May 2008:May 24-31:
Into St. Augustine/Jacksonville at
a marina and into land life. May 23:
On our way to a marina today.
May 20-22:
Set sail for the east coast of
Florida. The sailing was exceptional so we continued on and on and on.
All afternoon the second day we were sailing 10-11 knots directly to our
destination due to a huge push from the gulf stream currents. We
covered 375 nm in 53 hours that is very fast under sail for Moonlight.
We arrived into a nice little anchorage in the early afternoon and was
greeted with a million tiny gnats. Needless to say, we will move to a
marina today. May 19:
Last day in Key West walking all
over town as our bus passes expired. May 17-18:
Great visit from dear friends,
Len & Norma, from Ha-Ha days and Oxnard. We walked the entire city of
Key West just to take a picture next to a painted landmark of the most
southern point of the US.
So they are the first couple to
visit since we returned to the US - come on down to sunny Florida for a stay
on the boat. May 16:
It is a Friday so off the boat to
the movies. Time for some cool movie at the cooler theater.
Will we ever depart this little
city. May 12-15:
Still exploring Key West.
This little city is the most southern location in the US. Tourism
thrives here and is a fun place. May 10-11: Walked
everywhere in downtown Key West and especially enjoyed Harbor Walk.
It may take several days to exit here.
May 9:
Up early and 12 hours later we are in
Key West, Florida. Moonlight returns to the US for the first time in
four years. She has sailed us over 5100 nm. We are ready to
celebrate. May 6-8:
At anchor in Dry Tortugas, Florida and
exploring Fort Jefferson and resting.
May 5:
Finally tacked for Dry Tortugas and
arrived at 5:30 PM. So 2.5 days to cover 292 nm.
May 4:
Off of Cuba and the wind indicator has
to be broken. All it ever reads is over knots and wind on the nose.
We covered 135 nm the first day.
May 3:
Departed Isla Mujeres for Dry Tortugas,
Florida. In the afternoon, enjoyed being in a washing machine with
Force 5 winds and 10 ft seas. Just hang on it will pass. But we
are doing 8 knots towards our destination.
May 2:
Moved out of Marina Del Sol and off the
mud - hooray. May 1:
How many times can a Mexican official
stamp ten pieces of paper just so we can get out of the country ......
answer - until the damn page is full. It occurs every time we enter
and leave a country and continues to be an incredible spectacle to watch and
difficult to keep from laughing. But we are almost free to depart on
our return to the US.
After the check-out is finished we kind
feel like we have won the lottery or something special. Saturday is
still the departure day and we are very ready.
April 2008:
Apr 29-30:
Completing preparations for our passage
to Key West on Saturday morning. A 377 nm crossing that will consist
of a little sailing and lots of motor sailing in light winds.
Preparations consist of making sure we will be safe then every thing else
falls in place. Of course, the days are still passed with a morning
run/walk and sitting on the computer surfing checking weather and stock
reports and doing nothing. Apr 28:
Someone's birthday is today. Our
grand plan is shopping in Cancun, followed by a movie in a real movie
theater, followed by dinner out then more exciting shopping at Wal Mart then a romantic boat ride back to Isla
Mujeres. Quick
send Yen a Happy Birthday greeting.
Apr 27: Swept the
bottom of the boat for the first time in three months. Do you know
where every little creature that lives on the boat goes when scraped off.
My skin was not feeling good until I flooded myself with scalding hot fresh
water. Creepy crawlies everywhere.
Apr 26: Up the mast
four times to repair a jerry-rig that was installed back in early January.
Now we can sail again on port tack with confidence. Walked to town in
the evening for a Cappuccino. Apr 25: Starting completing every little
project from "the list" for our passage to Key West.
Apr 24: Back to taking it
easy and walking all over the island. Apr 7-23:
Finally returned to the boat on April 21
and now fully recovered from my last delivery of a 66 ft. power yacht from
Colon, Panama to Key West, Florida. Recovery means back into the
cruising life - morning walking, on the internet and even preparing the boat
for the crossing to Key West in a couple of weeks.
While I was off working, Yen prepared
and cleaned the boat so it looks like a new show room boat. We will
look good in the US.
Apr 6:
Circled the island while running and
walking. Finally arrived in town and wolfed down a crepes breakfast.
Then went to north beach for lunch, swimming and napping on the beach with
turquoise waters. Temperatures in the mid-80's.
Apr 5: Rain in the morning
for all of ten minutes while out for a walk. Another lazy day of
napping and watching a couple of movies.
Apr 4:
Out for a walk to
downtown and breakfast on the beach. Napping during day to recover
from ten days of little sleep.
Apr 3:
Returned to boat after last trip.
Need sleep for a couple of days.
March 2008:
Mar 24:
Heavy rains in the night and early
morning. Making final preparations for off the boat for a week.
Yen remains on-board for R&R without the main R.
Mar 23:
EASTER - Long walk to north beach for
sun and lunch. Stopped along the way at Church of Guadalupe and asked
for mercy. Returned for a get together in the evening on the boat with
fellow cruisers. Mar 22:
Out for a walk and to the market.
Then watching movies at the boat. Full recovery.
Mar 21:
Summer Solstice and first day of summer.
Another lazy day of recovery. Yen's famous chicken soup saved my life.
Mar 20:
More of just laying around trying to get
well. Temperature up to 86 degrees and high winds stopped so it feels
warmer or maybe it is just the high body temperature trying to fight off the
cold. Mar 19:
Lost day as I was sick as a Mexican dog
and Yen walked to town for some shopping.
Mar 18:
Hour long walk (3.8 miles per hour)
around the inner lake then back to the boat for a lazy day.
Mar 17:
Hung and us depart to the airport this morning
and a little more shopping then departure for LA.
We shopped in Cancun and returned to a
quiet boat. Mar 16: Morning
breakfast of fruit smoothie & toast then off to church. An attempt
at more snorkeling but the waves were too rough for the dingy to arrive at
our private beach.
Mar 15: Out
for a morning hour long walk. Then Hung and Yen have to shop in
town while I completed several maintenance items.
Mar 14: Touring Tulum
ruins. The Mayans must have chose this site for location, location,
location right on the Caribbean ocean. Then off to Playa Del Carmen
for ugh shopping in a nice tourist town. We returned to Isla Mujeres
and enjoyed dinner on the beach.
Mar 13: Travel
to Tulum to view more ruins on the coast and travel to Playa del Carmen - a
tourist destination location. Mar 12: More
snorkeling at the beach with Hung.
Mar 11: Morning walk followed by good breakfast.
Spent afternoon activity of checking out baby turtles hatchlings and their racing to the beach.
Temperatures
in low 80's. Mar 10:
Out to the reefs for a snorkeling
adventure taking Hung for a dingy ride. Even Hung was in the water for
only a short time. Then more walking and Mexican Train with Sera. Mar
9: Off to church in the morning then a swim
at the beach. Follow that with lunch at a local restaurant and walk
back to the boat. Now it is time for Vietnamese soaps and a movie to
finish a lazy Sunday afternoon. Mar 8:
Walking for an hour then stop at the
local mercado (local market). Powerful north winds continue this
morning. Mar 7:
Off to the beach after a morning of
shopping in town. Completed some boat maintenance and waiting for Yen's
Flaxseed Banana Bread to finish cooking.
Played Mexican Train dominoes at night.
Mar 6:
Long walk followed by shopping in the
local market. Then curry for lunch. Finally into town for ice
cream and a 2-mile walk back to the boat. Hung is adapting well to this lazy
days life style.
Very
windy, 80 degree clear weather.
Mar 5:
Return to the boat at Isla Mujeres,
Mexico.
February 2008:
Feb 20: Off the boat for two more weeks.
Feb 1: Depart from the boat for a month.
January 2008:
Jan 28-31:
Preparing the boat for a month long
absence.
Jan 24-27:
Traveled to Chichenitza and EkBaalam.
Both Mayan ruins and a small Mexican village, Valladolid, on the Yucatan
peninsula with Vic & Linda from Sera. Great exposure to authentic
Mayan culture both past and present.
A delightful time indeed.
Jan 18-23:
How do you spell hanging out in paradise and doing
nothing - Isla Mujeres. Especially when the north winds bring
temperatures that drop to 80 degrees during the day and 75 at night.
It is windy and chilly. But the rains stopped after three days and we
just keep running and walking every day all over the island and playing on
the internet for joy and entertainment.
Eventually I must do some maintenance on
the boat (I completed the list) while Yen has made brownies and banana
bread.
Jan 17:
Arrived in Isla Mujeres, Mexico.
Sailed 200.5 NM in 24 hours. Our fastest passage ever. A two
knot current in our favor helped push us along. Beautiful touristy
town and it may be awhile before we depart.
Jan 16:
Departed Xcalak, Mexico and sailed over
night to Isla Mujeres next to Cancun.
Jan 15:
Sailed 25 miles to Xcalak, Mexico.
After two years, Moonlight has returned
to Mexican waters.
Jan 14:
Departed San Pedro, Belize and returned
one hour later after a torrential downpour. We will try again
tomorrow.
Jan 13:
Walked the entire town of San Pedro
after saying good-byes to Len & Norma and Roy & Marlene, all departing on
the yacht, Damiana. Jan
12:
Sailed 12 miles to San Pedro, Belize our
last stop in Belize. Toured the town and it a bustling tourist
destination. Too busy after sleepy Caye Caulker.
Jan 11:
A day of snorkeling in beautiful coral
reefs and viewing some magnificent reef fish. A day to remember as it
was just delightful with perfect weather and skies and the ocean and coral
was breathtaking. Jan
10:
A trip into Cay Caulker was tiring as
this is a tourist destination and one sleepy laid back easy going village.
Everyone is moving at a slow pace and there are signs saying "Go Slow".
We had to return to the boat and re-energize ourselves.
Jan 9:
We sailed from Belize City to Cay
Caulker in 20+ knot winds for 25 miles. It took 5.5 hours of moving
along but arrived in plenty of time to watch a movie and relax. It was
nice to be out of a marina and back on anchor with no sand flies attacking
us. Jan 8:
Our intended departure will be delayed a
day after awakening to a failed controller on the refrigerator. I have
been carrying a spare for over a year and after an hour all is working good.
Who says all these spares do not have value.
Now if I only had spare standing rigging
- life would be perfect.
Jan 7:
We walked all over downtown Belize City
definitely safer than downtown LA. People are friendly and like to
help us find our way. We finished the day by having dinner with Mike &
Gloria on Windfree who we had met in Panama last year and sailed north with
almost a year ago. Jan 6: Finally the wind
veered to the NE and the rain stopped so after six times up the mast, the
intermediate shroud is repaired and re-tensioned. So the real test
will occur under sail. Sure would feel better if a rigger could do
this job because it is a SWAG for me.
But my repair looks nice from the deck
of the boat. Just to show my confidence in my work, I also rigged
Spectra lines from the mast head and intermediate spreader "just in case".
Jan 5: We are beginning
to question just how long the wind can blow in one direction and how much
rain can fall out of the sky. It is endless.
Jan 4: Went into Belize City
for provisions....enough said about that place. We look forward to
staying in the marina Still heavy rains and wind so unable to go up
the mast.
Jan 3: Many necessary repairs
completed and still hanging out in Cucumber Beach Marina.
Jan 2:
Howling winds arrived about 01:30 in the
morning and have not let up as a huge cold front that dumped snow in the
Midwest now dumps wind and rain on us. The temperature is way down to
77°F
(25°C) which is chilly in Belize. We are
happy to be sitting snug in a marina while this storm passes over head.
Our day is completing many maintenance items that will allow us to sail
onward without too many distractions. Jan 1:
After two movies last night to celebrate
the New Year we slept in until 06:00, hooray. Then a walk with
the sand flies and now I am typing while preparing to ride in the Bos'n
chair up the mast for repairs.
The only way to spend New Year's Day -
doing boat maintenance in exotic places.
December 2007:
Dec 31:
Motored to Cucumber Beach Marina in
Belize City. Rescued four fisherman along the way who could not start
their engine and the boat was 20 miles off shore. We towed them 20
miles at 5 knots and then helped repair their engine. They were
grateful and we completed a good deed for the day.
Dec 30:
Anchored in Turneffe then decided to
move to another anchorage. Ran hard aground and had to pulled off by a
power boat - bummer dude. Enjoyed a feast with Pathfinder (Dave&Kelly)
and Damiana (Roy&Marlene).
Dec 29:
Sailed for Turneffe Atoll outside of the
barrier reef. Two squalls moved over the tope of us and dropped some
rain. Broke the port upper inner shroud so had to drop the sails
before arriving in Turneffe. Another maintenance day in paradise.
It was a beautiful sailing day before the shroud failure.
Dec 28:
Departed Hutson Cay and sailed for
Bluefield Cay 15 miles away. .Dec
27:
Departed Placencia and sailed for Hutson
Cay 37 nm away. No conch, bummer.
Dec 26:
Yen has a minor ear infection that Doc
Roy cured quickly. Final preparations were completed to finally get
under way tomorrow after three weeks in Placencia.
We watched a Christmas
program with Santa arriving and all for the children, it was very cute.
Here a day late is no big deal - - sort of like all of Central America - -
we get to it when we feel like it.
Dec 25:
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM PLACENCIA, BELIZE.
Christmas morning breakfast was aboard Damiana with Christmas Krinkles as
the main entry. This is Roy's family tradition and very delicious indeed.
Then we both decided to fly the code flags celebrating Christmas followed by
a huge pot-luck feast in the afternoon. This was as good as being home
with family.
Dec 24:
The morning shopping was completed for
the afternoon preparations for tomorrows Christmas potluck feast. The
stockings are all hung on the boat for Santa's delivery.
Dec 23:
A long run and then rest followed by
more Mexican Train dominoes.
Dec 22:
We went for a long bike ride this
morning in search of a dress. Did not find it but found something even
better. Something that no one can find in the US. In the evening
a great buffet feast of lobster, conch, prime rib was enjoyed with six other
cruisers at a local resort.
What a pre-Christmas feast and dancing
to reggae music until the late hour of 9:00 pm.
Ron ate 5 lobsters and Yen 3 plus all
the other trimmings. We run tomorrow.
Dec 20-21:
For the shortest day of the year we
spent running in the morning and playing Mexican train dominoes with our
friends Roy & Marlene aboard Damiana. Beautiful sun shining tropical
days. We found Moonlight has two geckos living on board with us -
probably from the Rio Dulce. They are cute but Yen does not appreciate
them. The one thing we have none of is bugs and now we know why.
The Geckos stay.
Dec 17-19:
Playing games on the computers and
dominos on Damiana. Weather has been a little breezy out of the south
so the anchorage is rolly.
Couple that with a light rain and how do
you spell a LAZY day in paradise.
Dec 16:
Recovery day of watching movies and
playing games on the computers. Weather is excellent.
Have not heard from the boys in Tikal.
Dec 15:
Longest run to date - 2 hours 45 min. Then
relaxing all day. Big Placencia Christmas party starting at 8pm and
going until 3am at a local resort. It was attended by 10 cruisers so
especially enjoyable.
We lasted until midnight as our normal
midnight is 8:30 pm. Dec 14:
Mike & Greg departed for Tikal and the
Placencia economy has taken a nose dive as a result. They got to know
many locals and cruisers and all wanted them to stay.
Dec 11-13:
The morning runs are becoming longer and
longer and we are watching more movies after. The weather is cool in
the low 80's and no rain. The boys are having a good time ashore.
Also, we all had dinner on Damiana then a big party at Yoli's palapa on the
beach as a going away party for the boys.
Dec 8-10:
Routine activities for cruisers sitting
at anchor ... to shore for a run every morning, shop for fresh vegetables, boat
maintenance, hanging out in paradise ... playing Mexican train dominoes ...
tough schedule and tough life indeed.
The boys are enjoying
paradise on land. Placencia, Belize is the place to be.
Dec 7:
Another motorsail to Placencia and
checked in with no problems in Big Creek. What a sweet Caribbean town.
We probably will not be able to leave here for a while as the trade winds
are starting up. Dec 6:
A short motor sail to Ranguana Cay (key)
and we were rewarded with a spectacular little island and wonderful
snorkeling. Mike & Greg enjoyed the little bar and it was a great
place. A little rolly at night so off to Placencia.
Dec 5:
We motor-sailed the 46 miles from the
river to Hunting Cay, Belize in 7 hours. Beautiful location but we
decided to move on the next day.
Dec 2-4:
A stop in Texan Bay Marina in El Golfete,
Rio Dulce is absolutely a mandatory stop. Do not pass Mike & Sherry as
they know how to serve great food and their hospitality is the best we have ever
encountered.
Dec 1:
We decided to depart for the Belize
barrier reefs tomorrow.
We will finally be on our way northbound
- hooray.
