tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13905127068429388542024-02-20T01:00:25.754-08:00Adventures on MomoTed Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-16836559300270360872015-04-28T19:56:00.001-07:002015-04-28T19:56:19.092-07:00Change happens quickly sometimes.After another week of cruising the Abacos we decided to catch a brief weather window to head back to the States. The weather pattern looked unfavorable in the coming weeks so we took advantage of a 48 hour break in the squally and unsettled conditions. Joined by SV Sheila, we made our way to Cooper's Town and then had a great sail to Little Sale Cay, smack in the middle of the Little Bahama Bank. We spent the night there and then, after waiting for some strong squalls to come through, we left for the States. It was a relatively quiet 23 hour crossing. Unfortunately, we ran the engine the whole way as the wind never picked up quite enough to move us fast enough on its own. <div>During the last couple days leading up to our departure we had been in touch with a man named Ray who was in Miami and seemingly very interested in Momo. We agreed to meet him in Ft. Pierce, FL so he could see the boat. SV Sheila graciously agreed to accompany us so we would both still have each other's company on the crossing. When Ray saw Momo it took him all of 15 minutes to agree to buy her! <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The one stipulation was that he wanted us to deliver her to Miami. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So, we said a teary "see you soon" to our wonderful friends Tom, Tracy and Eva. They turned north towards Canada and we turned south towards Miami. </span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Four days later, Momo arrived in Coconut Grove. These were long days, reminiscent of our earlier passage through these waters in December - too many hours of motoring and too many bridges. The worst part of this trip was on Sunday when we went right through the middle of "Boca Bash". A simple google search will shed some light on the mayhem and debautchery we had to navigate. The wind was in our face until yesterday when we were finally able to sail from Ft Lauderdale to Miami. It was a lovely sail and as it turned out, a fitting last voyage on our beloved boat. As of a few hours ago, we are no longer the owners of Momo. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">It has not really set in yet - especially because we are still moving our stuff into a rental van and will be sleeping aboard one last time tonight. I think tomorrow is going to be hard. We owe a lot to this boat. She brought our family on an incredible adventure, always keeping us comfortable and safe. We are going to miss her sounds and her gentle way of rocking us to sleep. Most of all we are going to miss the simple life she has allowed us to live. She has been our home and for the girls it is going to be particularly hard. They feel such attachment to Momo. We take with us many wonderful memories. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">When we put her up for sale we never anticipated it playing out like this. We figured we would sail back to Duxbury and eventually sell Momo up there. However, selling a boat is not usually very easy so we figured we ought to see this through and we are glad we did. Best of all, we still have some time to adventure before the real world grabs us again...</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Ray has some big plans for Momo and we think the two will be very compatible. We look forward to keeping in touch with Ray to hear about future Adventures with Momo. </font></div>Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-25087987035980116712015-04-14T11:36:00.001-07:002015-04-14T12:35:55.499-07:00Goodbye Exumas, Hello Abacos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It has been a month since our last post...GULP. So here are some highlights - </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After our second trip to Conception we returned to the Exumas to meet a new batch of visitors. First we picked up Jenny and Brian from George Town and had a wonderful week of Exuma Out Island adventuring. We enjoyed awesome snorkeling, beaches and sunsets as we made our way back to Staniel Cay, hitting some of our favorite spots on the way. We had so much fun with them!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In Staniel we picked up Cassie the day after Jenny and Brian flew out. We continued north with Cassie, hitting more of our favorites in the northern Exumas en route to Nassau. Again we had super weather, great underwater adventures and tons of fun. Cassie helped to spear some giant lobsters the last day of the season. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In Nassau we said goodbye to Cassie and then spent a couple days living it up at the Atlantis water park. We left Nassau on a close haul port tack for a 55 mile trip to Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera. We had a nice week traveling around the northern parts of Eleuthera, spending our last couple days at Egg Island. This spot turned out to be a favorite. We anchored in a small sand patch surrounded by clear water and healthy reef. Calm conditions allowed us to do lots of snorkeling. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We left Eleuthera under darkness for the 50 mile trip to Little Harbor, Abaco, closing the chapter on our time in the Exumas. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We have now been in the Abacos for about 2 weeks. It certainly has a different feel than the Exumas and Conception. Much more development and many more people. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We have been slowly winding our way north, stopping in places such as Hopetown, Elbow Cay, Man o' War Cay, Great Cuana Cay, and now Treasure Cay. We will continue this slow push north for about 2 more weeks. We anticipate making the hop to the East Coast sometime after that, depending on weather. Our route will also be very weather dependent, but for now we are aiming somewhere north of Florida and south of Cape Hatteras...we shall see. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In other news, Momo is for sale! More details here: http://momoforsale.blogspot.com/</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifWWUCTYO1bLK4TJktCpGcYnVkaUlyy6kk-NEUJQNB0dpNJBqyUh8888whynzPMhlZKIeJny6qxRCbcxd7bAg4baVJWD-muQEj3F9KSTtkiJDYk4OnVVg5mm4J0g6Os1WX_Q20zLnF_Ks/s1600/IMG_2616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifWWUCTYO1bLK4TJktCpGcYnVkaUlyy6kk-NEUJQNB0dpNJBqyUh8888whynzPMhlZKIeJny6qxRCbcxd7bAg4baVJWD-muQEj3F9KSTtkiJDYk4OnVVg5mm4J0g6Os1WX_Q20zLnF_Ks/s1600/IMG_2616.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a little out of character for us but we decided to live it up for two days at the Atlantis, however, on a shoe-string budget. We figured out that if we took a slip in a grungy marina in Nassau they would give us free passes to Atlantis water park and aquarium. Heck yeah!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYs-hIW83rHidjoqW_Xvk4v2VDT1MQSIUzpTtbukJcsT3WFTc8Cvj3bZs0kGYc420gRSuTHQ6P8USBlHHpxDqCXyJ4FAjm0XYSiw8PWZ3I0t5LqpOuoNG8CV9EONWvIH3YMsEsf3G44rzG/s1600/IMG_2615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYs-hIW83rHidjoqW_Xvk4v2VDT1MQSIUzpTtbukJcsT3WFTc8Cvj3bZs0kGYc420gRSuTHQ6P8USBlHHpxDqCXyJ4FAjm0XYSiw8PWZ3I0t5LqpOuoNG8CV9EONWvIH3YMsEsf3G44rzG/s1600/IMG_2615.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have had so many wonderful snorkeling adventures throughout the Bahamas but I always wish Scout could experience what we are seeing. It is probably a funny sight to see - we usually end up snorkeling with the three of us in the water reporting things we see to Scout who is in the dinghy being towed along side of us. We have also tried glass bottom buckets, glass bottom dinghies and glass containers but they just aren't the same. Scout finally got her golden opportunity! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yvEwaLF_-ADMMIkKzwKbyjWdZkN6dv87PUstOQOO4AUC2LRVlgCYmOMu4LHF1TyY1WIkrnqtUdVrf9EXDZSg0245toHrJi5AdpH-NGgsrJKYPGQP5_Oo0D8vf7bCVK-EFn-NYb6P1qpA/s1600/IMG_2526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yvEwaLF_-ADMMIkKzwKbyjWdZkN6dv87PUstOQOO4AUC2LRVlgCYmOMu4LHF1TyY1WIkrnqtUdVrf9EXDZSg0245toHrJi5AdpH-NGgsrJKYPGQP5_Oo0D8vf7bCVK-EFn-NYb6P1qpA/s1600/IMG_2526.JPG" height="308" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glass calm day and an artsy photo-op.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowRQODbphbPWksQfQlfvj0bwNIHVGdAEpdg3awXktpFqRHSUFST0G8O9eydvZofPNDxMVnt45NIPzCgeQe4_AHmIPeBfMr8Shf9DZQ6wCP0qpTbjNYiIX82xhUlZKlD_gElBvB9dXL_JI/s1600/IMG_2633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowRQODbphbPWksQfQlfvj0bwNIHVGdAEpdg3awXktpFqRHSUFST0G8O9eydvZofPNDxMVnt45NIPzCgeQe4_AHmIPeBfMr8Shf9DZQ6wCP0qpTbjNYiIX82xhUlZKlD_gElBvB9dXL_JI/s1600/IMG_2633.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not many people get to see and can claim to have caught a real sea-horse - pretty cool!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWNES0xn8Dt7jFqRTOpXioBYmFOcGTmoXEjEUw5rPj4F9Hz_ia8xL0VHVLql0NUCzGEdlGMtsZNA2fGK2usK0pBnMgWyRZx60rZOK7pq0nzk1j7ei5s8e6J73CGL8YSiUQefzRdsMTeb-/s1600/IMG_2744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWNES0xn8Dt7jFqRTOpXioBYmFOcGTmoXEjEUw5rPj4F9Hz_ia8xL0VHVLql0NUCzGEdlGMtsZNA2fGK2usK0pBnMgWyRZx60rZOK7pq0nzk1j7ei5s8e6J73CGL8YSiUQefzRdsMTeb-/s1600/IMG_2744.JPG" height="442" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the famous words of our favorite movie character, ''let's go fly a kite'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k_uHbAzDY9ESNfwhbsdJBBqui-e76655RVp94XoEnaUAK4zG6mRO-xk-IoFxLRKG04LDdBgvIYCPEGlF6ArRAqc8XPp7ShAruQY-HBLZWwyo8bsUHxGY-ozm18O4xapbGGSdJnGruH-A/s1600/IMG_8215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k_uHbAzDY9ESNfwhbsdJBBqui-e76655RVp94XoEnaUAK4zG6mRO-xk-IoFxLRKG04LDdBgvIYCPEGlF6ArRAqc8XPp7ShAruQY-HBLZWwyo8bsUHxGY-ozm18O4xapbGGSdJnGruH-A/s1600/IMG_8215.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One thing I am pretty proud of is the amount of reading this lifestyle has allowed us to do with our kids. Lucy has learned to read on this trip and is pretty self-motivated. Also, note the apple shirt and striped bathing suit under the pink panties. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqkMcN25AdFMtQbQblensHZ-vREfIBVV08Wp6PP4HtF_eTKJo8PDei0JAo1oTcGG7xgkJrNcrBsZmuUUqlGIqczDqYTd6cdt3YVNv6rvgYTsD5eBHibNr9d-UelCS182auR1PpAXvZArM/s1600/IMG_8419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqkMcN25AdFMtQbQblensHZ-vREfIBVV08Wp6PP4HtF_eTKJo8PDei0JAo1oTcGG7xgkJrNcrBsZmuUUqlGIqczDqYTd6cdt3YVNv6rvgYTsD5eBHibNr9d-UelCS182auR1PpAXvZArM/s1600/IMG_8419.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pondering things that make whales vomit. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-80341532476598734122015-03-13T04:57:00.002-07:002015-03-13T04:57:27.703-07:00Long Island, Conception Redux<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After our wonderful time in Conception we sailed back to Thompson Bay, Long Island. Once again we rented a car for a day to visit Dean's Blue Hole and a few other spots again. We explored the island with the crews from Sheila and Jaru - new friends we met in Conception. After a couple days in Thompson Bay, we sailed back to the north end of Long Island and spent a night at Hog Cay before jumping back across to Conception again. We continued our string of good luck catching fish, this time pulling in a 60" mahi that weighed 40 lbs! Having already eaten mahi for the previous 7 nights we gladly shared this fish with other boats at Conception.<br />
Our second trip to Conception proved to be just as good as our first, cementing this place as our favorite thus far. We spent lots of time swimming in the crystal clear water, exploring the surrounding reefs, and even surfing a bit when a nice swell wrapped around into the bay one afternoon. On our last full day there we were invited by some scientists to help catch sea turtles for measurement and tagging. There is a mangrove lagoon on the island that attracts tons of turtles. The catching process consisted of us chasing a turtle around the lagoon in the dinghy for about 5 minutes until it became exhausted, and then leaping out of the dinghy and literally grabbing it. It was a lot of fun - all in the name of science! Afterward we assisted with the tagging and measurements.<br />
Our departure from Conception a few days ago marked the turn-around point in our trip. Our bow is now pointed to the north as we begin to slowly make our way home. We will wind our way back through the Exumas, with visits from Jenny, Brian and Cassie, and then eventually make our way up to the Abacos for a month of exploration up there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqKg-gIAa-y3pmDUQWt4GG8tLdeU7M9KJhXz_nI4_Xm3D6bYcLSAt8gw1YMvOqrTUWwSP6fnRI7hZHgWwqHIAxuRszljBuscg_OdC9yKTRoEiQvKKN8gJ5_683XVzDhF4p2bWPDGw5Yzw/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqKg-gIAa-y3pmDUQWt4GG8tLdeU7M9KJhXz_nI4_Xm3D6bYcLSAt8gw1YMvOqrTUWwSP6fnRI7hZHgWwqHIAxuRszljBuscg_OdC9yKTRoEiQvKKN8gJ5_683XVzDhF4p2bWPDGw5Yzw/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOE6n7tNa8BiwEhYotn3E_Kfc5zvKBsDRomLoNMUpruFhentFK_GoJhLTASN9-BRRsSLbv5H4djA8HBdYI4-ojSoz9LUmYmcFaoxwKlgevmcl1jRaTa2RnL0qiO2CxUQbb9YA_hzpXfHS/s1600/IMG_2330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOE6n7tNa8BiwEhYotn3E_Kfc5zvKBsDRomLoNMUpruFhentFK_GoJhLTASN9-BRRsSLbv5H4djA8HBdYI4-ojSoz9LUmYmcFaoxwKlgevmcl1jRaTa2RnL0qiO2CxUQbb9YA_hzpXfHS/s1600/IMG_2330.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSETRvqpEz6asag1by6So9advkzAA5o_DH1QopKdoIo0LMPAgAR_-PuprwuVaZl3ayldySL6S0bC75Ng1HybUINJJmU06DGs9sB87umzn3L7fsZNF8aEaN_9pvsVPb8Cq49ST7LWMFh4eF/s1600/IMG_2360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSETRvqpEz6asag1by6So9advkzAA5o_DH1QopKdoIo0LMPAgAR_-PuprwuVaZl3ayldySL6S0bC75Ng1HybUINJJmU06DGs9sB87umzn3L7fsZNF8aEaN_9pvsVPb8Cq49ST7LWMFh4eF/s1600/IMG_2360.jpg" height="640" width="408" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRoPHc_8rmSL4ozbFFRuxUyliaLEVUnipZyhOT95F_b5HOCewgtk2hb6HrBOYh5CqENtf18cRmGmdmsZgHc2OZhqfZs1OqTUpMz9GyftGThy_Jjg_q_J7oR6PYr0STRonpTiSYiQMrtsK/s1600/IMG_2379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRoPHc_8rmSL4ozbFFRuxUyliaLEVUnipZyhOT95F_b5HOCewgtk2hb6HrBOYh5CqENtf18cRmGmdmsZgHc2OZhqfZs1OqTUpMz9GyftGThy_Jjg_q_J7oR6PYr0STRonpTiSYiQMrtsK/s1600/IMG_2379.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhNnCf1zyzTdoE7N0Gs7sVkAN_C7KSNK2w1chJMaL2WXIl8kTrs2haP_IE9vmDL5tnwR0m7GX_PYdV5iOFnOYJwFsWMWLt3bfyPVPdizpttn8dH2NLQnIaT0Q6-smoKZnXHH00IqEbrL_/s1600/IMG_2292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhNnCf1zyzTdoE7N0Gs7sVkAN_C7KSNK2w1chJMaL2WXIl8kTrs2haP_IE9vmDL5tnwR0m7GX_PYdV5iOFnOYJwFsWMWLt3bfyPVPdizpttn8dH2NLQnIaT0Q6-smoKZnXHH00IqEbrL_/s1600/IMG_2292.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9k9gqEoFQvLWrrwM2FoHXkVWOHE0A3mIqJWGGRkZV5zMsRvB58xgnVo2L_iQH7B7VFuEfwMCOG0QSeMBnebFF637TwLWsenEz4vmR7tSQVodcxZzbq8n4B6bqc6qXrXIo1loG6tdL3qIK/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9k9gqEoFQvLWrrwM2FoHXkVWOHE0A3mIqJWGGRkZV5zMsRvB58xgnVo2L_iQH7B7VFuEfwMCOG0QSeMBnebFF637TwLWsenEz4vmR7tSQVodcxZzbq8n4B6bqc6qXrXIo1loG6tdL3qIK/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That little dark spot in the middle is a sea turtle as we are in hot pursuit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kTsYISZR4h8IuUuWni_BJB8spgslWzyvyUQhQRXapPAowL9h2yKdY2LKjv8QoR87QyWR7m67zKB-kZO45Ci-G6eqDbRtbIwAZEHL_b_zOr-xvh0zkIe_AKsC5IvGsprVsntaevhAtS_u/s1600/IMG_2442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kTsYISZR4h8IuUuWni_BJB8spgslWzyvyUQhQRXapPAowL9h2yKdY2LKjv8QoR87QyWR7m67zKB-kZO45Ci-G6eqDbRtbIwAZEHL_b_zOr-xvh0zkIe_AKsC5IvGsprVsntaevhAtS_u/s1600/IMG_2442.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp01M2EQ6v523gIW2_G3gpPEmGut7OKGjXgeyZB-RvH75luqPViLbFRA9JPcs46kkYv_wHo_7p540SC6-ra5TXRfLMMMUVa6tH-uag50JDHHj1a8gL9X9vf83pX9SH4zwg9JiCOIUB1srd/s1600/IMG_2447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp01M2EQ6v523gIW2_G3gpPEmGut7OKGjXgeyZB-RvH75luqPViLbFRA9JPcs46kkYv_wHo_7p540SC6-ra5TXRfLMMMUVa6tH-uag50JDHHj1a8gL9X9vf83pX9SH4zwg9JiCOIUB1srd/s1600/IMG_2447.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-91568233737451425732015-03-03T08:38:00.000-08:002015-03-03T08:53:55.413-08:00Conception Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We got the gang back together - Sheila and Momo sailed out of Georgetown together to Conception Island, a small remote uninhabited island 15 miles north/east of Long Island. It was remote, stunningly beautiful and hard to leave. It offered pristine clear waters that begged you to drop anchor and jump in immediately, and long crescent beaches with abutting cliffs to hike along. It was with very little protection from any unsettled weather so we had to high-tail it out of there for yet another blow but we loved it so much we are already planning our return in a few days.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the weather this season has been such that one cold front follows another and we keep getting blown out of these beautiful places in search of protected harbors. Therefore, we find ourselves faced with having to give up on the Raggeds and Jamentos. However, we are happily settling on a plan to island hop around Conception, Cat and maybe Rum Cays. We shall see...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM_QRjkTqq7EjLoKlA8lXdABBS5XJDHDPOtZB4ydbfU_nhTZydmKTBVt2Yx81q9WVQd0PaXtdmEGpMSaJqiSkeXASUD01bzN-T0hrL43lYLTF8ta5DCpbSrdl2Gc4JIc9r08JyWPRIhso/s1600/IMG_2144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM_QRjkTqq7EjLoKlA8lXdABBS5XJDHDPOtZB4ydbfU_nhTZydmKTBVt2Yx81q9WVQd0PaXtdmEGpMSaJqiSkeXASUD01bzN-T0hrL43lYLTF8ta5DCpbSrdl2Gc4JIc9r08JyWPRIhso/s1600/IMG_2144.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">51 Inch Mahi-Mahi!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGBuReWj6ghGFIE1oRDKzUvcgrECoankinQT0iRXs7dmIdmDP0gvMTKuOsLewKGRcHwzR59waIH2oFgR_VGrlJI9I2QHeD0u-_d7EFfOWwpiCCSe17Ir-q-sNyPpHHd6AMBJVHDqgYLOL/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGBuReWj6ghGFIE1oRDKzUvcgrECoankinQT0iRXs7dmIdmDP0gvMTKuOsLewKGRcHwzR59waIH2oFgR_VGrlJI9I2QHeD0u-_d7EFfOWwpiCCSe17Ir-q-sNyPpHHd6AMBJVHDqgYLOL/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" height="146" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conception - The gang is perched on the cliff in the middle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFVcNFqK8vP_fq4PRGF8dkJRXs7mrCRBuZo6LmSEGsfLCA9Sx8dct9hYztuoKXO8PEKcxmo6bJbczrY8QDhTGQwUReg5XHPbgxDjGo7YQHcr40F-rRNhiksKVf5Y0uywlsbV5ygjVEv_0/s1600/IMG_2238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFVcNFqK8vP_fq4PRGF8dkJRXs7mrCRBuZo6LmSEGsfLCA9Sx8dct9hYztuoKXO8PEKcxmo6bJbczrY8QDhTGQwUReg5XHPbgxDjGo7YQHcr40F-rRNhiksKVf5Y0uywlsbV5ygjVEv_0/s1600/IMG_2238.JPG" height="180" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sail to Thompson Bay. Clearly, I just discovered this pano feature on the phone and love it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-60412420563763285222015-03-03T08:12:00.002-08:002015-03-03T08:54:08.833-08:00Scout's 3rd Bday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Third Birthday Scout!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thompson Bay, Long Island, Bahamas</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
March 2nd, 2015</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7Urcr_tOQAJIHHQYb4s57fj_pDInYt0ipFS5yAilVHDfHuZ77zzHkRbhsVrf9GlwJHFOiQjunNm1wNkuugHluGULwgq18PaWqTj5LW_bKiRrPhYrxxgS90Md4JXtpJ4jDcTF-y1e5QK-/s1600/IMG_8186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7Urcr_tOQAJIHHQYb4s57fj_pDInYt0ipFS5yAilVHDfHuZ77zzHkRbhsVrf9GlwJHFOiQjunNm1wNkuugHluGULwgq18PaWqTj5LW_bKiRrPhYrxxgS90Md4JXtpJ4jDcTF-y1e5QK-/s1600/IMG_8186.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scout, sporting a bruise on her cheek and her new can of play-doh. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBj4lrKOkRsTCZp6xVnUpYlSEFwrvYAbpymZduVQe7MN06GhTsAGFynv5EtVdXb01MskwmKizacmN-xCsf9bPr23M8b-5SI7YsLwRrVaymvzqBcucBdUaAO7XbkZTkrmyvZUGQq4Zbv9Vh/s1600/IMG_2257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBj4lrKOkRsTCZp6xVnUpYlSEFwrvYAbpymZduVQe7MN06GhTsAGFynv5EtVdXb01MskwmKizacmN-xCsf9bPr23M8b-5SI7YsLwRrVaymvzqBcucBdUaAO7XbkZTkrmyvZUGQq4Zbv9Vh/s1600/IMG_2257.JPG" height="144" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday party on the beach with fellow cruiser families - not too shabby for impromptu!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaqIUqoYR76KaDnGmt_CP840MAEdNCWxyLBopyddzUFctImlVznXgZ8gvTJGi-w4mOcSRJER5LQPyFltSVN96wMXOJ4u5lcWCCSLZzTnczZrHP759rXjWN9EeWEZErS2fCMb8vIi2E8cI/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaqIUqoYR76KaDnGmt_CP840MAEdNCWxyLBopyddzUFctImlVznXgZ8gvTJGi-w4mOcSRJER5LQPyFltSVN96wMXOJ4u5lcWCCSLZzTnczZrHP759rXjWN9EeWEZErS2fCMb8vIi2E8cI/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love seeing all these kids out here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-16016760877406352842015-02-16T10:52:00.001-08:002015-02-16T10:52:06.374-08:00VisitorsWe are having an amazing time with Marmie and Di-dad (Ted's parents)!!! We sailed again to Lee Stocking Island the day after they arrived and spent a few days exploring. Then, yesterday we tucked into Rat Cay with the intention of exploring the blow hole and tidal pools but when the surge was more than expected and the forcasted winds <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">increased for the evening we decided to push on - back to Georgetown. We had a beautiful sail but unfortunately no fish. Tomorrow we will join some other cruisers for some beach trash pick-up and more island exploration. We are so glad they made the last minute decision to join us. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AUVcik3bhWtAI-97h6Qtb4j40iONOlJwl5BBxamdLfPqUiTgOsO-JfNsZNYHWFnJZ4Rbn4AiB1KhwTK97jD4ItPAiwba3-f1p6aVaqGun09Slq8wzIJbMwe3ddFk6bJfPqcSUeF4GFUT/s640/blogger-image--196665350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AUVcik3bhWtAI-97h6Qtb4j40iONOlJwl5BBxamdLfPqUiTgOsO-JfNsZNYHWFnJZ4Rbn4AiB1KhwTK97jD4ItPAiwba3-f1p6aVaqGun09Slq8wzIJbMwe3ddFk6bJfPqcSUeF4GFUT/s640/blogger-image--196665350.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMZSzN6BTeMNyUtcGW9mvV6TkP1l3qPEMfQTyw8qEmUn-iuO83qCC5r5fiXdFYYwOcqvAiNdpcxBKjsoW04o3q5yMM2Pg3crS6RiAkcVjWbsMbG5Lduu6JRF5PkA7649gwnllczJSbNil/s640/blogger-image--475316406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMZSzN6BTeMNyUtcGW9mvV6TkP1l3qPEMfQTyw8qEmUn-iuO83qCC5r5fiXdFYYwOcqvAiNdpcxBKjsoW04o3q5yMM2Pg3crS6RiAkcVjWbsMbG5Lduu6JRF5PkA7649gwnllczJSbNil/s640/blogger-image--475316406.jpg"></a></div></span>Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-15758980149783948112015-02-09T17:16:00.001-08:002015-02-09T17:16:41.494-08:00Long Island back to Georgetown.We had a great sail downwind in 20knots of wind and beautiful skies. We traveled with 14 other boats, all escaping the upcoming weather. We picked a protected and therefore popular spot to drop the hook. Lucy counted the number of boats in our anchorage throughout today. We started with 21 boats at 7am and ended with 53 this evening - I suspect more will come tomorrow morning. <div>Below, Scout (with Lucy) is belting out the lyrics to Rod Stewart and laughing, "where the ocean meets the sky I'll be sailing...whoohoo"<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqz3buZF8IaUk-nGYBhPJ9haE_hP_v0XepdcAb6eQjDJ4HrA7lHoDozJ6gbl1iyGadQkDJ8FbBDjrzMWZ2j702bpUvH3nl9lrSb_fdx2yZp2XM1C_swbTOhfP89AwWWm96xbUaXKc77vds/s640/blogger-image-552571715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqz3buZF8IaUk-nGYBhPJ9haE_hP_v0XepdcAb6eQjDJ4HrA7lHoDozJ6gbl1iyGadQkDJ8FbBDjrzMWZ2j702bpUvH3nl9lrSb_fdx2yZp2XM1C_swbTOhfP89AwWWm96xbUaXKc77vds/s640/blogger-image-552571715.jpg"></a></div></div>Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-33131715189486818892015-02-07T10:08:00.001-08:002015-02-07T10:10:20.317-08:00Southern Exumas and Long Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is hard to believe it has been 5 weeks since our last blog post! I am not even sure where to begin, there have been far too many highlights to capture...we are currently in Long Island (Thompson Bay) where we have been for most of the past week. The previous month or so has been spent in the southern Exumas. We reunited with sv Sheila and other friends and have spent time mostly in the Lee Stocking Cay area, or in Georgetown. Georgetown is great from a provisions standpoint (excellent groceries, supplies, etc), has very nice beaches and an incredible surfing wave, but is crowded with cruisers (usually 200+ boats!). While this creates a nice community, it also feels overwhelming after a few days. We have managed to find some great places to travel to from Georgetown where we can find the peace and tranquility (and awesome fishing) we have come to enjoy in so many other parts of the Exumas. On two occasions we have spent a week at Lee Stocking where an abandoned marine research facility makes for a slightly eery, but mostly fun backdrop for inland exploration, hiking, countless beautiful and empty beaches and phenomenal underwater life. When there we eat lobster until we no longer desire it, and laugh about how easy it would be to film a zombie movie in the falling-down buildings, dusty hyperbaric chamber, and countless sheds of dirty and rusty old parts. Like our other favorite Exuma stop, Normans Cay, Lee Stocking is in the process of a planned facelift with the end result being a major marina complex. We feel lucky to be able to explore this place before shovels meet dirt, and plan on returning there at least one more time before we leave the area. It pains us to think about what this paradise might become in a few years.<br />
This past week in Long Island has been a lot of fun as well. After spending a night near the northern cape Santa Maria, we have been based in Thompson bay. Two days ago we rented a car and drove almost the entire length of the island which is 81 miles long. We stopped at some neat spots, our favorite being Dean's Blue Hole. This is the deepest blue hole in the world, dropping 663 feet down and the location of the world records for free-diving. We had a lot of fun swimming in and around it.<br />
Tomorrow we head back to Georgetown once again to restock and pick up Marmie and Di-dad who are flying in for a week. The girls could not be more excited and the current plan is to head back up to Lee Stocking on Thursday, weather dependent. We hope it won't be another 5 weeks before we write another post!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWx17CpxfjVrd5FRxA0B8OHXGz87dA8dkCz3OImXMpZ3R2DG4VvNYtZ2Tvvp1ma3iJ6smZtgDQA8tCOaGpJybl3b281GPTAM-sCn9uOEP872-RufXeHOcQp3xVhtbz_RN0nZCjT1SANwaq/s1600/IMG_1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWx17CpxfjVrd5FRxA0B8OHXGz87dA8dkCz3OImXMpZ3R2DG4VvNYtZ2Tvvp1ma3iJ6smZtgDQA8tCOaGpJybl3b281GPTAM-sCn9uOEP872-RufXeHOcQp3xVhtbz_RN0nZCjT1SANwaq/s1600/IMG_1600.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDp4qKJ0W9lqroUF_E_Kax8UgKJpH08Q7k_-MrNVsU9e_QNzTb4uX5ngiqvq1hULA8J9lOvlbA5eUFZXbfwNr2dVIy-7bBd43IvVGQVh46b8pJCtHGM4t6Fs79RmHqigOVgobFro6oLsoS/s1600/IMG_1621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDp4qKJ0W9lqroUF_E_Kax8UgKJpH08Q7k_-MrNVsU9e_QNzTb4uX5ngiqvq1hULA8J9lOvlbA5eUFZXbfwNr2dVIy-7bBd43IvVGQVh46b8pJCtHGM4t6Fs79RmHqigOVgobFro6oLsoS/s1600/IMG_1621.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTO9c2cx4uZ2n3WWIy2aP3rx4OyBa4x6O5ov8SizHdM9n1BTzOSLuUpfoxLhD-VpM8Uf8wXkiHND-34jwxpYgclKjej92iDHtK1mx_TawNGbntxHM0y6lhj82ig35Eb_VmyJY0KzoLNn6-/s1600/IMG_1640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTO9c2cx4uZ2n3WWIy2aP3rx4OyBa4x6O5ov8SizHdM9n1BTzOSLuUpfoxLhD-VpM8Uf8wXkiHND-34jwxpYgclKjej92iDHtK1mx_TawNGbntxHM0y6lhj82ig35Eb_VmyJY0KzoLNn6-/s1600/IMG_1640.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of Perry's Peak on Lee Stocking<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rqa7rku8Z9wjX_TcguJ9_nUGd5dZL5M1njHMIMt2-nIwYFANTPASes32iM4VNy8f_LpkONYvdmvyE4v9V3ekBQiReKpS4Y_7ZdUQQquAB1ac7mYIAEy0dIoc-6Ded4fmrOk6IctvEsgk/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rqa7rku8Z9wjX_TcguJ9_nUGd5dZL5M1njHMIMt2-nIwYFANTPASes32iM4VNy8f_LpkONYvdmvyE4v9V3ekBQiReKpS4Y_7ZdUQQquAB1ac7mYIAEy0dIoc-6Ded4fmrOk6IctvEsgk/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8s91Q2GMU3pf6gjvzMKVhbYfJJGPcp_FlQ0YRTi-boK65MlwOFObI2sZhENaByTpHMWgVuLMHTCtb6828DtBBeoBwIJbZn5OkVq-Qn5QnRxlPIxH2s-leVo3pUVU8N9G25VIFeUfYunl/s1600/IMG_1666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8s91Q2GMU3pf6gjvzMKVhbYfJJGPcp_FlQ0YRTi-boK65MlwOFObI2sZhENaByTpHMWgVuLMHTCtb6828DtBBeoBwIJbZn5OkVq-Qn5QnRxlPIxH2s-leVo3pUVU8N9G25VIFeUfYunl/s1600/IMG_1666.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pretty much sums up Scouty. Tutu and her Apple Shirt sticking out of her wetsuit. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kcXm6GMAgT26cSHqUsl7B7i-9DGYKh3Oi2bgW1eyDp-QOxwsnxQkwfZin3SyTbRZJsY-xWgrOu8szEdzxxS3F_qIITeJhF_WXX_8AOLUfddglhZrHxu5_RleJIZ43FV9rD-kNgXLDpG_/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kcXm6GMAgT26cSHqUsl7B7i-9DGYKh3Oi2bgW1eyDp-QOxwsnxQkwfZin3SyTbRZJsY-xWgrOu8szEdzxxS3F_qIITeJhF_WXX_8AOLUfddglhZrHxu5_RleJIZ43FV9rD-kNgXLDpG_/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All she wanted for Christmas was strawberry ice cream. We finally fulfilled the wish when we arrived in Georgetown.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkpjXAMlDMxQuBUg2LitUoZnJhmWjJT2HEs3Q3KTARz8_Gxv-1TLeBNJtzGSCU8XGr_ZjgAUCSQF_scGqmorVBpToWvCB8UovH-l4U8DnOTpAlo6qvRiphxmi7KsjCtbHAmski-uHCtYK/s1600/IMG_7997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkpjXAMlDMxQuBUg2LitUoZnJhmWjJT2HEs3Q3KTARz8_Gxv-1TLeBNJtzGSCU8XGr_ZjgAUCSQF_scGqmorVBpToWvCB8UovH-l4U8DnOTpAlo6qvRiphxmi7KsjCtbHAmski-uHCtYK/s1600/IMG_7997.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCNqyXD7BlsQ6zehyeU1A7lWcDBLDQ94phAyFdIEuGHXG1QN-y4hFsYA9Vjn_qkg76TZ4OjtQA0k5HsNmAqB8_jCrR_SH411maAQdEPmft25SsyXMgg1Ywz0BN-I6z4wKrPVJJg_Dw1aJ/s1600/IMG_1843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCNqyXD7BlsQ6zehyeU1A7lWcDBLDQ94phAyFdIEuGHXG1QN-y4hFsYA9Vjn_qkg76TZ4OjtQA0k5HsNmAqB8_jCrR_SH411maAQdEPmft25SsyXMgg1Ywz0BN-I6z4wKrPVJJg_Dw1aJ/s1600/IMG_1843.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrM03JsVJyMQkkuO67aorJqBk1SMH4WNbqFIIQZj5M58ub6lk8jUzlbYjBp8gABEYxD6hzskX_kMCNj-u78H2-kXwODnBKfJmLzCmEtmD4bfj8fmo5-Fi6oGpL66moeqSPYfTcWPiJS36_/s1600/IMG_1919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrM03JsVJyMQkkuO67aorJqBk1SMH4WNbqFIIQZj5M58ub6lk8jUzlbYjBp8gABEYxD6hzskX_kMCNj-u78H2-kXwODnBKfJmLzCmEtmD4bfj8fmo5-Fi6oGpL66moeqSPYfTcWPiJS36_/s1600/IMG_1919.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dean's Blue Hole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-23653445098803050862015-01-03T05:02:00.001-08:002015-01-03T05:03:50.014-08:00Catching Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
The past couple of weeks have been wonderful. We hosted
Amie’s parents, Marmar and Farfar for 10 days over the holidays, and we had a
blast. The girls were so happy to have their grandparents, and Marmar and
Farfar were such great guests. We picked them up from Norman’s Cay on the 22<sup>nd</sup>,
and they brought over 50 lbs of food! They also managed to pack a ton of
Santa’s presents into their bags and spoiled us rotten. We stayed in Norman’s
through Christmas with a bunch of our friends on other boats. In the afternoon
of the 25<sup>th</sup> we all gathered at a beautiful beach for a potluck. It
was definitely a different Christmas, but an incredible one as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the 26<sup>th</sup> we headed down to Hawksbill Cay with
s/v Sheila. After setting the hook before lunch, we spent the afternoon
exploring the reefs on the south side. Hawksbill is inside the Land and Sea
Park, so no fishing. On the 27<sup>th</sup> we continued on down to Staniel Cay
for some provisioning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We explored
Thunderball Grotto with Marmar and Farfar on the 28<sup>th</sup>, and then
sailed about 10 miles south to another settlement, Black Point. Black Point is
the second largest settlement in the Exumas, but that is not saying much – its
year round inhabitants probably do not count more than 300. We found its
reputation as a great place for cruisers to be absolutely true. The Islanders
are incredibly friendly, and supplies are reasonably priced. The infamous
breads baked by Lorraine’s mother were superb!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the 29<sup>th</sup> we sailed a bit further south to
Jack’s Bay and spent the 30<sup>th</sup> even further south at Oven Rock. Both
offered us solitude and beautiful beaches to explore. Oven Rock also boasts a
cool cave that we hiked to, and we managed to spear one lobster and a bunch of
lionfish. On the 31<sup>st</sup> we sailed north again back to Staniel to
prepare for Marmar and Farfar’s departure the next morning. Staniel was crowded
with megayachts and we chose to stay on the boat for a quiet night to ring in
the New Year. Everyone on board was asleep well before midnight. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The girls both wailed (literally…passersby were concerned)
for half an hour after Marmar and Farfar’s plane disappeared into the clouds.
We had such fun with them. We returned to Momo and did some organizing before
pulling anchor to head south again to Black Point. We knew there was a cruising
regatta going on that day at Staniel but neither Amie nor I was too excited to
race as we were still wrapped up in the sadness of saying goodbye to Marmar and
Farfar. However, our course to Black Point took us right by the committee boat,
and at the last moment we veered course to ask when the start was. “The
sequence starts in 10 minutes….please join us!” they shouted back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this trip has taught us anything, it has
shown us that sometimes incredible experiences happen when you least expect
them. “Ok, we are in!” we replied. Our dinghy was still towing behind Momo so
we frantically stowed in on deck and made preparations below for the race. The
race committee was gracious enough to delay the starting sequence a few minutes
and we just barely had our act together when the gun went off. We managed a
decent start and by the second buoy had worked our way into the lead, but as
the race went on we were gradually passed by faster boats. We crossed the line
6<sup>th</sup> out of 17, which felt pretty good considering we entered at the
last minute, were the only boat with kids, and one of 2 that was crewed by just
a couple.. It turned out this was the 40<sup>th</sup> Anniversary Regatta,
which is a big deal on Staniel. The locals put on a big sit-down dinner, and
because we raced, we were invited for free. The food was delicious but nothing
compared to the charm and graciousness of the local people and the community.
The entire day was one of our highlights of the trip so far, and we are so glad
we changed our plans and decided to participate. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>605</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3452</o:Characters>
<o:Company>AES</o:Company>
<o:Lines>28</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4049</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This morning we fulfilled our plans to make it to Black
Point, and it turns out everyone else did as well. When we arrived at 0930
there were 20 boats here. The sun is now setting and we just counted over 50. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFqtdbhs71_r8KQBYi-FXFAaXNq_1f1J8YCCcDLW3jGLABR4pi8UUD23wL3VUId49_jCkwksnoYEeh7UmvPP0R8jjzLRjxMVT353oI6BRfxZA7z_3dgqcgj1uWSeOl9UtK-1C1xD4ombO/s1600/Finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFqtdbhs71_r8KQBYi-FXFAaXNq_1f1J8YCCcDLW3jGLABR4pi8UUD23wL3VUId49_jCkwksnoYEeh7UmvPP0R8jjzLRjxMVT353oI6BRfxZA7z_3dgqcgj1uWSeOl9UtK-1C1xD4ombO/s1600/Finish.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momo crossing the finish line</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ05jF3iOKtyyeF72eFH_YjCVkrKiSIHp2-9yJOp9HZXhGvrtBJ8LnDLgWbxn58yLyVzePH-eWkzaPPsjxFJOuZUp1scYLsVcmm4kw0Updct8oblfCyK1CPcBnmaKm37gN2gKmFSdzN6Un/s1600/IMG_7881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ05jF3iOKtyyeF72eFH_YjCVkrKiSIHp2-9yJOp9HZXhGvrtBJ8LnDLgWbxn58yLyVzePH-eWkzaPPsjxFJOuZUp1scYLsVcmm4kw0Updct8oblfCyK1CPcBnmaKm37gN2gKmFSdzN6Un/s1600/IMG_7881.jpg" height="640" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa brought the girls wetsuits.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSEUAp1zBv8FGs4tYvhU7ew2NgnyK2Gn4gXsfeKlo1CRuwD3JqJNL2nuHORaa6FYCBpwIO2BFBzIQ3S6COaSd-fsRzuCvb9BW7jF8bP4_fay0-qdhhjmGtxa6Tllxc9Qm3W0ObZa6mcnh/s1600/IMG_7916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSEUAp1zBv8FGs4tYvhU7ew2NgnyK2Gn4gXsfeKlo1CRuwD3JqJNL2nuHORaa6FYCBpwIO2BFBzIQ3S6COaSd-fsRzuCvb9BW7jF8bP4_fay0-qdhhjmGtxa6Tllxc9Qm3W0ObZa6mcnh/s1600/IMG_7916.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6Nt92AtRVI-UHdU3NiKHnwqxraa4oBIGCkRrA-ALTbkYEMgV4DFShpWuh2vzs7Yd08WGUrs9bFkWk_fH4ihPP3wtVvRpGXJStW1sbeqJ4OVFbl2qoaosrTnOKP417-Lpx6LQ3Ee0RUef/s1600/IMG_7939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6Nt92AtRVI-UHdU3NiKHnwqxraa4oBIGCkRrA-ALTbkYEMgV4DFShpWuh2vzs7Yd08WGUrs9bFkWk_fH4ihPP3wtVvRpGXJStW1sbeqJ4OVFbl2qoaosrTnOKP417-Lpx6LQ3Ee0RUef/s1600/IMG_7939.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scouty showing off her muscles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oaTDnSVsRdJ8aaYhUkXQprMWoZ3ZWXILk63zpbehdfPpEIqy_3eW-kb_fgM9kKP8kjTEjJFELnFYD99uLuTRuT4kseWVYgWHuL-FKAdrwfpcULky0_dQcyk7eojSm8JRRaPCakuImngy/s1600/IMG_7962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oaTDnSVsRdJ8aaYhUkXQprMWoZ3ZWXILk63zpbehdfPpEIqy_3eW-kb_fgM9kKP8kjTEjJFELnFYD99uLuTRuT4kseWVYgWHuL-FKAdrwfpcULky0_dQcyk7eojSm8JRRaPCakuImngy/s1600/IMG_7962.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marmar in glassy conditions on the bank.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-56046284942808807612014-12-17T19:15:00.000-08:002014-12-17T19:15:08.317-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The past 10 days in the Exumas have been truly amazing. We have had very spotty internet and although we have written a few updates, we have not had enough of a connection to post, until tonight. They all seem somewhat outdated so we will attempt to hit some highlights and put up some pictures. <div>
We (and s/v Sheila) sailed across Yellow Bank to Allan's Cay the day after we cleared customs and immigration in Nassau. We had a wild night as a front came through with gusts to 40 and boats swinging all over the place in the anchorage. We had to keep an anchor watch through the night, so Amie and I were exhausted the next day. We spent 2 days exploring Allan's beaches and reefs, as well as quite a bit of time playing with the resident iguana population. We then sailed south to Norman's Cay. We spent another couple of days exploring this area, where we found the beaches and sea life to be incredible. Actually incredible does not do it justice. We were completely blown away by the natural beauty. The water colors simply can't be adequately described. The beaches are empty and overwhelmingly beautiful. We giggle and feel so fortunate. On our second day there Ted speared 6 lobster, the biggest of which was 44 inches from tail to antenna tip. Our friends on Sheila added 2 more lobster and together with a bunch of Conch collected by new friends on s/v Charlotte, we had a big bbq on a spectacular little beach. It was wonderful.</div>
<div>
We then sailed a bit further to Shroud Cay. Here we giggled some more, gasped at the beauty of it all and explored more uninhabited paradise. Yesterday morning we sailed a bit further south to Warderick Wells. This meant we entered the 22 mile long Exuma Land and Sea Park. The bad news is that means no fishing, but the good news is that means more lively and healthy reefs because there is no fishing. We went on a nice hike to see some blow holes and then did some beach going and snorkeling in the afternoon. Again, absolutely beautiful. Today we sailed a bit further to Staniel Cay and reentered civilization, sort of. We got a few groceries at the small one room grocery store, and then went to sea the famous swimming pigs. We have managed to sail onto and off of our anchor most of the time, and at one point we had not turned the engine on in 5 days. SO MUCH better than the ICW!!!</div>
<div>
There have been so many moments and experiences over this past week that simply can't be captured in words. At least by my words. It felt like it took a long time to get here. Not just the past 2 months of sailing, but the past years of planning and a decade of dreaming. This past week has finally started to make sense of all of that. Ah-hah...this is why we did it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUF93siYjONhTeDAiiXdekIf80hCR7k0NkPuCwa3_uCTcamsQteGkIf5UB9NOakwBgtF-dWbxLakBmCemAYQVphhgl3a4iCdLyCIPLsgbp4iFGtN02svCbmhvDEfx77LwumHKAKxLrSJtu/s1600/IMG_1423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUF93siYjONhTeDAiiXdekIf80hCR7k0NkPuCwa3_uCTcamsQteGkIf5UB9NOakwBgtF-dWbxLakBmCemAYQVphhgl3a4iCdLyCIPLsgbp4iFGtN02svCbmhvDEfx77LwumHKAKxLrSJtu/s1600/IMG_1423.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2aA2tTMv3Em2Le-MK2iI70Aqo3eQ-5Y_hSc2Xbap-v8wcWrwkaPMVMQATFbb2swTzrq9UGVDaeUFW2I4OhkU5EbP3f5Wf-VRRHYGW4D1YuJxMjZR2HeVhM2f8Vqc2f9KpxyEY2tpmfvj/s1600/IMG_1475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2aA2tTMv3Em2Le-MK2iI70Aqo3eQ-5Y_hSc2Xbap-v8wcWrwkaPMVMQATFbb2swTzrq9UGVDaeUFW2I4OhkU5EbP3f5Wf-VRRHYGW4D1YuJxMjZR2HeVhM2f8Vqc2f9KpxyEY2tpmfvj/s1600/IMG_1475.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouXtWrTn__bgK6-ZbkQk15hpISBxOfmGC3Ky16SFNzHRVZUqT4AQ8mcDQk6838Fe12AkmOdRQOaI-lFbAreE0bnE5qD5uw34nHOBtSh-kF32ynebGZLbtPLVfPM849ywYhSA1rEio6z8c/s1600/IMG_1497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouXtWrTn__bgK6-ZbkQk15hpISBxOfmGC3Ky16SFNzHRVZUqT4AQ8mcDQk6838Fe12AkmOdRQOaI-lFbAreE0bnE5qD5uw34nHOBtSh-kF32ynebGZLbtPLVfPM849ywYhSA1rEio6z8c/s1600/IMG_1497.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpeBQgdMVgeWWwqC1TMbT_dmeuMRSsvQbJSnx2ZREH7Fjv1Sgk8VDsuXTLUAAV0BYJDZju5W1QILIZVPyAOUEQYi0ucwbUuG-Wyl0iTJjPHudfSOPUIfRJoC0qmKNI5HDARBMEL4-6qnB/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpeBQgdMVgeWWwqC1TMbT_dmeuMRSsvQbJSnx2ZREH7Fjv1Sgk8VDsuXTLUAAV0BYJDZju5W1QILIZVPyAOUEQYi0ucwbUuG-Wyl0iTJjPHudfSOPUIfRJoC0qmKNI5HDARBMEL4-6qnB/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUmGRtGqWXDd25Jk0K9wq8l_GnmgmVtPfomJpj6J74e7iS-pAl5MdJg18EpdP6Dz9lBmt0TRtX_Hqn4rbgq-Rz1CvmCPNf6tmeGq1L22sVSFv9Gn5W5YVxcv2YZZyB7hvKWShbaVHAmcM/s1600/IMG_1522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUmGRtGqWXDd25Jk0K9wq8l_GnmgmVtPfomJpj6J74e7iS-pAl5MdJg18EpdP6Dz9lBmt0TRtX_Hqn4rbgq-Rz1CvmCPNf6tmeGq1L22sVSFv9Gn5W5YVxcv2YZZyB7hvKWShbaVHAmcM/s1600/IMG_1522.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiufkpkGJVLGJXFEvf1Kw3Kbb849eB2xu7OVqTBuYFhUA-E0Qn9VLyW9bd4ASOTi1ccXeJHSXgTE7Tmugyo1W3XUvFyg3l1RlBjkTGOMOGwo9qtX3GsXmoNVlCNAEIRduLC-AIa7nRSPZC/s1600/IMG_1531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiufkpkGJVLGJXFEvf1Kw3Kbb849eB2xu7OVqTBuYFhUA-E0Qn9VLyW9bd4ASOTi1ccXeJHSXgTE7Tmugyo1W3XUvFyg3l1RlBjkTGOMOGwo9qtX3GsXmoNVlCNAEIRduLC-AIa7nRSPZC/s1600/IMG_1531.jpg" height="640" width="558" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HQledkER8hT-xxCdLLkZKPyQew28SoBQLQb_VMB8sSHiDrDmPJRq_CeuVs8bniPv252R0EfWzFtDe2aFA9327f-5gY33vpurv3oDCk3Xx7FEvl1Jb4DCgAWBRPN6fKtQ_My7-UFZGVOn/s1600/P1040300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HQledkER8hT-xxCdLLkZKPyQew28SoBQLQb_VMB8sSHiDrDmPJRq_CeuVs8bniPv252R0EfWzFtDe2aFA9327f-5gY33vpurv3oDCk3Xx7FEvl1Jb4DCgAWBRPN6fKtQ_My7-UFZGVOn/s1600/P1040300.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bnmLn1fxzVifafSJIRcU0wRML0eAHAZOTQXNrJJ487jVM6ElxUCTICmfgulk2Co0nr2zY2msysQY3_ZPeZjCwJMSr5UI5TwexkVlfY6pA8yxPwJ-igYhhvY_WhkAZ2CeIVgiuBwNTRxk/s1600/IMG_7746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bnmLn1fxzVifafSJIRcU0wRML0eAHAZOTQXNrJJ487jVM6ElxUCTICmfgulk2Co0nr2zY2msysQY3_ZPeZjCwJMSr5UI5TwexkVlfY6pA8yxPwJ-igYhhvY_WhkAZ2CeIVgiuBwNTRxk/s1600/IMG_7746.JPG" height="500" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXonCuwOsK1tq4z2ZOesp-O7VYG0zuQpP-zxTrVqmUYHukhtHllnDQHdbj6ckNtbyhltU4NOtIibHntxqLQXXjDjD-5_NZbjLMwFe_idskRfYnSd5k2xxCf9fJJTf2gfj7Vd1T160J-2DH/s1600/IMG_7721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXonCuwOsK1tq4z2ZOesp-O7VYG0zuQpP-zxTrVqmUYHukhtHllnDQHdbj6ckNtbyhltU4NOtIibHntxqLQXXjDjD-5_NZbjLMwFe_idskRfYnSd5k2xxCf9fJJTf2gfj7Vd1T160J-2DH/s1600/IMG_7721.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZskcAd2X7gW8UBqNy6y9imSrM4hc9gy0nMItTMq9AXnEWT8AaXFjApnv5kopKPCnyw-V7e6xXtEr9XlPifagQgyJ9ad4_MNmZfStoUWKmTOnoiyodqwzX5RktN3jNVmjJgc5Iclx_bNd9/s1600/IMG_7694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZskcAd2X7gW8UBqNy6y9imSrM4hc9gy0nMItTMq9AXnEWT8AaXFjApnv5kopKPCnyw-V7e6xXtEr9XlPifagQgyJ9ad4_MNmZfStoUWKmTOnoiyodqwzX5RktN3jNVmjJgc5Iclx_bNd9/s1600/IMG_7694.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdGq5xVJnKtGxqSoCTm_DRDGnCHfwOrv-4lm95OFUWWY6i55brIF90Rh1NqwAgZkhyodigT7clNYfLHTAicJbLHsnNN_I6vN7TwG7TM85bfbplj0S6Xy20Aoa-W-edVx2bxCGZScUNxhU/s1600/IMG_3089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdGq5xVJnKtGxqSoCTm_DRDGnCHfwOrv-4lm95OFUWWY6i55brIF90Rh1NqwAgZkhyodigT7clNYfLHTAicJbLHsnNN_I6vN7TwG7TM85bfbplj0S6Xy20Aoa-W-edVx2bxCGZScUNxhU/s1600/IMG_3089.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-82362033655226547522014-12-08T16:23:00.000-08:002014-12-08T16:23:47.351-08:00Nassau<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We had a great 32 hour crossing to Nassau with s/v Sheila. We pulled anchor in Miami at 0800 yesterday and had 10-15 knot northerly winds to cross the Gulf Stream. Things got a little bit exciting as we crossed the middle of the stream, but Momo rode everything well and carried us along at better than 7 knots. We reached the Grand Bahama Bank just after 1600 and had somewhat rough conditions with fairly big waves going over shallow water. After we were about 10 miles onto the bank things smoothed out considerably. We had a nearly-full moon and despite the wind building a bit before midnight, we did all we could to slow the boats down to 4 knots so that we would not reach the far side of the bank before daylight. After midnight things calmed again, although a front passed over around 0300 which brought increased wind again briefly. By daylight the wind had subsided once again and we had a smooth transition over the Northwest channel and onto the Tongue of the Ocean. It was a beautiful day today and we motor-sailed the last 50 miles to Nassau, reaching the harbor at 1500. Customs and immigration went smoothly and after an early dinner we are all off to bed. Pictures to come soon. </div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-3802665444434809922014-12-06T17:34:00.000-08:002014-12-06T17:34:56.570-08:00Miami<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We had a great sail from Fort Lauderdale to Miami today. The wind was around 10 kts on the beam and the water was clear and beautiful. We managed to catch two fish. We threw the tuna back because it was tiny, but we kept the mahi-mahi which fed both the crews of Momo and Shiela tonight for dinner. It was delicious.<br />
We are planning on crossing to the Bahamas tomorrow unless the forecast changes overnight. Once we get there we are unsure of our internet capabilities, but it is likely our posts will be more infrequent. We will be sure to check in when we get a chance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJBBmO4Lt7IwhlLLzI905uljSBZh7gJbI4fZVj7tZ0_uIVCNh2f_tw_0ZN048yaZxSSF0VaMv5INl3gWNcIhXYPxM3urySqIbLLXBhJfpwyPUy6fnPeLjVvlOUezWm_wX7KSWxJOCA0Fw/s1600/IMG_1408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJBBmO4Lt7IwhlLLzI905uljSBZh7gJbI4fZVj7tZ0_uIVCNh2f_tw_0ZN048yaZxSSF0VaMv5INl3gWNcIhXYPxM3urySqIbLLXBhJfpwyPUy6fnPeLjVvlOUezWm_wX7KSWxJOCA0Fw/s1600/IMG_1408.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLiEPY_uuj4m5m0KE_xqAmvlSfp1u1Y26vwNgrOfjsJWaNp30IsY6yFAijDT89mG6pxcCLjoUhZcqdjg2uqZ4phLS_vawpEGSTLgo0Pg09wOCE6idAgP_JtrWY4wniZ54V5OaQH1pcEWZ/s1600/IMG_1414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLiEPY_uuj4m5m0KE_xqAmvlSfp1u1Y26vwNgrOfjsJWaNp30IsY6yFAijDT89mG6pxcCLjoUhZcqdjg2uqZ4phLS_vawpEGSTLgo0Pg09wOCE6idAgP_JtrWY4wniZ54V5OaQH1pcEWZ/s1600/IMG_1414.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUrRjVf3Ss27u3b1h2N1LNwWX50Z5EVQerBje9OPMv8-N8EQaDm18kzozB3_clmBBdgMukvSK_uVV1Wp6TJjDYNmCOes4a6a5hSO8pO16_l62Rros-PbTQClUljR8yScN_-fEL_XKJlTz/s1600/IMG_1415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUrRjVf3Ss27u3b1h2N1LNwWX50Z5EVQerBje9OPMv8-N8EQaDm18kzozB3_clmBBdgMukvSK_uVV1Wp6TJjDYNmCOes4a6a5hSO8pO16_l62Rros-PbTQClUljR8yScN_-fEL_XKJlTz/s1600/IMG_1415.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-61541428003101419182014-12-05T17:04:00.000-08:002014-12-05T17:04:40.676-08:00Fort Lauderdale<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After a long and tiring day yesterday, we successfully got a new passport for Lucy. In the end the process was not too bad, although it did involve a lot of waiting. The girls were incredibly patient and well-behaved. We also accomplished our last bits of provisioning for the Bahamas and just managed to return the rental car before they closed. When we got back to Momo we were pleased to see our friends on Sheila were anchored right next to us.<br />
Today we sailed with Sheila down to Fort Lauderdale. We (along with seemingly hundreds of other boats in south Florida) have been monitoring the weather closely. For the past week and a half it has blown pretty hard every day from the East (making the Bahamas directly upwind). However, things appear to be changing and there will likely be a mass exodus of boats heading to the Bahamas over the next several days. We hope to be one of them. Our plan is to sail outside to Miami tomorrow and then head across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas on Sunday or Monday. We are currently thinking of heading just north of Bimini and then across the Grand Bahama Bank and then to Nassau, where we will officially check into the country. This roughly 36 hour crossing will put us only a day's sail from the Exumas. Everything is subject to change and we will continue to monitor the weather closely.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxEuwxYQV56m-W3FDDrmKIVaPxMKZpcrk4KwWh3uE7W6c4Q2auMU2GIFlb_s-tyKkuZHi76thrpV0OoY4rSu92KCuAJh9mQDTTeWA1p0oLf2KEkY5vXOZ4_7okTx7z1GHuRhUZYFVkTug/s1600/IMG_1392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxEuwxYQV56m-W3FDDrmKIVaPxMKZpcrk4KwWh3uE7W6c4Q2auMU2GIFlb_s-tyKkuZHi76thrpV0OoY4rSu92KCuAJh9mQDTTeWA1p0oLf2KEkY5vXOZ4_7okTx7z1GHuRhUZYFVkTug/s1600/IMG_1392.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This girl loves the beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x4M24iVMJPLUVvyjS3ucEJjKmncE-_yt-mCbPVnSFYQkbnXH9HcKk6y_ywlsieeKQELn4rRTICSkFVtavuiBHVN5_u2A2OxGyGLJcy-GIZh_aW6Ph2kwEAP9QE-U280uTciP9E6l1od3/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x4M24iVMJPLUVvyjS3ucEJjKmncE-_yt-mCbPVnSFYQkbnXH9HcKk6y_ywlsieeKQELn4rRTICSkFVtavuiBHVN5_u2A2OxGyGLJcy-GIZh_aW6Ph2kwEAP9QE-U280uTciP9E6l1od3/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa on Fort Lauderdale Beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBVAD-qq2MiEOcjQrG8GrRRiTLZSiLEEaHb1VKJmMHrwY6-cZPdjkDUs4hAoFeeOYnG7YE1pJz6yusbWmYKOViOcl288zYMwktFb1DeEvVpalMjkx4z2uXwNPPQE0FGwBoNgDWF89g0q5/s1600/IMG_1401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBVAD-qq2MiEOcjQrG8GrRRiTLZSiLEEaHb1VKJmMHrwY6-cZPdjkDUs4hAoFeeOYnG7YE1pJz6yusbWmYKOViOcl288zYMwktFb1DeEvVpalMjkx4z2uXwNPPQE0FGwBoNgDWF89g0q5/s1600/IMG_1401.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scouty had no hesitations giving Santa a hug.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tcaC0m6_b2LP98_OHhykwQDUCksqYPGaqPDRMTVIEhGalagXlEleKjdKA3YmMQR6TNOb_il1xPdO3ZNEhNd1a75wsTt-PNyBGkypwkwbpaFha83u_valZHJ8j6OtQQgix-Hii7WSFK-p/s1600/IMG_1405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tcaC0m6_b2LP98_OHhykwQDUCksqYPGaqPDRMTVIEhGalagXlEleKjdKA3YmMQR6TNOb_il1xPdO3ZNEhNd1a75wsTt-PNyBGkypwkwbpaFha83u_valZHJ8j6OtQQgix-Hii7WSFK-p/s1600/IMG_1405.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-53162511255651031542014-12-03T19:40:00.001-08:002014-12-03T19:40:53.393-08:00Boca and beyond<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We are currently anchored in Lake Boca Raton. Each of the past three days we have made about 15 - 20 miles of southerly progress, winding our way past incredibly posh neighborhoods and through far too many bridges. We had a wonderful evening with Aunt Lynne again last night, and it was fun to pull the dinghy up to the dock at her condo. Today we rented a car to do some major provisioning for the Bahamas and tomorrow morning we drive it down to Miami for our passport appointment. We are hoping we can convince them to give Lucy her passport tomorrow, but we have no idea if that will fly. If so, we are looking at crossing to the Bahamas soon as there seems to be a weather window early next week. If we can't get the passport we will have to make new plans.<br />
Tonight we went to the Boca Raton holiday parade. It was quite the spectacle and the girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNqgjB1scdWrYn6dgY2hPTSfxAcBHCeyYzxeUhyphenhyphenlhcrHP3IXguzKqNiG9jq5il1CLuI444qyR3CvavbRvER0HxXI6dI4NZpA0YRgEYkwXuXuUTQgs_FYGKYMJ2wruHdJEvu6nqqCsw_kj/s1600/IMG_1347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNqgjB1scdWrYn6dgY2hPTSfxAcBHCeyYzxeUhyphenhyphenlhcrHP3IXguzKqNiG9jq5il1CLuI444qyR3CvavbRvER0HxXI6dI4NZpA0YRgEYkwXuXuUTQgs_FYGKYMJ2wruHdJEvu6nqqCsw_kj/s1600/IMG_1347.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immersed in Aunt Lynne crafts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4e_cjiW-0Dd2g7eyabEsntwbeqvDvgeOhi6S-BTeSO2Uk3b11IrijJVqNKuiDmBFuBUTuar4c-dVszTKkbzMg0G_XyqSrf0c12Xxk5rD0zKKTE1RdWTQBEEqVWiw5Od1nAZiWIezbbsnm/s1600/IMG_1349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4e_cjiW-0Dd2g7eyabEsntwbeqvDvgeOhi6S-BTeSO2Uk3b11IrijJVqNKuiDmBFuBUTuar4c-dVszTKkbzMg0G_XyqSrf0c12Xxk5rD0zKKTE1RdWTQBEEqVWiw5Od1nAZiWIezbbsnm/s1600/IMG_1349.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls were completely enamored by Aunt Lynne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQd3y7saeEtFrTKZxv56FAaqjUQdTLFSXJD7qAcq5tpF0jBXD0cVGVr_yn045-bZToHLuvzTnv_KoURxIYBGCkVFK6m3BrJezqeqG8sFG7ZoSHJ5UahA5VlRK_M5NSsFAEqkLoG-HTzLd/s1600/IMG_1358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQd3y7saeEtFrTKZxv56FAaqjUQdTLFSXJD7qAcq5tpF0jBXD0cVGVr_yn045-bZToHLuvzTnv_KoURxIYBGCkVFK6m3BrJezqeqG8sFG7ZoSHJ5UahA5VlRK_M5NSsFAEqkLoG-HTzLd/s1600/IMG_1358.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scouty working on her rock climbing skills while opening the advent calendar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxs0lwn9aOFIkx_Idirxg2gCNBW5xZc2IwoQaHxK_3MgmOI_Gzb8haZKsbTQfUdfmTOUBzgr0IyPjknjrqK6Jf41DKGKRu6OUcI3txLmuJtfgEm5R3AFDQe6QO5RVb4LbW36kw0S_5fyYM/s1600/IMG_1361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxs0lwn9aOFIkx_Idirxg2gCNBW5xZc2IwoQaHxK_3MgmOI_Gzb8haZKsbTQfUdfmTOUBzgr0IyPjknjrqK6Jf41DKGKRu6OUcI3txLmuJtfgEm5R3AFDQe6QO5RVb4LbW36kw0S_5fyYM/s1600/IMG_1361.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momo in Lake Boca Raton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZNIvJdDWWg_EZ8AYSMRb4j93m62qX3-_LRBhR9C4yoKUmMblw1SmSpfa26R2B7wjzfGae4WxLiHzrkI6m3XqHg7GGgCugQ2PO4qm8Mf9VM0B4RXzbqjd4qYwpPED8u205XiqcmWuN6_L/s1600/IMG_1383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZNIvJdDWWg_EZ8AYSMRb4j93m62qX3-_LRBhR9C4yoKUmMblw1SmSpfa26R2B7wjzfGae4WxLiHzrkI6m3XqHg7GGgCugQ2PO4qm8Mf9VM0B4RXzbqjd4qYwpPED8u205XiqcmWuN6_L/s1600/IMG_1383.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking in the holiday parade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CLM1pFKtXlT_IecpJzcJEZjBs3efXxhUlvRFnL-z0Bg4Mu5egHwEdo8dpFrpc7Mk9b5Ibnxa5ep-aRBkWLbWIyXS64Cg4vj5GbIKj_iCPRSIGG-BUljCXbIdiMynQ-5ha2e0JQ8DCrbs/s1600/IMG_1385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CLM1pFKtXlT_IecpJzcJEZjBs3efXxhUlvRFnL-z0Bg4Mu5egHwEdo8dpFrpc7Mk9b5Ibnxa5ep-aRBkWLbWIyXS64Cg4vj5GbIKj_iCPRSIGG-BUljCXbIdiMynQ-5ha2e0JQ8DCrbs/s1600/IMG_1385.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momo passing under the Ocean Ave Bascule Bridge (photo by Aunt Lynne)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kLW2_Je6ojvCuUm_D_cbke-tntyda0FEPu7tNSicn1Asg7Y_EsYMqeDcoPZztppvJ4N_6mqul9cBjRaLDbPBOczfsEygcg32yeS2YE7vgHahNI3_QX83FL6flpbHNffxAvE_7v14wfq4/s1600/IMG_1386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kLW2_Je6ojvCuUm_D_cbke-tntyda0FEPu7tNSicn1Asg7Y_EsYMqeDcoPZztppvJ4N_6mqul9cBjRaLDbPBOczfsEygcg32yeS2YE7vgHahNI3_QX83FL6flpbHNffxAvE_7v14wfq4/s1600/IMG_1386.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading south (photo by Aunt Lynne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-69943512834239088362014-11-30T19:13:00.002-08:002014-11-30T19:13:27.556-08:00Water pumps and Xmas decorations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
They call it (Vero Beach) Velcro Beach for a reason - because most people have a hard time leaving. We, on the other hand, were able to pull ourselves away but regretted leaving about 10 miles into the trip. Our raw water pump had been starting to fail over the past week. Ted would come up out of the engine room reporting 1 drip every 4 minutes. Given the problems we have faced recently, I didn't think this was too bad! However, after sitting in Vero for a few days, the drip increased to 1 drip every few seconds. Not wanting to risk water getting into the engine, we dropped anchor in Fort Pierce to inspect things further and make a new plan. Luckily, Ted was ahead of the game and ordered a replacement pump to be delivered to Aunt Lynne. Even luckier, the part was delivered on Saturday instead of the scheduled Monday. Even luckier still, Lynne offered to deliver it to us today.<br />
<br />
So, today, we had a wonderful time making Xmas decorations with our ever-so-crafty Aunt Lynne while Ted successfully replaced the water pump. Tomorrow, we will try to head south again, for either Peck Lake or Lake Worth.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qDRbFN7yQwSkSbmr7kOt1Mm4uWy0Ahh3C1WPKrLQBFpPeXVA0VFjuO1O1JC3hsnkOX0YY9_7iT1LJ7o7xYD5QN9A166rKcneMqnrHZ6KZJgDyBIwyqPkVZtm5OEIVwmb9ZXvJnXxmMYO/s1600/IMG_1293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qDRbFN7yQwSkSbmr7kOt1Mm4uWy0Ahh3C1WPKrLQBFpPeXVA0VFjuO1O1JC3hsnkOX0YY9_7iT1LJ7o7xYD5QN9A166rKcneMqnrHZ6KZJgDyBIwyqPkVZtm5OEIVwmb9ZXvJnXxmMYO/s1600/IMG_1293.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting shells</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAofee5MCnf0q-vSwQzx2UdFMDqkM-aUk4NPf8cHbcopSm__IRe1iH4MFewcc0L_H7kE-tr6_2PQTDNjvq6-u_I_5VB9VyoaX9T-3AaAfDf-XCM1sJ4BksOv6At9Zlgno8iG-ElrTkh_dM/s1600/IMG_1296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAofee5MCnf0q-vSwQzx2UdFMDqkM-aUk4NPf8cHbcopSm__IRe1iH4MFewcc0L_H7kE-tr6_2PQTDNjvq6-u_I_5VB9VyoaX9T-3AaAfDf-XCM1sJ4BksOv6At9Zlgno8iG-ElrTkh_dM/s1600/IMG_1296.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here they are decorating plastic bulbs with paint and/or filling them with shells, painting shells and painting wooden ornaments. Lynne thought of everything! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEnwmEA7L2tSsp7nfEWcSGW259AN4iXY9gMyjmO-6q-xGF3-8ZAg1vQSenXXglDEpVoQO3TD5FvHoYasKl9Q7afKCulNowPc0PaaPHBQtGCU8HtAJSouWWJ7HlFSpa1smpUtLzwnp1ESW/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEnwmEA7L2tSsp7nfEWcSGW259AN4iXY9gMyjmO-6q-xGF3-8ZAg1vQSenXXglDEpVoQO3TD5FvHoYasKl9Q7afKCulNowPc0PaaPHBQtGCU8HtAJSouWWJ7HlFSpa1smpUtLzwnp1ESW/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We now have a new raw water pump.<br /><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">(Thank you Lynne!!!) </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-88351289942569627132014-11-27T17:03:00.000-08:002014-11-27T17:03:18.424-08:00Thanksgiving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving today in Vero Beach. Over 200 cruisers gathered for a potluck feast. It has been so much fun to spend time with such an impressive group of people and we are so amazed by the stories of adventure that surround us. We continue to meet more families with kids and retirees who did this when they were younger with their kids. Everyone has been incredibly encouraging of our trip and choice to be doing it now with Lucy and Scout. It has been nice to hear this from those who truly know. Tomorrow we are having coffee on another Valiant 40. Its owners sailed it around the world in the late 1980's with their two sons. It was their second circumnavigation - their first being in the early 1970's aboard their 30 foot boat!<div>
On this day of giving thanks, we feel especially fortunate and know we have so much for which to be thankful. We were able to Skype with our families tonight just before we returned to the boat. During these past four years of living in India and now on Momo, we have found that this is one of the hardest days to be away from them. They are what we are the most thankful for and we can't wait to celebrate next Thanksgiving with them. </div>
<div>
Tomorrow we will take advantage of the free bus system to do some provisioning, and then Saturday we will continue south. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Happy Thanksgiving.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcqqSwrpBk_vg8fbasEFsOutDtPymtDXGM77muzGIdmNfUFlkPJ9TBBez7D_InYsH32t_2grhs2LcWYtq3Doz3HMUtBuKXY2TyJzJHGLVhjw3-AIvmr-9ayyDFrHb-NeBDmQ9Ser-BJwq/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcqqSwrpBk_vg8fbasEFsOutDtPymtDXGM77muzGIdmNfUFlkPJ9TBBez7D_InYsH32t_2grhs2LcWYtq3Doz3HMUtBuKXY2TyJzJHGLVhjw3-AIvmr-9ayyDFrHb-NeBDmQ9Ser-BJwq/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parking lot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyP0eArnF5EzY_v4zeUGXqcqYPfPfAA88AxBrQW4LxuNlprDZLPV9PWSXUmF4CXgYGO9txE-iuRCbKme88O2DbZBMIT6sjAEr-C1NOoeFEUDoNpMc251MmVvPY-zTdEhVfneCXhg0uXwE/s1600/IMG_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyP0eArnF5EzY_v4zeUGXqcqYPfPfAA88AxBrQW4LxuNlprDZLPV9PWSXUmF4CXgYGO9txE-iuRCbKme88O2DbZBMIT6sjAEr-C1NOoeFEUDoNpMc251MmVvPY-zTdEhVfneCXhg0uXwE/s1600/IMG_1252.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBc547yTdtU7E6d72bdkfmZU9wusFWkVVY1o6rh9UxJfGOcLel9MFdJHOj1P1Pf3VKh5JKPuNYJhOXQPWfzlXpxEaply4MnTqR9dDJwvSKfKckSYIY0SU0nenEQ_R3o_AOuRL7sYZgLiD/s1600/IMG_1255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBc547yTdtU7E6d72bdkfmZU9wusFWkVVY1o6rh9UxJfGOcLel9MFdJHOj1P1Pf3VKh5JKPuNYJhOXQPWfzlXpxEaply4MnTqR9dDJwvSKfKckSYIY0SU0nenEQ_R3o_AOuRL7sYZgLiD/s1600/IMG_1255.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiWPa_DpkpMISy4vbNvrEpWMNhyphenhyphenzEpM1JE7ZWGpHV1UbZSF962S3NWin1cpACmvZwP_xFskOxLMjLAEdSa_dgAFE4ck2KSG6IcMsA6VbNxhJ5LYeOXi62iKkKPQUlG7wLRJEI0CDGB3Nx/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiWPa_DpkpMISy4vbNvrEpWMNhyphenhyphenzEpM1JE7ZWGpHV1UbZSF962S3NWin1cpACmvZwP_xFskOxLMjLAEdSa_dgAFE4ck2KSG6IcMsA6VbNxhJ5LYeOXi62iKkKPQUlG7wLRJEI0CDGB3Nx/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-U9T-1Hz7jGcwUXd8ywskjlwIvX0hy7KjvghGEPZypLGAZF82JsPc_OSHeka7KeLwkXl_nYAiNWDsTz3OFWUIUuJOhu8VU5fdzxh_snQBFdsF40yKMoESeBGsuotGymsNKYEqNyutSIeM/s1600/IMG_1272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-U9T-1Hz7jGcwUXd8ywskjlwIvX0hy7KjvghGEPZypLGAZF82JsPc_OSHeka7KeLwkXl_nYAiNWDsTz3OFWUIUuJOhu8VU5fdzxh_snQBFdsF40yKMoESeBGsuotGymsNKYEqNyutSIeM/s1600/IMG_1272.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinghy race vs. s/v Sheila after the feast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yVELwBNM9yA1WqONDixL0HbGGBbjOiIAi6BQ1qcOhUtDYzgd-PH7zyn4DMpEpIARjXg32r5F5fSgf5jXkKCXptfQRc66MlLxoPAIVPMfeugjW_drXS5A_8wnT6zlMsqFF9tM_QD5SLBH/s1600/IMG_1962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yVELwBNM9yA1WqONDixL0HbGGBbjOiIAi6BQ1qcOhUtDYzgd-PH7zyn4DMpEpIARjXg32r5F5fSgf5jXkKCXptfQRc66MlLxoPAIVPMfeugjW_drXS5A_8wnT6zlMsqFF9tM_QD5SLBH/s1600/IMG_1962.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momo on the Chesapeake. (A few throwback photos taken by s/v Sheila from last month)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbXfx0QMSMOnv-1u1nH7YoJ0H5kzK9LMxdjaFNcSfmYoh7Twosskz7zSgTE7-515uvPpdcAyalf2wa6FtqRqhNli1NVqTCCjHN1w71njQkRurfoQuNUQwN6ui8nadb20YUNF_uplZyolq/s1600/IMG_1985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbXfx0QMSMOnv-1u1nH7YoJ0H5kzK9LMxdjaFNcSfmYoh7Twosskz7zSgTE7-515uvPpdcAyalf2wa6FtqRqhNli1NVqTCCjHN1w71njQkRurfoQuNUQwN6ui8nadb20YUNF_uplZyolq/s1600/IMG_1985.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the ICW in VA. We spent the night on the sea wall just past the bridge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblWjJ007Iu90DTSt2UVD1vPDoQ-z4c6w2rBHPCW4sLcodKBbwMurZYS3dsBOodJBZnjrkX_4QJIjuA80YEEqtpUTbWpo_mq5s305hrwY2fXwEVykBq-4l00nMpnG-bhOhYk-gRTPQiq8P/s1600/IMG_2309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblWjJ007Iu90DTSt2UVD1vPDoQ-z4c6w2rBHPCW4sLcodKBbwMurZYS3dsBOodJBZnjrkX_4QJIjuA80YEEqtpUTbWpo_mq5s305hrwY2fXwEVykBq-4l00nMpnG-bhOhYk-gRTPQiq8P/s1600/IMG_2309.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-64742930620032193152014-11-25T18:44:00.000-08:002014-11-25T18:44:14.751-08:00Vero Beach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sunday we spent the day hanging around Titusville. We did some shopping and spent a lot of time at the playground. The highlight of the afternoon was spotting an alligator in the pond next the the playground. but only bring 3 feet long we doubted it had eaten many children. Yesterday we left Titusville with s/v Sheila and s/v La Smala and made the 30 mile trip to Melbourne. We anchored in the lee of a causeway, so we did not go ashore, however we enjoyed watching pelicans dive for fish all around the boat until well after dark. They soar about 50 feet above the water until they spot a fish and then tuck into a tight dive and hit the water with a big splash. Very fun to watch.<br />
This morning we left Melbourne at 0700. We knew a big front was on the way (the precursor to the storm making Thanksgiving headlines), so we planned to get into Vero Beach as early as possible. About 30 minutes into the trip we spotted an 8 foot long alligator right next to the ICW! By 1230 we were hanging on a mooring in the sheltered cove in front of the city marina. This place is great and it is no wonder why cruisers flock here. $13 moorings, good showers and facilities, a great beach and town, and best of all - free buses anywhere in the county! We went ashore and took advantage of the free transportation with a trip to the beach and to get some ice cream. We will probably stay here through Thanksgiving because the weather looks rough tomorrow and the big potluck on Turkey Day seems like it will be worth staying for.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqHsge2VKSdG9n0cVZvOaK6jVbpOJMigsAbXb1KsO-hFkAmWtFpaohUhumzysinw7O2KRhhJ9o1P7vGWomgJ3ZV_G_MpoAewW5rhJRIYuXjk63uUypbENWT-wES5bUFh9rgc8BXCr3R63/s1600/IMG_1218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqHsge2VKSdG9n0cVZvOaK6jVbpOJMigsAbXb1KsO-hFkAmWtFpaohUhumzysinw7O2KRhhJ9o1P7vGWomgJ3ZV_G_MpoAewW5rhJRIYuXjk63uUypbENWT-wES5bUFh9rgc8BXCr3R63/s1600/IMG_1218.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIPHmuC5qB0u5OItK7EHJDCM9iCANB2Fz5tLVBufCbja-kaMVWKsFm999deyhLH032A_-xbtpHRESkcfGyPNisb4gFgObYlCSgqGyZOZbxTLGL0YjLWc68gA7YYZeNYzM3ePd5x5rOFPY/s1600/IMG_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIPHmuC5qB0u5OItK7EHJDCM9iCANB2Fz5tLVBufCbja-kaMVWKsFm999deyhLH032A_-xbtpHRESkcfGyPNisb4gFgObYlCSgqGyZOZbxTLGL0YjLWc68gA7YYZeNYzM3ePd5x5rOFPY/s1600/IMG_1222.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazgNyY_ud0Gpxc9dlmD2Uv1AADyWAmzFVGkMi7Yl5N4YC6M25uwSR-7a2WWZX3JT8_9cJq5ayBGQm4jJYDloZYVkP-htDF4rugkO0B8R70cRhoeGP-hsS2wD1u0k3n_DniBRj3Cw5uh2q/s1600/IMG_1223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazgNyY_ud0Gpxc9dlmD2Uv1AADyWAmzFVGkMi7Yl5N4YC6M25uwSR-7a2WWZX3JT8_9cJq5ayBGQm4jJYDloZYVkP-htDF4rugkO0B8R70cRhoeGP-hsS2wD1u0k3n_DniBRj3Cw5uh2q/s1600/IMG_1223.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZ0M2RPHE96QPLwHUdANtkuv5ZNBiAzcDd0ikcsdpj0I5clcrYYveCqJbsLpCeRdkj0hPFwb8iNvmDUEXRXPZrD72t5-LkrJ-OTvBS4du7a6LWezcBIq3jTHpyO8A4bwPFMBAqwHj_UQp/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZ0M2RPHE96QPLwHUdANtkuv5ZNBiAzcDd0ikcsdpj0I5clcrYYveCqJbsLpCeRdkj0hPFwb8iNvmDUEXRXPZrD72t5-LkrJ-OTvBS4du7a6LWezcBIq3jTHpyO8A4bwPFMBAqwHj_UQp/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_Qsy4A4wx4t_kV4U_FhfaQynWs1HuA-3Jx0JM9EVgXf1YixdbDu1_xYxEd-c5GYwRE6sGLtIQaA1Rtk3gEHm-0k-Ag7R1xtrIpFYIzeCLv-1WzV6PhI6-m3PHQ6YilvZ5275FeDqLzYr/s1600/IMG_1231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_Qsy4A4wx4t_kV4U_FhfaQynWs1HuA-3Jx0JM9EVgXf1YixdbDu1_xYxEd-c5GYwRE6sGLtIQaA1Rtk3gEHm-0k-Ag7R1xtrIpFYIzeCLv-1WzV6PhI6-m3PHQ6YilvZ5275FeDqLzYr/s1600/IMG_1231.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGOWOCuttqN9O7kS2bO_Ha2NBQ3a2vguFDA8PrenfK7DJgQ2EHlrGqo4lCGyqSMgY1QvUwQfxT2KDBHHIvzSirbB2dAmqLe9lAnxbnGrSkc_jlaDIMpeXK2NPVqnZqwe7OSJI1H7-YOXd/s1600/IMG_1232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGOWOCuttqN9O7kS2bO_Ha2NBQ3a2vguFDA8PrenfK7DJgQ2EHlrGqo4lCGyqSMgY1QvUwQfxT2KDBHHIvzSirbB2dAmqLe9lAnxbnGrSkc_jlaDIMpeXK2NPVqnZqwe7OSJI1H7-YOXd/s1600/IMG_1232.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-36790424358565717022014-11-22T18:09:00.001-08:002014-11-22T18:09:43.283-08:00Titusville<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday, with strong northerly winds and favorable current, we made excellent time from St. Augustine, averaging close to 7.5 knots all day. We ended up anchoring in New Smyrna Beach and immediately went ashore to stretch our legs. We met up with more of Amie's relatives, her cousin, Cindy, and her two children. Lucy and Scout had so much fun playing with them at the playground and then we all enjoyed some excellent Thai food for dinner. Thank you Cindy!<br />
This morning we awoke to grey skies and stiff easterly winds with the threat of rain. We pulled anchor and were able to make the 30 miles to Titusville by shortly after noon. We went ashore and happily reunited with the crew of s/v Sheila. It has been great to reconnect with them and the girls had so much fun playing together. Tonight it is blowing pretty hard from the southeast and Momo is moving around quite a bit. Strong southerly winds and thunderstorms are forecasted for tomorrow so the plan is to stay put here for one more day. The good news is that it is warm!<br />
No pictures from today, but here are a few random ones from the past couple weeks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSekHK7dGHK0bmQp9ZXmCbc3-FyL10Bo8u0uTxTzY8TbCxjyQiJd90vNoH44OzFhXKzrO3qogXsPufSlOolsWyrjubVlOmxUK5IFtF5hETNNeBtGCWm1k_Z_GroSkdjmDzXLJWbl1WNQv/s1600/GOPR4236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSekHK7dGHK0bmQp9ZXmCbc3-FyL10Bo8u0uTxTzY8TbCxjyQiJd90vNoH44OzFhXKzrO3qogXsPufSlOolsWyrjubVlOmxUK5IFtF5hETNNeBtGCWm1k_Z_GroSkdjmDzXLJWbl1WNQv/s1600/GOPR4236.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7Lr-MHSCH8wVZp5-nYJDzt5xSML9IMb72sPuw6oNWOM5x_yQnonHHKAWiyPEfYcCHzUOXYv7ow5oS0yMP8gl2EsgoqWu5AwgECPxJ18bI8JytIWhWcfmIdXlM2KDFHwE7J-FBBCLQzVZ/s1600/IMG_7528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7Lr-MHSCH8wVZp5-nYJDzt5xSML9IMb72sPuw6oNWOM5x_yQnonHHKAWiyPEfYcCHzUOXYv7ow5oS0yMP8gl2EsgoqWu5AwgECPxJ18bI8JytIWhWcfmIdXlM2KDFHwE7J-FBBCLQzVZ/s1600/IMG_7528.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnCK3Yn9lDEmRTzr_YxOxXScCkwxCcWQIGC4Ir9S-4iIEW7D95x8qrXxVU828ir2MiD-cfzeZbuE3rU6-nYNoS7xzeMip2geb7UdNEWjpuXFq7sziVnW8A7rCchuxr2epsLVCnmxQcD2Z/s1600/IMG_7576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnCK3Yn9lDEmRTzr_YxOxXScCkwxCcWQIGC4Ir9S-4iIEW7D95x8qrXxVU828ir2MiD-cfzeZbuE3rU6-nYNoS7xzeMip2geb7UdNEWjpuXFq7sziVnW8A7rCchuxr2epsLVCnmxQcD2Z/s1600/IMG_7576.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-18739624620298867572014-11-20T17:57:00.000-08:002014-11-20T17:57:10.196-08:00St. Augustine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well our first morning in Florida started off on the chilly side. We had quite a bit of frost on the boat, but after a couple of hours it warmed considerably and even pushed into the 60's by mid-afternoon. We motored the 10 miles to St. Augustine in time to make the 0930 bridge opening in the center of town. The first thing we did when we went ashore was take much needed showers and do some laundry. Next we went for a scooter/walk and found incredibly tasty pizza nearby. Things were feeling better. Unfortunately, we lost most of the afternoon to a fruitless attempt to renew Lucy's passport. It involved too many taxi rides with little accomplished other than passport photos. This is one of those things we should have taken care of months ago but kept putting off. We finally decided we would take care of it in person at the Miami Passport Agency, which means we will be going to Miami. Although not exactly what we had planned, it will set us up nicely for our approach across the Gulf Stream and into the Bahamas. We ended the day with a nice visit with Amie's cousin and her two children. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelxPPJEM3uHcGaLRmHDQ0lY0_3org8x7aQHfQJrYjE6Y2ZMqD8rJXYz4ygtySV4w82mgawhyphenhyphen_LUqOytv2JeQWlInaoS0lsMauL26idwqcv_m6ighyphenhyphen2wsq-D8maI1sD9gmiWMEaA8fKrO-/s1600/IMG_1190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelxPPJEM3uHcGaLRmHDQ0lY0_3org8x7aQHfQJrYjE6Y2ZMqD8rJXYz4ygtySV4w82mgawhyphenhyphen_LUqOytv2JeQWlInaoS0lsMauL26idwqcv_m6ighyphenhyphen2wsq-D8maI1sD9gmiWMEaA8fKrO-/s1600/IMG_1190.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frost!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbcrOjveVM-x3THiU4BRvEbmetC7eoj5VtGO8dona0YAyv0co6a6sGLEb6CqTJxz4c36PuRvL6XTGTsZ5WBcVSGkWai2l3fjGd8k5H5J70PBNxFu8w5mt1HBGCU2gRyi6Dx6NH2RNSZ2H/s1600/IMG_1193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbcrOjveVM-x3THiU4BRvEbmetC7eoj5VtGO8dona0YAyv0co6a6sGLEb6CqTJxz4c36PuRvL6XTGTsZ5WBcVSGkWai2l3fjGd8k5H5J70PBNxFu8w5mt1HBGCU2gRyi6Dx6NH2RNSZ2H/s1600/IMG_1193.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Augustine is good for scooters!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-_a90x6ci4KLS23_hx4bpganHo5Jy5ik_d8l-6VfT9dMMIdfkCCwdC1weVjfFVC31HEkHGskFa0fF66R8MAyf5FgijEol-xkwsyD2RuJJ635F-v4J39ZpKQuPSZq8N9qkecx2vEV-Axj/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-_a90x6ci4KLS23_hx4bpganHo5Jy5ik_d8l-6VfT9dMMIdfkCCwdC1weVjfFVC31HEkHGskFa0fF66R8MAyf5FgijEol-xkwsyD2RuJJ635F-v4J39ZpKQuPSZq8N9qkecx2vEV-Axj/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-43435529244222827152014-11-19T18:08:00.000-08:002014-11-19T18:08:29.842-08:00Too cold to rest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We woke up to 29 degrees outside and still a stiff northerly wind. We hunkered down in the cabin trying to stay warm. By 0930 we gave up. It was just too cold to motivate to get the dingy in the water and make what would have likely been a wet ride over to the island. We decided the better course of action was to keep heading south and take a rest day in St. Augustine in a day or so. We put on all of our clothes and pulled the anchor. We headed down the Cumberland River and then turned to the east and rode a favorable current out of St. Mary's inlet and into the Atlantic Ocean. We sailed the 20 miles or so down to the St. John's Inlet and then turned west again to negotiate the channel back inland. That is when things got interesting. Behind us we could see a massive US Naval tanker heading in our direction. Just as we came around a bend in the channel we saw a HUGE car carrier coming right at us. I then had my proudest moment on the VHF to date. Within a span of about 2 minutes, we were hailed by the car carrier, US Navy and the US Coastguard. All went well and we negotiated a safe pass, but it was exciting. A few minutes later we turned south again to rejoin the ICW and then continued until dark when we dropped the hook in a quiet marsh just off the channel. We are ten miles from St. Augustine and plan to head there early in the morning and then go ashore for groceries, showers, scootering and stretching our legs. It is forecasted to be in the 60's - we can't wait.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zLoMyBkIWwNdkJs4iwahG4dXdToX5jugaiUcNG9jYjP9Ep2m1vQT3MF98fSvvYWm1UukyC3pmPZGevmp2G5Rb9Ig7ovCv3oz9WjuFKUUaula-T4N1rBBo5rvpSlmv0Uz7637d4_EH2PC/s1600/IMG_1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zLoMyBkIWwNdkJs4iwahG4dXdToX5jugaiUcNG9jYjP9Ep2m1vQT3MF98fSvvYWm1UukyC3pmPZGevmp2G5Rb9Ig7ovCv3oz9WjuFKUUaula-T4N1rBBo5rvpSlmv0Uz7637d4_EH2PC/s1600/IMG_1171.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yikes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIC8qtDX7jDSGNw18GwHRFOv5swApoP4wRF7PgbrDVE_ZwvAchlgDhxu3oOdSylbqek2moCAhbKImavP7bezz3448B04LDFe-pgcOJXZuTXB-QvlW1OSsX3uJh6UFe6pGKEyQHlFMpTSvw/s1600/IMG_7617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIC8qtDX7jDSGNw18GwHRFOv5swApoP4wRF7PgbrDVE_ZwvAchlgDhxu3oOdSylbqek2moCAhbKImavP7bezz3448B04LDFe-pgcOJXZuTXB-QvlW1OSsX3uJh6UFe6pGKEyQHlFMpTSvw/s1600/IMG_7617.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy was not messing around.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eyjyaXnIMmQo9U5lPjwcBQcTfdIz87RYXv4ul_h4kT-O6dS3l5NvUcj98Fz28zUnu83tu3l4LvVkYAiH-nGaI6httxeGmM2vkwfJhiNu8dbq0yv2I-PEM0JMQOepHETzFx75wjLeq58y/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eyjyaXnIMmQo9U5lPjwcBQcTfdIz87RYXv4ul_h4kT-O6dS3l5NvUcj98Fz28zUnu83tu3l4LvVkYAiH-nGaI6httxeGmM2vkwfJhiNu8dbq0yv2I-PEM0JMQOepHETzFx75wjLeq58y/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihCW55z498VRRQEZhTnSK4AzfEJJ9zaWzdB8HpEEXL1mip0A_P2ZtDVYT3_TdOkWmKlijOt_v7aN1Lxt43fbK1BwAwuvNo05D-faB1JpSL6OmRhruoE2S2u6UiqCAqC0CzkdvWjBbf8GV/s1600/IMG_1186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihCW55z498VRRQEZhTnSK4AzfEJJ9zaWzdB8HpEEXL1mip0A_P2ZtDVYT3_TdOkWmKlijOt_v7aN1Lxt43fbK1BwAwuvNo05D-faB1JpSL6OmRhruoE2S2u6UiqCAqC0CzkdvWjBbf8GV/s1600/IMG_1186.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9acNplUOIavdsvR5yvQ7JVrkfc8dTSi9LJx3NWYL-8ECV-U_7TUivA2nba42RZExFneBxcHqTAE3_1E_9m7q6EgQHeIThC4u4ndzsGWpNWYgiFwq5DCb6uCwfm1pr69UaxpR7z1Tpe_EW/s1600/GOPR4243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9acNplUOIavdsvR5yvQ7JVrkfc8dTSi9LJx3NWYL-8ECV-U_7TUivA2nba42RZExFneBxcHqTAE3_1E_9m7q6EgQHeIThC4u4ndzsGWpNWYgiFwq5DCb6uCwfm1pr69UaxpR7z1Tpe_EW/s1600/GOPR4243.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-89422113628555111522014-11-18T17:02:00.000-08:002014-11-18T17:02:12.877-08:00Crab pots, tornados and cold temps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been 6 days since we stepped off the boat and we are starting to feel it. We have been going basically from sun up to sun down, and although it has been nice to make some progress, we are exhausted. Yesterday we spent the first half of the day trying to figure out a plan to deal with the tornado warning we learned about over the VHF. We were trying our hardest to make time in order to get to an anchorage with decent protection. We pulled into a little creek in the marsh and tucked behind a stand of trees at 1300, knowing the front with severe weather was just minutes away. We quickly tied everything down and then all went below. There had already been tornados to our west and the radio warned of 75 knot winds accompanying severe thunderstorms. We watched the radar carefully and were relieved when the worst of it passed to our south. The front moved so quickly we pulled up the hook an hour later and travelled another 15 miles before dusk. Then last night it blew hard out of the NW. Thankfully we found an even better creek with excellent holding, but Momo still did circles as the gusty wind and strong current fought for control of her position. Things were quieter this morning, but Momo's dancing last night caused the anchor chain to wrap around a crab pot. Nevertheless we untangled and were on our way by 0715. About an hour later, just outside of St. Simon's Island, Amie and I were in the cockpit when we heard a bang from beneath us. I immediately looked at the depth sounder and saw 18 feet. We were in the middle of the channel. I throttled back and we looked behind us and there was a crab trap buoy floating away in three pieces. It must have been submerged and at the exact depth for our prop to chop it up. We spent a few minutes making sure everything was running fine and we were relieved to find that indeed it was. We seem to have been having moments like this recently. Two days ago we were about 100 yards shy of a particularly troublesome area with lots of shoals. In these areas Amie and I often work together to navigate them. We were both in the cockpit, looking at the chartplotter, depth sounder, water in front of us and the ICW guidebook when all of a sudden all of the instruments went blank! We had a brief moment of panic until we looked down and there was Scouty at the instrument panel with a guilty look on her face. She had hit the breaker switch (when just a couple hours earlier she and I had discussed why she should never do this). To top it all off, it is stinkin' cold. It has been in the 30's in the mornings and today I don't think it got out of the 40's. Tomorrow morning is forecast to be in the 20's. With no heater on board, we have been chilly. We are REALLY ready for warmer weather. We can see Florida from our anchorage here at Cumberland Island, so we can't be that far from warmer temps, right?<br />
Tomorrow we are taking the day off to explore Cumberland Island. </div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-26371549718009289202014-11-17T02:25:00.000-08:002014-11-22T18:11:48.522-08:00Into Georgia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday was long, cold and beautiful. We traveled 75 ICW miles. We left Wappoo Creek at 0800 and had great motor-sailing wind for much of the day. We wound our way through marshes, inlets and cuts, always keeping an eye on the depth finder. We have carefully timed our passages over the next few days to be sure we hit the skinny spots with as much water as possible. We had hoped to be offshore for these parts of the ICW but the conditions have not been what we have wanted, so we will continue inside until we get a good window to jump outside. We anchored after dark in Cowen Creek just south of Beaufort, SC. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This morning we left shortly after 0700, again trying to time our approaches to areas of shoaling. The day started with cold rain and ended with warm sunshine. In between we continued to meander through beautiful marshland and passed well known places such as Hilton Head, SC and Savannah, GA. By mid-afternoon we again found ourselves surrounded by vast marshland and dropped the hook seemingly in the middle of nowhere, in a little creek interestingly named Big Tom Creek. There are a few other cruisers sprinkled in the area in other little creeks, but otherwise, complete darkness now surrounds the boat. Tomorrow we hope to make it to St. Simon's Island where we hope to take on fuel and much needed groceries.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIssyqi64Su_MZlozqjlsuKfwlRp5BD8yhWMZ9QIl2d3hpBbPD2qmF9-gM9gsMwsN_wojS0xSznRhwls7wRmhO9E-98GbOH5Yjyd_87DIqDdT00UeV4z1FHE861xw2Q2FgLqHDt1agzBU2/s1600/IMG_1153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIssyqi64Su_MZlozqjlsuKfwlRp5BD8yhWMZ9QIl2d3hpBbPD2qmF9-gM9gsMwsN_wojS0xSznRhwls7wRmhO9E-98GbOH5Yjyd_87DIqDdT00UeV4z1FHE861xw2Q2FgLqHDt1agzBU2/s1600/IMG_1153.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raising the Thanksgiving flag!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YigxFjPt2LR8wBs2Ds_HVDzYX9K0Z-lwrmqs14ONYfHR_KOuH3wTPq2hsX5tFykVvTRaKTNad_mCeeka9eWXrhxWJwS19e-cucuWDOWJm0Cv9Qkr_cQR0n6MokKjz8xgbtFFvaW9Lhyphenhyphenh/s1600/IMG_7602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YigxFjPt2LR8wBs2Ds_HVDzYX9K0Z-lwrmqs14ONYfHR_KOuH3wTPq2hsX5tFykVvTRaKTNad_mCeeka9eWXrhxWJwS19e-cucuWDOWJm0Cv9Qkr_cQR0n6MokKjz8xgbtFFvaW9Lhyphenhyphenh/s1600/IMG_7602.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was cold today!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILCE74hzallyNQT8zibXd01KZ-4gqkTKIv17f95zbJWVsuQAf1ytYp8P0EpmMWEiLen2Fzk0SMdJYNGK5mYH-yqIvT-mxhj_dYQXmdkOuMZg1Lok0pgGfXBT61g4AJtikq4TBCQdEZPDt/s1600/IMG_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILCE74hzallyNQT8zibXd01KZ-4gqkTKIv17f95zbJWVsuQAf1ytYp8P0EpmMWEiLen2Fzk0SMdJYNGK5mYH-yqIvT-mxhj_dYQXmdkOuMZg1Lok0pgGfXBT61g4AJtikq4TBCQdEZPDt/s1600/IMG_1157.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset just past Beaufort, SC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-23158467783696944162014-11-14T17:32:00.000-08:002014-11-14T17:32:08.788-08:00Wappoo Creek<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We pulled up the anchor just before 1000 this morning, after twiddling our thumbs since waking at 0530. We did manage to make pancakes, do some school time and have multiple rounds of coffee while waiting for enough water to start moving. We had a nice northeasterly wind behind us for much of the day, and we were able to set the genoa for some added speed. We passed by Charleston but decided not to stop there - an idea we had tossed around. It feels so good to be making progress again, and that, coupled with cold weather, just makes us want to keep moving. Perhaps we will stop in Charleston when heading north again. We are just past Charleston in Wappoo Creek. We barely made the 1600 opening of the Wappoo Creek Bascule bridge, which then closes until 1830 for rush hour traffic. We are tucked into a little spot off the creek and in front of some upscale homes. It is supposed to dip below freezing tonight and is already in the 30's. Without a heater on board, we have used every excuse possible to light the oven or stove. (Amie just made some tea but I don't think she has any plans of actually drinking it, she just wanted to use the stove again). It works for a while but gets cold again quickly.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PX5Yv5e0iRbsWxLKkITRFPv-TDx-OevG82ZHUuF9_20IiYEGswFrPf08DG2MD9sYbHkGdrs1htjZduImXkzTE7xSHxEGDwZyluSUxxqM1TqIyPkxKTwneT3-I3d6gOQN4qId15fPP_T6/s1600/IMG_1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PX5Yv5e0iRbsWxLKkITRFPv-TDx-OevG82ZHUuF9_20IiYEGswFrPf08DG2MD9sYbHkGdrs1htjZduImXkzTE7xSHxEGDwZyluSUxxqM1TqIyPkxKTwneT3-I3d6gOQN4qId15fPP_T6/s1600/IMG_1140.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner tonight in our winter jackets.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFhGiiL77Oh0InHaHqidqJCeYHfIHw-vr53Veai5N0Vaed8tMuGngUk2ctBqpQhMAbQOjwUXIbf1J0ERgPugCSwMQCMpQTby7gbr5lYEm5f0INpT7GXB9AqjoGYNFoJZCQhi8f4BaEJ5z/s1600/IMG_6302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFhGiiL77Oh0InHaHqidqJCeYHfIHw-vr53Veai5N0Vaed8tMuGngUk2ctBqpQhMAbQOjwUXIbf1J0ERgPugCSwMQCMpQTby7gbr5lYEm5f0INpT7GXB9AqjoGYNFoJZCQhi8f4BaEJ5z/s1600/IMG_6302.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found this photo tonight - taken on one of the girls' last days in India. It is remarkable how much life has changed for them in 6 months. Their adaptability, flexibility and willingness to go along with our crazy ideas just amazes us. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-36965497275406111962014-11-13T17:21:00.001-08:002014-11-13T17:21:31.615-08:00McClellanville<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Momo went back in the water this morning. After hosing her off, filling the water tanks and saying a big goodbye and thanks to our new friends at Hazzard Marine, we pulled off the dock. It has been so great to be on the move again. We went about 30 miles to McClellanville, which is supposed to be a great little fishing village, however we are anchored about a mile away and will likely not go ashore. Tomorrow we will hopefully make it to Charleston, however we have to wait for high tide in the morning in order to get over some areas of shoaling between here and there.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrk32ga4CDT-KuqoNEoSof3bJ8zdwwK1z1jidFQSVoI1tCrYPN9W39lT913ntO3yR9E64t4WPVhjmKU0DvFuJBoX7hhoDAzL17iLQTSpy7hZRn30bdIA8zr91IS_bRkRrBNGqPOsVdUiDz/s1600/IMG_1129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrk32ga4CDT-KuqoNEoSof3bJ8zdwwK1z1jidFQSVoI1tCrYPN9W39lT913ntO3yR9E64t4WPVhjmKU0DvFuJBoX7hhoDAzL17iLQTSpy7hZRn30bdIA8zr91IS_bRkRrBNGqPOsVdUiDz/s640/IMG_1129.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momo about to go back in the water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknv7EH1RuX1o4Ooi0M2e5Llo6U_kJS_cLw_Xm0Jj140zLDMXB_QhjAO8wLtqzkLP2vl4muDwMXunt0J_QqB0Nb97nxB4_6juLy-LwRlfdh3Tb_7PPzigZ5ILdQGG966fb1WRJCgBaZeO2/s1600/IMG_1130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknv7EH1RuX1o4Ooi0M2e5Llo6U_kJS_cLw_Xm0Jj140zLDMXB_QhjAO8wLtqzkLP2vl4muDwMXunt0J_QqB0Nb97nxB4_6juLy-LwRlfdh3Tb_7PPzigZ5ILdQGG966fb1WRJCgBaZeO2/s640/IMG_1130.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls watch with anticipation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM99eFuUyFfYm-tb51vd4kBd_Y8cNn2y3qb_CtzOMUWj9H-T-NKrjMVIKt7PWrl4bGqwXuG_cpB5HttnvFCzokWcHvQC_WV07jlEI29CtHSiJNvjGYLSlbk6H-HeWwCyewN_G8IUwqTbz2/s1600/IMG_1134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM99eFuUyFfYm-tb51vd4kBd_Y8cNn2y3qb_CtzOMUWj9H-T-NKrjMVIKt7PWrl4bGqwXuG_cpB5HttnvFCzokWcHvQC_WV07jlEI29CtHSiJNvjGYLSlbk6H-HeWwCyewN_G8IUwqTbz2/s640/IMG_1134.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahh...back in her element.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390512706842938854.post-55226071328364907412014-11-12T16:34:00.001-08:002014-11-12T16:34:19.070-08:00Tomorrow we splash (again)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been a long but productive week in Georgetown. We had hoped to be well on our way by now, but the weather has not been great for drying paint. However, tomorrow morning we relaunch and Momo now sports a new cutlass bearing, mostly refinished brightwork, and a freshly serviced Max prop, in addition to her bottom work. We truly lucked out in finding Hazzard Marine (our only option, really, as no other boatyard has a travel lift within 50 miles). They were happy with us doing the work ourselves, were incredible resources for questions and advice, helped in getting materials, loaned us tons of tools, and generally made us feel welcomed and well-taken care of. We thanked them today with a case of beer, which they greatly appreciated.<br />
We are all anxious to be underway again, and the hope is that we will make some progress south tomorrow. The weather is not ideal for going outside, so we will stick to the ICW to Charleston and then hope for a better window to go outside from there.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuuikO2_PfhJHmfGCj0hHuQxVsnrCAYzaiXmtoVmDH8vVi54_I-goG9lYV2tu3jMIJzPHYBQ17BhS5j8Ag3hNNNqDBTEIKk11XHRx6DtSKWO4B7J1KKvMesU49TuhyphenhyphenWlCBEAOST8TCc7S/s1600/IMG_1093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuuikO2_PfhJHmfGCj0hHuQxVsnrCAYzaiXmtoVmDH8vVi54_I-goG9lYV2tu3jMIJzPHYBQ17BhS5j8Ag3hNNNqDBTEIKk11XHRx6DtSKWO4B7J1KKvMesU49TuhyphenhyphenWlCBEAOST8TCc7S/s640/IMG_1093.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgetown's streets are lined with beautiful old trees.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGExNCDsimL7B7ymoh6obWk9wzp1iSUO0qVTyP3zJvWdvrw1W51oLJaLGj8utFV_3Xmd4txhGtcXyWvjgHOnnGp9rofyavCuEGEYT0CdBWuVFk0b61uMcaPzopPytfU1RfTnMmLRz9u-68/s1600/IMG_1098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGExNCDsimL7B7ymoh6obWk9wzp1iSUO0qVTyP3zJvWdvrw1W51oLJaLGj8utFV_3Xmd4txhGtcXyWvjgHOnnGp9rofyavCuEGEYT0CdBWuVFk0b61uMcaPzopPytfU1RfTnMmLRz9u-68/s640/IMG_1098.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Scout working on a new move. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-xzqoQnBi03AVCpg_ycrb9V2pXl3a3zgXzi7OZfIzOWP_DuwaMJgd7Th6P8xv59fn03piYPu05hKgac2zoHXI4DSJ5f4ZIoViXVPy0fkWz5YCR3Q6hgxHYame5N10aOVA178ndB4ir_A/s1600/IMG_1101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-xzqoQnBi03AVCpg_ycrb9V2pXl3a3zgXzi7OZfIzOWP_DuwaMJgd7Th6P8xv59fn03piYPu05hKgac2zoHXI4DSJ5f4ZIoViXVPy0fkWz5YCR3Q6hgxHYame5N10aOVA178ndB4ir_A/s640/IMG_1101.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momo's home for the past week.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKu4QRlKnYOc6GP8tOaEkS0U6yvHtw4vlCQCgGYO9lWNXeSpKTmibxlmZkYUJW1bpmJ0tAUNlHiwzjTv627tC08avCYHRIeKRdMQoXCjIE6lTRBY-HO8sacF1gkv5sYILfIcSYpZ4Ru2c/s1600/IMG_1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKu4QRlKnYOc6GP8tOaEkS0U6yvHtw4vlCQCgGYO9lWNXeSpKTmibxlmZkYUJW1bpmJ0tAUNlHiwzjTv627tC08avCYHRIeKRdMQoXCjIE6lTRBY-HO8sacF1gkv5sYILfIcSYpZ4Ru2c/s640/IMG_1110.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We continue to develop our kite-flying skills.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR5d74XKEe3cpvYh7BwxEOdIYUQhxOcDjJ1U5B9NrFiXssUwBn88WjXzGuH4c-3brgDaSGRxPQ4jZXQS-gFoWrCm145MVfVFgoFHhcJbrzd3pr-5yMemzzJHmn0T7sf5Zbu0kyfY4bhdq/s1600/IMG_1117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR5d74XKEe3cpvYh7BwxEOdIYUQhxOcDjJ1U5B9NrFiXssUwBn88WjXzGuH4c-3brgDaSGRxPQ4jZXQS-gFoWrCm145MVfVFgoFHhcJbrzd3pr-5yMemzzJHmn0T7sf5Zbu0kyfY4bhdq/s640/IMG_1117.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She has her own ideas about fashion - but her "appleshirt" is assuredly underneath.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR09hR0M-TBeX_xGrbod2DYPef3YRlomuAptdx8dCXs70UBekPk7oV4FE2-VJcV7Q5V_XasJ5FZXP8WehoiUlYyFuJ9o7XOCRhsyeANf0Sfa1P3jMbzqucg8UaVkgzB2MEKj26ILKEqHrH/s1600/IMG_1127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR09hR0M-TBeX_xGrbod2DYPef3YRlomuAptdx8dCXs70UBekPk7oV4FE2-VJcV7Q5V_XasJ5FZXP8WehoiUlYyFuJ9o7XOCRhsyeANf0Sfa1P3jMbzqucg8UaVkgzB2MEKj26ILKEqHrH/s640/IMG_1127.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls inspect the bottom, before heading for the shower.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Ted Lawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11624779324682368658noreply@blogger.com1