On The Water Again

My how time flies! November came and went so fast it now seems like a blur. During a recent get-together someone mentioned a wedding anniversary coming up and we looked at each other and realized ours had come and gone three weeks earlier!

It was Nov. 13 when we unleashed the dock lines on Sea Island Girl and began our trek south for the eleventh year. The weather could not have been nicer as we enjoyed stopping along the way to visit long-time friends and see others that we had met previously. For most of the way we traveled alone but reconnected with Robert and Rita Wieczorek aboard Magnum Opus in North Palm Beach.

Often when traveling we come across some rather strange sights. This year was no different. Two young fellows from Cleveland, OH had modified a small sailboat and were rowing from their home to Key West, hoping to arrive by Christmas. The oars were custom made and there was a little space to rest or catch a few winks, but they rowed almost continuously.

You can read more about their story by visiting http://www.habitatcrew.com/. After getting to our destination we sent them a couple of pictures and our wishes for a successful trip. What an adventurous group of fellows.

And as if there wasn't enough work to do moving a boat down the ICW, we met up with a couple aboard a forty-two foot sailboat with a sixty-five foot mast! That may not seem so unusual until you learn that the tallest fixed bridges on the waterway have a sixty-five foot clearance and with the full moon we were experiencing, the clearance was several feet less.

The couple rigged a "water bag" system and used the extra weight of the water to tilt the boat to give them the clearance they needed to clear the bridge. It is a novelty to see, but the whole process is way too time consuming for us.

Sights like these are what makes our travels so interesting, and we meet so many great people! We will soon be off on another leg of our journey, and trust you will stick around to enjoy!

A Busy Summer

Things have been rather hectic around Atlanta this summer...friends and family to touch base with, chores around the house and all of this amidst working to keep ahead of the economy. But it wasn't all work and no play!

Each of us enjoyed our respective high school reunions - Campbell High in Smyrna, Ga and Abington High in Philadelphia. Both were well attended and fun was had by all. The week long Philadelphia trip included a visit with several family members, a football game and a tour of Abington which remains highly ranked among schools in the nation, and a grand evening at the Wm. Penn Inn in nearby Blue Bell.

The Campbell reunion was somewhat less formal. The classmates gathered at the local VFW, danced to 60's tunes by a DJ and feasted on hot dogs, fries and onion rings which were catered by the Varsity,a prominent drive-in in Atlanta.

While visiting the Philadelphia area we managed to visit theMercer Tile Works and Mansion in Doylestown. If you ever travel to the area you will not want to miss it. Mercer was an anthro-pologist and after traveling the world he returned to Pennsylvania and built his home of concrete and ceramic tiles that he created in a studio on the grounds. Since his death the home and the tile works have been taken over by the Buck's County government and it remains a prominent sight to this day. We have several of Mercer's tiles which we have collected over the years.

In addition to our travels this summer both of us have stayed involved in a variety of community projects. Robert is an active member of the Sandy Springs Rotary Club. This year he was Chair for the Sandy Springs Heritage Festival, participated in a project to distribute dictionaries to all third grade students in the area on a number of occasions, and volunteered with other Rotary members to feed and honor the local firefighters, a project that has enjoyed in previous years.

Carolyn spent some time helping Royal Potcake International find homes for homeless Bahamian dogs that had been relocated to Atlanta for adoption by the organization. Together, and working with the Abaco Humane Society and the Friends of Abaco Animals, Royal Potcake International we have helped to organize a raffle and a Banks & Shane Benefit Concert in the Bahamas in January. A large contingency of Atlantans have made plans to attend the event which is good for the dogs and the Abaco economy.

As one can see, we have remained busy but had a great time with it all! We will soon be resuming our cruising itinerary and are looking forward to being back with our boating friends once again.

Back To Reality

An Easter Sunday sunrise was magic for us as Sea Island Girl was able to shed her dock lines at Old Bahama Bay Resort on Grand Bahama Island and set out across the Atlantic. It was a little bumpy at first, due to confused seas, but things settled down after an hour or so, and we arrived in North Palm Beach six hours later.

Upon arrival in Florida, several of our friends from the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club greeted us, including Peggy O’Neill and Terry Zieglar, who had made an earlier and unexpected departure from the Bahamas in February. Margo Caldy, Vice Commodore, and her husband Dennis hosted a fun-filled Easter dinner for everyone at their home nearby.

After two days we were heading north, wanting to transit the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine before it closed to marine traffic for a week. The Bridge has been a major construction project, and we are hoping the restoration will be complete upon our return to the area in November.

It took us six days to reach our port in downtown Brunswick, GA. The weather was excellent most of the time, although we managed to have our canvas bimini blow off one evening when a forty-knot wind gust blew through as we were enjoying cocktails with our long-time Atlanta friends, Al and Maggie Ressa in Vero Beach.

We enjoyed an evening at the Halifax River Yacht Club in Daytona Beach with the crews of Chablis and Magnum Opus and everyone had an opportunity to do a little shopping before we continued north.

Mike and Susan Murray, our long-time Port Captains in Fernandina, invited us to their home for dinner, which was spectacular I might add. Fernandina is thirty-five miles from Brunswick, and we enjoy visiting with them from time to time during the summer.

The big excitement came the next morning as we approached the Kings Bay Naval Base, just north of Fernandina. We were now in the company of even more yacht club friends – Sea Smoke and Darling – as a nuclear submarine was being towed north along the ICW to its’ berth at Kings Bay. Unknown to me at the time, it is unlawful to take pictures, so do not pass this along. (Note: the sub is in the middle, being towed by two large tugboats.)

We are back in Brunswick for the ninth year, and have enjoyed catching up with our friends here. We will have a few additional tidbits for sure to write about, as we make the transition back to reality. Until next time.

Time To Head Home

I guess you cannot have it all when cruising. We arrived on Grand Bahama Island April 5th after five months of visiting the Bahamas, and we just want to get home. Unfortunately, Mother Nature keeps sending cold fronts across from the US and a third one this month has us pinned against the dock at Old Bahama Bay.

It is a lovely Resort with beautiful beaches and a friendly staff, but we find ourselves paying 350% more in dockage, not including electricity and the daily mandatory water fees. The skies are clear but the winds are blowing 20-25 knots and gusting higher! Just outside the harbor, the seas of the Atlantic are raging and waves are crashing with sprays reaching above the neighboring palm trees.

We spent eleven days here two years ago, but last year only one night. When we left the Abacos were knew we might have to wait a day or two, but Carolyn loves the beach and that would have been okay. It appears now that we will be here for at least a week.

The nice thing about being hemmed in is that, you can meet many really nice people. Some of them are heading to the Abacos, and we have spent time with them teaching them a few of the tricks, reviewing their charts and showing them the highlights and “not to miss” places they will want to visit. Others are heading further south to the Exumas, and like us, some are heading back to the states.

Overall, it has been a good winter cruising season for us. It has been windier and cooler this year, but it has been fun. We hope to be back in Brunswick by late April, and then get ready for a few summer projects, at home and on the boat. We are looking forward to seeing our friends back home and have lots of pictures and stories to share.

Commodore's Ball 2009

Each year, the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club has one big bash...and that is the Commodore's Ball in February. An annual theme is decided upon in advance and this year a Mardi Gras theme was decided upon. So, during the summer and prior to arriving in the Abacos, everyone scurries around looking around for their costume and added pinnache.

The event is held in the Marquis Tent at the Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina. A team of members take on the challenge of decorating for each of the events, and surprisingly, the results are beyond belief. Each table provides an array of wine, and a centerpiece in keeping with the event. Days of preparation are required to set up for these evenings, and it is not unusual for the Resort to ask that we keep the decorations up for all to enjoy until the next event.

Speaking of costumes, RMHYC members go all out to look their best. It has become somewhat of a status symbol to have the BEST costume, and the winning contestants are awarded a bottle of rum for their achievement. At times it seems that no expense is spared when trying to out-do others, but there are always some that seem to remain "boaters true" and just come in their shorts and t-shirts. That's okay too - after all we just are looking to have a fun time, and enjoy being together!

No matter what, it is a fun time here in the islands. Away from all the hustle and bustle we're able to relax, see some very special sites and enjoy being with the friends that we have made over the years.

You may want to join in and are always welcome. Hope you enjoy following our travels.

Maggie Is Enjoying Herself

Having pets aboard is a rewarding experience, especially with Maggie. Some days, it's a laugh a minute - and she is so smart.

She spends most of her day perched outside the pilothouse door taking in everything that goes on around her. We need not monitor her as there are enough dogs on our dock that she enjoys barking at, that we know she is safely aboard.

Sometimes she will hang out in the pilothouse, especially if she knows that food is being prepared. Her scent detection is superior, and anytime food is being served she manages to work her way down from her perch and give us one of those "I'm hungry too" looks.

Bathing is not a favorite event for her, although once Carolyn gets her on the swim platform and soaks her down, she tolerates it rather well. Today, when Carolyn went to retrieve some shampoo, Maggie tried to sneak back inside in an attempt to forgo her weekly bathing.

However, after all is over, and she once again perches herself on the upper deck to dry out, she comes out looking like a queen.

At the age of 14, Maggie has been traveling with us for nine years, and enjoys it so much more than being back home in Atlanta. She loves the outdoors, enjoys detecting an occasional dolphin or two, but BEST of all are her rides in the inflatable dinghy.

For a stray pup from the streets of downtown Atlanta, she has done very well. She has a home, a yacht and has her owners totally trained to meet her every need.

Just look at that face! How could you not love something so sweet?

Its Cold Down Here

The Canadian fronts have brought high winds and cold temps, colder than in previous years. To put it in perspective, it got down to the high 50s one night and we turned on the heat just to take the chill off. However, it hasn't stopped everyone from finding things to do, and places to go.

Abaco Beach Resort, where we are staying, has gone all out this year by offering a variety of events and activities for our group of 68 boats. On Thursdays, we have Talent Night, and several of us have participated, singing along with Steven Colebrook, a very talented keyboardist. Elvis, Neil Diamond, Peggy Lee and other pseudo-celebrities have appeared. A highlight of these evenings is that the Resort staff has several very talented individuals, and yours truly has been asked to join them in some gospel tunes. As most of this is ad-lib, it's pretty good, and we are getting much better.

February is a busy month. We have the Annual Meeting for the yacht club and our Commodore's Ball. Several members have flown in for the weeks festivities and it is good to have them with us once again. Last night we had a Full Moon Party on the beach. It was a sell-out, the food was fantastic and the Bahamian music and tiki torches added to the ambiance.

Several other events are upcoming, including a Pirates Party, the flea market on Man O War, and the Barefoot Man concert on Guana Cay in March. So, despite the weather, things are improving and everyone is having a good time. Wish you were here with us.

Fun In The Abacos

It’s not always fun and games here in the Bahamas. There are always opportunities to involve ourselves in a variety of community projects, and most of us take advantage and lend a hand when needed.

Every Child Counts (ECC) has been a popular project for members of the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club. The school operates solely on donations and serves the children from several surrounding cays that require a special education approach. The students present a variety of learning opportunities and the limited staff seeks assistance from trained volunteers to deliver a quality educational experience.

During the holiday break, members of our yacht club jumped in to create a sorely needed classroom. The request came at a time when we still had some knowledgeable and skilled workers lounging about during the holidays.

A request was broadcast over the RMHYC net one morning, and by noon fifteen volunteers showed up at the school to lend a hand. Many of them, including yours truly, were inexperienced, but with the help of a few carpentry specialists, the group charged on. By four PM, there were four walls, a ceiling complete with power outlets and lighting. The following day, the sheetrock received another coat of mud, and after drying, the walls were ready for painting.

The project involved a team of lawyers, insurance agents, doctors and a variety of business owners with a myriad of backgrounds. Our foreman has built cabinets and was known for building staircases in the homes of the rich and famous, including Steven Spielberg. Despite a lack of experience, the project was finished on time, and in an acceptable fashion.

That is what it is like down here. We enjoy the sun, the water and the beach, but give us a project where we can lend a hand, and we will be there.

Back To The Abacos

November was a travel month, traveling from our home port in Brunswick, GA to enjoy our eighth year in the Bahamas. This year we averaged approximately fifty miles a day and enjoyed our favorite stops along the way. Particularly enjoyable, Romer and Sue Schwenk, of Vancouver Island, BC, stopped to visit us in Vero Beach. Former cruisers themselves, they recently purchased a fifth-wheel RV and were enjoying a land-based trip across Canada and the US. And, Dixie and John Reese, friends formerly from Atlanta, visited aboard Sea Island Girl, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Early December, following a brief stay at Old Port Cove Marina in North Palm Beach, we departed early, across the Gulfstream, for West End Settlement on Grand Bahama Island. Our friend, Don Smith, whom we have over the years enjoyed so many fun times on the water, had driven from Atlanta and joined us for the trip to the Abacos. Having Don aboard was a breath of fresh. We alternated time at the helm, and the crew would arrive at our destination each day well rested.

Coming down from the north, as we approached the Sea of Abaco, the forecast had called for a shift in the weather. Had we not pushed forward, we would have been “trapped” for several days. With Don’s help, we opted to continue our passage well beyond sundown and after a ninety-five mile day, entered the channel at Green Turtle Cay by spotlight.

The following morning, conditions along The Whale Passage, which can be most treacherous, were favorable to continue around the three mile stretch of desolate cays. We allowed Don to “command the ship” so that he could add The Whale to his cruising accomplishments. He did fine, and the Commodore went below to take a shower and change into clothing, more appropriate for our arrival at Boat Harbour.

Twenty or so of our yacht club friends greeted us as we arrived in splendid fashion and another season has begun for us in Abaco. It’s like home for us here and we hope to share many of the highlights as our travels continue.