Farley here. Nothing like keeping myself busy in the Bahamas. I don’t think Matt and I have the same idea of what Yoga is.
MATTINA Enters The Bahamas
We had a wonderful entry into the Bahamas this year. We sailed from Biscayne Bay (just south of Miami) to South Bimini. We were welcomed in a lovely marina: protected from all sides, floating docks, beach and nature trails nearby.
We are at the same latitude as Miami, but it’s warmer here. I have no idea why. Today we filled our day with yoga, beach walking and swimming. Our boat is the second one from the right and we are surrounded by friends.
We haven’t had time to go spear fishing yet, so we hooked up with a local fisherman for some conch and lobster. We just couldn’t wait for the fresh seafood! Our friends are doing the negotiating.
Thanks for reading . . .
Share this:
Mattina: The Journey is the Destination
Well sometimes. For me it depends on the journey, the destination and the end goal.
Right now we are sailing with the goal of getting to the Exuma island chain in the Bahamas. To do that we have to get across the tongue of the ocean. That’s the journey part.
When we get there, I can focus on writing. I miss writing every day, but our plans change rapidly depending on the weather, and I can’t focus. I know, you’re feeling very sorry for me 🙂 Can’t have everything.
Here is a photo of why we are trying so hard to get to the Exumas and while I don’t mind putting my writing on hold for a bit. The clear blue water is world class.
Next blog: The next time we have internet access.
Thanks for reading . . .
Share this:
Farley’s Friday: Dog in the Bahamas
Farley here.
I made it. I’m on the beach! My humans said we had an easy crossing, but it was still a little bumpy for me. And wearing a tether all day gets a little old.
Life doesn’t get better than this. I heard somewhere that ‘it’s better in the Bahamas’ and it must be true. I cleared customs with no problem. I even have my own paperwork, so if my humans leave the Bahamas I can stay. Ha Ha. Wouldn’t that be funny.
Oh, on second thought, maybe not. Who would feed me, walk me, groom me, and generally spoil me?
Right after clearing customs in South Bimini, it was off to the beach for a swim and a roll in the sand.
I forgot that when I get this sandy, I have to shower before getting back on the boat. I don’t like that part. What’s wrong with a little sand everywhere?
Woof Woof.
Thanks for reading . . .
Share this:
Mattina Underway – so what happens to my writing?
It’s travel time again. Matt, Farley and I are heading south along the Florida east coast and hoping for a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream and enter the Bahamas. We are traveling with one buddy boat and trying to hook up with 2 or 3 more. It’s fun to arrive in a pack, with your friends already imported with you.
While we are traveling, I have no idea if I’ll have internet access along the way. My next shot at blogging will probably be once we are in the Bahamas. So if I’m quiet on this end, that’s why.
I always think I’m going to have time to write while we are underway, but it never turns out that way. Somehow, when the sailboat is in motion, I can’t concentrate on writing. Writing while sailing is a romantic idea to me. It’s a dream, really. The reality is I get busy.
I need to be in a quiet anchorage in calm weather to produce a good word count.
See you on the flip side.
Thanks for reading . . .
Share this:
Farley’s Friday: Dogs in Restaurants
Farley here.
I really like Florida. It so warm that most restaurants have outdoor patios AND they let me join the party. It’s all so civilized. Finally a place that understands I belong with my humans all the time.
I mind my manners. I don’t beg. I don’t pester other diners. And I don’t play with other dogs that happen to be there. Kristina always orders a bowl of ice cubes for me, which keeps me entertained as I try not to let them slide out from under the table.
I do my best to look refined and dignified and so far, I haven’t been kicked out of anywhere.
The best is I hint to Kristina that she should order something with good leftovers for me. I don’t get to eat it until we get back to the boat and it’s in my bowl, but that’s okay with me.
Did I mention, “I love Florida.”
Woof Woof.
Thanks for reading . . .
Share this:
Mattina: Final Provisioning Before Heading Offshore
It’s been a hectic couple of weeks getting Mattina loaded with our winter provisions.
One of my favourite outings is a trip to the Vero Beach Farmer’s Market.
The farmer picks the grapefruit and oranges the day before the market. There is nothing like eating fruit that fresh. The fruit hasn’t sat in a warehouse, truck, or grocery store. It’s a special treat for us.
We get enough for about six weeks.
Our fridge can’t store bulk amounts so I’ve learned a few tricks over the years. Oranges and grapefruit can be stored unrefrigerated in a dark space. To make them last longer, I wrap each piece of fruit in tin foil. This will keep the fruit for 6 weeks, hence the reason I stock for that length of time.
Now that we are ready to go, the weather isn’t cooperating. The next part of our journey means crossing the Gulf Stream. The stream runs south to north, and we don’t want wind against current – it creates sloppy seas and big waves. Wind out of the east doesn’t work because we’d be slamming into the waves. We certainly don’t want squally weather. Really, we’d like a beam reach at 15 knots.
Is that too much to ask for?
Thanks for reading . . .
Share this:
British Dictionary and American Style Guide Used by a Canadian
The Chicago Manual of Style says, “The more we learn, the less we seem to know.” Anyone else feel this way about spelling, punctuation and grammar?
So here is a question.
I follow the Oxford English Dictionary for spelling but the Chicago Manual of Style for grammar and punctuation.
The first is British and the second American.
Should I be following the Oxford Guide to Style if I use the Oxford English Dictionary? Or is it okay to follow one British and one American as long as I am consistently British in my spelling and consistently American in my punctuation and grammar? Now let me add that I am Canadian, and I get really confused. The borders seem to be disappearing on me.
And this gets me back to the first line, “The more we learn, the less we seem to know.”
Thoughts?
Thanks for reading . . .
Share this:
Farley’s Friday: Happy American Thanksgiving
- Ooooh. Ate too much. Must . . . nap . . . now . . .
Share this:
Mattina: Provisioning for the Winter
Matt and I have settled in Vero Beach, Florida for a couple of weeks, giving us time to do our final system testing and provision the boat for the winter.
The Lagoon 380 has ample storage for the foods and supplies we want to take with us. Over the last few years we’ve noticed grocery shopping has improved in the Bahamas, and we worry less about having everything with us.
I’ve kept a list over the years that I keep updated. During the winter months, I mark when we run out of something and know if I have to buy more or less of an item the next season.
Below you see my first pass at loading the boat up. We take several goes at it until we’ve filled our storage spaces.
To give us more room for meat, we load our freezer with unfrozen meat. This takes up a lot less space than putting frozen meat into the freezer. It does use more amps than if we put it in frozen, but it’s worth it. We layer the meat by type, alternating rows. First row steak, next pork, next chicken, and then start over with steak. This way we don’t have to dig to the bottom for a type of meat we want.
We try to store evenly by weight in each hull, allowing the boat to sit flat on the water.
We’ve also found that once we are ‘out there’ we don’t need as much as we do on land. If we don’t have it, we do without and we always seem okay with that.
Thanks for reading . . .
