Travels of The Rose

2010-10-22T18:14:00.001-04:00

We have had another great summer enjoying our families and friends while boating on Narragansett Bay, RI. In early October we flew back to Melbourne Beach, FL where we'll spend the winter. I have posted a few pictures that will give you an idea of just how fortunate we are to be in this situation. There is an open invitation to whomever decides to take a winter break to the "sunshine state" with no strings attached.

2010-07-07T19:38:00.003-04:00

We don’t have a “Bucket List”, but there is a list of things we want to accomplish. Being on The Rose in Bristol for the 4th of July is certainly near the top of the, ”to-do” list for both of us. Fortunately, the weather was looking good and the calendar was clear. A couple of minor issues were tended to before departure, and early Thursday morning we departed the marina and made for Bristol Harbor. Yes, we were deliberately early for the start of the holiday week. Bristol is an attractive destination and even more so around the 4th of July.

Typically, grabbing a mooring ball is not complicated assuming the winds are cooperating. This day though was a little tricky. The Rose displaces 46,000 lbs. so we don’t select just any mooring but would rather be assigned by the person in charge. We know from research that there are a couple of moorings in the harbor heavy enough to handle our weight but we don’t see a painter, (line) to grab with a boat hook. As usual, Connie is at the helm with me on the bow handling the hook-up. After circling the mooring a few times Connie maneuvers us so that the ball passes along the starboard side and now I’m waiting on the swim platform with the boat hook. Still no line and we’re getting a little frustrated. The alternative…..just throw a line around the ball so that it encircles the chain that attaches the ball to the weight on the bottom. Finally, after numerous passes we are secure off the stern vs. the bow. I climb into the dinghy and swing by a nearby trawler to ask him what mooring he’s on? I don’t know he says but claims he did pay…..? Yeah right!

I cruise into shore and locate the Harbormaster where it is decided that we can tie up to the wave attenuator (dock) for the 5 days we’ll be in town rather than hang on a mooring. The trawler that claimed he didn’t know which mooring he was on? He can be seen cruising out of the harbor now that someone discovered that he was freeloading. In the midst of all this maneuvering, my Cousin Kenny and his son stop by in their boat enroute to checking his traps. We have a brief discussion about our plans and he offers the use of parking at his wife’s nearby shop for overnight stays. We had dropped our car off at the Elks Club a day previous so that we could make a wedding and visit with family in town. Now we’re all set, parking for both day and evening, and a spot for The Rose.

Bristol does not disappoint us; we attend concerts, visit with family and have lunch with friends. It was a whirlwind of activity for 5 days-4 nights and we fall asleep instantly at the end of each day. I am a long time member of the local Elk’s Club on the waterfront and it quickly becomes a nightly stop for a “quick one” (or two) before turning in. I feel like I never left town, and high school classmates are quick to lend a hand, enjoy a lunch, share a drink and show up at concerts.

We have family visit the boat and the weather is cool and comfortable for most of our stay.

One of the highlights though is having the three oldest of our four grandchildren spend Sunday night on board to enjoy a concert right on the waterfront, the fireworks over the harbor and then watching the oldest continuous parade in the country on Monday. It is a tradition that we have been able to enjoy and now pass on to the next generation thanks to the hospitality of family who graciously made room for us on the route and made sure we were included in the pre and post parade festivities.

As an aside, about a month ago I received an email from an Editor at Motor Boating Magazine asking if they could feature our blog in their electronic edition. Sure I said and as requested did an intro that they could use. They did a cut and paste of a picture from the blog for their use. Below is the intro, but if you go to Motor Boating magazine and enter The Rose into the search box the article will come up.

Paul and Connie Murgo purchased their first-ever trawler, a Great Harbour 37 they call The Rose, in 2004. Since then, the pair have gained their sea legs and made five round trips between Marathon, Florida, the Abacos and Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, accumulating about 2,800 hours on its trusty engines.

Enjoy the pictures as we enjoyed our stay in one of the prettiest harbors on the East Coast.

Paul & Connie

m/v The Rose, GH37

lying Brewer’s GB North

Warwick, RI

The kids enjoying the concert

Bristol Harbor, what a backdrop!

We all enjoyed the music

Decorations on The Rose

The best parade anywhere!

The fireworks had us all cheering

Still a working waterfront

Victor and Sofia in the salon

Definitely a working fleet

2010-06-22T12:53:00.006-04:00

After an enjoyable winter in Melbourne Beach, FL we moved The Rose from her winter berth at Wharf Marina to Greenwich Bay North in Warwick, RI. Drew is our mechanic and he had her ready to go, (as promised) on April 1. Drew and I took her over and Connie drove to Greenwich Bay where she handled our arrival and dock lines. I think this was one of the few times I've had the helm without her navigating. We spent the next few days getting organized and moving in. We are planning to sell our house here in RI, so that process is looming LARGE on the horizon. We know that there is never enough time to empty a house AND get it ready to sell, despite our best attempts.

It is still cool here in RI and we are grateful that we've scheduled a few more weeks in Florida. Spring is an enjoyable time of year whether you're in Florida or RI and this year is no exception.

While in Florida we were able to have the house updates tended to,hardwood floors refinished, the kitchen redone, the exterior painted and the landscaping renewed. The realtor is impressed and the listing agreement is signed.

Let the fun begin!

Three, (3) days later we have an offer from a qualified buyer. Seller's remorse? Sure, what else after 27 years. That is followed by a yard sale where we received much needed coaching from a relative and managed to sell things we didn't need any longer.

Once we return to RI it is time to get serious with the house.

Now we have to empty it. We arrange for storage at a facility close to the marina and begin what seems to be a million trips for all those keepsakes.

Finally the house is empty and we leave for the last time. As you can imagine it was a little more difficult than either of us anticipated.

Our friend and trusted Attorney Al Antonio handled the closing for us and it went smoothly.

In between we attended graduation ceremonies for our nephew Tom, a 10th birthday for grandson Joshua, college graduation for our daughter-in-law Lilliane and managed to have Father's Day.

Our son Tom and daughter Evelyn came out for a cruise, (her 1st!) and a dip in the pool.

The Rose is running fine and we are enjoying the season.

Paul and Connie Murgo
m/v The Rose, GH37
Brewer Greenwich Bay North
Warwick, RI 02889

The "Mayor" of Dock 13 after doing
shots on The Rose!

Granddaughter Evelyn at the helm

Enjoying neighbors on Dock 13

We had dinner on The Rose with our neighbors.

Sharing sea stories

2010-02-11T19:39:00.009-05:00

Connie and I have returned from a 9 day stay in the Bahamas. We spent a few nights at a condo in Marsh Harbour and the rest of the time with Jim and Iris, (Queenie) on Guana Cay. As always, the Bahamas has a special attraction for us even though it was breezy and somewhat cool. We spent time with some of the boaters that we've travelled with over the past 5 years, sharing experiences and enjoying tales of anchorages and marinas. We had a "to do" list of places that we hoped to visit and we were able to hit them all including Pete's Pub on Abaco and Nippers on Guana Cay. Connie managed to carry in the "makings" for several of her meals and we shared veal and peppers, pasta with meat balls and pork loins during our stay.

We elected to take the ferry from Guana to Marsh Harbour the day before we were scheduled to fly to Florida just in case the Sea of Abaco kicked up preventing our return to Marsh Harbour. Dave and Barbara, (Chablis) graciously offered us their guest cabin for Sunday evening and we all ate Dave's pizza, drank some wine and watched the Super Bowl.

Once we returned home to our condo, Dawne and Steve, (Size Does Matter) spent a couple of nights with us enroute from Ft. Myers to the Miami Boat Show. We enjoyed dining and sightseeing from Merritt Island to Port Canaveral despite a prolonged cool, (not cold!) snap.

Our Uncle and Aunt, (Ted and Doris) have just returned from a Florida based cruise and spent a week enjoying the beach and pool. Their son Ted, his wife Linda and sons took a day off from their Disney vacation to spend the day with us. We enjoyed lunch by the pool and did some surf fishing! My cousin came up empty handed, but his son Theo caught two! Theo told us that catching fish is, "all in the technique"! My guess is there wasn't much conversation in their van riding back to Orlando. It is so good to share this place with family and friends.

The weather in the Northeast has been bitterly cold with snow and high winds. Fortunately spring with warmer weather is just a couple of months away. Right after that.....The Rose will be back in her summer slip at Greenwich Bay North in Warwick Cove.

Stay warm!

Paul and Connie
Melbourne Beach, FL
m/v The Rose, GH37
Wharf Marina, Warwick, RI

Sue from Odyssey, a 37' Great Harbour. She and Capt. Paul are our boating "Godparents" and have led the way for most of the Great Harbour owners.

Carolyn and Casey Ross. Connie and I are among a trusted few allowed to sit with Casey.

Ocean view from Winding Bay, Abaco

One of our favorite destinations, Pete's Pub!

Great drinks and the best fish sandwiches.

This is Peter from Summer Tilt, a 36' Monk trawler. He, Carolyn, Casey and Sammy have cruised with us since 2005.

Capt. Paul of Odyssey

Peter of Summer Tilt at the Jib Room for Rib Night

Paul and Sue, (Odyssey) took us to Elbow Cay where a group from the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club met for a rendevouz. We had lunch there on the waters edge.

Ted and Doris thought they were in for a vacation?

The crew enjoyed a day at the condo!

Guana Cay where we spent 3 nights with Jim and Iris (Queenie)

L/R Irs and Jim our hosts, Cranston and Gayle who were also guests.

Steve and Dawne (Size Does Matter) visited for a couple of days.

Dave and Barbara from Chablis were our hosts before we flew back to the states. Pizza, wine and the Super Bowl; what a combination!

2010-01-27T18:33:00.000-05:00

We have slowly and surely adapted to the slower pace here at our Melbourne Beach home. While most of our cruising friends have already passed through, Bill and Robin on Blue Magic have decided to spend the winter in Stuart, FL. We drove down to visit with them and enjoyed their hospitality and the surrounding area.

Neil and Sheila, (Silver Queen, N37) are headed south to winter in the Bahamas and stopped at Vero Beach. We were able to spend time with them and made a grocery run at the same time. Does that hull look familiar? The N37 is a variation of the GH37 (The Rose), and is also built by Mirage on an identical lower hull.

Connie and I have been busy with our exercise programs, she at the local gym and I have been using the bike path along the roadway. I have been in touch with the Gamma Knife Lab at RI Hospital and they are pleased with the shrinkage resulting from the last (hopefully!) procedure.

In between Cousin Nick and Ben our dock neighbor have called with a status report after checking The Rose in her winter berth.

At the end of the week we'll fly to Marsh Harbour to spend a few days with Jim and Iris who are renting a place on Guana Cay and also in Marsh Harbour where we've rented a condo.

You can bet there will be a few pictures from that trip!

Stay warm!

Paul and Connie

ashore in Melbourne Beach, FL

2009-12-20T19:45:00.004-05:00

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays:

We are slowly recovering from a pre-Christmas Blizzard here in frozen Rhode Island. The Rose is snug in her slip at Wharf Marina thanks to Drew our trusted mechanic. Connie and I checked her immediately after the storm and she's riding high and dry. There was quite a bit of snow, but it looks like there was little accumulation on The Rose herself.

Connie has finished a mountain of cookies along with the shopping and we are getting ready for our annual Christmas Eve fish dinner. Our children Paul, Tom and Pamela have been in charge for the past several years and are making ready to feed all of us.
The cookie baking takes place at our house in RI and we were also able to spend time with three of our grandchildren. Sofia was happy to help with decorating pine cones for our dinner table centerpiece.

Below is The Rose in her slip for the winter

Yes, the snow was deep in the marina

One last comment.....the 6 month MRI/MRA that was performed on 12/15/09 showed that the Gamma Knife performed as intended and that the AVM is shrinking. Good News! This will be a Merry Christmas, one year after my original surgery.

We hope you all have time to enjoy family and friends wherever you are.

Paul and Connie

m/v The Rose, GH37

2009-12-08T13:46:00.002-05:00

Mike, Ed and Steve Bailey were in Orlando and visited.

Steve enjoys the surf!

Robin Evans and her husband Bill are our friends

and guides to Charleston

Gene and Judy present the Fickle Finger of Fate Fender Award.

This award I could have done without!

Right off the condo, R/V Amelia hunting treasure.

Barbara and Dave Bluto stopped in Melbourne Harbor and shared dinner with us.

2009-12-04T15:34:00.001-05:00

December 4, 2009

After about a 6 week stay we've flown to RI where we'll remain for the Christmas Holidays through January 1st.

As we expected and despite being grounded for the winter, Telemar Bay Marina in Indian Harbor Beach, FL was a regular stop for us this fall. Some of the boaters that we've cruised and been friends with over the past 5 years stopped there to reprovision food and fuel. We spent time with Dave and Barbara on "Chablis", Wink and Wilma on "John Henry", George on "Time Out", Lois and Carl on "Puffin" along with Gene and Judy on "Lo Que Se A". It was a pleasure to see these folks again since our cruising schedule was changed due to my hospital visit.

As I mentioned in the last email, Gene bestowed the prestigious, "Fickle Fender of Fate Award" during his visit. It was all in good fun and I am looking forward to being able to pass it on to a deserving Great Harbour owner next spring.

We also had a chance to spend a day with friends from our marina in RI. Ed, Melissa and sons were visiting Orlando and spent a day with us at the condo. They all enjoyed the beach and pool.

Here are a few pictures from the visits.

Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year to all.

Paul and Connie
Warwick, RI

2009-10-18T21:28:00.001-04:00

In case some of you have the impression that we are taking a step backward by leaving The Rose and spending the winter on land.....think again. The location and view from our home isn't hard to handle at all. This is looking north from our balcony......not exactly crowded.

The balcony is a prime spot for napping!

So as you can see, our winter home will not be a hardship. We are looking forward to having guests during the winter, especially since we have plenty of room.

2009-10-17T15:20:00.031-04:00

This was a "shortcut" between the BR Pkway and Weaverville.

Paul and Sue Graham from "Odyssey", GH37 in Brunswick, GA
Well marked trails!

Connie, Iris and Brooklyn

The yard at "Kleymont"

We did some hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway, great viewThe Buck Mountain Band

The Luray Caverns in Virginia

Dr. Charles Bowkley, fiance' Cherie and his Mom at Amiccis

Saturday, 10/17/09

Since our last post we have closed up The Rose with our mechanic Drew directing us along the way. The water lines have been cleared, waste tank emptied, traps and lines filled with antifreeze along with changing the oil and filters. She will remain in the water at Wharf Marina for the winter, close to shore and in front of Drew's shop where he'll check her on a weekly basis.

Connie & I drove a rental car from RI to Florida stopping in Baltimore,MD, VA, North Carolina, Charleston, SC and Brunswick, GA to visit with friends and fellow cruisers. We chose to drive the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway and were not disappointed with the view.

A few years ago, (2001) we made a "mad dash" from RI to FL and did a marathon 22 hours from start to finish. We're operating with a different schedule now and promised each other that this would be a vacation, driving no more than a leisurely 300 miles per day.

One of the Doctors who helped us through our time in RI Hospital is finishing a fellowship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. I had the benefit of a great "team" working on me, but he spent a great deal of time with both of us, way beyond what was called for. We were able to have dinner with Dr. Bowkley, his fiance' and his Mom at Amiccis in Little Italy, Baltimore. What a treat to spend time with him in a non-hospital setting! A good guy and an exceptional physician.

We drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic wonderland that stretches for miles. Along the way we managed to catch a performance of The Buck Mountain Band at a National Park Service site. What an experience. Connie & I listened to "Mountain Music" for the rest of that day since we bought CD's as souvenirs.

We took a side road from the Parkway into Weaverville, NC. Our host, Jim Barkley had warned us that while it was a short cut, it was also a gravel road and remote.

Was that the understatement of the day?

Fortunately we only encountered one other vehicle and the road was just wide enough to allow us to pass.

Jim & Iris spent a winter in 2005 alongside at Boat Harbour in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas. We could not have asked for better hosts. What a reunion we had, chatting late, (for us!) into the night. Their home is both magnificent and comfortable. After a wonderful meal that included Iris' black beans with rice, we enjoyed a crackling fire and comfy couches.

Our next stop was historic Charleston, SC home to Bill and Robin Evans. We had spent time with them in Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island and Marathon, FL. Last year, Bill graciously skippered The Rose from Melbourne, FL to Charleston, SC when I was still recuperating from the Aneurysm and Blood Clot. We once again had time to catch up on our activities, family stuff and plans for the coming season. We'll catch Bill & Robin again this winter as they are planning to winter in Florida on "Blue Magic", their Fleming motor yacht.

The following day we drove into Brunswick, GA. to meet with Paul & Sue Graham on "Odyssey" another Great Harbour 37. They guided us on our first trip south in 2004, and have been the folks we've relied on for advice ever since. They treated us to lunch in honor of our birthdays.

While we were in Brunswick we also visited with Dave & Barbara Bluto on, "Chablis". Dave is the former Commodore of the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club and also served as our transportation to church there in the islands.

This winter here at the condo promises to be quiet while we spend time on land after 5 years cruising to various locations. Enjoy the pictures and as always, feel free to fire away with questions or comments.

Paul and Connie

anchored in

Melbourne Beach, FL

2009-08-30T14:25:00.010-04:00

Our daughter Pam celebrated her birthday with pulled pork and ribs!
Grandson Victor spent time onboard without any siblings, a big step.

Sofia volunteered to be the 1st to sleep on The Rose this season.

Grandma with Evelyn. Check out the crown and tu-tu.....

We anchored in the Kickemuit River with 3 others from our dock where

Cousin Dan visited, (center) and shared a drink or two......

Four of us rafted together on the Kickemuit

Fireworks from the dinghy deck on The Rose

Ty & Suzanne, (fellow cruisers) spent the day visiting.

We spent time on Federal Hill

Sunday, 8/30/09

Our summer thus far has been jam packed with social activities. This is our 5th summer on The Rose and the schedule seems even more hectic than usual.

We have enjoyed celebrating the July 4th holiday, visiting with friends and having some of our grandchildren sleep on board.

Like I suspect it has been for some of you, the weather here has NOT been the highlight of the summer season. We might have chafed at that in the past, but it seems like cruising has brought us a bit of patience.

Our plans for the Fall are beginning to take shape. We have made arrangements for The Rose to be stored in the water at nearby Wharf Marina where she will be winterized, and where Drew and Lauren our trusty technical advisors will keep an eye on her and other boats for the winter season. The cove seldom freezes that far in, and there will be a "bubbler" running under the hull, along with a small ice breaker to keep the channel and fairway from freezing. Expert opinion seems to favor this approach so I guess time will tell.

While Connie and I are looking forward to spending a winter at the condo, we have mixed feeling about leaving The Rose after 5 years of cruising.

She has been busy planning our week long drive from RI to FL and our departure is targeted for October 10th. We have a rental car lined up and hope to connect with a few people enroute.

The remainder of the summer will be filled with travel to anchorages on Narragansett Bay, a hoped for trip to Block Island and our annual Cerio Labor Day picnic on the beach in Charleston with Cousin Tom and crew.

Enjoy what is left of summer. Perhaps we'll have an enjoyable RI fall season also.

Paul & Connie

m/v The Rose, GH37

lying Greenwich Bay N

Warwick, RI

(321) 288-7191 Verizon

2009-07-14T12:26:00.005-04:00

Dr. Jayaraman with yours truly pre-procedure.

Side view, notice the dimensions on the side of the frame (XL). This unit locks into a receiver that eliminates all movement when the gamma knife is in operation.

I realize that Connie has already sent out an email to the blog list to let everyone know that the Gamma Knife procedure went smoothly. But there are a couple of pictures that I think are amusing, especially if you look closely and realize that they had to get an XL frame, (check out the dimensions on the frame) to fit my head and nose.

Hey, it's my heritage and I'm not complaining. I'm just stating fact here.

The procedure was on a Friday with an overnight stay for observation. Rest assured that I was up, washed and dressed by 6:30 Saturday morning. I figured that I'd get an early discharge by being ready......Nope!

Connie threatened that I'd walk out AMA at 11:00 a.m. if they hadn't grabbed a Doctor to sign the discharge papers. At 10:50 they scurried into my room with the requisite signature, etc. They weren't being deliberately slow, but the ER was busy and I assume everyone was involved with providing care elsewhere.

The Dr. in charge of the procedure won't know for sure about the outcome, but he was confident that we'll see shrinkage in 6 months when we do a checkup. Modern medicine is amazing! While the process was extremely long, (12 hours) and uncomfortable it was much better than an open incision with all of the side effects and limitations. The Dr. standing next to me in the picture, Dr Jayaraman) is one of the team that was involved. Trust me, this was high priced talent on the team that included a Physicist, Neurosurgeon, Vascular Surgeon etc.

We are enjoying our summer, and hope that wherever you are the sun is shining and the breeze is warm.

Paul & Connie

m/v The Rose, GH37

Brewer Greenwich Bay North

Warwick, RI

2009-06-30T13:50:00.015-04:00

Dick (next to me) and Jere, (above) are HS Classmates who visited us with their wives on The Rose when we docked in Bristol. It has been 48 years since we graduated but you can tell from the facial expressions that nothing has changed! It is 1961 all over again!

We have always had the 3 oldest grandchildren sleep as a group on The Rose. This year because they are older, we decided to also have them on board one at a time. Sofia volunteered to be the 1st and this is the morning routine. Would you like to guess what Grandma and Sofia are watching so intently on TV? Yes, you're right...cartoons!

The past 2 weeks have been full of activities, including Father's Day, Evelyn's dance recital and a trip to my home town, historic Bristol, RI. The picture above was taken from stern of The Rose looking at Bristol's waterfront. Kenny, a friend and high school classmate, (Class Valedictorian) made the contact that enabled us to have the slip for 2 nights.

Father's Day we all met at the house in Greenville for brunch. Connie was the cook, (see above) and the rest of us pitched in with setting the table and picking up afterward. The grandchildren are getting older and it's enjoyable watching them interact. That's "Grandma" serving the crew.

The Rose had a list of items that needed attention, and Drew our mechanic went to work. He unclogged and relocated the waste macerator. It was inaccessible where it was and the hoses were "tortured" leading to it. He also removed the bow thruster motor which had been failing and sent it out to be rebuilt. The good news? I thought that job was going to require a haul-out. Nope!

The Bilge Buster, (produces ozone to eliminate odor) had long since quit working and was too old to be repaired. But I contacted the manufacturer here in Warwick, RI and he sold us a new one.....at a 20% discount.

In the interim our dinghy seat and back have been rebuilt by The Canvas Lady, (really, that's the name of the business) using Starboard a very durable marine sheet, (board) product to replace the original plywood backing. The foam cushion was also deteriorating badly from water, so that was replaced at the same time. We're having covers made for the dinghy console and seat to protect them from the weather.

We attended our granddaughter's 1st dance recital. Here's a picture of Evelyn in costume.

The Gamma Knife procedure that will eliminate the AVM is scheduled for Friday, 7/10. It is a day-long process with an inpatient stay of one night afterward. He, (Dr.) is confident that he will eliminate the item that caused the aneurysm and that there should be no limitations afterward. I am grateful that level of expertise is available locally, (RI Hospital) and only requires a stay of one night.

Paul & Connie
m/v The Rose, GH37
Bristol, RI

2009-06-14T13:00:00.005-04:00

We enjoyed a visit with Uncle Joe & Aunt Karen
who were visiting from Las Vegas.

Celebrated Joshua's 9th birthday! Whew!

Shared Munchkins with our Grandaughter Evelyn

Took a dinghy ride with Gail & Peggy.

And enjoyed a graduation party.

Sometimes people ask what we do all summer? This is just a sample from a couple of weeks worth. We both have large and active families so there are plenty of activities.

Later this month we'll meet with the specialist to make a decision about doing away with the cerebral AVM. I can hardly wait.............................

Paul & Connie
m/v The Rose, GH37

lying Brewer GB North

Warwick, RI

2009-06-09T10:38:00.004-04:00

June 9, 2009

For the past several weeks we have been busy with settling into our summer berth here at Brewer Greenwich Bay Marina in Warwick, RI. Our welcome home from boaters on our dock has been, (as always!) overwhelming. It seems like the boating season is officially underway when The Rose arrives.

We have a list of items on The Rose that need attention. The macerator from the waste tank is bound up and needs clearing and relocating to a more accessible location. The fan motor for the head, (bathroom) exhaust fan needs attention and since our arrival the bow thruster is making ominous sounds.

The last item concerns me since I can see a "haul out" looming on the horizon. Drew, our marine mechanic is coming aboard this week to work his magic.

Physically I'm doing fine. I have another scan, (cerebral angiogram) of the malformation scheduled this week and then will probably have the gamma knife scheduled to blast the area and eliminate the blood supply. The scan this Friday is outpatient, while the Gamma Knife will be a short-overnight stay.

Last week we visited our cruising friends Peter & Carolyn who live near Toronto, Canada. We had an enjoyable visit with them and Casey their French Poodle who always remembers us from visit to visit. While we were there Carolyn & Peter hosted a dinner party with friends. What a fun evening! A superb meal with good people combined with the scenery and the Canadian Spring in their back yard.

On the way back to RI we stopped off to visit with Ted & Terry on Berlie Mae, another GH37 like ours. They spend summers at a Marina-Yacht Club in Watkins Glen, NY on Seneca Lake off the NY Canal System. Berlie Mae has been on the market and they have a serious buyer who paid for a survey and has had sea trials, etc. We did a winery tour......it's amazing how much wine we can consume, one small sip at a time. The tour was followed by "Happy Hour" at the yacht club where they spend the summer followed by dinner out. Whew! Ted & Terry are good friends whom we will continue to visit with-regardless of the boat sale.

Due to a scheduling conflict with her Father, (our son Paul), I was able to escort Sofia, our 7 year old grandaughter to her Father-Daughter dance. Connie and Sofia picked out a dress and shoes while I bought a wrist corsage for her. We had a special night together. Having Sofia one-on-one without her brothers around was a rare opportunity that I took full advantage of.

Once we've tended to my medical care, Connie & I will cruise the local area, Block Island, Bristol my home town and nearby waters into Cape Cod. A high school classmate connected me with a slip in Bristol that we can use intermittently. That will allow us to have family and friends aboard more safely than using the dinghy to a mooring in the harbor. I've been out of Bristol since I joined the Navy in 1961 but it has always been my home town.

Enjoy your summer!

Paul & Connie
M/V The Rose, GH37
Brewer Greenwich Bay N
Warwick, RI

2009-05-14T17:51:00.000-04:00

Paul & Cousin Nick having a reunion.....and calzones.

High speed ferry, NYC. Notice the wake?

Yesterday, (Wednesday 5/13/09) at 2 p.m. exactly 31 days after departure from Telemar Bay Marina, we arrived at Brewer’s Greenwich Bay North in Warwick, RI.

We departed the Summit North Marina on the C&D Canal on Monday morning at 6:30 a.m. and were underway from then until we anchored behind Duck Island off Westbrook, CT on Tuesday evening at 7:10 p.m. That’s just about 37 hours of nonstop run time in case you’re counting.

As we have in the past, Connie and I swapped time at the helm during the run with one of us asleep on the berth in the pilothouse, which allows for immediate access if we run into a situation with weather or another boat crossing our course. The trip was uneventful and we turned into New York Harbor at daybreak as planned, and in time to catch the all-important tidal current up the East River and into Long Island Sound. There was never any serious discussion about alternate destinations that evening. After five roundtrips, we know that fatigue sets in at about 36 hours and we are liable for making stupid decisions.

After a quick trip, (with the current!) up the East River at 11.5 kts, we battled a small but intense weather system on Long Island Sound that was producing a nasty chop and blustery winds to finally slip behind the fairly large “L” shaped breakwater off Westbrook, CT. The weather passed through exactly as Connie had felt it would and we had a peaceful night anchored. I had shaved and showered while we were underway so the only thing standing between the bed and me was food. I inhaled some hot soup with rice and promptly fell into a deep sleep…with food in my mouth. Connie of course was more civilized and watched TV for a while before going down for the night.

Wednesday, 5/13 was predicted to be a calm day in the morning but the afternoon was going to be, “unsettled”. After 31 days, we have had all the weather situations we want or need and we plan to be through the Rhode Island Sound and on Narragansett Bay before then. Nobeltec tells us that the prime departure time as far as favorable currents go was 4:30 a.m. so we are underway with the anchor aboard at the appointed hour. The visibility was excellent and we caught the current as predicted. Unfortunately-and as is common, there was an early morning fog rolling out into the Sound from the Connecticut River. Visibility was reduced to about ½ mile, but between our radar showing every blip and our hull speed of 7 kts, (slow) we were fine for the hour or so it took to pass through the fog.

On arrival at Brewer's Greenwich Bay Marina our cousin Nick was waiting on the dock to grab lines and we were secure at 2:00 p.m. Of course, Nick showed up with calzones in hand which we consumed with beer to celebrate another safe trip up the coast. He was the inspiration for The Rose, since we sailed on his boat, "Our Island" a cement hulled sailboat that he built from scratch and lived on many years ago.

Tom & Ag our parents/in-laws were watching from the shoreline as we arrived and then came aboard to greet us. After we relaxed a bit, they drove us to Greenville where we picked up our faithful RI car, (124,000 miles) for another summer’s transportation. Tom, Betty and Tom III stopped by later in the evening to welcome us home with both clam cakes and doughboys. Did you notice how all activities are involved with food and drink? It’s no wonder that Connie and I are faithful Weight Watchers members…….

This is it for the next few weeks aside from graduation and birthday parties, a Father-Daughter dance, Little League games and who knows what else to take up our time. No complaints from The Rose, we welcome the commitments and the time we spend with family and friends.

Enjoy the pictures!

The Admiral at the helm.

The view of NYC from the pilothouse

Another marine workhorse

Images like this will always be remembered!

Passing Canadian vessel that really threw up a wake!

Another shot of a workhorse.

Paul & Connie Murgo

m/v The Rose, GH37

lying Brewer's Greenwich Bay North

Warwick, RI

2009-05-08T08:26:00.001-04:00

This picture speaks for itself!

Monday, 5/4/09
We had departed Ocean Marine Yacht Center, (Portsmouth, VA) and pulled into Norview Marina in Deltaville on Sunday, 5/3 and expected to stay a few nights. The weather conditions on the Chesapeake were unsettled and we need to have our starboard fuel tank “polished”, a task we hoped to have accomplished while in Deltaville. Joe from Kleen Fuel arrived as promised this morning, except that after looking he decided he wasn’t qualified to remove the access plate from the top of the fuel tank and then spent 20” relating how he could do different boats, setups, etc. I quickly terminated that frustrating conversation! Once he left, Connie and I decided to head out immediately for either Reedville or Solomons. The Chesapeake was bumpy and uncomfortable. We tolerated the conditions and made way for Reedville, which is protected and just short, (south) of the entrance of the Potomac River into the Bay. That entrance is an area where whatever is taking place weather-wise on the Chesapeake is magnified by the extended fetch.

Reedville turned out to be a wise decision, because right after we were secure the rain and thunder broke loose. Docking was difficult since the marina was closed and there was no one to grab lines. After several attempts with the wind challenging my maneuvering skills, a nearby pedestrian responded to our air horn and walked over to lend a hand. We were finally secure with power at about 1:20pm. The rain and thunder have continued through the afternoon. Main Street ends right at the waterfront, but the weather may delay sightseeing. Time for my book and a cup of hot soup!

The weather backed off for a while at Reedville, so we took off for a walk. We met another boater couple while walking and they came aboard for a glass of wine and conversation. Would you believe that he lived next door to Mike & Patricia Hill, who are the previous owners of The Rose? Sailors, but pleasant folks!

Small world this boating community!

On Tuesday, 5/5 we travelled up the Bay and across the mouth of the Potomac early in the morning before the weather kicked up. Then we made way into the Solomons where Zahniser’s Boat Yard is located. They have the ability and willingness to remove the access plates so I can get the tank, (s) cleaned properly. This place charges a bit more for dockage than Calvert’s across the river but it is service with a smile here!
We arrived at Zahniser’s at 12:45. We were assigned to a “side to” vs. a slip with the understanding that we’d move closer to shore when the fuel polishing is scheduled. I called Steve of Mr. Clean early this morning to make arrangements. He wants to remove the fuel from the tank, then clean the tank followed by a filtered refill. That’s what I had hoped would take place since I believe the tank has “gunk” that will not be picked up and cleaned by traditional methods. Zahniser’s’s will remove and reinstall the access plate so the proof will be tomorrow am when Steve arrives.

Wednesday was a busy day, between the fuel polishing and mechanical work. The local mechanic spotted dirty Racors onboard. I had the four secondary filters cleaned at Ocean Marine, but not the two primary filters. Meanwhile Steve ran about 250 gallons of fuel through a clean 3-micron filter and refueled a few gallons under pressure to see what he could stir up in the tanks. The fuel looked good and there was little buildup in the filter so we loaded up the newly filtered diesel. Paul the Zahniser mechanic returned with my Racors as good as new and we ran both engines for 30” under load without a problem. Looks like we have a full 500-gallon capacity again.

On Thursday, we left Zahniser’s and went across the river to Calvert Marina for fuel. They had a slip available on one of the floating docks and it was almost $20.00 per day cheaper. The buck won out! We docked at Calvert's and have already used the courtesy car, (Mercedes Diesel w/205,000 miles) to shop at the local Food Lion for perishables.
We’ll be here 1 or 2 days and then we’ll head for the Sassafras River followed by the Delaware Bay, New Jersey and points beyond.
Here are a few pictures from Reedville, a charming fishing town in northern Virginia.

The founder of Reedville

The entrance to Reedville Harbor

Main Street, Reedville,VA

More of the menhaden fleet

Reedville, post card pretty!

Departing Calverts Marina

Connie stretching her legs.

Worn out and weary

2009-04-30T16:51:00.000-04:00

Workhorse of the Intracoastal Waterway

The Neuse River

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Today we are sitting in a slip at Ocean Marine Yacht Center in Portsmouth, VA. After a couple of false starts from Dowry Creek and then running for three days with just the port engine and no anchor windlass we docked here on Tuesday, 4/28 to take advantage of one of the largest service departments in the area. These folks work on mega-yachts much less little trawlers like The Rose. I had called ahead and inquired about service. They graciously moved us, (transients) to the head of the line and since we were in for repairs there is no charge for the dock. Early Wednesday morning the electrician was aboard, listened to the symptoms and agreed that it was likely a foot switch and brushes. Within two hours he had the windlass removed, brushes cleaned/reinstalled and had installed the two new foot switches that I already had aboard. Everything works! The existing, "down" foot switch was still working, but I elected to replace it as well and put the original switch in the spares bin. Meanwhile the diesel mechanic came aboard, listened to symptoms examined the engines and manifolds and concluded that it was likely a defective injector or lift pump. I pointed out that the Racor manifolds, (2) were getting difficult to operate and he agreed with cleaning and overhaul. The parts department manager placed the order and all parts are to be shipped overnight.

Today, (Thursday,4/30) the parts are in and I'm told they will be installed tomorrow. I understand we will also have a sea trial to insure that we reached the correct diagnosis.

Connie and I slept the first day we were here after running long and hard from Charleston. Neither of us minds long days, but running with one engine really stretches time. Thirteen hours at 5.4 kts is tedious!

We are making good use of our time here in the Portsmouth/Norfolk area. I needed to have a Coumadin level taken at a lab and then faxed to my Physician in Melbourne. That turned out fine so the dosage will remain stable for the next 2-3 weeks. The marina has a courtesy car which we used to shop at West Marine and Office Max. We will likely stock up on dairy and vegetables just before we depart.

For the past several years we have been unable to tour the battleship Wisconsin which is docked here in Norfolk. Actually they have a Naval Museum alongside the ship which is equally interesting. So today we took the ferry across the river from Portsmouth to Norfolk, ($0.75 for Seniors) had lunch and wandered through the museum and the battleship for the afternoon.

The foredeck and forward mounts of the Wisconsin

Connie getting ready to go aboard

The Chesapeake has been whipped into a frenzy by a weather system so we're in no hurry to resume our travels immediately. Hopefully later this weekend after the sea trial we'll make way to the upper Chesapeake and then the C&D Canal which connects the Chesapeake to the Delaware Bay.
Here are a few more pictures for your enjoyment.

Mary, the ownner of Dowry Creek enjoying happy hour with Connie

Pool deck and The Rose at Dowry Creek Marina

Fishing boats are everywhere

Members of a bagpipe group from Ontario

Paul & Connie Murgo

m/v The Rose, GH37
lying OMYC, Portsmouth, VA

2009-04-24T08:09:00.000-04:00

Underway on St. Catherines Sound, GA

Doing as I was told..............................

The Rose departed Telemar Bay Marina in Indian Harbour Beach, FL on 4/13/09 and is underway on the ICW approaching, (4/24/09) the Neuse River in NC. This is our 10th trip, and for the summer we will enjoy our ultimate destination, Greenwich Bay North on Narragansett Bay where we will spend time with our family and friends.

This winter’s hospitalization has reinforced our need to solidify ties and reexamine priorities. My recuperation precluded cruising this winter, but the flip side is that our appreciation for The Rose, her safety and comforts along with new destinations has strengthened.

We were fortunate that friends stepped up to help with handling The Rose while I was recuperating. I have a tendency to underestimate, (really?) my limitations so the assistance was timely and welcome.

While recuperating at our condominium, we drove down and met with Joan & Bruce, (Forever 39) Neil & Sheila, (Silver Queen) and Randy & Barbara, (Lazy Dolphin) at Vero Beach Municipal Marina. The evening was spent sipping wine, enjoying dinner and chatting with our fellow owners at a local waterfront restaurant.

We left Melbourne on April 13th and had help aboard to Charleston where we spent two nights at Isle of Palms Marina visiting with Bill & Robin Evans who live nearby. Not only did Bill cruise with us from Melbourne to Charleston, but Robin fed us when we arrived and gave us the use of her car for the stay. They are good friends and gracious hosts! IOP is a smaller marina where service and staff resemble a yacht club rather than a run of the mill marina. Another favorite stop is established!

In between, we made our usual stop at Brunswick Landing Marina and spent time with Joe & Punk Pica on Carolyn Ann, more friendly members of the Mirage family. Brunswick, GA is and has been one of our favorite destinations ever since we spent our 1st winter there in 2004-05. We had dinner at a new place for us, 4th of May, which is across the street from BLM. Good down home cooking including meatloaf, chicken fried steak, okra and tomato pie!

One night, (Thursday, 4/23) we anchored in Mile Hammock Bay. This is a protected and well-used anchorage right off the ICW. Unfortunately, it is directly adjacent to, and part of Camp Lejune. We anchored accompanied by the sounds of artillery and adjacent to an abandoned ship that is used for boarding practice. The helicopters finally quit around midnight and ultimately we slept well. The next morning we left at 6:25 after I had reset the inverter/charger and did my usual engine room check. For the past several days the inverter/charger has been acting wierd, not fully charged. I've done this procedure plenty of times so it went smooothly and quickly. Once underway Connie immediately noticed a strong vibration in the port shaft. I did a second engine room check and sure enough, the port engine and shaft were wobbly. I initially assumed we’d have to pull into Morehead City for a diver and perhaps an engine alignment. After some consideration, we decided to back down a bit with the props in reverse. Whatever was wrapped around the prop/shaft was dislodged and we were as good as new. That's a trick I stumbled on 3 years ago on the New Jersey ICW.

Whew!

We are enjoying the ICW and wherever our travels bring us.
Safe cruising to all of our boating family.

Cheaper than a haul out?

Bill Evans and I working on the bow pulpit.

Connie at the helm......again!

USN Sub, Kings Bay, GA

Connie after a long day at the helm!

Robin & Bill Evans our hosts!

Bringing up the anchor at 6:00 am!

Paul & Connie Murgo
m/v The Rose, GH37

2009-04-15T08:21:00.000-04:00

Connie checking in with family.

Heading North

April 14, 2009
We are once again, (10th trip on the ICW) underway from Telemar Bay Marina in Indian Harbour Beach, FL. Our destination is Brewer Greenwich Bay North in Warwick, RI. We have made a concession to my altered status and for this part of the trip Bill Evans, (Robin, “Blue Magic”) will ride along to assist with the helm duties, etc. It’s not that I’m unable, but as the “Admiral” discreetly explained, he’s along “just in case” there is a relapse of the aneurism.

The first night underway, (Monday 4/13) we anchored just north of a bridge in Daytona. We knew there was a storm coming through, especially since Weather Mate was displaying vivid shades of orange and red. I dropped 100’ of chain and the snubber as Connie prepared dinner for us. Sure enough, after we had fallen asleep we were greeted with Nature’s fury. Winds gusting to over 30 kts along with lightening and rain made for an unsettled night to say the least. Surprisingly, the sounds of the nylon snubber lines working off the bowsprit are reassuring and help to put me to sleep. At some point during the night, I awakened in response to Connie calling me from the pilothouse. The anchor had dragged and re-set after the wind shifted direction 180 degrees. There were a few other boats in the area and from all appearances, the skippers were up during the night checking lines, etc. The three of us on The Rose were anxiously watching from the pilothouse for what seemed like hours, (more like 45”?) until the storm quieted enough to allow us to climb back into bed.

Tuesday we were scheduled for an early, (11 a.m.) arrival at Palm Coast Marina where we’ll relax for a day and get some shore time. We are slowly but surely regaining our cruising rhythm with early bedtimes and departures. Palm Coast is a friendly and familiar stop. The storm is still in the area, so we dock in a steady-drenching rain and tie up to the long side-to dock. We are greeted by name and The Rose with her dimensionsional requirements are well known to the staff. Since we arrived at 10:30, after showers we treat ourselves to a relaxed day reading and tending to other nonessential tasks. We had breakfast and lunch aboard but for dinner we walked to the adjacent European Village where we expected to dine at Bella Sera. They were closed for a private function so we ended up at Barbara Jean’s a well known Southern chain. This is, (as you would expect) a place for down home cooking and I had pot roast with baked potato. I likely exceeded my Weight Watchers points with that meal!

Shortly before our departure from Telemar Bay, Connie prepared a Palm Sunday dinner for eight and it was a great time. Guests included former RI neighbors who now live nearby along with neighbors and fellow owners from South Shores. We elected to pass on the flight to Rhode Island for Easter because we were concerned about the possibility of clotting. We missed being with our family and friends, but for the first time we were able to attend the sunrise Easter Mass celebrated by Father Nolan on the shore overlooking ocean. What a spectacular setting for a special day!
Your emails and calls are greatly appreciated especially as we make our way north to our summer berth in Rhode Island.

Robin Evans who graciously volunteered husband Bill to cruise with us and delivered him as well!

Bill Evans with his hi-tech eyeglass holders. He interned with Peter Ross, (fellow cruiser) and this custom retainer is all he learned........

Paul & Connie
M/V The Rose, GH37
Fernandina Beach, FL

2009-03-20T18:53:00.001-04:00

Friday, 3/20/08
It has been an interesting 4 months since our last blog entry on November 26. I know that Connie has e-mailed most of you and made/received many phone calls along with visits from family and friends. In a nutshell, while in the midst of our annual pilgrimage to RI in order to celebrate Christmas I suffered a Cerebral Aneurism. We were at the hotel when the local rescue responded to our 911 call. Fortunately, we recognized that something was seriously wrong and were treated, (as we requested) at RI Hospital by members of the Neurosurgical and Neurointerventional staff. In time they found and terminated the bleed and I was back in ICU in a short time. I don’t personally know much of what happened, since I was either unconscious or heavily medicated most of the time but I was inpatient for about 2 ½ weeks. I know they installed drains in my skull to drain off the blood from around my brain and spinal column. I read the records and noted that they administered medications to prevent seizures. Connie, Paul, Tom & Pam have filled in the other gray areas but I don’t have an independent recollection. I completely missed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years. I do know my behavior with the female nursing staff was rather, “unusual” including my communication skills. I also know that I am extremely fortunate because I not only survived, but that I survived with no limitations.

Once I was discharged from RI Hospital, I was transferred to Vanderbilt Rehabilitation, a section of Newport Hospital. I didn’t really need much in the way of formal rehab. but I definitely needed a place to stabilize and strengthen before going, “home”. They did their job well, and I was stronger when I left than I was on admission. There was one incident worth repeating from Vanderbilt. The Occupational Therapist (a well-meaning soul) was in the process of checking on my ADL’s, (activities of daily living) when she asked me if I was comfortable and familiar with the kitchen? Keep in mind, this was a day when I had defeated a nasty headache in the morning and now it was mid-afternoon.
Once again my even temperament slipped and I looked at her and snapped, “do you know who you’re talking to?” “Give me a ½ hour alone in there and I’ll prepare a meal regardless of what you have for ingredients”. The closer was when I told her that I was Italian and didn’t need a recipe!

Are you surprised to learn that a t-shirt with that last line on the front was a Christmas gift from Connie?

After the hospital I spent more time at the hotel where I was treated as an, “honored guest” since Connie had prepared them so well. If I walked the halls “solo” during the day when she was out shopping, making cookies or running an errand for yours truly, she had an activity report from the hotel staff on her return.

The family celebrated a belated traditional Christmas Eve dinner after I was discharged and that was difficult for me emotionally and physically because I was still weak from the hospitalization and meds. It sure was uplifting to see Pam, Tom & Paul take the reins for the fish and our sister-in-law Betty handle the antipasto. More than that, I was acutely aware of how close I’d come to missing out……….

Finally, after several Dr. visits in RI we received the ok to fly back to Florida. Unfortunately, during the flight I developed a blood clot behind my right knee that required another 6 days inpatient at Holmes Regional here in Melbourne, FL where I was on IV Heparin and oral Coumadin to get to therapeutic level. As you can imagine I was not pleased to be inpatient since I had just escaped the clutches of the medical community in RI. It was a happy day when the nurse and technician came dancing into my room at 7:00 am to share the news that my blood level was finally where it needed to be. Do you think I was a little anxious about my condition?
Now Connie is slowly weaning me from my brain related medications and we are carefully watching my Coumadin level to help my body to absorb the clot.

The week of 3/10/09, we drove to the Keys with our friend Don McLendon to bring The Rose from Marathon to Melbourne. The medical people seemed to think it would be a good idea to have an extra hand on board and I have to agree. I felt good, but until we were actually underway Connie & I had no idea of what my limitations actually were. Don is one of those Southern guys with 2 first names, (Rodger-Don) but he is also a retired Chief Merchant Marine Engineer and a good guy. He took the helm, changed filters and handled lines. He also almost violated one of the Cardinal Rules about male urination on The Rose after consuming a bit of wine one night. That’s a story for another time, but Don tells me that he is now in touch with his feminine side!

The run from Marathon to Melbourne is a 3 night, 4 day trip north through Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, etc. The trip was all we could have hoped for. Great weather, and except for a little unsteadiness when underway there were no limitations. I kept my right leg elevated thanks to Connie & Don and was up and down the stairs regularly during the day to keep the muscles working the blood vessels.

Physically and mentally I’m fine. Today, like most days I walked for about an hour at a decent pace. My weight is headed in the right direction again after all that inactivity in the hospitals. Most of all I was anxious to be back aboard The Rose and underway again.

Now The Rose is comfortably docked at Telemar Bay Marina in Indian Harbour Beach and we are relaxing at our condominium. I’m walking daily with a cell phone clipped to my shorts and a note with Connie’s name and cell number in plain sight. While the boat is docked I will do the usual maintenance, oil-filter changes, etc. and I also hope to install new latches on the pilothouse doors and solve a radio problem that has popped up.

We expect to leave here in early April right after Easter and make our way north along the coast to our ultimate destination; Rhode Island. We have assistance for the first part of the trip, since our friends Bill and Robin Evans will accompany us from Telemar Bay to the Charleston area. We hope to bring someone else aboard after that, and the last leg of the trip, (into RI) is hopefully reserved for our friend Ben who docks his boat nearby at Greenwich Bay North.

There are a few members of the Mirage/Great Harbour family in the Vero Beach area this week and we drove there for a shopping run and reunion. We haven’t seen some of these folks in over a year and it was a good time for sure!

Here are a few pictures from the trip as well as the launch that we witnessed while at the condominium.

Sunrise leaving Marathon

"Chief" Don McLendon

Travelling Companions

Birds of a Feather....

Your guess is as good

as mine?

Don's Ride Shuttle Launch from Condo

2008-11-26T18:47:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Those of you who follow this blog are aware of the details surrounding my accident on 11/13/08. I am recovering well and we are laying low at our condominium in Melbourne Beach, FL.
There is one scenario I have to replay for you that will likely brighten your day.

After the initial treatment at Homestead Hospital Emergency Room, I was referred and transferred to the Miami Hand Center. This is a group of 5 hand specialists that seem to be the recipient of most of the hand related ER business in Southern Florida. As you can imagine, the term “busy” does not begin to describe this practice. Southern Florida is in actuality an extension of Cuba and other Caribbean countries. Spanish is spoken nearly exclusively and obviously staffed by folks that have moved here from other countries. Some of the people who worked on me were physicians in Cuba and are now working as technicians here. While my surgeon is an Anglo, I was a bit concerned about my ability to communicate with support staff.
I was in the recovery room post-surgery and had been asked at least 4x in 15” how I was feeling. In retrospect, the staff may have been checking my cognitive status as much as the physical. Now I’m usually a laid back guy…….(Yeah Right!) but after the repeated inquiries I just couldn’t help myself. “I haven’t eaten in 26 hours and had a total of 4 hours sleep last night, what do you think?” I asked. Oooooh! said the nurse who left the room and immediately returned with one of those miniature containers of juice. Well, that lasted all of 3 ½ seconds. Since I inhaled the juice, she disappeared again and this time returned with a piece of cake, from I assume the staff snack area. When I reached with my left hand for the cake, she responded with, “Na-Na, I do” and proceeded to feed me, one spoonful at a time. Talk about humble pie, (cake)! There may have been a language barrier because I only speak English, but the care I received was over the top. For the past 2 weeks, I’ve been in for dressing changes and they have been incredibly gentle and kind. I guess the perceived language barrier isn’t so much of a barrier after all.

The Rose is resting safely at Sombrero Marina in Marathon while Connie and I enjoy Thanksgiving here at the condominium. Thanks again for your good wishes and encouragement, it has made this process a little easier to endure.

2008-11-16T15:10:00.000-05:00

Saturday, November 15, 2008

We have arrived at our winter home, Key Sombrero Resort and Marina. I know, this place changes names like some people change shoes. First it was just Sombrero Resort & Lighthouse Marina, then Resort & Marina and finally they added “Key” to the name. These are relatively new owners and they had to do some maneuvering to separate themselves from the previous management who had a shaky financial reputation. The good news is the Dockmaster and his staff has remained intact and we have the same slip as last year.

We had an enjoyable and uneventful trip from Telemar Bay Marina in Indian Harbour Beach to Marathon with one exception.

Thursday we were cruising down Biscayne Bay about 3 hours past Miami when the overheat alarm sounded for the starboard engine. I shut the engine down from the pilothouse and descended into the, “holy place” (aka the engine room) where I was presented with a shredded fan belt. I keep a spare belt easily accessible for occasions like this and had it installed in a few minutes. Unfortunately, and in an over abundance of caution I decided to check the condition of the belt on the port engine. A good idea, except that I neglected to take note that the engine was running.

Ooops!.......... There goes the manicure on my right hand. Connie wrapped my hand in a wet towel and we quickly decided to make for the nearest marina where we could get medical attention. Black Point Marina in Homestead was only 5 miles away and had deep enough water for us to get in. We set the course on autopilot and Dr. Connie went to work with our first aid kits. We called Black Point and they quickly offered to arrange for transportation and to find room for The Rose despite having no slips available. True to their promise there were 3 dockhands waiting to grab lines for us, along with a golf cart to shuttle us to a nearby parking lot where a cab was standing by. The closest facility of any size was Homestead Hospital, about a 15” ride from the marina. We walked into the ER at 3:00 and we were being treated by 3:25p.m.. After cleaning me up, starting an IV with some really good meds and taking x-rays, they decided to transfer my care to a hand specialist in Miami who agreed to see me in his office and clinic vs. the hospital. I cannot say enough good things about this hand group and their facility. We arrived at 8:15 p.m. via ambulance and were met by the doctor and his staff. After discussing a couple of treatment options we decided to stabilize and clean the fingers Thursday evening and then return on Monday for reconstructive surgery. I really wanted to avoid an inpatient stay and preferred local anesthesia vs. general. We were done by 10:30 p.m. and had another cab take us back to the marina after stopping enroute to have a couple of prescriptions filled. We were back onboard by 11:30 and the boat was fine.

Ultimately I’ll have two, maybe three, fingers that will be a bit shorter than they were, but I should have complete function with my right hand. All things considered, it could have been much worse.

We were underway the following morning on Friday, 11/14/08 heading for our winter slip in Marathon. We are now docked and plugged in and are pleased to be back at the Sombrero Resort & Marina and are looking forward to spending time with the folks we met last winter. The picture below is Sombrero Beach where we spend much of our winter.

The second is sunset from our berth in Marathon. The third isyours truly after the "incident". Next is Matecumbe Bight, our anchorage Friday evening, and the bottom is the Broad Causeway Bridge approaching Miami Harbor.

Paul & Connie

M/V The Rose, GH37

2008-10-10T09:23:00.000-04:00

Friday, October 10, 2008

Less than a month from departure and despite 7 days of unplanned layovers, we are resting in our slip at Telemar Bay Marina, about 15” from our home in Melbourne Beach, Florida.

I think that we made a couple of decisions along the way that in retrospect saved us a fair amount of time and therefore fuel. On two occasions, we elected to run outside in the ocean and through the night, which enabled us to take advantage of favorable conditions while avoiding areas of the ICW that are time consuming with bridges and no wake zones.

We celebrated my 65th birthday in Brunswick, GA with friends and then met Paul & Sue Graham in Jacksonville, FL for another night out. They are long-term liveaboards who were our inspiration before we purchased The Rose, guided us down the ICW in 2004 and led us to make the trips to the Bahamas in 2005 & 2006. They are good friends who are also a source of unending support. Paul & Sue drove from Green Cove Springs on the St. Johns River where their boat Odyssey is docked to Jacksonville to celebrate both of our birthdays.

While docked at Beach Marine in Jacksonville, we tracked down and had dinner with the daughter of our former business partner. She left Minnesota and is now working for the Omni Hotel Corporation in Jacksonville.

We are looking forward to spending time at our home and a trip to Las Vegas where we’ll celebrate Connie’s birthday. In about a month, we’ll be underway for Marathon, FL where we’ll spend the winter.

But, if you thought we had, “fair winds and following seas” every day you are wrong, very wrong! We were reminded that we are merely passengers on this trip and not the drivers.

Most of the day Thursday, (10/9) we were watching a front that was moving in a northeasterly direction across central Florida from west to east and building in strength. We could tell from the radar that there were strong winds and as always, there was considerable lightening. We considered our options and decided to head for an anchorage on the north side of the NASA causewaythat would provide shelter from the wind.

We could have pulled into an anchorage right off the Haulover Canal that runs from the Mosquito Lagoon to the Indian River Lagoon but the charts show a hard bottom so the holding is suspect there. Titusville City Marina had dock space, but would assign us to a fixed-face dock that would not be much better in terms of protection from high winds. Besides, after watching our onboard Weather Mate and using the internet to check AccuWeather and Weather Underground we felt that the quickly moving storm would pass north of us.

I was watching over my shoulder as storm clouds rolled in but we had the anchor down and set in record time. In an abundance of caution, I put out an extra 40’ of chain and set the anchor snubber longer than I normally do . The snubber is a U shaped stainless plate with a slot cut out to slide over one link of the chain. Attached to the plate is a pair of 5/8” nylon lines to act as shock absorbers. Those lines are secured port and starboard of the bow effectively serving as a 2-point hitch. I was feeling smug when I stepped back into the pilothouse as the heavens opened up, the winds increased and the sky lit up. Well, the front did not travel as we had projected; it sat right over us for the next 3 ½ hours with sustained winds of 25kts and gusts over 30 kts with rain driving horizontally. We quickly shut off all electrical breakers, disconnected the computers and took turns sitting in the pilothouse watching the GPS and the other 2 boats that were anchored nearby. I was confident that we wouldn’t drag anchor but was more concerned about the other boats. The light show would have been fantastic if we weren’t sitting in the middle of it. The wind shifted direction from southeast to northwest as the front passed through but the anchor held securely. I radioed to the other anchored boats and we agreed that conditions were lousy but the holding was good so we “should” be ok. Connie and I took turns eating so that one of us was in the pilothouse at all times while The Rose was swinging and bucking. Finally, at 9:45, (after 3 ½ hours) it began to back off and we felt we were safe to hit the sack. We were up and down during the night to verify our position and to ensure that the other boats weren’t dragging.
Once more, we’re ok and so pleased to see the sun break through as we get underway!

Here are a few pictures from the balance of the trip south.

Paul & Connie
M/V The Rose, GH37
Telemar Bay Marina

How many "points" do you think is in this piece of cheesecake?

Paul and Sue Graham, (Odyssey) added to the celebrations!

Celebrating my 65th onboard The Rose in Brunswick, GA. L-R Robin Evans, Dave and Barbara Bluto.

This is the light at St. Simons Island, GA

2008-10-03T16:33:00.000-04:00

October 3, 2008
We are continuing south and making progress with our trip to Marathon, FL. Since leaving Portsmouth, VA, we have had good weather and travelling conditions. Over the past couple of years, we made the choice to travel the Dismal Swamp route as opposed to the Virginia Cut. It is a scenic and laid-back area. The down side is that it adds a day to the trip and this season, openings of the lock and bridge are restricted to twice per day due to low water.
Therefore, we decided to take the quicker and more direct route, which is the Virginia Cut. As we pass through Coinjock, Connie & I noticed that the extensive side-to docks that line both sides of the waterway are nearly deserted. There were two boats at one marina and none at all on the other. We are a little early in the season, but I would have expected the cruisers to be all lined up, bow to stern. I suspect that fuel prices have taken a toll on some boaters and the recent financial fluctuations have not helped much either.
Over time, we have established a cruising schedule that works for us. Some boaters like to get underway later in the morning and then travel until sunset. We prefer to start moving early and therefore reach that day’s destination mid-afternoon. It does not make sense to cruise with a calendar in hand, but we hope to be in the Melbourne area by the second week of October. Since we held up in Portsmouth for five nights, we have decided to give up the occasional day off and will run nonstop for the rest of the way to Florida. Tentatively that will put us in Melbourne on October 11.

While underway one morning we heard a Coast Guard vessel call another powerboat and inquire as to when they were last boarded. I have nothing to hide and appreciate that they have a job to do, I just resent being subject to random searches and an interrogation about destination, departure and any other subject they feel is germane. Because we present a different or unique profile, I assume we will be boarded and inspected. Fortunately, they boarded the boat in question and then stopped a small fishing boat that appeared to be overloaded with more passengers than allowed. By the time we arrived on scene they had finished the 2nd boat, it was close to lunch and I think they headed back to their base. Whew! Dodged another one!

The Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge, (above) is a working relic. It is a one-lane floating bridge that only opens on the hour, except during low tide when it remains closed regardless of boat traffic. It is a local-nostalgic favorite for some and a nuisance to others. We were hoping to make a 1:00p.m. opening but the current was working against us and the chart plotter was showing our arrival at 1:12. I called the bridge using the cell phone and pleaded our case. There were two other boats already waiting and he delayed the bridge opening a little and then held it open for our arrival. “Keep her smoking Captain” he said…….and we did. By catching that opening, we avoided having to wait another hour.

One of our favorite stops has been The Marina at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, SC. It is pricey, ($2.00 per foot) but very secure and quiet. The marina is actually part of a huge development with a hotel, private homes, condominiums and several restaurants. For transient boaters they have a courtesy van AND driver to take you shopping at nearby locations. In addition, when you register and pay for your slip you receive a bottle of wine. In the end, it is a reasonable stop. Again this year my high school buddy Jere Russo and his wife Meredith drive two hours from their home in rural South Carolina to have dinner and drinks with us. We had such a good time that we departed a little later than usual the next morning.

We anchored for the next few nights and continue to be amazed at the beauty and solitude presented by the Intracoastal Waterway. Dolphin swimming off our bow, birds busy in flight and other unidentifiable creature sounds that seem to just rise from the marsh. There is not a sign anywhere that we aren’t the only inhabitants other than wildlife. The temperatures have been cool and breezy enough so that we sleep comfortably with the skylight and portholes open in the master cabin. We have quit taking pictures of the sunrise because the photos cannot compare to the real thing. Sometimes it seems as though the marsh is floating equally between the morning sky and glassy creeks and rivers. As we re-enter the ICW another vessel appears faintly out of the morning haze. Connie and I are so grateful for this opportunity!
As we make way, our plans change and instead of continuing down the ICW through SC into GA, we head out the inlet at Charleston, SC to run offshore through the night to the inlet at Brunswick, GA. It should take us about 22 hours from the inlet and a total of 29 hours since we left the anchorage in the morning, (Friday, 10/03). The weather window for the next 36 hours is absolutely perfect, gentle winds and wave heights predicted to be 1-2’. There is no disagreement with this choice and we decide to take advantage of the conditions. By running through the night, we make up two days and it also allows us to be in protected Florida waters ahead of deteriorating travel conditions.

We are looking forward to reconnecting with Bill & Robin Evans in Brunswick, GA. They are friends we originally met in the Bahamas, who cruise on Blue Magic a Fleming motor yacht.

Here are a few pictures from our travels thus far.

This is sunset at anchor, Antipoison Creek, MD. Legend has it that the mud from the creek was used as a poultice for a snake bite victim.

Connie handling the stern line at the Great Bridge Lock in Great Bridge, VA

Commercial traffic on the Chesapeake Bay is heavy.

This is an example of the navigation aids that you will see on the AICW. Travelling South, the red triangles are usually on your starboard side. Note the orange triangle at the top of the aid? That tells you that you're on the ICW and haven't gotten sidetracked. If there's no orange sticker you'd better check your chart again!

Dowry Creek Marina in Belhaven, NC. This is a favorite stop for many boaters on the ICW. Belhaven was a busy fishing village that is now trying to survive. Mary K. is the owner-surviving spouse and has done an excellent job even though she's doing it single handed. We're here twice a year like clockwork.

Ft. Sumpter, Charleston, SC

Paul & Connie
M/V The Rose, GH37

2008-09-27T17:46:00.000-04:00

Saturday, 9/27/08

We are swinging gently at anchor in the North River, just short of the Albemarle Sound. We thought we'd make it across the Sound today, but timing bridges and the current worked against us. That's ok, there is a gentle breeze keeping us cool and bug free so we enjoyed drinks and snacks on the bow tonight. It was just about four years ago when we were new to The Rose that we 1st made this trip with Capt. Mark Chest from Baltimore to Alligator River Marina. Paul and Sue Graham, (Odyssey) were waiting there to coach us for the rest of the trip to Brunswick, GA.

Tomorrow we should be at Dowry Creek Marina a sentimental favorite which will be an overnight stop. We had our mail shipped there and we know it's arrived after making a phone call to Mary the owner. Since we only physically receive mail 1x month this will be a holiday of sorts. Based on our current location, we should be Melbourne, FL on October 10th.

2008-09-26T11:45:00.000-04:00

Friday, September 26, 2008

We have been docked at Ocean Marine Yacht Center in Portsmouth, VA for the past 4 nights waiting for a low pressure system to pass. This was a good decision, since we saw winds gusting at 30 kts and torrential rain. Tomorrow, (Saturday 9/27) we'll be back underway and headed for the Virginia Cut and then North Carolina.

2008-09-21T10:17:00.000-04:00

September 21, 2008

Sometimes circumstances cause us to make decisions and dock at locations that we otherwise would never see or experience.

Hartge’s, (pronounced Harchies) Yacht Yard in Galesville, MD is one of those scenarios.

Located on a peninsula off the West River by way of the South River, the yard has been home to 4 generations of Hartge family members since its founding in 1878. The parents were German immigrants and piano builders who originally settled in Baltimore. Their offspring settled in Galesville, bought the land that now comprises the yacht yard and over time grew to become renowned for their boatbuilding and woodworking skills with sail boats. They currently work on everything that floats including steel and hi-tech carbon fiber.

T-B Plaque, Steel Hull Sailboat on the rails & a Hi-Tech Sailboat

How did we get here? Well while we were underway I noticed that one of our two alternators wasn’t working. That’s not an emergency since we have one on the other engine and we also have a spare for just such a situation. I called the yard early on Tuesday, 9/16 and inquired about having the alternator tended to. Sure, no problem I was told and so we planned to anchor right off the marina that night and go in on Wednesday at 7:30 when the yard opens for business. We had weighed anchor Wednesday morning and were moving when I called Luke the Service Manager. “I was expecting your call, you’re the blue hull trawler in the anchorage?” he says. We get directions since the yard is huge and appears from the anchorage to be a maze of slips, fairways and masts. By 7:45 we’re tied to a long side-to, part of the approach to the marine rail that is used for hauling boats.

The Rose viewed from shore.

Within minutes Spike, (Ace mechanic) is onboard and in the engine room doing an inspection to verify that my diagnosis is correct. He quickly removed the alternator and installed the spare, noticing that the original installation was done incorrectly resulting in undue strain being placed on the mount. We checked the starboard alternator and sure enough we had the same problem there. The malfunctioning alternator was sent out for a new bushing and rebuild while Spike went to work correcting the mounts. The bad news, well the rebuild shop was busy and wouldn’t have the alternator back for several days. I agreed to have it shipped ahead to a marina that we know will hold mail and supplies for our arrival.

Spike does a visual of the engine room occasionally stopping to put his hands on hoses, belts, clamps, etc. When I hear him stop humming I know he’s found something, especially when he says, “Oh Shit!”. He had spotted a broken motor mount and after closer inspection we decide that there are two on the outboard side of the port engine that need to be replaced. You might think I’d be upset with this, but the opposite is the case. Better here where I can get repairs done than in the middle of the Chesapeake or running in the Atlantic off the coast of Georgia. Parts are ordered and we specify overnight delivery so they will be here in the am. Looks like our stay is extended another day…..

Meanwhile the weather is doing as predicted, winds 20-25 kts with waves building to 3-4’. We’re riding easy, well protected here in the river and decide to take advantage of the situation to do some sightseeing. The marina has a courtesy vehicle but it was already in use when we asked to borrow it. Linda who is in the office offered the use of her personal car, but Luke gave us the keys to yet another yard vehicle. Connie & I find a West Marine where we exchange a broken, 4 year old pair of binoculars. We don’t have a receipt, but West Marine backs up whatever they sell! Of course we find time to get some more groceries, heaven forbid we should run short of food. Over the next day or two we are beginning to feel more at home here and are becoming familiar faces to the yard crew as they go from job to job with a toolbag and one of the 3-4 yard dogs following behind. One of the dogs is a Golden Retriever who runs around all day usually looking for someone to either scratch his ears or throw an ever present tennis ball.

During the day I wander around the yard and look into the numerous outbuildings and covered boat slips that are occupied by vessels in various stages of repair and restoration.

I cannot begin to describe the beauty and grace of the wooden boats both power and sail that occupy space here. There are a handful of yards left on the East Coast that are capable of this level of work and I had the good fortune to stop at one.

This could be a series of, "before and after" shots. The bottom shot is a Lord Nelson Tug.

We walk into town….such as it is. It appears to consist of a wine and cheese shop, two antique stores and three restaurant/bars. We help the local economy by buying several bottles of beverage along with a stained glass piece by a local artist that catches Connie’s eye.

It’s our 25th anniversary and we had visions of celebrating in the Little Italy section of Baltimore. We bypassed that destination after being quoted $2-$3 per foot for dockage around the Inner Harbor. Instead we have lunch at the Pirate’s Cove here in Galesville and Connie prepared a great dinner accompanied by a bottle of Chandon which we consumed. Now that was a celebration! Some time ago I had arranged for a salvaged 1715 Spanish Coin to be mounted as a pendant for her anniversary/birthday present. Finally I was able to watch her face when she opened the box. Hey, we live on the Treasure Coast of Florida so it’s fitting that she has a memento. Many thanks to our friends Don and Chunky for helping me pull this off!

In the background we are watching the weather persist and conditions are not improving. Rather than fret, we start thinking about taking advantage of the yard party planned for Saturday afternoon. While we wanted to be underway early Saturday morning, Spike says it is a great party with live music and besides he plays bass. Wells is the guy who runs the parts department and is the vocalist. After several invitations from other staffers, (“You ARE staying for the party aren’t you?”) we decide to stay one more night. The up side? Our rebuilt alternator comes back and is promptly deposited in the spare parts storage area saving us the expense of shipping. But in the end it all comes down to food and drink!

We walked to the front yard of the original homestead which fronts on the creek and it had been turned into party central, including amplifiers, lights and tables loaded with food. Within the hour we had about 140 people plus kids and dogs wandering around with draft beer, wine and soft drinks. Burgers, dogs, and chicken both fried and barbeque were just some of the selections. Most folks brought a dish to share, a boating tradition.

The music was excellent with, “Riverside Drive” playing a mix of down-home Blues and Rockabilly. Spike was cleaned up and hot on the bass! Remember Wells the singer who is also in charge of the parts department? He sounded like he was straight from Bourbobn Street and it turns out that it’s his wife who runs the local art gallery where we purchased the stained glass. A very small community to say the least.

T-B The water view from the homestead and the band.

Yours truly sampling the goodies.

During the evening we met several couples who either had boats in the marina or lived nearby. One couple, (John & Rhonda) are members of the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club, and spent winters at the Jib Room, (a place we know well!) in Marsh Harbour. They now live nearby on the waterfront and invited us to spend time at their dock the next time we’re in the area. They also have reservations for a house in Marathon this winter. We will definitely get together again.

T/B Spikester, Mean Lick and Wells!

We’re underway Sunday, (9/21) at 7:00 a.m. as planned, although the departure is a bit tricky since late Saturday a large sailboat had tied up perpendicular to and off our stern. I have to back down the fairway for a bit to avoid his bowsprit before making a 180 degree turn to reverse direction and make way back to the creek. All goes smoothly and we’re underway for an anchorage on Mill Creek off the Wicomico River, south of the Potomac in Virginia. Our niece Meagan is waiting for our arrival in Portsmouth, VA on Monday so we have reservations at Ocean Marine Yacht Center there.

We hope you get as much enjoyment from the pictures as we did from staying here.

Paul & Connie
M/V The Rose, GH37

Underway on the Chesapeake

2008-09-14T20:50:00.000-04:00

September 14, 2008

I neglected to mention in our earlier post that we had company when departing the marina on Thursday. Connie & I foolishly assumed that since we were scheduled to leave mid-week at 7:00 a.m. we’d follow our usual plan of operation; just the 2 of us handling lines, etc.

Not to be!

On Wednesday evening Ben from “No Regrets” came down to the marina from his home in Massachusetts and slept on his boat so he’d be able to help with lines. Plus Dave and Troy from the marina walked down to pitch in. Dave is a little camera shy, but we were able to capture the old salt. His sailboat is in a slip just a few yards away from ours. They are part of the Brewer crew who worked to make our summer stay very enjoyable.

Dave, Troy and Ben (L-R)

As we departed Narragansett Bay we were treated to a wave from our Aunt Marianne who drove down to the URI Bay Campus to see us off.

This is

Pt. Judith Light as we departed RI.

Long Island Sound is an attractive cruising area. Our first day underway, (Thursday) was no exception to that with bright sun and calm water. The first night we anchored in Westbrook Harbor which sits behind a large breakwater and is usually well protected. Normally when at anchor we settle in and the boat quiets down once the sun sets. Thursday was an exception as we were rocking and rolling while at anchor. As a result neither of us slept well because of all the activity. I had the anchor snubber down but the nylon lines were groaning and we were. “hunting” most of the night. The conditions during the day Friday did not improve. It was bumpy and rocky, with wind and rain off and on, less than ideal. We decided to change course and make for the Long Island shore which we hoped would shelter us from the wind. We lost a little time but conditions were acceptable for the rest of the day.

We turned into Manhasset Bay at 4:30 and the anchor was set at 4:45 p.m. Both of us were eyeballing the clock trying to estimate how quickly we could shower, eat and fall into bed. It’s amazing what a cup of hot soup with dinner and a shower will do when you’ve had a damp-rainy day underway.

The next leg of the trip is the interesting section. We prefer to run outside in the ocean along the New Jersey coast rather than navigate the New Jersey ICW for reasons you’ve read about earlier on this blog. It has been our practice to go through the night, a passage of 25-30 hours (+/-) from Manhasset to Summit North Marina on the C&D Canal. The canal connects the Delaware Bay to the Chesapeake Bay……hence the name C&D.

There are several factors that have to be considered for this part of the trip. Headed south we have to time the current and tide on the East River in NY City. That stretch is called Hell Gate for good reasons. Then we have to consider the ocean conditions along the NJ coast. The forecast is for the wind to initially be out of the Northwest, then Southwest which are both favorable and no more than 5-10kts. Waves are predicted 1-2’. So if NOAA is correct we should be ok. The final twist is; can we catch the flood tide up the Delaware Bay? That’s a long trip of 50 miles even with favorable conditions and there’s no place to hide if conditions deteriorate. We’d much prefer to have that push from the current. It looks like we’re ok, and the one concession we make is that rather than navigate the shortcut through the Cape May Canal at night we’ll go 3 miles further and take the safe route around Cape May itself. In any event, the Navigator has plotted not only plan A, but also B and C. As an alternative, we can tuck in at Manasquan, Barnegat, or Atlantic City inlets in the event conditions deteriorate as we head south. That’s not likely given the forecast but we feel better knowing there are options. Plans are to turn the corner at Cape May early Sunday morning putting us in place for the current up the bay and then into the C&D Canal early afternoon that same day. Saturday evening it was overcast early, but the moon broke through so we had good visibility, a 7 kt wind on the bow and the swells were gentle. I did engine room checks routinely and the diesels were purring. We swapped helm duties during the night, so both of us had napped but it’s a restless sleep as we awaken with any noise from the VHF radio or a beep from the radar.

Connie plotted the trip perfectly! This is not a seat-of-the-pants calculation. Nobeltec is our computerized electronic charting system and runs through the GPS and Autopilot to a pilothouse laptop computer. Like all tools it’s only as good as the operator! Over 4 years we have gradually learned to make good use of it’s capability. As we approached Cape May the current carried us and our speed over ground increased to 8 ½ kts. Considering that we’re a 7 kt boat; that’s flying! We made Cape May at 4:30 a.m. after having near perfect conditions during the night. We continued at that speed for the next 7 hours and enjoyed the warmth and visibility the sun provided. Finally, the sun comes up and the finish line is in sight. We take turns showering and the galley gets a cleaning after a night of snacking. Yes, it all comes down to food. There was a steady supply of fruit, cereal, sandwiches and popcorn from the galley to the pilothouse to help keep the energy level up and our eyes open.
On Saturday Connie had made the arrangements for our dockage via cell phone to explain that we were making an overnight run and requested a side-to transient berth on Sunday and assistance with dock lines. We were assured that there was a note to that effect and they’d be waiting for us. On Sunday just outside the marina we called on the radio to receive our specific assignment. As promised we had a T-head but when we came down the fairway and approached the berth there wasn’t a dockhand to be seen anywhere. We slid The Rose gently alongside and Connie stepped off, secured the stern line and quickly cleated a forward spring to hold her in place. In no time at all, we had all lines, (4) secure and the power connected. Twenty seven plus hours after departure from Manhasset Bay in Port Washington, LI we are docked in Delaware.

C&D Canal headed west

Getting back to my favorite subject; tonight we have pork chops ready for dinner along with a bottle of Sangiovese wine. There is always time for a glass of wine!
Summit North is actually located in a state park and is very picturesque. The office and support facilities are a steep climb up the bank, but I welcomed the exercise after being aboard for that extended stretch. We’ll probably spend an extra night here because of a front passing through the Chesapeake. That’s ok though; The Rose needs to have the salt rinsed off from the run down the Jersey coast and after three days underway we’re ready for a day off. We’re looking forward to departing on Tuesday for a leisurely cruise along the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake, making time to visit Cambridge and Rock Hall, MD. That area is light years away from the urban, hustle-bustle we usually encounter. Baltimore is another favorite stop that we haven’t made in a couple of years and Little Italy is just a short walk from the Inner Harbor.

So many destinations, so little time!

Paul & Connie
M/V The Rose, GH37
Summit North Marina
Bear, Delaware

2008-09-11T16:44:00.000-04:00

After an enjoyable and memorable 3 months we are once again underway. The Rose and her crew are headed south in search of warmer water and temperatures. Our departure had been delayed while we waited for the residuals from Hannah to leave the area. At this point it appears that Ike will only graze, (we hope) the Keys and then head into the Gulf.

As we appraoched the end of boating season, Greenwich Bay North was the setting for the dock party to end all parties with food and drink supplied by the tenants of Dock 13. I would guess that there were 40-50 in attendance and the festivities continued until 11:00 p.m

The weeks in between our arrival on Memorial Day and Labor Day were chock full of family and friends.This is Evelyn the youngest of our 4 grandchildren. She insisted that Grandma wear a crown also!

This year our three eldest grandchildren, (Joshua, Sofia & Victor) slept aboard on a couple of occasions and they also had a chance to do some fishing here in the marina.
We spent time with all of our children and family, while the summer weather cooperated with the best Rhode Island has to offer.

As you can see, we had a good time and we eat whatever we catch!

We were delighted that our cruising friends Ty and Suzanne whom we met on the Potomac River made time during a road trip to detour to The Rose so that we could share the fine Italian cooking at Lucce here in Warwick.

In August we attended the 33rd Annual Murgo family reunion along with 121 descendants of my grandparents. One set of grandparents, 8 brothers and sisters, 4 generations present and 33 consecutive years. Quite an accomplishment!

On a sad note, we lost our cousin Donna this summer after a fierce 8 month battle with Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. For the last few years while travelling up and down the coast we made our way to the Brewer Yard in Stamford, CT and would spend a couple of days visiting with Donna & Tom who live nearby in Old Greenwich, CT. Despite a hectic and demanding schedule of working and raising a family they always made time to wine and dine with us. Her hospitality, wit and smile will be missed and our sympathy and prayers go out to her husband Tom, sons Dom & Vic and their families.

As always, we have enjoyed socializing with our dock buddies here in Greenwich Bay. Many of our neighbors have cruising dreams and are simply waiting for the right time and circumstances. The snapshot to the right is Gail from, "No Regrets". She likes Rum.....a lot!

This year our plans are to spend about a month making our way south along the Atlantic seaboard from Rhode Island to Florida. We expect to do some sightseeing while on the Chesapeake, likely the Eastern Shore where we really enjoy anchoring and exploring small fishing villages. Baltimore is another favorite stop so if the weather cooperates it will also be on our itinerary. As always we are travelling with one eye focused on our weather system, watching for storms. The good news is that we have a number of, “hurricane holes” identified; places where we can tuck in and wait for storms to pass.

We bought a, “Hookah” rig this summer that will allow me to dive and check the bottom of the boat, zincs and the props should the need arise. This is an 110v system, a small compressor that operates without oil. It maintains sufficient air pressure to supply one diver to relatively shallow depths. There have been times when we picked up line from an unmarked crab pot or other debris in our props. Rather than pull into a marina for a quick haul or a diver, I’ll be able to slip into the water and look for myself. I used it this year to check the running gear and zincs prior to leaving. Special thanks to Tim and Lisa our divers who helped me order and assemble this unit.

We plan to spend the winter in Marathon, FL at the same marina we enjoyed last year. Plans beyond that are still in the formative stage but they have our deposit and have guaranteed the same slip.
If you have a question about a route or destination we selected, (or any other issue) feel free to fire off an e-mail and we’ll do our best to answer it. We nearly always have an internet connection with our Verizon Air Card running in the pilothouse.

Paul & Connie

M/V The Rose, GH37

Anchored at Westbrook, CT

2008-05-27T19:36:00.000-04:00

Monday, May 26, 2008

Here we are, (5/26/08) safely in our summer slip at Brewer Greenwich Bay North in Warwick, RI, 36 days after we left Melbourne, FL. Considering that we spent 10 days docked in Washington, DC and 5 days on the Potomac River going and coming; not a bad trip at all.

We have learned to take whatever the weather and sea conditions bestow, and this year was not an exception. Coming out of the Potomac and heading north on the Chesapeake we watched the satellite weather system closely for a window of favorable ocean conditions so that we could work our way in the Atlantic Ocean, up the New Jersey coast and avoiding the inside passage. The New Jersey ICW is shallow, narrow and busy with bridges that all need to be opened for us to proceed. Plus, none of the bridge tenders we’ve dealt with have completed the Emily Post School of Etiquette. “Bring Her On Up Captain” they say. One of their favorite tricks, (I swear it’s deliberate) is to command that the boats bunch up at the bridge before it will open. I suppose that allows them to minimize the number of openings but if the current is carrying you toward the bridge and there are already 6-10 boats jockeying for position adding another boat to the mix is a sure fire recipe for disaster. I’ll bet the tenders get together at the end of their shift for a beer and to swap stories about boats trying to avoid collisions. “You shuuda seen this one!” Running outside in the Atlantic is a far better choice.

Atlantic Sunset off Barnegat Inlet, NJ

We hunkered down for two days at Summit North Marina in the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal waiting out a storm. While there it appeared that there was a window developing. Sure enough, Saturday arrived and the forecast for that day and the next were excellent. We departed Summit North at 6:00 a.m., exited the canal, rode the current down the Delaware Bay, around Cape May, New Jersey, into the Atlantic along the New Jersey coast past Atlantic City and then north through New York City Harbor, the East River and into Long Island Sound.

Sunrise NYC entrance

Lady Liberty at dawn

We finally anchored in Westbrook, CT Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. after 36.5 continuous hours of being underway. The night passage was spectacular, highlighted by a great fireworks display at Barnegat, NJ that was easily visible offshore and a nearly full moon which lit up the ocean. We don’t seek out 36 hour passages but when the conditions are right, it is a great way to avoid the shallow New Jersey ICW and to make time.

Nap time!

Connie & I alternated napping with helm duties and were greeted by the daybreak view of the NYC Harbor seen below. While we traveled alone most of the night except for an occasional fishing boat, by morning the entrance channels to the city were teeming with commercial vessels making their way to various locations despite the fact that it was Memorial Day weekend and a Sunday. Those guys work 24/7 including Pilots and Tug Boat crew.

Merchant vessel entering NYC

Connie had plotted the entire 36 hour run correctly and we arrived at the entrance to the East River, (aka Hell’s Gate) just as the tide switched and carried us well above hull speed into the Long Island Sound. The current here is very swift and at 7 knots The Rose will take all the help she can get. Running against the current is NOT suggested!

Norwegian Dawn

NYC at daybreak

We had several options plotted for anchoring either in Long Island or along the Connecticut coast. While we wanted to make as much progress as possible, neither of us was sure of how much energy we’d have after such a lengthy trip. We finally decided to push on to Westbrook, CT where there is an excellent anchorage behind a huge breakwater that fronts the harbor. We dropped the anchor Sunday evening at 6:30 and as you would imagine we collapsed into bed after a very quick meal.

Monday morning we were up at 4 a.m. making ready to get underway at 5:30 for the Brewer Marina in Mystic, CT. Our plan was to spend at least a couple of days there because the winds and waves were predicted to be high along with small craft warnings. Those conditions would prevent us from continuing to RI. We consoled ourselves with the thought that we could tour the Mystic Seaport and the surrounding area while waiting for the weather to improve.

The further we moved up Long Island Sound the more confident we were that the conditions were either delayed in arriving or not as severe as predicted. Ultimately we decided to continue past Mystic and go at least as far as Westerly, RI where we would be exposed to open ocean conditions without the protection of Long Island. In cruiser parlance this is called, “poke your nose out”. Conditions were good and to make the situation even better we were being pushed by a stronger than expected current allowing us to easily exceed our usual speed of 7.2 kts.

By 11 a.m. we made the turn into Narragansett Bay, the last lap to our summer home. The wind was strengthening, (of course) with gusts to 20 kts but fortunately it was on our stern and the current continued to be in our favor until we reached Warwick Cove close to our marina and slip. Enroute we were greeted by our Uncle & Aunt, Bill & Marianne who were waving from shore near the Bay Campus of the University of Rhode Island.

We had called our friends and slip mates Ben & Gail and they rounded up a dozen, (no exaggeration!) fellow cruisers to help grab lines because of the wind. Well, this day everything went as planned and The Rose slid into her slip as though she was as anxious to be here as we were. In no time at all, lines were secure and we greeted by hugs and handshakes all around.

The welcoming crew at Greenwich Bay

That’s it for now……………we have NO travel plans for the immediate future and will spend the next week catching up on rest and family/friends.

Paul & Connie
M/V The Rose, GH37
Slip #13-33
Brewer Greenwich Bay North
Warwick, RI

2008-05-21T18:49:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Tonight we are anchored in Swan Creek near Rock Hall, MD the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake. Except for one intense but brief squall, (35kts) it is very quiet and we are the only boat in a large anchorage. To give you an idea of how protected this spot is, we had steady winds of 25kts before we turned the corner into this cove. Now…..well the anchor chain is resting easy on the bottom and the snubber isn’t working at all.

The trip up the Potomac was all that we had hoped for. Enroute to DC we anchored at St. Mary’s, a historical town and dinghied in to the local college sailing club dock where they graciously allowed us to tie up for the day so that we could tour the area.

The anchorage at St. Mary's

The next day we made way to Colonial Yacht Center in Colonial Beach. A great seaside town made even better because it is golf cart friendly. The weather kicked up a bit and we were ahead of schedule so we decided to spend a couple of extra nights. We met a husband and wife on a 46’ Morgan sailboat who shared drinks and dinner with us plus volunteered to take Connie shopping with their car one morning. Ty and Suzanne are both retired Naval Officers and she is a published writer with a couple of books to her credit. They are seasoned cruisers with an Atlantic crossing under their belt along with time in the Med and have cruised north to Newfoundland. Suzanne gave us an autographed copy of her book which Connie & I quickly devoured. More on that at a later time.

In Washington we were at the Capital Yacht Club where we docked from Saturday, (5/10) through Monday, (5/19) evening. While there our plan was to tour the capital for a few days and then fly from Reagan National to Minneapolis, MN so that we could attend a wedding in Wisconsin. Connie has two cousins who live in the DC area, Marjie and Shirley. Despite short notice they came by to see the boat and spent a couple of hours chatting and catching up on family news.

Our cousin Dom is now employed with Internal Revenue here in D.C. and he did a superb job, (on his day off!) of getting us started with directions, guided tours and Metro passes. It wasn’t that long ago he was running for class president and enjoying high school. Now Dom is here in the nation’s capital doing, “the people’s business”.

Dom & I at the Navy Yard

For the next couple of days Connie & I were up and out early in the morning with a plan to visit the various attractions. We enjoyed the monuments and memorials, and I finally made it to the Navy Memorial and Navy Yard/Museum. We were able to see most of the major sites, although I could easily spend another week here. Of all the sights, Arlington Cemetery, the Vietnam Memorial and the Korean War Memorial were very impressive.

Connie at the Korean War Memorial

Kristine; the daughter of our good friends and former business partner Mike & Bobbie Evavold was taking the big step on May 17th and we would not have missed this day. The wedding was held in Holcombe, WI, not far from Chippewa Falls. I know that sounds like a joke and you can laugh, (I did) but we drove the area for a couple of days and fell in love. MN & WI are truly the heartbeat of America, friendly people with mile after mile of farms and lakes. We met Mike the first afternoon we arrived for a reunion of sorts at a Vietnamese restaurant in St. Paul that we have frequented many times over the years we have been doing business there. We were not disappointed!

Later that evening we met Katie & Steve Otto from St. Paul for dinner. They are both lawyers and she was corporate counsel for us. Somehow she managed to keep Mike & me out of trouble when we were involved with the rehabilitation business. We continued as though no time had passed at all with fine dining and a couple of bottles of wine.

The wedding was a family affair in every sense. No words can describe it adequately, except to note that the local church was filled to capacity and the reception was a giant party.

I neglected to mention that Mike decided to surprise his wife and daughters with our arrival well before the wedding. We drove to a nearby town and dropped in on them while they were having the usual pre-nuptial manicure, etc. Once inside Mike announced that he was going to have a pedicure and asked; wasn’t I? Not to be outdone I agreed. The photos will tell the story. I’ll spare you the details, they are better after some wine or beer.

"You got purty feet!"

We had time to kill between all the festivities and took a tour of the Lienenkugel Brewery in Chippewa Fall, WI. Would you believe the 7th oldest in the country? It was a great tour, capped by free samples. At the completion of the tour the guide asked a question related to information she had presented earlier. The correct answer won a t-shirt. Yup, you guessed it, Connie had the right answer. I will never live this down, especially since I very loudly shouted out an incorrect answer.

Very early, (O Dark Hundred) Tuesday morning we departed Washington in a downpour and headed downriver. Fortunately we had read Nobeltec, (navigation system) correctly and had the current with us the whole way which enabled us to reach the mouth of the river and an anchorage before sunset.

All that stands between us and RI is the Delaware Bay, New Jersey coast and the Long Island Sound. As always we’ll watch the weather and take whatever conditions allow.

Paul & Connie

M/V The Rose, GH37

anchored Swan Creek, MD

2008-05-05T12:18:00.000-04:00

Monday, May 05, 2008

The Rose and her crew are continuing their trek north. Since our last post we left Grande Dunes Marina in Myrtle Beach and made our way to anchorages in Wrightsville Beach and Cedar Creek.

The anchorage off Cedar Creek

While underway we were hailed on the VHF radioand greeted by Capt. Mark Chest on his boat Dayz Off from the Baltimore area. He came aboard for our maiden voyage in 2004 and trained us while we were underway from Baltimore to the Alligator River Marina in N.C. It was good to hear from him and we promised to connect in Rock Hall, MD where he now keeps his boat.

Our route that day took us across 4 rivers, the Neuse, Bay, Pamlico and Pungo enroute to Dowry Creek in Belhaven, NC. Smooth cruising! We are now traveling with Ted & Terry on Berlie Mae another Great Harbour 37, and had promised them a dinner of Connie’s veal & peppers. Once we were secure at Dowry Creek, Connie took the courtesy car into town for a few groceries and I changed fuel filters, repaired the faucets in the galley sink and replaced a burnt bulb in a running light. I was having a difficult time with the last task since the light is outboard and requires leaning well over the side. Another boater was walking down the dock, saw me struggling and offered her help. Melissa was delivering a boat to upstate New York but is usually employed as the Dockmaster at Golden Isles Marina in Brunswick, GA. I held her by the ankles, (a tough job but one that had to be done) while she replaced the bulb. She agreed to stay on board for a few shots of Limoncello with the four of us and I suspect we will try Golden Isles on our next trip south.

The Admiral at the helm in calm conditions.

We crossed the Albemarle Sound and anticipated, (based on the forecast) decent conditions. Since the Sound is open to the ocean, it is not a place to challenge Mother Nature. Unfortunately the waves and winds were not as hoped and it was uncomfortable. Connie had the helm and did a great job of tacking rather than running a straight course so that we avoided having the waves on our beam.The good news is we were much more comfortable that way.

The bad news? That strategy was time consuming and we missed the 4:30 opening of the Elizabeth City Bridge. I knew from experience that having Connie call the bridge tenders works well, especially in the south. She tried coaxing the bridge tender into delaying the opening for another 10” to no avail. So, we dropped the throttles back to idle and lazily continued on.

The Elizabeth City area is very boater friendly and there are free docks all over. We introduced the Berlie Mae to a long bulkhead behind a commercial-industrial building. It is very protected and north of the bridge, which means we don’t have to time our departure or request an opening in the morning. We always stop in at the warehouse office on arrival to thank them for their courtesy. Terry biked to a local Wal-Mart to pick up a prescription and then we all met at a coffee shop in town for a sandwich and a beer. We were surprised to learn that they had live music which only added to our enjoyment. There is no end to the local surprises waiting to be discovered on the waterway!

On Saturday, 5/3/08 we proceeded through the Great Dismal Swamp a route that is about 51 miles long. While we were in the southern lock, the lockmaster alerted us that there were, “a few kayakers” on the river. We did not give that a thought since it is a no-wake zone and we have to move slowly to time the northern bridge and lock anyway.

A few? Try a flotilla! There had to be at least 300 people on kayaks who had volunteered for this event; Paddle for the Poor. From the looks of things some of these people had no experience on boats and therefore even less knowledge of boating procedure. To further complicate the situation they were being escorted by several power vessels also manned by volunteers such as Coast Guard Auxiliary, (think Barney Fife here). After we were about a third of the way through the kayakers, the escort boat ahead of us hailed us on the radio and gave us an order to stay back and follow the rest of the pack. In theory that sounds fine, except that The Rose weighs 46,000 lbs with a 16’ beam and we’re navigating in a channel that has about 7’ of depth and is 40’ wide. Not very forgiving to say the least. We made our case succinctly and they promptly changed their mind.

Kayakers and escorts on the Dismal Swamp

After the kayakers, we were passed by a pontoon houseboat headed in the same direction. This is unusual, since we all have to wait for a bridge and then a lock to open so there is no advantage to being at the head of the line. In any event he entered the lock ahead of us with the wind blowing briskly on our beam. The lockmaster directed him to a portside tie, except that the wind had other ideas. The boat drifted crossways and then the captain made things worse by putting it in reverse instead of forward, gunned the engine and proceeded to run his stern and outboard motor into the steel lock wall. Ouch! People yelling, boats drifting and I’m working like hell to keep The Rose straight and hovering in one position until called. Finally the pontoon boat is tied up and we’re directed in behind him. Connie is on the stern and quickly passed the line to the dockmaster who drops it onto a bollard and then catches my bow line so that we’re secure. I was ready to ask the meathead ahead of me why he found it necessary to pass on the Dismal, (a no-no) when I realized his wife was reading him the riot act big-time. He didn’t need to hear my whine, and there was justice after all!

We left the serenity of the Dismal Swamp to experience the hustle-bustle of Norfolk Harbor. Talk about culture shock? There are tugs moving huge freighters, armed marine guards protecting naval vessels and the tenders from four bridges all competing for radio time and space in the channel. We threaded our way through, amused at memories of our white knuckled passage the first time south. We are still alert, just a lot less stressed about this area.

Freighter traffic in Norfolk Harbor w/Berlie Mae

Saturday evening we anchored off Norfolk Harbor about 2.5 miles up the Lafayette River where we spent a quiet night. A small powerboat with 3 people aboard circled us right after we set the anchor and then asked, “could you go to Europe in this?” Yes, Connie answered, but not with me aboard. They chuckled and recommended a nearby bar-restaurant that we could reach by dinghy. We thanked them, but both of us are beat after 14 days of running and need an early night in the sack.

Today, (Sunday 5/4/08) we are making way for Deltaville and Norview Marina. Berlie Mae is behind us at this point and will continue up the Chesapeake. Their ultimate destination is Watkins Glen, NY and we wish them a safe passage. We are anticipating the Chesapeake will kick up for the next couple of days and Norview offers us a great deal of protection from the prevailing winds and a chance to take a much needed day off.

Our arrival at Norview was a little off the beaten path. Connie was in the cockpit, at the rear of the boat with a dock line in hand. She swung the cockpit door open to make securing the stern line easier while I maneuvered the boat into position. Unfortunately she forgot to latch the door and as the boat moved the now secured dock line slid under the door lifting it neatly off the hinges and into the water. That is an, “OH SHIT” moment! Our door is floating down the creek and the dockhand tells me that they don’t have a skiff available. Yours truly emptied his pockets, slipped on a pair of fins and dove in. All’s well that ends well and we don’t think that door will ever be open and unlatched again.

We’re resting easy here in Deltaville and one of the resident boaters offered to take Connie into town so that we could buy some cards and deposit them at the local post office. That’s the personality of this area. If you walk from the marina into town, usually a passing motorist will stop and offer to drive you in.

This is the Berlie Mae in Norfolk Harbor. Ted & Terry are cruisers who have been liveaboards for about 8 years.

This is a shot from the Dismal Swamp of an adjoining farm. I believe the yellow means that field was planted with soy bean which is just sprouting. As you can see, the color is spectacular.

A couple of participants from the, "Paddle for the Poor" on the Swamp. Most of the participants seemed to be having an enjoyable experience and were treated to barbecue at the finish.

2008-04-28T19:32:00.000-04:00

Wednesday 4/23/08

Up until today, Neptune has smiled on us for the past several days with the best weather we could have hoped for. Sunny-dry days and calm winds make for comfortable cruising and peaceful nights at anchor. Today is overcast, windy and rainy, but Connie & I are warm and dry in the pilothouse as we continue the trip north.

Here’s a shot of the sunrise leaving the anchorage on the Amelia River in Fernandina, FL where we spent Tuesday evening.

We took on 292 gallons of fuel at Palm Coast Marina the other day. We went in there because the fee for docking is economical; there isn’t what we consider to be a good anchorage nearby and because we also needed a pumpout. Yes, it was painful at $4.08 per gallon. The good news? Well they have a Boat U.S. discount if you buy at least 300 gallons. I whined enough to get the discount, a whopping $0.02 a gallon even though I was 8 gallons short of the 300. Hey, victories come in all sizes and I’ll take what I can get.

Truth be told, the expense in boating is not only fuel as you’d expect, but we also have to consider dockage. At a range of $1.50-$2.00 per foot, plus electricity/taxes, etc. paying for a slip puts us in the range of $65.00 to $80.00 per night. It doesn’t take long for those numbers to add up. On the other hand after 4 years we are getting more confident in our ability to select an anchorage, (free) that is safe and protected from predicted weather. We make our own electricity with the generator and have sufficient water and food to last for days. Plus, the anchorages, (most of the time) are peaceful.

We passed by Little Cumberland Island this morning, (4/23/08) and enjoyed seeing the wild horses grazing on a distant shore. Last year we were primed to take pictures since they were close to the boat. Except that was the time when, “Bubba & the Turk” pulled us over for a safety check and dropped my driver’s license over the side. Conditions weren’t perfect, so the pictures of the horses will have to wait until the fall when we head south.

You’d think that given the length of the trip, (1,500+ miles) that we’d travel anonymously?

Wrong!

Earlier today we were hailed by a vessel that wanted to pass. Connie had the helm and told them that she’d drop back to idle speed to make the maneuver easier for both of us. As they passed, the skipper of the other boat told us that he’d see us in Greenwich Bay this summer. Now our hailing port is Bristol, RI, but these people are from RI and keep their boat in Warwick Cove, close to the Brewer Yard where we spend our summers. Every once in a while we’re reminded of just how small this boating community is.

Early this afternoon we plan to be at Brunswick Landing Marina for a one night stay. Our friends Bill & Robin Evans, (Blue Magic) are docked there and we have dinner reservations. We’ve cruised with these folks for a couple of years both in Lucaya as well as Marathon and shared many sea stories along with several bottles of wine.

Over the next few nights we anchored, sometimes in familiar spots like Queen Bess Creek and others that are new to us this season. There are times when it seems we are miles from any signs of civilization from the time we drop anchor to daybreak. Not a light or building to be seen anywhere. On Friday evening we pulled into Bass Creek not too far off the ICW. I'll let the picture below speak for itself.

Anchoring in Bass Creek

The dolphins have been playing in our bow wave off and on, and seem to be more numerous than in previous years. They come alongside and Connie, (she’s the one with hearing!) can hear them spouting.

Sunday, (4/27/08) we changed plans and rather than anchor decided to spend the night at Bucksport Plantation Marina and Restaurant in where else?? Bucksport, SC. Besides having reasonably priced fuel, ($3.75 gallon) they have locally made country sausage and great chili. This is not a fancy marina, but the folks here are friendly and I’m ready for a bowl of their chili

Point of interest: Bucksport is named for Capt. Henry Buck and was the departure point for huge shipments of yellow pine and cypress. He also lent his name to the shipbuilding community of Bucksport, ME. Busy guy that Capt. Henry!.

We pulled into Bucksport as planned only to discover, (after pumping 15 gallons!) that they had run dry. I was not pleased to say the least, because the bottom of the tank is where the diesel gremlins lurk, waiting to foul my filters and injectors. After voicing my displeasure…………..(my high school Italian teacher would have been impressed with my command of the vernacular); we asked if the restaurant was open? Sure we were told. Except that when the dock attendant returned he explained that the kitchen had just closed.

So, here we were with no fuel and a closed kitchen. Keep in mind I was anticipating that bowl of chili all afternoon. A quick call to nearby Osprey Marina determined that they had fuel at $3.86 and also had a transient space available. That quick our plans changed and we were enroute for Osprey Marina The approach there is a little unnerving, and the basin is tight but well protected. We made a smooth approach, and secured for the night. The fuel tank was topped off and the holding tank was empty. I could make a few analogies here but I’ll leave it to your imagination…….

Monday we pulled off the dock at 6:30 a.m. and headed for an early, (8:30 a.m.) arrival at Grande Dunes. This will qualify as a day off for us, a chance to wash The Rose, do some laundry and then spend some time at the waterfront restaurant-bar. My high school classmate Jere Russo and wife Meredith live in SC and drove to the coast to have dinner with us. What a great time we had!

Jere Russo with yours truly on The Rose

Here are a few more pictures from the Intracoastal Waterway.

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday morning, fly fishing on the river.

Dewee, (Dewey) Creek off the Intracoastal Waterway

2008-04-19T21:29:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, 4/2/08

Our plans to run outside in the Hawk Channel from Marathon north were abandoned after putting up with wind and seas on the beam for 4 hours. Once we reached a point where we could cut back into the Florida Bay we quickly slipped into the lee of the shore and had much more comfortable cruising conditions. We were not in danger and The Rose was fine, we were simply uncomfortable.

We anchored for 3 nights as we traveled north and made Telemar Bay Marina in Indian Harbour Beach on Saturday in the middle of a weather front with wind gusting to 25 mph. When I least expect it, my docking skills are put to the test.

Monday, 4/7/08

After 2 stormy days in a slip at Telemar Bay Marina we were hauled out this morning as scheduled. After four years you’d think that this would be, “business as usual” for us. WRONG! We still get butterflies watching our baby come up in the travel lift, hoping that the slings hadn’t outlived their useful life or that some knucklehead might have missed a few stitches when it was originally assembled. To further complicate the process, the slings, (2) have to be placed precisely around the hull. Too far forward on the forward sling and we’ll end up with the boat, (46,000 lbs) slipping and hitting the ground. Too far back and we damage the sending unit for the fathometer. Maybe this year I’ll break down and have stickers placed on the hull, “sling here” like the rest of the world?

Once out of the water, the bottom has to be scraped and pressure washed to clean off the growth that has accumulated since we last had a diver clean her. Connie & I left at this point to grab some lunch. When we returned to the marina, the boat was moved to a corner of the yard where she was ready to be placed on blocks and stands. That process is definitely more complicated than the haul-out. Most boats have a keel so that they can be blocked and supported almost anywhere on the hull. The Rose doesn’t have a keel, so it has to be supported differently. We’ve learned that a picture is worth a thousand words even with shipyard workers. Rather than convince them verbally, Connie whipped out pictures from our previous shipyard visits and our pre-purchase survey. Seeing is believing and The Rose is safely braced, awaiting fresh bottom paint and a wax job. The fact that we had tipped the two guys responsible BEFORE the work started really got their attention. We’ve worked with this yard before and their crew is proud of their work so the tip was more appreciation than anything else.

Fred the driver of the travel-lift is a retired E-8 Navy Sr. Chief Petty Officer and he took note of the USN Burgee I have flying off the bow. Needless to say the boat was handled with TLC!

The Rose with her hull & bottom prepped.

The other member of the crew is Greg, the individual who will paint the bottom, and is part of that special breed you may have seen on the TV show……….dirtiest jobs? He is meticulous with his work, and even signs/dates every bottom he paints.

Greg the Bottom Master

The crew that will buff and wax the upper hull and pilothouse have already made contact and will finish up after the bottom is done. We initially had planned to have a few “dings” around the waterline touched up while we were hauled out. Instead we have decided to simply paint from the rub rail down because it will be quicker, easier and cheaper. Unfortunately this task was also responsible for the delay. Plus we had to coordinate between the bottom paint, detailing, and painting the hull from the rub rail-down.

You might wonder how long all this work will take. We’ve been, “promised” 8 days from start to finish. Connie and I have allowed for a longer period of time, but that’s a secret that will not be shared with the yard. If the weather cooperates, (we’re outside, exposed to the elements) that’s about right. Of course we extended the work to be done so all bets are off. The plus side? The long range forecast looks good and we’re parked in a bay that is very well protected on three sides with a concrete floor. For painting that is a decent set-up and contributes to a better job.

Well, as always the best of intentions fall by the wayside. The good news is that the bottom paint arrived on time as scheduled. The bad news……the manufacturer sent the wrong product. Gushing apologies from everyone does not sooth my fevered brow and Connie is avoiding the whole crew, rather than tell them what she really thinks of this mess!

Rather than sitting & twiddling our thumbs we have convinced the bottom guy to paint the dinghy while we’re waiting for the correct bottom paint and also moved up the schedule for painting the sides while the weather smiles on us.

In the meantime we also spent some time with neighbors and friends from the condo. We enjoyed breakfast with Ted & Mary Cooper who have graciously provided transportation to and from the boat when we were car-less. You may recall that last year Ted met us in N Palm Beach and cruised with us for two days.

Tammy & Ed, the folks that have compounded and buffed the boat for the last year have become friends as well as trusted technicians. We joined them for dinner & drinks at Port Canaveral.

Geno & Juanita from Holladay Manor had us over for dinner one night and drinks with our neighbors from Indialantic another.

This week we plan to drive to Gainesville for the annual meeting and election of the officers for the Great Harbour Trawler Assoc. It’s an opportunity to renew friendships with fellow boat owners from the Mirage family. Mirage is also sponsoring, (for the 3rd year) a three day seminar on boat systems. We can only attend the 1st of the three days but it is packed with useful information. Both Connie & I will attend sessions on Yanmar engines and Vacuflush toilets, both essential components. There are a number of newer owners who wanted information on cruising the Bahamas which we gladly shared. It is amazing how much information passes at one of these gatherings. After 4 years we can occasionally contribute a few tips.

This whole process of bottom work and hull paint is taking a bit longer than planned, but over the past three years we have learned to relax and make the best of whatever the situation presents.

Saturday, 4/19/08

Sure enough we have been in the yard longer than promised. Is 15 days longer than 8.........? Finally we are in the slings waiting for the paint to dry…….sound familiar?

We’ll drop the car back at the condo this afternoon and have our neighbor Edna drive us back to the marina where we’ll spend our final night before heading north.

As always this has been a, “learning experience” for us and at this rate we should have a Ph. D. in boating.

Paul & Connie

2008-03-29T14:35:00.000-04:00

It seems like just yesterday that we arrived here in Marathon, FL. The winter is now fading and the days are getting longer......either that or I'm just sleeping later than usual.

We've had company over the winter, Bill & Robin on Blue Magic, Judy & Gene on Loco, (a Mexican name that I can never spell correctly) and Carl & Lois on Puffin. Plus for a few weeks we had Terri & Ted on Berlie Mae and Neil, Sheila & Rio the dog on Silver Queen.

Cousin Robert & Kerri made good on their promise to stop in en route to Key West and have been so busy with activities that Connie & I are wondering if we should overhaul our schedule a bit. They are looking anxiously at doing more cruising and enjoyed listening to others who have made the, "Great Loop", up the Hudson River, through the canals, Great Lakes and down the Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico.

We on the other hand are ready for another summer in RI with family and friends.
The Rose is ready to go and we've made arrangements to be hauled out in the Melbourne, FL area for bottom paint and buffing of the pilothouse.

The weather looks promising on Tuesday & Wednesday of next week. We hope to run outside and avoid the multitude of bridges that cross the South Florida ICW.

Stay tuned..............

Paul & Connie
M/V The Rose, GH37
Marathon, FL