Getting ready for the Caribbean

We've shipped our two barrels of supplies to Grenada, have our checked bag ready for the plane and test loaded our roll aboard ice chest so we are getting ready to head back to the boat for the winter.  We are both really looking forward to this winters sailing.

After loading the ice chest I weighed it and it came out at 48lbs this year.  Steaks, veal, lamb, German sausages, roasts - even though we will be on the boat one month less this year it looks like we are taking the same amount of frozen meat!

Once we get to Grenada we will supplement the frozen meat with chicken, bacon, and pork chops as well as the normal fresh produce and cheese.

Another day in Florida

I've been working on a friends Island Packet 31 this summer and was out in the garage working on a bilge pump bracket when Alan stopped by and gave me a nice card and present for my birthday.  With every thing I had done to me this summer the card was a jewel and I have to share it.  You can share the present to but you will have to come to the boat for that.

Front:                                                                                                                     Inside:

Happy Birthday to me!

Had a great day today - 11/11/2011 my birthday.  Had a nice day, had a nice dinner, and a great cake.

Lesley was kind to me - just enough candles so that I would not pass out trying to blow them out!













I worked on our website some and sorted out some paperwork.  The shipment of our barrels to Grenada has been processed so we are winding down our stay here on land for this year.  Looking forward to being back aboard.

This has being an unusual summer for me (us) with medical issues as well as others.  Revisited some great friends this year - Hi Cheryl and Buzz, Greg and Kate (plus pooches), Alan & Kathy, others, but ready to move on again.

Will see what the New Year brings

Now Back Home in Florida

I decided to leave the boat and return to Florida via rental car on Monday.  The owner hired a delivery skipper and mate who will deliver the boat to Miami.  In the future I have decided that I am not going to HELP anyone move their boat. Plan to post a detailed trip log on our blog later. 


We are now completing doctors appointments and related lab work as well as final preparations for our return to Grenada in December.

Waiting out weather

No better place to wait out weather than here in Charleston.  Lots of great pubs and restaurants and places to explore.

Alan and I did some more boat maintenance today and did more organizing and putting of stuff (man is there a lot of stuff) away.

With severe offshore gales and no desire to do the ICW we will sit tight here until probably Tuesday then jump offshore and complete the trip to Miami.

With the unexpected delay in the trip Alan had to leave - sorry to see him go.

I am having severe second thoughts about staying on board - with Alan leaving I did not sign on to deliver this boat - but I have been put in the position of having to do a delivery (remember I signed on to help) with little help if any and questionably able crew on board.

Beaufort, NC - Thanks Guys!

Nearly ran aground in the approach channel and had several near misses as the owner took the boat in to a slip.

We had planned to stop and visit Greg and Kate for several days but with the forecast weather rapidly deteriorating we only had a rushed one night stay.  The visit was great - thanks guys - we owe you!

Next time we (I) will try to stay longer and try out the new Pram.  Dinner was great as were the spirits and we really appreciate you hauling us all over for parts and provisions.

We left Greg's place at 4 pm and motor sailed to Charleston.  Trip was uneventful except that the little fishing boat chartplotter on board failed and electronic charts on the owners laptop were not available.  I switched to my laptop and uploaded a route to a Garmin Handheld GPS that we would use for navigation (we found the Frying Pan Shoal markers in the dark) and managed to avoid any run in's with the various warships conducting night operations in our area while underway.

Alan and I got stuck with dinner prep and cleanup again.  Long story - but us folks was kitchen helpers!  The owner and his friend rarely participated in anything except provision consumption.

Entrance into Charleston was aided by GPS with me at the chart table watching our progress on the NAV PC.  Alan did a magnificent job hand steering us into the entrance and up the Ashley River to the City Marina.  We tied up and were relaxing by about 12:50am.

Then there was an Iphone/Ipad convention.