Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: Two Weeks Later

Two weeks after northeastern Japan was struck by a massive earthquake and tsunami, the cost of the disaster is becoming clearer. The Japanese government has estimated the direct damage at as much as $310 billion, making it the world's costliest-ever natural disaster. As of today, more than 10,000 deaths have been confirmed and another 17,000 people remain missing.
Story and photographs here... Japan: Two weeks later.

Manatees

Those cute cuddly teddy bears of our southern waterways. All us boater types enjoy gawking at them as they unassertively paddle around the marinas and estuaries down here in Florida.
But, few know that they can be quite humorous as shown in the youtube below.



Or the manic, menacing monsters you will witness in the youtube on page 2.
Warning Graphic Video!

Nothing new to report

Company has left and things are settling back into the normal groove; which is nice.
Found this interesting little music streaming site. Check it out Stereo Mood
Music for any occasion if you like their rather obscure playlist.

Anyway...  here's a picture just to brighten up the page a bit.

Radar as a pup on the beach in the Abacos.

And for those who have paid attention to us for a while, you'll remember our old Sadie and the pup Radar. 

Radar and Sadie's first trip on Istaboa.

So —for now— we work on the yearly task of preparing taxes, do a little maintenance on Istaboa, and wait for a good weather window in April to head for the islands.

Thanks for keeping up with us, we promise to do something interesting soon.

Adios,

Istaboa

Piracy puts an end to circumnavigator's dreams

 

Sadly, it seems the risk far outweighs the desire for adventure.

Below is an email posted by the crew of Doramac:

I guess its time I admitted to the list and to myself that our dreams of a
circumnavigation will remain just that, a dream. Were still traveling on Dora
Mac and still enjoying the lifestyle but the passage from Cochin, India across
the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea just became too dangerous.

The rest of the story on page 2. (interesting read)

Incredible swarms of fish caused by Japanese tsunami?

While surfing around this morning, I came across this story.
Interesting.

The shores of Acapulco’s beaches were this weekend teeming with masses of fish packed so tightly they looked like an oil slick from above.

Thousands of sardines, anchovies, stripped bass and mackerel surged along the coast of the Mexican resort in an event believed to be linked to the devastating Japanese tsunami.
 More on page 2.

Amazing! Two dogs survive the Tsunami

A little bit of good news emerges from so much bad.



The massive tsunami destroyed most of the neighborhood in Sendai where Kikushi Kayo and her father live. But somehow their two dogs, Toya and Melody, survived.

Nordhavn 75 EYF in Tsunami's current at Dana Point, CA

Saw this today on Trawlerblogs and thought I would pass it along.
Bet this got the Captain's attention.

日本のための多くの悲哀

Not sure "Best Japanese Films" should be the heading for this clip, but it's a very dramatic and tragic clip that shows much of the devastation of this beautiful island and the pain of these poor people.

Watashi no nihongo wa heta desu
Higeki...
kishi kaisei


... Istaboa

Exumas' elusive Bonefish

Aren't so elusive, as a matter of fact at Compass Cay they're downright friendly —  if you happen to have something they like to eat.

Our friend Will sent us these pics, he has a knack for this kind of thing. Mel calls him a fish whisperer.
Looks like the weather is beautiful down there. Can't wait for May.

When the Bonies come in, there are hundreds of them.

 Of course you should understand, Compass is like a small wildlife preserve. No fishing from the docks. So all the fish seem to cohabitate nicely with the other fish as well as we bi-ped mammals.
Some of the best snorkeling in area is directly under the docks.


Soon.... very soon.

Adios,

Istaboa

That's interesting...

The Madgeburg Water Bridge in Germany

Happy Anniversary

To us.

28 years

Time flies when you're having fun

Cheers!

Still playing with pictures...

Went out this evening and shot a lot of pics at slow shutter speeds in low light. Usually a drive-by photographer, I've never shot this way before. It's a lot of trouble carrying around a tripod, tinkering with all the buttons and knobs on the camera, so I normally take hip shooting pics with a camera in one hand and a cocktail in the other.
But, you know, we have a lot of time on our hands so why not do a little experimentation.
Out of the 30 or so shots, I did come out with a few nice ones... or we think so anyway.

So... The weekend is coming up which means more sounds and smells from the restaurants.
After a quiet week, a little commotion is kinda nice.

Hope you all have a good weekend,

Adios,

Istaboa

Hearing the drums from the Exumas

While we're hanging out in Stuart, (quite nicely, I might add) our good buddy Cap'n Will is helping out on Exodus.
Arnie and Susan aboard Exodus are friends we've known for years, they have just made the run and are now tied up at our favorite little island paradise, Compass Cay. It appears they've found a good Crawfish hole somewhere around Highborne Cay.
We can only imagine how good dinner was last night. Fresh Lobster!
More on page 2