S|V Firefly...exploring the 'verse.. Know what the first rule of sailing is? Love.
You can know all the math in the 'verse but take a boat to sea that you don't love? She'll shake you off just as sure as a turn in the worlds. Love keeps her afloat when she oughtta not...tells you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
September 17, 2013 Update on the summer and the new plan.
We went to Cabarete on July 15th and stayed a month at the Kaoba Hostel across the street from the famous kite surfing beach. We rented a small studio apartment on the back side with AC and a balcony for only $650 for the month! ( Kite Club Hotel quoted us at $140/night) We definitely got the true flavor of the country both good and bad. The slums next to us burned their garbage way to often and what were those drums for?! Although only a short walk to the beach, the vendors yelling and occasionally grabbing me got old really quickly.
The street noise and pollution for such a small town was unbelievable. The beach itself and all the restaurants with their beautiful set ups were wonderful, but being harassed by 10 or 12 vendors during lunch stole most of the charm. We still enjoyed it quite a bit and learned to hurry down and walk in the water to keep most of the vendors away haha.
We spent a lot of time reflecting, talking and I did my fair share of crying at the loss of my Belle and wishing that Sarah could come back for another visit when I had my sanity.
We went back to the boat and got our canvas material, sail covers, and sewing machine to take advantage of the nice big area to work in at the hotel which was a nice accomplishment. Finally we had had enough "fun" and headed back to Firefly.
We enjoy it here at the marina, our weekly trips to Puerto Plata, and hanging with the "kids" that work here, which now includes 2 for 1 Dominoes pizza Thursdays, and they even deliver it! We have gone through almost everything on the boat to re-access what we have and what we need.
We have Alan Olden on the hook now to go with us to Puerto Rico! Oh yes the Cuba idea fell flat once we realized the US policies involved. Contrary to what most Americans think, the Cubans welcome tourists from other countries and it is especially hard for a small sailboat to travel west from here without being able to bounce back and forth off of Cuba.
Anyway we are now back on track to head on to PR, and the Virgins (Spanish, US, and British). The plan is to head out at the first weather window in November for a 24 hour trip to Samana DR, then another 24 hour trip on south and across the Mona Passage to Boqueron PR. We are then hoping to scoot on across and maybe meet up with Carla (Alan's wife) at Salinas. Hoping to go quickly to the British Virgins before the Christmas winds pick up so we can head leisurely back with the wind all the way back to Florida by next May.
Only 6 more weeks with no hurricanes, a practice run out in the Atlantic to check out everything, and we are off! Of course this is the plan, but.............
PS Patch cat is really enjoying being the number one critter now:)
Diana and I are both military veterans. Diana Air Force, and I'm retired Marine Corps. We've been travelers all of our adult lives, and can never seem to stray far from the water for long. [...]
This cruise is the culmination of 25 year dream that started in 1986 (the same year our daughter Sarah was born) when we bought an old 1963 Owens Cruiser. We spent 2 years refitting that old plywood cabin cruiser and the took it on a 600 mile trip through the New York State barge canal system and Lake Champlain.
We bought Firefly in Nov 2009 in Port Orange, Florida and after a quick bottom job, moved her to Port Canaveral. We've been living aboard ever since.
After fully retiring (hopefully) in Sept. 2012, we began the odyssey.
So come on along and try to keep up!