tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1159317288571108912024-03-13T14:32:19.522-04:00Alchemy's Southern Adventure Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-49934511437039329772013-01-12T17:27:00.000-05:002013-01-12T17:27:24.191-05:00Back to Home Port, New Bern NCWell, I'm all safe and sound, back in a comfortable slip here at the hotel marina in New Bern. 70 miles today from Swansboro...Did someone mention FOG? What do you do when you look out the window of the boat and see nothing...(pic1) You find the next markers on your trusty chartplotter, then match the markers on the trusty Radar, then set the "NIA" on course ...and soon...(hopefully) the marker appears out of the haze! Interesting, but 3 hours of this was quite enough.<br />
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Thanks for following along on my journey north.<br />
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Capt DaveUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-66458063764672815372013-01-11T19:36:00.000-05:002013-01-11T19:36:01.358-05:00Sometimes, you just have to be there...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Swansboro, Friday Evening</div>
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If you don't think this is cool,,,,yo momma didn't raise you right!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-21642766344891566292013-01-11T14:29:00.000-05:002013-01-11T14:29:54.441-05:00Swansboro,,,1 day from HomeHad a nice evening last night shared with Capt Keith aboard "Coastal Comfort"...Beer/Pizza/Carolina Basketball on TV. (except for the bad ending!) Up early this morning to deliver Capt Keith to the marina at Figure Eight Island where he had a boat moving gig. Interesting little channel and a glorious sunrise (PIC)<br />
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Made Swansboro in 5 hours and filled up the tanks with the lowest price fuel in NC today. ($3.64/gal) I have averaged better than 1 mpg on the entire trip, which for the uninitiated, is excellent for this size boat, although, I've gone at "trawler" speed for much of the journey. But it sure is nice to be able and push it up to 25 mph when the need (or spirit) arises.<br />
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Tomorrow will be home base, New Bern. I'll do all the math soon and report for all you nautical types.<br />
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Capt DaveUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-35160570400279557062013-01-10T17:09:00.000-05:002013-01-10T17:09:22.771-05:00Back in North CarolinaAfter a day of rest in Myrtle Beach, it was up at dawn and on to Wrightsville. Another day of "LOW" water cruising. Actually had to wait on a shrimper at the junction with Carolina Beach inlet who was aground and trying to figure out where the deep water was, even though he was dead in the center of the ICW markers...go figure. Two pics for today,,, one from the Grand Strand of MBch, yes another trek on the trusty West Marine 6 speed, and another from the Cape Fear river. What do you do when this fills your windshield....Get the heck out of his way. First rule of Gross Tonnage,,,big guy always wins.<br />
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On to Swansboro tomorrow.<br />
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Capt DaveUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-59597104025005258472013-01-08T20:30:00.000-05:002013-01-08T20:30:22.414-05:00Myrtle Beach, Barefoot LandingLeft Isle of Palms at daybreak this am for my 102 mile trek to Myrtle Beach. Thankfully, an uneventful day. The Coasties planted an new Marker for one that had been "removed" at some point in the past..Thank You! Transited the Waccamaw River section of the ICW, which this Capt'n thinks is on of the most picturesque of the entire ICW...One section just below MB is known as the "Redneck Riveria"...go figure.<br />
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Finally, on a nautical note... I thought you non-boaters would like to learn about the "Nautical Intergrated Auto-pilot" feature of Alchemy...."Nia" as I like to call her, for short. Always on standby and ready to take control (Pic) she stands ready to relieve me at the helm for a break or just to fix a sandwich. Steers a course straighter than I can and never complains..Indeed, a good feature to have aboard!!<br />
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Had a "NIA" on a previous boat that was never reliable...steered in circles (remember CL)..and could never be counted on....finally had to replace the boat.....<br />
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Think I'll stay in MBeach for a day of rest.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-61174600486079940502013-01-07T20:16:00.000-05:002013-01-07T20:16:04.741-05:00Beaufort SC to Isle of Palms SC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Moved the boat on Sunday from Thunderbolt to Beaufort SC, but, didn't really have anything to say about that other than there is a lot of "skinny" water along the way. The tide's have turned against me for the last two days, with dead low tide occurring mid morning. This means the first half of my day is in minimum water depths along the way and always creates interesting adventures. Yesterday, I tested the limits of the water required to float the boat on leaving the Savannah River...no harm, no foul, but it kept my attention. The first pic shows how low the tide gets, exposing the markers to dry land during the lowest periods. Message: don't cut too close to the marks!<br />
Today, I left at daybreak to make sure and transit the Ashpoo-Coosaw Cutoff two hours before dead low, and still, ran the area with single digit readings. I wouldn't want to be there at dead low! Couldn't help but take a pic of the Battery when passing, although I decided to move beyond Charleston and stop an hour north at the Isle of Palms. First time here and it is nice to have a beach a short walk from the marina. Bad news was the restaurant on site was closed and it was a 3 mile walk to real food.<br />
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On to Myrtle Beach or there abouts tomorrow!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-71055316086066121532013-01-05T17:15:00.001-05:002013-01-05T17:15:46.259-05:00SavannahTook the trusty West Marine 6 speed into Savannah today and did the "tourist" bit. My, what a lovely old city. I've never been before so it was very interesting. I love the way they have preserved so many parks and town squares all about with the old houses and business surrounding them. It could be a lesson for our leaders in Raleigh as they decide how to deal with the Dix property. Enjoy the pics, for those who have not been as yet.<br />
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On to Hilton Head or Beaufort, SC tomorrow (haven't decided yet!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-83200508002825513002013-01-04T19:42:00.000-05:002013-01-04T19:42:17.203-05:00On to ThunderboltLeft Jekyll this morning at 7:45 heading north to Thunderbolt, Ga,..a suburb about 6 miles outside of Savannah. The tide was dead low, and the first mile or so north of the Jekyll marina is a notorious shallow section of the ICW. Needless to say the depth sounder got a lot of attention, but all went well. I had a good feeling about the trip after the show I received while waiting on the sun (dolphin pic) They feed in the shallows around the marina at low tide and, based on their intent look at me, must get a hand-out on occasion.<br />
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The rest of the trip went well, all 92 miles, and I was tied up by 5 pm. I included a pic of Alchemy's dash while underway for those uninitiated to the world of boater electronics: Radar on the left, Color Chart Plotter center, autopilot, depth sounder, shifters/throttles, spread about...quite handy stuff!!<br />
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Another bowl of "Dave's Soup" tonight...may be the last, even though it is very good.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-85322161047534498212013-01-02T21:01:00.001-05:002013-01-02T21:01:53.460-05:00Boat Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So...I'm hungry and there are raw ingredients going bad in the boat fridge...What to do? Dave's one pot boat soup. 1 lb of ground beef, 1 big jar of Ragu, 1 can corn, 1 can green beans, 1 onion, 2 potatoes, little salt/pepper/sugar....water...boil...Damn,!! (Bottle of wine as well,...wish I had a few fresh shrimp to go in here!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-49532972507656162952013-01-02T20:52:00.000-05:002013-01-02T20:52:28.811-05:00Best $60 bucks spent so far on this trip!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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How many good things can I say about my folding West Marine Bike! Bought at the North West Creek marine yard sale with the help of my good friend C.L. Grantham, this has been my cruiser transport in all of the stops. Today I did about 10 miles around Jekyll including 4 miles of beach riding. It got me all around St Augustine and Fernandina as well. Don't Leave Home without it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-26516053666399270052013-01-02T20:44:00.000-05:002013-01-02T20:44:48.200-05:00Jekyll Island...Who Knew?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Never stopped here before, but how cool is this...Apparently, this was the playground of the rich and famous back in the day...Goodyear..Rockefeller...Vanderbilts...Pulitzer....They built a few small cottages that have been preserved, as well as, a kinda nice clubhouse (finished in 1888) which is still well used! I think Mia had it wrong...I'm pretty sure this is where JFK Jr had the wedding party, rather than Cumberland Island. Rumor has it that the founding of the Federal Reserve actually started here over a few drinks. The historical marker states that Goodyear died at only 58...worked himself to death only a year after finishing the "cottage" here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-33649120377406410492013-01-01T19:06:00.000-05:002013-01-01T19:06:18.988-05:00Back in Fernandina !An uneventful day,, with sunny weather and light winds, made the first day of travel back north very peaceful. I have the boat set up for single handing, with line holders along the port side positioning the lines so that the dockhands can easily reach them from the dock while I bring the boat alongside. It works very well although it does suggest a nice tip after tying up! I made it a short day (60 miles) to take advantage of the least expensive fuel in Florida, which is available just up the waterway in the morning. ($3.51/gal is what I was quoted over the phone) Tomorrow will also be short as I want to stop and tour Jeckle Island, Georgia, and wait out a weather front that will bring some rain and such tomorrow evening.<br />
Jeckle is supposed to be nice...I'll let you know.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-12746135530444935812012-12-31T12:01:00.001-05:002012-12-31T12:02:59.046-05:00Wanted: Cruise Director !!!We have now confirmed Mia's maximum time period to live aboard and cruise. Although we have boated together for 16+ years, looked forward to an actual winter cruise south after retirement and planned this specific trip for 2 years, stocked the boat, forwarded the mail, and turned off the water at home...she left this morning with the "Girls" in a rental car for Holly Springs. No big argument, just had to get off the boat and back "home".....<br />
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32 Days, 10 Hours, 15 Min.....Just in case you were wondering.<br />
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The blogs may be less frequent and intertaining, but I'll do my best to keep them coming. Alchemy will be heading back soon. Apologies to friends who we will not be seeing on the way North.<br />
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Captain DaveUnknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-6920305667543371462012-12-28T18:28:00.003-05:002012-12-28T18:28:39.082-05:00Friends<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have made some friends here in the marina and last night six of us walked across the street to the brewery for a beer sampling. Carol and Rick from OH live aboard their sailboat and are headed further south after the holidays. So are Cindy Ann and Steve from upstate NY. It is very nice to have friends to spend time with and to wave to as they ride their dinghies back and forth to their boats in the mooring field. It was also lovely to stop by in our dinghy today and be invited to enjoy freshly baked cookies at Cindy Ann and Steve's! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, boat friends Susanne and Les from NC stopped on their way driving north after having celebrated Christmas in Ocala, FL. We had a lovely lunch at the Tasting Room, which is by far the best meal and restaurant we have experienced in Saint Augustine! It was great to catch up with them and receive some news from home. Les is an author and told me he has been enjoying my tales but that it is the first cruising blog he has ever read that is about everything BUT cruising. You get to hear the truth from friends...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow, Tracy and Chris are driving up from Stuart, FL to spend a couple of days playing with us here. We have stocked up with plenty of wine and tuned the guitar - Tracy can sing and so can Cindy Ann and Steve. We are lucky to have many and talented friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-56108671379423467762012-12-28T17:58:00.001-05:002012-12-28T18:01:49.986-05:00Nombre de Dios mission<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Saint Augustine is the site of the first
Christian mission established in what is now the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The original landing
site is beautiful and open to the public and there are archaeological findings of early churches and
graves. As you approach town from the ICW or from the ocean, this giant cross is
visible for miles. It was raised in 1965 to celebrate the 400<sup>th</sup> anniversary
of the original landing of Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles and his followers. <a href="http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/nombrededios.html">http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/nombrededios.html</a></span></div>
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Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-31429711438021425952012-12-25T19:01:00.003-05:002012-12-28T18:08:35.908-05:00A woman's hands<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I
noticed her because she was sitting so close to the water on the beautiful <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Bridge</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Lions</st1:placename></st1:place>. It was early evening and all the
Christmas lights were lit. Both her arms were hanging over the thick chain that
forms the fence, her once white pants grey, her winter coat and hat too warm
for the weather and her orange plastic crocs black from wear. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I turned and
stopped, because her posture was communicating despair. Then I noticed her
right hand. Beautiful and slim with long fingers and although her nails were chipped
and her hand incredibly filthy – it was one of those hands you see in ads for diamond
rings or expensive clothing. I had taken the girls for their evening walk and
stood there for a while and watched her. Returning to the boat I made a tour of
down-town to see if I could find a policeman to alert. Something about her sitting so
close to the edge kept bothering me. We have seen other street people here in
down-town Saint Augustine, but somehow, seeing a woman obviously by herself
rattled me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I
kept thinking about her beautiful hand and the way it should be caressing a
husband’s face, holding a child’s hand and preparing meals for a family instead
of being red and dirty beyond belief from frostbite and sleeping outside. What
happens in a human being’s life to make her end up in a situation like
that? I saw her again today on Christmas Day. She was sitting on the icy concrete
close to the water and I asked her if she was OK. I have seen her talk to
herself before, so I was surprised when she actually met my eye and said “I am
OK but I could use a cup of coffee”. Dave had a twenty dollar bill and I went
back to her with it. That beautiful hand and my thoughts about
what it could and should be doing instead of accepting coffee money from a
stranger, is the picture I take to bed with me as I fall asleep this Christmas
Day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">Let’s all be
thankful for our warm, clean homes and loving friends and family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-194158302921085942012-12-23T20:32:00.001-05:002012-12-23T20:32:14.213-05:00Merry Christmas<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christmas Eve is "it" for Swedes. That is when presents, food and liquor happen - all at once. Here in the US it is all about Christmas Day. In an intercultural marriage and family, we get to do both - yey! This year, Dave and I will start Christmas Eve by Skyping with family and friends in Sweden, who by then are sitting in the dark of a December afternoon, watching vintage Donald Duck cartoons on public TV, opening presents, drinking mulled wine and eating oven baked ham and all the fixings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dave and I are going to a candle light service at 7 pm in one of the many old and beautiful churches here in Saint Augustine. Then we'll get up and do a traditional Christmas morning with presents for the girls and fresh French croissants for breakfast. And THEN, if it is warm enough, we'll go hunting for shells and sharks teeth on the beach!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas dear friends and family! And thank you all so much for the very nice compliments I have received on my writings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-82118202557546477012012-12-22T08:26:00.002-05:002012-12-22T08:26:40.382-05:00Dinner at Columbia<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dave's cousin Debbie and her husband Allan live in Flagler Beach south of Saint Augustine. They drove up to join us for drinks and dinner yesterday and brought a lovely Christmas basket full of sweet home made treats and wine. Thank you! It was wonderful to see family and spend time with you guys! Dinner at Columbia was yummie too.</span>Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-8569851363418650772012-12-22T08:17:00.003-05:002012-12-22T08:17:58.267-05:00What kind of boat would you like?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now that you know that my
husband is the nautical fanatical and I am not, I would like to share this story.
We meet a lot of new friends boating and getting to know each other over drinks
and appetizers, someone inevitably turns to me and asks “so what kind of boat
would you like Mia?”. My answer always is “the model doesn't matter to me, as
long as it can pull a horse trailer”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I am a passionate and life-long
dressage rider. I don’t own horses right now but ride and care for my friends’ horses
when they are out of town. It’s funny to see the expression on people’s faces
when they get my unexpected reply, but it is even funnier when their creative
sides start churning out ideas for how, in fact, this boat model or that,
SHOULD be able to pull a horse trailer! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Great! Here is the extra
little knot though: do you know how much hay and grain a horse eats each day?
Or just how large a full size dressage arena and turn-out pasture is? Do you
know how expensive and bulky saddles and tack are and where am I going to put
the …..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">If Southern Pines, NC and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Beaufort</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">NC</st1:state></st1:place>
were situated next to each other, that would be the PERFECT place to live! I don’t want another
boat, I would like a farm.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Original City Gate Saint Augustine, FL</span></div>
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Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-66420996025672192242012-12-20T16:46:00.002-05:002012-12-20T16:47:18.920-05:00Architecture and other landmarks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"In Loving Memory of William Howland Fell of New York who erected this fountain in 1887. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was a winter resident of this city for many years and died here May 2, 1911. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He loved nature and was kind to all animals".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a lovely memorial. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saint Augustin is full of historic landmarks. The two largest ones, the former Alcazar Hotel, now the Lightner Museum and Saint Augustin City Hall and the former Ponce de Leon Hotel, now Flagler College are beautiful old buildings in the Spanish colonial style. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, wealthy people, including several US Presidents came here to party and live "the resort life".</span></div>
<br />Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-62380636509129418302012-12-19T20:29:00.001-05:002012-12-19T20:29:48.845-05:00A tan in December<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last few days have been gorgeous in Saint Augustin. Mid 80s, sun from a bright blue sky, balmy winds, beer on the sun pad in the afternoon. Not bad. My face and arms are starting to look golden and the Captain found a beach today which is accessible by dinghy, 15 minutes away. We are enjoying Saint Augustin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A tan in December means I am wearing flip-flops which also means I needed nail polish for my toe nails, which I had not packed. I usually don't need it because in NC, at least I do not wear open shoes from October to April (but college students seem to live in shorts and flip-flops year round there). I am also someone who will not pay $9 for nail polish, which is down-town Saint Augustin price level, so today I walked to Target (no, no, not TArget - TarchEEE! Sorry Swedes, this is a purely American joke). That was a 45 minute hike, a 10 min shopping trip and then another 45 minute hike back to town. Yep, the cab ride would have been five bucks, but in lovely high 70s degree weather, it is only a pleasure to exercise outdoors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just in case you think you need some more Christmas lights, this is what the Hilton in Saint Augustin looks like! Merry Christmas!</span><br />
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<br />Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-59636042576295377772012-12-18T21:01:00.002-05:002012-12-18T21:01:59.419-05:00Laundry Day<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">The marinas we stay in when on vacation
or cruising usually have nice facilities. This means there are showers and
bathrooms, laundry rooms with washers and dryers and sometimes boaters’ lounges
with “take-one, leave-one” book shelves and Wi-Fi. The laundry facilities are
usually coin operated and yesterday I went back and forth with several loads of
wash. The last time, I had loaded the machine and realized that I had left my
bag of quarters on the boat so I asked out loud who would lend me $1.50 so that
I could start the machine. A nice gentleman and fellow boater named Dane
graciously lent me the money. When I returned for my laundry I thanked him and
repaid the loan (with interest!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">I then turned around only to realize
that the machine I had used was open and my laundry gone. In this particular
laundry room there are signs saying that if a load is finished and you are
waiting to use the machines, you may remove the clean laundry and place it in
the wire baskets provided or place it on the folding table. Well, my laundry was
nowhere to be found… I finally told one of the dock masters who happened to
come in that I seemed to have lost a load of laundry. Then the same man that
had lent me money earlier jumped up from the chair where he had been in deep
concentration with his laptop and said, “wait a minute…”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">When I needed to load my laundry, I had
emptied a machine that was finished and placed the laundry in a wire basket. Well,
Dane only remembered which machine was his, not what he was washing. So when my
load was finished, he just emptied “his” machine and stuck the laundry in the
dryer. So there it was; my panties and bras, nice and dry for me to fold. And
his wash, still wet, sitting in the wire basket…. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">We meet new friends every day, but
usually not someone who BOTH lends you money AND handles your underwear in the
same day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-43127487318046708882012-12-18T20:36:00.000-05:002012-12-18T20:38:29.049-05:00The beginnings of Saint Augustine<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">The King of
Spain named Spanish Admiral Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles Governor of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:state> and instructed
him to explore and colonize the territory. In 1565 the Admiral and his men
founded <st1:city w:st="on">Saint Augustine</st1:city>, which is 42 years
earlier than the English colony at <st1:city w:st="on">Jamestown</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Virginia</st1:state> and 55 years before the Pilgrims landed on
Plymouth Rock in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:place></st1:state>.
This makes Saint Augustine the oldest permanent European settlement on the
North American Continent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0G1etd1AEw/UNEZspLlcAI/AAAAAAAAA0k/kmub-HaP0mc/s1600/20121216_165700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0G1etd1AEw/UNEZspLlcAI/AAAAAAAAA0k/kmub-HaP0mc/s320/20121216_165700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The construction of the
Castillo de <st1:city w:st="on">San Marcos</st1:city>, the oldest masonry fort
in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
started in 1672. It is build of coquina, a type of shell stone indigenous to
the area and quarried from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Anastasia</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GkGzpA3A7Lk/UNEZ43fBBtI/AAAAAAAAA08/durRVkynOIY/s1600/20121216_165720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GkGzpA3A7Lk/UNEZ43fBBtI/AAAAAAAAA08/durRVkynOIY/s320/20121216_165720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-29411859756388184622012-12-17T09:12:00.002-05:002012-12-17T09:12:27.338-05:00Beautiful Christmas Tradition<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some
15 years ago, a landscaping company in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Maine</st1:place></st1:state>
had a large surplus of Christmas wreaths. The owner was pondering what to do
with them and came up with the idea to donate them to the <st1:placename w:st="on">Arlington</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">National</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Cemetery</st1:placetype>
in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Washington</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">DC</st1:state></st1:place>. For my friends outside the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>, this is
where a lot of war veterans are buried. Over the years, his wonderful idea grew
into a non-profit and today donors and volunteers make, ship and place these
wreaths on many military grave yards throughout the country. This picture is
from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Saint Augustine</st1:place></st1:city>,
FL. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw87Uv1ukAk/UM8oMcaj5GI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/dIH0C-sSYdo/s1600/20121216_110405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw87Uv1ukAk/UM8oMcaj5GI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/dIH0C-sSYdo/s320/20121216_110405.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/">http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115931728857110891.post-86368091863421048342012-12-16T15:58:00.001-05:002012-12-16T15:58:20.328-05:00Men's Humour II<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one is for you Faye! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the men on the NC coast miss their "bun checker".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ophelia Phanny</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Cruise Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04882741631040272389noreply@blogger.com1