"The whole world before you, and a horizon that's always changing!" Kenneth Grahame
Holy smoke, we are finally at the end of the Midwest river system. We cruised 1,251 nautical miles (1,438 statute miles) from Chicago to Mobile, Alabama. It took us two months, but for one month of that we rested & and took care of a sick kitty. If we ran hard, we could have finished …
Life is looking up in Michigan. Finally, we have clear skies, sunny days, calm seas, and just finished up a fantastic visit with our friends Jim and Sherryl. Craig and Jim have been friends since third grade and Sherryl felt like my long lost sister. We took a two hour cruise to lovely Charlevoix, motored …
When we first arrived in Grand Haven I often found myself humming this old Temptations tune... I've got sunshine on a cloudy day. When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May. We'll, I guess you'd say what can make me feel this way... Joy Girl, talkin' 'bout Joy Girl. Yes, she is a …
Ahoy, mateys! We hope all is well with our friends around the world! Winter has passed and spring is here. Hallelujah. It was a strange winter for us. We were lost in retirement transition pains without our full and active life on Joy Girl. And it was difficult to watch my mother suffer as she …
We've now been docked here at Shelter Cove Marina on Hilton Head for three full months, and it's about time for a change of scenery. Don't get me wrong. We love it here. The marina, the people of Hilton Head, the fellow boaters, are all admirable. And there's nothing quite like the sight of a …
As an inland lake sailor who grew up sailing the waters of Wisconsin and then those in and around Colorado and the Caribbean, the word "tide" to me mostly referred to the laundry detergent my mom preferred (and that kids now allegedly eat). The idea of water getting noticeably deeper and shallower twice every day …
We've reached the bitter end. It was a struggle, and we worked very hard, but we've reached the end of our rope. If you speak nautical, then you know I'm referring to the end of our anchor line, which is called "the bitter end". In the old days, anchor lines were tied to "bitts" on …
Today we woke up early and took our first cruise with the kitties! When Craig fired up the big diesel engine both cats fled down to their favorite hiding place, a dark, cozy corner under the downstairs navigation desk. After we left the marina, I pulled Scully out first since she is the braver, more …
Hilton Head from 35k feet
To say it's a bit disquieting to see one's 35,000 pound boat dangling in the air, supported by but two straps, is quite the understatement!
