Blue Heron
| Vessel Name: | Blue Heron |
| Vessel Make/Model: | Hallberg Rassy 43 |
| Hailing Port: | Delaware City, DE |
| Crew: | Bob & Eric Frantz |
| About: | Bob retired in January, 2011 from a career as an environmental attorney and manager, and Eric earned his Bachelor's Degree from The George Washington University in Washington, DC in December, 2010. They began their circumnavigation February 6, 2011. |
| Extra: | In the words of that great American author, Mark Twain, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” |
19 June 2012
The Blue Heron did it!
Today is the 500th day since we began our adventure around the world. We did it! We've completed our circumnavigation! We have not only crossed our wake but have passed the point from which we originally set sail on February 6, 2011. All that remains is to get us and the Blue Heron home. She has [...]
13 June 2012 | Fishing Bay Harbor Marina, Deltaville, VA
Waiting to get back on our way
We passed Little Creek Marina in Norfolk, VA during the middle of the night last night -- that's where our dream voyage began 16 months ago. We then made our way to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay where we were greeted with a howling hello in the form of 30+ knot winds on the nose. Making any headway was almost impossible so, we have diverted for safe harbor once more to wait for this weather system to pass. If anything, the North Atlantic lives up to it's reputation as being predictably unpredictable. Now, we wait (impatiently) for another weather window so that we can make our way home.
12 June 2012
Big Fish - take a look
Our steady progress and, generally, uneventful passage thusfar was punctuated with excitement yesterday afternoon when Eric called out, "I've got one!" He caught a White Marlin in the late afternoon. The fish fought hard and we had quite a time getting the fish on board. The fish measured 6'4" and [...]
09 June 2012
on our way north
This morning we left West Palm Beach at 8:15AM and are making our way north. We're hopeful that weather will be in our favor the entire final passage home -- we'll see. We've started with the benefit of both the gulf stream and favorable winds and are moving along at about 9 knots.
05 June 2012 | Cannonsport Marina, Palm Beach Shores, Florida
weather detour
We're stopping in Palm Beach for a day or so to wait out some weather due to come offshore from the Carolinas. Then we'll continue our northbound journey for home.
Safari
From Safari Web AlbumIt was blistering hot and incredibly dry. We were whisked by attendants down a long dirt road in 4x4's to the main camp. In just that short drive, we saw dozens of impala, zebra, baboons, and an elephant. Staff greeted us with fresh juice, bottles of water, and cold towels. What a difference from being on the boat!We checked in and made our way to our tent, if you can call it that. It was more like a villa with canvas walls that overlooked a river running through the camp.
From Safari Web AlbumWe gazed at more impala, baboons, and a water buffalo cooling off. The next few days included a number of game drives, early in the morning and late in the evening at the animals' most active times. Although this meant getting up at 4:30 every morning, it was well worth it. We saw several lions, a leopard, hippos, and a family of elephants, to name a few. 
From Safari Web Album
From Safari Web AlbumMany of the animals have little fear of humans, particularly if we stayed in the 4X4. Our excellent guide, Edward, worked to get us close to the animals, sometimes within 20 feet.
From Safari Web AlbumAnd sometimes the animals decided they wanted to get close to us, and would approach us, even in the vehicle, like this elephant.
From 2011-12-24 Safari PanasonicOn our next to last day, we still hadn't seen a lion. As we left at 5:30 AM for our morning trip, it was beautiful and sunny. Lions had been spotted the evening before, and we headed back to that area. After leaving the main 4X4 track and striking out overland, we headed toward a river, scanning the area for signs of the lions. No luck. We turned around and headed back toward the main track, but along the way, Edward decided to turn off and head into a different area. As we came over a small crest in the ground, I saw them. "There they are." I spotted their ears poking up above the grass. Edward maneuvered the 4X4 closer, eventually getting us within about 30 feet. It was a "pride" of lions, with two older females, each with a couple of cubs, and with some prior year youngsters, for a total of about 8 lions.
From Safari Web Album
From Safari Web AlbumWith the peak season over, much of the camp was filled with South Africans and we were fortunate to meet several of them. Many had been on safaris several times and just couldn't get enough of it. They were all eager to tell us the best spots to go in South Africa and especially loved Cape Town.
The meals were delicious and the service incredible. It was a refreshing change from life on the boat, but of course, all good things come to an end. We flew back to Durban after four nights in "the bush" and are now preparing for the trip around Cape Agulhas. We are looking to leave on the 5th of January if the weather stays decent and plan on making a stop or two before reaching Cape Town.
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