Ruth and Mark Thank you. Our Castleton on H re-masting south took a day and 1/2 including rigging and scared me silly although I was only doing the crane remote. Vowed to not go there again. So far so good. LOL Any chance to get some crew to help with the locks? Thinking of you and sending power thoughts. ; ).
CFG
homeward bound Chris, Frank and Gingerbear,
love the photos and commentary. Ah yes the afternoon T storms. We are getting closer, in fact readying the boat for unstepping the masts...only 30+ locks to do , mast stepping and oh ya crossing Lake Ontario...ok now I am getting tired. Oh for listening to CBC, when I have internet connection I listen online. Technology is great isnt it.
Cheers
Ruth and Mark
s.v.witchcraft
Kathryn Always love your comments. Thanks for the description of the earthquake...the house came alive and shook itself. It sounds like it was formidable and probably scary in restrospect. A friend in California told me they run to a doorway for protection during a quake. Miss the good old CBC. And yes, we can't scratch the surface on the blog. You're in for a lot of blathering and babbling...but you're used to that. LOL Take care, C
Jude Aw shucks, we didn't get there because we had an appointment south... which has now been deferred. LOL Typical. Next time. Where were you when the earthquake hit??? XOX CFG
Relaxing! Hi there you two. Glad to see you're relaxing. By now you've likely heard about our earthquake (5 on the R'r scale!). Dianne and I were in my office and the glass doors on the bookcase rattled as if a creature was trying to get out and the house rocked as if riding waves (suppose it was -- of a sort). I thought trains had crashed or something exploded. We went downstairs to find the woodstove chimney shaking and the porch windows rattling (aftershock?). No train in the field and no sign of explosion. We were puzzled, but shortly CBC was broadcasting news about the quake. Imagine. Here. A pretty big one too. Dianne returned home this morning and I'm catching up on emails in my once-again big empty house. Glad to find the link to your blog. Always love your stories and pix. What a wonderful adventure you're having. (As you know, there is always interaction between the internal quest and the external adventure and I'm looking forward to your return to these parts so you can share with me all the great stuff that has been going on as you overcome one challenge after another (have I said: like Tolkien's Bilbo Baggins?). Looking forward to a good long visit!
Holliday. Hello Chris.
You and Frank looking very well. So too see you have a great time. I see that you reading a book. Bored?
Lookin out for the nex message from you. Have a great time
Thea and Nico
did you make it to St Simon's? Would have liked to hook you up with my girlfriend there. Frankie is now retired from teaching French in Brunswick and would have loved to meet you. Let me know next time you are in that area. hugs Jude
Like! What an adventure you're experiencing! I'm impressed with your updates (words + pics). Now, you know I teach a lit class and I'm interested in learning how all these "external" actions/adventures are affecting your "internal" quest. How changed will you be when our paths next cross? I sense that you're going deeper all the time, as you are also discovering the wide world you're travelling through. Me too, although I really never anticipated doing it alone at this stage of my life. It'll be wonderful to see you again and to share "journey" notes (although my external journey isn't nearly as eventful and exciting as yours -- I got through my b'day and the studio opening with the help of family and friends, but I did miss you). Keep sailing through the wonderful waters of life and enjoying the adventure together. (Dare I say I'm jealous!). Hugs to you both.
Kathryn Hello. I'm delighted that that little piece brought your Great Auntie (Julia?) to mind. You deserve a quick trip to St Augustine in her memory! Maybe next winter. Appreciate your comments as always. Love C
Love it! Your journey amazes me; it is quite the adventure! I'd be a nervous wreck...tug coming toward me at speed. What if you'd been asleep? It all sounds like a dream come true and I'm very happy for you and Frank. My studio opened this weekend and it was bittersweet without Jim. My sister's came for the weekend and Judith came on Saturday and stayed over too. Visitors came to see what's been happening in yard and studio-gallery. It was nice but with a big piece of the dream missing. When you circle round to this part of the world, the gardens should be lush (I'm reworking the old ones in addition to the new ones), and the studio should be fully operational, although it looks nice now and smells like wood and peonies (which are beautiful right now). Miss you. Wish you could be here so we could celebrate our b'days together. Keep the words and photos coming....
Wow! Been thinking of you and happy to receive this news. Love your writing and the pix...and the memories. Although I've never been to St. Augustine, my wonderful great-aunt went when I was a child and she returned with stories of Ponce de Leon and the fountain of youth, which have clung to me all this time! Isn't it amazing the things we share. Happy to know you're having fun and capturing memories (and tempting the nomad within me!).
Dorothy Green Green is for Kermit. We are looking forward to your speed recovery, when you and Bill can come and help us get into some serious trouble, even if it's just feeding the manatee lettuce leaves! Love CFG
Mike and Marilyn Thanks for keeping us updated and making this blog a two way street. You have such a rich life with the layers of generations supporting each other. Do you have a blog? I know you are busy but your family has a lot to share that we can learn from. Much love. C and F
Herb and Ursala Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories. We're glad that our new memories are triggering yours. Not surprising that we all revere the food! Keep smiling. CFG
WOW Two entries this close... love it. We were down to Merickville for a wedding this last weekend. It is the first of the next generation... a great-niece... there were four generations attending. We were damn glad to be there. We will start to see more weddings than funerals... we hope. We are having a good Spring-Summer so far with gardens about a month ahead; enough but not too much rain too. We are with you three in spirit. Marilyn and Mine
St. Augustine Hi, Chris and Frank.
We are so happy that you made it to St. Augustine. We just love the place. This one and the harbour in Baltimore were our all time favourite places on our trip. I remember eating a very substantial vegetarian Reuben sandwich in St. Augustine. The restaurant was just a little lean-to affair, but boy, was that sandwich ever delicious. We might just have to go back there, just for that. There is also a Cuban restaurant with an inner courtyard. The black bean soup on rice was superb.
We are so glad you are enjoying an adventurous trip. Herb is so jealous .......
Keep us posted.
Thinking of you often and wishing you good weather, good friends and a good time,
Herb and Ursula.
St Augustine We visited St Augustine in 1975 during one of our trips to Daytona during motorcycle speed week. The place I remember most was the old Jail with the wire mesh floor! Pat would have liked to put me in there!!!
Keep safe me hearties!
Gord..........
Screech Yes, the Qinte area really is gorgeousand great for sailing. You guys are really streaking along! At the rate you're going we'll see you soon. : ) Enjoy the St. Lawrence. Fair winds. CFG
Trenton Hey! We just passed Trenton and are at Picton for two days before heading over to Kingston and then out the St. Lawrence. Great area this....in the summer! LOL
Hope you are well and finding what you need in the way of a place to put the boat for a while.
Jay and Lou
Ahoy from Witchcraft HI you two. It was great fun visiting with you in Vero. I send this message from Charleston, which we will be leaving on June 1. The run offshore was not a satisfying one, but did take a 7 day run and turn it into 2 days more or less. Should only have been 30 hours, but there it is. Take care...your next stop is? knowing that plans are always subject to change of course.
Cheers
Ruth and Mark
Hail Margaret of Mystique We saw you sailing! Lovely classic boat. (Did we read too many romantic stories as kids?) There are so few sailing ops on the ICW... so ICW 925 Palm Beach to ICW 895 Canaveral Barge Canal are a real boon to sailors. Thanks for coming over. Looking forward, CFG
With a crew of 3, Frank, Chris and Ginger Bear, MELODEON left Fraser Park Marina in Trenton, Ontario, Canada in 2009. Like many aquatic snowbirds heading south, MELODEON voyaged through the Erie Canal, the Hudson River, the Atlantic ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway until reaching sunnier shores in Florida and the Bahamas . 2011-12 is MELODEON's third cruising season, with the last two trips spent lingering in the sparkling waters and peaceful havens of Grand Bahama Island.... full info
Dorothy
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Sky Photos
Great photos. Thanks!