While I spent a month with my sister Susan and her husband Tom and family in Maine...........

(Sydney, Owen, Karen, and Kira)........ 
Jerry continued the journey south from Jacksonville to North Palm Beach. 
He spent some time in Stuart with his sailing buddy, Dale and Dale's "new" boat (in the background).

And later with Bob in North Palm Beach swapping sailor stories and enjoying meals together.
When I arrived we took off for a day sail to Fort Lauderdale and another sail to Key Biscayne just south of Miami.  Beautiful days of sailing along the Florida coast with a gentle breeze and fair seas.
And, the weather was perfect for our sail from Florida, east across the gulf stream to the Bahamas.  The forecast called for southwest winds the next day - just what we wanted for heading east.  Jerry had the anchor up at  3 am and we picked our way out the shallow waters of the Key Biscayne area to the ocean.  I forgot to mention another bonus - an almost full moon.  So picture us leaving, the temperature is about 68 degrees, the breeze is just enough to push us along without knocking us over too far and the moon is full.  It just don't get no better than this!  (Remember that last picture I sent of me reading in bed in Jacksonville?)  Life is all about balance - we were now being rewarded for those many days of sailing down the coast from NY to FL in the freezing cold temperatures, sleeping fully-clothed with wool hats on, and being careful not to slip on the ice on deck in the mornings.  The conditions held as we crossed the gulf stream and the 10-12 foot Bahama banks to Nassau and on south.  Here we are ghosting along on the banks with the sun beaming down........

After 55 hours of non-stop sailing in idyllic conditions (although we did have to run the motor toward the end - no wind) we arrived in Georgetown in the Exuma region of the Bahamas.  How many of you know where this is?  The Bahamas span a 700 mile line of islands from east of Florida and to the southeast.  Take out that atlas or go online and find a map showing the Bahamas.  It's really fascinating.  Our goal this year is to continue our trek south and east to the smallest of the Bahamian Islands.  The Ragged Islands or the Jumentos.  Only one of the islands in this chain, the southern most island,  is inhabited.  Only 60 mies to the eastern tip of Cuba.  The sea life is abundant.  We'll be spending most of our days in the water or walking the beach.

And, our stories wouldn't be complete unless it included a picture of master fisherman Jer with the catch of the day.

 I imagine it will be a while until I have the opportunity to write again.  We'd love to hear from you and what's going on in your life - please send a note when you have a chance!
Karen and Jerry

Back to the Boat

1/10/111
Well, I have my ticket and I'm sitting here at the airport in Portland, ME.  My flight has been delayed.  After a wonderful 4 week visit with my sister, Susan and her family, I'll be back on the boat. 

Let's see....it's about 25 degrees here in Maine and it will be in the high 70s today in West Palm Beach.  Talk about a temperature change!  Our plans are to head to the Bahamas when the winds are right.

Jacksonville, FL

For those of you who have this picture of us sitting on board with a fruity drink, the kind with an umbrella sticking out the top, here's reality......

Here I am in bed with 2 pairs of pants, a turtle-neck, fleece jacket, wool hat and gloves reading before lights out.  Yup, it's been cold in Jacksonville. 
Our friends who live in Jacksonville, Chris and Amy, have entertained us at their home, carted us around the town, and took us to Bistro Aix (www.bistrox.com).  It's a pretty fancy place for sailors like us.  Thankfully Chris, who works at Bistro Aix, guided us through the menu, making selections and providing information on where the ingredients came from, how the food was prepared, the whole shabang.  It was a fantastic meal!  We also were able to borrow a car to stock up the boat with provisions and to make a trip to the airport.  Jerry said goodbye to me on a frigid Jacksonville morning.  I boarded the plane for Maine to spend the holidays with my sister Susan, her husband Tom, their 3 kids and 2 dogs.  (It was warmer in Maine than FL when I arrived.) 
So I'll be north for the next few weeks (hoping for some snow to go skiing) - Jerry will take the boat south (hoping for warmer weather) to hang out with his buddy Dale in Stuart and then to West Palm Beach.  Happy Holidays to all!

Charleston, SC

We had a fast sail from Beaufort, NC to Charleston, SC.  20+ winds from the NW to start, then variable from 10 to 20, going back to 25 knots!  35 hours to the inlet in Charleston.  Now we're anchored across from Isle of Palms waiting for winds to settle down a bit tomorrow.  We're off to Jacksonville, FL...

Elizabeth City to Beaufort, NC

11/26/10

Yet again, our trip down the Dismal Canal in NC proves that the canal is inappropriately named.  I suppose to a land surveyor and land speculator, such as George Washington was back then, the area was not hospitable.  His crew used the water to transport timber.  We use the improved waterway here as a pleasure trip.  The sun was shining as we motored our way through the swamp and 2 locks.  A few brave turtles came out to sun themselves in the brisk 40 degree air.  An otter cruised the shore amongst the herons.  No signs of civilization until we near Elizabeth City and pass by the hospital and college.  

There's a dock available at the Elizabeth City town docks and we enjoy being able to stretch our legs and walk to the grocery store without having to launch the dinghy.  In the evening the "Rose Buddies" and the tourism department of the City put on their regular wine and cheese party for the boaters.  We hear stories from other captains of their journey to here and count the number of repairs they've had to do on the way....sails, engines, transmissions.  We feel lucky to have nothing to add to this conversation.  

Our friend Bob arrives on his boat "Scoot-N-Clan" from Long Island, NY.  He's been hoping to catch up with us so Jerry can install the autopilot he purchased during the summer.  Jerry spends the next two days with Bob preparing to install the autopilot.  Bob's friends, Jon and Nora who live in Elizabeth City, take us to their home for dinner a couple of times and another friend of Bob's, Pat, drives us around for parts, groceries, laundry, propane.  We've been spoiled!  Thanks!

Jon, Jerry, Pat, Nora and Bob

Jerry completed as much of the autopilot installation as possible.  One part has been ordered and shipped to our friends D and Don in Oriental.  He'll have to finish there.

From Elizabeth City we had a glorious sail down the Elizabeth River and across the Albemarle Sound on a close reach in 15 - 20 knots of wind and down the Alligator River.  At the end of the day we anchored on the Pungo River, the wind stopped and we enjoyed a perfectly still evening with a gibbous moon overhead and the smell of Carolina pines in the air.

The next day brought light air and we leisurely sailed the rest of the way to Oriental.  There is so much happening in Oriental!  D and Don live here and cousins Dick and Georgette are a short drive away.  Bob, Jerry and I felt like royalty as Dick and Georgette arrived with their van and chauffeured us to New Bern and dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant.  Our evening included a tour of downtown New Bern sparkling with Christmas lights.  Then apple pie aboard Persephone back at the dock.

D and Don, in addition to providing bikes for transportation around town, made dinner another night - topped off with a campfire and roasted marshmallows in their backyard.

Jerry and D

Don whittling sticks  

In between dinners, a movie, wine tastings, and visiting with other boaters, Jerry finished Bob's autopilot installation.

The autopilot will make traveling easier for single-hander Bob.  Especially those long passages where he sits at the helm for 24 hours +/-.

D loaned me a table and chairs to set up my sea glass jewelry and watercolor notecards at the Farmer's Market in Oriental.  Yup, I sold some.  Thanks, D.

And, our friends Mike and Liz (usually traveling on their sailboat) arrived in Oriental aboard their friend Joe's boat.  They've traveled from Oneida Lake in NY to here in Joe's 34' Rinker powerboat.

Dinner with Joe, Mike, Liz, Don & D (left early) and Bob at the Oriental Grill.

We love Oriental - it would be great to stay and visit more but we have to keep our track south to try to stay ahead of the cold.  

The sun goes down in Oriental.

Off to Beaufort.

Here in Beaufort we find our friends Ryan, Kari, Shawn and Haley aboard "Valkyrie" at the docks.  The winds aren't favorable for leaving so we plan a Thanksgiving dinner with them and a couple from New Zealand.

Kari and Karen in the galley of Valkyrie as Haley looks on.

Shawn fills his plate with the turkey I stuffed and baked in our oven.  (Yes, stuffed.  I took a tape measure to the grocery store and bought the largest turkey I could. 12.5 lbs.  Rubs on the top of the oven as it cooks.)

Kari's home made cranberry sauce (Jerry's mashed potatoes in the background.)

Haley's pecan pie with the turkey on top.  She made the crust, cracked the nuts, the whole kit-and-kaboodle!  Yum!

Shawn, Jerry, Karen, Pete, Kari, Ryan, Haley and Raewyn.

At the end of the evening we accept a tow from Pete and Raewyn back to the anchorage.  

Four-stroke outboards are very fuel efficient - but we do need to add some!

From here we go out on the ocean and head south............

Happy Thanksgiving!

Karen and Jerry

http://persephonesail.blogspot.com/

Oriental, NC

Look at towndock.net to see us on the harbor camera.

Elizabeth City, NC

We spent a fun-filled week with our friends Ryan and Kari and Shawn and Haley in Deltaville, VA.  Oyster Festival, movies aboard Valkyrie (Ryan's boat), dinners together and spending time down below on Persephone with the Aladdin lamp keeping us warm.  Here's Jerry's Swan pie.  I think we still have a bushel of apples left onboard.

We even had an early Thanksgiving with Kari's family at their home!  Ryan, Kari and kids are preparing to leave for the Virgin Islands asap.  We had to say goodbye and continue on our way south.
The wind has been blowing from the northwest and north for the last week - everyday 20 knots with higher gusts.  Perfect for our sail down the Chesapeake to Norfolk and a motor through the Dismal Swamp Canal.  I took a picture of Robert, the lock tender at the Deep Creek Lock on the Dismal Swamp Canal (and his dog too).  Robert has just brought coffee and pastries to the guys on the boat behind us in the lock.  How's that for southern hospitality!  We're encouraged to eat as much as we want because his dog has gained too much weight from the leftovers.  Before leaving the lock Robert entertained us with a song played on the conch horn.

Last night we arrived at the free city docks Elizabeth City, NC offers to passing boaters.