was on first (Who?) but I didn’t have the camera ready to capture either his leaping catch or the low lean with one foot firmly planted on the bag as he stretched his lanky frame to make the catch--and the out!

Wed. the 22^nd, we saddled up Big Red, the Jeep, and headed back south. Young America was waiting patiently at the dock with her new furnace installed and a wonderful new file drawer built into an otherwise hard to access space!

So here we are, and that is the news from this corner of the world. We love hearing from you all, and look forward to get-togethers whenever possible. Do keep in touch, and keep smiling!

Linda and Fred

March 28, 2011

2011-03-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

We’re back. Back on the boat, and ready to leave it again. Go figure...

I did go to New York. Stayed in the condo for two weekends, to give the crew in FL time to install the new heating system. The only problem is, the components didn’t get put together and the ‘right stuff’ didn’t arrive, so Fred spent eleven days in the southern state, while I spent eleven days in the northern state, and a few days after I returned, the work got started.

I had a great time in NY. On the first Sunday, much of the family gathered at High Point Circle to celebrate March birthdays and anniversaries, as well as to visit with the newlyweds, Tarryn and Austin, who were home from Hawaii. The time flew by, and very soon I, too, was flying. On Tuesday the 15th, I landed back at the JAX airport to lunch with Fred!

Hmmmm... Cruising? The day after I left, Fred moved the boat from the huge concrete, stationary, built for Navy ships dock to the recreational boat floating dock. It is much easier to board with heavy boxes of building supplies from here. And that is 'it' for boat movement since last we spoke---except for the rock and roll of the St. John’s River. Not sure why we get so much bobbing here, but unlike some docking experiences, here we know for sure that we are on a boat! The lines do their work holding us securely at the dock!

Reynolds Park Yacht Center has a rich history and an exciting future. Formerly known as Lee Field Naval Air Station, it was the site of one of the largest U.S. aviation training facilities during World War II. In 1946 this 1700-acre complex, located on the St. Johns River, was developed into a marine terminal to securely house the Mothball Fleet of WWII ships. Over 600 ships were stationed here until, under his first executive order, President Johnson decommissioned the facility and moved the fleet to Texas, his home state. The Navy relinquished the facility and industrialist J. Louis Reynolds, former chairman of Reynolds Metal Company, established Reynolds Park in 1965. The park remains in the family today and is now home to a diverse variety of businesses, local and international. Since established the waterfront and piers had been used mainly for commercial vessels, dredging equipment, ship building and repairing. Most marinas are in restricted spaces with no room to expand. With the increasing size and number of yachts creating a demand for more yacht facilities it was decided in 2002 to develop part of the waterfront as a yacht marina to take advantage of the existing piers and available space.

I cut and pasted that paragraph from Google. Mirage Manufacturing chose Reynolds Park as the marina to use to launch their boats. YOUNG AMERICA was first splashed here, after being trucked from Gainesville, in 2008.

Darryl did come to install the furnace. He brought his son Aaron, who easily could fit in the alleyways under the floor. Ran hoses and wires from one end of the boat to the other. Our 592 sq. ft. home will have 3 zone heat when it is all done!

Where were you on the night of the biggest full moon in many years? We celebrated with fellow boaters at a ‘Howl at the moon' Party on the dock. Hot dogs and salads, munchies, and eventually brilliant moonlight! A good time was had by all!

We’re really enjoying the southern warm weather and sunshine (except today it rained---much needed rain, though, so it’s a good thing). Here is a local news flash! An Osprey nest atop a power pole got wet in the rain and the resulting short circuit caused a power outage for an hour or so. No one knows for sure what happened to the bird, but it can’t have been pretty…..

Tomorrow we’ll pack up and drive to New York. This is a trip that has been on the agenda. We’ll take care of taxes, Power Squadron events, (I’m studying for the Advanced Piloting exam), and various appointments with the professionals who verify for us that we are well. And immensely grateful to be so!

Will return in mid-April. See you then!

March 3, 2011

2011-03-03T18:10:00.001-08:00

WE ARE UNDERWAY!!! Can you believe it? We’re having a spot of bother (as Winnie-ther-Pooh would say) with the concept ourselves! To catch up—

After Orlando we did make one more trip to the fuel dock at Shelter Cove—again for a pump out. For you non-boating readers, a boat’s septic stuff needs to be transferred from the boat’s holding tank to the land sewage treatment system—pumped out, as it were. After that it was ‘get ready to cruise’ time.

We had done some local things—went to the Art Center/Theater where Fred’s cousin Betty exhibited her paintings in a recent show, and saw the local production of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps”. They made it into a well- choreographed farce and it was really funny. We had wine and cheese with the UU’ers of the LowCountry at a ‘Palace’ (6500 sq. ft. home) with a lovely view of the setting sun. We dined at Moe’s and at Charley’s and at the HH Diner, and from time to time I prepared a meal or two for us. We went to a Hilton Head Power Squadron meeting and enjoyed a photo tour of cruising in Puget Sound, and one evening we went to the movies to see—and really enjoy---The King’s Speech. Two of my high school classmates, Paula and Judy, visited one Saturday. Fred and I walked and walked and walked—it is nearly 2 miles around the marina and we did that trek almost daily. So we’re about as fit and fat and full of culture as we can get here, so we’re off.

Headed south on Saturday, Feb. 27, and it didn’t take long to become acclimated to being on a moving boat. We had a very nice run to Thunderbolt, GA. Bless that Dockmaster, he still provides Krispy Kreme donuts every morning, and Fred loved ‘em. Anchored the next night in Randy’s favorite, the Duplin River.

By 2 pm Monday we‘d tied up at the Marina in Brunswick GA, where Fred allowed the wind to dock the boat. The marina dockhand kept motioning for us to come to the right, and we smiled and said, “just wait”. Sure enough, Fred held the helm steady and we were blown right into the correct spot. Amazing. Rented a car and in 2 ½ hours we’d retraced our 2 ½ days on the boat. We picked up the big red Jeep from Shelter Cove, Moe’s welcomed us again for a burrito, and by 10pm the rental car was returned, the Jeep parked, and we were fast asleep.

Next morning, as we headed past the Jeckyll Island Sound, YA was boarded by the Coast Guard. It was a routine inspection—they seemed to be training a young fellow. From their boat they asked if we had any weapons aboard. We said no, and they came astern and climbed onto our swim platform. First words were “Without moving your hands, do you have any weapons aboard?” Fred answered that there was a knife by the door but no firearms. Correct answer. Hey, they never know!

We had the requisite documents, fire extinguishers, posted notices about discharge of waste etc., and PFD’s, and we were told that they liked our nice boat with the clean engine room. And just as they had come, their driver nosed the CG inflatable up to our stern and all three hopped back into their boat.

The tide was out, the water low, and the charted underwater island not where it appeared to be. Sound familiar, Mike???? South of the Jeckyll Island Marina bridge, we came to a very sudden unexpected stop. Went on deck with boathooks to see how deep the water wasn’t (we draw less than 3’ so there couldn’t be much) and if we could find a deep spot. We couldn’t. The wind was blowing so hard it picked up our rug from the stern and we had to pause in the sounding activity to use the extended boathook to bring the rug back aboard! Fred was able to use the bow thruster, skill and cunning to rock us loose from the sticky gumbo, and we tried again—successfully, to round the curve. This time, he drove the boat by reading the water instead of the chart.

Uffda.

A few minutes later we passed a small boat who handled being aground in a very different way. As the song says “If you ain’t run aground, you just ain’t been around. Du wop, du wop du wop!”

Wind and current remained really strong all afternoon—thankfully behind us, so we had a smooth ride in the messy water. By 3 pm we were tied up at the Fernandina Beach, FL Marina. This time the current was very strong and pushed YA rapidly downstream, away from the dock, while the very strong wind joined in the fun. Fred maneuvered against both and smoothly came up to our spot. The dockhands praised his willingness to let the boat sit for a few minutes to test the conditions. Apparently not all captains do that. It’s been said that driving a boat is not unlike driving a car on black ice. Yep, can be.

Just after we tied up, a sailboat approached with a blown jib. They, too had come from Brunswick, but offshore in the Ocean. No explanation yet for why the pin gave way and freed the bottom of the sail. With the wind and current conditions, it took an hour to safely dock the boat. A young man from the marina was then hoisted up in his bowsun’s chair to cut away the shreds of sail and somehow lower the jib. The captain of CELEBRATION remained very calm throughout the ordeal. Having the wind whip 20 lbs. or so of roller-furling drum from side to side on the deck can certainly be unnerving. During one lull in the wind, the crew managed to secure the drum to the inner forestay, which, thankfully was in place. George, the captain, agreed with his wife that they should continue to sail. I don’t think he considers himself an inexperienced captain any more. Moral of all the stories is that it certainly isn’t what happens, ‘cuz anything can; it’s how you deal with it that counts. They did well.

Today we arrived in Green Cove Springs where we’ll be docked for a couple of weeks. YA will celebrate her 3rd birthday on March 6, by having a new central heating system installed. After these past two winters we have decided that warm is good.

While the boat is torn asunder, with tools and worker bees everywhere, I’ll be in NY joining in the March birthday/anniversary celebrations, and doing various very important tasks. Most importantly, I won’t be fighting for space with Fred and the furnace!

So until next time, stay well, keep smiling and let’s all pray for peace-- inside each of us, and in the whole wide world as well!

February 13, 2011

2011-02-13T14:32:00.000-08:00

November, 2010 was when last we met here. Have I mentioned how quickly time goes by when you’re having fun??? A truism, for sure!

We went to NY for the holidays—and then some! Had wonderful visits with all seven children and their families, and with friends as well. Minor vexations such as a furnace that refused to run unless Fred whomped it (a truly non-Fred activity, but it eventually helped with the differential diagnosis. The computer chip was just fine; the overflow valve on the humidifier outflow was stuck. Would that the furnace guys had noted this and saved Fred many hours of contemplation!) as well as all the blizzards that are such old news I dare not dwell upon them, kept us in the North (spell that c-o-l-d) country for a couple of weeks longer than planned.

Our return to YA in late Jan. gave us just time to sort out the ‘list to starboard’ that had been reported to us by the marina. Has the stern platform hose connection really been leaking into the lazarette since 2008? Seems so—check out those ripples in the water that collected. (On second thought, don't check out the ripples. I lost the photo. There surely was a drip, drip, drip, though!) BTW, thanks, Ken, for NOT putting limber holes into the stringers. There is no doubt that the leak whatever its cause, is to starboard!

Water gone, boat riding level in the rising and falling tides of Hilton Head, we again climbed into the Red Jeep Grand Cherokee that came to live with us while we were in NY (sad adieu to the Audi and the ‘Burb, both vehicles that served us very well) and headed to Orlando for the US Power Squadron Annual Meeting. We did a Disney tour this time, and had some great visits, laughs and connections with friends old and new.

The day after the conference ended, we went to Harris Lake to participate in On-the-Water training for the Power Squadron. We each operated a powerboat to the satisfaction of our certifier, and are on our way to Boat Operator Certification. We took the long, slow way back to Hilton Head – it was, after all, Super Bowl Sunday! Somehow we managed to stretch a 5 hour ride into a day and a half.

So here we are, enjoying the almost really warm weather and ambiance of Shelter Cove. We know the folly of planning—2010 proved to us that the best laid plans ging oft awry—so we’re casually discussing our next move. We’ll keep you posted—and I promise (to myself, first) that a new episode of the Travels (or stationary activities) of YOUNG AMERICA will appear before months have slipped away!

November 26, 2010

2010-11-26T13:41:00.000-08:00

Hi again---

Just couldn't resist adding these two shots for a couple of reasons. The cormorant is Fred's new best friend. They were hanging out together on the dock at, as you can see, high tide. The second shot is Fred's chair about six hours later. Gives you a good awareness of the SC tidal range! Six feet? Eight? Another place we notice it is at the bridge to the floating dock. At high tide it is a level walk--as the water disappears, the ramp drops to about a 45 degree angle. Challenging--especially if you're pulling or pushing a loaded cart!

November 24, 2010

2010-11-24T21:34:00.000-08:00

Hello and a happy Thanksgiving to all! And we do have so very much to be thankful for!

For openers, Fred and I are together again aboard YOUNG AMERICA. I’d spent a month in Newburgh with grandson Matthew, who now is living in Greene County, NY. Fred met me at the airport in Savannah last Wednesday and ‘twas oh, so good to be back!

On Friday we hopped in the Burb and went to Brunswick, GA, where Fred joined Mike Borum aboard SEA DREAM. While they cruised leisurely to Fernandino Beach and then Jacksonville, I drove to Lake City, FL and spent a day with long time friend, Lorraine Kirkland. We had a great visit, and then I rejoined the travelers at JAX Landing. We each motored up the St. John’s River to Green Cove Springs, where SEA DREAM will be docked for awhile.

We delivered Mike back to his car in Brunswick, and then came back ‘home’ to the boat. Used the Tom-Tom I brought from NY to locate the nearest Dairy Queen! Ah, the joys of modern technology. (OK, so it’s not so modern...Tom is new to us!)

While I was in NY, another one of those ‘on the list’ jobs that got done was to replace the salon air conditioner with a new model--rewired to run at 220V. The original 110V unit would neither heat nor cool, and soon it was discovered that it had lost all freon. ‘Had lost’ was the operative term, as a balloon test to see if freon was escaping showed that all the freon was elsewhere. Happiness is a new, working a/c unit.

On Veteran’s Day, Fred flew the big flag in honor of all the servicemen and women who deserve special recognition every day, and are especially remembered on Nov. 11.

Our Turkey day celebration will be at the Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort. Two years ago we accepted the invitation posted around the Beaufort marina to come to the church for Thanksgiving Dinner. Since we’re in the area this year, (only about 20 min. away by car) we’ve volunteered to help clean up after they serve the many folks who come by for a meal. Looking forward to it!

I find it hard to believe that it's Holiday time, although the stores have been extolling the virtues of Christmas since mid-October! We plan to drive to NY in a couple of weeks, and be there until mid-January.

So this may be 'it' for YA Blog 2010. It's been a strange and unusual year for us cruisers--we've done very little of that! However, we have enjoyed the boat, the family, the friends and each other to the max! Hope your year has been a successful and a happy one. All the best, until we meet again!

Linda and Fred

October 22, 2010

2010-10-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

Well, hello!

What I said about that frost on the pumpkin is really true---if you aren’t in Hilton Head...

I’m not. Family matters have caused me to take a little detour from cruising, and I’ll be bundling up in the increasingly cool weather of Newburgh, NY, for the rest of Oct. and a good portion of Nov. Life, I heard someone say, is what happens while you are making other plans.....

Fred, on the other hand, continues to bask in the sunny 70’s at Shelter Cove. Maybe bask isn’t the best word. He’s doing one of the things he loves best---crossing items off the To Do list. Some are paperwork (not so much fun) and some involve tools (Way Better!).

This week, in addition to taking these photos of foggy mornings and sunset over the dinghy, he installed an echo charger for the parts of the dinghy that can fade away without electrical input. So there now is a new panel (with, of course, indicator lights) on the console. No more wondering if the dinghy motor will start when we hit the water. The inverter will, I’m told, keep that puppy up and running!

As in Fred’s adventure behind the navigation screens where miles of extra wire were found to be just hanging around, inside the dinghy’s nether compartments Fred discovered no less than 65’ of unused wires. Makes you wonder. He has now removed the excess, installed what was needed and is happy with the result. It is not, however a project that was taken on lightly, nor would it be repeated. A lot of up and down-ing of ladders, muttering, and spending time in physical positions more appropriate for a well trained contortionist. Best part? The job is off the list! Next???

With Fred moving about on YOUNG AMERICA, the graceful heron has moved across the inlet, and now stands on the stern of ALLEGRO TOO patiently watching and waiting for his meals. Or maybe he’s just relaxing and enjoying the view. Who knows?

That is it for this edition. Do remember to breathe in, breathe out, and repeat endlessly, thereby bringing a measure of inner peace that can be passed on to others.........

Linda and Fred

October 5, 2010

2010-10-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

Almost Monday. Hey, it takes a bit to get back into the groove!

We did stay in Newburgh until, Wed., and Thurs., and Fri., and Sat., and Sunday... On Monday Sept 27, we dropped the VW Eos off to get a minor repair. Daughter Molly generously offers to pick it up on these occasions--note to Klaus and Betty, Molly likes that little car a lot, too!

We headed south in the Burb, and what a day it was!

We routinely head west to I-81 to get to the south USA. It’s a much more pleasant ride than I-95--ususally--and bypasses all the metropolitan bru-ha-ha in the Baltimore-Washington corridor. On this day we could have been anywhere. The rain poured down and did not wash away fog so thick that we were the only car we could see most of the time. Not that there wasn’t traffic--we weren’t the only ones slogging along, but a slog it was--and like PA, it went on and on and on.

We finally reached, and stopped in, Winchester, VA where we slept the sound sleep of people who’ve bumbled through fog all day. Happily, we awoke to a much clearer day on Tuesday. VA, like PA, takes forever to cross, but it’s a beautiful ride and by evening we’d put NC behind us and were settled in near Columbia, SC. Rode over to Aiken in the morning to have breakfast with Ted and Rita---the brothers certainly do look alike, don’t they?

From Aiken, we rolled into Charleston and once again stopped at our new favorite hotel, the Historic Embassy Suites, or as then 3 year old Becca called it, the Pink Castle, site of the Mangelsdorf family reunion in April, ’09. We returned to the Cold War Sub Memorial, as Fred 1) has been authorized by his shipmates to fund raise for a bench to commemorate the Cutlass 478 at the memorial site, and 2) he has a new camera to try out. It’s a pocket digital--a very light weight replacement for the bag of camera equipment that went missing in GCS in June.

By 5 pm on Thursday, we were once again ‘Back in Boat’ (Did you watch “All of me” yet? GO rent it!!!) YA was happily awaiting us in the tranquil waters of Shelter Cove.

The rest of the week has been a little bit of Paradise. We have tasks every day, and we regularly invoke the ‘rule’ given us by Joan on FOREVER 39 when we were first looking at Great Harbour Trawlers. She said that for a cruiser, a day with two tasks accomplished is a good day. Talk about maxing retirement! We find that we are very, very good at this, and thank you, Joan---you may not have realized that you were offering life-altering advice! :-)

My high school classmate, Paula, brought her traveling companion, Patsy to visit (from their home in Sumter, SC) on Saturday. Was a fun time, a beautiful day, and we walked a couple of miles around the Cove--Disney has an island just over the bridge, and we wandered by to watch the crabbers and fishermen on the dock.

So I looked at the clock today and realized that Monday had passed us by---something to do with new tires for the Burb, taking the boat to the Marina office for a pump out (Yes, we are still cruisers, so to speak!) and then having to check out the delightful restaurant above the Marina store, and sitting on a bench while the guitar player at San Miguel’s restaurant strummed some of our favorite oldies...a busy day!

Onward and upward!

Be well, and, as Garrison Kielor says in his daily 5 minute Almanac, Keep in touch!

Linda and Fred

September 20, 2010

2010-09-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hi, Hey and Hello there! Here it is Sept. and the MonDAY messages seem to have devolved into the MonTHLY messages.

We’re back. Were Back in Boat (Digression: if you haven’t see Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin in “All of Me” to recognize that I’m alluding to the hilarious line “Back in Bowl” rent the dvd. Silly laughter--the best medicine!) We WERE back in Boat---drove to Hilton Head when Hurricane Earl reared it’s ugly head. We believed that it would go way off shore (it did) but we wanted to see for ourselves that all was well. So we drove down and spent 3 days on YA in the ultra calm waters at Shelter Cove.

Shelter Cove is a great marina, and Dock E is just opposite the pavilion where Shannon Tanner performs twice nightly. First show for children, and the later one for adults. We really got a kick out of his music and engagement of the kids--and he had noticed YA, and so had a tour. We expect to see more of him when we return.

We attended the UU of the Lowcountry in Bluffton, spent an evening with an old friend from Newburgh, and the boat time passed all too quickly.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation In Rock Tavern, NY has completed the rebuilding of the church that was destroyed by fire in 2006, and the official dedication was scheduled for the weekend of 9/11-12. I’d returned to Newburgh in May for the first service int the new bldg. but we both wanted to be there for the dedication. So we once again locked up YA and headed north by car.

First stop was Charleston where we spent several hours taking pictures at the Cold War Submarine Museum in Mount Pleasant Fred’s 2 years of Navy service aboard the Cutlass 478 made this an especially interesting place. And the crews of the Cutlass were gathering in Pittsburgh that week for their bi-annual reunion that very week, so our next destination was, you guessed it, Pittsburgh, PA. Very nice to renew old acquaintances, and we got to go on a boat ride on the three rivers of Pittsburgh. We duly noted that but for the torrential spring rains in Nashville and the oil spill in the Gulf, we probably would have arrived in Pittsburgh by boat. That was our Plan A for 2010. This was just not the best year to go upstream, so we didn’t.

We were in back Newburgh on Saturday, 9/11. With the national news espousing man’s inhumanity to man, it felt very reassuring to attend the dedication service at the UU, where the inherent worth and dignity of every person is celebrated, and all religious faiths are deemed worthy.

Hope springs eternal for people to learn tolerance and spread peace on this fine old earth of ours.

On Wednesday evening we gave a Power Point presentation on locks to the members of the Mid Hudson Power Squadron. They’d asked for info about unusual locks, and Peterborough and the Big Chute on the Trent-Severn Waterway certainly fit that qualification. It was a fun evening with about 25 folks gathering for a pot luck before the slide show.

This week we continue to straddle both worlds. Enjoyed visiting with family as my niece Mary, her daughter Kyra and their friend Nick stayed with us before and after they participated in a Warrior Dash at Windham ski lodge. The grueling, messy, and apparently hugely fun 6K obstacle run was quite the event. We helped them recover with pizza and birthday cake. (September B’days, Kris and Linda Lee). We also tucked in a visit with Klaus and Betty from MOON BEAM. Missed out on the mini-rondesvoux with Brooke and Dee (EAST PASSAGE) and Mike Jackson (SEA GLASS) at Mike’s home in Warwick, NY. We’ll catch up another time!

We’ll be around the condo until after Fred’s board meeting for the Condo Association on Wed. Then it’ll be time to pack up and return to the sunny climes of SC. Mornings in NY are deliciously cool now, and the pumpkins are out, awaiting the frost. Time to think warm.

Until next time,

Be well, and keep in touch...Linda and Fred

2010-08-26T07:45:00.001-07:00

August 24, 2010

2010-08-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

And the weeks go by....still here in NY, and we’re beginning to have conversations about what to take with us when we return to the boat.

The nice drivers from UPS and FedEx have been our friends during these weeks as Fred orders more and more items to replace those things we ‘lost’ to the thief. No encouraging words from the GCS Police about catching anyone so we’re guessing that event will simply slide into history.

Whoever was in charge of the weather for Ada and Jim’s wedding did a fantastic job! Eighty degrees was the top number the thermometer scored, and that was perfect for an outdoor event overlooking the gorgeous Hudson Valley. We had two opportunities to get to know Jim’s relatives--the Rehearsal dinner on Friday evening and then the reception after the wedding itself. A good time was had by all, and now Mr. and Mrs. Seymour have moved into the ‘happily ever after’ phase!

I’m officially a sighted person! Tomorrow it’ll be a week since eye #2 was enhanced by Dr. Mary--she implanted a prescription lens, and also relaxed my corneas to clear some of the major astigmatism I’ve looked thru for lo, these many years. I swear my eyes look different, and I can certainly attest that everything I look at is sharper and clearer. I’m slowly adjusting to the ability to turn my head quickly without fear of losing a lens, and can’t wait to go swimming! Yee hah! To go from 20/800 to 20/60 in 15 minutes with no pain is a pretty remarkable experience!

So we muddle on, doing the things we do in New York--we meet with family and friends, hang new blinds in the last 4 of our five bay windows (only took 6 years to get to that!) and count our blessings. Will update when we’ve actually returned to YA--for however brief a visit--and know that one day we’ll return to our status as live-aboards!

Happy to have you checking in with us--we send love and peace and happiness to all!

Fred and Linda

August 4, 2010

2010-08-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

Well, let’s see what marvelous excuse for not writing I can come up with this time!

I’ve got it! When we are not on the boat, there is no YOUNG AMERICA news! Remember how when last we spoke, Fred and I were looking forward to returning to Shelter Cove at Hilton Head? Didn’t happen. YET. We shall return, but probably not for another month.

There are a lot of reasons, all of them good, and the bottom line is that we’ve chosen to remain in New York and participate in family events, as well as clean up unfinished business and take care of health issues new and old.

We knew that daughter Ada was planning to wed the love of her life, Jim on August 14---and she will. Plan A was that we’d spend July bringing the boat to the Chesapeake and drive home from, say Baltimore, for the wedding. First week in July, 21 year old granddaughter Tarryn announced her engagement and imminent marriage to her college sweetheart, Austin, who has become a Pfc in the Army and will be off to Hawaii in mid-August. In order to get Tarryn enrolled as an Army spouse prior to that date, they had to marry pronto! And so they did--a lovely ceremony in a Rhode Island Rose Garden, with a delightful reception last weekend at the West Point Club.

They are an adorable couple and happy as newlyweds ought to be. Tarryn will leave for Hawaii Sept. 1st. Good excuse for a visit there, but not on YA!

Now that we were in town for July, there was time to advertise our condo (my home before Fred and I married, which had recently been vacated by Ada) on CraigsList. The excellent response was a real surprise to me--showed it two and three times a day and within a week we had to choose between two good tenants. Strong recommendation for CraigsList.com!

In a totally different vein, we’re doing all the medical stuff (pun intended) while home. Fred’s in great shape. The doctors and dentists have seen his smiling face, soon he'll glow with one of the fancy new tests the cardiac people have devised, and he’s also been able to re-connect on a pretty regular basis with the Wed. a.m. breakfast group of guys he’s been a part of for over 12 years. They call themselves the DOF's (Dutchess Old Fogies--Dutchess is the county in which they meet). It is very nice to have such a constant in life, thinks I.

At a routine eye exam, I discovered that the lens inserted as a replacement after cataract surgery can be a prescription lens--and one need not have cataracts to have that procedure done! So after wearing coke bottle glasses from age 2-18, followed by 50 years of hard contact lenses, yesterday a prescription lens was inserted into my left eye, and in two weeks the right lens will be placed. Holy Happiness! For the first time in my entire life I was able to read the alarm clock (with it’s 3” high digital numbers!) as soon as I woke up today--no fumbling for spectacles. I’m beyond excited to discover lens free life on YOUNG AMERICA---

YOUNG AMERICA--we miss her terribly, and remain unclear about when we’ll rejoin her. Best guess is end of August, and it may be mid Sept. So we’ll continue to randomly keep in touch. Happy to hear from all of you, and we send love and peace......lots of it!

Fred and Linda

June 30, 2010

2010-06-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

Blog??? What blog? Oh man, does the time fly when you are having fun. And even when you’re not! There has been some of both in recent weeks, she whined.

Our stay at the Sleep Inn turned out to be 15 days. We did get some good stuff done--hull washed and waxed, I went to the Apple store in JAX for another class in ‘how to use the Mac’, we saw a movie (The A Team), and every day we were back and forth as the fiberglass work and replacement of the rails and swim ladder progressed.

Sad to say, on the morning of the day the boat was to return to the water, the first thing Fred noticed at 8 a.m. when he arrived at YA was that the door was unlocked. It went downhill from there. During the night we had an unexpected and most unwelcome guest who departed with more of our possessions than we’d think could be carried away. From the tool chest in the engine room (complete with socket sets) to the +/- 60 dvd’s on the bookshelf--with stops along the way for jackets, pocketbooks, passports and most everything else that wasn’t tied down, we were thoroughly burgled.

Note to Mirage owners: you might want to rethink that ‘hiding’ place for the key to your boat. Our key was used---and left on the bed--we hope with traceable fingerprints!

So we spent an extra day in GCS doing police reports, replacement costs, and shopping for the few things we’d need to be safe on the water. With new binocs, a new handheld and our old headphones (don't know why they were overlooked!) at the ready for docking, on Sat. June 19 we headed north.

You’ll think we’re pretty silly if I spelled out our activities over the next few days--we had boat and car to move north, and a commitment to be in Aberdeen, SD on Friday, June 25. Suffice it to say that by 7:25 a.m on the 25th the boat was tied up in Shelter Cove at Hilton Head, the car had been moved from GCS to the dealership in NY and was having work done, and we’d driven to Albany to board plane #1.

I’d retrace the boat part of the trip, but honestly, all I can remember is that the ride up Broad Creek on Hilton Head Island was delightful, and Shelter Cove is a great marina!! Thanks for the recommendation to Jim on LONE WOLF!

You can’t get from Newburgh to Aberdeen, so we flew from Albany to Mpls. and rented a car for something different--a 6 hour ride. Had a wonderful visit with my family--I re-enacted my duties as Maid of Honor for my sister--only now it is 50 years later! (I must have been 4 when they were married! Those pictures just lie. That’s all there is to it!)

We returned to Newburgh just in time to meet son Geoff, his wife Amy and 11 year old Pete. Geoff will begin a year at the Navy War College in Newport, RI next month, and they’d left Ft. Huachuaca, AZ about the same time we left Hilton Head. 2 of our other 6 children and their families were available for a pizza party last evening, and a good time was had by all.

Tonight (Wed. the last day of June), we’re taking a deep breath and looking ahead to the summer.

Plans??? What plans? The Chesapeake is waiting, and we're looking to see how much cruising we can squeeze into the next few months. So little to do, and so much time to do it in, as Willy Wonks wisely said.........Until next time, stay well and keep in touch!

June 5, 2010

2010-06-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

Moving right along....or not! We did do the separation thing for a few days. I flew to NY and attended all the afore mentioned events--and had a great time! Who knew that 6th 7th and 8th graders with very little prior experience could put on such a fabulous song and dance show in Damn Yankees! Katie played her violin and sang like a pro (a 6 year old pro, that is) and Molly and Jeff had a very relaxing and well attended Cinco de Mayo party. It was really nice to hang out with family and friends.

The dedication service at the UUCRT (Unitarian Universalist church that burned to the ground on 9/12/06 and has just been rebuilt) was a very special event. (www.uucrt.org) Although I was a long distance participant for the construction phase, the post fire decision making, right up to the ground breaking, was a very big part of my life--pre-YA. The building will be a wonderful addition to Orange County, NY for many generations to come, and the tiny group (66 congregants) that worked together to get the building built while carrying on their participation in the church, their personal lives and the community deserve kudos! A job well done, by all!

Meanwhile, back at Green Cove Springs, the days were filled with ‘boatwork’. The microwave was examined and the washer/dryer repaired. Fred set out to hardwire the small GPS we use as a backup, and got lost in the electric panels behind the computer screens. When he re-surfaced about 5 days later, nearly 50 feet of excess electric wire had been trimmed away, and tidy, well organized and labeled panels have appeared. The last 2 steps, actually hard wiring the GPS, and cutting the floor of the box where the wires live in half (to ease the access process for the future), were finally accomplished. Whew!

And then, when June arrived and the insurers were setting the rules, the boat was hauled. Since we've not taken YA north of Savannah now that the Hurricane season has begun, we have special ‘trip’ coverage for the month of June--turns out the whole policy would have been null and void without it. No charge for the trip coverage, but if named storm coverage is expected, well, that’s a different story. So the extra premium goes onto the list of expenses incurred as a result of someone’s negligent operation of a watercraft.

The wooden rail is off, and sanding and fiberglass work have begun. We’re ensconced in the SleepInn--have a suite that feels bigger than the boat! While the boatyard people do their magic with the damage repairs, we’ll be doing more ‘boatwork’ and expect that when we depart GCS--in the not too far distant future, we’ll have a truly shipshape vessel!

Will keep you posted!

May 17, 2010

2010-05-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

Well, this was a very different sort of week for us. For one thing, we were up and underway by 7 a.m. 3 days out of 5! Hardly recognized ourselves!

From Jupiter we headed for Vero Beach, and spent one night there. Found that they had delivered a newspaper onto the deck in the a.m.--a nice touch. Headed out and moseyed up to Cocoa, where we stayed Monday and Tuesday nites. Had a good time in downtown Cocoa--did some Christmas shopping at Coco’s, where Lynn was great fun and very helpful.

That getting up early thing is pretty neat. We were in Daytona at Halifax Harbour before 4, having been pushed to 8 knots for awhile, and then slowed to 5.5 kn. by the same water, but on the other side of an inlet. Amazing how the water moves back and forth, in and out, and takes us right along with it. Lots of Manitee zones along the way as well. We have yet to see a manitee, but the dolphins show themselves every now and then.

Thursday morning at 8:15 I poked my head into the engine room, just to check, and lo, the starboard alley was full enough of water that it was sloshing over into the center of the boat, where the bilge pump lives. Caught it before the bilge pump went on, and within minutes Fred had diagnosed the problem as a loose shaft seal on the starboard engine. Slowing down slowed the incoming water, and we put a sump pump into the water that had collected inside the boat. Ran the hose across the engine room into the sea chest and allowed the water to go right back where it came from--and where it belongs. Outside the boat!

As soon as we came to a wide spot in the channel, we deployed Knute, shut off the engines, and Fred tightened the offending seal. Bingo. Problem solved. It certainly is a pleasure to travel with a mechanic! Anchors aweigh, and we were off in less than 1/2 hour.

Somewhere along the way we remembered that we had a car in the Keys, and would want to have it at Green Cove Springs before the boat work began, so we boogied on to Jacksonville Beach rather than stopping at St. Augustine. Early mornings do give more options, we learned! From JAX Beach it was an easy run across the St. John’s inlet on Friday.

We chuckled at what a difference two years have made to our experience of the Jacksonville Harbor. Not a big deal at all this year. The first time we crossed it, heading north in our brand new boat in 2008, we were following AVOCET, and very happy to be doing that!

We trekked up the brown waters of the St. John’s River, and by 2:30 pm were tied up at Reynolds Park, where we’ll stay until YOUNG AMERICA has been fully repaired. Picked up a rental car and on Saturday morning we got yet another early start. By 3:00 p.m. we’d retrieved the Audi, and were heading out of Banana Bay in Marathon to drop off the rental.

We made it a fun trip back by stopping for the very best Mexican Food EVER at Senor Frijoles in Key Largo, then drove on to Palm Beach where we once again tested a Tempur Pedic mattress (we’d tried one out at the B&B in Gainesville and really liked it. Doubletree Inn in Palm Beach has Tempur Pedic on all the beds. Who knew??) Slept well and got a more normal (for us) start at 11 a.m. Sunday.

With stops for lunch in Vero Beach and to pick up another pair of sunglasses at Coco’s in Cocoa, we got back to the boat at 7 p.m. And now it’s time to say sayonara for a couple of weeks. We’ll be here in Green Cove until the repair work is done--with other appointments to have the Microwave and Washing Machine serviced. I’ll be in New York for a few days--grandchildren events (Katie Rae’s first grade concert, JT will be on stage in Damn Yankees, and there’ll be a party to celebrate his confirmation and graduation from 8th grade). Additionally, the new church building at the UUCRT is completed, and I’m excited that I’ll be able to be there for the very first service!

So it’ll be June--1/2 way through 2010! when next we meet. Until then, be well, keep smiling, and remember to breathe! :-)

May 10, 2009

2010-05-10T20:27:00.001-07:00

Sigh, our last sunny, beautiful days at Banana Bay. I finally got to the health food store--and discovered that they make delicious coffee! Go figure. Also found Anthony’s dress shop in the same strip mall--a nice place to shop! Too bad I don’t need dresses.

On Wednesday we left slip 24 and moved into 23--that is we put the dock on the port side so the davit could reach the Go-Pet, which now is

neatly stored under it’s new cover. Headed north and made our first stop at the Islamarada city dock. No concert greeted us this time, but we had a good, healthy walk around the water’s edge before calling it a day.

By noon on Thursday we were in the Jewfish creek--leaving the Keys. Got a closer look at Stiltsville as we crossed Biscayne Bay, and somehow the combination of light, humidity and sun bathed the Miami skyline in am iridescent glow that was absolutely stunning. We crossed under the Rickenbacker Causeway, and decided to anchor in front of the Marine Stadium--or what is left of it. The amazing concrete structure was built as a power boat racing venue in the ’60’s. A floating stage saw the likes of Pres. Nixon, Sammy Davis, Jr., Phil Donahue, NY Mayor Mario Cuomo, and, most notably, Key West’s Jimmy Buffett. Damage from Hurricane Andrew forced it to close in 1992, and today the Stadium is a graffiti showcase. Great anchorage, though!

Friday was a day! We covered 50 miles--not a lot--but passed under 26 bridges--many of them with timed openings (vs. opening as you arrive and request passage). Speed up--oops idle speed zone--slow down or we’ll have a 15 minute wait...that was pretty much the day. One fun thing, though, we were behind a Peterson Fuel Barge for awhile, so phoned and their price for diesel was very competitive--$2.90/gal. + 6% tax. We made an appointment, and at 1:30 pm made a U turn to raft to the starboard side of the barge while the Baroness was rafted on her port side. We topped our tank with 200 gal. of diesel, and as we pulled away, the Baroness’ staff was still watching the meter. The barge captain offered us 8500 gal. of the barge’s 10,000 gal. capacity, so I’m guessing

that the Baroness took in the neighborhood of 1500 gal. We felt so tiny!

After being told there was no room at two marinas, Del Ray Yacht Club was our stopping point for the night. Marcel the dock master, bless him, stayed late to settle us in, and then we were off for a swim in the gorgeous Olympic sized pool. Mmmmmm delicious.

Saturday was everybody’s favorite day to be on the water. We love to see people using the Waterway, the beaches and their boats. And, boy, did we see them! We ha a late start, and early stop. By 4:40 we were in Jupiter, FL, again tied up at the local yacht club. They, too, had a pool, and we used it!

Got an early start on Sunday--our lines were off by 7:30 a.m. Amazing for us. Today perhaps everyone was having breakfast in bed with mom--or brunch, as it was well after noon when the traffic began to pick up.

We ducked into Vero Beach’s Municipal Marina for the night, and on Monday morning are en route to Cocoa..

And that was our week. How was yours?

2010-05-03T23:27:00.002-07:00

May 3, 2010

2010-05-03T23:27:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a week. Unlike any other we’ve spent aboard, but that is what the cruising life is all about. Hey, you never know!

Our navigation computer was away from the boat for as long as we were. It completed the Loop by getting us to Marathon, and then simply refused to turn on. Fred shipped it to Travis Fickett, he who constructed all it’s innards, in Gainesville, and we picked it up, sporting a new hard drive, on our way home.

Nav computer being removed from the boat, and brought back, translates to a very, very large number of Fred hours re-installing software and re-connecting all the aids to navigation, like the Auto-pilot, radar, GPS, AIS, depth sounder, etc.etc.etc. Also installing charts for everywhere we might plan to go--both vector and rastor. Not to mention locating all of the above parts, ports, discs, instructions, manuals, passwords, keywords, and assorted minutiae that are clearly designed to frustrate. It is, after all, a computer. That is what they do.

Needless to say, Fred has been equal to--and even a cut above--the assignment. Not something he’d choose to do often, but as of today (Monday) everything that needs to light up, flash, beep, scroll and/or indicate seems to be willing and able to do it’s appointed task at the appropriate time, so we’re good to go.

In that department, at least. The damage to the boat (see last week's blog) was a whole ‘nother animal. The number of damage-related visitors has been terrific! Gentlemen have come to scour the bottom and look for any underwater damage (none found, thankfully), survey the damage, and assess for an estimate for repairs--first the general marina fella with his fiberglass guy, and then, another day, the welder came. Additionally, we found an attorney who will be in the area when court time rolls around, so we should be ready to head north.

One big job to make the boat seaworthy was the installation of a new, wooden rail on the port quarter. No, it won’t be painted, stained or varnished. But it will, we believe, keep us on deck when we’re underway. It’s kinda cute, don’t you think?

A Power Squadron member from Vero Beach passed through Banana Bay on his way (with 7-8 other boats) to a vacation in Key West. He had his Vessel Safety Inspection kit with him, and with our new rail, we passed with flying colors.

We did have some good times, too, during the week. One sunny morning we took a bi-plane ride around the area. Whoosh! I got the seat with no door, and the 100+mph winds caught my goggles, elbow, hand--anything that moved more than a few inches from center was in danger of departing! Fred got some nifty photos of Banana Bay and YOUNG AMERICA. Paul the Pilot did a couple of roll-y, “fun” maneuvers--45 degree tilt or more--that had me hanging on for dear life and wondering what I was doing there, but we landed safely after a 1/2 hour ride that was mostly enjoyable. Scratch “ride in a small, private plane” off my ‘things to do before I die’ list. Happily, the two did not coincide.

I’ve been taking advantage of Banana Bay’s beautiful swimming pool and hot tub. The weather has been delicious--in the 80’s and sunny with beautiful blue skies and fluffy clouds. We had one morning of pitter-patter rain, and even that was lovely.

The rest of the country--most notably the area we were considering traveling touring this summer, (the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio Rivers), has had way more than pitter patter rain. Traveling north in the River system can be tricky in the spring, but is usually possible. This year, with flooding and huge amounts of debris heading south, plus the threat of a slippery, slimy oil slick possibly approaching from the west, prudence says, “how about a summer in the Chesapeake?”

So that is the plan. We’ll be underway from Marathon Wed. a.m. and when next we 'speak', YA should be in or near Green Cove Springs, where she’ll be hauled for repairs. And then, well, stay tuned!

2010-04-25T20:37:00.001-07:00

April 25, 2010

2010-04-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

Whew! That was a long week! Somehow I neglected to update before we left for New York on March 25th and here it is, that same date in April. My, my, how the time does fly when you’re having fun!

The AZ Mangelsdorf’s arrived as promised. Peter is growing like crazy, and his new glasses make him look oh, so very cool. Geoff and Amy will return to Ft. Huachucha for a few months, then travel across the country to their next assignment--Navy War College in Newport , RI.

It was great to visit with them. One highlight was a trip to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon--that’s been on our ‘to see’ list for awhile, now. Was interesting and unusual to see how they’ve re-done a resort motel with swimming pool to create surgical suites and ‘storage’ areas for ill or wounded sea turtles. Florida’s unusually cold weather this year really created havoc for the staff--over 100 turtles were brought in to be warmed up as reptiles can’t adjust to the frigid temps.

Spent a few days sorting out 2 years worth of ‘stuff’ and deciding what really needs to be on the boat. How easy it is to stow and forget! We packed the car to the gills and on Thursday, March 25, headed nortth.

We stopped to visit Fred’s brother Ted and his wife Rita in Aiken, SC. As luck would have it, there was a Polo Match on Saturday, and we decided not to miss it! What a hoot! The thundering horses, changing of goals with every score, and of course, the stomping of the divots at the half time. That would be after the first 3 Chukkers--and before the last 3 Chukkers--and then the game went into overtime! Needless to say it was a great event!

I’ll spare you the day by day and blow by blow, but as this blog was created to be a memoir of sorts, here are some highlights:

We:
visited and spent time with all 6 of the kids and their families who live in the Newburgh area,

got our income taxes done and filed well in advance of Apr. 15,

attended the Change of Watch for Power Squadrons--both the local (Mid Hudson) and the District,

traveled to Boston to attend a scholarship luncheon at MIT,

spent time with friends,

showed up for doctor and dentist appointments as scheduled,

helped Ada move to her new home in Sugar Loaf, NY, and had dinner with Ada’s soon to be in-laws, clapped and cheered for kindergardener Casey as he, dressed as Abe, announced that 'L is for Lincoln',

toured the fabulous new UU building that should receive its Certificate of Occupancy very soon!

gave a presentation on Cruising the Great Loop at the Storm King Power Squadron’s April meeting,

and,

received, sadly, word that YOUNG AMERICA had an unfortunate incident involving a 23’ boat rapidly riding up onto her swim platform while she sat innocently at her dock.

All in all, it was a great visit, even though we debated long and hard about dropping everything and racing south to take care of our baby. Instead, we decided to complete the planned events at our 'vacation home', and then drove to Gainesville, FL by Wed. the 21st to attend the Great Harbour Trawler’s Association’s annual meeting, and the annual Seminar put on by Mirage Manufacturing, the company that builds the boats.

We’re now back aboard the battered and bruised boat, and Fred’s spent the day doing his assessment of the damage. By next week we’ll have a clear picture of our future plans. Right now it’s not looking so good for the West Coast of Florida and River Route to West Virginia. That may be the 2012 cruise. Too many pieces of boat need repair, and we’re leaning toward returning to Mirage to get it fixed by those who know it best.

Onward and upward! We’ll ‘see’ you all next week!

March 15, 2010

2010-03-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

No need to beware the Ides of March, at least from our perspective. The day is gorgeous--warm, sunny and blue-skied! Does it get better than this?

And it’s been 2 weeks since we returned from IL and settled in to the pace of life at Banana Bay. Not too strenuous a task, that....my ability to be completely lazy never ceases to amaze me!

Fred, on the other hand, has been pretty busy! He ordered and supervised the installation of covers for the dinghy and Go-Pet. He’s done an amazing amount of re-wiring in the salon. We now do actually have ‘liberally dispersed’ electric outlets! What a difference that makes! The breaker box is also updated in ways that only Fred can explain, but I can attest to the number of hours spent, and the happiness he expressed with the job well done!

Along those lines, Duane from SALT (Sea, Air and Land Technology) has, at last, completed the conversion of the water maker to 220 volt status. That has been on the ‘list’ since 2008, so we are happy to have it move to the “don’t have to think about it any more” file.

Evenings at Banana Bay come complete with a lovely (sometimes) sunset. But never mind the weather, the boaters gather at the ‘point’--ostensibly to enjoy the view, but really, to enjoy the getting together with a cuppa whatever in hand.

It is pretty rare for us to see another Mirage boat in our travels, but this week there were two of them. First, JACK O’ HEARTS tied right up here at Banana Bay! Mike and Lenny spent a couple of days visiting before setting off for the Bahamas. At the same time, LAZY DOLPHIN pulled into the Marathon City Marina. We’ve enjoyed several get-togethers with Barb and Randy as they contemplate the Great Loop.

On Monday we loosed YA’s lines and took a 5 minute trip across the Marina. All the way from slip #16 to slip #23! We’re now directly opposite Cap’n Billy’s house, and YA will remain here while we spend a few weeks in New York.

Before that, though, we’re looking forward to spending time with family members #4 for this season--Geoff, Amy and Peter will arrive momentarily! They’re visiting all around Florida this week, and we're excited that they will spend three days with us. The birthday balloon announces Geoff’s special day!

Our plans for the future are slowly formulating. When we return from NY we expect to head back in the direction we just came, and check out Western FL more carefully. It was a sort of ‘hold ‘er, Newt, she’s heading for the barn’ (an old SD expression....) trip down, as we were about to close the Loop, and got caught up in the destination, vs the trip.

Florida’s west coast has much to offer and many hide-y holes to explore, so that is the plan. From there, we’re thinking we’ll just meander up to Pittsburgh, and maybe WVA. More on that later..........What we are perfectly clear about today is that our 2 year experiment (living together in a 37x16 foot space) has been immensely successful! And, as we all know, if a thing works, there is no reason to fix it. sooooo, we'll continue to cruise until.........well, who knows?

For now, be well, laugh a lot, and enjoy the coming spring!

Fred and Linda

March 1, 2010

2010-03-01T16:19:00.000-08:00

Once again, I've skipped a week..or so....but here we are in sunny FL---no, make that snowy Illinois. Plans do change, but I digress...

Jen, Chris, Casey and Rebecca sadly drove off to Ft. Lauderdale on that Monday, and left our car in the Long Term parking lot until Thursday when Kris, Gerry and Devyn picked it up and returned to Marathon. The Motel at Banana Bay is happy with us, and we're happy to have space available for those for whom bobbing at the dock is not high on the pleasurable list.   Jen still doesn't have her 'sea legs' and reports that she's continues to rock in NY!

The long weekend with the McGraths was sunny and warm--well. pretty warm.  Day one we visited the iguanas, Hurricane (the famous $5 lunch!), the Dolphin Research Center, and rounded out the day with a Looper's get together on the Banana Bay point. Fun.

On Saturday, Gerry and Kris fished from Islamarada and brought home a cooler full of spiny lobsters (Kris says she picked them up when they grabbed her legs while she waded in shark infested water to free the boat from the sandy bottom....Sounds like a case for Ripley, to me!) snapper and perch. We sorted them out, froze some and brought the rest to LazyDays South (Gerry's favorite restaurant in the Keys) where they were cooked and served and dee-lish!

While the grownups were fishing Dev and I had a fun day (well, I thought washing the boat's window covers was fun)--we hung out at the pool and got her a hot pink manicure! Sing ho for no more nail biting! Congrats, Dev!

On Sunday, we IHOP'ed breakfast and set out for Key West. On the way we detoured onto the ferry to Pigeon Key for a tour of the buildings built by Henry Flagler to house employees and their families when the Key West extension of his Florida Railroad was under construction.   There is a house on the tiny key that is available for rent---hmmmmm. A neat spot.

We rode the Ferry back. got on Route 1, and headed south. The restaurant next door looked too good to pass up, so we stayed for lunch, and THEN set out for Key West. There were a lot of folks out on a Sunday, and we had a fun time as the New Yorkers explored DuVall Street and we all enjoyed Mallory Square. Sunset was abbreviated by a low cloud cover, but a good time was had by all!

Monday was Departure day, and yukky weather in the Detroit area had us wondering about the connecting flights that would get these travelers home! As luck would have it all went well. AND, don'tcha know that once they were back in Newburgh the snowstorm of the century began, and as it turned out, they could have stayed in the Keys all week! No school, no work, no power, no nothing but white flakes in Newburgh for many days. Uffda.

After dropping the travelers at Ft. Lauderdale, Fred and I made a quick stop at West Marine, and then met Marilyn and Pam Marcus for dinner. Our 'slip' is still available at Marilyn's canal--maybe next year!

We returned to Marathon Monday evening and on Tuesday received the sad news that my nephew and godson Tracy Newnam died of cancer at age 51.  On Thursday we drove back to FLL for a flight to IL. We are so thankful that we were able to visit with Tracy and his family when we 'looped' through Joliet last fall!     Our prayers are for peace for Tracy's wife, son and daughter, and all the rest of the family and friends who grieve this tragic loss.

We will return to Florida tomorrow. And be back to you next week....or so....

Just to note, on this Saturday, March 6, we'll complete our two year commitment to live on the boat! The only 'for sure' at this point, is that we'll continue cruisin'.   Where will remain to be seen.........

Fred and Linda

February 15, 2010

2010-02-15T20:21:00.000-08:00

Two weeks later.....

As you can see, while we’re docked in Marthon, the Monday Messages are a bit spotty.

After the Power Squadron meeting ended on Sunday morning, Suzanne Nentwich joined us and we went to watch the On the Water Training Certification Course taking place north of Orlando. Was good to see USPS working with boaters in their boats! District 2’s guy, George, was there, preparing for Certification courses in NY this summer.

It was Super Bowl Sunday, and we arrived at Suzanne and Eddy’s condo in Hollywood Beach, FL, just in time for the game. Too bad, Peyton--and good for Payton! Was an exciting game, with a great dinner at half time!

Monday morning we walked the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk and had breakfast ‘out’, then we headed for Miami Int’l Airport where we met daughter Linda Lee’s flight from NY.

Back to the boat where we enjoyed a four day visit that included scuba diving, sunning at Sombrero Beach, sunset at Mallory Square in Key West, a trip to the Dolphin Research Center, and a good deal of relaxation--just hanging out!

On Thursday afternoon, while Linda and I were out Scuba-ing, Fred picked up daughter Jenny with Casey and Rebecca at Ft. Lauderdale airport. Friday, he almost ‘met himself coming back’ as he returned Linda to the Miami Airport, checked out (but didn’t attend) the Miami Boat Show, and then picked up son-in-law Chris at FLL.

The long weekend was again packed with relaxation--the kids enjoyed our ‘private’ Banana Bay Beach, as well as Sombrero (on the Ocean side of the Key), Crane Point Nature Center, swimming in the ‘hot tub’ and the ‘cold tub’ at the Marina, and of course, sunset at Mallory Square.

Again. the time passed all too quickly, and now everyone has safely returned to NY--check out Facebook for their photo albums.

Fred and I took in the local Cinema tonite--sadly, we can’t recommend Lovely Bones....'twas a very strange film which I didn't enjoy watching, but it is sorta growing on me in retrospect.

Boat work continues, and if the sun shines every day as warmly as it did today, after last week’s brutal cold snap, we’ll be happy campers!

We hope you all had a happy Valentine's Day! Onward and upward!

Linda and Fred

February 1 (not)

2010-02-05T06:52:00.000-08:00

Friday February 5??? Can’t be! YIKES! We did not drop off the edge of the world, I simply allowed Monday to roll on, blog-free! Also Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday!

Oops.

Short version of the weeks--

YOUNG AMERICA set out from Sanibel Island on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 26, and arrived in Marathon. FL at 9:45 Wed. am.

The ride across this southern part of the Gulf of Mexico, and the Florida Bay was a bit bumpier than our earlier Gulf crossing. The wind and current pushed us up to 8.5-9 knots for a good share of the trip, and the moon was a day away from being full. It shone brightly in a cloud free sky, and lighted the horizon line for all but about 20 minutes of the trip--then dawn began it’s ghostly brightening of the eastern sky, and soon we were ‘crossing our wake’ as we passed through the harbor buoys at Banana Bay.

Over breakfast on Thursday we decided to celebrate the completion of the Great Loop so Fred printed up an invitation for our dockmates, and we issued a verbal invitation to all Marathon Loopers via the daily VHS Radio Marathon Greet, Buy, Swap, and Sell program. The Marina loaned us a table (with cloth) for wine, lemonade and goodies, and at 5:30 pm about 30-35 folks cheered as we took down the white AGLCA burgee, and hoisted the Gold burgee--symbolic of completion of the Loop.

The American Great Loop Cruiser’s Association certainly provided us with a lot of support as we traveled the 6000+ miles around the eastern half of North America. (At 7 miles/hour) We spent 11 months underway with, as you may recall, side trips here and there, and we didn’t begin to see and do all that was available. Time will tell what happens next for us.

The rest of the week we did boat work and packing, and on Monday a.m. we picked up a rental car and drove to Pensacola to get our car. We learned that FL is a pretty long ol’ state! From the keys to the AL side of the panhandle is about 813 miles--and who’s counting?

We visited a bit with the Pica’s, who had kept the boat for the holidays, and the car after that. From Pensacola we moseyed down to Mickey-land in Orlando for a US Power Squadron meeting, and here we are.

And here we will remain until we pick up Linda Lee in Miami on Monday and return to Marathon..

Until then, be well, and do make an earnest effort to laugh slightly more than seems to be possible.......

Linda and Fred

January 25, 2010

2010-01-25T21:22:00.001-08:00

Greetings from Sanibel Island, FL! Last Monday was as beautiful as Sunday was blustery! No rain, very little wind, and a fine run for us across the FL panhandle to our jumping off spot for the Gulf Crossing.

Our arrival time at the East Pass by Dog Island was perfect to set out, but the afternoon would have been bumpy before the nice calm night crossing, so we opted instead to motor up to Carabelle.

As usual, we were happy with the decision. Went to the Salty Dog for dinner. We unknowingly seated ourselves in the ‘cold section’ of the restaurant, and the crew of ANNIE LEE generously shared their table by the stove with us! A delicious bonus as it was a chilly night!

Tuesday a parade of five boats headed out to cross the Gulf of Mexico. ANNIE LEE and FLOATING STONE were heading for Tarpon Springs (sponge country). STEVADORE and OSPREY were enroute to Clearwater, and YOUNG AMERICA’s destination was St. Petersburg. This overnight trip was much more relaxed than our white knuckle crossing of Cape May and the Delaware Bay! As night fell, the moon lighted our way for a few hours. There was no boat traffic and every hour we checked in with OSPREY to coordinate our locations. Fred and I took turns napping--actually, both of us admitted later that we’d read our books while on our ‘off watch’ time.

I’d forgotten how beautiful the morning is when you see it from the very beginning. The eastern sky slowly fades from black to grey although the boat was still surrounded by darkness the promise of light quickly gave way to full blown daylight. A large cloud hung low to the horizen, preventing the sun from blinding us as we motored eastward. About ten miles from shore, OSPREY radioed us the theri engine hsf failed. Although Bob was able to re-start it within a few minutes, we changed our route and followed them into the Clearwater channel, then turned south and headed down the ICW to St. Petersburg. We cleared the Clearwater bridge at 8:42 am--20-1/2 hours after we’d departed East Pass.

The ICW ride proved to be delightful We were surprised to see how much of Florida’s west coast is undeveloped. The first bascule bridge we encountered (and there were many along the 5 hour run) had only 19 feet of water under it, so we had to once again lower our antennas--and then listen hopefully as we slowly passed under the bridge. Happily there was no meeting of us and them, we cleared by about 6 inches, and we continued merrily on our way.

St. Petersburg municipal marina was easy to find, and docking was an easy slide up to the wall--a bonus for our sleep deprived selves. We rinsed the salt water off of YA and then walked down the municipal Pier for a quick dinner before we turned in for the night.

Thursday morning the generator repairman from Mastry Inc. arrived and spent the day doing his magic to the failed sea water pump. I explored the city bus--a very easy to navigate system--and found a health food store. On Friday the Mastry man was back to finish up in the morning, and in the afternoon Mike from Pompanette arrived to once again repair the air conditioner in the dinette. We also spent a couple of hours visiting with our AGLCA Harbor Hosts, Angela and Nick Metro. They’d seen our Looper’s flag across the marina, and called to see if we needed anything in St. Pete. Nice family--they’ve lived on LAD’Y ENNA for 11 years, and Nicky and Eileen, their two children have known no other home.

St. Pete has, as I mentioned a great bus system. Fred and I walked out of the marina and caught the Downtown Looper--a 20 minute ride around the center of the city that during the day has a narrated tour of 12 points of interest. Our bus driver was apologetic that his ride was just a ride, no talk, but he accepted our fare--10 cents each (we’re senior citizens. The real fare for everyone else is a quarter!).

It was a lovely evening and we departed the bus half way around the loop and had dinner at one of the many sidewalk cafes. Nice.

We planned to set out on Sat. am, but as we another Looper came by--Maurice has a 25’ Ranger Tug named QUOTIDIAN and we’d met him twice before--in Clayton, NY, on Lake Ontario, and again at the Loopers get together in Penatanguishine, ON. He and his friend Julie gave us a tour of the magnificent 100 year old St. Petersburg Yacht Club, and then we all had breakfast at Ceviche, a popular spot nearby.

So it was nearly noon when we tossed off the lines, and we motored through the Old Boat Regatta in the harbor, and then headed south. We passed through Sarasota, home to the Ringlings of Circus fame, and put it on our list of places to re-visit. The ICW passes through a channel in the Bay, and outside the channel the water quickly goes to only one to three feet deep. Keeps you on your toes!

Our stop for the night was the Cedar Key Fish Camp at Blackburn Point. Live music in the tiki bar and a great dinner in the restaurant. Early to bed and early to rise and Sunday we ran from 7:15 to 4:30, arriving at Sanibel Island--our half way to Marathon stopping point.

Today was a great day to NOT go out on the Gulf. Strong winds and heavy rain made it very easy to enjoy the blueberry muffins and newspaper (USA Today--our favorite puzzle paper) that Tom, the Marina Man delivered to the boat at 7:30 a.m. Later this morning we were picked up by Bill and Gen from POTLUCK and treated to a delicious lunch on their boat. They’ve been here for a month--could be very easy to do, but Banana Bay in Marathon is calling, and we’ll see what the weather says about traveling there tomorrow.

See you next week! Fred and Lina

January 18, 2010

2010-01-18T19:43:00.000-08:00

Well, sure enough, it is Mid-January, and as promised (threatened?) we’re Baaaaackkkkkkkkk!

We certainly hope you and your family and friends enjoyed a particularly wonderful Holiday Season! We did! It was great to be ‘home’ in Newburgh, and equally great to return ‘home’ to YA.

We’ve been aboard for nearly a week, and have spent much time talking about the weather. As Mark Twain suggested, we do nothing about it, but what we do is certainly tied into how the weather is behaving--or not.

Our trip home in Dec. was fun---we tied YA up at the second slip of our friends the Picas of CAROLYN ANN, and Joe and Punk drove us to the Pensacola airport. We flew to LaGuardia in NYC, then took a bus to Grand Central Terminal where we caught a train to Beacon. Plan A was to take a ferry to Newburgh where our cor would be parked, but the aforementioned weather intervened, and we were late arriving in NYC, and thus missed the last ferry of the evening. Kids had dropped a vehicle at the train station, though, so we headed on home.

It was mighty cold in NY. And now that I think about it, it’s not exactly warm here in sunny Florida, either!

We chose to drive back to FL and after a three day trip left the car in Pensacola for now. The water was, for some unexplained reason, really low in the Pica’s canal. So low that we spent an extra day waiting for the canal to fill high enough (see the board) to get us back into the ICW. (Never mind that we had to putter about getting ready....and spend some quality time with Joe and Punk.) When we eased on out, we had 2’ under the keel at the ‘bump’ in the canal, and our first day on the water took us only about 10 miles before dark fell. We anchored alongside Santa Rosa Island, and got enough of an early start on Thurs. that we arrived in Panama City (70 miles away) during daylight.

The municipal marina was delightful and the people were great. I did have a ‘happen’ but didn’t violate Rule #1 (Nobody gets hurt). When backing through the gate and looking for the key-drop mailbox and carrying coffee and newspapers for Fred, I neglected to notice the 3 steps until I was rolling down them. Sing ho for many years of Tai Chi, where I learned to fall really well--no bruises, even. Happiness!

Our Friday’s run brought us to Pt. St. Joe, a slightly off the beaten track marina where a fellow named Ray Whitney is single handedly attempting to shore up a small town hard hit by the economic downturn. This week he created a Looper’s weekend and encouraged about 30 boats to leave the ICW and spend the weekend in PSJ! Very good for business and VERY good for us boaters!

‘Twas a great time--Ray put together a Low Country Boil, and organized presentations by

Tom the Weatherman (how and when to cross the Gulf of Mexico---very timely for us,
the Coast Guard (a great opportunity for give and take between the authorities and those of us whom they serve),
tips from SeaTow and
a cruising guide to the west coast of Florida.

Toss in a great buffet lunch, followed by an entertaining talk by Bill Pike of Power Motor Yacht Magazine and a dinner with lots of camaraderie and door prizes, and it hardly can get any better! Great job, Ray!

The weather was so awful on Sunday that we hardly left the boat---wind and rain prevailed. Somehow it calmed overnight, though, and today we moseyed along the ICW to Carabelle, FL. Considered heading south, but the wave action on the Gulf hasn’t quieted enough to suit us, so instead we’ve just returned from a fun dinner at the 'Salty Dog'.

Tomorrow afternoon we’ll poke YA’s nose out of the East Pass west of Dog Island (I love the names) and see about a 21 hour run to St. Petersburg. If it’s good, we’ll go. If not, we won’t. It’s that simple.

The alternative is a run along the coast of the Big Bend--the curve around the end of Florida’s Panhandle east and south to the West Coast of the state. Trouble with that route at this time of year is shallow water. Winds and tides cause shoaling, which results in water that may or may not match the charts. The threat of surprisingly shallow water can make an overnight Gulf Crossing look like much the better plan.

So stay tuned and we’ll be back next week from somewhere in Southern FL.

November 30, 2009

2009-12-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

The early Monday morning finds us cruising along the Mobile Bay, in water that--at 8-8-1/2 feet--is not as deep as many swimming pools! It is a gorgeous sunny morning with fluffy clouds scattered randomly in a sky that contains more shades of blue than you can shake a stick at. We’re heading south to the bottom of the bay--where it joins the Gulf of Mexico. We’ll turn east into the Gulf IntraCoastal Waterway where we’ll ride inside the barrier islands, and head for Pensacola.

Last week was divided between the two sides of Mobile Bay. We stayed in Turner’s Marina until Wednesday afternoon and for the first time since Canada, we took the dinghy down! The outboard thought we’d forsaken it, and had quietly faded away, but a charge from the handy battery charger/compressor thing-y Fred found in a recent hardware store brought it back to life. It felt good to be back in exploring mode.

Wednesday, the Turner family organized a Thanksgiving lunch and I went early to learn how to fry a turkey. Definitely a southern cooking method. For those of you who, like me, find fried turkey a bit off the beaten path, here’s how it was done.. Drop your turkey in the pot and cover it with water. Remove the turkey and measure the amount of water, then dump it out and replace it with the same amount of oil (peanut, in this case). Using this early step should assure that you miss out on the excitement of extra boiling oil frothing out of the pot when the turkey proves that there was too much oil heated. While the oil is heating, infuse the bird. You should have pre-purchased a kit with seasoned butter-y liquid and a packet of stuff to rub on the outside of the bird. The liquid gets drawn up into a syringe that took me back to some you-don’t-want-to-hear-about-them hospital events, and as the chef injected the bird--everywhere--he assured me that this will be a moist, juicy, tender turkey! Pop the bird head first (well, had his head still been there...) into the pot and let it boil for 3-5 minutes a pound. The first deep fried turkey was served along side of the traditionally roasted bird, while the second was frying away for second helpings. Pretty slick! By all accounts it was delicious.

As were all the other goodies brought by the boaters. The weather co-operated and about 40 people spent the afternoon in the shade of the covered patio. A nice event.

Immediately after the pumpkin pie, we threw off our lines and headed across Mobile Bay to the Eastern Shore Marina, where we stayed until this morning.

We enjoyed a second Thanksgiving gathering, this one at the home of Bob and Vikki Riggs. They generously expanded their traditional dinner for 8 to include Loopers--they posted an invitation on the Great Loop website and the crowd grew to 26! Great people, great food, and a delicious afternoon. Much to be thankful for!

At the Eastern Shore Marina we got a tour of a shrimp boat--Miss ‘Bama! Paul and Carol, who use her for a boating hobby, not their livelihood, explained how all those nets work. On many of the shrimp boats we’ve seen, the huge nets are dragged behind the boat and the outriggers (the huge net ‘holders’) ride along the sides of the boat above the water. On Paul’s, and many other shrimpers, the outriggers are weighted by ‘shoes’ and hold the nets beside the boat, but skipping along the bottom. Makes it easier to grab the end of the net and pour the catch onto the sorting table. From the table, the little fellas go into the ice chest for distribution. Pretty slick.

We really enjoyed a post Thanksgiving Day visit with Paul, his dad, Jesse, Carol and Rushme, the exchange student from Nepal who is sharing their home. A great family.

On Sunday, I found a Unitarian Fellowship. Fred cleared items from his ‘to do’ list. Some further challenges came up to be added to the bottom of the list. That amazing list just cycles and never ends.

The above-mentioned gorgeous morning has deteriorated smartly as I type away. We left the Bay with a large grey cloud hovering, and now, as we near Pensacola, the rain and fog have become our best friends. We entered FL at 1:15 p.m. and were greeted by gracefully leaping dolphins! First we've seen in a very long time.

This will be the final message of 2009. We’re leaving YA in Pensacola, safe in the hands of the Picas (remember Carolyn Ann?). On Wednesday we will fly to NY for the holidays.

The Monday Messages will resume in Mid-January. May you and your family and friends enjoy a particularly wonderful Holiday Season!

Fred and Linda

November 23, 2009

2009-11-29T14:24:00.000-08:00

We anchored in Sumter Landing last Sunday night, thinking we’d ease into Demopolis, AL on Monday. The four boats in the anchorage all locked through the Heflin Lock together, and by 1;30 we were actually leaving Demopolis, as there were still so many boats backed up from the high water south of us, that the slips were full. So we anchored in Fuscue Creek, a couple of miles away.

We tied a stern line to a tree and swung enough on it to wear the line almost through! That was a shocker! Some boats left Demopolis in the morning and we headed in, got fuel and a pumpout, and moved to a slip . Used their courtesy car to do a bit of replenishing, and smiled at the alligators who guard the restaurant.

Tuesday 15 boats left. The lock that is immediately downstream has 10 floating bollards, and so can move 10 boats at a time. We’d decided to stay another day so we could get an earlier start. The best laid plans. On Wed. a.m. the fog was so thick that our 7 a.m. departure turned into 8:45! Our 10 baots moved out as soon as the Demopolis lockmaster, Mike, let us know the visibility was ok. Mike was a marvel of professsionalism as he organized everyone and got us in and out (he even asked a tow to wait for us, and the captain agreed) We were locked through and underway by 9:45!

The group of 10 separated by speed, and after a day of variety on the Tenn-Tom--rock, then clay, then mud, then rock again along the shore, hairpin turns and tows, 4 of us, QUEEN ANN’S REVENGE, GRATEFUL, GRYPHON and YA anchored nose to tail in Bashi Creek. Just before dusk, MILLENIUM SEA joined us and rafted to our port side. Ken and Cheryl are a Canadian couple who began the Loop 2 years ago, returned to Canada, and now have picked up where they left off, in KY. They’re heading back to Canada via New York--the long way.

Friday dawned with thick fog and we waited until 8:15 to get underway. There was more activity on the water today. We sow pleasure craft (go-fast boats) and fishermen--even a few cows along the shore! At noon we locked through at Coffeeville, AL--our last lock of the loop. We’re back at sea level now, and by 1:30 we four boats (GRYPHON had to hurry on to keep a schedule) were tied up at an abandoned lock at mile 100--that is how far away Mobile is. At four in the afternoon we eight folks gathered on YA to raise a toast to the last lock, to sea level and salt water, and to good traveling companions and new friends.

The guide books say not to try to go into old Lock #1 as the water is too shallow. The Coffeeville Lockmaster had told us that the water is 15” above the normal level, and because of this we were able to tie to the lock wall. Great for boat visiting, and for walking dogs! (Sorry I don’t have a photo of Porter, GRATEFUL’s Portugese Water Dog.)

Saturday morning was clear and we were again parading along by 7:15 a.m. We made it an easy day and stopped in Bates Lake where we were anchored by 1:30--just in time to get in out of the rain! It poured all afternoon and evening. When the rain stopped at exactly 11 p.m., all was incredibly still. This was so despite the many small houses along the shore of the lake.

Sunday at 6 a.m. we heard the AIS signal beep on the navigation system, telling us that a tow was passing in the River. If the tows are moving, there is no fog, so we’re up and at ‘em. Anchors aweigh, and we are in the River (no more Waterway--it’s the Mobile River now) at 7:07! The water is streaming along--almost 3 kn. of current have us going 10 kn, or 11.5 mph! At 11:05 we passed under the Cochrane Bridge, and into Mobile Bay!

Mobile is a major seaport and harbor with lots of ships, activity, and a free wall to tie up at the Convention Center Our little parade enjoyed a running commentary from Cdr. Hank on QUEEN ANN’S REVENGE, as we moved through the Harbour, across the Bay and turned into the Dog River. This is salt water and it spreads as far as the eye can see, but once again, shallow is the operative word. Staying in the channel with it’s 7 foot depth is important.

We tied up at Turner’s Marina, then untied and moved to a different slip where the electric power matched the boat’s needs. The Marina has a courtesy car and Hank, Ann, Mark, Carol, Fred and I piled aboard to have dinner at the Mariner’s Harbor Restaurant.

We are having a hard time getting our brains around the fact that we’re actually in Mobile. For over a thousand miles when someone asked “where are you heading?” we’ve answered ‘Mobile’. And here we are! And here we’ll be for a few days.

So enjoy Thanksgiving, and continue to note all those wonderful blessings. See you next week!

November 16, 2009

2009-11-17T06:13:00.000-08:00

We are South. Mornings are chilly--typically in the 40’s, but the afternoons are gorgeous! Sunny, very little breeze and temps in the low to mid 70’s. No bugs and no humidity. Does it get better than this???

We left Cuba Landing, TN with my new coffee mug in hand, at 7:35 a.m. Early for us. The water was calm--there was a lot of debris afloat, and soon we passed an Army Corps of Engineers Dredge Boat. After that the water wasn’t nearly so stirred up. It is important to the tow boats that the channel be kept deep by dredging. The bottom of the River is in constant motion with weather and traffic, in addition to the current, moving things around. The rule that says “the deepest water is on the outside of the curve” has certainly proved to be true here. And if one meets a tow on a curve, guess who gets to decide which side to take? The pleasure craft (us) ALWAYS asks “How would you like me to pass you, sir?” Even the ‘small’ tows we’re seeing here--typically no more than will fit in a lock chamber, so that is 3 deep and 3 across--have mimnimal maneuvering ability. We get out of their way! By the way, that is an inclusive ‘we’. I now have driven YA past tow boats all by myself--with Fred not even in the room! Like anything else one learns, the only way to do it is to do it. Yikes. I did surrender the helm when we came around a corner, knowing there was a tow there, and discovered an anchored barge in our path. As Fred noted, that way neither of us was so nervous!

By 2:00 p.m. we were tied up at the Clifton, TN Marina--which, by the way, is for sale. It’s a nice little spot-- about 90 yearly boats and space for a lot more transients than were there with us. Matter of fact, there was one other. We’re a tad behind the Looper Crush--last week Cynthia at Clifton said there were 20 baots here nearly every day! Cynthia makes burgers, but we opted to take the courtesy car to the local truck stop and get a pizza. Yum.

Again we were underway bu 7 am. The Temmessee’s current is trying to push us back to the Ohio River, so we’re only moving along at about 5.5-6.3kn. (that’s only 6-7 mph) so it’s slow going. Gave us lots of time to enjoy the unusual houses along the way, and by 3 pm, we reached Pickwick (a tricky lock--the wind blew us all over the place!) where the Tennessee River turns north (the section we are in) and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway continues south. We opted not to follow the Tennessee east to Chattanooga and Knoxville, even though that is a wonderful area to cruise. There is always next year! So we’re continuing to move south in the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, which Fred Myers (author of guidebooks for this area) calls “The Waterway that almost never was”.

Connecting the shallow, winding Tombigbee River with the Tennessee would give commercial traffic an option other than the lower Mississippi to move goods to and from the Gulf of Mexico. The idea was first proposed in the late 1700’s, and was debated and discussed for nearly 150 years before Congress gave the go-ahead in 1946. Work began in May of 1971. It would be June of 1985 before the twelve locks and dams were operational and the ribbon was cut to officially open the Tenn-Tom Waterway. The project involved moving more earth than digging the Panama Canal! When it was done, the total cost was over 2 billion dollars.

Both the Black Warrier and the Alabama Rivers flow into the waterway as it moves along the 450 miles from Pickwick to the Gulf Port of Mobile, AL. Lots to look forward to!

Our first stop was at Aqua Harbor where we celebrated entering a new leg of the journey with a dee-lish shrimp scampi dinner. The other best thing here was that the exhange library in the Marina Office had two Stuart Woods novels that we’d not read! Add those to the Sunday NYTimes Crossword that isn’t done yet, and we’re set!

The first 24 miles of the waterway is the 200’ wide, arrow straight Divide Cut. As we looked at map of the squiggly lines of the Tombigbee running alongside, we were happy for the Cut.

The end of the cut is the widest and deepest spot on the whole project. 150 million cu. yds of dirt were moved out of this 175 foot deep and 1300 foot wide hill-y section, and then the terrain changed as we entered Bay Springs Lake. Lake equals dam, and after spending the night in our first covered slip at Bay Springs Marina, we headed for Whitten Dam.

The vertical drop between here and Mobile is over 400 feet. Whitten Lock is the first major step in that drop. At 85 feet, this is the 9th highest single lift lock in the U.S. The rest of the locks will be identical--to each other, not Whitten--and will take us down a mere 30’ at a time. Three of these locks later, (a total of four for the day) we turned into the Smithville Marina. Here Jesse, a WWII vet who has a certificate commending his support of the WWII monument finally (he says) built in Washington DC, and his golden retriever hold the fort. Neither moves too fast, but they are a great pair. We know we’re in Mississippi now, as we went to Mel’s Diner for dinner, and heard everyone refer to it as “My-els”.

Friday, after two locks, we carefully followed the path into the Aberdeen Marina where we were met by my Central High School in Aberdeen, SD classmate Jan and her husband Dan. Jan and Dan moved to Aberdeen MS from Aberdeen WA, making Jan probably the only person on the planet to have lived in three cities named Aberdeen. [Factoid: Jan must live in Abdrdeens in ID, OH, MD, NC, and NJ to cover the US; then of course there is Scotland...)

Our visit was delightful, including a driving tour of Antebellum (pre-Civil War) homes--of which many remain in Aberdeen, and dinner in nearby Columbus MS at Woody’s on the Water--the restaurant at the Columbus Marina.

Two more locks on Saturday brought us to the Pirate’s Cove Marina, where we parked, paid, ate, slept and left. At 7:05 a.m. we were inside the lock with two other boats. It was so foggy that one tied up below the lock to wait for some clearing.. The other boat disappeared ahead of us immediately, as we proceeded with great caution. I stood on the bow where the visibility was slightly better, and with our headphones, Fred and I could ommunicate easily.

The fog burned away before 8 a.m. and we had a lovely run at 8.5 knots--that is nearly 10 mph, folks! We decided to make it an easy day and by 1 p.m. we’d deployed Knute, our trusty anchor to grab the muddy botttom of a delightful cove in a State Recreational area. There were fishermen as well as families picnicking on the shore. Around 4 o’clock 3 other boats came in and in the morning we made a parade to the next lock.

The waterway now has connected with the river, and we are about 1/2 way to Mobile. There are twists and turns, tow boats with barges, and patches of debris in the water. We crossed into, out of and back into Alabama--the Tombigbee is like a snake! Monday’s destination is Demopolis, AL, significant for a couple of reasons. First, it is the latitude marker for ‘south of’ in the hurricane season. Our insurance company says that season ends Nov. 15--today. So we can continue on. Second, this is the last marina before Mobile, 234 miles to the south. Knute will be busy for the next few days.

Two more locks and we’ll be only 100 ft. above sea level, back in salt water and dealing with tides again. The Great Loop is closing!

November 9, 2009

2009-11-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

Well, hello from Tennessee! Yes, indeed, we’ve headed south, and are moving along at a pace that works very well with Hurricane Ida stirring things up on the Gulf Coast.

We actually stayed in Green Turtle Bay until Saturday morning. But this time when the power cord came in, it stayed in, and the lines came off and we were underway!

The Tennessee Valley is a beautiful one. We’ve missed the peak leaf season, as the rain beat many leaves off the trees, but there still is much color and the sights are interesting and varied.

As the map shows, for the first 75 or so miles south ot the dams--Kentucky Lake and Barcley Lake--the Tennessee and Cumberland run pretty much parallel. The ‘Land Between the Lakes’ is a national park designated by President Kennedy. This is a wonderful area for boating (we passed a sailboat race) fishing (boats are everywhere--crappie, catfish and sauger, a cousin to the walleye, are the most prevelant) camping (the shores are virtually littered with RV’s) and just general enjoyment. To quote Quimby’s Cruising Guide, the LBL “offer(s) a variety of cultural, educational and recreatioal opportunities for any lifestyle, age group or vacation budget”.

On Saturday night we stopped at the Paris Landing State Park Marina/Resort. Many of the Marinas along the River (80 on Kentucky Lake alone, according to Quimby’s) offer cabins as well as boaters facilities, and golf courses abound. Here we noticed the signpost pictured, which was another graphic demonstration of the work of the Tennessee Valley Authority. This agency was created by an Act of Congress in 1933 for the purpose of developing the water resources of the Tennessee River. As the Tennessee flows west and southwest (and due north where we are now) from it’s headwaters in Knoxville, TN, it empties into the Ohio River back at Paducah. The Ohio is running downstream (very fast) to the Mississippi, which is roaring along toward New Orleans. Thus, the series of dams constructed on the Tennessee (and also the Cumberland, which also feeds into the Ohio just 12 miles further upstream) provide a means to mechanically restrict (or enhance) the amount of water flowing downstream. Before the water gets too high at New Orleans, the volume, and height can be reduced (or elevated) anywhere along the system.

That is the super simplified version of what happens, and would probably make any Army Corps of Engineers guy (they monitor the flow rate at the dams) twitch. For our purposes, what matters is that we’re having to fight very little current right now as the water is above ‘summer pool’ level. Therefore, very little water is being released to run against us.

It is interesting that so many buildings, marinas, restaurants, etc. are built to float. At GTB during the heavy rain, the walkway from the office to the shore went from about a 20 degree slope (away from land) to level as the water elevation increased by more than a foot per day. In the spring, we’re told, the 20 degree slope goes the other way, and the bottom of the roadway is submerged.

In any case, it is fascinating. Add the man made wonders to the geological wonders and the history, and this is a pretty neat trip.

Speaking of history, between Paris Landing and Johnsonvville is the site of one of the biggest Confederate victories of the Civil War. To read about it, google Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, the hightest ranking officer to enter an American army as a private. Apparently we cruised over the remains of 33 Union ships he was responsible for sinking in this stretch of the Tennessee.

Sunday night we tied up at the Cuba Landing Marina. Small and quiet, the high point was my purchase of a new coffee mug in the ship’s store.

And so it is Monday. We’re moving toward Mississippi--the state this time. Fred’s back is co-operating--knock on wood--and he’s taking very good care of it. So until next week, we’ll sign off, wishing you good health and lots of laughter!

Fred and Linda

November 2, 2009

2009-11-04T20:03:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Green Turtle Bay Marina, in the Cumberland River, at Grand Rivers, near Paducah, KY.. Seems I’ve said that before, and I have.......We arrived on Monday, as planned, and then, well....

Here’s how the week went. Get up in the morning, unhook the power cord, check out the circumstances of the day--health and weather (and most days both were less than thrilling) chat for a minute or two, re-connect the power cord and relax for the day.

Well, relax is a relative term, too. Coming thru the Cheatem lock on the Cumberland River on Monday, Fred’s back twisted, or popped, or did something that was painful. He’s had issues with it for years, and except for minor ‘blips’ it has behaved well for a long time, so we expected a quick return to normal. It was not to be.

Tuesday the rain poured from the wee small hours to late in the day. Don’t know about your back, but that cold, raw, bone-chilling kind of day does nothing for a back that is strained. We met and visited with Liz and Steve, the crew of SHINGEBISS (the boat is named for a duck) from MN, but Fred was not anywhere near feeling good.

The decision to stay on Wed. was easy. Cold, raw, and foggy, We have the use of a Courtesy vehicle here, so I went off to the grocery store and pharmacy. After dinner we visited for a bit with Dot and Dan from PRINCESS DOT, and then watched Game 1 of the World Series. We turned the game on at the top of the 8th inning, thereby missing the 7th inning stretch when Mary Kay Hollenbeck, a family friend of longstanding and soloist for the West Point Army Band had the honor of singing ‘God Bless America’! Sorry to have missed it. And the Yankees lost, also a bummer.

Better job next day, though, when we’d had a pretty quiet day (after the morning power cord shuffle) and were happy to see the Yanks come back to win. Fred's back's improving, bot not 100%.

Friday we were ready to go! Rest and meds seemed to have put the back back, so we actually moved to the fuel dock, added 100 gal. of diesel, and pumped out the holding tank. But the weather turned to junk. The radar verified what we could see on the horizon. We ‘d just finished re-tying the dock lines when the squall hit. And lasted well beyond squall length. It rained and blew and gusted all day. Could we have been underway in the rain? Sure. However, it just didn’t seem like a good idea to head out into a day that was just generally unpleasant. We’re doing this because it is fun, right? Slogging in the wind and rain isn’t much fun.

Saturday dawned blue-skied and gorgeous. Dilemma. We’ve been here 5 days and now can go to the weekly rate and stay the weekend “for free”. As the back seemed to be improving--in fact, nearly back to normal-- to give it two more days seemed like a good idea.

It most certainly was a good idea. The improvement reversed itself and by Sunday night Fred was immobile and it was ER time. Injectable meds did the trick and he got some relief.

Monday--a day of rest. See you next week, when we may no longer be held onto by the Green Turtle!

October 26, 2009

2009-10-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

Tuesday morning dawned clear and--you guessed it, cold. I won’t be whining about the weather forever, but will mention that this week there was one day of warm sunshine! We loved it. Actually, the crisp sunny fall is exhilerating, as well. And it was a very good week in the Music City.

For me, Nashville was the Apple City. In my efffort to learn to effectively use the iMac laptop I spent 6 hours of one on one time at the Apple Store. A rental car came in very handy--made possible the trips to the Mall as well as to meet up with family and friends.

So Tuesday we spent the day bustling about locating things and from 9-10 a.m. and from 1-4 p.m. I was poring over my keyboard with Jarrett (and his brain) at my side. What was fun about that was that others were at the same table, and we’d in turn hoot “You can do THAT? And it is that easy???The Apple guys spend two weeks in the home office--Cupertino, CA-- learning, not the machines, but how to work with adults in a meaningful way. Lots of laughter was involved, and I’m hoping my notes will be decipherable!

At 5 p.m. we boarded the shuttle heading for the Grand Ole Opry. Even if you have a car a bus ride is the best for this trip! Well, maybe. Plan A was that we’d catch the early shuttle so we’d have time to wander about and do our tourist thing. Turns out 5 p.m. just meant we were the first to be picked up, and we got to ride for an hour and a half--from hotel to hotel to hotel. The last hotel stop was 5 minutes from the boat--our car was in the parking garage.. Sigh.

The bus was crowded with Sweet Adeline singers---there are 8000 of them in Nashville this week. Our busmates were mostly from Montana. We hoped they’d burst into song, but, no such luck....

In 1974 the Opry (the longest continuously runnning radio show in America) moved from down town Nashville--the Ryman Auditorium--(located 5 minutes from our boat dock) out of town to a huge complex with the Opryland Hotel and massive theater for the show, and of, course, a Mall next door. Hey, it’s America. The plan was to retain the flavor of the Ryman, and they did it well with tabernacle seating (pews) a circular floor plan and wide deep stage. The center circle of floor on the stage was literally lifted from the Ryman, so all new Opry singers could stand on the exact piece of wood where Patsy Cline, Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash and all the great (and not so great) country singers have stood.

A 21st Century Minnie Pearl (with hat but no price tag) greeted us with a lusty “Howdy”, and the show began promptly at 7--as it’s a radio broadcast, timing is important. When the curtain went up, the first person we saw was Kenny Reis--lead fiddler for the Time Jumpers! He was accompanying Jimmy C. Newman, the first performer of the evening. We felt right at home!

Other 15 minute segments were performed by Opry standards June Shepard, Bill Anderson and Little Jimmy Dickens, all well into their 70’s or more. Membership in the Opry is by invitation only. According to Wikipedia, the obligation to appear onstage in Nashville 26 times/year that is implicit in membership, has been relaxed in recent years. Each show is a combination of members and guests--one guest said he had been there 84 times. Wonder if the invitation to join will ever come....The final performer on Tuesday evening was guest Darryl Worley, who currently has a Top Ten Hit--"Seems like life to me". He also sang his latest, which he hopes will follow to the Top Ten--"the Best of both worlds".

All in all, it was a hoot! Actually, a literal hoot--Li’l Jimmy Dickens finished his set with a song from Hee Haw!! Remember that one?

Wednesday morning at 8 I was back at the Apple Store, and after my session we grocery shopped at the Whole Food Store (for produce) and Harris Teeter (for everything else) While I got my not so curly locks curled at the Hair Beauty place, Fred lugged bags of groceries from the parking lot, through the train station, and down the long ramp to the short ramp to the dock to the boat at the base of the bridge. Multiple trips. He gets a gold star!

We spent the afternoon with Fred’s cousin Ann Soderquist, who’d just flown in from a trip to Chicago and picked her dogs up from the kennel. We met at the Parthenon. In Nashville, not Athens. Due to the large number of institutions of higher learning consolidated in Nashville, the city is called the Athens of America. So when Tennessee celebrated 100 years of statehood, an exact replica of the Parthenon (except it has a roof) was built as the centerpiece of the event. We found the history of the Greco-Persian conflicts to be sadly familiar---when will they ever learn??? In any case the statue of Athena (added in 1970) and plaster replicas of the Parthenon Marbles, the remains of the sculptures that adorned the pediments that were mutilated (used for target practice, actuallly) around 430 BC were amazing to see.

Back to Apple at 7, and from there we dashed across town to meet Mike Borum for dinner. Had such a good time we closed the restaurant--and brought home a coconut custard pie. They “were just going to throw it away....” It was dee-lish.

Friday was a great day. I stayed hame and puttered, practiced Mac-ing, rescued a land turtle from the solid mass of debris that had tucked itself in between the boat and dock (I put two large grocery bags of bottles etc. into the trash! As soon as the turtle was safely out of rest of the heap, all the debris swooshed away downstream), Fred an Mike returned the car, (ask Fred about that interesting trip sometime...) visited all the boat stores and then toured Chromatics, Mike’s photo lab company. At six we went off to meet Crystal and Merwin, friends of Mike’s from their Virgin Island sailing days. Had a great dinner in a floating restaurant near the Hermitage, home of that famous Tennesseean, Andrew Jackson.

Saturday we were underway, the southbound vessel heading north (remember the current thing) at a dizzying 9.4 knots! We were in Clarksville by 5 and had the dock to ourselves--well, except for the townsfolk who come there for a walk. Sunday we spent the beautiful sunny morning in the engine room, doing diagnostics on the Generator--the real culprit in the ‘water on the engine room floor’ saga. Port engine has been getting the rap, and it is nearly innocent. Generator seal to be repaired at the earliest convenience.

Sunday afternoon we hied us hence to Bumpus Mills--we love that place! Arrived with enough daylight left to scrub and power wash YA’s decks, and to visit with the fishermen who came in to clean theri catch. Rewarded ourselves for our hard work with a yummy dinner--butternut squash ssoup and shrimp scampi. MMMMMmmmmmmm.

Today we’re returning to Green Turtle Bay, and the end of the Cumberland trip. Net week we’ll visit from the Tennessee River! Until then, be well, laugh a lot, and dance from time to time.

Fred and Linda

October 19, 2009

2009-10-21T21:20:00.000-07:00

Heidy ho! Green Turtle Bay Marina was our home for the week, so for this week’s epistle, no traveling took place between Tuesday and Saturday! What did we do instead? Stayed warm--the weather has been the biggest conversation topic around here. Not NY temperatures, but clearly not ‘southern’ weather!

I was waiting in vain for a warm day to spruce up YOUNG AMERICA’s outsides. It is amazing how dirty a boat can get when all it does is pass through water. Well, ok, it sits at a dock or an anchorage also, but YA needed a shower. By Friday, I decided there would be no warm day before Saturday, so I put on mittens and did some scrubbing. Very rewarding work, I must say.

Our mail arrived and with it came many hours of paperwork for Fred. While he worked on that, I baked bread, read, went to the Post Office in the courtesy van provided by the marina, read, and played with the Mac laptop that has come to live with us. Will be learning a lot about it in the future, for now I’m just playing. And isn’t it amazing how many hours can be gobbled up by checking out the things on the internet?

Here at GTB we have a wifi connection--not available at every marina--so internet access is very good. When there is no wi-fi, we rely on our Verizon aircard--actually a third line on our cell phone service, but it offers broadband connectinons, not dial-up. Has worked well and as long as Verizon (or it’s cooperating partners) has towers around, we’re set!

One project we completed this week was the hanging of blinds on the 3 windshield windows. Dealing with curtains, rods, brackets, etc. makes my teeth itch, so I’m very happy that Fred was willing to do the necessary climbing, measuring, drilling and clipping into place. I do a fine job of handing up the necessary tool--not unlike OR nursing--‘drill’ or ‘screwdriver’--says he, and I slap it into the palm. What a team! The result is good, and we tested it out by watching a movie in our newly darken-able ‘theater’. Great success!

Friday evening we joined Pat and Diane of SHARPIE’S DREAM for dinner at the yacht club’s dining room in the Marina. Had a great meal and good company. We’ll miss them as they head off for the TN river while we explore the Cumberland.

Another pleasant visit we enjoyed was with Fred and Joan Myers. They’ve traversed the rivers of this area--the Tennessee, Tombigbee, and Cumberland--many, many times and have generously compiled informative guide books. Great for us cruisers to use as we navigate these inland waterways. Joan and I chatted away while the two Freds spent nearly an hour reviewing the many important things there are to talk about in YA’s engine room. That place is like a man-magnet!

Saturday morning we topped off the fuel tanks (still $2.74/gal. for diesel) and headed up the Cumberland. I learned that no matter what compass direction we are travelling---and this river has gone all four directions--sometimes in the same hour-- we are considered to be Northbound on the Cumbie (we’re on a very familiar basis now) because our nose is pointing into the current The river empties into the Ohio--behind us--so we are heading for it’s origins, against the current, and therefore when we hail another vessel, we are the Northbound pleasure craft....Our destination is Nashville, TN, which most definitely is NOT north of Paducah, KY, but we’re the Northbound vessel. Who’d a thunk it.

The current may have been against us, but the wind was pushing us, and that combination made for some very choppy water. We rode along through 1-2‘ waves with white caps topping them almost all day.

Along the shore we passed the KY State Penitentiary (the Castle on the Cumberland) whick holds the dubious honor of performing the most legal executions (seven) in the United States in a single day--Friday, July 13, 1928.

Our ‘home’ for the evening was at Bumpus Mills, TN. The couple who own the marina had just settled down for dinner when we arrived around 4:30, but they came out to help us tie up, and soon we, too were having an early meal and early to bed.

Fishing boats greeted us in the morning---a steady stream of them launching off the ramp on our port side. The fog was so thick the boats disappeared in a heartbeat. Don’t know if it was just the normal weather conditions or the escaping [delicious] odors from my very onion and even more garlic omelet that burned away the fog, but by 9:40 we could see the opposite shore, and so were off. Saw very little wildlife as we passed through the Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge. We also passed the site of Fort Donalson, where Gen. U.S. Grant scored the first major Union victory in the Civil War. 13,000 Confederate troops surrendered to Grant, although Grant’s Union fleet on the Cumberland was badly damaged.

Clarksville, TN was our next destination. Several years ago Fred was father of the groom here when Geoff and his wife Amy were wed. Amy and Geoff were in the Army, stationed at nearby Ft. Campbell. On that trip, Fred says he stood by the river and thought that someday he’d like to come into Clarksville on his own boat. Done.

We arrived and tied up at the municipal wall right after a fleet of C-Dorry boats--tough looking tugboat-like motorboats. Nine crewmembers from the four nearly identical boats met up in Clarksville, and after a tour of YA, they invited us to have dinner with them at O’Charley’s. A fun evening. In the morning they all agreed that they were happy we were the most upstream boat. The amount of debris that tucked in next to YA’s bow was disgusting! Logs, boards, a soccer ball, smaller ball and more empty bottles, cups and yes other unmentionable types of garbage--all piled up between our bow and the wall. After much deliberation about how to escpe without dragging the stuff along the side of the boat, Fred realized that the bow thruster was the answer! Two whooshes from that puppy and YA was far enough from shore for the gunk to slide on by.

We slid on, as well, through beautiful countryside--sometimes rocky bluffs, other times gentle rolling hills or green lawns. . At the end of Barkley Lake, we rejoined the C-Dorries in the 29’ high lock, and we all entered Cheatham Lake.

Forty two, slogging into the wind miles later (top speed 6.2 kn--often 5.6 or so) we began the progression of bridges that mark Nashville’s downtown. It is truly amazing that the tugboat pilots can safely move barges through this stretch. The river makes an S curve and 6 bridges cross it within a mile and a half. At the fourth, at 6:45 p.m. and pretty much in the dark, we tied up at the Municipal Pier. Shortly thereafter, fellow Mirage boater Mike Borum, a Nashville native, picked us up and whisked us off to the Station Inn where we were treated to pizza and to country music by the Time Jumpers. The group was amazing, and has been nominated for Emmy and Grammy awards. In addition to their own compositions, they ‘jump back in time’ for numbers like “I’m gonna sit right down and write myself a letter”, “All of me” and “You don’t know me”. Loved it!

So here we are, and it won’t be long before Monday rolls around again. Maybe this time, I’ll be able to post the blog in a timely fashion!

Till then, be well and keep smiling!

Fred and Linda

October 12, 2009

2009-10-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

Columbus Day, 2009! We share Chris’ excitement of exploring new places by boat. OK, so our travel is not the same as 1492, but it is still just fine to celebrate this day on the water! Here is a good rule--which was reinforced for us last Monday night. Don’t go to sleep with the hatch over your bed open when the forecast is for rain. Sure does wake you up in a hurry! Didn’t keep us awake, though. Last Tuesday it rained--with thunder and lightning--all morning. By 11 the storm blew by, and we were once again pushed south by the currents of the Mississippi. At one point we passed (that is to say, overtook) a tug pushing 30 barges--he was doing 8.3 kn.--we were smoking at 10.7! (10.7 kn = 11.77 mph! WHIPLASH!!) Around mile 30 in the Big River, we slowed to chat with a guy in a wee canoe! He was paddling like mad to keep his little boat straight with the currents and wakes. He told us his name is Neal and he’s a journalist. From July to December he is conoe-ing from Minneapolis to New Orleans to write about good news in America. Hooray for him! To read about his adventure, google Mississippi River Canoe CNN We anchored for the night again, this time near Cairo, IL, just before the turn (left) into the Ohio River. SHARPIE’S DREAM once again rafted with us and Knute performed admirably. We slept soundly, knowing that a new adventure awaited in the a.m. The Ohio is a tributary which empties into the Mississippi, so when we made the turn, we were heading upstream. The Great Loop recommends this route rather than following the Lower Mississippi to New Orleans. That 900+ miles is even more commercial than what we’d just traversed, and docking and fuel for pleasure crafts are rare. So up the Ohio we went, toward Paducah, KY, and the confluence of the Tennessee River. There are 3 locks on this 60 mile stretch of the Ohio. According to the Army Corps of Engineers, Locks #52 and 53 are the busiest locks in the entire Inland Waterway system. Barge traffic from the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers passes through this section on the way to or from the Mississippi. Tidbit of info: 0ver 96 million tons of cargo move along the rivers annually. One 15 barge tow (3X5) would require 870 tractor trailers to transport the same amount of cargo. Most of the tows we passed were bigger than 3X5--the biggest was 7X7! The waterway is extremely valuable, efficient, and unfortunately, in need of much repair and upgrading. Locks 52 and 53 on the Ohio are antiquated ‘wicket’ style locks. A wicket is a wooden fence fastened to the bottom of the river. When the water is high, (as it was when we crossed #53) the wickets are lowered to the river bed and boats simply ride over them. It is swirly and turbulent as you pass over the ‘fence’ but the lockmaster said there were 19 feet of water between YA and the wicket. Not so a few miles further east at #52. There, the wickets were up to dam the river and keep the pool levels high enough for the deep vessels to pass, so we locked through. Olmstead Lock and dam is under construction in this area, and will replace both 52 and 53 when it is completed. Our tax dollars at work! (The federal tax on diesel fuel helps pay for maintenance and upgrades.) Once we reached Paducah anchoring was the only option. No marinas and the barge usually docked and available for ‘transients’ like us to tie to had been mysteriously removed. No one seemed able to explain this, but we found a quiet spot that was secure. Next morning we were in the Tennessee River (again flowing upstream against us) and after a 2 hour wait while a tow split it’s load of barges to fit them in the lock chamber, we locked through at the Kentucky Lock and Dam. First time we've been in a lock with a tug and barge. This wasn't part of the 'split' load, it was a single barge waiting, like us, for a turn to enter the lock. Stopped at a state park marina for 2 nights, and agian found indoor things to do as it rained and rained and rained. The bass fishermen didn’t mind and the water was crowded with boats having a tournament. On Saturday we made a short run across Kentucky Lake, through Barkley Canal to Barkley Lake and up to Green Turtle Bay Marina. This is the ‘reward’ marina’ after all the rivers and locks, and it is very comfortable. Somehow I missed Monday this week. I just looked at the day clock, and it is Wed. as I finish writing this. Guess I’m doing a pretty good job of relaxing! We’ve taken the courtesy cars into Paducah a couple of times--visited the National Quilt Museum where we saw an amazing array of ‘art quilts’ using every medium imaginable--from wooden quilts to nylon screening with sugar packets to a WWII exhibit that actually contained quilts such as grandma used to make! Fascinating. From there we went to the Discovery Center where a simulator allowed us to crash a small barge tow, (we have utmost respect for those tug boat captains) and a real time video of the river outside showed today’s traffic. We attempted to back up a few days to watch YA go by, but the backer-upper stuck at one day. Such is life. We’ll be here at GTB until the weekend, and will let you know next week what the plan beomes then......... Be well......Fred and Linda

October 5, 2009

2009-10-06T05:26:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Huckleberry Finn-land. Before we exited the Illinois River we had some fun times. For instance, we used the self serv pump out at Spring Brook. Just insert your token (purchased in the office for $10) and the machine works for, we think, 5 minutes to empty your holding tank. Not fun, you say? You are not a cruiser! We met up with another split tow (a 'tow' refers to the fleet of barges tied together and pushed by a single tugboat). This time the lockmaster told us to tie up to a huge round 'cell' in the river to wait for the first (3X3 or 9 barges) to come up in the lock. We did—had lunch and watched, and an hour or so later were told to sneak in behind the tow and ride the lock down. Would have sworn there was no room, but sure enough we had feet to spare as we entered the lock. At the bottom we again sneaked by--the other 6 barges and the tug were ready to lock up. Our stop that nite was in Henry, IL, at Henry's Marina. 'Skinny' water going in—that means our depth sounder beeps as if to ask if we really want to be in this particular shallow spot. We did, we docked, and Becca in Henry's restaurant and bar was most happy to fix us up with dinner. Evidently this entrance (it is very nearly under a bridge) is a point of local interest. When we left in the a.m., a black pickup truck stopped, backed off the road and watched us maneuver our way around the bridge in the shallow water. Maybe we looked too big to fit in that spot! Journeying down the Illinois River through Peoria brought us back into the Industrial Revolution. Busy-ness everywhere and lots of cranes, trucks, barges and other heavy equipment. We turned into Tall Timbers Marina for the night and were treated to 'Bob's backhoe and dumptruck show'. Bob bought the Marina after a flood had ravaged it. He's re-built the docks beautifully, and was in the process of draining a spring-fed pool. Had a wee road, just wide enough to back the dumptrucks down, and he and his friend took turns filling dumptrucks and hauling away the dirt. We walked about the town before returning to visit with Bob for awhile, and had an early night. Fred wants the baby backhoe. We were up and out early in the a.m., and the weather was not our best friend. It rained, and the wind opposed the current in the river, which makes for messy traveling. In this case the waves were actually worse than the Atlantic Ocean or Lake Michigan! All day we ran the windshield wipers as the spray flew over the bow. At one point we were cuaght between a Coast Guard Buoy Tender and a big ol' barge, but everyone found enough river to carry on. Despite the wind, rain and traffic, we covered 89 miles and anchored behind Willow Island. We were watchint the Constant Gardener, a John LeCarre shoot-em-uip video, and at a particularly tense moment, the boat was flooded with light! I jumped out of my skin. Turns out it was the huge spotlight of our tug-friend Joyce Hale. We've passed her 3-4 times as she goes back and forth on the river. She was just checking us out to be sure we didn't plan to pull out in front of her. We certainly didn't! Totally traumatized, I shut off the movie and went to bed. Fred wants to own her spotlight! Friday we left the Illinois and at 11 a.m. entered the Mighty Mississippi! Took the Chain of Rocks Canal and locked through the Chain of Rocks Lock—our most difficult so far. The floating bollard just didn't work well with the boat, and we had two cleats involved.... crazy. First stop—Alton , IL where our high expectations were dashed by the lack of awareness of the employees we reached by radio and phone. “you'll see it when you get there” and “Starboard—does that mean the right side?” just weren't the most helpful conversational gambits. It took a bit of doing, but eventually we were tied up and secure. To add insult to injury, they were out of diesel fuel, and didn't get the shipment that was expected by morning. One more strike against them, and our plans for the next day had to be changed. Well, as we've often said, “what good is a plan if you can't change it?” After a much shorter run than we'd intended, Fern welcomed us at Hoppie's Marina and happily put 200 gal. of diesel in our tank. ($2.75/gallon and we happily paid, as there are no more fuel stops for a couple of hundred miles.) After we walked into the delightful village of Kennswick and did some Christmas shopping--after listening to the curbside trio and before having a milk shake (delicious!), Fern held forth on the fuel dock. There were 6 boats tied to the barges that constituted the marina, and we all got a 2 hour course called Rivers 101B—complete with listings of anchorages, scary spots, and instructions about how to deal with tugboats and barges. It was fun and informative. Fern and Hoppie are the second generation at this location. When Hoppie was a boy, he, his dad and brother lit kerosene channel markers along the shore every day to help with navigation. Now the markers have gone from kerosene to batteries to solar fuel, but Fern and Hoppie have retained the willingness and ability to take care of folks. Happily, their daughter and son-in-law are now working with them. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Sunday morning we found ourselves encased in a cocoon of fog that didn't burn off till 9:30. We headed downstream and by 4 were at the Koskiosko Lock and Dam. The wall there is available for overnighting, and soon we were joined by Pat and Diane from Canada; a very nice couple whose mast is laying on the deck of their sailboat. They are anxious to get sailing in the Carribbean. More fog on Monday, and this time a 10 a.m. departure—the earliest we could see as far as the west bank of the Mississippi. We covered 68 miles with the current boosting us along—at one point we got to 11 knots—that's a whopping 12 miles per hour! We passed all manner of tows—one with no less than 49 barges attached—7X7! Another tug was pushing 2 tugs that were pushing a mess of cranes and pipes for who knows what purpose. Fascinating, and with avoiding the tugboats and barges, keeping up with the current and being sure to miss all the floating logs, navigating the Mississippi is exciting. We're anchored tonight in a little creek off the river and SHARPIE'S DREAM, Pat and Diane's sailboat, is rafted to us. We had a great dinner and you know what? It's bedtime. Hope you've been able to stay awake through all these words. We're enjoying ourselves thoroughly, and hope the vicarious trip brings you a bit of pleasure,too! Be well............. Linda and Fred

September 28, 2009

2009-09-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

Joliet. Spent five days there, but before we get into that, let me tell you about the Asian Carp. You might want to grab a cup of coffee.... Perhaps you've read or heard of this invasive species that, like so many accidently or intentionally imported critters, has become a problem in American waterways. This guy is a voracious carp (think ginormous goldfish) that grows to 75—100 lbs. How? By, you guessed it, eating everything in sight and upsetting the ecology of the waters. Starting near the Gulf of Mexico, the Carp have migtated up the Mississippi and into the Illinois River, heading for the Great Lakes. Besides the ecology issue, it seems the fish gets agitated by the sound or vibration of motors in the water, and leaps out. People have had stitches, and even been killed by being whacked by a leaping fish. In 2002, the US Army Corps of Engineers became concerned that the Great Lakes would be devastated if the Carp got into Lake Michigan. Their solution was to build an electric barrier across the Chicago Sanitary Canal (remember how the canal was created to reverse the flow of um, 'Sanitary' water, if you get the drift, away from the Lake.). The theory: the fish will swim up to the electric current and say, “Hey, what is this? No thank you very much” and turn around and go away. Well, apparently it worked for awhile, but over time, the fish weren't so concerned with the electric charge and this year the COE decided to get their attention with a stronger electric barrier. Problem is, the current was so strong that the Coast Guard became concerned that someone besides the fish would get zapped. NO good. There's evidently enough electricity in that 0.7 mile cage to do serious bodily harm. The solution? Testing. But while they were doing the testing, the decision was made to close the Canal to all non-steel hull traffic. Tugs and barges are steel. 99% of pleasure craft (PC's we're called) are fiberglass or wood. So, as of the end of August, no PC's could get out of Chicago. Well, one could reverse the route, return through the Great Lakes and go back down the East Coast, but that is really not what we Loopers (and there are a whole lot of us) had in mind. New solution. Non-steel boats could be towed through the barrier by steel tugs using a non-steel towing cable. The charge? $600. You can't make this stuff up, can you? Needless to say, there was an outcry from the boating public, and as of Sept. 12, after many towing fees had been paid, the canal was opened to PC's—with caveats. Wear a life jacket, sit in a chair, if something falls into the water (including your spouse, child or pet) do NOT retrieve it, simply wait for it to be carried through the barrier by the current, etc. etc. And, oh yes, you DO understand that you cross the barrier at your own risk, don't you? On the 21st the Coast Guard sent a message to PC's to hurry and get through, as the barrier may be closed again. On the 22nd, along came YOUNG AMERICA, and since we'd gotten our usual 'early' start, it was after 5pm when we were hailed by the Coast Guard guys who were staked out at either end of the barrier. They told us the barrier was closed until further notice, but we could be towed through if we chose ($600???) We said no thanks, and by the way do you know when it will re-open? Yes, said they, at 7 am. WELL, then, we'll just tie up on the wall and wait. Hmmm. A few minutes after we'd tied up on the wall, a miracle happened and, as no commercial traffic was in the area, we were given the ok to pass through. Fred shut off everything that could be shut off—except the engines—we donned our life vests, sat down, and proceeded through without incident. Time will tell what happens with these critters. STILL BUSY was anchored in the Mississippi and awoke in the morning to find that a foot long carp had jumped into the dinghy. They are certainly a problem. The solution remains to be seen. We have put it behind us. The barrier is in Romeoville, IL. Just beyond that is Lockport, where Fred lived as a kid, graduated from high school, and learned to fly—the Lockport airfield is still there! There is, in fact, a lock at Lockport—although to his amazement, Fred never visited it when he lived there. As we approached, we met our first really big tow. 3 barges across and three barges long—they were tied up waiting for the lock to empty and bring up the other part—3 across and 2 long, with the tug. We found a place, once again, to tie up on the lock wall, and got out our chairs and binoculars to watch. By the time the whole load was reassembled, it was dark. I would NOT want to be that tug driver, but off he went. We went to sleep. In the morning, we slipped into the lock between barge loads, and travelled the 3 miles to the City of Joliet free wall. We spent 5 days there! My brother lives in Geneseo and two of his children, Tracy and Sandi, live in Rockton and Plainfield—all within 2 hours of our lock wall, so we rented a car and did some visiting. We really lucked out as neice Sandi's grandson was being christened, and we got to attend and celebrate with Amy, Jason and baby Logan. Another of Sandi's daughters, Sarah, brought her husband Bob and son Parker for a visit on the boat. Additionally, we spent a day with Cynthia and Michael from the Chicago yacht club—they motored down and we had a fun time aboard YA and at Harrah's Casino across the way! Also spent time chatting with fellow cruisers aboard MISS RUBY and SOMEWHERE. This morning we returned the car to Enterprise, and headed off into the river, facing some pretty hefty winds. (Tornados moved through the area last nite, but bypassed us). The ride was a tad rocky, but there is always a bright side. It was way too windy for barge traffic, so we had the river pretty much to ourselves. Opted to stop early here in Spring Brook Marina, and were glad we did, as the winds blew us around quite a bit as we docked and it took a full hour to get securely secured. Weather forcast is for a calmer day tomorrow, so we'll continue on as we head for the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Tombigbee Rivers that will bring us to the Gulf of Mexico. How lucky are we? What a fabulous trip this is! WOW! (see map for current location) Good night for now and we'll 'talk' again! Be well... Linda and Fred

September 25, 2009

2009-09-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I lied. Didn't write from Newburgh, and didn't write Monday, either. Oh my. Here goes a lengthy update! We did dock in Chicago. It was splendid. We were welcomed at the Columbia Yacht Club—whose building is the retired ice-cutting ferry ABGEWEIT. Beautiful old ship, refurbished to make a very unusual and special club. We couldn't have been more 'downtown'. Step off the ramp and the Millennium park is two blocks away. Mayor Daley has done a magnificent job of space for Chicagoans and tourists. The Jay Pritzker Pavillion—a National Medal of Art winner designed by Frank Gehry has an amazing steel ribbon and pipe design over and above the 120'stage and seating for 11,000. Free concerts are offered every summer day at noon. What fun it was to wander among the sculptures—the “Cloud Gate”--a seamless stainless steel kidney bean that reflects the cityscape and clouds, and provides a 12' arch below where it is a hoot to see and touch all the reflections. The crown fountain features –well, see the photo. 1000 Chicago citizens were photographed to show the diversity of the city. For 30 seconds every 5 minutes the children are 'squirted', the rest of the day they frolic in the thin layer of water between the columns. In the summer, the food court is, well, a food court. From Nov. to May, it becomes an outdoor skating rink. For many years, I've heard about the 'Pump Room in Chicago', almost as a joke. Turns out it is there, in the Ambassador Hotel, and we had dinner 2 booths away from the space reserved for Frank Sinatra when he was in town. OK, so it's a bit tired and looking for some tender loving care, but it is now off my 'bucket list'. Claudia, the launch driver gave me a very special hour on the water. I stowed away on the launch and we chatted as she shuttled folks to and from shore. Fun. Wed. afternoon, I saw a matinee of Jersey Boys, which,it was noted, included authentic New Jersey profanity. On Wednesday evening we were 'treated to the twice a week fireworks display. Chicago is a fine city and I hated to leave. But leave we did, and headed south (ahead of the ice and snow). Next stop, Dolton IL on the Calumet River. We arrived at Marine Services Marina in time for pot luck dinner with STILL BUSY, MEANDER, and RIFF RAFF. It's great to re-connect. Our weekend was spent cleaning the boat, working on the Carp barrier fiasco, and packing. I flew from O'Hare on Sunday morning to meet Maureen and Freddie, two long standing friends with whom I shared Nursing school in Minneapolis and apartments in San Francisco. Had a great visit in Ventura CA where we waded in the Pacific, spent hours over coffee and red wine, and did some touring. One stop was Ron Reagan's library—on a beautiful piece of land. An Air Force One is there, as well as an identical copy of the Oval Office. Spent a day in Ojai and Santa Barbara and enjoyed the missions, and the art that is everywhere in Ventura. Meanwhile, Fred was off to Kansas City, MO for a USPower Squadron meeting. I met him there on Thursday, and together we flew to NY on Sunday. How quickly we got into the Newburgh groove---spent time with all six of the seven children (and their children) who are in the area, caught up with friends and with the UU, MHPS, DOF's, and SBCA—the alphabet soup of our non-cruising life That week lasted about a day and a half, I think. YOUNG AMERICA has reclaimed us and today we're in the Des Plains River at Joliet, IL. Will catch up with this segment next week. Till then, keep smiling and share the love and laughter! Linda and Fred

September 7, 2009

2009-09-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

Hi guys-- No blog this week. Fred and I are both off the boat. Will get back to you next week from Newburgh..... Linda and Fred

August 31, 2009

2009-08-31T22:41:00.000-07:00

Did I say summer? 'Twas a jest. Six of the past seven days have been in the 50's or 60's, and the early part of the week was so rainy we began to look for the animals coming two by two! One indoor task we accomplished was to test our PFD's. (For the non-boater reading this, a PFD is the Personal Floatation Device one wears when leaving the boat to enter the water—usually unexpectadly.) Back in the days when the boat was 'put in service' in the spring, that was on the check list of things to do—right up there with draining the anti-freeze and charging the batteries. Living oboard is a different ball of wax. It's been over a year, and instead of winterizing, we just took the boat to a warm place. So this is one of the annual events that just slipped by. We do know, now, though. that if a life vest is needed, it'll float! The rain was a good thing in that it kept us here while the workers worked, and it worked to work with them. Got that? We did do some walking early in the week and explored the train station and nearby Waukegan Yacht Club where we had a good lunch! By Friday we were ready to get out of Dodge, and we hopped aboard the Metra and took ourselves to Chicago. We spent the afternoon in the Museum of Science and Industry. Fascinating place. It's Harry Potter time there, but we bypassed the display of movie props. Spent some time with a WW II submarine that was captured just before D-Day. The Allies were so afraid that the Germans would discover the capture of the boat—and encoding machines and charts, etc. etc. etc., that the sub (U-505) which was captured 150 miles from Africa, was towed to Bermuda! Over 1700 miles across the ocean. The German crew (all but one survived) was then put into a POW camp in Louisiana—separated from other German prisoners-- to prevent their talking about the U Boat's capture and compromising the intelligance gains of the Allies. Lots of info about it in google. Very interesting. My favorite exhibit was a huge model train display. It included a mock up of Chicago—harbor and transportation hub, then the tracks took off across (or through) the Rockies to Seattle and a Pacific Ocean display. The only problem with it was the plexiglas wall that prevented touching and playing with the signals etc. There were trains running all over the place! We WERE allowed to touch and move and throw and wind and swing stuff in the Children's area. We actually had to beg, and only got in with special permission since we were not accompanied by anyone under 10 years of age. They are tough at that museum. I guess there was some concern about why we might want to be in the Children's area, as they made us promise not to take any photos. They just didn't know they were dealing with two grown-up sized children. We loved the children's area. No pictures though. We behaved and kept our word. It is a great museum—one we highly recommend. There is even an old time ice cream parlor on the third floor! They make a great Root Beer float! We rounded out the day with a delicious dinner downtown to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. Caught the train home and it was a fine day. On Saturday, my neice Mary Newnam and her daughter Kyra drove to Waukegan from their home in Rockton, IL. After they had a tour of YA, we rode into Chicago with them. The one hour trip took over 2-1/2 hours! Traffic came out of nowhere on a Saturday afternoon, and we moved at boat speed a good deal of the time! We drove to the Wendella sightseeing boat tour company. It's right downtown—400 Michigan Ave. I had no idea that the Chicago River is right there! There are many, many bridges over that river--more, we were told, than in any other city. The tour guide discussed the architecture of the city and it was very interesting. Did you know that the Sears Tower is now the Willett Tower? Chicagoans don't care that the name is changed--it'll always be the Sears Tower to them. Donald Trump has a big tall building here, as well. (Just thought you'd like to know.) The tour boat went through a Lock into Lake Michigan, and that was a hoot. It seems that way back when, the sewage being dumped into the River as the city grew was making a mess of the Lake, so the city fathers, in addition to creating sewage management, dug a canal to connect the Chicago River to the Des Plains River. Cleverly named the Chicago Sanitary Canal, it was created to be 15 feet deeper than the Chicago River, and therefore, we were told, when the Canal was opened, the Chicago River began to flow toward the lower point—away from the Lake and into the Des Plains. Thus was created the only River in the whole wide world whose direction of flow has been reversed. Sounds like one for Ripley, eh? (Remember, we just returned from Canada, eh?) In any case, the strategy of the Lock, in order to level the Lake and River, is to simply open the gate at the Lake Michigan end of the Lock and allow the water to pour in. In our trip, a family of ducks swooshed in as well. Looked as if the babies were having fun! Within a moment or two, the level of the Chicago River was raised the eighteen inches necessary to make smooth transition. No mechaanical devices required, just build a box and open and close the ends of it on demand. Very clever. It was great to visit with family, even though it was brief. My brother and two of his (gorwn) children and their families are in Illinois, so we're hoping to catch up with more of them soon. Sunday was truly a 'lay-day'. We didn't do much of anything, except stay inside and keep warm. Today I grocery shopped, and Fred readied the boat for tomorrow's run to the Windy City. (By the way, did you know that it is not weather that the nickname refers to, but the seemingly endless talk of local politicians!). See you next week. Be well and keep smiling! Linda and Fred