12-17-12

We love to stop in Lake Worth/West Palm Beach area.  Our friend Bob lives in the north end of Lake Worth on his sailboat – lively discussions about sailing and life, meals together.  He’s the one who introduced us to the anchorage at the south end of Lake Worth where we met up again with Jerry and Donna on Bluejacket. 

Jerry, Donna and Karen listen to the band at City Place.

Donna, Karen, Jerry on the balcony at City Place.

Donna looks like she just hopped out of her Lamborghini for a night on the town.

Free trolley rides around the hopping city of West Palm Beach where everyone is in style and on their way someplace.  The one section of the city, called City Place, is full of shops, restaurants, and Christmas cheer.

 They have to do something to make it seem like Christmas!  There was a skating rink (with plastic ice), lights throughout, music, and a huge Christmas tree. 

We were reminded of home at 6, 7 & 8 pm for 10 minutes when the snow machines (connected to the top of the palm trees) spewed fake snow.  It really seemed like a blizzard; except it was 75 degrees and the tiny specks of snow were bubbles.  After enjoying a fancy dinner at City Place overlooking the courtyard from the balcony we strolled through the city back to the dinghy dock.  The energy of the city evident as we walk along brightly lit streets, past the groups of people eating and drinking at sidewalk establishments.   

Walking the streets with two sailors with the name of Jerry, a Sailor Jerry banner catches our attention and we find a 1975 Airstream camper decked out with Sailor Jerry Rum graphics all over the exterior, bumper stickers and coozies inside with the chance to buy a shot of Sailor Jerry rum.  We toured the camper, had our picture taken (maybe the picture is on Sailor Jerry Rum’s facebook page), and with full stomachs declined on the shots of rum. 

Sailor Jerry's 1975 Airstream Camper - like the one I lived in once (minus the rum ads)

This really is Sailor Jerry

Time just seems to slip away – one minute we’re in  West Palm and the next in the Bahamas!  Southeast winds at 20 provided the power for our fast crossing to Great Sale Cay with Bluejacket.  From 4:30 am to 10:00 pm.   Then the next 2 days were perfect sailing conditions as we sailed in the turquoise blue 10-12 foot water of the Bahama banks to Marsh Harbour.  When it seemed that the winds were going to be too much on the nose when we had to turn, the winds would shift in our favor.  No need to start the motor. 

Persephone & Bluejacket anchored in Marsh Harbour

It’s nice to be able to go to shore and stretching our legs after clearing in at customs.

We wonder about progress when we go to anchor at one of our favorite spots in the Abacos and hike across the island to the beach.  Someone built a house where we land the dinghy.  A dock with NO TRESPASSING clearly stated on many signs.  Oh well, down to our next favorite spot at Lynyard Cay.  A cero hops on Jerry's hook just before we anchor before lunch.  Cero for lunch and dinner.  I try to remember to take a picture of the cero on the plate for lunch or dinner but it's already gone by the time I remember.

Jerry ponders the sand and sea at Lynyard Cay, Abaco, Bahamas.

After spending some time on the beach and the night at Lynyard we headed to Little Harbour.  We have another 50 mile sail sometime this week as we make our way south towards Georgetown in the Exumas.  

Cero #5 before

Cero #5 after filleting/before cooking.

The weather is warm, the sun is out, the sand sparkles and the palm trees sway - wishing you the best for the holidays!  You can send news about home to us at the kpakk25 e-mail address.

PS  Looking for a good book?  Try this one - Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote.  We both loved this book.

11/30/12  When we sail offshore (vs. Intracoastal Waterway) we can sure make some tracks!  From Oriental, NC to Fernandina, FL in 4 days!  The first 2 days we motor sailed the ICW to Southport, NC.  Here's a shot of a group of sailboats after we all waited for a bridge to open and went through together.

Bluejacket (at left) and others sail onto the next scheduled bridge opening.

We had plenty of wind as you can see in the picture and from the north.   We're sailing on the "inside", the ICW, instead of the "outside", on the ocean.  Winds were 20 - 25 gusting to 35 on the outside.  A little too much so we stayed inside.  In two days we arrived at the southern border of NC and SC where we anchored and checked the weather.  The winds were decreasing but still from a northerly direction.  The next morning while most of you started your Thanksgiving preparations we headed out at Cape Fear and aimed for Charleston, SC.  The seas were still a bit lumpy but settled down some.  With a decent forecast we sailed by Charleston at 2 am headed for Fernandina.  The winds died down and changed direction.  South!  Southwest!  Not exactly what we wanted, but we slogged on bashing into the waves.   Bluejacket bouncing around with us.  After sailing for 48 hours we were thankful to arrive in Fernandina and sit back and relax.  The relaxing included showers, laundry, and cooking a late Thanksgiving dinner.  Donna and Jerry arrived with stuffing, pie, and more to add to the 12 lb. turkey I wedged into our oven.  And then a board game (The Game of 99).  And then we all slept like logs!

Thanksgiving - Karen, Donna & Jerry Luh, (Jerry Skinner taking pictures)

Persephone was off the next morning to sail from Fernandina to St. Augustine.  A beautiful day sail, just enough wind to fill the sails and move us along.  The sun shining.   Our friends Chris & Amy drove down to visit in St. Augustine with 8 month old Andrew.  What a happy baby sitting in his stroller watching as we feasted on crusty bread with cheese, meats, and special sauces Chris brought at one of the decorative fountains.  A nice warm evening.
The next morning - off again to the ocean.  The sail from St. Augustine to Fort Pierce, 28 hours, with too much wind.  The forecast NE 15 was NE 20 - 25 going to East.  A bumpy ride with big following seas.  Into the inlet at Fort Pierce and down the ICW to Stuart.  The area where we're anchored is called Manatee Pocket.  Last year we spent a month or more here with our friends Arno and his daughter Benedict.  This year Arno is in NY working and Benedict is working on her dream of becoming a doctor and is doing residency in Reno.  Miss you Benedict!  We will see our buddy Dale this weekend when he drives up on his one day off.

11/29/12  I'll work on an update with more news - we just anchored in Manatee Pocket, Stuart, FL this afternoon.

11/23/12  Persephone & Bluejacket have arrived in Fernandina Beach, FL - we left Thursday morning at 6:30 and sailed down the coast arriving this morning at 7:00 am. 

11/19/12
Here's Jerry's movie of our sail on the Chesapeake Bay from Deltaville to Portsmouth, VA.

From one extreme to the other going from the Chesapeake Bay one day onto the Dismal Swamp Canal the next.....

A nice shot of our anchorage on Pungo Creek at the end of the day.  Lots of north wind = fast sailing.

We're now tied to the dock at Donna and Jerry's house in Oriental, NC.  A nice dinner in town with Donna & Jerry, Mary, Don & D, D's Mom Pam, Mike & Heather and then off to the Catholic Church for a Thanksgiving community service.  A quick visit with cousins Dick & Georgette and we'll be off tomorrow.  "Persephone" and "Bluejacket" will be heading south.

11/13/12

Sailboat Pie

We always leave home in the fall wondering what we’ve forgotten.  Nothing noted…until we arrived in Kingston and started digging out the parts to make Persephone into a sailboat – sails, blocks, sheets, halyards, battens….battens?  Where are the battens?  We have 4 battens ranging from 3 feet to 14 feet essential to the performance of our mainsail.  They were stored in Brian and Deb’s attic back in Pennellville in the spring of 2011.  Thanks to Brian who found and transported our battens to Albany and thanks to Vince of Hideaway Marina who loaned us his fancy truck to drive to Albany to retrieve the battens.  

Sailing the Hudson - Bear Mtn. Bridge around the next bend

Looking back on West Point

We're passed by a classic "Justice" on Havestraw Bay, Hudson River

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With the fully-battened sails up we sailed and motored the Hudson River from Kingston to NY City starting and finishing in the dark.  The high water from Sandy’s storm surge was evident.  Boats that broke loose from moorings or docks floated 8-10 feet above the river bank and were stranded on the banks when the water receded.  Marinas all along the Hudson had a mess of boats that were stored on shore and floated off their stands during the surge.  New York Harbor looked unchanged from our view other than a few new buildings. 

New York City

 

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The lack of ferry traffic buzzing around us made a smoother-than-usual transit through NYC to an anchorage behind Liberty Park.  The winds continued to howl most of the night.  

Verrazzano Bridge

 

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We had a spectacular view of the Verrazano Bridge from our anchorage.  The arches of the bridge lit up the night outlining tomorrow’s exit point to the ocean.  Off in the morning in the dark with NW winds at 20 knots – NW is a great wind direction when you’re heading south on the coast.  Great winds from behind to push and the waves don’t have a chance to build as we scoot along the NJ coast.  

 

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With binoculars we saw the wreckage of homes along the shore and the roller coaster at Seaside Park in the water on the beach. 

Sailing along NJ Coast

 

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Onto Barnegat to anchor for the night and then our sprint south to arrive in the Chesapeake before the next storm system arrives.  To Cape May, NJ then up the Delaware Bay where we smacked and pounded our way along.  Just doesn’t seem right to be sailing north when we want to go south.  The 50 pounds of apples in the v-berth may well have been applesauce if the Bay had been as rough the entire way as it was the first two hours.  We sped along making tracks – when Jerry hears snow in the forecast he’s on the move.  We dodged the storm.  Although the temperatures have been downright brisk we have not  had any snow on the boat.  Sailing south on the Chesapeake in blue skies, good NW winds,, and sunshine would have been perfect if it were a little more than 40 degrees out.

By the time we arrived in Deltaville, VA to visit our friends Ryan and Kari the temperature was up to 60 degrees.  And sunny!  Ryan and Kari live aboard “Valkyrie” currently in Fishing Bay at Chesapeake Boat Works.  Conversation, dinners together, reminiscing, games, it’s all good when we spend time with Ryan and Kari. 

Valkyrie on the left, Virginia on the right, Persephone in the background at anchor.

The excitement at the Chesapeake Boat Works was the arrival of the 115’ schooner “Virginia”.  The marina has a railway system to haul large boats.  Crowds gathered to watch the all day affair as “Virginia” was tugged ashore atop a platform on rails.  Divers assisted to arrange the blocking on the hull under the boat.  It was quite a sight.

Divers hammer supporting structures for Virginia

Halfway there!

Today is Wednesday, November 7th.  We're anchored in Selby Bay just south of Annapolis, MD on the Chesapeake Bay awaiting a couple inches of snow.  Sailing and snow just don't go well together!  We've had long days getting up early and pushing south to arrive in the Chesapeake before this predicted nor'easter.  In a few days we'll be in Deltaville, VA where we may be able to have better wifi for posting more news and pictures.  All is well.  Wishing you the same.

11/3/12  We're leaving Kingston this morning and heading down the Hudson.  No more posts until we have internet access again.

10/30/12  Hurricane Sandy turned out to be mild for us here tucked away on the Hudson River.  The highest wind gust we saw was about 30 knots.  We had some rain but not much.  The big problem here was (and still is) flooding.  We were fine at the dock but those boats Jerry helped  Vince haul out and put on stands on shore didn't fare so well.  The storm surge from the ocean came all the way up the Hudson River to coincide with high tide and a full moon.  The water came up over the banks, into the parking lot, almost to the road.  A number of the boats that were stored on jack stands started floating around the marina.  We lowered the dinghy and Jerry put the outboard on.  From about 11 pm to 4 am we were in the dinghy with Vince, the marina manager, tying onto the floating boats and towing them to docks.  The water in the parking lot was at least 5 ft so we were able to tow powerboats and sailboats with the dinghy through the parking lot!  At 4 am the water had receded too much to make towing viable.  Jerry made a big breakfast for the 3 of us and then they went back out to see what else could be saved. After an hour nap we were back out this morning to help out Vince and the crew that showed up to clean up and organize.  It's almost 1 pm now with another high tide at 2:25.  The water continues to creep back up. 
Here are some before and after pictures.  I do not have any pictures taken when the water was at its highest - too dark.
This is looking toward the office before....

And after....

This is looking toward the other end of the marina before.......

And after........

Our view this morning from our boat.......

HIdeaway Marina in the distance taken from the bridge.......

Here's a closer picture of the marina.....

There were only 9 boats in the water at Hideaway before the flooding - this picture shows all of the boats towed to docks overnight.  Even the 47' Fairlane Gran Turismo in the background was towed through the parking lot with the dinghy and the 4 hp outboard in the dark!
We hope all is well on your end after Hurricane Sandy,
Karen & Jerry
Aboard Persephone (the one with the black mast in the picture)

10/29/12  Hideaway Marina, Kingston, NY

I planned on starting this fall's journal with pictures from the summer.  We spend every summer tied to a dock in front of Brian and Deb's house on the Oneida River and I never update the blog.  But when I looked at my pictures I see I have few pictures to show.

Brian & Deb's outdoor pizza oven

Emma & Gabi, Brian & Deb's grandkids make their own pizzas.

Our community garden in Brian & Deb's backyard.

Cross Lake Rendezvous with Brian & Deb and Bill & Laurie.  Dave & Bonnie came up by car for the fun.

Deb & Karen go for a paddle.

Laurie out for a paddle.

Kurd, our cat we rent from Laurie & Bill for the summer, enjoying our company.

Our trip to Maine to visit with my family: Susan, Tom, Syd, Kira, Owen and sailboat f Donna & Jerry from NC cruising in ME.

Some of you may notice I have not posted car pictures or car parts, which is what we worked on for a majority of the summer.  I have a ton those pictures but I'm tired of looking at them!

Today is Monday - we're tucked in at Hideaway Marina, Kingston, NY.  It's called Hideaway for a reason - it's off Rondout Creek so we don't have to worry about debris floating down the creek to the Hudson and we're in a valley away from the highest winds.  It's a good hide away.

Vince & Dave of Hideaway Marina stop for a piece of apple pie after another busy day hauling boats.

Here we are tied to a dock and trees with our friends Mike & Liz next to us.  They traveled with us from Oneida Lake on their boat "Wanderer".

Persephone & Wanderer at Hideaway Marina

Wanderer exiting a lock on the Erie Canal

Salad made from the garden we kept at Brian & Deb's house this summer.

Peace of Paradise - Sea Glass Jewelry & Watercolor Note Cards

Karen's Sea Glass Jewelry, Watercolor Note Cards, Sea Glass Barrettes, & Clocks - All Created Aboard Our Floating Home

Gift Card Included With Each "Treasure of the Sea"

Front of Gift Card

Back of Gift Card

Some of my creations made with sea glass and sterling silver wire...............

 

White & Green Sea Glass Sailboat Pendant

Blue Sea Glass Pendant with Pearl Bead

Green Sea Glass Pendant with Glass Bead

White Sea Glass Pendant & Earrings with Red Glass Beads

Seafoam & Brown Sea Glass Pendant

Blue Sea Glass Pendant with Swvaroski Crystal Bead

Green Sea Glass Pendant & Earrings

Green Sea Glass Pendant

Brown Sea Glass Pendant & Earrings

Green Sea Glass Earrings with Pearl Beads

Sea Foam Sea Glass Pendant & Earrings

Green Sea Glass Earrings & Pendant with Black Coral Beads

Green Sea Glass Earrings & Pendant

White Sea Glass Earrings with Pink Swavroski Crystal Beads

Green Sea Glass Earrings with Glass Beads

 

Sea Glass Jewelry Samples with Gift Card

Water Color Painted Note Cards Have This Text On The Back:

Conch Note Card

Fish Note Card

Sailing Note Card

Fisherman Note Card

Nassau Grouper Note Card

Boats On Beach Note Card

Fish Variety Note Card

Sea Glass Barrettes

Sea Shell & Sea Glass Clocks around Photos

Ithaca Festival 2009