Grand Cru in the water

Grand Cru est dans l'eau. Capitaine Rick est en mer. Rhum Goslings est juste bon.

It is great to hear that the Grand Cru made it into the water and to her first port of call on the same day. That's confidence and a bold Captain. 

Great to hear that the electronics work as advertised. 

more later 

Splash

Grand Cru is all wet. She went in yesterday and I drove about 2 hours to get on a friends mooring as I am helping them with their new years party for the 4th year in a row. Louise was with me last year .
Hardly any problems, many of the experienced boaters told me it was not a good idea to leave the harbour on plash day especially not a Friday as if something goes wrong it is hard to find help. Greg has installed a new alarm system if the bilge pump goes off and it did. Stuffing box had dried up and was taking on volumes of water...but I finally tightened it on route and was OK...now my dinghy is full of water and it has not rained.

Greg all your hard work paid off I was in 20 knot winds with a following sea heading for Marina Key and it did not budge, can't wait for the rest of the programming to get done.

I spoke to Louise and Paul and Dave on Christmas Eve and saw the grand babies the girls remember me but Samuel is only interested in mommy.

Now there is only a month left before we leave for St Martin and the to do list is growing by the minute
Morgan sits on his boat all day and relaxes...he is so cute...:)

Today I try to put the boat back together and maybe a NAP.
Talk to you soon.

Afrodesia

Remember I was speaking of a gorgeous Shannon 43 ketch in the yard. Name Afrodesia. Guess who owns it. Morgan Freeman. 
Rick reported that he was seen in the grocery store at Virgin Gorda. At least he has all the requisite skills to protect himself from the Christmas lady. Today is her last chance to bag a man and even Santa stays far away from her...
Speaking about how he started sailing on of all things OPRAH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5aCIELhKys 

This is incredible. Morgan Freeman is one of my top three movie stars: Woody Woodpecker, the sloth from Ice Age and Morgan Freeman. 

Morgan Freeman speaks about the Shannon 43
in an interview on 60 Minutes:

"This (my) boat is a Shannon 43. It's one of the 12 best-built boats in the entire world."

Freeman goes out sailing by himself, saying he
enjoys the challenge.

"If you live a life of make-believe, your life isn't
worth anything until you do something that does challenge your reality. And to me, sailing the open ocean is a real challenge, because it's life or death. There's no quarter." 

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Location:Cedar Cove,Little Current

Sunday December 23rd...Christmas Eve Eve

I have been outside doing some chores like moving all the tools and stuff from the renovation/creation of our new Granny flat in the basement... I get cold very quickly and Mary Lynn has cut me off from the Goslings before happy hour! Christmas DTs. 
I saw Ricky on line for a short time this morning. Sunday's are usually the time he skype calls his family and absolutely devolves into a stange language speaking Grand father. I must admit that it was cute watching the grandchildren watching him on the monitor. 
I was trying to decide what Ricky would be doing right now. I hope that he is on the shady side of the bottom of the boat painting his heart out. I am struggling with a lake water system that is trying to freeze in time for Christmas and his biggest task is to be in the shade...
I miss the Caribbean and I wonder if Christmas lady has caught her Christmas man. I watch CNN diligently for any news on that front. 
More later...my posts will be in red....Ricky will be black.

Mayan calendar

End of the world my arse. I think somebody misread the symbols. Chicken, snake, tu pak, upside down cow. It could mean repeat as necessary





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Location:North Channel Dr,Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands,Canada

Friday December 21

Just to drive the final spike into my transformation from Caribbean trailer park boat yard bird to Northern Ontario retired gentleman:

Driveway from snow overnight

Snow

SNOW!!!!!!






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Location:TC N,,Canada

Richard sends a text

Receiving a text is such a normal part of life. This was a big day. One of my tasks was to teach Richard how to use some of the features of his phone. Sadly I don't think there will be any pictures on the blog (from Richard).
He has a digicel pay as you go phone. When I looked he had received 49 texts.
Richard would have been the leader of the Luddites. We worked on the phones very modern alpha/numeric keyboard.
He seemed to get it.
When I fired up my iPhone at the airport I had received a text from Richard. "Hi Greg".
I immediately replied. "Did you send a text. Look at you. "
When I woke up this morning on Jen's couch I noticed I had received a reply from Richard.
"wwyerp"
We had talked about some of the short forms but this is new
I think because he received at his 5 am it might be "why are you up". But I am open to suggestions and an explanation from the captain.
At any rate give yourself two grapes at lunch.
So today I must turbo shop and try to get home.
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Location:The Queensway,Toronto,Canada

Inner Peace

I heard a doctor say that the way to inner peace was to finish all the things you have started so after Greg left I went around the boat and finished everything he had started or forgotten. I finished a bottle of merlot a bottle of chardonnay, a bodle of baileys, 2 butle of wum, a package of prungles,
the prozac and vavaliuminum scriptions, the rest of the cheez cke and a bx off chocletz

Clarification

December 21 - 8:11 Little Current
I have to clarify that any vavaliuminum left behind was in child proof containers. No cheese cake was ever on board the boat. 
yu half no idr ow bludy fablus i fealrite now

pleez sned dis orn to dem youz feelar in ned ov ienner piss

and telum ow mush u blody luvum

I blody luv ya Greg

Thank you Greg

Those of you who think that all Greg did was drink rum, well think again. Here is a list of his accomplishments:
Installed a new autopilot and gps and the instrument pod
Ran 12 volt to the cockpit
Installed low water alarm light and bilge pump light and alarm in cockpit
installed all new ac plugs in entire boat and added 6 new ones
Designed and installed a new lazy jack system
Repaired running lights
Repaired jib and put it up
Instaled bimini and new shade panels built by Greg and ML
Repaired life lines
Took boom vang off
Repaired block for topping list
Installed new raw water strainer
Put up wind generator
Prepared outboard and dinghy
Did research and found what we needed
Made 3000 trips to the hardware store

Clarification
It is most certainly correct that I did more than drink rum, but rum was readily available and nearby at all times (notwithstanding the shortage and extinction of Goslings). This was a working holiday and there was lots of time for exploring, resting and struggling to acclimatize to the non winter climate. 
 
I know I have missed things as Greg was working when I woke up and when I went to bed so Greg I can't thank you enough, if she ever gets to sail it will be thanks to all the support from you and your family over these years and that of Mark and Fran( my Queen Isabella)

ps....I used your pee bucket by mistake last night sorry

Back

Back. Not too cold. Jen can't get on 427. I will sleep here


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Location:Terminal Access Road 3,Mississauga,Canada

In the air over US

Very tired now. At the trailer park old geezers would be down and out now. Ricky don't work too hard.


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Location:Over Savannah Georgia

Miami

I am in Miami and ready to go on to Toronto in an hour. Excited to be back with Mary Lynn and family but miss the Caribbean already. No beer with lunch today.

Not much time to grab food so, a $10.45 sandwich.
I would like to say something nice about it...........................................................................................
But I can't.


-29.78-

Name of square rigger

If you Googliz'her you find she has a very interesting past. She was used the the films Blue Lagoon and White Squall...she was the Albatross. She is almost 100 years old. She started as a schooner, then in 2001 was re-rigged as a Brig.

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Instructions to Rick

Remember to sign out on the google page and sign back in with user and password I left with you.
Have  fun.
G

Wedneday December 19th

Coming Home

I have had a great 23 days here in the number 2 sailing capital of the world. I am still partial to the north channel of Lake Huron.

I hope to work on the blog during the day tomorrow, I should have internet along the way with my layovers in San Juan (6.5 hours) and Miami (2.5 hours) both airports offer some expensive opportunities to get some Christmas shopping done. You may have noticed that I have not been very successful here. I am bringing home one bottle of rum and that is all.
I didn't look in the back of Mary Lynn's car when I drove it down to Toronto but I am sure that she has mitts, rubber boots, shovels, Defibrillator, sleeping bag, fire wood and whatever else is on her emergency list.
I hope the weather cooperates because I don't think I could handle a typical drive home through Ontario's wI would like to thank Rick for the great opportunity to visit this great country and to extend the boating season and my love of boats, yes even in the trailer park boat yard.inter wonderland (Barrie through the french river). Please be sunny and dry.

03:11 

Everything on the boat with an alarm is about to go off. I was going to go to the showers and leave Rick to deal with all the noise but it might be too much. The journey begins

06:15 

The 'ferry' was a boat and a Captain and a crew (one crew) 9 passengers and the boat had an uncanny resemblance to the 'Minnow' of Gilligan's Island fame. We made the 20 minute crossing in 30 minutes and all was good.
 I now begin the first of three major waits today. My flight out of Beef Island is at 9:15. I arrive in San Juan at 10am and leave at 4. Six hours in San Juan. Almost enough time to safely go site seeing in Old San Juan, but alas the  OBC thing will not allow leaving the airport.
Rick stole borrowed the dive boats cart to carry my bags to the ferry dock which is about 1km from the trailer park. There was a lot of barking from Frostbite luckily he was inside the office at the marina and could only dream tearing us limb by limb.

08:00

I am hoping that there has been some activity on Grand Cru. Brian has arrived to work with the extension cord laid carefully yesterday. I would hope that he would get at least the drill delivered to the site today. Maybe drill a hole or two tomorrow...Rick let us know whats happening. You can edit this page and add your commentary anywhere.

Rick takes over the blog

As I am leaving the BVI Rick is going to make an attempt to keep the blog going. I will help him from my end but I will be too cold to function well.
We are trying to make a change...test of change

Stuff to bring and or remember

1. Make a Binnacle cover for the summer season...D rings lower to help wrap and a pull string in the bottom. Make allowance for the steering wheel shaft
2. 3m heat shrink terminals from ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-Heat-Shrink-Wire-Terminals-Connectors-Kit-480-pcs-/380402395762
3. Cockpit pocket summer covers. 5 snaps add pictures with measurements 20 X 11 high three snaps on top two on bottom close to top and bottom...gasket top and sides
4. Buzzer 12 volt to put on the high level light in the nav pod
5. Simple digital camera for Rick, send with mark
6. 
   

Tuesday December 18th LAST DAY

 Last Day

Serious Summary

I arrived here on November 26th. I'd like to say that we covered a lot of ground but the fact is the boat moved about 50 meters (although the new location has a view and some wind) and the trip was by travel lift and they wouldn't let me ride on her. But it was a voyage none the less. A bad day on a boat is still better than a good day on land.
I hope that the yard folks will get to the boat today and work with a flourish and get the chain plates mounted. I doubt that will happen. The Caribbean world unfolds slowly and at a pace I am unfamiliar with. Much of it is due to shipping and simply locating parts and pieces but there is that something else that slows things down. It is probably something good and it will take me more than three weeks to learn either how to deal with it or how to work with it.
Advice: make sure your boat is pimped out before you leave home. Make your yard work your own maintenance or the unexpected stuff. Repairs do not happen quickly unless you are prepared and do it yourself or with minimal help.
Don't get me wrong, I am not slamming Virgin Gorda. I think this marina is a good place to summer your boat. They allow you to do your own work and to stay on the boat with electricity and water while you do so. The rates are not that bad to do that. They have a significant number of hurricane pits and tie downs so you could do that if you want. But if you need the yard or workers to get stuff done it will take longer to do than you think and the noisy wheel does not get greased it gets put at the bottom of the list.

If you need stuff the ferry ride to Tortola is only 15 bucks and 30 minutes. Likely cheaper than sourcing it out at home. Thus endith the sermon. After using endith I will likely keyboard with a lithsp. Oh crap, ith already happening.

It is 7:08 and the Captain is still asleep. I will make the coffee using the new convenient galley outlet. Probably find out that the GFI won't hold the friggin coffee maker. Oh well another day on a boat.
Update on the coffee, there are more grounds in the pot than I put in the filter. Filter?? Ooops

The Captain did get up shortly after 7:10

Today's Challenge

Today I have to figure out how to put 53 pounds of stuff and two bottles of rum into my checked bag and have it weigh less than 50 when complete. I think two helium balloons will do the trick. No, that is compressed gas and probably hazmat issues and jailtime...
Here's the reality, pay $100 bucks for an overweight bag to bring home two bottles of rum (one is legal) and save $25. The irish island part of me stills sees the $11 rum as a deal. Oh well it can stay in ships stores until we come in March, although the Captain speaks of Evaparrhation (sorry). He reports that entire bottles of rum have evaparhhated in one day. I have to believe him because I've seen a similar thing occur on this voyage. Voyage?

Prepatellar Bursitis

I guess you have to be careful when searching the googlizier machine. I was looking up prepatellar bursitis, as my knee has more junk floating around on the knee cap than the harbour here. I was reading obvious expert information that lead to 'should see your Vet'. Ooops. Now I understand the part about carrots, withers and saddles.

Project Moving

I knew if Rick started to prepare to paint the bottom the yard would appear to do the work. Although he has not actually appeared yet, the owner Jeff said he would. Rick asked if the project might be done in time for him to be off the hard for Christmas and Jeff positively beamed at that opportunity and said sure. So stay tuned photos of work to follow. Rick is taking down the shrouds in preparation...and I'm going walk about.

Ricky hard at work...I know he should be wearing a life jacket? What am I saying, perhaps a parachute

Let the record show that at 3:56 no sign of anyone to work on the boat. They were to be here after coffee break this morning. Oh well, maybe tomorrow.

Sign along the path to the uphill hardware store

Local Green house Restaurant

for those of you in the north this is a flower F L O W E R

Shake your groove Ting?

Crossing the road...Yes Why? Couldn't get a straight answer. I think the chicken was coming out of the bar. Some go to bars to pick up chicks...she was looking to pick up a rooster.

There are chickens, chicks and roosters everywhere and we eat Pork tenderloin! Tonight it is steak. 20 hours of travel plus airport time to  escape in Toronto. When the Customs guy or gal asks do you have anything to declare I will be happy to respond "I hate winter" and the Leafs suck.

So much stress, there is only one thing that makes me OBC and that is air travel. I am worried that I will make the ferry, and all the planes along the way. I will be fine....so they say.


More to come
-29.456-

Last work day

Tomorrow I have to find my go home pants. I may have to lay them out in the sun for pressing. Last time I remember shivering in shorts and sandals waiting for Jen.
Tomorrow I am tourist Greg. Giddy up

Today we added proper electric plugs to replace two power barrrhhs (sorry michael beans is near) and added a new receptacle for the toaster and coffee maker in of all places the galley. The cords you see in the photos are from the various fans and or chargers that keep us alive.

Starboard Cupboard gutted, note power bar

Port cupboard gutted, note white power bar cord

note the new receptacle...GFI in the galley for toaster and Coffee makarhh (sorry)

New quad receptacle in the port cupboard and a similar install in the starboard We are waiting for the BVI electrical inspector. Takes 35 months to get a permit...

There are so few pictures of me...Helen did a nice job with my hair, i added the bow. perhaps the tag showing is perhaps not quite de rigueur

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Location:N Sound Rd,Spanish Town,British Virgin Islands

Monday December 17th

last night before bed i perfected the 'bug suit'. Worked great the bugs couldn't get me. But, I couldn't have my pre bed measure of the devil's rum and I peed the bug suit in a tragic attempt to get the duct tape off with gloves on...

Bug suit pre-incident (I sorta look like gumby)

Holy crap...1.5 sleeps til I go home. So much work to do and so little time. Today is cleaning up electrical and removing some shelving so they can install the bolts for the Chain Plates.
Yesterday we had a nice outing the map below traces the route, too bad Sir Richard wasn't accepting visitors...

Necker island is at the top of the chart surrounded by the blue shallows

The ferries we deal with to go to Tortola and eventually my 5am ferry starting my 19 hour trip to Toronto are shown below. The Airport is just a short hop away but the only ferry before my 9;15am flight is 05:00.

For those of you ipad folks I am annotating charts and pictures with an app called skitch very easy to use and very cool.
SANTA was here yesterday!!! He had a mishap with Christmas lady...could have been a news Mrs. Claws.

Sorry the video is short we have trouble uploading bigger files.
We met up with Michael Beans yesterday and Rick has seconded me to scrape bARHnacles and crap off the bottom of his boat. I guess i am ARHight with it. Note the pirate theme ...
See Michael Beans in Action Click here
 I think we have been to Michael's show every year except for the year of the Jumbie incident. Louise still has slivers and one or two of the jumbies limp. But we all move on.
the Jumbies
Today we ripped out the back panels of the salon cupboards to allow the missing marina crew from 'the workbench' to arrive to continue work. One of the staff (Brian said he heard a Rumour) they might be here tomorrow.
more later

Sunday December 16th

Only 2.5 sleeps left til I fly home. Christmas will be on me before i know it when i get back. Power shopping. Today we are off to Bitter End yacht club for Sunday brunch. We will probably have to take an extra bag to bring home napkins and paper towels. All you can drink mimosas.
Rick is obsessing over his batteries...and we are plugged in and in a trailer park boat yard.

Club Med small cruise ship arrived last night and they are having excursions today.

I have uploaded a few of the better pictures from our outing today. We partook the Sunday Brunch $32.95 per head, gratuity in. All the mimosas you could handle. Very nice location. Tried to Christmas shop...got myself a nice shirt. Oh well.

i will add a map to show our travels today...

Club Med fake sailing ship

Fuel tanker amongst the liver boards

Some of the pics on the way and back from Bitter End yacht club Sunday brunch

Christmas lady back on station today. Today with her dog 'Clawd'

not sure how Clawd fits into her elaborate plan to catch a Christmas man, but I hope I get out of here before it plays out

Tim and Helen and a couple from Canada who now reside her on  our way out of Spanish Town to Bitter End yacht club

Club Med 3 Ship up a little closer

A square rig brig off the port bow

Prepare to circle

Avast ...but they kept going

nice shot, club med in background and Virgin Gorda

A mega in Gorda Sound

Athena - largest privately owned sailing yacht in the world  Click for more

Bitter end yacht club brunch...buffet good food no pork tenderloin

The beach at Bitter End- Saba rock in the background

Leaving bitter end

Oil Nut Bay - resort and real estate development

Sir Richard Branson's island 'Necker island'

Necker island - Sir Richard's (not captain Rick) cat 'Necker Belle'

our travel hosts on their way back to Tortola after dropping us off at the Trailer park.

Sunset over Tortola, Sir Francis Drake Passage

Saturday Part 2 December 15th

We have been invited to go with Tim and Helen to the brunch at the Bitter End Yacht Club. Out of the trailer park boat yard on a boat that floats. Great shops at the bitter end...Christmas shopping outlook just improved for the family.

Bless you Tim and Helen.

I hate to leave a post without a picture.

In my continuing battle with the bugs Rick has hermetically sealed me in the V berth. the only problem is the louvers in the door to the head and the door from the head to my cabin do not have any screen or seals. Rick says it is too complicated for them to maneuver through two doors to get me...

Look forward to the bug suit. I have it nearly perfected.

Dinner last night at CocoMaya

Rick says there is no crime here but he carried a stick for the walk to the restaurant. They didn't have a stick check so he left it in a planter outside for our return walk.

One of the beach tables

Captain Rick holding court again..."do you remember where I put my stick"?

Esther our very friendly and helpful server

Me, I seldom get in pictures. *****they have Goslings

Rick made me tear my napkins in half and bring the rest back to the boat

We stopped at Georgio's Piano bar. It is very nice also, just down the road from Old Fort Point. Piano bar. Pianist was pissed at his girlfriend who was chatting up the weight lifter...

My hand with the remains of the bite maybe a spider the swelling is all gone and I almost have full use of my hand again. This is just to reassure Mary Lynn that all is good with this wound.

Just because I like it...pronounced SKOSHIA bank - inside joke