Check out Christa's new home for the next 8 months. You can get a better idea of what Marina de Salinas encompasses by surfing on over to www.marinadesalinas.com. In the picture, the wooden building in the background is a two story restaurant and bar. There are actually three bars on the compound, along with a pool, a hotel and full on laundry facilities. So my picture is kind of lame as you really can't see what's going on. The price per month for Christa is $321 including the dreaded tax. Like I said before, it is cheaper than the places I was scoping out in Venezuela.

The weather over the passed days has been tough. The wind the wind! Word around the campfire is this season's trades have been the most vigorous in 27 years. Good gouge for all you statistically oriented. Over the passed few days, the winds in the harbor have failed to die completely at night which is abnormal. The above picture was taken this morning just after sunrise. We had about 15 minutes of near calm. Yesterday I was not quite as lucky.

I was up early getting ready to haul the anchor. Jack from Bora Bound volunteered to give me a hand so I picked him up in the dink around 7 am. We hauled the anchor in about 10 knots of wind and headed for my new slip just a scant few hundred yards away. All hands were on deck in the marina as everyone knows that pulling into the slip can be quite the challenge. As you can see I was pulling into a slip with pilings which is a real pain, especially with a cross wind which we had. In the end we made it in without any damage just in the nick of time. The wind turned on like a light switch moments later and blew all day at 20 knots plus.

Needless to say I am quite pleased with my current situation. I am still putting together a plan and outlining some goals I have in mind to accomplish over the next months. Two things come to mind immediately. First I really want to concentrate on my guitar playing. I really enjoy the instrument and I think I can make great strides if I have a more disciplined practice routine, instead of just picking up the guitar and strumming mindlessly. Second, last week Kim and I went for a 3 mile run. I haven't run since the Falmouth Road Race last August and I totally miss the buzz. So I'll make running part of my routine. Yesterday, I spent a good portion of my day reading for the pure pleasure of it. I'll continue to do lots of that. I should get to it, my breakfast is here.

Capt Chris

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The past two days were another adventure in the annals of my life. As you may recall, the nice wonderful folks from SV Independence, Jenny, Otis, Big Ben and Little Sammy loaned me their spare 45 LBS CQR while in Boqeron or as I call the place "the Boq". Since that time you all know that my plans changed radically. Now, team Indie had to stride ahead of Christa and company to make the Island of Viequeze in the Spanish Virgin Island to receive guests. The intent was for me to get a new anchor and return Indies anchor down island somewhere. Down island being a Caribbean term.

So with my now staying in Salinas this put the return of the anchor difficult at best. A spare anchor is one of those things that may sit in a compartment for years and never see the light of day, but when needed it now becomes the most important piece of gear on the face of the planet. Anchors are not easy to come by and they are pricey to say the least. Independences spare anchor is designated to be used during a hurricane and I certainly did not want to leave Jenny and Otis in a lurch. They were gracious enough to loan it to me in the first place. Max effort was initiated.

So I got a call from Oats yesterday saying they were now in Culebra, one of the Spanish Virgin Islands 20 miles west of St. Thomas. We had to do some fast shuffling. Kim to the rescue. She loaned me her car (again) yesterday and I made the 92-mile trek from San Juan to Salinas. Back aboard Christa, I fired 51 horses of Yanmar (no clicking thank you!) and heaved in Indenpences CQR that was attached to my new chain. I deployed and set my spare anchor, the 33LBS Bruce in the deep mud bottom of Salinas. I spent the night aboard Christa, promptly overslept (it happens with retired guys) and made the 2 hour dash to the east coast port of Farjardo where the ferry leaves for Culebra. It's kind of funny that 45 pounds is not much weight, but when that weight is in the shape of an anchor, it becomes the most difficult object to transport. But......

I just barely made it to the ferry terminal in time. The trip from Salinas to Farjardo was just breath taking at points. The highway snakes along the coast as you pass through little beach communities and palm lined beaches. Anyway, I stepped aboard the ferry amongst strange glances as I had this big ole anchor slung over my shoulder. It was an hour and half ferry ride to Culebra. The trip was a rough one. Many many people were puking their guts out. Another large 14 foot north swell is upon the northern Caribbean with 20 knots plus of easterly trades. The opposing forces create inconsistent and chaotic seas. Of course I was prepared for any eventuality, I had an anchor. But soon enough we made it to Dewey, the little town on Culebra and waiting at the pier was Otis. It was so great to see them again, we had such a good time together back in Santo Domingo, Luperon and in the Boq. We had a quick lunch together before I departed on the 1pm ferry where I am writing this blog entry.

Once again I had to say goodbye to great people with no clue if I will ever see them again. It is a difficult aspect of the cruising life. Now team Independence is no couch potatoes. They plan on rolling to Venezuela and putting Indie on the hard, buying a car and then traveling inland all through South America for four months. Sounds awesome. I think you all should check out Indies website. www.sailingindependence.com and see for yourself what the gang is up to.

So as I mentioned before I'm on the ferry amongst all the seasick tourist heading back to mainland Puerto Rico. I'll recover kim's car and head back to San Juan. Tonight our good friend Rebecca P. Vinlove, also a Coastie, is flying in for a few days of RR. I'll pick her up at the airport 11:30 pm. Awfully late for a retired guy, good thing I don't have to work tomorrow or the next day and the day after that and so on and so on......

Capt Chris

Comments [2]

My Dad sent me a picture the other day of my custom built Shadow Box that I received as a retirement gift. It was constructed over several months by LCDR Chris Cederholm in Mashpee MA on Cape Cod. Thanks Chris!

It contains all my medals and awards, ranks held, old glory and other decorations the service likes to adorn a member with as they depart for greener pastures. My service life is still very fresh in my knoggin, but I suspect as the years go by the shadow box will be a constant reminder of a difficult but deeply satisfying 20 years. Maybe someday I'll have it hung in my own house.

But for now it resides on my parents wall to remind them that their youngest kid is a real stud. Thanks Mom and Dad!


Capt Chris

Comments [4]

Here is a stock picture of my brand new MacBook I bought today. Of course I have that buzz that one gets when a new gizmo is unfurled and the new MacBook is beautiful and lightening fast. But I am pretty disturbed that my iBook G4 logic board failed for a second time in less than 4 years. Replacement would have been nearly $600 dollars. After doing some research the G4 had a systemic problem with logic board failures on both the G3 and G4 laptops. Really disappointing. So now I need to figure out how to get all the information, music, pictures and emails ect....off the old hard drive onto my new machine. Any MAC geeks out there I'm all ears. Lets keep in mind that laptops are machines and machines fail. Really that simple.

So I wanted to encourage the blog readers to keep reading as my life evolves. The tone is changing as I shift from cruising into shoreside activities. Should be fun though as I plan on doing some traveling coming up. Some have inquired as to what my plans are. Very very loosely here is what I have on tap. Early May will see me at my folks place in Florida. Then I hope to be in NYC and CT to visit more family in mid and late May. Then maybe back up to Newport RI and then onto the Berkshires to visit other friends. Then head west to California for the bulk of June. Still working on all the details and really may not have anything ironed out until I arrive on someones doorstep asking if I can sleep on a couch. I'm also searching for someone to loan me a car while I'm in California. Tall order I know! That is the latest from my side of the world.

Capt Chris

Comments [3]

I am rapidly moving into the next phase of my cruising adventure. But really it's not cruising, it really is more aptly characterized as a re-entry back into society. But I would only consider myself a fringe element.

I have been busier than ever but was slowed down for a few days of flu like symptoms, but I think I'm coming out of the snafu. I spent another few days in San Juan working mostly on my taxes and my MAC iBook situation. I dropped off the MAC at the repair shop for diagnostics last Monday. The shop told me they would have the machine checked out by Wedsday. They subsequently closed for the entire week starting on Tuesday due to the Good Friday week. Whatever. Irritating in the extreme as it leaves me hamstrung without my computer, especially when I trying to do my taxes. Oh well.

I am happy to report that I have identified my new favorite breakfast joint in San Juan called Pinky's. Right around the corner from Kim's place. You'd think this would be a trivial matter, but for a retired guy a good breakfast place is key for launching a good day. It has great coffee, all kinds of good inexpensive food with the assorted people watching. I have also really enjoyed the beach combing on the north shore in San Juan. The beaches are pretty nice indeed. This week the entire Caribbean was hit by the largest north swell in 50 years. The port of San Juan was closed with swells as large as 35 feet. Crazy. But on the south coast in Salinas, Christa was tucked in snug as a bug.

So yesterday on the way back to Salinas from San Juan, a mere 92 miles, Kim and I made a stop at Ft. Buchannon exchange to pick up a bike for the kid. Really a key piece of gear for shore side living. You can see me pictured on the "blue bomber" my first beach cruiser ever. Gotta be happy with the $69.00 sticker price and no tax! You see the town of Salinas is about a mile from the marina/hotel complex so a bike is needed, plus I love riding a bike. The world just looks differently from a bike seat.

And lastly, today I signed the contract for a slip at the marina. April 1st I will back Christa into a slip and hook up to shore power and give Christa her first real bath in months. Living large no doubt. I will work on getting some pictures and video of the marina complex and the surrounding area. It is really cool and unique to say the least. So as you may surmise, I'm happy with how things are unfolding. It was tough this morning to talk with Snark, Iresie and Another Adventure as they departed Salinas for the East Caribbean. I am the last of the gang and the only one to hang in Salinas. But I do know that folks aren't very far. Adamo is in St. Croix as Snark will be. Prudence is a mere 70 miles based in Culebra, Independence will be in Venezuela this summer and head back north next seaso and Loon checked in on the blog comments the other day from Antiqua. Knowing this gives me great anticipation for a phat juicy cruising season next year!

Capt Chris

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