And so it goes...

It has been a while...remember last blog when we mentioned our new grandbaby met us at the London airport? Well....we just happen to have a few more pictures of the little darlin' from that reunion-just in case you missed the others...what a proud Gigi!

Left Norfolk on 11/25 a full week after returning from holiday as our European friends would say. Seems that the entire crew caught colds from our stay abroad and didn't feel up to the daily rigors of sailing. Also seems our cockpit enclosure was incomplete and the delay was necessary anyway.  Here's a shot of a Carolina ICW sunset through our side "windows".

The entire cockpit is now enclosed with Strataglass (vinyl windows) and sunbrella like fabric. This keeps wind and waves off the crew while sailing. There are screens to replace the strata glass when the wind is welcomed in to cool the crew; think Bahamas.  HD is seen traveling south with the other snow birds dressed in short sleeves while some are all wintered up in their ski wear.  Sweet!

Here's a shot of what it was like for a few days, even indoors!  Brrrr

The electric furler units for both of the head sails were complete and working very nicely. This was by far the hardest job on board to manually reef the jibs. When the wind was strong it the entire strength of both crew to get them hauled in. Now, one person presses a button mounted on the steering pedestal to unfurl and furl. Did we say this is very nice?  Not to be out done by the delivery of our new latex mattress that was purchased at the Annapolis Boat Show and made while the crew was away. What a difference-the crews getting much more quality rest these days. As you can see, the Captain is very pleased with his new toys.

Started the ICW at mile mark 0 in Norfolk then thru the Dismal Swamp for two days. On to various ports in NC including Elizabeth City with their free town docks, Moorehead City with a restaurant's free dock and 4 or 5 anchorages in between. It was smooth sailing at Mile marker 329 in NC, the first mate at the helm while the Captain napped, when suddenly at 329.5 a sandbar right in the middle of the channel  brought HD to her knees from 6 kts to a dead stop!
The steering wheel implanted itself into the first mate's sternum with surprising force although going so slow!  Needless to say, the Captain woke up and came to the rescue, getting us off the sandbar and back into action-Shallotte Inlet, NC...make a note for next spring!  Lesson learned...a trip to the ER the next day proved no broken bones-good news!  The colors on the ICW this time of year are really beautiful and make it all worthwhile.

At Southport were greeted by friends Joe Hauer and Barbara with true southern hospitality, including a nice four wheel drive jeep to use while we were there!  Thanks, Joe!  We had a beautiful dinner at one  of  Southport's finest restaraunts, with the camera on the table and forgot to get a pic for the blog!  Darn it!  Wonderful visit and happy to see Joe looking so well and happy with Barbara.

Sold the Florida condo while in Southport so now we're officially "homeless". Yeah!  We'll  get rid of the Hyundai and then we'll be officially boat people, with only bikes and a Harley and some stored furniture for when we find a home...somewhere in our travels...who knows??  Anywhere but Terre Haute and here---Poor guy!!!

Our trip south now has an additional deadline of being out of the condo by 12/21. So we plan to arrive in Bonita Springs on 12/13 to pack and move "our stuff" into yet another storage unit in Bonita.
In between, the first mate will accompany Tara to Atlanta to size up Mercer University as a candidate for Tara to earn her Pharmacy doctorate. Here she is busy studying by the pool  in West Palm!!

On December 21 we will leave Bonita Springs behind and sail up to St. Pete to join the family for Christmas. Then off to the Bahamas for a couple of months of rest. Who would have thought that retirement would be so BUSY!

Have a lovely Thanksgiving everyone!  We'll be enjoying turkey day most likely on  Hilton Head Island, SC, cooking a full size turkey in our galley and hopefully inviting some other homeless folks aboard, since we'll be missing family for the first time in a looooonng time!  Love you all and God Bless!  We all have alot to be grateful for, don't we!
Pete and Cindy

Norfolk, London, Amalfi Coast, Paris & Back to Norfolk

Since heading south from the Annapolis boat show a full month ago, here's what HD has been up to:

Visited St. Michael's, Solomons Islands and Tangiers Island for one night each on the way to Deltaville Virginia to meet up with the Ensleins. Couldn't do any of these stops justice so we will put them all on the schedule for the spring. Tangier Is. has been a crabbing and oystering life for the residents for hundreds of years. John Smith, of Pocahontas fame, originally surveyed this along with most of the Chesapeake Bay.

                                            Pete gets the scoop from Mr. Parks, the steely-eyed,
                                            crusty nearly 90-year-old owner of Parks Marina
                                            in Tangiers Island-a very "different" place in VA!

                                           Lots and lots of rain and high tides , flooded out
                                            parts of Tangiers Island

 Don't know how this pic slipped in here, but you can never have too many Cameo's, even if they're just pics!
                                           Having fun with Tyler and Camille in Annapolis!
                                                                                    

Had a spirited sail with Dean & Allison then dinner with them and Jerry and Dorothy on board HD. Good to catch up with old friends.

HD then sailed to Cobbs Marina in Norfolk where she would rest while the crew visited the newest member of the family, Sophia Gabrielle Stuyck, in London.
What a joy to see Chrissy and Jamie with their new treasure!  She's really something special!

 These proud grandparents were present as Sophia joined us for her first high tea at Windsor Castle. (Actually just outside the castle at the tilted house as we had misplaced our invitations).

The crew then was off to the Italy's Amalfi coast; Sorrento, Island of Capri and Positano. All beautiful and great food.

 Visited the Blue Grotto on Capri which was Tiburis, the roman emperor's private swimming hole 2,000 years ago after he was exiled to the Island.

More good food including a 10 course tasting menu at the #1 restaurant in Paris, Le Cinq. The fourth desert was a bit much but the squid ink dipped leeks which accompanied the scallops was a nice touch.

Experienced an overnight train from Napoli to Paris with four new friends in a 6 bed compartment. Sounds bad and it was, however a couple of sleeping pills and morning arrived with us in Paris and a nice hotel in St Germain across the street from Notre Dame. (below)

Fortunately our flight home was through London Heathrow with a three hour layover,so Sophia's mother brought her out for a play date. She had changed already... grew eyelashes, and was much calmer than the week before.

Back in Norfolk the crew was anxious to see HD and her modifications. Not the least of which is the new latex mattress ordered at the boat show which was delivered while we were gone. NICE!

A new bimini and enclosure of the cockpit with both windows and screens to keep the crew out of the rain and bugs. HD had waited for this until the crew had some experience on what to have done and all are glad the way it has turned out.
A pair of electric furlers for the two jibs was installed which eliminates for hardest task on board; hand furling the head sails in a strong wind. After all this is supposed to be fun.
A new water purifier was installed to be able to drink the water out of the tanks rather than lugging cases of bottled water to the boat. Sorry PPD.
Lastly, the folks at Tartan installed the last of the fixes; a new main sheet system that will not tangle and gives some leverage for sail handling.
The crew is anxious to try all these tomorrow on our first sail in a month. Although the bed and water filter already have been nice additions. Who would have thought that sailing would take this much effort?  And this is retirement?? More soon....