WELCOME TO OUR TRAVELS THROUGH THE EASTERN AND WESTERN CARIBBEAN ABOARD AUDREY PAIGE
Friday, January 11, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Audrey Paige
Audrey Paige is still for sale with a reduced price of $79,500. Email us at sailingdream@aol.com.
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Monday, November 12, 2012
Key West and North
Okay, I realize it's been a LONG, LONG time since I've posted a blog. Not sure where the time goes, but mostly can't get on the big computer because of Dennis. Oh, and I've been lazy :)
We were sad to see Mark and Deb leave because we enjoyed their company so much. It was a great 2 weeks with them.
Left the marina bright and early in Key West, at 7:20 a.m, on April 25th. No wind or seas so it was an easy 'out of there' with no help. We motorsailed, with the wind on the nose, and anchored outside of Marathon, Boot Key Harbor, close to 4 p.m. Up early on the 26th and underway by 8 a.m. We motorsailed with a full main in 2' seas up to Tavernier Key, anchoring around 4 p.m. again. On the way at 7 a.m. to Fisher Island, outside of Miami Beach, motorsailing again. Left that anchorage at 7 a.m. with all sails up. Had a wonderful sail up to Ft. Lauderdale. Unfortunately for us, it was a Saturday, and the ICW was crazy with powerboats. The most boats we've ever seen in Lake Sylvia (17), and we there when there was the migration south!!! There was an air show ... not sure why they were all here because you couldn't see that much, but the weather was really bad. Stayed a couple of days, getting off the boat and walking after all that travelling. Felt so good.
Time to start heading north, but, unfortunately, the weather was not co-operating, so up the ICW we went. Bridge opening after bridge opening and some pretty crazy boat people out there. What were they thinking? Oh, and they don't answer their radios on either 16 or 9. Too busy being cool I guess. Lauderdale to Fort Worth (where the starter started messing up) and then up to Ft. Pierce. By this time we were just tired. Connie and Steve from Better Days have a home in Ft. Pierce, so we made sure we stopped to see them. Turned out to be a permanent stop! Looked at the boat yards, decided we just couldn't do this any longer and wanted to get back home, so put the boat on the hard at Riverside Marina. Steve was great, running us around looking for a car, and then heading back to their home where Connie cooked a great dinner and we did laundry. As a cruiser, you know laundry, dinner and shopping are the best things ever, and we had the best hosts!!!!
Into the marina on May 5th, spending a couple of days getting the boat ready to haul. SO much work in this heat. Haven't done this total stripping of the boat in many years since for the past 6 years we've only gone home for 5-6 weeks. Got rid of all of the canned goods and had our car packed with stuff to take home. Oh, and there's still a ton of stuff on the boat!!! It's a shallow marina and we're stuck in the mud at the seawall waiting to haul out. Finally hauled at 4:30, and after a washdown, Audrey Paige was blocked by 6 p.m., and we were out of there to the closest hotel.
So, here we are, in our 2007 PT Cruiser, heading back to kids and grandkids, hoping to make it for Mother's Day, and into our condo that we haven't been in in 8 months. But, on the way, we stopped to visit with my sister, Gail, in Ohio. We had been apart for a lot of years, and then she came to visit us in Panama ... we're both so happy to have her back in our lives.
On to a new life !!!!!
We were sad to see Mark and Deb leave because we enjoyed their company so much. It was a great 2 weeks with them.
Time to start heading north, but, unfortunately, the weather was not co-operating, so up the ICW we went. Bridge opening after bridge opening and some pretty crazy boat people out there. What were they thinking? Oh, and they don't answer their radios on either 16 or 9. Too busy being cool I guess. Lauderdale to Fort Worth (where the starter started messing up) and then up to Ft. Pierce. By this time we were just tired. Connie and Steve from Better Days have a home in Ft. Pierce, so we made sure we stopped to see them. Turned out to be a permanent stop! Looked at the boat yards, decided we just couldn't do this any longer and wanted to get back home, so put the boat on the hard at Riverside Marina. Steve was great, running us around looking for a car, and then heading back to their home where Connie cooked a great dinner and we did laundry. As a cruiser, you know laundry, dinner and shopping are the best things ever, and we had the best hosts!!!!
Into the marina on May 5th, spending a couple of days getting the boat ready to haul. SO much work in this heat. Haven't done this total stripping of the boat in many years since for the past 6 years we've only gone home for 5-6 weeks. Got rid of all of the canned goods and had our car packed with stuff to take home. Oh, and there's still a ton of stuff on the boat!!! It's a shallow marina and we're stuck in the mud at the seawall waiting to haul out. Finally hauled at 4:30, and after a washdown, Audrey Paige was blocked by 6 p.m., and we were out of there to the closest hotel.
So, here we are, in our 2007 PT Cruiser, heading back to kids and grandkids, hoping to make it for Mother's Day, and into our condo that we haven't been in in 8 months. But, on the way, we stopped to visit with my sister, Gail, in Ohio. We had been apart for a lot of years, and then she came to visit us in Panama ... we're both so happy to have her back in our lives.
On to a new life !!!!!
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
Dry Tortugas to Key West
Safe and sound at anchorage and, according to Mark's notes, the winds were still 22 knots, but everyone slept the sleep of the dead. Mark slept from 3:00 p.m. right through till 7:00 a.m. the next morning, which is unheard of with him. Looking back at the log book, we only used 45 gallons of diesel for the entire trip, so we didn't have to stop at the Caymans to refuel, and still had 55 gallons of water. With the weather, we would have been stuck in the Caymans for at least a week, so glad things worked out the way they did. Oh, and we did shower more than the two times I noted.
On Tuesday, the 17th of April, the seas finally calmed down enough for us to put the dinghy in the water and go ashore to explore. Dennis had been to Fort Jefferson 30 years before, but the rest of us hadn't, so it was a great experience. And, great to get off the boat after 12 days on the boat!! Walked around, stretching our legs, and learning some new history for we Canadians. Most of our time was spent reading, relaxing and watching the sea plane land and take off.
On Thursday, the 19th, the winds and waves had finally calmed down enough for us to leave and head to Key West. Anchor up at 7:30 a.m. and out we went with all sails up. At 9:30 we ended up rolling in the Yankee and staysail and motored with the main since the wind promised to be on the nose all the way to Key West. Thankful that we had such a wonderful sail from Panama, so I guess we can put up with this last bit of bad weather. Well, until the autopilot quit. Must have been that 8-10' wave that washed over the deck and down the side during our horrible night, or maybe the next morning. Mark took over the helm, wanting to get his last bit of sailing in.
Headed into the anchorage at Key West, Wisteria Island, right as the sun was starting to go down. Every tour boat and catamaran were out, so lots of things to avoid. Lots of tricky manoeuvring with so many boats and shallow spots -- and why is it I'm always at the helm for that? Called the Coast Guard to get the number for Customs, then phoned them to check in. Have to report in tomorrow with Homeland Security downtown Key West. Relaxed, had dinner, and cracked open those two bottles of champagne to celebrate our true arrive in the U.S.
Took the dinghy in the next morning and found somewhere to tie up. Oops, forgot we were in the U.S. and should have life jackets in the dink. Luckily, made it back without being stopped. Stopped and had a muffin and coffee, checked in with Homeland Security, and then were off to explore. Checking in was amazingly easy and everyone was friendly and helpful. Although, I told them things would be easier if they could make the office stop moving! That's what happens when you're on the boat for 2 weeks, rocking and rolling, and then get to land.
Another front coming in, and Dennis and I have been in Key West before when that's happened (on land, but watching boats at anchor), so we all decided we would go to a marina and split the cost just to be able to get off the boat and not get soaked. First pulled into the Conch Harbor Marina, where we got our first pump-out in 9 years. Hmmmm, took care greasing everything on the boat, but forgot about that waste tank. Ended up stripping the cap trying to get it off, so that's on the list of to get items. Left there and headed into the Westin Key West Marina. Nice place, with all the amenities of the hotel. Unfortunately, we're too far from the hotel to get wifi, but we can go into nice air conditioned lounges and we're all set. The big plus was getting laundry done. Again, the wind picked up, it poured rain, but we were able to get things done and walk around a lot in between squalls. Glad we came in here after we looked at the anchorage, where everyone was looking like the pirate ship ride.
We've all loved Key West.. Lots of walking, exploring and shopping, and a restaurant or two is nice after two weeks at sea.
We took the marina for an extra few days because the weather just wasn't calming down, which turned out to be a really good thing. Mark and Deb got an email that they needed to get home ASAP - his dad was still in the hospital, not doing well and asking for Mark. They got on the internet at 10:00 a.m., got a ticket and flew out at 5:00 p.m. We'll miss them and are so glad that they were able to make it this far with us, and hope Mark's dad improves.
Could not have asked for better crew -- Mark and Deb were so, so great to travel with. And, they put up with us ;)
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| Looking out to sea |
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| Dennis at the Fort |
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| Where Dr. Mudd spent his prison term He unknowingly treated John Wilkes Booth |
On Thursday, the 19th, the winds and waves had finally calmed down enough for us to leave and head to Key West. Anchor up at 7:30 a.m. and out we went with all sails up. At 9:30 we ended up rolling in the Yankee and staysail and motored with the main since the wind promised to be on the nose all the way to Key West. Thankful that we had such a wonderful sail from Panama, so I guess we can put up with this last bit of bad weather. Well, until the autopilot quit. Must have been that 8-10' wave that washed over the deck and down the side during our horrible night, or maybe the next morning. Mark took over the helm, wanting to get his last bit of sailing in.
Headed into the anchorage at Key West, Wisteria Island, right as the sun was starting to go down. Every tour boat and catamaran were out, so lots of things to avoid. Lots of tricky manoeuvring with so many boats and shallow spots -- and why is it I'm always at the helm for that? Called the Coast Guard to get the number for Customs, then phoned them to check in. Have to report in tomorrow with Homeland Security downtown Key West. Relaxed, had dinner, and cracked open those two bottles of champagne to celebrate our true arrive in the U.S.
Took the dinghy in the next morning and found somewhere to tie up. Oops, forgot we were in the U.S. and should have life jackets in the dink. Luckily, made it back without being stopped. Stopped and had a muffin and coffee, checked in with Homeland Security, and then were off to explore. Checking in was amazingly easy and everyone was friendly and helpful. Although, I told them things would be easier if they could make the office stop moving! That's what happens when you're on the boat for 2 weeks, rocking and rolling, and then get to land.
Another front coming in, and Dennis and I have been in Key West before when that's happened (on land, but watching boats at anchor), so we all decided we would go to a marina and split the cost just to be able to get off the boat and not get soaked. First pulled into the Conch Harbor Marina, where we got our first pump-out in 9 years. Hmmmm, took care greasing everything on the boat, but forgot about that waste tank. Ended up stripping the cap trying to get it off, so that's on the list of to get items. Left there and headed into the Westin Key West Marina. Nice place, with all the amenities of the hotel. Unfortunately, we're too far from the hotel to get wifi, but we can go into nice air conditioned lounges and we're all set. The big plus was getting laundry done. Again, the wind picked up, it poured rain, but we were able to get things done and walk around a lot in between squalls. Glad we came in here after we looked at the anchorage, where everyone was looking like the pirate ship ride.
We've all loved Key West.. Lots of walking, exploring and shopping, and a restaurant or two is nice after two weeks at sea.
We took the marina for an extra few days because the weather just wasn't calming down, which turned out to be a really good thing. Mark and Deb got an email that they needed to get home ASAP - his dad was still in the hospital, not doing well and asking for Mark. They got on the internet at 10:00 a.m., got a ticket and flew out at 5:00 p.m. We'll miss them and are so glad that they were able to make it this far with us, and hope Mark's dad improves.
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| Deb and Mark getting ready to fly out |
Could not have asked for better crew -- Mark and Deb were so, so great to travel with. And, they put up with us ;)
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