Sailing with Nine of Cups
| Vessel Name: | Nine of Cups |
| Vessel Make/Model: | Liberty 458 |
| Hailing Port: | Denver, Colorado, USA |
| Crew: | Marcie & David |
| About: | We've lived aboard Nine of Cups since 2000 and have managed to accumulate 86,000+ nm under the keel since that time. We completed a circumnavigation in April 2015 and managed to sail around the five great southern capes. Come along with us for the ride! |
| Extra: |
07 July 2016 | Us: East Walpole, MA / Cups: Chesapeake, VA
Taking a breather ...
Since we'll be off the boat during July and August, we plan to post only three times per week. The Captain will continue writing a practical Blue View post each week, we'll keep you up to date on what's happening with us and then throw in some cruising nuggets as well.
06 July 2016 | East Walpole, MA
Keeping fit
We’ve written before about keeping fit on the boat. David is so much better at a regimented exercise program than I am. I have all the best intentions, but I can always think of something better to do than sit-ups, push-ups, leg lifts and running in place. It doesn’t take much to distract me. Walking, [...]
04 July 2016 | East Walpole, MA
Happy 240th Birthday, America
Growing up in New England, I took for granted just how lovely a summer’s morning can be in Massachusetts. It’s comfortably cool and everything smells clean and fresh. Spider webs glisten with morning dew and it’s just great to be alive and breathe in the new day. Being back at Lin’s house conjures up wonderful childhood memories of summer mornings past. And this is not just any morning … it’s the 4th of July, the best holiday of the summertime in the USA.
02 July 2016 | East Walpole, MA
Leaving Cups and a Road Trip
Leaving Nine of Cups is never easy. We know she’ll pout while we’re gone and so we do our best to make sure she’s as comfortable as possible before we leave. We were whirling dervishes trying to get everything ready.
01 July 2016 | Virginia Beach, Virginia
Hunting & Gathering - Virginia Beach
We had lots to do before leaving Cups. David was intent on getting as many chores done in advance of our departure as possible so that once we return in September, we can spend time sailing in the Chesapeake rather than doing repairs and maintenance. Much of what we needed in the way of parts and supplies, [...]
Aliens, ghost towns & gunslingers
The morning was sunny, but cool...good traveling weather. We headed north on the Great Basin Highway...high desert ringed by red mountains. Roadrunners and lizards crossed the road in front of us. Hawks and vultures circled above. White prickly poppies and purple sage dotted the roadsides. Joshua trees and red barrel cactus spread across a huge expanse of rough, dry land.
We were heading to Beatty, Nevada...Gateway to Death Valley NP...but, of course, we were sidetracked by wanting to stop in Rachel, Nevada first. Location of the mysterious Area 51, super-secret military base where purportedly alien spacecraft and their crew are being held, the tiny town of Rachel (human population: 98) wasn't to be found using our Garmin GPS, leading us to believe it didn't really exist, but it did. Nevada state highway 375 has been designated "Extraterrestial Highway" and a funky little place called the A'le'inn has a small motel and restaurant and all things "alien" for sale. It was worth the stop, if only for the kitsch.
We climbed continuously to 6300' and the temperature dropped to below 60F with a stiff breeze blowing. Several mirages had us fooled, so when Lake Pahrangarat appeared out of nowhere, we really were surprised. Ducks, coots, Canada geese and even seagulls swam in the lake unperturbed by the passing traffic.
We finally arrived in Beatty, found an adequate motel and immediately headed to the nearby ghost town of Rhyolite. A gold mining town, it had its heyday in 1908 with a population of ~10,000 which dwindled to 14 by 1920 and to 0 currently. The mercantile, two banks, a brothel and several other buildings, in varying degrees of dilapidation, remain.
Dinner in the local saloon was mediocre, but was spiced up and lengthened considerably by the appearance of Cactus Jim, local gunslinger and second-hand store owner. We can certainly pick 'em.
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