Health, happiness, prosperity, and peace...
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Making preparations... for the New Year and Next Adventure
Crew Istaboa has not put any plans in stone as of yet and we probably won't. We enjoy being a bit fickle about our cruising objectives. Freedom's just another word for not sticking to plans. (sorry Kris)
But, we've been busy making preparations for a move. One reason for going to Fort Myers was to find out what'd stopped working since our return from the islands last year.
There weren't many.
One of our original GPS transducers had finally gone on the blink. Circa 2002
Our VHF antennae seemed to have put on fur coats. So those had to be replaced. Also almost 10yrs old
We've decided we need to finally add that Isolation Transformer we've talked about for years... and If anyone has any thoughts or ideas along those lines, please send us an email or comment. Istaboa@gmail.com
When we get back, an autopilot calibration is in order. Loaded on new versions of, both, Nobeltec and Coastal Explorer and they aren't speaking the same language as the autopilots.
Been tinkering with the WiFi bridge aboard in hopes of speeding up throughput. Mainly because we've hooked up an Apple TV system for downloading movies... I know, I'm a geek... Mel tells me daily. I want my HDTV!
Also gonna try out MacENC just to see how the Apples handle the navigational tasks... Probably very well.
Going through our inventory to be sure we have the spares required when visiting the islands.
Rule #1: When in the islands, if you don't have it, you probably can't get it. Unless you pay a fortune to fly it in.
Rule #2: Read Rule #1.
So plans.... Maybe not the islands and go up to the Northeast instead? Never done that past the Chesapeake. Maybe go to the islands and do some more WiFi work? Maybe both? Who knows?
We'll see...
A Happy New Year Video (you have probably seen) Cute...
better ... Happy New Year
Adios,
Istaboa
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
R.I.P.... Cheetah
I loved watching this guy on Tarzan. My favorite was, "Tarzan goes to New York", when Cheetah uses the telephone.
Cheetah the chimpanzee, who acted in classic Tarzan movies in
the early 1930s, died of kidney failure Saturday at Suncoast Primate
Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, a sanctuary spokeswoman said.
Cheetah was roughly 80 years old, loved fingerpainting and football and was soothed by nondenominational Christian music, said Debbie Cobb, the sanctuary's outreach director.
He was an outgoing chimp who was exposed to the public his whole life, Cobb said today.
"He wasn't a chimp that caused a lot of problems," she said.
Cheetah acted in the 1932-34 Tarzan movies, Cobb said. Movies filmed during that timeframe starred Johnny Weissmuller and include "Tarzan and His Mate" and "Tarzan the Ape Man," according to the Internet Movie Database.
Sometime around 1960, Cheetah came to the sanctuary from Weissmuller's estate in Ocala, Cobb said.
In the wild, the average chimp survives 25 to 35 years and at zoos chimps typically live 35 to 45 years, she said.
Cheetah, the most famous of the sanctuary's 15 chimpanzees, liked to see people laugh.
"He was very compassionate," Cobb said. "He could tell if I was having a good day or a bad day. He was always trying to get me to laugh if he thought I was having a bad day. He was very in tune to human feelings."
Ron Priest, a sanctuary volunteer for seven years, said Cheetah stood out because of his ability to stand up – shoulders tall, back straight – and walk like a person.
Cheetah also stood out for another reason, Priest said: "When he didn't like somebody or something that was going on, he would pick up some poop and throw it at them. He could get you at 30 feet with bars in between."
It doesn't appear Cheetah had any children, Cobb said.
Cheetah put a lot of thought into his art, though if he was tired he would give up easily and not play with it much.
He wasn't into watching animal shows on television, but he enjoyed watching all the color and movement when football appeared on screen. Cobb wasn't aware of whether Cheetah had any favorite teams.
"I couldn't ask him that," she said. "I'm not a chimp psychic."
Cheetah was roughly 80 years old, loved fingerpainting and football and was soothed by nondenominational Christian music, said Debbie Cobb, the sanctuary's outreach director.
He was an outgoing chimp who was exposed to the public his whole life, Cobb said today.
"He wasn't a chimp that caused a lot of problems," she said.
Cheetah acted in the 1932-34 Tarzan movies, Cobb said. Movies filmed during that timeframe starred Johnny Weissmuller and include "Tarzan and His Mate" and "Tarzan the Ape Man," according to the Internet Movie Database.
Sometime around 1960, Cheetah came to the sanctuary from Weissmuller's estate in Ocala, Cobb said.
In the wild, the average chimp survives 25 to 35 years and at zoos chimps typically live 35 to 45 years, she said.
Cheetah, the most famous of the sanctuary's 15 chimpanzees, liked to see people laugh.
"He was very compassionate," Cobb said. "He could tell if I was having a good day or a bad day. He was always trying to get me to laugh if he thought I was having a bad day. He was very in tune to human feelings."
Ron Priest, a sanctuary volunteer for seven years, said Cheetah stood out because of his ability to stand up – shoulders tall, back straight – and walk like a person.
Cheetah also stood out for another reason, Priest said: "When he didn't like somebody or something that was going on, he would pick up some poop and throw it at them. He could get you at 30 feet with bars in between."
It doesn't appear Cheetah had any children, Cobb said.
Cheetah put a lot of thought into his art, though if he was tired he would give up easily and not play with it much.
He wasn't into watching animal shows on television, but he enjoyed watching all the color and movement when football appeared on screen. Cobb wasn't aware of whether Cheetah had any favorite teams.
"I couldn't ask him that," she said. "I'm not a chimp psychic."
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
New guitar...
Present to myself and goodwill for a friend in need...
Check out the fret markers... Gotta play this one at Compass Cay
Carbon Fiber... should be a really good boat guitar. Moisture can't hurt it.
Adios,
Istaboa
Check out the fret markers... Gotta play this one at Compass Cay
Adios,
Istaboa
Saturday, December 24, 2011
So this is Christmas
War is over... One, at least... and for that, we thank you Mr. President.
Wishing a Very Merry Christmas for the Troops and their Families
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Great pics
I wish they were mine...
Nat Geo's photo contest
But this one is mine and it won photo of the day on Mobli. Ever heard of Mobli? It's kinda like twitter, but you don't say anything... Take a pic with your phone or camera and post it. It's a lot of fun and you see a lot of great photos. Mostly just folks having fun. Click Mobli
Photo of the day...
Our good friend Richard... There's a long story in those eyes. We'll tell you what we know someday.
Adios,
Istaboa
But this one is mine and it won photo of the day on Mobli. Ever heard of Mobli? It's kinda like twitter, but you don't say anything... Take a pic with your phone or camera and post it. It's a lot of fun and you see a lot of great photos. Mostly just folks having fun. Click Mobli
Photo of the day...
Our good friend Richard... There's a long story in those eyes. We'll tell you what we know someday.
Adios,
Istaboa
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Sad News...
Just received an email from Ken Williams passing on the bad news.
The Nordhavn 62 Grey Pearl has burned in Phuket, Thailand.
From Grey Pearl's blog.
It is with such a heavy heart that I write this last and final blog of the good ship Grey Pearl.
Early in December, while we were spending the winter at our home in Virginia away from our boat, we received one of life’s dreaded phone calls. Our beloved ‘Grey Pearl’ N6208 was on fire in her slip at Yacht Haven Marina in Phuket, Thailand. The fire started in the early evening of Dec. 6th, 2011, and was detected shortly thereafter. The fire quickly became uncontrollable and threatened the marina and other boats. The marina staff and some brave yachtsmen scrambled to remove her from the slip, tow her up a nearby river and run her aground where she continued to burn for almost another day. Needless to say we are devastated by this horrible tragedy.
In order to tend to this matter and our responsibilities, Braun & I immediately flew from our home in Virginia to Thailand.
Of course, the hardest and saddest moment was to see her…it is impossible to describe the heartbreak. To see the pilothouse wheel resting on the charred Lugger main engine…we were overcome. The raging fire had consumed her down to the water line. To put her to rest, we had a “viewing” on a Thursday…and her “burial” with flowers and a final good by on Friday.
Although heartbroken, we do understand how lucky we are…no one was injured! And the damage would have been more catastrophic if not for the brave souls that worked quickly to get the boat out of the slip and thereby save the surrounding yachts and dock.
We’ve had 11 ½ years of absolutely wonderful experiences on the Pearl…and happily, we’ve been able to share that on board passion with so many friends & family. Often we’d sit on our aft “Lido” deck and reminisce about where she’s taken us…Gibraltar, Jounieh, Lebanon, Jementos, Bahamas, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Elba, Italy, Hong Kong, Barcelona, Aleutian Islands, Panama Canal, Haifa, Israel, Rome, Petropavlovsk, Russia, Bar Harbor, Me., Singapore, Athens…to name just a few.
I personally have never been more challenged, fulfilled and happier doing anything in my life than the time I’ve spent on my ‘Grey Pearl’. And…more importantly, she was a passion Braun & I enjoyed together. She will live on fondly in our hearts & memories…forever ~
We are still “processing” this calamity so it’s way too soon to say what our future plans will be…but there will be an Act II. The fun is not going to stop.
We’re OK…and, we have the love of family & friends we can count on to get through this painful time…
A special thanks to our dear friends, Carol & Steven Argosy on our buddy boat N62 ‘Seabird’. They remain in Phuket and we deeply regret having to temporarily leave the “Bird and Pearl” cruising team.
Sadly…Grey Pearl…Out –
Tina & Braun
The Nordhavn 62 Grey Pearl has burned in Phuket, Thailand.
It is with such a heavy heart that I write this last and final blog of the good ship Grey Pearl.
Early in December, while we were spending the winter at our home in Virginia away from our boat, we received one of life’s dreaded phone calls. Our beloved ‘Grey Pearl’ N6208 was on fire in her slip at Yacht Haven Marina in Phuket, Thailand. The fire started in the early evening of Dec. 6th, 2011, and was detected shortly thereafter. The fire quickly became uncontrollable and threatened the marina and other boats. The marina staff and some brave yachtsmen scrambled to remove her from the slip, tow her up a nearby river and run her aground where she continued to burn for almost another day. Needless to say we are devastated by this horrible tragedy.
In order to tend to this matter and our responsibilities, Braun & I immediately flew from our home in Virginia to Thailand.
Of course, the hardest and saddest moment was to see her…it is impossible to describe the heartbreak. To see the pilothouse wheel resting on the charred Lugger main engine…we were overcome. The raging fire had consumed her down to the water line. To put her to rest, we had a “viewing” on a Thursday…and her “burial” with flowers and a final good by on Friday.
Although heartbroken, we do understand how lucky we are…no one was injured! And the damage would have been more catastrophic if not for the brave souls that worked quickly to get the boat out of the slip and thereby save the surrounding yachts and dock.
We’ve had 11 ½ years of absolutely wonderful experiences on the Pearl…and happily, we’ve been able to share that on board passion with so many friends & family. Often we’d sit on our aft “Lido” deck and reminisce about where she’s taken us…Gibraltar, Jounieh, Lebanon, Jementos, Bahamas, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Elba, Italy, Hong Kong, Barcelona, Aleutian Islands, Panama Canal, Haifa, Israel, Rome, Petropavlovsk, Russia, Bar Harbor, Me., Singapore, Athens…to name just a few.
I personally have never been more challenged, fulfilled and happier doing anything in my life than the time I’ve spent on my ‘Grey Pearl’. And…more importantly, she was a passion Braun & I enjoyed together. She will live on fondly in our hearts & memories…forever ~
We are still “processing” this calamity so it’s way too soon to say what our future plans will be…but there will be an Act II. The fun is not going to stop.
We’re OK…and, we have the love of family & friends we can count on to get through this painful time…
A special thanks to our dear friends, Carol & Steven Argosy on our buddy boat N62 ‘Seabird’. They remain in Phuket and we deeply regret having to temporarily leave the “Bird and Pearl” cruising team.
Sadly…Grey Pearl…Out –
Tina & Braun
Monday, December 19, 2011
Merry Christmas
We celebrated ours last weekend. It was a bit hurried, but — as always — a lot of fun.
So...the real Christmas will be a very quiet one for us.
We're looking forward to New Year's Eve when our friends, Jim, Sandy, and Lulu, are coming to Memphis to help us ring in 2012. (Hope those Mayans were wrong) Radar's very excited, he's quite smitten with Lulu.
To all our friends, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays... Be you Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, any other religion or belief, our wishes are the same. May you and yours be happy, healthy, and safe.
Here's to 2012
Adios,
Istaboa
Friday, December 16, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
This can only mean one thing...
This is his, "Now where are we going?", look.
Home for the holidays. A very Memphis Christmas and New Year.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Back in Stuart again
We left Moore Haven at first light, heading east. Knowing it was going to be a long day for a slow boat we didn't dawdle. As we pulled into Moore Haven lock it appeared the water hyacinths had taken over the lock chamber, but we're used to that from the Tombigbee, so no big deal. We thought... Somehow we snagged a large clump somewhere under the boat and dragged it with us all the way across Florida. This slowed us down considerably. We're already a slow boat and to take a knot off our speed really screwed up the plan.
We tried every trick to shake it off, short of jumping in with a knife. I just wasn't up for the Jungle Jim maneuver. Then finally at the St. Lucie Lock as I'm talking to the lock operator; he points in the the water and asks, "Did you bring that all the way across with you?". I look at where he was pointing and sure enough there's a clump of the stuff the size of a large manatee.
Finally it had shaken loose with only 10 miles to go and darkness looming.
As the last ray of light darkened, we pulled into the slip, tired, happy, and wanting a stiff drink.
It was a fun run across the state. Met a lot of new folks and rekindled friendships with others.
Now for the holidays...
And for your listening pleasure, I end this post with... The Decemberist playing their tune, The Mariner's revenge song.
Enjoy.
Adios,
Istaboa
A one ana two ana....
We tried every trick to shake it off, short of jumping in with a knife. I just wasn't up for the Jungle Jim maneuver. Then finally at the St. Lucie Lock as I'm talking to the lock operator; he points in the the water and asks, "Did you bring that all the way across with you?". I look at where he was pointing and sure enough there's a clump of the stuff the size of a large manatee.
Finally it had shaken loose with only 10 miles to go and darkness looming.
As the last ray of light darkened, we pulled into the slip, tired, happy, and wanting a stiff drink.
It was a fun run across the state. Met a lot of new folks and rekindled friendships with others.
Now for the holidays...
And for your listening pleasure, I end this post with... The Decemberist playing their tune, The Mariner's revenge song.
Enjoy.
Adios,
Istaboa
A one ana two ana....
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Back in the water...
On the way over to Ft. Myers we stopped at River Forest Yachting Center in Moore Haven, FL for the night. While there we were offered a deal on a bottom job we just couldn't turn down. About half the price we normally pay to have it done.
The folks here at River Forest have been great. Not only did we get a great price, they way over delivered on service. Never have we had such a good experience at a boat yard.
They had it back in the water right on schedule. Even went the extra mile and bead blasted the shaft and spurs.
Looks like new...
Just for the fun of it... they painted the thruster shaft to look like an eye. The painters said if we come back, next time they would really get creative.
This is the first time in our boating life that we have left a boatyard happy. No unexpected charges and nothing but superb service. The way it should be done. Here's a link to River Forest Yachting Center.
I did some video, and will post it later, of the boat being placed back in the water that will show off the yard and equipment. Impressive.
It's so good to be home.
Tomorrow we run back across Lake Okeechobee to Stuart then we'll really be back home.
Adios,
Istaboa
The folks here at River Forest have been great. Not only did we get a great price, they way over delivered on service. Never have we had such a good experience at a boat yard.
They had it back in the water right on schedule. Even went the extra mile and bead blasted the shaft and spurs.
Looks like new...
This is the first time in our boating life that we have left a boatyard happy. No unexpected charges and nothing but superb service. The way it should be done. Here's a link to River Forest Yachting Center.
I did some video, and will post it later, of the boat being placed back in the water that will show off the yard and equipment. Impressive.
It's so good to be home.
Tomorrow we run back across Lake Okeechobee to Stuart then we'll really be back home.
Adios,
Istaboa
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Rough day at sea...
Jorge, a good friend we first met at Compass Cay sent this too me. Pretty amazing stuff. To these folks the perfect storm is a common occurance.
Remember the little albino seal that was abandoned?
Alas... It's found a home!! A happy ending to a story and a new beginning for Nafanya.
A ginger-haired seal pup who was rejected from her black seal tribe has a new home at the Akvatoria dolphinarium in Adler, Russia.
Nature photographer Anatoly Strakhov first took pictures of the animal on Russia's Tyuleniy Island in September, according to ABC News. The photographer told the Daily Mail, "the poor seal is almost blind and so was unlikely to survive in the wild."
Since then, images of the rare albino creature -- dubbed Nafanya -- have circulated the globe, spurring an outpouring of sympathy from the public.
"She now has a special enclosure with a pool, and two weeks after her arrival, people are already coming to see her," Yulia Frolova, head of the dolphinarium, told the Daily Mail. "She has a good appetite, and always seems in a happy mood. She is such an unusual seal with very beautiful bright blue eyes."
Though Nafanya is in quarantine for a month and can't play with fellow animals at the center just yet, the pup will be making plenty of virtual friends thanks to a webcam that will document her day to day living.
Other seals have been struggling as well. Hawaiian monk seals are listed as "critically endangered" on the IUCN Red List, possibly due in part to competition with fisheries over food, entanglement in nets, and habitat loss from rising sea levels.
An unknown disease has been killing ringed seals in Alaska, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposed last year listing the animal as threatened due to projected losses from climate change.
Rejected Ginger Seal Pup Finds A Home, Gets Webcam
A ginger-haired seal pup who was rejected from her black seal tribe has a new home at the Akvatoria dolphinarium in Adler, Russia.
Nature photographer Anatoly Strakhov first took pictures of the animal on Russia's Tyuleniy Island in September, according to ABC News. The photographer told the Daily Mail, "the poor seal is almost blind and so was unlikely to survive in the wild."
Since then, images of the rare albino creature -- dubbed Nafanya -- have circulated the globe, spurring an outpouring of sympathy from the public.
"She now has a special enclosure with a pool, and two weeks after her arrival, people are already coming to see her," Yulia Frolova, head of the dolphinarium, told the Daily Mail. "She has a good appetite, and always seems in a happy mood. She is such an unusual seal with very beautiful bright blue eyes."
Though Nafanya is in quarantine for a month and can't play with fellow animals at the center just yet, the pup will be making plenty of virtual friends thanks to a webcam that will document her day to day living.
Other seals have been struggling as well. Hawaiian monk seals are listed as "critically endangered" on the IUCN Red List, possibly due in part to competition with fisheries over food, entanglement in nets, and habitat loss from rising sea levels.
An unknown disease has been killing ringed seals in Alaska, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposed last year listing the animal as threatened due to projected losses from climate change.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Railto ~ Redux
We fired off some Iphone pics yesterday that didn't do this place justice. This marina is really pretty and unlike any marina we've ever tied up to before.
So we took a little walkabout to experience Rialto. Many have told us that the place was beautiful and they weren't exagerating.
Everywhere you look could only be described as... picturesque.
The marina is not very large. All side ties and maybe enough room for 10 boats, but the magic of this place is not the docks. A fellow named Bear helped us tie up and gave us a golf cart tour of the grounds. Very nice fellow that we later discovered was just a patron like we were. He was just being neighborly.
Then Steve, the fellow in charge, came by to get our info. He offered to send someone by later to build us a fire on the grounds next to our personal dock if we wanted to grill something out. A hickory wood fire grill did sound tempting, but we said no thanks, that wasn't necessary, maybe next time. (If we'd had a good steak... this would've been a different story.)
Folks could not have been any nicer.
Time has hidden the message, but if you enlarge, it says...
The owner and caretaker keep this place looking perfectly natural, yet manicured. It's truly a work of art. And did I say quiet? After staying a week in downtown Fort Myers (which we like a lot) Rialto was so quiet about the only thing you could hear was fish jumping, birds singing, and ears ringing.
I could go on and on, but I think the pictures will tell the rest of the story.
Pictures on page 2.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Tarzan land ~ Rialto
Marv took a really nice shot of Istaboa leaving Legacy.
Everything will be brief because we're doing it all via iphone.
This place is really unique.
The proprietors have done a wonderful job of making this marina an eco paradise.
If you're ever this way, check it out.
The last pic is from our last night at Legacy Harbour aboard Kasey's Choice.
 | |||||||||||
| Pete, Mel, Marilyn, and Donnie holding Cloe... Docktails |
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Back @ The Veranda
Appears we're heading back east.
Hit the Veranda for one more Happy Hour.
Oysters and Martinis!!
Hit the Veranda for one more Happy Hour.
Oysters and Martinis!!
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