tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27214215988943405822024-03-21T22:46:54.366-05:00With Water BelowAfter many years of strategizing, donating, downsizing and completing lengthy "to-do" lists, we have at last moved aboard our 43' sailboat, NORTHERN STAR. We have said goodbye to our life's careers in lieu of new unpaid "careers" as sailors and vagabonds. Our new home, NORTHERN STAR will carry us across many waters over the next two to ten years. We invite family and friends to follow us on our great adventure with water below. Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-69228506665701290602022-02-22T13:48:00.000-06:002022-02-22T13:53:03.023-06:00 Retired First Mate Turned Author<p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfBsDrsvCtd0SkOg30IjsMkJScJignYoPhB3E0FYYbxRrnaQDtuBN27npLw9WMbRls62qk3PkLmFwMSnuo8vpRUBMol36C96vLth2UduxOAaoI-WKmbX7RNCTowdv7J_xyrxqPBqjvRxtTKypMgBlSl0cJiiPh2xzQIqhjRAuv4Zc-PqcC_O2yETauxQ=s500" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="339" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfBsDrsvCtd0SkOg30IjsMkJScJignYoPhB3E0FYYbxRrnaQDtuBN27npLw9WMbRls62qk3PkLmFwMSnuo8vpRUBMol36C96vLth2UduxOAaoI-WKmbX7RNCTowdv7J_xyrxqPBqjvRxtTKypMgBlSl0cJiiPh2xzQIqhjRAuv4Zc-PqcC_O2yETauxQ=s320" width="217" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Paperback and eBook</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">While we lived on <i>Nothern Star,</i> I learned that there are many people living on boats who write. Some live part-time on the water and some, like me, no longer live aboard a boat but still identify with that lifestyle and appreciate that network of friends. There is a wonderful Facebook group just for us called (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/women.who.sail.who.write/posts/505076556659074/?comment_id=505090653324331&notif_id=1541435650951262&notif_t=group_comment_reply" target="_blank">WWSWW)</a> Women Who Sail Who Write. There were 786 members last time I checked. It's a great group of women.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">An update for them and everyone else about what I've been writing since CoVID barged into our lives. I wrote a historical novel called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Driftless-Ardys-Brevig-Richards-ebook/dp/B098MYYKN8/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Driftless&qid=1645557312&s=digital-text&sr=1-3">Driftless.</a> The title may lead one to think that it's about our sailing life, but it is not. If this is disappointing, I am sorry. It was, however, the book that I needed to write and I'm receiving very good feedback about it. It's about mental health treatment in the 1940s, specifically in rural Minnesota and the old Rochester State Hospital. Driftless also won the 2021 Writer's Digest Self-Published eBook Award in the category of Contemporary Fiction. </p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">It's been two years and four months since we left </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Northern Star</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> on the hard at Jabin's Yachts in Annapolis. We made her shiny and clean, and with some melancholy, hoped she would find new owners who would take good care of her and enjoy her within the next year, hopefully</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">And then CoVID arrived. Remember where you were when it so rudely moved in? We had just moved into an apartment in Memphis. We'd only met a few people in our new land-life community when we were thrust into learning a new vocabulary and with it, the world rapidly changed. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgobn5p9S6onPEZfm8t-hRQ-PFR_3fQmj4v982-ZxzdZS-4f6Zr4wfe1a173nnPxAYo9kHC_3rB4KDieGIfRzxnjDGODV3TXqnwIYNrTyBAHhbvDDGEEqsPJOOTxfr8czBpTUPEeWERoWsyisJT75qnwnUfVA70BQOeAf5BRaieahuYmvl_X-4dyrEDvA=s1280" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgobn5p9S6onPEZfm8t-hRQ-PFR_3fQmj4v982-ZxzdZS-4f6Zr4wfe1a173nnPxAYo9kHC_3rB4KDieGIfRzxnjDGODV3TXqnwIYNrTyBAHhbvDDGEEqsPJOOTxfr8czBpTUPEeWERoWsyisJT75qnwnUfVA70BQOeAf5BRaieahuYmvl_X-4dyrEDvA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the ICW</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Those of our sailing friends that were still on the water scrambled to get settled in a country or island where they could safely stay for an unknown period of time. They sailed as fast as they could to reach those places before the borders closed. Some went to Grenada. One couple was in Dominica and was not allowed to get off their boat for a very long time. Locals brought food out to them. Another couple was "stuck" in Portugal for four months. Before we say, "lucky for you," they weren't allowed to travel anywhere either. It would have been the same for us had we gone on to Central America, instead of the U.S. when we did.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> There we were, transplants in Memphis wanting to start our land life in a new place. What we found was a "new reality." So much terminology. There were hot spots, "essential" workers, Corona "parties" (for those who took a "light-hearted" approach to the pandemic), spikes, variants, refrigerated semis--mobile morgues, mass burials, lock-downs, stay-at-home orders, closed borders, empty shelves, and ZOOM meetings. Airplanes were empty for a time because the borders were closed and as it turned out, not all business meetings <i>have</i> to be in-person. America's carbon footprint decreased for a time.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsKCMBh7Cg6FR3LbLI1h3sVhhNZCPl8WZsUtC7wEm8dnmPuwzIPOGN7IFSy-EleCmTzJQuaFhOywqYceOw4eOMUOGNdtQyplRz3L3dv24r_bFEYBnBbQ4v3oy9PjQPu8ioBqmRJOgPA1TwkpL9PpsBhLl9wPK8SGtFfz5HgIbx2codzdAqSvlaPaCtKA=s3723" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1883" data-original-width="3723" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsKCMBh7Cg6FR3LbLI1h3sVhhNZCPl8WZsUtC7wEm8dnmPuwzIPOGN7IFSy-EleCmTzJQuaFhOywqYceOw4eOMUOGNdtQyplRz3L3dv24r_bFEYBnBbQ4v3oy9PjQPu8ioBqmRJOgPA1TwkpL9PpsBhLl9wPK8SGtFfz5HgIbx2codzdAqSvlaPaCtKA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new home base on land</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The first shortages took us by surprise: hand sanitizer, face masks, ventilators, N95s, ICU beds, toilet paper, and various other things, but what became most alarming was the shortage or rather, the</span><i style="text-align: justify;"> absence </i><span style="text-align: justify;">of vaccination. </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Even </span><i style="text-align: left;">big</i><span style="text-align: left;"> businesses developed or expanded strategies to keep things running: online orders expanded everywhere, curbside pick-ups, no-contact deliveries, vet's offices take the dog inside while you wait in the car, paper menus replaced with QR Barcodes, streets were even blocked off to enable outdoor seating in Chicago and elsewhere. Customer crowding was reduced by taping 6-foot markers on floors. I don't know what's going to happen with all the empty office space around the country, but I am glad there is a little less traffic on the roads.</span></p><p></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUBZKsVK-7H9qu23DuTfq1R6dFZYAt_V38CfHcIQnAUF5PbeLWAjUxL-Mvhux8jsT0IMbX7mfiNj7NfDWSgIZBuGR7EMeQ8DL6nJn9QFxv23QSewgZHMCbAmLfMhwXRn9YSV325EPoRTCFitQzWtGzkyBGq7HcNVCr68QYH-vjSpxyiYILyYY3wrWFbg=s4032" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUBZKsVK-7H9qu23DuTfq1R6dFZYAt_V38CfHcIQnAUF5PbeLWAjUxL-Mvhux8jsT0IMbX7mfiNj7NfDWSgIZBuGR7EMeQ8DL6nJn9QFxv23QSewgZHMCbAmLfMhwXRn9YSV325EPoRTCFitQzWtGzkyBGq7HcNVCr68QYH-vjSpxyiYILyYY3wrWFbg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawn to the water. Gulf Coast 2022</td></tr></tbody></table>People have been creative. They've developed strategies to get along at home during our new normal. Some were unavoidable changes: they worked remotely or became unemployed, resumed full-time parenting, became product hoarders, sewed face masks for others, and developed businesses that were not needed before CoVID. Graduation "parties" became graduation "parades" in cars. Many people threw themselves into outdoor activities: biking, hiking, RVing, kayaking, boating, hot tubs, camping, and <i>even</i> sailboating.</p><p></p>Because of CoVid,<i> Northern Star </i>sold faster than we'd have expected. Good news for us and if CoVID has had any positive side-effects, it may be that the pandemic has made people think about doing things they'd always wanted to do and hadn't gotten around to it. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJgT2pnNHv1jttUzmTusNkERtFbYgfEnfvbPZudIa9KqlaHa8uGtphsMAF1F5vZHIOW4P_QxYjskwDnLZM1H_bXK42XR5Fyh84r_2cv7MYrraG88JDwfabijMI0xuva8DnU8NaQh5N9xwRTNd76DaDz6UqaymnKHpDfEHxybpdzFSPtHy-H-HoTQs3bg=s3476" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2124" data-original-width="3476" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJgT2pnNHv1jttUzmTusNkERtFbYgfEnfvbPZudIa9KqlaHa8uGtphsMAF1F5vZHIOW4P_QxYjskwDnLZM1H_bXK42XR5Fyh84r_2cv7MYrraG88JDwfabijMI0xuva8DnU8NaQh5N9xwRTNd76DaDz6UqaymnKHpDfEHxybpdzFSPtHy-H-HoTQs3bg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Border Collie in Lake Michigan.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The new owners are good people and very excited about sailing and about <i>Northern Star</i>. They even decided to keep the name which I think is pretty cool. CoVID did make it difficult for them to take possession of the boat, however. They are from the west coast of Canada. Non-essential travel outside Canada was not allowed for quite some time. Thus, they'd owned the boat about a year before seeing it for the first time.</p><p>As my photos suggest, we are still drawn to bodies of water. Not a day goes by that I don't spend some time remembering life aboard <i>Northern Star.</i></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-46289950071367042552021-09-21T21:01:00.000-05:002022-02-22T13:51:58.739-06:00Pinterest Board Accompanies Historical Novel, Driftless<p><br /></p><p><a href="https://ardysbrevigrichards.blogspot.com/2021/09/pinterest-board-accompanies-historical_21.html" target="_blank">https://ardysbrevigrichards.blogspot.com/2021/09/pinterest-board-accompanies-historical_21.html</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Driftless</i> is an historical novel. As such, I have attempted to represent the place and period as much as possible. As a companion to my new book, I have made a Pinterest board to illustrate something of the time and the setting for this story. Rural southeast Minnesota in the 1940's and 50's. </span></p><p><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3", "Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro", メイリオ, Meiryo, "MS Pゴシック", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="color: #211922;">A family dairy farm in 1948 is the primary setting of the book, <i>Driftless</i>. The farm lies atop Hawk Ridge (fictitious name) within the southeastern MN bluff country and is part of the Norwegian-American community there. The family in this story milk Brown Swiss cows, raise pigs, chickens and they use workhorses to farm. Small children roam the farm and play in the woods barefoot. They attend a one-room country schoolhouse in rural MN</span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3", "Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro", メイリオ, Meiryo, "MS Pゴシック", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="color: #211922;">. </span></p><p><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3", "Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro", メイリオ, Meiryo, "MS Pゴシック", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: #ffe599; color: #211922; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Visit the above Pinterest link for more photos depicting the farm life of <i>Driftless</i></span></span></p><p><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3", "Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro", メイリオ, Meiryo, "MS Pゴシック", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: #ffe599; color: #211922; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3", "Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro", メイリオ, Meiryo, "MS Pゴシック", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: #ffe599; color: #211922; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-JD02mnKy8F118NMGcZZKOiyyGE1AYN9jAQOIKrPr8ai-Ze9U8cGdXiV95Su1npqweVIIYeDd9Wi1u5FLFHTqifjYeS5N-w0e6L0b0rsUEOIQ5IoBK1ghUCEqTb8S4BLhl8JYW15Gb3y/s668/Mississippi+River+valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="474" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-JD02mnKy8F118NMGcZZKOiyyGE1AYN9jAQOIKrPr8ai-Ze9U8cGdXiV95Su1npqweVIIYeDd9Wi1u5FLFHTqifjYeS5N-w0e6L0b0rsUEOIQ5IoBK1ghUCEqTb8S4BLhl8JYW15Gb3y/w454-h640/Mississippi+River+valley.jpg" width="454" /></a></span></span></div><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3", "Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro", メイリオ, Meiryo, "MS Pゴシック", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: #ffe599; color: #211922; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></span><p></p>Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-50148159770907985542021-09-21T21:00:00.001-05:002022-02-22T13:54:04.669-06:00Blogger Writes Historical Novel, Driftless<p> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></p><h1><span style="font-size: x-large;">The paperback version of <i>Driftless</i> is finally available! Yay! I am so glad, and so thankful to my editor and mentor, Deb Akey, for all her work despite CoVID. She's my hero. See Amazon link below author's photo.</span></h1><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIP2r6T1-R3TDo8IwBrBSHpBLQ7M-BKGp7FddcA9iKJGJ-KBtgHivQ_9ct5lIfxlhsqW_kfYIerwbtcaSe70JVZML_ZQf5DB2xMOHGqMm_XRKLnrTZFFY3TyXG2uqpUGgBuPyo8G3a3ln/s461/Ardys+with+new+Driftless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="354" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIP2r6T1-R3TDo8IwBrBSHpBLQ7M-BKGp7FddcA9iKJGJ-KBtgHivQ_9ct5lIfxlhsqW_kfYIerwbtcaSe70JVZML_ZQf5DB2xMOHGqMm_XRKLnrTZFFY3TyXG2uqpUGgBuPyo8G3a3ln/w492-h640/Ardys+with+new+Driftless.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">Author, Ardys Brevig Richards, grinning after receiving </span><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">the first paperback proof of <i>Driftless.</i> A second proof </div><div style="text-align: center;">followed, and finally the paperback was published 9/01/2021.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Order eBook or paperback through Amazon. Link is below.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736511807/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1JM4KUENEQ88V&keywords=driftless+by+ardys+richards&qid=1630547150&sprefix=driftless+by+a%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-1">Driftless: Richards, Ardys Brevig, Akey, Deb: 9781736511800: Amazon.com: Books</a></div><h1 class="a-spacing-none a-text-normal" id="title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></h1>Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-35018302309939473382019-10-28T22:17:00.001-05:002019-10-28T22:17:45.154-05:00The Two Happiest Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<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]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
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-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[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-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There’s an old saying that boaters like to say. It goes like
this, “The two happiest days of a boater’s life are the day she buys a boat and
the day she sells it.” A man said that to me yesterday. I answered
noncommittally, “hmmmm.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I can go along with most pithy sayings, but that one I’ve
never liked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all, I think that
the saying makes too many assumptions about me. I’ve never been fond of sayings
that demand wholehearted agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
want anyone to know what I will say, before I say it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In Minnesota, for example, a common saying is, “Well, is it
cold enough for ya?” Clearly, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">correct</i>
answer is, “Oh, ya, it’s pretty darn cold, isn’t it?” Having a touch of
rebellion left over from adolescence, I have tried going with a different kind
of response, “Well, I actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">like</i>
the cold…good for cross-country skiing,” or some such thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People just look at me funny after that, with
one raised eyebrow that I interpret to mean, “O-K. You. Are. Different.” (“Different”
in Minnesota-speak means something more than just a “variation from the usual.”
No, in Minnesota “different” means something that the speaker is not in
agreement with, is displeased by, or finds unappealing. Not to be confused with
“unique” or “creatively inspired.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Here’s what I would say about the two happiest days of a
boater’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two happiest days of
a boater’s life are the day she moves <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">onto</i>
the boat (filled with great expectations of travelling by wind and water and in
so doing, seeing things to be amazed by) and the second would be the day on the
water that was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so</i> perfect that she
couldn’t help but say these words aloud, “Now t<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">his</i> is why I live on a sailboat.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I’ve had both of those days already. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Buying the boat was frankly, a little scary for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had committed myself to the plan, but the
reality of buying the boat felt enormous. And moving aboard was nearly a year
after the purchase. Moving aboard was a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">whole
lot</i> better than the purchase. We’d retired by then and made all the
arrangements to live aboard. It was exciting!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Having it sold <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i>
be a relief, I’m sure, so that we can move ahead with something more permanent
on land. But that’s not the same as being the happiest day. And moving off the
boat is definitely not the happiest day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We are in the thick of that moving off process now. Our boat
is in a slip at Bert Jabin’s Yacht Yard in Annapolis. We’ve rented a 5 X 10’
storage unit in Annapolis so that we can box up and remove every personal item that
we’ve been carrying around with us on the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this process, my husband has told me many
times, “Just throw away anything that’s junk.” The thing is, I already <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did</i> a lot of that over the course of the
last year onboard. The physical sensation of tossing something into the trash
barrel seems to comfort my spouse, however, so I agree now and then that he may
discard something that I wouldn’t exactly call junk, but that I’m sure I can
live without. I think it’s like a “symbolic cleansing” of the soul to discard
things. Anyway, we did find some things that we gifted to others like
child-sized life jackets, reading books, and a variety of Chart Guides to the Caribbean,
which we gave to friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That felt
good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As of today, there’s little left on the boat, and a lot in
the storage unit here. We have another storage unit is Duluth (10 X 20’) that
is pretty well filled up. Our belongings in there will stay there until we
figure out where we will live permanently. For the winter, we are going to rent
a furnished apartment in Memphis. See how it feels to live there until the boat
sells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a visit to Minnesota now and
then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This week, we moved off the boat for the very last
time. Although we still have workmen coming to take care of some minor maintenance
issues prior to putting on the market, and though we are still working on
cleaning everything inside and out, and polishing all the brass, and the
stainless, and fiberglass, we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">must</i>
move off because of two important things that will happen. One is that it’s
late in the season and the boat must be winterized. Once that happens, we can’t
live aboard because there will be no water. The other thing is that our boat
broker was scheduled to come aboard Friday<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>to photograph the interior of the boat. His advice was, “Make it shiny,”
so that’s what I’ve been working on. Plus some canvas repairs. Carl has tackled
some things that will never shine no matter what…such as the bilge. Anyway, we
can’t be living on the boat when it’s photographed. It must be pristine, so
that means minus the detritus of Carl and Ardys’ habitation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For the short-term remainder of being in Annapolis, we are renting a Winnebago RV. It’s an older Winnebago and we won’t be driving it anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re just sleeping in it, while it sits in
the backyard of an older couple (okay, just a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">little</i> older than us) here in Annapolis. It’s an economical
alternative to an AirBnB.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should be
interesting. I’ve never stayed in an RV, and certainly not in something that’s
even smaller than our sailboat. While I do not have great expectations about
the RV, we are already accustomed to narrow traffic lanes in our living
quarters, so we should be able to take that in stride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once in the RV, we’ll start researching
furnished apartments in Memphis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
thinking about an industrial loft apartment, something without internal walls.
Something completely out of the ordinary, you know what I mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someplace where I would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> think of living. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br /></div>
Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-2261896189068952822019-09-27T15:15:00.001-05:002019-09-27T16:02:06.676-05:00What I Saw this Morning<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<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]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
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-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[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-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is what I saw when I
climbed up into the cockpit this morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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/AVvXsEgnTmKdfmcE3H2GePmP4dlhSn1BGaSGXLQuun45f7UvVLmJdUCrv9SbpR2cpTu34Hc25QSjqIjIdjJusA-N4SoK3ligRsJPUu75R6URRIJdyUqe19m5O0BEzrNOW5-pXLB3Rv6XsH_mgHOY/s1600/P1220620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1600" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTmKdfmcE3H2GePmP4dlhSn1BGaSGXLQuun45f7UvVLmJdUCrv9SbpR2cpTu34Hc25QSjqIjIdjJusA-N4SoK3ligRsJPUu75R6URRIJdyUqe19m5O0BEzrNOW5-pXLB3Rv6XsH_mgHOY/s640/P1220620.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anchored in a bay off the Potomac River, called Breton Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The sun shimmering on the
water, so intensely dark blue in this first hour after sunrise. There’s a long,
low, white restaurant on the shore with outdoor seating. Glowing in the early
morning sun. Empty of course, at this time of day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few houses tucked into the trees of the bay
surrounding us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4_nqWgmERxVL-eLwhqntBdlQZtNCxpOahcPjvyWG8C8o_o6LPr_aHlHFCbmVeeNBbOFfQcrHKqDa9TxrW2JPdO991j4BFsckiMT2GYEikC46C5jJjkJbXF9D8rNxP3xw8IZuq8EO5BYj/s1600/P1220621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="1600" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4_nqWgmERxVL-eLwhqntBdlQZtNCxpOahcPjvyWG8C8o_o6LPr_aHlHFCbmVeeNBbOFfQcrHKqDa9TxrW2JPdO991j4BFsckiMT2GYEikC46C5jJjkJbXF9D8rNxP3xw8IZuq8EO5BYj/s320/P1220621.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A football field length
away, a middle-aged man in a small clean boat with a roof overhead. We mistook
him for a crabber at first, but upon closer inspection, he must have been a
scientist of some kind. Moving trays around on the small boat, adding something
to some trays. Stacking them away and moving on to another spot on the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyzehX0QVcbimFdLnFSBQLkS7Hi0BapWZEDGSc3hBDFAYm011DdOqCEu1PrZoAgbbbBGdZRVV-Ryf2IFf9nTNwKDeH5kNA7-P0PPt1UzwzPGOT8Bfcd84BtpEuEWENDz909v2EVtyc9fX/s1600/P1220615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyzehX0QVcbimFdLnFSBQLkS7Hi0BapWZEDGSc3hBDFAYm011DdOqCEu1PrZoAgbbbBGdZRVV-Ryf2IFf9nTNwKDeH5kNA7-P0PPt1UzwzPGOT8Bfcd84BtpEuEWENDz909v2EVtyc9fX/s320/P1220615.jpg" width="308" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">A Blue Heron (maybe a young Great Blue) standing
on a channel marker, ostensibly guarding the osprey nest below him. No
osprey to be seen anywhere. Through my binoculars there was another Great Blue
Heron standing stock-still in the tall grasses on the shore. Thinking he was
invisible, I suppose. Just a stick in the grass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUhRs0aZMqEiII3F3sJSgpid3OttKXReyiUqArqAuVFKGgVjJo95kF3e8XJxIQ2vkvNo_Z3rgpffMKan-QMu81ycR3BL8l1idC9ztxBjEAmLkACVlESgsBp66qOks7Yxb-KGYHqhbNxCM/s1600/P1170963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1241" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUhRs0aZMqEiII3F3sJSgpid3OttKXReyiUqArqAuVFKGgVjJo95kF3e8XJxIQ2vkvNo_Z3rgpffMKan-QMu81ycR3BL8l1idC9ztxBjEAmLkACVlESgsBp66qOks7Yxb-KGYHqhbNxCM/s320/P1170963.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Blue Heron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">We pulled anchor and got
underway. There was an eagle far away, sitting at the top of a dead tree. Would
never have seen him without the binoculars. Moments later, another eagle atop a
green tree, his white head making him visible against that green even without
binoculars. Then he flew, or rather, soared and flew in great sweeping gestures
across the sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A flock of cormorants, flapping
desperately, coming from somewhere low on the horizon and rising across the
water to land one by one on the multitude of stakes that made up a fish weir,
or trap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1OxyNeANubwtIwMBJpW2sEMoYWR5I20t3E8rXT5ztYFASbRqoSeYIqKetnubN4q6v6LzKaGjKDA171hzGk4W61lZzv8ZgJxho_-tMfSF6aAypsDA9cOEtQu-A88MRFdtP2LZjzdff1LA/s1600/P1190934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1600" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1OxyNeANubwtIwMBJpW2sEMoYWR5I20t3E8rXT5ztYFASbRqoSeYIqKetnubN4q6v6LzKaGjKDA171hzGk4W61lZzv8ZgJxho_-tMfSF6aAypsDA9cOEtQu-A88MRFdtP2LZjzdff1LA/s320/P1190934.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cormorants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A flock of Pie-Billed Grebe,
flapping for all they were worth to maintain a short distance above the water.
Their silhouettes with head lower than their feet remind me, oddly enough, of
an old film clip—Esther Williams taking a swan dive off a tall board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I did that, it would turn into a belly
flop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4Ws8nVblNzLgRoWt3BgBgIB44v3EKSKke83R69c9UOwGRAHwDvRvtlBRIV9Mx-aKvPVUZGSCORaQ9EMVR00bBYYAIAWMlsli6u-2unfGJUadp6RyaR-kTy-TPrTrvXUpxNh4oLeJMqVb/s1600/P1200377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="655" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4Ws8nVblNzLgRoWt3BgBgIB44v3EKSKke83R69c9UOwGRAHwDvRvtlBRIV9Mx-aKvPVUZGSCORaQ9EMVR00bBYYAIAWMlsli6u-2unfGJUadp6RyaR-kTy-TPrTrvXUpxNh4oLeJMqVb/s320/P1200377.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the Anhinga, lower right </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">One Anhinga. I almost said
“one lonely Anhinga” but why should I think an Anhinga is lonely. I always see
them swimming alone, their long necks and heads the only parts visible above
the water. I saw an Anhinga up really close one time, swimming beneath the
walkway on land. The way his feathers spread out just a little so that his
wings rested lightly below the surface, holding the bird in perfect balance
kind of like a sailboat. Lovely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKAELLYV5Fi47nrxXDt37ATgV1PrMenKDjh0uA1ABZlgZqA4IHSXlGzH5TaJIrciYwErlZwK1O7qbsBNzdL6sptNX8u3x9HUL0IFViB_Ze9-rlIENPI7V7vs6N6hKmcX4NPAQN1fDcq2m/s1600/P1200117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="442" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKAELLYV5Fi47nrxXDt37ATgV1PrMenKDjh0uA1ABZlgZqA4IHSXlGzH5TaJIrciYwErlZwK1O7qbsBNzdL6sptNX8u3x9HUL0IFViB_Ze9-rlIENPI7V7vs6N6hKmcX4NPAQN1fDcq2m/s320/P1200117.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's caught something</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lots of Gull-billed Terns or
Sandwich Terns (very hard for me to tell them apart) flying maniacally. Up, flapflapflap,
then down, flapflapflap, and up again, and swooping flapflapflap toward one
another. Like it’s some kind of bird soccer game, without the ball, of course. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48enfO2UP7c9z5dkc3shpo3a9WNsW39hCynkM_9wrSm49yQ7X8-S7vgm35Eci9tlqQBOWYFX-vus99Sl2kIbz192G_vQmTp2AXjpq0kVco4pZ6Ztzv_oN6PuABZWFDMOan9NjR829BjWY/s1600/P1190986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48enfO2UP7c9z5dkc3shpo3a9WNsW39hCynkM_9wrSm49yQ7X8-S7vgm35Eci9tlqQBOWYFX-vus99Sl2kIbz192G_vQmTp2AXjpq0kVco4pZ6Ztzv_oN6PuABZWFDMOan9NjR829BjWY/s320/P1190986.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Immature gulls, one here and
there, flying, then resting on the water again. Immature gulls seem to be more plentiful
up the Potomac. The mature ones are out at the ocean. Do they tire quickly? Is
that why they spend more time sitting on the water than other birds we see?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1f8hyphenhyphen10kc5LwAqE5jnwCNVJ_OMoytA7Mof7GjtpDRDiOA2KVdgApYEFURxjh1avXKEXlIQARHhPm9i8fIxT8HZK8Zn8PDFu68oEK5A2kqqoYUY8M9I55mWmV8XDNv4sOuvU1fItHeSzkU/s1600/P1210163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1f8hyphenhyphen10kc5LwAqE5jnwCNVJ_OMoytA7Mof7GjtpDRDiOA2KVdgApYEFURxjh1avXKEXlIQARHhPm9i8fIxT8HZK8Zn8PDFu68oEK5A2kqqoYUY8M9I55mWmV8XDNv4sOuvU1fItHeSzkU/s400/P1210163.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There must have been fish on the last boat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">My husband putting on a
long-sleeved shirt over his knit shirt. There’s wind on the Potomac today, on
our nose. A fairly common experience for us. “Wherever we want to go, that’s
where the wind is coming from.” We can’t sail directly into the wind, so we’re
motoring again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv425ZBkZZpzStQweXim_m4qR6tWYyk4G79wjvAuhbf21jm9-rIPMKKGasRC1SaSwNBo0-QmR0EKn-Lq8ijLG7Z29-wtn4C3BIuimeRa9PmgO5cR6QU92Dpw94VdlmqyCP1WQheO5h4395/s1600/P1220563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv425ZBkZZpzStQweXim_m4qR6tWYyk4G79wjvAuhbf21jm9-rIPMKKGasRC1SaSwNBo0-QmR0EKn-Lq8ijLG7Z29-wtn4C3BIuimeRa9PmgO5cR6QU92Dpw94VdlmqyCP1WQheO5h4395/s320/P1220563.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sailing beneath flight path of Reagan Natl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">The American flag flogging in
the wind on our starboard side. Our third American flag since living
onboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has some wear left in it
before the wind tatters the loose end that whips onto itself and eventually
frays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remind myself that our flag
represents something much bigger than our current Administration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE9b-MyKgVa5BTcJDWZfJ79lCjux2R_sVCyPlxeXlFaaCjGnjTeprp8ALRJkFboEKiKaAUZsOkmZiPMB7nmkCvhBj7OS6Y2YZPSgIO-FLOZUEHnI8bQ5EC0XRYw7pwFhLJhvxYiXGcZVO/s1600/P1190908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE9b-MyKgVa5BTcJDWZfJ79lCjux2R_sVCyPlxeXlFaaCjGnjTeprp8ALRJkFboEKiKaAUZsOkmZiPMB7nmkCvhBj7OS6Y2YZPSgIO-FLOZUEHnI8bQ5EC0XRYw7pwFhLJhvxYiXGcZVO/s320/P1190908.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still on the Potomac</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">A cockpit that is in need of
cleaning. The cushions will be spread out on a dock and scrubbed within an inch
of their lives. The cockpit floor with its’ nonstick is scuffed and will
require elbow grease to remove a stain from spilled wine, and another from some
mystery liquid. Dust bunnies and dead bugs ready to accumulate on the scuppers
when a bucket of water is thrown at them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChAdHIirNEjmAE1qJbfafGavltzP_kU9AI6KSfXxjpKxNCr8n8kvkve9R84M9EGMdGEUuxC-rxLz1eM7yRGrF871-EQuU2Jh5MC8Mu8QYoD6VgxIaD5qEKtQXY_QF0w1axjdod0kQ4y2a/s1600/P1210118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="767" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChAdHIirNEjmAE1qJbfafGavltzP_kU9AI6KSfXxjpKxNCr8n8kvkve9R84M9EGMdGEUuxC-rxLz1eM7yRGrF871-EQuU2Jh5MC8Mu8QYoD6VgxIaD5qEKtQXY_QF0w1axjdod0kQ4y2a/s320/P1210118.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely dragonfly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I see where I made errors in
constructing some sewing projects. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
should have used black, not white zippers to attach the shade panels on port
and starboard, like I did when I remade the aft panel. The bridge between the
dodger and bimini was not sewn taut enough to keep the following edge from
whopping back and forth in the wind. After 4 ½ years, should I bother to
correct that design flaw before selling the boat?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I see my own feet wearing
stockings inside a pair of Croc sandals. The socks are like new. Hardly ever worn
over the past years on the boat. The Crocs have held up remarkably well, but at
some point, something is bound to give way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVxAJYs9zBm1eBr2T5HOTEmcsbRhaaGOHJ-81ei0OvBoZvboFt7nCJzLwCHt3QHnaRcVnlfZAhUu33YzULHoMIpFq2VMB8OyUcNhDbd0SZwm1vEe1rgTSyypNX5MC-2hP3WJ1bjgpXtx2/s1600/P1200266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVxAJYs9zBm1eBr2T5HOTEmcsbRhaaGOHJ-81ei0OvBoZvboFt7nCJzLwCHt3QHnaRcVnlfZAhUu33YzULHoMIpFq2VMB8OyUcNhDbd0SZwm1vEe1rgTSyypNX5MC-2hP3WJ1bjgpXtx2/s400/P1200266.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potomac is wide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Behind me, in the galley
below, the sink is full of dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
husband fried eggs and made us toast on top of the burner this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good coffee, too. Made in an AeroPress©. It
would hold its’ own in competition with Starbucks. Some folks might think that
I would want to get those dishes washed up first thing after breakfast. I am, however, not one of those people, but they will get done…soon… probably. Sometimes
writing comes before other more practical matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPokV87RHa4GJOsU58vrwPgbgJwT4TVrVAZszxPGLR3cdUgwmUmuLjY4HUctyr5v0oGIZLSBdaHpOumNrMhhWeD8vB7Gvk-Ksdb26O0nzOEsbtUcNEJlIgqykH01jB99vjCBlzrf55YnZ/s1600/P1220646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPokV87RHa4GJOsU58vrwPgbgJwT4TVrVAZszxPGLR3cdUgwmUmuLjY4HUctyr5v0oGIZLSBdaHpOumNrMhhWeD8vB7Gvk-Ksdb26O0nzOEsbtUcNEJlIgqykH01jB99vjCBlzrf55YnZ/s320/P1220646.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighthouse in Chesapeake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Potomac shorelines are
far away. The River is wide now and getting wider. By the end of today, we will
have exited out the mouth of the Potomac and rounded the point in order to head
back in to shore to anchor at Solomon’s Island, Maryland. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dqhlL8ArezrjR5YX6cJbI9DrS0kjmT5JXuAMCLtA2DFnuR2KEbDhrLLY3p81vtaI2ILIUHSchZffmoQYjlAn5iMkqjQ_s0KtTaVRzJkGKPgGTTfXWa1qvcAUXrBPgqUli0_hQfAY_3L-/s1600/P1220617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dqhlL8ArezrjR5YX6cJbI9DrS0kjmT5JXuAMCLtA2DFnuR2KEbDhrLLY3p81vtaI2ILIUHSchZffmoQYjlAn5iMkqjQ_s0KtTaVRzJkGKPgGTTfXWa1qvcAUXrBPgqUli0_hQfAY_3L-/s400/P1220617.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at last anchorage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">After today, there will be just
one more day on the water, heading north toward Annapolis, our final
destination. I hope we can have one more day to sail. Shut off the trusty
diesel Yanmar and just sail <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Northern Star</i>
one more time. Shake out the sails and listen to the sounds of the water and
the birds. And the occasional plop of a fish hopelessly leaping for freedom. Can't blame him for trying, but it's important to know where one belongs. And I'm betting that fishes' fate is to be dinner for a bigger fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-84031804394638742882019-09-25T00:33:00.001-05:002022-02-22T13:57:28.035-06:00Staying Put<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<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]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
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-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[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-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="640" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2Q_AqVWPF8J7kpC5U4mIX6BpmfcdhqqQzYkWQ5y_UeBvk8YvhiuX9Yp0J7HZ2fkqnGCB5vhyB3BTPDYio7ZWLQ1WWIg3SIpfkFvFhlckuLKCpjf1Zt875HUeVcHV6cthVTRlP1dtnzri/s320/with+our+boat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Jax, Titusville, FL 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2Q_AqVWPF8J7kpC5U4mIX6BpmfcdhqqQzYkWQ5y_UeBvk8YvhiuX9Yp0J7HZ2fkqnGCB5vhyB3BTPDYio7ZWLQ1WWIg3SIpfkFvFhlckuLKCpjf1Zt875HUeVcHV6cthVTRlP1dtnzri/s1600/with+our+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">I got out my thesaurus and
looked up “bon voyage” today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are oodles of synonyms.
“Farewell,” “Godspeed,” “Fair winds and following seas.” Aren’t those lovely
send-offs? “Have a safe trip.” “Good sailing.” They sound so full of hope and great
expectation. So…desirable. So full of fresh wind and salty sea. Ahh, yes.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kiCXbl2CnMhpsQ3GJQ63ZwKgqYf5lmzA7fMF6qwBaFrzSfktcs-Vn_m3FI_3Fm6cwOfHsSuY1q0s68lD88roO3XnEWh1QK0dKfI6XmeRso1HrVedpFff5YIBCCcMoxSyoWgbIGwoHfah/s1600/P4180187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kiCXbl2CnMhpsQ3GJQ63ZwKgqYf5lmzA7fMF6qwBaFrzSfktcs-Vn_m3FI_3Fm6cwOfHsSuY1q0s68lD88roO3XnEWh1QK0dKfI6XmeRso1HrVedpFff5YIBCCcMoxSyoWgbIGwoHfah/s400/P4180187.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But coming back to land to
stay? When a sailor says, ‘well, I’ve had enough exploring by water. I’m going
to plant roots on land and become terrestrial again.’ Then how will we be
greeted? Will people say, “Well, my my…Happy…Staying Put.” How does one make <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> sound like an appealing and
wonderful thing to do, to stay put? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPE6jKShkOo0q-3cVlFOXsdtlQMfEAe6RcJ4P2uzi04aTWtodWg2eBQc6Fw7H_mpcMsKB4TzHtLlBD_-Ms5atkrWgIFXlZ1IVVARWkGMZ9L_FHdBeE0xOE4U0pf975YBYavS_nfMI7d-F/s1600/Carl+and+Ardys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xw_g-8jgFbcteGQV0LwNrk2PJ-6lmaKeHix06qbu4210nT2gO_XVvkxVl625LDoDFvo_3SmK-fXuwdLCQ-KNE1iL7Mob1VdIGabEbYB419sRwM1diyQCGatxygKqm_dSQKHPm7wrMMpC/s1600/P9210098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1213" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xw_g-8jgFbcteGQV0LwNrk2PJ-6lmaKeHix06qbu4210nT2gO_XVvkxVl625LDoDFvo_3SmK-fXuwdLCQ-KNE1iL7Mob1VdIGabEbYB419sRwM1diyQCGatxygKqm_dSQKHPm7wrMMpC/s320/P9210098.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">The thesaurus, apparently, harbors
bad feelings toward sailors returning to live on dry land. Here are some of the
antonyms that I found for bon voyage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Stay
in place. Stand still. Immobility. Indolence. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stagnation</i>. (gasp) Torpidity. Motionlessness. Idleness. Dormancy. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laziness</i>. <u>Blockage</u> (seriously?)
Diminishment. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Failure</i>. Worsening.”
Jeez. I feel despondent already. I particularly worry about the “Stagnation” and
the “Blockage.” Both conjure up images of getting stuck in stinky muck. They all
make me nervous to think about the future. A little scared about what to expect
next.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vdWGvuI31m6ckfkE0WyAa-r1-0Y1Kg01giuQSPw7xtOxJX1twuqcreCrs92Bq_cp8St0wweSnC1MlqfadHglLQkHIQHZMIMGxo9df7BuxYIu9OVTADPqBgH1fAalBjLeg-DorKtaMz0C/s1600/Maine+lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="1185" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vdWGvuI31m6ckfkE0WyAa-r1-0Y1Kg01giuQSPw7xtOxJX1twuqcreCrs92Bq_cp8St0wweSnC1MlqfadHglLQkHIQHZMIMGxo9df7BuxYIu9OVTADPqBgH1fAalBjLeg-DorKtaMz0C/s400/Maine+lighthouse.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maine, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I remember quite well my
anxiety 5 years ago, about moving from land onto the water. We’d sold the house
and gotten rid of so much stuff. Lots of stuff! We retired early and I wondered
‘what do I do if I don’t like life on the water?’ There’s nothing to go back
to. No home on land. I worried about leaving a life that I was perfectly
content with for something quite different. Afraid I would miss the familiarity
of a house and driving a car. Worried that my husband and I would find it
intolerable to be alone with each other 24/7. Husbands and wives just do not
spend all their time together…at least none of the couples that I knew on land
did that. Surely it would be a recipe for disaster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9Q5fXU56xW7LoiaV7-tTTfjt_HlGsQNcYOMeMm0Bu8J-f3QRHYaY_WWBGFl0pmyz_KavfU4FgiBHHku3Us10lI-T2JbtguzbeGQq1TekTPpUu_ZGFAfQa61bo8-AKa8Izt8eRCeuB48P/s1600/P1180018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="1280" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9Q5fXU56xW7LoiaV7-tTTfjt_HlGsQNcYOMeMm0Bu8J-f3QRHYaY_WWBGFl0pmyz_KavfU4FgiBHHku3Us10lI-T2JbtguzbeGQq1TekTPpUu_ZGFAfQa61bo8-AKa8Izt8eRCeuB48P/s320/P1180018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And then we were met with the
anxiety of our families. “You know you’re going to die out there on the water,
don’t you?” “What if you get caught in a storm?” “But you’re going to stay in a
hotel when you get there, right?”</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5cCmxIw1yvoz_J7uq4gK__1yFC3NenL-3pKk2JLlzU3m751LWhQRFTrsbrwH8ULIcPTY5M2EnIKY4_zQ90sv1jISJR2LX0hwraHZJTzZtzSmPQLt4AX85NwBgJOgag4n6drj_9EmcVoP/s1600/P1180076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="1280" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5cCmxIw1yvoz_J7uq4gK__1yFC3NenL-3pKk2JLlzU3m751LWhQRFTrsbrwH8ULIcPTY5M2EnIKY4_zQ90sv1jISJR2LX0hwraHZJTzZtzSmPQLt4AX85NwBgJOgag4n6drj_9EmcVoP/s320/P1180076.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">But it turned out that our
boat has become our home. When we’ve been gone for a few days, it feels so
welcoming to return to our home. It IS home. Our home. It’s not very big and we
don’t have room for much of anything that’s not essential, but it’s comfy and
I’ve never had any anxiety about being out on the ocean. I feel as safe in this
home of ours as I do riding in a car. And much more relaxed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPE6jKShkOo0q-3cVlFOXsdtlQMfEAe6RcJ4P2uzi04aTWtodWg2eBQc6Fw7H_mpcMsKB4TzHtLlBD_-Ms5atkrWgIFXlZ1IVVARWkGMZ9L_FHdBeE0xOE4U0pf975YBYavS_nfMI7d-F/s1600/Carl+and+Ardys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="640" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPE6jKShkOo0q-3cVlFOXsdtlQMfEAe6RcJ4P2uzi04aTWtodWg2eBQc6Fw7H_mpcMsKB4TzHtLlBD_-Ms5atkrWgIFXlZ1IVVARWkGMZ9L_FHdBeE0xOE4U0pf975YBYavS_nfMI7d-F/s320/Carl+and+Ardys.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">T</span><span style="font-size: large;">he boat takes care of us. At
anchor, she points into the wind, so that we get the benefit of the breezes to
cool us. Sitting in the cockpit to watch the sky change colors at sunset and
listen to the water and birds is a daily luxury. It’s hard to imagine not being
able to do that when we move off the boat for the last time. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJr4qF3P62S_Ix3KaR4Go_x614kofEua78ajsvxi9Ros9R1QPkxvS8vAFnm9WTeS9TwJodvir-s1dKgrZdT6bAQiUw-jhU4uxD033pG8SMsVOZSi7OPKgtu84A7q8J115WB41g9w8XSav/s1600/P2280156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="635" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJr4qF3P62S_Ix3KaR4Go_x614kofEua78ajsvxi9Ros9R1QPkxvS8vAFnm9WTeS9TwJodvir-s1dKgrZdT6bAQiUw-jhU4uxD033pG8SMsVOZSi7OPKgtu84A7q8J115WB41g9w8XSav/s320/P2280156.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I step off this boat for
the very last time, it’ll be the end of a very good chunk of my life. The end
of a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">way</i> of living. A kind of life
that we’ve never been able to adequately describe to anyone who has not lived a
cruising life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when it’s gone, there
won’t be many people, at least in our near environment, that we can reminisce
with about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will that feel lonely?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM143vtsVfxLcAX3lE3euQhEvnlEbODe3B9vMxhJiLHSJGe-x8rvx7y6n4TX7cauKO8clRMpAqeU7LIEQ388_Vh5AcV1DSEqCU8oVzsbvaAT3AhpUd66D0YTx-Pl9zzBTHODHFNIIA60e7/s1600/bim32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1280" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM143vtsVfxLcAX3lE3euQhEvnlEbODe3B9vMxhJiLHSJGe-x8rvx7y6n4TX7cauKO8clRMpAqeU7LIEQ388_Vh5AcV1DSEqCU8oVzsbvaAT3AhpUd66D0YTx-Pl9zzBTHODHFNIIA60e7/s320/bim32.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I know who I am when I live
on the boat. What do I mean by that? Not sure I can explain it, but I’ll try. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know that I am someone who
tolerates a change of plans. Weather makes lots of decisions for us. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxyEI3foUNnLJ0qRH2RvKNQlkU95Yl0z5Xgn3nuqg-J8QkcZ2Tutpu6IKtWZNoQES8oo1UMYYzQ8uYyP_wt8Sdu9UEqqkCiOhOG2WlHdbLYWOJx47lpUuH8DkbdpFFPpLTJ6Bou4kHVnK/s1600/P3280315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="640" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxyEI3foUNnLJ0qRH2RvKNQlkU95Yl0z5Xgn3nuqg-J8QkcZ2Tutpu6IKtWZNoQES8oo1UMYYzQ8uYyP_wt8Sdu9UEqqkCiOhOG2WlHdbLYWOJx47lpUuH8DkbdpFFPpLTJ6Bou4kHVnK/s320/P3280315.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I can tolerate discomfort; it
is ordinary and often quite necessary. When we hit rough water and the wind is
stronger than we anticipated, we’ll be bouncing and crashing into waves
abruptly and we might be heeled hard, perhaps all day and throughout a long
night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHbpjA53ateUgcusCdyFZHwymBvBoY7DKBCv7zA_vS7v_Nr0VYOgVrXH9Rs02pXS1KDlTWObppqA7ZOWiKUAPvOSINL6toiZfmnzji5UaoRpvTeC0l1ahTbIvfviiFsUxvHK-lC8Y2kk4/s1600/IMG_7670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHbpjA53ateUgcusCdyFZHwymBvBoY7DKBCv7zA_vS7v_Nr0VYOgVrXH9Rs02pXS1KDlTWObppqA7ZOWiKUAPvOSINL6toiZfmnzji5UaoRpvTeC0l1ahTbIvfviiFsUxvHK-lC8Y2kk4/s400/IMG_7670.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When it’s really hot and
still, the only respite comes from fans. We can’t run the A/C away from a dock.
If we’re moving, it’s the drone of the engine all day. Sailboat now turned
trawler. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve become accustomed to
showering less frequently than I did while living on land. Fresh water is
something that takes time and energy to make, and anyway, when my spouse and I
are equally sweaty and ripe, it doesn’t matter as much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHz-JXh-2poz9WNtn_d5F7paJrNaNVMvhT3D7sjHlr6tBNpHHEUoliNt9DcO5ZuoFVKnF4s9tikxdJHJ2BF9YXDByeG2FhL0-GnI2V0y8J8vR4zPDPDMXfomoenEfc8wgXM87VrPw7IZl/s1600/Marsh+Harbor+shoreline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="1280" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHz-JXh-2poz9WNtn_d5F7paJrNaNVMvhT3D7sjHlr6tBNpHHEUoliNt9DcO5ZuoFVKnF4s9tikxdJHJ2BF9YXDByeG2FhL0-GnI2V0y8J8vR4zPDPDMXfomoenEfc8wgXM87VrPw7IZl/s320/Marsh+Harbor+shoreline.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsh Harbor, Abacos 2017<br />Destroyed by Hurricane 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Things stop working sometimes
and need to be fixed on the water. That happens on land too, but less often, I
believe. They’re mostly small things, but sometimes major issues, too. We
discover that the way we are doing something, is causing a different problem
for us. The way I’ve been attaching a line is showing hard wear in one spot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I replace it or make a cover to protect the
vulnerable spot. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7TkYz0VXwNSeYiKDYbxs03YlBYKtHtdzWxqTEdDbf6y7VNMYPgTUALwHlHR-MtNIAg8rdfCOy6TU6DbYeUmRtyJSLv2-f0CXaW7wuPWupD1PM0RFRYjxhrtgnvVaPLLCRxM9ADgKblQX/s1600/IMG_3842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7TkYz0VXwNSeYiKDYbxs03YlBYKtHtdzWxqTEdDbf6y7VNMYPgTUALwHlHR-MtNIAg8rdfCOy6TU6DbYeUmRtyJSLv2-f0CXaW7wuPWupD1PM0RFRYjxhrtgnvVaPLLCRxM9ADgKblQX/s400/IMG_3842.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oriental, NC 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are places on the boat that
need special attention, frequently. I find mildew developing on the ceiling in
the head. Need more vinegar and bleach. The isinglass windows in the canvas
dodger become smudgy and thick with salt accumulation. I forget to lock a
drawer before we’re underway and a knife takes a nose-dive into our nice new
teak and juniper sole. We aim for a mooring ball to attach up at our bow and
find, not surprisingly, that the rope pendant is slimy and gross. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not uncommon to find my hands in
something that is unpleasant. Keeping a manicure has never been in the cards on
the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Zk3Fw5Jet8PsXEyXWyY82v9Fvr5A6fpU0JZHusbojMlQsEdOJGjyRARmI65Hd9KE6G69RbcE5h3-ELahYZ6x9_xj3e2Uat7dB1BXdwhDDyPqxcVKQyOq5_2QKWtvUH-SCuA64s-Dc67b/s1600/IMG_0880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Zk3Fw5Jet8PsXEyXWyY82v9Fvr5A6fpU0JZHusbojMlQsEdOJGjyRARmI65Hd9KE6G69RbcE5h3-ELahYZ6x9_xj3e2Uat7dB1BXdwhDDyPqxcVKQyOq5_2QKWtvUH-SCuA64s-Dc67b/s320/IMG_0880.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I admit there are things on
the boat, that I have never liked doing. Putting the fitted sheet on the Pullman
bed is one. This usually takes place when I’m tired; crawling over the bed to
reach the far two corners, bracing the top of my head against the wall in order
to leverage the strength to lift up the mattress while stuffing the sheet
underneath, all without wrenching my back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ92EpM_8zQh5KDeovhsFmaOvnirbWAtU-NZB9-Ox_a65hYa35fyTgl9CZrod6vKfzZBiLPybUtMO_Utc_KtIAbcz5iIX2_Ai62q_4wbFcwkyHPLI5x-EKNaQ0tgY0lptVwg5bchchyphenhyphenKq9/s1600/P1290084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ92EpM_8zQh5KDeovhsFmaOvnirbWAtU-NZB9-Ox_a65hYa35fyTgl9CZrod6vKfzZBiLPybUtMO_Utc_KtIAbcz5iIX2_Ai62q_4wbFcwkyHPLI5x-EKNaQ0tgY0lptVwg5bchchyphenhyphenKq9/s320/P1290084.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe my least favorite thing
is this scenario. We desperately need some part or tool or some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THING</i> that we know is on the boat
somewhere. Where is that thing? I remember seeing it. When? Not sure. Was it
under the aft bed? Maybe. Was it under the Pullman bed? Did we shove it up into
the anchor locker at the bow...because we thought we’d never need it? </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD_133O0vRRteUNdUpSu7JLQ3Da5gBCdg78aDHZdyNlqPWEOvW-H5LOSwYSoBB5GXDMGUyVNuXrM-QSy0foqtTeBfokRWXRmhgoqRpHy1a_wb0PXf9_7LtIP7_MiGgPToFzga7tCn62Ck/s1600/P1200791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD_133O0vRRteUNdUpSu7JLQ3Da5gBCdg78aDHZdyNlqPWEOvW-H5LOSwYSoBB5GXDMGUyVNuXrM-QSy0foqtTeBfokRWXRmhgoqRpHy1a_wb0PXf9_7LtIP7_MiGgPToFzga7tCn62Ck/s400/P1200791.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annapolis 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So we
tear apart the entire boat. Methodically of course. First one area. Put it back
together. On to the next mess. Not there. Groan. The above routine has been
repeated several times since we moved aboard 4 ½ years ago. At all times of the
day or night. One memorable occasion was at 4:00 AM when we smelled smoke. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, okay, those are two
things I will not miss when we live terrestrially. We’ll still have to remember
where we put things, but maybe won’t have to tear everything apart to lay our
hands on it. Maybe?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7J0gpC5GuJuZxhWJSFnMfI5mOcJzOBC1DoCMtDodSEVJPcVv6x2aW5HIe-ft_RnQc_qd2K4Tn4ZLZLfC7rhopwv_49twTMIVPMCYaRQRBGbV_LDr17_kFFpSTTcmNEkuNFH2jqRSQaVEA/s1600/P1200399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1600" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7J0gpC5GuJuZxhWJSFnMfI5mOcJzOBC1DoCMtDodSEVJPcVv6x2aW5HIe-ft_RnQc_qd2K4Tn4ZLZLfC7rhopwv_49twTMIVPMCYaRQRBGbV_LDr17_kFFpSTTcmNEkuNFH2jqRSQaVEA/s400/P1200399.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tangier Island, Chesapeake Bay 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">When I live on the water, I
understand the rules. Rules of the waterways. Rules about safety. Rules about
using the VHF radio. Energy and water conservation. Rules determined by the size
of our boat. We can’t go there…too shallow. We can’t anchor there…no
protection, strong current. We can’t stockpile too much food…not enough
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may not work to do laundry <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> to walk to get groceries all in one
day, if the two locations are far apart and both require a long walk back to
the boat with our loads. These are practical “rules” that come with boat life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXW5SOSORAEoN-jLJKnhQMkHOSZvYsewpFJUvcQciFwcZQ_V4vOvSpLkfglYYbai3RMOa8XIK0u8oSe7K-fACRdnethD6sqXebyaYzAY8DJWI69MwwINULPCge-RYPlTFgOdX3qvONLR1V/s1600/IMG_6603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXW5SOSORAEoN-jLJKnhQMkHOSZvYsewpFJUvcQciFwcZQ_V4vOvSpLkfglYYbai3RMOa8XIK0u8oSe7K-fACRdnethD6sqXebyaYzAY8DJWI69MwwINULPCge-RYPlTFgOdX3qvONLR1V/s400/IMG_6603.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopetown, Abacos 2017<br />Destroyed by Hurricane 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">But there are so many
wonderful “rules,” norms and mores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
we see a boat on the horizon or next to us at anchor that we know, we will
radio them or dinghy over to say “hi.” We were friendly last time we met them;
now we are instant friends. “How long are you gonna be here?” “Wanna come over
for sundowners?” “Hey, do you need help with that job tomorrow?” “I can come
over and catch your lines for you.” “I know electronics…want me to take a look
at that for you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And when we meet someone new,
“Hey, didn’t we see you at the last port?” “Where are you guys from?” “How long
you been living on your boat?” “Where are you going next?” </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJ0pvrkIyGIKkAEKA4yMQ51LrVIfPZGTaWs80zpYhfrjgdiL3XGxKtAjE32fxLKaL-XtFxJB1_TciuPffG-dJhiN2QAZCA6g3mtEI_uoRfNyhw9m3EgKPknErrPupM2_TY4ZoOGo2DW4I/s1600/P1200232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJ0pvrkIyGIKkAEKA4yMQ51LrVIfPZGTaWs80zpYhfrjgdiL3XGxKtAjE32fxLKaL-XtFxJB1_TciuPffG-dJhiN2QAZCA6g3mtEI_uoRfNyhw9m3EgKPknErrPupM2_TY4ZoOGo2DW4I/s400/P1200232.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Stay 500 yds from submarine"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I know my role in this life.
I know what’s important. Taking care of each other. Eating healthy. Meeting
people we enjoy. Helping others. Watching the weather. Seeing the sunrise and
the sunsets. Relishing in the beauty around us whether in the islands or on the
East coast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjqanF3KsGxcDMY1v3y8vmXGPKl6Leb6TkvFap5z6RRIlJKwtObvV50agLVpkGXlOPWt3WZWmyTpR14LioAcOf5YQ3ZAhVpIDGzyFy_q4iEwIOk-yD6_OIcaqziH5wuht1gqpN7XSbZq-/s1600/P1220130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1339" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjqanF3KsGxcDMY1v3y8vmXGPKl6Leb6TkvFap5z6RRIlJKwtObvV50agLVpkGXlOPWt3WZWmyTpR14LioAcOf5YQ3ZAhVpIDGzyFy_q4iEwIOk-yD6_OIcaqziH5wuht1gqpN7XSbZq-/s400/P1220130.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philadelphia, 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve never been a retired
person living on land. Somehow I feel uneasy about that. Living in one place.
Every day, going back to the same place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our view at sunset, the same every day. The building we live in will not
turn to face into the wind in order to catch every breeze. We will become
dependent upon air conditioning. We will live indoors, primarily, rather than
in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> outdoors in the sun and
breeze. Will we have anything in common with the neighbors? Will we be invited over
for sundowners? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1_veCF2bKmaQEIXRmjUgs-vJ-qorEqVtkz4JkyFjGXGspHImXaS_NvRulc9ZTkXR8OlB03kt_DdWnEo_d0SLm6LHfyniCP8zETZ1YrxNsRsLBqpCADYXgQBGv4rRUfA8tlZbtrmhiFSo/s1600/P1210444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1_veCF2bKmaQEIXRmjUgs-vJ-qorEqVtkz4JkyFjGXGspHImXaS_NvRulc9ZTkXR8OlB03kt_DdWnEo_d0SLm6LHfyniCP8zETZ1YrxNsRsLBqpCADYXgQBGv4rRUfA8tlZbtrmhiFSo/s400/P1210444.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">When we meet new people, and
we’re asked where we’re from, or where we live, our answer will not receive the
same response that we have become accustomed to. This is shallow of me, but I
admit that I’ve come to like it when people respond, “Oh, you live on a
sailboat…that is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">coolest</i> thing!”
or some such response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have to
become accustomed to a different kind of conversation. It will never be like
this. “We live in that building over there.” “Oh, a building! How <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cool</i> is that?” See what I mean? I will
miss that other conversation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4P55gcrO4ypzSA_Vht3HiOoQQStQqTVn1RTwEHVaRxjEAhchZPxlD5P68ytCN568LUhyphenhyphen4387C9V2TDzsG_bxdmEwVfcUZgXBtT9Ixsg2UpwaN7gewRKZiKWUnFt-lYegkwXKBzwfd1Q7w/s1600/P1210319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4P55gcrO4ypzSA_Vht3HiOoQQStQqTVn1RTwEHVaRxjEAhchZPxlD5P68ytCN568LUhyphenhyphen4387C9V2TDzsG_bxdmEwVfcUZgXBtT9Ixsg2UpwaN7gewRKZiKWUnFt-lYegkwXKBzwfd1Q7w/s400/P1210319.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washington D.C., 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, here we are, currently in
Washington D.C. On a mooring ball 200 yards away from our friends who live on
their boat at Capitol Yacht Club. They became Jax’s parents until his death
this last spring. We’ve met their new rescue dog, Mabel. She’s a sweetie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe someday we can adopt a rescue dog again
when we live on dry land.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow we will begin the
sail back down the Potomac and up to Annapolis, a four-day journey in all, on
our slow home. It will be our last sail. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcg3I9FTj-62qv5vfkWF-nHMGgDY1DSkWnzqqB7WAvpX0fPCPu3Js371s7w73N4kvZ8jxrl1HPCp7xyQ9ZqITjUBkPH1tn_ADwxwyxMbNvSU_vXVpKJ18RDDC0E9ILtWJexwpQ5azUlNW/s1600/P1220422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcg3I9FTj-62qv5vfkWF-nHMGgDY1DSkWnzqqB7WAvpX0fPCPu3Js371s7w73N4kvZ8jxrl1HPCp7xyQ9ZqITjUBkPH1tn_ADwxwyxMbNvSU_vXVpKJ18RDDC0E9ILtWJexwpQ5azUlNW/s400/P1220422.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Orleans, 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">We will spend the next month getting
the boat ready to sell in the same place where we bought her 5 ½ years
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Northern Star</i> will come out of the water and sit on the hard,
looking shiny and promising, waiting for new owners. People excited to sail
her. Maybe she will get to Colombia yet. Maybe she’ll go through the Panama
Canal. Maybe she’ll circumnavigate. I hope the new people take good care of
her. She deserves it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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/AVvXsEi1yW1Nk3DJ3R6Fqfg1e4cvCrduJzMlJgS93aKLUMyBGo5QkzdNfTV_AdAy4UhiK4rCAM-GC-n3ZSIXRcoIjEPPTC1HxSogMLuqdyAlWlnsh4hRzHDVtAiF67kOo2AZjVVZ3dbh4tmGSCMa/s1600/P1200279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yW1Nk3DJ3R6Fqfg1e4cvCrduJzMlJgS93aKLUMyBGo5QkzdNfTV_AdAy4UhiK4rCAM-GC-n3ZSIXRcoIjEPPTC1HxSogMLuqdyAlWlnsh4hRzHDVtAiF67kOo2AZjVVZ3dbh4tmGSCMa/s400/P1200279.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Returning from Caribbean, 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-10747295254723051342019-08-17T19:32:00.000-05:002019-08-17T19:33:58.527-05:00Safety II: STAY.ON.THE.BOAT.<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Cambria; color: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Cambria; color: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span id="goog_1745327384"></span><span id="goog_1745327385"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFGRPKGmohht-jgRN8J8nYGwFITiJFVuwGZtMVK6Z_jRXzPRYS9ghzddjLgwty9OIO5qsPQidBUHZN0A2lFMnHzk3Nlngouiy8RuI4lo_h_tE59g-hjWLeJIhIElrXsOTGWDhPFAfrccu/s1600/P1140503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="1600" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFGRPKGmohht-jgRN8J8nYGwFITiJFVuwGZtMVK6Z_jRXzPRYS9ghzddjLgwty9OIO5qsPQidBUHZN0A2lFMnHzk3Nlngouiy8RuI4lo_h_tE59g-hjWLeJIhIElrXsOTGWDhPFAfrccu/s400/P1140503.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand hold above the dodger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the other post that I meant to write long, long ago. Owing to some degree of distractibility by beautiful sunrises and sunsets, I never got around to it.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Safety On Deck:</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Again, I repeat, I am no expert on sailing. These are my thoughts and observations from living onboard for 4 ½ years. Take them for what they’re worth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOcVBZQnjY5fNjbBvgZCre3mGzuCw2zLz9XBgQHwOqzApXCfxIrM_asVWRMFXaRjoeRUN4LKJ2dP8v2L6Kl3D63G-ch1ajDZGmcH_EEPj4jlmWk4H3-W3GMIfbVQUDrxofgo4Vd2Qyin3/s1600/P1140434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOcVBZQnjY5fNjbBvgZCre3mGzuCw2zLz9XBgQHwOqzApXCfxIrM_asVWRMFXaRjoeRUN4LKJ2dP8v2L6Kl3D63G-ch1ajDZGmcH_EEPj4jlmWk4H3-W3GMIfbVQUDrxofgo4Vd2Qyin3/s400/P1140434.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bar for bracing our feet against when we heel. It is<br />part of the center cockpit table.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">There are many ways one might be injured on deck aboard a sailboat. One could be hit by an unsecured boom (done that--check) with disastrous consequences. (Luckily for me, <i>not</i> disastrous). Stubbing one’s toes on snatch blocks. (Done that, many times--check) Getting one’s fingers caught in a loaded winch (in other words, the winch is under load from a sail powered by the wind. A finger under the line wrapped around the winch spells, “one less finger.”) Docking can be dangerous. As in, leaving one’s foot between the boot and the pier. With a 16,000 pound vessel, who do you think will win? The boat or your scrawny foot?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCqK9EPzSV4DsAL2TAUyTs0Ye2BE2cY7kDnMGn747gSni9IbdrtBaivnOsJ_wG8Y7JPgsqGN12UaWNxktNKIyH3yJmMm0Bjg6a5z7MOsrIpscbGP64EF4nPuq6Muo9gwU5ReYLUAhFKXy/s1600/P1140486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCqK9EPzSV4DsAL2TAUyTs0Ye2BE2cY7kDnMGn747gSni9IbdrtBaivnOsJ_wG8Y7JPgsqGN12UaWNxktNKIyH3yJmMm0Bjg6a5z7MOsrIpscbGP64EF4nPuq6Muo9gwU5ReYLUAhFKXy/s320/P1140486.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EPIRB-an emergency GPS<br />beacon. "Deploy only in grave<br />and emergency situations." This<br />post does not address EPIRB.<br />Research EPIRB use elsewhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQnG4dGScFqtW9Spg37EUOuve_MrceMKhVQbf9PQlynYH59IdmXuZn_ZWOd9CqHV39kUdZrQbYAvCUrjlN607Qlmn75f7bsI2wue4c88Re5yRO_YSyfmzyN8k7UisuqqB3uhtxPQ-garP/s1600/P1140485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1273" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQnG4dGScFqtW9Spg37EUOuve_MrceMKhVQbf9PQlynYH59IdmXuZn_ZWOd9CqHV39kUdZrQbYAvCUrjlN607Qlmn75f7bsI2wue4c88Re5yRO_YSyfmzyN8k7UisuqqB3uhtxPQ-garP/s320/P1140485.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A deployed EPIRB will broadcast<br />boat location and need for emer-<br />gency assistance to NOAA.<br />Natl Oceanic & Atmospheric<br />Administation </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">However, I am not going to attempt to address all of those potential hazards.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I will address only one--the most dangerous thing for you on a sailboat is when you do not <i>remain</i> onboard where you belong. Now, it <i>is</i> true that there are a number of safety tools to assist a sailor in retrieving a person out of the water.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We have all of them. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLzEL3e5B9X9tNVYA6c_tk5Eua9xFff4AFcW3Lt1iBByE6D4dtiSnwCpLNxuHvOuDac31FRtKVTFkoqORPmbwP_9Y7uiZo-xB272VIFj61KkZh3ALUO1QrfQnBdQ92gKREKyVLqgUToc_/s1600/P1140481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLzEL3e5B9X9tNVYA6c_tk5Eua9xFff4AFcW3Lt1iBByE6D4dtiSnwCpLNxuHvOuDac31FRtKVTFkoqORPmbwP_9Y7uiZo-xB272VIFj61KkZh3ALUO1QrfQnBdQ92gKREKyVLqgUToc_/s320/P1140481.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man Overboard. MOB.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We have a MOB, Man Overboard which is attached to the aft pushpit. If someone were to fall overboard, whomever sees the unfortunate soul go overboard is supposed to deploy the MOB. Additionally, there is a throw version with a 100’ long floating neon yellow poly line. Theoretically, the person in the water grabs the line and can pull themselves in. We also have a buoyant horseshoe, which is also attached to the boat by a 100’ line. Again, theoretically, the person in the water can put the horseshoe around their torso and be pulled in to the boat. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8pBGpfqqZLRmAF2cktGZG-betAbeO4EavDw7TcJKwMDAsaSvVGxvr_lO_kwwqVKMq7hIJRWyJhPJ5Xxj-vJ0pfqA_E9GexYQVCu75uNahUvFy-xfZXgVJmY4SVch2F2YPJGN6RdyZl_2/s1600/P1140437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8pBGpfqqZLRmAF2cktGZG-betAbeO4EavDw7TcJKwMDAsaSvVGxvr_lO_kwwqVKMq7hIJRWyJhPJ5Xxj-vJ0pfqA_E9GexYQVCu75uNahUvFy-xfZXgVJmY4SVch2F2YPJGN6RdyZl_2/s400/P1140437.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horseshoe flotation attached to boat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I am saying theoretically because while you are busy falling in, gulping water and flailing around, the sailboat is continuing to move away from you. If it’s moving under engine power, then one cuts the engine to turn around for you, making a tidy “8” in the water in order to pluck you out of the water. If the boat is under sail, however, it’s a bit more complicated. First of all, there needs to be a third person onboard. Someone to steer the boat and someone else to drop the mains’l and handle the foresail in order to get the boat turned around and get back to where you and the boat parted ways.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-78EfByxo72DPtLBKsbPVdoGWVovigXdBu2ThJCu1tmzm0p3Hmu-XIHZLfZ7CUYbLwW5ReHOgzfvBbMzu_9ZuQc7nIyVm_L4wrvWRWdvVEMhIPjNkSKNKER_CecXmROPqF3dWdlVjWBP/s1600/P1140435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1029" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-78EfByxo72DPtLBKsbPVdoGWVovigXdBu2ThJCu1tmzm0p3Hmu-XIHZLfZ7CUYbLwW5ReHOgzfvBbMzu_9ZuQc7nIyVm_L4wrvWRWdvVEMhIPjNkSKNKER_CecXmROPqF3dWdlVjWBP/s400/P1140435.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple throw device. Floating poly<br />line with loop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">This post is not about how to do that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It is a worthy topic, but not one that I feel qualified to address.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I will never forget the cautionary comment made to me before a long ocean voyage when I suggested that perhaps we ought to practice doing a man-overboard drill before setting off. *The wise sailor, with many more years of sailing experience than I will ever have, said this to me, “Well, we <i>could</i>. But the reality is that if you fall off, it’s likely going to happen at night and/or in rough seas. The chances of us finding you are not great.” Hmmmm.……..again, hmmmmm. Well, that made me think twice, even thrice.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknEVgyj4iNf_uFBJHEgXguYFk5xkHA9fJ6aWIJGTEZnf9D2_x2jOBsYrtcE91xevnxqi0UoufsR1pXUcaZ-zU6i0-54JVWiAlomOtsNd5GY3Q0r1GBaH5eBJUWShUo_NL9M9W3ZNDYm66/s1600/P1140453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1307" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknEVgyj4iNf_uFBJHEgXguYFk5xkHA9fJ6aWIJGTEZnf9D2_x2jOBsYrtcE91xevnxqi0UoufsR1pXUcaZ-zU6i0-54JVWiAlomOtsNd5GY3Q0r1GBaH5eBJUWShUo_NL9M9W3ZNDYm66/s400/P1140453.jpg" width="325" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CO2 cartridge automatically inflates<br />life jacket when submerged in water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Clearly, the most important advice for a sailor is to-- <i>Stay. On. The. Boat.</i> So, that’s what we have always put the greatest amount of effort into doing. So far, so good.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Knock on wood (of which we have none on deck.)</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So, here is how we stay on the boat.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0MHKBTrn_9vEFvmjxeP918y3O-26IS3PVBzDLrcEdea7fJRw-nB_rtxRmcJc5-YuAEKIHtyV6gk3ahbXxi4WSLdqmo2mWC_xb8VW7yO73Ms-firp2AxbcxTJNRuKstX3pU_oHDp9zEmJ/s1600/P1140445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0MHKBTrn_9vEFvmjxeP918y3O-26IS3PVBzDLrcEdea7fJRw-nB_rtxRmcJc5-YuAEKIHtyV6gk3ahbXxi4WSLdqmo2mWC_xb8VW7yO73Ms-firp2AxbcxTJNRuKstX3pU_oHDp9zEmJ/s320/P1140445.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick-release attaches to harness, which<br />is built into this life jacket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">First a word or two about life jackets--a life jacket in and of itself is not going to keep one onboard the boat. But, when the life jacket also has a harness built into it that can be attached to the boat, then you’re in business. Of course, we wear the latest version of life jacket. It automatically inflates without the wearer doing anything, when it becomes immersed in water. That is nice because if you hit your head on the way in, it does not wait for you to pull the cord. It keeps your head above the water because that is its’ only function at that point. Well, that and, there is a whistle attached and a small beacon to help those folks who have the good fortune to still be <i>on </i>the boat, to find you in the waves. I would hope that they can do that for you.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82SKiJGGkaYqG1Ni0orbJx8AEt2bGfWU5YTEto8awKMoIUdBfz2z2Q_YewN9AGl92P-4KAUMQ1wOzh0jIWxOIpuptmYIRgEqfJL4Nc5Qb-bLDzSamCUBGaXXYwadL2gkcGyr9frBiLPdN/s1600/P1140440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82SKiJGGkaYqG1Ni0orbJx8AEt2bGfWU5YTEto8awKMoIUdBfz2z2Q_YewN9AGl92P-4KAUMQ1wOzh0jIWxOIpuptmYIRgEqfJL4Nc5Qb-bLDzSamCUBGaXXYwadL2gkcGyr9frBiLPdN/s400/P1140440.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavy duty carabiner-type clip to attach to boat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So, back to the harness built into the life jacket. The harness is designed to be used with a tether. A tether is what connects you to the boat. Tethers are designed, as far as I have observed, with a quick-release that attaches to the harness. The other end of the tether has a different kind of attachment that will fit over stainless attachments and jacklines.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaWT441bXqcGPU-NBbjDPYZqRrrfkh1Mi0aC5ny3Jpg9qobHxN1Isr_2PlssjgyoacttZ0TeClmCSCINtJyZHlgHi512qJTMZpJ7v7O5jxxexjPNKZLJs_dZ1k1ATZV0m5G4My03-4P2b/s1600/P1140443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaWT441bXqcGPU-NBbjDPYZqRrrfkh1Mi0aC5ny3Jpg9qobHxN1Isr_2PlssjgyoacttZ0TeClmCSCINtJyZHlgHi512qJTMZpJ7v7O5jxxexjPNKZLJs_dZ1k1ATZV0m5G4My03-4P2b/s400/P1140443.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pair of stainless eye hooks beside companionway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We have a few different kinds of tethers. I don’t pretend to know which are the best. Read the reviews for that. But I do know that if I’m not physically strong enough to open the attachment or to release myself from the tether, it’s not going to be the right one for me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Tethers often have two lines, a shorter one and a longer one, both elasticized. Hopefully, you will understand why in a bit.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6fSO8wgQOFOMtpgOmzbAQZwNoZN98SBv-4Jlbaybbi_8vw_ZfkwS1NV3H_TmzL0dltRYOFo-fHmv5KJLLcpUyMlQMY6p-mF4vbWD7UKHtslOHqzVBOq98CpR2TplVVm-_qrCEm6D7hyF/s1600/P1140477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1600" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6fSO8wgQOFOMtpgOmzbAQZwNoZN98SBv-4Jlbaybbi_8vw_ZfkwS1NV3H_TmzL0dltRYOFo-fHmv5KJLLcpUyMlQMY6p-mF4vbWD7UKHtslOHqzVBOq98CpR2TplVVm-_qrCEm6D7hyF/s400/P1140477.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pair of stainless eye hooks each side of helm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Anytime we are in rough seas, we are tethered to the boat. Also, at night, or anytime that one of us is asleep, the other one must be tethered in. One would hate to awaken and discover oneself all alone on a sailboat in the ocean. We put our life jackets on down below.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We attempt to keep the life jackets as dry as we can when they’re not in use.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Would hate to have one automatically inflate unnecessarily. The tether, we attach as we come up on deck. We first attach the harness end to us and then the other end of either the long or the short tether to the boat. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurTb2Ykf66EsHqetkVWQLK81fLCLbARnQYQqXNP5sAApZNR2Z2CS78XBYtehD7jhZrUJwIcFFHlLnG5FTuRw7DJZrkpzw0ShWRThukTStQxmuyLX5xT5I17l7QrB4qdCSUNpBBBrfo8rQ/s1600/P1140448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurTb2Ykf66EsHqetkVWQLK81fLCLbARnQYQqXNP5sAApZNR2Z2CS78XBYtehD7jhZrUJwIcFFHlLnG5FTuRw7DJZrkpzw0ShWRThukTStQxmuyLX5xT5I17l7QrB4qdCSUNpBBBrfo8rQ/s400/P1140448.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elasticized tether with a short and a long line.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">There are a set of matching stainless eye attachments right by the companionway so that we can be hooked on even before we step out on deck. There is another matching set of eye attachments on either side of the helm, so if you’re sitting at the helm you can be hanked on close by.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLn37chDLpU-GiPSF4DyYapwRCKjHYEhCmcOfeewr_MC1d2BVTyRbvB70658xPklsmo-tnRE1ud0IyD8L15cFFxLMFzD5d0mOvgdPK9eTNI5tZ8cpX2t7H2H4wuCZQbqWBdZw0h0F2z_Al/s1600/P1140456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="1600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLn37chDLpU-GiPSF4DyYapwRCKjHYEhCmcOfeewr_MC1d2BVTyRbvB70658xPklsmo-tnRE1ud0IyD8L15cFFxLMFzD5d0mOvgdPK9eTNI5tZ8cpX2t7H2H4wuCZQbqWBdZw0h0F2z_Al/s320/P1140456.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clipping onto jackline before stepping out<br /> of cockpit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">What if you have to go up on deck for some reason? First of all, we try to avoid having to go up on deck when we’re under sail, but sometimes it’s essential. That’s when we use what are called jacklines. There is a pair of them, one running from either side of the cockpit, inside the standing rigging all the way to the bow. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIOyc5T66CF54sa3eciK8BmdsgTIkeehnw6HfdrK50GB72RAnZOXJ8y8utCQZM3GPoeAcd3IdnRkaClYhTActENTsIRem8gSwpnd_td8scdQNsrNzj7LdC2h9_3hcgvWmcdcF_h7vW2IG/s1600/P1150128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1600" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIOyc5T66CF54sa3eciK8BmdsgTIkeehnw6HfdrK50GB72RAnZOXJ8y8utCQZM3GPoeAcd3IdnRkaClYhTActENTsIRem8gSwpnd_td8scdQNsrNzj7LdC2h9_3hcgvWmcdcF_h7vW2IG/s640/P1150128.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavy-duty stainless frame built around each dorade. Frame protects the dorade <br />and makes for sturdy hand holds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The jacklines are made of tough braiding designed for that purpose. We would not think of going offshore without having jacklines<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in place first. So, when we need to go on deck, we first hank on to the jackline before stepping out of the cockpit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>As I walk forward, the tether moves along the deck with me. Depending upon the design of the boat, a person may have to squeeze to get through a narrow place where the standing rigging is attached to the deck. It is during this process that the usefulness of having two tether lines, one shorter and one longer may become most apparent.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0CL8jBtKHu1f_LkGK7-rlQLRM1OdxfgElv9vArW2x6erCpYZjfOpYNBJPfmVRtAJIchWQbBD6E_oiURtZz_-0dGmWWh08DtSQrxPRBvfW9S9KwmT6Fvgdr_dhFl-m1Jo3KcsT3rYoGdB/s1600/P1140471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0CL8jBtKHu1f_LkGK7-rlQLRM1OdxfgElv9vArW2x6erCpYZjfOpYNBJPfmVRtAJIchWQbBD6E_oiURtZz_-0dGmWWh08DtSQrxPRBvfW9S9KwmT6Fvgdr_dhFl-m1Jo3KcsT3rYoGdB/s320/P1140471.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squeezing between standing rigging<br />and structure surrounding dorade.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Obviously walking on deck is best done on the high side of the boat, the windward side. If you fall, you would certainly prefer to fall onto the top of the deck rather than into the water, which would certainly happen on the low side of the sailboat. You’d be attached but a little worse for wear<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>being dragged through the water.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
</div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QqT2NnwNS2Z27iWKGdL4pxWSOpqEw4E0LgR_bmXX4n2qzcz32JjOlaKdPC2a5vcSqXrZ6Y3WWsN0VmtwZAfilhhntgRS6CgQ4sFwovYMHC74xaNlc-kxpjXeSY_6tahAqbPiyyt3g0Ak/s1600/P1140461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QqT2NnwNS2Z27iWKGdL4pxWSOpqEw4E0LgR_bmXX4n2qzcz32JjOlaKdPC2a5vcSqXrZ6Y3WWsN0VmtwZAfilhhntgRS6CgQ4sFwovYMHC74xaNlc-kxpjXeSY_6tahAqbPiyyt3g0Ak/s320/P1140461.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stainless hand holds on deck. Note that<br />tether drags along with wearer across<br />the deck. Jackline to be set up inside<br />the standing rigging.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Again, walking on deck is best done in a crouch. Keep the center of balance low. Hang onto something every minute. “One hand for you and one for the boat” is the old saying. On our boat, we have lots of hand holds on deck.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That was one of the things we were especially impressed with when we bought the Saga 43. Sturdy hand holds built onto the dodger, large hand holds built around each dorade fore and aft and long hand holds between the pairs of dorades. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5geCLASujF8owgwarI2DQFMUc7SicGh-tNsU9dX_uEdbLjaM7bE81P_KnTulOs5DmuFqHw8J7crMbKcN880OIeaV2j_VoCvNjgHA4ooeROqh7vupQuMKAsn5F13LQF-LEIim8b-jJkfVn/s1600/P1150319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="1600" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5geCLASujF8owgwarI2DQFMUc7SicGh-tNsU9dX_uEdbLjaM7bE81P_KnTulOs5DmuFqHw8J7crMbKcN880OIeaV2j_VoCvNjgHA4ooeROqh7vupQuMKAsn5F13LQF-LEIim8b-jJkfVn/s320/P1150319.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shiny dorade. Ventilation to cabin below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Dorades are the large curved “tubes” that are mounted on top of the cabin roof. They can be turned to face in different directions with the intent to capture breeze and send it below for ventilation, even when it’s raining or there’s wave washing over the deck. And of course, there are lifelines along the perimeter of the entire sailboat.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLKN8FUGSNkWP153WXlV0KjlgzAaJ1Fr5o1YF4Bs-WSfUZIT5vhfuRv2jLcUZ1Q2oO2KDrr9gEAeUbdngYNFMJoszvbhhkrTULDPNKCKt28d51s616HYJpr86S0xPsoLSSAGKd_T1HBHh/s1600/P1140473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLKN8FUGSNkWP153WXlV0KjlgzAaJ1Fr5o1YF4Bs-WSfUZIT5vhfuRv2jLcUZ1Q2oO2KDrr9gEAeUbdngYNFMJoszvbhhkrTULDPNKCKt28d51s616HYJpr86S0xPsoLSSAGKd_T1HBHh/s320/P1140473.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"There goes my hat."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Just as an aside, while we were taking the photos for this post, I lost my favorite pink baseball cap with the extra long visor to the wind. Bummer. I knew better. If I had been on the ball, I would have attached a hat clip to the back of the cap and to my shirt before going on deck. Duh. Hat clips are little tethers for your cap.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge47YXhyphenhyphenuV-eGsLrZZsYaDco28aVFX9qF4cDeXRK-d_358wCjlJr1I8UZw5LhRZQ9GUkZ2P3WBLWJG0Iz9BWQCkAVjs7_OBNHp8GQTiOpy8gd7Cp-qdPFDUYC6IQzaUoCn32g1Smo-n3zL/s1600/P1140475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1309" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge47YXhyphenhyphenuV-eGsLrZZsYaDco28aVFX9qF4cDeXRK-d_358wCjlJr1I8UZw5LhRZQ9GUkZ2P3WBLWJG0Iz9BWQCkAVjs7_OBNHp8GQTiOpy8gd7Cp-qdPFDUYC6IQzaUoCn32g1Smo-n3zL/s320/P1140475.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Should have been wearing this hat clip.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: large;">*The wise sailor who helped us sail from Norfolk, Virginia to Antigua in the Eastern Caribbean was Harry Corbett, from Oriental, North Carolina. A great sailor and a good friend. Not to leave anybody out, we were also aided in our 14 day crossing by a 19 year old long time sailor by the name of Luke Johnson, from Hampton, Virginia, who would have gladly gone up the mast or taken on any other task deemed precarious before even being asked to do so. The fact that he was crossing the ocean with three old guys was not lost on him.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-52897308444513520272019-08-17T17:16:00.002-05:002019-08-17T17:18:34.400-05:00Safety I: Below Decks on Sailboat<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<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]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
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-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[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-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<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]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
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-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[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-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLAVfJsx-qFX6SZmgfpRYY10yiWB0ArbXr8bgQxtbpql2sKVdSk9Sx9p5w2VH0UbSOKSyYaM-NlCyVRCRkGRxGfEeBvRivJihv1bVHejv43L2_GvxPRJ5e3fOz9fe37fbe7VanD73tcc8/s1600/P1120535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1567" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLAVfJsx-qFX6SZmgfpRYY10yiWB0ArbXr8bgQxtbpql2sKVdSk9Sx9p5w2VH0UbSOKSyYaM-NlCyVRCRkGRxGfEeBvRivJihv1bVHejv43L2_GvxPRJ5e3fOz9fe37fbe7VanD73tcc8/s400/P1120535.jpg" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do not boil water or make soup while doing this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I meant to write this post a
couple of years ago, but the Islands captured my attention and I never did. So,
at last, here ‘tis.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Personal safety below decks onboard:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not a professional sailor
by any means. We’ve been living aboard for 4 ½ years now and so these are my
thoughts and observations from that limited experience. If you are new to
cruising or are thinking of cruising perhaps these may be of some interest.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are many potential ways
to injure oneself below deck on a sailboat. I think the most likely and most
damaging ways are by falling onto something, or having something fall onto you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46XX542SwUVsWhTd8e2A9lrXH79eg9cvPUcwgDCpyMh_ukjmsZc5BtLgTdFIAhwZ9EBUH-WxKa6Niy0wsdpgLRiokiH3eswv9i3da9LEkR99g2Xg3_rBrInF3aaaDnd5XU5yOO0BsXjoE/s1600/P1120560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46XX542SwUVsWhTd8e2A9lrXH79eg9cvPUcwgDCpyMh_ukjmsZc5BtLgTdFIAhwZ9EBUH-WxKa6Niy0wsdpgLRiokiH3eswv9i3da9LEkR99g2Xg3_rBrInF3aaaDnd5XU5yOO0BsXjoE/s320/P1120560.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">First of all, there are some
things that just should not be performed while under sail, unless perhaps
you’re going flat downwind and it’s a very calm, flat sea. How often is that
the case? Not so often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, things like boiling water
for pasta or making a big pot of soup? Probably not the best things to do while
the boat is making way. Do those while you’re at anchor. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfXWE2H6pzYdDLpndn26SAg3dc3jkQYII5vgomFo0OkaTUzJSKHBZXPRUzlxVvZ7fBZUWvPrH1sIgRryx6Un9dHLqsesBdvnvsTyQl4RUrDyySnejInBAShIGYhvIhUGoPYVjgSG1VAFx/s1600/P1120563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1230" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfXWE2H6pzYdDLpndn26SAg3dc3jkQYII5vgomFo0OkaTUzJSKHBZXPRUzlxVvZ7fBZUWvPrH1sIgRryx6Un9dHLqsesBdvnvsTyQl4RUrDyySnejInBAShIGYhvIhUGoPYVjgSG1VAFx/s400/P1120563.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does your boat come with one of these?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An exception to that rule <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">might</i> be use of a pressure cooker. Obviously,
the stove must be gimbaled so that the stove fights to remain more or less
level while the rest of the boat heels. If the seas are choppy, forget the
pressure cooker idea, too. Have peanut butter and jelly, or granola bars or a
banana and be happy. (We do not subscribe to the <u>superstition </u>that
having bananas onboard are bad luck. Neither of us have ever been injured by a
banana).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtf7QL_XtF452O93VQkhs0XKEsuQqR0ghjG9l8btlMDww7BS6qZ6BnwiOESPlZRzthzv-xfHTSR_YaB1ph1ev2NMnmGoSilBpBo5wcrawK4G72vF-EK2-qLKvzJ8axGj1CUORHd3rN1Rzd/s1600/P1120569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1273" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtf7QL_XtF452O93VQkhs0XKEsuQqR0ghjG9l8btlMDww7BS6qZ6BnwiOESPlZRzthzv-xfHTSR_YaB1ph1ev2NMnmGoSilBpBo5wcrawK4G72vF-EK2-qLKvzJ8axGj1CUORHd3rN1Rzd/s400/P1120569.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stove is gimbaled and level. I am not.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, other things to watch out
for in the galley:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hopefully all of the
drawers have locking mechanisms. Any drawer that does not is apt to come flying
open and its’ contents strewn onto the beautiful sole (floor) of your of the
boat. Take it from me, someone who has forgotten to lock a drawer <s>once or</s>
several times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUwfEbv6eYsYf6fr1-hsfY97FHGtth77w_ugNaFAq2nqqMfFJk7UrdtZ2jvuvDYqOKmSQmWlppSJJgzu_CZYbS5QDjoR6cUrKBneKl7yEFQO79cGG93x5JtAGZMewVcqVGd9T-n7fl-UM/s1600/P1140496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUwfEbv6eYsYf6fr1-hsfY97FHGtth77w_ugNaFAq2nqqMfFJk7UrdtZ2jvuvDYqOKmSQmWlppSJJgzu_CZYbS5QDjoR6cUrKBneKl7yEFQO79cGG93x5JtAGZMewVcqVGd9T-n7fl-UM/s400/P1140496.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another safety feature on a
sailboat ought to be a stainless steel bar which extends out from the stove and
across the entire front of it, to prevent one from falling onto the stove. I
used to think that was overkill but have since changed my mind on the matter.
The bar also serves as a place to attach the torso brace to prevent one from
falling backward away from the stove. Again, at one point I thought that was
overkill, but have changed my mind on that as well. All it took was one time of
the boat lurching the “wrong” way unexpectedly in chop and me pedaling
backwards to remain upright and then slamming through the open door to the head
and landing against the sink. I was, shall we say, surprised to say the least,
to find myself in the bathroom while cooking. I suspect that most people would
be.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HZpUpiCcYvILoMoK_0ePVra-rq3moXV1VYX7ftfwn4uEhm0dbhDUNdhrlstaIzddgOpObf0BNG7625EICLdqo6Y_2BJZAfkBgBK-tNyZ7nxg2AiF6r4XxN7JPrB2R_sldOEBFkH_Ccia/s1600/P1140489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1226" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HZpUpiCcYvILoMoK_0ePVra-rq3moXV1VYX7ftfwn4uEhm0dbhDUNdhrlstaIzddgOpObf0BNG7625EICLdqo6Y_2BJZAfkBgBK-tNyZ7nxg2AiF6r4XxN7JPrB2R_sldOEBFkH_Ccia/s320/P1140489.jpg" width="244" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another pair of safety
features which we have never had to use: fire extinguishers and a fire blanket.
Does it go without saying that one should not store the fire blanket so close
to the stove that one can’t get at it if there’s a fire at the stove? We have a
few fire extinguishers below decks. One is close to the stove, which possibly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could</i> become inaccessible in the event
of a fire at the stove. Also, there is one in the aft cabin which is farther
from the stove and next to the door to the engine “room.” (Quotation marks
indicate that to call the area housing the engine on most sailboats a “room” is
totally ludicrous; as ludicrous as calling the area surrounding your car’s engine,
a “room.”)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAuD9wc1EkK4p_tCNXL_MQTqBz2CWZuRJb1x8ppl416W3RJNow4Y0yait-CrH03Z2cla5V4eLmIFbO0SAaZHBZm_FJ-3ME2VQDLj4Al85syw6e3uzwUhQnh244ARljAwqpKNwjsOYnVmx/s1600/P1140488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAuD9wc1EkK4p_tCNXL_MQTqBz2CWZuRJb1x8ppl416W3RJNow4Y0yait-CrH03Z2cla5V4eLmIFbO0SAaZHBZm_FJ-3ME2VQDLj4Al85syw6e3uzwUhQnh244ARljAwqpKNwjsOYnVmx/s320/P1140488.jpg" width="256" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Other galley considerations:
Anything that is left on the counter will fly around while the boat is under
sail, or under motor in big waves. If the items don’t fit inside a cupboard,
then tie them down in some way. A person can install little eyehooks in order
to run bungee cords to contain things like a thermos or bowl of fruit. Teapots
are always left on the stove. It’s gimbaled, so that’s pretty safe. Otherwise,
I tuck anything that’s loose on the counters into a sink where it’s contained--
including the dishwashing liquid which really makes a mess when it falls onto
the floor and seeps over a rug or really any surface. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Very</i>, very slippery as well. So, wedge that, plus anything else that
won’t go into a cupboard in the sink so they don’t bang around against each
other. Perhaps a comment about breakable things on a boat. We tend not to use
glassware made of glass, nor do we use breakable dishes. I don’t think that our
cupboards lend themselves to a snug enough fit for those items, but many boats
are designed so that dishes and glasses can’t shift around much at all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do have things like vinegars and oils that
come in glass bottles, however, and we are able to stow them snugly so they don’t
clink together. Just about everything else that I use in the galley is
unbreakable.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kzYqzQ2WZsrLASY6JNWYPkUqh_mZNBXigbWVfck9TU4idIA4Dub5EA8WG0caZmuKzsFjB70p2BV5eEO0tY1Rf7MxH-Q95GtP5j46auui69tIn9UkNMvZNL_Wz_1-Fx-KbALAKpbmIJX2/s1600/P1140498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1103" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kzYqzQ2WZsrLASY6JNWYPkUqh_mZNBXigbWVfck9TU4idIA4Dub5EA8WG0caZmuKzsFjB70p2BV5eEO0tY1Rf7MxH-Q95GtP5j46auui69tIn9UkNMvZNL_Wz_1-Fx-KbALAKpbmIJX2/s400/P1140498.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ring is something I attached to the <br />handle on refrigerator to make it easier <br />to grab quickly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Refrigerator and freezer
doors on most sailboats (at least the ones I’ve been on) tend to be the kind
that one lifts up in order to dig down into the box. These doors are very
heavy. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Very</i>. A wise person would
likely avoid trying to hold the door up with one hand while rummaging around in
the box for items. A wise person would install some sort of stainless steel
chain with an “S” hook to attach the door to, in order to have both hands free
to work in the fridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Work” is the
operative word. Sailboat refrigerators are nothing like your probable
experience with refrigerators on land that have lots of shelving and where
things more or less remain where you put them last. I have seen pictures of
people’s hands after being smashed under the door of a refrigerator. Hard to
believe those were previously attractive fingers. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOT4WXrXzcNaSMVcPgbwASQkqaEG2VaNo9L59NaGwcgYy2C_LM1YepyrlmMob6g4W14DROE7icyf6mRQyV3jWXi5VW6kRjJ_mL_ZRfNTMjV6a1UxLVsYsZpmDnjVuQ3cR6jlM8_Sq7VOgA/s1600/P1140492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOT4WXrXzcNaSMVcPgbwASQkqaEG2VaNo9L59NaGwcgYy2C_LM1YepyrlmMob6g4W14DROE7icyf6mRQyV3jWXi5VW6kRjJ_mL_ZRfNTMjV6a1UxLVsYsZpmDnjVuQ3cR6jlM8_Sq7VOgA/s400/P1140492.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceiling handholds run the length of salon. We're tall so we<br />can easily reach them. Make sure you can reach yours.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spills. There will be some.
Wipe them up before someone slips in them. I think it’s a good idea to have
some kind of mat at the bottom of the companionway. If you’re going below from
on deck and it’s raining or you’ve gotten wet, your shoes or bare feet will be
wet. When you hit the bare sole, it will be very slippery.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZV768qzMWoRnfdByhos3FBPXmRFLXuFKlJVWuAtZkiZm659QccafSVx0-Yigkhd3zEv0zrge1Nx_nNMJuLCZGteLMlPNlnWJsFI9F1_ohmpGuMymm82bsLHJRUttHliHdGjfAk651COR/s1600/P1140497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1150" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZV768qzMWoRnfdByhos3FBPXmRFLXuFKlJVWuAtZkiZm659QccafSVx0-Yigkhd3zEv0zrge1Nx_nNMJuLCZGteLMlPNlnWJsFI9F1_ohmpGuMymm82bsLHJRUttHliHdGjfAk651COR/s400/P1140497.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handhold at the entrance to<br />companionway.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, hand holds. You can’t
have too many of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re looking
at a boat to buy, I suggest that every person who will be living onboard take a
walk through the cabin to see if they can reach hand holds in order to move
below deck. Short people might not be able to reach the ones on the cabin
ceiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not, hopefully there are
handholds placed at lower heights. If the beam of your boat is quite wide,
there might be nothing, I repeat, nothing that a person can reach to hang onto
while moving around below while underway. I am of the opinion that that is a
foolish thing in boat design, giving up safety for luxurious space, but that’s
just me. All about safety Ardys.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpgNAKv1cDXfZ59psaus9g3YiIPLDAKFNGmGras18g8brtBxk1CnRgQKvuryRyM_z5p4DCupgAKVKxInas2_ewI-Nqhl40HzAqMSJoUk04mRp5OT4YgbHigeEtIFoizOBK3r0tjTOVPnn/s1600/P1140490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpgNAKv1cDXfZ59psaus9g3YiIPLDAKFNGmGras18g8brtBxk1CnRgQKvuryRyM_z5p4DCupgAKVKxInas2_ewI-Nqhl40HzAqMSJoUk04mRp5OT4YgbHigeEtIFoizOBK3r0tjTOVPnn/s400/P1140490.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, there, those are my
observations and opinions about safety below deck on a sailboat. Next up,
safety above deck. Won’t that be exciting?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-92048961495440007142019-08-04T10:26:00.001-05:002019-08-04T10:31:18.157-05:00A Quiet Inlet<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<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]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
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-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[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-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIxv1BtXrZmVol7wXadTejuXi_lFeaQJhJ4QHsrZ-A8ByYF9TOQ4L0IsWtt4sgEaiYwK9O2oew6QZ38RbvYIaMlRztWy_WUUFO1C5FtrBvPHT0FywkSOx8ZM_S3FJfMALDIByk03hsjup/s1600/PB150006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="1280" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIxv1BtXrZmVol7wXadTejuXi_lFeaQJhJ4QHsrZ-A8ByYF9TOQ4L0IsWtt4sgEaiYwK9O2oew6QZ38RbvYIaMlRztWy_WUUFO1C5FtrBvPHT0FywkSOx8ZM_S3FJfMALDIByk03hsjup/s640/PB150006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We won’t live on a sailboat forever. Oh, there are many
folks who continue to live on their sailboats that are much older than we are.
But 4 ½ years ago when we moved aboard, we said that it would be for 2 to 10 years,
“as long as we’re enjoying it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, it is beginning to feel like we are on the backside of
that mountain with regard to our live-aboard years. We talk about living on land again from time
to time. We try to figure out what we will do next. How fortunate we are to
have the luxury of thinking about it for a while.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bquj2jhwTOPvpQr8eBDrq-jDDVVNC5bADIYg6oe82r07lmvMUDPwQwRI06iv0n-EBXdQmtzt9xIE-sH0HRMnwCI2jgCXP9SJoq87QOCm7M_54xNhyphenhyphenZeHAdHZkRA52j-uUNUsDX5F6GAq/s1600/upside+down+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bquj2jhwTOPvpQr8eBDrq-jDDVVNC5bADIYg6oe82r07lmvMUDPwQwRI06iv0n-EBXdQmtzt9xIE-sH0HRMnwCI2jgCXP9SJoq87QOCm7M_54xNhyphenhyphenZeHAdHZkRA52j-uUNUsDX5F6GAq/s400/upside+down+tree.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today we are alone, resting in the Winyah Bay, just off the Atlantic. We’ve seen a few fishing boats across the inlet,
but other than that, it’s very quiet here. Just nature and us. Earlier today, we
watched a pod of dolphins, through our binoculars, as they were some distance
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_porgsjY3FMGM34D9QoaFJXE3KTt8CgbxoHv-doXfmru31ZqsOvUIQsOp3o0PRccBi6I0alGEHxh40QrTOSrAhMBkKrl6Nu_JAgYJ7a3X01-nHLb6h8NMJTqN6yeQtuhJaqVAiPo-09G/s1600/sunset+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="997" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_porgsjY3FMGM34D9QoaFJXE3KTt8CgbxoHv-doXfmru31ZqsOvUIQsOp3o0PRccBi6I0alGEHxh40QrTOSrAhMBkKrl6Nu_JAgYJ7a3X01-nHLb6h8NMJTqN6yeQtuhJaqVAiPo-09G/s400/sunset+2.jpg" width="311" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There were at least 6 of them that
we could see based upon the number of fins that broke the surface in various locations.
They were swimming slowly round and round in a long loop. Gathering their
dinner we figured. Occasionally, we saw one big splash and sometimes a small
bit of some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thing</i> come flying out of
the water and land back in again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part
of a fish, no doubt. The rest of the fish would have been in a dolphin’s mouth,
I’m sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXH-YZaD5cptn_dFeAEmYbjMmjTqeU4ASivBr_qmZvwJx9UzxuLgGyNuseSDbPAC06ah9JyK2y_rnhHWxDXW7elgjnWHvdLIhFtMLvXLknLJbIvaMPS_OYR8nua0cYCKQ8B0xrW05tTqMb/s1600/P1090289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1412" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXH-YZaD5cptn_dFeAEmYbjMmjTqeU4ASivBr_qmZvwJx9UzxuLgGyNuseSDbPAC06ah9JyK2y_rnhHWxDXW7elgjnWHvdLIhFtMLvXLknLJbIvaMPS_OYR8nua0cYCKQ8B0xrW05tTqMb/s400/P1090289.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">It made me wonder about the things that I might miss the
most when we no longer live on the water. I think it will be things like those dolphins
over there, catching their dinner. They weren’t put there for our
entertainment. We didn’t pay anything to see them. The dolphins couldn't care less
that there were two people watching them. There are lots of other things just
like that, too, that I think I will miss the most. <o:p></o:p></span></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/AVvXsEhfeEgu2iv9zStaSdyQ3GHc6ul0mHz7j3Zovb4ggksE4WJmkk529sE6MqYNKB3eDTSKiI5JGM-vwTX20SF-I7ebWO5InHvFTVWpl_5rJQ3NpjzmtuDtXwqUgHj82BAzVFCjmFUHT5Z4snzM/s1600/entering+NY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="969" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeEgu2iv9zStaSdyQ3GHc6ul0mHz7j3Zovb4ggksE4WJmkk529sE6MqYNKB3eDTSKiI5JGM-vwTX20SF-I7ebWO5InHvFTVWpl_5rJQ3NpjzmtuDtXwqUgHj82BAzVFCjmFUHT5Z4snzM/s320/entering+NY.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It probably won’t be the many islands we’ve visited or the
U.S. cities we’ve visited, like St. Augustine, Florida and Savannah, Georgia or
Charleston, South Carolina. It won’t be sailing through New York City, although
that was very cool. I don’t think it’ll be going to Plymouth, Massachusetts or Newport, Rhode Island or Bar Harbor, Maine.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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/AVvXsEiYRFVK9LFJ93KyyuENE9ck5u8NOUZOBxEByaFxQ-8MyFqVmcO8tt06JjtonaRnNN6GBQZmFlL2lOH_YmRNJD9bJZwfSCIeunzmwEpg43Nrp0bUskLgYXkSrkcIrzegw_v6dPv8GiPZacj1/s1600/welcome+to+maine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRFVK9LFJ93KyyuENE9ck5u8NOUZOBxEByaFxQ-8MyFqVmcO8tt06JjtonaRnNN6GBQZmFlL2lOH_YmRNJD9bJZwfSCIeunzmwEpg43Nrp0bUskLgYXkSrkcIrzegw_v6dPv8GiPZacj1/s320/welcome+to+maine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I guess the
reason that I think it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">won’t</i> be those
things is that a person could get on an airplane, or drive a car to go see
those places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we arrived there, we
and every other tourist was interested in seeing the same things—historical
sites and local foods and art. And we enjoyed them thoroughly.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But the part that only </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">we</i><span style="font-size: large;">
will see, we and about a few thousand other cruisers that travel by boat, is
all the wonderful stuff that wasn’t planned or expected.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">After we live on land again, we will most
likely never see dolphins in a quiet inlet, corralling their dinner together.
Why? Because at <i>this </i>time, we are living on a boat at anchor in that inlet and we have
all day to sit here for whatever happens next.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjow28vAUB1vmw9-N0FIUmW-B8-1C47EH3bdaxqz9YwV6NVPAyw6F5Enjh6eIFGpAEy86sjPo6KqVf8r2wO8uuOWwuZJZ8CCb3BxUfpVF34F7qgjMJa0LUAx5rjqliEYeEFcHma5-ZWC35C/s1600/dolphins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="786" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjow28vAUB1vmw9-N0FIUmW-B8-1C47EH3bdaxqz9YwV6NVPAyw6F5Enjh6eIFGpAEy86sjPo6KqVf8r2wO8uuOWwuZJZ8CCb3BxUfpVF34F7qgjMJa0LUAx5rjqliEYeEFcHma5-ZWC35C/s1600/dolphins.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We will never have the good fortune to be escorted across
the Bahama Bank by a group of dolphins that take turns at our bow. When the
lead dolphin peels off another immediately takes his place as the lead. As if
they are playing with us and saying, “come this way.” Oh, and the hundreds of
dolphins that we met one day, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> day
on the Atlantic—we were sailing south off the New Jersey coast and the dolphins
were all headed north to the fall hunting grounds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIQf7zPM-b8eQsEIQJ5NXfynw1c99Ks5NbYYrU8YS6R_6oKmp6kmbcyP0VcMmYSYTX9zTYczlwvC11GpxTn21FnXlRBzAdSPEO696HcJXbpdqIcSS-TyBMEaF91DDVJhv1En4dp9Sp31V/s1600/sunrise+sailboat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="640" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIQf7zPM-b8eQsEIQJ5NXfynw1c99Ks5NbYYrU8YS6R_6oKmp6kmbcyP0VcMmYSYTX9zTYczlwvC11GpxTn21FnXlRBzAdSPEO696HcJXbpdqIcSS-TyBMEaF91DDVJhv1En4dp9Sp31V/s320/sunrise+sailboat.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">There are incredibly beautiful places along the waterways:
the rivers and ICW, bays, and oceans, as well as in natural harbors that only
people on boats will ever see. We will likely never see these kinds of places
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we live on land, we will
never see phosphorescence on the ocean in the night. Thousands of little
sparkles on the water alongside the hull as it moves through the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fireflies of the ocean. Carl has explained to
me that they are actually plankton emitting light when the water is disturbed. An amazing phenomenon, I think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhozYug4aye1jlfekKfhKb2ciztAj7vvtip2eeg71z3-sVq2lGRFnsnExjFI88qa9z_sX_FvenYnpLyBhB_t5NXoEtfQ-O0Ghe2i-2YmLig1azMFMG9awIYKCllHH5bPcN8czJW9c88Qr/s1600/IMG_5359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1010" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhozYug4aye1jlfekKfhKb2ciztAj7vvtip2eeg71z3-sVq2lGRFnsnExjFI88qa9z_sX_FvenYnpLyBhB_t5NXoEtfQ-O0Ghe2i-2YmLig1azMFMG9awIYKCllHH5bPcN8czJW9c88Qr/s320/IMG_5359.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">We will never hear snapping shrimp on the other side of the
hull, sounding for all the world like popcorn popping. We will probably never
go out in a dinghy in the nighttime and see little flying fish jump out of the water
across our path by the light of our headlamps.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63YmYWFflGJhEugQidzalD0tyPlXrauzfzXj3zQcU4HbPdXwqvYmTP2aJnZsIP8mxCQaIx11bRiT633SA6S102jHAsPsb_EcXiIdvrkqsnqb4fUl0FlAXsVlMsanpyyBNrmJfDXj_AlWc/s1600/DSCF4076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1475" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63YmYWFflGJhEugQidzalD0tyPlXrauzfzXj3zQcU4HbPdXwqvYmTP2aJnZsIP8mxCQaIx11bRiT633SA6S102jHAsPsb_EcXiIdvrkqsnqb4fUl0FlAXsVlMsanpyyBNrmJfDXj_AlWc/s320/DSCF4076.jpg" width="295" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I am quite certain we will never again be surrounded by thousands and
thousands of flying fish all going in the same direction that we were, off the
island of St. Lucia. <i>Northern Star</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>flying along
under full sail, and the flying fish flying with us, probably being hunted by
bigger fish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtY7OHlmUuz0nylzUwJYbzjFFrydZY_AJfdrJ9BybALxth4EjuAbZLcI_9TdkyupsnfnHmSnfh69cMaS1joFdJ4DT7ITZe46IB5O8qg2_wxiQrTXIuwT7aAgx09BM1eqUg_03e3UgF9Yx/s1600/P4042377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtY7OHlmUuz0nylzUwJYbzjFFrydZY_AJfdrJ9BybALxth4EjuAbZLcI_9TdkyupsnfnHmSnfh69cMaS1joFdJ4DT7ITZe46IB5O8qg2_wxiQrTXIuwT7aAgx09BM1eqUg_03e3UgF9Yx/s640/P4042377.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">We will never again watch a circus while sitting in our dinghy being
performed across a stage of three connected sailboats, using the rigging for aerial acrobatics, as we did on the island of Martinique. Never again be rocked asleep
to the sound of island music in the distance. Nor are we likely to ever wander over to an uninhabited
island and go exploring by ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqI6jInAa-T3biHCgYU-Rcp_CPck_1GsYQdJ9xUIh5samX9YOlZZ8PYD7rmE4hY7hqgkVlWfBcMYVRy0ZGjp89UdJ66FsnoY55bGAtXclEdKxESR-dIIUg7RSoflx0d161eZSosZwS4lo/s1600/P1080561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqI6jInAa-T3biHCgYU-Rcp_CPck_1GsYQdJ9xUIh5samX9YOlZZ8PYD7rmE4hY7hqgkVlWfBcMYVRy0ZGjp89UdJ66FsnoY55bGAtXclEdKxESR-dIIUg7RSoflx0d161eZSosZwS4lo/s320/P1080561.jpg" width="283" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">It is unlikely that we will spend days and evenings anchored
in quiet places like this one, miles from any other person, surrounded by
marshland, open water and birds of all kinds. Terns that dive headfirst into
the water from great heights. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mk-HW6gfX693IJNtkI9-avRiUvQLi5iO_rO5qqMYwmsGQZbTsqs851k0KQXH79xApqaawLn7C89Gz5DXzVqXhQii4ANFDcN8xzUTg-wDsth_LgRhKTNOSNR_lxyfPJNXnrY0_xck6WpX/s1600/P1040045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1280" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mk-HW6gfX693IJNtkI9-avRiUvQLi5iO_rO5qqMYwmsGQZbTsqs851k0KQXH79xApqaawLn7C89Gz5DXzVqXhQii4ANFDcN8xzUTg-wDsth_LgRhKTNOSNR_lxyfPJNXnrY0_xck6WpX/s320/P1040045.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Pelicans who do the same, but without as much
grace. Herons and egrets that can stand in the marsh and yet still be above it
on their pencil-thin legs.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Flamingoes that
look like pink flying sticks. Sea birds that fly in synchronous patterns evenly
spaced—when their backs are to us, they make a herringbone pattern; when as one,
they turn their chests to us, the pattern is like black and white lace. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vyjklJvCXgzdsmzdFO9Mamd6TRIfW_Buwloz4JrB6B83xTP6oqVmHcW6cyEJklQU7lHY5EqR78Ri1whvOk-0398RyfoF7ejAjfrhFSimMKWuz9FLtXDCRTKKbdBze1wBRc5QRC2U6pBK/s1600/IMG_2596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1600" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vyjklJvCXgzdsmzdFO9Mamd6TRIfW_Buwloz4JrB6B83xTP6oqVmHcW6cyEJklQU7lHY5EqR78Ri1whvOk-0398RyfoF7ejAjfrhFSimMKWuz9FLtXDCRTKKbdBze1wBRc5QRC2U6pBK/s400/IMG_2596.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And of course, the Magnificent Frigate birds
whose mating ritual is a soaring and swooping dance so beautiful that it took
my breath away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, to see love
expressed in such elegance! Or lust. It’s possible to see Frigate Birds on land, too but rather unlikely to see the dance in the sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAMcnnaXBj3lQeQmPnui8TgFxEQNyMnmkeh-W3ti6hvV91DKKCgTHaFZ-D56wEogRliNDPb2civI539x3TUQHy8rAmZ8woLtzaoGRXR-7tnKiKqD7rYd0f_Sz04g6F0PrULiLldPPL2oL/s1600/P4300142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="1600" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAMcnnaXBj3lQeQmPnui8TgFxEQNyMnmkeh-W3ti6hvV91DKKCgTHaFZ-D56wEogRliNDPb2civI539x3TUQHy8rAmZ8woLtzaoGRXR-7tnKiKqD7rYd0f_Sz04g6F0PrULiLldPPL2oL/s1600/P4300142.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And oh my, I have fallen in love with snorkeling. I guess I
could go on snorkeling vacations again when I live on land, but it won’t be
anything like jumping off the back of the boat and seeing incredible creatures right
there, beside our home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many things that live
in the water that I had no idea existed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Seventy one percent of the earth is covered with water, and
we have seen only a tiny bit of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
guess it will have to do, won’t it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax6PB2J7y6rC3ejdcyKHguWlJmHiMIFVteSCsrt7VK1-1eEYXZpguHcjusHLkBYJvq_McAaSAt_MmUboAr2tj_6GoCQ3CJA7vxCaNFmOYgAxhWpSWwoGREvMYVsJDBY6_tgprHpPuVmTW/s1600/P3170112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1280" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax6PB2J7y6rC3ejdcyKHguWlJmHiMIFVteSCsrt7VK1-1eEYXZpguHcjusHLkBYJvq_McAaSAt_MmUboAr2tj_6GoCQ3CJA7vxCaNFmOYgAxhWpSWwoGREvMYVsJDBY6_tgprHpPuVmTW/s320/P3170112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-19410969715116673412019-07-24T08:58:00.000-05:002019-07-24T09:04:30.390-05:00Cars, UBER and AirBnB<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<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]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
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-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[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-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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/AVvXsEil91aAmPJ0neJoLV9jHIdzwwOTS9wxUSx98qzUsNDxPJGJX1uRYgI651Lw5a8fELM1oN7uV77QeUNB0TgbryByZSIntaU7jIOVQTdI4RzBkHR2ogyl7X7ak7g61PHT-hLqV1i81iTK1Cla/s1600/IMG_20190108_155906086_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil91aAmPJ0neJoLV9jHIdzwwOTS9wxUSx98qzUsNDxPJGJX1uRYgI651Lw5a8fELM1oN7uV77QeUNB0TgbryByZSIntaU7jIOVQTdI4RzBkHR2ogyl7X7ak7g61PHT-hLqV1i81iTK1Cla/s640/IMG_20190108_155906086_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Cars are a problem to some degree, for cruisers. The
question is Where do we leave it? Do we leave it somewhere near an airport so
that it will be easy to return to by air? Do we leave it somewhere we will sail
back to on the coast? Some cruisers just get rid of the car altogether when
they are liveaboards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpqavNoUP8tzBd3lzBktRSaySouBdGKla9evDGHDUb1KrER4Ho5PsBt_EqYDjtMMsqku_ujcxt7jmhWmFljH1_pv4MhxF6AXlIF-4EJymwTtk5ZK6hXSy7rcjDgktHL_CLjODP7pxQypn/s1600/PC290657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpqavNoUP8tzBd3lzBktRSaySouBdGKla9evDGHDUb1KrER4Ho5PsBt_EqYDjtMMsqku_ujcxt7jmhWmFljH1_pv4MhxF6AXlIF-4EJymwTtk5ZK6hXSy7rcjDgktHL_CLjODP7pxQypn/s320/PC290657.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning of winter 2018-19</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Last winter, before we returned to our boat in Trinidad, we left
our Subaru at our friend’s cabin where we had been staying outside of Duluth,
Minnesota. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A large soft-sided storage
shed on their property was home to their camper, a neighbor’s snowmobiles,
bikes, lawn furniture, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
plenty of room for our Subaru and we were thankful to be able to leave it there,
protected from the harsh elements of winter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0f9sALC-uiuITyi4L2dX_DxSqeB1LnvJhbz-rNsz2oYrYaRhqOVyMfkmZmKWu6YzLilvD4svyPkUW0Ln3mGARByjNZVO7nfbKphQrn-iMCym-3_hDDynAGrnLteDVNFBKL3kcjrpttw9a/s1600/P1170111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0f9sALC-uiuITyi4L2dX_DxSqeB1LnvJhbz-rNsz2oYrYaRhqOVyMfkmZmKWu6YzLilvD4svyPkUW0Ln3mGARByjNZVO7nfbKphQrn-iMCym-3_hDDynAGrnLteDVNFBKL3kcjrpttw9a/s400/P1170111.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Subaru is holding up the center support beam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In March, our friends with the cabin reluctantly contacted
us to say that the shed’s roof had collapsed under 3+ feet of snow and was now
resting on top of our Subaru. The story we shared amongst ourselves was this,
“The Subaru took one for the team. Everything else stored in the shed was
protected by our sturdy car which was pinned under the weight of the roof’s center
beam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHK8Z5vi5wRmaipO1NYxMMIKQAb07sghLt92L7rIoncYi6KACyiRGKnZQLFA1BU71LlkI0b4Lt1CIpwTnC-7364NbeLkF1Mt6g9ZOmLbbXTEAt3Gu_LqfEFCW25AuEUZIvxFgI1NVC_r6/s1600/Subarupulled+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHK8Z5vi5wRmaipO1NYxMMIKQAb07sghLt92L7rIoncYi6KACyiRGKnZQLFA1BU71LlkI0b4Lt1CIpwTnC-7364NbeLkF1Mt6g9ZOmLbbXTEAt3Gu_LqfEFCW25AuEUZIvxFgI1NVC_r6/s320/Subarupulled+out.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carl, George and Ron recover car from shed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We finally saw the damage in June. The windshield became a
malleable spider web of shatterproof glass that I could push back and forth
with my hand. The back window was nonexistent, and the hood had acquired a V in
the center. Oddly enough, all of the car doors still opened and the engine
started right up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, our Subaru
was totally undriveable, being a foot shorter than the last time we’d seen it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7AVnJqaEKbcJeqdx_AgVfZKQ8GFqUNUj9ICK7KStyHVHn3XmN0ZdW2B84dR9QXmb3xaZXpXW-dlf3WC_0xwwfNC1KBytN_TNVPiwtatkJMxp7Xjuy4Owzj-6uIdC6HhYFmC4FHvTNIVb/s1600/P1170364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7AVnJqaEKbcJeqdx_AgVfZKQ8GFqUNUj9ICK7KStyHVHn3XmN0ZdW2B84dR9QXmb3xaZXpXW-dlf3WC_0xwwfNC1KBytN_TNVPiwtatkJMxp7Xjuy4Owzj-6uIdC6HhYFmC4FHvTNIVb/s320/P1170364.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Being the cost conscious folks that we are, we had removed
the Comprehensive Auto insurance from the car while it was sitting safely in
storage. Seemed like a smart thing to do at the time. Sigh. So, our trusty Subaru
Outback went to a junk yard in return for a few hundred dollars, where it was quickly
dismantled. Some lucky person now has our perfectly good engine and maybe the four
doors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImDO61NClKKMECi1zFjgtuxzEHMkGdd0IG5KUpWCiuO47wsWa_cu3rvjUCNAZaL48TskyM6nGnqgHkjnJyThTSgNowKCIqdbXWDqS-geooN5CSlI1gaRUDu4TdBzr64GK55J0ZisWiNfd/s1600/P1170358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="1114" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImDO61NClKKMECi1zFjgtuxzEHMkGdd0IG5KUpWCiuO47wsWa_cu3rvjUCNAZaL48TskyM6nGnqgHkjnJyThTSgNowKCIqdbXWDqS-geooN5CSlI1gaRUDu4TdBzr64GK55J0ZisWiNfd/s400/P1170358.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Subaru became "tourist" attraction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, you see, our primary task upon returning to the U.S. in
May was to buy a “new” car in Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
the first day we found the perfect auto, a 2014 Honda CRV EX with 44,000 miles.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then, we have driven the circle
tour around the eastern half of the U.S. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnmv1JRyi2m1VYt5-eShyRBsnAzN2KXVAwbA85g3UUVyJjOpYgNRBChdBd_kGgOc8twgE6pa9Fj14eQ_oCksV6iBkc2mxfZ14P4bxik0GyzyAJpMxTA3EkgDqVNrsX526Bqz50qD8-d5Z/s1600/P1150842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1370" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnmv1JRyi2m1VYt5-eShyRBsnAzN2KXVAwbA85g3UUVyJjOpYgNRBChdBd_kGgOc8twgE6pa9Fj14eQ_oCksV6iBkc2mxfZ14P4bxik0GyzyAJpMxTA3EkgDqVNrsX526Bqz50qD8-d5Z/s320/P1150842.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anhinga's body is submerged while <br />swimming, Florida</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We started out in Brunswick, Georgia where we left the boat
for the start of hurricane season. We drove to the Villages in Florida to visit
my sister Bev and her partner. Then along the Gulf to Ocean Springs, Alabama,
to enjoy an excellent meal at an ocean side restaurant owned by one of Carl’s H.S.
classmates. Next stop was Hattiesburg, Mississippi where Carl received his
Bachelor’s degree in Biology. After 40 years, the campus had changed so much
that he recognized only a few buildings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfzFKiFJwbThr1xteOhsDLm1R79GCS8JlDIHTZ2CXsamaqRi764WtIT5eUhu4jIKu43MUAi3NrVYBy1Q7CUEXOwwpY602cE-AblXjanghGiFc9qHDwGs23qJz3J2zGWAoixLNmm99AXFn/s1600/P1170238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1281" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfzFKiFJwbThr1xteOhsDLm1R79GCS8JlDIHTZ2CXsamaqRi764WtIT5eUhu4jIKu43MUAi3NrVYBy1Q7CUEXOwwpY602cE-AblXjanghGiFc9qHDwGs23qJz3J2zGWAoixLNmm99AXFn/s320/P1170238.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palisade Head, repelling down<br />to Lake Superior</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">From there, we drove to Memphis, Tennessee to see Carl’s
sisters and families and then followed the Mississippi to southeastern
Minnesota where most of my family lives. Next came Duluth where we saw as many
friends as we possibly could and made a trip to the Canadian border to pick up
our Global Entry passes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLD02AWVKT7QXE9cCQ4Nkdp13MM1clJj7JqHnn8ob8l_TLG06AC_i1JRAQAZCzwgx3M-n9swzozKKdZVzHrxIIN65mwqu6QQM0HgsqzlNx3yXdMe9rep1kIgo47B8bcaJu3yI0lJY8zBI5/s1600/P1170202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLD02AWVKT7QXE9cCQ4Nkdp13MM1clJj7JqHnn8ob8l_TLG06AC_i1JRAQAZCzwgx3M-n9swzozKKdZVzHrxIIN65mwqu6QQM0HgsqzlNx3yXdMe9rep1kIgo47B8bcaJu3yI0lJY8zBI5/s400/P1170202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High water in Grand Marais, MN</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The next stop was Chicago where we stayed with Carl’s son,
Brian and his wife. Then it was on to Washington D.C. where Carl’s daughter,
Karen is living once again. She has agreed to keep our car for us for the next
few months. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3V8kFpwfzH7ucvaEuZYr_fjN99rVOldQuthpth0i5xZYIGS9hDC_UtMYlmaaZsIuzl3mNWRY_kpQWh5k-qrr0WynjduC2xH96nriQWCgLM4-2vSIZjc3-YIfhz76aDiZVy_L07P8GN2s/s1600/P1170566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3V8kFpwfzH7ucvaEuZYr_fjN99rVOldQuthpth0i5xZYIGS9hDC_UtMYlmaaZsIuzl3mNWRY_kpQWh5k-qrr0WynjduC2xH96nriQWCgLM4-2vSIZjc3-YIfhz76aDiZVy_L07P8GN2s/s400/P1170566.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We neglected to make lodging arrangements in D.C. until a
couple days before arrival, so our options were limited. It boiled down to
either an expensive hotel or an expensive AirBnB. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Except</i>,
lo and behold, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did</i> find <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">one</i> AirBnB that was brand new—we would
be their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">first</i> customers, and it was
downright CHEAP! We grabbed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zonIeEwKWU9maTdpPZInhGR_lkwIrErUw3RjpGPwa8p2A700EVQ14MsTQBOBDwxPz9aHhyh0VnCOfgxDZm99G0jnz5xxy5BAPFdIvKBZAZNTYKjoBJt8sWQ0djeJq-ubaiyQXvHUh_bP/s1600/P1170611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zonIeEwKWU9maTdpPZInhGR_lkwIrErUw3RjpGPwa8p2A700EVQ14MsTQBOBDwxPz9aHhyh0VnCOfgxDZm99G0jnz5xxy5BAPFdIvKBZAZNTYKjoBJt8sWQ0djeJq-ubaiyQXvHUh_bP/s320/P1170611.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our AirBnB room was spacious with three beds; they were
comfortable enough and we shared a bathroom. We’re easygoing about things like
that. Our hosts were two males who shared the apt. I would describe them as
tidy people with minimal experience in home decoration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I think that may be said of many males of our
species.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZg48AqIuMl0VRtNHjkuQrsLEz5OTjVUToWvAptdmsno-xtDjDgJjFuKq3-KS7rtPfn5mKOy0IMjOL00jAItL1VTwaJ25SqWSukFntF92yzeCBC0GQJYet_apiyWssdWvDZ0Tw7jM6Jdm0/s1600/P1170613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1600" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZg48AqIuMl0VRtNHjkuQrsLEz5OTjVUToWvAptdmsno-xtDjDgJjFuKq3-KS7rtPfn5mKOy0IMjOL00jAItL1VTwaJ25SqWSukFntF92yzeCBC0GQJYet_apiyWssdWvDZ0Tw7jM6Jdm0/s400/P1170613.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Subway in Washington D.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A slight problem arose when I said, “We would like some bath
towels.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Oh, of course,” our host said with a strong accent, and hurried
to the closet, and pulled out a fat roll of paper towels and handed it to me. Hmmm.
English must be a second language for him. I needed a different tactic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4Z2OLvK9FfclYIY4nd5YsdaEFOiyAYzm4NF0cz3DbFNN1bzuOr6vEpMbrdnuoy_lPP6sed881unXzvCDSW7IEJfbCDP8Jl7nkOCDZ2CgVznrbqfr2t9eRaFXEN9lssMqK_T9yNNnCXGF/s1600/P1170624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1485" data-original-width="1435" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4Z2OLvK9FfclYIY4nd5YsdaEFOiyAYzm4NF0cz3DbFNN1bzuOr6vEpMbrdnuoy_lPP6sed881unXzvCDSW7IEJfbCDP8Jl7nkOCDZ2CgVznrbqfr2t9eRaFXEN9lssMqK_T9yNNnCXGF/s320/P1170624.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Postal Museum is very interesting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Towels for taking a shower,” I said pointing toward the
bathtub. Our host showed me the toilet paper roll on the wall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“No, no, I mean for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bathing</i>,”
and I mimed washing my hair to illustrate the explanation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Oh, there is shampoo there,” he said brightly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HT-cCmR71w1LkAqml82gNDCGHdy0q75Cmr3DEA6E9v_LpYD3_Dbr5zg7fd1d4jyu9nuMCD-Ik2oSuS1g_CvrwtTkQQSJSZMqMdWEtBFuYL9ODWVkQZqzlXgMORQHejszMhoWGzGGW-rF/s1600/P1170627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="1491" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HT-cCmR71w1LkAqml82gNDCGHdy0q75Cmr3DEA6E9v_LpYD3_Dbr5zg7fd1d4jyu9nuMCD-Ik2oSuS1g_CvrwtTkQQSJSZMqMdWEtBFuYL9ODWVkQZqzlXgMORQHejszMhoWGzGGW-rF/s320/P1170627.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carl gets wanded by Security every time =<br />titanium knees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This time I held my arms far apart to describe something
large. “No, no, a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">big</i> towel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Oooh,” he said. He hunted through his closet, his roommate’s
closet, the hall closet, and some drawers, without success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he said, “I’m sorry, my roommate doesn’t
know how to prepare for guests. He put a towel on a bed in your room. Well,
okay, there <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was ONE</i> towel that had
been draped over a bedpost on the third bed in our room. It wasn’t folded and so
I thought it was left there accidentally; maybe it wasn’t even clean. In
addition, there was a small hand towel on my bed, again not folded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9FIZa3D2q-kliez1Snw_Q8v4OtC2M8D6pFDpGpdtQ-gmx63yjct17zwSA3qp4a3wpRqTTQVbt8D9NOTfjm9RhOwrOeeyt_L5XRnFelAVtXrnuZjlc5nxgmfkdGuHzMadSV4_NlQ4wvhT/s1600/P1170683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1600" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9FIZa3D2q-kliez1Snw_Q8v4OtC2M8D6pFDpGpdtQ-gmx63yjct17zwSA3qp4a3wpRqTTQVbt8D9NOTfjm9RhOwrOeeyt_L5XRnFelAVtXrnuZjlc5nxgmfkdGuHzMadSV4_NlQ4wvhT/s640/P1170683.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts - Susan Tedeschi and<br />Derek Trucks Band. Fantastic concert following a drenching downpour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It became apparent to us that there were no more bath towels
that would be forthcoming. Carl volunteered to shower using only the small hand
towel. He earned extra points from me for that. I was thus left with a large
bath towel for my shower. All was right with the world, or at least acceptable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The plan for our car this summer was to leave it with Karen
whose apartment in Arlington, Virginia came with a parking space but she has no
car. Perfect. We would leave our car with her and rent another car to drive to
Brunswick, GA where our boat is sitting in the water. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AWuaIk6FnHBAfhmKbK1Jaa2YL4dhQWuG5AeuiW39W8bt8CqTDzYLbMNOAkPgjAhiXmGVneZ2KnKlo5iudMO8Qh951CW-GYQ9DlXOPL5SP6xtcDKu1rZNCUVaVezC4wZR0nYnF_1HP4H-/s1600/P1170722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1399" data-original-width="1600" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AWuaIk6FnHBAfhmKbK1Jaa2YL4dhQWuG5AeuiW39W8bt8CqTDzYLbMNOAkPgjAhiXmGVneZ2KnKlo5iudMO8Qh951CW-GYQ9DlXOPL5SP6xtcDKu1rZNCUVaVezC4wZR0nYnF_1HP4H-/s320/P1170722.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the Hertz rep to show up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next day, we would drive to Hertz Rent-a-Car
by noon, pick up a car and leave ours at Karen’s apt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then drive to Raleigh, NC to stay overnight
with friends. The following day, we’d drive on to Brunswick and after loading
up on groceries, return the rental car. Easy. Good plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We lingered in our AirBnB the next morning. We didn’t want
to pick up the rental car too early in the day. When we went out at 11:00 AM,
our car was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gone</i>. We did the usual
thing that people do when they find their car is missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We looked up and down the street, you know,
just on the off chance that the car had moved <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">by itself </i>during the night, or that maybe both of us were mistaken
in remembering that we had parked it in the small lot directly in front of the
AirBnB. Nope… the car had not wandered off on its’ own to a preferred location.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2jlLNg5KX130Je5CnbfPP2ZD_YwxOpNfaPEQZyAGLjIqNAACP5WnSthi3wu2aUlu8Ke7O6x-MVN59_-D7bCr6a4G6DsBUGLfIvBr1uSPTaXDOzURdVWuvl-TbALCnZbaJu_JmWa364fZ/s1600/Screenshot_20190718-112900.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2jlLNg5KX130Je5CnbfPP2ZD_YwxOpNfaPEQZyAGLjIqNAACP5WnSthi3wu2aUlu8Ke7O6x-MVN59_-D7bCr6a4G6DsBUGLfIvBr1uSPTaXDOzURdVWuvl-TbALCnZbaJu_JmWa364fZ/s320/Screenshot_20190718-112900.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back and forth on this route</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Carl called the police to report our car stolen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The officer checked our license plate and said
that our car had been towed. What the..? He gave us the number of the towing
company to contact. While we waited for Uber to bring us to Hertz, I walked
around the front of the building again, annoyed that there had been no sign
telling us <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> to park where we had
parked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then, there, off to the far
left of the lot, under the shade trees was a sign that said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Permit Parking Only. Violators Will Be
Towed. </i>Could they have made the sign any more obscure?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKEVwWVg-CAFM4kdYRwEGgsn4NCWqxt_BdoBZosSwiC9LvLkTJSrFSHP1slgXRQF-bHtWk_kr15QQJsjiUALfbLusABEJ86-O1haMX6pjRdNTlMeyL7YwLoFSRP8x1Ulv-k0IMcX7jTGt/s1600/P1170724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKEVwWVg-CAFM4kdYRwEGgsn4NCWqxt_BdoBZosSwiC9LvLkTJSrFSHP1slgXRQF-bHtWk_kr15QQJsjiUALfbLusABEJ86-O1haMX6pjRdNTlMeyL7YwLoFSRP8x1Ulv-k0IMcX7jTGt/s400/P1170724.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our "new" car in jail at Pete's Towing. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, Uber to Hertz. Then rental car back to our AirBnB to retrieve
our bags. Next stop - Pete’s Towing in Falls Church, VA. The tow truck driver
was apologetic. “I’m sorry your car was towed. Management called to have it towed
at 12:55 AM.” We’d arrived there just a little after midnight and our AirBnB
host <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">knew</i> we parked there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeRH-VpHSOcNnHRereH_wGQUKKT_MWYtRMenpTez_Udyv_xl3x4VCXgeNdyadHReLylavTp-ylg1di57OSq_Ag8tLGpRSuavjuoJd_O75cCHqkDY3hPB0UydyGqIt1WYzkf6AtQzCE5Tw/s1600/P1170781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeRH-VpHSOcNnHRereH_wGQUKKT_MWYtRMenpTez_Udyv_xl3x4VCXgeNdyadHReLylavTp-ylg1di57OSq_Ag8tLGpRSuavjuoJd_O75cCHqkDY3hPB0UydyGqIt1WYzkf6AtQzCE5Tw/s320/P1170781.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catbird in Raleigh, NC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">From Falls Church, we drove both cars to Karen’s apartment. We
deposited our car there, transferring our bags into the rental car and left for
Raleigh, North Carolina finally at 2:00 PM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As of the writing of this post, we have reason to believe that nothing
bad has befallen our car sitting outside of Karen’s apt. But…….you never know
about these things. Could be a hailstorm in the offing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe an earthquake, flood? Meteorite? Lesson
#423 – Never Remove Comprehensive Car Insurance.<o:p></o:p></span><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/AVvXsEhijtGDBcqYOA4dHzUxXeBRjq0FJXEebNcmXuZTvl5BtlZn4AkpDThSZw4mwpzyPSKmq14Zp62lrZjxXB5KaC7KOrlfupsABezp7Z9uDe-BbiaeJGg6E46VyBy3S_jeh-oIVYRRU9yZfoWn/s1600/P1170810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1600" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijtGDBcqYOA4dHzUxXeBRjq0FJXEebNcmXuZTvl5BtlZn4AkpDThSZw4mwpzyPSKmq14Zp62lrZjxXB5KaC7KOrlfupsABezp7Z9uDe-BbiaeJGg6E46VyBy3S_jeh-oIVYRRU9yZfoWn/s640/P1170810.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brunswick Landing Marina on the St. Simons River, Brunswick, GA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br /></div>
Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-39954600398771057012019-07-03T14:28:00.001-05:002019-07-03T23:16:40.643-05:00A Little Malaise<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; min-height: 17.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiRqY_kqbfUgVV-24QAdYYc0KugHe69BziBvHKvjhacB1RAsiJqizmH96JcGkyvIExZj6yHh7w6xmAMRoa-xovV74HksubpyOIvN3fwJMFG1_UGu6APrUquAK-HQtJk6s8sBRCcDVSX3g/s1600/P1150925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiRqY_kqbfUgVV-24QAdYYc0KugHe69BziBvHKvjhacB1RAsiJqizmH96JcGkyvIExZj6yHh7w6xmAMRoa-xovV74HksubpyOIvN3fwJMFG1_UGu6APrUquAK-HQtJk6s8sBRCcDVSX3g/s320/P1150925.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ibis at Mount Dora, Florida</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">My cell phone just <i>may</i> have given up the ghost. It’s been a little temperamental for months-- ever since I dropped the charging end of it into a bowl of salsa. (That’s a different story.) Sometimes the phone is willing to be charged….other times, no.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve just been hoping that I could make it back to the U.S. before it died forever. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbI6cW96IDJN5zwpLY8a9i1wrbQ4AuQW0YscvedtWFIDcS4GFKIFtp0-sFQceApXhR5W2gPt4N26ICTV064vCzDY8li52ZtizrBe0KGpi5gnpOWMz8z1wuTwDig5BO59TDnJJ6A_ORDZQE/s1600/P1160375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="1600" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbI6cW96IDJN5zwpLY8a9i1wrbQ4AuQW0YscvedtWFIDcS4GFKIFtp0-sFQceApXhR5W2gPt4N26ICTV064vCzDY8li52ZtizrBe0KGpi5gnpOWMz8z1wuTwDig5BO59TDnJJ6A_ORDZQE/s640/P1160375.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mississippi River running high through Memphis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNx5-sqOx0sAoAL623cxTCujojFvVHRMrhav58d8_PgAQBnIquyR4X1rpBrwTOIcq3lYlpLm2YujKpQ1BZAIOLmRiqNZzAodXESizM4jomNF4AYw_Sz1-X07K5H6WeeJMXmgCptsbd_L0B/s1600/P1160178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNx5-sqOx0sAoAL623cxTCujojFvVHRMrhav58d8_PgAQBnIquyR4X1rpBrwTOIcq3lYlpLm2YujKpQ1BZAIOLmRiqNZzAodXESizM4jomNF4AYw_Sz1-X07K5H6WeeJMXmgCptsbd_L0B/s400/P1160178.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storm clouds chasing through Alabama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, the phone did make it back to the U.S. Survived through Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and into Missouri and then……..two weeks ago, while still in Missouri, it stopped taking any charge at all. So, a week ago, after we got to Duluth, we left my phone at one of those high techy electronic fix-it places staffed by guys wearing thoughtful dark-rimmed glasses who are younger than my children. Demoralizing. These are the new Ph.Ds’s of this world.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjen5iTFrtIfYr6Ex77b-3m5orKJK71H6b7qEGPt42RT0Q2OTzjdAEjBwefLA9fcsGl4kXEv7NeZCnzLq2upatJzT9peM7fKBZiTqxoss1PIrZp-hCrfu_0iBNrzqK-RwLarf9BlZNsSWHu/s1600/P1160236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjen5iTFrtIfYr6Ex77b-3m5orKJK71H6b7qEGPt42RT0Q2OTzjdAEjBwefLA9fcsGl4kXEv7NeZCnzLq2upatJzT9peM7fKBZiTqxoss1PIrZp-hCrfu_0iBNrzqK-RwLarf9BlZNsSWHu/s640/P1160236.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Country roads through northern Mississippi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q8-HSZVewUTFZBmN0XmT5fAvD2UC0W5Sp71a0HwJKbmizGB1wxZkqv9P6ipB7Q39Tjc4whsdPH5098qhTyppbOmVGdguovDe96ASdo_12DQL5Uf_kNfDxw-a2aYDS3ikX2NGkA0k3U4I/s1600/P1160695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q8-HSZVewUTFZBmN0XmT5fAvD2UC0W5Sp71a0HwJKbmizGB1wxZkqv9P6ipB7Q39Tjc4whsdPH5098qhTyppbOmVGdguovDe96ASdo_12DQL5Uf_kNfDxw-a2aYDS3ikX2NGkA0k3U4I/s400/P1160695.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floods along Missouri River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So, there I was, traveling north through Iowa and Minnesota, without my phone. No email, no texting with my children and friends, no Google maps for navigation (I used Carl’s phone for that), no address book, no access to my doctor’s office, my Hennepin County library card, GoodReads where I keep track of the books I read and write reviews on them, my appointment calendar (when is my first doctor appointment anyhow? and whose birthday comes up next?), my alarm clock that reminds me it’s time to take my medicine, Facebook, my list of “things to look for when I get to Minnesota,” and no googling things like “I wonder if, when, where, who, what or why” such and such is. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeFg6tnjeoninMpPVYX-eNgvMmxlHi4E1XcTp_d-3e1-5mwmK-Mj9HLP5HVdDEkd-rCnAmZ846yT1KPo6vIEmBnudByp1BJcihyphenhyphenxLDJE5xUKdXRFuuFzYJF1tdsQGrfWggiFi6HePsfEH/s1600/P1160760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeFg6tnjeoninMpPVYX-eNgvMmxlHi4E1XcTp_d-3e1-5mwmK-Mj9HLP5HVdDEkd-rCnAmZ846yT1KPo6vIEmBnudByp1BJcihyphenhyphenxLDJE5xUKdXRFuuFzYJF1tdsQGrfWggiFi6HePsfEH/s320/P1160760.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand bags in front of stores, Hannibal, MO</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">No access to a raft of passwords, no follow up on political events and commentary, no searching for “the best place to eat” in Hannibal, MO, no researching about how the current spring flooding on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers compares with previous years. But, all of that wasn’t so bad. It’s a pretty drive, especially when one avoids the freeways which we were pretty good at doing.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tqhlAt49kRvGw4cMmciPq06HlNG6ewhbBP0lesRX_VO-C8KTDyZcD0TXOL8_6iT-Leyk_8qAo_DVd2k0Q1aJU5GzjjSO721eEUcHMCClpq7rbJxfg_0R-k9qJ60ffHqE4Z_jgNSknsfc/s1600/P1160700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1600" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tqhlAt49kRvGw4cMmciPq06HlNG6ewhbBP0lesRX_VO-C8KTDyZcD0TXOL8_6iT-Leyk_8qAo_DVd2k0Q1aJU5GzjjSO721eEUcHMCClpq7rbJxfg_0R-k9qJ60ffHqE4Z_jgNSknsfc/s640/P1160700.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missouri flooding. Can't plant here. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Now here I come to the guts of this tale. Getting back to Minnesota is always an exciting time for me. The comfort of seeing familiar places and people…it just feels good, for the most part. I’ve noticed, however, a spate of malaise of late. A bit of a dark shadow passing across my eyes. It’s really hard to say why this is so. Besides the loss of my phone, there are some contenders for responsibility. For one, it’s a bit of an adjustment to come from islands where people live more minimalistic lives, to the U.S. where we are surrounded by powerful interests, competing commerce, products, billboards, three dozen varieties of tomato sauce, and things, things and <i>more</i> things. Our wealth is obscene by comparison.</span></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihm08HdP5lExUblOF7KDs_6rPklHFkJQ1MvZXzIyCvFUTJOckpTvVV-24D-IkrzCn4c_GCE5HFdTyIeVP_Ze2BuLQPod8W7MAJmjxFKFtzNwMJqmsL7N4i-KwyzPilN9KhqNNeOyd_wF4s/s1600/P1160817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1132" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihm08HdP5lExUblOF7KDs_6rPklHFkJQ1MvZXzIyCvFUTJOckpTvVV-24D-IkrzCn4c_GCE5HFdTyIeVP_Ze2BuLQPod8W7MAJmjxFKFtzNwMJqmsL7N4i-KwyzPilN9KhqNNeOyd_wF4s/s640/P1160817.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iowa backroads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: large;">For another, signs of climate change have been appearing all along the way. We have seen significant flooding nearly everywhere. It’s not unusual to see flooding along the Mississippi in the spring, of course, but this year seemed exceptionally wet. Mud slides along country roads, miles of inundated fields that could not be planted, even in Missouri where the planting season should be many weeks ahead of Minnesota, the corn was puny and patchy and I am referring to that old farmer’s phrase that suggests that “corn be knee-high by the 4th (of July)” Exceptionally cold days in Minnesota. Frost warnings in northern Minnesota well into June.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrGghncfJ1dWiUsZvAr5CUL56XDDAkdyBGXiOZ8oAsztgjC_3oW5C3nt_duylapq1sfRuRk59PIA8D7hDb4QIPNvvLNs1X4KR7KFnyLU8qleBgdU8uiJ2duW4mMNotT1loK5UxiZmNSuo/s1600/P1160733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1600" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrGghncfJ1dWiUsZvAr5CUL56XDDAkdyBGXiOZ8oAsztgjC_3oW5C3nt_duylapq1sfRuRk59PIA8D7hDb4QIPNvvLNs1X4KR7KFnyLU8qleBgdU8uiJ2duW4mMNotT1loK5UxiZmNSuo/s640/P1160733.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannibal, MO. Train crept along over rails. Took half hour for train to pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Weather extremes. We watched the first freight train creep through Hannibal, MO after the flood waters had receded a bit. The steel rails on the tracks were all that was visible above the flood water. Eerie. Last week there was 7 inches of rain in southern Minnesota in one dump. Highway 52 had to be closed. Heat warnings were posted across Germany and Paris. I think about the impact of climate change on our world a fair bit. We live on our planet within narrow parameters of weather and climate. Certainly enough concerns there to contribute to a level of malaise. When the coastal lands are under water and we can no longer grow root vegetables that like cooler weather, we’ll be hurting.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O9fBDKDfzXDqxP_bcXSo-cvsvaDffSn-4zFemzghrB2gfBDeL19meOnYiETC24KkcCNgufice6ZlCP-q8Xh7bd7Em2Zn7nR3ZFMeujBNbcJSnNq2TzyRHbvM0Nwi9c170RJ_WS5v9qTi/s1600/P1170050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1600" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O9fBDKDfzXDqxP_bcXSo-cvsvaDffSn-4zFemzghrB2gfBDeL19meOnYiETC24KkcCNgufice6ZlCP-q8Xh7bd7Em2Zn7nR3ZFMeujBNbcJSnNq2TzyRHbvM0Nwi9c170RJ_WS5v9qTi/s400/P1170050.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking Mississippi River flood plain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Another possibility contributing to malaise. In southeastern Minnesota, I saw five of my six siblings. (I visited with the sixth sibling while in Florida). It seems to me that nothing highlights the changes that come with aging more than having been absent from loved ones for a while. </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fkp7a5UIS_UkMFGf6Dvc6my5wCx3W4-e8jd5ptX8SIiGRJhJKYm9rsatHysWUs9tJFlIG3q82aUBUr898aPh455FrX_jDGxJyQBETxyeyljCqZ6u_EQFp7Hz_7g3jjSOW8NwTk3dx2vx/s1600/P1170022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1600" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fkp7a5UIS_UkMFGf6Dvc6my5wCx3W4-e8jd5ptX8SIiGRJhJKYm9rsatHysWUs9tJFlIG3q82aUBUr898aPh455FrX_jDGxJyQBETxyeyljCqZ6u_EQFp7Hz_7g3jjSOW8NwTk3dx2vx/s640/P1170022.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Mississippi, southern Houston Co, MN</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Aging is not a kind mother. She takes our skin that was once so taut and supple and morphs it into a less familiar body covering of wrinkles, skin tags, spots and sometimes cancer. I have certainly seen those things on myself. And all of that energy that we once had to corral small children at the same time that we gardened, cooked, cleaned, ran errands—I remember that person but could never replicate even one of those busy days now. Aging attacks some of us cruelly, even unfairly I say…..takes away abilities we took for granted such as sight, balance, memories. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRM-dqQonTMV0JDK-pBTog_yOTvU-lK_SUZUCW9-S3YM1B0udvDKhYypaCuRqRwjASTJmNtr962v1S4SiNS40ajywgyLRxS03wwFVD10Oru8808x1gPrRMtMqpAQDbw4HfKPo2atKpT69/s1600/P1160826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1295" data-original-width="1600" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRM-dqQonTMV0JDK-pBTog_yOTvU-lK_SUZUCW9-S3YM1B0udvDKhYypaCuRqRwjASTJmNtr962v1S4SiNS40ajywgyLRxS03wwFVD10Oru8808x1gPrRMtMqpAQDbw4HfKPo2atKpT69/s400/P1160826.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset in Iowa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So, to what do I credit the malaise? Is it the loss of my cell phone?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Is it the stark disparity between the wealth of this country and so many poor places of the world? Is it global warming? Or is it coming face to face with how I and everyone I care about has aged since my last visit? The story we are told by the Ph.Ds at the techy place is that my phone will be fixed and returned to me today. Shame on me if the malaise disappears with the arrival of my cell phone.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-5947277729410083062019-05-18T19:09:00.000-05:002019-05-22T20:38:13.667-05:00The Exuma Land and Sea Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3VS50p7SExvNJA9tH-ypAO2x5ytXhDB1QJe3eU1Q3slar5HL4gb9Kt9Bmk9h8gEYOvTyup80CqJXCt-uN81V3rXDhN38FVqXQ0MOcoWa7v5QyhCZl2zobx6Z3eHxLFKCLmIi6wuhx-TO/s1600/P1140956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3VS50p7SExvNJA9tH-ypAO2x5ytXhDB1QJe3eU1Q3slar5HL4gb9Kt9Bmk9h8gEYOvTyup80CqJXCt-uN81V3rXDhN38FVqXQ0MOcoWa7v5QyhCZl2zobx6Z3eHxLFKCLmIi6wuhx-TO/s640/P1140956.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Warderick Wells is the island home of the Park Headquarters for the Exuma Land and Sea Park. When we sailed around the last bit of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>island so that the harbor within Warderick Wells opened up before us, I thought we’d sailed into heaven.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjR9bj-PAqzTNkx-k0l2zkDDZ2nOfTFboiQLFzaGlcxGf1iP_pF2PKGZGyX-bM0NkAY0IA7WWNT-E-1fSymJ3epbNevfGSAV0zpN3k_6orgkqA2_mvuMzH5VqO3IhxE1exClUVw-s7pf2/s1600/P5100037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjR9bj-PAqzTNkx-k0l2zkDDZ2nOfTFboiQLFzaGlcxGf1iP_pF2PKGZGyX-bM0NkAY0IA7WWNT-E-1fSymJ3epbNevfGSAV0zpN3k_6orgkqA2_mvuMzH5VqO3IhxE1exClUVw-s7pf2/s400/P5100037.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from Park Headquarters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">How could one island display so many shades of aqua blue, so many shades of white sand and coral rocks? I was initially speechless. Shades of green and tans dressed the hills to the east which were hiding the Atlantic from our view within the harbor. A few twists and jogs within the harbor coastline only added to its’ beauty. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjp0brFgAOb8XxhQJ0LN9PdPNgrjPGW3uoiEZ43KiIhArmfOyU5hyE0SRbaIMywkOuvswpINAjk5cRwqAhG2h9L7SFjOdBJDAGPgOZ7n4CWZiFb7cw_iFYW9f_B3s3gJXLpfCwf7KqkHl/s1600/P5100038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjp0brFgAOb8XxhQJ0LN9PdPNgrjPGW3uoiEZ43KiIhArmfOyU5hyE0SRbaIMywkOuvswpINAjk5cRwqAhG2h9L7SFjOdBJDAGPgOZ7n4CWZiFb7cw_iFYW9f_B3s3gJXLpfCwf7KqkHl/s320/P5100038.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dinghy dock at Warderick Wells</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The few manmade structures housing the Park Headquarters and the Park Warden house were hidden to us until we were well inside the harbor though we talked with the Office in advance. We’d been assigned a mooring ball and advised to “follow the dark water in.”</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmx96Sre0Qwdqqh-4KGBt43T-qjDaMN1Fnwo2S4VtzEwtLwe2Nofg2ClZjTPukPiQ0nGlLYQVxUtr6uK2Yi_H5AQeFc9Xl_V7p8lZX3x-A1bV83B6ubIIZOP6bTx9D4tbJFeaKdeaLa9u5/s1600/P1140915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1600" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmx96Sre0Qwdqqh-4KGBt43T-qjDaMN1Fnwo2S4VtzEwtLwe2Nofg2ClZjTPukPiQ0nGlLYQVxUtr6uK2Yi_H5AQeFc9Xl_V7p8lZX3x-A1bV83B6ubIIZOP6bTx9D4tbJFeaKdeaLa9u5/s640/P1140915.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The Exuma Land and Sea Park extends for 22 miles and includes all of the islands in between Wax Cay Cut<span class="Apple-converted-space"> o</span>n the north end and the Conch Cut on the south end. No fishing, lobstering or conching is allowed in the waters of the Park and no removal of any shells or coral. Water is so clear that we could see the bottom 20 feet below us, although that is not unusual in the Bahamas.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>At Warderick Wells, in the stillness of the harbor, such clarity was even more stunning.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWSNwq1aYPAYhGpxW0Rvbe8obPBtojkO7ERX3ipCutApug-Yu2bZVKj0a1E9m-odsnHDkxoEjTwtP5iymuEG1-mFoAE_1a7l1KxrkaYMx6jPxilbLio5XwLs9ZyUyLGqkexNHV4ACCW-i/s1600/P5100080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWSNwq1aYPAYhGpxW0Rvbe8obPBtojkO7ERX3ipCutApug-Yu2bZVKj0a1E9m-odsnHDkxoEjTwtP5iymuEG1-mFoAE_1a7l1KxrkaYMx6jPxilbLio5XwLs9ZyUyLGqkexNHV4ACCW-i/s320/P5100080.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumped off the boat to swim; found this guy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">When we took the dinghy to shore to follow a trail up to the top of Boo Boo Hill, we found the colors of the Atlantic just as breathtaking although in darker shades of turquoise. To be able to see gradations of color with the changes in the ocean depths from that elevation was spectacular. We’d been sailing on that very water, of course, but unable to see the great myriad of colors while so close to the water’s surface.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Do I sound as though I had fallen in love with a piece of the planet? I had.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AtxLrQFm5IVRY-gja96-RY45g-BUJ6bqDU8sdd1qKxFStmwlaZcZre8bhnPibOa2g2hKFMaYHjIle4FIz2VoyzSzZuLH_6VrUcEUkxKdcUh89rjsrI6dv8nghv7RTAdckSk_xvcQTOkg/s1600/P1140961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AtxLrQFm5IVRY-gja96-RY45g-BUJ6bqDU8sdd1qKxFStmwlaZcZre8bhnPibOa2g2hKFMaYHjIle4FIz2VoyzSzZuLH_6VrUcEUkxKdcUh89rjsrI6dv8nghv7RTAdckSk_xvcQTOkg/s400/P1140961.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warderick Wells harbor on left; Atlantic on the right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We felt somehow changed, lighter and buoyant. Our faces more relaxed and voices softer. “Wow……..this is……..wow……….unlike <i>anyp</i>lace we’ve ever seen!”…..“How long <i>can</i> we stay here?”…….. “We are just going to relax and enjoy this.” Our very bodies smiled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVgUpU17MBi8VUBwHrzkx_eLIq-DVDcbdt0E6KoHuBT28ahx7Z2YLkqwbNODDBs6EZ4fom30bKhNZhR-vWFhR9mOy6W80DEIF_0GWFgJSvQKuojGEwjqo4g8zx_G3onyBn0ahrCFV_08h/s1600/P5100256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVgUpU17MBi8VUBwHrzkx_eLIq-DVDcbdt0E6KoHuBT28ahx7Z2YLkqwbNODDBs6EZ4fom30bKhNZhR-vWFhR9mOy6W80DEIF_0GWFgJSvQKuojGEwjqo4g8zx_G3onyBn0ahrCFV_08h/s400/P5100256.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bahama Grouper. Note variety of corals all around</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Before we’d even gotten into the water, before we’d seen the fish and the coral heads below us, before we’d seen the blowholes on the ocean side of the island, before we’d gone exploring we were in love. When I close my eyes now I can see the beauty of the place as if looking at a photo imprinted beneath my eyelids.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU6iYLxOBltJt1UYFepObwCv8B291fgy-iNKm2GpcakoTx4ST5_1vmrsT8q3-DFFixs5XO7W6Dv7MBWbOA8xMzS9pw9pteHv1Y3VTZWpeXnC3NknESBAyy9rLLzEWuRnL2ew_NqlnAqar/s1600/P5100194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1333" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU6iYLxOBltJt1UYFepObwCv8B291fgy-iNKm2GpcakoTx4ST5_1vmrsT8q3-DFFixs5XO7W6Dv7MBWbOA8xMzS9pw9pteHv1Y3VTZWpeXnC3NknESBAyy9rLLzEWuRnL2ew_NqlnAqar/s400/P5100194.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Another part of me, at that time, however, entertained the strange thought that perhaps this much beauty was more than I could take in. An odd thought—was I deserving of such visual pleasure? And still I felt a preemptory moment of sadness in knowing that no matter how long we stayed, it would never be long enough. Have you ever had such a vibrant reaction to a place of great beauty?</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpf4QmJvfpb7sTb0KuYR6_D5ojb2mLtLiknbC_LcOjW81ASWrR-LBug1_mpC6GEiSjPrE7bQjC4qyx6HXB05qX8mfY0Ek5oYM4JfWP1-CxQPIILH6-ZYlIxAKuLHwXisBu1e7F-7sP8RN/s1600/P1140981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpf4QmJvfpb7sTb0KuYR6_D5ojb2mLtLiknbC_LcOjW81ASWrR-LBug1_mpC6GEiSjPrE7bQjC4qyx6HXB05qX8mfY0Ek5oYM4JfWP1-CxQPIILH6-ZYlIxAKuLHwXisBu1e7F-7sP8RN/s400/P1140981.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blowhole on Warderick Wells</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">These were stronger reactions than I usually have to landscapes of land, sea and sky. Maybe it was my eagerness to snorkel that particular day.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Maybe it was my grateful faith in the protection offered by this national park for its fish and coral.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Maybe it was my medication—who knows? But what I do know is that I want to go back to that very same spot on earth again. I want to soak it in again, with that same sort of religious fervor. Maybe I should be embarrassed to admit this vulnerability to a place; a piece of the earth where all things came together for me in such a way that my breath was taken away.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseV3KAqCeUWHgrUX7WLQgoSbZOUk4zrc_kpMXRRHzZGKMxbj-QCjsizBE4u93fTYuxAy9vK4TR4I83Gjae2o6fP4XYo_yHGvCQt87YY4Mtn2A7_VhPoztgRtwEQhjtoMMvL4mxAbZNl9C/s1600/P1150078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseV3KAqCeUWHgrUX7WLQgoSbZOUk4zrc_kpMXRRHzZGKMxbj-QCjsizBE4u93fTYuxAy9vK4TR4I83Gjae2o6fP4XYo_yHGvCQt87YY4Mtn2A7_VhPoztgRtwEQhjtoMMvL4mxAbZNl9C/s400/P1150078.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shroud Cay, one of the many islands of the Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Not everyone would have this same reaction to Warderick Wells but surely there are many <i>othe</i>r places on this beautiful planet where visitors find themselves reacting viscerally and strongly. I think back on the extraordinary beauty of many many places in my life and not once have I written about them in these glowing terms. I am thinking now that I could have. That I <i>should </i>have done so. Should have expressed this same enthusiasm for many beautiful places, big and small. Some of them right in my backyard. Why hold back on letting our appreciation for our beautiful planet be known?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKq4Ipe0CLATd2IQuJpDr-X_DvviolSrn-fiYb8ak7WPgVHFNoZ7scpGA8bEEm7vxLNDq2pDiW66NV-K5TcuzM9B2AQ6fgs5oQcP1yWJhf8-5EhHoRv6VsugFdt9sC7MyrXbZqZiKfrzG/s1600/P5100107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1415" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKq4Ipe0CLATd2IQuJpDr-X_DvviolSrn-fiYb8ak7WPgVHFNoZ7scpGA8bEEm7vxLNDq2pDiW66NV-K5TcuzM9B2AQ6fgs5oQcP1yWJhf8-5EhHoRv6VsugFdt9sC7MyrXbZqZiKfrzG/s320/P5100107.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many unusual corals found in<br />Exuma Land & Sea Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We are no longer in the Exumas. We continued north and arrived in the Abacos (northern islands of the Bahamas) two days ago. Yesterday we snorkeled off of Sandy Cay, a place that had thrilled us when we snorkeled there three years ago. Picture a small mountain-like chain of coral just below the waters surface that has been building upon itself for centuries and with the largest corals imaginable at the top. The Elkorn coral reaches out it's enormous arms at distances greater than my arm span.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2nEoYwqTAFmstr9dE1xcpO0c8caPaXSqJ5hbABPebagCuRl_L0gyahnKMRmza9AGy6QJuIcSdrz9WsTi-niANy5gss5QjccJjiRz2nje2AFoodQdt66XXWxX7xBYdo-elHiBqac1vYDZ/s1600/P5180771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2nEoYwqTAFmstr9dE1xcpO0c8caPaXSqJ5hbABPebagCuRl_L0gyahnKMRmza9AGy6QJuIcSdrz9WsTi-niANy5gss5QjccJjiRz2nje2AFoodQdt66XXWxX7xBYdo-elHiBqac1vYDZ/s400/P5180771.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snorkeling off Sandy Cay. These corals were<br />beautiful 3 years ago--purples, greens, oranges,<br />reds, yellows. Few living Elkhorn remaining.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday was however, not a magnificent repeat of the experience three years ago. Large masses of the huge Elkhorn coral were dead or dying! So much had changed in only three years. So much beauty lost. Heartbreaking is too small a word for this loss. This is a picture of the impact of man upon our climate and our planet. What will be left a generation from now? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitCF2uuHC5hCvl0PVO6gE9zIrmhJ2N6JBQlsnrqTmuSNZNZDuMELJgeuHjeQumJoOGkUb5tpZSWH2bi2E7J9KOXOpqgSfuoBX74dpAuiFMY9jaekw1WIQesGiaQFblkCn5_-dzb7f52WD/s1600/P1150085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitCF2uuHC5hCvl0PVO6gE9zIrmhJ2N6JBQlsnrqTmuSNZNZDuMELJgeuHjeQumJoOGkUb5tpZSWH2bi2E7J9KOXOpqgSfuoBX74dpAuiFMY9jaekw1WIQesGiaQFblkCn5_-dzb7f52WD/s400/P1150085.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atop Shroud Cay, at Driftwood Camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">With sadness after the devastation found at Sandy Cay, and with yet a spark of magnanimity after experiencing the beauty of Warderick Wells, I offer this: May each of us find our own Warderick Wells and fall in love with it without reservation. Hold onto it in wild appreciation of our beautiful earth, in full color, just behind the eyelids to enjoy at any time. Love it so dearly, so intensely that we not fail in protecting the gift.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9eWrjIJKXdXt220jwbnZlGql1F2pO7kef0Cdu31P-FNyUHzAVQMBf0B4a4oQQ3mBZrSEia0IoGTk99dFlIVZEEzIF7_yNDMx25bE7iC0fbVG4n9VNtcos_gj1Z6qLk_2LizE9lYJ1lg1/s1600/P1150060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1600" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9eWrjIJKXdXt220jwbnZlGql1F2pO7kef0Cdu31P-FNyUHzAVQMBf0B4a4oQQ3mBZrSEia0IoGTk99dFlIVZEEzIF7_yNDMx25bE7iC0fbVG4n9VNtcos_gj1Z6qLk_2LizE9lYJ1lg1/s640/P1150060.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-63937933185703376592019-05-16T12:01:00.000-05:002019-05-16T12:05:41.449-05:00Thunderball Grotto, Iguanas and Pigs in the Exumas<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
span.s2 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaJntJnUctZ0bjdGdPbjDvyFLKgZ8F75pcqaCSnuTj5NAG7LGTIl694gA7G4s-zf8X07zIpngdRdf2la_3Ccb7Gmb51e45FxE1IliwE5WaElIZzaEQkE3J5DMWGGIPkXzP2GlMxn8qYuM/s1600/P5090321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaJntJnUctZ0bjdGdPbjDvyFLKgZ8F75pcqaCSnuTj5NAG7LGTIl694gA7G4s-zf8X07zIpngdRdf2la_3Ccb7Gmb51e45FxE1IliwE5WaElIZzaEQkE3J5DMWGGIPkXzP2GlMxn8qYuM/s640/P5090321.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken inside cave looking out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">As we moved up the chain of the </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" style="font-size: x-large;"><span id="goog_645947546"></span>Exumas<span id="goog_645947547"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, a string of narrow islands stretching for 90 miles, it became apparent that we would be remiss if we did not visit three particular locations which nearly all sailors do. It would be like traveling to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. After returning from Paris, people would react strongly upon learning that you had skipped the Eiffel Tower. “Wait a minute—you went to Paris and you </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">didn’t </i><span style="font-size: large;">go see the Eiffel Tower? Why in heaven’s name not?”</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgow-dhbayN59SLwP68lxFRBK950ktg6-tpWM-hhH-ecJsfDDuzygHZE_yDu1gpGcir4C3B5MR4gbk_vDVGog4AxegXuYwlB2V9ItS6Qx2j73DJ9coYCHC68oecbVO_SM4OXbxWY_OK10Tn/s1600/P5090037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgow-dhbayN59SLwP68lxFRBK950ktg6-tpWM-hhH-ecJsfDDuzygHZE_yDu1gpGcir4C3B5MR4gbk_vDVGog4AxegXuYwlB2V9ItS6Qx2j73DJ9coYCHC68oecbVO_SM4OXbxWY_OK10Tn/s320/P5090037.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cave filled with snorkelers and fish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So it is in this instance. “You went to the Exumas? Did you see the swimming pigs? Did you go to the Thunderball Grotto? Did you see the iguanas?” And so, we did all three.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: large;">Thunderball Grotto - Staniel Cay</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_873808239"></span>Thunderball Grotto<span id="goog_873808240"></span></a> is a cave under an uninhabited island near Staniel Cay. It is underwater at high tide. But, between low and slack tide one can swim into the cave. The cave is filled with fish that also like caves and it is, quite spectacular. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwJrUzWfjXCdT70uqXFLB86yDvxC7y7vRdbidi-L4Q1P_GV6XQ03zENh-rC6BUnUwYVZdfgsdkpIPM3nW7XAPPKcjcIclXkAqe5tLcyVIvWSfwm6ouwRZzTAqWZxICUK3fhle7WJPJsv6/s1600/P5090140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwJrUzWfjXCdT70uqXFLB86yDvxC7y7vRdbidi-L4Q1P_GV6XQ03zENh-rC6BUnUwYVZdfgsdkpIPM3nW7XAPPKcjcIclXkAqe5tLcyVIvWSfwm6ouwRZzTAqWZxICUK3fhle7WJPJsv6/s320/P5090140.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Angelfish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I had a tete a tete with a Queen Angelfish that was astonishing. She repeatedly swam so close to me that it was difficult to photograph her. A superb problem to have from my point of view.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIX3gkKYNGZvGMYspLc9EC31W5ucrHmSXhUAw4hVMJfyrz28CTn6yimQhDUOrOIorUTE7hY-ETTbddGeGZvFjq6gqrCH1Owoe199d9Ca7YmsFS9yMKm5gTIgxuNs7Vi-7SPHKZrSnfopx/s1600/P5090175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIX3gkKYNGZvGMYspLc9EC31W5ucrHmSXhUAw4hVMJfyrz28CTn6yimQhDUOrOIorUTE7hY-ETTbddGeGZvFjq6gqrCH1Owoe199d9Ca7YmsFS9yMKm5gTIgxuNs7Vi-7SPHKZrSnfopx/s400/P5090175.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge cave with high ceiling and natural<br />
sky lights</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The Thunderball Grotto has two entrances and so we felt compelled to exit by the other which led to significant corals and fishes outside the cave as well. Beautiful! I highly recommend this snorkel spot.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oC1HL9aI3dRKSF4qnDJdaXBtt7vXhj5vz84eySroLVEumv1740wtO9DtJm1d4vbYAO-fDS2qWqvDNDvx9op5vkrGnBcBYzdb_ust9iE77w6Zcq3p9nv86MmIbOepZKav6QH5NYQBX7A4/s1600/P5090053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oC1HL9aI3dRKSF4qnDJdaXBtt7vXhj5vz84eySroLVEumv1740wtO9DtJm1d4vbYAO-fDS2qWqvDNDvx9op5vkrGnBcBYzdb_ust9iE77w6Zcq3p9nv86MmIbOepZKav6QH5NYQBX7A4/s400/P5090053.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since the cave must be entered at slack tide, the tourist<br />
boats delivered many other snorkelers to explore at<br />
the same time as we did.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Iguana Preserve - Bitter Guana</u></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The island of Bitter Guana is home to an iguana <a href="https://www.exumasexperience.com/iguana-beach" target="_blank">preserve for endangered rock iguanas.</a> Most of the remaining 5000 live on that island, enjoying the dry heat and sand and plant life that they eat. We anchored nearby and went to shore to see them, the only people on the beach at the time. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">We’ve seen many kinds of iguanas on various islands but these were a different species. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYh59gTrIO-ACPwC8_3XlPPLexd_jFW4Soo8vPR8EzIt2FRNbKNsvm5g52YlrLhGsT7xqz9E9rOPJ2pViUw4DJ1BeRQxhNsqgdOXeQ54yBOZhpeSOkDGDu7tTR25G5oUfXIR4G_I8jkrwI/s1600/P1140838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="1600" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYh59gTrIO-ACPwC8_3XlPPLexd_jFW4Soo8vPR8EzIt2FRNbKNsvm5g52YlrLhGsT7xqz9E9rOPJ2pViUw4DJ1BeRQxhNsqgdOXeQ54yBOZhpeSOkDGDu7tTR25G5oUfXIR4G_I8jkrwI/s640/P1140838.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the criss-cross striping on the sand. Those are from iguana tails.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is not hard to believe that there are thousands of iguanas on the island. Everywhere we walked iguanas have left signs of their presence. Iguana tracks criss-cross the sand between all the clumps of Sea Grape bushes. Those and other waist high plants are really good for hiding, especially if you are an iguana. With some effort, we found two large ones by following the sound of rustling leaves.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZYMaywqtNZtZRsF39aGXOSO_Imvzs7TZGEmP5Uvzo31mxqtuJt3M0vambiNYmF-1YWXdH7SheQLiJkQhyphenhyphenr3YObrvubmjjdhdSS1wM2PDb-fQnSNioNalX_NAG7hLNymIK7r44F_ADO0e/s1600/P1140806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1600" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZYMaywqtNZtZRsF39aGXOSO_Imvzs7TZGEmP5Uvzo31mxqtuJt3M0vambiNYmF-1YWXdH7SheQLiJkQhyphenhyphenr3YObrvubmjjdhdSS1wM2PDb-fQnSNioNalX_NAG7hLNymIK7r44F_ADO0e/s320/P1140806.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found one large iguana hiding here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">In time a speed boat arrived with a load of tourists and music blaring. I thought, ‘Oh great, the iguanas are going to run as far away as they can now.’ But instead, it was as if a dinner bell had been rung. Iguanas came out of hiding onto the beach, running to greet the tourists. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoPWfHGAfjgOVM8gAS4LOM7jjCkSykwY0od9rLqO1Et9POKaaJ9_7zAFdEGPw726obP74q97XfsR7ewjwRX5rbxudgK3YldMRTrVvkF6wS1_fRssM47j3nvNBy2eR4XSv_PfHViRz_GDL/s1600/P1140901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="712" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoPWfHGAfjgOVM8gAS4LOM7jjCkSykwY0od9rLqO1Et9POKaaJ9_7zAFdEGPw726obP74q97XfsR7ewjwRX5rbxudgK3YldMRTrVvkF6wS1_fRssM47j3nvNBy2eR4XSv_PfHViRz_GDL/s320/P1140901.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tourist handed me her skewer to feed<br />
the iguana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Unbeknownst to me, the tour boats, in an effort to ensure that their guests get to actually see the star attractions, had taken to supplying their guests with tiny pieces of food attached to long bamboo skewers. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZ5Cz4JwMNF3LSKKlQUeWRz3ky71IoFbjVeWSEMDfWvCGiuPw57jcHXcmfDo-sdfMtqQKwtQ4I5Ykd_Ec7KGSMfxEEztPnFFDy32UXuA8Ssg-eXj0Y4vgDF1a9cR4hqPOUDtL6Cwttrin/s1600/P1140893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZ5Cz4JwMNF3LSKKlQUeWRz3ky71IoFbjVeWSEMDfWvCGiuPw57jcHXcmfDo-sdfMtqQKwtQ4I5Ykd_Ec7KGSMfxEEztPnFFDy32UXuA8Ssg-eXj0Y4vgDF1a9cR4hqPOUDtL6Cwttrin/s400/P1140893.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many who came hustling out of hiding <br />
for tour boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the iguanas, being sorely mistaken that I would have food as well, ran right up to me and put his face into my camera lens as I knelt on the ground. I got some great shots of an iguana front and back leg, belly, and tail. Real close-ups.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_cMIdHmGnFoozFZlGyGhGXGPWyPkdHkMpv0wlwWeQTntRrLfsRohtsKlfg49LEI0MyrgeEelhqGFcc-xyag6iwFXFOwbRpuY46EsJ5a9RehfKY-Wyjt_8b0HS95aI8Fjh-8Nhy9c9SHi/s1600/P1140867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_cMIdHmGnFoozFZlGyGhGXGPWyPkdHkMpv0wlwWeQTntRrLfsRohtsKlfg49LEI0MyrgeEelhqGFcc-xyag6iwFXFOwbRpuY46EsJ5a9RehfKY-Wyjt_8b0HS95aI8Fjh-8Nhy9c9SHi/s320/P1140867.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How's this for a close-up?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>The Swimming Pigs - Big Major Cay</u></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">On to the story of the swimming pigs. Yes, there <i>are</i> <a href="https://www.bahamas.com/official-home-swimming-pigs" target="_blank">pigs living on the island of Big Major Cay</a> and pigs <i>do</i> know how to swim. That is not astonishing. They are not wild pigs, which I had assumed they were, prior to our visit and that fact surprised me. I had thought that they were feral pigs which ended up stranded on the island after some shipwreck 200 years ago. That would have made some sense to me. But no, some residents of Staniel Cay nearby, brought piglets to Big Major Cay.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And the pigs, in turn, have certainly brought in the tourists.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARBX0A1gW8ihDIAddjWvHKmsi30A7DwReLQOygUYoLPpLbJnya1YvgbRrXIA7uPxPMz3xrVylkZOPcfpy4pHREFkjoVPAbXPrspsKQ_oDvhbVfpX4dGGi3rwHfVFC5Tyv6Sdt-JkxQIzN/s1600/P5090005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1508" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARBX0A1gW8ihDIAddjWvHKmsi30A7DwReLQOygUYoLPpLbJnya1YvgbRrXIA7uPxPMz3xrVylkZOPcfpy4pHREFkjoVPAbXPrspsKQ_oDvhbVfpX4dGGi3rwHfVFC5Tyv6Sdt-JkxQIzN/s320/P5090005.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pig who wants me to feed him.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The pigs sometimes swim out to meet people. They did not feel so inclined for our visit. There are awesome photos of pigs online, swimming with tourists. Cute, I admit. There are also reports of the pigs biting people. Can a pig differentiate between a scrap of food and my finger? Essentially no. Pigs will eat anything. Their primary objective in life is to eat and cool down.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwahkDqWlTJDZW9sfg9pU6dc5q01IUVCG-7dwRJgcn7IKuU6RR7b_RupDCm4L2CIR2dG5N6-kRzCPSW-ptpSf7JpSAKIaeYubN-wD_mXENz6YIsPxFpSSncAd_Lq4ihqi4YG2gxt2rCWzM/s1600/P5090021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwahkDqWlTJDZW9sfg9pU6dc5q01IUVCG-7dwRJgcn7IKuU6RR7b_RupDCm4L2CIR2dG5N6-kRzCPSW-ptpSf7JpSAKIaeYubN-wD_mXENz6YIsPxFpSSncAd_Lq4ihqi4YG2gxt2rCWzM/s320/P5090021.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did bring scraps from our lunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">As a farmer’s daughter, it is my opinion that pigs do not belong in the Exumas. There is no mud to lie in to cool down. The ocean is there of course, but does not provide a covering for their skin as does mud. Ocean water evaporates quickly, the salt is a desicant and the sand is HOT! There is no fresh water on the island.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It is now provided by people bringing it to them. Apparently there were a few pig fatalities until somebody figured that out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzTKVVDPKBfHEQeGBWegLBMBwDeJwzYGhGBc4CD42QHqr8BOPKRoZK2t12WFGJK3rtPEs2l1X8lLPeF_qQ5Sry7bSa0PaRMah58kYhLoV0tQdAHiYgvICm-chWYsZ-Bd57NfGAx0nvUbk/s1600/IMG_20190509_164437959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="1600" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzTKVVDPKBfHEQeGBWegLBMBwDeJwzYGhGBc4CD42QHqr8BOPKRoZK2t12WFGJK3rtPEs2l1X8lLPeF_qQ5Sry7bSa0PaRMah58kYhLoV0tQdAHiYgvICm-chWYsZ-Bd57NfGAx0nvUbk/s400/IMG_20190509_164437959.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since the pigs are accustomed to getting food from<br />
people, I caution turning one's backside<br />
to them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Pigs do not sweat. I know it is a common phrase, “I’m sweating like a pig.” But pigs do <i>not</i> sweat. And that is a bit of a problem for them. They need to keep cool and certainly not over exert themselves in the heat because of this. They are at risk for heat stroke and death. So, bringing them onto a hot coral island with no soil, is not a very nice thing to do to a pig. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aA-8whYGt6Y0RglIdoin24q7g9r9CPtfDH5gRdnZGTcknD_i6BPtDhBg52GKT68Q8FNAuGNwnZaoIEGCwd2pGJ3H8IWaHtczEm9nEOjvldZ6OwX5uQ-7OYos0wVaAbfyLuFpZzgoskzZ/s1600/P5090012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1257" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aA-8whYGt6Y0RglIdoin24q7g9r9CPtfDH5gRdnZGTcknD_i6BPtDhBg52GKT68Q8FNAuGNwnZaoIEGCwd2pGJ3H8IWaHtczEm9nEOjvldZ6OwX5uQ-7OYos0wVaAbfyLuFpZzgoskzZ/s320/P5090012.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are a few half-grown pigs<br />
and one piglet on the island.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">If they’re bent on bringing in an animal to attract tourists, I suggest an animal that thrives in this environment. Like maybe…. camels? Again, just my opinion.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-49067960891155518172019-05-12T11:38:00.000-05:002019-05-16T12:07:00.673-05:00Down at the Rake 'n' Scrape<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
span.s2 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB41AuYuORw3BixkpHHJf5yd-7PXReM1N-zxLEFNwgfETig6YOYpXE06uQYiRvqBsaSlxMTf5hXq8VEK9Fsv5kmkGQnY-xtXHcD4JbolOhmTEJucMsNu5wogpAbo6uW1x8lN99XTup_6IF/s1600/P1140705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB41AuYuORw3BixkpHHJf5yd-7PXReM1N-zxLEFNwgfETig6YOYpXE06uQYiRvqBsaSlxMTf5hXq8VEK9Fsv5kmkGQnY-xtXHcD4JbolOhmTEJucMsNu5wogpAbo6uW1x8lN99XTup_6IF/s320/P1140705.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man in red plays a saw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Our last night in Georgetown, we went to shore to hear a r<a href="http://www.bahamasentertainers.com/Paper/rkeNscr.html" target="_blank">ake 'n' scrape</a> band. I’d somehow missed hearing about this type of music although we’d been to the Bahamas before this. Even though we were feeling exhausted that day, we felt we owed it to ourselves to experience a rake 'n' scrape.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsf6EvdpW1ebkABfwYtHmH493j17h6TXXZ4yNLZteK4Sv2sViJqHQqz3iBPP48GH45uQm4SdIOowAOzU1a1EirjToUssWAV0IKQZkN53aK9rz3AvCAtIZFcc088pyQDHHaF8rNZd2oHst/s1600/P1140690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsf6EvdpW1ebkABfwYtHmH493j17h6TXXZ4yNLZteK4Sv2sViJqHQqz3iBPP48GH45uQm4SdIOowAOzU1a1EirjToUssWAV0IKQZkN53aK9rz3AvCAtIZFcc088pyQDHHaF8rNZd2oHst/s320/P1140690.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ran into these old friends from 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The town of <a href="http://www.exumabahamas.org/georgetown.html" target="_blank">Georgetown</a> stretches out both north and south on the slender island of <a href="http://www.exumabahamas.org/little-exuma.html" target="_blank">Little Exuma </a>with Elizabeth Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean on the east side and the <a href="https://www.bahamas.com/islands/exumas" target="_blank">shallow Exuma Bank</a> on the west. Elizabeth Harbor itself is an exceptionally large harbor, although I would argue that it technically is not a true harbor but rather a wide waterway separating Little Exuma Island from Stocking Island. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoz69ruKU5U6YdFQRTXi1MMw6o6tOjW1nzoB03YqBzLifC0BZRQ59JwhIMvFmjq9AP1Jxv_AbpEM7JCplK0cyx6ujVBeyaUyVANeF5vmB2Q8c6g9QQ1Vh8TTVIrP-Ikm74NLnB4EqOAjtR/s1600/P1140675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1600" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoz69ruKU5U6YdFQRTXi1MMw6o6tOjW1nzoB03YqBzLifC0BZRQ59JwhIMvFmjq9AP1Jxv_AbpEM7JCplK0cyx6ujVBeyaUyVANeF5vmB2Q8c6g9QQ1Vh8TTVIrP-Ikm74NLnB4EqOAjtR/s320/P1140675.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing to exit Lake Victoria through<br />
tunnel and go into Elizabeth Harbor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">At times during the year hundreds of boats are anchored here without it feeling crowded, I am told. We chose to anchor closer to the Little Exuma side in order to make provisioning easier. When the waterway is calm, it is a very pleasant trip to shore. When there is some chop on the water, it quickly becomes a salt water shower and bath.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_Sglg5GtTPuN3AXIoOHqRdc8AbB4yCfpGG0ADxdhP2Og4pvy_wYRL0IhXCIWGPRWqwQYwvi6EPrsQ9ZhwjnmFOrookzZFt2JOoDU8zPuIe6NBNYVLdQDVTZDXI_72uWO4DSegHcyWLJ1/s1600/P1140677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_Sglg5GtTPuN3AXIoOHqRdc8AbB4yCfpGG0ADxdhP2Og4pvy_wYRL0IhXCIWGPRWqwQYwvi6EPrsQ9ZhwjnmFOrookzZFt2JOoDU8zPuIe6NBNYVLdQDVTZDXI_72uWO4DSegHcyWLJ1/s320/P1140677.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes there's a bit of a <i>*Rage</i> at the<br />
entrance to the tunnel into Lake Victoria,<br />
although in this photo water is calm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">We traveled slowly across the water that evening and through the tunnel that leads into Lake Victoria around which Georgetown is arranged. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived early at <a href="https://www.bahamas.com/vendor/eddies-edgewater" target="_blank">Eddie’s </a>where the rake 'n' scrape </span><span style="font-size: large;">was to take place. We found ourselves</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">good viewing spots by sitting at the bar. Across the room sat a homemade drum, a huge barrel with the skin of an animal stretched tightly across it.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Next to it was a more traditionally manufactured tom-tom type of drum.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEyLhbCd08V_RzA4e9ApnR5KLYwCNmzkuIKkfQHpPIcC-W9kofSwqe6HIVeab7z-N-Lxv-TnurtqV3VVOnEdBni8sgTPpa5QBmsl-CAuXinwQgtqe12MfeW6F2HTahcs3InwYlSqeARbn/s1600/P1140706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEyLhbCd08V_RzA4e9ApnR5KLYwCNmzkuIKkfQHpPIcC-W9kofSwqe6HIVeab7z-N-Lxv-TnurtqV3VVOnEdBni8sgTPpa5QBmsl-CAuXinwQgtqe12MfeW6F2HTahcs3InwYlSqeARbn/s320/P1140706.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man on left playing the saw.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">Three men wandered in with electric guitars and speakers which surprised me. I guess I was expecting all of the instruments to be on the order of </span><span class="s2">homemade things</span><span class="s1">. There was however, a saw lying on a chair next to the guitarists and the young man who was sitting next to it eventually came up to the bar. I took that opportunity to question him a little. “Is that just a regular saw you play? What do you play it with?”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonUPKlyKSXXRIQxptUNkvy5-uzK2w9UlkwEh0kFs6PTgAUmFq5LotW8kYFo2EDrBuTjgj34AeNJDSj-6hu7anRBh0b7fzjCatcmFT3lNZNsshgjZ9aMK2jHledvwXbJhghXBF9c1XZw5J/s1600/P1140665+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonUPKlyKSXXRIQxptUNkvy5-uzK2w9UlkwEh0kFs6PTgAUmFq5LotW8kYFo2EDrBuTjgj34AeNJDSj-6hu7anRBh0b7fzjCatcmFT3lNZNsshgjZ9aMK2jHledvwXbJhghXBF9c1XZw5J/s320/P1140665+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roadway along shore overlooking <br />
ElizabethHarbor. Note layers of packed <br />
coral forming rock walls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">With my husband sitting between us, he shyly, it seemed, leaned over to hear me better. A slow smile and a head nod. “Just a regular saw.” And “A screwdriver.” He was friendly and if it weren’t for the band preparing to play, I’d have loved to ask more questions of him.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTqGOad23FKV00VmJZPsVzjJAZR3Ju3fkmmm9RtbMsgQaP1VqVirVbKVWlfPZLzU8ED0ll12GSpdpHob2AqCWD_JTyINJsnvMhUvQvwFUdz78-_-pOkv0q2h1nsL0X_3EOXHBZUvzKJmv/s1600/BDMV-Clip69.m4v" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTqGOad23FKV00VmJZPsVzjJAZR3Ju3fkmmm9RtbMsgQaP1VqVirVbKVWlfPZLzU8ED0ll12GSpdpHob2AqCWD_JTyINJsnvMhUvQvwFUdz78-_-pOkv0q2h1nsL0X_3EOXHBZUvzKJmv/s640/BDMV-Clip69.m4v" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rack and Scrape band. The man in the pink shirt has just joined the band by <br />
crawling through the window with his instrument.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The man returned to a chair in front of the single window next to the guitarists with one of them playing host to an exceptionally friendly woman who plopped herself on his lap. One empty chair remained after the two drummers sat. The mystery of the empty chair was solved when during the first number, the last member of the band appeared.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">He, in fact, crawled </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">through</i><span style="font-size: large;"> the window behind the band, bringing his instrument with him, another shiny saw.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUfI1J4Xe7cltGer0SBB4aXKvilaMYS5RYIfR-321rjyVCoFBL4RqomK08UIxOflZZ5Pe3Gb8viLqTXpXvL0D0vhwgCTsXIgAlANXkAfjahmFomVA_WaG-qjmfq6QhHWmcIomK61LmHMf/s1600/P1140710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUfI1J4Xe7cltGer0SBB4aXKvilaMYS5RYIfR-321rjyVCoFBL4RqomK08UIxOflZZ5Pe3Gb8viLqTXpXvL0D0vhwgCTsXIgAlANXkAfjahmFomVA_WaG-qjmfq6QhHWmcIomK61LmHMf/s320/P1140710.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More tourists than locals dancing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">A few folks started to dance to the music. At times, the dancing reminded me a bit of dancing to “Y.M.C.A.” Lots of arm movements. The local folks relied upon the hips and feet to do most of the work on the dance floor. The tourists' dancing would have been at home at any American Legion in the U.S. Sometimes dancing partners caught hold of one another for a smooth arm pass. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EfSQrhVucJOhZ7FRDISZGExJgaMiNMIuQm4G6QTV_UNDmViHeqs3O4uANdoun2udqEyPCh7b8voZ5EfRraZfRbEIwvX7HCi_t2O6assKXlEHPEYZw7G3LtOypqZOvloJ5Hh_kGMeOiI4/s1600/BDMV-Clip72.m4v" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EfSQrhVucJOhZ7FRDISZGExJgaMiNMIuQm4G6QTV_UNDmViHeqs3O4uANdoun2udqEyPCh7b8voZ5EfRraZfRbEIwvX7HCi_t2O6assKXlEHPEYZw7G3LtOypqZOvloJ5Hh_kGMeOiI4/s400/BDMV-Clip72.m4v" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspirational musician</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The musician that had crawled through the window with his saw and screwdriver played his instrument with an intensity that was inspirational. We never saw him sit down in his chair. He played standing in the midst of the dancers. With one end of the saw tucked against his left upper thigh, he thrust his hips back and forth in time with the music and could even accomplish a limbo while playing. I admired his spectacularly muscular legs. It’s been a while since I could do the limbo.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12Bk698KjhWZOATdveCAzkN9mHyE1PKjpzNgRIkrK_eCOlwV8jbIBcSU8sJdwTxCFgh9i7zu7P7SwCj9mJSW4MiVNl5lP6IFQAEY-J4sc5HWr3iBGe628A_UJ_Cu78SCC98x68UMyLOef/s1600/P1140704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12Bk698KjhWZOATdveCAzkN9mHyE1PKjpzNgRIkrK_eCOlwV8jbIBcSU8sJdwTxCFgh9i7zu7P7SwCj9mJSW4MiVNl5lP6IFQAEY-J4sc5HWr3iBGe628A_UJ_Cu78SCC98x68UMyLOef/s320/P1140704.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lot of energy in this band</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the guitarists was the singer and was actually good. The two drummers were as different as can be. The larger homemade drum was played by a silhouette of a man in dark clothes and hat who never cracked a smile nor turned his head. I could make out only the whites of his eyes in his black face. He seemed to stare through me the entire time; of course, I <i>was</i> sitting squarely in front of him. The other drummer wore light clothing and a Caribbean knitted hat. He played with personality to spare. HIs hands flew as they slapped that drum. Awesome spirit.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK1ghz07BxMSMEJgQljNx3vacty2SXStEMzXOGeQjXQoibjN-NlEzODUcxUzS2L2IyHHysgsEIn1XdRuVqRCnWCcIJCSZesa67Tdn7IjNDK9FvkkLXfr1NnbR0v4Wy9m3f6bu6zaw9rsI/s1600/P1140647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK1ghz07BxMSMEJgQljNx3vacty2SXStEMzXOGeQjXQoibjN-NlEzODUcxUzS2L2IyHHysgsEIn1XdRuVqRCnWCcIJCSZesa67Tdn7IjNDK9FvkkLXfr1NnbR0v4Wy9m3f6bu6zaw9rsI/s400/P1140647.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supply ships unload at these piers facing <br />
out into Elizabeth Harbor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Neither of us had reserved enough energy to dance at the rake 'n' scrape. We <i>may</i> have wowed the crowd with some of <i>our </i>dance moves if we <i>had</i>, but then again, probably not. We stayed long enough to photograph the band and dancers and to get a feel for rake 'n' scrape music.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QaFLXZfLsDrizJ3TzeKZPBwgJjJLQUapoHodPBiIZpeiMMVRFlBECiS1dwqumsIwUO8WzX0p46DlnFkl_ZXaiiEzg1ZnEqIOCQRPbJ09H06QhsO7XF_dMoVQ1wOyrl8_Llq8rzKgYMOJ/s1600/P1140697+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="1600" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QaFLXZfLsDrizJ3TzeKZPBwgJjJLQUapoHodPBiIZpeiMMVRFlBECiS1dwqumsIwUO8WzX0p46DlnFkl_ZXaiiEzg1ZnEqIOCQRPbJ09H06QhsO7XF_dMoVQ1wOyrl8_Llq8rzKgYMOJ/s320/P1140697+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinghy dock inside Lake Victoria</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We walked back to our dinghy to head home for the night.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The water had become choppy while we were at the rake 'n' scrape. Thus, we were obliged to share yet one more salt water bath in Elizabeth Harbor on our way home to </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">Northern Star.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bdO487Nv1CdKO1NPAeV6ulzIQ3Zryp_myUBE1l-Hc6OoLHoxJTTsMrZEciLOQg-mhoUT5RDbKNYZXbxyrPSsCwEsMDZHBCaGc41l9q3VKhQuQ7bEJGYpwh5f1ySMCJExUFzrc8FqlzS7/s1600/P5060072+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1600" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bdO487Nv1CdKO1NPAeV6ulzIQ3Zryp_myUBE1l-Hc6OoLHoxJTTsMrZEciLOQg-mhoUT5RDbKNYZXbxyrPSsCwEsMDZHBCaGc41l9q3VKhQuQ7bEJGYpwh5f1ySMCJExUFzrc8FqlzS7/s640/P5060072+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stocking Island, across Elizabeth Harbor from Little Exuma. <br />
Note monument atop hill on the left. Photo taken during calm water.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">*<i>Rage</i> refers to an onshore swell that piles up water near shore. At the same time, wind and/or current coming from a different direction converges to make an area of chaotic waters. Traversing a cut (narrow passage between islands) or a tunnel into Lake Victoria can be difficult. </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-64549012075584848642019-05-06T17:33:00.000-05:002019-05-13T17:43:34.379-05:00The Criminal Element in the Bahamas<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_5TzXhoqYXuUrtFESZhvl66N5J7lTwCHtPV0Pgc6Ot5xB6X-2UOQk2NitW4YgGNbFJgbojMN_-18vKJR4NLO6YEurl0ZcL8gIwI8zvinaRf3HNjBkc6kN71RF_QUPcQcq9oI-ctVrlsB/s1600/P1140670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="1600" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_5TzXhoqYXuUrtFESZhvl66N5J7lTwCHtPV0Pgc6Ot5xB6X-2UOQk2NitW4YgGNbFJgbojMN_-18vKJR4NLO6YEurl0ZcL8gIwI8zvinaRf3HNjBkc6kN71RF_QUPcQcq9oI-ctVrlsB/s200/P1140670.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgetown weathervane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Through no fault of our own (at least that is my interpretation and why should I go with any other) we have run afoul of the law here in the Bahamas but without any ill effects.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlG9c8BE08pgHo2L2S_Xx7dySbRsCjaNj262xH0LQ1R9RUsFXkwJ4Qh7LzVaNMk2jVIo1j8vE6eWDRjbvNOapKnxZQ-DtKsYIqZhGrod2-Ox5uPNxb80bEHCq_iLbw4rPrZz7Hkxk1Hab/s1600/P4300185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1600" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlG9c8BE08pgHo2L2S_Xx7dySbRsCjaNj262xH0LQ1R9RUsFXkwJ4Qh7LzVaNMk2jVIo1j8vE6eWDRjbvNOapKnxZQ-DtKsYIqZhGrod2-Ox5uPNxb80bEHCq_iLbw4rPrZz7Hkxk1Hab/s640/P4300185.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Held up for 3 nights for weather on Acklin Island before getting to Georgetown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We entered Bahamian waters on April 28th near the island of Mayaguana and we only cleared in officially, with Customs & Immigration today, May 6th in Georgetown, Great Exuma Island. Unlike other countries we have visited, the C & I officers here in Georgetown had no interest in whether we had exited the previous country, the Turks and Caicos, under good terms. Didn’t ask to see any previous clearance papers. I was afraid there would be fines, etc although today was the first day we were actually <i>able</i> to clear in, given weather and weekend interference.“Enjoy your time in the Bahamas,” was all we got.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrRx4fu0dmCG_VzYBCxXlKWjuinlnpuvUCz-XSZpEsqqqAszx9gsC9i0asoZgawGa6ritD_ire6AfPoRJ02h_ba2P8tnFwB9439uYgCUVev23_jHJZ_G2lYz6vvTAzvyGqCtaUZIKsGVS/s1600/P1140741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrRx4fu0dmCG_VzYBCxXlKWjuinlnpuvUCz-XSZpEsqqqAszx9gsC9i0asoZgawGa6ritD_ire6AfPoRJ02h_ba2P8tnFwB9439uYgCUVev23_jHJZ_G2lYz6vvTAzvyGqCtaUZIKsGVS/s400/P1140741.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dock at Black Point Settlement, north of Georgetown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">It <i>almost </i>makes a person wonder what would happen if you <i>never </i>cleared in at all. Just raised your Bahamas courtesy flag and sailed right on through the 600 miles or so to the U.S. I am not a reprobate nor a risk-taker and so would <i>never</i> do such a thing myself. But the fact that the Bahamian C & I charges a sailboat over 30’ to pay $300 (US) for the privilege of traversing the Bahamas—-well, I would think <i>some</i>body along the line would have tried it. They’re probably now languishing in chains in some dark, smelly dungeon in Nassau.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9N5kwppY8NDDKxjXCyF9DdO8Kh-cMBBUqwKHPufMPS3PYUqCHUAyXPKbinoS3xh4ywC30vw6LC8h4iobADHrt5N4RxARkhuzkRsiM7CxoC_17aLK2BhWdaGzVA6uVCXR6zMXZyLdM3rrx/s1600/P1140701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9N5kwppY8NDDKxjXCyF9DdO8Kh-cMBBUqwKHPufMPS3PYUqCHUAyXPKbinoS3xh4ywC30vw6LC8h4iobADHrt5N4RxARkhuzkRsiM7CxoC_17aLK2BhWdaGzVA6uVCXR6zMXZyLdM3rrx/s320/P1140701.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A favorite fruit, the giant Pomolo, </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">No, <i>I</i> believe in following the rules on the water and on land. I’m not always happy to do it however. Take for example, our tedious and uncomfortable effort to clear out of the Turks and Caicos nine days ago.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjng2PFqGZQRrGJutvh9_QybqpePopMfklUjQVpoNndIqC_tgc2RwiqsRrOpAI3oY79MGt9zfK85oYLNDk5wN8us8pjJfnPn4BPHOuN1TSBVia2nOJNYTSbBydi92muHoToAGdiJhoXOfWD/s1600/P1140656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="1600" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjng2PFqGZQRrGJutvh9_QybqpePopMfklUjQVpoNndIqC_tgc2RwiqsRrOpAI3oY79MGt9zfK85oYLNDk5wN8us8pjJfnPn4BPHOuN1TSBVia2nOJNYTSbBydi92muHoToAGdiJhoXOfWD/s400/P1140656.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgetown park in front of Customs and Immigration</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We crossed the Caicos Bank from east to west on a Friday, with the intent to clear out of the country on Saturday. We were tired from long sailing days and planned to spend the day snorkeling and relaxing after clearing out and then get right back to sailing on.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalrXBAOIgIk6YB10YqlFRBAId-Ku0mYdGJYiHbR_XskCDk9PB2kmcZj9Wkb49K5UP59Q4xrm9TfhQbZzg26-zWYJzFWw-z_z8pZa-b9k0KEB4Re4pQMUV1TmqVuUEyWO1CEQmflUvDJWK/s1600/P1140300+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalrXBAOIgIk6YB10YqlFRBAId-Ku0mYdGJYiHbR_XskCDk9PB2kmcZj9Wkb49K5UP59Q4xrm9TfhQbZzg26-zWYJzFWw-z_z8pZa-b9k0KEB4Re4pQMUV1TmqVuUEyWO1CEQmflUvDJWK/s400/P1140300+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providenciales, in Turks & Caicos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">9:00 AM We went ashore on the island of Providenciales, or Provo as it is commonly called, and beached our dinghy on a white sand beach. A man there offered to watch our dinghy, our concerns being theft and the possibility of it floating away when the tide came up.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNl9RcfGPXRa2wOrhrLXja7Nocvwh8ElE0YuA68YRa4YUJXc-L-N5nlPLbBjiHGUfM8KR9hCjozc_fqaxgRdFvYUO5oc7xrKbAUAoavNfKT6jx8aGpuhBqSGI98loNuAuOGCfPKvPdUEA/s1600/P1140358+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1261" data-original-width="1600" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNl9RcfGPXRa2wOrhrLXja7Nocvwh8ElE0YuA68YRa4YUJXc-L-N5nlPLbBjiHGUfM8KR9hCjozc_fqaxgRdFvYUO5oc7xrKbAUAoavNfKT6jx8aGpuhBqSGI98loNuAuOGCfPKvPdUEA/s320/P1140358+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalk Sound next to Police Dept</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">There are two places on the island of Provo to clear out with Customs & Immigration. One of them, a marina tucked into a shallow harbor has C & I on site 7 days/week. Unfortunately, the draft of our boat is too deep for that marina except at high tide. We were not about to waste 24 hours by waiting for a high tide to enter and for another to leave.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvF08F9pRGF5rXI62v7RmzonicGourSlb9Pk51jK6yUwRHQTPEJ3CYuWwu3mdk3EfCWFL5QDvbroTF27tmMQGlmMbdqKeB0gxulMsQ7gJGgsbUt05ySj-5drZbQ2UKMrgyzrUirtHpzsS/s1600/P1140395+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvF08F9pRGF5rXI62v7RmzonicGourSlb9Pk51jK6yUwRHQTPEJ3CYuWwu3mdk3EfCWFL5QDvbroTF27tmMQGlmMbdqKeB0gxulMsQ7gJGgsbUt05ySj-5drZbQ2UKMrgyzrUirtHpzsS/s320/P1140395+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road from beach to Freight Port, Provo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">9:30 AM The other way to go through C & I is at the Freight Port, where the cargo ships come in. We learned after walking ourselves to the Port Office, that C & I would come in on the weekends <i>only </i>when a cargo ship comes in. (The cruising guide we consulted had said nothing about that.) A cargo ship was en route they said and “should be here by 11 or 12:00.” So, we strolled down the dusty road in a thumb-twiddling state.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmv6gviCN1hzUwu7FuFIn8F4-PyH_dYeCgSqJUgrM_VpaliJHWDQhyphenhyphenQPtKKe7jcOdjYdZDMh5rM3a1m1j83btTgpQ_9_xJh2qsz7BnxCiImX-bL-FipYQcWAgTJ9_aZSf_L9lmnyl-tCS/s1600/P1140375+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1600" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmv6gviCN1hzUwu7FuFIn8F4-PyH_dYeCgSqJUgrM_VpaliJHWDQhyphenhyphenQPtKKe7jcOdjYdZDMh5rM3a1m1j83btTgpQ_9_xJh2qsz7BnxCiImX-bL-FipYQcWAgTJ9_aZSf_L9lmnyl-tCS/s400/P1140375+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carl sitting in shade at Police station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Provo is a desert island. There <i>are </i>no shade trees. And scant few buildings in the area near the Port. It’s very hot. I regretted not drinking more water before leaving the boat. The only spot of shade two loiterers like ourselves could find was on the front step of the police department down the road. So, there we sat until thirst overtook us. So we trudged further along to a gas station/convenience store. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkl4IfHZjUWn4ipz7hOXv5t_Mt3KGWFJQkAQ5213jGCA7PomHJd2AfA4t28Ak6saiJ7qk8rH95aDf94R_Su2hG4YWdva_Sxs4bQ3niXwwNASpjyNod9T44_4ZoTcb92Eto0AwDckbo_1P/s1600/P1140364+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1600" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkl4IfHZjUWn4ipz7hOXv5t_Mt3KGWFJQkAQ5213jGCA7PomHJd2AfA4t28Ak6saiJ7qk8rH95aDf94R_Su2hG4YWdva_Sxs4bQ3niXwwNASpjyNod9T44_4ZoTcb92Eto0AwDckbo_1P/s200/P1140364+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EnR - Emergency & Rescue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">A lone young woman was at the register. How long can a couple of tall, imposing characters like ourselves linger around inside a store ogling the refrigerated section and sidling up to the the air conditioning before starting to look like they’re “up to something” nefarious? Not long enough, let me tell you. Two cold beverages and a snack accompanied us back to our spot of shade on the step of the police department.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGZ9D2sXvrbJWr0DnDPsUUR5MiPrL9S5A9oTqt5dGDvwLG2nkQw5JSEQZbfCuPlSxcOA3QRR_5dcCgDYjUfzgYpLzyA0J_6KUF6i2AneHT0sjs1fD3DdCz-2Fmpu_8pSnQGV9dO8oyBVZ/s1600/P1140316+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1516" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGZ9D2sXvrbJWr0DnDPsUUR5MiPrL9S5A9oTqt5dGDvwLG2nkQw5JSEQZbfCuPlSxcOA3QRR_5dcCgDYjUfzgYpLzyA0J_6KUF6i2AneHT0sjs1fD3DdCz-2Fmpu_8pSnQGV9dO8oyBVZ/s200/P1140316+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photographed birds while<br />waiting. This guy sings<br />his heart out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">11:30 AM. Trodding back to the Port Office through that same inch of fine dust we’d stirred up earlier. “The ship should be here about 1:00 or after,” they said. Hmph. Out into the desert once more. This time we schlumped along until we found a bar/cafe that was open. The cafe actually had good food. We began to think that our luck was turning. It wouldn’t be long now and we’d be on our way.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfx1KDqNcHwV_kk-nDTc6utAQfQPfdJqvTDVbNJdDWfntDjEDd89R1BG44VieuMp2vXUw0LS2tvXH6aTesi2UAnyIBuzqixDLasK2ClueWlfYHSZRCsQ9eKPxeUCUeCFikE4RDyzLWmY6/s1600/P1140385+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1600" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfx1KDqNcHwV_kk-nDTc6utAQfQPfdJqvTDVbNJdDWfntDjEDd89R1BG44VieuMp2vXUw0LS2tvXH6aTesi2UAnyIBuzqixDLasK2ClueWlfYHSZRCsQ9eKPxeUCUeCFikE4RDyzLWmY6/s320/P1140385+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch of cracked conch and plantain spears</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">1:00 PM. We slowly hauled ourselves back to the Port office. “Oh, the ship won’t be in for a couple of hours.” I may have groaned aloud. One of the nice young men in the office offered to call C & I to see whether they could be encouraged to come in <i>before</i> the ship arrived. No answer. That was the same result that we had had earlier in the morning when we tried calling.” So much for our luck changing. Now what to do. We’d already found and taken advantage of all the available air conditioned buildings open to us in the vicinity of the Port. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NztJhQd4MHhKxnFPi3paMWi-x8f7z72qETlgByzklh_KE2Buvx2LZhtUNMKtVZ8cOuWC0qWbpEjzP40XVJK-geJfk1O1TJW7jZYcuTK4_HDPBPw33uadn2eRyALi29DeuleBcYp6_zLK/s1600/P1140405+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1546" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NztJhQd4MHhKxnFPi3paMWi-x8f7z72qETlgByzklh_KE2Buvx2LZhtUNMKtVZ8cOuWC0qWbpEjzP40XVJK-geJfk1O1TJW7jZYcuTK4_HDPBPw33uadn2eRyALi29DeuleBcYp6_zLK/s320/P1140405+%25281%2529.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a wee spot of shade by gated beach house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">What to do…what to do….? Neither of us was energetic enough to make a decision. Maybe Carl could bring me back to the boat? We made it partway back to the beach toward our dinghy and then stopped under a wee spot of shade offered by some bougainvillea bushes. There was absolutely no purpose in going back out to the boat.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A half hour to get there and another half hour to return to the Port office? Where’s the sense in that?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgNHSI7M0PSzCLqxyQEtAndeB8JIwoBodDL2HnUVcefGu9mHuyhjjhDboSNBtS0vUJssIoCiO2Bo0fYikKK8_07EWt4y5R4ySv7dZB83zs9IlpD55bIbYWHkh2OPZ_q7QNHl3UxKlHkTR/s1600/P1140303+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1489" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgNHSI7M0PSzCLqxyQEtAndeB8JIwoBodDL2HnUVcefGu9mHuyhjjhDboSNBtS0vUJssIoCiO2Bo0fYikKK8_07EWt4y5R4ySv7dZB83zs9IlpD55bIbYWHkh2OPZ_q7QNHl3UxKlHkTR/s320/P1140303+%25281%2529.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only true flowers on bougainvillea are<br />the tiny white ones surrounded by leaves <br />that turn many different colors.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We needed to do <i>something</i> with ourselves however. Something. The bushes were alongside a gated beach house and we stood there until we began to feel like lurkers, casing the joint. Anyway, there was no place to sit down anywhere. Carl’s foot was hurting…..a plantar fasciitis thing we think. What to do? What to do? “What do <i>you</i> wanna do?” “I don’t know. I don’t know <i>what</i> to do.” “What do you wanna do?” At least we were in complete agreement that we were individually and as a couple, completely useless in developing a plan.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2aaKGaBvlCxzcpuewzXrZiLQA6S0txTOCRJTV-9wAhgNiXC5-9tU2QQalqBV-PxovXYwzeRzhTFZEquxNC9kExqvjo5psjq3k3himGZ7va8HaJwjGkNR6EqVcrGJ5xpuXl9bmu2S7Kqk/s1600/P1140406+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2aaKGaBvlCxzcpuewzXrZiLQA6S0txTOCRJTV-9wAhgNiXC5-9tU2QQalqBV-PxovXYwzeRzhTFZEquxNC9kExqvjo5psjq3k3himGZ7va8HaJwjGkNR6EqVcrGJ5xpuXl9bmu2S7Kqk/s320/P1140406+%25281%2529.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scaling the hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Then we noticed someone standing on top of the hill next to the beach…a rocky, cactus and prickly bush-covered hill. The hill lay between us and the Shipping Port. A potential shortcut, if you will, to the Port office. “We could climb the hill for something to do?” “Do you <i>really</i> want to climb a hill?” “No, but what <i>should</i> we do then?” “I don’t know.” “If we climb the hill we can see when the ship comes in. Plus, there’s probably a nice view from up there.” “I’m <i>really</i> hot.” ”There’d be more of a breeze up there.” “That’s true.” “So should we go?” “Ya, let’s go.” “Oh, look there’s a path over there.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZDlx8QUUZbC3rYlbq_2FwLIvlMSiOxn4xSezWQobn_FKGNz_i1IhmTiT5_txn28i3w3RIAoDgb-773Zd49tXY25EcjqiAFxSOHMAIM5Ad3lPVWEWrk-P5sefayAYtALe8fztAsFpFN5h/s1600/P1140409+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1600" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZDlx8QUUZbC3rYlbq_2FwLIvlMSiOxn4xSezWQobn_FKGNz_i1IhmTiT5_txn28i3w3RIAoDgb-773Zd49tXY25EcjqiAFxSOHMAIM5Ad3lPVWEWrk-P5sefayAYtALe8fztAsFpFN5h/s640/P1140409+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The freight ship we are waiting for--it'll be another 1 1/2 hours before it arrives.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I should mention that I was not wearing hiking shoes but rather slip-on sandals. And it was a <i>very</i> steep rocky hill. But now I risk sounding like a whiner. We skirted the sharpest cactus, found the most secure looking rocks and climbed to the top of the hill. Indeed, there <i>was</i> a nice breeze there. “And look, there are rocks we can sit on.” “And look out there; there’s the cargo ship out on the Caicos Bank.….faaaar away yet.” There we sat—the day slipping away.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtHkzcOKZCLCWxl0yU9i5E6iGUZI_uTVKetyjs_jg4KdevgenXFutPdozdkFe4ueTB6srFZhfBtjeM0AjVpd9dG8j9fJEfR28M53a5O0FKEMMDahftgmj9b3SMHuSEZ7H_iZzIqoqDe-a/s1600/P1140425+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtHkzcOKZCLCWxl0yU9i5E6iGUZI_uTVKetyjs_jg4KdevgenXFutPdozdkFe4ueTB6srFZhfBtjeM0AjVpd9dG8j9fJEfR28M53a5O0FKEMMDahftgmj9b3SMHuSEZ7H_iZzIqoqDe-a/s640/P1140425+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down the other side of the hill. Freight yard below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">4:00 PM We watched the cargo ship approach the dock far below and we started down the other side of the hill to the Port Office hoping that C & I would be willing to clear us out before dealing with the cargo ship. Yes, they would. Excellent!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We were given hard hats and reflective vests to wear in the shipping yard. This was <i>almost</i> starting to be fun. I was trying to be more upbeat about the extremely hot, and wasted day.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbysVSB0xJGt4umLFPTfcj-0XUf9KDQBSoftMr7Ul2NqfKskmQdxiWSAG6TfJxTtW9Q0RCebyLZBq_TV1SIaM4qvRCmI7B4eBvLAZzHZJfNva7Nle8ePfJjqfs0m4HiVTrV-TvIr9336SG/s1600/IMG_20190427_143329635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbysVSB0xJGt4umLFPTfcj-0XUf9KDQBSoftMr7Ul2NqfKskmQdxiWSAG6TfJxTtW9Q0RCebyLZBq_TV1SIaM4qvRCmI7B4eBvLAZzHZJfNva7Nle8ePfJjqfs0m4HiVTrV-TvIr9336SG/s320/IMG_20190427_143329635.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first time wearing a hard hat. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">4:15 PM<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In the C & I office. “We’re on a sailboat. We’d like to clear out of the country,” we said.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Two uniformed officers, a middle-aged man and a woman glanced at us, then looked at each other in what I would call a sheepish manner. Without saying a word to us and mumbling between themselves they rustled around the office. By that I mean, opening and closing file cabinet drawers, rifling through desk drawers, cabinets, moving things around on the counters. Earnest Rustling if I ever saw it. Finally, the man pulled out his cell phone. We could hear part of the conversation, “We’ve got a ….a pleasure sailboat; …..wanna clear out …….where is the……..looked everywhere.” Neither had ever worked in that office before, they said. Just filling in for the regular guy. I’d have never guessed.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVgTCN4mHXd6QYqVfrHxdqMVwHGqmCTyaejz_gQTVrFw-gurULxTDNuKwA7N3fCTHEqXoXKhkzD5RLNL0WdB2KE83gN3OVqopx_SOMHrvx062X1FDJfMV9Hj1G4QEs12Z-yo_Q1RRpNE0/s1600/P1140347+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVgTCN4mHXd6QYqVfrHxdqMVwHGqmCTyaejz_gQTVrFw-gurULxTDNuKwA7N3fCTHEqXoXKhkzD5RLNL0WdB2KE83gN3OVqopx_SOMHrvx062X1FDJfMV9Hj1G4QEs12Z-yo_Q1RRpNE0/s400/P1140347+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alternate route back to beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">All told, it took less than 10 minutes to complete the clearing out process. We opted not to scale the steep shortcut over the rock and cactus covered hill. We were back on the boat again only 8 hours after we’d left it with our silly plan of clearing out early and sailing on.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5gOBlJOfdd7Tafu7J7WiSg2_4v82ugc3O97bitiIaWulQx0NbC8RD7NtcYmiJffAk249LV2nielIr-P4zzg_MGKrexPlOjEEb3E4apLfszdIHZ99T7ViPXK4oFZi1Ai78LzO63FTTWd_/s1600/P1140401+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5gOBlJOfdd7Tafu7J7WiSg2_4v82ugc3O97bitiIaWulQx0NbC8RD7NtcYmiJffAk249LV2nielIr-P4zzg_MGKrexPlOjEEb3E4apLfszdIHZ99T7ViPXK4oFZi1Ai78LzO63FTTWd_/s400/P1140401+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunately, our dinghy was rescued.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Incidentally, the man who had “looked after” our dinghy noticed it was gone about mid-day, and told us he had found it innocently floating further down the shore. He readily acquiesced to a tip for looking after the dinghy; after all, he’d had to go out looking for it. (As if the dinghy had been naughty and given him a run for his money by making a break for it?)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqgYbTLHBFmZ0SjbAs86qKclzfi51MJcWTZJbzod0BRPhvdQ49iKySLCWnpCfLHZPqHCOkXVNepdvBuYYPdvr1UmGeLt_WjFgrNrp-xxjlEu2rwFqMz1s2vlQhKakhyphenhyphengqdWjbWfc1_tbf/s1600/P1140387+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="976" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqgYbTLHBFmZ0SjbAs86qKclzfi51MJcWTZJbzod0BRPhvdQ49iKySLCWnpCfLHZPqHCOkXVNepdvBuYYPdvr1UmGeLt_WjFgrNrp-xxjlEu2rwFqMz1s2vlQhKakhyphenhyphengqdWjbWfc1_tbf/s400/P1140387+%25281%2529.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sisal plant. See 12-14' stalk rising<br />out of center of the cactus-like plant.<br />Sisal was a crop used to make rope.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Although we’ve heard several sailors report having had a fine time in Provo, I regret to say I didn’t much care for this island.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-68974587055920688942019-04-25T19:31:00.000-05:002019-04-25T19:35:29.235-05:00A Ride-Along on the Atlantic
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 12.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
span.s2 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p2">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGGKnV3AA_rUre8ZBtgrATOhxUSeb9hzZfr2uc2j3-yMsy2bOaSYni6Q2mlwyXCstEHtOEOSWz1nG9Z-dIYlP528lHagZl-CcsJ8kjmmOzZLXuxejJ-PPA4Qthz_eQBzpq-ftnptNGYBd/s1600/P1120523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="1600" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGGKnV3AA_rUre8ZBtgrATOhxUSeb9hzZfr2uc2j3-yMsy2bOaSYni6Q2mlwyXCstEHtOEOSWz1nG9Z-dIYlP528lHagZl-CcsJ8kjmmOzZLXuxejJ-PPA4Qthz_eQBzpq-ftnptNGYBd/s400/P1120523.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">The time is 2020 (8:20 PM) and we are currently under sail at Lat N20 4.62’ and Long W70 0.37’. Or, Latitude</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">N 20 degrees 4 minutes and 62 seconds. (Now 63 seconds) and Longitude W 70 degrees 0 minutes and 37 seconds. (Now 38) You can see where the Lat and Long are going. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Szo_pMyY6njZHJDirGenOWAgo6zm521z0PFZTZHRdhtOl8Xyc9s2rii70xs1cmTFfbiX9WPtKVTmeCs0NDD5JOvFUr5jXhCKYFyTE26peRO5usnPvyBsFzeQhgF1ij5TyX4j2FCAGo-u/s1600/P1140027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1600" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Szo_pMyY6njZHJDirGenOWAgo6zm521z0PFZTZHRdhtOl8Xyc9s2rii70xs1cmTFfbiX9WPtKVTmeCs0NDD5JOvFUr5jXhCKYFyTE26peRO5usnPvyBsFzeQhgF1ij5TyX4j2FCAGo-u/s200/P1140027.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compass shows our heading,<br />as does chartplotter,<br />below right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We are moving northwest (on a Heading of 320 degrees) toward the small island of South Caicos, to a place called Cockburn Harbor. It is one of the Customs and Immigration entry points into the Turks and Caicos. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-FusQbv0aIO084H467WOq8i6O4xv7xls_q46bs3gtrZu0y3l6mmZTR0Np3Zrhu3vuPSBBYajyLtv4TUYq_GNZjXRyV5wz2axig60d2YQhKayDHF9Pg06bll__3odqocKo24qntcayXZg/s1600/P1140019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1071" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-FusQbv0aIO084H467WOq8i6O4xv7xls_q46bs3gtrZu0y3l6mmZTR0Np3Zrhu3vuPSBBYajyLtv4TUYq_GNZjXRyV5wz2axig60d2YQhKayDHF9Pg06bll__3odqocKo24qntcayXZg/s320/P1140019.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top-time of day.<br />2nd-Apparent wind speed<br />3rd-GPS Heading<br />4th-GPS Speed<br />5th-Depth (blank here)<br />6th-GPS Position</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We are sailing at a blistering speed of approximately 5.5 kts, or 6.3 mph. You might be able to run faster. We left at 0600 this morning and have calculated that the passage will take us about 36 hours. We hope to arrive before nightfall tomorrow.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Entering an unknown harbor in the dark is not a wise thing to do. Whenever possible, we attempt to err on the side of wise.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWa6EbUcmRMhvwt-Zqpdl22KmxoGQZP6f08_ZbNkcYqxNtIeUp-a4CLfFqJsgHZZupeT7Bf4PA3_7KgmPXlk_UDkcTFcdRwaqWOyB_jkUNmpmxzpoEsyGS1WKuqtw1PIUeIyx0wJ33DyCl/s1600/P1140001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWa6EbUcmRMhvwt-Zqpdl22KmxoGQZP6f08_ZbNkcYqxNtIeUp-a4CLfFqJsgHZZupeT7Bf4PA3_7KgmPXlk_UDkcTFcdRwaqWOyB_jkUNmpmxzpoEsyGS1WKuqtw1PIUeIyx0wJ33DyCl/s320/P1140001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These islands are all the Turks & Caicos,<br />part of the UK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">First off, to those who earlier praised my writing skills, I apologize. My recent post about lost and found words was dull and trite. Secondly, to those who suggested that I might consider teaching geography, I chuckle heartily and hope you will join me in doing so when you learn the following.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMf0kpWiE9PQbqhOAPQ29gL0CpCzDUWNP_PnvMzV8wvutXJNPB0UEME-Ev900StSFbb1ipFyLmODEY2ZriXgLSeLZfPcwi1fWzE1Nsjho-eusjbmeLLKkw84oaLzzwIqXdKdtr_OroN4jC/s1600/P1130978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMf0kpWiE9PQbqhOAPQ29gL0CpCzDUWNP_PnvMzV8wvutXJNPB0UEME-Ev900StSFbb1ipFyLmODEY2ZriXgLSeLZfPcwi1fWzE1Nsjho-eusjbmeLLKkw84oaLzzwIqXdKdtr_OroN4jC/s200/P1130978.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When seas are calm, I<br />can work outside on<br />cockpit table</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">I was in error when describing the Bahamas in an earlier post, which I now want to correct. I stated with certainty that the Turks and Caicos are part of the Bahamas. Not true. At <i>one </i>time they <i>were</i> all part of the Bahamas Colony of the UK, but in 1848 they gave up trying to unite all the islands. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikin5hzQvzCQtg3l8UY8gKTga8SLAaPlsZ8quvGD6SMj_ufe-bGcxLWRBL8Rrj0eV44WGIJXId-3C5usAcCRdEDbaJRIhRiGlTKIoPzLKb8xyhupe8Dqi4i71FOxMRSSIsdFHVCeSNsc6F/s1600/P1130991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikin5hzQvzCQtg3l8UY8gKTga8SLAaPlsZ8quvGD6SMj_ufe-bGcxLWRBL8Rrj0eV44WGIJXId-3C5usAcCRdEDbaJRIhRiGlTKIoPzLKb8xyhupe8Dqi4i71FOxMRSSIsdFHVCeSNsc6F/s320/P1130991.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Explains Q Flag and Bahamas<br />and Turks & Caicos flags</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">The Turks and Caicos Islands remain a part of the United Kingdom while the remainder of the islands are Bahamian. Maybe this seems like an insignificant geopolitical point, but I’m sure that to the people of the Turks and Caicos it is not. So, when we arrive in Cockburn Harbor, we will be flying our </span><span class="s2">Q flag</span><span class="s1"> (bright yellow quarantine flag) until cleared in and then the flag of the UK, not the Bahamas flag.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdd9Z6apLARESTWzTZ-g0gO1tQOHwiWIW02SpqSuZFTd8T7HvDYvSvD3b9YcbHDHJfw13yx5jMrltzngRHxVJvxuvgPkYHJKiOs3QdoxQ3OjzdxqWAti37FWXvkWzfcynMVZS_O-IPBSDI/s1600/P1120491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdd9Z6apLARESTWzTZ-g0gO1tQOHwiWIW02SpqSuZFTd8T7HvDYvSvD3b9YcbHDHJfw13yx5jMrltzngRHxVJvxuvgPkYHJKiOs3QdoxQ3OjzdxqWAti37FWXvkWzfcynMVZS_O-IPBSDI/s320/P1120491.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A comfy spot in cockpit at night. The picture<br />looks red because we use red headlamps at <br />night to prevent interference with <br />our night vision.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Since the night stretches out before me with little wind and not much to do in the way of active sailing, I thought I would share something of what is going on in the cockpit of the sailboat. Inotherwords, if <i>you </i>were sitting here with me, what are the things you would/might be paying attention to as we sail along. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucX_dxUK14ZIxRSFQt57EAewiyqS-jO-oaSQeS5ty-gUJzUdpL9EZb0PR5VRvlGIwENtpxiEgdD4xvI_1dCmyGB88XCBcfXc0IHfLyBYWb0ix5S1rGUPoyoprSL-98L47sVwJKYmpGMRb/s1600/P1140013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucX_dxUK14ZIxRSFQt57EAewiyqS-jO-oaSQeS5ty-gUJzUdpL9EZb0PR5VRvlGIwENtpxiEgdD4xvI_1dCmyGB88XCBcfXc0IHfLyBYWb0ix5S1rGUPoyoprSL-98L47sVwJKYmpGMRb/s320/P1140013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what you would see facing forward<br />standing behind the wheel. Chartplotter<br />on right. Autopilot on left. Wheel below.<br />You can see the sails through the window.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">To other sailors, this post will also be somewhat dull and trite. However, I have a lot of friends and family that have never sailed (some that would rather die than step onto a sailboat) and I feel a certain responsibility to fill in some of the gaps about sailing and perhaps dispel some fears. Or, potentially create new ones.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We’ll see.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5iGVY0vDZNdC2uNuK_fjcU1nce-tz9u6Suyah1ZSkRB5mKt8pgSOPZiA9uWooPcCSiVWjOtSUd1JMGQolEwdhxRUmcxHiPro_GmBYOTm-qIxfnMZmO6ueAw7db_wk_2Hx2BOOhmS7pNG/s1600/P1140028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5iGVY0vDZNdC2uNuK_fjcU1nce-tz9u6Suyah1ZSkRB5mKt8pgSOPZiA9uWooPcCSiVWjOtSUd1JMGQolEwdhxRUmcxHiPro_GmBYOTm-qIxfnMZmO6ueAw7db_wk_2Hx2BOOhmS7pNG/s320/P1140028.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you look down you would see the<br />wheel (helm) and compass. There's a<br />seat for you at the helm if you like.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The trade winds are mellow for the next 24 hours or more and they’re at our back. Mellow, but fairly consistent at around 12 knots. That’s just enough energy to keep us moving at that 5.5 knots that I mentioned. If the wind should die, we’ll turn on the engine to maintain a speed between 5 and 6 knots. We need to arrive in daylight after all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEgXYWv7lQWjiPIKkDXDT-i2sA81NRxbHYT9jP9brMr-JSSoEzF1xWKjwX9NUFiAJJse9870Mz0szcWCb0LZS_NNOQr9RklWbNhwoFCQ9xNXTjS9lnQ3bsA4Y8pRIhpXX4UphILOAHoHW/s1600/P1130989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1510" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEgXYWv7lQWjiPIKkDXDT-i2sA81NRxbHYT9jP9brMr-JSSoEzF1xWKjwX9NUFiAJJse9870Mz0szcWCb0LZS_NNOQr9RklWbNhwoFCQ9xNXTjS9lnQ3bsA4Y8pRIhpXX4UphILOAHoHW/s200/P1130989.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many ways to look at<br />weather forecasts. These<br />are only some of them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">Because the wind is behind us, this is a downwind sail. We are using only one sail, that being the </span><span class="s2">genoa</span><span class="s1">, the larger of the two headsails that attach to the top of our mast and extend to our </span><span class="s2">bow</span><span class="s1">. (Bow= pointy end of the boat.) We have it *sheeted loosely, so that it forms a big scoop to catch as much wind as possible to push us forward. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4679JLrqLaLJve10BslutbUeMtFZGpugQgYvzskrAYqdZuXKhSNbiYr-5K2Jv9eXcr7dZnzSruIlktqSJgCy5XCInJtkc4JJ8UGZ_DnOG6eRUYV_b_0qcQE-TVLE0J_Iova8pTcSSPCR/s1600/P1120604+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1208" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4679JLrqLaLJve10BslutbUeMtFZGpugQgYvzskrAYqdZuXKhSNbiYr-5K2Jv9eXcr7dZnzSruIlktqSJgCy5XCInJtkc4JJ8UGZ_DnOG6eRUYV_b_0qcQE-TVLE0J_Iova8pTcSSPCR/s320/P1120604+%25281%2529.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a photo of mains'l, but it<br />is intended to show how you can<br />look at the sails in the dark.<br />Headlamp, or flashlight.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">*On a sailboat, the </span><span class="s2">sheets</span><span class="s1"> are the lines that are attached to the sail that we pull tight or loosen from the cockpit to control the sails’ shape. There are no ropes on a sailboat. None. All of the lines have other names which are important to know but for your ride-along this evening, you can let that slide.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONKgVw-zSYE3ptAAkNEgyk8VgwI1POJe75GGwWC7eDZ0WMamL7379Qx8YNgENtDqfVXwtDloIfexpnJHk9qi9qFl-nSPwhtOifyViHkXj8ZPFiwWxgZGpfSnaDKRFmLAGGh0D_sTgNfeV/s1600/P1140046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="1600" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONKgVw-zSYE3ptAAkNEgyk8VgwI1POJe75GGwWC7eDZ0WMamL7379Qx8YNgENtDqfVXwtDloIfexpnJHk9qi9qFl-nSPwhtOifyViHkXj8ZPFiwWxgZGpfSnaDKRFmLAGGh0D_sTgNfeV/s200/P1140046.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several lines run through<br />chocks to lock them. The<br />sheets are wrapped around<br />winches. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Why do we have only one sail up? The mains’l remains tucked in its resting place atop the boom because if we were to raise it, it would block the wind from reaching the genoa and then our genoa would be flopping back and forth. So, we adjust the sheets from the cockpit to get the most that we can out of that one sail and leave it at that. Nothing fancy about this evening’s sail.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNcNUZIy0L1IxYzVbf7OzMZOkjVQtlXXgNyceXZ__64fEQNosF7D153_Ec-GemtYqaOFVI_bJVswHe70S_01hU33Ur_I6Pee1YlSWFiajAagibAqL48Tla6MSpUkilGYnW6zb64OGchU5/s1600/Sailing+Late+afternoon.m4v" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNcNUZIy0L1IxYzVbf7OzMZOkjVQtlXXgNyceXZ__64fEQNosF7D153_Ec-GemtYqaOFVI_bJVswHe70S_01hU33Ur_I6Pee1YlSWFiajAagibAqL48Tla6MSpUkilGYnW6zb64OGchU5/s320/Sailing+Late+afternoon.m4v" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The video has two sails up, but I wanted to<br />show you what the ocean is like when it's<br />fairly calm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">How do we know where to go? We find our destination or a waypoint shy of the destination and set a course toward it by setting the </span><span class="s2">auto-pilot</span><span class="s1"> to steer the boat in that direction. Given that we’re in deep water and there is nothing out here to run into, this is a simple matter. An auto-pilot can steer in heavy seas better than we could. It’s a unit that is connected to the rudder and tells it how to steer. Ingenious.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8uSgEMJT_-js-xCfXVhMBL-3gSregzxg1OPYNAmL9L-9fxMP8MfBrhtOdmnnyR_yl2UCzvaGDiTsHehncEMpU5rKxEGcdzh0Xh2xF6Su2IYx740fg4rm-ha2guY8ITUeHJOzSNR2dj9s/s1600/P1140024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8uSgEMJT_-js-xCfXVhMBL-3gSregzxg1OPYNAmL9L-9fxMP8MfBrhtOdmnnyR_yl2UCzvaGDiTsHehncEMpU5rKxEGcdzh0Xh2xF6Su2IYx740fg4rm-ha2guY8ITUeHJOzSNR2dj9s/s320/P1140024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alternate topographical display on the <br />chartplotter </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">The moon hasn’t risen yet and it’s black like velvet.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Of course, there is nothing to see except for the water around us. If we saw lights on the horizon, we would have to put some thought into figuring out how far away the vessel was and where it was heading so as to avoid a collision. We have tools to help us with that and it’s astonishingly easy to do. Chart</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">plotters are amazing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJGe8xNs2J-5OplZqsyjYt-sh6h-t_MtJajMlPaSNMjoe1wn3USaFQuA65ryMPDz3Tmux_EOCDd4EXh821SUp_1ey9CA6872eR421LFV1_ulLw6wcW30MQVacwiWBL8Tkcgucr-pENqz4/s1600/P1140010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJGe8xNs2J-5OplZqsyjYt-sh6h-t_MtJajMlPaSNMjoe1wn3USaFQuA65ryMPDz3Tmux_EOCDd4EXh821SUp_1ey9CA6872eR421LFV1_ulLw6wcW30MQVacwiWBL8Tkcgucr-pENqz4/s320/P1140010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chartplotter display showing our boat, our<br />path behind us and direction we're headed.<br />Ocean depths are the tiny numbers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">I have checked the chart plotter out to a distance of about 40 miles. There are no boats anywhere around.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>At least, none that are </span><span class="s2">broadcasting</span><span class="s1"> their position by</span><span class="s2"> AIS</span><span class="s1"> ( Automatic Identification System) and this far out on the ocean, most boats are going to be broadcasting as well as </span><span class="s2">receiving data</span><span class="s1"> from other boats that are transmitting their location, heading and speed. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqsgB_ztAc2ObNPg5gaVhw_6hZUQIaI8XLtc9zQQZVz7YCjA0ZJTfwkU5w-pxweTJ1AsKN4Bi40U_w-e6aLedJhm8ExLno1SRJX4XdyTdtYoRef1bjhFk5bQKtSNoPKr8qvbtk0d3_DzF/s1600/P1130980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1600" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqsgB_ztAc2ObNPg5gaVhw_6hZUQIaI8XLtc9zQQZVz7YCjA0ZJTfwkU5w-pxweTJ1AsKN4Bi40U_w-e6aLedJhm8ExLno1SRJX4XdyTdtYoRef1bjhFk5bQKtSNoPKr8qvbtk0d3_DzF/s320/P1130980.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While not on watch, we can sleep. The dark<br />cloth is a lee cloth It's tied to prevent the<br />sleeper from rolling off the settee.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">In spite of that relative margin of safety, we cannot just all go to sleep and let the boat do its’ thing. It is theoretically possible that a fast moving boat <i>could</i> intersect with us in 20 to 30 minutes so you and I are </span><span class="s2">on watch</span><span class="s1"> for the next three hours. We have chosen 3 hour watches for our passages. It’s an arbitrary period of time.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNJrwq89T-n4SoCMon1nndnFLXxIFBqKr96ASGZgE3CJhkL6sf4X5iej842YJy5jKwDXMAX7w9MkEraFBPjmeTOIaXQ-Ra0WzU9oGoRrpV96tjqeEPoV-TERoQqWI271PMLlUK-NTES9D/s1600/P1140018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="1566" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNJrwq89T-n4SoCMon1nndnFLXxIFBqKr96ASGZgE3CJhkL6sf4X5iej842YJy5jKwDXMAX7w9MkEraFBPjmeTOIaXQ-Ra0WzU9oGoRrpV96tjqeEPoV-TERoQqWI271PMLlUK-NTES9D/s200/P1140018.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GPS position also shown<br />upper left part of screen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">Back to the </span><span class="s2">chart plotter</span><span class="s1">.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It not only shows us the location, heading and speed of <i>other</i> boats but also shows our own *</span><span class="s2">GPS location</span><span class="s1"> (our Lat and Long), our </span><span class="s2">GPS heading,</span><span class="s1"> our </span><span class="s2">GPS speed</span><span class="s1">, and even the </span><span class="s2">depth </span><span class="s1">of the water beneath us. Tonight, the depth meter has shut itself off when the distance to the ocean floor dramatically increased. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhuzMXIG4QRZU5SWEwVMqrMksElCKqHMg9yl-rDU13rwaApMGI-acsm80we_5LaRq8W2p-j2z4PF_bjd0DcZ9HitAnL5GAdU-xMoq8XFidHelO6rS3Q7q55FniZyuGZdIg_96YJIVnuR2/s1600/P1140036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1096" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhuzMXIG4QRZU5SWEwVMqrMksElCKqHMg9yl-rDU13rwaApMGI-acsm80we_5LaRq8W2p-j2z4PF_bjd0DcZ9HitAnL5GAdU-xMoq8XFidHelO6rS3Q7q55FniZyuGZdIg_96YJIVnuR2/s200/P1140036.jpg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Other boat instru-<br />ments. Top, last<br />recorded depth.<br />Below-water temp<br />82.3 degrees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">The last reported depth was 54 feet. It will turn on again when the ocean floor rises up to meet us. At that time it will be our job to avoid running into that ocean floor, which will have become an island or at the very least, a rock. But we’re a long way from any land and so we won’t worry about that tonight.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyjDLt4UWCTnSxSmu7BVELRq0wvhcB_k_rYXX3YOd52u9-JVW_shSwpG6GCCAruDp35xjb794N1gB4pA77x8mh5G1sADIrbM61OJdo6uA8BlO97LxbmOeOrLGMzXdtBM-0Tc5G5g57Q_r/s1600/P1140044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyjDLt4UWCTnSxSmu7BVELRq0wvhcB_k_rYXX3YOd52u9-JVW_shSwpG6GCCAruDp35xjb794N1gB4pA77x8mh5G1sADIrbM61OJdo6uA8BlO97LxbmOeOrLGMzXdtBM-0Tc5G5g57Q_r/s320/P1140044.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look behind you to see the dinghy<br />riding several feet above the water. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">If you’re interested, the chart plotter map face or a paper map can show you the reported depths of the ocean floor based upon readings taken at some time over the last three centuries and that now inform the makers of the maps, etc. The map says that the ocean depth here is 14,580 ft. About 2 1/2 miles deep. Cool.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONOCvyAmz-pwl_DAsIPFKrdyVOD9nRtpJoCzX26k8dNxBnQqnOFAeVsce7YMEX23T2b4y-WQNp-2SGOpL_HOuukLaUr6yLPEEwFJs7m4i6nOK_D05V1u5SdQam32s9kv7N-rQBH9JkmSx/s1600/P1130985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1415" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONOCvyAmz-pwl_DAsIPFKrdyVOD9nRtpJoCzX26k8dNxBnQqnOFAeVsce7YMEX23T2b4y-WQNp-2SGOpL_HOuukLaUr6yLPEEwFJs7m4i6nOK_D05V1u5SdQam32s9kv7N-rQBH9JkmSx/s200/P1130985.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We use paper maps, too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So, things are going swimmingly here, don’t you think? Our 3 hour watch will soon be over and we can go to bed. Until then, some chamomile tea? It’s been a quite pleasant evening out here on the Atlantic, has it not?</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrsFeDpdK7wZH0NEnP788Gt2CTpdgp8fsSbnXQljSpQXqBDrmK3Ob6ec-s3MKXXZSttjetoJVfSf-QekNJmPLuvGE7lFm7fLfJ398YezoIgpnmvdxCZlZU0KNxlmxiiW2xUC4ribKuLd5/s1600/P1140055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="1600" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrsFeDpdK7wZH0NEnP788Gt2CTpdgp8fsSbnXQljSpQXqBDrmK3Ob6ec-s3MKXXZSttjetoJVfSf-QekNJmPLuvGE7lFm7fLfJ398YezoIgpnmvdxCZlZU0KNxlmxiiW2xUC4ribKuLd5/s320/P1140055.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are heading to a location on the upper<br />right side of the Caicos Bank. (paper map)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-89634094153606561272019-04-24T18:44:00.000-05:002019-04-24T18:48:18.665-05:00For the Birds
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 17.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6lBB6rQ1GIY5Eu79K3dd4Cji-jaMvryI7QE5Xq_U9zNkKWSlXlmpP3JIONMoQjttO5rsojViuja3oQb9guGGlr2IUJkTQefOL_MRgSqyfvYOXkJ9KVzJXIlz8-pO3TaKE7frvj-gBwjU/s1600/P1130591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6lBB6rQ1GIY5Eu79K3dd4Cji-jaMvryI7QE5Xq_U9zNkKWSlXlmpP3JIONMoQjttO5rsojViuja3oQb9guGGlr2IUJkTQefOL_MRgSqyfvYOXkJ9KVzJXIlz8-pO3TaKE7frvj-gBwjU/s400/P1130591.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Los Haitises National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We inadvertently went on a 3 hour guided birding tour two days ago.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i> Inadvertently?</i> How could that happen you ask.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Excellent question. I shall attempt a believable explanation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJoaG5vxENb7iwz-n7clSMzmySfUOq0zoc3doa86kbDR1p9sDJA8vwmXfQ8OXbzkcqKL2ATwmVR2kcmxhoj4bCwt5vnkOQxKS6nu2kO38O3RsIMpYHocG5pGN9r1E1VHfP3KOyL0DPuzo/s1600/P1130633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="1371" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJoaG5vxENb7iwz-n7clSMzmySfUOq0zoc3doa86kbDR1p9sDJA8vwmXfQ8OXbzkcqKL2ATwmVR2kcmxhoj4bCwt5vnkOQxKS6nu2kO38O3RsIMpYHocG5pGN9r1E1VHfP3KOyL0DPuzo/s320/P1130633.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taino face carving. Nose has broken off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We had spent several days at the Puerto Bahía Marina waiting for the right weather window to make our next jump north. Sailing to the Turks and Caicos would be a passage of some 200 miles. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, only 10 miles away on the opposite side of the bay from Puerto Bahía lay the Haitises National Parque. (pro ah-EE-tee-sase). Sailboats are allowed only two nights of anchorage at the national park, and we were looking forward to being at anchor again. We would have to use our time wisely to see as much as possible in only two days at the park.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpEVuZy95ZCTEJRuUQzY59tuAwK3e5C89H18dYhAWR5qNqXjbhR0TtbtcxfNOlyAP1b3PmyL5UaEAZrMVqqsCjoWIIvFPaQA0vM-8cNbgM9b8p6ro6NvoEL3_zLve6r0D3v61iOseptPi/s1600/P1130689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpEVuZy95ZCTEJRuUQzY59tuAwK3e5C89H18dYhAWR5qNqXjbhR0TtbtcxfNOlyAP1b3PmyL5UaEAZrMVqqsCjoWIIvFPaQA0vM-8cNbgM9b8p6ro6NvoEL3_zLve6r0D3v61iOseptPi/s320/P1130689.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taino cave petroglyphs, Los Haitises<br />National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We were especially interested in the caves containing petroglyphs and carvings made by the Taino Indians. The Taino people occupied many of the Caribbean islands, preceding Columbus’ “discovery” by ~1000 years.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>These people became extinct shortly after Columbus’ arrival, by means of being worked to death in slavery and the remainder dying of diseases brought by the Europeans. We took the dinghy to shore and visited the two caves our first day there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZ4v5JaPw7cg3yBgdG752w-Jx8uwhNl4F1mLHbD98EzRe_veC2PnFElkhJxPtAcNZ8Sq-rMQEareFlWL9xjY0BAVokUB9NxlFiLVyLxbrME1yIg011BuOYYHebI7jyp5WdlPfhX21LtPA/s1600/P1130699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1600" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZ4v5JaPw7cg3yBgdG752w-Jx8uwhNl4F1mLHbD98EzRe_veC2PnFElkhJxPtAcNZ8Sq-rMQEareFlWL9xjY0BAVokUB9NxlFiLVyLxbrME1yIg011BuOYYHebI7jyp5WdlPfhX21LtPA/s640/P1130699.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enormous cave containing Taino petroglyphs, Los Haitises National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The Caño Chiquito River runs into the national park through a dense, old growth mangrove forest. We wanted to explore the river, and we had also heard about an inland eco resort of sorts upriver, with small pools around it. That sounded good.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-b1bECK7Wa2hK0X867NuFgKeYX6umdRAYE_dXdK4dpneSCR44y_E7X-csXAUh_1syOxRc8v95q8LPM4yXSrHsZme8Jd_MmdNHXCHPAWHjS-eiqEORc-luSOOgzBMa_b47VzlkLNr-V9a/s1600/P1130611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="651" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-b1bECK7Wa2hK0X867NuFgKeYX6umdRAYE_dXdK4dpneSCR44y_E7X-csXAUh_1syOxRc8v95q8LPM4yXSrHsZme8Jd_MmdNHXCHPAWHjS-eiqEORc-luSOOgzBMa_b47VzlkLNr-V9a/s320/P1130611.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird that builds nests inside cave. We <br />think it is the Cave Swallow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Early the next morming, we prepared appropriately—we put on swimsuits and shirts, sturdy sandals, and in our backpacks carried sunglasses, sunscreen and water bottles. Both of my cameras came along—the “good” camera for the zoom as needed, and the other, a waterproof camera. (I rarely go anywhere without a camera and when I do, I often regret it.) We got in the dinghy and headed off. We planned to be gone until lunch time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOE7ZYLia1Ut1h9pDweHXcwBi5demir7gJfqrkbeWxDFt_o312ytJDFPiGSgPqorL3-RPUePZ0JdEs8z-jMgXL-ENx0OjCFxjk2NMo9IQlp3y10reBexTMByliU-5Vw-5umqzCj1ruON_/s1600/P1130641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOE7ZYLia1Ut1h9pDweHXcwBi5demir7gJfqrkbeWxDFt_o312ytJDFPiGSgPqorL3-RPUePZ0JdEs8z-jMgXL-ENx0OjCFxjk2NMo9IQlp3y10reBexTMByliU-5Vw-5umqzCj1ruON_/s400/P1130641.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caño Chiquito River, Los Haitises National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">As we motored I commented that perhaps we should have brought binoculars along so that we could examine the nearby rock island that several species of birds were using. Magnificent frigate birds, which are one of my favorite species, soared around the island, landing and flying off again. Oh well. We would have time to come back later with binoculars.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQXV2OvnBlq_riBsCdFuEUwe55r16XEAoT2iXHqlYWVRqQgEmJTiaStHemLRiYluAEByYJ5GQZuunSyepN14kN2Gv5ASOK6jUmLL-i8zxLRh5wYa1AnaqtOF5rQjNsC01GRBc-doS-pbj/s1600/P1130879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1599" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQXV2OvnBlq_riBsCdFuEUwe55r16XEAoT2iXHqlYWVRqQgEmJTiaStHemLRiYluAEByYJ5GQZuunSyepN14kN2Gv5ASOK6jUmLL-i8zxLRh5wYa1AnaqtOF5rQjNsC01GRBc-doS-pbj/s320/P1130879.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possibly, a Little Blue Heron?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The first part of our journey was approximately two miles over open water and then up the Caño Chiquito River. We have seen many mangrove wetlands but none to compare with this one. Enormous mature mangrove trees cover many, many miles of coastline and is at least a mile deep throughout. Fascinating! </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVuSCLbeC47RJRbVZYTpw3_75qJnf4uimqz9IL7wUPYz_eRh72flSER5wzURLGIQka9T7kSPip2KGXHISKS3f0Uhuwyxeb6VD7gQ-ABjsLa6WyJrlxVDu_pU5jyvPAv3HpkEhtXoIj7vL/s1600/P1130833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="788" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVuSCLbeC47RJRbVZYTpw3_75qJnf4uimqz9IL7wUPYz_eRh72flSER5wzURLGIQka9T7kSPip2KGXHISKS3f0Uhuwyxeb6VD7gQ-ABjsLa6WyJrlxVDu_pU5jyvPAv3HpkEhtXoIj7vL/s320/P1130833.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May be a TriColored Heron?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">The next portion of the journey was on foot, an easy mile hike.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">A dirt and rocky road took us between lush rice fields and pasture land with cows and horses.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">A pleasant walk. A barbed wire fence allowed us to view the resort before steering us to an entry gate. We were looking forward to a cool dip in one of those pools we’d been told about.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx7r8qL45WzPBVHi1t8Q5c_13RkZ2f25VW9fpZmBqtLwqEQm2RrXMimSwM7qrQ-5AVA126fZHxSS9BvhFhPqOI2_kb_N6nweSfXeZS4XOS0jNDvUsRw_myYgPeoip788REdI3_aUEb14C/s1600/P1130822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx7r8qL45WzPBVHi1t8Q5c_13RkZ2f25VW9fpZmBqtLwqEQm2RrXMimSwM7qrQ-5AVA126fZHxSS9BvhFhPqOI2_kb_N6nweSfXeZS4XOS0jNDvUsRw_myYgPeoip788REdI3_aUEb14C/s320/P1130822.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eco-tourism resort surrounded by pools</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Two pleasant men in uniform greeted us at the gate with the customary, “Hola. ¿Como está?¨ ¨Bien. ¿Y usted?¨ We paid 200 pesos each to enter the park. The conversation continued in Spanish. “Do you have reservations?” We looked at each other and said we did not. Without delay, one of the gentlemen began showing us pictures of birds, some of them endemic to the Dominican Republic, “endemic” being a word that translated well for us English speakers.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCdvP63cCZUp3CYBeT11qq9pSG2sPyerdF3kOCOoA3xLuwg1P_7rijdqhwPEOgU_VU5VYqfgjxB5CQktnAm_ZUwpd1_vOLzmClzeQO_Q0JB5FaOvA-QS4SFsM5u0PbzqWVXJKLoYfV0tt/s1600/P1130761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCdvP63cCZUp3CYBeT11qq9pSG2sPyerdF3kOCOoA3xLuwg1P_7rijdqhwPEOgU_VU5VYqfgjxB5CQktnAm_ZUwpd1_vOLzmClzeQO_Q0JB5FaOvA-QS4SFsM5u0PbzqWVXJKLoYfV0tt/s320/P1130761.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We think this is a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo.<br /> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We didn’t understand everything he was telling us but we like birds so we nodded our heads a lot and responded with “Ahhhh” several times. I was coming to the conclusion that maybe we wouldn’t be allowed to use the building and facilities without reservations, but it was looking like we could take hikes within the national park and look for these birds. That would be cool. Fortunately, we had our own water with us. So we started into the park.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FFespRt2HMz-JH48nkENw3Cpyj-XxjzrAePLNlHRff66gmrVLoXt4GBOsPXtWLGznWkWsCLRGlnyS9EM6d7qPTVlR9MvpGH2S4IoQtBU__KBFyW5RTuunhNAKQW3s_w3o6jMsOv8hola/s1600/P1130837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1600" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FFespRt2HMz-JH48nkENw3Cpyj-XxjzrAePLNlHRff66gmrVLoXt4GBOsPXtWLGznWkWsCLRGlnyS9EM6d7qPTVlR9MvpGH2S4IoQtBU__KBFyW5RTuunhNAKQW3s_w3o6jMsOv8hola/s400/P1130837.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild turkeys, not found in the bird books</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Now here is where things became fuzzy. The gentleman put away the bird book and began walking ahead of us into the park. I stopped him and asked (in poor Spanish, no doubt) if we couldn’t walk the park by ourselves and look for the birds. And was it far? He told us it wasn’t far and resumed walking. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XGKYSKApnTC-f0M9Qmqm66lc3weDBKarxvXBkMHAbLCO7WaDUPsDESIKAZXA79FZlXvhZALKv3mQeqZRILuT2SFfRI35KQ4JVg8v1rte4nHcodHuOV_G-LY2ZsUTbYV2trcsCjJzNhaq/s1600/P4210101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="867" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XGKYSKApnTC-f0M9Qmqm66lc3weDBKarxvXBkMHAbLCO7WaDUPsDESIKAZXA79FZlXvhZALKv3mQeqZRILuT2SFfRI35KQ4JVg8v1rte4nHcodHuOV_G-LY2ZsUTbYV2trcsCjJzNhaq/s320/P4210101.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several hummingbirds seen. Poor<br />photography without my zoom camera</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, with my husband and I both trying to work out what was happening, I stopped him again. I explained that we were worried because if he was intending to act as our guide, we had brought very little money with us for a tip. Again, this nice gentleman, Juan smiled and said gently, “No problema. El dinero es no problema.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKqPQIY9bLQLMzKAgsX9H-zi8JQvDuWXahEVAX75bl0L2SNtmH2_9WlCan8GzJkUFxQkwEJ6Mm8FYJcX6s282YdkZaaGD8TiyxWBubb70MagVV8l2oqKdkFNTQR2esTz4coac1k4eomuJ/s1600/P1130770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKqPQIY9bLQLMzKAgsX9H-zi8JQvDuWXahEVAX75bl0L2SNtmH2_9WlCan8GzJkUFxQkwEJ6Mm8FYJcX6s282YdkZaaGD8TiyxWBubb70MagVV8l2oqKdkFNTQR2esTz4coac1k4eomuJ/s320/P1130770.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juan leading us through park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So we followed him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He led us past the resort building and pools which were beautiful and well designed at various elevations and depths. We continued on down a path, crossing a pasture and into woods. Well, wasn’t it nice of him to show us where the paths began. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5hWz-MKD-3dTvQmziqc5YTeGoHCmiYx5Bk63QNnFNFcZP2lBZ7_OvU5-AqFW-BPtBThl97GnY-5WKP2pk0q0mp0BlrDczf77K6oayVDK4MuMr7AD49UUWkSYGvVopLYYdce6g-R31n6s/s1600/P1130783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5hWz-MKD-3dTvQmziqc5YTeGoHCmiYx5Bk63QNnFNFcZP2lBZ7_OvU5-AqFW-BPtBThl97GnY-5WKP2pk0q0mp0BlrDczf77K6oayVDK4MuMr7AD49UUWkSYGvVopLYYdce6g-R31n6s/s320/P1130783.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the cattle egret that hangs around<br />cows and horses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">When we came to a clearing, I heard an incredibly loud whistle-like sound. Looking around I realized the sound came from this nice gentleman. He was <i>calling </i>the birds, the endemic hawk to be precise. And these are the exact words that passed through my mind next. “Oh, <i>shit,</i> we are on a birding tour.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaI5LOwLhDOp4G4Mcv-gtkOmPfboSlEH2W65ir9ZJubo9M86wK7AjNrznCuJAgGXXyQzixyNqL2yDM1TI-caoxer04e4Y5AXN8rmby6CA53a1BxltAugLewxMG4GD2Jg0ofWAFzWkSI-B/s1600/P4210076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="563" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaI5LOwLhDOp4G4Mcv-gtkOmPfboSlEH2W65ir9ZJubo9M86wK7AjNrznCuJAgGXXyQzixyNqL2yDM1TI-caoxer04e4Y5AXN8rmby6CA53a1BxltAugLewxMG4GD2Jg0ofWAFzWkSI-B/s320/P4210076.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No idea what this greenish bird is called<br />in English, or Spanish either for that matter.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Now as I said, we like birds.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A birding tour would have been a great idea if we had known it was going to be an option that day. I would have worn my hiking boots, shorts and a hat.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I would have studied more Spanish words relating to the topic of birds. Most importantly, we would have both brought binoculars. Again, “shit.” </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1ADoyj4Gzie8oxk_8bHg3HwP9cKELUUMvDEWFp8Rt3Or8EMj44vxmoJlUAh4M2q9av25EQwe2piioJe6XyQolnm5l8fyqtzRSfKpZR0ZwBgUwskPbixSeYIGTc-3F-IqPd1sjw8zbRMa/s1600/P1130768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1ADoyj4Gzie8oxk_8bHg3HwP9cKELUUMvDEWFp8Rt3Or8EMj44vxmoJlUAh4M2q9av25EQwe2piioJe6XyQolnm5l8fyqtzRSfKpZR0ZwBgUwskPbixSeYIGTc-3F-IqPd1sjw8zbRMa/s320/P1130768.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't know English name of this plant<br />but it is very poisonous.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: large;">In addition to that, the screen on my good camera had turned black during the dinghy ride. I could not figure out what I had done wrong, and I was really worried about my camera. But, no time for that now. We were on a birding tour.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrFKIVs3v3ZbfbQ5DVuEJat2Fpu6-C-C1bSNEL32uXr0WNQVBBFwgznYWbJarSyBWtcxGDeqbeUPvFfkNqHvQlREl0OrPFisLlyPveGEsLKHL1sSF4BkPgL1zEGNqR_3xLQTv3Aukfyyt/s1600/P4210088+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="910" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrFKIVs3v3ZbfbQ5DVuEJat2Fpu6-C-C1bSNEL32uXr0WNQVBBFwgznYWbJarSyBWtcxGDeqbeUPvFfkNqHvQlREl0OrPFisLlyPveGEsLKHL1sSF4BkPgL1zEGNqR_3xLQTv3Aukfyyt/s320/P4210088+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another type of hummingbird; wish I<br />knew the English name.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We went across various landscapes, dense woods, grassland with animals, opened and closed gates, up hills covered with forest, through a cave-like pass on top of a steep incline (the purpose of which was never clear to me), around a stream, and a spring fed pool, getting farther and farther away from the resort. All the while, our unassuming guide, Juan, made various bird calls and pointed out several birds to us. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHJoTdx7rR7Dfbko1ow7Md-0Z_od8gmphB6zNentuM7ZZTddtt1w-eiOACqMhKp-sRSaP1gu4Oy3JnmpK9naxflPwpP2-iD6nhbM2ADfTfoLJ0KtCenwaDuKnP4UEw9mLRKd220BTzMVk/s1600/P1130791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="897" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHJoTdx7rR7Dfbko1ow7Md-0Z_od8gmphB6zNentuM7ZZTddtt1w-eiOACqMhKp-sRSaP1gu4Oy3JnmpK9naxflPwpP2-iD6nhbM2ADfTfoLJ0KtCenwaDuKnP4UEw9mLRKd220BTzMVk/s320/P1130791.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very poor photo, but it may be Juan's<br />endemic hawk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Juan particularly is fond of those endemic hawks and called them several times to his own amusement. He said he had been working in the park for 42 years! We believed he was very good at his job and had a lot to tell us about each of the birds. It was truly disappointing to only be able to guess at the bulk of his monologue in Spanish.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcAIX4cWJG-PMxZ4BHUfHr1waQz4Iv1MB0xwrT9e-jRgCIBHwLoLUjkKq14TeD85TeSiwJKLtTP5xil594cvf_6_FcalluOfwOc8uQ23dR8zzE8AwIEm0iSAv3Vrn01rWbXqQ59F6l5al/s1600/P1130789+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcAIX4cWJG-PMxZ4BHUfHr1waQz4Iv1MB0xwrT9e-jRgCIBHwLoLUjkKq14TeD85TeSiwJKLtTP5xil594cvf_6_FcalluOfwOc8uQ23dR8zzE8AwIEm0iSAv3Vrn01rWbXqQ59F6l5al/s320/P1130789+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wish I knew the name of this chubby <br />little bird. Wish I'd had my good camera.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t like to complain but it was really hard to see many of the birds without binoculars. Juan used his all the time. And I was without my camera to zoom in on the birds too. That fact alone was quite distressing to me. My feet were scratched up. I was hungry and really tired. Furthermore, I was just plain embarrassed to be on a hike wearing a swimsuit. Dumb American.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCNsm8eOUKZIgwjDitBVCo0bwIATnJML-7RHXdRnFR-h1N0LLFw_SNEG-AoLn9b8XTtbnavrt9bZ6Wg5e0X1gvQsHSSvYHtRDDYzZDWx4vbox62YZDLozXvBLN1A3jQq6_auH1VqBXV4O/s1600/P4210104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCNsm8eOUKZIgwjDitBVCo0bwIATnJML-7RHXdRnFR-h1N0LLFw_SNEG-AoLn9b8XTtbnavrt9bZ6Wg5e0X1gvQsHSSvYHtRDDYzZDWx4vbox62YZDLozXvBLN1A3jQq6_auH1VqBXV4O/s320/P4210104.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two and 1/2 hours into the birding tour<br />and no idea how much longer it will go.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">How long would this birding tour go on? It clearly was important to Juan that we saw the birds he was pointing out, so sometimes I just pointed the camera in the direction he indicated and nodded. I’m a little ashamed about that.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwioYwuERh0W-871SiTIo2JBpuiZb7tlOyXBVOkgke4gvzwcfLvvkhrigW0vPV9YSbyeK9B3EjREHt_mLCZoJTfuSExWV7nWqI1WHp0ZmZ8AQ7YE_wkeHFrfW3K9MIEzeBZImm_EyQnYHT/s1600/P4210094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="613" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwioYwuERh0W-871SiTIo2JBpuiZb7tlOyXBVOkgke4gvzwcfLvvkhrigW0vPV9YSbyeK9B3EjREHt_mLCZoJTfuSExWV7nWqI1WHp0ZmZ8AQ7YE_wkeHFrfW3K9MIEzeBZImm_EyQnYHT/s320/P4210094.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of aiming camera in general<br />direction of where Juan pointed. Note<br />orange tail feathers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr51Euy2GN41X23NgurdiCGr8O0Y4NhfcAWlyJueCkj_afMO43xu9YDilZN-E7crNhiIjuLUEqE-eFkgoaA4R6QpTPiXPdCXkq6lLWTFOnGbZ1J6QtARR6QYchXbfz5FeCuqT3jTr5_XIi/s1600/P4210062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="748" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr51Euy2GN41X23NgurdiCGr8O0Y4NhfcAWlyJueCkj_afMO43xu9YDilZN-E7crNhiIjuLUEqE-eFkgoaA4R6QpTPiXPdCXkq6lLWTFOnGbZ1J6QtARR6QYchXbfz5FeCuqT3jTr5_XIi/s320/P4210062.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fat little neon green bird with creamy<br />breast. Name anyone?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Three hours later, we had circled around and returned to the resort by a different path. We all sat down, and Juan, seated on my right was quiet for the first time. Carl pulled out his wallet and thanking him, gave Juan 1000 pesos. (That’s $20 US.) I’ve rarely used the word “crestfallen” but it was appropriate for Juan. “¿No mas?” he said softly to me. Carl found another 400 pesos, leaving us with only a few. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdUyOiws6DtrEwYFKHyd2LXaZyHomDl4tnDxN_zdvQdNd7TKTkazGjrAjmHu-jaXktM6apLboHpDWDVs1mXKIh1gIcjsniOOSOjwuUAfxbqZ7xcb-nvbu1kYIE-rFK6kNAQn7JeX7FOgp/s1600/P1130800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdUyOiws6DtrEwYFKHyd2LXaZyHomDl4tnDxN_zdvQdNd7TKTkazGjrAjmHu-jaXktM6apLboHpDWDVs1mXKIh1gIcjsniOOSOjwuUAfxbqZ7xcb-nvbu1kYIE-rFK6kNAQn7JeX7FOgp/s320/P1130800.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Returning to the Eco-Tourism resort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I explained to Juan, we were so surprised but very pleased to find a birding tour and had not prepared well for it. We thanked him heartily and told him we had very much enjoyed our morning together. He appeared mildly pleased about that. We parted feeling like cheap schmucks, for disappointing Juan, who gave us a long, thorough tour that we would have been willing to pay more for, if we had only been prepared.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgML69lbWmQtte0RjIL0iWyceocChT260eXw-nCEFidtall8MSvKBLsbngA46oa4QphTKTgV6s51E6OzKwbAv4Ns-EXGTQG8E73t15nMf1r11XAApdvdjfy9pncwclT1wV4N93z97do8YVN/s1600/P1130808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1600" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgML69lbWmQtte0RjIL0iWyceocChT260eXw-nCEFidtall8MSvKBLsbngA46oa4QphTKTgV6s51E6OzKwbAv4Ns-EXGTQG8E73t15nMf1r11XAApdvdjfy9pncwclT1wV4N93z97do8YVN/s320/P1130808.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After our lunch buffet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">As it turned out, we <i>were </i>allowed to use the facilities at the resort. We had a buffet lunch (thank goodness they took Visa) and decided we were too exhausted to even drag ourselves into the pools, which by that time had become quite popular with people of all ages. Something to be expected I suppose on Easter Sunday. We just wanted to return to the boat and to sleep. So, we walked a mile back to the dinghy, motored another two miles, and climbed back aboard <i>Northern Star</i> where I poured myself into bed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZhL7_0Hluml3IRXMQS_3aS_7zrqBcZ3cNtqZenluz1Yl0a1NasMPuDoQh4cE-5M81cpYJZZ-STpedRJaqrwvenvBTedznJ2na9MCyN-8P0UnX5X-6_BLQhwHUeLYUSxV-dVnaaCYTjl8/s1600/P1130741+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="1465" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZhL7_0Hluml3IRXMQS_3aS_7zrqBcZ3cNtqZenluz1Yl0a1NasMPuDoQh4cE-5M81cpYJZZ-STpedRJaqrwvenvBTedznJ2na9MCyN-8P0UnX5X-6_BLQhwHUeLYUSxV-dVnaaCYTjl8/s320/P1130741+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different hummingbird species<br /> from the ones pictured above.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span>*</span><span style="font-size: small;">Heartfelt apologies for the quality of these photos. Sadly, taken without zoom feature.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-87655567590588312562019-04-19T15:49:00.000-05:002019-04-19T15:53:20.984-05:00Words in the Lost and Found<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqAtuLHhXDjYl4FkEz325hh1XqHeyUpzan2_Yjt8-UgQ-JmCb2OG8i6MhlgKKShKNhQwI4joLLbw4ZSJWTfX3Ko1T-EdR-hmmPvaa-h4vPK4be9tLpOPSf9AVUm2x_8XpXEJojgKDmkYs/s1600/P1130469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqAtuLHhXDjYl4FkEz325hh1XqHeyUpzan2_Yjt8-UgQ-JmCb2OG8i6MhlgKKShKNhQwI4joLLbw4ZSJWTfX3Ko1T-EdR-hmmPvaa-h4vPK4be9tLpOPSf9AVUm2x_8XpXEJojgKDmkYs/s400/P1130469.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving across the Samana peninsula, we found <br />a new graveyard under construction.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been losing a few words lately. Most frequently the missing words are nouns. Misplacing them like I do my shoes. I know I have them somewhere and yet, when I need them they seem to have gone walkabout. It’s most frustrating. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRZXKAqvohj7c4R1QZKBCUeyRaFXtGic4dj5gHzy8hXYcl3h9psvDO3a_vnrHmuJDpiYQYY522FMCjEVMxSTb_kiJkJKqoC67kFwCvs2TCINXW0aruPCAYd1LxUxQ81JC3sTU86QYrgOI/s1600/P1130442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="1312" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRZXKAqvohj7c4R1QZKBCUeyRaFXtGic4dj5gHzy8hXYcl3h9psvDO3a_vnrHmuJDpiYQYY522FMCjEVMxSTb_kiJkJKqoC67kFwCvs2TCINXW0aruPCAYd1LxUxQ81JC3sTU86QYrgOI/s400/P1130442.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bulk of the people of the DR live like this family.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I have known several Speech and Language Pathologists (aka Speech therapists) in my career and so I know that while it is not uncommon to misplace words now and then, especially when one is feeling pressured to remember a particular word, it is <i>not</i> a natural part of aging. Not <i>everyone</i> misplaces their words as they age. Why couldn't I be one of those people? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGNqklbSMRnkmXMvz0sYqQgYcvO-0pS11CEy_l8F3JqHTqGSfmnZEPxVChEsOHcC_C9H0zgOTbCcJGNzv-G3eR85-h_UYJ9eYKe3nZ9w6tOfc0-Z7G1xuAu-zmlnm9gTGOOJpFrWUhIrj/s1600/P1130457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="1600" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGNqklbSMRnkmXMvz0sYqQgYcvO-0pS11CEy_l8F3JqHTqGSfmnZEPxVChEsOHcC_C9H0zgOTbCcJGNzv-G3eR85-h_UYJ9eYKe3nZ9w6tOfc0-Z7G1xuAu-zmlnm9gTGOOJpFrWUhIrj/s320/P1130457.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fence repair </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The other day I could not for the life of me find the noun “pelican.” I was looking right at the bird; I wanted to quickly point out something the bird was doing and I could <i>not</i> find “pelican” in my word bank.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A shadow of the word I wanted seemed to be hiding nearby in a fog, but the word itself was….poof, unable to be found.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykqt9VdVcKHnEshANgZ6jpU5QOmV4DRseOpYNsX8u_Iryc8230xj5Ej2ab4SY3JSn8ePB3xaZC6B27pikyjTQ83B99mroffWe4m61gCzZ26hLC1t6KKdC8rXAnxSSU_UPXQU90PKuMqWO/s1600/P1130403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykqt9VdVcKHnEshANgZ6jpU5QOmV4DRseOpYNsX8u_Iryc8230xj5Ej2ab4SY3JSn8ePB3xaZC6B27pikyjTQ83B99mroffWe4m61gCzZ26hLC1t6KKdC8rXAnxSSU_UPXQU90PKuMqWO/s400/P1130403.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Small houses, outbuildings line the road across the<br />peninsula </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Because I could not name that darn bird, I was forced to </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">describe</i><span style="font-size: large;"> it……”Ohhh, you know… big bird, big beak and gullet, eats fish whole, funny-lookin’.” My husband quickly supplied the label, “Oh, a pelican.” Of course by then whatever I was trying to point out was long gone. The moment lost.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaud9CE6G2zUgOXPXJT2iNlPi9Kg3KV0pu6vA5FM-tAda5nmgNwgG7dr6LmkkD1wS48ib607_BBiy5IbcsI5A6VnQkb-Vj_ZeOM1htqLAObmvczH3mvDBm_33dlKDRanX0bjufiE8rlZ_/s1600/P1130579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="1487" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaud9CE6G2zUgOXPXJT2iNlPi9Kg3KV0pu6vA5FM-tAda5nmgNwgG7dr6LmkkD1wS48ib607_BBiy5IbcsI5A6VnQkb-Vj_ZeOM1htqLAObmvczH3mvDBm_33dlKDRanX0bjufiE8rlZ_/s320/P1130579.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the town of Las Terrenas, away from the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We have been in Spanish-speaking countries now for a while. T</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">he Dominican Republic now and Colombia in March for my stepson’s wedding.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">I worked hard on improving my Spanish before going to Bogotá for the wedding. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3W0KGv81e3Wf4JMItFgA-TEJaqpCzOAYjAbyAVsTIKd1Bi-wwm8IDYjumLf2xSwKm9vowYN6_k-A_Au-bWg6E_a81u-0AK1qWnmPczbQbx21twKedO-Ly8KpW-QL7s7EWXM8Qsh3HtrI/s1600/P1130491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="1600" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3W0KGv81e3Wf4JMItFgA-TEJaqpCzOAYjAbyAVsTIKd1Bi-wwm8IDYjumLf2xSwKm9vowYN6_k-A_Au-bWg6E_a81u-0AK1qWnmPczbQbx21twKedO-Ly8KpW-QL7s7EWXM8Qsh3HtrI/s320/P1130491.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local artists' work near El Limon waterfall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The really surprising thing about misplacing nouns is that—while I'm occasionally unable to find the English words I want, I am finding Spanish words from 45 years ago! Words I probably never <i>needed </i>for<i> </i>use in conversation and don’t need now. Spanish nouns sometimes appear out of nowhere; words I did not know that I had ever learned, right when the situation calls for it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYGmq7aZayc4MUTkNEXECpQM_y-JKsfkFzJ2MAfiPXWOfFPPFj2Iru5CEGGU2GF1vkMDH8D_LnWaSZtJVcyoGp3MLJCn5YOdc2AlMOM_d0CO2z6tmLbMOuQyCEi9z4vGylBPjDTS81DZI/s1600/P1130349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1600" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYGmq7aZayc4MUTkNEXECpQM_y-JKsfkFzJ2MAfiPXWOfFPPFj2Iru5CEGGU2GF1vkMDH8D_LnWaSZtJVcyoGp3MLJCn5YOdc2AlMOM_d0CO2z6tmLbMOuQyCEi9z4vGylBPjDTS81DZI/s400/P1130349.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many homes have spectacular views of the ocean<br />on the north side, or the Bay on the south side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday when I heard someone say, “Oh they have rabbits here.” I surprised myself by translating silently,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Conejos” (ro. cone AY hose). “Tienen conejos aquí.” Easy as pie.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So, it appears that I inexplicably retained the Spanish noun for “rabbit,” perhaps in trade for the English noun “pelican?” Unbelievable.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiflvzdEqJJmEB0Ovk_T60-4HiwOWm9w2l0jWyOUDdYhdPLfImYN_-_ejjq7vUdvZhOQyR_ZJ9jbBc3wm9ew8CQX89R28rvarbgXcqzGMU18ksICGGKJCQjnhkF-2RlBQE_PzuUREo3Xoh/s1600/P1130439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1351" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiflvzdEqJJmEB0Ovk_T60-4HiwOWm9w2l0jWyOUDdYhdPLfImYN_-_ejjq7vUdvZhOQyR_ZJ9jbBc3wm9ew8CQX89R28rvarbgXcqzGMU18ksICGGKJCQjnhkF-2RlBQE_PzuUREo3Xoh/s400/P1130439.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frequently see people riding horseback along<br />the highway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I know I’m not the only one who can’t find words when needed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Recently my husband was preparing to climb down inside the lazarette and he was gathering together the tools, etc needed for this foray into the darkness of the hull. At the last moment, he points and says, “Could you hand me my……………footers?” We laughed. Footers! Hah! “Yes, indeed, my husband, here are your shoes.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIU_szTNLLzLL_KmoOi1n0N15nVWHr1Db_z2YA8k99d33RgLTaHFXVySVGK0UqbT3YFXrhKcStRy696axkJXmM6A1taBzjInBy7EwB6aL3-NkIU_YWd_TSl1W-awcmju2k55q9Mtw-Zaa8/s1600/P1130499+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1299" data-original-width="1503" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIU_szTNLLzLL_KmoOi1n0N15nVWHr1Db_z2YA8k99d33RgLTaHFXVySVGK0UqbT3YFXrhKcStRy696axkJXmM6A1taBzjInBy7EwB6aL3-NkIU_YWd_TSl1W-awcmju2k55q9Mtw-Zaa8/s320/P1130499+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parrot owner wants a tip from tourists <br />when the bird perches on their shoulder.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Isn’t this just ridiculous? Common ordinary words disappear willy nilly, but yet, there is enough room in <i>my </i>head for unnecessary nouns in a foreign language, words like “conejo” which I’m pretty sure I can get along without quite happily. I mean, it’s not going to be on any menu. Why do I need that noun? </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-9VqtUiOB921rRknFd2GrueTQlFmZ71sHn29eHyJ1rg8R00063-Fk3YygpAcOS4FqXgOacv9OeHvSbov3JHMRIaQE-pC0uoCr3n73tcnfMiTSIFItjNjhypeLtWWyDnl17jYEbgtlcyS/s1600/P1130567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="1600" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-9VqtUiOB921rRknFd2GrueTQlFmZ71sHn29eHyJ1rg8R00063-Fk3YygpAcOS4FqXgOacv9OeHvSbov3JHMRIaQE-pC0uoCr3n73tcnfMiTSIFItjNjhypeLtWWyDnl17jYEbgtlcyS/s400/P1130567.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantic Ocean beach on north side of Samana <br />peninsula. Surrounded by resorts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">And if I did need that word, I <i>could</i> just describe it.…”Sabes, pequeño mamífero, orejas grandes, le gustan las zanahorias, el lúpulo.” (You know…. small mammal, big ears, likes to eat carrots, hops…” And you could say, “Oh, conejo.” Or "rabbit" if you prefer.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-usihpsb5pzO_z7R8DXNpOnes4x65kSc9HdZwFbqhb6gaC3oc-fLZ5GVKoTUXuwyBtdEoW_NHvCmQZiD1KkBtJeAu8FIe4u9-nNsCbAtOuCOnbRoTTpCHmKR5kq1TpsVRnAuhNAg9fgKM/s1600/P1130543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-usihpsb5pzO_z7R8DXNpOnes4x65kSc9HdZwFbqhb6gaC3oc-fLZ5GVKoTUXuwyBtdEoW_NHvCmQZiD1KkBtJeAu8FIe4u9-nNsCbAtOuCOnbRoTTpCHmKR5kq1TpsVRnAuhNAg9fgKM/s320/P1130543.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New friends accompanied us to the falls<br />and the north side of Samana peninsula</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m going to miss speaking Spanish when we leave the Dominican Republic to head further north. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t speak well enough to always understand the answer I get when I’ve asked a question. When people speak quickly, I may as well give it up, but sometimes people are willing to speak “más lentamente, por favor.” More slowly, please. And it's great when they use commonly used verbs.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJEJ5j1QYgG1K1t8xAxxlZitYeeFt7XgUKSf32of5A8m6vOlmMpDAmqCUSrapdoVRBPkrLdHJqmQrJbCS2oVQbzaJdU0_vEnKjWL-rs4FJdFOqEN0lV1nHgguaqNYg9crDeg1aVrCtpvv/s1600/P1130498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="848" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJEJ5j1QYgG1K1t8xAxxlZitYeeFt7XgUKSf32of5A8m6vOlmMpDAmqCUSrapdoVRBPkrLdHJqmQrJbCS2oVQbzaJdU0_vEnKjWL-rs4FJdFOqEN0lV1nHgguaqNYg9crDeg1aVrCtpvv/s320/P1130498.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rafaela, took care of my horse and my<br />clothes while i swam under the waterfall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday I had a lovely little conversation with a guide who accompanied me while the horse, Luzario, carried me to the falls at El Limón, a 30 minute mountain trek. I understood most everything she said. It felt gratifying to be able to converse with this kind, simple woman. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CJOcnpVkvQR7LkkiTH5ClxF_co_AhJGqh9aR9lgb4dazhcl0bFYOzqJ5bRpp8CSrl1xWO_10E4on02_yjQdTX-mN3VvE0yn2tlU1hPOQjI3vY58zQUpbq-qlK6LxzE8_pxp2vurwWpak/s1600/P4160046+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CJOcnpVkvQR7LkkiTH5ClxF_co_AhJGqh9aR9lgb4dazhcl0bFYOzqJ5bRpp8CSrl1xWO_10E4on02_yjQdTX-mN3VvE0yn2tlU1hPOQjI3vY58zQUpbq-qlK6LxzE8_pxp2vurwWpak/s320/P4160046+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Limon falls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I found all my Spanish words as needed. She asked to be paid her tip (propino) before returning the horse to the handlers because the other workers would otherwise take half of her days’ earnings.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She smiled warmly and patted me softly on my leg in the stirrup. “Gracias, mi amiga.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6PRPUoVm1Dl03xOcm0L8aw9Y48lQx_bGni8yX_6hpzUnurLVKHJ5IYG5YKuWuGesXZe5TjK_evAE4CuUEdkI66NHv3MgfLbKmRfiXiQdg2SdO4zk-xEORhg5QYk9CHxRQwsaFjOB6EBP/s1600/P1130483+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6PRPUoVm1Dl03xOcm0L8aw9Y48lQx_bGni8yX_6hpzUnurLVKHJ5IYG5YKuWuGesXZe5TjK_evAE4CuUEdkI66NHv3MgfLbKmRfiXiQdg2SdO4zk-xEORhg5QYk9CHxRQwsaFjOB6EBP/s320/P1130483+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carl's guide and horse tender</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, here is where I’m at with the lost and found words— the next time I can't find an English word, I’ll use the Spanish noun, if I have found it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Maybe it’ll shame the English noun to come out of the shadows. And that darn bird whose name I could not find in English? I have it in Spanish now—it’s “pelícano.” So there.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybytT7XWTkpTyNMqBaPuDTyBYvNnhYihctORYGzjjz6sxM3nrW9VLeQ57diPDDzckinnlNEd2uD5vaMZgKDoQLbv-D4-yMfVrms6-j_pzzNh0bTwqwcMjqGcY-B_VA4GUu8X_GmjcjjNN/s1600/P1130514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="1600" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybytT7XWTkpTyNMqBaPuDTyBYvNnhYihctORYGzjjz6sxM3nrW9VLeQ57diPDDzckinnlNEd2uD5vaMZgKDoQLbv-D4-yMfVrms6-j_pzzNh0bTwqwcMjqGcY-B_VA4GUu8X_GmjcjjNN/s640/P1130514.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horses bring many people to the falls each day.</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/AVvXsEhFy-mH436Lh1KKMt6PwJdDyE-Z9sJTDAdh5NjdTV3-A1SBVXE8n15yWVxY3TePglthvjauyx6Ktnp-vKzNizWLsQTnLAFvTFKNWD3mPihilNKWADWP-LD9FUzX9A-dVaSwOUT7GgwI-syP/s1600/P1130515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1089" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy-mH436Lh1KKMt6PwJdDyE-Z9sJTDAdh5NjdTV3-A1SBVXE8n15yWVxY3TePglthvjauyx6Ktnp-vKzNizWLsQTnLAFvTFKNWD3mPihilNKWADWP-LD9FUzX9A-dVaSwOUT7GgwI-syP/s400/P1130515.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I enjoyed a horseride--it's been a while.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-87501621617941323092019-04-14T11:03:00.001-05:002019-07-09T12:03:11.062-05:00"Hey, You're Going the Wrong Way!"<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFZ4e7HCrSEyKci-aXZyQQUkVkUIu7yKo_UdQCop3Pwt5gT0DV_8yXCf2R_FAsla9hNk2WURzj_ySrxEXGsElx1ebPZavsFEm4bn4-PRx5LErMbG3I7JzdsIRYF4Amlw9o3mZCX0YjOeI/s1600/P1130102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFZ4e7HCrSEyKci-aXZyQQUkVkUIu7yKo_UdQCop3Pwt5gT0DV_8yXCf2R_FAsla9hNk2WURzj_ySrxEXGsElx1ebPZavsFEm4bn4-PRx5LErMbG3I7JzdsIRYF4Amlw9o3mZCX0YjOeI/s640/P1130102.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isla Saona, off the southeast corner of the DR. A beautiful national park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">Geography can be hard. The largest land masses, the seven continents of North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and Antarctica……I had all of those solidly nailed down by the 6th grade thanks to our American public education system. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Qz_rQW4t2iQuXG4hVCLKy7T-_ufTGh5Sia7zH2YgOzeOpck1bQ7Vd_vWlOPQQjl7FKR5oqwPESjaPOJ0qPvnXOz5tm0zSotRsna9YOksFnCP7bJyn6Nla10M38J4D7n2hcqnd-svNoOq/s1600/simple-color-world-map-continents.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1600" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Qz_rQW4t2iQuXG4hVCLKy7T-_ufTGh5Sia7zH2YgOzeOpck1bQ7Vd_vWlOPQQjl7FKR5oqwPESjaPOJ0qPvnXOz5tm0zSotRsna9YOksFnCP7bJyn6Nla10M38J4D7n2hcqnd-svNoOq/s320/simple-color-world-map-continents.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">I gave in to the teaching that Europe and Asia are considered two continents when in fact, they look pretty darn much like one huge land mass to me. Hmph. Go figure. And who got to decide that Australia was a continent but Greenland was too small to make the cut? Was there a vote? If so, Greenland and some other island nations needed better representation, but I digress.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfMOK3Lou8dpfOd8lKaTmZLYjUEdumpyxMqnNlqEQ8cl1n9yQgQerPmHAz1syHfUpuLCfohur854ZQ_q0OPeXGJ2KGHdIeuydTYpY0OH9jH4D3Cpig1fG624xmd36U-QYZkF58v9BOiVq/s1600/P1130184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfMOK3Lou8dpfOd8lKaTmZLYjUEdumpyxMqnNlqEQ8cl1n9yQgQerPmHAz1syHfUpuLCfohur854ZQ_q0OPeXGJ2KGHdIeuydTYpY0OH9jH4D3Cpig1fG624xmd36U-QYZkF58v9BOiVq/s400/P1130184.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puerto Bahía Marina, Samaná Peninsula, DR</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Frankly, until only a few years ago, I was quite content to live my life without giving the smaller chunks of land sticking up out of the oceans any thought whatsoever. All of those thousands of smaller lands, the islands— their very existence occupied an embarrassingly small amount of gray matter in my head. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kg9me_RFb1VGBKo4dYbqXa86dKqUSQBhOqpnZW2mIJDVoGKxnRASkJ4GE6rZiWHUWzptOMFZS1BxWqtpC8AIZoh-KldzU-MdGA_Wm9STvPr7LUHQ-XDX3Q9lL1GQLouA5TICdYXGcTss/s1600/P1130194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kg9me_RFb1VGBKo4dYbqXa86dKqUSQBhOqpnZW2mIJDVoGKxnRASkJ4GE6rZiWHUWzptOMFZS1BxWqtpC8AIZoh-KldzU-MdGA_Wm9STvPr7LUHQ-XDX3Q9lL1GQLouA5TICdYXGcTss/s400/P1130194.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Far from our usual marina experience, this is the most<br />
elegant marina we have ever seen. Inexpensive, too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I confess this now only to put the readership at ease.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If for example, you have ever been one to surreptitiously dig out an atlas (or to Google) to see where we were while in Trinidad, Grenada, Bonaire, Curacao and now the Dominican Republic, as far as I am concerned, that<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is no cause for shame.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMpEPFFK0J7fTDbncWMe8lOup4dLGiASy6CPVYDamdtp4jcuvIzAlzwqWsuXUJVYSkQNWC_1YU-EPvP3ftIkIxHL72PR4B4LlGaU8wP_FsqarRXqDTwKMnzcKFu00mA1RW2kqPdub7e6L/s1600/P1130178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1600" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMpEPFFK0J7fTDbncWMe8lOup4dLGiASy6CPVYDamdtp4jcuvIzAlzwqWsuXUJVYSkQNWC_1YU-EPvP3ftIkIxHL72PR4B4LlGaU8wP_FsqarRXqDTwKMnzcKFu00mA1RW2kqPdub7e6L/s640/P1130178.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The town of Samaná, on the northeast side of the DR. Home of the Bridge to Nowhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Up until a month ago, we had no intention of being in the Dominican Republic right now. Why? Because it’s way north of Bonaire. And when we were in Bonaire, we were really pretty close to South America. Our plans (written in sand, as my husband is wont to say) were to sail to Colombia after the winds settled a bit, later on in April/May.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzYmhFdyjkRAfC18OMsoWIj1uxxMor5ztczty-JzEE_hf6oUdfBCffHSWOIKiASHv0Ca6Q-Z9snfNyy_BHPypL__8LY8u80hkk1IPyM5CQ5aK-5qr_bP2w6rGKcE0PUmQeKyI6ygMYm8F/s1600/P1130222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1600" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzYmhFdyjkRAfC18OMsoWIj1uxxMor5ztczty-JzEE_hf6oUdfBCffHSWOIKiASHv0Ca6Q-Z9snfNyy_BHPypL__8LY8u80hkk1IPyM5CQ5aK-5qr_bP2w6rGKcE0PUmQeKyI6ygMYm8F/s320/P1130222.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding a 4 passenger motorized bike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">From Colombia, we were to go on to the San Blas Islands (off the eastern Panamanian coast), then to Panama proper and perhaps further north in Central America for the hurricane season where we would have left the boat for a visit back to the U.S.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lauwaRl83ewzdQz-9DDtlA2bMiy6G16mnuY707wLLfg9iPm2A7xuPEl8ne0iURpnTbyJg2NpgfZoGMyRzNGiAiPn6ee302Q0Z2MuxrRP38s0-n7AltFyMmdH-W6LA2oophoaOXAP0EkV/s1600/P1130262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="929" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lauwaRl83ewzdQz-9DDtlA2bMiy6G16mnuY707wLLfg9iPm2A7xuPEl8ne0iURpnTbyJg2NpgfZoGMyRzNGiAiPn6ee302Q0Z2MuxrRP38s0-n7AltFyMmdH-W6LA2oophoaOXAP0EkV/s320/P1130262.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our driver, a real ham. Made ambulance<br />
siren sounds much of the way to the<br />
Bridge to Nowhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know whether anybody else has had this thought, but one of our FB friends commented the other day, “Hey, you’re going the wrong way!” Now that guy knows his geography. Indeed, we have moved away from South America and toward the U.S.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUnpb-98pYmurUVxDbZQgIw4vZFob_6EzVxgk1ekuS-a806ACuiCJnkPLmAYj1zxfKxoOoifMsGQUs_-JePi_44TNZz0UJIGbM_-6xYKiMZNvwrzOVf4vB1M-822EHrFGEJpD1NQtsKbI/s1600/P1130246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUnpb-98pYmurUVxDbZQgIw4vZFob_6EzVxgk1ekuS-a806ACuiCJnkPLmAYj1zxfKxoOoifMsGQUs_-JePi_44TNZz0UJIGbM_-6xYKiMZNvwrzOVf4vB1M-822EHrFGEJpD1NQtsKbI/s320/P1130246.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge to Nowhere--a resort project that<br />
was abandoned.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">For a variety of reasons, we decided that we were not inclined to sail on to Colombia and Central America at this time. Many of our sailing friends have already sailed there and onward. We love seeing FB reports of where they are and what they are doing. We would certainly have enjoyed sailing with them there, but that didn’t happen at the right time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>About a month ago, we looked around and realized that nobody had a gun to our heads saying “You MUST sail on to Colombia from Bonaire” and so we just decided not to.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_VsNhVJILSGx39TxjzjQAUXQyDO3bjTuB6MfSJazxmUGfenceCAYHLCQso3U8a1-XHdkjWrhbvsTQ6L_v89YaxhD5vRnon4zDR8KjDwc5QiQDe5Hd3pNMQJGKmbdPfiweUQyHc7laF1s/s1600/P1130254+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1600" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_VsNhVJILSGx39TxjzjQAUXQyDO3bjTuB6MfSJazxmUGfenceCAYHLCQso3U8a1-XHdkjWrhbvsTQ6L_v89YaxhD5vRnon4zDR8KjDwc5QiQDe5Hd3pNMQJGKmbdPfiweUQyHc7laF1s/s400/P1130254+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the far end of the Bridge to Nowhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Call us whimsical; call us changeable, tumbleweeds blowin’ in the wind, or simply sailboat vagabonds, but we are heading back to the East Coast of the U.S. for the hurricane season. As you may recall from previous posts, our marine insurance policy requires that we remove our boat from the hurricane zone between June 1 and November 1. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXFo8HSqaGMmgLoZjltoVuwljmbWp2d9TlfU6qGl1pcHw5GTIYFjtGX02xapcI72ModkKM0YKdEBzpCPh7ML6oOow6UEJHiuRzoNwT8HxddfG5XD2Yv8hQVOC4W9RlvBBvnnMvllYBXoL/s1600/P1130232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXFo8HSqaGMmgLoZjltoVuwljmbWp2d9TlfU6qGl1pcHw5GTIYFjtGX02xapcI72ModkKM0YKdEBzpCPh7ML6oOow6UEJHiuRzoNwT8HxddfG5XD2Yv8hQVOC4W9RlvBBvnnMvllYBXoL/s400/P1130232.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paintings sold at the base of bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">If <i>Northern Star</i> were to remain in the heart of the hurricane zone and was then damaged in a hurricane, she would not be insured. So, our options from Bonaire were: 1) go on to the coast of Central America, 2) return to Trinidad {below 10 degrees latitude N} or 3) move the boat above the Florida/Georgia border. We chose #3. (You and I know that hurricanes hit the U.S. coast north of the Florida/Georgia border as well, but the boat insurers came up with this arbitrary line on the map, so….there you have it. Somebody voted on the geography again).</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x1R1VPB35-7QkOfGUw2QCgWkXTHihy2BZX49orXRFjtR4worKDJds42I776Fxy4TEbugOVyqvUxhqxsdXNq0mDVwzU47DA0WjxAyFF_czygZqCJGFcd3EoKLHPjVjCyNKLaV9-zJfVr4/s1600/P1130275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1167" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x1R1VPB35-7QkOfGUw2QCgWkXTHihy2BZX49orXRFjtR4worKDJds42I776Fxy4TEbugOVyqvUxhqxsdXNq0mDVwzU47DA0WjxAyFF_czygZqCJGFcd3EoKLHPjVjCyNKLaV9-zJfVr4/s320/P1130275.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first piña colada served<br />
in a pineapple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We still have ~2000 kilometers, or 1079 nautical miles, or 1242 statute miles to get from our current location in Samaná, DR to the Florida/Georgia border. We will bypass about 700 islands (no exaggeration) before then. We will go through the Turks and Caicos, the Exumas and the Ragged Islands and finally the Abacos. We’ll stop at a few of them to explore, rest and to snorkel. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnhMIOkuhcxWbP7sRxiRZmrTclcnNIhga5y9i-J-ZMzoVPuCI5M5yywLog-yyXyiuxutBhUNLxcqKcZerUAoWKY5U4NHKwhQHCYVcwEQMsLRTMrt2E3XFItyrTmhZ-zKsRPnQzbmkgjxB/s1600/thebahamasrap.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="550" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnhMIOkuhcxWbP7sRxiRZmrTclcnNIhga5y9i-J-ZMzoVPuCI5M5yywLog-yyXyiuxutBhUNLxcqKcZerUAoWKY5U4NHKwhQHCYVcwEQMsLRTMrt2E3XFItyrTmhZ-zKsRPnQzbmkgjxB/s640/thebahamasrap.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dominican Republic lies east of Cuba and is not pictured above.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">All of the above islands are part of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas which is scattered over an area of 100,000 square miles of ocean. Most of these islands are so small that you may have difficulty finding them on a map. And this might be a brain bender for some—the Bahamas are not part of the Caribbean. What? Yes, it's true. The Bahamas are not on the Caribbean Sea. They are in the Atlantic Ocean. See, it’s that geography stuff again. Geography can be hard.</span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-91750369075537094952019-04-08T19:08:00.001-05:002019-04-08T19:11:56.548-05:00Boat Monkeys<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf9y_rMEK_Xwi12NYEEfULdF_3Lz_4kiOJW_nUQKJ2_GHuj3dQTMHum5XOY6GLHHQttkUBHxu9wMown-Xnnok3TNbQtrVD6nE_x2p_EfeVIMuRHeI4CWgsHd2wzEWOfkB4k-3irxBlF6L/s1600/P1120700+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf9y_rMEK_Xwi12NYEEfULdF_3Lz_4kiOJW_nUQKJ2_GHuj3dQTMHum5XOY6GLHHQttkUBHxu9wMown-Xnnok3TNbQtrVD6nE_x2p_EfeVIMuRHeI4CWgsHd2wzEWOfkB4k-3irxBlF6L/s400/P1120700+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday at the beach, Boca Chica</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Today I wished I were young again and that my children were still little. I didn’t wish it all day long, mind you, just for a little while.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Usually, I’m fairly content with my age in life. Not that I wouldn’t like to have the energy to play volleyball again. My physical body, I’m afraid, does not share my brain’s enthusiasm for the sport.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But that is not what makes me wish I were thirty years younger. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-IArcL1jJfzn7lxiZM9qW5EQyDRbGLCzAqLECVwFezsiOECIg2Dzzp0tjEEquVOygAZAJRdLrF5X5pzY-ZUauMpnpJEGme93_ZtnYkij7cyeFAS_5lxIuA9QKgoxEsDWJJIoIHY6c9sC/s1600/P1120937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-IArcL1jJfzn7lxiZM9qW5EQyDRbGLCzAqLECVwFezsiOECIg2Dzzp0tjEEquVOygAZAJRdLrF5X5pzY-ZUauMpnpJEGme93_ZtnYkij7cyeFAS_5lxIuA9QKgoxEsDWJJIoIHY6c9sC/s400/P1120937.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our neighbors at ZarPar Marina, Boca Chica</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">What did make me wish for the younger days was the four families that sailed into the marina here in Boca Chico, D.R. a couple days ago. Four couples and their children. On one boat a diminutive girl of 12 years with not even a smidgin of that cynicism that one often sees with girls as they move into adolescence.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Friendly, and not afraid to look us in the eye. The kind of child that relishes in catching an adult offguard, which she did. It was exquisite.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She sweetly asked my husband to spell “cup” after saying “I”. And then she giggled uproariously. I miss those kind of jokes.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBknZ2s23zFYijUL-07YA2JPovQe2K9-8AT8AywEN0Mx7CJ_TtHMTwhAyk0nrcqRDe_YdBekJ-V4e5Bhz1ag_Kkj-O5_zQhzc_o_da_JTGcEBJ_lzNNObP1mPBQanZvzJVt2PatpHHqeDk/s1600/P1130080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="1600" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBknZ2s23zFYijUL-07YA2JPovQe2K9-8AT8AywEN0Mx7CJ_TtHMTwhAyk0nrcqRDe_YdBekJ-V4e5Bhz1ag_Kkj-O5_zQhzc_o_da_JTGcEBJ_lzNNObP1mPBQanZvzJVt2PatpHHqeDk/s320/P1130080.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children playing on boats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">On the second boat, 6 and 10 year-old boys with buzz cuts, shepherded along by their tattooed, freckled and curly-haired parents and an elderly dog. On the third boat, a bouncy 11 year old brunette accompanied her parents, and on the fourth boat? A German family with four children. Two boys, 5 and 8 years old with shoulder-length blonde hair and their 2 year-old twin sisters. Their parents took advantage of a government-sponsored two year maternity leave after the birth of their twins. The maternity leave has ended but they can’t quite get themselves to return to their old life just yet. They are enjoying this one too much.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp03JIIAX3bOdIBNQNcrSedDd53kkmYoLRvnhyoc6_og3f_U-DUPkpC-Di_ZrPF74GEoi6ypQwR4Ta1jmeGnShVtnpXo8w81j0JqzIrn-qNPgpanFOnIHYRpZo1YSg6ZYHzoEIOUuwTaJS/s1600/P1120962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1600" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp03JIIAX3bOdIBNQNcrSedDd53kkmYoLRvnhyoc6_og3f_U-DUPkpC-Di_ZrPF74GEoi6ypQwR4Ta1jmeGnShVtnpXo8w81j0JqzIrn-qNPgpanFOnIHYRpZo1YSg6ZYHzoEIOUuwTaJS/s640/P1120962.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little guy wants nothing to do with the water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">This vibrant whirlwind of children and their lithe parents took me back to a time in my life when I tried to see the world through my children’s eyes. The sun was a little brighter then and laughter came easily. I remember feeling good about being a parent of elementary school-age children. There was less of the anxiety that I would discover later, when my confidence as a parent of adolescents waned a bit.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVngbfRuvYIsJarifXRgWk_TEDftCXjkgai55guqMomShMoEjh0qhfJEsD5NTr9laH3dwe5Yv3iG5lr4qHk_vyUUw_qM3wfBRfZonZANKIyYsc5lCLObGL6Ewg_x9mHimp92ekEah4GdVy/s1600/P1120719+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1483" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVngbfRuvYIsJarifXRgWk_TEDftCXjkgai55guqMomShMoEjh0qhfJEsD5NTr9laH3dwe5Yv3iG5lr4qHk_vyUUw_qM3wfBRfZonZANKIyYsc5lCLObGL6Ewg_x9mHimp92ekEah4GdVy/s400/P1120719+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sand-covered girl is laughing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Today, two of the families herded themselves up and ambled off together to have a day of sightseeing. I had set up my sewing machine outside under the gazebo and watched the group walk by, calling out </span>their goodbyes to me and a “Have a fun day” from the 12 year old girl who seems fascinated by my sewing.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-f0IC3_1Fl9DTaeE2t_Hbh-XgvPG5PxyVZqrePw7pkZATDzvD6t79265UWNmdzM3BSP6LseL3_yvfczHS0Wf9yp4AKnsFaWsw6sFKn8oxHtZbS2x-pA8vahNrmzyirIuY7kMqT_V3mB2Q/s1600/P1120928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1402" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-f0IC3_1Fl9DTaeE2t_Hbh-XgvPG5PxyVZqrePw7pkZATDzvD6t79265UWNmdzM3BSP6LseL3_yvfczHS0Wf9yp4AKnsFaWsw6sFKn8oxHtZbS2x-pA8vahNrmzyirIuY7kMqT_V3mB2Q/s320/P1120928.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sewing machine set up under a gazebo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Suddenly, it was almost like I was 35 again and I wanted to take my own children out for an adventure of some kind. I wanted to feel that vigor and enthusiasm again, the way that I felt with having a surprise planned for them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Maybe something they’d never seen or done before, like going to a circus, holding a gecko, or just stopping for ice cream on a drive along the Mississippi without them having to ask. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Vo_Cvx8SzWOy1kladYOOhhkgw1Za3l9_AEx7T27A652AP4M3ch3bsDQIlV_3dzhgEa-sry9p3cC_cxwHejTg-sOL0OQyaRZ7vVT77doscLw8a8M4fa4V8BXAXlRIWgjcExIXjKyzjDeL/s1600/P1120708+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1600" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Vo_Cvx8SzWOy1kladYOOhhkgw1Za3l9_AEx7T27A652AP4M3ch3bsDQIlV_3dzhgEa-sry9p3cC_cxwHejTg-sOL0OQyaRZ7vVT77doscLw8a8M4fa4V8BXAXlRIWgjcExIXjKyzjDeL/s400/P1120708+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning how to make and fly a kite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Today strong memories surged in me, of playing with them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And of teaching them about things that interested them. Sometimes riding in the car it was, “tell me about the time before there were white men here.” <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or, “tell me about when you were little on the farm.” Their curious minds soaked up my stories. I remember that I enjoyed that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But in retrospect, that time in my life was absolutely glorious! If only I’d known then.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ArvcDC3g1Lv8O5xUeA0PUFTHcPV8DOvWTbz9gu6Ohye6LsT22fFP_F9099LezOGmyoLuwYnD8HroONWrd_Hcq3HAyT7Qp8GqfdofPabHyLNEx2CJivNZAfh9_zLzju_E149avLVF9VVo/s1600/P1120712+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ArvcDC3g1Lv8O5xUeA0PUFTHcPV8DOvWTbz9gu6Ohye6LsT22fFP_F9099LezOGmyoLuwYnD8HroONWrd_Hcq3HAyT7Qp8GqfdofPabHyLNEx2CJivNZAfh9_zLzju_E149avLVF9VVo/s400/P1120712+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These teens humored me with a photo of them<br />wearing their wigs of sargasso weed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And suddenly here it is, twenty-five years later and those memories are resurrected by watching this passel of children running on the docks, finding new friends, climbing in the rigging of their boats and just being children. My husband likes to refer to the children in the rigging as “boat monkeys.” During the mid-day, the children’s presence is less apparent. They are being home-schooled by their parents on their boats.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnhuN741kt-jHn2q_JkxsDHpesBcKS2olUUsUFAcnwkm9EfIYnT6weN4RHXioGd_DAnofa6ZqIUKdstu22NHD_Z2Nvgjgl7Kpfd5LtK5DoOak7v9FDEZWGxvKFWffMzfCAYF9KNNXFUke/s1600/P1130082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1289" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnhuN741kt-jHn2q_JkxsDHpesBcKS2olUUsUFAcnwkm9EfIYnT6weN4RHXioGd_DAnofa6ZqIUKdstu22NHD_Z2Nvgjgl7Kpfd5LtK5DoOak7v9FDEZWGxvKFWffMzfCAYF9KNNXFUke/s320/P1130082.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swinging in the rigging</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We’ve noticed some things about the children being raised on cruising sailboats. We’ve remarked on how polite the children are; how comfortable they seem while interacting with adults, not bashful or embarrassed to be noticed. We’ve remarked to each other about how sophisticated the adolescents language is. It’s refreshing to hear a child speak in complete sentences without relying upon faddish phrases such as, “it was like, you know, like…. suh-weet!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfT_yte2wk9B2aFB5r2p3yIcdpnsIGxiviX4o4-4EWd-eZp6-ZWQ8uT5SfVP48op9HS88yHPdVes9FvmTRz7L0q7isF_NCxELb9d6xBi8IxhOHwCX4bZ0yXeUeftD8QkZcaVihn01UiCx/s1600/P1130083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1420" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfT_yte2wk9B2aFB5r2p3yIcdpnsIGxiviX4o4-4EWd-eZp6-ZWQ8uT5SfVP48op9HS88yHPdVes9FvmTRz7L0q7isF_NCxELb9d6xBi8IxhOHwCX4bZ0yXeUeftD8QkZcaVihn01UiCx/s320/P1130083.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This giuy is really good at this</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I had never considered home schooling my children, but I cannot help but admire these parents who do so. What wonderful adventures the children are having in addition to the academic work. I think, or rather, I know that my own children would have soaked up life onboard a sailboat. Experiencing different cultures, climates, foods, adventures. I would have loved sharing all of this with them at that age.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNlyhLx5tg0moWxLD1Sz194XV_agW8hd3FoOnKnGsVJ1PRXe9WcrPyYNy4qdwSbxdoc512JqnFbDB2xsxLMygIjsG0NMwYvzJ_y-8gx-Qo8gGlo0k5Xeavw0eZXATzLP8b_7skXjNtH77/s1600/P1130007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1162" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNlyhLx5tg0moWxLD1Sz194XV_agW8hd3FoOnKnGsVJ1PRXe9WcrPyYNy4qdwSbxdoc512JqnFbDB2xsxLMygIjsG0NMwYvzJ_y-8gx-Qo8gGlo0k5Xeavw0eZXATzLP8b_7skXjNtH77/s640/P1130007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every Sunday is like a big festival at the beach, Boca Chico, Dominican Republic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This cruising life wasn’t an option for us when my children were small. We were in a different boat. And I know that sometimes, maybe even quite often, in the hustle of daily life back then, I didn’t appreciate the “boat” that we were in together. Nevertheless, they grew up well-adjusted and thrived. Well, for a little while today, I revisited those days of curiosity and exploration. And I enjoyed watching these children that live on sailboats. The wish that I were young again faded away. And I returned to the present day gray-haired woman that I am, sewing under the gazebo.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEVSfdm8U1_-HkLqW_RkJl3pJC9XQavHdqzBpFuFEe2MvbA4PSVjEy9AwNPTyv9oNEmRmVQ_LcsTqWbrg-iSp5lU59bzjT4aJ-9kNW8TorewReHFwvH6LNNyxtJjCMJjR03BlSb8swxv6/s1600/P1130024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEVSfdm8U1_-HkLqW_RkJl3pJC9XQavHdqzBpFuFEe2MvbA4PSVjEy9AwNPTyv9oNEmRmVQ_LcsTqWbrg-iSp5lU59bzjT4aJ-9kNW8TorewReHFwvH6LNNyxtJjCMJjR03BlSb8swxv6/s640/P1130024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facing southeast. Puerto Rico is about 100+ miles to the east.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-63287793870557862992019-03-30T19:31:00.000-05:002019-03-30T19:36:24.173-05:00Plip Plop Pluup<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 12.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This post was actually written before leaving Trinidad in February (five countries ago) but it was unable to be completed before that voyage. Therefore, be advised, we are currently in the Dominican Republic, not in Grenada as the post suggests.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">You might envision a sailboat at rest to be very quiet and peaceful. The wind gently moves the boat from side to side. Maybe there’s the sound of an errant halyard that wasn't lashed down with a bungee. Easily remedied. Once again, calm returns. But sometimes one hears this soft little sound.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">“Plop.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Such an innocent little sound, almost playful. But “plop” is never a welcome sound on a boat.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFUuIsN6qJ0atLBILtrAPBMYme46ktquXS8S4yKh7r5bxml77GC28XZlEsM9c7FjSTkK0BFLeqeEcL0v-tuSpggeN1ONMUHz9b9v63-QXkdlZlSUhRt8-MCwYoT4gI8VBnYqKN4jylDfy/s1600/51769732_2147430398650040_6109255971110912_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFUuIsN6qJ0atLBILtrAPBMYme46ktquXS8S4yKh7r5bxml77GC28XZlEsM9c7FjSTkK0BFLeqeEcL0v-tuSpggeN1ONMUHz9b9v63-QXkdlZlSUhRt8-MCwYoT4gI8VBnYqKN4jylDfy/s400/51769732_2147430398650040_6109255971110912_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Did you hear a 'plip' sound?" "Shhh, I'm trying<br />
to listen, and stop breathing in my ear."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">A few days ago, while we were installing battens in the mains’l I heard that sound. It was more of a “pluup” really. The sound of something heavy heading for the bottom of the sea. It was Carl’s short screwdriver, my personal go-to favorite. Sigh. Well, these things happen.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBo2r5wz3D7A2n-OK7Z0QKhKXio0sgABOWjOCCsYvgM92zXZnqYEhcsJHjHL6HBLnN_yZ-Pi8NJS1penzbS8bj1BwvVvnqyhkkoAMZYY0hxy388uZ4T-E-torAUOHEzLFwPUSX_be-rWX/s1600/51741870_2147430445316702_2234316191529172992_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBo2r5wz3D7A2n-OK7Z0QKhKXio0sgABOWjOCCsYvgM92zXZnqYEhcsJHjHL6HBLnN_yZ-Pi8NJS1penzbS8bj1BwvVvnqyhkkoAMZYY0hxy388uZ4T-E-torAUOHEzLFwPUSX_be-rWX/s320/51741870_2147430445316702_2234316191529172992_o.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Humans have a propensity to<br />
drop things into the water." </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The next day we got out on deck early, hoping to get some work done before the sun’s heat would become oppressive. “Oppressive” tends to settle in by 9:00 AM in Trinidad, give or take an hour. As usual, the job took longer than planned so that by the time we had finished, we were both drenched in our own perspiration.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Afterward, Carl stood talking to a boat neighbor at the lifeline when I heard that sound again. A very faint </span><span style="font-size: medium;">“plip.” </span><span style="font-size: large;">His left hearing aide simply slid off his wet head and gravity did the rest. There is now one lucky crab in the harbor wearing Carl’s state-of-the-art hearing aide. It was brand new three months ago.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In another two years and nine months it’ll be replaced by insurance. I guess we’re back to shouting to each other once again.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxY-2GU9lYr8izbrp7ii95JkSnSrqFAOzNkQNNdT3zbpU7HEBysQqw61Yj_-6eAvATZYxR7w0ArwxTCHSiqgQjr3r0cVABdfdIs5uS7j-ZPRevf5KH9Ndf9nO0DJVil-LlIKqTEiaEqyD/s1600/P3240239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="817" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxY-2GU9lYr8izbrp7ii95JkSnSrqFAOzNkQNNdT3zbpU7HEBysQqw61Yj_-6eAvATZYxR7w0ArwxTCHSiqgQjr3r0cVABdfdIs5uS7j-ZPRevf5KH9Ndf9nO0DJVil-LlIKqTEiaEqyD/s320/P3240239.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Did you know that there is<br />a lot of trash in the ocean?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">You see, the philosophy to acquire with sailboat living, is this. When you need one screw or bolt or whatever, always buy a few extra so that you have some to offer up to the sea. That philosophy is what I am sure, explains the huge amount of nuts, bolts, washers, screws, cotter pins, burrs, clips, shackles, and other such paraphernalia that was onboard when we bought <i>Northern Star</i>. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1U4uF_a3BaQ1hMZfbBq5Ygssi2KsbybqUrE7PkvNWnic61zWzKmBGswEpmnxEuuJ5sjB3YEzYKr51i8tjrZ3uTc9V0FHw49mjmOJKOwjtA858qFnrmLQ1TIOfCP4lFF2oiJrO6QrE9D0V/s1600/P3240151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1408" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1U4uF_a3BaQ1hMZfbBq5Ygssi2KsbybqUrE7PkvNWnic61zWzKmBGswEpmnxEuuJ5sjB3YEzYKr51i8tjrZ3uTc9V0FHw49mjmOJKOwjtA858qFnrmLQ1TIOfCP4lFF2oiJrO6QrE9D0V/s400/P3240151.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"And big stuff, like this huge pipe, for example. <br />Why is that here?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, as previous boat owners, we had brought our own supply of nuts, bolts, et al with us when we moved onto the boat. I have organized them as best I can and then yesterday I came across another 20# box of nuts, bolts, et al. Some of them are undoubtedly destined for life underwater. If I knew which ones they were, I’d toss them overboard now in order to decrease the extra weight we’re carrying in advance, but alas....</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE08_LkBj7-iHjS03CGOzXyVdFuTtUtKdNs2Dg7a80VMVVtHVumTp5ZL3J1hu82YYvknIHJyBPEZpTKc2Rs0q3Duodesh3hBr0jCzHJWtkvT-F9rhM16Vbm5vSkToti9ZjigjCUN1nqM8H/s1600/51548071_2147430468650033_6544793387529142272_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="739" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE08_LkBj7-iHjS03CGOzXyVdFuTtUtKdNs2Dg7a80VMVVtHVumTp5ZL3J1hu82YYvknIHJyBPEZpTKc2Rs0q3Duodesh3hBr0jCzHJWtkvT-F9rhM16Vbm5vSkToti9ZjigjCUN1nqM8H/s400/51548071_2147430468650033_6544793387529142272_o.jpg" width="183" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"If I only knew which<br />
things could be<br />
pitched overboard now."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We have lost all sorts of things to the water. The most memorable was my new iPhone 6 a few years ago. I was carrying it in a pouch around my waist and when I threw my leg over the lifeline to get off the boat, the pouch handily flipped upside down and I saw my phone doing a graceful backflip on its’ way to the bottom. I can still see it, as if in slow motion. That was a particularly sad day for me. We have lost many screws and bolt type things before and after that. Once, a boat cushion floated away in the night, sight unseen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s probably living happily with the boater that found it—and is just waiting for the day it will make another escape onto the water.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyupHjnTqJJYooS8pIIZU3dhEBoVIR8Abz8QgtDkoPzINcSoL1lKZtcZOIwbVo66OAU-BSxHR31wH7IoCe2ErqXWuwFarB1o15to5WFWCbG3aPcDYlZNGs45vTBAGda5k9PwqH88n89Qb/s1600/51576930_2147430501983363_5592776769263370240_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyupHjnTqJJYooS8pIIZU3dhEBoVIR8Abz8QgtDkoPzINcSoL1lKZtcZOIwbVo66OAU-BSxHR31wH7IoCe2ErqXWuwFarB1o15to5WFWCbG3aPcDYlZNGs45vTBAGda5k9PwqH88n89Qb/s400/51576930_2147430501983363_5592776769263370240_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What is a hearing aide, anyway?" "WHAT?<br />
What did you say?" "I said....oh, never mind."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWxOsTrI9ioK8SutcVNJoLboXs7LCyeE_-6m-5lrI2G1DwUQJrjDdMmXnHrT_Cf5l3-r8N3QWjbzw7HsiKs5DbeBjQjg5rN6nZtV3LrssaRBKFF2vaJFi1Fd4hVinS2XR8H9Sph5j5hPd/s1600/51936864_2147430385316708_2586147749070110720_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWxOsTrI9ioK8SutcVNJoLboXs7LCyeE_-6m-5lrI2G1DwUQJrjDdMmXnHrT_Cf5l3-r8N3QWjbzw7HsiKs5DbeBjQjg5rN6nZtV3LrssaRBKFF2vaJFi1Fd4hVinS2XR8H9Sph5j5hPd/s400/51936864_2147430385316708_2586147749070110720_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Why is that human lying on the ground?" "<br />
"She's taking pictures of us. Oh, fer cute."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Last Thursday we were ecstatic to receive the package from the U.S. containing the *auto-pilot controller as ordered.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The workman at Power Boats returned promptly and got the auto-pilot working properly again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This was cause for celebration because it meant that we were ready at last, to sail away from Trinidad. Finally! </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br /><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So, late in the afternoon, we backed out of the slip which had been our home for nearly three additional unplanned weeks in Trinidad.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We motored out to the mooring field and picked up a mooring for the evening. We would clear out of Customs early in the morning and be on our way to Grenada. Yea! At last!</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bRBP2YOc0ASCo09EZHES9mbFzGDdxY7i2V1cOQCmdWTGzxposaX-y8kU3Rv5BMEss1QMpUNx25TUMILz5Yotz99normbrzbicSeWUc86h-AcD15KvDOy2ZDaoB6m4uKEtl0jrCoj7yT5/s1600/P3240178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1243" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bRBP2YOc0ASCo09EZHES9mbFzGDdxY7i2V1cOQCmdWTGzxposaX-y8kU3Rv5BMEss1QMpUNx25TUMILz5Yotz99normbrzbicSeWUc86h-AcD15KvDOy2ZDaoB6m4uKEtl0jrCoj7yT5/s400/P3240178.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"And what is that crap over there?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Using the pulley system, Carl lowered the bale which is the large U-shaped structure attached to the stern. The two legs of the bale articulate so that it can reach down to pick the dinghy up out of the water. The bale carries the dinghy up high when we’re under sail on big water. It is essential for ocean passages.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>After the dinghy was in the water, he attempted to raise the bale once again. Instead we heard a “Ka-JUK” and loud “Scra-a-a-pe” at the stern. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU41KDzlC473JsWpAh7huByreekKwDfm3Rzf30zHxlRDVWDN22WBWUOFdUzHOlC1SrUNYyZUWtH3mHp-NjB67CIw4myTZVV6gFnEAZWkNfQtzaldq25ehEgglSO5K8rq1zUwECTB66smDX/s1600/P3230525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1277" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU41KDzlC473JsWpAh7huByreekKwDfm3Rzf30zHxlRDVWDN22WBWUOFdUzHOlC1SrUNYyZUWtH3mHp-NjB67CIw4myTZVV6gFnEAZWkNfQtzaldq25ehEgglSO5K8rq1zUwECTB66smDX/s320/P3230525.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I, for one, am getting tired of finding<br />human's junk in the ocean."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The bale would not come up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He yanked it harder which only produced more interesting sounds, “Skwakz--SkEEEk-k.” That was the sound of the broken bale leg jamming itself even more decidedly into the gelcoat of the boat.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Deep gouges were raked across the surface of the port side. I was, shall we say, displeased to say the least.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Would we never be able to leave Trinidad? We have 450 nautical miles ahead of us to Curacao by Feb. 24 in order to catch our flight to Bogotá.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And now we have this large cumbersome stainless steel piece of hardware threatening to fall into the water. How to get it safely off the boat and to a stainless steel fabricator? The bale is longer and wider than our dinghy. It seems to be quite heavy, or is it just that the broken end has dug itself so tightly into the side of the boat that it’s immovable? Who knows?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoFCkxkW6TCb0xvAn3sPrGc40JSoGQN2RUB_gGnLMhOUb_NZRV4SNGNV3GMCDLSwFjzNPCdDMHH47gHNxBCjmjo2Jv4oTg-Y-mdGtyeEJcu5tObiNwCKZCpx9daGTlX4zQd8XPeNvD_we/s1600/IMG_2849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="1280" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoFCkxkW6TCb0xvAn3sPrGc40JSoGQN2RUB_gGnLMhOUb_NZRV4SNGNV3GMCDLSwFjzNPCdDMHH47gHNxBCjmjo2Jv4oTg-Y-mdGtyeEJcu5tObiNwCKZCpx9daGTlX4zQd8XPeNvD_we/s320/IMG_2849.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bale is that long stainless tubing that<br />
picks the dinghy up from the water. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We slept on it. Next morning, Carl says, “I think we can do this, Ardys.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">“If you’re wrong, we lose it to the water,” was my helpful comment. And you’re the one who recently lost a screwdriver and then a hearing aide to the deep. One more and you’ve met the “bad news comes in threes” rule of thumb. Of course I didn’t say any of that out loud, following the old adage that “some things are better left unsaid.” But I was thinking it so loudly, he might have heard it vibrating off my brain waves..<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfTs6_b0M1oSJoUmHkdmNFRn2giQZOdbjb1a5_OgN1174GiFQf5q9Q4kbcgSR7CbyF8T_h8fn_MRRyK-0-V_3_fu-VIHtcc3bb7Oc1w9h-svvhklz61Xw7dgAF15nHkJkjvajyMbZtrbV/s1600/P3260485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="772" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfTs6_b0M1oSJoUmHkdmNFRn2giQZOdbjb1a5_OgN1174GiFQf5q9Q4kbcgSR7CbyF8T_h8fn_MRRyK-0-V_3_fu-VIHtcc3bb7Oc1w9h-svvhklz61Xw7dgAF15nHkJkjvajyMbZtrbV/s400/P3260485.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Can we talk? I'm gonna ask real nicely. Please keep trash<br />out of the ocean. Even little stuff can kill guys like me."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Carl magically rounded up a young, well seasoned sailor from South Africa to help us. He<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>brought a cool head as well as a strong body to the project. Both invaluable. He seemed to know just how to go about removing the stainless steel structure, as well as how to prevent it from being swallowed up by the water. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Somehow, Carl and I ended up in the dinghy, holding this unwieldy “U” with one leg extending off the back and one off the front. We schlepped it to shore, found the stainless welding shop and the skilled workman who was able to weld the hardware back onto the one broken leg. We were back on <i>Northern Star</i> with the repaired bale reattached and the pulleys restrung all by 10:30 AM! Sometimes we are amazed at our good fortune. I was so prepared for a huge “Pluupsh”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_porgsjY3FMGM34D9QoaFJXE3KTt8CgbxoHv-doXfmru31ZqsOvUIQsOp3o0PRccBi6I0alGEHxh40QrTOSrAhMBkKrl6Nu_JAgYJ7a3X01-nHLb6h8NMJTqN6yeQtuhJaqVAiPo-09G/s1600/sunset+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="997" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_porgsjY3FMGM34D9QoaFJXE3KTt8CgbxoHv-doXfmru31ZqsOvUIQsOp3o0PRccBi6I0alGEHxh40QrTOSrAhMBkKrl6Nu_JAgYJ7a3X01-nHLb6h8NMJTqN6yeQtuhJaqVAiPo-09G/s320/sunset+2.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So, we made it to Grenada on Saturday in an uneventful 12 hour passage. There will always be the occasional unpleasant sound aboard <i>Northern Star.</i> “Aw….shit!” is one of them. This time it was heard when Carl recognized that he had poured salt into his coffee and breakfast cereal instead of sugar. Well, these things happen too.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">*We would not want to make a long passage without an auto-pilot. When there are ocean swells and a lot of chop, an auto-pilot can steer the boat better and more safely than we can. And it won't fall asleep on the job either. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-17374138137313848722019-03-30T15:43:00.000-05:002019-03-31T17:25:34.393-05:00It Was a Dark Night<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 15.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUHXVGZCJCz0k2lOAGWx09yQ4KSkpkSqWNzlfPRbBC2wkM3YCICYRbnZwkSGphY5nahoqiaZ2wff8zitmOPWlOR0FrhqyVjeclNFkcNEtcyvYElzmz8sF1sdDxQ-UDmdhwb8BFhgAcNFq/s1600/P1120604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1208" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUHXVGZCJCz0k2lOAGWx09yQ4KSkpkSqWNzlfPRbBC2wkM3YCICYRbnZwkSGphY5nahoqiaZ2wff8zitmOPWlOR0FrhqyVjeclNFkcNEtcyvYElzmz8sF1sdDxQ-UDmdhwb8BFhgAcNFq/s320/P1120604.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">It was a dark night on a black sea that knew how to keep its’ secrets. I’d trimmed the mains’l and jib smartly; on the open water there’s no room for dumb. A brightly illuminated chart plotter told me there were no other vessels within 100 miles in any direction. Also told me I was on course for the Dominican Republic. All alone in the dark. A red headlamp on my forehead and and only my pair of bare feet on the cockpit floor.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTGqA2QhC28ODBm8iqj20UH26BGv60M4Hwqd2YnVPM1XyMoyqA0AgkXXPPa808TSvoYO3VHuCm1sJV-eGjHASvTX8kA0a_QXh21FSfW2Na1-Z_OgjmdxHAVh8zPFNJ54M1WS3Z849m_QY/s1600/P1120485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1600" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTGqA2QhC28ODBm8iqj20UH26BGv60M4Hwqd2YnVPM1XyMoyqA0AgkXXPPa808TSvoYO3VHuCm1sJV-eGjHASvTX8kA0a_QXh21FSfW2Na1-Z_OgjmdxHAVh8zPFNJ54M1WS3Z849m_QY/s320/P1120485.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hdg-330 degrees; Boat speed-7.971 kts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The trade winds were blowing through my head and on to the place where they<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>are no longer the trades. Heading toward their own undoing. The thought appealed to my sense of melodrama; aren’t we all moving closer to our own undoing? But my coffee had gone cold long ago and without a fresh cup of joe, I couldn’t tease out anything more from that thought.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7nkwCU9h2a1J7LMeiuGdQc8f_dgON4v3_EBRRdxA7bOs5qY0a6Xvos0JtulNapKGs-Hm0KWgc6G1px2JZmrd6O970IsjlU-mK6eErhfgnnSDX4xF7iWFifd5OApaKCHnUszu9Wut-A9i/s1600/P1120513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="1600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7nkwCU9h2a1J7LMeiuGdQc8f_dgON4v3_EBRRdxA7bOs5qY0a6Xvos0JtulNapKGs-Hm0KWgc6G1px2JZmrd6O970IsjlU-mK6eErhfgnnSDX4xF7iWFifd5OApaKCHnUszu9Wut-A9i/s320/P1120513.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My empty coffee mug at the helm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So began the process to find the thermos of hot coffee in the cabin below. One of the mysteries of the night passage is the shifting of obstacles from wherever they had been placed in the daylight hours. Oh, there were clues of the shifting, certainly. The clanking, clunking, swooshing, ka-knock knocking of metal, glass bottles and floor baskets that didn’t like where I’d chosen to put them. Even I myself, was tethered to the boat to prevent my own displacement from where I belonged. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihc9HSRpdR9DhX5HB6sY6k860u5pyNzmA43eiD-vpeOwJxI2SfrgoGD5gTFBeL2bjgY6dMRgF9cSOmqwssGzlT02ZpOQcxZ3Rsoh1_25J6OvLZzMThl3tmkN5AbNxncBJBbD3Myjxp7-qF/s1600/P1120527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="1600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihc9HSRpdR9DhX5HB6sY6k860u5pyNzmA43eiD-vpeOwJxI2SfrgoGD5gTFBeL2bjgY6dMRgF9cSOmqwssGzlT02ZpOQcxZ3Rsoh1_25J6OvLZzMThl3tmkN5AbNxncBJBbD3Myjxp7-qF/s320/P1120527.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">author's feet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">First order of business—stand up. While bracing myself of course, for the two or six tentative steps that put me into the companionway. Lurching unexpectedly forward, backward, sideways I can finally lean against the leeward wall to descend the steps to the galley. Ceiling handholds are what save me from flopping toward the port or the starboard once below.</span></span></div>
<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: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC013t07Fvn9rMiAbRyQaocZu2QPG7j0NZYBK2UIHam8Dq-BBJlKTSIgMoj3_scKVWxXGarZsf-M2Ztyl2ynK2NK_e0_wQNI0dvlEiiNKUm-FnVZJkGGjuifvrAvtZ-CO3LmEY3SloOAm/s1600/P1120522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC013t07Fvn9rMiAbRyQaocZu2QPG7j0NZYBK2UIHam8Dq-BBJlKTSIgMoj3_scKVWxXGarZsf-M2Ztyl2ynK2NK_e0_wQNI0dvlEiiNKUm-FnVZJkGGjuifvrAvtZ-CO3LmEY3SloOAm/s400/P1120522.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Position of our boat, north of Bonaire<br />
using an iPad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">If memory serves me, which it does not always do, I had quite definitively wedged the huge thermos of hot coffee into a space in one of the stainless steel sinks and then stacked other things snugly around it. By rights, there it would have remained until my return. If “by rights” were to be applied, I would not have become entangled in a line hanging off the coach roof. I would not have missed the central handhold suspended over the galley and been forced to lunge for the other handhold in a moment of panic.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcg4ZVIicbS65hRAPJEA1p8HMH5jdQlR3E5aBYHrM2l4nzdpkt2n4OGacCuFFJ3LIWZxcuRXK5JQt8Frl-CAUFtTe_8QjQU2NqfTm713EsOUEmeclWKolff4g_6tFWH7JViw1NM_tferb/s1600/P1120484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcg4ZVIicbS65hRAPJEA1p8HMH5jdQlR3E5aBYHrM2l4nzdpkt2n4OGacCuFFJ3LIWZxcuRXK5JQt8Frl-CAUFtTe_8QjQU2NqfTm713EsOUEmeclWKolff4g_6tFWH7JViw1NM_tferb/s320/P1120484.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">authors' silhouette in cockpit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">As I said at the outset, there’s no room for dumb on the water. And so I proceeded cautiously, right foot braced against the step, left foot finding the floor as the left hand grasped the handhold and the right hand? The right hand was left to connect with the thermos by the light of the red glow of my headlamp.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgmZPKZXrBbgvPDxtJeYyQXsHOUAYWCyoA3lKB9NkffaYpxSfeHce4FK7ptr3PWOpXZJIKmlgtp9DLHbAT-rNDpqD9Y3AJnKDNv7tt47rOiaXypq8GtIHnJdd-mEB0guUBtlXNBxa2Olx/s1600/P1120569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1273" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgmZPKZXrBbgvPDxtJeYyQXsHOUAYWCyoA3lKB9NkffaYpxSfeHce4FK7ptr3PWOpXZJIKmlgtp9DLHbAT-rNDpqD9Y3AJnKDNv7tt47rOiaXypq8GtIHnJdd-mEB0guUBtlXNBxa2Olx/s320/P1120569.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">torso brace attached to safety bar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Now here’s a conundrum. With two hands holding the thermos and mug, there are no hands left over for hanging on to the boat. Problem solved by buckling myself into the torso brace which some clever person designed just for that purpose. And which was cleverly purchased for my use in the galley. That accomplished, my entire body was braced while I opened the thermos, and then the mug, and oh so carefully poured the hot coffee from one to the other. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34fR6uvF75KICaIhD39ZyEnG3mO-uLvWhgKghjClimFGO1P1awfxyMVucD8fqG1aICZbmfrv2u_bm-an19nJ-RTufiFGchWqk2pEj_1zK0zq5SntzSzIu9SNA2ELkLjibYmLtLSgeX7FU/s1600/P1120617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34fR6uvF75KICaIhD39ZyEnG3mO-uLvWhgKghjClimFGO1P1awfxyMVucD8fqG1aICZbmfrv2u_bm-an19nJ-RTufiFGchWqk2pEj_1zK0zq5SntzSzIu9SNA2ELkLjibYmLtLSgeX7FU/s400/P1120617.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sailing from Bonaire to Dominican Republic. A nice sail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Then once again, finding myself short a hand or two, wedging the thermos in the sink in order to attend to the cover on the mug, then wedging the mug while capping the thermos. The return up to the cockpit was at least as precarious as the trip down. But it is somehow accomplished.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lfNnaJ6CR1gPJIaxXHat9Lr_cdmUqakjOCKa_v_wipIxA2mP3xiBd1fK0oD3zoddrCQdAzGsClNfcPwDSwJoQT2t2NgGbcKK0Wn2PrbqhXP-lq5yy6pv37xDSZQ39M-3rQYSN3L7m1HJ/s1600/P1120620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lfNnaJ6CR1gPJIaxXHat9Lr_cdmUqakjOCKa_v_wipIxA2mP3xiBd1fK0oD3zoddrCQdAzGsClNfcPwDSwJoQT2t2NgGbcKK0Wn2PrbqhXP-lq5yy6pv37xDSZQ39M-3rQYSN3L7m1HJ/s400/P1120620.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">And there I was once again, in the dark night on a black sea that knew how to keep its’ secrets. Trade winds were blowing and….what was that thought I had pondered before the coffee trip below? That profound thought that I had been about to unravel......?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-60110907325556938172019-03-15T07:46:00.002-05:002019-03-17T19:46:36.209-05:00Tales of Customs and Immigration: Trinidad and Curacao<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px 'Century Gothic'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px 'Century Gothic'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 16.0px}
p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Zapfino; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 38.0px}
p.p4 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 12.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<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/AVvXsEilQWHx0CzVahOSBQLAcbD4Y2bKsyLlJoDVJXHon6fhKkKGAWyPkN_qUI3UeELR0Y5rRQy57Ft4oQ2uPcNp7fYGkHNCRNQE9kaV05aqtvNsAo00sxsBHERdYi2dZgMVT_d2SkRWlyIMRnh8/s1600/P1110116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="1600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQWHx0CzVahOSBQLAcbD4Y2bKsyLlJoDVJXHon6fhKkKGAWyPkN_qUI3UeELR0Y5rRQy57Ft4oQ2uPcNp7fYGkHNCRNQE9kaV05aqtvNsAo00sxsBHERdYi2dZgMVT_d2SkRWlyIMRnh8/s320/P1110116.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Naturally, whenever we enter a foreign country there is the matter of satisfying Customs and Immigration. Arriving by air, all of those details are handled rather efficiently at the airport. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Before landing, the stewardesses hand out cards to complete for the Customs Official. If you are like us when we fly, it’s quite simple. Anything of value to declare? No? Off you go then.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Customs<br />Import regulations:<br /><br />For passengers over 17 years: free import of:<br />- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco;<br />- 1,5 litres of wine or spirits;<br />- a reasonable quantity of perfume;<br />- personal effects;<br />- gifts up to a value of USD 200.- or TTD 1,200.-.<br /><br />Arms and Ammunition regulations:<br />Recommendation<br />Passenger must carry import permit from the commissioner of police in Trinidad and Tobago and a firearms users license. The transporting airline's station manager must be informed prior to arrival. Non-compliance could result in a fine for the carrier.<br />Wild Fauna and Flora:<br />The import of certain endangered species of plant, live animals and their products is prohibited or restricted under CITES.<br /><br />For further details please refer to CITES: <a href="http://www.cites.org/">www.cites.org.</a></span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuTCmv-v9cHz_m5R7esX2CVjuaHevt1jKCKHkZ9XQ2fj77hDYSwFTGfxjyN_-lKlvAKVKezG73H42hH2bgpTQIyFXLTdC0tCaLhF3_mRQ49DpIGVntnwbZ6uL8RrJN3AgVFJb62Myww3i/s1600/P1030895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1274" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuTCmv-v9cHz_m5R7esX2CVjuaHevt1jKCKHkZ9XQ2fj77hDYSwFTGfxjyN_-lKlvAKVKezG73H42hH2bgpTQIyFXLTdC0tCaLhF3_mRQ49DpIGVntnwbZ6uL8RrJN3AgVFJb62Myww3i/s400/P1030895.jpg" width="317" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Arrivi</span>ng by personal watercraft is a different matter altogether. Every country has their own take on the level of seriousness that need be applied to the process. The level ranges from “good-natured howdy-do-ing” to the “somber evaluation of the sailor’s right to exist anywhere on the planet, let alone this particular sovereign shore.” Most countries fall reasonably somewhere in between.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhakRhxdpIl5TRpqw1reZGp8mCrRp-QJFG1fxfTEhaJN0f_2Flf24Ti3KAwOeXAe8bh4AupCqQN3NZkpjZ8yZG_ZhXqX712bun2E-r0AB2aE4IYG9Z4WKtuz_tURJIhAYeewkrw1NAzmCL/s1600/P1110999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhakRhxdpIl5TRpqw1reZGp8mCrRp-QJFG1fxfTEhaJN0f_2Flf24Ti3KAwOeXAe8bh4AupCqQN3NZkpjZ8yZG_ZhXqX712bun2E-r0AB2aE4IYG9Z4WKtuz_tURJIhAYeewkrw1NAzmCL/s400/P1110999.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Trinidad has earned highest marks from me for its’ serious as a heart attack attitude about entering their country by water. Whereas many Caribbean nations forbid any but the Captain of the vessel to set foot on land until after the clearing in process has been completed and the quarantine flag has been replaced by the country’s courtesy flag, Trinidad is not one of those nations.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEfoz7pZRht0HBGvzcIlUatLUmDOxsdQPhgu6tm4i4VML68Zxbduc887dmDuigN5ZZMkg170uK6G7ttPQ-2KB3xKL3MNDGqXkRT542aaWn5QhPEi4laLs12XSbhEUaWsarEla8MCCZwkj/s1600/th.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="221" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEfoz7pZRht0HBGvzcIlUatLUmDOxsdQPhgu6tm4i4VML68Zxbduc887dmDuigN5ZZMkg170uK6G7ttPQ-2KB3xKL3MNDGqXkRT542aaWn5QhPEi4laLs12XSbhEUaWsarEla8MCCZwkj/s320/th.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, we had been warned in advance and were prepared with not only the appropriate attire, but the appropriate personages. Both of us were present and properly dressed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epF-oe-1Zsk" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epF-oe-1Zsk</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNb5vPoO03friAXh6hE6DwFTjAKyjqN5FSUNMV_HDeVhOWa5H2p1A-352cEHe0XMtLN4IIYicDI2rKJTrmXQ6yzv28YnTORA5bSCQq-b08q_S_ajvCgX1Bc4tcL2txXNFQAF0FccqkUN1/s1600/P1110996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="1600" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNb5vPoO03friAXh6hE6DwFTjAKyjqN5FSUNMV_HDeVhOWa5H2p1A-352cEHe0XMtLN4IIYicDI2rKJTrmXQ6yzv28YnTORA5bSCQq-b08q_S_ajvCgX1Bc4tcL2txXNFQAF0FccqkUN1/s320/P1110996.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is how to say "Curacao" --Korsow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Carl was wearing his long pants and a button-down shirt. (No hairy bare-legged men need apply). We had each found our one pair of closed-toed shoes and there were no bare shoulders to be seen between us. Neither were there any see-through (gasp!) items of clothing. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">We were afraid to perspire for fear we’d offend the Immigration Officer Lady, whose position was protected by the tall and muscular Immigrations Officer Man sporting the requisite firearms collection.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<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/AVvXsEhXU5__NduLzSQpd5YqI-JD94dOgFMpk51PYWz8RQxPzP4m5dBaQKm4CZaDucZZNrbpE6RafaauZAeBCrJ1sjxsuikzYqJX_xy8yWxSDBRA8ZZkdPd00vEnC46tsA9w-_GA49zbFFK40yKg/s1600/camo+boot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="241" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXU5__NduLzSQpd5YqI-JD94dOgFMpk51PYWz8RQxPzP4m5dBaQKm4CZaDucZZNrbpE6RafaauZAeBCrJ1sjxsuikzYqJX_xy8yWxSDBRA8ZZkdPd00vEnC46tsA9w-_GA49zbFFK40yKg/s320/camo+boot.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Behind him, in full color hung the fully illustrated poster of camouflage paraphernalia that sailors need to be aware are illegal in the country of Trinidad/Tobago.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Neither pants, nor boots, shirts (even with shoulders covered), hats, dresses, swimsuits, diapers (yes, diapers, but why?), shawls, raincoats, flip flops, lingerie, (not even the pink, purple and gray variations), auto and motorcycle upholstery, drapery (I don’t understand the desire for camouflage home decor), backpacks, tents and bed linens.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://trinidadandtobagolegalrights.blogspot.com/2015/02/t-law-on-camouflage-clothing.html" target="_blank">http://trinidadandtobagolegalrights.blogspot.com/2015/02/t-law-on-camouflage-clothing.html</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epF-oe-1Zsk" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epF-oe-1Zsk</a></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">That last one gave me pause—if there was even a chance that a person in authority would be examining my bedding aboard Northern Star—was this the country for me?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<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/AVvXsEhIBCSU5rRYs8HbWYGjDMvrqyHa0qIERqaRovhFhQNNYnPGt7tmNDrWpf5urCeVxnDse4QRk616bC5pZZirFg2kwiJgqoA2NtsRqT5IPqo-3DO06PMNg24A4URoiS6Ne42H0Yx1GSobE_xN/s1600/P1120058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="1600" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBCSU5rRYs8HbWYGjDMvrqyHa0qIERqaRovhFhQNNYnPGt7tmNDrWpf5urCeVxnDse4QRk616bC5pZZirFg2kwiJgqoA2NtsRqT5IPqo-3DO06PMNg24A4URoiS6Ne42H0Yx1GSobE_xN/s400/P1120058.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">And then, there is Customs and Immigration in Curacao.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We had heard no scary stories about Customs and Immigration in advance of arriving in Curacao. We’d heard only that it could be a bit time-consuming. But no cautionary tales about attire, etc.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So, like good little sailors, we docked our boat at the marina where we planned to leave it during our absence in Colombia.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We hitched a ride with a marina staff person out to the main road where we could catch a bus.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The bus found, we enjoyed a pleasant 20 minute ride into the city of Willemstad.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BuMJz6J4jqkNNENLw5DzggeYyQPMkFpL-89DI1yh_lWhiqTWQwp_MfgqW-H5Wv-cy8_ACv1eR4EBkGGjNI5lIQRpJAmWt4RE7v19NCN29kz_Zou6xswo_YsqMWaoahQq2-ga98GHFXAz/s1600/P1100867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BuMJz6J4jqkNNENLw5DzggeYyQPMkFpL-89DI1yh_lWhiqTWQwp_MfgqW-H5Wv-cy8_ACv1eR4EBkGGjNI5lIQRpJAmWt4RE7v19NCN29kz_Zou6xswo_YsqMWaoahQq2-ga98GHFXAz/s640/P1100867.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Anne Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Willemstad, one should be aware, could actually be described as a pair of cities across the St. Anna Bay from one another. The first city (from our southern approach) is called “Punda” in the Papiamentu language. Punda means “Point.” The city on the other side of the harbor is called Otrabanda, whose meaning the reader has probably ferreted out faster than I can spell it out—the “Other Side.” </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGEZcwfZFdsolO7g8Y16PdtPzn8w53HUNGFv3N2L0eMtO4ZhY3STHNDB3_wq4cugGVRfNN8v_VL4b5eGDlAwsr-Q7lSIhgyI4yvI2KSFzUTYj5WMipu87u9ojacifkOE3hW9MLBZUDWMf/s1600/P1100885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGEZcwfZFdsolO7g8Y16PdtPzn8w53HUNGFv3N2L0eMtO4ZhY3STHNDB3_wq4cugGVRfNN8v_VL4b5eGDlAwsr-Q7lSIhgyI4yvI2KSFzUTYj5WMipu87u9ojacifkOE3hW9MLBZUDWMf/s400/P1100885.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Otrabunda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwuydqc53ddBWyIuyxDjuiYSj_Jr3tiC887XjbaQUd3zwpRIJ42PbEAm1D9UX4O27Hqy2HlhHz1mVOAKPmnWQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Papiamentu or Papiamento is the native language of the ABC Islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The three islands are part of the Netherlands and were once referred to simply as the Netherlands Antilles. As such, their official language is Dutch which is learned by every child in school.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The other official language is Papiamentu.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> (To hear it spoken, see video above). </span>It is a language that originated in Curacao about 300 years ago, and is spoken only in the ABC’s, and now also in the Netherlands and St. Maarten. It is a blending of pidgin African Creole with much influence from Portuguese and Spanish.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>With so many unfamiliar languages being spoken in Curacao, the African transplants did the only reasonable thing that could be done. They formed a new language so that they could communicate with one another. “Brilliant!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8DAWDVUGvIwn2Gp0ZO31erR7zo-NUVE47VP3234mUa005_k-mxa4lPJzy5QEO1PfPEHEjNDAjxPbTyhjC3Pwt43IQRuyNeFsA0cD-KV1aNU8nOjCgdXJIbnXuF8iYcVgTTuzTlMUzhAz/s1600/P1100861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8DAWDVUGvIwn2Gp0ZO31erR7zo-NUVE47VP3234mUa005_k-mxa4lPJzy5QEO1PfPEHEjNDAjxPbTyhjC3Pwt43IQRuyNeFsA0cD-KV1aNU8nOjCgdXJIbnXuF8iYcVgTTuzTlMUzhAz/s320/P1100861.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Many people in Curacao actually speak four languages: Dutch, Papiamentu, English and Spanish. English is spoken by all young people, whether taught in school or not ,because of the influence of American music and movies. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CsbeSPf3cJfGRTjwHATydcQIC3WBx9Ial3H0WQMBVdeiFWFPvs5jClhaAgb07oZi4jN571nEIefUHJ7j4nxGvea1cahL-Osusa25b6QrcgQWXE7F01hJInp3C4CYHKsNmGKlK2VtgXbi/s1600/P1120043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1600" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CsbeSPf3cJfGRTjwHATydcQIC3WBx9Ial3H0WQMBVdeiFWFPvs5jClhaAgb07oZi4jN571nEIefUHJ7j4nxGvea1cahL-Osusa25b6QrcgQWXE7F01hJInp3C4CYHKsNmGKlK2VtgXbi/s640/P1120043.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mega Wharf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">And so, our bus disgorged us in Punda with a little lagoon on our right, a city of charming Dutch Colonial architecture on our left, the St. Anna Bay straight ahead (which appears to be a river until one follows it to its’ origin) and above that, a very tall bridge shaped like an enormous stretched-out inverted U. Make that more like a big rounded haystack. My point is that the traffic is seen climbing the bridge at an astonishing degree of angle, soaring across the zenith of the bridge and then plunging down the other side into Otrabunda. An amazing bridge!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">But I digress.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p2">
<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/AVvXsEjAq8cz52KlQpjqq0BC-JvSjHgyNg7bSHvjyDTMnM_FXnSN_8RcL0-ZTDJLNwnYfRxvZ2kjgxxtc_TmYEn00eRqvrR2PzpmkgqlqC2j05Q0GPeYmbHBO14jV_IhREu2qI2dCq3z73to0ncm/s1600/P1120112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAq8cz52KlQpjqq0BC-JvSjHgyNg7bSHvjyDTMnM_FXnSN_8RcL0-ZTDJLNwnYfRxvZ2kjgxxtc_TmYEn00eRqvrR2PzpmkgqlqC2j05Q0GPeYmbHBO14jV_IhREu2qI2dCq3z73to0ncm/s400/P1120112.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Our strategy in finding Customs and Immigration is quite simple and has worked well for Carl in many countries.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Once one has reached a point not too distant from where one would expect Customs and Immigrations to be located, one just asks a passerby—a passerby that gives some indication of having been in the islands for a while. The clue that a passerby is a newly arrived tourist and therefore won’t know anything useful for us? It’s the skin color.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>White, white skin.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Possible sunburn on the neck and ears. Camera dangling.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<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/AVvXsEippjf-C9gEk5lJJhw_OVy27ANqScWAIGJ1TU3gfvMxZpoFYHYXm3vNVHcMXQQHQqZj1S7XpILjVjQXvnrQ4c6lzpX7czxvD0wUNCHzG6zt_1QBCvxQ0lwHiUcqY_naviNu3W449UyNB5av/s1600/P1120027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1600" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippjf-C9gEk5lJJhw_OVy27ANqScWAIGJ1TU3gfvMxZpoFYHYXm3vNVHcMXQQHQqZj1S7XpILjVjQXvnrQ4c6lzpX7czxvD0wUNCHzG6zt_1QBCvxQ0lwHiUcqY_naviNu3W449UyNB5av/s640/P1120027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Setting the usual plan in motion, I asked a slow-moving older woman, “Excuse me, do you know where Customs and Immigration is located?” Apparently not a devotee of American pop culture, she spoke Dutch and apparently Papiamentu, neither of which helped me a lick. Carl asked a dapper-looking gentleman walking as if he had a purpose. He spoke English but had no idea about Customs and Immigration. “You’d think it’d be in a big government-looking building like this one,” I pointed out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There was no signage whatsoever and the building at hand had nothing to say for itself.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAA2xwNJHU__2KYKMjN78MXxbjWCHA3xtAYDHOMAK7p9k9NiTtArpHILQwyYqdX7ofxxod3otWULlRjv-DJArF34_hsRxC4mDX98Mav7vQG2ok8AZetHzvixIdfnNDIYDH1yrtKM_4NS7/s1600/P1100886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAA2xwNJHU__2KYKMjN78MXxbjWCHA3xtAYDHOMAK7p9k9NiTtArpHILQwyYqdX7ofxxod3otWULlRjv-DJArF34_hsRxC4mDX98Mav7vQG2ok8AZetHzvixIdfnNDIYDH1yrtKM_4NS7/s400/P1100886.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not a very accurate map</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I tried out my question next with a younger woman walking by. Bingo, she spoke English, as a second, or third language. “It’s down that way——keep going and then turn to the right.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s on your left.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We followed her instructions to the letter, while I for one, had the distinct feeling that she was making this up as she went along. Who knows what some people find to be worth a chuckle? Sure enough—we found no building as she described. Not yet having lost faith in the next generation Carl asked this time—another younger professionally dressed woman<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She was quite confident and pointed us back the way we had come, toward the buses.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The next man we asked said, “Immigration is closed today, they are on strike.” By that time we were skeptical of what anyone had to say. When we returned to the Bushalte (Dutch for “bus stop”) we felt that we were getting warmer, or at least thirstier. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSno2oQbKJcsrk5ITuej4Z9FzH5T_EdCahNKtk3D1WF5MSssDKI4arL940JToa9-rKZQDhhYJnNeFucuT-O3xwnFoAmsgGFVGUUszXSmgaGGeAvNc7NyS-cBULtWurTHcb17rgKxzQp5F/s1600/P1120117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSno2oQbKJcsrk5ITuej4Z9FzH5T_EdCahNKtk3D1WF5MSssDKI4arL940JToa9-rKZQDhhYJnNeFucuT-O3xwnFoAmsgGFVGUUszXSmgaGGeAvNc7NyS-cBULtWurTHcb17rgKxzQp5F/s400/P1120117.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Having reached what I felt was my tolerance for fal-de-ral, I suggested a stop for some water or fruit smoothie, or both. I love it when Carl follows my lead.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Willemstad has the most charming streets with colorful buildings and cobblestones and trees tucked into alleyway that open up into patio restaurants. Delightful.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zLSans2rVsHaIVAQ20lv6h6eOXckXB7acf1EyaAEsaQAVBp489TbdakSqwog25xd0jG5L1JPSLypLWS5HJs1AT7RC5jSOzY_xzbGZxe7YHDViN9bD0Gz-6razIFtGXxvgVwVAc684yXJ/s1600/P1120047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zLSans2rVsHaIVAQ20lv6h6eOXckXB7acf1EyaAEsaQAVBp489TbdakSqwog25xd0jG5L1JPSLypLWS5HJs1AT7RC5jSOzY_xzbGZxe7YHDViN9bD0Gz-6razIFtGXxvgVwVAc684yXJ/s400/P1120047.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort Rif</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Back near the Bushalte, we found a business-like glass building with Security guards seated inside. The doors were padlocked. Hmph.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Maybe Immigration was closed that day.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Never one to call it quits, Carl asked one more man.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He seemed to be trilingual or qua trilingual And he claimed to know where Customs was housed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Said it had been temporarily relocated over along the St. Anna’s Bay. “Take the footbridge across the little waterway, walk until you see an iron gate that opens up toward the water.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Go through—its on your right.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Uh huh.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>After consulting with two more people along the way, Customs was found. Up an external wooden staircase that hugged the wall of a long white concrete building. No signage. Naturally.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93uDRoxsuXIw9Qgri01ya7aNIaxFmB0NR5mvPV7IYPkoyGEBub4HPOTGfJzc4yG5z70FCjVJd-jl3JOPlsaXHamQbfaOd4aiWfci14Ncyq50KoNBxo3t-q59RYbDpED3tivFpGV7fU5XF/s1600/P1100875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93uDRoxsuXIw9Qgri01ya7aNIaxFmB0NR5mvPV7IYPkoyGEBub4HPOTGfJzc4yG5z70FCjVJd-jl3JOPlsaXHamQbfaOd4aiWfci14Ncyq50KoNBxo3t-q59RYbDpED3tivFpGV7fU5XF/s400/P1100875.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are we getting any closer?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The properly uniformed and well-armed young man who helped us was clearly in a great deal of pain. “Where is Immigration?” we asked, when we were finished at Customs. He had that tentative movement of someone whose back was playing nice at the moment but he knew it wouldn’t last. He gingerly splayed his hand across the river saying, “Over there, under the bridge.” We didn’t want to bother him for more details. How hard could it be? There’s the waterfront. There’s the bridge.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYmGJmfFVnjo0mA28_nKJvca1iz942RRLvTMZIn4KJnR8-A7tTywwX6zZC63NFt1dI-RNgvuQBKvGH_hZP9FEzjjZ_w2HBd0HJ1aB7CuEH6N-7QZZNo1JhN5vM6HaJeYPLJxygx05oZK-/s1600/P1120022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYmGJmfFVnjo0mA28_nKJvca1iz942RRLvTMZIn4KJnR8-A7tTywwX6zZC63NFt1dI-RNgvuQBKvGH_hZP9FEzjjZ_w2HBd0HJ1aB7CuEH6N-7QZZNo1JhN5vM6HaJeYPLJxygx05oZK-/s640/P1120022.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">floating Venezuelan market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, back over the little footbridge we went.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Several boats from Venezuela were stacked closely together along the narrow waterway selling their fruits and vegetables. It was a whole floating market! Charming!</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhItapGp8WyugCbWKRXMeUaSDbW88zFIWmPh2opEve-fAFZGHrM7Q3FzMIc9avr16hi4hSWQx0m5HPX5MilO-xg6eyerw_e7oYHAG_xOzea3L-sRSYv8kerulnkG9prkxkpWOIv_8e-Hty/s1600/P1100866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhItapGp8WyugCbWKRXMeUaSDbW88zFIWmPh2opEve-fAFZGHrM7Q3FzMIc9avr16hi4hSWQx0m5HPX5MilO-xg6eyerw_e7oYHAG_xOzea3L-sRSYv8kerulnkG9prkxkpWOIv_8e-Hty/s640/P1100866.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Emma bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We walked to the waterfront lined with bright blue and yellow and pink buildings trimmed in white. This beautiful strip of land along St. Anna’s Bay is called Handelskade and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How very Dutch-like! There were several boats that had been ferrying people back and forth from Punda to Otrabanda.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Just as we got to the ferry entrance, however, its gates closed and the ferry pulled away from the shore.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My next plan involved crying. The man onboard pointed. There was another bridge.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Oooooh, a floating bridge.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzszYO8-7cDB8BZq7rMKl-YwLcTC62a4JENdNWZQiQB6OHezQjnsw1lS3AMZofAqDbj0pv-YvsoeD5aBsuMDciSTpXZk0Rwf7l5VZHr1XzonKicpLHOU1Otc-YdFJUbo2gu37vGi_S2Em/s1600/P1100880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="1600" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzszYO8-7cDB8BZq7rMKl-YwLcTC62a4JENdNWZQiQB6OHezQjnsw1lS3AMZofAqDbj0pv-YvsoeD5aBsuMDciSTpXZk0Rwf7l5VZHr1XzonKicpLHOU1Otc-YdFJUbo2gu37vGi_S2Em/s320/P1100880.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">What a fantastic invention.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The floating Queen Emma Bridge replaced the original stationery bridge in 1888.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It is a lovely wide floating walkway that opens up a few times each day to accommodate ocean going ships as well as smaller traffic like our boat, as needed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The rest of the time, foot traffic pours across the wide bridge.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>On a sunny day with a bright blue sky, a person could forget that they had yet to find the Immigration Office somewhere on the other side, in the vicinity of the base of the tall bridge.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nonVsao20AK1knd1DAlxTBXlOuz73bDQXpkZQPgsIDqeipXK9CLEMJQNS9IjVURf1o0h5m6eM5-m801bwIY0JuK03xPOzPP-laZz_kYTTOtOFQxheRkY1-YDnblkGWUEzc4GgwDJu3sI/s1600/P1100889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nonVsao20AK1knd1DAlxTBXlOuz73bDQXpkZQPgsIDqeipXK9CLEMJQNS9IjVURf1o0h5m6eM5-m801bwIY0JuK03xPOzPP-laZz_kYTTOtOFQxheRkY1-YDnblkGWUEzc4GgwDJu3sI/s400/P1100889.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">are we closer now?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So, we walked and we walked. Not much foot traffic going that direction. But the walk was pleasant enough—more Dutch Colonial architecture. No complaints there. It’s a long way to the base of the tall bridge. Still no foot traffic to speak of. Came across an interesting community art project honoring a poor gentleman who has lived in a second floor hovel (I could call it by another name, but it wouldn’t be as accurate) for the past 30+ years?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Apparently he had quite a following. But as far as I could tell, no one liked him well enough to fix up the hovel.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Szik5FvW8uUE7moJ9_llCzmlGSfRVc-1TDXNdI0VFHBhBpvBjTYAVI7zlDC0X_nJE5HoPYIX-QW5pMB8fKbt3GSuAv1u3f5teyIqzYeEpYgDeOOgI3vgUujMG2omYvMqImU1k5hp6EOn/s1600/P1100891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Szik5FvW8uUE7moJ9_llCzmlGSfRVc-1TDXNdI0VFHBhBpvBjTYAVI7zlDC0X_nJE5HoPYIX-QW5pMB8fKbt3GSuAv1u3f5teyIqzYeEpYgDeOOgI3vgUujMG2omYvMqImU1k5hp6EOn/s640/P1100891.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s where things started getting tricky. The waterway was guarded by tall iron fences and the gate that opened down to the water was controlled by a large, well-armed Security Officer in a skirt. (Gender appropriate).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In order to pass, we were obligated to give her our passports! She gave us more than enough time to dig around for our passports and boat paperwork while she futzed around establishing a new zippered waistline for her ample girth.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-xmB_V8MQqALH6mTfN8GvAUHX0Sp_z0-EMZnikpUU2eGoyhklq_PoAPrUfFSiO3sVtEII5N7pVJ4Reig6zGAtfm9feS-GQVn34tc3zFYQmKiZ-pRDrTEn_0AkTDfjtAOnToI0Ssv7x23/s1600/P1120038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1600" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-xmB_V8MQqALH6mTfN8GvAUHX0Sp_z0-EMZnikpUU2eGoyhklq_PoAPrUfFSiO3sVtEII5N7pVJ4Reig6zGAtfm9feS-GQVn34tc3zFYQmKiZ-pRDrTEn_0AkTDfjtAOnToI0Ssv7x23/s640/P1120038.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">see bridge, far to the right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Having been allowed entrance to the inner sanctum of the working waterfront, we continue walking.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The base of the bridge was still distant. No foot traffic, or motorized traffic either for that matter. There we were, traversing this wide length of concrete extending from the rocky bank extending high above on our left to the rows of warehouses lining the waterway on our right. All was silent but for the remote sound of bridge traffic high above in the distance. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVgKSHY8SoWUSFgADu9xhjPzm8z_lxit9InlfaMomtUnFwo4tyoXw5mjfxu1eJlnQyPtQSjBC_xMVTzxxPCTSDaZz9ATEfPpGKqT-lp_c0EQJuxzbu0EFIlsDh4_qAjMBqfIymIs6W0lr/s1600/P1120096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVgKSHY8SoWUSFgADu9xhjPzm8z_lxit9InlfaMomtUnFwo4tyoXw5mjfxu1eJlnQyPtQSjBC_xMVTzxxPCTSDaZz9ATEfPpGKqT-lp_c0EQJuxzbu0EFIlsDh4_qAjMBqfIymIs6W0lr/s400/P1120096.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the "movie set" Where murder occurs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">This “movie set” was familiar to me. This is where the poor schlub of a victim finds himself walking all alone in the evening while the audience bites their nails. Only moments later, the schmuck’s life is snuffed out and the body summarily dumped into the river, cement overshoes and all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And still we kept walking. What else can a victim do? It’s in the script.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxS1vdHjJeROAZ5FJDUa3xLUlx6bKblaxLmj6bTYV3ZxlbmWtU1trvuCXuUqbURY4TG31ILAGmShkwZG3lj5zxbZh2Lfq_XeYkaGuUeBU8XKuvFwQORTleaBoStyMCPBHl-P4eSLwD69R9/s1600/P1120099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxS1vdHjJeROAZ5FJDUa3xLUlx6bKblaxLmj6bTYV3ZxlbmWtU1trvuCXuUqbURY4TG31ILAGmShkwZG3lj5zxbZh2Lfq_XeYkaGuUeBU8XKuvFwQORTleaBoStyMCPBHl-P4eSLwD69R9/s400/P1120099.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rocky headland ahead</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGoVs2KXJQHrDCrG_EVylYz0pFL2SSZ6qMQF7EID7Rbpirr7GXQKPOKHcRc5tEx8TbxVp5gYZk_O5L95uRh6jj2PO-DZ_ZWoaEjW_rSNIqEE-B5wvG4M87NzBpEWTitXvDkWbxI468Ckj/s1600/P1120102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1166" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGoVs2KXJQHrDCrG_EVylYz0pFL2SSZ6qMQF7EID7Rbpirr7GXQKPOKHcRc5tEx8TbxVp5gYZk_O5L95uRh6jj2PO-DZ_ZWoaEjW_rSNIqEE-B5wvG4M87NzBpEWTitXvDkWbxI468Ckj/s320/P1120102.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise, ships ahead</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Surprisingly enough, a high wall of rock was just ahead and once we’d rounded that, a few buildings that appeared to be occupied for less than nefarious purposes presented themselves. There were people, not many, just a few extras. They pointed us to one particular building. No signage but once inside a small sign labeled the window as Douane (Customs in Dutch).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzpLR91W5Nv3JgIHPien-91JLg18EzR7buCTUrdalVnAOUi3Vd1ykegZyWFcIAmKJJfp-WwehkFVamcfJl-RQUXiyvr1uriOOWP65M1cdNlpF2nsRsOMVA6nZRoK6MYZJ0FQ76ejftwq2/s1600/P1120111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzpLR91W5Nv3JgIHPien-91JLg18EzR7buCTUrdalVnAOUi3Vd1ykegZyWFcIAmKJJfp-WwehkFVamcfJl-RQUXiyvr1uriOOWP65M1cdNlpF2nsRsOMVA6nZRoK6MYZJ0FQ76ejftwq2/s320/P1120111.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immigration found!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Once we’d accomplished our tasks indoors and exited the building, there were taxis waiting, to schlepp people like us past the movie set and and back to civilization. We thought, “Pffft, we already did all the hard work. Let’s enjoy the long walk back.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbLtqSLSSEKYhp0_qwcL10nHH103l7dPugyJTYcTaEIXfyGCa89QLEFgKMQzBodLic1uSCYkKwkktegW9jJz2LZFoA3lez2TC96leu7Xp5gTQTEcs4yGyPNhiQfu1NJNSjkTr_ljNVdRM/s1600/P1120097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1600" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbLtqSLSSEKYhp0_qwcL10nHH103l7dPugyJTYcTaEIXfyGCa89QLEFgKMQzBodLic1uSCYkKwkktegW9jJz2LZFoA3lez2TC96leu7Xp5gTQTEcs4yGyPNhiQfu1NJNSjkTr_ljNVdRM/s640/P1120097.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-82130210144101254712019-02-11T07:08:00.001-06:002019-02-11T07:11:11.036-06:00Trinidad with Jesse James<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 12.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<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/AVvXsEjPcvzBR5Yvz4FjWijPm-9yE1d6RxV4dyXrUYr-xCJ52ZgdCHRNp1wPLJ7Fksf8ByHaEdWsmdKzD-ZZUKyJtzsS66v69BB0uNahocZF9_J42goZPU1pGV2M3jPMatA-PZ8P3tGePGdpw4od/s1600/P1030591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1600" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcvzBR5Yvz4FjWijPm-9yE1d6RxV4dyXrUYr-xCJ52ZgdCHRNp1wPLJ7Fksf8ByHaEdWsmdKzD-ZZUKyJtzsS66v69BB0uNahocZF9_J42goZPU1pGV2M3jPMatA-PZ8P3tGePGdpw4od/s640/P1030591.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anchoring west of Chaguaramas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjeFYABpGm9z3qRRafgoaVE2IC8y_2pRfQQObKxCyJDVv-d0MfZkVPvw9HUZ70dHFly9_pBiKRLPCbFiSiBlK1My5_xkBU2iQt2IKbkUe-UD2VvLLzuFxXF_MLIZH6owTtBJOhWkl6859/s1600/P1030031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjeFYABpGm9z3qRRafgoaVE2IC8y_2pRfQQObKxCyJDVv-d0MfZkVPvw9HUZ70dHFly9_pBiKRLPCbFiSiBlK1My5_xkBU2iQt2IKbkUe-UD2VvLLzuFxXF_MLIZH6owTtBJOhWkl6859/s320/P1030031.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unripe Brazil nuts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Chaguaramas, (shah-go-RAH-mas) Trinidad. What I did not know about Trinidad before this visit would fill a book. What I <i>still</i> don’t know, volumes more. Chaguaramas sits on a quotation mark of a peninsula that extends out from the northwest corner of Trinidad. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLOjTQvUVPWd4Hm_H7GHwyuG8UR1u_4CYiiplkQvCULc_axK5-Ysf1H7fk-sB1WDiSXWIBU8pGr2ZahAloQb0a2DKrf62hul6-gj61DFdfLNKFcNZz1DyXefcEViBofEZh09pKVOb8Dhyphenhyphen/s1600/P1300073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLOjTQvUVPWd4Hm_H7GHwyuG8UR1u_4CYiiplkQvCULc_axK5-Ysf1H7fk-sB1WDiSXWIBU8pGr2ZahAloQb0a2DKrf62hul6-gj61DFdfLNKFcNZz1DyXefcEViBofEZh09pKVOb8Dhyphenhyphen/s400/P1300073.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local fishermen sleep near their boats in huts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">It was once an American Army post, back in the WWII days. Now the old Army post is used for Trinidadian Coast Guard, Police, Special Forces, Fish and Wildlife Service and a few other Federal departments.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNCpYjxVGZNeeOOGqepb750qG-Z5Q0Ay1MHDc7QznAy3NUXuGT37SvDnQyUlWzQmCA7vVsN47hyphenhyphenTLzidX8uOHdJpZYYi7_9p63Dop9yoBCyFpLFIDMTELtpa2cMi_0VT87YMIKKUai9gj/s1600/P1000872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNCpYjxVGZNeeOOGqepb750qG-Z5Q0Ay1MHDc7QznAy3NUXuGT37SvDnQyUlWzQmCA7vVsN47hyphenhyphenTLzidX8uOHdJpZYYi7_9p63Dop9yoBCyFpLFIDMTELtpa2cMi_0VT87YMIKKUai9gj/s320/P1000872.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Called a "Double". Best breakfast food ever!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">It is an area where there are no homes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But, many people live there, on their sailboats. A series of marinas: Peakes, Power Boats, Crews Inn, and Coral Cove, all welcome international boats.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RzQRube-ujjz1aQJSgzw4h3faju4L-p-XXRj-0L0-U9qkngEMfMCrS69vt4i_NchTrjTTWViED3F44cjauEIEjfV99kdsw93bO_Y9dtMrvLNyom8GA3m_y1TSQ51pFktZoiprFh-6r0Y/s1600/P1000994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RzQRube-ujjz1aQJSgzw4h3faju4L-p-XXRj-0L0-U9qkngEMfMCrS69vt4i_NchTrjTTWViED3F44cjauEIEjfV99kdsw93bO_Y9dtMrvLNyom8GA3m_y1TSQ51pFktZoiprFh-6r0Y/s400/P1000994.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canadians, Aussies, Brits and Americans on this bus.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">This week alone, I have heard these languages spoken: French, German, Dutch, Afrikans, Spanish, Australian and British English. American English is heard most frequently as well as the Trini English which I’m afraid I am no better at understanding now than when we arrived.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpcLfU2NfoMSQxvYHq0UkiOm7vGZmg2F36KHdBJkHPDbeO2jGVRJ0yUFb840wCY9P0S3gDmsIK39vNwDtFVGKj5a6qTHzT19-w3Km44oE2PO302Ic0hdMD68FwxwZ1dJoYg451F4WkjwM/s1600/P1030300+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpcLfU2NfoMSQxvYHq0UkiOm7vGZmg2F36KHdBJkHPDbeO2jGVRJ0yUFb840wCY9P0S3gDmsIK39vNwDtFVGKj5a6qTHzT19-w3Km44oE2PO302Ic0hdMD68FwxwZ1dJoYg451F4WkjwM/s320/P1030300+%25282%2529.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Power Boats workers who made<br />our beautiful new sole (floor)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Boats from Europe making their first landfall on this side of the Atlantic often go to Trinidad.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The trade winds are helpful for that destination. And Trinidad is known in the cruising community as a fantastic place to get any kind of boat work done, and at a more reasonable rate than many other places in the world. We have certainly been pleased.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlqo0cvkX4ad-2pACt_jonrPEvyRqjsxJN5H4X_ghmpP-80BYCoVu0Aa4VWpHGmGXU7Qf0372zfTDVQhyfa7debzE9ZToAP4T1gf8kciDDcaTF9tWTwWo0i_cN0XqMlCbprKzqawEiQq-/s1600/P1000928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlqo0cvkX4ad-2pACt_jonrPEvyRqjsxJN5H4X_ghmpP-80BYCoVu0Aa4VWpHGmGXU7Qf0372zfTDVQhyfa7debzE9ZToAP4T1gf8kciDDcaTF9tWTwWo0i_cN0XqMlCbprKzqawEiQq-/s320/P1000928.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cow-heel soup tastes like <br />comfort food.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">One downside of Chaguaramas is that it is some distance away from most of the other sorts of things that cruisers want to visit, such as grocery stores, museums, entertainment, etc. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Furthermore, the road from Chaguaramas is a long and winding, narrow, two-lane with potholes large enough to play hide and seek. The bus system is somewhat hit or miss. Schedules are made to be broken. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VKcjngT1otnMWFne3-2WDhJtZSN4i2MtKO82ywuGuv9BCFpMHyISN1CFMpXAFSanT7uWa2BD3ngJDnXuLi2gV0ltDBjEYYa7JuoeXgW-X8dCTS3pNESl0F_iA3eSdNZd7ZjHYMkSWifH/s1600/P1030678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VKcjngT1otnMWFne3-2WDhJtZSN4i2MtKO82ywuGuv9BCFpMHyISN1CFMpXAFSanT7uWa2BD3ngJDnXuLi2gV0ltDBjEYYa7JuoeXgW-X8dCTS3pNESl0F_iA3eSdNZd7ZjHYMkSWifH/s320/P1030678.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two lane road from Chaguaramas to<br />Port of Spain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We did utilize what the Trini's call their Maxi Taxi system to get around a bit--white vans that accommodate 13 passengers. There are horror stories of a 20 minute drive taking 2 or more hours to complete because of roadwork, potholes, accident or because school got out and all means of transportation are filled with children getting home after school. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg8rrBm4a7lJ2S0irLOB4C0ljcHFpcAcTJmxYSAsy3M0SNjiGOxzMYofBEdQ7NV1NBigamusn3bZhDUiGvJO2GUzKYeKq3icN5xT58NB704bX5GHQfLSOV5LJ5Ea409iVvvJS-0womUQj/s1600/P1030156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg8rrBm4a7lJ2S0irLOB4C0ljcHFpcAcTJmxYSAsy3M0SNjiGOxzMYofBEdQ7NV1NBigamusn3bZhDUiGvJO2GUzKYeKq3icN5xT58NB704bX5GHQfLSOV5LJ5Ea409iVvvJS-0womUQj/s320/P1030156.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This street seller was curious to see white <br />people on the east coast of Trinidad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">One should allow several hours to drive to the airport, just in case things go south. Plus driving is just plain scary in Trinidad.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Drivers </span>pull over to chat here and there, suddenly requiring a two lane road to turn into a three lane road. Drivers accommodate to this quite quickly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That and all of the other swerving around potholes makes for an interesting transport.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRARblFbKxBZxm-enFh_6rlHmMBNjx0KSCnXT2YG2wAO0I7SGm8dCbkBLzTVUQvY3N0-5fntgdVKTFImjreik1S_6WncnZiON6kxttdzVPQgEwqMsE1yhEusOo92WtgoZYj4T-K0wUKW8/s1600/P1030194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRARblFbKxBZxm-enFh_6rlHmMBNjx0KSCnXT2YG2wAO0I7SGm8dCbkBLzTVUQvY3N0-5fntgdVKTFImjreik1S_6WncnZiON6kxttdzVPQgEwqMsE1yhEusOo92WtgoZYj4T-K0wUKW8/s320/P1030194.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds' nests hanging from Immortelle trees<br />Species?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Now add to that picture, Jesse James.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not a caricature of the Old West but rather a man who has recognized a need that cruisers have and has tried to fill it. Jesse has a few Maxi-Taxi-sized vans and uses them to cart people like us around in groups of 6 to 13 people.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcfSJYFtxqbILaUgGz5MsPeH_uwQ1NGeoIPYV-sefhil4u1-2tVs3o4lXxLBLBwA6LBRKKycEws_3LJ9IWmJKc-wkIdzaXTZGub5myFtoO9YAsVEbN96zaNHuiGacdLpeodSReNFZIYfb/s1600/P1000902+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcfSJYFtxqbILaUgGz5MsPeH_uwQ1NGeoIPYV-sefhil4u1-2tVs3o4lXxLBLBwA6LBRKKycEws_3LJ9IWmJKc-wkIdzaXTZGub5myFtoO9YAsVEbN96zaNHuiGacdLpeodSReNFZIYfb/s320/P1000902+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buying oranges at market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">He schedules weekly events:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Saturday morning at 6:00 a van leaves Chaguaramas for the huge fresh Market in downtown Port of Spain, one of the largest in the Caribbean. On other days of the week he provides transport to the grocery stores or other shopping areas.</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y0AtcdSSK_7zIXgtzc0fV0NqmybeHWy8Pc99dN2mMAaTxknVUjlIuenygEUhSk3v7JCDPLmwUSV307rNipyNr5O8erAd0M3VOV0AxlKuX6Ubk1ipf99_tSe14WhqnTkiE9pDiB1Fo7H3/s1600/P1030411+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="1377" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y0AtcdSSK_7zIXgtzc0fV0NqmybeHWy8Pc99dN2mMAaTxknVUjlIuenygEUhSk3v7JCDPLmwUSV307rNipyNr5O8erAd0M3VOV0AxlKuX6Ubk1ipf99_tSe14WhqnTkiE9pDiB1Fo7H3/s320/P1030411+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violaceous Euphonia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">This week, for example, Jesse was taking a group to see a Pan Demonstration--really a practice session for musicians, including steel drums in anticipation of Carnaval.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Carnaval is a few weeks away yet, but people here like to work up a good fever in advance. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR55K3FptTGrYKWgrcPXncqUj5W3WIMF65E4f7F56BGMPp-Uujiulv8mwa5_NkJhi3V76aTckPzG_C_Me1rGODFdUasY8sV80jAsT-_tP8wwGGxCgrf3RnyNudOEzb-SID7V7UXlkoAW6/s1600/P1030446+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR55K3FptTGrYKWgrcPXncqUj5W3WIMF65E4f7F56BGMPp-Uujiulv8mwa5_NkJhi3V76aTckPzG_C_Me1rGODFdUasY8sV80jAsT-_tP8wwGGxCgrf3RnyNudOEzb-SID7V7UXlkoAW6/s320/P1030446+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">17 species of hummingbirds on Trinidad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Next Jesse was taking a group to meet a ferry to go out to a tiny island off of Chaguaramas called Gaspar Grande where they will have a tour of some amazing caves.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAuNFX7hBesWjwoAUAR6kKMuSkJtCesChlTUU3bqh8Hd47YFtYNLMDq6yarwbV7iYkLPdFVFPKI3jtRXtbTQ8XyIxlCRZOU-83h7dczXRsXglZcSzUf7I_hk4F4r7g5JBdaScSOeRr0Sd/s1600/P1000992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1600" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAuNFX7hBesWjwoAUAR6kKMuSkJtCesChlTUU3bqh8Hd47YFtYNLMDq6yarwbV7iYkLPdFVFPKI3jtRXtbTQ8XyIxlCRZOU-83h7dczXRsXglZcSzUf7I_hk4F4r7g5JBdaScSOeRr0Sd/s320/P1000992.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse on right dividing food for us. Carl<br />riding shotgun to help distribute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We took two tours with Jesse.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The first was called, “A Taste of Trinidad.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This was a very unique kind of tour from 8 AM to 9 PM. He drove us across the island from west to east, then south and back west and north again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCX26X5ELC0avF_q6YuYYUGyZmhVkKRNu7U7Ox67R98xFXMQYgqX6ZuO6BgbDba9SIxW9UPhsvzGivGusUpeSgRahWQ7ePhC6YYdY1eRK4GDpAtVTa2wrRp5lBDfyikUQ66ynedoUVMf5r/s1600/P1030029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="1286" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCX26X5ELC0avF_q6YuYYUGyZmhVkKRNu7U7Ox67R98xFXMQYgqX6ZuO6BgbDba9SIxW9UPhsvzGivGusUpeSgRahWQ7ePhC6YYdY1eRK4GDpAtVTa2wrRp5lBDfyikUQ66ynedoUVMf5r/s320/P1030029.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing machete skills!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">Every few miles, or less, he jumped out of the van to pick up tasty foods</span> from various little street markets, and food stands throughout Trinidad. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Cgct74mFNI0RvxRZ8M2mD1nijbnCB5uJXHkB2TqGUnHThKw0ajT6gYCMIVwqj1fnY3YBIWcudjspvqEVHrFSxVmb9gLpb6sz8a_APUN1vNQdjW_ScHp2WS3UBpTUCIKzsAHWjsAjaJUC/s1600/P1030025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Cgct74mFNI0RvxRZ8M2mD1nijbnCB5uJXHkB2TqGUnHThKw0ajT6gYCMIVwqj1fnY3YBIWcudjspvqEVHrFSxVmb9gLpb6sz8a_APUN1vNQdjW_ScHp2WS3UBpTUCIKzsAHWjsAjaJUC/s320/P1030025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young men talk about their roti lunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Trinidad has an amazing abundance of foods owing to its many cultural influences all converging on this big island. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WVFEOaotUA5Cid5UVqxcLqMtA5sno5Z112WdXJHBFQUPEVN1hi6olX-v8a35N-Ca_Sc_YpAG3QqKLPIolBvTiSNmv2GcdeyseAFkRpe9YfBCpOvOhmKhKpsH3Ha006D6v57pUsGCO-D_/s1600/P1030159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WVFEOaotUA5Cid5UVqxcLqMtA5sno5Z112WdXJHBFQUPEVN1hi6olX-v8a35N-Ca_Sc_YpAG3QqKLPIolBvTiSNmv2GcdeyseAFkRpe9YfBCpOvOhmKhKpsH3Ha006D6v57pUsGCO-D_/s320/P1030159.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muslim residents put up prayer flags</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">People of every hue and religion reside on Trinidad. Folks from the Far East, from India, Africa, North and South America, and Europe. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyj-dnkTD5UOT6pSMCW8liwr4ldZ-_BldlQN_s2I5wne9Ivy2AiVhelOFsSHqDifUCbM_2X_97i1cIG198h-9ulJv69bcu_-hnUyHIlTWDbJIs-05p5fFrcojr46jkWlAXHMbGwJ7YYb6G/s1600/P1030087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyj-dnkTD5UOT6pSMCW8liwr4ldZ-_BldlQN_s2I5wne9Ivy2AiVhelOFsSHqDifUCbM_2X_97i1cIG198h-9ulJv69bcu_-hnUyHIlTWDbJIs-05p5fFrcojr46jkWlAXHMbGwJ7YYb6G/s320/P1030087.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles of watermelons grown along <br />east coast of Trini</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt-YPdlmMTacZb6Ysok6myJGHV4_rRMzKMeDSRKVe9z7r3qesru35drSTs5BlxQnQwfqyI0Z2IVD0Ndp2FwtAA-Y53GQZtuQ7UR4ev7X1UpiHcBrbPhnmRw7dbW_7IXXPe1HPRcl_E2qK/s1600/IMG_20190121_175437725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt-YPdlmMTacZb6Ysok6myJGHV4_rRMzKMeDSRKVe9z7r3qesru35drSTs5BlxQnQwfqyI0Z2IVD0Ndp2FwtAA-Y53GQZtuQ7UR4ev7X1UpiHcBrbPhnmRw7dbW_7IXXPe1HPRcl_E2qK/s200/IMG_20190121_175437725.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fresh chocolatey <br />tasting </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/AVvXsEjTR1tmKsGeKqB3-NQjMbQ0MTHvAPCYdsXnDcFDAYwlwEvfqVy6PwAyQcO7B_wfSnV8oxF6wjLldTdXzWpzMXJHr9Efgts4OVpir561Bx6AwZcTOCPTkxAM8aH1CsgtUZZKBGz4plKoiGB0/s1600/P1030079+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1600" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTR1tmKsGeKqB3-NQjMbQ0MTHvAPCYdsXnDcFDAYwlwEvfqVy6PwAyQcO7B_wfSnV8oxF6wjLldTdXzWpzMXJHr9Efgts4OVpir561Bx6AwZcTOCPTkxAM8aH1CsgtUZZKBGz4plKoiGB0/s640/P1030079+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River flowing into the Atlantic. Next stop, Africa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The foods are rich in flavor—they feature the curries, ginger, chutneys and Scotch Bonnet peppers. Over the course of the day, we ate bites of some 80-90 different foods.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> We were stuffed.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJWZw5O42oPLQXQj-L0L6S4dOaxQiGArd96J9PrZwfDbgA5y938vaQ0BJOBpKfyUKD1-FVg9MQledJdslEwFHaOLDz5fGyF4nPNwE3Cxt1n8_xnDa4Ocw-z0eTm4Mgllje4xivAbibWT0/s1600/52378368_2147430108650069_2137796521062563840_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="775" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJWZw5O42oPLQXQj-L0L6S4dOaxQiGArd96J9PrZwfDbgA5y938vaQ0BJOBpKfyUKD1-FVg9MQledJdslEwFHaOLDz5fGyF4nPNwE3Cxt1n8_xnDa4Ocw-z0eTm4Mgllje4xivAbibWT0/s320/52378368_2147430108650069_2137796521062563840_o.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hundreds of Orange-winged<br />parrots gather nightly on <br />Chaguaramas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The second tour with Jesse was a birding tour.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Asa Wright Sanctuary </span>lies high up in the mountainous jungle. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjRz99rpUh4JRNS2WMWrxNTg2IRHfX1zoNch5seADr9u3lEgbopgKJv2TUAjGrtdHqXKVXPHkDbDbaWsSS21non0-PCA7LeX4dbOy1ApC9W8tgN1ueA0gZmTePZZNYhhoOQIa4L4cIIzw/s1600/P1030444+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1284" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjRz99rpUh4JRNS2WMWrxNTg2IRHfX1zoNch5seADr9u3lEgbopgKJv2TUAjGrtdHqXKVXPHkDbDbaWsSS21non0-PCA7LeX4dbOy1ApC9W8tgN1ueA0gZmTePZZNYhhoOQIa4L4cIIzw/s320/P1030444+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of 425 species on Trinidad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">To enjoy it more thoroughly, we could have stayed overnight in one of the lodges onsite so that we could watch for the birds all day. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSQyJmbWzZdUL37dAwfdDo8XICUXyZT2YzyUYum-L5HovXnRdjlkZ-ZczCMccmNT7-TXgIJRXlzl1QntHHxSgu6NzhbisPrQ2rdQdFCwacNkzxq2nKdMOj8V6yOpBm3qzh77v_kUmzSbr/s1600/P1030463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1372" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSQyJmbWzZdUL37dAwfdDo8XICUXyZT2YzyUYum-L5HovXnRdjlkZ-ZczCMccmNT7-TXgIJRXlzl1QntHHxSgu6NzhbisPrQ2rdQdFCwacNkzxq2nKdMOj8V6yOpBm3qzh77v_kUmzSbr/s320/P1030463.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Honeycreeper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvdbl5lW09xOkT7wzIMBIYWUbiM_wxeXVi11GicfYT3YuSQwOPERk08gyxddkjuCbknJrUSzI4U1hHldC-l6ASayRlwJQqd6tYH69AfM0nd39mTUlZhdkEogSzfZI3sUmlYPYmqeUUCGl/s1600/P1030369+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvdbl5lW09xOkT7wzIMBIYWUbiM_wxeXVi11GicfYT3YuSQwOPERk08gyxddkjuCbknJrUSzI4U1hHldC-l6ASayRlwJQqd6tYH69AfM0nd39mTUlZhdkEogSzfZI3sUmlYPYmqeUUCGl/s320/P1030369+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bearded Bellbird has a beard of skin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">But as it was, we saw many species of hummingbirds, tanagers, and a rare species called a Bearded Bellbird.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We could hear the toucans nearby but did not see them.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmY9dns26E0L4eHmkBa_qGaGJSTQvW30IE8SF0pLzRU1xLRoAeXDjs7mzXejAH6KOCWGv7ogBI1qLpKnjZdcHKIYAm5O4QAvGT1xCgNtq-hIvS8XsS5zpp1PMj7PC2rA6mJljGYQ06TrC/s1600/P1030528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1067" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmY9dns26E0L4eHmkBa_qGaGJSTQvW30IE8SF0pLzRU1xLRoAeXDjs7mzXejAH6KOCWGv7ogBI1qLpKnjZdcHKIYAm5O4QAvGT1xCgNtq-hIvS8XsS5zpp1PMj7PC2rA6mJljGYQ06TrC/s320/P1030528.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Species?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Later in the day, he took us to the Caroni Swamp where we saw hundreds of pink flamingoes, snakes sleeping in the trees and iguanas. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyGF4VZxU9Qj0yS5sHnoosvFpLStxhk75H1amhb9Mackv_vDW3Llx7RPAAtj0J51HK_rhuT9S5i5ZofcUBdZrxVkfMBejZQJuJZPkbk6vuPpl_Pjw5-OGHbgYIzAwpVv6SHBY4Ghpb_w_/s1600/flamingoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1280" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyGF4VZxU9Qj0yS5sHnoosvFpLStxhk75H1amhb9Mackv_vDW3Llx7RPAAtj0J51HK_rhuT9S5i5ZofcUBdZrxVkfMBejZQJuJZPkbk6vuPpl_Pjw5-OGHbgYIzAwpVv6SHBY4Ghpb_w_/s640/flamingoes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink flamingoes appear to walk on water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The highlight was seeing the National Bird of Trinidad, the Scarlet Ibis. We feared we wouldn’t see any but in fact, we saw thousands of the bright red birds, all flying to one specific island just before sunset where they gathered to roost.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A breathtaking sight!</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQy-px8tIBxa3xUuKbkHdQ466co8W3Ec_0GFDXCktOU5Sz_zSyfAVlWeGZ9KrI0Bh_EZCneNF-R6M7kKg6sBd_tkuYo4fP_-wOBf9PSpLFPacpldOHozfWDmhvURDUqJdd-q86PlNBWBNu/s1600/scarletibisroosting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQy-px8tIBxa3xUuKbkHdQ466co8W3Ec_0GFDXCktOU5Sz_zSyfAVlWeGZ9KrI0Bh_EZCneNF-R6M7kKg6sBd_tkuYo4fP_-wOBf9PSpLFPacpldOHozfWDmhvURDUqJdd-q86PlNBWBNu/s400/scarletibisroosting.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Ibis roost on this island. Immature birds inside,<br />and adults (bright red) roost on the outside of bushes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">Unashamedly, this post has become a promo for Jesse James. What he offers is truly a unique glimpse of the real Trinidad.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">The cruise ships do not offer tours like his. Basically, only the people arriving by sailboat are enjoying these tours and they are spectacular. Bravo to Jesse James.</span></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5cUCJ7WpMtKK-NBQxqW8nBuWH7n06yuFh91rhcxCmbLX8r9RvTqVvxpz1LMuB7p57RlfVQaYXcOlhmovK8g_NHiq3yQJIBryVNWJqqAt0czl0K94SQd4I_MLkxV0ep084W3PqweIEOyD/s1600/flyingscarletibis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5cUCJ7WpMtKK-NBQxqW8nBuWH7n06yuFh91rhcxCmbLX8r9RvTqVvxpz1LMuB7p57RlfVQaYXcOlhmovK8g_NHiq3yQJIBryVNWJqqAt0czl0K94SQd4I_MLkxV0ep084W3PqweIEOyD/s640/flyingscarletibis.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Ibis gather by the thousands at end of day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2721421598894340582.post-81857179171654555232019-01-08T14:24:00.000-06:002019-01-08T14:36:29.566-06:00Riding the Tide<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 12.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KP_SD295ute-opUxfKPYYap0Js9TGoktE6IYInXnt7a8cYQG8pCM9jGjw5WLdQbGks4EwFVu4la4hB6EhMR2b5VIol2g-ClMuGRfhN4hD4j0vQodQ2ihFuTkBHUSm-gLynnh7kMHgIHl/s1600/P7200114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KP_SD295ute-opUxfKPYYap0Js9TGoktE6IYInXnt7a8cYQG8pCM9jGjw5WLdQbGks4EwFVu4la4hB6EhMR2b5VIol2g-ClMuGRfhN4hD4j0vQodQ2ihFuTkBHUSm-gLynnh7kMHgIHl/s320/P7200114.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Six to eat one sundae. Perfect.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">You know, it wasn’t our choice to spend the last 6 months in Minnesota. It wasn’t part of “the plan.” The first three months in the States—May through July, yes. Three months that were orchestrated precisely to include two visits to Carl’s sisters in Memphis, the second visit for a celebration of the life of Carl’s mom who died last December.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf4Wp98yNqm9nHaWUfBgX1gAOohZTnV9vrQ7MbTHPvlTfnrTluBAH6nmYeGTM5OXNH-E9_fexignQGghsts90PJC7v3mwvURVmZEjYNnXj6Q-TfMuBt_Niqf16nJe-EsCi9W6l7aF1fut/s1600/karensdiaries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="585" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf4Wp98yNqm9nHaWUfBgX1gAOohZTnV9vrQ7MbTHPvlTfnrTluBAH6nmYeGTM5OXNH-E9_fexignQGghsts90PJC7v3mwvURVmZEjYNnXj6Q-TfMuBt_Niqf16nJe-EsCi9W6l7aF1fut/s400/karensdiaries.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebration of Karen Richards' life, Memphis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">We had two weeks in southeastern MN with my six siblings, two weeks in Portland, Oregon with my children, and a week in Chicago with Carl’s son.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wuuI5_cLmvsklpq6wrBPDTuE-TO7FuttECZRvsu-4Nsd_H8rMzqHzWQFAFfYLnHiWVe8qbCEFtMWuOhnNNlIpdNvUzRfbo4-KFd-e1x15-BUrpyMgOwqMgdx5_QeNqO4FArG19HfZOPL/s1600/P6170289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1600" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wuuI5_cLmvsklpq6wrBPDTuE-TO7FuttECZRvsu-4Nsd_H8rMzqHzWQFAFfYLnHiWVe8qbCEFtMWuOhnNNlIpdNvUzRfbo4-KFd-e1x15-BUrpyMgOwqMgdx5_QeNqO4FArG19HfZOPL/s640/P6170289.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A winery tour south of Portland, OR</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">We visited friends in Oriental and Raleigh, North Carolina as well as Washington D.C. as we made our way from East Coast to Midwest by car. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_IU2L7Wkw5XlThOSrMfb40Wvx9NRM63I4eEkN9qj52Vk4iOLZWw3k87oCITEY17CDub6dkb6tQ3UIBfnAMI9FZv35EWjth5OQ04Haw1RG97N2XBMIkmWFSNoX3tUztDCqsMHM7Rqh-Nk/s1600/IMG_2973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1138" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_IU2L7Wkw5XlThOSrMfb40Wvx9NRM63I4eEkN9qj52Vk4iOLZWw3k87oCITEY17CDub6dkb6tQ3UIBfnAMI9FZv35EWjth5OQ04Haw1RG97N2XBMIkmWFSNoX3tUztDCqsMHM7Rqh-Nk/s320/IMG_2973.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting Jax in D.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">We saw a group of friends that I worked with in Decorah after graduate school, and with friends I worked with at Gillette Children’s years ago. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtz8gPyhj9tYaifhTD_ddmmvo54el9QZbHXRpMPgxNQjyT-5x6OYdkK11AXJVPuHjvHDMxCDy0VAzoiSWLlHmamqJhHAakvb3V9ZY-aZhnRjdNc4L7L8_Auw1m2M7wKJC9K5dcrdNkF8h/s1600/P6130015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="1600" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtz8gPyhj9tYaifhTD_ddmmvo54el9QZbHXRpMPgxNQjyT-5x6OYdkK11AXJVPuHjvHDMxCDy0VAzoiSWLlHmamqJhHAakvb3V9ZY-aZhnRjdNc4L7L8_Auw1m2M7wKJC9K5dcrdNkF8h/s320/P6130015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends from my years <br />at Gillette Children's </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">We even saw an old friend of Carl’s in Newport, Oregon. and Carl’s high school friends in Memphis. All planned visits. But the last six months? Entirely unplanned.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_kem0i-fA-oNwQdgKFMtkLBenuOYsE0_z2wHepOpXEetPeSsF8NM5T4t0AU9eANmyFvZO3d0qdlVIHAP_IVN2XmhLt6ELt-HwPof6aAaXMCpJuQIAORyMSp1L4bfwrXW5gzXL1DF_gVo/s1600/P6220640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="1600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_kem0i-fA-oNwQdgKFMtkLBenuOYsE0_z2wHepOpXEetPeSsF8NM5T4t0AU9eANmyFvZO3d0qdlVIHAP_IVN2XmhLt6ELt-HwPof6aAaXMCpJuQIAORyMSp1L4bfwrXW5gzXL1DF_gVo/s320/P6220640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">friends in Newport, OR</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">However, because we stayed in Minnesota the past six months, we had time to entertain my siblings in Duluth and north in September.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We made it to a surprise birthday party for Carl’s cousin in Detroit; time with old friends in Ann Arbor, MI, Windsor, Ontario and Detroit. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn4QWRtOhE3fMyHCBk_LcjW17sg-N_dawvW-DTKjTR0yDrM3xAyKkY-oDgGFIvdUt8i7VFabCYUbzPoMfd190EX6UBIm52MJPoMW1RKKIIKvosE0esWHPXMhZLslrNGfCGXAHlumw0Flr/s1600/P9180187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn4QWRtOhE3fMyHCBk_LcjW17sg-N_dawvW-DTKjTR0yDrM3xAyKkY-oDgGFIvdUt8i7VFabCYUbzPoMfd190EX6UBIm52MJPoMW1RKKIIKvosE0esWHPXMhZLslrNGfCGXAHlumw0Flr/s320/P9180187.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann Arbor friend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">We had time for a “lutefisk” dinner with our Duluth Yacht Club racing crew (minus the lutefisk); time with a dear cousin that I hadn’t seen in years in Waukon, Iowa.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSISwm30BBCpe3zqjC_vjWCgkXYRdCcqY7SETGHIKRcgckx-FtOQVua5kPT4QpEPnpf2BMGVHb-4S9973heBbHikRExUAz4DPWBX8LajkiRG9oiHUM8BMG3P3pGeCF3D7KvUyckIypZvY0/s1600/P9150072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1452" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSISwm30BBCpe3zqjC_vjWCgkXYRdCcqY7SETGHIKRcgckx-FtOQVua5kPT4QpEPnpf2BMGVHb-4S9973heBbHikRExUAz4DPWBX8LajkiRG9oiHUM8BMG3P3pGeCF3D7KvUyckIypZvY0/s320/P9150072.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Racing in the Bay, Duluth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Because we were still in Minnesota, we were here to welcome Carl’s daughter back from her Colombian Peace Corps tour in October. We were here when my children came in October for their cousin’s wedding on the North Shore. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5FW-MuQv2q_wCrRWomemeP9tVFsCiZBTlCZc4wpgjNG_IUK7fBAtTtrHaaxl_BPJ9QclefXye2cYmP2O-88MBSU77pgo_5q5eil4RsFv5uFWOKQJFhVURC-ft8D1GdtCf7m66CZ-eyDM/s1600/PA070017+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5FW-MuQv2q_wCrRWomemeP9tVFsCiZBTlCZc4wpgjNG_IUK7fBAtTtrHaaxl_BPJ9QclefXye2cYmP2O-88MBSU77pgo_5q5eil4RsFv5uFWOKQJFhVURC-ft8D1GdtCf7m66CZ-eyDM/s640/PA070017+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carl and I with my children and my son's girlfriend, October </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">We were still in Minnesota for a leisurely Christmas celebration with both of our daughters, something that hadn’t occurred in three years. And there was so much more. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisVaWLzD_k4J6ssyOLMwQBup-P72myHiNvZykYJA7N7soRNx2-TUJSq5jXOXU5vy2oZ1uzTLChWf6Yu3OcmQg0G-KsPlcQL-_0iKhadnJ1fSPaHlh3IKH2ZSFUemMvpi3zmpvzhfFTl6k/s1600/PA310199+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1323" data-original-width="1545" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisVaWLzD_k4J6ssyOLMwQBup-P72myHiNvZykYJA7N7soRNx2-TUJSq5jXOXU5vy2oZ1uzTLChWf6Yu3OcmQg0G-KsPlcQL-_0iKhadnJ1fSPaHlh3IKH2ZSFUemMvpi3zmpvzhfFTl6k/s320/PA310199+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuz we're Cousins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">We enjoyed not one but two trips to Canada with friends for a week at their lovely off-the-grid cabin in Ontario; another visit with friends at a 1930’s rustic cabin in northern Minnesota with other friends; and many, many gatherings in Duluth. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHv09xnLert55hVZ0zTfF8kxzMYfJUD-uAtkwUOc7sKkj60ypHNZLqvz86ArdiaHOm5iFfqA6j7JwW34mUQDtxpbysMVyc9fLE5HA__DH8Hu1RXw05LYH6TU2Pyft56L7CXMdqrTx564TB/s1600/P9030058+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHv09xnLert55hVZ0zTfF8kxzMYfJUD-uAtkwUOc7sKkj60ypHNZLqvz86ArdiaHOm5iFfqA6j7JwW34mUQDtxpbysMVyc9fLE5HA__DH8Hu1RXw05LYH6TU2Pyft56L7CXMdqrTx564TB/s640/P9030058+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends' cabin in Ontario, accessible by water only</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">We felt at times like celebrities. It seemed that all of our friends wanted to host a dinner or other gathering at their homes “before you head back to the boat.” Needless to say, we obliged just about every time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjz0W0K94ulJ4OaYceRYfdg4tgy0fY7gUAAcZmabi6hyphenhyphen-w0bdFqbCevn-n9fnDXPdzubH1-JKuftzsJ-ABTYTuHDxjFT3R1hfr8OATbuAm7dPmbOILDaui1BzHVjFEx7kjdbcQHeLMIAW/s1600/P8120103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1359" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjz0W0K94ulJ4OaYceRYfdg4tgy0fY7gUAAcZmabi6hyphenhyphen-w0bdFqbCevn-n9fnDXPdzubH1-JKuftzsJ-ABTYTuHDxjFT3R1hfr8OATbuAm7dPmbOILDaui1BzHVjFEx7kjdbcQHeLMIAW/s320/P8120103.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A masterful paella outdoors<br />on Barr's Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">There were gatherings at other locations too—at the new crop of Duluth microbreweries and restaurants that have sprung up during our last four years living on the boat. Carl’s daughter is of the opinion that we have social engagements several times per week. It was nearly an accurate observation.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjjjg8yOh678q6iOPXrD-8V9cU7KJ6fJVnuHV_MW4DuXLTuchksyUcHcvB2obe_qdSoVn1UDs-xBmM5-cJGY5YsD24Pm_-ah4kWb8wEZh7W_XNPhB2rLeaagoXfph6-dvq2Wp64f19QOT/s1600/PC150667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="1600" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjjjg8yOh678q6iOPXrD-8V9cU7KJ6fJVnuHV_MW4DuXLTuchksyUcHcvB2obe_qdSoVn1UDs-xBmM5-cJGY5YsD24Pm_-ah4kWb8wEZh7W_XNPhB2rLeaagoXfph6-dvq2Wp64f19QOT/s320/PC150667.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Christmas celebration.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Our friends took good care of us these last months. They fed us. They entertained us.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Two of them loaned me their sewing machines to satisfy my sewing obsession; one loaned us a second car to have over the holidays; one stored our car while we flew to Oregon; one is storing our car indoors for the next several months and also housed us for months. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl_Qs6k1N9PP7ioI9bCMV_eXCX7zJMgjuNtOlOtN-BT19TVecVSVmqIFN69jBuaOsNrwpi8fw8Hy_1eMvxoCwGneUG2aAd2ksFKtiKUvDzxjJFiTT6Ofvp0KOYOEAYIDlLiKFiJORPhCE/s1600/P1000679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl_Qs6k1N9PP7ioI9bCMV_eXCX7zJMgjuNtOlOtN-BT19TVecVSVmqIFN69jBuaOsNrwpi8fw8Hy_1eMvxoCwGneUG2aAd2ksFKtiKUvDzxjJFiTT6Ofvp0KOYOEAYIDlLiKFiJORPhCE/s320/P1000679.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's nice to watch the children<br />of friends grow up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Yesterday, one of them picked us up at the cabin, fed us dinner and brought us to the shuttle which took us to the MSP airport in the middle of the night.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHTY9Vk7lVWuKMWTSUiLiTM7A4cC1hPHn0pvfGT5phGgpRpbQgvo9FwL1_RCOjrrVLoF-2IBE8hTRwSA6rLqg0OSk66Dk3Q59Ds8NTNfkoDC0ZMeF0qLhmN06-9kTBsxgmuC1ze7zMP-K/s1600/P9130121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHTY9Vk7lVWuKMWTSUiLiTM7A4cC1hPHn0pvfGT5phGgpRpbQgvo9FwL1_RCOjrrVLoF-2IBE8hTRwSA6rLqg0OSk66Dk3Q59Ds8NTNfkoDC0ZMeF0qLhmN06-9kTBsxgmuC1ze7zMP-K/s320/P9130121.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1930's cabins on Dewey Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">It’s important to say that we appreciated the expertise and warm humanity of the Mayo Clinic providers in Rochester. We were so thankful to be where we were for Carl’s treatment. We couldn’t be more impressed with them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMfQwy-KzIvYxBfhUR2ECZsnyl-Ae_qoMKiKqZfGp8CctUYuXxfzT2jr4K5UAokUaCmSb3WCp3LG-Gv1KRKCuQRu0IsxkZ3zD67AqXeAznDGq00YHMySDpdD5r7j1SZ3ZgS7Sd6xXxVRN/s1600/PC120567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMfQwy-KzIvYxBfhUR2ECZsnyl-Ae_qoMKiKqZfGp8CctUYuXxfzT2jr4K5UAokUaCmSb3WCp3LG-Gv1KRKCuQRu0IsxkZ3zD67AqXeAznDGq00YHMySDpdD5r7j1SZ3ZgS7Sd6xXxVRN/s320/PC120567.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayo Clinic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Beyond that, there are so many beautiful moments I can conjure up; moments that I otherwise would not have experienced—an outdoor hot tub in 40 F gazing at a bright, full moon; orange sunsets over the lakes in Ontario and over Island Lake where we stayed the last six months. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UZCA0HFZEs1cCG2tgMfSv3YSlniSr4_lhCibiKedS0pG9yw34TKbskFo5XpvXzyALptEY7P-pZrS8NAhy0KXLrTQwKoQp-T_DHszZ6PCVwFbFAH2uulhuxdBpIGQQvQ4lxPbyEw8BCBh/s1600/P1000580+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1600" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UZCA0HFZEs1cCG2tgMfSv3YSlniSr4_lhCibiKedS0pG9yw34TKbskFo5XpvXzyALptEY7P-pZrS8NAhy0KXLrTQwKoQp-T_DHszZ6PCVwFbFAH2uulhuxdBpIGQQvQ4lxPbyEw8BCBh/s640/P1000580+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View on side of cabin, Island Lake. Winter doesn't get much<br />more beautiful than this!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">We saw a heavy snowfall that decorated all the evergreens of northern Minnesota in the most beautiful thick white frosting; and all those times we looked up randomly from our books or computers to find our deer pals peering into the windows at us. “Hey, you guys got anything for us in there today? Seeds? Fruit? We are particularly fond of apples.”</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9WPQVzFECBnWollITMfh7zSrhGVNXN2OrdyCIwcZ3Csq06UWagRD3IBjnCBgQGmaTMQ17zonCVPVjtbzFy-wvyR-LOSilY3v7vgNVIjiCkOSue4T7lHjt2V_l5FIC85GFLEzHI-Y5kAx/s1600/P1000492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="1600" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9WPQVzFECBnWollITMfh7zSrhGVNXN2OrdyCIwcZ3Csq06UWagRD3IBjnCBgQGmaTMQ17zonCVPVjtbzFy-wvyR-LOSilY3v7vgNVIjiCkOSue4T7lHjt2V_l5FIC85GFLEzHI-Y5kAx/s400/P1000492.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hello?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">It goes without saying that you just can’t plan everything in life. Oh, you can try, but in the end, things are going to happen and all you can do is ride along with the tides. You can fight the waves, but you won’t win. You don’t always get what you want but often times, I think that the best things happen outside of “the plan.” </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNaYtEem6MPB2E_GD3uUGFw0Ts333v8xssLo-E2OIxN-oxVvxw1vM-yuumPeiZZTlAc9NiGN9wKcUdWMnASYuE9Z9v-j4HR1eOXfGzgGH_ZjOFbhINAIha7YYZTPq8Km8jtOtir-Bb8KT/s1600/P1000696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="1600" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNaYtEem6MPB2E_GD3uUGFw0Ts333v8xssLo-E2OIxN-oxVvxw1vM-yuumPeiZZTlAc9NiGN9wKcUdWMnASYuE9Z9v-j4HR1eOXfGzgGH_ZjOFbhINAIha7YYZTPq8Km8jtOtir-Bb8KT/s320/P1000696.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George played and I sang for<br />residents at Marywood after Christmas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">I can’t imagine any better experience than being warmly welcomed back into the fold of our community of friends. As if we’d never left. As if in our absence, we have learned to love each of them more. As if we have become, in their eyes, more wonderful, more precious than we were before. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBKzmnuE44saOwdj27xeZM56O6wuA7if7mC7frVDtmlUX3vjpw0slFT-z8biNxJETzTo-cE6PO-XxQg-ixOJlM_AktwGnDPrBLgB4i6x1-kfjs7c6Df7CrpJILFGv1BivvAXDeusAbuES/s1600/PC220565+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBKzmnuE44saOwdj27xeZM56O6wuA7if7mC7frVDtmlUX3vjpw0slFT-z8biNxJETzTo-cE6PO-XxQg-ixOJlM_AktwGnDPrBLgB4i6x1-kfjs7c6Df7CrpJILFGv1BivvAXDeusAbuES/s400/PC220565+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My family of origin and spouses, Spring<br />Grove, Minnesota</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">I’m sure we would have enjoyed returning to our home on the water six months ago, but really, would that have made our lives any richer than the unplanned six months in northern Minnesota? I am certain it would not.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWM7Hx2IOgDoIHLyRBHQLFJ5VVR3XVbwf-U6Etkeo3Dl2ZYuCgUExP3BKSAAVsuDC92vu13idY_-noCG9BuItFRUnPPfdtPrPNlMpxi5pPL4wg74zpVafwOG_qCHpwSZ8j2L_djk1KgElb/s1600/PC180454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1600" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWM7Hx2IOgDoIHLyRBHQLFJ5VVR3XVbwf-U6Etkeo3Dl2ZYuCgUExP3BKSAAVsuDC92vu13idY_-noCG9BuItFRUnPPfdtPrPNlMpxi5pPL4wg74zpVafwOG_qCHpwSZ8j2L_djk1KgElb/s640/PC180454.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Christmas gathering that has become tradition<br />with friends from St. Mary's Hospital</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />Ardys Brevig Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097539660239873763noreply@blogger.com0