M/V Twocan

This is M/V Twocan, a 1997 Kadey Krogen 42 widebody, hull number 200.  When we speak of a widebody, the interior of the port side has been expanded out thereby eliminating the side deck.  This creates a very spacious interior.  Also, note that we mention hull numbers.  The Kadey-Krogen 42 had a limited production run of 206 vessels before they switched to the 44' model.  Alan and Sue of Denver, CO are the proud owners.  Twocan is shown here berthed in a slip in front of Big Run in Brunswick, Ga.

Need A Hook

      High tide was 8.6 feet above datum at 1:01a.m. last night and slack tide was -.8 feet below datum at 7:16 a.m.  this morning.  Although not unusual to see a sailboat heeled over like this under sail, it does make for difficult sleeping conditions while on the hook, but then they didn't need a hook.

Update - later that day about 1 hour before high tide the boat was gracefully towed out of the marsh.

The West Coast Of Florida

     Well, it's been a long week because of the woes that computers have brought into our lives.  It appears, and I say that with a little a reluctance, that the transition to a private blog is now complete.  Although not all "invitations" have been accepted, those that have accepted are probably a little more computer savvy than myself.
     In the picture below are 2 clues as to why the blog has gone private.

      For those with a keen eye, you will have noticed the signs on the boat.  One on the pulpit and one the starboard quarter.  Yes, they are For Sale signs.  We have decided to put Big Run up for sale and continue our adventures in ways other  than boating.  We are exploring many different options for new adventures.  Once we have sold the boat, we will look for an apartment somewhere near the continental divide, the Rocky Mountains.  Make that an apartment where someone else takes care of everything.  No grass to mow, no snow to shovel, no building maintenance, just come and go as we please.  Once we have established our "new home" we can start thinking about our new adventures. One of our favorite ideas is going to Europe and getting a Euro-rail pass and exploring the old country.  The Euro-rail would be the geriatric version of backpacking through Europe.  Another idea is to explore the backroads of the United States  We also like the idea of taking the train through the Canadian Rockies.  New Zealand and Australia have also gotten honorable mentions.  As we journey to new destinations, we will continue to blog about those adventures.
     So, why the privatized blog?  I don't claim to be a prolific writer, probably not even a mediocre one and because of my shortcomings, someone who may be interested in purchasing the boat may not understand or comprehend my thoughts, make that rants, about boats and their maintenance and/or repairs.  Just to clarify this a little, yes Big Run is a vintage 1983 boat and from time to time needs repairs because of her age.  However, newer items on the boat are also prone to failure.  For example, our big 165 amp Balmar alternator mounted on the engine,  the one dedicated to charging the extra large house batteries while we are underway, stopped producing power somewhere on the trip north from Miami.  This unit is only 3 years old but is a alternator from a reputable company.  I still need to have it tested to see if it's the alternator diodes or the external regulator. So as not to discourage any potential buyers due to my poor writing skills, with respect to boat maintenance, I have taken the blog private.
     What if the boat doesn't sell?  Our current plans, and remember our plans are like jello, lots of wiggle room, are to stay, yes I said stay, here in Brunswick in the marina until October.  Then in October if the boat hasn't been sold, our plans, again don't forget about jello, are to head over to the Gulf Of Mexico and cruise the west coast of Florida.

Leave The Bottle

     I openly admit that over the last few days I have lost control of taking this blog private.  What was once an idea, for reasons which I still have to publish, has turned into a computer nightmare.  In their infinite wisdom, Google has mutated a simple concept into a complex web of new and improved garbage.  What I am referring to is my new arch computer nemesis "the private blog" which in the past only required a simple password.  Now, to my understanding, Google requires a reader of a Google private blog to register and create an account (email address), which is just what everyone needs, another account. We already have too many accounts, each requiring a password following a specific format.   I know that I  touted this blog as a journal of our adventures and yet here I am posting another entry about "Blog Technical Stuff".   I guess, in a way, this experience is an adventure into the cyber world!

     So here's the deal.   To date, I have received over 75 requests for access to the blog when it goes private.  When I flip the "go to private" switch, someone is bound to get lost in the shuffle.  For those who get lost and don't have our regular email address, I have set up a temporary email address to help with the change over.  I tried to keep it simple.  The temporary email address is "bigrunprivateblog@gmail.com".  If, when the blog goes private, you can't access the blog, please contact me at that email address.   However, there is a catch.  When the blog goes private, the temp email address will have gone private as well with this blog entry.  I have elected to delay the change over to private for a couple of days. When this change is done, I will definitely need an adult beverage.  Barkeep, make mine a double scotch, neat, and leave the bottle! 

Too Stressful

   Yesterday, I blogged about taking this blog private.  Today, while in a early stage of setting up the private blog mode, I was experimenting with adding our "contacts list" (email addresses) to those requesting permission to access the blog when it goes private.  After stepping away from the computer, I came back to the computer to find that Google prompted itself to send out invitations to our contacts list.  I think that's what happened!  If you are on our contacts list and received an invitation, I apologize for the interruption.  I am not a computer savvy person and until the private blog thing is setup it may happen more times than I care to admit.  Computers are too stressful.

Stay Safe & Have Fun

     For reasons that will be explained in the very near future, Big Run's blog is going private until further notice.  We have enjoyed blogging and will continue to blog, but for now we must limit access to the blog to family, friends or a followers.  A password will be required to access the blog starting Monday, May 20th.  If you are family, friend or a follower and wish to have access to this blog once it goes private, please send a comment through the comment section at the bottom of this entry before 6 pm Sunday, May 19th. Your comment should include a "request" for the password and your email address.  Your comment/request will not be displayed on this blog as all comments go to our email inbox for moderation.  I will not publish your comment and therefore your email address will not go public, but I will be able to contact you through email with the password to access this blog in the future.  I will issue emails with the password early next week.  Stay Safe & Have Fun

Liveaboards

    We have been back in the "land of abundance" for about 2 weeks and there are still adjustments to be made.  We left Miami on Tuesday a week ago and traveled north to Brunswick, GA.  In our travels north we encountered too many bridges, most of which are on a fixed schedule requiring us to hurry Big Run to the next bridge for yet another scheduled opening.  Arrive too early and you have to do what I call the bridge dance.  The bridge dance is jockeying the boat around while you wait for the bridge opening, and as you are waiting you are combating the currents and wind while confined in a narrow channel.  We even encountered another bascule bridge being builtt so that will be another bridge to add to our bridge routes.  We have routes to all the bridges that are on scheduled openings.  This way we can monitor our progress on the chartplotter to the next bridge to see if we need to slow down or speed up.  In Big Run's case, it's usually speed up.  By the way, there are too many bridges in Florida that we need openings to pass through.

     For those of you that have followed this blog, I hope your are sitting down.  We will be in a marina for the summer instead of traveling north on the ICW to the Chesapeake Bay.  This will be an adjustment for us as we love being on the hook.  Since becoming "full time cruisers" in October 2010, we have averaged less than 4 weeks per year tied up to a dock in a marina.  We may have to change our status to "liveaboards"!

Square Between The Eyes

     The crossing from Nassau to Miami went as planned.  We did leave Nassau on Monday about 1.5 hours earlier than planned, we figured if we got to Goverment Cut in Miami to early we could always throttle back to delay our entry back into the States.  As we crossed the Tongue of the Ocean from Nassau to Northwest Channel Light waypoint the seas started to laydown as the winds let up.  The journey across the Great Bahama Bank is always a pleasure even though most of that was done in the dark.  Around 1 a.m. Tuesday, we approached the last Bahama waypoint, Triangle Rocks.  By taking this route from south of Bimini back to Florida, we were hoping to set a heading south of our rhumbline to compensate for the push north by the gulf stream currents.  According to our last update on Monday from NOAA, the western wall of the gulf stream was 10 miles east of the Florida coast as reported at Fowey Rocks.  The crossing of the Florida Straits went smoothly with only a few extra large ships to avoid.  The seas were still a little confused from the winds as we had following seas with rollers attacking from both the port and starboard quarter.  It's strange how waves can intercept each other and not cancel each other out.  Another one of the "mysteries" of the oceans.  Finally, around 7 a.m. we were able to start to see civilization, the coastal skyscrapers.  Also, we were approaching the western wall of the gulf stream.  At this point, any push from the gulf stream should have pushed us north to our rhumbline, but we were still 1.5 miles south of the rhumbline as we had planned.  Then, once inside of the "reported western wall" of the gulf stream where there should not have been a current it grabbed us and took us for a ride.  Long story short, 1 hour later we were 1 mile north of our rhumbline as we tried to buck the current and head SW to Government Cut.  So we changed course to a westerly heading, drifted north with the current and then when the current released its grip we headed SW to Government Cut.  By 10 a.m. the anchor was dropped at the  Belle Isle anchorage in South Beach.  Another successful crossing.  

     Our plans were to recuperate from the crossing the rest of the day on Tuesday, drop the dinghy on Wednesday and visit a grocery store, where the shelves are filled to the max.  No waiting in line to get fresh produce.  And that one day on Tuesday would allow us to adjust to the "cultural shock" of being  back in the States.  All the noise, congestion, people and the madness of civilization, that isn't found in the Exumas Cays, is overwhelming and will hit you square between the eyes.

Not So Happy Ending

     It all started yesterday, Saturday, as I was killing time on the boat.  Our number one source of entertainment, as boaters, is checking and keeping an eye on the weather.  After checking windfinder.com and passageweather.com and a few of the noaa.gov pages, it was confirmed that our weather window to leave the Bahamas and head back to Florida was going to be Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.  It was time, our immigration permit (visa) expires in 3 weeks on May 6th.  Imagine, over 5 months in the Bahamas, what an adventure. As this was a sudden decision to depart on Sunday morning, we were not able to depart until the news was dropped like an atomic bomb on a few friends.  After we said our goodbyes over the VHF to some dear friends, the anchor was up and stowed by 8:15 am.  Late by Big Run standards, but still early.  Our original plan was to run up the Exuma chain to Highbourne Cay to an anchorage we used last year for the same purpose, heading "home".  After fours hours of cruising the decision was to forgo the Highbourne anchorage and head to Nassau.   The weather forecast was for the winds to be in the low teens (knots) out of the southeast.  This would be a following sea as we crossed the Yellow Bank to Nassau and provide a little push to get us there before sunset.  By 6:30 we made it to the Porgees Rock waypoint at the east entrance to the harbor.  Just 5 miles to the anchorage at the west end of Nassau harbor.  At 7:30 as we were deploying the anchor, the anchor chain got jammed in the pipe leading from the anchor locker to the foredeck and the windlass.  Thanks to a 5lb. persuader (read sledgehammer), the problem was remedied in under 5 minutes.  Time to kick back before dinner and unwind as we waited for Sharon's world famous Stromboli's to come out of the oven.  After a long day, the dinner was perfect, well almost perfect.  As we sat at the table discussing our plans for an overnight passage to Florida on Monday night, there was the sound of a police siren next to the boat.  When I went out onto the cockpit, there was a Bahamian Defense Task Force boat on the port side of Big Run.  We never heard them approach Big Run.  Then, to what was almost a perfect day, came the words "Prepare to be boarded".  Fortunately, our cruising permit and immigration papers were in order and the officers left after an uneventful "inspection".  Now, if it would have been 3 weeks later and our permits had expired, well, that would have been another story with an not so happy ending.

Coconut Bread

    The Bahamas are filled with many treasures and most of those treasures can't be taken.  The greatest treasure is the Bahamians themselves.  Once you get away from the "big city" of Nassau or even George Town and meet the Bahamians of the family islands (cays), you will truly meet some great people.  Another treasure is the cays and the waters surrounding the cays, but you can only take pictures of those.  But there is one treasure that you can have and that is the Bahamian cuisine.  The conch is a staple to the Bahamians and is prepared in many ways.  My favorites are the conch salad, conch fritters and the conch chowder.  Mac and cheese is also a Bahamian favorite as well as peas & rice.  There is also the many different species of fish - Mahi Mahi, Grouper, Wahoo and Mutton Snapper just to name a few and, although not a fish, the Spiny Lobster, which in addition the traditional "lobster tail' dinner is also great as a lobster salad.  There is one other Bahamian food item, among many, that is very basic but very, very good and that is Bahamian bread which is prepared in many different ways.  There's plain bread, cinnamon bread and our favorite coconut bread.

Coconut bread from DeShaMon restaurant in Black Point Settlement, Exuma, Bahamas

 

Good Looking Boat

Photo credit - Perry & Karen, M/V Morse Code III

     Weather!  You can never have enough sources for weather information.  What was thought to be a good weather day for motoring, well, as you can see in the above photo, turned ugly very quickly.  We were very fortunate that day because the ominous skies only brought heavy rain and brief strong winds.  This photo, which we just received, was actually taken September 7, 2011 on the Chesapeake Bay, south of Poplar Island as Big Run was heading south to Knapps Narrows.  Perry & Karen on M/V Morse Code III took this photo of Big Run and submitted the photo in a photo contest and won a prize.  Congratulations!  I always knew we had a good looking boat!

Williams Bay Anchorage, Exumas

The ICW Isn't The Bahamas

Coming to the surface for fresh air.

     Dolphin sightings in the Bahamas are far and few in between.  Since our arrival back in November we have spotted dolphins less than 10 times.  Although in the past seasons our sightings have been even fewer.  In the United States, especially the lower section of the section of the ICW, the sightings are very common and do not cause any particular interest from the crew of Big Run.  There is one occasion we do enjoy the dolphins and that is when they play in our slip stream just off of the bow when we are motoring.  Because the waters are so murky on the ICW we do not get to enjoy the dolphins playing in the slip stream except for when they surface for a breathe of fresh air.  Today was different in Bahamas as we crossed the White Cay Bank on our return trip from Salt Pond, Long Island.  We spotted the dolphins off the port bow and saw them race over to the boat.  We knew immediately what they were going to do so we went to the bow.  There they were, playing in our slip stream and because of the crystal clear water we were able to catch all the action below the surface.  It is amazing how little effort they exert to stay in front of the bow as it slices through the water at 6.5 knots, almost 8 mph.  Every once in a while they would roll over on their side and look up at us.  Then, as in the photo above, they would surge ahead of the boat off to one side to surface for fresh air and then return to the bow of the boat below the surface to ride the slip stream.  Definitely not something we are privileged to see on the ICW, but then, the ICW isn't the  Bahamas.

Grin & Bear It

     Just as forecasted, the cold front arrived but not with all the gusto as predicted.  However my predictions were more accurate than the weather gurus.  My prediction was for the arrival of many boats seeking a safe harbor in Thompson Bay, many coming from the Jumentos & Ragged Islands.  We are now anchored with 30 other boats nicely spaced apart from each other, except for one boat.  Yes, you're right, the boat in question anchored right next to Big Run yesterday.  So close (125') that we can hear their conversations when they're in the cockpit.  Of all the open water to our east and a larger open area further to the west, this last minute arrival, just 3 hours before the blow started, anchored right next to us.  Considering the forecast I would have been happier had they anchored somewhere else.  Getting back to the weather, the gurus missed the call on Wednesday and Friday, which were to be calm days - 8 knots or less.  Instead, each day, we had southerly winds in excess of 18 knots and all the associated fetch of the open water to the south of us.  All the boats in Thompson Bay were "hobby-horsing" for hours. For all the landlubbers, hobby-horsing is when the bow & stern rise and fall.  One rises as the other falls, just like the plastic horse we all rode as kids that was mounted on a frame with springs - Yeeeeeee  Haw!  Giddyup!

     There is a window of opportunity for us to head north to the Exumas this week on Tuesday or Wednesday.  Oh, how we miss the Exumas especially Plain Bay.  Although we may have one day of discomfort because of the winds after we arrive back in the Exumas.  Until then, we'll stay anchored in the Salt Pond/Thompson Bay area where we'll just have to grin & bear it