The weekend is upon us and I have limited boating news. The weather is back to being reasonably warm during the day so I hope to get out on the St Johns and do some boating this weekend, if we can have blue skies instead of today's grey clouds.
The 20th anniversary is coming next month, we will have a private dinner in the customary fashion with fine foods paired with even finer Ports and wines. Never fear, a large do is in final planning stages for 02 April. What that means is that printed invitations are going out to our friends and family which hopefully will make up for not having a proper wedding and reception back in February 1991.
The event will be held in the Astor Room at the Florida Yacht Club, there will be food and the music will be provided by Freudian Slip. We are excited to have acquired the services of such a fine band, usually we just hire a one man band like Mark Hart from the Tradewinds Bar in St Augustine. But our party has to be a special one and we wanted to have diverse music for dining and dancing.
By the way, Mark Hart is an incredible performer and has been a good friend to us over the years. Be sure to stop in and see him do his happy hour show, it is a wonderful way to see St Augustine. I hope this link works to hear a sample song.
As usual for me, I look forward to some wonderful weekends on the Barco Sin Vela and having fun with our friends, no matter where they be.
Please stay healthy, and I hope everyone has a wonderful Mid January weekend!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Boat Humor
I found this from Here.
Funny as can be... It would be great fun to cruise the St Johns on that boat. I can imagine the looks from shore. Especially tied up to the Jacksonville Landing, some self important gendarme would probably want to impress the tourists by "helping".
Funny as can be... It would be great fun to cruise the St Johns on that boat. I can imagine the looks from shore. Especially tied up to the Jacksonville Landing, some self important gendarme would probably want to impress the tourists by "helping".
Monday, January 10, 2011
Still getting over the last week
Sorry for the long time-no-see. I caught whatever flu was going around last week which required me to stay home for recuperation, the period being from Wednesday to Saturday.
Saturday morning, I merely had a nasty cold which remaineth with me even now.
I got a phone call on Friday afternoon from John, the newest owner of my former sailboat, "Wildebeest III" (pictured above) which is now at Amelia Island getting a thorough going over before leaving for it's new home in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Only my old boat is called , "Hoydin".
The Spousal Unit and I drove the convertible car up US-1 to Amelia Island, top down hoping that the wind would help dissipate my cold, which it mostly did. That and two sudafed tablets.
I spotted the old boat while going over the bridge from Yulee. It was hard not to see the tall mast with the familiar blue sail cover on the headsail, with a white horizontal stripe midway down the roller furling. While walking down C-dock, a flood of memories came over me as I looked at familiar lines which haven't changed since I first gazed on them in 1996.
We privately commented how the boat looked like it did when we lived aboard, so long yet not so long ago.
John met us as we approached the boarding platform and we were quickly in the cockpit. I almost hoped that a couple of well fed and dearly missed Siamese Cats would soon bound up from below with welcoming yowls.
There were some minor differences; a new solid framed cockpit cover, the cabin deck sole was solid instead of the familiar teak and holly. The heads were inop, as were the freshwater plumbing. Don't mention the wiring and battery system. Don't.
There will be much effort made to get this boat back in shape for the long cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. Not overwhelming, just a big maintenance to-do list.
One neat thing was finding out the source of a pesky oil leak in the Perkins 4-108 motor; It was from a plugged off sensor in the lower block. That leak was a slow and messy one that I endured for eight years, and I sure was thinking about replacing the motor at one point. At least the motor is now 4.0 and ready to go.
I passed on as much info about that boat as I could; Fuel and Water tank quantities, sailing characteristics and discussed some of the repairs that had been made over the years. It was a great three hour visit that reminded me of what it was like when I was starting out on an unknown boat with little in the way of experience and skill.
At least John is in Florida where there are thousands of boat stores (And Home Depot) with parts and materials to get the jobs done. We had a very steep learning curve in London where most of the boat stores were on the Coasts. There is no waiting for supplies on the First Coast of Florida.
We went to have lunch at a bistro in Fernandina. I immediately started planning his trip across the Atlantic, recommending stops in the Azores, Portugal and Spain. I even started telling him when to leave, where to be at the times proper and appropriate for trade winds and following seas. Why, he could be in Portugal by June, travel Southward, down the coast and be in the Canaries by November. He could leave the Canaries a few weeks later and make the 20 day trip to St Lucia... Off to the Spanish Main, El-Caribe; with Voo-Doo and Hoo-Doo and all that crazy stuff. Pirates of the Caribbean!
Have we heard all this before? Sounds like I'm a broken record. I guess I get too far ahead of myself, always wanting to get out running at the sound of the gates opening. John has a lot on his plate in getting Hoydin underway and to learn how to sail her properly. So he can make his own plans and move forward according to his schedule, comfortably.
By the way, Hoydin means naughty girl. I like that.
Good luck to John and his boat, I envy him his next few years that will be full of adventure and learning. I know I would love to be on the Atlantic onboard that 1985 Morgan 43.
Good times.
Saturday morning, I merely had a nasty cold which remaineth with me even now.
I got a phone call on Friday afternoon from John, the newest owner of my former sailboat, "Wildebeest III" (pictured above) which is now at Amelia Island getting a thorough going over before leaving for it's new home in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Only my old boat is called , "Hoydin".
The Spousal Unit and I drove the convertible car up US-1 to Amelia Island, top down hoping that the wind would help dissipate my cold, which it mostly did. That and two sudafed tablets.
I spotted the old boat while going over the bridge from Yulee. It was hard not to see the tall mast with the familiar blue sail cover on the headsail, with a white horizontal stripe midway down the roller furling. While walking down C-dock, a flood of memories came over me as I looked at familiar lines which haven't changed since I first gazed on them in 1996.
We privately commented how the boat looked like it did when we lived aboard, so long yet not so long ago.
John met us as we approached the boarding platform and we were quickly in the cockpit. I almost hoped that a couple of well fed and dearly missed Siamese Cats would soon bound up from below with welcoming yowls.
There were some minor differences; a new solid framed cockpit cover, the cabin deck sole was solid instead of the familiar teak and holly. The heads were inop, as were the freshwater plumbing. Don't mention the wiring and battery system. Don't.
There will be much effort made to get this boat back in shape for the long cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. Not overwhelming, just a big maintenance to-do list.
One neat thing was finding out the source of a pesky oil leak in the Perkins 4-108 motor; It was from a plugged off sensor in the lower block. That leak was a slow and messy one that I endured for eight years, and I sure was thinking about replacing the motor at one point. At least the motor is now 4.0 and ready to go.
I passed on as much info about that boat as I could; Fuel and Water tank quantities, sailing characteristics and discussed some of the repairs that had been made over the years. It was a great three hour visit that reminded me of what it was like when I was starting out on an unknown boat with little in the way of experience and skill.
At least John is in Florida where there are thousands of boat stores (And Home Depot) with parts and materials to get the jobs done. We had a very steep learning curve in London where most of the boat stores were on the Coasts. There is no waiting for supplies on the First Coast of Florida.
We went to have lunch at a bistro in Fernandina. I immediately started planning his trip across the Atlantic, recommending stops in the Azores, Portugal and Spain. I even started telling him when to leave, where to be at the times proper and appropriate for trade winds and following seas. Why, he could be in Portugal by June, travel Southward, down the coast and be in the Canaries by November. He could leave the Canaries a few weeks later and make the 20 day trip to St Lucia... Off to the Spanish Main, El-Caribe; with Voo-Doo and Hoo-Doo and all that crazy stuff. Pirates of the Caribbean!
Have we heard all this before? Sounds like I'm a broken record. I guess I get too far ahead of myself, always wanting to get out running at the sound of the gates opening. John has a lot on his plate in getting Hoydin underway and to learn how to sail her properly. So he can make his own plans and move forward according to his schedule, comfortably.
By the way, Hoydin means naughty girl. I like that.
Good luck to John and his boat, I envy him his next few years that will be full of adventure and learning. I know I would love to be on the Atlantic onboard that 1985 Morgan 43.
Good times.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year's Eve!
I feel like I have been slacking on the updates. The reason is that there have been little in any boating news from the Barco Crew, just having a very nice Christmas and New Year celebration with the two of us alone, with Meezer Kitties.
Christmas dinner was the usual Peking Duck with Mom and our Shipmate, Phil. We distributed small gifts to everyone and enjoyed the warm living room with TV as the main entertainment.
Today; In two hours, we depart for the Barco Sin Vela (1800) where we will shift to Mess Dress for the formal Wine Dinner and New Year celebration. I will wear my tux (With Gold Aircrew Wings and Surface Warfare devices) on my left collar, just to be a wise ass to the few retired Navy Captains who wear their Aviator Wings, similarly. The Spousal Unit has given me a stern "NO" for me wearing my leopard skin Fez. I have no idea why not. It has a tassle and is definitely, cool.
We will be dining on a five course wine dinner paired with five exotic wines with appropriate beef and sea foods. I generally get quite full on the foods offered and the staff always sneaks in some extra glasses for me and the Spousal Unit. Florida Yacht Club really goes the extra mile to make us feel welcomed, even if I am not as well heeled as some of the other members.
After dinner, there will be the live music and bubbly to ring in the New Year in boating style. Afterwards, we will be walking back to the Barco Sin Vela for a night cap and stay the night safely away from the roads and other craziness that will be present on the streets of Jacksonville.
New Years is "Amateur Night" for most drinkers, so prudent care and planning will keep us all safe so we can be with our loved ones for yet another year.
I would like to thank all of our readers for the past year, it has been a pleasure to jot down some of our adventures semi-coherently. Perhaps some of you may have been inspired to do a bit more outside your normal routines. Maybe my small utterances have entertained and made some sense.
It has been a wonderful year with our St Johns trips and the highlight being the trip across the Pacific which I hope to return for some more island hopping.
Can I get someone to donate $75K? It seems that Holland America Cruise Lines has a 112 day round the world journey leaving and returning to Fort Lauderdale, early in 2012. Two persons in a suite. Sounds like the perfect trip; someone else driving and navigating... five hots and a luxurious cot. That's livin', baby.
I can dream, can't I? The Loving Spousal Unit says that it would be a great celebration for my 50th birthday. She's always thinking of me! I remain a very lucky feller...
Speaking of lucky; I am. We live in a wonderful place with plenty of food and good times. There are many people in the world who do not have the same luxuries, so I hope you can pause and reflect and remember them, especially those who are imprisoned and suffer. Cuba Libre!
We all need to aspire to do something new which improves and energizes us, whether crossing an ocean or doing something as tough as keeping vertical in unhealthy times. Still, we all need to elevate ourselves to make it to the next day, season, valley, mountain or ocean.
Ocean crossings are easy. The departure is the tough part. Fear and Air are holding us back from our next grand adventure, so let's break through and live!!!
A most wonderful New Year to all. May you all receive maximum Good Luck!
(After all, it's better to be Lucky, than good!)
Christmas dinner was the usual Peking Duck with Mom and our Shipmate, Phil. We distributed small gifts to everyone and enjoyed the warm living room with TV as the main entertainment.
Today; In two hours, we depart for the Barco Sin Vela (1800) where we will shift to Mess Dress for the formal Wine Dinner and New Year celebration. I will wear my tux (With Gold Aircrew Wings and Surface Warfare devices) on my left collar, just to be a wise ass to the few retired Navy Captains who wear their Aviator Wings, similarly. The Spousal Unit has given me a stern "NO" for me wearing my leopard skin Fez. I have no idea why not. It has a tassle and is definitely, cool.
We will be dining on a five course wine dinner paired with five exotic wines with appropriate beef and sea foods. I generally get quite full on the foods offered and the staff always sneaks in some extra glasses for me and the Spousal Unit. Florida Yacht Club really goes the extra mile to make us feel welcomed, even if I am not as well heeled as some of the other members.
After dinner, there will be the live music and bubbly to ring in the New Year in boating style. Afterwards, we will be walking back to the Barco Sin Vela for a night cap and stay the night safely away from the roads and other craziness that will be present on the streets of Jacksonville.
New Years is "Amateur Night" for most drinkers, so prudent care and planning will keep us all safe so we can be with our loved ones for yet another year.
I would like to thank all of our readers for the past year, it has been a pleasure to jot down some of our adventures semi-coherently. Perhaps some of you may have been inspired to do a bit more outside your normal routines. Maybe my small utterances have entertained and made some sense.
It has been a wonderful year with our St Johns trips and the highlight being the trip across the Pacific which I hope to return for some more island hopping.
Can I get someone to donate $75K? It seems that Holland America Cruise Lines has a 112 day round the world journey leaving and returning to Fort Lauderdale, early in 2012. Two persons in a suite. Sounds like the perfect trip; someone else driving and navigating... five hots and a luxurious cot. That's livin', baby.
I can dream, can't I? The Loving Spousal Unit says that it would be a great celebration for my 50th birthday. She's always thinking of me! I remain a very lucky feller...
Speaking of lucky; I am. We live in a wonderful place with plenty of food and good times. There are many people in the world who do not have the same luxuries, so I hope you can pause and reflect and remember them, especially those who are imprisoned and suffer. Cuba Libre!
We all need to aspire to do something new which improves and energizes us, whether crossing an ocean or doing something as tough as keeping vertical in unhealthy times. Still, we all need to elevate ourselves to make it to the next day, season, valley, mountain or ocean.
Ocean crossings are easy. The departure is the tough part. Fear and Air are holding us back from our next grand adventure, so let's break through and live!!!
A most wonderful New Year to all. May you all receive maximum Good Luck!
(After all, it's better to be Lucky, than good!)
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas!
Christmas is once more with us, and I hope everyone is having a fine morning.
The Meezers are acting up and being excited. They seem to know it is a special morning and they are pacing about, jumping on us and complaining. I haven't the heart to tell them that they have no presents today. Their humans have selfishly acquired presents for themselves and have had nary a thought about them.
One nice thing with living in a house is that we are warm and have nice facilities (Bathrooms!) compared to the three Christmas's we spent living on Wildebeest III in London. As we dug into our crusty sourdough french toast this morning, we reflected on the past twenty Christmas mornings that we have enjoyed together. With sausage and coffee, reflect we did, in great luxury.
Mom and Phil will be over in two hours, we have presents under the tree for everyone, and every one of us will be happy to be together living in the greatest country. When we have our first Mimosa's, we will think of all those not present who have other duties which require them to be away from their loved ones. Like Steve, who is in that s%$&* hole; Afghanistan.
I type this with a large male Siamese cat head-bumping my hands as he purrs contentedly. Mao is a happy cat, as are all of us at Barco Base. Mally Cat has pushed Mao out of my lap as she begins the routine of pacing back and forth, looking for a way to climb onto my right shoulder.
She is there; Claws hooked into my skin and purring in my ear.
Have a great Christmas!
The Meezers are acting up and being excited. They seem to know it is a special morning and they are pacing about, jumping on us and complaining. I haven't the heart to tell them that they have no presents today. Their humans have selfishly acquired presents for themselves and have had nary a thought about them.
One nice thing with living in a house is that we are warm and have nice facilities (Bathrooms!) compared to the three Christmas's we spent living on Wildebeest III in London. As we dug into our crusty sourdough french toast this morning, we reflected on the past twenty Christmas mornings that we have enjoyed together. With sausage and coffee, reflect we did, in great luxury.
Mom and Phil will be over in two hours, we have presents under the tree for everyone, and every one of us will be happy to be together living in the greatest country. When we have our first Mimosa's, we will think of all those not present who have other duties which require them to be away from their loved ones. Like Steve, who is in that s%$&* hole; Afghanistan.
I type this with a large male Siamese cat head-bumping my hands as he purrs contentedly. Mao is a happy cat, as are all of us at Barco Base. Mally Cat has pushed Mao out of my lap as she begins the routine of pacing back and forth, looking for a way to climb onto my right shoulder.
She is there; Claws hooked into my skin and purring in my ear.
Have a great Christmas!
Friday, December 24, 2010
This just in from Nigeria
I always knew that the Nigerians were really here for me!
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Federal Republic of Nigeria
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Federal Republic of Nigeria
Lagos Liaison Office 13/15 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, G.P.O Box 1727, Lagos. Re: An Open Letter To All Scam Victims, Attn: Scam Victims, We sincerely apologies for all the damages you must have gone through in the hand of Nigerian fraudsters. We are Projecting favourably the image of the government and people of Nigeria locally and internationally through a proactive mechanism (in line with global best practices) of informing, enlightening and educating Nigerians and the International Community about Nigeria. If you have been scammed send your name and address to us via the email address stated below for verification at Western Union and MoneyGram offices and after verification if truly you have been scammed you will be reimbursed with the sum of two hondred thousand dollars only. The compensation fund has already been insured and the transfer charges have been paid by the Federal Government of Nigeria to avoid unnecessary deduction from the fund. Please note that we have never held any scam victims compensation programme in Nigeria. This is the First-Of-Its-Kind. This email address is set up for this compensation purpose only: wcbn@w.cn Please do not respond to email which asks you to send your username and password. Yours sincerely, (Mr)Kelly Robert
Monday, December 20, 2010
Back at home from the hospital.
Departed home base at 0500 with a tough job looking us in the face, today was the time for the required medical attention that we were a-needin' back in September.
We both were a bit nervous when we arrived at St Vincent's at 0515. There was a crew of greeters and explainers of where I need-to-be stationed right in the entry way, pointing the way to the various stations of the Hospital.
We stopped at a desk where we were pleasantly welcomed aboard with all the paper work ready and within minutes we were in the pre operating standby area. It had a curtain... The Spousal Unit was given one of those lovely green coverall devices and she was instructed to drop full trow.
By 0630 the Doctor was present and everyone mustered to the surgery where the guttin' and cuttin' was going to commence. (Of course, I exaggerate greatly, just to disguise my nervousness!)
We got the briefing from the Anesthesiologist crew and Surgeon and the cocktail was presented to the Guest of Honor. I was asked to kindly leave for the waiting area.
I gave Her the kiss and bade her well as she was wheeled outbound to another hall. My course was set and the traveling was down to the waiting area, whereas I slunk in silently with my sound suppressing headphones donned. Verily, I was jamming with Johnny, Joey, Dee-Dee and Tommy. Cranked to Eleven, as I wanted to appear to be shakin' and quakin' to the tunes. Also, I wanted nobody to be buttin' into my bidness, I needed solitude, baby!
About an hour and a half later I was summoned to meet with the Surgeon who reported that all was complete and that there were no runs, no hits, and most importantly; no errors and the inning was about up. I went to wait some more with a number of rude, flatulent people who complained about the no-smoking rules and the effort it was to walk to the tobacco area.
My name was called forty-five minutes later and I was led to a small recovery hooch where my coherent spouse was in repose. She was required to do a small task and then we were allowed to get her dressed and be wheeled out for discharge.
The five hours were spent well, there is no pain and we look forward to a rapid recovery.
We reflect in gratitude. Once again, St Vincent's Hospital exceeds our expectations and we are very happy with the results, and we are hoping that this takes care of any unfinished business.
On to Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Years. I hope everyone is healthy and happy!
We both were a bit nervous when we arrived at St Vincent's at 0515. There was a crew of greeters and explainers of where I need-to-be stationed right in the entry way, pointing the way to the various stations of the Hospital.
We stopped at a desk where we were pleasantly welcomed aboard with all the paper work ready and within minutes we were in the pre operating standby area. It had a curtain... The Spousal Unit was given one of those lovely green coverall devices and she was instructed to drop full trow.
By 0630 the Doctor was present and everyone mustered to the surgery where the guttin' and cuttin' was going to commence. (Of course, I exaggerate greatly, just to disguise my nervousness!)
We got the briefing from the Anesthesiologist crew and Surgeon and the cocktail was presented to the Guest of Honor. I was asked to kindly leave for the waiting area.
I gave Her the kiss and bade her well as she was wheeled outbound to another hall. My course was set and the traveling was down to the waiting area, whereas I slunk in silently with my sound suppressing headphones donned. Verily, I was jamming with Johnny, Joey, Dee-Dee and Tommy. Cranked to Eleven, as I wanted to appear to be shakin' and quakin' to the tunes. Also, I wanted nobody to be buttin' into my bidness, I needed solitude, baby!
About an hour and a half later I was summoned to meet with the Surgeon who reported that all was complete and that there were no runs, no hits, and most importantly; no errors and the inning was about up. I went to wait some more with a number of rude, flatulent people who complained about the no-smoking rules and the effort it was to walk to the tobacco area.
My name was called forty-five minutes later and I was led to a small recovery hooch where my coherent spouse was in repose. She was required to do a small task and then we were allowed to get her dressed and be wheeled out for discharge.
The five hours were spent well, there is no pain and we look forward to a rapid recovery.
We reflect in gratitude. Once again, St Vincent's Hospital exceeds our expectations and we are very happy with the results, and we are hoping that this takes care of any unfinished business.
On to Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Years. I hope everyone is healthy and happy!
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