Pictures

Pictures

This is apic of Karin and a Military Priest, he gave us our blessings
















Mic and Bee's Hannah












sign we saw posted in a door window













a gathering of vessels heading south

Karin in front of a battleship

We have seen many things on our way south and some are so quick one has no chance to take a picture but, sometimes pictures can't really capture what you see other than sharing it with the person you are with. This has been the case with so many of our moment sights. As we will be heading over to Dinner Key in the morning, and then leaving the next morning for the Bahamas we will try a little hard for some more pictures. The last few days have been cold and windy, with some winds around 40 to 50 miles er hour, the temperatures around the teens the mornings, Fahrenheit teens.

We made it

We Made it

Well we made it finally, after almost 7 months since we left ST John's Newfoundland we are here and at anchor in Miami, waiting for our weather window which looks will be the weekend of Dec the 11th. Its been a very long trip, with a lot of exciting moments, along with many fellow boaters heading south. Everyone always shares where they are off too and we now have settled with the comment that we are just heading to our next port. When we left Shelburne there were 5 boats and as we have been cruising along we have lost a few and gain a few. With arrival in Miami we are here with just one boat we left with from Shelburne, and that is Firecrest. We've experienced everything from winds, waves, currents and bridges. I would say that the most hardest thing was the speed boats, there are a lot of considerate once but just as many jerks. If the USA is in trouble financially we sure didn't see it, there are homes and boats which deify logic. This country must exist on credit.

Karin and I have talked about where we are going and when we might go back home, Karin's thoughts are she is where she wants to be and enjoys the weather and seeing the sights. Right now Karin has gone window shopping while I sit and update our blog since from about three months ago. Internet access has been there but not very good connections , while every time I start an update I loose my connection and then have to start over.

I find now too that I have to been at peace with myself and learning to enjoy things around me. I would like to pass along a thought and not sure how some will view it but, there once was a point in my past life where I was very religious, this trip has found me reflecting on those times, as well ask my dear Lord to keep us save, and as time has past I've been able to see he hasn't just protected us but shown us how to do it. On that subject will leave it there for now and possibly share later some of the times.

I know Christmas is just around the door, and here it does not seem real. no snow and things which represent Christmas to the both of us, but there are boat parades instead of street parades. Over the next few days before our departure we will refit with stores clean the boat and ready ourselves for our crossing.

I will to try and be a little more diligent in keeping the blog updated.

With that I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. With special thoughts going out to My mom, Karin's mom and father as well Rose with also remembering Stephane her brother, Karin's two kids Shawn and Jessica, My brothers Eric, Carl with thoughts of Sam and yes we will get a pirate's flag and send you a picture, Richard, my sisters Lily and my special sister Caroline. There are many friends who we think of at this time and wish which we could see but you know whom you all are and we wish you all the best of the season with our Love and God's blessing

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Patric, Karin and Butch

Shelburne to Cape May

So we finally left Shelburne after much discussion on which way we would go. We agreed on going down the east coast and left with three other boats to Rockland, Maine. This trip started out okay but ended up with high winds, fog, lobster pots, and darkness. This trip took us 48 hours.

In Rockland we checked in with customs with no problems and we have slowly been making our way down the coast, going through New York City and we are now in Cape May waiting out some windy weather.

New Friends

While we have been waiting for friends to arrive here in Shelburne we have been graced with making some new friends. Shelburne is a spot for boats heading south and into Canada where they all seem to arrive before their trip continues. Once our friends of Mic and Bee show up and I've got his boat fixed we will then be ready to continue our trip south. We have spent more time here than we had planned but then we have long since put away the schedule and doing things as they come.

Surprises

Search Amazon.com for sailing adventure

Surprises

These fellows are some great Newfoundlanders. I'm bad with names and once someone gives me their name I forget it, but one fellow here is Dave Fong




This here is Dave's new boat a Baba, I think that is how it's spelled. Dave is part owner of the Quidi Vidi Brewery where we had been tied to for four years. It's great to see he has finally got his new boat and she is a beauty. One of the other chaps, the blond fellow, said to me he was in politics but is now retired. Liberal I think he said.

Time has been moving here, it's been almost two weeks and during that time have got a lot done, with painting and varnishing. Seems the next big job on my hands will be cleaning the hull on the outside. Still we're not sure as to which route we are going to take whether the east coast of the U S or to Bermuda. We've been spending the time going for walks all over and just relaxing, although we are both itching to be off and to warmer weather.

Sleepless in Shelburne

Well here we are in Shelburne, not really sleepless but getting restless for sure. This is about as far south as we can go without leaving for the States or Bermuda which is a decision that is still up in the air due to the Hurricane season. Shelburne was recommended to us by a number of people including Mic and Bee, who told us we should call on Yola and Forbes of Windward Flutes , who (because they are in love with Mic and Bee), have let us use their shower and laundry facilites.

From Lahave River to Lockport

LiverPool to Port Mouton to LockPort

here we are tied to a fishing boat in Port Mouton

This is a group of small boats someone has built and has them floating in Lockport, one is of the Titantic as it hit the iceberg

Karin at Crescent beach

Well we stayed longer than Friday as the weather was still hanging around. Our departure the next morning on Saturday was early as we had a small window to move over to Lockport as the forecast suggested afternoon winds of gusts to 30 knots. As we were entering the channel we saw a big sandy beach on our port side. Once we were able to get around and into Lockport harbour we tied up to a floating dock. Being it was still early in the day we went for a small walk looking for showers and internet, this took us over to Crescent beach. Once back on the boat and dinner out of the way we went again for another walk this time around a pond and back to the beach, we didn't find much here, but were hoping with heading to Shelburne tomorrow that would be a different situation.