Birthday Boy

Portimao, Portugal 2012

Progress continues on updating WJ3's 2008-2010 blog; only photos need to be replaced now (so they don't disappear into the ether when we shut down Typepad!) but that could be a job for Big Dell at home.  In the meantime, we've had fun reminiscing...

Those google eyes in my dinner are following me!

You may well be aware that the Cap’n celebrated a birthday recently.  We made for floating restaurant, the Rivole and ordered a local lunch fit for an old salt.  Run by a husband and wife team, we were made to feel welcome and encouraged to take lunch in typical Portuguese fashion.  After a refreshing Sagres beer, we munched our way through large, grilled prawns, lightly seasoned to take advantage of their freshness.  Our congenial host recommended monkfish to follow; a thick rice and fish casserole with lashings of olive oil, fresh coriander and garlic.  We washed it down with local wine, a crisp, dry white and reflected on our good fortune to have celebrated his last 5 birthdays in such exotic locations. 

Just so that you can be envious too, remember these….

                        

2008: Anything goes in Phillipsburg, Sint Maartin (Caribbean) with BW (& Sweet Michael on the Segway’s).
 

2009: Vero Beach (Florida) with champers on board, then catching up with Jim and Tammy later.  More officially (for the big 60 & with BW) further up the ICW at Spouters Inn, Beaufort NC.
 

                       

2010: A night out whilst “on tour” at the Kings Arms in Colonial Williamsburg, (Virginia).  Followed by some Alaskan crab legs on WJ3 back in Deltaville. 

Apres Tiki Bar at the hospitable Richmond County Yacht Club

2011: Dinner at the Tiki Bar, a local hotspot, in Great Kills Harbour (New York) with BW.  Earlier we’d had Brimmers and friends aboard.  Max, who had been travelling through Canada and the US, finally caught up with us too!

Boys at large in NYC

2102: On the Rivole, floating on the Arade in Portimao (Portugal) followed by champers on board Emma Laura (Roger, Sue and Tony). 

Now that is spoilt!  GS though, feels a white Christmas must be coming up for her one year very soon.

One Spy Kit to Go

The weather forecast promised a few more days of non-sailing weather, so rather than attempt a trip bashing into high seas off the Atlantic coast, we opted for a faster, dryer mode of transport – the train - and roared off down to Washington DC.   Washington is on the Potomac River, a goodly way upstream and we would need time (a week) to get WJ3 up there.  So, two returns on Amtrak, thanks.  No luggage for Red Caps (porters) either.  (This train system puts ours to shame, thanks for asking!).  We stayed centrally (easy walking) at the Crown Plaza and had a few days to do the sights & sites!

Aussie mates, Warren & Dominique took us on a drive out to historical Bull Run.  Virginia is just steeped in history and the effort made to conserve it, both by government & local interest groups is noteworthy.  We took a guided tour around a battlefield smaller than most farms before sneaking past W&D’s house (not to disturb their dogs guarding his Corvette), then headed off to Oldtown for a few quiet ales in a character Irish pub.

Over the next few days, Cap’n & crew managed to sit together on an informative trolley tour of town, then head their separate ways.  Cap’n Bond went straight for the Spy Museum, ended up at the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery, then went all military again; over to Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial.  The First Mate made a b-line for the Textile Museum and had a sneak peek at an upcoming ikat exhibition; from there to another boutique museum, Women in Arts, then over to the Renwick Gallery and finally a stroll around The White House perimeter.  Cap’n & GS met each day to exchange noteworthy frippery over a few ales at the Capital City Brewing Company, one of few “shopfronts” in a city seemingly of government offices and museums.  The Prez couldn’t make it to drinks; he had a bit of a bash going on at ‘ome…

We caught the subway over to the Pentagon and, through a barrage of security warnings and great lists of don’ts, visited the 9/11 Memorial.  We had come to pay our respects to friend Yvonne Kennedy, who was on the aircraft that crashed into the Pentagon in 2000.  This memorial is a fitting and subtle homage to those who died.  It is hard to believe ten years have since passed.

All that Glitters IS New York

Having tucked WJ3 safely on her RCYC mooring, the Motleys held an “open boat”, welcoming many including Max, who had been following us down the coast from Maine in his truck & caravan (trailer in local lingo).  Alan brought an entourage as well; we impressed them with the RCYC launch service out to the mooring and GS piped ‘em aboard with a piercing whistle.

Even the Swan Family popped by at Great Kills

The promised bad weather set in the next day – the day we were travelling by bus to Manhattan.  We arrived wet and smelly on Al’s doorstep, not before having been sussed out twice by strategically placed doormen.  Security’s big in New York….(see something, say something).

Wet weather continued yet we persisted with our social program of visiting friends and museums.  The Cap’n continued with his nautical themed tours to South Street Seaport (not a patch on Mystic), strutted the decks of aircraft carrier Intrepid and explored close quarters of a nearby submarine.  As we now have our own “fleet” of 6, perhaps he really is due for promotion to Admiral?  Briefly tiring of nauticalities, he went in search of something more nauti – yes, the Se(x) Museum really exists and afterwards to an exhibit of body bits, some cut into dainty, thin slices.

Fabulous Folk Art Museum

GS had loftier, more arty things in mind, so headed off to the Folk Art Museum with a little detour via Macy’s, a walk past 5^th Ave designer shops and lots of coffee/cake in nice little bookstores.  Having a whole day in the Met again, she still did not cover more than a third – the Japanese section even has its own reading room and library for goodness sake!!  Annette, a friend from Delhi daze, led us on a merry chase to look at bead shops full of tempting sparklers.  As if our Jain Jeweller in Old Delhi had not sold us enough goodies!  Not to be outdone, GS produced a list of NYC quilting supply shops (including City Quilter & Purl Soho) which managed to keep us dry & out of the rain.  We lunched in Sullivan Street and had time to explore a little of Chinatown & Little Italy precincts on our way back to the bus.  Later over a delicious home-cooked dinner (yes, it can happen in NY), George told us the best places to buy hiking boots and fountain pens.  WJ3’s lockers are just bursting with goodies…..

Sotherby’s is just around the corner from Al’s.  We decided to buy some wine (anniversary champagne) and went upstairs to view auction items.  WOW and I say again, wow!  Sale items varied from Custer’s Colours (flag) from the famous Last Stand battle, a floor of Modernist & Impressionist paintings (Arp, Picasso, Dufy), a few Henry Moore Sculptures and even some folk art being sold off by Museums to fund more lucrative exhibit purchases.  There were two floors of estate furniture, including a silver swing (from some exotic Sultan’s palace no doubt) and several life size Moorish figures perfect for holding ferns in your conservatory or an afternoon cuppa & cucumber sangers.  Another floor held some fabulous photos by masters of the art - Ansel  Adams. Man Ray, Edward Weston, Robert Maplethorpe, Edward S Curtis.  Curtis did those stunning portraits of American Indians.  There were also several iconic NYC steel worker pieces and a striking coloured portrait of Frieda Kallo.  All these wonderful things to buy!  The Cap’n hid our cheque book, cut up the credit card and put title deeds for Penawar & WJ3 into a locked safe.  Gackkkkkkk!

Old Jonah He Lived in a Whale

Lighthouse, Cape Cod

Provincetown has whale watching tours reputed to be second best in the world (rated on chances of seeing whales).  Summer is also the time these great beasties mooch around Stellwagen Bank – their summer holiday residence.  GS wanted to take a tour.  Cap’n Blanched at $32 a head, especially when we already had a boat…. 

We left Provincetown early to make use of forecast W winds to push us as far down east as Penobscot Bay, Maine in an overnight trip.  Stopping each night is easy (and very achievable up and down the New England coast) but we’d get to Maine in time to turn around and scoot back to Deltaville.  The Cap’n said this way we’d also cross Stellwagen Bank, so GS had the binos ready.  As luck would have it, the Whale Watch tours passed us full steam ahead, and our headings were similar. 

Then it all happened.  In the distance, great spouts of water were blown high and huge tails rose and fell in slow motion.  As we neared the pod, one rolled on his side and repeatedly slapped the water with a big white fin.  The noise alone was scary enough.  The Whale Watch boats moved on following the pod (possibly 10 or more whales) as it breakfasted and played.  WJ3 continued on her course to Maine.  We saw a huge splash, maybe 500m away and watched as a whale breeched.  The show moved on, but not in our direction. 

Cape Cod to Bar Harbor dodging whales

We were still chatting about our good fortune an hour later when the Cap’n spied another spout in the distance.  We’d happened upon another pod.  Though not so lively as the last, lazy tails slapped water and spouts blew all round us - at a respectable distance.  Then suddenly one surfaced, no more than 20-30 metres on our port side.  This was indeed a close encounter.  He wasn’t interested in us (thankfully) and continued on with his breakfasting as we gaped, stared and said things like “oh, fruit”. 

Real Maine Lobsters

The rest of the trip wasn’t nearly so exciting even though a huge moon lit the slow roll of Atlantic swells making viewing easy.  But it was freezing!  Early next morning, closer to the Maine coast, we saw a couple of seals.  Their lovely whiskery faces and big eyes staring in surprise – as if we’d just caught them in the act of robbing from a vast field of lobster pots.  Who could blame them?  We celebrated our arrival in Maine.  In August (just).  We’d really made it.  Celebrations involved a secure mooring, local beer AND a huge lobster feast. ($US11 a pound…envious???)

From: Provincetown, MA  Lat/Long: 42 02N  70 11W  Date/Time: 30/8/10: 0845

To: Southwest Harbor, ME  Lat/Long: 44 16N  68 18W  Date/Time: 31/8/10: 1400

Time Taken: 170nm (29.5hrs)  Distance (this year): 812nm (154hrs)

Distance Total (since 2008): 4452nm  (853hrs)   Fastest Speed: See Note**

Weather: Winds W-NW 5-10kts; Seas 3-5ft; We didn’t notice the Friday tropical storm warning at the end of the report – doh!!

(** 10ft tides no less; abundant rock ledges makes anchoring interesting!)

Cruise the Med Anyone?

Cruise the Med NOW!

Thetis

Friends we met on Dangar, Mary & Roger, have been cruising the Med for at least 8 summers living aboard their Beneteau, Thetis.  Thetis is currently up for sale so if you're interested in meeting us in the Greek Isles sometime soon, then follow this link... http://sites.google.com/site/goodyachtthetis/home 

M & R also kept a blog so you can read up on their adventures at http://grantsafloat.vox.com/ .  Sounds wonderful and we can't wait to "cross the ditch" to start exploring.  We might never come home!  (I can just hear the kids cheering at this.)

(Ed. 2011. M&R have since sold Thetis.  Their adventures in Europe continue.  Their blog on Vox has vanished.)