Thursday, March 27, 2008
Pipe Dream’s
February 2008 Newsletter
Or
This cruising life can be dangerous!
Yes, we are back again with a Pipe Dream whacky newsletter. Things finally settled down after the holidays and we got some rest. In the last newsletter we had sailed to Georgetown, Bahamas, for Christmas and New Years Eve. A great time was had by all. We’ve decided to spend another cruising season in the Bahamas. This place is hard to leave!
Duey and Nan, our good friends and past cruisers from Hollister, California, joined us on Pipe Dream for about three weeks. We provisioned the “tuna schooner” with food and rum and we were off for Long Island and the Jumentos. The Jumentos Island Group lies south of the Exuma Islands and south of the Tropic of Cancer. These islands are virtually uninhabited. There is little protection from the wind blowing from the west or north. Naturally, two days into our trip the wind turned north and we were blown out of the islands. Back to Georgetown to re-provision. Two days later we were off to the Jumentos once again. This time we had a wonderful stay, snorkeling, fishing, swimming, hiking, and kayaking. While diving for “bugs” (lobster) a black tip shark came in also looking for an easy meal. A few days later we fished at Water Cay. We had a tough time getting the fish into the boat. The sharks were grabbing them off of our line faster than we could reel them in. Needless to say, we cancelled the swimming that afternoon. I guess, we cheated death one more time. After a week we pulled up the anchor and headed for Long Island and a little civilization.
Jutta and I are constantly being asked if we are ever worried about pirates in all our
travels. Our answer, up to now, has always been “no”. On our return to Long Island we encountered a situation which could have really gotten out of hand and got me into a lot of trouble. A new beach bar “Parrots of the Caribbean” had opened up in Thompson Bay with three dollar beers, great rum drinks, and good food. Our friend Duey and several other cruisers brought their guitars and we had a wonderful jam session. Of course, somebody had to support the new business enterprise and it was my job to man a bar stool for the afternoon. It’s a rough job but someone has to do it!
Duey and Nan had to go back to reality. We sure enjoyed their visit. Jutta and I are back to doing yogert (yoga) on the beach three time a week and we play volleyball almost daily. With beach walks, snorkeling for lobster, cocktail gatherings, dances under the stars, and socializing we hardly have time for anything. And I wonder why I am always so tired. Next on the agenda will be the week-long Cruisers’ Regatta with lots of activities. Some day, when I retire, I will take it easy!!!!
Looks like this newsletter is going to be a short one. This is what happens when we don’t do much for a while. Don’t forget to keep sending those dollars to the “Help Ferdy Cruising Fund”. “Parrots of the Caribbean” won’t take my IOU’s any more and I gave up on getting drinks on my good looks???.
From the Decks of Pipe Dream
Ferdy and Jutta
February 2008 Newsletter
Or
This cruising life can be dangerous!
Yes, we are back again with a Pipe Dream whacky newsletter. Things finally settled down after the holidays and we got some rest. In the last newsletter we had sailed to Georgetown, Bahamas, for Christmas and New Years Eve. A great time was had by all. We’ve decided to spend another cruising season in the Bahamas. This place is hard to leave!
Duey and Nan, our good friends and past cruisers from Hollister, California, joined us on Pipe Dream for about three weeks. We provisioned the “tuna schooner” with food and rum and we were off for Long Island and the Jumentos. The Jumentos Island Group lies south of the Exuma Islands and south of the Tropic of Cancer. These islands are virtually uninhabited. There is little protection from the wind blowing from the west or north. Naturally, two days into our trip the wind turned north and we were blown out of the islands. Back to Georgetown to re-provision. Two days later we were off to the Jumentos once again. This time we had a wonderful stay, snorkeling, fishing, swimming, hiking, and kayaking. While diving for “bugs” (lobster) a black tip shark came in also looking for an easy meal. A few days later we fished at Water Cay. We had a tough time getting the fish into the boat. The sharks were grabbing them off of our line faster than we could reel them in. Needless to say, we cancelled the swimming that afternoon. I guess, we cheated death one more time. After a week we pulled up the anchor and headed for Long Island and a little civilization.
Jutta and I are constantly being asked if we are ever worried about pirates in all our
travels. Our answer, up to now, has always been “no”. On our return to Long Island we encountered a situation which could have really gotten out of hand and got me into a lot of trouble. A new beach bar “Parrots of the Caribbean” had opened up in Thompson Bay with three dollar beers, great rum drinks, and good food. Our friend Duey and several other cruisers brought their guitars and we had a wonderful jam session. Of course, somebody had to support the new business enterprise and it was my job to man a bar stool for the afternoon. It’s a rough job but someone has to do it!
Duey and Nan had to go back to reality. We sure enjoyed their visit. Jutta and I are back to doing yogert (yoga) on the beach three time a week and we play volleyball almost daily. With beach walks, snorkeling for lobster, cocktail gatherings, dances under the stars, and socializing we hardly have time for anything. And I wonder why I am always so tired. Next on the agenda will be the week-long Cruisers’ Regatta with lots of activities. Some day, when I retire, I will take it easy!!!!
Looks like this newsletter is going to be a short one. This is what happens when we don’t do much for a while. Don’t forget to keep sending those dollars to the “Help Ferdy Cruising Fund”. “Parrots of the Caribbean” won’t take my IOU’s any more and I gave up on getting drinks on my good looks???.
From the Decks of Pipe Dream
Ferdy and Jutta
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Newsletter Xmas 2007
“That Fickle Couple ain’t got no stinking Direction in Life”
To expand on my perfect English above, we don’t know where in the world we’re going from day to day. In the last newsletter we told you we were headed for the Caribbean. We had arrived in Fort Lauderdale from the Chesapeake in mid November and stayed as always at Bruno’s Zoo (our eight boat marina hideaway in Ft Lauderdale.) Our good friends Bruno, Dano, and Brit were waiting at the dock when we arrived. We figured we would be there for about two weeks waiting for a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream and sail on to the Bahama Bank. Tuesday we worked on the boat getting her ready and found an internet connection for the marine weather forecast. The weather report called for the north winds to abate on Thursday, Turkey Day. That was all the good news we needed. Tuesday afternoon we rented a car and provisioned for our trip which included fuel, boat parts, diving stuff, etc., a twelve hour marathon. On Wednesday we stowed the provisions (for those of you in Yuma Arizona, “stowed” is putting the grub in the wagon or boat in our case) and got the “ole tuna schooner” ready to go to sea. Our bags were packed, the boat was provisioned with beer, wine and rum, and we even remembered to take a little food for the trip.
Early Thanksgiving Day, while most of you were waller’n in turkey and dressing, the mighty crew of Pipe Dream sailed out of Fort Lauderdale. We traveled overnight to arrive in Nassau, Bahamas, 30 hours later, about 165 miles. How’s that for speed? We checked in with customs and paid our $300 cruising fee. (Remember the “Help Ferdy Cruising Fund?”) After a couple of days in Nassau we sailed off to the Exumas (one of the island chains) and into paradise.
Jutta and I are back in our element playing in the islands. We have spent a lot of time on the eastern sea board of the United States and really enjoyed it, but it is very expensive. Now that we are in the islands, things have changed. We can try to live off of the land experiencing the true pioneer spirit, like Christopher Columbus, Sir Francis Drake, etc.? .You probably can imagine how sick and tired we get of eating lobster dipped in garlic butter all the time; and garlic butter is so expensive!! There goes the budget.
The crew of Pipe Dream has landed in Georgetown, Bahamas, and we have planted our anchor for a while. On the Friday before Christmas we sailed out of Georgetown bound for Long Island and on to the Southern Caribbean. The seas were perfect, the wind amassing, and the day beautiful. We had planned to spend Christmas in the Dominican Republic or the Turks and Caicos Islands. On the northern end of Long Island after six hours of perfect sailing we had a discussion and decided to turn around and head back for Christmas and maybe another season in the Bahamas. (What are those two thinking??) In another month there should be close to three hundred boats in Georgetown. We’ll have many playmates there.
A cruisers’ Christmas Eve was spent on the beach with caroling and a bonfire. It ended about 10pm. Us cruisers got nothing to prove when it comes to staying up late! Christmas Day we attended a potluck for about a hundred people. Everyone made a dish and the Turkey and Ham was provided for $5.00 a head. I thought the budget was blown again but I won a bottle of wine on the raffle. What a stroke of luck! After dinner Jutta and I hit the hay about 8:00PM. We had to get up at 2:00AM to go to Junkanoo. Junkanoo is a festival held on Boxing Day (Dec.26), started during slavery by the blacks to honor their customs, traditions, heritage, and emancipation. It’s a parade starting at 2:00AM and ending about 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning. There are brass bands, lots of drums, cow bells and whistles, the noise is incredible, the costumes and floats are breathtaking and everyone is dancing and partying. White folks could learn a thing or two about partying from the Bahamians. The mighty Pipe Dream party animals gave out at about 8:00 AM and returned to the boat for a little sleep. This getting old is not for sissies! You need to keep in mind we are just a few days away from a New Years Eve party and need to pace ourselves.
News Years came in with a bang. The Saint Francis Resort right around the corner from our anchorage hosted a New Years Eve Party for all the cruisers in the harbor. John on the sailing Catamaran “Free Bird” supplied 5 hours’ worth of dancing music and we danced until our feet were sore. By 2:00 AM the party cleared out and it was time to return to Pipe Dream and a little sleep. After all, we had to be fit to watch the local New Years’ Day boat races.
Well, that about wraps up 2007 and another year of Pipe Dream Adventures. We sure have a lot to be thankful for and we are eagerly looking forward to 2008.
We wish you all a wonderful New Year, remember to keep us in your thoughts and it wouldn’t hurt to keep us in your pocket books!
From the Decks of Pipe Dream
Ferdy and Jutta
To expand on my perfect English above, we don’t know where in the world we’re going from day to day. In the last newsletter we told you we were headed for the Caribbean. We had arrived in Fort Lauderdale from the Chesapeake in mid November and stayed as always at Bruno’s Zoo (our eight boat marina hideaway in Ft Lauderdale.) Our good friends Bruno, Dano, and Brit were waiting at the dock when we arrived. We figured we would be there for about two weeks waiting for a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream and sail on to the Bahama Bank. Tuesday we worked on the boat getting her ready and found an internet connection for the marine weather forecast. The weather report called for the north winds to abate on Thursday, Turkey Day. That was all the good news we needed. Tuesday afternoon we rented a car and provisioned for our trip which included fuel, boat parts, diving stuff, etc., a twelve hour marathon. On Wednesday we stowed the provisions (for those of you in Yuma Arizona, “stowed” is putting the grub in the wagon or boat in our case) and got the “ole tuna schooner” ready to go to sea. Our bags were packed, the boat was provisioned with beer, wine and rum, and we even remembered to take a little food for the trip.
Early Thanksgiving Day, while most of you were waller’n in turkey and dressing, the mighty crew of Pipe Dream sailed out of Fort Lauderdale. We traveled overnight to arrive in Nassau, Bahamas, 30 hours later, about 165 miles. How’s that for speed? We checked in with customs and paid our $300 cruising fee. (Remember the “Help Ferdy Cruising Fund?”) After a couple of days in Nassau we sailed off to the Exumas (one of the island chains) and into paradise.
Jutta and I are back in our element playing in the islands. We have spent a lot of time on the eastern sea board of the United States and really enjoyed it, but it is very expensive. Now that we are in the islands, things have changed. We can try to live off of the land experiencing the true pioneer spirit, like Christopher Columbus, Sir Francis Drake, etc.? .You probably can imagine how sick and tired we get of eating lobster dipped in garlic butter all the time; and garlic butter is so expensive!! There goes the budget.
The crew of Pipe Dream has landed in Georgetown, Bahamas, and we have planted our anchor for a while. On the Friday before Christmas we sailed out of Georgetown bound for Long Island and on to the Southern Caribbean. The seas were perfect, the wind amassing, and the day beautiful. We had planned to spend Christmas in the Dominican Republic or the Turks and Caicos Islands. On the northern end of Long Island after six hours of perfect sailing we had a discussion and decided to turn around and head back for Christmas and maybe another season in the Bahamas. (What are those two thinking??) In another month there should be close to three hundred boats in Georgetown. We’ll have many playmates there.
A cruisers’ Christmas Eve was spent on the beach with caroling and a bonfire. It ended about 10pm. Us cruisers got nothing to prove when it comes to staying up late! Christmas Day we attended a potluck for about a hundred people. Everyone made a dish and the Turkey and Ham was provided for $5.00 a head. I thought the budget was blown again but I won a bottle of wine on the raffle. What a stroke of luck! After dinner Jutta and I hit the hay about 8:00PM. We had to get up at 2:00AM to go to Junkanoo. Junkanoo is a festival held on Boxing Day (Dec.26), started during slavery by the blacks to honor their customs, traditions, heritage, and emancipation. It’s a parade starting at 2:00AM and ending about 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning. There are brass bands, lots of drums, cow bells and whistles, the noise is incredible, the costumes and floats are breathtaking and everyone is dancing and partying. White folks could learn a thing or two about partying from the Bahamians. The mighty Pipe Dream party animals gave out at about 8:00 AM and returned to the boat for a little sleep. This getting old is not for sissies! You need to keep in mind we are just a few days away from a New Years Eve party and need to pace ourselves.
News Years came in with a bang. The Saint Francis Resort right around the corner from our anchorage hosted a New Years Eve Party for all the cruisers in the harbor. John on the sailing Catamaran “Free Bird” supplied 5 hours’ worth of dancing music and we danced until our feet were sore. By 2:00 AM the party cleared out and it was time to return to Pipe Dream and a little sleep. After all, we had to be fit to watch the local New Years’ Day boat races.
Well, that about wraps up 2007 and another year of Pipe Dream Adventures. We sure have a lot to be thankful for and we are eagerly looking forward to 2008.
We wish you all a wonderful New Year, remember to keep us in your thoughts and it wouldn’t hurt to keep us in your pocket books!
From the Decks of Pipe Dream
Ferdy and Jutta
Georgetown 2007
Jukanoo, a Bahamian Boxing Day Parade dating back to their African Roots.
George Town, Bahamas, 2007
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