12/18/16 Home for Christmass

    We wish to let everyone knoww we are at home after having Both Sides Now hauled and are having a few small details taken care of with her.  We wanted to have the bottom checked after being aground and all is fine.  A little paint missing on the skid but fine.

 We rented a car and drove to Maryland and spent a couple of days with Francie's family.  We also visited with Joe & Jody Frost and Richard Hackett, who are leaving their boats at home this year.  We continued home with some cold weather and we had left our longjohns on the boat.  Shorts to longjohns in two days, what a shock.

  I must admit it is good to see some snow and plan Christmass with family. We have experienced some cold days on the negative side of the thermometer with serious wind chill. Skipper is frolicking in the snow and seems to have lost a few years, is ready to come in to lay by the wood stove in a non convenient spot so I can trip over him.
   We were fortunate to have had the help of our two youngest granddaughters in selecting and cutting a Chrismass tree(the first one) from the ones we planted before starting our cruising.

 They even helped trim the tree.  We will manage to see most of our family before returning to Fl.  Tuesday Dec 20 granddaughter Madison arrives at Burlington airport, on break from Ft Leonard Wood, Mo. She is in Basic Traing there, but home for Christmass. Granddaughter Jenna flew in from college at Las Vegas, NV to be with all, but leaves on the 25th to go back. We managed to go to a school Christmass concert with our two youngest grand daughters,

which was quite a treat as well.  We will be enjoying Christmass dinners from the 22nd through the 26th and head back to Fl after that. With 4 children, 14 grandchildren, 1 great grand son and associated families it is difficult to get all in the same spot at the same time. We shall certainly have to rest up after all this fun!

   Merry Christmass to all of you, our followers, and we hope to see some of you while here.

11/27/16 Florida

We have traveled a long distance and had many experiences since my last post in Georgetown.  We left there 11/19/16 and passed through Charleston SC

and tied up to a dock on the Stono River. We met a very nice couple on a Monk 36 trawler, who had a bad experience that morning getting out of the marina.  The current caught them and crashed them into another boat's bow and anchor.  This caused much damage to the wooden cap rail, stancions and sliding door. The anchor managed to catch the first mate and she required stitches.  They definitely needed someone to commiserate with, and we found new friends.  Up early the next day and on through Beaufort SC to an anchorage in Cowan Creek.
Leaving early in the AM we decided to go outside around part of Georgia.  It was beautiful traveling and we were making great time.

WE decided on an inlet that we had not used before.  This was a bad idea as even though the charts said there  was plenty of water in the Chanel, at 1700 we discovered they were wrong.  After bumping a couple of times tried turning around, but tide was ebbing and we became abruptly stopped. After contacting Towboat US and finding they do not recommend using that inlet and we should be floating a little after midnight.  We ended up being towed into  2 Way Fish camp at 0300 to do some repairs. Our raw water filter had sucked in a lot of sand and the anti syphon valve plugged open spraying water all over the engine room. This made using the engine a dampening expierence. We also needed to tighten the stuffing box, as that was leaking as well.
  11/22/16 we left 2 Way  Fish Camp and headed to St Simons Island anchorage and arrived in time to take Skipper ashore at a boat ramp by the bridge. After a peacefull evening and meal we left for St Marys GA and their Thanksgiving day week.  Traveling past Jeckell  Island we once again pushed mud past green can 19 and on to deeper water around Cumberland Island.
    We arrived at St Marys wed afternoon in time to take in the oyster fest at the hotel and then a great burger at Bessies. Thursday we awoke and did some boat chores.  We were ahoyed by a small boat at 0930 delivering Bloddy Marys.  What a hell of away to start the day!!!  Thanksgiving has been put on here for boaters by the local towns people for 16 years.  The locals furnish turkeys and hams ect.  Boaters furnish side dishes, appetizers and deserts.

It was a great meal and all were stuffed with lots left over.  We returned to Both Sides Now with full bellies and a satisfied grin. There were arond two hundred boaters.

  Friday after changing the packing in the stuffing box, my wrench slipped and I broke off a fitting attached to the stuffing box.  I hammered a plug into the hole (which led to outside water...) and was given a ride to the hardware store by Pete and Dean.  This was also a grocery run and we were resupplied. Replaced the fittings and we were good to go.
    We  went to a Happy Hour that was hosted by the St Marys Yacht Club on Friday evening. It was interesting as their clubhouse is a houseboat and we enjoyed many appetizers and drinks.
  We left on Saturday and then anchored at Cumberland Island with Dean and Susan from Autumn Borne, friends for years. Today we passed through Fernandina Beach noticing the damage from hurricane Matthew. There were boats being loaded on to a barge and others pushed up onshore from the surge and winds. The Municipal Marina and moorings are closed for dock repair indefinite. We traveled  on to the St Johns River and Jacksonville FL  where we tied to a free dock at Metropolitan Park next to the Ever Bank Stadium.  Great place for Skipper to run. We also rinsed the boat of some of the salt. Tomorrow we will  find a marina to leave Both Sides Now for our trip home in December.

11/19/16 Georgetown SC

 We stayed through Sat Nov 12 at Matthews Point for the Beast Feast.  It was quite the culinary tribute.  We had pork cooked on a neat BBQ,
 Bambi Burgers Moose burgers, venison kabobs and wild boar sausage cooked on a grill,

 oysters,

clam chowder,

 and many other treats contributed by the boaters.  We departed Sunday and made our way to Swansboro NC for a comfortable evening on the dock at Caspers.  Unfortunatly we were pushed againt the dock and had to wait for the tide to change so did not get an early start, but made Wrightsville Beach anchorage that nite.  Skipper was very happy to see the beach and made quite a bit of it.  Tuesday we managed an early start after a beach walk for Skipper.  We caught the tide right at Carolina Beach and made great time to Southport, NC. Quite often we stop in Southport, but it was early so we continued on through Lockwoods Folly, a little shallow on an ebbing tide. Shallot Inlet has always been a trouble spot and we were lucky enough to see a Tow Boat US who told us we could probably get through, but hold the red and there was one spot coming right up that we might bump.  We scraped bottom, but afterwards there was clear "sailing".  We  continued to the Calabash River anchorage.  This is on the NC/SC border and a good anchorage with a place for Skipper to walk, even though I had to use my new boots to get ashore. Wednesday, with an early start, we went through Little River, Myrtle Beach, Bucksport and to Sandy Island on Thorougfare Creek. We had time to explore the island and spent several hours walking around. Thursday we exploed the creek with our dinghy before moving on to Georgetown SC where to stayed at Harbor Walk Marina and rented a car for a day. We enjoyed a great meal, drank a few beers, and had a peacfull night.  The car was handy to resupply groceries and we had to trave to Murrell's Inlet for parts and a new light for the galley.  We stopped at a restaurant for breakfast and noted a tire going flat.  After calling Enterprise we decided to change it ourselves, after our breakfast.  However, Chris and Dave, two very kind locals who had noticed our plight, were almost done changing the tire, and had also paid for our breakfast! They would hear nothing about pay; just pass it on was their response.  We were lucky in another way as well:  we visited in the parking lot for quite a while, enjoying their tales of life in the Low Country of SC.  There are some truly wonderfull people still in this world!!    We managed to get our errands completed and the macerator pump rebuilt as well as a new light over the galley sink which has been a very dark spot for all. We also hired a diver to scrape the bottom of BSN and change zinks.  Happily, he gave us a very good report (our first since purchasing BSN) and only changed one zink.

11/10/16 Mathews Point

We had a few chores to do in Solomons Island, one of which involved Ken climbing the mast to change the anchor light.

This was done with more ease than on Release, and I was able to do it instead of hauling Francie up the mast on a halyard.
   We have had a busy few days after leaving Solomons on Saturday.  Saturday we pulled into  Godfrey Bay near Deltaville, a nice beach for Skipper.  Sunday we had a very good day and traveled through Hampton Roads, Norfolk,and Portsmouth to Great Bridge VA where we tied to a free dock.

 This fall we are taking the Virginia cut as the Dismal Swamp route is closed from the hurricane and high water. The dock is located after the lock and Great Bridge.

 There was a very nice walking path we were able to enjoy.  Up early Monday and we were off before 0600 to make the Centerville 0630 bridge opening.  This bridge is closed from 0630 till 0900 and would have delayed us had we not arrived  when we did. We traveled past Coinjock and then some shallow places to the Albermarle Sound, which has a lot of fetch and was rolling pretty well. We continued across the Albermarl Sound to an anchorage in South Lake on the Alligator River.

 Tuesday we once again left at o dark thirty and  traveled to Belhaven NC, another good anchorage. Our passage Wednesday involves the Neuse River which has not often been friendly to us. We very surprised to find it quite comfortable all the way to Oriental.  After ducking our heads in the harbor and not finding docks available to shop the consignment store, we left.  We caught up with friends Cori and Dale on HiFlite at Mathews Point Marina.

 They are leaving next week for St Thomas and points south, nine to twelve days of open water, quite an adventure. They have loaned us charts for our trip next year on the Great Loop. We will leave friday for points south and warm weather

   

Oct 29/16Beach Haven to Solomons

   We left Beach Haven NJ and went out Little Egg Harbor Inlet to the Atlantic.  It was a nice trip for a couple of hours as we went past Atlantic City

and then the wind shifted to the south and brought some rough waves. We decided that it was better inside even if we had to go through the bridges. We went back inside at Great Egg Inlet after talking with Tow Boat US about how to get in. We continued till we found a bridge that couldn't open and had to turn around.  The tide was going out and we were pushing mud even with our shallow draft.  We were told that we could get back  to the Atlantic at Townsends Inlet and that was a lot easier than I imagined.  Our trip on the Atlantic the last 10 miles to Cape May was a little rolly. We arrived and anchored by the Coast Guard Station and took Skipper for a beach run.  In all our 45km trip took 69km and was too exciting.  We spent the nite at Cape May and caught a favorable tide for our trip up the Delaware Bay. We managed to ride the tide through the C&D canal and part way south on the Chesapeake.  We anchored in the Sassafrass River and prepared for a rough nite with a front moving in. Following day we elected a trip on the Chester River and through Kent Narrows.  Great idea and we were timing the bridge when we heard a radio  call for help from a sailboat who had run aground just before the bridge right in the middle of the channel. They were only 4.5 ft of draft and the tide was ebbing. We reasoned that they would either be in the way or we would also get caught on a high spot, so another turn around and went under the Bay Bridge. We continued to Tilghman Island and through Knapps Narrows

 to Dun Cove and a relaxing meal from our grill. First time on this trip!!  Tuesday we went to Oxford a very beautiful town Just off the Choptank River. There were four skipjacks (sailing oyster boats) working on the Choptank just outside of Oxford.

 We continued farther on the Choptank to Cambridge Md. where we toured the historical district and had a closeup of two skipjacks docked near by.

We ate dinner at Snappers a local restaurant on the dock. We arrived Solomons yesterday after a great night at Cambridge MD on their free dock.

 We are currently in Mill Creek on a friends dock with family for a few days. Ken is very happy to be dressed in shorts again

Oct 27 2016 Beach Haven Nj

We did a lay over at Waterford and then the next day entered the Troy lock on the Hudson River.  The Hudson was once again beautiful with the foliage. We stopped at Esopus Creek another great anchorage we like and continued on in the AM.  For our next anchorage we decided on the south side of Croton Point by Sing Sing Prison.  It was shallow so we were a ways from shore for our nightly trip with Skipper was a bit rough.

 

We traveled on to Atlantic Highlands for another layover and resupply.

Once again a windy night and a wet trip to shore for Skipper and us.  Wednesday Oct 26 we left for a bumpy ride aound  Sandy Hook and then the wind calmed and the waves were down. We unfortunatly had problems with fuel filters and had to anchor off shore and change filters. After a couple of times I got the correct filter changed and we were able to run at normal RPM.  We entered Manasquam Inlet with little trouble at slack tide and  we continued to Toms River to change the other primary filter. The local constublary, were not fond of Skipper Bob and our choice and told us to move. We moved to another location where we spent the night.  Today we carried on to Beach Haven where we put on 197 gals of fuel ( OMG).  They were very happy to see us and offered a reduced rate to spend the night. Skipper and I walked the streets of Beach Haven for a while and returned.  We are plugged in to power with the heat on and the rain beating against the windows.  Now to draw straws to see who will take Skipper to shore again. 

Oct 19 2016 Leaving L. Champlain

   Francie, Skipper and I  spent Monday the 17 chasing around WRJ  VA with appointments for Ken and getting the go ahead to head out on our trip.  Tuesday was a fast trip stocking BSN and Wednesday Left for the Champlain Locks. We passed throughlocks 12 through 7 and tied up in Ft Edward NY freedock.

We had a great evening and did a few chores before leaving to pass through the rest of the Champlain Canal.  The views of foliage were great most of the way.

 Rain interupted our peace and contenment thursday afternoon.  We  arrived Waterford NY about 1630 and tied up at the free dock here.  The weather front is coming through with plenty of moisture , so we decided to layover another day.  Hopefully the front will have passed through by Saturday and we can continue.

May 2016 Waterford to Chipman Point

   We continued from Waterford  into the Champlain Canal and had a ver good trip all the way to Whitehall NY where once again we tied to the dock and Skipper had a good run.

 The following morning we entered Lock 12 the final lock on the canal and into L Champlain. The rest of the trip to Chipman Point was quite nice .  We had been watching the leaves come out from full bloom at NYC to almost none existant in Vermont.  We got to watch the lilac's bloom in several different locations.  We are now home and getting ready for a summer of doctors appointments ect.

April 2016 Cape May NJ-

   Awaking at Cape May the weather for travel outside to Atlantic City NY was not good, so we decided to try the inside route.  It was an expierence in itself but got us to Beach Haven  where we stopped at the marina for the night.  The wind was quite raw and it was great to have heat and be able to walk Skipper with out taking the dinghy ashore.  We stayed three days and finally decided to move on.  At Manasquam inlet,

the seas were looking pretty brutal, so we pulled off and waited a while to let the tide settle before going out.  It got a little better and we chanced going out.  After about a mile out the seas setled down and we continued to the anchorage behind the Statue of Liberty. We had a quiet evening there and an early start up the Hudson the next morning.  We continued north to Esopus Creek and anchored there.  The next morning we lowered the mast to be able to go through the Champlain Canal.  We passed through the Troy Lock with a lot of wind and going broadside in the lock before getting straightened out with the help of the lockmaster.  We stopped at Waterford for our evening and Skipper had fun walking throgh the town.

April 2016 Palm Coast FL

   We were heading to Palm Coast and recieved a call from good friends Cori & Dale who were in Palm Coast for repairs.  Would we like them to bring Release to Oriental NC while they were waiting for the repairs to be done on their  boat?  They are two very special people we have traveled with in the Bahamas and we were happy to lay over in Palm Coast with BSN while the four of us rented a car to return to Vero. On the way back with Release we showed them our knowledge of Release and what to expect when.  Back at Palm Coast we left with BSN while they waited for a weather window to go off shore to South Port NC.  We stayed inside with BSN and were able to travel in the more inclimate weather but not make the progress that they could outside.  They had problems with the auto pilot and had to lay over a day waiting for parts at Southport  and we got to within a few hours of them. We met at Oriental NC where Tim joined us to take Release to the Chesapeake Bay.  Cori and Dale took BSN to New Bern, their home port to leave her in their marina,   Francie,I, Tim & Skipper continued to  the Rappahonic River VA  and his new marina where Tim took posession of Release.  With tears in our eyes Francie ,I & Skipper unloaded our gear to a rental car and drove to New Bern NC to pick up Both Sides Now.  We learned from Cori & Dale that there was a problem with the holding tank.  Those two wonderfull people had cleaned up the mess before we got there.  We decided to get a  composting toilet to use till we got home and could replace the holding tank.  While I was not to sure of it, I have become an avid believer and it works great. We did insall this in Maryland as we had it shipped to Francie's sister Sue & Frank's house,  Joe and Jody Frost were kind and let us use their dock to install the head.

We continued from there to Cape May and some more rough weather.

March 28-Apr1 2016 Mangrove Cay - Florida

We waited at Mangrove Cay as better weather was predicted the next day.  Ba Humbug!!  Should have gone on to Ft Pierce, but stayed through a real nasty storm with winds od 56 knots.  Our anchors held, but Release suffered a blow out on the canvas at the Bimini.  Next day sun was out but winds from the wrong direction, so four of us boats made for West End and found a deserted Marina to repair the canvas and wait for a weather window. Release and Both Sides Now decided to leave on the morning tide, while the two others elected to wait for another day.  Nancy & Skipper were not very happy with the crossing, but I was happy to get to Ft Pierce even though it was some what rough getting in the inlet.  Francie & Dick had a better ride as they were able to put up a sail and the draft of Release helped as well. We proceeded to Vero Beach where both of our boats were tied to a mooring and we were able to rent a car for Dick and Nancy to check in.  We did a little provisioning and treated ourselves to a wonderful dinner out.  Dick and Nancy took the rental car to Maryland the following day, while Francie and I continued on with Both Sises Now leaving Release on the mooring.  We had decided that we  could not keep both boats and sent out an email to our friends that we would sell Release. We received an email back from our friend Tim in Va that he would like her and to send pictures .  We proceeded onward to Palm Coast.and thar's another story.

March/2016 Getting boats together to leave Bahamas

We took delivery of Both Sides Now shortly before the arrival of Francie's brother Richard and his wonderful wife Nancy in Marsh Harbor.  We had taken Release to Green Turtle Cay to wait our departure to the US, and were were were enjoying BSN.   Dick (Richard) and Nancy had agreed to help take our two boats to Florida.  We first had to see the Barefoot Man concert at Guana Cay and a little more sightseeing before leaving. The concert as usual was GREAT! The following day we were off to Green Turtle Cay to pick up Release for the trip to Florida.
   At GTC we were able with the help of some friends ( I recall a song about this) to install  an autopilot control and depth gauge in the lower helm of BSN.  This was great for the expected foul weather in the future.
  The following morning early we left as Release required high tide to get out of the harbor.  It was decided that Francie and Dick would take Release and Nancy and I BSN,  Francie was more comfortable sailing than motoring and BSN was new to both of us. We sailed to Great Sail Cay and tied up together for the evening and to take Skipper ashore.
  The following day we moved on to Mangrove Cay  where we met with some other boats who were going to Florida as well.  The consences was to spend the night and leave in AM.  That is another story for later.

Feb 2016 Meeting Both Sides Now

       We were washing clothes at GTC (Green Turtle Cay) and noticed a flyer advertising an Albin 36', Both Sides Now, for sale at Man O' War Cay.   As we had been looking for a boat to do the Great Loop with without sucess, and decided to look at it if we were in the area.  About a week later we were in Marsh Harbor and met with some friends who asked our plans. After telling them we wished to look at Both Sides Now, they informed us she was there in Marsh Harbor and they were friends with the owners and would we like to look at her.  This was  the begining of the end!!  Skipper fell in love with BSN and Francie and I as well.  The owners Lou and Jean Wayne showed us around and explained what they knew about their boat.  We returned to Release and talked it over, deciding we needed to look her over again, so the next day we looked again.  Lou & Jean again being very helpful said that if we would like a sea trial, please come to Man O' War (MOW) and we could take her out. 

   The following day we set sail on Release our 36 ft Islander sailboat for MOW.  The following week was a whirlwind:  an offer, acceptance, rushed paperwork, notary, a whole bunch of phone calls and we celebrated my birthday on Both Sides Now.  Then the realization set in that we now owned two boats and were in the Bahamas, and what do we do to get them home?  That is another page for the blog.