Year End Change of Plans

As it often occurs, the best made plans need to be adjusted, especially when you are cruising.

Our November 1 departure from Brunswick was delayed by a week when a series of north easterly storms pummeled the east coast making it impractical to begin our journey south. A few days didn’t make a huge difference however we were excited about spending another Thanksgiving with our friends in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco. Carolyn had planned to work with our friends from the Royal Potcake Rescue and another spay and neuter clinic while I intended to have Sea Island Girl pulled from the water to have her bottom painted.

The southerly trip along the Intracoastal went well. The weather was nice and it gave us plenty of time to work with Coco and to help get her adjusted to boat life. Right away she found her a safety zone in the guest cabin and would pop her head out occasionally pop to insure that we were still in control of the boat. Already we can sense that she will become an old sea dog and loving traveling companion.

After a few stops along the way we arrived in Palm Beach November 16 and were greeted by our long-time cruising partners – Terry and Peggy aboard More Attitude. The plan was to head out the next morning however a series of circumstances arose and we decided it was best to reschedule and take the next weather window. Several boats left on the 17^th, only to discover that the conditions were not the best and knowing that, we were pleased with our decision to hold back.

Christmas is now two weeks away and the weather has been awful. The winds remain uncharacteristically high and from the wrong direction, which creates heightened seas and what would be an unbearable ride across the Gulfstream. So here we sit, in hopes that we will reach the Abacos for the holidays. Carolyn has read most of the books we have aboard and restocked the lauder a number of times. We have had numerous maintenance projects completed since we have been here and have even cleaned and polished the fenders and power cord.

A group of RMHYC friends pulled in recently hoping to make the crossing. One or two stuck their noses out the following day, but turned around after a mile or two; and it looks like it will be at least another week before conditions improve. We had a dock party one night and have planned a pizza party for later this week, so if you are in the area, stop by, who knows, we may still be here.

Shedding the Lines Again

We always know when it’s time to pack up our things, close up the house and head down to the boat. The trees are shedding a bountiful color of leaves, and the morning chill has us pulling out a sweatshirt or jacket to take Coco out for her morning walk.

Land-lubbers seldom appreciate all the work that goes into preparing an extended cruise. Most assume we merely top off the fuel, turn the key and set sail. Trust us when we say there is nothing farther from the truth! By the time we leave home, months have been spent planning, completing our ToDo lists and shopping for our staples which are so terribly expensive to buy in the islands. We have veterinarian permits and meds for the dog, cruising permits to get in and out of the country and a boat insurance policy which tells us when and where we can go, and the proverbial health and dental checkups to be addressed before we leave.

Over the years each of us has developed a checklist. We know what our individual responsibilities are, and we somehow seem to make it a painless transition from being at home to being on Sea Island Girl.  This year the process was particularly smooth. No feathers were ruffled and we got away on time.

It usually takes us a week to get settled once we move aboard. Stowing our food and belongings can be a tedious process. Cleaning the boat and putting things in order takes a lot of time. More importantly, each and every system on the boat needs to be checked and serviced before we leave, and that can be time consuming as well.  

The ghosts and goblins come out tonight and once again it appears that we have managed to get things sorted out in time. Now all we need is a good forecast.

We hope to update our blog in a timely fashion this winter and trust that you will visit on a regular basis to learn what all the commotion is about.

Hot News From Atlanta

The summer has been a hot one, especially in our hometown of Atlanta and in Brunswick, where we have Sea Island Girl safely docked for the hurricane season. It has been a busy time. Carolyn continues teaching the preschoolers at Dunwoody Prep, while I have been passing the time away completing a couple of boat projects and training Coco, the newest member of our family.

It didn’t take long before we realized how attached we had become to having a dog. Maggie had been with us for 18 years, and with her passing in June, we wanted to fill the void.

Adopting a rescued animal was the only choice for us. We didn’t want a puppy, and as it usually turns out with rescued animals, a mixed breed would be just fine. Petfinder.com was a big help. We could search by breed and size, read some very sad stories regarding the dog’s circumstances, and find the contact information for the respective shelter or rescue organization. Sadly there are tens of thousands of pets in need of adoption.

It was not until we had spent hours searching the internet and days visiting the local shelters that the picture of Coco popped up on the screen, and she was (as we southerners say), “the spittin’ image” of Maggie.

She was a three year old Border Collie-mix in good health. Montrose Animal Hospital in nearby Marietta had been caring for her since she was a pup and when circumstances changed for the owner, they were helping to find her a new home.

Since then it has been an exciting time for us. Coco is very smart, playful and she loves to be around children and has made a lot of four-legged friends at the Dunwoody Dog Park. She has a voracious appetite and with a little help from her Bil-Jack liver treats has learned to recognize her name, come, sit, and lay down. Currently we are working on her stay and fetch commands.

It came as no surprise that she was lacking nautical skills, which obviously was important for her cruising parents. Coco appeared overly enthusiastic upon arriving at the marina for the first time, but when it came time to walk down the dock toward the boat, she stubbornly dug in her heels, as if to say “no you don’t!”

Much like an Elizabethan queen, Coco was carried down the dock and placed on board to begin a new chapter in her life, one that is often reserved for cats or Great Danes. Since that first visit she has adjusted very nicely, and when we say “want to go to the boat Coco?” her eyes light up like Christmas trees.

We slip up every now and then and call her Maggie, but in time that will change. Maggie gained her sea legs at an early age, and we expect the Coco will adjust and enjoy our crazy six months on, six months off cruising lifestyle equally as well. Stay tuned.

In Memory of Maggie

It was a sad day for us, when Maggie, our beloved Border Collie quitely passed away on June 10th. She had been our faithful companion since 1993. She would have been 18 years old in September. Although Maggie was rescued from the streets of downtown Atlanta, she certainly had an exciting and full life. She even had a book written about her Life On the Sea detailing her travels with us aboard S/V Gypsy Common and M/V Sea Island Girl. She loved the boat and became an accomplished sea dog during our travels to the Florida and the Bahamas.

We are thankful for the time we were able to share together. Though absent from this earth, the memory of Maggie will forever remain in our hearts.

It's About That Time Again

 It has been a most enjoyable winter in the Bahamas. While those back home had  the trials and tribulations of being stateside, we were fortunate enough to island hop with our only issue being  - do we eat the fish we caught, or visit our favorite watering hole and discuss it over a Goombay Smash or frozen Nipper or two.

Our friends at Boat Harbour Marina were especially pleased to see us again this year, and we met several new couples who were visiting for the first time. It seemed as this was the year for planned activities with Yoga, Bocce Ball, Pickle Ball, Water Aerobics, Bridge and Art taking the favorites of many. As is customary, many of the members of the Royal Marsh Harbour YC , were engaged in an assortment of volunteer programs with Every Child Counts, Cancer Society, Potcake Rescue and the libarary.

We enjoyed Trivia Night with several of our long-time cruising friends on Tuesday nights at Harbour View Marina in Marsh Harbour. The questions became increasingly difficult toward the end of the season, but it was lots of fun, and everyone walked away with a prize at the end of the evening.

Carolyn particularly enjoyed assisting our Atlanta-based Potcake Rescue friends. On our way south In November there was a round-up and free spay/neuter clinic held in Green Turtle Cay. Several dogs were rescued and flown back to Atlanta for adoption, and in March, a second clinic was held. Eighteen cats were spayed or neutered and seven more dogs were flown back to the US.

Our cruising buddies, Peggy O’Neill and Terry Zieglar, were with us again this season. They have traveled with us each year, and as always, we are pretty much an inseparable lot. Peggy and  Carolyn enjoy shelling and arts/crafts, while Terry and I somehow manage to keep our boats well maintained and doing our part to keep Mount Gay and Meyers distillery’s in the black.

We are beginning to make our way back home, and wonder at times where the time went, but there are a lot of things to do and we will enjoy spending time once again with our land-based friends and family.

Until next time,

Back In The Groove

What a different year it has been! With the exception of a few days, the weather has been considerably warmer than last , giving us more time to get out and about. We have had time to visit a number of our favorite spots, and have been able to re-connect with our many friends to get involved once again.

Fox Town, on the northern end of Great Abaco, was delightful. The local residents seemed to come out in force to meet and greet us when we arrived, and the fresh seafood at Da Valley Restaurant was to die for.

The children shown here were waiting for their dad to finish cleaning his fish and conch, and though it was a little disconcerting for us to see them scurrying around the dock, the father said "de be alright, de be all right." Shortly afterwards, one of the boys fell into the water and had to be rescued.

As for getting involved - the Rotary Club of Abaco held a Children's Sidewalk Chalk Festival and I was asked to take a few pictures, and Carolyn served as a Judge . It was a beautiful day, and all of the young artists were quite serious about their entries. Although this artist failed to capture a prize, she certainly captured our hearts for the enthusiasm she showed.


The Chalk Festival was a fundraiser for the club to help defray the costs of an upcoming InterAct Conference in which over 200 Bahamian high school students will be participating in a week-end of team building, and work projects in Abaco.
The local Rotary Club is very active in the community, and we have enjoyed an inspiring time of work, fun and fellowship for the past several years.

Every Child Counts, a private school for youngsters with learning challenges, continues to be a favorite project with Carolyn.
  She is shown here is Carolyn and fellow teachers, with her class following an art project, using bean pods and a little creativity. The pods are decorated with paint and are often used as "shakers" during the Junkanoo parades. Carolyn's class in Atlanta completed the same project during the summer, and the ECC class provided this photo-op in a gesture of international exchange.

And while it may seem a little unusual for us to be working while on vacation, it is a great way to get out to greet, meet and learn from our Bahamian friends.

Our friend Vickie Lathom teaches graduate school writing at the Univ. or Maryland, and as she reviews the text, I am gathering information for my next issue of the Waterway Guide from one of the local fisherman. Despite the volumes of information that have been written about the Bahamas, there is so much left to write. And we are pleased to have the opportunity.