SPRING EXPEDITION 2009 !!
Well the next trip is coming into light. I said I was returning to the wilderness or the roots of my youth. I just purchased a Kevlar expedition Sea Kayak. My skills in the next few months and over the winter will to become fully knowledgeable in Sea Kayaking. My skills with a canoe are very good but this will be much faster and more relaxed way to travel. I will be circumnavigating the great Lake Superior. It’s back to the North Country and where I feel more comfortable with myself and my world.
Lake Superior, or Gitchagumee as the Indians refer to it, is 2700 hundred miles around. It’s the largest body of fresh water in the world. The average depth is 600 feet, the deepest of the five great lakes. It will take me around four months to complete this, averaging 20 miles or so a day. I’m going to film the trip and make a DVD about the journey this time. I’m excited about the trip. My son lives up around Marquette and he will be joining me on some of the trip with a Sea Kayak we will rent for a couple of weeks. He will get to do this with his DAD before going off to college next fall. My son has lived in the U.P all of his life and loves the North Country as much as I do.
I have been all over Lake Superior by vehicle. I canoed Isle Royal National Park for two weeks two summers ago and have been to Pictured Rocks many times backpacking. I have been to Grand Isle, Mackinaw Isle and The Apostle Islands. I will be going to Pictured Rocks this Labor Day and Kayak Pictured Rocks for some practice. I have posted some pictures of my Kayak on Into the Wild on my Myspace page. I will post my video of the Pictured Rocks trip when I get back after Labor Day. I still have some more gear to purchase this winter, like wet dry bags a primus stove and a mountain light tent. After the trip around Lake Superior I will be heading south for the winter. My plan is to go down to Baja around Cozumel, Mexico this time for the winter.
I have been working as much as I can this summer to put enough money away to be off for the next year doing what it is I love, explore life. I will start in Sault Ste Marie Michigan and go around Michigan and Minnesota then up into Canada and finish back in the Sault where I went to college. The trip will be in conjunction with Earth Peace and the organization to protect and preserve the Great Lakes. I hope maybe I can raise a little money to contribute to there cause. I will have a few papers cover the story; of course the Ludington Daily News is already on board with it. There are so many beautiful places along Lake Superior I can’t wait to witness them by water. Swimming will be out of the question considering Lake Superior never gets above 47 degrees, even in the summer months. I have swum in it like three times and you will become numb in like 5-10 minutes time. Well it’s off to look at some more gear and find a good dry bag for my video and a water-proof housing for my digital camera.
Wanderer Out!!!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Home Till the Next Adventure
HOME TILL THE NEXT ADVENTURE!!
I have been home from the great sailing adventure now for a few weeks and it’s all so real. The empty feeling of everyday life and the grind of the world is heavy upon me. My spirit is restless and my hands idle. What to do what to do.
I’m in Grand Rapids living and working for a contracting mail delivery company. Its great pay and I have done some of it before I left on my trip. I work many hours but the reward is I’m saving for the next great trip. The life here in the city is not conducive to my personality. I feel the need to return north as often as I can to get my lungs full of freedom, space and tranquility. I have been working on some video lately with my digital camcorder. I’m trying to develop some editing skills. I have posted like four videos that I have done already and hope to keep working on my techniques, and skills.
The next video camera I get will be a commercial one with Hi Def capability. I have found the one I want it’s just the cost is nearly 3000 dollars. With this camera I will start doing weddings to help offset the cost of software and accessories.
My adventures into the next phase of life will be I think wilderness oriented. I’m working on trying to run the Iditarod sled dog race this winter and I will be going to Alaska next spring to live up in the bush for the summer studying the grizzly’s, and filming their world. I have wanted to do this for many years and I think the time has come to go ahead with this. I have winter camped at 30 below zero and stayed in the bush camping for 8 months at a time so I know about camping and a solitary world, which is what I prefer anyway. This summer and fall will be used just studying bears and where to go for the summer of 2009. I will find an old trapper’s cabin and rebuild it to stay in for 5-6 months. I plan to be flown in and picked up in the fall. In that time I will film the world so many of us are unaware of and photograph the landscape and raw world.
I can not live here in this world for to long it eats away at me. I must have a planned escape in the future to look forward to. My being is different than conventional people. I long for adventure, escape and transitional views of other ways to life. My heart is with my dreams they must be exercised if I’m to keep living. I must see the strange and new, the other side of the parallel plane we call reality. I feel alive when a new adventure is in the making and my emotions rise like the swells of the ocean. The highs and lows are apart of my personality, they speak to me in riddles and equations, for which I must solve.
Well enough of the crazy talk and dreams for awhile. I must be off to work. The next few months will be hard but the sweet ending will be near. The replenishing of my bank account is all part of the preparation to escape yet once again. Keep with me and again soon you will be entertained by yet another great adventure and story. I will put up a story soon on of how I got involved with my 73 sled dogs and my dog sled touring business I had in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. So keep checking with my site and stay free and living.
Skipper Out!
I have been home from the great sailing adventure now for a few weeks and it’s all so real. The empty feeling of everyday life and the grind of the world is heavy upon me. My spirit is restless and my hands idle. What to do what to do.
I’m in Grand Rapids living and working for a contracting mail delivery company. Its great pay and I have done some of it before I left on my trip. I work many hours but the reward is I’m saving for the next great trip. The life here in the city is not conducive to my personality. I feel the need to return north as often as I can to get my lungs full of freedom, space and tranquility. I have been working on some video lately with my digital camcorder. I’m trying to develop some editing skills. I have posted like four videos that I have done already and hope to keep working on my techniques, and skills.
The next video camera I get will be a commercial one with Hi Def capability. I have found the one I want it’s just the cost is nearly 3000 dollars. With this camera I will start doing weddings to help offset the cost of software and accessories.
My adventures into the next phase of life will be I think wilderness oriented. I’m working on trying to run the Iditarod sled dog race this winter and I will be going to Alaska next spring to live up in the bush for the summer studying the grizzly’s, and filming their world. I have wanted to do this for many years and I think the time has come to go ahead with this. I have winter camped at 30 below zero and stayed in the bush camping for 8 months at a time so I know about camping and a solitary world, which is what I prefer anyway. This summer and fall will be used just studying bears and where to go for the summer of 2009. I will find an old trapper’s cabin and rebuild it to stay in for 5-6 months. I plan to be flown in and picked up in the fall. In that time I will film the world so many of us are unaware of and photograph the landscape and raw world.
I can not live here in this world for to long it eats away at me. I must have a planned escape in the future to look forward to. My being is different than conventional people. I long for adventure, escape and transitional views of other ways to life. My heart is with my dreams they must be exercised if I’m to keep living. I must see the strange and new, the other side of the parallel plane we call reality. I feel alive when a new adventure is in the making and my emotions rise like the swells of the ocean. The highs and lows are apart of my personality, they speak to me in riddles and equations, for which I must solve.
Well enough of the crazy talk and dreams for awhile. I must be off to work. The next few months will be hard but the sweet ending will be near. The replenishing of my bank account is all part of the preparation to escape yet once again. Keep with me and again soon you will be entertained by yet another great adventure and story. I will put up a story soon on of how I got involved with my 73 sled dogs and my dog sled touring business I had in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. So keep checking with my site and stay free and living.
Skipper Out!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Island Bound 2007-2008 - Last Entry
ISLAND BOUND 2007-2008!!!!
Well hello everyone, the trip has come to a conclusion. We sailed from Miami to the Bahamas and then back to the Florida Keys and back to Miami again. The weather was perfect the water temperature was 78 degrees and the air temperature a wonderful 86. Snorkeling the reefs was the ultimate experience. The fish were so colorful-reds, yellows- and the pink coral so beautiful, I could have stayed there and snorkeled forever. Sailing was perfect. Every day was 12-15 mph winds. We sailed everywhere in just shorts, and let the wind and sun warm our souls. It reminded me of the times I sailed back in my youth. I sailed on summer brakes from college.
The Bahamas were very expensive and our time there was short, for example the gas was 6.15 per gallon. Everyone just lives each day as if the world exists only on their time. The water in the Keys was also warm and clear with many reefs to dive on and explore.
Miami after almost 4000 miles of adventure and unbelievable times, I was sad as I sailed back to Miami. My world existed in this small box of sun, water, a boat and a great friend.
We stopped at this small yacht club in Miami, the Miami yacht club, where everyone was very nice to us and helped us in every way with trying to sell the boat and find a way back home. As I put up flyers and made it clear to everyone I wanted to sell my boat, I couldn’t help but get a little choked up and sad to let go of something that had taken care of me for so long and provided me with a home and beautiful times that I will cherish forever. I didn’t want to end the trip. I just knew it was time to move on. We were tired and beat up physically and emotionally. We did what it was we set out to do and now it was time to venture on to new worlds, and new adventures; plus I had to re-supply my financial account.
While waiting for a buyer we explored Miami and went to the Miami Boat show. The boats of today are sleek, roomy and just plain pricey. Miami is a diverse and cultural city. I found it to be very exciting to say the least. South Beach was large with life and colorful. Its buildings stand tall and Homes are well into the millions if you live on the Intracoastal Waterway. We saw the home that belongs to the owner of the Miami Dolphins football team. This home cost 35 million dollars on the Intracoastal Waterway just north of Miami.
Well, with only five days at the yacht club, I was approached by someone to purchase my boat. We agreed on an arrangement and it was done. I now had to figure out how to get all the things in the boat home to Michigan. How would I do this? I could fly at a cost of around 4 to 5 hundred dollars, or !! I got this hare- brained idea to buy a cheap car and drive it back to Michigan. I would resell it there for what I paid for it. So this is what I did. I found a car in Key Largo for 400.00 dollars. The car was a 1988 Ford Station Wagon. It looked and reminded me of the Chevy Chase National Lampoons Vacation car. I only hoped on my trip back to Ludington I would see Christy Brinkley drive up next to me in her Ferrari like in the movie.
The car was like a tank and it drove great expect for one thing. It came from 80 degree temps. So when I turned the heater on in Tennessee, I found out there was no heater, at least working anyway. Great! The trip back was cold and very long; but we made it. Cold but safe we made it home at 1:30 am Saturday morning. I went to work on getting my other more reliable car ready to travel back to Florida to finalize my boat sale and spend the month of March seeing friends I met on the trip. I couldn’t stay here with the snow and cold. I had become to use to 80 degrees and sunshine. I will return in Late March to get to work for the summer months. I will continue writing some blogs and tales of my road trip back to Florida and around the East Coast.
I have done some great sailing in the 5 months and met wonderful people. After all I have done on this trip I will still stick to my quote in the paper from the beginning and what Homer said in his book the Odyssey “ It’s the journey that counts not the destination” in your travels. I have learned over the course of my adventures that when we are all done with our time here on this planet, it’s the things you didn’t do that you will remember the most, not the things you did do. What I mean by this is you only have your dreams and memories that actually mean something in your life, not money or material things. Your memories and adventures live with you forever never to be taken from you. Don’t let your dreams go unfulfilled. They will haunt you forever.
I hope you will stay with me as I continue to travel and write. I’m putting together another trip or adventure as we speak, but I won’t let the cat out of the bag just yet. I’m glad you enjoyed reading my travels and hope I produce more interesting tales. I was given a camcorder recently and I can now put together some video. I will also be working on a DVD of the trip with music and writings and you will be able to get that thru my web site: www.northerboysnews.com which I will be working on this month. God Bless and keep your spirit free. Remember “Existence is Extinction without Imagination” Skipper Out !!!
Well hello everyone, the trip has come to a conclusion. We sailed from Miami to the Bahamas and then back to the Florida Keys and back to Miami again. The weather was perfect the water temperature was 78 degrees and the air temperature a wonderful 86. Snorkeling the reefs was the ultimate experience. The fish were so colorful-reds, yellows- and the pink coral so beautiful, I could have stayed there and snorkeled forever. Sailing was perfect. Every day was 12-15 mph winds. We sailed everywhere in just shorts, and let the wind and sun warm our souls. It reminded me of the times I sailed back in my youth. I sailed on summer brakes from college.
The Bahamas were very expensive and our time there was short, for example the gas was 6.15 per gallon. Everyone just lives each day as if the world exists only on their time. The water in the Keys was also warm and clear with many reefs to dive on and explore.
Miami after almost 4000 miles of adventure and unbelievable times, I was sad as I sailed back to Miami. My world existed in this small box of sun, water, a boat and a great friend.
We stopped at this small yacht club in Miami, the Miami yacht club, where everyone was very nice to us and helped us in every way with trying to sell the boat and find a way back home. As I put up flyers and made it clear to everyone I wanted to sell my boat, I couldn’t help but get a little choked up and sad to let go of something that had taken care of me for so long and provided me with a home and beautiful times that I will cherish forever. I didn’t want to end the trip. I just knew it was time to move on. We were tired and beat up physically and emotionally. We did what it was we set out to do and now it was time to venture on to new worlds, and new adventures; plus I had to re-supply my financial account.
While waiting for a buyer we explored Miami and went to the Miami Boat show. The boats of today are sleek, roomy and just plain pricey. Miami is a diverse and cultural city. I found it to be very exciting to say the least. South Beach was large with life and colorful. Its buildings stand tall and Homes are well into the millions if you live on the Intracoastal Waterway. We saw the home that belongs to the owner of the Miami Dolphins football team. This home cost 35 million dollars on the Intracoastal Waterway just north of Miami.
Well, with only five days at the yacht club, I was approached by someone to purchase my boat. We agreed on an arrangement and it was done. I now had to figure out how to get all the things in the boat home to Michigan. How would I do this? I could fly at a cost of around 4 to 5 hundred dollars, or !! I got this hare- brained idea to buy a cheap car and drive it back to Michigan. I would resell it there for what I paid for it. So this is what I did. I found a car in Key Largo for 400.00 dollars. The car was a 1988 Ford Station Wagon. It looked and reminded me of the Chevy Chase National Lampoons Vacation car. I only hoped on my trip back to Ludington I would see Christy Brinkley drive up next to me in her Ferrari like in the movie.
The car was like a tank and it drove great expect for one thing. It came from 80 degree temps. So when I turned the heater on in Tennessee, I found out there was no heater, at least working anyway. Great! The trip back was cold and very long; but we made it. Cold but safe we made it home at 1:30 am Saturday morning. I went to work on getting my other more reliable car ready to travel back to Florida to finalize my boat sale and spend the month of March seeing friends I met on the trip. I couldn’t stay here with the snow and cold. I had become to use to 80 degrees and sunshine. I will return in Late March to get to work for the summer months. I will continue writing some blogs and tales of my road trip back to Florida and around the East Coast.
I have done some great sailing in the 5 months and met wonderful people. After all I have done on this trip I will still stick to my quote in the paper from the beginning and what Homer said in his book the Odyssey “ It’s the journey that counts not the destination” in your travels. I have learned over the course of my adventures that when we are all done with our time here on this planet, it’s the things you didn’t do that you will remember the most, not the things you did do. What I mean by this is you only have your dreams and memories that actually mean something in your life, not money or material things. Your memories and adventures live with you forever never to be taken from you. Don’t let your dreams go unfulfilled. They will haunt you forever.
I hope you will stay with me as I continue to travel and write. I’m putting together another trip or adventure as we speak, but I won’t let the cat out of the bag just yet. I’m glad you enjoyed reading my travels and hope I produce more interesting tales. I was given a camcorder recently and I can now put together some video. I will also be working on a DVD of the trip with music and writings and you will be able to get that thru my web site: www.northerboysnews.com which I will be working on this month. God Bless and keep your spirit free. Remember “Existence is Extinction without Imagination” Skipper Out !!!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Island Bound 2007-2008 - Fernandina Beach
ISLAND BOUND 2007-2008!!
Hello everyone I know it’s been a long time since I have written anything for you to read. Time has just not been on my side lately. That and internet has not been very available. We have been anchoring a lot lately since the temperatures have been reasonable. We are in Cocoa Beach Florida, which is just north of Ft. Lauderdale by about 130 miles. The temperatures are around 75 degrees every day now and that’s a relief. The trip is hitting the four month mark and I can feel the length of the trip getting to me. I wish that we had a larger boat so it could provide a little more space for us to stretch out in. It seems we are so cramped in this small space. I’m not sure just what it is I’m looking for in this trip, maybe it’s nothing at all. Sometimes as I look out into this ocean sitting so empty still and calm one minute, turbulent and completely out of control the next. It kind of reminds me of the way I feel sometimes. I seem never to be content with just what is. I’m always looking for what’s around the next corner of life or what the next day will throw at me. There’s a restless uneasy about my travels and my reasons for adventure. The world of order and repetition is just not for me it holds no value or attention. I need the ups and downs of day to day adventure to hold my attention. I enjoy the ability to never predict what life will throw my way next. I find that inner peace with my self each time I meet different and interesting people doing something so against the norm that society places in our trained life, an example: Last week we pulled into Fernandina Beach, Florida. We pulled in because the engine died on us. It was the carburetor I was sure of it. I untied the Dinghy and fired it up and towed the boat into this small marina in Tiger Creek. Now there was this one gentlemen getting ready to go out with his sailboat as we pulled up and started to tie our boat up. He was having a hard time getting off the dock on his own so I went over and helped him untie his 52 foot old classic wooden boat that I would love to have owned myself. Well he was able to get out into the river and headed for the sounds channel to enter into the ocean for his afternoon sail. I started in on taking the carburetor off the engine and prepared to clean it out and reassemble it. When the gentlemen returned from his sail. The wind was even stronger than earlier and he was never going to dock alone with this wind blowing him off the dock. I went over and helped again get his boat in and tied up and secure too the dock. He invited me on his boat and we had some coffee and stated talking about sailing trips and life’s adventures. It turned out he sailed around the world when he was in his twenties, now he tops 67 years of age and still living life to its fullest. When he turned thirty something he got into the movie industry and built sets for the motion pictures. He did interview with a vampire with Tom Cruise and worked on a set with William Defoe. He built some of the sets for Natural Born Killers and many others. I looked at some of the pictures he had of his adventures and the famous people he met and I couldn’t help but feel this sense of excitement and couldn’t wait to keep on with my adventures knowing there’s more out there to discover. It turned out that Baird was a good carpenter and had hurt his shoulder a few weeks back and he had this small tile job to do and asked if we wanted to do it for this guy. We went and looked at it and said yes and two days later we were done and made 350 dollars on the job which helped in our travels down the Florida Coast. Yes it was the carburetor and we cleaned it out and the engine has been running great ever since thanks to Bairds help in cleaning the carburetor better than it has ever been cleaned. Well that’s all for now. We will keep going down to Ft Lauderdale and then over to the Islands. Sometimes a little thing can lead to great things and a good friend. Skipper Out!!
Hello everyone I know it’s been a long time since I have written anything for you to read. Time has just not been on my side lately. That and internet has not been very available. We have been anchoring a lot lately since the temperatures have been reasonable. We are in Cocoa Beach Florida, which is just north of Ft. Lauderdale by about 130 miles. The temperatures are around 75 degrees every day now and that’s a relief. The trip is hitting the four month mark and I can feel the length of the trip getting to me. I wish that we had a larger boat so it could provide a little more space for us to stretch out in. It seems we are so cramped in this small space. I’m not sure just what it is I’m looking for in this trip, maybe it’s nothing at all. Sometimes as I look out into this ocean sitting so empty still and calm one minute, turbulent and completely out of control the next. It kind of reminds me of the way I feel sometimes. I seem never to be content with just what is. I’m always looking for what’s around the next corner of life or what the next day will throw at me. There’s a restless uneasy about my travels and my reasons for adventure. The world of order and repetition is just not for me it holds no value or attention. I need the ups and downs of day to day adventure to hold my attention. I enjoy the ability to never predict what life will throw my way next. I find that inner peace with my self each time I meet different and interesting people doing something so against the norm that society places in our trained life, an example: Last week we pulled into Fernandina Beach, Florida. We pulled in because the engine died on us. It was the carburetor I was sure of it. I untied the Dinghy and fired it up and towed the boat into this small marina in Tiger Creek. Now there was this one gentlemen getting ready to go out with his sailboat as we pulled up and started to tie our boat up. He was having a hard time getting off the dock on his own so I went over and helped him untie his 52 foot old classic wooden boat that I would love to have owned myself. Well he was able to get out into the river and headed for the sounds channel to enter into the ocean for his afternoon sail. I started in on taking the carburetor off the engine and prepared to clean it out and reassemble it. When the gentlemen returned from his sail. The wind was even stronger than earlier and he was never going to dock alone with this wind blowing him off the dock. I went over and helped again get his boat in and tied up and secure too the dock. He invited me on his boat and we had some coffee and stated talking about sailing trips and life’s adventures. It turned out he sailed around the world when he was in his twenties, now he tops 67 years of age and still living life to its fullest. When he turned thirty something he got into the movie industry and built sets for the motion pictures. He did interview with a vampire with Tom Cruise and worked on a set with William Defoe. He built some of the sets for Natural Born Killers and many others. I looked at some of the pictures he had of his adventures and the famous people he met and I couldn’t help but feel this sense of excitement and couldn’t wait to keep on with my adventures knowing there’s more out there to discover. It turned out that Baird was a good carpenter and had hurt his shoulder a few weeks back and he had this small tile job to do and asked if we wanted to do it for this guy. We went and looked at it and said yes and two days later we were done and made 350 dollars on the job which helped in our travels down the Florida Coast. Yes it was the carburetor and we cleaned it out and the engine has been running great ever since thanks to Bairds help in cleaning the carburetor better than it has ever been cleaned. Well that’s all for now. We will keep going down to Ft Lauderdale and then over to the Islands. Sometimes a little thing can lead to great things and a good friend. Skipper Out!!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Island Bound 2007-2008 - Annapolis to Norfolk
ISLAND BOUND 2007-2008!!
Hello everyone, remember I spoke of the sweet and of the sour in life and in travels, well the sweet has arrived. It was 74 degrees today sunny, sails were up and the shorts were on with a comfortable southwest breeze blowing across the starboard deck carrying the Wanderer to a comfortable 8 to 9 mph. We left Annapolis with 3 inches of snow on the deck, YUK. We sailed to Prudenville some 50 miles down and it was still a little cold and wet with our snow turning somewhat to ice on the deck. We stayed the night and continued down to Deltaville some 60 miles down the Chesapeake bay. The next day we sailed out knowing there was a warm front coming and temps would be going up some today. The day started out a little wet and cold but better. As the day progressed we started to see the sun and the wind picked up a little. By 2 pm the sun was out it was 57 degrees, we had all our sail up and the Wanderer was in full bloom. We sailed into Norfolk Virginia with comfortable weather 77 miles under us a smile on our faces and hope in our hearts. Norfolk was quite nice with the usual tall buildings and city looking fur sod to it. The real eye catcher though was the Naval Battle ships along the river and piers. We seen air craft carriers and battleships, transport ships, destroyers and ships I'm not sure what they used them for, but with their radar and battleship grey they looked very intimidating to say the least. Security was very tight and the river was always being patrolled by military police. I took some pictures only to be looked at with very strange and careful eyes. We talked with a sailor who tried to get a better look at the Nuclear Sub only to be intercepted by three Naval Police boats discouraging his curiosity. We are suppose to stay out away from all Naval Ships at least 500 yards. We missed the Nuclear Sub it had already left the Naval Base. We pulled in across from Norfolk to Portsmouth. This was a beautiful Marina with million dollar boats and was a small Boston like town. The streets were named Landon street. and Essex, upper court, canal street. the Bostonian avenue, things like that. There were lots of Irish pubs on every corner. The view of Norfolk was spectacular from the dock I couldn't keep my eyes off it. It was all lit up and the patrol boats coming down the river with their running lights on looked kind of pretty. I ran and got fuel and the temps now were 62 degrees at 7 pm. I couldn't find anyone at the marina so we just stayed for free at this one which was probably a good thing considering the look of the place. The next morning was like a spring day in Ludington were we come from, the sun was coming up over the water the temps were 67 degrees a light wind from the Southeast and we were off to start down the Virginia Cut to North Carolina. We were working our way down the river having to wait on some bridges opening for us, six in all. The temperature was up to 70 degrees by 10:30 am and we were in out shorts and tee shirts feeling like we sailed into a summer day. I found it hard to describe the day, it was sunny with 75 degrees by noon we had the sails up and were living like no one else, it was the sailing life again. The day was just with out words sunny warm and that smell of sea air and trees growing with life again. The good news, at least for us is its going to be sunny and 73 degrees for the next 5 days. We will be in Wilmington by this weekend we hope. In the past four or five days we have logged 200 miles and today will be another 47 miles. So the weather has turned, the mood is great and the Wanderer is alive and well somewhere in the Northern part of North Carolina. They call it the Outer Banks. SKIPPER OUT!!!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Island Bound 2007-2008 - Blog 11
Island Bound 2007-2008!!
The trip is moving along in a semi slow way. I left Annapolis MD the other day with 3 inches of snow on the boat. Wow that was refreshing. The news is good though the temps are climbing and it will be 75 degrees in Norfolk Virginia on Monday. We should be in Norfolk by Saturday if all goes well. The boat still sails like a champ and the engine is purring like a kitten. Check out the pictures I put on here of Annapolis, you will see the snow. That first day out I felt like I was in a 28ft sarcophagus going to my grave, yet this boat is mine and she still feels like a home even in 20 degree weather. The spirits are high knowing that the temps are climbing now and will be steadily going up as we sail on each day. We have been running with other sailors now and meeting more at each marina. They are all heading to the Florida Keys or the islands as we are. We are traveling with three other boats as we speak. You see there are others out there that are living their dreams and just plain pissing on society and its precast notions. I talked with a couple the other day that sold everything they had and they are sailing to the Islands to live for three years. They are a husband and a wife and their six year old daughter. They are on a 44 foot pearson sail boat which was quite nice. I asked them if they were going to home school her and they said yes till they get settled then they will enroll her in a school down in the Islands. Just think of the stories and memories she will have sailing with her father and having all that time and experiences together. I must say I was somewhat jealous. I would love to sail to new adventures and experience life like that with my kids. I'm amazed at the increadible people we meet out here and all the stories and dreams they have. Remember its just a thought away, living your dream. Dont be scared it starts with just and idea and then the first step and its all memories and life after that. I thought about the end of the trip the other day and I felt a tear well up in my eye. I mean I have lived in this boat now for three almost four months. I will be in it for another four maybe five months and then I figured I would sell her and move on to a new adventure. This boat has become a part of me like my home and the security that comes along with that. I'm not afraid to sail her anywhere she performs well in any sea and has always gotten me to a safe harbor. I get made at from time to time and cramped but it passes. I feel as though she is like a living breathing entity. Its crazy right? well maybe not if you know how much your car is to you if you have had it a long time. Well the Chesapeake Bay is beautiful and very easy to sail. Its long but not very wide maybe a few miles wide but almost 200 miles long. I will write some more soon take care and Thanks For checking us out. YOUR SKIPPER OUT!!!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Island Bound 2007-2008 - Life and All
ISLAND BOUND 2007-2008!!
Well the days seem to melt by like ice cream on a hot summer afternoon. I find myself asking someone what day it is at least once a week. The boat traffic is becoming very congested and heavy now. I’m in Ft pierce Florida and this is were all the sailboats start getting ready to cross over to the Bahamas, they either pick here or West Palm Beach which is only forty something more miles down the coast. I will continue there to get ready to cross the Atlantic to the Bahamas putting me in the Abaco’s Islands. It’s cheaper in the Abacos and there are more anchorages for us to pick from saving us money. I’m anchored on a mooring ball which is only 10 dollars a night here, there must be a hundred sailboats anchored here waiting on the weather to continue on down the Florida Coast. The wind is very gusty with 40 MPH winds and a cold front is moving through right now. The front will move through tonight and it will be calm tomorrow with 70 degree temperatures on Tuesday. The rest of the week looks good for us with 75 to 79 degree temperatures for the next few days .I took the day to due laundry and clean the boat up it needed it so badly. I wiped everything down with water and bleach to kill the mildew from the wet and warm days we have had since we entered into Florida. I can’t believe I have lived on this boat for almost six months now. The life I live sometimes makes me shake my head in just plain bewilderment. What happened to being normal like everyone else; house, wife, dog, and job that’s a big one. I guess there just is something in me that says normal is not enough for my personality to be satisfying. The boat does smell much better good for another six month, just kidding. I’m trying to get some more pictures of the boat under sail but its very hard to do and all. The engine is still running very well except I have a small oil leak on the rear main seal. I have to pull the engine to change it and I will just live with it till I sell the boat or take it back to Michigan. Its amazing the people I see in the marinas that are out here sailing and searching for a different kind of life. I have seen young people with kids as young as 5 or 6 just sailing and enjoying one another. You see they share a common goal and live to take care of one another. They haven’t the outside influences of others trying to sabotage their lives every other day. They truly rely on one another to live and fulfill a dream that I would assume they both share. I seen a young couple a few weeks back that had an old rough looking boat sailing together with their 4 year old daughter the couple was no more than 23 years old, I was to say the least very envious of them .I love the idea of someone finding a better way to carry out their life .They seemed so very happy with each other .They didn’t have a fancy boat or a lot of money but they had what truly counts in this world they had one another and their family together sharing each and every day as it presented itself. I talked with them a bit and could only think how wonderful this young couple was. They were only 23 and found the secret to life that we are all searching for in books, pills, magazines and television programs .It’s the simplicity of living together and taking care of one another through good times and bad. Always dreaming and finding that perfect place in each others lives. It exists in all of us we are just to busy trying to search for it in the wrong places. Please think back to the basics of life and how we survive. It’s not in the material things or the amount of stuff we can acquire. The truth is in us all, we just need to except it, and be content with it, and happiness will follow. Well there is my two cents for what it’s worth take that and put four quarters with it and it might by you a bottle of soda. That’s all I have for now take care and Talk to you soon.”” Don’t Dream Your Life: Live Your Dream. “”
SKIPPER OUT !!!
Well the days seem to melt by like ice cream on a hot summer afternoon. I find myself asking someone what day it is at least once a week. The boat traffic is becoming very congested and heavy now. I’m in Ft pierce Florida and this is were all the sailboats start getting ready to cross over to the Bahamas, they either pick here or West Palm Beach which is only forty something more miles down the coast. I will continue there to get ready to cross the Atlantic to the Bahamas putting me in the Abaco’s Islands. It’s cheaper in the Abacos and there are more anchorages for us to pick from saving us money. I’m anchored on a mooring ball which is only 10 dollars a night here, there must be a hundred sailboats anchored here waiting on the weather to continue on down the Florida Coast. The wind is very gusty with 40 MPH winds and a cold front is moving through right now. The front will move through tonight and it will be calm tomorrow with 70 degree temperatures on Tuesday. The rest of the week looks good for us with 75 to 79 degree temperatures for the next few days .I took the day to due laundry and clean the boat up it needed it so badly. I wiped everything down with water and bleach to kill the mildew from the wet and warm days we have had since we entered into Florida. I can’t believe I have lived on this boat for almost six months now. The life I live sometimes makes me shake my head in just plain bewilderment. What happened to being normal like everyone else; house, wife, dog, and job that’s a big one. I guess there just is something in me that says normal is not enough for my personality to be satisfying. The boat does smell much better good for another six month, just kidding. I’m trying to get some more pictures of the boat under sail but its very hard to do and all. The engine is still running very well except I have a small oil leak on the rear main seal. I have to pull the engine to change it and I will just live with it till I sell the boat or take it back to Michigan. Its amazing the people I see in the marinas that are out here sailing and searching for a different kind of life. I have seen young people with kids as young as 5 or 6 just sailing and enjoying one another. You see they share a common goal and live to take care of one another. They haven’t the outside influences of others trying to sabotage their lives every other day. They truly rely on one another to live and fulfill a dream that I would assume they both share. I seen a young couple a few weeks back that had an old rough looking boat sailing together with their 4 year old daughter the couple was no more than 23 years old, I was to say the least very envious of them .I love the idea of someone finding a better way to carry out their life .They seemed so very happy with each other .They didn’t have a fancy boat or a lot of money but they had what truly counts in this world they had one another and their family together sharing each and every day as it presented itself. I talked with them a bit and could only think how wonderful this young couple was. They were only 23 and found the secret to life that we are all searching for in books, pills, magazines and television programs .It’s the simplicity of living together and taking care of one another through good times and bad. Always dreaming and finding that perfect place in each others lives. It exists in all of us we are just to busy trying to search for it in the wrong places. Please think back to the basics of life and how we survive. It’s not in the material things or the amount of stuff we can acquire. The truth is in us all, we just need to except it, and be content with it, and happiness will follow. Well there is my two cents for what it’s worth take that and put four quarters with it and it might by you a bottle of soda. That’s all I have for now take care and Talk to you soon.”” Don’t Dream Your Life: Live Your Dream. “”
SKIPPER OUT !!!
Island Bound 2007-2008 - The Boat
Island Bound 2007!!
Well I guess since we haven't too much to speak of about the trip right now I though I would devote this one to the boat. My Catalina 28, She was built in California at the Catalina plant in 1973 with a lot of soul and heart I might add. I refer to her as she. I'll tell you why just wait. This boat is referred to as she because it reminds of a women , she cost a lot to maintain, demands attention daily, and pisses me off every other day. But, But she has beautiful lines, has grace and beauty, and is my rock when I know I need to count on her to get us through the days sail. See you thought you were going to hear something bad. She came with six sails. We have two main sails, two jibs, one Genoa and a running spinnaker. We have an Auto helm this allows us to dial in a course, a compass reading and set the helm, a computer and leave the cockpit and the auto helm will steer for us. Its like having cruise control on your car except you can leave the steering wheel to go to the back seat or some thing. The Auto Helm is like magic as the wind picks up the rod attacked to the tiller will just move to compensate the gusts of wind. I will get a picture posted of the Helm in action in the next day or so. The next thing is the tiller we have to steer the boat. A sailboat either has a tiller or a wheel to steer with. They say a tiller is more responsive than a wheel and its preferred by most sailors. The only thing is a tiller is not as comfortable as wheel it least not to me anyway. The next thing is the sides of the boat. The starboard side is the right side of the boat and the left side is the port side of the boat. The bathroom is the head the steering area is the cockpit and the cooking area is the galley. The dinning area is the salon and the beds are the v-berth and the aft berth or if its large enough the state rooms. We have two sails on this boat the jib in the bow of the boat and the main sail in the center of the boat. Our navigation equipment is the Silva compass we have on the port side of the cockpit and the GPS and depth gauge along with the mileage and knot meter on the starboard side of the cockpit, you getting all this there is a test at the end. We have a solar panel in the back of the boat that charges the batteries two of them, if the suns out. There is an inverter in the battery compartment that we can run all 110 volt items on while we are anchored or at sail. This converts AC power to DC power. Our daily work is cleaning up the boat checking the bilge pumps, checking engine gauges, looking at charts every hour and putting in coordinates on the GPS to keep our course and position relative to our point of destination. Working on correcting the Auto Helm and fixing lunch adjusting sail lines and what ever else needs attention. Our little sailboat is a magical yet orchestrated performance each and every day, never a dull moment it seems. I love this vessel and sometimes I think she loves me back, by getting me to new places each and every day sometimes with grace sometimes by sheer luck and sometimes I'm not sure how we got there. The way she glides through the water slicing it and cutting her path to my prescribed course just melts my heart and makes the hair stand on the back of my neck. I have this welling of power in me as the wind picks up and she heals over only to feel her gain strength and pull tight on those sails standing strong after thirty some years of sailing from the day she was launched. She is my rock and she stands up to what ever I ask of her not once backing down from the course I dial in. When the wind is just right and all is tuned I walk up to the bow to hear her power through the water like magic. Like magic from a magician I cant explain it I can only feel it with her. The wind cutting through the sails is like a song that pulls at every fiber of your adventurous soul till it bleeds almost. It's a pain so sweet its always got you coming back for more, like a drug or addiction. You really do feel like you are king of the world, at least the king of your world. You are the king but only there because of this little sailing vessel that puts you there. She is a tool of mythical powers that all come with you and her working together pulling up ideas that you set forth and she will execute them in fine detail giving all she has. So how can I not refer to her as a she, someone that makes me feel in love or how a new romance feels each day. Something that powerful can only be referred to as a she. SHE"S THE WOMEN IN MY LIFE . AT LEAST RIGHT NOW ANYWAY?? !! SKIPPER OUT!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Island Bound 2007-2008 - Blog 8
ISLAND BOUND 2007-2008!
Well we are getting close to the four month mark of this trip. It’s a little longer than I had planned on. We are getting tired and getting on each others nerves as any won would in these circumstances. I’m still enjoying the trip very much and it’s changing me a little each day, I hope in some good ways. I’m feeling more seasoned as a sailor and a little more understanding to others needs. We have been grounded once on the intercoastal waterway coming from Southport to Charleston South Carolina. We sat for a little while then worked our selves off the shoal which was just sand by the way and continued on our way. We are traveling with our friends from Australia and Malaysia; Owen, Morina, Robert and Richard. We caught up with them in Georgetown S.C. We are sitting in Charleston SC. Right now waiting out this wind and cold front but will press on in a day or so. The winds and the currents here in the ICW are very strong and with the winds in your face this makes it very difficult to travel on in this area. We pulled a couple more people off the shoals on the ICW last week that had grounded with the low tide and Shallow River. They were not grounded very hard so with just a little pull we were able to get them off the bottom.
We parked in this marina that was some what abandon only to wake with our boat in two foot of water and heeling over to the side. We had to wait 5 hours for the tide to rise and lift us off the bottom. It being a full moon the tide will be as much as a 6 foot difference from high tide to low tide. It didn’t hurt anything just our pride a little. We are 300 miles from crossing over to the Grand Bahamas now and every mile is so crucial and difficult being we are tired and wanting to get to our destination so badly. The days seem to crawl by. I have been working on the boat a lot while Ryan is at the helm. I fixed our stuffing box the other day, it’s where the shaft of the propeller comes out of the bottom of the boat and there is some lubricant in this area to keep the shaft from burning up the bearings. I changed the oil and tightened up more bolts that had come loose in the last 1300 miles of travel. We also put a mount on the back of the boat to hold the dingys engine. I have rigged up a hoist to hold our dingy on the back of the boat; we are using our dingy much more now with anchoring out now in front of marinas to save money. The weather has been great the past week and we made another 178 miles. It has been 70 degrees out and sunny with no wind. Only the past couple of days have been windy and cold. We had 45 mph winds on New Years and today it will be the same. Wednesday it will be 15 mph with the system clearing out and we will take off down the ICW to Beaufort SC then to Savanna GA. I hope you all enjoyed your New Years and the article that was in the paper last week I heard it was nice, I will get some more blogs out soon. We see dolphins every day now and it’s so incredible, to have them come over to the boat to check us out or just say good morning. I have fallen in love with these creatures; they are so pretty and curious of things. I look forward to seeing them now every day. We had one yesterday come over to us turn upside down and swim under the boat looking up at us, remarkable to say the least. Oh I forgot Harry our pelican that has been hanging around for the past few days. You can see his picture under the pictures part of my space or just watch the slide show. We had some fishermen catch a bunch of Mackerel and they gave us some to eat which was just excellent by the way. So I had some left that I feed to this pelican and now I can’t get him to leave the boat. He has adopted us as his family or something. He is there all the time looking for something to eat. So I took a picture of him and named him Harry. Wish all you well and LIVE FOR TODAY. SKIPPER OUT!!!
We parked in this marina that was some what abandon only to wake with our boat in two foot of water and heeling over to the side. We had to wait 5 hours for the tide to rise and lift us off the bottom. It being a full moon the tide will be as much as a 6 foot difference from high tide to low tide. It didn’t hurt anything just our pride a little. We are 300 miles from crossing over to the Grand Bahamas now and every mile is so crucial and difficult being we are tired and wanting to get to our destination so badly. The days seem to crawl by. I have been working on the boat a lot while Ryan is at the helm. I fixed our stuffing box the other day, it’s where the shaft of the propeller comes out of the bottom of the boat and there is some lubricant in this area to keep the shaft from burning up the bearings. I changed the oil and tightened up more bolts that had come loose in the last 1300 miles of travel. We also put a mount on the back of the boat to hold the dingys engine. I have rigged up a hoist to hold our dingy on the back of the boat; we are using our dingy much more now with anchoring out now in front of marinas to save money. The weather has been great the past week and we made another 178 miles. It has been 70 degrees out and sunny with no wind. Only the past couple of days have been windy and cold. We had 45 mph winds on New Years and today it will be the same. Wednesday it will be 15 mph with the system clearing out and we will take off down the ICW to Beaufort SC then to Savanna GA. I hope you all enjoyed your New Years and the article that was in the paper last week I heard it was nice, I will get some more blogs out soon. We see dolphins every day now and it’s so incredible, to have them come over to the boat to check us out or just say good morning. I have fallen in love with these creatures; they are so pretty and curious of things. I look forward to seeing them now every day. We had one yesterday come over to us turn upside down and swim under the boat looking up at us, remarkable to say the least. Oh I forgot Harry our pelican that has been hanging around for the past few days. You can see his picture under the pictures part of my space or just watch the slide show. We had some fishermen catch a bunch of Mackerel and they gave us some to eat which was just excellent by the way. So I had some left that I feed to this pelican and now I can’t get him to leave the boat. He has adopted us as his family or something. He is there all the time looking for something to eat. So I took a picture of him and named him Harry. Wish all you well and LIVE FOR TODAY. SKIPPER OUT!!!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Island Bound 2007-2008 - Cape May to Delaware
ISLAND BOUND 2007!!
The morning came earlier than I expected it always does it seems. We fired up the atomic four, the atom bomb they call this motor and headed north up the Delaware bay to the C&D canal. “Chesapeake and Delaware Canal”. The Chesapeake and Delaware canal is a man made canal 55 feet deep and 18bmiles long connecting the Delaware Bay and the Chesapeake Bay. The morning was cold as it always is. The sun would be out today as we had blue skies above us. We headed out at 7am trying to make as many miles as we can. The G.P.S said 87 miles and by the time the day was through it turned out to be 103 miles. It seemed like we would never get into the C&D canal as the miles slowly ticked off on the GPS. Around 8 pm we finally found the canal entrance and started down the canal with fumes in the gas tank. We had only 6 miles to go down the canal and we would be in the marina. The miles just dragged those last few till we seen the entrance of the canal and slid in tied up and went immediately to bed.
The next day we finished down the canal to the end in Chesapeake City were they had city docks that were free to tie up to with electric and easy access to the small town. We explored the small town and there kindness and stayed till the next day. The town was very small but lots of small shops in a Cape Town style. The cottages and houses were small and quaint. The streets were all brick and cobble stone.
We left the small town of Chesapeake City in the morning with moderate winds heading for Annapolis Marilynn at 7am. As we rounded the point down the Chesapeake bay some 25 miles down the winds came up strong and forced us into an unprotected marina. It was all we could find to save us from the winds so we made the best of it. The town was Bettertown and it was not better it was terrible. We walked 4 miles to a store only to find it would not take a credit card Debit card so we walked four miles back to the boat all a waste of time. The night found us with terrible winds and the boat rocking so bad it would knock things off the wall. So at 3:30 am we loaded the boat and headed out to Annapolis again some 35 miles away. The winds were strong but from behind us now and we made good time getting to Annapolis by 10:30 am. The city of Annapolis was really a treat. The town is all cobblestone very old 1625 and the Capital of Marilynn. The shops and town is all colonel and very historic. We got to see the Naval Academy and some of the Governors home and were the senate meets. Annapolis was a treat, its also the sailing capital of the United States. There are some beautiful boats here to say the least. Sailing vessels that are 60 and 70 feet long costing a million dollars. We caught up on laundry and got supplies, food, charts and such all within reasonable distance from our own mega yacht. Ya right. So there you have it, we are now heading for Norfolk Virginia some 110 miles south hopefully to some warmer temperatures. Thanks for taking the time to read the blog and look for another soon I will be Keeping you updated as I get internet. This is your captain saying keep it between the navigational beacons. SKIPPER OUT!!
The morning came earlier than I expected it always does it seems. We fired up the atomic four, the atom bomb they call this motor and headed north up the Delaware bay to the C&D canal. “Chesapeake and Delaware Canal”. The Chesapeake and Delaware canal is a man made canal 55 feet deep and 18bmiles long connecting the Delaware Bay and the Chesapeake Bay. The morning was cold as it always is. The sun would be out today as we had blue skies above us. We headed out at 7am trying to make as many miles as we can. The G.P.S said 87 miles and by the time the day was through it turned out to be 103 miles. It seemed like we would never get into the C&D canal as the miles slowly ticked off on the GPS. Around 8 pm we finally found the canal entrance and started down the canal with fumes in the gas tank. We had only 6 miles to go down the canal and we would be in the marina. The miles just dragged those last few till we seen the entrance of the canal and slid in tied up and went immediately to bed.
The next day we finished down the canal to the end in Chesapeake City were they had city docks that were free to tie up to with electric and easy access to the small town. We explored the small town and there kindness and stayed till the next day. The town was very small but lots of small shops in a Cape Town style. The cottages and houses were small and quaint. The streets were all brick and cobble stone.
We left the small town of Chesapeake City in the morning with moderate winds heading for Annapolis Marilynn at 7am. As we rounded the point down the Chesapeake bay some 25 miles down the winds came up strong and forced us into an unprotected marina. It was all we could find to save us from the winds so we made the best of it. The town was Bettertown and it was not better it was terrible. We walked 4 miles to a store only to find it would not take a credit card Debit card so we walked four miles back to the boat all a waste of time. The night found us with terrible winds and the boat rocking so bad it would knock things off the wall. So at 3:30 am we loaded the boat and headed out to Annapolis again some 35 miles away. The winds were strong but from behind us now and we made good time getting to Annapolis by 10:30 am. The city of Annapolis was really a treat. The town is all cobblestone very old 1625 and the Capital of Marilynn. The shops and town is all colonel and very historic. We got to see the Naval Academy and some of the Governors home and were the senate meets. Annapolis was a treat, its also the sailing capital of the United States. There are some beautiful boats here to say the least. Sailing vessels that are 60 and 70 feet long costing a million dollars. We caught up on laundry and got supplies, food, charts and such all within reasonable distance from our own mega yacht. Ya right. So there you have it, we are now heading for Norfolk Virginia some 110 miles south hopefully to some warmer temperatures. Thanks for taking the time to read the blog and look for another soon I will be Keeping you updated as I get internet. This is your captain saying keep it between the navigational beacons. SKIPPER OUT!!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Island Bound 2007-2008 - Atlantic City
ISLAND BOUND 2007!!
Its great to be back on the water yet it is still cold and wet. We sat in Sandy Hook marina for a couple of days due to the windy conditions. I tried to leave on Tuesday rounding the point of Sandy Hook into the Atlantic Ocean only to hit a wall of wind and large waves. The waves were crashing over the bow and we turned around heading back to Sandy Hook for another day. The next morning it was flat calm and we headed for Atlantic City 90 miles away.
As I headed out of New York City I was feeling very low, I was tiered of the cold, wind and rain. I’m exhausted from 1600 miles and living for three months on a 28 ft boat. I’m in need of some space and a little rest from the 10 hours a day on the water. I have to say I really have contemplated selling the boat on e-bay and just calling it quits. Its really been long an hard doing this. It’s very hard for someone to imagine. The Atlantic is unforgiving this time of the year. Think about it we are in a 28 ft boat in the North Atlantic 10 days before the month of December not very appealing to say the least, it’s a far cry from the Islands I imagined. I can only say thank you and I love my Mother. I had given her a call and she listened to my complaining and my down in the mud spirits. She always has the right thing to say to make me go on so my decision to go on goes out to you thank you for being there to listening to me Mothers what would we do with out them??
Sandy Hook was about 25 miles from New York just at the point of the Atlantic ocean. As I was saying we left Sandy Hook on flat seas heading for Atlantic City 90 miles away. The day was great till 1pm. We were making good time till the wind started kicking up and the sea got rough again. We continued till dark and with only 25 miles to go we pushed on with all we had to make it to Atlantic City. At 7 pm we could see the lights of the city but we only had fumes to run on. We started for the harbor and the waves were huge maybe 10 or 15 feet it was becoming gale force winds . The marine radio from the coast guard advised all small craft to get off the ocean immediately. We literally surfed into the harbor trying to keep the boat from going side ways and rolling. As we got into the harbor we tied up and started to clean all the debris up that was on the floor of the boat. It was another 90 miles tacked off on the map. Atlantic City was very cool we stayed at Donald’s place. By that I mean we stayed in the Trump marina owned by Donald Trump. We spent Thanksgiving day there and we headed out to Cape May which was only 34 miles away which would put us into the start of the intercostals waterway and we would be off the Atlantic Ocean till we were in Florida’s South Miami.
We headed out to Cape May on Saturday under decent seas 2 foot waves and a northwest wind. It was smooth sailing just very cold that day around 30 degrees and sunny. We pulled into the Cape May channel and ran down the river to a marina and tied up for the night. We were done with the day by 3 pm and cooking a dinner of chicken sandwiches and fried potatoes. Cape May was a very coastal style town. It comprised of small cottages and dune grass along the shores with many shrimp boats. We had one large shrimp boat that had run aground on off the channel. We talked to them and they just said they would wait for the tide then move into the channel and continue to the marina the were heading for. About 4 hours latter we looked and they were gone. Cape May was like something out of a picture book for sure. The town had a wine festival going on while we were there and so I went down to try some local wines, they were fantastic to say the least. As I rode my bike back to the boat I could tell I had more then I should have. When I got back to the boat I turned in and got ready for the big day tomorrow going the Delaware river to the canal 90 miles away then over to the Chesapeake Bay down to Norfolk Virginia.
Thanks for reading and I will write again soon. P.S Wish you were here S it’s the trip we always talked about. Miss U Skipper Out!!!
Its great to be back on the water yet it is still cold and wet. We sat in Sandy Hook marina for a couple of days due to the windy conditions. I tried to leave on Tuesday rounding the point of Sandy Hook into the Atlantic Ocean only to hit a wall of wind and large waves. The waves were crashing over the bow and we turned around heading back to Sandy Hook for another day. The next morning it was flat calm and we headed for Atlantic City 90 miles away.
As I headed out of New York City I was feeling very low, I was tiered of the cold, wind and rain. I’m exhausted from 1600 miles and living for three months on a 28 ft boat. I’m in need of some space and a little rest from the 10 hours a day on the water. I have to say I really have contemplated selling the boat on e-bay and just calling it quits. Its really been long an hard doing this. It’s very hard for someone to imagine. The Atlantic is unforgiving this time of the year. Think about it we are in a 28 ft boat in the North Atlantic 10 days before the month of December not very appealing to say the least, it’s a far cry from the Islands I imagined. I can only say thank you and I love my Mother. I had given her a call and she listened to my complaining and my down in the mud spirits. She always has the right thing to say to make me go on so my decision to go on goes out to you thank you for being there to listening to me Mothers what would we do with out them??
Sandy Hook was about 25 miles from New York just at the point of the Atlantic ocean. As I was saying we left Sandy Hook on flat seas heading for Atlantic City 90 miles away. The day was great till 1pm. We were making good time till the wind started kicking up and the sea got rough again. We continued till dark and with only 25 miles to go we pushed on with all we had to make it to Atlantic City. At 7 pm we could see the lights of the city but we only had fumes to run on. We started for the harbor and the waves were huge maybe 10 or 15 feet it was becoming gale force winds . The marine radio from the coast guard advised all small craft to get off the ocean immediately. We literally surfed into the harbor trying to keep the boat from going side ways and rolling. As we got into the harbor we tied up and started to clean all the debris up that was on the floor of the boat. It was another 90 miles tacked off on the map. Atlantic City was very cool we stayed at Donald’s place. By that I mean we stayed in the Trump marina owned by Donald Trump. We spent Thanksgiving day there and we headed out to Cape May which was only 34 miles away which would put us into the start of the intercostals waterway and we would be off the Atlantic Ocean till we were in Florida’s South Miami.
We headed out to Cape May on Saturday under decent seas 2 foot waves and a northwest wind. It was smooth sailing just very cold that day around 30 degrees and sunny. We pulled into the Cape May channel and ran down the river to a marina and tied up for the night. We were done with the day by 3 pm and cooking a dinner of chicken sandwiches and fried potatoes. Cape May was a very coastal style town. It comprised of small cottages and dune grass along the shores with many shrimp boats. We had one large shrimp boat that had run aground on off the channel. We talked to them and they just said they would wait for the tide then move into the channel and continue to the marina the were heading for. About 4 hours latter we looked and they were gone. Cape May was like something out of a picture book for sure. The town had a wine festival going on while we were there and so I went down to try some local wines, they were fantastic to say the least. As I rode my bike back to the boat I could tell I had more then I should have. When I got back to the boat I turned in and got ready for the big day tomorrow going the Delaware river to the canal 90 miles away then over to the Chesapeake Bay down to Norfolk Virginia.
Thanks for reading and I will write again soon. P.S Wish you were here S it’s the trip we always talked about. Miss U Skipper Out!!!
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