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Our living room in Memphis.

My old Fender P bass with sailboat and the ruins of the Tennessee Brewer in the background.

It'll be nice to return home, whenever we do.

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 Flying over Andros, Bahamas... Looks a bit sci-fi

Bounty Hearings Begin – Chief Mate Testifies

 Photos of the HMS Bounty replica sinking during Superstorm Sandy Image: USCG

I learned this morning, after reading a message on the Nordhavn Owners Group Forum, that USCG hearings, investigating the sinking of the Replica of HMS Bounty, have begun.

In case you're unfamiliar with this tragedy at sea...


In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, when I first read of Bounty's demise, I puzzled over what the Captain was thinking... obviously others, including his peers, were too.

Cut from Gcaptain.com.
An article By Mario Vittone On February 12, 2013

With bruising and cuts to his face, broken bones in his hands, chest trauma, a twisted knee, and a dislocated shoulder, John Svendsen swam toward a strobe light.  The tall ship Bounty had just sunk underneath him. It was early in the morning – just after midnight really – of October 29th, last year.   He was likely the last person to see the ship’s captain, Robin Walbridge, alive as both men crawled across the foundering ship.  Several hours (and probably miles) later, Svendsen – the last Chief Mate of Bounty – was pulled from the Atlantic by a Coast Guard MH-60J – lucky to be alive.
This morning he was sitting alone at a desk at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth while Commander Kevin Carroll – the man assigned by the U.S.Coast Guard to investigate the incident – engaged him in hours of Q & A.  Today’s testimony – that included the details above – ended at about 4:00 PM Eastern.  By the time I drove home from the hearing, local reporters had already misrepresented Svendsen’s testimony.
Link to the article here.
 
Within this site are daily accounts of the inquiry to date. After reading most of it, one thing Mr. Vittone wrote about Captain Walbridge's decision to leave port and take Bounty to sea in a deadly storm sticks out.

He had faced down storms before and won, he had tangled with hurricanes and made it home, his experience was that if he headed into harm’s way, he would get away with it. He had clearly confused the lack of failure with success, and may have begun to truly believe his own advice. Maybe it was something else, I don’t know. Robin Walbridge, the last captain of Bounty, isn’t here to ask.

Istaboa

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Coffeeville Lock

Coffeeville, AL

The last lock on the Tenn-Tom... we haven't been back.

Oh Shit's Right!

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 Highborne Cay

What Is Hip?

Well... watch the video.  This young fellow will not only explain "hip", but he'll recite the history of this intangible and elusive attitude that is the phenomenon known as "hip". Hep Cats to Hippies to Hipsters.
(I remember, as a kid from Arkansas; once I figured out what was hip, it wasn't hip anymore.)

This is just one short blurb from a series of YouTube videos that are cleverly produced little glimpses into the underexposed lifestyles — or subcultures — hiding in plain site amongst us.
Everything from Sushi Chefs to Barbers, from Superheroes to Sneaker Collectors are examined in these entertaining and illuminating little vignettes brought to you by Trash Lab and titled, The Subculture Club.
(Yes... Ashton Kutcher is the Executive Producer.)

Hmmm... we cruising boater types are an odd lot... maybe...?

It's short and worth the bandwidth. (Skip the add.)

Enjoy

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Arrf Matey

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Have a good weekend, everyone.

Cheers,

Istaboa

More Dogs and Dolphins

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Catch O' The Day

Mahi-Mahi

Surf's up...

Not sure if it would be safer as a spectator... appears as if they're about to be smashed by a tsunami.

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Blue Monday

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Thinkin' bout Memphis

The Memphis Beat

Down the Mississippi where the water gets muddy
Forty-four school where the kids don't study
Well they all hang around at the root of Beale Street
Oh gonna dance all night to that Memphis Beat

I'm going to Memphis where the beat is tough
Memphis, I can't get enough
It makes you tremble and it makes you weak
It's in your blood, that Memphis Beat

Whoo They're hitch-hikin' here from California
Ridin' on a Honda from Arizona
Houston, Boston, Kansas City
We got New Orleans and a doo wa diddy

Yeah, I'm going to Memphis where the beat is tough
Memphis, I can't get enough
It makes you tremble and it makes you weak
It's in your blood, that Memphis Beat

Oh I'm goin' to Memphis, yeah!

Well they got people a-walkin'
And ridin' and swimmin'
Just tryin' to get a chance at them good lookin' women
Now we just march on down to the foot of Beale Street
Ah Then dance all night to that Memphis Beat

I'm going to Memphis where the beat is tough
Memphis, I can't get enough
It makes you tremble, it makes you weak
It's in your blood, that Memphis Beat

Let's go to Memphis
Where the beat is tough
I just can't get enough
I just can't get enough
I said I just can't get enough

 

 

An old tune made somewhat famous by "The Killer" Jerry Lee Lewis

Written by Milton Addington/Dickey Lee/Allen Reynolds

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Krakatau

Just For The Fun Of It

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Happy Friday... Another week done and gone.

Have a good weekend and if you're at the Miami Boat Show... enjoy the show.

Cheers,

Istaboa

My Thoughts Exactly

Received my online subscription to PassageMaker Magazine today. In it, there's an article about George Town, Exumas, Bahama's winter community that I found to be so true. Thought I'd pass it on.

For those of you who haven't been to George Town, you'll find this interesting, for those who have; you'll either find a great deal of humor in, or strongly disagree with, this writer's's take on the community that floats in every year. I tend to be of the same mind as the author, but we've only been there once and, frankly found the environment, both on and off the hook, a bit hostile.
Of course, we anchored there in our fancy-smancy powerboat; though, far away from all the winter residents... even gave out free ice as a peace offering... we were still met with a certain amount of animosity, then adding injury to insult, someone "Teeved" all the gas from our freshly topped off with Bahamian fuel dingy in the middle of the night
So, we're not big fans of George Town, but we know many who are.

Oh well... C'est la vie.

Enjoy the article.

I hope PassageMaker magazine doesn't mind my passing it along.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Click the thumbnail of the article to read... It's a great online publication, so maybe join up.

	Look inside >
March 2013

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It's gonna be a dark night's crossing

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Vernon's Grocery

Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Bahamas

Vernon is a peculiar fellow... He's the official marriage officer for Elbow

 He renewed our vows in 2002

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The Grammy Awards

Watching the Grammy Awards last night without the Commander of Crew Istaboa, (She did a girl's night with an old friend in FLL), one mind numbing thought kept recurring...
Why does America love Taylor Swift so much? Success, I suppose... Kinda like Chick-Fil-A, not much to it, but incredibly popular.

But, that conundrum was quickly squelched and the Taylor Swift brain freeze was thankfully thawed by some great performances from the likes of Bruno Mars, Ziggy Marley, and his Highness, Sting, paying homage to Bob Marley. Bruno is a really talented guy with an equally talented band.
Kelly Clarkson did good job with her spot and T. Bone Burnett, Mavis Staples, Mumford & Sons, and Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes paid tribute to Levon Helm with a surprisingly good rendition of The Band's "The Weight."

And, NARAS did redeem itself by giving Bonnie Rait the Americana Album Award.
Cut from WashPo: The evening’s first big surprise: Bonnie Raitt’s “Slipstream” trumped new and wildly popular albums from Mumford & Sons, the Lumineers and the Avett Brothers for best Americana album. “I was not expecting this!” Raitt gushed from the podium. Nobody was.

Memphis Homeboy, Justin Timberlake hasn't lost his chops; he's as talented as ever.

The Black Keys had a good night then shared the stage with Dr. John and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

.

 And, Mumford and Sons won Album of the Year.

They're a great Brit band that I thought would've done better, but it is the Academy.

Speaking of Mumford and Sons, we recently watched an excellent documentary... Railroad Revival Tour: Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, and Old Crow Medicine Show Embark on Epic Train Tour of American Southwest that ends in New Orleans. The shows aren't all at rail stations, per se, but rather at pretty unusual, outdoor locations across California, Arizona, Texas and Louisiana.

Great doc!

All nominees and winners are listed here if you don't already know.

So it was kinda fun... Just me and the boys enjoying a wild night of hangin' out, watching the Grammys.
(Oh Crap! Little Mud thinks he likes Taylor Swift... and Radar just bit him.)

Cheers,

Istaboa

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Our first visit to Compass Cay

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Memories of Dock Bird

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Happy Friday everybody... you made it.

Cheers,

Istaboa

And It's Memphis By A Nose !

So, Southern Living Magazine is doing this contest to decide, by popular vote, whose southern city has the best restaurants. Been to Durham and Ashville and I hardly agree with their ranking above New Orleans, but we're happy to see Memphis is #1.

We in Memphis are very lucky to have a plethora of locally owned eateries who cook up some fine fare. Trust me folks... Memphis is way more than BBQ, though we do have some fabulous Q.

If you have a moment, please go here and vote. 

WWED? (What would Elvis do) He would vote for Memphis and he'd appreciate your vote also.

Hmmm... It's time for lunch.

Cheers,

Istaboa

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Sunset in the Exumas

The end of a great day... Beginning of a memorable night.

Good Eats!

Comida cubana excelente... and the Cuban food wasn't bad either.

Ropa Veija and a potent Cortadito.

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Beautiful Day In West Palm Beach

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Muscha Cay, Exumas, Bahamas

Copperfield Bay

So you have a Nikon

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Excellent game last night.

 

The Progress Bar

It's an XP bar so be prepared for the crash.

It'll probably be reopened as The Blue Screen of Death Bar

Superbowl in New Orleans!!

Go New Orleans!!

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Thinkin' bout Memphis

This weekend our little hood is besieged by Blues artists from all over the world. 

It's the International Blues Challenge, would've been fun.

You can see it live here

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In the middle of nowhere, the Gulf of Mexico

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Jai Guru Deva. Om