Fairwinds & Safe Passages

   Our next adventure started in early October when we left Harrisburg, PA on a rainy Thursday.  We did not let the rain dampen our spirits as we were heading west on our newest adventure - road trip!  We had stops in Indianapolis and Minneapolis/St. Paul to see family and friends.  We also had stops in Rapid City, South Dakota area to see Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, The Bad Lands, The Black Hills and Sturgis.  Fortunately, our timing at the national parks was perfect for the government had decided to go back to work and the parks had reopened the previous day to our arrival at the The Bad Lands National Park.  Next, we were off to Cody, Wyoming, the eastern gateway to Yellowstone Park.  On our travels to Cody we crossed over the Big Horn Mountain range which had just received 2 feet of snow in the higher elevations.  The new truck with four wheel drive performed flawlessly.  The drive from Cody was fantastic, and we hadn't entered Yellowstone Park yet.  The drive through Yellowstone was unbelievable with  snow covered mountains, and we had the park to ourselves.  Remember, the national park system had just reopened and we were in Yellowstone Park 3 days afterwards so the vehicle traffic was almost non-existent.  I would estimate we saw less than 30 cars in our travels in from the east entrance, around Lake Yellowstone and out the South entrance.  Then, to our surprise, we drove south to Grand Teton National Park,  what a view!  Our final destination was quickly upon us as we drove down Logan Canyon from Bear Lake.  At the base of the Wasatch Mountain Range was to be our new home, Logan, Utah.  Logan was selected during the long hot summer while we were in Brunswick, GA.  Logan is almost geographically centered between the Canadian and Mexican borders allowing us to explore the Continental Divide, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest.   Logan also offers many amenities including many things we did not have as boaters.  The choice of at least 5 different well stocked grocery stores, numerous restaurants and all the other benefits of a small metropolitan area of about 100,000.

      Since our arrival in Logan, we have found a beautiful brand new apartment complex.  As it is a new complex we had our choice of over 90 apartments to choose from.  We are now on the third/top floor with a fantastic view of the Wasatch mountains from our 2 bedroom/2 bath apartment.  Our apartment also includes a study, one of only 12 units with this floorplan. And forget about steps, we have an elevator.  We also have covered parking to protect our new truck from the sun and snow.  We have also rented a garage on site, who knows what new toys may be stored in there.  There was one catch to securing this rare find, the complex is a 55+ facility and we are the youngest residents at the moment albeit I am over 55.

      In my traditional blog fashion I will close out this blog entry as I have grown to do in the past, the ending is the blog entry title.  This is our last entry to the Big Run blog.  Our adventures will continue but I have decided to make this our last Big Run blog entry.  The Big Run blog was a journal of our adventures from Big Run, the log home, to Big Run, the home on the water.  Thank you to our family, friends and readers for your support on the blog over the years and with that being said I must now say Fairwinds & Safe Passages!

Git-R-Done

     Out on the town last night in Darien, GA doing the pub crawl.  This was in the men's room at Skipper's Fishing Camp, a local watering hole down by the river.  With a "2 hour parking limit" you gotta "Git-R-Done".  

Weather Window

     The last sixteen days were spent in Brunswick, GA with Ken & Cindy (S/V Meant To Be).  We were anchored just a short dinghy ride from their waterfront home which includes a deep water dock for their catamaran and a dinghy dock for us.  When we weren’t busy with happy hours, dinner parties, dining out or going to the county fair, we were busy working!  I was waiting for teak deck seam caulk and because the manufacturer botched the next day air shipping, I had plenty of time to help Ken with his projects.  It felt good to be doing house projects but not as good as not having a house and not having to do house projects all year long.  No more owning a house, our next home will be a condo where the landlord takes care of the all problems.  Ken and I did finish a screening project he had started earlier for the screened-in covered porch.  We even had time to work on some of Ken’s boat projects.  One of the boat projects was to add 165 feet of chain rode to the catamaran’s existing chain rode.  Now, the catamaran has an all chain rode of over 300 feet.  I wish Big Run had the same, you never know when you’ll need it.  Sharon volunteered to work at the local humane society where Cindy also volunteered.  Sharon had the opportunity to walk as many dogs as she wanted, but was given strict orders that she could not keep any of them.  Sharon also helped Cindy with a dock decorating project.  Cindy wanted to use the fishing buoys to decorate the dock with what she had found while beachcombing in the Bahamas.  We knew of the project and decided to contribute all the fishing buoys we had stashed in Big Run’s lazarette.

     It was great time, thanks Ken & Cindy,  but it was time to move on.  We did make plans to reunite with Ken & Cindy in the Bahamas, probably at our favorite anchorage, Plain Bay.  Until then, our next destination is Miami and South Beach.  We’ll hang out there waiting to cross over to the Bahamas, but we’ll have to wait for a good weather window.

"Farewell till we meet again dinner" at Driftwood Bistro on Jekyll Island, Ga.  Left to Right - Sharon, Ken & Cindy (S/V Meant To Be) & Bob.   "Flip that Fish"!

German Lager Beer

     The third time is the charm.  Last night we dined at a restaurant in Portsmouth,VA.  We were first introduced to The Bier Garden in 2011 by Joe & Ann (S/V Shortwalk) and dined there twice with Joe & Ann.  We have always enjoyed the food and the company was always the best.  Last night we dined with Rick & Deb (M/V Broulee).  Both Rick and Deb raved about their dishes being some of the best German cuisine they have ever had, both having spent time in Germany.  But last night I managed to bring back the flavor of Germany I remember from the days of my youth.  I was born an Army Brat in Munich, Germany and my family returned to Germany with my father for his second tour of duty when I was just 7 years old.    For each of my previous visits to The Bier Garden restaurant I kept seeking the German sausages (wurst) I developed a passion for while I lived in Germany. Over the years I had forgotten which wurst I craved.  Last night, instead of a hit or miss entree dinner for the taste I was looking for, the waitress said I could have a platter with each of the four wurst they offered. Cholesterol City here I come.  It may not have been the healthiest dinner on the menu but it was what I have been searching for.  Over the years I have tried so many "authentic" German wurst, but last night I rediscovered the flavor I had been seeking - Bauernwurst.   And to wash it down was an excellent Germany lager beer.    

Cheers

     We learned a very valuable lesson this past weekend.  When boaters get together, it's always a good time, even if you are on land!  Although Short Walk (Joe & Ann - they'll always be Short Walk to us) sold their boat, Sharon and I traveled to Doylestown, Pa last week to visit Joe & Ann.  We had a wonderful time reuniting with Short Walk and learned that, although you are homeless (read boatless), boaters still know how to have a great time.  In addition to meals that make you go back for seconds, the company was the best.  And if that wasn't enough excitement we went on a field trip and toured Fonthill Castle (www.mercermuseum.org), very cool.  So the moral of the story is, "You can run, you can hide, hell, you can sell your boat, we will find you and a great time will be had by all".  Cheers!

Fonthill Castle - Note the "all concrete' construction, including the roof!

Fonthill's owner, Henry Chapman Mercer, was an avid tile collector and tile manufacturer (Moravian Tile Works).  In the photo is a very small sampling of the tile that was incorporated into the home.  Interior photos are prohibited, this photo was taken, by permission, of an exterior porch ceiling.

Two of my favorites ladies, Ann and Sharon.  I have more!

Portable outhouse at Fonthill Castle, check out the air conditioner on top!

  

We Are Living

     This posting is long overdue,  Just like our return to the boat is very long overdue  Back in May, after our return to "our" marina in Rock Hall, we spent some time on the hook catching up on boat maintenance.  Then on May 17th, we had the boat hauled and put on the hard for the summer.  I know it sounds crazy for full time cruisers to have their boat on the hard for the summer.  We thought it would be a new adventure to "go home" for a few months,  What an obscene notion!  When we developed the boat motto, "Everyday is an adventure, every evening is an event", little did we know that the adventures on water are far better than those on land.  We are currently staying with family in metropolitan Harrisburg, PA.  For two people that lived most of their lives in the country with only two traffic lights, our tolerance for red lights in the city went out the window many weeks ago.  We would rather be waiting for a bridge opening on the ICW.  And with the traffic lights come traffic congestion.  We never saw a rush hour on the water.  We never had to keep the boat between the painted lines, just out of skinny water! We never had to look for a parking space, just a place with the best vista to drop the boat hook.  We never have boats tailgating us, because they all pass us whenever they want to, albeit some of them wake us. When we are on the water, without a car, having to walk to grocery stores, waking up to a new adventure every day, we are living.

Back In The Exumas

     This past week has been very busy with land adventures and adventures on the water.  On Sunday we traveled through the Dismal Swamp Canal.  The canal is a little like the interstate, straight and boring.  Sunday afternoon we found a free dock in Portsmouth and waited for Joe & Ann on S/V Short Walk to arrive on Monday.  Short Walk arrived just in time to take one of the last two free dock spaces.  That evening we dined at the Bier Garden where we enjoyed some wonderful German cuisine. 

      Tuesday was a new adventure as we toured the Battleship Wisconsin.  Joe at 6'4" and myself at 6' found it difficult to navigate the decks because of the low overheads.  Joe, a former serviceman of the Navy, was able to get around better than myself.  Thanks to hardhats, we all walked away without injury.

     Tuesday night was a planned outing that exceeded our expectations.  The four of us went to The Commodore Theatre in Portsmouth.  This theatre was restored to an art deco design of the 40's with an additional flair of having tables instead of rows of theatre seating.  On each table was a telephone, your direct connection to the kitchen.  Call in your order, dine at your table before the movie, and if you tell the kitchen to hold your desert, it will be served part way through the movie.  What a unique experience!  The movie - The Hunger Games - my rating 6 out of 10.

     Wednesday morning came at 6a.m. as we prepared to run the Chesapeake Bay non-stop.  We did this last year because of the weather and did it again this year for the same reason.  With a little push from the winds and favorable tides at the right times we got back to Long Cove Marina on Thursday morning at 7:10a.m.  That was 3 hours better than last year's run.

     Thursday morning was a time of recuperation but on Friday it was boat work, boat work, boat work.  Saturday was boat washing day before the rains came!  Now, it's time to get back out on the hook.  The next three weeks will be spent painting teak and whatever other work we can manage to do.  Who said "Let's Go Boating!"  Who knows, but maybe I'll get a chance to kick back with a cold beer and watch a sunset reminiscing that I was back in the Exumas (Bahamas).

On the foredeck of Battleship Wisconsin

Hard working woman

The ladies take a stroll on the fantail

Joe & Ann (S/V Short Walk) at Commodore Theatre

Cumberland Island National Seashore, GA - Spring 2012

     A different view of Cumberland Island National Seashore.

Fungus?

Lizard

Lichen

Yellow Flowers!

Dung Beetles

Long Haul

      Monday was a good day as we cruised from Lake Worth to Stuart, FL.  Around 6 pm we dropped anchor at the Sandpiper Marina.  Dropping anchor at a marina is not the norm, but then we do things a little different on Big Run.  We came to this marina because this is where our very good friends Rick, Deb & Izzy are staying.  As we approached the marina, Rick hailed us on the radio to guide us through the skinny water, and Izzy helped as morale officer.  It was a bitter sweet moment.  Sweet because we could see Rick and Izzy.  Bitter in that our reunion would have to wait until the next day when we went into the marina and got a slip.  Deb was flying back from Arizona on Monday, so our reunion on Tuesday morning would be complete.  It had been just over a year since we last saw them down in the Florida Keys.  Before we entered the slip on Tuesday morning we went to the fuel dock for some fuel and were greeted by Rick, Deb & Izzy for an abbreviated reunion.  The official reunion came later after we docked our boat in the slip.

     The last three days have been spent reprovisioning the boat and boat maintenance/repairs.  Our first order of business on Tuesday was a trip to the grocery store.  Rick and Deb lent us their SUV to run errands, so the car was in constant use by everyone.   While in the Bahamas we purchased produce and a few other items but we lived on the stores we had on board.  Our planning last year allowed us to carry enough food for 5 months and, after 17 weeks in the Bahamas, our selections for meals were becoming limited.  For our first trip to the grocery store we filled 2 grocery carts.  After loading those groceries into the car, we returned and filled another cart. We spent over three hours transporting the groceries from the car to the boat and stowing away all the groceries.  Then on Wednesday, we went to a different grocery store and filled another grocery cart. I am proud to say that Big Run is finally reprovisoned to the max and with our additional storage containers we purchased on Tuesday, we're good to go for another long haul. 

Cold Kaliks

     Once again we are back at Black Point Settlement.  Not at Plain Bay, our foavorite anchorage, which is just around the point to the south of Black Point and only a 30 minute ride from Black Point to Plain Bay.  Yesterday morning, we found our anchorage at Pipe Cay getting a little lumpy from a mild southerly breeze, and being too far north and too early to continue onto Nassau we decided to go south.  Remember, we're on the jello plan.  Black Point, just 15 miles to the south was an ideal choice - fresh produce and wifi.  We pulled anchor at 10am and at 1pm the anchor splashed once again in Black Point Harbor.  As we had followed the mail boat into the harbour, the government dock was very busy including the adjacent dinghy dock.  So we waited for the mail boat to leave and made our run into Adderly's grocery store where we found lettuce, romaine, green peppers, tomatoes, eggs, butter and flour.

      After we returned to the boat, I left the engine on the dinghy idle, and it stalled.  Thankfully, the dinghy was tied up to the mothership for I tried numerous times to pull start the motor, no turn of the key for electric start on this model, but was unable to get the motor to start.  So I decided to wait until the next day when the waters were a little more calm in the harbour to diagnose the outboard.  Shortly after my encounter with the outboard, Sharon said she could drink a Kalik (Bahamian Beer).  I, on the other hand, went to the pilothouse to do some internet work.  After about an hour, the seed planted by Sharon about a Kalik started to grow as the pilothouse was like a greenhouse, very warm.  Back to the dinghy and diagnosing the motor.  I had determined that because the fuel tank was low and we had towed the dinghy to Black point, we had lost the fuel siphon and a slug of air got into the fuel line.  So, after about 20 pulls on the motor and some other tricks from up my sleeve, I got the outboard running.  Quickly, Sharon threw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt over her bathing suit and I, still smelling like gasoline, made our way to Scorpios bar for happy hour.  Once there, we were quickly reunited with Doug and Jean of the Sand Castle and shortly thereafter their neighbors, Frank and Peg.  A grand time was had by all. Yes, we got our cold Kaliks!