It has been a very long, hot month in Tillsonburg and we hope that y’all have been able to stay cool. But, we haven’t. We have been sweaty and dirty and up to our elbows in drywall, tiles, Schluter, mortar and grout.

I cannot believe that we didn’t wear a groove in the floor with all of the trips back and forth from the garage to the bathroom. And, on most of those trips our hands were full, so the door to the garage slammed behind us. I am sure that the neighbours are enjoying the return to quiet.

But, it is done! Wooooeeee! For a while there, we didn’t think we would get through it.

On June 10th, Murray took his saws-all and started tearing things out. The initial plan was to just remove the storage cupboard and construct the new shower before demolishing the balance of the room. That plan got shelved when Murray discovered that no green drywall had been used in the bathroom. Soooo, he tore everything out, right back to the studs, including the ceiling. Luckily, he was smart enough to go into the attic and move most of the insulation away from the area. Even so, there were three bags of insulation falling around him as that day progressed. Murray made the necessary changes to the plumbing and electrical system. Meanwhile, I was contacting drywall installers, getting prices and timing. Eventually we hired Jake of JN Drywalling and, with Murray as his assistant, the drywall and mudding was finished. Then Murray installed a ceiling light and ventilation fan, all in brushed nickel finish.

Now it was our turn again and we prime painted and then finished painted the whole room. OK, it is time. We had read and read and watched videos on YouTube but we couldn’t put it off any longer. It was time to start on the Schluter waterproofing system for the shower. Once we got going, it wasn’t as difficult as we feared. Murray cut the hole in the new drywall for the shower niche, a place to store all of the shampoos and soaps. The foam shower base is installed first by applying mortar to the sub floor. Then we troweled the mortar on the corners and applied the first strips of Schluter. On and on we worked into the evening, probably too late as we made some mistakes.

In the morning, we corrected the problems and worked on. Finally, all of the Schluter was applied and our shower should be waterproof. Time to mix more mortar and start tiling. Heather had a free hand in that department and had selected a 20 x 10 inch tile with a glass tile accent strip. We were making progress up the back wall when a neighbour came to see what we were doing. Suddenly, Heather remembered the glass tiles! Oops, we had meant to place them lower but it wasn’t too late. Thank goodness we had remembered in time. The air turned blue as Murray fought with the glass tile. The tiles were mounted on a substrate but slumped when placed on the wall. They were also smaller than the tiles and the trowel we were using made too large a groove for them. After a quick phone call to our supplier, Heather cut many small pieces of cardboard which, when inserted between the glass pieces, kept them from slumping. Meanwhile, Murray had tried a different trowel and the work progressed.

Finally the walls were done, except for cleaning some of the excess mortar that dried on the tile faces. Heather made a mixture of vinegar and water and, using an old credit card as a scraper, attacked the dried mortar. There was untold hours spent wiping, cleaning and scraping.

Now, it was time for the floor of the shower, the niche and the curb. The floor tile was a smaller tile, a 2×2 inch , on a substrate, That went quite quickly but with lots of cutting of tiles. We were used to that by now as the tile saw ran almost constantly in the garage. Especially on the curb and for the niche as we used the large tiles for that area. The new flooring was finally available and we made full-sized patterns and glued down the vinyl.

The cupboards and counter top arrived on time and were installed by Jim Peart, the same man who had done the cupboards for our kitchen reno. We opted for the same style and colour as the kitchen to create continuity. The counter top was a granite slab that Heather had found as an off-cut and thus the company hadn’t come to pattern the wall/counter joint. Oh oh, my worst fear – the counter top was too big! Murray ran out and bought a diamond saw blade and they trimmed the granite to fit.

Once the granite arrived, Heather wasn’t happy with the paint colour that she had chosen. There was more blue-grey in the actual granite than in the small piece that had been used for colour matching. Murray held his breath while she dithered. Finally the decision, we needed to re-paint. The new colour looked much better with the granite and Heather was much happier. The toilet went back in ( it had been stored beside our bed ) and now we have a functional bathroom again. Yeah!

Except for the shower. Murray installed the tap and shower head, applied silicone to all of the joints and then unpacked the glass sliding doors. As we read over the instructions and laid the pieces out, it became obvious that parts were missing. Oh no! This had been another of Heather’s deals! A door that had been previously ordered and was now listed as “excess inventory” for a good price. After a few phone calls, the company that supplied the door offered to order a new one for us! Wow! We had been sweating and worrying and they made this generous offer.

The new door arrived in London on Tuesday and Heather suggested that we get them to install it. The package that we had was tremendously heavy and hard to fit into the car. They would deliver, install and take to old one back. Deal! So, the door was finished on Wednesday. Murray installed the towel bars last night and I placed the new towels as soon as he had finished. Pictures were hung and we stepped back in awe.

We did this ! It is gorgeous! I cannot believe how great it looks or how much work it was. Tonight we can have our first shower. Together! But, now maybe we have time to do some other things with our days. Maybe even come and visit you? Or you could visit us? We would love to see you. Let us know.

Hugs,
Heather & Murray

After a busy time getting the boat ready for summer storage, we hauled out on April 13th. The final jobs were finished and we climbed into the Volvo by 1 pm, ready for our long drive. This year the traffic wasn’t quite as heavy as we had experienced last year. Little did we know that early April is not a great time to leave Florida, due to the large number of snowbirds doing the same thing. But we made good time and arrived home on the 14th to the welcome comfort of our own bed.

But, it was very, very cold on Ontario. It was so cold that Murray jumped at the chance to assist a friend who was bringing his trawler back from Fort Meyers, FL. There were three guys aboard and they motored north as quickly as they could, making approximately 80 miles per day. Murray had never experienced the Okeechobee Waterway and, other than dodging waterspouts and thunderstorms, thoroughly enjoyed the time. They saw many alligators, ospreys, manatee and herons as they passed through 4 or 5 locks and crossed the lake. From Stuart, the end of the Okeechobee Waterway, travel was through much more familiar territory, traveling north on the Inter Coastal Waterway.

Friends own a house in Beaufort, SC and I arranged for the guys to have access to their dock. They were lucky to land on a Wednesday and enjoyed the special dinner deal at the bar/restaurant next door. As time came close for a crew exchange, Murray called friends near Oriental, NC and arranged to visit their dock as well. The trawler captain, Dave, stayed aboard while Murray and Trevor abandoned him. Dave’s wife, Brenda, and Trevor’s wife, Joan, were the new crew. The trip is ongoing and the vessel should reach Ontario by early June. But they will press on, through the Trent-Severn Waterway and into Georgian Bay. What a huge number of locks they will have traversed by journey’s end!

While Murray was gone, I picked out tile, granite and paint for the bathroom renovation that will start soon. Our master en-suite bath currently has a small walk-in shower and, in place of a tub, there is a storage cupboard. That cupboard will be removed and a large walk-in shower installed. I have found a deal on a sliding glass door and am pricing faucets, towel bars etc etc. Very shortly we will start the demolition. The new vanity and upper cabinets will be finished by early July and installed soon after.

Now, I am making plans for our road trip to Newfoundland this August. That file folder is growing as well as I garner info from the internet, maps and guide books.

So, between Murray’s trawler adventure and our plans for Newfoundland, that gives us the title of “ Hard Aground, Sometimes “ .

Stay well and enjoy life.

Heather & Murray

Hello everyone,

When I wrote the last time, we were just heading into White Sound at Green Turtle to take shelter from the approaching winds. Little did we know that we would be there for the next six days!

The winds stayed westerly and north-westerly for that whole time and the anchorages available nearby were not comfortable with those wind directions. But, we had found a great spot, tucked out of the way and with lots of room around us. At least, we thought that we were out of the way. Until one evening, a man from the Green Turtle Club asked us to move as the fuel barge was coming in during the night. Not wanting to be involved in a collision with a big ship, we moved. And then we were even more out of the way.

During all of our time at Green Turtle, clouds of smoke drifted one way and then the other. There were fires on the mainland of Abaco and they do not have the ability to fight fires that are not near a roadway. These fires were likely started by lightning strikes and continue to burn underground in the limestone cracks and crevices. These cracks fill with leaves and other debris, creating lost of fuel for these wild fires. Eventually they burn out and everyone can breathe easier. I was never so glad that neither one of us has lung problems or any type of asthma.

During the wait time, we did some boat maintenance. Murray and I had noticed a change in the sound of the exhaust. He checked the water pump on the engine and found that the impeller was missing a few vanes. A new impeller was installed once all broken pieces had been recovered. If even one piece remains behind, the engine may overheat and cause problems. Another day, we got the sewing machine out and repaired a seam in the dodger. We tend to hold onto the dodger when going forward and the pressure had separated one of the seams. It was a tricky repair but, together, we got it done. We did have some fun as we rented a golf cart for 4 hours one day. The time was spent touring the island, walking on some of the beautiful beaches, picking up groceries in town and having lunch out. All in all, a good windy day adventure.

Finally on the 28th, we hauled anchor and headed to Great Sail Cay, about 60 miles away. Approximately 40 miles of that was made under sail! Yahoo! Although the fishing line was deployed the whole distance, nobody came to dinner. There were a large number of boats already anchored there, awaiting the green light to cross the Gulf Stream. A vessel reported a problem with their transmission and other boaters responded with things to check in the engine room. After a process of elimination, the issue was found to be a fishing float wound around their prop shaft, creating a thumping sound while in forward gear. Another boater dug out his scuba gear and went to their assistance. Problem solved! The cruising community is a REAL community that helps each other. Especially in remote locations with no other alternatives.

In the morning, I checked in with the weather guru, Chris Parker. He said that the breeze was going to die all day long but would be better the next day. As we have heard those stories before, we opted to head out right away and use the wind that was available right now. The only negative would be arriving in Ft Pierce in the dark, but we would deal with that later.

So, we hauled anchor at 0950 on Good Friday and sailed to the Little Bahama Bank waypoint. This was a spot where we could safely exit the shallow waters of the banks and enter the deeper water of the Atlantic. On the way, Murray caught two cero mackerel who volunteered to help fill our freezer. By 1630, the wind had died but the waves continued. The mainsail went “slap, slap” and every line and wire on the boat slapped along with it. But we kept the sail up to steady the boat and reduce some of the tossing and rolling. Several cruise ships passed us, heading to port or off into the Bahamas or the Carribean.

Our arrival in Ft Pierce was in the dark, as expected. And we had the current running out against us. So, it was a very slow entry into the harbour. But eventually the anchor was down. No time to sleep yet. Murray worked on getting the dinghy ready to launch as I called Customs to report our arrival in the USA. I was informed that the Customs office doesn’t open until 1000, so we had a few hours to kill. We don’t dare lie down as we will fall asleep and not finish our check-in process. By the time we launched the dinghy, put the outboard on and all gear aboard then had breakfast, did the dishes and had a shower, we had wasted enough time. A nearby boat had crossed at the same time and was interested in sharing a cab to the airport. The process took longer than we expected but eventually we had our new cruising permit in hand and were back aboard.

Instead of going to bed, we hauled anchor and headed on further north, past Vero Beach and anchored near some islands in the Indian River just before sunset. A quiet dinner and it is time for bed. Yeah!

The next few days, we pushed hard northward. By April the 3rd, we were at the marina. Our haul out is scheduled for April 13th and, until then, we will tear this boat apart, cleaning, sorting and discarding out-dated foods and worn-out clothing. The car will get progressively fuller. But, we have lots of time to get everything done and the boat ready for its summer on the hard.

Another winter of cruising is completed, our 17th year. What does the future hold for us? That is still to be decided. So many options to consider. That too is life aboard.

Hugs
Heather & Murray

Hello everyone

When I wrote the last time, we were headed to Spanish Wells and then on to Abaco, when weather permitted. Well, it didn’t permit for 18 days!

Spanish Wells is a lovely community but we hadn’t planned to stay quite so long. This year, we didn’t sit on a mooring ( at $20 per day! ) but opted to move about as the winds required. When it blew from the south, we would sail over to Meeks Patch, a few miles away. Then, when the front went through and the wind changed to the northwest or north, we would cross over and anchor by town. Fresh veggies were available on Thursday, after the mailboat arrived. Then the stores would be full of people, stocking their larder. Our friends, Pete and Lani on MarNel, tempted us out to lunch many times and each time we order a slice of Mud pie to share. Yumm. Too good but not good for my waistline.

Pete and Lani were having some boat issues and grabbed a window to sail back to the US. The huge ocean swells, that were keeping us from safely entering the cuts in Abaco, finally settled enough that we could head north. Before dawn on March 16th, we motored out of the cut at Egg Island. There was at least 20 boats in sight as the sun came up and we were in the last 4. By the time we reached the Little Harbour cut, we had passed half of the fleet and used the mainsail to catch any gust of wind. It wasn’t a sailing day but we were just glad to finally get to Abaco. The two fishing lines were deployed during the whole journey of 60 miles and we had not a single bite.

On St Patrick’s Day, we moved up to Hope Town, on Elbow Cay, and anchored just below the iconic red striped lighthouse. That night, there was a dinghy drift through Hope Town harbour. Approximately 20 to 25 dinghies and motorboats were tied together and the occupants shared snacks, stories and celebrated the day with a libation or two. If we got too close to a vessel on a mooring, someone on the opposite side would start their engine and give the mass a boost in another direction. It was good fun. The next day, we visited the stores of Hope Town to show my books and, with that accomplished, we sailed on to Marsh Harbour.

This is the big city in Abaco ( about 6000 residents ) and gave us access to fresh supplies and laundry facilities. As well, more gift shops to highlight the books. Here we met up with Doug & Sharon Sandercott on About Time. They are people that we have know for over 30 years but we seldom share an anchorage. It was great to finally have time to chat over a glass or two of wine, or beer, and catch up with each other’s adventures. Another bout of bad weather was approaching, so on we sailed to Man-O-War Cay. Both boats managed to pick up moorings ( there is not enough room to anchor here ) and went ashore to enjoy this lovely town. TJ and Kaye, on Sheerwater, were on a nearby mooring and About Time also had good friends in the harbour. It was a busy couple of days but we got to sit in on a jam session with Doug on his guitar, John and David playing mandolins. Good music and great memories.

The weather was changing again and, if we wanted to head to the US anytime soon, it was time to get above Whale Cay. This passage can be very rough and had been impassable for ten days with the recent swells. So, on March 20th, waving goodbye, we set off once again. The Whale Cay cut was a little rough but there were no breaking swells. It was, again, a motorsail but we needed to run the water maker and charge the batteries. Thus we didn’t begrudge using the diesel fuel. Just at lunch, we dropped the hook outside of the town of New Plymouth, on Green Turtle Cay. After a successful visit to the shops in town, the tide had risen high enough to allow us to enter White Sound. It is the larger of two sheltered basins in this island of Green Turtle. With the winds predicted to become south and southwesterly and increasing, including thunderstorms etc, it was the best place for us to shelter for the next few days.

Now we are securely anchored for the upcoming blows and have hope of a chance to cross over to the US on Easter weekend. The winter is drawing to a close. It has been shorter than usual, perhaps even windier than usual, but it has also been a good time with good friends nearby. The fishing has been uniformly lousy so don’t expect fish dinners this year in T’burg! Sorry about that.

Write when you have a chance and tell us about what has happened in your life. Until we meet again,

Hugs from,
Heather & Murray

Hello everyone,

The title of this update doesn’t just refer to the 60’s and 70’s music that we listen to aboard but also the action of the boat as we have traveled recently. It has almost been a corkscrew action as the waves lift our stern quarter. Then, dipping the opposite side down, passing under and allowing the starboard side to return to and pass the original position as the boat falls off of the passing wave. The boat has rolled from at least 10 to 15 degrees heeled to starboard over to 15 or 20 onto port. Needless to say, it is an ugly ride and those aboard must hold on tight in order to move about safely.

The weather guru gave the green light for the 60 mile trip to George Town, Great Exuma and we headed out from Staniel Cay, exiting onto the sound through Dotham Cut. Both fishing lines were rigged and we hoped for a mahi mahi to take our line. The wind was much closer to the bow than predicted and also much stronger. What else is new! But we were making good time until the winds blew up over 20 knots. Murray and I reduced sail and continued. Then the wind headed us ( came more towards the bow ) and increased once again. This was getting ugly! Tacking upwind, we made it to the next cut onto the banks and, using the high tide, poked our way a little further south before anchoring for the night.

Just after we hauled anchor in the early dawn, a rain squall hit and we completely lost visibility. Down went the anchor again and we waited out this storm. With clearing skies, we hauled again and departed onto the sound through Rat Cay Cut, with Georeg Town now just 25 miles ahead. Shortly after lunch, we were safely anchored near town. We rigged the dinghy and headed into the “big city”. There we visited the gift shop that had been selling my books and introduced her to the new one. After a successful time with her, we stopped at the grocery for fresh vegetables and fruit. Then back aboard for some relaxation.

A guest was invited for breakfast and we introduced him to a Rand McMuffin made with Canadian bacon ( the REAL stuff ), a fried egg and my homemade English Muffins. Yummm. Once we bade Rich goodbye, we hauled anchor again and headed back onto the sound. Even with our late start, we managed to cover over 50 miles and entered Dotham Cut just before sunset. In the morning, we did laundry ( at the best laundry in the Exumas! ), visited with friends and sailed on to Staniel Cay, anchoring near town.

Once more, just after dawn, we hauled anchor and headed into the deep waters of Exuma Sound, this time through Big Rock Cut. This trip was a motorsail but the waves were still large and tossed us about. Shortly before sunset, we dropped the hook at Poison Point, near Rock Sound, Eleuthera. Here we needed to visit a store to receive payment for books ordered last year. But the woman who dealt with those things was away and wouldn’t return until 4:30 pm. Now what? We walked back to the dock where we had tied our dinghy. There we met another couple of cruisers. They had a rental car for the day and invited us to join them.

So, off we went, driving on the left and headed north. Our destination – Tarpum Bay, the next town. At first, it seemed very small. But, as we explored, more of the town appeared. We found a Cultural Centre, displaying artwork and quilts, and a castle nearby built by an artist. Beaches on both sides of narrow Eleuthera needed to be walked and checked for shells etc. It was an enjoyable time and we made some new friends.

With our issues resolved, we headed out again in the early morning. This time it was a downwind sail but the boat was still tossing and turning, corkscrewing down the waves. This was the fifth day out of the past seven that we had been underway and all in rather ugly conditions. What happened to a lovely reach on a calm sea?

Again, we traveled until almost sunset, dropping the hook near Spanish Wells, Eleuthera. Our friends on MarNel were anchored nearby and we had a joyous reunion. Town beckoned with fresh supplies in the stores, so off we went again in the morning. Loads of fresh vegetables filled our sacks and we stopped at each gift shop in town to promote the books. All in all, a successful day celebrated with lunch out.

Now there was a cold front in the offing with high winds expected. It was time to move to a more sheltered spot. And here we will stay until the winds die down once again, allowing us to move about these islands. With another cold front expected again before midweek, it is doubtful that we will head to Abaco yet. But, when weather permits, if it permits, we plan to head north to Abaco and spend a few weeks there. Ten on to the US.

Right now the only rock and roll is on our XM radio. Thank goodness! But that too is life aboard.

Hello everyone from a blustery day in Oz!

When last I wrote, we were headed to Nassau. We arrived around 2:30 after a lovely sail down from the Berry Islands. Good sailing but no fish. We dropped the hook in the usual spot, across from Nassau Harbour Club. Once we got the dinghy ready, Murray took me and my huge bags of laundry to Nassau Yacht Haven where I did three loads. The machines mostly work and the floor isn’t too dirty so it is the best choice nearby. The sun was setting as we returned to the boat, tired but with clean, sweet smelling clothing once again.

In the morning, we loaded up our bags and headed out. First stop, Batelco ( Bahamas Telephone Company ) to get the MiFi up and running once again. That took about an hour and close to $50. From there, we took our life into our hands and walked west ( with the one way traffic ) on Shirley Street. There are no sidewalks and two lanes of fast-moving traffic. Sometimes we had to wait for a break in traffic to go around a telephone pole! That was a very scary mile! The destination: the offices of my book distributer in Nassau, Media Enterprises. It was good to meet face-to-face and he gave me some good suggestions for the future to help sales. He also recommended that we visit some of the book stores in town to promote the books, especially the new one.

From there, we headed back towards the boat to re-group and have lunch. Murray had broken a tooth on an almond while we were in the Berry Islands and thus needed to see a dentist. Heading back, we passed a dentist office and asked for an appointment. They gave us one for the next day. But, only about four blocks later, my phone rang and they told us to come right back. The dentist took X-rays and examined him but concluded that the tooth was broken below the gum line. It would have to come out. So, a little later, with Murray’s sore mouth and lighter wallets, we headed back to the boat to relax for the balance of the day. Just as well, as we had walked for miles in the heat.

Re-energized in the morning, we loaded up again and headed off to visit many of the book or gift stores that had been recommended. Up over the large hill and down the other side, we tramped. In total, we visited four stores and two took books to sell. They had many positive things to say about the books and my confidence soared. Once the larder was re-stocked with fruits and vegetables, we were ready to depart Nassau and headed out the very next day.

Our friends on MarNel had been unable to sail the course from the Berry Islands to Nassau ( they are a large catamaran ). So, they had headed off towards Spanish Wells and then on south the next day to the top of the Exuma chain. We were able to sail once again and met up with them at Norman’s Cay, where we anchored for the night. They had hoped to snorkel but Murray was instructed to not suck on a straw for several days and snorkel is a large straw. Besides which, his mouth was still sore.

Sailing again, in light air, we made it most of the way to Staniel Cay before we had to run the engine. Soon we were anchored at Big Major Spot were we noted a large change in the type of boats around. For the first time, the sloop or single-hulled sailboat was in the minority! There were an equal number of large and medium sized power craft and catamarans. And the power boats had forced their way to the shallows, and had taken over one of the beaches for their private use. How rude!

Here in Staniel Cay, the books were again received with favour and soon resided on the store shelves. I visited the local school, donated a book and read “Penny Dives In” to them. When the wind allowed, we sailed south to Black Point as it was again time for laundry. While not as simple to do as at home, it is certainly better than using a bucket and a toilet plunger. Ida runs a very clean laundry that overlooks the anchorage. We bundle all of the dirty stuff into bags, take soap etc and load all into the dinghy. Then Mur takes me to the dock where we unload all of the supplies, carry them up the hill and do the laundry as usual. The, once folded, all of the laundry must be loaded into waterproof bags in order to get it back to the boat still clean and dry. If it gets splashed with salt water after all of that work……well, I could almost cry.

Black Point also was a high point in book sales, with three places making orders. One evening, we got together with our friends, Doug & Jean, from Sandcastle, their home at Black Point. It looks just like a castle and they built it themselves. It was super to see them again and to catch up on all of the local news and gossip.

With a strong cold front expected, we sailed back towards Staniel Cay and got tucked into our hidey-hole, in Oz. The front hit last night, in the dark of course. The rain and wind arrived at the same time and it blew 30 knots! Our anchor held us securely although we rocked and rolled all night long. About 0300, a vessel started calling for assistance. He was a 65 foot powerboat on the rocks, after his anchor line had broken. Our dinghies are not big enough nor powerful enough to help in this situation. We listened as others offered suggestions re persons on-shore who might be able to help. He was helped off this morning with only damage to his props after a very uncomfortable night.

When the wind comes around more to the northeast, and the tide is higher, we will slip through the small pass and head back out to Big Major for a night or two. If possible, we would like to sail down to George Town, again to promote the books. There is a store there which already orders the Pig book and I want to show her the new one. But, if we cannot sail down, we will probably turn the bows northward and make our way back up the chain of islands.

Future plans, you ask? We need to visit Rock Sound and Spanish Wells, on Eleuthera. From there, we will probably head to Abaco and slowly work our way to the top of these island chains. Hopefully, we will return to the US by early April or late March, allowing us to be home by mid-April. That is the general plan but the weather determines the details.

That too is life aboard,
Heather & Murray

Hello everyone,

I promised more details of the crossing and here are probably more than you might even want.

We hauled anchor in West Palm Beach on Friday 25th and headed north towards the Flagler Bridge just around 3 pm. A quick radio call informed us that the bridge was broken, unable to be opened and might remain the same for the next two hours. But luck was with us as, after a delay of only 10 minutes, the bridge opened and allowed us to go on our way. By 4 pm, we had made our way to the inlet and the sea beyond. The waves were confused, as usual, and about 4 feet high. Many fishing vessels ( 80 to 90 feet long ) roared past us, causing even more wave action.

But, after a few hours under motorsail, we were past most of the small boats and meeting freighters. One of them caused us to slow and change course to avoid a collision. The surface of the water was litter with Portuguese Man of War. From afar, they look very attractive with their blue bubble floating on the surface and their lacy “sail” raised to give them propulsion through the water. But, below the water, they are deadly. With the long tentacles hanging beneath the bubble, they wrap around any arm or leg placed nearby. The toxin in the tentacles has been know to cause cardiac arrest and/or death. Even when they are tossed onto the beach, these critters can cause pain.

By sunset, most of the land behind us was out of sight with just a few lights showing on tall buildings. It was bright even after the sun set as the full moon lit our path and showed the horizon clearly.

The route to Great Harbour Cay, in the Berry Islands,was 130 miles but our course, due to the Gulf Stream, took us about 150 miles in total. By 2:30 on Sat, we had reached Great Harbour Cay and proceeded to the marina to check in. Once the formal procedures were done, and our $300 paid, we left the marina and anchored outside the harbour just as the sun set again. It was past time for a good night’s sleep so we had a quick meal and crashed into bed.

The next morning we arose early and departed, heading for Devil’s/ Hoffman Cays about 30 miles away. Murray strung his fishing poles out and got four hits during the trip. The first fish fought hard and spit the hook just before he could land it. The second one came for dinner as did the third. But the fourth one again proved to be a challenge. It was a large, thick, tasty-looking fish that, of course, got away. Those are always the biggest. But we had more than we could eat for dinner and the freezer was very full still.

Currently we are anchored in the shallow banks, behind Hoffman Cay , with five other boats around. Two nights ago we all got together on a beach to share stories and snacks.

The captain has been very happy with the charging system this winter. The money that we spent for new batteries and solar panels was well worth every penny. It has been four days that we have been at anchor and we have not had to run the generator. The wind and solar panels have kept the batteries charged while we made water and even did some sail repairs.

At this moment, Murray is taking the toilet apart and will , hopefully, have it back together soon, working even better than before.

Our plans for the future? A cold front, with high winds expected, is to arrive later today and blow hard for the next several days. Sunday or Monday may find a break in the weather to allow us to head south on to Nassau. We need to do laundry and get some supplies as well as set up my MiFi again. I also plan to visit my book distributor there, to show him the new book and fill an order ( I hope ).

So that is what is happening aboard Windswept IV. We hope that all is well with you and yours and that you are managing to stay warm during this winter.

All the best from
Heather & Murray

Hello everyone,

We hope that your Christmas was wonderful and that 2013 will find you all healthier and happier than ever before.

This Christmas was a different one for us as we headed back to Ontario for the first time since 2002. It was about time to share that special event with our family and especially the grandchildren.

With that in mind, we headed north on Dec 15th and arrived in Tillsonburg on the 16th. I got right to work – baking cookies, decorating a tree and the house. Murray dusted and cleaned and got the house ready for company. Then we both wrapped and bagged Christmas presents to put under the tree. In this busy schedule, we found a few minutes to spend with close friends and family – one evening with George & Barb and another with Linda and Kuyler.

Jeremy, Cynthia, Matthew and Samantha arrived on the 22nd and our small house bulged at the seams. The next day, I occupied Matthew and Sammy with decorating cookies. I had never expected that they would put quite so many sparkles on just one cookie! Steve, Kath and James joined us for dinner and we all shared a huge pot of spaghetti, a meal all of the kids would eat.

On the 24th, we all packed up and had dinner at Steve’s house where James was very excited to see his cousins again. And, of course, Santa was coming the next day! The moon didn’t shine ” on the breast of new fallen snow” as there wasn’t even a skiff of snow at our house. But, eventually, all of the children were nestled all snug in their beds. And then the adults had a moment to catch their breath before tackling the balance of the things to go under the tree.

Christmas was full of excitement as the children found their presents from Santa. But then, they had to wait until James and his family arrived before opening any other presents. And, this day, James decided to have a long afternoon nap. Eventually, Mom & Dad made enough noise that he awoke. Once they arrived, we had more presents to unwrap and a wonderful meal.

Jeremy and Cynthia were taking their kids to Thornbury to visit with her Dad and Stepmom on Boxing Day. The forecast was for snow and then they changed it to a “winter storm”. So, quickly, bags were packed, the car loaded, hugs exchanged and off they went in a flurry of snowflakes. We tidied the house again, did laundry, took the tree down, packed our bags and watched the weather reports.

In the morning, we decided to head out. The roads should be cleared by then and we would take the chance. The worst bit of highway was between Ingersoll and London, with slush and snow still on the road. Beyond there, we saw many cars in the ditch and tow trucks preparing to haul them out, approximately one per mile. But the roads were very clear and we made good time. Until we hit traffic jams in the US, in Cincinnati and again north of Knoxville. The last time, we decided to stop for the night. With an early start the next day, we were soon at the marina and snug in our vee-berth.

The next two days we ran around, shopped, did laundry and made final preparations. On Dec 31st, we dropped our dock lines and headed out. Into a cold wind, of course. New Years Eve was spent at anchor near Blount Island, in the St John’s River. Today, we headed on and anchored south of St Augustine for the night. The turkey breast is cooking in the oven, champagne is cooling and life is good aboard the good ship Windswept IV.

What are our plans, you ask? Well, get south as quickly as possible to get to warmer weather. I am still hoping to be able to take my new book to the islands with us, so we may have to wait for it to be finished. Friends are waiting us all along the way and we will try to connect with as many as possible. And then, of course, cross over to the Bahamas as soon as we can. But, it is a boat. Even though we have checked and re-checked the systems, something is bound to fail and cause a delay. Oh well, that too is life aboard.

Hugs to all,
Heather & Murray

Hello all,

Last Saturday night, we drove into Jacksonville to watch the boat parade and fireworks display. Murray did an excellent job of negotiating the downtown streets and finding us a place to park. We could not believe the huge number of people who were there for the same reason. There were so many people that the walkways along the river were jammed and it was very difficult to make forward progress.

Eventually we found a spot near the fence with a good view of the water. By now, everyone was hungry and it became the women’s job to line up to obtain liquid refreshments and a pizza. This endeavour only took about 45 minutes! Over the heads of the crowds, we caught glimpses of brightly lit vessels passing by. Finally, success ! With pizza in hand, we barged our way back to our place by the fence and joined the guys. Luckily the parade went around twice and we got to see all of the boats.

When the parade finished, the boats tied up at the waterfront. Once all boats were secured, the fireworks started. Wow! What a show that was! Actually, two shows, as it was duplicated further down the river, beyond the Main Street Bridge. At one point, both bridges were dripping or pouring “fire”. It was the most incredible show any of us had ever seen! The finale was a constant barrage of fireworks that reverberated in our chest cavities. Using my little “point and shoot” camera, I took a large number of photos and here are a few.

It was an incredible evening but one that we will probably not repeat. Fighting the crowds and traffic once was likely enough for the next few years.

Things are going well on the boat and the job list gets shorter by the day. Our boat survey was completed on Friday and the surveyor found the vessel in “above average ” condition. Murray found the tiny leaks in the dinghy and repaired them yesterday. There is just the filling of the lockers to complete and shopping for Christmas presents. Oops, Murray just reminded me that he still has to align the engine and that is a big job. And it is a job for which I will try to be absent from the boat !

In about two weeks, we will pack the car and head north for Christmas. Perhaps we will see you then?

Hugs,
Heather & Murray

Hello all

As you might have noticed, we departed Ontario on Nov 4th and arrived
in Florida at the boatyard on the 6th, ready to get to work. Except
for a few minor details.

Murray had succumbed to a terrible cold! The first symptoms started on
the drive south and, by the time we got to the marina, he was feeling
quite punk. But, he persevered, though sneezing, coughing and blowing
his nose repeatedly.

The boat was dirty, which is normal, but below decks things were not
good. It had been a very wet and hot summer. Those are ideal
conditions for mold and that is exactly what we had. All of the teak
and a lot of the fiberglass had the grey haze of mold. The mold spores
had just turned up their noses at my anti-mold devices and my spring
wall wiping. Luckily, we weren’t planning to spend the night aboard.
While Murray took the shade cloth off in preparation for the move by
the travel-lift, I started wiping down the walls etc.

It was quite late before they moved us into the workyard and soon
afterwards we closed W4 up and headed to the motel to crash. It took a
few days, but things started to look better down below decks. Murray
ordered, installed and re-wired new batteries as the old ones were
completely dead. The weather was quite cool and raining off and on.
Hot showers at the motel were the best part of the day!

One warm afternoon, we borrowed some scaffolding. The waxing of the
hull moved to the top of the work list and W4 started to gleam.Murray
gave the bottom a quick wet sand and together we put on the new bottom
paint.

Exactly one week after we drove into the marina yard, we launched! The
deck was a mess and there were many jobs to be done, but we were in
the water!

The new solar panels arrived long before we had expected them and they
were riding around in the back of the car. It just required us to be
quite cautious of what was set on top of them as they are very
fragile.And expensive.

Today’s job, once the wind died down a little, was to install those
panels above the bimini on the arch. Murray had made a bracket to hold
the panels and, assisted by a nearby boater, he hoisted them into
place. Now just to complete the wiring. The two new panels are 130
watts each. This is double the output of our previous panels. We sold
the old ones before leaving in the spring.

I have been working on some of our computer problems and had great
success today. The program that we used for charting was failing each
time that I opened it. Not a good thing. We had backup programs and
computers but wanted that one to work. I had assistance from other
cruisers through a website called Cruisers Forum. With their
suggestions, I worked through the problem and we will have charting
available in the cockpit again. Yeah!

There is a party planned here for Thursday to celebrate Thanksgiving.
And, you must know that we are always ready for a party. I am taking
garlic mashed potatoes and friends are deep frying two turkeys. Not
sure how many will attend but it will be fun, I am sure.

Well, that is the news to date. Plans are to stay here at Reynold
Yacht Center until mid Dec and then travel back to Ontario to
celebrate Christmas with our family. Perhaps we will see you then.

Until later, hugs from
Heather & Murray
happy aboard Windswept IV