Sellixs Set Sail

Vessel Name: Pied-a-Mer III
Vessel Make/Model: Seawind 1160 Catamaran
Hailing Port: Clatskanie, OR
Crew: Pam & Eric
About: Pam (the Admiral among other things) Our wonderful boat cat Rose spent her final year with Terrell in the US. She lived a good life, loved to sail! Now, several years, countries and oceans later we will return to Mexico and scatter Rose’s ashes on the waters she sailed.
Extra: Pied-a-Mer III is our home. May 2023 we sailed from Turkey to Crete where we arranged for a captain and crew to sail Pied-a-Mer to Mexico where we will continue our live aboard lifestyle.
12 September 2023
04 September 2023
11 April 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
21 February 2023
09 December 2022
09 December 2022
09 December 2022
09 December 2022
03 August 2022 | Alanya, Turkey
11 July 2022 | Alanya Marina Yacht Limani
09 January 2022
04 December 2021
Recent Blog Posts
12 September 2023

GREECE

Magical, magical Kastelorizo!

04 September 2023

FIVE MONTHS?

Our last blog post was about spring in Alanya, this post is about Fall in the Pacific Northwest. Now to fill in the last five months.

11 April 2023

MARCH IN ALANYA

Spring is in the air in Alanya as evidenced by these tiny pink blossoms springing from the bare branch. The travel lift is busy dropping boats back in the water, owners are returning from their winter homes and we, along with two other boats, are preparing for a May departure from Turkey.

21 February 2023

FEBRUARY 2023

Turkey has suffered the deadliest disaster in its modern history-----massive earthquakes--7.7 and 7.6 . The devastation, loss of lives and massive infrastructural damage is unbelievable. The aftershocks continue. The first quakes were on February 6 and yesterday (Feb. 20) there were two quakes over [...]

21 February 2023

JANUARY 2023

As I write this, Eric and I are in the UK. After spending two Holiday seasons in Turkey we are totally enjoying more familiar Christmas traditions, music, food and family. We did, however, have a special mission to accomplish. Eric's dad, a former RAF pilot, passed away several years ago and his ashes [...]

21 February 2023

DECEMBER 2022

This winter has been the warmest winter in decades, this according to locals. We, however, had our "winter fix" in the Happy New Year To All!

GREECE

12 September 2023
Pam Sellix
Magical, magical Kastelorizo!

We stern tied to the waterfront quay in front of multicolored buildings. Stepping off the stern of Pied-a-Mer we handed our papers to our agent and immediately ordered ice cream and wine at one of the many restaurants that lined the harbor wall. The afternoon was spent walking the narrow streets (battling the many tourists), finding the only ATM in Kastelorizo and hiking to the castle ruins. Early the next morning we left for Lindos on the island of Rhodes.

FIVE MONTHS?

04 September 2023
Pam Sellix
Our last blog post was about spring in Alanya, this post is about Fall in the Pacific Northwest. Now to fill in the last five months.

Most of April was spent getting ready to leave Turkey, destination--Tunisia. Our new boat insurance required that we have a portable Bilge Pump with enough hose to reach the width of the boat. Getting the portable bilge pump was easy but finding the correct size hose was difficult. A simple garden hose did not allow the needed water pressure. We looked all over Alanya and finally ended up ordering hose from New Zealand. We thought that there would be enough time to have the hose sent in time for us to leave May 1 with our two buddy boats, but that didn't happen. This was not a real problem as we still had some things to take care of to ready the boat for traveling and we had "goodbyes"to say to our marina family. As it turned out the hose arrived late the morning of May 2 and as soon as I picked it up from the marina office Eric said,"We are going NOW" and we left. No goodbyes!

We motored overnight to Bilal’s Beach and we’re joined the next day by our buddy boats sv Joana and sv Nocona Moon. After two nights at anchor we motored to Kas where we cleared out of Turkey and then motored 3 nm to the small island of Kastelorizo where we cleared into Greece.

MARCH IN ALANYA

11 April 2023
Pam Sellix
Spring is in the air in Alanya as evidenced by these tiny pink blossoms springing from the bare branch. The travel lift is busy dropping boats back in the water, owners are returning from their winter homes and we, along with two other boats, are preparing for a May departure from Turkey.

Our dinghy will be picked up today and taken to Antalya for repairs and maintenance. Alanya is definitely a tourist town with very limited services for boats. Sail work , dinghy repairs, marine refrigeration and electronic technicians all come from Antalya which is about 70 miles away. Eric has updated our Navionics charts and, along with our two buddy boats, studied anchorages along our route to Tunisia.

We opened Pandora's Box when we had a new Step Down Transformer built to our specifications and added a "Soft Start" to our Hi/Vac system. In an attempt to make sure that all would work correctly Eric had to rewire the boat. Wire colors, used in the building of the boat by the builder, were not consistent with a U.S. boat. In certain areas an Australian color scheme was used. It was not the 12V system that needed to be changed but the 115V wire color scheme. In some cases, due to location and lack of space, he was not able to completely change the wires themselves but to change the color that the wire represented at the end of the wire. This isn't complicated to do but must be done correctly. The real problem comes in making sure that devises are set up properly and polarity of the wiring is correct and plugs, where used, are correct. With his worn copy of BOATOWNER'S ILLUSTRATED ELECTRICAL HANDBOOK by Charlie Wing, the job was done and now all is good. There was, however, one glitch.
After many, many hours of working and thinking that all was good he forgot to check one pair of wires at a connection which resulted in taking out most of the electrics of the hot water heater system. Now we wait for parts from the US being delivered by a cruising friend returning to her boat in Alanya. What can we say------we live on a boat!

FEBRUARY 2023

21 February 2023
Pam Sellix
Turkey has suffered the deadliest disaster in its modern history-----massive earthquakes--7.7 and 7.6 . The devastation, loss of lives and massive infrastructural damage is unbelievable. The aftershocks continue. The first quakes were on February 6 and yesterday (Feb. 20) there were two quakes over magnitude 6.

Flags flew at half mast for a week after the first earthquake.(See Photo)

Collection points can be found all over Alanya. The need for everything is overwhelming food, water, toiletries, clothing (especially underwear), hot plates, suitcases, toys, the list is endless. I belong to an expat group that is knitting and crocheting squares to be sewn together for blankets, I am not a fast knitter so its a good thing there are many women knitting!
Hotels throughout Turkey have opened their doors to the victims. The week after the first quake Alanya had 8,000 displaced people staying in various apartments, hotels and homes. Dailey, requests are made on the Alanya Expats Group Face Book Page for information on businesses that are giving discounts on purchases for donations, hairdressers who will donate their time, medical and dental facilities, on and on. The Disaster and Management Authority (AFAD) continues to help victims safely collect their belongings recovered from the wreckage.
The rescue stories are amazing and heartwarming. Family pets are helping rescuers to find family members, a newborn with the umbilical cord still attached to the mother was saved, though the mother died, children and adults were rescued who had spent days under rubble. Veterinarians from all over Türkiye have rushed to treat rescued animals.
In Antalya (about 60 miles from Alanya) an earthquake victim arrived at a hotel with her 4 cows. With the permission of the hotel a temporary animal shed was built in the garden of the hotel allowing accommodation for the victims with animals. So many stories.

JANUARY 2023

21 February 2023
Pam Sellix
As I write this, Eric and I are in the UK. After spending two Holiday seasons in Turkey we are totally enjoying more familiar Christmas traditions, music, food and family. We did, however, have a special mission to accomplish. Eric's dad, a former RAF pilot, passed away several years ago and his ashes were scattered from an RAF plane over the waters of the Firth of Forth, somewhere near the Three Bridges: Forth Bridge, Forth Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing Bridge. Eric and his two brothers were not able to be in Scotland when this took place, and Eric has always felt a lack of closure. We contacted the Edinburgh Marine Academy and on December 16, along with Eric's cousin Gardner and two young men from the Academy, we motored on the waters under and around the Three Bridges and nearby islands. Eric sprinkled a small bottle of scotch on the waters, a gift for his dad. Mission accomplished.
The next day Eric and I spent several hours touring the Royal Yacht Britannia, one of the world's most famous ships. Launched in 1953, The Royal Yacht proudly served Queen and country for 44 years. During that time, Britannia carried The Queen and the Royal Family on 968 official voyages, from the remotest regions of the South Seas to the deepest divides of Antarctica. On December 11, 1997, Britannia was decommissioned at Portsmouth Naval Base.
Photo is celebrating my 79 birthday on sv Joana!


DECEMBER 2022

21 February 2023
Pam Sellix
This winter has been the warmest winter in decades, this according to locals. We, however, had our "winter fix" in the Happy New Year To All!


We had a wonderful time in the UK. The crisp, cold weather was refreshing and the rain reminded us of Oregon. We both agreed that we would have enjoyed a longer visit. Returning to the boat, we had many T's to cross and I's to dot! The first order of business was celebrating my 79 birthday with fellow cruisers---two cakes, friends from far corners of the globe, lucky me.

For the last year we have been trying to decide, "Do we stay in Turkey another year or begin our trip back to Mexico/US"? One week we would decide to spend another year here and then the next week we'd think no, we want to return to fami- ly and friends. Final decision (there really is no final decision for cruisers), we are planning to begin the long trip in the spring. In order for us to leave for several things have to be addressed.
1. Extend our iKamet (residence permit) for 4 months. Our current one
year iKamet expires February 28. We have applied for an extension which would cover us until late June (which corresponds with our marina contract). With the influx of Russians and Ukrainians in Turkey, the iKamet process is taking much longer than in previous years. The paperwork for a renewal can only be submit- ted 60 days prior to the expiration date then we wait for an appointment with im- migration. We know of several first time applicants who have had to wait long af- ter their 90 day tourist visa expired to receive an appointment date. One of the families applied for a year iKamet in October ,this week they received their card and it was for only 6 months and expires in 7 weeks! We are hoping since ours is a renewal application rather than a new one, we will be granted the 4 months.
2. Next on the list : Boat Insurance. Currently our boat insurance is with Allianze Turkey which requires a Turkish address and allows us a to cruise the Mediterranean except for the eastern countries like Lebanon and Syria. We are shopping for insurance that will cover us through the Mediterranean, to the Straits of Gibraltar and selected areas in the Atlantic including the Canary Islands, Cape Verde islands, the north eastern edge of South America, and the Caribbean. We fall into several categories that prevent us from coverage, ie. we are American flagged, we dismasted, Lithium batteries. At the time of this writing we are work- ing with a company out of Canada, hopefully we will be able to secure insurance.
3. Inflation: Marina rates are increasing all over Turkey. In two years the fee for a berth at Alanya Yacht Limani has doubled. The cost of goods and services seem to increase weekly. Two years ago we paid 25 TL (Turkish Lira) for a Kilo of strawberries---today we paid 60 TL. (US dollars $3.19). The American dollar al- lows us to pay these prices but for the locals it is very difficult. Wages seem to have not gone up more than ten percent in
the same two years. Rental housing has in- creased as much as a thousand percent! It's not just inflation but the influx of Russians and other non Turkish arriving in Alanya. These folks are bringing a lot of money creating a situation of incredible difficulty for local Turkish.

On a brighter or warmer note...Alanya is experiencing the warmest winter in 50 years. We enjoy warm, sunny breezy days and comfortably cool nights. We have a favorite pastry shop where we can sit outside, enjoy cappuccinos and "people watch".
Pied-a-Mer III's Photos - Main
This past year has been one spent mostly on land.——not the plan but……..here we have been and here we still are.
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Created 17 April 2024
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Created 24 September 2023
April 2024– The last year has been CRAZY. Challenging. Rewarding. Action.
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Created 24 September 2023
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Created 23 September 2023
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Created 4 September 2023
14 Photos
Created 6 March 2023
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Created 6 March 2023
Linlithgow and the Firth of Forth
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Created 6 March 2023
Busy times, warm weather
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Created 11 December 2022
Eric celebrated his 78 birthday and Jameson his first birthday.
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Created 21 August 2022
Adelynn Marie was born July 12. 2022 at 8:05 am. 5 lbs. 13 Oz.
26 Photos
Created 15 July 2022
After 5 months in the US we are back on the boat. The new Paguro generator has arrived. Now to begin installation!
26 Photos
Created 30 June 2022
After 2 1/2 years of Covid restrictions, we were able to fly to the States to visit family and friends.
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Created 30 June 2022
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Created 6 March 2022
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Created 27 February 2022
A new year in Turkey.
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Created 18 January 2022
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Created 8 January 2022
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Created 4 December 2021
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Created 21 October 2021
Fall is Approaching. On my 0630 walk it is still dark and very cool but warms up quickly.
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Created 7 October 2021
Still summer here in Turkey. Tourists on beaches, lots of car traffic on weekends.
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Created 5 September 2021
28 Photos
Created 19 July 2021
In anticipation of spending time in the UK where the weather will be very cold, Eric has been working on a cockpit enclosure. 9 years ago we spent an evening on a Catamaran in Victoria, BC, despite the cold weather, we sat in the cockpit and were toasty warm. Since that time Eric has been working on a design for enclosing Pied-a-Mer’s Cockpit.
40 Photos
Created 10 May 2021
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Created 12 April 2021
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Created 10 April 2021
Trip to Sapadere Canyon and Village
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Created 8 March 2021
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Created 14 February 2021
2021, A NEW BEGINNING
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Created 4 January 2021
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Created 4 January 2021
No Turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. We had a quiet Thanksgiving on Pied-a-Mer with Minestroni soup for our Thanksgiving meal.
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Created 9 November 2020
November 6,7,8.
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Created 9 November 2020
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Created 10 October 2020
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Created 30 September 2020
Along with Wade and Diane we rented a car and drove about an hour and a half to Aspendos and Side.
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Created 16 September 2020
Covid has us masked, social distancing and avoiding crowds. We have taken in a few of the sites in the area but for the most part we stick close to the marina.
19 Photos
Created 16 September 2020
19 Photos | 1 Sub-Album
Created 15 September 2020
We extended our stay and now are in our second month in Port Suez.
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Created 7 June 2020
Finally we are in Port Suez, Egypt where Captain Heebie, Prince of the Sea Co. was able to arrange for Saul and Elena to disembark, car ride to Cairo and fly to the UK. This passage was by far the most eventful passage that we have had.
52 Photos
Created 29 May 2020
Goodbye to Craig and hello to new crew Elena Horton and Saul Avery. Left Kochin Marina on February 27 for Djibouti. Due to Covid-19, we did not stop at Djibouti nor did we check into to any country that we passed on the passage to Port Suez Egypt. Our last Port was Kochin.
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Created 29 May 2020
Spent February 10-27 in Kochin. Our first encounter with Covid-19 quarantine. At this time we had no idea what the next couple of months would bring.
39 Photos
Created 29 May 2020
Our passage from Krabi Boat Lagoon January 25, 2020 to Kochin, India. Arriving Kochin February 10, 2020 via a short two night stop at Phuket Boat Lagoon for work on auto pilot.
22 Photos
Created 29 May 2020
Back from a seven week visit to the states——-3 full bags each under 25kg (just u dear) and 1 large box housing a Honda generator.
20 Photos
Created 5 January 2020
Krabi to Bangkok, Seoul and Seattle.
29 Photos
Created 12 November 2019
A few months in Krabi Boat Lagoon. Trip to the US for 6 weeks.
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Created 7 November 2019
6 day passage, mostly motoring. Sharing the waterway with Commercial Vessels and local fishing boats
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Created 7 November 2019
36 Photos
Created 15 October 2019
Arrived at Nongsa Point Marina late afternoon on Thursday 10-10-19. Saturday we took the ferry for a day trip to Singapore and the APPLE store.
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Created 15 October 2019
8 day passage to Nongsa Point Marina. Good passage however, no wind the last 400 nm had to motor.
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Created 15 October 2019
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Created 20 August 2019
Marina Del Ray —-August 8-October 2, 2019
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Created 20 August 2019
July31-August 3 anchored Ling Flores. August 4 overnight to Rinca Island.
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Created 20 August 2019
July 23-27. Passage from Saumlaki to Kalahabi on Alor
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Created 20 August 2019
Had some pretty good swells on this passage. For the first time the refrigerator door flew open and contents of fridge flew onto the floor. Eric was able to hook a bungy cord to hold it closed.
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Created 2 July 2019
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Created 1 July 2019
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Created 1 July 2019
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Created 9 June 2019
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Created 9 June 2019
LIVE STREAMING OF DIEGO’S BASEBALL GAMES
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Created 9 June 2019
STILL IN OPUA
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Created 10 March 2019
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Created 9 February 2019
Happy New Year and here's hoping for smooth sailing in 2019.
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Created 1 January 2019
We will be here in the marina for another month. Hopefully, by the end of December we will have working engines and a new bottom half of our mast. Our sail drives need to be examined which means we have to be hauled out. We’re looking into the possibility of having the mast work and saildrive work done in one haulout. If this is ‘t Possible we will have to have the mast replaced while in the water and then haul out for sail drives.
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Created 4 December 2018
Random photos of what we eat on Pied-a-Mer III. Passage meals are a bit different from anchor or marina meals.
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Created 24 November 2018
We’ve been here in the Bay of Islands Marina, slip H10, for a month and a half.
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Created 14 November 2018
11 day passage from Savu Savu to Opua——Bay of Islands Marina.
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Created 24 October 2018
Five day passage to Savu Savu and two weeks on Waitui Mooring.
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Created 24 October 2018
Here’s hoping that by this time next week we will have a sea worthy vessel. Roly the Rigger is due tomorrow to help with the stepping the mast and tuning the rigging. It’s been a long four months. We We’ve cruisers. Cruisershave learlot about dealing with an insurance claim, ordering parts from various countries and receiving them and locating services on a small South Pacific Island.
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Created 13 September 2018
Josh Bell, the surveyor that Pantaenius sent from Brisbane, spent a day and a half going over the boat. We have waited a week for his report to be completed and sent to Pantaenius—-waiting, waiting. Day to Day events remain pretty much the same in the harbor except for one huge change. The derelict fishing boats were ordered to move by marina officials. We now have a view and no clanging and banging.
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Created 7 June 2018
Arriving May 15 in American Samoa, under motor bringing mast along side the boat.
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Created 25 May 2018
This was our second attempt to do a passage to Hawaii. Last November we left from American Samoa but had fuel, engine and ripped main issues. May 11 we again tried to do the passage leaving from Neiafu, Tonga. On May 15, we dismasted but we’re able to lash the mast on to the port side of the boat and motor to Pago Pago, American Samoa.
31 Photos
Created 25 May 2018
We continue to wait in Nieafu. We waited for finishing boat work, new sails from Australia, and leaving the boatyard, repairing the port engine once we had splashed, Eric's elbow to heal, Honda generator and oitboard to be fixed or not fixed.
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Created 5 May 2018
Returned to Pied-a-Mer after a three month visit in the US. Arrangements had been made for someone to check the boat a couple of times a week and other than a film of mold,which we expected, everything was good. The weather is hotter that #@¥^_¥£ and it takes longer to do very simple tasks. It’s necessary to wear a sweat head band or it’s impossible to see.
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Created 2 April 2018
More of road trip with Patty and Steve.
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Created 12 March 2018
Arriving back in Neiafu with torn main. Sail repair and readying the boat for a 2 1/2 month visit to the states.
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Created 27 February 2018
Leaving the boat in The Boatyard in Nieafu for storm season——spending 2 1/2 months in the states with family and friends.
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Created 27 February 2018
Checking back into Tonga, Christmas.
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Created 1 January 2018
Neiafu to Hawaii——nope, Tonga
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Created 1 January 2018
2017–First visit to Pago Pago in 2017 with Patty and Steve on SV Armagh.
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Created 1 January 2018
Two weeks in Samoa. Pied-a-Mer III in a slip at Apia Marina along with Armagh. Wonderful visit in a very laid-back, beautiful country. Probably the neatest, tidiest,most pristine island we have seen in The Pacific.
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Created 6 November 2017
Joan & Mike Mellon visit from Santa Cruz, Calif. a wonderful three weeks of friendship, snorkeling, and rudders.
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Created 30 October 2017
Many activities surrounding the birthday of King Aho'eitu Tupou VI Two nights of a Military Tattoo, an Agricultural Fair, Feasts, decorated boats. We saw and were close to the King on several occasions. Close enough to see his feet with black and silver NIKES.
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Created 30 October 2017
Arrived in Nuku'alofa on Sunday May 28, 2017 from Opua, New Zealand. 10 days and 9 nights at sea. February 2018 Tongatapu was badly damaged by Cyclone Gita. Worst storm to hit the island in 60 years. Pied-a-Mer III was in Neiafu, Vava'u and Eric and I were in Oregon.
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Created 21 July 2017
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Created 23 April 2017
Wonderful anchorage, beautiful land.
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Created 23 April 2017
Wonderful hiking on Great Barrier.
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Created 20 April 2017
A morning tour of Hobbiton. When we made our reservation, I thought the price of $79.00/ person was a little steep but it was so worth the money. Great place.
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Created 8 April 2017
Visiting Min & Terrell
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Created 7 February 2017
Home base New Zealand, pile mooring at Town Basin.
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Created 25 January 2017
Great day trip.
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Created 25 January 2017
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Created 25 January 2017
Hosted by Gary McGuire who we met in Mexico at one of our potluck S.
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Created 25 January 2017
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Created 24 January 2017
Indian Celebration--Ratha Yatra. Parade through the streets of Whangarei. Music, dancing and a sumptuous lunch---vegetarian--in the Cafler Park Rose Gardens.
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Created 24 January 2017
Arrived in Whangarei on December 9, 2016. On a pile mooring at Town Basin.
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Created 13 January 2017
November 4, 2016-December 8, 2016
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Created 30 December 2016
Noumea, New Caledonia to Opua, New Zealand.
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Created 27 October 2016
A week on a mooring ball off the uninhabited island of Laregnere. Fantastic snorkeling, beach walks, afternoon games and a yummy potluck with sv Plan Sea and sv Dream Car her.
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Created 26 October 2016
Along with friends, Mike and Joan Mellon, we sailed the Mamanukas and Yasawa islands. We had a fabulous time.
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Created 10 October 2016
Pittwater, Cowan Creek, Cottage Point, The Basin, Newcastle and Bar Hopping.
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Created 24 April 2016
Milson's Point-The Bridge Walk, Elizabeth Farm, Rosehill NSW
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Created 24 April 2016
This album includes travel by ferry, bus,might rail and train. All part of Sydney's mass transit system, using our OPAL cards.
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Created 21 April 2016
Our trip down south. Wanted to take Pied-a-Mer III back to Woolongon as that's where she had been built. Jervis Bay was a highlight because that's where we were able to meet Melinda Mathews Brogan, Melinda Altamirano's Australian pen pal (and we didn't take one photo of her)
23 Photos
Created 19 April 2016
Balls Head Bay, Snails Bay, Rozelle, Middle Harbour, Port Hacking, Wollongong, Jervis Bay and back to Sydney.
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Created 16 February 2016
Nieafu and island anchorages
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Created 16 September 2015
Hiking Yelapa
11 Photos
Created 28 March 2013
Puerto Vallarta with Sellix,Altamirano and Choumanes
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Created 1 January 2013
On the Bow.
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Created 17 September 2012
First Photos
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Created 2 June 2012
Noumea
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Created 31 December 1969