The last few days...

So we made it down the bay in a norther with an incoming tide which makes for a lumpy boat ride. This makes the bay stack up waves high, sharp, and fast.

But with that all behind us we made it to Atlantic Yacht Basin. 

Which is a very neat old boat yard/marina. Walking around I found lots of interesting things to take photographs of. 

Tomorrow we will pull the boat out of the water to do a small repair and finish up the Navigation Systems display. 

Then... we wait to make plans.

In our last post I mentioned Mel had to fly back to Memphis to take care of personal issues. I am sorry to say that Mel's mother is very ill and it appears she will not get better. Any good thoughts or prayers for Mel's Mom, Mel, and her family would be greatly appreciated. They are a very close family and this is a painful and difficult time for them all.

More pics of AYB inside

But not for long...

After an enjoyable few days at Gloucester Point, the bar/restaurant, and saying our see-ya-laters to friends there, we threw off the lines and made way south to the ICW and Atlantic Yacht Basin.
It was a very bumpy run down the bay but didn't last long. Peter on Morewater followed us down and now we're both tied up here. Pete made dinner that night. Apple Chorizo sausage in red sauce on Pasta with an Avocado salad. Excellent.
Then.... one phone call later and everything went to shit.
Without going into the personal details... Mel made hasty arrangements to fly into Memphis to take care of a bad situation that's making our near-future plans a bit nebulous.
But... Atlantic Yacht Basin is pretty cool in it's own funky way. It's a good boat yard, so maybe Istaboa has a little work done. New monitor for the Nav system and maybe I will finally replace that backup depth transducer that's been bugging me since we bought the boat.
Also... AYB, most of you cruisers know, is just south of a lock that only opens on the hour. This means in daylight hours—when the lock opens— it's a boat parade of cruisers like us heading south. I've seen many friends and acquaintances pass by for the last few days. Other than that, Radar and I have quietly enjoyed our guy time and been taking many long walks. 
Not much entertaining to write about but I did see this on the Huffington Post this morning.

Video inside... Worth watching.

Rare Pelagic Octopus, Hawaii 

We've escaped—

—the ties that bind us and made it back to York River and Istaboa.
Kinda chilly here in Virginia but, free at last, free at last.
Gonna do a little tightening up on Istaboa, a bit of provisioning, and put together a plan for our trip back home to Stuart/Sunset Bay. Talked with Sam today and he has kindly held our slip for us. We have enjoyed the Chesapeake, but we've missed our buds in Stuart also. Hopefully good weather will hasten our trip and we'll soon be having drinks and dinner at Sailor's Return watching the sunset and feeling the warm fall breeze that Stuart enjoys this time of year.

Adios,

Istaboa

PS.... check out our friend's blog. Good pics of Halloween at Hope Town.

Just released...

Huey's new CD, Soulsville, was released today. Should be a hit. We bought it off Itunes this morning.

Very funky... Very Memphis...
and the first reviews seem to agree with us... http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010/11/huey-lewis-and-the-news-soulsville/

A very large night...

Indeed.

Our good friends Jim and Sandy were presented with Beale Street's Walk of Fame Brass Notes by Huey Lewis and Joyce Cobb. It was a very cool night.

More inside...

It's Fall!

And it just blew into Memphis (No. 1 most dangerous city in the USA... We're number one! We're number 1!) last night, full tilt. Temps are dropping, wind's howling, and the leaves are flying.

 Happy Halloween

Crew Istaboa has a big week comin up in preparation for our run south back to Stuart, FL. Gotta get the mothers on an even keel and finish up our latest project at Rocky Point.

Also, a big celebration coming up Thursday. Our friend Jim Gaines is being presented with a Brass Note on Beale Street in recognition of his contribution to Memphis Music. Party at the Hard Rock and the Stax Museum. Should be fun. It's about time!!!
The Brass Note on Beale is a big deal. Notes already in place honor Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Justin Timberlake, Albert King, B.B. King, and Al Green just to name a few. 
Oh Yeah... Almost forgot to mention, Jim's Wife, Sandy Carroll already has a Note on Beale. It's now a family thing.


We hope to be outta here by Saturday and heading south soon after that.

Adios,


Istaboa



PS: Yes, Memphis was named No. 1 most dangerous city in the US by Forbes Magazine. Our question is; have they ever been to LA, Miami, Detroit, Chicago? Those are world class dangerous cities. Hell, even my little home town in Arkansas is scarier than Memphis.

funny

Bizarre article

 If this is real... How sad for those affected, but how weird... Click article title for link

Crocodile on plane kills 19 passengers

images from the past...

This morning, as I sip coffee, gazing out the big windows of Rocky Point, I see a herd of little deer ambling up the slope of the ravine out back, then they fade into a forest that's starting to paint the colors of Fall. It's a lovely image, and one that we always take delight in,  but at the moment, our hearts and thoughts are aboard Istaboa and in the islands.

Like the above image; this was the reality of a day we absorbed back in 08, this is a little beach on Highborne Cay, Exumas.
What a day... quiet—only the sound of the small rippling waves lapping up the shore. We had just enjoyed a little squall that cooled us off, made everything smell fresh, and the palms shine green. Warm sand under our toes as we saunter down this peaceful little strip of the island... and the birds, we reminisce,  singing happily in the rare puddles of fresh rain water—cheerfully—providing the background music for this moment. This was our last day in the Exumas.

Aaahhh......   Soon...

Escape is a theme we can't seem to shake.

and still thinkin...

Our last night on Compass Cay

We really enjoyed our nights at the Green Flash Club on Compass.