Adventures of Rex and Dixie

Vessel Name: Wonderland
Vessel Make/Model: Dolphin 460
Hailing Port: Chicago, IL
12 December 2012 | West End, Bahamas
06 October 2012
06 October 2012
26 September 2012 | Charleston, S.C.
Recent Blog Posts
12 December 2012 | West End, Bahamas

Finally living the dream

We're finally living the dream. After 4 months of working on the boat in Charleston, SC and 2 weeks of traveling down the coast and crossing the Gulf Stream, we're finally in the Bahamas. The crossing was more eventful than the weather forecasters predicted. The seas were forecasted to be 2-3 ft and the winds 8-13 kts. We experienced 2-8 fts seas and winds that were 20-25 kts with gusts up to 32 kts. Not the most enjoyable crossing but it was fast. During the 24 hours that we've been in West End, we've met lots of other cruisers ( most of which have been Canadians), been given fresh mahi mahi by a fisherman and purchase fresh conch salad and lobsters from some locals. Life is good. We put up a small sailboat size Christmas tree(3 ft.) and we keep our friends and family close to our heart during the holiday season and throughout our adventure!

06 October 2012

The sunsets are so beautiful this time of year in the channel in Charleston!!

06 October 2012

Off the Dock!!

Last weekend we actually pulled away from the dock for a day!!!! Charleston is as beautiful by sea as it is by land! Rex has now taken the hydraulic system apart and is having parts rebuilt, we have ordered a new fridge and freezer and we should be receiving two new sump pumps for the showers! Hopefully after this we can slow down on the fixing and start up on the sailing!!! She is going to be better than new by the time Rex gets through with her!!

26 September 2012 | Charleston, S.C.

Waiting, working and watching

This is the first chance we have had to post on our blog since we arrived in Charleston almost two months ago. We thought since we began preparing for this adventure years ago we would have a pretty easy time getting everything done. Not true! With all the reading and researching we did proir to our [...]

Finally living the dream

12 December 2012 | West End, Bahamas
We're finally living the dream. After 4 months of working on the boat in Charleston, SC and 2 weeks of traveling down the coast and crossing the Gulf Stream, we're finally in the Bahamas. The crossing was more eventful than the weather forecasters predicted. The seas were forecasted to be 2-3 ft and the winds 8-13 kts. We experienced 2-8 fts seas and winds that were 20-25 kts with gusts up to 32 kts. Not the most enjoyable crossing but it was fast. During the 24 hours that we've been in West End, we've met lots of other cruisers ( most of which have been Canadians), been given fresh mahi mahi by a fisherman and purchase fresh conch salad and lobsters from some locals. Life is good. We put up a small sailboat size Christmas tree(3 ft.) and we keep our friends and family close to our heart during the holiday season and throughout our adventure!

06 October 2012
The sunsets are so beautiful this time of year in the channel in Charleston!!

Off the Dock!!

06 October 2012
Dixie
Last weekend we actually pulled away from the dock for a day!!!! Charleston is as beautiful by sea as it is by land! Rex has now taken the hydraulic system apart and is having parts rebuilt, we have ordered a new fridge and freezer and we should be receiving two new sump pumps for the showers! Hopefully after this we can slow down on the fixing and start up on the sailing!!! She is going to be better than new by the time Rex gets through with her!!

Waiting, working and watching

26 September 2012 | Charleston, S.C.
This is the first chance we have had to post on our blog since we arrived in Charleston almost two months ago. We thought since we began preparing for this adventure years ago we would have a pretty easy time getting everything done. Not true! With all the reading and researching we did proir to our final decision to take the plunge, no one ever told us how much work it was to actually get to this point. With that said, we are here, we are excited and the adventure has begun!!
We sailed our cat from Ft. Pierce, FL. to Charleston, S.C. at the beginning of August. What a beautiful 36 hour trip! Luckily we had Captain Wil with us to navigate the Charleston channel at 4 a.m. as we came into the harbor! Within just a few days we had to return to Chicago to get our cars, load up our boat "stuff", say farewell to our friends and family and head back to Charleston.
We have been working on our boat trying to get it ready to live on. I have been trying to get the inside to feel like a home while rex has been working everyday on every part of the boat to make sure they all work BEFORE we head out. I must say I am VERY lucky I married both a smart man and also a mechanical genious. I think he has taken the entire boat apart! I feel confident that it will be in great condition before we set sail!
We miss everyone! More later...




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