(Most recent is first)

 

 

We are so excited to be “home“ to Texas, to have traveled from Annapolis Maryland to Venezuela and all the way to Galveston, TX. Our plans are hopefully to make it to South Padre Island, TX for the winter & then we will have to see what the Lord has in store for us.
We love hearing from our cruising Friends we left behind and want to hear about your travels and read your blogs, so although we are partially land lubbing it, don’t forget us, for we would like to be out there with you.

 

Sat. Sept. 13th, 2008 Ike struck Galveston as a Cat 2 Hurricane. The destruction was amazing, but Dock Queen floated to the top on her floating Dock with nothing serious. Inside a small votive

candel fell to the floor. The Marina lost 8 boats, but our Dock sustained no damage.

 

 

 

Sun. May 18th, 2008 Left Steve’s around 9am, crossing Houston Ship Channel at 10:30.
Arrived at our Marina, Harborwalk in Hirchcock, Texas, about noon.

Sat May 17th, 2008 Left the Calcasieu River headed to Texas at 7:00 am
Mile Marker 272Just crossed into TX 10:57 am. Heehaw! Don’t cry for me Venezuela!
It is an overcast day, weather is actually cool, but not much wind. Lots of barges, but fairly quite. No place to anchor & the Stingaree Marina had a fire so we went to Steve’s Landing. Tied up & ate a delicious meal.

Monday May 12th, Tues 13th, Wed, 14th, Thurs 15th, Fri 16th Lake Charles, LA- Bridge Point Marina La. LAberge & Isle of Capri are the only Casinos left, La Auberge is the most generous & has the best buffet. Aberge offers a free shuttle to the casinos & back. Bill & Twana rented a car one day & toured the city, took a walk through the city park and we ate really good food at Steamboat Bills on I-10. My sister Junetta & her family took us there on Fri to eat more shrimp & boiled crawfish. Then we had key lime pie back on the Dock Queen.

Sun May 11th, 2208 Docked at Shell Morgan Dock 2 miles to city. Walked a mile. Not much to see, played dominoes. Nice evening.

Sat. May 10th, 2008 Anchored Lacassoine Bayou, Peaceful & Quite surrounded by islands of trees, Nat’l Refuge.

Fri May 9, 2008 Berwick IS, LA is across from Morgan City. Land marked by a Big Red Lighthouse & Flooded dock on the (Raging) River. We must have been a spectacle in this big city as 1/2 town came down to see our boat, even wading through the flooded dock. We had a pleasant evening & even Bill took a wet walk around.

Thurs. May 8th, 2008, City Dock, Houma, La. Called my Niece, Lauren Thompson, whom is graduating from Nichols U in Thibodaux, La on Sat. & she took us to eat at Big Als, which is superb for boiled crawfish as well as all the good fried seafood. It’s enough food for all the gators in La. Houma is a nice place to tied up & provision if you need to.

Wed. May 7th, 2008 Left the Marina early. Went through Inner Harbor Navigational Canal Lock, took a while but it was a pleasant experience. Twana was quite excited to cruise down the Missississippi Riverm a whole 4 miles to the Algiers Lock. Due to Flooding we were not able to cruise up the Miss., past the French Quarter. From here on it is a series of tugs pushing 1 to 4 four barges, carrying just about everything. We are just “Picin’ taters off their stern all the way. We took a left of the ICWW looking for a dock , drove past Lafitte & Jefferson, shallow but when we reached the marina at the end, it was too shallow for us so we turned around ICWW & anchored next to the Trawler Kelsey. [Important numbers-Public Affairs Locks in NOLA 504- 862-1121 Coast Guard 504-282-4395, SOS 504 5896225 5896261].

Friday May 2nd, 2008 Sandra took Twana to the Amtrak “Sunset Limited” & she left Hou at 6 :15 am arrived NOLA at 4 pm for only $117 she rode in a private car & got two meals.
Or 2 hots & a cot. She loved the trip & we were there to meet her when she got off the train.
We immediately went to eat at Mulata’s where we enjoyed Cajun fried food and a Zydeco band, La Touché. Debbie even got a dancing lesson. Then the next few days we went to Harrah’s, rode the cable cars, walked the French Quarter, ate beignets at Café Du Monde, visited Mothers for some home cooking, even ate at Willie Maes’ Scotch House for the best fried chicken & butterbeans in the World. We got to know Canal Street. Our favorite rest is Acme Oyster House introduced to us one time by Billy. We missed Preservation Hall due to the Jazz fest. We even took a side trip to Biloxi & Gulf Port. It was very sad to see the beautiful Antebellum Houses were gone. The Silver Slipper seemed luckier to us than the Beau Ravage, but we especially enjoyed our coastal ride east.

Thurs. May 1st, 2008 Our first time to be here for the NOJazz.com Fest & we saw Randy Newman, Carolina Choc Drops, and many more. The list of stars was grand, but they play on different days. Any day but Thursday is super crowded & can be muddy if it rains, so we lucked out & really enjoyed the music, the food and the people.

April 30th, 2008 Arrived Lake Ponchartrain, NOLA. Orleans Marina 221 Lake Marina Ave.
Pier 1 $1.50 ‘ incl H20 & El, Elaine is doing her best to run the Marina single handed out of a trailer as Katrina did significant damage to the Marina office that still houses the baths & laundry. Got the money for the repairs, can’t get the help. Seems to be like that in a lot of places. Wherever there is a newly remolded house or building , there will be one a few doors down with an X. New Orleans is looking pretty good, has a lot of spirit & virtually seems unchanged. The French Quarter is exactly the same. We rented a car from Enterprise Car rental 504 92-8766 $100 4 days 5 day $142.98. We are started to prefer them as they will pick up & deliver and have lots of locations.

April 27th, 2008 Left Anchorage at 7 am to Grand Mariner Marina, Mobile, ALA.
Hospitality was superb, Barbara let us borrow her car for a grocery & eating out run. Ate fried Crab Claws at the Marinas Rest, but had our best meal at the well decorated Felix’s Fish Camp on Battleship Road, just past the Battleship, USS Alabama. Was very surprised at how shallow Mobile bay is & all the oil wells. The cheapest gas found anywhere along the gulf coast was at Dog River Marina across from Grand Mariner. This is the Marina we met Jim Taylor at in Feb 2005 & took a 2 week long Journey to FLL through Lake Okeechobee. We call that our discovery cruise, which helped us discover the model of boat we wanted to buy. Jims’ was a 49’ & ours is a 44’

Sat. April 26th 2008 We missed Ft Walton & the free city Dock so we Crossed into Alabama at Peridido Key, anchored for the night. Several boats were anchored here. There was a lot of pleasure boat activity here on the weekend & a couple of rest. near by. On the way we passed Lucy Buffet’s (Jimmy’s Sister) rest, unfortunately if wasn’t feeding time for us.

Friday April 25th, 2008 Destin Harbor, Destin, Florida -Arrived here about 3:00 pm yesterday. It is a real shock to come out of the brown ICW and face beautiful white sand & clear aqua blue water. M/V Friendship joined us for sundowners and we all got to share our sailing stories.

Wed April 23rd, 2008 Panama City, Fl . Nice anchorage, West of Town. This morning we saw an American Bald Eagle ( no not an Osprey).

Tues April 22nd, 2008 Anchorage North West of Apalachicola. No phone reception on T Mobile & no internet so we anticipated having to dingy to shore to call in our arrival from our float plan, but the Albin Trawler “Friendship” passed us w/ 4 on board so we asked them if they could get reception on their AT& T so they called Houston to tell them we made it.

Monday April 21st, 2008 Left Venice at 11:00 am Once again the weather was so appealing that we decided to head to Carrabelle, Fl across the Gulf for an overnighter.
Sunday April 20, 2008 Arrived Crow’s Net, Venice, Fl at 5 pm. Got a bike ride in to Old town & watched sundown off the jetties. Delightful place.

Saturday April 19, 2008 We left Mooring Field at 6:30 am. Long Day ahead in pretty shallow water. After a few rough days we spent at sea in the Caribbean we decided to always wait for the best weather. Today we have 10 mph winds & seas less than 3 feet. Even the Sun is not too intense.

Saturday April 12, 2008 Left our anchorage at 8 am, arrived Key West Marring Field at 5:00 pm.

Friday April 11th, 2008 Anchored at Jewfish inside intercostals at Long Key. Quiet & Pleasant.

Thursday April 10, 2008 Left Marina Bay Marina at 7:30 am incoming low tide. No problems Beware of Triangle before 17th ST Causeway.
Traversed Intercostals to Grove for Fuel, then across Biscayne Bay to Key Biscayne, in front of what was once Richard Nixon’s Residence. Eating aboard tonight.

April 2-9 The Marina has a showing of a recent movie daily in its own theater, billiards, gym, sauna, beautiful heated pool & hot tub, free coffee, eco park “Secret Woods is a block away
And most of what you need is within 2 miles. That’s why it’s called Marina Mile. Our stop here was to get well deserved service on boat parts. We had a new anchor shipped in and spent time waiting on parts or techs & exercising. Bill did a wonderful job of waxing the boat and making many improvements and minor repairs. The boat is now at the
April 1st The Rendezvous Rest at the Marina serves up one of the best Seared Tuna encrusted
In Black & White Sesame seeds on a bed of greens, but we do not recommend the bar-b-que.
For that try Reds on Hwy 84. Speaking of eats, here are our choices.
Heavenly Dogs for world famous Chicago Dogs
Jacks for Hamburgers & Milkshakes.
Tarks for fired seafood, Buffalo wings & shrimp & Ice cold Bear in Dania Beach.
Breakfast at Lester’s
German food, no place but Old Heidelberg
Caps is great dining but can’t beat the crabs but can beat the table at Rustic Inn.


March 27-April 1 Debbie in Texas

Thurs. March 12, 2008 Marina Bay Marina up New River Fort Lauderdale Florida.
The weather was so peaceful & calm that we decided to drive straight through to Port Everglades.

Wed March 11, 2008
Got up at 6 & got to Nassau Yacht Harbor Club at 4 pm. Bought out by the Ritz. Clark & French tied us up. Took Taxi with Mr., Moss to Indigo, walked to Cable Beach Casino, Bill won $75.00 Taxi back to club.

Tues March 10, 2008
Left 5 am went to Sampson Cay through the Cut, too shallow to anchor there went south to big Majors anchored off the island Cut off Stabilizers Bill snagged two big fish, lost the pink lure.

Mon March 9 2008
Long Island to Cape Sent Maria Calabash Bay, 4 pm. dove anchor, would not dig in Very Calm Day

Sun March 8 2008
Anchored the other side of Bird rock lighthouse. On Crooked Island after sunset. Very Calm Day

Sun March 8 2008
Left Abrahams Bay Mayaguana at 6 am seas were perfect enough so we
Went all the way to Crooked Island arriving after Sunset, anchored by 8pm. We just had to go bay & take a long look at Plana keys. A real deserted island. No yachts, nothing but a few palm trees.
Just before we got there we saw some gray whales frolicking just off the starboard side of our boat. Then low & behold we caught a skip jack tuna, so tonight we are having Sushi. This will be
first time Bill & I have made our own sushi. Met Jan & Phil on Excalibur, with Vixen gave us a message from Paradise.

2-25-08
Left Fajardo at 7 am crossed the Mona Passage arriving at Casino World at Ocean World in Puerta Plata, DR. 48 hrs later.


Here is our latest update. It has been hard to post & download pictiures, since we have limited interent.

Thurs Feb 14, 2008 Sint Maarten/St Marten (Dutch/French)
The smallest island that is two countries. A good place to be for Valentine’s Day; Casinos for Bill & duty free shops for me. St. Maarten has everything for everybody here. Good food & many restaurants but expensive, although in stores on the French side the French items e.g.: escargot, pate, wine, bread is rather inexpensive since they come from France. Diesel here is $4 a gallon, a quarter slot machine is a quarter, at least they take the US $ here, but overall it’s pricey. Of course Venezuela did spoil us. One main attraction here is watching the Mega Yachts pass through the Bridge from the dock of the Simpson Bay Yacht Club Bar & Grill Deck and applaud & hoorah when they make it. This Bridge was enlarged just for these guys & still barely makes it. There are more Mega Yachts here than at the Miami Boat show. We are parked in the middle of them at Simpson Bay Marina. We feel like a shrimp in a Whales’ belly! It is a lot of fun to watch those bad boys get docked. The dock boys use their tenders as fenders, it’s quite a show. The wind is blowing really hard here with gusts to 30 mph, thus why we are still here and will be until Monday most likely. Sunday is the beach party at Orient beach. I am sure that will prove interesting since it is a clothing optional beach.

Tuesday Feb 12, 2008 Simpson Bay Marina, Simpson Bay Lagoon
The Marinas tenders guide us to our boat slip-rest at last. Everything we need is nearby.

Monday Feb 11,2008 Nevis
We did a quick check in /check out of Nevis so we could make ot to Sint Maarten by dark. We anchored along with all the other boats waiting for the morning bridge in a very rolly anchorage. Not much sleep here.

Sat Feb 9, 2008 Montserrat at sunset.
It was a beautiful sight to see an actual live Volcano smoking and recent years lava flow. It was sad to see the Ghost town of Plymouth, ex-capital, nice abandoned homes. We were told not to anchor near the exclusion zone so we made our way to Nevis by midnight & took a mooring Ball. That was good since our best anchor was now going to be an artificial reef

Friday Feb 8, 2008 in Front of Point of Pitre.
The trip up River Salee was very smooth with the bridges opening on time. The downside was that it was dark at 5 am so we did not see much except the peace & quiet. We would have anchored in grand Cul-de-Sac Marin but we detected mosquitoes, in this vast eco system, so we went to Deshaies on the NW tip of the island. Windy & rolly, lost our anchor twice then literally had the damn thing snap off, so we headed N in rough seas.

Thursday Feb 7, 2008 Anchored at Ilet du Gosier
A very windy, but it is a lovely setting with a beach on the mainland and a wonderful island off our starboard bow. Many catamarans here, lots of swimming and there is a lighthouse on the island. In preparation for our trip through the river Salee we anchored…

Sat Feb 2, 08 Guadeloupe Bas du Fort Marina
It is very French here. People use the French language & Euros. We really enjoyed the Zoo Restaurant where they bring your steak on skewers to your table, so that all the tables have tall skewers. Very good meat.

Thursday, 1-31-08 Roseau, Dominica
Very clean compared to most islands. The Capital is very busy and overcrowded, so we chartered a bus to take us to see Mama & Papa Falls at Trafalgar Water Falls, a short hike and a 30 minute soak in the hot springs is one of the most awesome things we have ever done. We had it to ourselves, but I do not recommend being there on cruise ship day. We had lunch at the Old Fort Hotel, and then headed out of a horribly rolly anchorage to Port Rupert, a very beautiful anchorage, very calm and very cruiser friendly. Anchored in front of Ft Cabritis very smooth
We took Martin’s Indian River Cruise up the same River used by Columbus & other early explorers. Got a fresh supply of Bay leaves, was able to inspect a real Hummingbird’s nest & saw tranquility as its best, had a drink at Cobras place on the River and again beat the other tourists there and had it to ourselves. Indiana Jones was there in spirit. On the beach, fish & chicken dinner at Patricia’s Purple Turtle was typical Carrib dining but good food & lovely hostess. Lots of Kids were out of school because Carnival was starting

Tuesday Jan 29th, 2008 Arrived St Anne’s, Martinique
Said hi to Paper Moon, Sol Y Mar, & Cheetah II. It is a lovely anchorage, but we decided to make time before the seas worsened making it to Dominica before nightfall on Wednesday.

Monday Jan 28th, 2008 Rodney Bay
We did not stop until we got to RB and anchored & went in to the dock the next morning to check in, provision, eat some wonderful pizza and get a good supply of meat at the new meat Mkt across from Tire Ranch, thanks to Cheetah II telling us about it. It was a nice stop in a familiar place. I did not get to spend time with my heroes the Pitons, but they were awesome under the first break of daylight.

Sunday Jan 27, 2008 S of Bequia N 12 51.256 W 61 30.918
We have traveled 255 miles.

Friday Jan 25, 2008 Polamar, Margarita VZ
At 9: 00 am Bill was told by Juan that we could not check back in so we headed to Los Testigos arriving in the afternoon. Rested all day Sat had Sundowners with Bill & Laura on S/V Second Wind who thought they were going to Venezuela. Left Sun Morn in Rough Seas to Grenada. We heard later that Bill on S/V Second Wind reported Sunday night a man boarded another boat & shot the Captain in our same anchorage and we have since heard that Bill & Laura are headed north!

Thurs Jan 24, 2008 Left PLC
Anchored at Peninsula de Araya at 3 pm N of Gofo until about 2am.



Friday Jan. 5th, 2008 El Morro
We have been so busy since arriving at MareMares, PLC, Venezuela. Actually we are stalemated because of the holidays. The things we need to take care of, the businesses are closed until the 7th or even 10th of Jan. They take New Years seriously (you should have seen the fireworks). So we are enjoying many potluck dinners with the five or so other cruisers at this resort. Wonderful pool, spa, nice restaurants & wonderful sidewalks for walking & riding bikes. Today is a ride to the top of the hill, El Morro, on the west side of PLC. Promises to be an awesome view.

 

Thurday Jan 4th, 2008 Venezuela
Maybe you have wondered where the name of Venezuela comes from. You can see houses over the water, in the Sinamaica lagoon (Zulia state), close to Maracaibo. When the first explorers arrived, those houses reminded them the city of Venice. That is why they called the region "Little Venice", which in Spanish would be Venezuela.

Friday Dec. 28th, 2007 Shopping
We took a dingy ride with Paradise yesterday to Plaza Mayor. On the way we saw the beautiful house Sid & Manuela are renting for the month of Jan. while they redo the floors in the boat. The guys went one way & the girls went the other. Can you imagine that you are shopping in your big city like Austin & you walk from shopping center to shopping center or occasionally take a Taxi to get from one store to the other. Of course, neither do the people that live here too often, but us cruisers, must do this. Of course, it is good exercise. I think I will do some of this when I get back to the states, (sure;)

Tuesday Dec. 25th, 2007 Christmas
We had a lovely Christmas with the other American cruisers at MareMares as well as the dock master & supervisor. All meals among the cruisers take place under the “Tree of Knowledge or Talking Tree” which Manuela has decorated. Manuela is the Activities Chairman; her husband Sid is Chief of Police of this area (the tree). Manuela did most of the cooking along with Jeri on Three Keys, the Powerboat that Paradise is sitting along with the cats. Jim, Mayor of MareMares, & wife, Jenny (in the states recuperating from surgery) unfortunately could not be here, but were gracious enough to let us use their oven. The resort has a quiet a few people, but they say last Christmas, it was overly packed. They provide a bar, music, towels & a very nice pool. The weather is wonderful with occasional showers.

Wed. Dec 19th, 2007 Committee Meeting
We had a meeting with the other cruisers and Keigla from Transpacific and decided to haul out at CMO on Jan7th, first available because of the holidays and fly out of Barcelona a few days after, first available. Cannot do a lot back home until then anyway and this way we want be involved in the holiday traffic.

Tues. Dec. 18th, 2007 Thanks for the Memories
Today we decide we have to go back to Texas.  We knew this day would come, but we were hoping it would be a while longer. We won’t make it by Christmas, as we have to get the boat up on the hard & plane tickets. Not easy at this late notice. So we will try our best to get there before the first of the year. We will reside in Marble Falls and probably be very involved for as long as 2 years, but we guarantee that the first opportunity we get we will pop right back down here on our boat.

Monday Dec. 17th, 2007 it’s about a week until Christmas
Not much going on here. Last night we had potluck with the other boaters at this Marina. This is a resort with nice pool & work out facilities, close to mall & restaurants. Safe to walk & ride bikes in this part of town. Their malls are more like flea markets. Looks like a mall but the stores are like kiosks, hardly any chain stores. Hard to find what you need. Groceries are cheap but they don’t have a lot of stuff like we are use to & some of it is old. So we plan to eat out a lot since we can both eat filet migons for $10 toda. It was so good to meet some boaters so we don’t feel all alone in this country. Guess we share some Christmas spirit-do a gift exchange, have a dinner, etc. One couple has been here at this Marina 4 yrs.; they are away while Paradise watches their boat & cats. Paradise is in their 2nd yr. He was a 27 yr vet of the LA police force-vice. His wife, Manuela, is from Switzerland. She was an illegal alien in LA, got a job at a restaurant & he was her first customer. She thought he was going to bust her. Now they have been married 17 years. There is a guy married to a Brazilian, he is Swiss German-has a strong accent. A couple from North England. Permanent cruisers, in their 60’s. Oh yea, there is a guy here that is a Tug Boat captain. John & Geri fly & spend time on their boat when he is not tugging. Ed & Linda are also among the boaters who decorated for Christmas. We only have less than a doz. Cruisers. There might be a ghost in our slip. The boat that left here, the guy’s wife killed herself a few years back. He was here 6 years. So he put an ad in the paper for a woman who could drink & he married a Venezuelan & now they are cruising. Left our slip just before we got here. The women are beautiful and they say it is the land of the tit fairy. Last night a gorgeous vavoom girl walked by with a poodle puppy & the girls all had a fit over the tiny toy poodle, so Manuela took pictures while the girl in the bikini held it. Need less to say the guys all wanted to see a picture of the puppies, the dog was cute too! It was funny. The people here are not like the Mexicans in Texas; they have fair skin; some have Green eyes & blonde hair. Just wish I could speak Spanish. Usually you can find someone to interpret for you.

Wed Dec 12, 2007 Left Cubagua @ 7am arrived MareMares @ 2:00
Decided to skip Tortuga & go to PLC. Tired of generating. Need a pool. Do the laundry.
There are some specific side trips to do here, Merida is a mountain town in the Andes, Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world, and you fly & take dugout canoes. I have always wanted to go to the Amazon jungle, and then there is a real German town Colinia Tovar 60Km from Carcass.

Dec 11, 2007 Left Margarita @ 8:30 arrived Cubagua @ 1:00
A wonderful little anchorage, we shared with 2 sailboats & a trawler. There is only a fishing camp, research center & a half sunken ferry that you can dive.

Monday Dec 10, 2007 Juan Marine
We check out of here & head to Tortuga today. A nice small island with lots of anchorages and snorkeling. From there we will head into Puerta LA Cruz.

Thurs. Dec 6, 2007 Shopping
On M, W, F Juan Marine has a bus for all the cruisers to go to Sigo, big mall & supermarket. We now have every nook and cranny full of groceries. AT 9:30 last night the dieselman came then came back at 6 am to finish. He is a small boat carrying 1500 liters at a time. It saved us $2000 US to fill up our boat.

Wed. Dec.5th, 2007 Billionaires
We are still in Margarita, will do all our shopping here & fill the boat with diesel for 12 cents (US) a gallon! In Los Testigos the Coast guard gave us 5 gallons of gasoline for free-sweet boys. We are going to spend Christmas either here or Blanquillo-a nice island where we can make our own water. We bought A million dollars worth of groceries the other day, will buy a million more today. Did I tell you we are billionaires in this country? Spent 1/2 million gambling at casino, but the slots are all those 9 -15 liner things I don’t like. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas, but I wish you were here!

Sun. Dec.2nd, 2007 Margarita, Venezuela
The Wahoo was delicious! Elections are today so we will check in tomorrow. There are a lot of high-rise buildings here. We will provision, get diesel, and have a look around and the head for the mainland, which we can see easily. Hope all is well, please remember we love to hear from you every chance we get/you get. Soon anyway.

Friday Nov. 30, 2007 Margaretville
It’s like glass out there today. A doc could do a circumcision in here today! Haven’t seen this since we were in the BVI or ICW. When Bill woke me up at 6 we were practically underway. Oops the drive belt just broke; Bill has to change it while I drive with one engine. That wasn’t so bad. He’s getting pretty quick on the draw.

Nov 29, 2007 Los Testigos, Venezuela
We spent the last 2 nights in Los Testigos, Venezuela. It’s the first Island you come to & you must check in with the Guardia Coasta. A group of mismatched nice, smiling young Spanish men who like to have their picture taken. Check in was free & simple. Not only did I say gas was free in V it virtually was. We took a 5 gallon gas can for our dink and asked where we could get gasoline & they took our can disappeared & came back with a full can and we asked? Cuanto questa? They said no it is free to you-a gift from us. I felt so bad taking .15 cents worth of gas from them & I had nothing to give them. We anchored for 2 nights & it was awesome. Snorkeled, saw a big turtle & a giant parrotfish. Huge Brain Corals. Just a couple of small villages on the beaches, they all fish, there are a lot of fishing boats that anchored near us. Nice people, but we had no Bolivar’s to trade for Lobsters. We offered a US $20 bill & he said no he wanted $20,000 bs, which is $4 US. But we did not press the issue.
Bill caught a 4.5’ Wahoo on the trip over. It was a beaut. We had fish chowder Last night. We’ll have fish & rice tonight. Another thing each night 30 minutes after sunset these little iridescent green lights showed up around our boat. The fish eating them were iridescent & they would attack the round green lights & they would explode. It was so awesome; I have to find out what that was all about. Sounds like I’ve been at sea too long, but it was for real.

Tuesday Nov 27th, 2007 We are still in Grenada. Thursday we will be in Los Testigos, Venezuela

for a few days before going to Isla Margarita, premier vacation destination for Venezuela.

 

August-Nov  Spent in Texas

 

Monday July 23rd, 2007 Grenada Summer Camp for Adults. Yes there are games, tours, potluck dinners, dominoes, 7 card Hold ‘em, Karaoke, Aerobics, hiking, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, Hey folks it doesn’t get any better than this. Friday we are taking the grand tour of the island with fellow cruisers. Last Friday we went to Gouyave for their weekly fish fry. There were many kinds of fish to sample as that is the fishing capitol of Grenada and it was site of the first British invasion in 1609. The ride over to it was very beautiful as it is on the Northern western coast.

Wed. July 18th, 2007 Loving Grenada. Nice People, ample supplies, rains everyday, wind blows, sunshine. One of the highlights has been walking down the road and
A mentally challenged boy came up & shook Bill’s Hand and gave me a big bear hug.
The cruising community doesn’t get any better. There is actually 4 of us from Waco here! Class of 68, Class of 69 & class of 70. 2 DeFevers, but the sailboats outweigh
The Trawlers 1 to 20. Everyone pitches in on pot luck, helps when needed & there is always something going on in the way of dominoes, poker, Farkle.

Thurs. July 12th, 2007 We found out just how windy it is at the very bottom of the Windward Islands as we cleared point Salines to make our way to the south shore of Grenada. We made our way to Mt. Hartman Bay (Secret Harbor), Grenada. We are experiencing the rainy season as we sit at the fuel dock waiting on the fuel truck to come. We literally blew in here yesterday to pick up a few hundred gallons of diesel
And they were waiting on the fuel & told us it was okay to sit & wait,, as we did not have far to go. At 4:00 they told us we could stay overnight, so after a very long walk to Prickly Bay, we spent a windy, rainy night with less roll than we had experienced at Grand Anse Beach the previous 2 nights so I guess it was worth it.
The area is loaded with nice homes, a gated community, nice boutique hotels & restaurants, good roads & nice people. Just too many barking mutts.

Tues, July 10th, 2007 Today is about trying to order Rx sunglasses & getting groceries & oil. We first went to the Carenage to get the oil we needed & then made our way to the Lagoon to get some things at the hardware store and then it was off to Grand Anse Beach where we walked to several shopping centers, found a wonderful IGA on the Mall and made our way to the Eyeglass center. $1000 EC for Rx sunglasses & they won’t take a credit card. Folks , it ain’t cheap here. Of course, we are not realizing how much inflation there is at home as we have been gone a while now. I spent time at the dingy dock waiting on Bill to go to the IGA & met the local children who hang out here when there is no school. Their favorite game seems to be pushing each other in the water, even if it means sacrificing their own self.
It is amazing that there is so much open water front property just sitting there being used by the locals as a fish camp or playground. But yes, property is getting to be quiet expensive here too.

Mon. July 9th, 2007 We walked from St. George Marina to the Carenage, a very hilly place. It is where all the downtown action is. Some old churches are under reconstruction, some buildings are in disrepair, There is a market, which is better shopped on Saturdays. We ate at Nutmegs, one of the oldest established restaurants. Known for their Nutmeg Rum Punch, very good and it was the first time I saw Flying fish on the menu, but I had the swordfish. We went back to the boat so we could move her to an outside anchorage in Martin’s Bay, & before you knew it a gale came up & we were forced to leave during it as a large yacht, Savywas also trying to get out of it’s unsecured anchorage to a safer one in Martin’s Bay. We saw one sailboat come limping in as we were anchoring who lost his sail coming from the North. It is very rolly here.

Sun June 8th, 2007 We are in Union Island waiting for our Mooring boat boy to come untie us underwater so we can make it to Carriacou before the squall hits which is passing over us now. The worst weather we have had has been in the southernmost part of our cruise to where we were headed to avoid bad weather. Of course it is not all that bad, mainly windy. Union is the hub of the southern Grenadines, is the stopping point for yachtsmen and visitors heading to the smaller islands. This picturesque island with its dramatic peaks lies forty miles from St. Vincent. The small, commercial town of Clifton is built around the harbor and is the main entry point to the island. Union Island features several beachfront inns, all with a simple, relaxed lifestyle. Union Island is the Southernmost of the Grenadines. Due to its dramatic silhouette, Union is also called by some the Tahiti of the West Indies.
What I saw was unremarkable as we only went ashore to check out of the Grenadines & shop a little. Actually reminds me of the Bahamas.

Wed. July 4th, 2007 Saline Bay, Mayreau Another one of my stops on the 1992 Cruise
I even had a pen pal here, but I could not find her as the population grew from 50 to 300. Although tiny there are very nice beaches here. Us & M/V Slow Dancing cruised to Tobago Cays and snorkeled a very pretty 20 foot dive site & I saw the largest Porcupine Fish ever-it must have been 3 foot. The huge Horseshoe Reef that surrounds these four, deserted islets with their dreamlike rustling palms provides some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world. The brilliant white sands, colored waters shaded in unimaginable blues, and the neon marine life give true meaning to the stop-the-world-I-want-to-get-off Caribbean fantasy. The Cays have been declared a wildlife reserve by the government, and are accessible only by boat. After arriving in Saline we went to the boat while Gloria made Conch fritters we supplied , one of the smaller Grenadines, is a privately owned island with few residents. Salt Whistle Bay Resort, the only hotel, welcomes guests and can be reached by boat from Union Island. Mayreau lies west of the Tobago Cays. The island is rimmed by magnificent sweeping white sandy beaches perfect for sailing and snorkeling.

Tues, July 3rd, 2007 We are still cruising with Slow Dancing & made it to Salt whistle Bay at the island of Mayreau (My Row). Walked on 2 pretty beaches. It is very clean here. There is a small resort which owns the restaurant & dingy dock and has the cutest outdoor tables made of stone & thatch roofs.

Mon. July 2nd, 2007 Mustique is a world famous, picture perfect private island- home to the rich and famous. Just a few miles from St. Vincent but a totally different world and a totally different experience. The Mustique Company that runs the island caters to those who want absolute privacy in a beautiful tropic environment. Here you will find some magnificent private villas of many well know celebrities, Princess Anne & Mick Jagger and famous business people, Tommy Helfinger. The island only has two hotels and is for those looking for privacy and luxury. There a number of beaches and a pretty harbor where many sailors anchor for the night. Here you will find the famous Basil's Bar and a great mix of people from all over the world enjoying a night of revelry.

Thurs, June 29th, 2007 Bequia, St Vincent & The Grenadines is West, in the southern part of the Caribbean chain known as the Windward Islands & situated at latitude 13 N and 60.15'. Bequia measures just 7 square miles, and is home to about 5000 people, an intriguing mix of native Bequia of African, Scottish, Irish, French, Indian and Carrib descent - many of whom can trace their ancestry directly back the islands earliest inhabitants of the 18th century - and more recent settlers from Europe, America and Canada who have chosen to make Bequia their home. English is the native language and open friendliness is a characteristic for which Bequians are known. A sleepy little island where time seems to stand still. Mountainous and green with many excellent white sandy beaches life here is mostly orientated towards the sea. Bequia has been described as how the Caribbean was 20 years ago. Jared & I came here on a Windjammer Cruise in 1992. Population has really grown. The tiny island of Bequia has a unique, magical charm which is hard to find anywhere else in the Caribbean. With fewer than six thousand inhabitants, it feels like home from the moment you arrive; friendliness is the watchword, and the pace is relaxed and easy-going. Don't be surprised if you are greeted with a warm hello as you walk along the street - a centuries-old dependence on inter-island shipping and trading has meant that Bequians have been eagerly welcoming visitors to their shores for generations. The island's enduring seafaring heritage is one of its most striking features. We Anchored at princess Point near the Frangipani Hotel & Snorkeled-Devil’s Table in Rocky Bay. Virtually every Bequia family has some connection to the sea either past or present, and today's fishermen, sailors and boat-builders are quietly proud to share their marine traditions with newcomers to the island. We met an 80 year old whaler at Paget Farm-Whaling Community that liked to tell his stories for a donation to his museum. He is 5th or 6th generation of whalers. They are allowed to get 4 whales a year but last year only got 2.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines became independent from Great Britain in 1979, while remaining part of the British Commonwealth. The Governor General is the representative of the British Crown, and is appointed by the Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister. Bequia fulfils many dreams of the perfect small Caribbean island: beautiful sandy beaches where more than ten people may constitute a crowd, lush green hillsides, attractive little villages, intimate, well run hotels and guest houses, hardly any traffic, places to get together and places in which to find that perfect solitude. Variety and choice on so small an island may come as a surprise - but there are both wherever you look.

June 28th, 2007 We passed by the island of St. Vincent, a large island (25 miles x 11 miles) which is dominated by an awe inspiring volcano in the north. It is a rugged mountainous island covered in lush tropical foliage and rainforests. The fertile soils are ideal for farming and agriculture is a main stay here. From tropical flowers for export to mountainous slopes covered with bananas, St. Vincent is an agricultural powerhouse. With rivers, waterfalls, rainforest hiking trails, a volcano you can climb, secluded bays and superb diving it is a premiere eco-travel destination. It is for those who appreciate unspoiled natural beauty, pristine coral reefs and waters teeming with rich and exotic marine life. We also passed by but managed a picture
of Wallilabou Bay on the west coast of St Vincent where they filmed part of "Pirates of the Caribbean" & hopefully you can see the hangman’s galley where they hung Blackbeard in the movie.

Wed June 27th, 2007 The Pitons, located near Soufriere, these primeval twin peaks, topping 2,000 feet, are St. Lucia's most famous landmark. We took a Taxi to the Dasheene Hotel at the Ladera resort for a drink at sunset. It is one of the most loveliest sights I have seen. I think it ranks in the World’s Top Ten. You can see the hotel from the beach, but the Taxi ride is long & very curvy to get to it. Sunset is awe inspiring. At anchorage you need boat boys to help with your mooring line as the wind really funnels down through the hills and is quite strong. All in all, a VERY beautiful spot. The city of Soufriere still has the Old Guillotine they used for executions and an old Court House with a restaurant, Camilla’s on the 2nd floor. Also to see is Diamond Falls, Maho Waterfall & they recommend using Rupert Mynnes 459-5526 as a guide. Diamond Baths, was used by France's King Louis XVI whom had bathhouses built for his troops at these natural, mineral-rich falls. An invigorating shower under the cascading waters is still a refreshing break. You can request a room with 2 baths in the “upper Bath House” The Sulphur Springs, now dormant, is the world's only drive-in volcano. A tour of its bubbly, steamy sulphur springs offers a direct and fascinating lesson in the violent geology of the Caribbean Rim.

 

Tues. June 26th, 2007 The market was big & beautiful. It’s where the locals shop.  It is so interesting to see & try so many different species of vegetables, fruits & spices.. They also have a lot of meat markets, where the meat hangs & is cut to order. They have food vendors and of course, the usual t-shirt sovenier vendors, (straw market) massive amounts of them. Castries was crowded & typical of any Big port city in the islands. It is the Capitol. We have sinced played 84 dominoes & attended a gathering of cruisers at a pot luck dinner. I think every cruiser turned out. Met lots of people. We have met another Trawler, Slow Dancer, A Nordhaven from Mobile Ala. Fred is a retired Navy Capt. & Gloria & I have formed a fast frinedship & plan to go shopping today.

Sat June 23th, 2007 Rodney Bay, St. Lucia http://www.stlucia.org is the first place we have been in a while that speaks fluent English. There is still a lot of French & Creole, but mostly English, why there is even Texan as we have seen several boats from Texas. We were greeted by Paper Moon upon arrival, we met them in Boqueron, PR, Marybelle is the official greeter & she gives you the low down on all that is happening, who to hire, who not to, Which bank gives the best exchange rate,, where the deals are, WHERE the happy hours are & presented us with a native “Piton” beer. Boaters are like family, especially the ones that made it this far. Today we are all taking a bus to Castries, the Capitol, I am sure there is a lot of shopping in this big duty free port.

Fri. June 22nd, 2007 We anchored at St. Anne’s, Martinique for a most delightful beach and a very clean town. Upon landing at the dingy dock you are greeted by a beautiful old church with red ceramic tiles. Several restaurants & lots of nice shops.  It is a very quiant (good Sqrabble word), quiet town. Very friendly very French & has a wonderful view of the bay including Diamond Rock and sunset.

 

Sat, June 16th, 2007 Walking required here. Have not used our bikes, too hilly. & too small for a Taxi so we are getting some exercise. We had to order a part for our dingy so we came to the Marina and are loving the restaurants & grocery stores.
John on his new 44+5 DeFever Sojourn finally caught up with us after we met him in Miami in Feb. He has mostly cruised alone and has since left for Bequia. John is from Waco, TX. I bought my first bike from him at the Ordinary Bike Shop. A business he started at a very young age. Small world. We look forward to not being the only power boat down here.

June 12th, 2007 Cul de sac Marin- Great for Provisioning & cold Beer! We met Gary & Nicole S/V Chateau at the local boat yard for beer & internet at Quay 13, a local pub in the middle of the boat yard.. As the good French Beer was wetting our whistle we all decided to try the chef & we were well pleased with our Mussels, Steak, Bison, Pate, & shrimp. It was a very nice meal for a boat yard.

June 11th , 2007 Can’t believe we are still in Martinique. What’s not to like? Lovely anchorage, nice Village, good Restaurants, clear water. The S/V Living the Dream came in two days ago . John & Ann are from Savannah and began their voyage about the time we did. They have been in the Caribbean about 3 months longer and certainly have seen the sights. They are planning to make the circle across South American then Central America & Mexico & we are still thinking about it. We have to return to these island as far as the Virgin Islands as we have pretty much missed the good parts trying to get south before any storms conjure. We are enjoying it and learning a lot and feel so at home (oh yea, this is our home). We are anxious to get to Grenada & Trinidad & settle down for a while.

June 7th, 2006 Left Bas du Fort at 5 pm , Arrived Anse Mitan, Martinique at 10:00 am. June 8th. Then it rained. We are so lucky to get where we are going without getting the rain, but once we get there Our boat gets a good cleaning. Took a nap, Bill went to Fort de France to Check in. He said it has deteriorated. Anse Mitan is very nice with lovely village, Lots of dress shops & restaurants, & yes lots of Bakeries. How do these people stay so thin? We had one of the best meals at Au Poisson (fish) d’ Or. Run 27 years by a Mama & her 42 year old daughter. They do a nice job. I am learning to eat fish with the head on. It’s like having company for dinner. And then you eat them.

June 6th, 2007 Rented a car and toured the island, which is actually 2, separated by a River. Basse Terre is the west Side, very Mountainous & Grand Terre is the East side, very flat, but many millions of years older. The two form a shape like a butterfly. We hiked nearly to the top of Mt. Soufriere, a Volcano that can still erupt., through a luscious Rain forest. Ended the day back at our Marina dining at La Mandala. It is hard for us to get use to the dining hour is more appropriate around 8 pm.

June 1st, 2007 Guadeloupe. This is our second French island and Bill loves the French. We will stop in Martinique next. We have to get the boat away from any potential hurricanes. There is something brewing around Cozumel right now. So far the French have been really nice, Modern, lots of good food, cheap-good wine. We paid $3.80 for our favorite Bordeaux. It is so different from the Islands that are predominately black. These people are motr educated and cultured., But very few talk English, but enough that we can get by.

Sat May 26th 2007 ANTIQUA! A 6 hr trip ended up being 13 hours. We had good weather, but we first went in ST Johns Harbor to have a look around & decided it was too commercial so we moseyed on down to Jolly Harbor, now keep in mind that it takes about an hour to traverse in & out of this Harbor. We checked in with the authorities, which took some time and we were told they are celebrating a Holiday on Monday & would be closed until Tues, so we would have to wait until then to check out. Ah, dern, we are going to have to stay in the land of beaches until Wednesday. 
We ate lunch at the Marina (I don’t recommend it) & cruised back to North Bay, which is a more secluded bay with it’s own beautiful beach, shipwreck dive site & hotel whose beach we can enjoy.

May 25th, 2007 Now here is the opposite of the French. Nevis Check in was easy but you had top go to one office, then anther office nearby & then to the Police Station down the street. The cost was about $30. The Streets were narrow with lots of people & no sidewalks, so walking on the street with many cars was dangerous.
We are not pleased about any experience here.

May 24th, 2007 After a wonderful French meal & good bottle of French wine at a decent price in the Arawalk Café, and about 12 hours of catching up on sleep we are ready to hit the French & Dutch streets of St Martin/Sint Maarten. As you know the island is divided into 2 countries. Duty free here, so buying is cheap! Send money! We had a bit of a storm last night and today is a most gorgeous day. So we are off to climb the hill to Fort Marigot 1789. Last night it was lit up atop the hill-just beautiful. Checking in here is a ride to the ferry dock & the office is next to the ticket counter. You fill out an arrival/departure form and the cost was in EC, Very nice, professional, easy & quick.

MMay 23rd, 2007 Go to Sleep in BVI & wake up on a French Island, St Martin. Of course there is another side to it Sint Maarten (Dutch). The cruising from St Thomas past St John to British Virgin Gorda is the most heavenly experience I have ever had. Placid waters, many sailboats, mountains everywhere & if you need anything it will be just a short distance to one of the many villages along the way. Indescribable! Becky, I am sure saw this kind of beauty in the Washington. State. We left Virgin Gorda at 2 in the morning from our lookout bedroom on the bridge. We get a very nice breeze up there & if need be we managed a mosquito net in St Thomas. We arrived at St Martin at 3 and I would have to say that it was not completely comfortable, esp. for Capt Bill, who can’t seem to relax, but we made it & the wonderful meal at the Arawalk Café with Genuine French wine was wonderful. Now as the wind & lightening rock us to sleep we shall dream about Forts, French beaches, & shopping galore.

May 22, 2007 We have spent 2 days in St. Thomas- Debbie was sick the whole time with whatever, plus our anchorage has a lot of swell so we are moving on to anchor in Virgin Gorda, From there we will head to St Martin. We should leave well before daybreak as it is another passage that will take a number of hours to cross.

Fri May 18rh, 2007 After Gassing up & checking out of Del Ray Marina we were headed for Culebra ( a Spanish Virgin Island-20 mi due east of Ceiba/Fajardo-which has a ferry that goes back & forth to Culebra). I went down below to take a nap after lunch and Bill was happy in his element. I looked out the Stern window & saw our dingy happy trailing behind us. When I awoke 2 hrs later all that was left was a tail of the black painter rope holding the Dingy “ “My God, the ocean ate my dingy!”” Bill immediately did a 180 and even went in the direction he thought the dingy would be going (wind & waves). Well it was getting rather late & we could not make it back to Fajardo where only if we were lucky could our dingy be. Instead of Africa.. So we called out an alert on the VHF, no response, then we called Sea tow & they said they heard our call & had alerted others. Well, certainly we thought that was the last of that dingy & Bill began dreaming of a new one with a Honda motor & I wondered if we could get a job to buy it. So as there are no Marinas in Culebra, we knew the only way we could get to shore was to swim, so we went in Ensenada Honda, the bay & had a look around, Very disappointed as we both anticipated a visit to this precious Spanish VI. As we were looking for the perfect spot to anchor, the Coast Guard hailed out on 16, then again, this time asking for the boat who lost it’s dingy! It was for us! They had found our dingy. The Ferry Captain had stopped & picked it up! We went to the Ferry dock & there was Lil Contrail sitting on the dock, all the nice men helped us dock then brought her right to our boat
And we quickly hoisted her up with the davit. Yes, they were rewarded, esp. the Capt. We made anchorage back in Ensenada Honda in pure darkness but it was worth it to have our dingy (family Car) back. GOD is good! Do you realize the odds? That Ferry only travels that way 4 times a day & for him to pass the dingy at the exact time as to coincide & be gracious enough to pick it up & report it to the Coast Guard was a real God Send. You see without the “family Car” you have to Dock or rely on a water Taxi & then there is always swimming.

May 12th, 2007 El Yungae National Forest is the ONLY Rain Forest in the United States. Home of the Coquina Frog,-endangered. A rain forest is the lushest tropical environment you can be in. All the plants you are familiar with in pot plants are giants here. Except for an occasional lizard, you can not see much wildlife well hidden in the forest, but you can hear all kinds of beautiful noises. It is strange to see houses all along the way of a National Park. Most are Puerto Rican Middle class. There are waterfalls abundant and places to swim. On Saturday there are many    

people on holiday. I am afraid even pictures can not describe the peace & solitude.

May 9th, 2007 Fajardo, PR We are less than an hour from Old San Juan. The city of Old San Juan is absolutely interesting & beautiful. So much history. I am also surprised at the amount of Casinos in the area, although small. I am afraid Puerto Rican food is pretty much like any Caribbean food, but the Pina Colada was invented in Old San Juan & we were able to sample them, Delicious. I think they must have real ice cream in them.

May 3rd, 2007 We are still in Ponce, PR. Lots of squalls & been waiting on mail. There is a Marlin Tournament tomorrow so we must move- taking a 12 mile trip to Salinas. Suppose to be a lot of good restaurants. There should be a lot of boaters there. I am in the Marina office, my free internet Goldmine on the boat went away. Don’t know why, unless it is the weather. So wanted to get this out to tell you it might be a week or 2 before we get internet again. Please send us letters about what is going on in your life.

May 2nd, 2007 Ponce PR-We are at the Ponce Yacht & Fishing Club. Very nice with many facilities. There is local music on the weekends at the park nearby. There will be a fishing tournament this week-end. We are taking care of some minor boat problems, have ordered some parts and we are seeing the town which Feels like Home. Everything but the language, but most business people speak English. It is very American here. The smaller towns feel more like Mexico. It is like being in the Valley of Texas except for the Mountains that landscape the background.

Thurs April 26, 2007 We are here! The Skipper, Mary Ann, Ginger, the professor, MR & Mrs. Howell, We are at Gilligan’s Island! Cabo San Juan Puerto Rico, south shore. We are headed to Ponce , but stopped here for a couple of days of R & R. Still trying to get over crossing the Mona. There is a national Park & a couple of towns a dingy ride away, & snorkeling. We were able to get under the boat & cut away a poor fisherman’s net that we picked up in the Dominican. Republic. It’s hard to find Mexican food here so we made our own Chili Rellenos.

Tues April 24th , 2007 We are Boquerón (Bouk-er-Ron), Puerto Rico. Yes we survived the Mona Passage. We would have like to see more of DR. It is the most beautiful country I have ever seen. But you have to check in & out of every port, it’s a real fiasco. Also, if you want to go to a non-port you have to get permission. Everything you do, each hand you shake requires $20. Needless to say they are not boater friendly. So here we are in hospitable Puerto Rico It’s Texas all over again (if you ask me). We had a weird thing happen yesterday as we were waiting for a taxi (24 hours after anchoring). We could see our boat & Bill thought it was moving, so we finally took off in our dingy & our boat had drug anchor clear across the bay! There were 2 dingy there who boarded & dropped more scope for us. These guys were real life savers. Thank goodness it is a big bay with no boats in our path. We even let out more scope-saw chain we had never seen before & monitored it on our chart plotter till we felt good, Still made the Taxi to Mayaguez to clear customs & do some grocery shopping in a store just like H EB! We got Tortillas!!!! And a real loaf of bread. We feel like we are in America in PR, but it is crowded, too many vehicles, too many people (4 million) too much waste., but it is good to feel a taste of home. English is the official language but Spanish is predominate. We got TV the first time in a long time, but all stations but 1 are Spanish. Rain is predicted here all week, so we will probably stay in Boquerón, until the week-end when this place goes crazy with college kids from the U of PR at Mayaguez. Except for that Boquerón is a small village with a lot of bars & restaurants. Lots of boaters, So again we have a community. The local beer is Medallia, its pretty good, but I think Coors Light Reins.
Now for my editorial: Our voyage has made us aware of our ecosystem and how fragile it is. As landlubbers we were spoiled. Until you have lived on the hook you don’t know how good you have it.
A. . . Water is a commodity. Good drinking water was not available to us in DR except maybe in a 5 gal jug & then you wonder. The water is not clean enough to make your own & as you watch your supply go down, you wonder what it would be like to not have water. So you take a shower only when necessary. I never saw running water in a toilet in the DR. you must fill the tank with sink water to flush. Water is becoming almost expensive as gasoline, so I warn you to conserve. We also sprung a leak just before getting to P R so it is a wonder we had some when we got to the Marina (our 1st stop).
B. The beautiful ocean around that beautiful island is filled with trash. They dump their trash in it.
Not wanting to sound like the Green police-the world is a very fragile place. It has taken us only a few hundred years to destroy our ecosystem. We can make it last longer by
1. Controlling Population
2. Doing our part to keep it Clean & Green-Please do not be a litter bug and don’t waste water.
If everyone would what a wonderful world it would be.
I feel very lucky to be an American but even luckier to be a Texan. Even though Americans are tidy they waste a lot. The 3rd world countries are not tidy but don’t have as much to waste, but they have no regard for sanitation, ecology, etc. Theirs is about survival. I pray it never comes to that for the rest of us.

Sat. April 21st 2007 We got up & Talked to Chris Parker at 7:00. He said go now or wait a week or two so we opted to leave. Of course, in Samana you have to get in your dingy & pay a visit to the Commandant’s office. This office is in a nice building with a NAVY seaman at the door with his pistol. The commandant & his civil interpreter, Frank, greet you & take you across the hall into a Lady’s office that looks like an abandoned 1960 office. And maybe it is used like a stage. The file cabinet is bent and looks unused, She runs between 2 typewriters in 2 different office. It’s like they are not used to doing this. You have to wonder.

Fri. April 20, 2007 We had a Lobster Dinner on the boardwalk in Samana.

Thurs April 19th 2007 Samana Arrived 8:00 into a beautiful Mountainside city after leaving Luperon at 6:30am. The North Coast is absolutely beautiful.-Lush Green Mountains. A resort every now & then a few houses & villages, but mostly untouched. We arrived in Rio San Juan at 5:00 pm with a North & East wind, so it was not suitable for anchoring so we headed east. About 10:00 a squall developed and lasted for a couple of hours but the entire ride was smooth.

Wed April 18th, 2007 Walked around town, met the owners of Upperdeck over a Presidente, We went to Gonzalez’ for groceries, made phone calls & headed back to prepare for next day voyage.

Tues April. 17th, 2007 Billy’s Birthday. Did not leave boat. Watched the video of our waterfall trip. The wind is steady, blows boat, hard to get a connection, but it’s free. Had to pay $75 in T & C. for internet. We went to town for lunch. Am' restaurant. Chicken, ok. Tomorrow is a bar-b -que at Marina & a swap meet or flea market. Probably take some VCR tapes to trade. Bill needs a ratchet thing. We went shopping in town-got some bargains e.g.; 2 # bananas $.40., rum $8 bottle. Case of beer $10. Watched baseball game, met some boaters, its sort like Mexico, but poorer. Also tomorrow is a Mariachi band. There is about 75-100 boats here. We slept on bridge last night-so hot-no mosquitoes.

Sat April 14th, 2007 The Dominican Republic comprises the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, one of the Greater Antilles; The other third of the island is Haiti. The north coast of the D.R. offers only a handful of sheltered anchorages and as it is usually difficult to cover the distances between them in one day's sail, cruising here needs careful planning.

Fri the 13rh, April 2007 At Big Sand Cay we met Mike aboard S/V Child’s Play & spoke with his wife, Kim all through the night when we all left after dinner to Hispaniola. Arriving Luperon at 7 am we meandered through the harbor which is shaped like an upside down "Y" The western branch is the main harbor and anchorage. There is a temporary anchorage area just at the entrance to the eastern branch; the rest of this branch is too shallow. One of the best sheltered harbors is Luperon. The Bay of Luperon has always been a place of refuge for sailboats and yachts when they were threatened by bad weather. Between 100 and 200 boats are anchored there at any time. During hurricane season fishing boats and mid-size commercial vessels take shelter in this protected Bay. The Bay of Luperon is a nature reserve and, therefore,. marina projects have not been granted permits during the last 15 years. The coastal town of Luperon is reminiscent of the Mexican Border towns. Yes, Yes, Yes with cock fighting. Luperon was founded during the Restoration in 1875. It was a cantonal post of the Puerto Plata province. In 1907 it became a community of the same province. It was given its current name on November 18, 1927 in honor of General Gregorio Luperon, a hero during the war of Restoration. Located on the idyllic Northwest coast of the Dominican Republic,, Luperon, today, is a small village whose inhabitants survive on farming, fishing and tourism. It's proximity to some of the loveliest beaches on the island.

Thurs April 12th, 2007 Crossed the Caicos Banks & then Spent the day & evening at Big Sand Cay. There we threw our anchor in 12 foot water and had a pleasant night before heading to Hispaniola. Big Sand Cay a real deserted island. We dove off the back of the boat in 20 foot of water & swam to shore. Can you imagine a pool with 100 foot visibility the size of a small city? Snorkeled some ancient rocks from when there was a hill on the island, Saw the largest empty conch shells I have ever seen & many tropical fish. & Sting ray.

Wed April 11th, 2007 Left Turtle Cove, Provo Turks & Caicos At 10 00 am. The docks are a little strange & it took our neighbors in the sailboat next to us to help untie us. Then we were on our way in beautiful seas.

Fri April 8th, 2007 Easter Sunday On our way we caught another beautiful Mahi Mahi & filled the freezer. After half of a beautiful night at Betsy Bay we arose to cruise across perfectly calm waters to Turks & Caicos. About an hour later we were amid “confused seas”, not very pleasant but we persevered & arrived Turks & Caicos about 12 hours later. Bill saw about a dozen whales just North of T & C all around our boat. Our stay at the Turtle Cove Marina is very pleasant. After a delicious meal at the Tiki we went to bed about 5:00 pm & slept till Chris Parker at 6:30. We got the boat cleaned & up, eating out (many fine restaurants) attending the local Casino & resting.
FYI: Bill installed the smoke alarm in the kitchen, he says it tells him when dinner is ready!

Thurs April 5rh, 2007 Left in the morning to arrive Acklins Island in afternoon-anchored, went to bed & arose at Midnight. Debbie took the Helm at 7:00 arriving Mayaguna at 3:00 pm @ Betsy Bay.

Tues. April 3rd, 2007 Went to Marina in Georgetown, provisioned, filled with water, ate lunch on the boat & left for Santa Maria Point on Long Island at 1:00 pm arriving & anchoring in Calbash BAY @ 5 :00pm. So Far we have met owners of 3 DeFever, Finisterre, Wind Drift, & Sea Fox.

Sun April 1,st, 2007 Still in Georgetown. We have never been past the Tropic of Cancer so we want our first time to be a pleasant experience so we wait for the best day. This coming week should be good cruising. Our goal is to get pretty straight on to the Dominican Republic.. We won’t mind spending time there. Last night was a Pork Rib buffet again at St. Francis after a luxurious day hiking trails on Stocking Island, & beachcombing. The day before I took another lesson in basket weaving & Bill beat them again at Volleyball. We got to see Doug & Patty on S/V Tranquility whom we met at Chub Cay & Nassau. We went to see them for happy hour, Coconut Rum & coke & Shrimp cocktail. Then they came to our Yacht & we had rice, sweet potatoes, blackened Mahi Mahi & Chutney-mmmm. & Key Lime Pie. Doug is a retired customs agent, so he told Bill that there was a new law that the Us was enforcing on boats that go past Longitude 24 degrees must have a special permit, especially when you get to Puerto Rico! Or you can be fined Many thousands of Dollars. After a detailed discussion and a worried look on Bill’s face, Patty asked Doug when this law took effect & he said . . . “ on APRIL Fools Day!” We had a really good laugh because it was so believable. The next day we were visited by our Irish Friend, Jim on M/V My Way III (headed to St. Lucia). He has so many funny stories & good advice. Then Doug & Patty came over to help us with our weather fax & helped get our watermaker going. In exchange we taught them to play “7 Texas Hold ‘em.” We all went to St. Francis and played with about 32 people & Patty stayed in for quite a while but it was Bill who won 1st Prize.!

Thurs Mar 29th, 2007 Note: The date of the last entry is the last time we had internet and we had access to a phone. We have been anchored in same spot at Georgetown for over a week. Hardly anyone is coming or going as the winds are exceptionally bad this month. A lot of squalls. Everyone is stuck, but its fun. Lots to do if you can get off the boat between white caps. Reading lots. Today is Beach Church at the next Beach over which is also Volleyball Beach. It may be too windy to go this am. Bill's knee is swollen so he may not get to be in the Kalik Beer Bash Volleyball Tournament. Last night was a barbeque dinner at St. Francis Hotel & Marina (owned by white South Africans-very nice). The food was delicious & we met so many people. It was fun. When I get to go to Volleyball Beach I am going to learn to make straw baskets which you see all over the Bahamas & in Charleston, SC they call them sweet grass baskets and charge hundreds of dollars for them. Mon & Thurs is “7 card hold 'em”. You know me & Bill would be the first to go “all in“, but it was a lot of fun. I think we played $5 for a $125 first place prize. We saw people, Kathy & Willis, that we met when we went to Southport with Twana. Now we are beginning to see the same people over & getting to know more people. The cruising world is a community of its own. No matter where you go you see people again, It’s just like seeing someone from your hometown. And yes, as well as being a floating city where you can get almost any service or fulfill any need, Georgetown is Adult Summer Camp.-fun & games. Hopefully Friday we will be headed to Turks & Caicos. Last night we had a 60 mph storm. Other people had their anchors drag, There was a lot of commotion & one lady fell in the water but someone got her. The ordeal lasted about an hour, but today was so beautiful we went to the top of Monument Hill & walked on a deserted beach, ending up at the Peace & Plenty Hotel Beach. As we left “Hamburger Beach” approaching Volleyball beach a US Army Helicopter landed there & we all got to take pictures. The guys were so nice-people were all over the Helicopter, even sitting on the blades. They stayed hours. They had played volleyball with the group the day before so I guess wanted to share. They are in the Bahamas to help the Gov’t control drug traffic. Really nice men. Bill played a lot of Volleyball today and said tomorrow he is going back & beat those 60 year old women. Well, the storm is back, so far just wind, but it is strong. Looking for this all to blow out by the first of next week.

Mar 21st, 2007 We announced that we were looking for The Thornless Path to Windward Passages South by Bruce Van Sant & a nice couple responded that they had it, so we drove to Red Shanks, a very quiet cove about 3 miles away & climbed aboard “”SV Day Dream”” & got not only the book but a wealth of knowledge from Paul & Malinda. We then went next door to meet Stephen, alone on a 44' Definer 'Sea Fox” with his dog Shadow. He is very nice an informed about TVs & internet. He invented TV Satellite tracking. The wind is still blowing & it looks like this will blow us into April, I must get Bill back out on the Volleyball court.

Mar 20th, 2007 Took our Laundry to a nice large Corner Laundromat with attendants, I treated stains & filled the washers & the attendants took care of it for me while we went to Edgewater Eddies for a burger & free Internet. Came back & it was all ready to go-what a deal. Stopped off at the Exuma Markets for some high priced food, a few plantains and we're off... except we are having trouble with our carburetor again, so Bill repairs & it & 30 min later we're off except just as we get through the tunnel with the tide fervently coming in, it dies so a nice Lobster diver gives us a tow back through the tunnel over to Minns boat yard. Bill finds J to rebuild our corroborator and $100 & 30 min later we're off. This time we hope he has it fixed-it is running better. Another example of how your prayers are working for us.

Mar 16th, -19th, 2007 We left little Farmers' Cay in the morning because Chris Parker told us on our SSB it was now or never, but we should have checked the tide situation, going through the Cut was like facing a small Tsunami. We did really well, but it was very turbulent with the two currents meeting each other. Fortunately we followed a Grand Banks Trawler & his bobbing up & down looked worse than what we thought we looked like. The seas were a little calmer & we had a fairly pleasant trip to Georgetown. It is nothing like the intercoastal where I can play on the Internet, write, cook, clean house, etc. but I least I can read. And Bill just loves driving the boat. Entering Georgetown was very pleasant with lots of anchorages. We went directly to Sand Dollar Beach as if we had been here before. Found a wonderful deep anchorage amid many other power boats. We have seen 2 De Fever 44’s like ours here. We acclimated very well here-it like once you get use to the Bahamian way they all run about the same show. What is new for us is being part of a floating city. It is a community here. Unlike everywhere else we have been, boats have many purposes & reasons for being there, but here we have all come together for the same reason pretty much. At least 90% of the boats here are sailboats, but we all have common ground. That is why you never meet a stranger. The 2nd night we were here we met at Monument Beach for happy hour-everyone brings an hor dourves & their adult beverage of choice & network. You find people who have been there, done that (cruising information), people with expert knowledge (information on localities, mechanics, supplies, etc), people with assets (people who want to sell or trade something). So you see this is how the floating city is formed. Besides the “Boozer's Net“or “AA-Alcoholic Appreciation” there is a “Cruiser’s Net “every morning at 8 am with business, weather, news, activities, schedules. It is very helpful as you are given options. You do only what you like. Yesterday we went to Volleyball Beach for fun & games, met many more people. While Bill played Volleyball I bought shoeless shoes, learned how to make straw baskets and had opportunity to play dominoes or cards. Today there will be a “Texas hold ‘em” Tournament, although it is raining at the moment, the afternoon can be wonderful. We will go to Eddies Edgewater today for lunch & get free Internet. I plan on taking my laundry to the locals while doing that & picking it up when dry. There is a nice grocery store here, but it can be a little pricey. We did not attend the Bahamian Music Festival which I am sure was as good as I heard tell, but it meant a long dingy ride back at Midnight. We did see the fireworks out our port window. Instead we went to an Arg Meeting- “Alcohol Research Group” for the study of the effects of alcohol & bring a hor dorve. We also missed Beach church which I hear can be very good. But we are learning and will get it down by the time the weather clears & it is time to head to the Turks & Caicos.

Mar 14th, 2007 We anchored on the West side of Little Farmer's Cay, The west side has a cove directly across from the Ocean Cut. It is a delightful little town. Everyone is kin. We got there as the supply boat was unloading, We will go back today after they unpack to buy bananas & a few things. We happened onto the local bar- a 10X10 shed equipped with bartender, Ali, bar stools, frig, full stock of pint bottles & beer. I nicknamed Ali, Harley as with his size & pony tail looked like he should be riding one instead of a scooter. Of course there are no paved roads on this island. We were eagerly greeted by Denise, a beautiful Bahamian woman missing her front teeth. She grabs you with a big hug & brings you in the bar where the Kalik is cold. Ali gave us a shot of Tequila to get us started & we met two Americans, Bill & Kellie who came by their tender from Staniel Cay as they had flown in. Bill met some friends, a Jamaican, Pepe & a local who offered to take him Lobstering for $15 a Lobster. Then as we were leaving there were two local teenagers on the Dock who proudly held up their two goat heads, one head really had needed some orthodontic work. What do you do with goat’s heads? Make Souse, so if you see that on the menu...... I wondered if these goat heads came in on the supply barge. Oh well, we dingyed back to our boat as the sun was setting and had a nice ham dinner on our back deck. Another day in Paradise.

Fri. Mar 9th, 2007 We anchored at Big Majors, where like everyone else, we will go to the Beach & feed the wild (tame) pigs. They even will swim to your dingy to get a hand out. I think we ate one last night. We radioed our reservations into Club Thunderball. It sets high on a hill at the north east side of Staniel Cay, the other side of this island. Bill wanted to go snorkel & look for Mr. Giant Lobster so we loaded up the dingy & then we unloaded the dingy as the motored failed us & we went no where. You understand when you are anchored & your dink fails, you are going no where until you get to a Dock. So as we contemplated it & started reading manuals, 2 angels appeared in a dink of their own. It was Gary & Joe from the 44+5 De Fever “Captain & the Kid'. A couple of airplane pilots of whom Gary had extensive knowledge about motors. They had seen us having trouble so they came to offer their services. Awesome. Gary actually overhauled the carb in about 30 minutes had her running again. And that folks is what the yachting world is supposed to be. Pass it forward-now it is our turn to help someone. Thanks guys, We were able to attend the Friday night Bar-b-que at Club Thunderball (which sits in front of the cave Thunderball- used in movies of which the most famous is James Bond' ”Thunderball”. We have snorkeled it & will again. It is beautiful. The food was delicious & there was a big turn out of golf carts. That is what they use on the island for transportation. The Kalik was cold. This place was like Oasis in Austin without the loudness & people. On Sunday we watched a seaplane fly in, go ashore & feed pigs so on Monday Morning we went to the beach & sure enough the pigs were nearly in the dink so I had to jump out fast & take a bag of food to the beach where they devoured it. There is a mama, papa, teenage son, & 4 little piggy’s, so cute. Very friendly-not wild. We then went to Staniel Cay Yacht Club for 2 nights. We were able to walk about & ride our bikes. The club house is a restaurant that serves great fried conch & cold Kalik. They have free wi-fi when you can get it. There are always people at the bar & using the Internet. We leave today to go to Little farmer's Cay. We have run into the young family from Oriental, NC several times on Stella Maris, who are cruising & home schooling for a year.

Wed Mar 7th, 2007 Arrived in Sampson Cay about Noon. Walked around the whole island, it's pretty from every angle. It's been very windy. Stayed inside & used the Internet. The fishermen brought in grouper today and we counted 12 big Nurse Sharks under the cleaning table. You should see the empty conch shells. We saw a boat load of Conch Shells going toward Nassau the day we left. How does the Ocean make & support so many? Amazing. Of course, only Bahamians are allowed to hunt them. http://www.sampsoncayclub.com

Tues Mar 6th, 2007 After hiking to a secluded beach we saw a very huge sting ray fly by us in our dingy. Imagine if your whole boat was sitting inside a giant swimming pool-the water is that clear.

Mon Mar 5th, 2007 I am starting to realize why I am writing a diary. To keep up with what day it is & remember where we are on the map. The weather was perfect until higher winds & clouds today but still not bad. We have snorkeled the reefs, seen a giant lobster & thousands of fish. Sat. night we sat on the deck watching the sun set, someone blew a conch shell & then along came the moon which turned out to be an Eclipse & kept us busy for some time watching the eclipse go through its cycle. Today we started at the Park office & climbed the hills to the Ocean side of the island, meeting lizards & birds. The Ocean was wild today & the water splashed hard against the rocks & we listened to the blow holes. At night you hear what sounds like a ghost but it is actually the blow holes.

Fri Mar 2nd, 2007 Arrived Highborne Cay night before, enjoying Mahi Fettuccine Alfredo. Watched a nice Sunset. “No Seeums” were bad. Next morning we rode bikes along a paved rode & walked along an almost Virgin Beach. Doesn't get an better than this. We counted 19 nurse sharks at the end of the fish cleaning dock and laid in a hammock. Saw a gorgeous sun set into a far off cloud. Made enchiladas & Bill made salsa. Don't get much Tex Mex in these parts. At 10:00am we left Highborne & headed to Warwick Wells-Exumas National Sea Park to arrive at 2:30.

Sat. Mar 1st, 2007 Watched the Sunset in Nassau, reprovisioned, Said goodbye to Atlantis, bought a new camera & lots of propane for eating Mahi & we're out of here today to the Exumas & points south. Until another Internet sight.............

Wed Feb 28th, 2007 We made it to NASSAU under clear skies in time to give the boat a good washing. We are staying at Nassau Harbor Club where we bought the boat. Feels like home. Bill is full of himself today after snagging a Marlin yesterday. Well, we will see if he is as lucky at the Atlantis tonight!

Tues Feb 27th, 2007  Left Morgan's Bluff, Andros at 11:00 am-due into Nassau at 3:00 pm. Along the way we trolled without getting a bite until 12:30. This time it was either a Blue Marlin or a Sailfish as Bill saw it jump out of the water several times. He put up a fight for about 30 minutes before he finally got away. Bill said he might of weighed 150 lbs! He was a beaut but it might be a good thing he got away as he was a little large & hard to handle. Chances are that fight might of lasted hours. So it’s back to sun tanning & reading, listening to Jimmy Buffet and eating pimento cheese sandwiches. Life is good.J

Mon Feb 26th, 2007 We are at a wonderful Marina, Chub Cay. Nothing here but that. Bill caught a Barracuda in the surf (Fed the locals). We watched the most beautiful sunset in the bay as the Sun came down under the clouds right over Rhoda Rock. We have to go out on anchor this morning and wait to cross to Nassau. Seas are too rough for this southern belle. Around 11 am we left the safe confines of Chub Cay. You may remember the story of how the pirates lured ships into the dismal rocky cliffs by hanging lanterns out, once they entered that treacherous area they crashed & were robbed by the pirates. Well, that is Chub Cay. We anchored in their what looked like a safe Harbor only to spend the night rocking with the surge (I read a whole book from cover to cover). The next morning we took refuge in the Marina. Upon checking out we learned that the guidebook prices have tripled so we felt like one of those poor ships that had been lured in and robbed. You see they have a monopoly. Oh well, So we headed towards Nassau, found that direction to be a little ruff, so we set our course on the big island of Andros, good enough, so we were on our way. 30 minutes later Bill was reeling in a Mahi Mahi 46” 20 lbs. Lets put it this way, you are all invited to dinner. So we landed at Andros at 1:30, still windy, but smooth anchoring. All that is here is a big tanker, getting water, (this is where they get water to supply the other islands), a green schooner of some sort, & a tug, but all that will be here tonight is us & a trimaran we saw in Bimini. There is a village with Willies Bar across from us. Capt. Morgan’s Cave where he alleged buried his pirate’s treasure is nearby. Andros is undoubtedly good for its fishing & has the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world-great diving. The Mahi was delicious! But we could hear the Natives with their steel drums till 2 in the morning-those people like to party.

Sat Feb 24th, 2007 After being anchored in the middle of the Bahama Bank all night, the wind & waves got fierce during the night, so sleep was not so good. We left the anchorage about 7:30, arriving at Chub Cay at 4:00 pm. We were able to snag a mid size barracuda, which we released. Although it was quiet choppy & uncomfortable the day was spent with Bill doing what he loves best, driving the boat & Debbie reading a book, and always keeping a line out.

Thurs Feb 22nd, 2007 We tried to get SSB-no luck. Took showers, checked out, walked to Batelco, too busy to use the Internet, so we went to CJ's for a couple of hamburgers & fries. By noon we were headed toward Gun Cay but decided to keep going & will anchor in the West Bahama Bank before going to Chub Cay. Debbie Sat on the back deck watching for the line to hit all day, sunning & reading a book.

Wed Feb 21st, 2007 At 5:00am we awoke in Biscayne Bay in Miami and pulled anchor under the light reflected sky we went right down the middle of the Port of Miami, where the cruise ships are normally, and would be closed to pleasure boat traffic. We were nearly the only boat leaving the Harbor at 5:30 am. We had good weather, Bill baited his trolling line on his new fishing pole with a lure to catch something great .In less than 10 min. Debbie screamed that the line was hit, ran upstairs, slowed the boat down while Bill reeled in a big beautiful lady Bonita (kin to the Tuna). We arrived in Alice Town, Bimini, Bahamas about 1:00 pm. at the Blue Water Marina. Bill checked in with customs, got his fishing license and cleaned his fish. We took a stroll; you can walk the whole island.. The high seas made us very tired so we had to take a nap. The following day was gorgeous, so we enjoyed the sun and walked and fried more of our fish and chips. Yummy. This fish's meat looks like a big red beef steak and tastes as good. There was a gathering of Sailors for happy hour at the Marina’s pavilion. Then Bill & I went to a shack called “Sherry's. It was closed but we sat there overlooking the beach to the west & watched the Sun Set. Then we went to the “End of the World Bar”, where Sherry was working. Had a cocktails & met her 3 yr old son, Alfred, who I took a liking to. He had a “vita malt” & we danced on the sand floor. When I started making Bird calls, it was time to go.