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, [...]
Catching up with Nine of Cups and crew
In a nutshell ...
Marcie came home last February from South Australia to Boston to take care of her ailing mom (86). We didn't think she'd make it out of the hospital with her diagnosis of congestive heart failure, but she did. She recouped, had a relapse due to COPD in April and, while in hospital, fell and broke her hip. We've muddled through surgery and the subsequent rehabilitation process with her. She continues to do well, but is unable to live alone. David finally joined Marcie in April and we are living with Bea in her 2-bedroom apartment not far from Boston.
Midst this turmoil, David's mom (95) was hospitalized and he planned to head out to help her in Las Vegas when she returned home. However, our daughter, Casey, died unexpectedly at that same time in mid-May, leaving four kids, our grandchildren, behind. Things are settling down to whatever normalcy they can, but all of our lives have been thrown upside-down. It's not the end of the world; it just seems like it some time.
Our niece took David's place in Las Vegas to help out her grandmother and mom. But it's not over yet, it seems. We received word that David's sister, sole caregiver for his mom, fell and broke three ribs the other night. David left for Las Vegas on the first available flight and has stayed until Mary recuperates a bit, helping out where he can. He'll return to Boston and Marcie soon. What's next? Lord only knows, but we hope things will begin to turn around soon. Our son has dubbed this “the Spring of eternal suckitude”. We tend to agree.
David plans to return to South Australia in mid-July to check on Nine of Cups and finish up the refrig/galley project. Cups will be complaining about her abandonment soon and David needs to give her a little TLC.
We are fortunate to have a strong family and a good support network to help us through. We've received countless words of condolence and consolation from friends, family, and readers, some of whom we've never even met. These bad times, too, shall pass. We look forward to returning to Nine of Cups and resuming our life of sailing … when the rough seas calm down.
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