Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Holidays...

We're taking hiatus.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Holiday Season.

Adios,




PS. I've installed a couple of wireless IP cameras so that while we're away we can keep watch on what's happening at the marina.
Dropcam.
Kinda fun if you care to look, but beware... it'll eat up some bandwidth.





Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Normality

A repost from our old blog, August, 2007. 
We'd just returned from a run to the islands and were adjusting to life after the loss of our sweet old Lab, Sadie, and life away from Istaboa after 7 months aboard.
For those who don't know, Rocky Point was our home for almost 20 years. Lot's of good things happened there; not many bad.
I like this old post.
Normality
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I seem to be quoting Mark Twain a lot these days. I kinda relate to the iconoclastic old southern riverboat captain... He grew up on the river not far from Memphis; he was a boat pilot like my Pop, he also loved hoppin' on a boat and traveling to his favorite places. He once wrote in a letter to a friend, "There is no unhappiness like the misery of sighting land (and work) again after a cheerful, careless voyage." and God knows we felt that way leaving the islands and returning home.
But... home is our favorite place to come home to and work provides us with the most excellent justification to escape to that cheerful, careless voyage - again.

Things are getting back to normal for us here at Rocky Point. We're both back in the gym trying to sweat off some of that island fun we consumed while enjoying the Abacos. Kind of a do it yourself rehab. Work is good. It's nice to be back in the saddle and fighting the good fight. (Creating that most excellent justification)

The pain from losing Sadie is getting better and slowly turning into an itch to find a new pup. We're trying to resist, but we're not sure if Radar will let us. He's been awfully lonesome.

It's been incredibly hot and dry around Memphis. 100+ degrees for a couple of weeks now. We put out water for the critters in the woods - they truly seem to appreciate it.
The deer have become fairly comfortable with us. They're cautious, but they don't mind us getting close... just not too close.

We posted earlier about the doe that didn't want to leave Rocky Point. Now we see why. This is her fawn.
We see Lucy (Yeah... Mel named her.) every evening when she brings her fawn by for a drink and a nibble of the freshly watered green grass in our backyard.
Radar is our deer alarm... as soon as he spots them he gives a throaty little growl to alert us of their presence.
It's fun watching the little one grow up.
-----------------------------------------------------

Those were the good old days... these will be too — someday.

Adios,

Istaboa

Monday, November 25, 2013

Sunday, November 24, 2013

So that's what happened

Old, but always funny.


Today's Pic

A buddy from Newport, RI sent me a link to this photograph and a newsletter.

Watching the America's Cup Race. Mrs. Kennedy, President Kennedy, others. Off Newport, RI, aboard the USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., 09/15/1962  

 

Friday, November 22, 2013

Today's Pic

Early morn sun lit the fall color along the Tennessee River. circa 2006


While we kept Istaboa on the Tennessee, we always enjoyed the fall and winter on the river. If we were lucky enough to be cruising at the right time, the colors were spectacular, but only for about 3 or 4 days then they would start to fade and as quickly they had appeared... they were gone.

The winter would turn everything gray, like cruising in monotone. The naked trees exposed the many eagles who could no longer be hidden by the forest that lined the shores. We were always amazed at how many there were. Watching them fish was like performance art.

I think winter was our favorite time to cruise there, we pretty much had the river to ourselves. The whole world outside of our warm and cozy pilothouse was like a huge black and white panorama that slid by silently, always refreshing itself, never the same.

Even better when it snowed.

I look forward to the day we cruise the river again.

Thanks for checkin' on us.

Happy Friday.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Monday, November 18, 2013

Today's Pics

As we were leaving Loggerhead Marina in Vero Beach, unbeknownst to us, Crew Duchess snapped off a few pics. We were pleasantly surprised to find them in our email inbox.
Thanks, Steve and Sandy.
Hope we meet again.

Going


 Going

Gone

Vero and Grand Harbor are on our short list of places to return to. They're not far so it may be sooner than later.

Adios,

Istaboa

Sunday, November 17, 2013



Today's Pic

We're back!

After all that, we're right back where we started from... last July.

It's nice to have really fast internet.

It's nice to have a car.

It's nice to know the neighborhood.

So here we'll stay for a while.





The big Nordhavn to the left just sold... MacGuffin... the folks that bought her seemed friendly and had their captain showing them around the boat today... fortunate folks, she's a beautiful boat.




Saturday, November 16, 2013

If You Like Water, Photography, And Music...

You'll love this post...




Harry Fayt – The Flood underwater photography


The Flood is a captivating series by Belgium-based photographer Harry Fayt that features Belgian soul singer Typhene Barrow immersed in an underwater world. Everything from a couch and coffee table to a chandelier and piano is submerged in Fayt’s surreal, alternate universe, presenting a beautiful symphony of the human form weightlessly hovering in what illusively seems like mid-air.

And this girl can sing... really worth a listen... I imagine you'll hear more of her in the near future.

Listen — Hear her here: http://www.typhenebarrow.net/#!typhenebarrow/c11bq

Today's Pic

BBQ— Solomons Island






Friday, November 15, 2013

Thursday, November 14, 2013

The Driftwood Inn

Bumpin' around Vero Beach, one must stop at the Driftwood Inn.



Established in the early 1900's by Waldo Sexton in Vero Beach, Florida, and named to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1994, the Driftwood Resort today offers accommodations accentuated with an abundance of fascinating artifacts from Waldo's personal collection and is rich in historical overtones.

It goes without sayin', it's a great bar.

Cheers,

Istaboa 


Today's Pic

Sunset over Daytona.
Daytona Boat Works in the foreground.


We came upon Aquamarina by accident.
Halifax Harbor, our usual stop in Daytona, was full. The manager there suggested we try Aquamarina... just next door.
We did and found a very nice, quirky/comical staff, who treated us very well. It's less crowded and much more sedate than Halifax. And... there's a great restaurant on-site... The Chart House.
This will be our first choice in Daytona from now on.

The wind is still howlin' like stink and out of the north. Vero Beach and Loggerhead Marina has been a nice respite and a great place to hunker down till this blow, blows away.

Adios,

Istaboa

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

RIP: Todd Christensen

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Former Raiders tight end and five-time Pro Bowl selection Todd Christensen died from complications during liver transplant surgery. He was 57.

One of the reasons I started watching NFL Football. 

After a stellar career at running back for BYU from 1974-77, Christensen was a second-round pick for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1978 NFL draft.
He was waived by the Cowboys after breaking his foot in training camp but landed the next year with the Raiders, where he played for 10 seasons at tight end and won Super Bowls in 1981 and 1984.

Article here

Today's Pic

I got nothin'
Cept this bouquet of bacon roses.


We're laying low... Exploring Vero Beach,

Monday, November 11, 2013

Today's Pic

Was taken by our old buddy, Captain Pete, from his balcony. overlooking Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
And, today is also Pete's Birthday.


So it seems fitting that we show a rerun of the video of Pete crossing the Chesapeake in his boat 'Morewater' (less dirt).
We were heading to Onancock, VA and Pete had his old buddy Bill aboard enjoying the crossing,
It was a beautiful fall day.



 
Happy Birthday, Peter

Hope it's a good one,
Crew istaboa

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Today's Pic


Vero Beach today.... Almost done... for a while.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Friday, November 8, 2013

Make A Great Dingy

Jet Capsule

Like a Smart car for the sea, this 23-foot Italian made Micro Yacht gets you and a few friends on the open ocean for a fraction of the cost of those big rigs. The Jet Capsule is also well-equipped:  the dining area converts to a bunk plus there are options like a compact kitchen, & even a private bathroom. via

Though it would look a bit odd

Happy Friday...

For some — .


Have a nice weekEND.

Today's Pics



Are from Baltimore.

The outside of Baltimore's Inner Harbor.




So, it appears we may stick around Daytona an extra day or so. Seems those northers have really picked back up.
I just looked out and noticed there were no lights or motion amongst the pack of boats we've been traveling with since Fernandina... the last place we got stuck.
Got a feeling everybody might be takin' a dirt day.
Oh well... need to make a few phone calls and do some biz anyway.

Adios,

Istaboa




Thursday, November 7, 2013

Today's Pic

Look who showed up.
We pulled into Camache Cove yesterday and Aphrodite was about an hour behind.


Think we may make it to Daytona today.

Good Day, Sunshine


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Today's Pic

Two Drifters
Nordhavn N50

Looks Good To Me

As we were heading out Beaufort Inlet... It seemed flat. Rich said, "Looks good to me!"... and we agreed, it did.


But... as the day drew closer to an end, the chunkier it became.


Then the term chunky became an understatement.

It was too dark to photograph, but at one point I saw Two Drifters pitch almost completely out of the water — saw their stabilizer fins.  I'm sure we were doing the same.

That's when we decided to head west to seek shelter and we found it there.

Bumpy night.

Leaving Fernandina Beach today... the winds have finally laid down though it's still rainy and foggy.
It's really been blowing for the last couple of days.
Only good thing about that... kept the gnats away.
Not sure where we stop next.

Adios,

Istaboa

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

The Little Dude Returns

Last Friday, Mason and Silas drove up and spent the night with us. We had a nice time.
I got a couple of good shots of Silas while he was enjoying the pilot house and all it's button and knobs.


I think we may have a 2nd Mate in the making.


And I'm sorry I didn't get any new shots of Maddie. It's a shame, she's really a pretty little girl.

The wind has been blowing something fierce and not supposed to lay down till Wednesday.  We're not sure when or where we head next... other than, south.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Today's Pic

Radar doesn't seem too impressed...


Lots of these little dolphin entertained us during our run south.

Saturday, November 2, 2013