Slipped out of the midnight service...

Merry Christmas to all my great buddies and darling friends and precious family.
We arrived here in Bequia about three days ago.We sailed from The BVIs ,with Philippa for 48 hours and anchored in a beautiful harbor in Dominica for an overnight rest. Apparently we missed he lunar eclipse that night!OH brother and Ive even got the moon phase app on my ipad.
We did,however get this long begged for treat of spotting a whale the next morning and later that day,just before the sun set,we had the best play with a big pod of Dolphins. I tried so hard to invite them  telepathically many times before,finally they came.We have footage,in a chip,a chip that is too full to hold anymore and a computer that is also to engorged to accept it,I guess I have to trudge to the shop in town and get a disc made. Anyway,it was a thrill to lie up on the trampoline of the bow with the beautiful swimming mammals so close and so cute! It made me miss Sister and Charlotte.
We sailed into LowerBay around 7am.We started hopping and waving and shouting to a familiar house up on the hill,the house our friends Rose and Melanie and Tom stay in. Wed planned a reunion a year ago . We had come and stayed at a place called Keegans and met this adorable family and said,next year we'll be back but this time it will be on a boat. How far fetched is that? Finally,the kids swam over,walked up and left a note. Eventually we were greeted by the three swimming up to give us  blessed wet hugs. It is that moment when I realized the strange intangible nature of time, a year seems brief at that moment. Look again and examine what has happened in just a year and it is baffling.
The really great thing that is like a holiday within the "holiday"that really isnt a holiday....is, that we booked Keegans again so that the kids and Jay are staying on the dry, a sailing term I just made up,and David and I are on the boat. It is so beautiful,just  in the harbor and being out here with the sea and very warm wind,but ill tell you,the swell! Im slightly seasick just writing  and Im deliriously tired as I never seem to catch up with sleep.Last night David and I had a night to cook for ourselves,lobster,and the swell was massive,it was like the boss rollers we had at the end of our passage down from Virginia,which,I haven't properly described here on blog yet I do realize.
But,seriously,the swell was so big that David had to get up a thousand times last night to check the anchor.We do have an alarm on the GPS which did buzz a bit.In the morning it was evident that we did indeed move. The boats around us,many from Europe sailed with the Arc,(a rally much like The caribbean 1500) are monohulls and the light on top of each mast swung like a metronome.Today we wrapped the few presents,went for a good swim,David took dingy to town to shop and kids went on an adventurous trek to find the surf via a long walk down to the beach and a stop at the  turtle sanctuary with Melanie and Rose. I was finally about to launch into my blog when David arrived back exclaiming GOTTA GO...we had to shlep all dinner makings and breakfast fixings and presents into dingy,to town to dock and take a taxi back to Keegans all because of the large surf and impossibility of a safe and dry landing on the beach. The beach is but a swim away. We enjoyed gobs more lobster for dinner with brownies and custard for dessert with Tom Melanie Rose and thats when David Philippa and I walked back to town to hit the midnight church service in town and I was so exhausted and so hot we just had to bail early!Im sad we missed the carols . It was bizarre how the "heathen" bass club music was blaring its seductive energy next door and the church sadly lacking the vivacious vibe it surly should have at Christmas !!.What a contrast. Luckily the devil didn't draw me into dance as I was determined to write this and send alot of my missing you - love and to say, Christmas wishes good friends

Merry Christmas
I am really missing Jeremy this year,sad that Philippa has to leave early Dec 26 and happy to anticipate Mum and Dads visite very soon.

A Fine Marina Moment in December

I'm what you would call,"Christmas shopping" See the mall,a wooden dock rows of sailboats.Hear the halyards whistle a sound that is accentuated wind see the divers and "Boat Project Team " Boys,employed with aplomb.Up here, a raised boardwalk ,lovely shops for presents and if you feel nobody is looking, sneak in a new fresh sale item of clothing,perhaps and coffee as you may just be getting very sleepy.Last nights dinner for16( loads of help,dishes by John.. Divine desserts from Asteroid)was fun ,late and especially,in honor of John!
We love you dude
I like Christmas shopping when there are no expectations...well that ain't true but that's my mind mantra to keep the zen purchase flow or Ill unleash the ,"inner mall -sanitarium nut case."
Philippa left very early this am from Toronto via Grandma Sue and the 2/3 part of the flights was delayed and she sleeps in Miami tonight .She arrives here tomorrow.
Jay returned yesterday and how infectious to feel his excitement and energy as he told us what an adventure he had for the 5 days away. The best was St John a US Virgin Island that is mostly parkland.He rented a jeep,slept in it,hitchhiked,went to a church that's service was on the beach,early the next morning met the two girls who ran the church and had a full on yoga,hike,surf explore kind of power -day with them! He told us of an eco camp ground where you can stay for60$ a night in a hut with 360 degree view up on the hill,it has board walks to link the huts ,just like Swiss Family Robinson.
I wish we had time to go back their with Philippa but Id like to get off on the passage to Bequia

dingy getting hoisted,kayak lifted,hatches to be battened

just a second to go before Internet connection cut.We have been anchored one night,our usual length of stay .At Anegada, a flat island ,reef surrounded of the British Virgins.We enjoyed a beautiful sail here from Virgin Gorda where we frolicked in the baths,the name for a group of pretty, smooth, rounded limestone rocks that are huge all sitting like Earth Art on the beach.That was my favorite swim.Fun and a little scary too.I ached for a camera to capture the flow of the surf through the shape shifted rocks,challenging the Canadian shield Georgian Bay rocks to a beauty contest
The engine is starting.We're about to roll on to Jost Van Dyke to a bay with a bar called "One Love" . Ted is here! ,our first guest aboard,so great to have him here, so easy -going,fun spirited..he's actually is doing dishes as I cram to do the remiss writing wee bit before we set the sails.
We love the BVIs,trade winds good for sailing,plentiful bays for anchor.We took a sojourn to St Martin for about4 nights,enjoyed a dinner out,stores duty free, a rocking Pentecostal church with David,Jay and I,must tell you more about that!We met up with our grand friends aboard Asteroid at Anse Marsel on the French side on the north shore and sailed around back to the south Dutch town of Philipsberg with them.We had dinner on Asteroid,always a very fun delectable amusing and warm time
We left Jay to do his desired walk- about,big nap sac with tent et al, until we meet him at Nanny Cay Wednesday .There, we will welcome Philippa aboard for Christmas. Our plan is to sail down to Bequia,stopping where whim or weather has us.I'd love to see Martha who lives in Dominica .We are setting up for Grama Sue and Grampa Joe to meet us there on Dec28
Very much looking forward to our year long date with Melanie,Tom and Rose,Rose who's birthday is September 25th ,just like Grama Sues,

Rule62

This is how I feel. From the moment we heard on the call in radio while underway,That our good buddies Rule 62 had decided to veer off to The Bahamas I was soo disappointed,What!?! OH!? darn,I wonder why. I realy wanted to celebrate with them here,BVI. We didn't spend any time on the radio chatting,something we have since become more comfortable doing.later,it was explained,we could converse before the time where we each declare our coordinates.So,it wasn't until we were in Soppers hole,Monday night ,happily concluded,that I heard that Rule 62 had a "Man Overboard"
What!?! It drove me crazy.I guess I could have asked on the radio? It was after2am and we were beat,8 days of surreal water travel.I actually took a sleeping pill and went to bed,still at last.
We arrived here at Nanny Cay. I was quite consumed with the shadow of this subterfuge .We celebrated the arrival of Asteroid,Moonshadow. We had mechanics come for the generator and declare more attention needed with a hoist out of the water,a date set.We did lots of launder. We met Jay! I went swimming in the ocean everyday and it was there in that big salty water that my thoughts always returned to Rule62, Debbie,Richard and Laura who I had met. It was hard to be fully victorious feeling the unknown but known of their nightmare .The ultimate fear of every sailor. They were very much with all of us there in party zone ,a tent set up on the beach ,a gathering to recognize each boat with a silver plate.We cheered as the last boat sailed in.We ate and drank hungrily,land ho!We did it hesitantly,with subconscious reserve.

What Day is it?No Land In Sight

It was a damn good thing for mind play to have been forced to wait back there in Virginia.
Not so for the crew people who chose to come ,took time off work all with the assumption of a certain time frame.
Personally,the day we arrived in Hampton from Oyster bay via City island,I was not excited.I felt dread,only if I was swimming down could I imagine this to be my challenge,accomplishment.The Caribbean 1500 group we joined to convoy south with held the reigns,we were waiting .They had a schedule ,talks,happy hours and a pre passage dinner.My ears perked up at the womans forum hearing a number of wives were flying ahead....being too competitive,not wanting to miss out and to set an example for daughter,Olivia,I took on the job as chief ships stores packer and cook..So,after 10 days of husband being the general contractor with all systems in dire need(to be tweaked,spent money upon ,help hired parts ordered etc) ,tools spread everywhere and chorus of,"WHERE IS..."...incessant,(boy that was a test)sons,crew Mark and his good friend Betsey, hovering dutifully,no attitude anywhere near the surface, team work.
Then there was the neighbors,new friends found readily in a common world.King Neptune's subjects.

Fenced in,on a dock or Entrapment by Tomas

OK We are here,waiting and there is nothing we can do to change that.
We were scheduled to depart with the Caribbean 1500 on Monday.Then Tomas made himself a nuisance .We were grateful as we still had many last minuit preparations.David is list-man and both crew:Jeremy and Mark arrived aboard on Saturday.
Mark Shapiro came with his friend Betsy McMahan,his dance partner actually.They both live in Baltimore and she was sweet enough to give him a lift down drive here where her parents have a place.
That night we decided to celebrate again the wonderful birth of Joey,17.We went to a Japanese Fusion restaurant and sat at a hibachi table.Very fun,something new for us. We piled, frat style into Betsys Toyota convertible back to the Marine Yard.
The days have been a whirl of lists and delegated jobs and lots of money spent and rides begged and given and received with gratitude and money spent again and shopping lists again.
The first day I attended a forum for the woman folk.I was embolden by the knowledge that a handful were actually flying and meeting the boats in the Caribbean.It was reassuring,as it always is to hear the mirror of your very own fears and triggers and loneliness.
Best of all is making friends.Being in a community is so very comforting.Us,We,four, have been extremely c l o s e . We are all embracing the safe and warm family tree of cruiser kin
In fact I should be hunting them down right now.There is Debbie and Richard aboard'Rule 162',so zen and generous and inviting,Olivia wants to live with them.Monday,I filmed Debbie cutting Olivias hair beautifully In a butterfly cape.
Halloween was the night that was supposed to be our last night.They had a dinner,under the tent.Betsy had rescued Olivia and I from Cosco.I was instanced after paying 26$ for a taxi ride there t find I had to pay50$ to join and they didn't even take visa!!! grrrrrrrrr ,AND! It was dumb I went there,it's far to bulk, all on some frequency my brain picked up at the meeting.Brain computed:MUST GO COSCO.Damn brain! So, we were late for the dinner,that's OK ,I couldn't wait to utilize the fine litter of wigs we've collected on board.Joeys new buddy John,a Connecticut boy who is crewing on Asteroid,a stunning 68 ft cutter . He joined the dress up play.We got wigged,set out.Back at the boat with new friends Paul and Monica aboard,Moonshadow.Joey trade costumes tithe Fat Bastard and did a gut splitting Scottish accent.We have pictures,just don't know how to mount on this blog with this iPad.Jeremy was a Canadian,"hoser "with the mullet and denim shirt.Funny and very interesting observing his depleted public respect.You just felt like you were talking to a Canadian beer boozed idiot.Oh ,the powers of a wig and conversely,the powers of attraction!So interesting.
Last night,again,late home from shopping(returns),we'd been doing a sailing drill in the morning,we went to the cocktail hour with our collaborated creation for the appetizer competition:
Crackers w
Goat cheese,honey flavor
Hot chilly peppers
Pomegranate seeds
very good
We finally met up with Loretto and. Brian aboard Asteroid.They are Irish,with a home in England and 5 children,3aboard.We had a fine chat,relating on many levels to the new experience .They invited us over and we enjoyed a grand visit."Grand "I think they might have tired a bit of my superlative love of all things IRISH.They also have a pup on board,BONO.Darling.I'm so grateful and excited to have new friends to meet ,sail away from ,sail around with.
Looks like Jeremy John Joey and Olivia have gone in Emilys car to shop,back for vitals and bowling ?movies?We have another sailors party,not in the tent tonight,at a bar with a band.Olivia can wear her Tommy H boots ,if she comes with....

It's rainy cold,and Im in my bunk under cozy covers.

"calm ,(in a storm,) before the storm"

We invited the taxi,stuffed some bills into our childrens hand and ,they went,off to the movies in the town Riogrande,across a couple of bridges-passed alot of the marchy glades,not the only Florida similarity.A lot of closed for season pastel colored motels with black sedans parked outside and,across the bridge, a lot of docked Marlin fishing boats and kept gardens and new peopleless condos.
It's raining with lightning tonight.Just right to hunker down,drink guiness,light candles,listen to birthday tunes*,and write our big list for tomorrow.
We arrived here in Cape May a week ago,incredulous I am at the warp of time.
We came from OysterBay NY.We had a sweet evening sail that first night to city island-wee spot ,just off of the bronx. We gimped along as our starboard engine wouldn't go into gear. The mechanic at The Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club guessed it long before the confirmed diagnosis once we had hauled out. It was not the transmission,it's oil,it was the prop.The hub. We came here ,leaving wooden ship building City Island before sunrise .This was the closest marina that could handle the hoist up and out.We are on blocks in a boat yard.It's wet and the Shelly gravel from the ground has creeped up onto our home. We fulfilled our prop tasks-shipped out to Balimore,fixed with a weekend to wait in-between
David took the opportunity to dig deeper.The ol hornets nest,well not really ,but - you unveil a web of fiddly jobs ;parts needed,improvements and renewal..David and Joey got into it!! It's like an amusement park for them.
Olivia got really interested in nail art and face masks and hair treatments,all homemade. I fester over my loss of control and work hard on the balance between surrender and throwing in the towel or some such tantrum. Today ,I prepared to send my bike home.
I went to town to cash travelers checks,I spent a long time choosing the very right 5$ T shirt.
I eat a lot of ice-cream and Ginger candies.
So, tomorrow is the day we plunge back into the medium we are meant to inhabit. We'll get up early,stow the books,computers,hose the decks of grit,pump out the holding tank(rank), fill up the water tanks. We'll sail 120 miles directly to Norfolk in around twenty -four hours.
We all look forward to having Jeremy aboard ,we'll have a proper birthday dinner for Joey on Saturday night.We anticipate and welcome meeting our one blind date crew .That makes six of us for the 1500 miles.
We have joined "the Caribbean1500" a rally that has practiced this migration south for the past20 years . There are 80 boats that make the fleet.This family of four needs a mixer,an
extension cord.They'll get us pumped,feeling secure and part of a collective,like the Canadian geese in their fine V formation.

Rain Rain

OK,so,sorry but I know I had written more in continuation from NYC weekend ,alas where did you go? My dog didnt eat it because she's not here! She's in warm hands with the devoted Smith family.
New York was really such a dream,I mean that in the sense that it seems now placed in a far away time zone ,now its in a special category in this journey,a place of special memory,like those plastic clear round balls with the winter snow that floats around when you shake it. We were happy in the very new dimention of being in a slIp at the dock. Jeremy and his friends Hutch and Dave arrived at 7:20 am,I know Ive writen this...
So,today,Friday,I sit in under a halo of frizzy hair,in very damp surroundings. Yesterday my friend Liz cam e to pick me up at the yacht club,I had JCrew failure dress to return and loads of laundry.WE only made it to the very swank mall that Liz has a name for,apparently JLo lives near by. Why do I get pumped at the though of running into her at wholefoods?? Here Im living on a boat Im supposed to be free of superficialities ,but ,yes I like stars, I digress...There actually was some real life drama here at the SeaCliff yacht Club; a 38 foot sailboat came off its mooring in the wind and rain sometime in the wee hours this morning and ended up on the west shores,up on the beach.I heard it on the radio this morning .When the launch came to get
me around 1pm,he told me.I felt really bad,I said to David last night on the phone that I feel
responsible for watching over the other boats.I think Im the only transient,therefore,the only live aboard human in the lonely harbor.
Liz picked me up,we went shopping.I successfully returned the dress,a dress? you want to know what Im wearing this minuet?Red lond underwear,fuzzy red sox,down jacket,rain coat. I am at helm but Im getting ahead of where this blog is at.I'm doing my edits and completions....
So,we're at the mall and I get a call from Jim,at the Seacliff Yacht Club. The winds are revving and his suggestion is to get back to the club so that he could bring me back to my floaty home. The night was feisty but I held steadfast to reigning in the drama my mind could have concocted . later reports were that we had 60knot winds in that quite exposed harbor. I was glad,later that David wasn't there. Sometimes too much knowledge can make panic-mind.
I liked my solo time aboard Rhythm. When I got in the water the one warm day of the whole week with the running belt Dave and Les gave me as a parting gift,I looked to the boat and felt a warm realization,"home"

NYC Party Reflections

When I think about it,I feel like an oyster today.Our vessel is my shell. After 2 of the first consecutive days of rain,I woke this morning to a still clear welcome from sky and sea. I took out my light available kayak and set off to explore and enjoy a new dimension,like tentacle from the main ship,still feeling connected but adventurous and free. That's what it's all about,isn't it?
To go back to the last entry, I do apologies for the gaps,when I tried to edit it wouldn't let me scroll down...
I needed to make it clear that after our dinner Wednesday in the city,we moved on Thursday from the anchorage to a slip at the docks at the boat basin. Anne OHagan came through the park from her brothers home to visit.It was fun as we had come to the boat basin together on Jasmine,Don Hills sailboat many many years before.We reminisced . we took a walk .
Friday morning Jeremy arrived by car with Dave and Nick .Ahhh the youth! No rest and what a welcome wind of energy they brought to our slightly complacent crew. They ate bagels they left with Joey and Olivia. David and I left had a good down-home tete a tete at the cafe on the pier . Friday night we dispersed and mum and Dad took David and I out to a show with dinner.We saw Memphis,very good,we all enjoyed it. Jem and boys,Bro Joe included, went to a Canadian Tuxedo Party which is denium - torture as it was insanely hot and humid,it turns out Jeremy who is in constant coincidence mode,realizes the hostess is Sarah Dobson"Sarah D" as he called her in sr K at Brown school and another
friend ,Ahsley- who he was going to look up in the city at some point was there too.


Saturday morning we took off in pods to meet Kristys group at a restaurant with waiters/
who preform between trays of eggs benedict and banana smoothies(olives order). It was Grama
Sues birthday and apparently she arrived bright and early solo!! Dad was nursing a bad cold,poor birthday girl,had to borrow the waiters phone,as he pirouetted around ,no one answered their phones. we arrived after she had fled.We went to fetch her, brought her back,and began a proper celebration. again,we split,David and Joey off on bikes,to Soho.Philippa and Olivia,subway somewhere.I took off running back to the boat to meet Jenny .The girls had arrived by subway,and the three decided to chill in Central Park.
so what? Call bro Joe! we met down at the 76 Crosby St Hotel in Soho.He bought me a glass of Champagne.We had such a nice visit
Time to subway back! we had a party to attend. It was so very awfully hot and humid
Got back,running late,had a shower at boat basins tiny bathroom and when I got to Rhythm,many of our lovely guests were already there! I snuck down to my cramped little dressing room to rapidly,nervously choose and suit-up. Peggy Gertner came down to help and then Jenny took a turn.
I was soon surrounded by the comfort of family and friends who had made the effort to be just where they were. It was really fun being docked at the boat basin,it felt like a really eccentric,NY vibed,place and with the sultry humid heat of an Indian summers day still in the atmosphere,it was an altered state of serenity,perfect vessel to hold the love energy . It was later,after our cocktails and our time up at Columbus avenue,when we came back to the boat that I felt the 'sweet spot.In the morning I realized,watching Jeremy,Charles ands friends,that I did miss that yummy slowed, wound -down après 'hug and tell me you love me' time with my best beloved friends.
I noticed champagne in the fridge and plastic flute glasses,mmmm, a toast to come? I helped myself to a beer.
My parents,our 4 kids,my brother,Margaret and Stephen,Aunt Bon.Vic,Kris and Brian
,Sydney,Jeremys friends;,Charles and girlfriend and their NYC friends ,Nick and Dave,Lorne
Gertner, Al ,Peggy and Emily, Jenny Armour.It was just right.
We migrated in clusters to "Prohibition" It too was just right. They had a red room in the back that was ours to play in.We had a pool table a bar and a waitress who kept us satiated. still no bubble toasts...oh well ,I asked the bar tender for a beer. David initiated a group hug and speeches. Jeremy was precious speaking of his total endorsement of our journey afloat but how strange it was to be home in Toronto after being away for a few years and Noe not to have HOME and all the inhabitants within.It was very sweet.

Life is a sauce de reduction

It was suggested I use this as my blog title today.I used it yesterday to describe how it is here in the close confines of living aboard. Your "buttons "are pushed on a regular basis and there is nowhere to run .Hiding in your room or roaring off in the dingy is a dramatic purge of anger and steam,however serves only to heighten the amps on the "buttons".In other words,you feel worse .Sometimes a big yell from the dingy works,especially if you have everyone's attention,like in a case where I had the front painter wrapped around the motor,they were all yelling at me about it and I started yelling back,not in response to the rope(I actually thought the rope had fallen right off and had sunk.) That rip roar , yell and spew did perpetuate some healthy discussion. Which returns to my point.You are forced to confront the horrid monsters of generations of distorted communication skills. To be true,is to know thyself and to know who you really are can take your whole life. This work in progress is at this juncture found in a condensed medium , a sailboat.
Today was outwardly beautiful but to me it was lived like a cold dark and rainy day. I didn't make the most of my day. I know there's a lesson in here somewhere.It's like interpreting a dream.
We need a new American Flag! We were aware that the flag was getting shabby but I felt Canadian embarrassment this morning when a sailboat cruised by shouting in a friendly
voice,"Goodmorning, did you know that it's a sign of distress if you fly a flag upside down?"
It's a still ,cool and warming sunny day.Last night we had turkey for dinner but Olivia declared,"Im not even going to pretend this is Thanksgiving!" I even made stuffing that I cooked in a pan,as the turkey we had was in pieces baking in our little propane oven.We spoke to some of our
farm weekend residing family and we agreed that we missed one another. I really loved knowing thatDavids Family and my Family had a Sunday lunch together

We have joined, " The Caribbean 1500", a group of cruisers who sail forth from Norfolk Virginia all the way down ,one thousand five hundred miles ,passed Bermuda to St Thomas in The BVIs .This is very advantageous for us .We need reassurance,a community.
Jeremy has committed to joining our crew,which makes us all very happy.We are also hoping Thom Ridout will commit.

Correction

We sailed our jib this morning,not the spinnaker!!!!
Oh dear oh dear!!!!!!!

Oyster Bay NY

Oh how an open sky ignites a heart to open!I saw the sun rise in a cloudless sky over the hills of sweet SeaCliff at 7:20am this morning.We have become quite fond of the boys at The SeaCliff Yacht Club,so very helpful and generous with deeds done for our benefit. On a dinner making phone chat,just like home,with Liz,I said,bye for now,but we will return.
We sailed under spinnaker for a couple of hours to this sheltered charming,typically affluent long island sound OysterBay. I google mapped the closest laundromat and movie theater.
To me,google map is astoundingly cool
To me, OysterBay is lovely.
To me,when you can switch it up,change to pleasant weather,feel the Friday of the weeks end,the battle is slightly diffused.
Joey is reading Brave New World,do you remember Aldous Huxley wrote that in 1932!!!!? It is STILL on the grade 12 curricula ! when I was reading some to Joey this morning,(the ONLY help Im allowed to offer)The Director of the human hatchery says,"Ninety six identical twins working ninety six identical machines!"..."You really know where you are .For the first time in history ". ... when I asked Joey the question that "one of the students was fool enough to ask" ,(where the advantage lay)?I included the directors line,"If we could bokanovskify indefinitely the whole problem would be solved" Which brings me back to my point,"the battle","the whole problem" of the human condition,how to control ourselves and coordinate that with "controlling " or really collaborating with one another.
So,that's the war of mad scientist vs spirit of the human essence.
Some days are sunny and clear and lots are overcast and cold
I hope this is the last blog where I use the tired old "Canadian" metaphor to let you know,
Today is a good day

Beat from rhythm

In the Middle of the Atlantic Ocean

I may as well be in the middle of nowhere in my floaty home.It's like being at the cottage in October.Our cottage,where David and Jeremy and his 2hearty buddies,Pat and Dave were this weekend on Georgian Bay.They too would be wearing coats and long undies and a scarf inside,or maybe just drinking tequila .it's rainy and now it's getting dusk lit. my good friend Liz did offer to fetch me at the Yacht club but Ive been very indecisive today. I finally did some yoga and warmed up and felt creative minded.
This is my last day solo.David and my crew return very soon.They had to return our van and Joey and Olivia wanted to be on land with friends for a bit.
I've been without propane.I bought an electric kettle.I've had coffee. today I panicked,Ive got to fill the tank so that I can cook for my peeps.I spoke to David and he patiently explained ; there's a full second tank in the anchor locker ,apparently he told me!! I need an assistant,Ive always needed an assistant, help me,maybe I can find a merman to help me.
living aboard is the beginning of another process.There was first,leaving there to get here. now there is being you with all your you in another place.So? well if you want,and indeed,I do,you can reinvent the you a little,tweak you. It's really merely sifting through what you got. we've all had to do it. I've always been interested in the idea of incarceration;the freedom of not being in control.It's a little the same here.Limitations can be very liberating. I'll keep you posted as we wait out weather here on the eastern seaboard.

The Womb of Hampstead Harbor

A quick continuation of my synopsis till the present; Aug.19 th A)Solomon Island,MD. highlight:AnnMarie Gardens, such an oasis of art mostly donated or borrowed from the Hirshorn in DC.
B)Aug.23 The fine city of Annapolis,we loved it,reminiscent of Amsterdam.We moored At Annapolis City Yacht Club, Tracked down ,Ridout Row,Our dear Ridout ancestral home. Got work done;2sails repaired,new fridge and freezer,upholstery in to the shop all in very very hot weather .
c) Joey and I bike 90 km to fetch van from Solomons and drive back to the city. That night Joey and Olivia drive to Baltimore airport to get Philippa.They have an accident, swerve off the road and get a flat.The cell phone dies when Olivia calls us , we get in the dingy,in a taxi . Drive to try and find them -somewhere near the airport.Before we reach them,Joey calls.They are recovered,triumphant.Joey fixed the flat(!!)drove to the airport,found Philippa,borrowed the phone they were on.We turned about and headed back to the boat.It was a drama day.
C) St Michaels ,across from Annapolis very quaint ,a days sail,arrived late,David instilled in all of us the mantra,never arrive at an unknown place at night. Left in am .The hurricane,Earl was making himself a name and we were watching the reports carefully.Philippa who was with us for a holiday wanted to fly out of NYC,we reluctantly mindfully headed north.We anchored in ,StillPond lovely anchorage E) North to Chesapeake City,met some nice locals,very sweet town,Kids were on local radio and got a free pizza.F) Sept4- 5 sailed 33 hours into NYC Jeremy's 25th birthday S of Liberty says,Hey. G) Stay a week in the city H) Leave early on Sat. Sept. PRESENTLY:in SeaCliff ;September 27 .
Still,with hardly a bob.Quiet,with about3 boats by ,a siren,like Fred Flintstones call to the pits and a far off plane. Just me,all alone. What a "sea change"that is!
We had the best time in NYC. We left SeaCliff Tuesday and spent that night anchored on the Hudson River.David was very anxious,shouting sailorly that it is just not right. He didn't sleep much.Poor guy. It turns out that despite currents and lots of full moon wind /tide play,our anchor was actually good and stuck on some mystery object deep in the nasty waters.
Wednesday was my birthday and I was treated like a queen.I was given enough presents for good 'guilt is so last decade" practice . A fat red/orange kayak and the most popular pad on the block,i!,i!,i! marauded bootie.
The plan was to go out for a 8:30 dinner,just before we hopped in the dingy all duded up,we heard and were beginning to experience some very atmospheric weather,quite threatening ,lightning show on the horizon and forboding wind at the back of our necks We went out to Modern the restaurant at Moma with my very good friends,Liz and Tom and Anne O'Hagan.I was feeling very loved and lucky

We had lots of fun in that very perfect medium of the 79th st BoatBasin,after getting a slip at the dock the mood transformed.Fri

in the beginning... till now ... briefly (not)

O.K. Now,no more coffee email dishes food distractions

this is it

now

If I look up,trying not to be distracted,I see sea,it's actually ,The Hampstead Harbor and long island sound. At night we see the lights across the sound of Rochelle. 

           We are moored at The SeaCliff Yacht Club. We have come to visit my good friend Liz . Liz,Tom and their 3 children;Henry (opti racer/salty dawg) ,Eddie and Anna live here in this 1 square mile precious town. From here, I swivel to note the beach and then up to green hills. The 1 square can provide a tight workout with stairs and steep windy roads . 

  Not today,Im blogging! 

  The houses..!!!! so beautiful, we love liz and Toms house big brick with property on all four sides. Joey erected a tire swing during our first dinner together.

 It has been a boon being welcomed and warmed in a real family after 21/2 months,they have fed us driven us to get food lent us cloths,an address to receive text books,a washer/dryer,printer,scanner,advice,information,invited us to join them and 100 others on an annual camping trip to Montawk this weekend...and mostly made us feel at home!

today,serious about this blog,I really want to accomplish a synopsis  of this "THIS" so far. 

No one has time to read long blogs but this has to be and after this,just stories and Geography in chronological sequences

"THIS"-sailing and living on rhythm our 46 foot catamaran with Joey 16 and Olivia 14 for an intended voyage around the world.

OK,David left solo from T.O 2 weeks before us.

Joey Olivia and I drove down July 28th 2010

I left my parents house ,my parents,my dog Sister,our son Jeremy ,daughter Philippa and lots of very loved peeps

We drove for a very long time,Joey  at the wheel ,Olivia navigating.I literally took the back seat and channeled my 8 year old self.I was helpless. Don't argue with the man on the wheel. We arrived in little St Marys Yachting Centre ,MD at 4;30 am

David and Rhythm were bigger and better than remembered.

 This takes real disapline  to keep on the narrow word path here...

so, St Marys,Hot,HOt,HOT! It was a perfect way to begin. The marina was lilliputian,a camp ground too. The first day it was so hot I put on big sunglasses and a bountifully brimmed hat and went to run in the pool. The camper people didn't say Hi . David and I took our bikes to the old town of St Marys,the college had students participating in archeological digs. They were resurrecting the original settlement starting with framed strictures they called Ghost Houses.

It took us ages to orient our stuff  to the hiding spots on the boat. 

Then find them again.

Its still overwhelming how many crazy electronics adhere to this vessel,we just discovered we have a fish finder!

OK so there we were,on the Potomac,of The Chesapeake Bay and no swimming!!  There were hundreds of ghosty white jellyfish and the water was otherwise nasty.  How very torturous it was,Canadians out of water! 

The kids went to the the pool to cool off. They were good sports considering 3 disappointments in Chesapeake: 1)The no swimming, 2) No wind for sailing e v e r 

3)No rowdy fun families sailing about with teens like us

#4)for me was-What's with the engines on and air-conditioning  !!!!!???? I bragged about town that we were,"going off the grid"! It felt wrong

Our very first experience off the dock was a days motor north up the Potomac to Washington DC.  David and I got up at 6am,unleashing  us,I asked ,"should I unplug us?" Yes Yes David multi tasks..Turns out that giant sized yellow plug was attached to what "us sailors" call a pigtail which attaches the extension cord to the main vein on the dock.It was ours to take ,but I didn't

We put hope in finding it back when we returned.such a nice quiet friendly place.

It was hot there,hotter than I had ever been and we were on the water!!  We arrived at The Capital City Yacht Club and anchored out front for  $15 a day.We were called Transients and we could use their facilities. We were right there!!!  The National Mall was at our finger tips ,it was enriching,gorgeous,close, free and air-conditioned ! I just loved the long lost (back in a previous life)feeling of being amongst very beautiful works of art. Pieces Id seen printed,artists names a common thread to my own brief history,like smells.It was comforting. We discovered the very best Gelato ever,and went there everyday. I loved the fact that in Washington there are no locals out on the streets,especially in the deep thick weighty heat of August.We were all tourists. I looked at the crowds and thought,I bet every middle class American family feels the responsibility to bring their children here, like Mecca. We had bikes and it was such a fun departure from life back home;riding up to Lincoln's Memorial in the warm dark of night.  Together!

Across from our anchorage was a park David and I rode our bikes early in the morning,I was stung by a bee. I ran one morning and felt stupid as it was just so hot. It was hot at night too and our little birth was suffocating. I tried sleeping outside but the cacophony of noise was like being in India,Washington;no flowers,few bikes,lots of art,history important policy makers and alot of armed guards .

Back to St.Marys. No pigtail.

   

First Entry

Not queasy tummies nor 'Earls' of wind,voluble seas...oh no, the mighty nature that challenges me  to brink is the condition of human.
Yes,in that vein, the frustrations of internet anemia and my own  tech deficit ,the  control-less helplessness is unbearable .
Bring on the cyclopean!!!!!
Hows that for a first blog entry?