Living the Dream

21 February 2021 | Isla San Geronimo - Cedros Island
20 February 2021 | Isla San Geronimo
19 February 2021 | Bahia Asuncion
08 August 2013 | Marina Village
07 April 2013
25 December 2012 | Our Marina
25 November 2012 | San Clemente Island
03 September 2012 | Mission Bay
06 May 2012 | National City
24 December 2011 | Pier 32 Marina
24 November 2011 | Two Harbors, Catalina Island
23 October 2011 | Longshadow Winery - Temecula
05 September 2011 | Mission Bay
12 August 2011 | Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach
22 July 2011 | Two Harbors
09 July 2011 | Santa Cruz Island
04 July 2011 | Channel Islands Harbor
03 January 2011 | Pier 32 Marina
19 December 2010 | Pier 32 Marina

Getting Some Check Marks on Our List!

31 May 2009 | Vuda Point Marina
Sally
Will try to finish off our "Tale of Woe" so we can eventually get on with sharing Fiji. We haven't seen much of it yet, outside of the marina, but we know we're going to love exploring! The temperature here has been in the 80's, the water temp is 78, and the humidity is around 75% (making my short hair VERY curly!). It is so nice to be back in shorts and sleeveless tops. The only down side has been the mosquitos - back to looking like a "Survivor" contestant!

The picture is of Glen on the maiden voyage of our new dinghy! Check mark number one on our "things to take care of" list. We bought Steve and Wendy's dinghy from Elusive. It was a win/win - they needed to sell it and we needed to solve our dinghy dilemma. We had almost bought a new rigid bottom dinghy while in New Zealand, but couldn't quite make our budget stretch that far. This worked out perfectly! (By the way, anyone reading this that is going to take off on their own cruise... we highly recommend a hard bottom dinghy instead of the roll up type we had. Ours was great for storing, but not so great for the coral beaches, etc...) Anyhow, we are excited to have a new "ride!" We have named her "Little Dot!" (Glen said his mom didn't like being called Dot, but it sounds too cute to go along with The Dorothy Marie! Like Scarlett O'Hara calls their dinghy Rhett!) Little Dot is a ten foot Apex rigid bottom inflatable. We need to check into getting a new seat and wheels for her (unfortunately, the originals didn't make it off Elusive), but she's in great shape and will be lots of fun. (Another big thank you to Steve and Wendy for the great price as well! :) By the way... notice Glen's clean shaven look didn't last too long!

I had mentioned our generator fixes are under way. We hope to get the injectors and pump back later today or tomorrow, then we cross our fingers and try it out! George is a story all his own. We are still hoping he can be resurrected. At first it was thought that a gear had stripped inside the motor part of him, but when he was opened up, all of his "teeth" were fine. On closer inspection, it is now thought a clutch that engages the drive gear may have a problem. Hopefully we can find a clutch donor with a matching blood type, otherwise, we may have to have George Jr. flown in from the states! We'll keep you posted on George's progress as soon as we hear anything new.

When trying to raise the anchor in Momi Bay and Lautoka, we realized our chain stripper on the anchor windless (that had broken and had to be replaced in NZ) had stripped the screws holding it down out of the wood on the bow pulpit. Glen was able to jury-rig a fix so we could get the anchor up, but we are now having a stainless plate installed on the bow pulpit so it will be much more secure and won't pull back out again. Our wind direction indicator on the top of the mast had blown off on the crossing (did we mention we were in some strong winds?!!), so we still need to locate a replacement for it, but that's not a major issue like all the rest. Life is feeling much more manageable again with some of our problems fixed or on the mend.

We're really liking the marina (by the way I added a picture of it to the last entry) - the people are all very friendly, there is a restaurant at the "yacht club" that has daily specials that make eating out affordable (yeah!!!), and there is a swimming pool at the neighboring First Landing "Resort" that we can use for $5. FD per day. I have taken a bus ride to Lautoka for fresh fruit and veggies, and a cab ride to Nadi with some girl friends to check out the shopping. Glen and I took a cab to Lautoka on Saturday to check out the town and market. Had our first curry and palua (sp?) for lunch. The population in Fiji is about 40% native Fijians, 40% Indian, and 20% others. We kept hearing how good the Indian food was, and yum, it really is! Glen can't wait to get to one of the places in our guidebook that says the curry is so hot even the cab drivers are afraid of it! Yikes!!! He is very happy that I was able to buy a great assortment of chilies for him at the market, though. That will have to do for now.

Well, we sure hope this can be the last entry dealing with all our problems - bet you do too!!! Love to everyone at home and our special thoughts are being sent to Andy and Arlene. Buster, their dog and Penny's boyfriend, is not doing well at all and might not last too much longer. When the time comes, we hope he goes peacefully.
Comments
Vessel Name: The Dorothy Marie
Vessel Make/Model: Endeavor 43
Hailing Port: San Diego
Crew: Glen Vienna and Sally Houston
The Dorothy Marie's Photos - Living the Dream (Main)
Photos 1 to 34 of 34
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On a mooring ball belonging to the Lahaina Yacht Club.  They gave us a temporary membership while visiting on Maui.
February - 2010
Hanging with the "big guys!"  Cruise ships were a common sight in the anchorage at Kilua-Kona.
Hawaii - January 2010
Tied up to "the wall" in Radio Bay - you drop anchor and back in to tie up to the wall.  We had a few issues in heavy weather with getting a little too close... yikes!
Radio Bay, Hilo, Hawaii -  December 2009
How
A very leaky Dorothy Marie sitting at anchorage in the Fanning Island lagoon.  It was either sweltering hot, or pouring down rain (and we were once again all alone)! 
Fanning Island, Kiribati
November - 2009
Alone again!!! Anchored at Christmas Island.  The water was beautiful - you can see the different hues of blue showing reef, sand, then deeper water (from shore looking out to the boat).  In the background in a few of the local fishermen that spent sunup to sundown fishing.  They had to paddle, then surf their outriggers through the waves to get back to shore.
Christmas Island, Kiribati 
(A part of the Line Islands) October/November - 2009
We were the lone boat in our anchorage in Matautu Bay on the beautiful island of Savai
Tied up at the little marina in Apia, Samoa.  This is where we were when the earthquake and four following tsunami waves hit.  We couldn
Looking back at the island while on a putt in Little Dot!  Sadly, the village that was right behind our boat in this picture got wiped out from the tsunami that hit while we were in Samoa.
Niuatoputapu, Tonga
September - 2009
While in Savusavu, we gave work to Semi, a hard working Fijian man.  He is the father of 5 and works so hard to support his family.  He totally scrubbed and waxed the hull of The Dorothy Marie by hand - she
The Dorothy Marie is up a creek!  That
The Dorothy Marie is now a "black bottomed girl!"  We hauled out in Fiji to put new anti-fouling paint on the bottom.  We had bought the paint in NZ (better quality), but the color didn
The Dorothy Marie hanging out in the Blue Lagoon with her playmate, Destiny!
Nanuya Lailai, Yasawa Group, Fiji
July - 2009
At anchor in Musket Cove, Fiji.  Just another beautiful sunset!
The Mamanuca Group
June - 2009
At anchor just outside the floating "Q" dock in Opua.   We left the boat on a mooring ball there in Feb. when we land yachted, then were on anchor for most of March,  two weeks of April, two weeks in May (we left New Zealand on the 13th).
May - 2009
It was nice to get back out into "cruising mode" after being on a mooring ball for so long in Opua.  This is in the anchorage at Moturua Island - Bay of Islands, New Zealand.
April - 2009
The Dorothy Marie at anchor in Whale Bay - The Bay of Islands.  We went out for a 3 week cruise of the Bay and up to Whangaroa and the Cavalli Islands.  We think many parts of New Zealand look a lot like the Pacific Northwest - lots of beautiful pines and ferns.
January - 2009
Opua Marina, New Zealand
After 11 months "on the hook," it felt a little strange to be tied up, but we quickly readjusted to life with conveniences!  Our first plan was to spend one week in the marina.  That quickly changed to two, which ended up being six!  We finally left on December 27th.  We were in slip B-24.
December - 2008
New Zealand Bound!!!
We had little wind most of the trip from Tonga to New Zealand - this particular day, we had just enough to fill the "Sally Sail!"
November - 2008
Picture taken by Orca III
Underway between islands in the Ha
A beautiful Tongan sunset!   Taken in anchorage #11 - Tapana, Vava
The gorgeous anchorage at Niue - the World
Med-moored in Avarua Harbor!  We were packed in like sardines and it was very challenging getting from the boat to the shore without adding bruises, but we had lots of fun here.
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
August - 2008
The island of Moorea in the Society Island chain was so lovely!
July  -  2008
The poor Dorothy Marie had to be hauled out in Pape
Sailing in the lagoon of Fakarava Atoll - one of favorite places so far!
June  -  2008
Pciture Taken by Shilling
Enjoying the gorgeous waters in the Tuamotus!  Kauehi  Atoll
May  -  2008
Day 22 of the big crossing!  We celebrate our equitorial crossing and becoming Kind Neptune
We had a great time in Mexico, but it was time for last minute repairs and provisioning in Nuevo Vallarta (Banderas Bay).
March  -  2008
Sunset in the Sea of Cortez!
February  -  2008
Sailing down the Pacific coast of Baja.  Picture taken by Edd and Judi from Claire de Lune - our first cruising friends!
January  -  2008
Pulling away from the dock!   Good-bye dear friends and San Diego!
December 29, 2007
Thanksgiving Day!  Giving thanks that we have this wonderful opportunity and that the work of moving on board is done!
November  -  2007
Getting Ready!  Our haul out for bottom paint and an insurance inspection at the Shelter Island boatyard.  
October 2007
 
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86 Photos
Created 31 March 2010
120 Photos
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120 Photos
Created 27 September 2009
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119 Photos
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Created 11 February 2009
120 Photos
Created 13 December 2008
The first part of our trip!
120 Photos
Created 6 August 2008
Pictures starting with Rarotonga
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Pictures starting in Taou
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Created 29 June 2008
Pictures start in Atuona
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Created 15 May 2008
Starting with Mazatlan
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Created 21 March 2008