I'm back in the office today, and it feels surreal. The "real" world is out there at sea, close to nature. It's impossible to say in words what this trip meant to me, the sensations are too powerful for that. To all of you who joined us on this adventure by following this blog, thanks for all of your support. We started this blog just to let our family and friends know that we were safe and making progress, but it has turned into so much more. We keep hearing from people how they followed our adventure here.
I think all of us who made this voyage were transformed in some way. For me, it was a dream fulfilled, and I have many moments at sea etched into my brain. It was a great adventure and now I plan to spend some time thinking ("noodling") on what comes next.
Until the next adventure, take care, and always reef early.
Monday, July 21, 2003
Thursday, July 10, 2003
Hello everyone,
This may be our last entry (and my first) as we will be busy tomorrow preparing for our departure. Our time here has flown but we have tried to make the best of it. We were sorry to say goodby to Eric and Eveleen last night but look forward to greeting the next addition to our crew on Friday.
Emerson is busy looking at weather maps and listening to Herb on the SSB. I am busy making lists of things we need to buy to make our passage back. We managed to meet someone at the marina we are in who is a auto pilot expert. This morning he spent fifteen min. and repaired the thing!!!!
We have had such excellent meals so far thanks to Eveleen and all of those who gave me advice about easy meals underway. We have spent loads of money on eating out - this place is more expensive than we anticipated but no complaints from the galley wench - every time a waitress brings me a dish I am forever grateful!!!
Meg, if you were able to follow us on your ham radio, we will resume contact with MaryAnn on Sunday at 8:00am . We will also be talking to Herb for weather on 12359.8 everyday at 4:00.
This may be our last entry (and my first) as we will be busy tomorrow preparing for our departure. Our time here has flown but we have tried to make the best of it. We were sorry to say goodby to Eric and Eveleen last night but look forward to greeting the next addition to our crew on Friday.
Emerson is busy looking at weather maps and listening to Herb on the SSB. I am busy making lists of things we need to buy to make our passage back. We managed to meet someone at the marina we are in who is a auto pilot expert. This morning he spent fifteen min. and repaired the thing!!!!
We have had such excellent meals so far thanks to Eveleen and all of those who gave me advice about easy meals underway. We have spent loads of money on eating out - this place is more expensive than we anticipated but no complaints from the galley wench - every time a waitress brings me a dish I am forever grateful!!!
Meg, if you were able to follow us on your ham radio, we will resume contact with MaryAnn on Sunday at 8:00am . We will also be talking to Herb for weather on 12359.8 everyday at 4:00.
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Today we are in a little internet cafe, preparing for a day of shopping in St. Georges. Even though we've walked around quite a bit here, we haven't really spent any quality time in the shops. Tomorrow we will begin thinking about our departure, checking the weather, watering the boat, shopping for provisions, etc. We hope to find a weather window starting on Friday. Several boats that wanted to leave this week were advised to wait until then before departing, due to high winds over the Gulfstream (30 knots!). One boat even went out for a day, then turned back due to the forecast. We'll be looking for a milder forecast before our departure. We plan to remain flexible in order to minimize our exposure to bad weather. The upshot of this is that we might have to stay in Bermuda an extra day or so... not too bad now that we think about it...
Stay tuned...
Stay tuned...
Yesterday we rented a scooter and met Eric and Eveleen in Hamilton for lunch on Front Street. After lunch we motored back to their place on the far side of the harbor. They have a sweet little cottage, right on the water with a view of several small islands in the distance.
From Hamilton we headed out to the southwest end of the island, out to the end of the "hook" where the old Naval Dockyard has been converted to a museum and shops. The museum is in a fort with canons overlooking the southern approaches to the island. Lot's of good nautical history here... We watch kids swim with dolphins in a "dolphin encounter", we saw a demonstration of glass-blowing, and we sweated (it was hot!).
As the sun was sinking we jumped back on our scooters and motored back to E & E's place, showered and watched the sun set over the water. Then back downtown in Hamilton for a nice dinner at the Lobster Pot. Three of us settled on the tuna steak, and it was the most excellent ever...
Then, back on the scooter for us to return to St. Georges and Silence. One word on riding a scooter in Bermuda: the streets are narrow, with rock walls on either side at the edge of the street. This is no place to learn to drive, though I did let Suzan drive a little (I didn't do any back seat driving, no, not me...)
From Hamilton we headed out to the southwest end of the island, out to the end of the "hook" where the old Naval Dockyard has been converted to a museum and shops. The museum is in a fort with canons overlooking the southern approaches to the island. Lot's of good nautical history here... We watch kids swim with dolphins in a "dolphin encounter", we saw a demonstration of glass-blowing, and we sweated (it was hot!).
As the sun was sinking we jumped back on our scooters and motored back to E & E's place, showered and watched the sun set over the water. Then back downtown in Hamilton for a nice dinner at the Lobster Pot. Three of us settled on the tuna steak, and it was the most excellent ever...
Then, back on the scooter for us to return to St. Georges and Silence. One word on riding a scooter in Bermuda: the streets are narrow, with rock walls on either side at the edge of the street. This is no place to learn to drive, though I did let Suzan drive a little (I didn't do any back seat driving, no, not me...)
Monday, July 07, 2003
We are now sitting at an internet cafe in Bermuda. It was great to make landfall after 6 days at sea, a sense of accomplishment washed over the crew as we ran up the south coast of the island. We arrived on the evening of July 4th, and we didn't expect to see any fireworks this year since we aren't in the US. However, many of the resorts set off fireworks in our honor as we passed up the coast!
Some details from the crossing that might not have made it into the blog yet:
On our first night out we saw an atmospheric test which caused a effervescent glow of gas, dispersing across the sky. A second rocket exploded an hour later.
On our second day, we encountered a returning aircraft carrier. The deck was fully loaded with planes and helicopters. An F-111 Tomcat made a low altitude pass, straight at us at mast height, then rolled out and ascended. A second Tomcat made a pass a short time later. We loved the airshow!
The early parts of the trip were mostly motoring, punctuated by short bouts of sailing in light air. After three days we started to worry about our dwindling fuel supply, and when the wind died again, we simply drifted in rolling seas for 7 hours, waiting for wind. Finally, a Southwest breeze started, barely perceptible at first, then building to 15 knots. We kept this wind for the remainder of our passage, logging a 165 mile day in the best of it!
Several equipment failures: the autopilot ("Bob") gave up the helm halfway through the trip, then shortly after the radar went on the fritz. We are having Bob checked out tomorrow morning, the radar will have to wait until our return to Annapolis.
We're loving island life here, and it will be hard to leave on Saturday. Beck will be joining us on Friday. I'm starting to eye the weather to make sure we have a good window for the return crossing.
Special thanks to Mary Ann and Jim, who made our link back to shore while underway. Mary Ann was faithfully on the radio for us each morning at 8:00 Am, and Jim has been keeping the website up to date. We're also getting weather information from Herb of Southbound II each day, which is very helpful.
The crew dynamics for this trip were the best you could ever hope for. Everyone worked hard, kept a positive attitude even when there was no wind, and we enjoyed each other's company immensely. Eric and Eveleen are moving to a hotel room tonight, so we'll visit them in Hamilton to minimize the separation anxiety.
We have taken a Mediterranean style mooring in Bermuda, which has been a new experience. We reach our boat on a wood plank from the land. Walking the plank here means going out on the town for Rum drinks!
Some details from the crossing that might not have made it into the blog yet:
On our first night out we saw an atmospheric test which caused a effervescent glow of gas, dispersing across the sky. A second rocket exploded an hour later.
On our second day, we encountered a returning aircraft carrier. The deck was fully loaded with planes and helicopters. An F-111 Tomcat made a low altitude pass, straight at us at mast height, then rolled out and ascended. A second Tomcat made a pass a short time later. We loved the airshow!
The early parts of the trip were mostly motoring, punctuated by short bouts of sailing in light air. After three days we started to worry about our dwindling fuel supply, and when the wind died again, we simply drifted in rolling seas for 7 hours, waiting for wind. Finally, a Southwest breeze started, barely perceptible at first, then building to 15 knots. We kept this wind for the remainder of our passage, logging a 165 mile day in the best of it!
Several equipment failures: the autopilot ("Bob") gave up the helm halfway through the trip, then shortly after the radar went on the fritz. We are having Bob checked out tomorrow morning, the radar will have to wait until our return to Annapolis.
We're loving island life here, and it will be hard to leave on Saturday. Beck will be joining us on Friday. I'm starting to eye the weather to make sure we have a good window for the return crossing.
Special thanks to Mary Ann and Jim, who made our link back to shore while underway. Mary Ann was faithfully on the radio for us each morning at 8:00 Am, and Jim has been keeping the website up to date. We're also getting weather information from Herb of Southbound II each day, which is very helpful.
The crew dynamics for this trip were the best you could ever hope for. Everyone worked hard, kept a positive attitude even when there was no wind, and we enjoyed each other's company immensely. Eric and Eveleen are moving to a hotel room tonight, so we'll visit them in Hamilton to minimize the separation anxiety.
We have taken a Mediterranean style mooring in Bermuda, which has been a new experience. We reach our boat on a wood plank from the land. Walking the plank here means going out on the town for Rum drinks!
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