Elixir's Sojourns South and North: SailBlogs

TROPICAL temps

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:25:38 -0600

The winds finally lessened enough to allow us to leave Emerald Bay, so we moved a little south and spent two nice days on the hook at Coconut Cove, then two more days anchored off Volleyball Beach near Georgetown. Yesterday we FINALLY made it to Long Island, and are now anchored in Thompson Bay. This is a lovely spot, protected in all winds but those from the west. But by Saturday, there will be west winds so we will be moving back up to the area around Georgetown before the weekend. There are a number of boats here, but the anchoring area is so large it doesn't seem at all crowded. There is a good dog beach, and ashore a number of good restaurants and one new resort --Long Island Breeze--that has wifi and grill and bar. And most importantly, we are now south of the Tropic of Cancer which means we are officially in the TROPICS! And it is quite warm. Not hot, but at least it is quite warm--certainly a change from the weather we have had most of December, January, February and early March. With luck, the warmth will hold from now on. (Continued...)

THIEF

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:17:38 -0600

Looks innocent, doesn't he? Wrong. He practices that guile-less look. He is an efficient and sneaky thief. We were warned before we adopted him--they said "he likes to climb on things", but they didn't tell us why. And then there was that episode in Williamsburg when he climbed on the dining room table and ate 2/3 of a perfectly cooked rib eye steak. But we thought--ah, it was our fault--we put it there and left the room. (Continued...)

Big Wind

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:36:56 -0600

Maybe we will leave tomorrow--if the wind dies down a bit. We will have been at the Emerald Bay Marina 2 weeks by then--and through about 7 cold fronts, each one bringing high winds. The entrance to this marina is rather difficult when there is surge and high winds. It is a very good spot to weather a blow, even if lots of people complain about the surge, but we don't mind it. Much better than being out on an anchor or a mooring that may/may not hold in high winds and surge. As it is, here at the marina, with its lovely beaches, great places to walk Baxter and Carrie, and free laundry (a big deal to cruisers when doing one load often costs $10!), close good grocery store, nearby pleasant restaurants--we just enjoy the surge--sort of like being rocked in a cradle! (Continued...)