tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25540266139200152062024-03-13T14:58:18.862-04:00Close QuartersClose Quartersxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361705444247119783noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-53946682288251196392018-10-18T22:30:00.000-04:002019-09-28T16:58:56.022-04:00Re-entry, A Retrospective<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by Greg</i><br /><i>Arlington, Virginia</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH04nOQOblEvnGaHLogYK3tFzjtBm2LbWwyof8tAHZhbOhzcot1HK-fXfW79AXPq3XntmXXQxW3CMz4jJEUDufOp8pY8fshkNspxy5Vt85h6b9Hf2mBVV6FhBI_HlRxE7NoYefr9pCeAc/s1600/20181018_155907.cr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH04nOQOblEvnGaHLogYK3tFzjtBm2LbWwyof8tAHZhbOhzcot1HK-fXfW79AXPq3XntmXXQxW3CMz4jJEUDufOp8pY8fshkNspxy5Vt85h6b9Hf2mBVV6FhBI_HlRxE7NoYefr9pCeAc/s320/20181018_155907.cr.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sailors use the term "burying the hook" to mean <br />
returning to land semi-permanently or permanently.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Upon returning, we intended to write a "return to land" post here and continue posting about our transition to land and our reflections on cruising and its end. Surprise - we suddenly found ourselves too busy. The tempo of life changed completely. The soundtrack went from a slow waltz to Flight of the Bumblebee, played double-tempo. Our time was filled with searching for a house, straightening out school enrollment, <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2016/10/boat-kid-puts-on-shoes.html" target="_blank">moving</a> off of the boat, spending time with friends we'd not seen in years, and rejuvenating cars that had spent three years idle on a Virginia farm (including repairing the effects of generations of mice that had called them home). After that - school and jobs, rowing and MMA for our daughter, several rock bands and a mandolin orchesta for our son, etc, etc. So those intended posts were left in the dusts of time.<br />
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However, it seems a fair number of people still discover and read this blog, and of course we still think lovingly of it. (We can't let go). So, this day, exactly five years after our departure, seems like the perfect time to reflect on our return to land.<br />
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Let's get one thing straight before we go further. For cruisers of our means, cruising is no picnic. It's not sitting on deck sipping icey margaritas. (Though it is for owners like <a href="https://www.burgessyachts.com/en/charter-cat-1/yachts-for-charter/sailing-yachts/marie-00000585.html" target="_blank">this</a> one.) It's more like backpacking where your pack is your boat. When you're moving and the seas are rough, the driver gets wet. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbna6XhC607eZYzyTLhOvXa0DHC_6f1jcrQWZS0vkQdfA819dzeQPNAjSSk-i6YNovT4P65lpkROAtnduG7PgVbB4lEqw3k1vhzOHJ7-q47cHQN0gHpMHbwb8UZAob-JPbwdG68x4uF8t/s1600/151127+passage+Guyana+to+Suriname+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbna6XhC607eZYzyTLhOvXa0DHC_6f1jcrQWZS0vkQdfA819dzeQPNAjSSk-i6YNovT4P65lpkROAtnduG7PgVbB4lEqw3k1vhzOHJ7-q47cHQN0gHpMHbwb8UZAob-JPbwdG68x4uF8t/s320/151127+passage+Guyana+to+Suriname+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Son Cash and adopted crewmember Anna T. <br />
off Guyana coast taking us to Suriname</td></tr>
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When you're moving and it storms, the driver gets wet. When you're at anchor and it storms, you often sit awake making sure you don't drag and somebody doesn't drag into you. When you're at anchor (we never docked - we always anchored), all land excursions take place by dinghy, and all supplies come to the boat by dinghy. Real showers are infrequent. Laundry is infrequent. Passages require someone on watch at all times. That includes night time. That includes moonless night time. That includes pitch black stormy night time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkdCjz4V15pLOKkPso1QBmPaKREaNd05sd3kmZLrU8dU0URL_MW7w4pp87lt59biPTGjt9ViCvmvy9R4sgktVC3zIB1dyxMbUQ406ov6xBhJZ6MPFTPE9q3yijs0h8qMxuNpQ6d3fSwWU/s1600/141003+head+rebuild+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkdCjz4V15pLOKkPso1QBmPaKREaNd05sd3kmZLrU8dU0URL_MW7w4pp87lt59biPTGjt9ViCvmvy9R4sgktVC3zIB1dyxMbUQ406ov6xBhJZ6MPFTPE9q3yijs0h8qMxuNpQ6d3fSwWU/s320/141003+head+rebuild+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paula rebuilding the head. I was<br />
VERY nice to her that day</td></tr>
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When cruisers of our means say they aren't working, they mean only that nobody is paying them. Maintaining a cruising boat is a full time job and more. It has all varieties of systems: mechanical, electrical, electronics, plumbing, refrigeration, sailing. For example, Daystar, a relatively modest vessel, has 15 pumps aboard (not counting the dinghy-related pumps). If something breaks, <i>you</i> will be the one fixing it. And something is always breaking. If the only toilet on your boat breaks, you will be the one disassembling it to figure out why it doesn't work. If this takes days, break out the bucket. I could <a href="https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/15-reasons-sailing-around-the-world-may-not-be-for-you/" target="_blank">go on</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMibBdcjF4gsBS8U1AmQvC8SUUn5tVGg0NJuiLr5LQs9amzv91Ewp1ur8-rCqG_4joG28tpYiGpC4D9pZ8mVResbB7VjWhz1bES4l_UrFlAJrDrR__HajvxeYuRtxKhjqHOXeKqmApTIZ/s1600/20181018_194445.cr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1600" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMibBdcjF4gsBS8U1AmQvC8SUUn5tVGg0NJuiLr5LQs9amzv91Ewp1ur8-rCqG_4joG28tpYiGpC4D9pZ8mVResbB7VjWhz1bES4l_UrFlAJrDrR__HajvxeYuRtxKhjqHOXeKqmApTIZ/s200/20181018_194445.cr.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's an amusing old-time sea tale of a man<br />
who is so done with the sea that he decides<br />
he's going to put an oar over his shoulder<br />
and walk inland until someone asks him<br />
what that thing is that he's carrying.</td></tr>
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So some people who try cruising on a small sailboat realize it's just <a href="https://raghaulerjournal.com/2018/05/16/what-purpose-cruising/" target="_blank">not for them</a>. They are ecstatic to be back on land. Their <a href="https://raghaulerjournal.com/2018/07/02/for-sale/" target="_blank">for sale sign</a> appears minutes after the docklines are secured. Others cruisers loved their time "out there" but are finished, having gotten too old or having grandkids to see or just needing a break.<br />
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We are neither of these types. We loved the life. We could have continued for years. Cruising is not easy, but neither is returning to land life. We've done it <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2013/08/a-decade-and-half-ago-paula-and-i-sold.html" target="_blank">once before</a>, but practice makes it no easier. We don't feel sorry for ourselves, but before you say to yourself sarcastically "waa waa, poor things - they had to return to a "normal life", think about it. Picture yourself spending years in a foreign country with different culture and customs. Picture your kids doing a good chunk of their growing up there. Returning to "normal life" in the US is a major life change. (Many others struggle with it as well - see sites such as <a href="http://www.rockyreentry.com/" target="_blank">RockyRe-entry</a> and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TCKWorldwide/" target="_blank">ThirdCultureKids</a> group on Facebook.)<br />
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So why did we return? We ask ourselves that often, I more than anyone. Two reasons: money, and parental obligation. <br />
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<b>WHY RETURN?</b> <br />
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Money actually ranked second as the reason we chose to return. We are not independently wealthy. ( We feel wealthy in many ways, but not financially, though we do obviously have a large streak of independence... haha) We planned carefully and saved money so that we could spend our time away cruising. We sold our house to cruise. We left with a budget for two years, but we tightened our belts and stayed out a third year.By the end, our budget was pretty much gone. But if you own the sailboat, cruising can be pretty inexpensive. We could have found work along the way had we chosen to stay out. <br />
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However, there were two events coming our way: college for our kids, and retirement. College would be coming our way quickly. Retirement... uh, not so much. Before we left, we called this voyage pre-retirement : temporary retirement while our kids are young enough to enjoy it. So it was time for us to be un-retired again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuoli8pK90V5GDuzYab0T4rKSigHEiyhmr2zH3fZX0nV3_GU3kcjaSSfizT0jkCvZOUVUjIOE3cSMy42-z_WQbgtytXH8CpK8KihvCcGHUGE9Hujk44tDrIeD8ZC6aCUAmkul1m43bRUK/s1600/150904+Cash+with+guitar+at+bat+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuoli8pK90V5GDuzYab0T4rKSigHEiyhmr2zH3fZX0nV3_GU3kcjaSSfizT0jkCvZOUVUjIOE3cSMy42-z_WQbgtytXH8CpK8KihvCcGHUGE9Hujk44tDrIeD8ZC6aCUAmkul1m43bRUK/s320/150904+Cash+with+guitar+at+bat+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising kids on a hilltop somewhere in southern Grenada</td></tr>
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A more important reason we returned was for the benefit of our kids' education. If you've read some of our other posts about <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/p/all-posts.html?filter=Education" target="_blank">cruising and kids and education</a>, this will sound like a contradiction. Cruising provides a magnificent life for kids. It connects them to the natural world, it de-emphasizes electronics, it lets them form healthy friendships, it gives them independence, it teaches them resilience, it gives them responsibilities that truly matter and rules that exist for clear and important reasons.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTSjrHUT_FlxqkVlnyLwIKrDgRKlTz4crY1qCF6VrYHC4oIdyNdWeIHj33Au8f9Z5sK4HPeskPcjR8ual_ZGAhT6ceDhVZeyeNMavJWfrYhDzlX9tVwfT8cMxOFSCoMLAVla3Hb3lzwEp/s1600/150825+Dimplomacy+%252827%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTSjrHUT_FlxqkVlnyLwIKrDgRKlTz4crY1qCF6VrYHC4oIdyNdWeIHj33Au8f9Z5sK4HPeskPcjR8ual_ZGAhT6ceDhVZeyeNMavJWfrYhDzlX9tVwfT8cMxOFSCoMLAVla3Hb3lzwEp/s320/150825+Dimplomacy+%252827%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greg conducting a game of Diplomacy for cruising kids in<br />
a Grenada bar as a part of Cash's history lessons. </td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2014/03/boat-schooling.html" target="_blank">Boat-schooling</a> also reduces the drudgery, inefficiency, and passivity of "normal" school, and in so doing it allows kids to learn at their own (possibly accelerated) pace, to follow their interests, and to learn in context. All this helps them retain their joy of learning. ( But don't draw the impression that it traded off educational rigor; Paula, a teacher by profession, developed and taught the curricula for our two different-aged kids for all three years. The curriculum was challenging, and they were far ahead in most subjects when they returned. ) <br />
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However, our job as parents is to open as many options as possible for our kids (even if it hurts a little). The lessons they learned "out there" were profound. They saw a world that few get to see in a way that fewer still get to see it. But after three years: diminishing returns. Though there is an infinite amount to learn about other countries and cultures, they had mostly learned the larger lessons they were going to learn from cruising. We felt obligated to put them back into organized schooling so that they could explore opportunities not available on the boat, and so that they will be able generate a wider range of options in their futures.<br />
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How have our two years back on land worked out? The one-sentence answer: it was the right choice for us, especially for the kids. (For the alternate path - continuing to cruise with kids, see <a href="https://www.sailingtotem.com/whowhy" target="_blank">this</a> blog, or <a href="http://hackingfamily.com/Cruise_Info/CruisingWithTeens.htm" target="_blank">this</a> one.)<br />
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KIDS<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCieLx3Md6GZFFV0tpQTFN9bX6BXbHbTV5tvXCkZO9l2HMvYgWVlNp3icXfuWsFGHSAncOa1CoRUXZlt24nyXRZT8CqpYRMihIXMzLsAh3YxN7bMKZo8NAL0aUFG8PEpHIUqIfg1qU307/s1600/20180612_180319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCieLx3Md6GZFFV0tpQTFN9bX6BXbHbTV5tvXCkZO9l2HMvYgWVlNp3icXfuWsFGHSAncOa1CoRUXZlt24nyXRZT8CqpYRMihIXMzLsAh3YxN7bMKZo8NAL0aUFG8PEpHIUqIfg1qU307/s320/20180612_180319.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole could not do <br />
this on the boat </td></tr>
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For our kids, moving back to traditional school was difficult in multiple ways. Though they found their classes interesting and had some very good teachers, they were accustomed to moving at their own pace. They were frustrated and bored at the slow pace of school and the amount of time wasted in classrooms. In many classes, they were also troubled and annoyed by the number of students in their classes who were lazy or unmotivated.<br />
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On the personal and social side of school, they also had frustrations. One was how much time others spent on their phones and computers. Eventually, they stopped hanging out with friends who couldn't pull their faces out of their phones. Neither have any interest in social media. And Cash recently got his cell phone stolen and decided that he does not need to replace it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGD-MAvnMPCibdMuE8tCVc6rnfh5A2BwoDc86k0-9eHT_rJXHD7yVYq0OK4qmCIv56fkQbhJJvnjde8kwIRkljO7edzfhfW4UEhuThuuFxvJTSri83EuU0_wIz573vtb2Tk5eNg1Y7PTa/s1600/27895360047_e99ea05fdb_o.Hurwitz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGD-MAvnMPCibdMuE8tCVc6rnfh5A2BwoDc86k0-9eHT_rJXHD7yVYq0OK4qmCIv56fkQbhJJvnjde8kwIRkljO7edzfhfW4UEhuThuuFxvJTSri83EuU0_wIz573vtb2Tk5eNg1Y7PTa/s320/27895360047_e99ea05fdb_o.Hurwitz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cash never got enough of this while cruising. </td></tr>
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Cruising kids are an eclectic and uninhibited group, and they make friends quickly. Our kids immediately noticed how "buttoned up" many of their new peers were. Our son in particular had some trouble making friends jumping in to high school as a junior. Both kids also observed repeatedly how much their peers take for granted in this easy suburban life.<br />
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Despite the difficulties, despite longing for those cruising days, they have come to appreciate the benefits of organized school, and they have thrived. They are enjoying subjects and activities that weren't available in the cruising life: lots and lots of music opportunities for our son; rowing, mixed martial arts, and forensics for our daughter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58W2dwd4th3YvgxcoLMbFS508VMKk-7NmJyAJq3LybbY4MVGQm9JPe-Ntj0LM34PpddQ1JxXvfNiYFhZ7X86iOZ2Iq-Tk-MbXq99ICixCmZvbKX87mZNXpLRU3iX8iXZ6afm23fIcaYEm/s1600/20180823_151049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58W2dwd4th3YvgxcoLMbFS508VMKk-7NmJyAJq3LybbY4MVGQm9JPe-Ntj0LM34PpddQ1JxXvfNiYFhZ7X86iOZ2Iq-Tk-MbXq99ICixCmZvbKX87mZNXpLRU3iX8iXZ6afm23fIcaYEm/s320/20180823_151049.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cash attends Univ. of Rochester, the perfect <br />
school for him except perhaps for the weather. <br />
(Most buildings are connected by tunnels.) </td></tr>
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Our son, after a somewhat lonely first semester junior year, figured out how to connect. He remarked that in retrospect, he was glad he didn't go directly from cruising to college; he got the chance to practice fitting into a new place first. Both kids made/are making straight <i>A</i>s in high school, and our oldest was a national merit finalist. He found a college that values the diversity in his background rather than, say, four years of varsity sports and four summers of robotics camps.<br />
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<br />
<b>ADULTS</b><br />
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For us adults, re-entry has been an intertwined mix of feelings resulting from leaving cruising behind and also from where we are now in life. For example, we owned our residence and a rental house before we left. We sold both. Like most Americans, having a house - <i>our</i> house - has always been a goal in itself, an important and expected part of life, and a part of having kids. But Cash is in college, Nicole is a junior in high school. We don't really need to own a house. It was a real shock to realize that we are "post-house." Neither of us care a whit whether we ever own another. Not an unpleasant realization, just hard to get used to after years of having home ownership be a fundamental value.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_SvKbwYA1qgZ7YiIm-7axdZq2uW6cQfZ3mJoYFQ3CfKDMzJOzsBK1arM-3bZujtib_xUQZ4XmGYsdIXlQaE0hI-YRRAGbke2EKwwuGkCTyLAPNTBt4xSJP7RwI6lPTKqsQ1ygf86pHx-/s1600/20140120_131308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_SvKbwYA1qgZ7YiIm-7axdZq2uW6cQfZ3mJoYFQ3CfKDMzJOzsBK1arM-3bZujtib_xUQZ4XmGYsdIXlQaE0hI-YRRAGbke2EKwwuGkCTyLAPNTBt4xSJP7RwI6lPTKqsQ1ygf86pHx-/s200/20140120_131308.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ugly. No other<br />
word for it. </td></tr>
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Another "post" state for me is career. I still like my chosen profession, and I plan to work (haha - <i>must </i>work) for a while longer, but the larger "career" pressures that I felt earlier - "what am I going to accomplish..." have utterly vanished. It is also hard for me to get excited about the "crises" at work. For many of those, I can't help but think "<i>that's</i> not a crisis. A crisis was that dirty night on the way to the Dominican Republic when, with building winds, the mizzen blew out about the same time as the genoa furler jammed. Or that squally night in the Gulf Stream that we wrapped our 3/4" genoa sheet around our propeller." <br />
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Another transitional aspect worth noting has been health. I have several incurable diseases (<a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2014/11/please-bring-me-tasty-milkshake.html" target="_blank">here's</a> one). While we were out cruising, medications were hard to find, so I cut way back on some and skipped others entirely. (Not insulin, obviously). I still felt great. Once we returned, I saw doctors regularly and started taking the meds they prescribed. I cannot say this improved my health; in fact my health has declined. One can call this a testament to the health benefits of cruising: fresh air, lots of sun, and lots of activity. There are more cynical ways to view it as well. And while stresses exist in both lives, those <i>out there</i> are such that they generally can be solved by your own efforts as opposed to problems like traffic on the Washington Beltway or getting blindsided by another driver. And finally on this topic, it's worth noting that despite getting all our water and food from land in some pretty poor countries, there was no sickness among us the entire three years, not even cold or flu. <br />
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<b>SUMMING IT UP</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRccySAqEajRxqCy9LumOQjF8Jv3h_RJZI0YuSlPGirEOT7PWlLYBhkkBbAIeevzmUnSr4sTlfrpOoLppRIcSG069bOKNndH0EQEvsAeGc4_FvVfiGf63s1qFxVDZCSPrv_ueoo5DZJDW/s1600/_20151221_122602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRccySAqEajRxqCy9LumOQjF8Jv3h_RJZI0YuSlPGirEOT7PWlLYBhkkBbAIeevzmUnSr4sTlfrpOoLppRIcSG069bOKNndH0EQEvsAeGc4_FvVfiGf63s1qFxVDZCSPrv_ueoo5DZJDW/s320/_20151221_122602.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off the coast of Martinique on the passage from Suriname to <br />
Guadeloupe. (Go ahead and criticise, you safety scolds!) </td></tr>
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Was it worth it? Absolutely. It was one of the best decisions of our lives to drop everything and go. We have no regrets. <br />
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Would we do it again? Absolutely. We adults hope and pray we have the health and finances to repeat it. Both kids would like to repeat it with us parents if possible. Both kids have resolved to do this with their own children. <br />
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Those three years are a touchstone of our life as a family. Togetherness, adventure, hardship, hard work, beauty, tranquility, independence, isolation alternating with the companionship of other sailors and locals. We all still flash back to our voyages multiple times each day. <br />
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The single best decision of our lives was to forget about financial prudence, forget about retirement, forget about the college fund, forget about houses, and -go- while our kids were young enough to accompany us. And I think that was the best decision of their lives as well.<br />
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<br />xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361705444247119783noreply@blogger.com2Arlington County, Arlington, VA, USA38.8816208 -77.09098089999997738.7827343 -77.252342399999975 38.9805073 -76.929619399999979tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-90550749755392461552016-12-31T22:02:00.000-05:002018-01-02T21:40:37.170-05:00New Year's Memories: Les Saintes<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by Cash</i><br /><i>On Land, Arlington, Virginia</i></span><br />
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It's hard to believe that it's already the end of 2016. It seems like so long ago that we stepped foot onto land, though it has only been six months. What seems even more far away is last New Year's. We celebrated in the islands of Les Saintes, Guadeloupe with our friends on <i>End Game </i>and <i>Neptune II</i>. There was a big party in the park that involved a large stage and multiple bands.<br />
I thought now was a fitting time to post a video I put together of the celebration.<br />
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I hope you have a happy New Year everyone - here's to a great 2017!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10110379251327816163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-70022726069550553292016-10-19T00:10:00.002-04:002018-10-18T18:16:11.149-04:00Boat Kid Puts on Shoes<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cash</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Land<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span></span></span>Arli<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ngton, Virginia</span></span></i></span><br />
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Three years ago today (October 18), we left the marina where we were docked and traveled for 30 minutes to another marina. This short passage was the beginning of our cruising life.<br />
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Now, almost three years later, we have returned to land and have been living here for a couple of months. I figured that our cruising anniversary was a good time to share the video I created of us making the actual transition to land: moving from our boat into our house.<br />
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I hope you enjoyed the video!<br />
It's certainly a big change for us. We hope to post more about the back-to-land transition soon.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10110379251327816163noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-37682698582704375252016-07-29T05:37:00.001-04:002016-07-29T05:37:38.048-04:00An Island is Coming<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by Nicole and Paula</i><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tra<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">cy's Landing</span></span>, Maryland</span></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0e5SMQO4jHk/V4vKDzvR_kI/AAAAAAAAB20/HbdJ6tSdbL4amxhuLhkeMPPt6DzSwO3RwCLcB/s1600/151206%2BDomburg%2BSunday%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0e5SMQO4jHk/V4vKDzvR_kI/AAAAAAAAB20/HbdJ6tSdbL4amxhuLhkeMPPt6DzSwO3RwCLcB/s400/151206%2BDomburg%2BSunday%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
It was just another normal cruising day in Suriname. But it was Sunday, so the square in the normally sleepy little town of Domburg was filled with loud music and people.<br />
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We were moored in the Suriname river just off the Marina Suriname, and spending our Sunday getting caught up on schoolwork.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-va4QZ-1OVqU/V4vKMist4lI/AAAAAAAAB3I/K-pyokvnJ6ELgATprzLnrRiLPZ73F4KQACLcB/s1600/151216%2BDomburg%2BMarina%2B%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-va4QZ-1OVqU/V4vKMist4lI/AAAAAAAAB3I/K-pyokvnJ6ELgATprzLnrRiLPZ73F4KQACLcB/s640/151216%2BDomburg%2BMarina%2B%25289%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Breeze at Suriname Marina is fantastic!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6qbIq4YWxic/V4vKLzMy7HI/AAAAAAAAB3E/Gn2rH1mx26sdd7pD-c9lHgOITiR-tbzUwCLcB/s1600/151216%2Bdomburg%2Bmarina%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6qbIq4YWxic/V4vKLzMy7HI/AAAAAAAAB3E/Gn2rH1mx26sdd7pD-c9lHgOITiR-tbzUwCLcB/s320/151216%2Bdomburg%2Bmarina%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="271" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A pool and floating docks - it was like a miracle after the places we had just been!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7f4p48IFxk/V4vKKR9FZ6I/AAAAAAAAB3A/9Z8S7yvS-ewtgmm8mUAV_zGMN_vjthEkgCLcB/s1600/Gaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7f4p48IFxk/V4vKKR9FZ6I/AAAAAAAAB3A/9Z8S7yvS-ewtgmm8mUAV_zGMN_vjthEkgCLcB/s200/Gaby.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising sailor Gaby spent some time<br />
managing the Suriname Marina.</td></tr>
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We were all down below in <i>Daystar </i>when we heard Gaby, the manager of the marina, calling to us from his dinghy outside our boat. Gaby, a hardworking and energetic Dutch guy, did a great job taking care of Marina Suriname. If he showed up outside <i>Daystar</i>, then it was important.
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We all went up to the cockpit to see what he wanted, and he said, <b>"An island is coming."
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Huh?
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We were very confused, but we soon found out what he was talking about. Watch this video to find out:
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10110379251327816163noreply@blogger.com0Tracys Landing, MD 20779, USA38.780116199999988 -76.595793738.681084699999985 -76.7571552 38.87914769999999 -76.4344322tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-17050819714743827782016-07-13T19:19:00.001-04:002018-10-18T18:16:11.107-04:00Get a Haircut, and Get a Real Job<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cash</span></i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Herrington Harbour Marina, Tracy's Landing, Maryland</i></span><br />
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As one cruising season ends and another begins, we are not the only ones returning to land. We know many people that are ending their adventures at the same time we are. So I dedicate this song I recorded to those cruisers, the ones that have to leave their boats and return to work.<br />
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This is a cover of George Thorogood's "Get a Haircut". I recorded the vocals, guitar, and bass parts myself, and I used digital instruments for the drums and background instruments. My family helped me film the video on a dock in Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, an island in the Bahamas.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The camera crew, along with two music stands functioning as tripods</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10110379251327816163noreply@blogger.com3Tracys Landing, MD 20779, USA38.780116199999988 -76.595793713.258081699999988 -117.9043877 64.302150699999984 -35.2871997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-14268936325179413962016-07-10T13:14:00.000-04:002016-07-10T13:14:46.414-04:00Hitchhikers<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by Paula</i><br /><i>Herrington Harbour Marina, Tracy's Landing, Maryland</i></span><br />
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No creepy guy rowed up to our boat in the middle of the ocean (a la the film <i>Dead Calm</i>), but we did have a few hitchhikers join us for brief periods while underway.
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This pelican settled comfortably on our mizzen-boom while we were coming down the ICW in January of 2014 and stayed for a while, enjoying the ride.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3waWdjPG16NeUBMOQ5WSuRzx9ldsdybw5ytrf46T2_TnyyeoOygJhdNrptI_gVxcWvSedHMU0Qrg4G3WoVEjp9P41uWR-QYKDFKTls9Lrtnaa6yTkQkD12LeMrEct_pfvLyUJhU3cODbq/s1600/pelican+far.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3waWdjPG16NeUBMOQ5WSuRzx9ldsdybw5ytrf46T2_TnyyeoOygJhdNrptI_gVxcWvSedHMU0Qrg4G3WoVEjp9P41uWR-QYKDFKTls9Lrtnaa6yTkQkD12LeMrEct_pfvLyUJhU3cODbq/s400/pelican+far.jpg" /></a>
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We were delighted with a lovely performance by this bird who perched high atop our mainmast spreader and sang all morning while we were in the Frederika River in Georgia.
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Our memory is a bit foggy on this one, but we know this little shrimp appeared somewhere he was not supposed to be way back in April of 2014 while we were in Dinner Key in Miami.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyknraENmDlHDCfATuUoqfIbufhvjC6v82u_ciu-7ailmm9QZGoWHJuXn5xDVgApRhnnoWEWYi6UbJ-CmVq_BoTRXEJlHXdNMV0BkeEsHsg2nLKl6wFtW-uUaljeBEehwbnDl20dMFHbup/s1600/shrimp.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyknraENmDlHDCfATuUoqfIbufhvjC6v82u_ciu-7ailmm9QZGoWHJuXn5xDVgApRhnnoWEWYi6UbJ-CmVq_BoTRXEJlHXdNMV0BkeEsHsg2nLKl6wFtW-uUaljeBEehwbnDl20dMFHbup/s400/shrimp.jpg" width="341" /></a>
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In November of 2014 we crossed the Mona Passage from Luperón in the Dominican Republic to Boquerón in Puerto Rico. Leaving in late the afternoon we traveled a day and a half, to arrive just after the sunrise. This seabird settled in to spend a few hours sleeping on our rail-mounted spare outboard engine.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5A3hjFi1saGUXLuds2AOCLzECKUUhRZVAgzjUIfb5ytvOgjtT7HuhLf4FA3HRIdgrd_UP_bDbzPXlJhz0m5ZusQQHGjml4dN4ZQDZ2rWlyuPfnJmlzCpFeT6CQYKuvOWRSzhYGurYucxH/s1600/DR+bird+with+cash.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5A3hjFi1saGUXLuds2AOCLzECKUUhRZVAgzjUIfb5ytvOgjtT7HuhLf4FA3HRIdgrd_UP_bDbzPXlJhz0m5ZusQQHGjml4dN4ZQDZ2rWlyuPfnJmlzCpFeT6CQYKuvOWRSzhYGurYucxH/s320/DR+bird+with+cash.jpg" width="225" /></a>
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The appearance of flying fish on our deck was a common occurrence. They often encountered our boat in their above-water flight to escape a predator. Had we found them a bit sooner, Greg would have sautéed them with his eggs for breakfast.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTELMykZVpW4htYr46fK2snK4GIqKZLtXFacxog4zuzgTLHv4E0T63Hsovd0Dypsk2mt3G3K4y2hZFM3DBt8Pp_J2fNYKM9xLjS5XTf7gckh1WcWZIYHBlmCaA4yIszjvJ56a2m0BxGtc9/s1600/flying+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTELMykZVpW4htYr46fK2snK4GIqKZLtXFacxog4zuzgTLHv4E0T63Hsovd0Dypsk2mt3G3K4y2hZFM3DBt8Pp_J2fNYKM9xLjS5XTf7gckh1WcWZIYHBlmCaA4yIszjvJ56a2m0BxGtc9/s320/flying+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZGOlTt5aooEftfQzJATtO3u2D1YZpk3kDnfxoGkid1oSG7JvnVU9nnaJC-2K1OkWVIlv0dDPqcw9yi467mA0QIF84ovsj5VBCOFGyGSqkHTAU6T9smOi-Gj8X3didszoxMPa4AvMLlGz/s1600/flying+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZGOlTt5aooEftfQzJATtO3u2D1YZpk3kDnfxoGkid1oSG7JvnVU9nnaJC-2K1OkWVIlv0dDPqcw9yi467mA0QIF84ovsj5VBCOFGyGSqkHTAU6T9smOi-Gj8X3didszoxMPa4AvMLlGz/s320/flying+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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We had an actual human hitch a ride on our passage from Saba to St. Martin. We met Zsuzsa when she was on board a pretty little ketch <i>s/v Segue</i>, moored nearby in Saba's wide open anchorage. She had met the <i>Segue </i>guys in St. Barths, and they invited her to join them for a week on Saba. She had planned to hop on a local plane to St. Martin where she was meeting other friends, but we were heading that way and welcomed her aboard <i>Daystar</i>. It was fun to have her along with us on our lovely beam reach that day.
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At first we blamed the arrival of Greg's brother, Brett, for the appearance of this scorpion near our galley, as he had just arrived from Austin. Turns out that this little guy hitched a ride on a goat skull we brought home as a souvenir from our hike on Ilet de Cabrit in Les Saintes, Guadeloupe.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg279FVVxBhsGqonXv1LXDqgbEi4y_wOM9rGZ-uYkGDmySZnV2JGV0_YPc0PF8hChalxn_-iIXEBMCymHJwqAe75qV6CzEXIQJ16qiohtGNJA7hlVI5u1TET5Ot_J_-2aIhheQKFmKAozz_/s1600/scorpion.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg279FVVxBhsGqonXv1LXDqgbEi4y_wOM9rGZ-uYkGDmySZnV2JGV0_YPc0PF8hChalxn_-iIXEBMCymHJwqAe75qV6CzEXIQJ16qiohtGNJA7hlVI5u1TET5Ot_J_-2aIhheQKFmKAozz_/s640/scorpion.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJXIlFKCyEL-Q1ZZE46w8yUFKKMuAzOEbW8PlO_vdP4eZpkzzMGvmu-iDcYK_D03bOwbi9MnVI7gj7lDd_uFfvFb-hGi634GCyCrIxShN_GqbAibsDv43J_dW1Kfzls8gDxFNG0lsBGv4/s1600/Ilet+de+Cabrit.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJXIlFKCyEL-Q1ZZE46w8yUFKKMuAzOEbW8PlO_vdP4eZpkzzMGvmu-iDcYK_D03bOwbi9MnVI7gj7lDd_uFfvFb-hGi634GCyCrIxShN_GqbAibsDv43J_dW1Kfzls8gDxFNG0lsBGv4/s320/Ilet+de+Cabrit.jpg" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1YWlQAf0AigTM4IbK_2VDozBf838FZzzWKH3XFjAA8xtLVbO9RniOmeXHkglZrKdXvFLMnOD3m8BCrxhtd0y87Jzqufs49EvK2bLhmowBHQgC_9IAu7s0aHmLlTh2fWusrM9FxKTRj8f/s1600/skull.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1YWlQAf0AigTM4IbK_2VDozBf838FZzzWKH3XFjAA8xtLVbO9RniOmeXHkglZrKdXvFLMnOD3m8BCrxhtd0y87Jzqufs49EvK2bLhmowBHQgC_9IAu7s0aHmLlTh2fWusrM9FxKTRj8f/s320/skull.jpg" /></a>
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It was early morning in June of 2016 when I was on the helm, making the three-day passage from Puerto Rico to Great Inagua in the Bahamas. This gorgeous Tropicbird tried four times to land on <i>Daystar</i>. I peered out from the below the bimini to look for her circling aft again, but she was nowhere to be seen in the sky. Looking forward again, there she was in the cockpit! Without the room for her wings to spread, she could not manage fly out, so we gave her a little assistance.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEino_tfKzWuw8APGUho0dx-8swhyphenhyphenuFd6kVf0CMGH5LTbENWmJp9cStLp67pjZC9CoPVIKmK3jhnpjDaFnN55rKyFeeaQgFQDLYh-Jr-JDz7bizPiZAyo0gCnOm7wzrARIDD3geGOOVbUUeY/s1600/tropicbird+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEino_tfKzWuw8APGUho0dx-8swhyphenhyphenuFd6kVf0CMGH5LTbENWmJp9cStLp67pjZC9CoPVIKmK3jhnpjDaFnN55rKyFeeaQgFQDLYh-Jr-JDz7bizPiZAyo0gCnOm7wzrARIDD3geGOOVbUUeY/s320/tropicbird+1.jpg" width="321" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cPMa1WnHBNCaOf2Y0qgrxU2ZHgkQtgxsCh-H4wU2UEqFiWJuNjUDWkWcoyfXSijkNTb5p3oYazoT0eAx2GkHXMy2mgBeSBB0Bs91VGLwHH70huBG-rsjF2JxJXzUchPsWBdrvgWVhLYw/s1600/tropicbird+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cPMa1WnHBNCaOf2Y0qgrxU2ZHgkQtgxsCh-H4wU2UEqFiWJuNjUDWkWcoyfXSijkNTb5p3oYazoT0eAx2GkHXMy2mgBeSBB0Bs91VGLwHH70huBG-rsjF2JxJXzUchPsWBdrvgWVhLYw/s320/tropicbird+2.jpg" width="309" /></a>
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This butterfly was keen to camouflage herself, first landing on the yellow lettering on our mainsail cradle-cover and then on this bright yellow line.
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Back in the Intracoastal Waterway, heading north this time, a North Carolina dragonfly hitched a brief ride on our mainmast halyard.
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This tadpole-looking critter appeared on the foredeck as we hauled anchor on our very last day in the Chesapeake Bay. Despite his fluttering and flapping, we were able to scoop him up and throw him back in.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com0Tracys Landing, MD 20779, USA38.780116199999988 -76.595793713.258081699999988 -117.9043877 64.302150699999984 -35.2871997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-79094303732655250122016-06-21T09:07:00.000-04:002018-10-16T13:06:12.791-04:00The Long Haul<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Paula</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spanish <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wells, Eleuthera,</span> The Bahamas</span></i></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnO6mgqancAHqs-2MepvoyHgxChe_gnNxp6kPTd9GS144DFXKaGOgbyGQXRZMgBAjbMrDHgYCcFwb8QFDKUCfQoQAtvGYOLU60GxnWyHOgDFETQMuRxUwlUttjALxV4MHD12N0lhorbs/s1600/20160120_170806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnO6mgqancAHqs-2MepvoyHgxChe_gnNxp6kPTd9GS144DFXKaGOgbyGQXRZMgBAjbMrDHgYCcFwb8QFDKUCfQoQAtvGYOLU60GxnWyHOgDFETQMuRxUwlUttjALxV4MHD12N0lhorbs/s400/20160120_170806.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cash is always looking forward to exploring the next destination.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We've all heard the maxim: it's not the destination, but the journey that counts. A great thought, yes, but sometimes you hope the journey is short and sweet so you can get to that destination. The Caribbean is such a popular place to sail for that reason exactly -- one can arrive at an amazing destination with a journey that is fairly painless. Most passages between anchorages or islands can be sailed in a day, some even in just a few hours.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NG0YoL2Tvt5fanrv9Y0XwI3A8USE2NcbHrr9ZFHtnl2aX-5e9L5kFnqwH-c1XOQOHA-xKuaWHFPT_UUkCWRip31Rdn26Xdx4r48P-5eRgF3__fkQESh85aeGatIl_WQ_qtsAzrZgl0Hf/s1600/blue+afaecs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NG0YoL2Tvt5fanrv9Y0XwI3A8USE2NcbHrr9ZFHtnl2aX-5e9L5kFnqwH-c1XOQOHA-xKuaWHFPT_UUkCWRip31Rdn26Xdx4r48P-5eRgF3__fkQESh85aeGatIl_WQ_qtsAzrZgl0Hf/s400/blue+afaecs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing but blue as far as the eye can see, sometimes for days.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There are some places out there, though, that are worth biting off a much longer sail. The countries of Guyana and Suriname were definitely two of them. Taking off from Tobago, it took three days to reach Guyana, and the trip from Guyana to Suriname was another three-day passage. Our return from Suriname all the way to Guadeloupe was a four-day sail, and the passage from Boquerón in Puerto Rico to Great Inagua in the Bahamas was also three full days of sailing. When we cruised in 1999, Greg and I made a seven-day passage from Antigua to Bermuda and then an eight-day passage from Bermuda to Nova Scotia.<br />
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Life on a moving sailboat is far, far different from life when sitting still in port. And even more so<br />
<a name='more'></a>when you are moving for many days at a time.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULXE9xdj59rkkxE69wpZsKGrZ0avnlVhqJFI6on5PFgpnJ9Tx42PfnTxiA-AW55VdGtwa6CK-RCcgKqMj3zir_Iv1xCXEJkFk1_Fq2rKGEsppMe-mQKVi-DrAFARuCz4UnUySRtWfzbU/s1600/20151219_160532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULXE9xdj59rkkxE69wpZsKGrZ0avnlVhqJFI6on5PFgpnJ9Tx42PfnTxiA-AW55VdGtwa6CK-RCcgKqMj3zir_Iv1xCXEJkFk1_Fq2rKGEsppMe-mQKVi-DrAFARuCz4UnUySRtWfzbU/s320/20151219_160532.jpg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's tough to make coffee while on<br />
the heal, but it is very necessary!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Food</b><br />
There's no quick trip to the store when at sea for five days, so we need to stock up before we leave. With a small fridge and no freezer, we need to plan carefully. Lots of cabbage, as it keeps for weeks unrefrigerated. We cook leafy greens beforehand, since they take up too much room otherwise. It's tough to use the stove when the boat is healing or rolling, though it can be done since boat ovens are gimbaled. But we prepare easy-to-eat meals ahead of time, like chicken, lasagna, and beans. I make sure we have enough granola and yogurt -- items we make ourselves -- before leaving.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNReR-_PQ2Eh8yxNwLm_sEK9IQr87m8hVUZQqKOvIyy3o7yyiRhkv_tT7gDIY-S_GT6-TuP6wroNb67EVHsdKAQHAWTXmIjxINfzOrqowHUBoj1P5ppKKlLe13oZP_WhPnvdzMfNQGwg8/s1600/151126+passage+Guyana+to+Suriname+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNReR-_PQ2Eh8yxNwLm_sEK9IQr87m8hVUZQqKOvIyy3o7yyiRhkv_tT7gDIY-S_GT6-TuP6wroNb67EVHsdKAQHAWTXmIjxINfzOrqowHUBoj1P5ppKKlLe13oZP_WhPnvdzMfNQGwg8/s320/151126+passage+Guyana+to+Suriname+%25283%2529.jpg" width="268" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">We make a modified version of lasagna we call <i>Pasta a la Dense</i> that we wrap in individual serving packages.</span></div>
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<b>The Cabin</b><br />
We are firm believers in a place for everything and everything in its place, but there are some items we keep out on a regular basis. That can't be the case when under way, because rolling, pitching and healing means stuff left out will not stay put. Unlike catamaran sailing,mono-hulls don't sail to weather unless they are healed over. Toothbrushes and drinking glasses, normally kept on a counter-top, get tucked away, pots and pans move to an inside-cabinet location, computers are secured, books go back on shelves.
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<b>Watch Schedule and Sleep</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWzicEJqVQebTd2Sm41mYBdTPxJqNRkS45aDdptHuymLa_RATlmO7SNz0BZdq3O0YblPXDYNTjOZR-Wr0qTNdDaR1HZnVqQOh5HdoVO5KSCMbQ-BHDwPSyZrAaJaWb_SyV09pKNLVSY0d/s1600/greg+on+helm+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWzicEJqVQebTd2Sm41mYBdTPxJqNRkS45aDdptHuymLa_RATlmO7SNz0BZdq3O0YblPXDYNTjOZR-Wr0qTNdDaR1HZnVqQOh5HdoVO5KSCMbQ-BHDwPSyZrAaJaWb_SyV09pKNLVSY0d/s400/greg+on+helm+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greg loves to be at the helm, but he<br />
agrees to give it up for some sleep <br />
when we are on a long passage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sailing long distances means sailing through day and night, nonstop. We create a watch system to regularly rotate the time on the helm. For our recent passages, Greg, Cash, and I each do three hours on, six hours off on the helm. That's a pretty civilized rotation that allows for getting a decent amount of sleep. Anna (a friend who came with us to South America) and Nicole take turns as support crew, keeping the helmsman company, getting food, making sure that all is okay in the cabin. Greg and I both did some late-night shifts on our own to give the girls some extra sleep time, but they did their part otherwise.<br />
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Sleeping on a heal or when the boat is rolling or pitching with the waves is not easy. A narrower space is better; that means less distance to roll. So that we don't roll off, we prepare bedding on the leeward settees and berths (that pushes us toward the wall rather than the floor side of the berth).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEqWs0Ses1UgFBQWOU-TfDpWFsvSNe5JnSq003RvlDnnyHClkWX-zQFbXZcxzaAKiIAN8H9p73gd1t8bo1EvwivQunQ8C9_LA9UqmNbwPgt89aY4lLBbpve4VbV_dZxdoj0Uj5oKs7vQ/s1600/150503+kids+asleep+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEqWs0Ses1UgFBQWOU-TfDpWFsvSNe5JnSq003RvlDnnyHClkWX-zQFbXZcxzaAKiIAN8H9p73gd1t8bo1EvwivQunQ8C9_LA9UqmNbwPgt89aY4lLBbpve4VbV_dZxdoj0Uj5oKs7vQ/s640/150503+kids+asleep+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole catches some sleep on the leeward pilot berth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr align="center">
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFP0W2G-uVibKtA1J7-btnzW5CP48N7hT_bCFZpg3z5nJCWbqqbnF-2BjapKzFPWnBSlyi8N9_SfhQxkH03qDrhxEQbtw5RTqDSiscJnkOV5lRVsxvW3QntmWrvXos0fgNviJ3bDp5p-g/s1600/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252898%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFP0W2G-uVibKtA1J7-btnzW5CP48N7hT_bCFZpg3z5nJCWbqqbnF-2BjapKzFPWnBSlyi8N9_SfhQxkH03qDrhxEQbtw5RTqDSiscJnkOV5lRVsxvW3QntmWrvXos0fgNviJ3bDp5p-g/s320/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252898%2529.jpg" width="428" /></a>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">When night falls, we just keep sailing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">It can be scary at night but also amazingly peaceful.</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGWozlipSt-FlM-cLXYw53l194DLnCC_Qu5UYuy_kywRTTp6p6YvJcAq0I_ZpxJHdFELuZ5fYN3fh3TBy3qRRKqvNPwCS5ym51aC9GYARupkrycO67BRrspLdTKLvyY2upMyRa4eQhME/s1600/151127+passage+Guyana+to+Suriname+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGWozlipSt-FlM-cLXYw53l194DLnCC_Qu5UYuy_kywRTTp6p6YvJcAq0I_ZpxJHdFELuZ5fYN3fh3TBy3qRRKqvNPwCS5ym51aC9GYARupkrycO67BRrspLdTKLvyY2upMyRa4eQhME/s320/151127+passage+Guyana+to+Suriname+%25288%2529.jpg" width="135" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">We love when the moon </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">lights up the sea and sky.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiT-z4io8roa-uW0z-z0wZicoVn_pBUINN6gk11HPANLh8wKeSjkk6rdFn9hlrC-9jL2dTtdpLKs4Qrdl62Hk7w1IJQLwNqyfV8Sqt0dpsszYtX-4u6-1tqYsK4MgqeTR6sUSiej9UcM/s1600/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252857%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiT-z4io8roa-uW0z-z0wZicoVn_pBUINN6gk11HPANLh8wKeSjkk6rdFn9hlrC-9jL2dTtdpLKs4Qrdl62Hk7w1IJQLwNqyfV8Sqt0dpsszYtX-4u6-1tqYsK4MgqeTR6sUSiej9UcM/s400/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252857%2529.jpg" width="224" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our "auto pilot" is a simple line that </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">lashes the wheel to keep it in place.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>At the helm</b><br />
Many modern sailboats come equipped with an autopilot -- an electronic device that steers the boat on a programmed course. Old boats (and some still today) have similar device called a wind vane, which attaches at the stern and works mechanically. On Daystar, we've got neither (a poorly installed electronic autopilot has yet to function properly). That means hand-steering the whole way. We can, however, on some points of sail, create our own "autopilot" by lashing the wheel and properly trimming the sails. Just a simple line connecting the wheel to a nearby cleat secures the wheel in place. This keeps the boat on a fairly consistent path, making the helm hands-free or requiring adjustment only every few minutes. This makes it possible to take a bathroom break without someone there to takeover, which is nice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2ZnaUbu_NYzPOWPOCPNLrIovPaRT20Uj7ePf0zzI9rkLAQMrIM0OFSztBhfcWXw5jpGX4BvrXWpnkNNNeM4ORd1mpPmDOTxBVCsVllkU4zFbbdzdK2JtlGGZRacNEhg7JS-4GfdbcFQ/s1600/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252854%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2ZnaUbu_NYzPOWPOCPNLrIovPaRT20Uj7ePf0zzI9rkLAQMrIM0OFSztBhfcWXw5jpGX4BvrXWpnkNNNeM4ORd1mpPmDOTxBVCsVllkU4zFbbdzdK2JtlGGZRacNEhg7JS-4GfdbcFQ/s320/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252854%2529.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tether connects our life <br />
vests to the boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>Safety</b><br />
We insist that the helmsman wear a life vest and tether whenever at the wheel alone. And everyone must wear them at night, always. Jack-lines are rigged so that anyone can remain tethered to the boat when going forward to raise sails or fix problems. The dinghy is normally tied to the boat while we are anchored, streaming behind and ready for use. And we can keep it that way for a short sail. It adds a bit of drag, but not enough to overcome the ease of readiness once we arrive. Towing a dinghy can be a safety factor should rough weather occur, and it could easily be ripped from the boat by strong seas or winds. For longer passages we stow the dinghy semi-deflated and upside-down on the foredeck.
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsUrnKTf1d8UtMSGuhFoiQV9SGAOedZMfiTerc5yVeEkfEexOvAD_qRs1DM9sAsPHPZfspdnmCq96Xw5zpo9DWRnDQrfDIzXb_u2t9RRz1B6QNBWE-6ZpH02dLpo5WpyOBnmTNzPRzaU/s1600/20151125_164835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsUrnKTf1d8UtMSGuhFoiQV9SGAOedZMfiTerc5yVeEkfEexOvAD_qRs1DM9sAsPHPZfspdnmCq96Xw5zpo9DWRnDQrfDIzXb_u2t9RRz1B6QNBWE-6ZpH02dLpo5WpyOBnmTNzPRzaU/s640/20151125_164835.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stow the dinghy on the foredeck for long passages.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYD9x-2dyFmN2hqsK0ERPOrJCZAlToQnYnBE6ikUjPF__sqxKZJ_oAE-7lmpRf25eqJLhGcuRu_OTwJw3bWrCbQUms2lEzZkaDq_CF6OMZOS4rjqrEUjVIvf1OHfYzcPWWnEvPXR16xJI/s1600/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252839%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYD9x-2dyFmN2hqsK0ERPOrJCZAlToQnYnBE6ikUjPF__sqxKZJ_oAE-7lmpRf25eqJLhGcuRu_OTwJw3bWrCbQUms2lEzZkaDq_CF6OMZOS4rjqrEUjVIvf1OHfYzcPWWnEvPXR16xJI/s320/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252839%2529.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's the tropics, but I still need my wool top and knit cap!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Clothes</b><br />
<i>Daystar</i> is a wet boat. Our cockpit is protected only by a small dodger and our small bimini, which keeps some rain off the helmsman, but little else. Waves and spray over the side always manage to get us soaked, and there's no stopping for a break should it start pouring (sometimes if conditions are extremely rough we heave-to and all head below). We stay in the same outfit for the whole passage; there's no use in getting all our clothes salty and wet.<br />
<br />
Daytime travel isn't so bad, though, because the hot sun gets us dry again in no time. Amazingly, it is cool at night, even down here at 6 degrees latitude. Sometimes we need to break out the long pants and fleece tops for night watches.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Passing the time</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OnUlXnXafw4ACGaFQgajxXZygsWU8nV8GOUa5J1GGWjw4GCpnPbsZ0hT2h_RVkotU6qZ5kfg62p6IMa6EyjSD831g0Lc76TsWOM6rn0HyMgPAwS6UKB5snfX0SShJCWnYql21RBd7X8/s1600/151128+passage+Guyana+to+Suriname+%252830%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OnUlXnXafw4ACGaFQgajxXZygsWU8nV8GOUa5J1GGWjw4GCpnPbsZ0hT2h_RVkotU6qZ5kfg62p6IMa6EyjSD831g0Lc76TsWOM6rn0HyMgPAwS6UKB5snfX0SShJCWnYql21RBd7X8/s400/151128+passage+Guyana+to+Suriname+%252830%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cash sings and plays guitar to entertain Greg while he is on the helm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first night can be tough, but eventually the rhythm of the watch schedule settles in and becomes comfortable. Life becomes a pattern of driving, sleeping, eating. Not much else productive is usually accomplished on these passages by most of us. Both Cash and Nicole are prone to seasickness, so they are not up for any activity when below. Cash does spend some of his down-time entertaining the helmsman with his guitar. Greg isn't often seasick, but he can't read without feeling queasy. He often gets small rope-work jobs done in the cockpit when off watch. Amazingly, I haven't ever been seasick, and I can read and prepare schoolwork and write easily when below.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA30kx8gCW2bKOAJRFebP1QExQYIy1QFwRR7W8fJP-YM2E1WIoRgnU7dGe_cNzCY6UobxpAE-Xb_Z-XoyPMub6kLmhn_GMY5vlbkRUGmTp2lvLSPRMa8MY5tXSdJpYUtr8QTuj_Sw7Fqw/s1600/20151128_113852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA30kx8gCW2bKOAJRFebP1QExQYIy1QFwRR7W8fJP-YM2E1WIoRgnU7dGe_cNzCY6UobxpAE-Xb_Z-XoyPMub6kLmhn_GMY5vlbkRUGmTp2lvLSPRMa8MY5tXSdJpYUtr8QTuj_Sw7Fqw/s640/20151128_113852.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A turn at the helm isn't so bad when you have two fun girls for company.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;" text-align:="center"><tbody>
<tr align="center"><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_DAO5uDp29wqQWQjDXFax7MYEptGyB_4RwS4z_Ge9_YJRW9IxXrVeRRX9XyFVHthRUOLdo5aaPNhs9tcQqBvTq9DcBa_4gF1Pb4rqC7oCrrg7IZN_ZpT2bizqAGwLS5i1hWfvGSm7fc/s1600/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252845%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_DAO5uDp29wqQWQjDXFax7MYEptGyB_4RwS4z_Ge9_YJRW9IxXrVeRRX9XyFVHthRUOLdo5aaPNhs9tcQqBvTq9DcBa_4gF1Pb4rqC7oCrrg7IZN_ZpT2bizqAGwLS5i1hWfvGSm7fc/s400/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252845%2529.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Greg and Nicole on the foredeck repairing </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> the roller-furler. Something almost always </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">breaks on a passage, and the only option</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">is to fix it "ourselves" (meaning Greg).</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYP91UWGhw1YeLp_T7MkXhtTq-3YLBch7Bg2hvoDu8x3cMMxJxhtLZMeNVBta8oiwJ2_kBkr8O-qVQRN0-jVgC4nsPrMQjMThs3QZ0xRSpc6sv4e7oQk2alZeKWwMUQAfeCQkpbuHzT8/s1600/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252891%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYP91UWGhw1YeLp_T7MkXhtTq-3YLBch7Bg2hvoDu8x3cMMxJxhtLZMeNVBta8oiwJ2_kBkr8O-qVQRN0-jVgC4nsPrMQjMThs3QZ0xRSpc6sv4e7oQk2alZeKWwMUQAfeCQkpbuHzT8/s320/151113+to+16+passage+to+Guyana+%252891%2529.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">If things get too rough, we can heave-to by adjusting</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">the sails in a way that keeps the boat mostly stopped.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Here we heave-to near the Guyana shore to wait for </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">the sun to rise so that we can see the many fish traps.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8e15eyFNDPG6pmkG0G86MMQcBEGsACvaEsVvsw41uAflywN4EwT0BnCQVZL_ppLgUDEgAdPZIPPVDHuDY55uBW6jq4ttejv1E_aQPwnHtxCaw8SFsWe0GO1DXg1v1Uf8ulirivzpSWo/s1600/toast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8e15eyFNDPG6pmkG0G86MMQcBEGsACvaEsVvsw41uAflywN4EwT0BnCQVZL_ppLgUDEgAdPZIPPVDHuDY55uBW6jq4ttejv1E_aQPwnHtxCaw8SFsWe0GO1DXg1v1Uf8ulirivzpSWo/s400/toast.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Long passages are a challenge, and their successful completion feels like a great accomplishment. We've developed a tradition of ending each passage in the same way: a toast of lemonade or beer for all hands just after anchoring. Soon we will haul anchor and head out again, always on the move. We are all looking forward to our next toast!
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FFRMGmIxZVRU884PjiLOLmPUHbDYA6ZlvUXx2jgqsoyHtGri64cLojV86XdaBi8wlirzaYZd6zxrkzDxZ2X9XJEix5KyqCHcknierjGp_ooEdyXK6ZAZA47WKbtZR0p_3PduuFurrg0/s1600/20160117_175730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FFRMGmIxZVRU884PjiLOLmPUHbDYA6ZlvUXx2jgqsoyHtGri64cLojV86XdaBi8wlirzaYZd6zxrkzDxZ2X9XJEix5KyqCHcknierjGp_ooEdyXK6ZAZA47WKbtZR0p_3PduuFurrg0/s640/20160117_175730.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The difficulty of a long passage is often rewarded by the beauty around us.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com1Eleuthera, The Bahamas24.9314461 -76.18996609999999224.0111191 -77.480859599999988 25.8517731 -74.8990726tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-39061379043236728902016-06-16T18:59:00.000-04:002016-06-16T18:59:42.487-04:00Leaving Our Mark<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Paula</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nassau, Bahamas</span></i></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWP-nBxssV9Vv1vwZeE6DMXtdtkqx9rXO-AouoRmPNsUJMBrKaM-J-TtBLO49eOMt_0AwzNYIG-FbIZNIr0QkPNoi8g4HjsNV0IygJoGVvroCRAr6x1kTpUSP4TnugfTPr-pAr0bekNPR/s1600/Boo+Boo+pile+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWP-nBxssV9Vv1vwZeE6DMXtdtkqx9rXO-AouoRmPNsUJMBrKaM-J-TtBLO49eOMt_0AwzNYIG-FbIZNIr0QkPNoi8g4HjsNV0IygJoGVvroCRAr6x1kTpUSP4TnugfTPr-pAr0bekNPR/s400/Boo+Boo+pile+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Battling mosquitoes with each step past low shrubs and craggy limestone, we made our way up Boo Boo Hill. This well-known spot on Warderick Wells shares the cay with the small headquarters building of the Exuma Land and Sea Park. This low rise was named for the sailors who were shipwrecked here. Legend has it that their ghostly singing can be heard on a still night. At the crest of this small hill lies a large pile of driftwood and other objects, adorned with visiting boat names. Just like the first time we visited, we were ready to leave our mark.
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<br />
<br />
In the beautiful scenery and pristine waters through which we've traveled, we have practiced the "take only photographs, leave only footprints" adage. However, in a few spots, we've had the chance to leave a little bit our ourselves behind.<br />
<br />
At JR's Bistro in the Dominican Republic, Nicole drew our logo on the signing wall where we spent many an evening during the hurricane season.
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uglFCsfKYkgCyWU1KP4XJNSRsiZ1gdyJTy6iF8Ij8OAT2T3hJDS0m9H1mc505vMxnfBfSi9UX6FGeLBfYlySWBIn3yTfsqyyxjD6eDQsSo6ZPnkFxMApWWexA7ZM-cCv_GT6cqwTD-87/s1600/141113+JRs+wall+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uglFCsfKYkgCyWU1KP4XJNSRsiZ1gdyJTy6iF8Ij8OAT2T3hJDS0m9H1mc505vMxnfBfSi9UX6FGeLBfYlySWBIn3yTfsqyyxjD6eDQsSo6ZPnkFxMApWWexA7ZM-cCv_GT6cqwTD-87/s640/141113+JRs+wall+%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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When we sailed through in 2013, Greg carved <i>Daystar</i>’s name onto a piece of fan coral he found on the eastern side of the cay using a piece of sea-glass. We added it to the pile amidst the other mementos on Boo Boo Hill.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qinriKug2280x67qq0n2ZGUBH7kJ6S2tFzjb2lTcKK59OeNJWcA-NbvxMN8RCiRGy6oaWjhcDGzpt7F1pygSRRS0CnzChrYA3HX0Q_26pVkN7IfVLtM-aO_3KMtDDKqfRFc78SWAubWJ/s1600/Boo+Boo+Daystar+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qinriKug2280x67qq0n2ZGUBH7kJ6S2tFzjb2lTcKK59OeNJWcA-NbvxMN8RCiRGy6oaWjhcDGzpt7F1pygSRRS0CnzChrYA3HX0Q_26pVkN7IfVLtM-aO_3KMtDDKqfRFc78SWAubWJ/s640/Boo+Boo+Daystar+1.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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We donated a hand-made Puerto Rican flag to hang with the others at the Sal Pa Dentro restaurant in Salinas, Puerto Rico.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5PAkHDPxZTU2CGjkh1Z3ymzAGLe8qry4pWdoDHBhyphenhyphen8LH2Mrgf_QGCofa5IB4_elb5-qoGNPaCSjoL3gyMFns4xzFhS8fTVFme6Rq11PgpegE5L7RK0YBC9plnvGgEJOIwUE7djMKkJcr/s1600/SPD+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5PAkHDPxZTU2CGjkh1Z3ymzAGLe8qry4pWdoDHBhyphenhyphen8LH2Mrgf_QGCofa5IB4_elb5-qoGNPaCSjoL3gyMFns4xzFhS8fTVFme6Rq11PgpegE5L7RK0YBC9plnvGgEJOIwUE7djMKkJcr/s320/SPD+flag.jpg" width="333" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WiYDsWSjDMDsEO7t_sEgrv453xBDIiaBHqqed3O1uf2QkmtvPXqApRYd1XQAkhDhlgb85uLt0rf9d1fE1Vxtq62wgPb0aL_Cf12UP-K-u3N7ocyyo93kvUNuiULwo68Ck429CAIYYBfL/s1600/SPD+with+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WiYDsWSjDMDsEO7t_sEgrv453xBDIiaBHqqed3O1uf2QkmtvPXqApRYd1XQAkhDhlgb85uLt0rf9d1fE1Vxtq62wgPb0aL_Cf12UP-K-u3N7ocyyo93kvUNuiULwo68Ck429CAIYYBfL/s320/SPD+with+dog.jpg" width="292" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdL971fbxfcz2tBTXgiqoapgWs-xtwvfmX5gF0Wx4u2W6iK90U6VJbSDXw5hUS1Yp40JK-yzTR0UEMPuiIgPzDkbAQLA2r2tdkjVJ7WWB0AMz3LMNBnAP2gZK596pewrvz0kkyGBgIiDg/s1600/SPD+with+John.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdL971fbxfcz2tBTXgiqoapgWs-xtwvfmX5gF0Wx4u2W6iK90U6VJbSDXw5hUS1Yp40JK-yzTR0UEMPuiIgPzDkbAQLA2r2tdkjVJ7WWB0AMz3LMNBnAP2gZK596pewrvz0kkyGBgIiDg/s640/SPD+with+John.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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We met Elisa and Rudolf on Tulum III in Georgetown in the Bahamas, and spent hurricane season 2014 with them in Luperon. They invited us to sign their mast, a tradition they started years before.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLygPLGblmr5psX35A-D81dq0SOfY6a5p6MNe8nJtMHG5Ocg5M2fsz7sqWZTLSm7CjzPlYcXosQEG-K6q5lABqdYNwFShntkpNsGF0LNNUvz7wBL3g4GBJeHghGqkxjV0w0BDNu5nWT6bW/s1600/Tulum.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLygPLGblmr5psX35A-D81dq0SOfY6a5p6MNe8nJtMHG5Ocg5M2fsz7sqWZTLSm7CjzPlYcXosQEG-K6q5lABqdYNwFShntkpNsGF0LNNUvz7wBL3g4GBJeHghGqkxjV0w0BDNu5nWT6bW/s320/Tulum.jpg" width="321" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJo25Zu-BieZs_fcPTdA4HyUMeV1QI4dUXHKBoLr_E7oMTkK0Bj9AuvnFyPykk-LLvlfFX_vn9SQFu2SMZV8E9Jen4PyTKdUBOF3lqEqsf5sk_YgRI2FC3K-aSzfYTJttKfuFvNHVVPtl/s1600/Tulum+mast+3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJo25Zu-BieZs_fcPTdA4HyUMeV1QI4dUXHKBoLr_E7oMTkK0Bj9AuvnFyPykk-LLvlfFX_vn9SQFu2SMZV8E9Jen4PyTKdUBOF3lqEqsf5sk_YgRI2FC3K-aSzfYTJttKfuFvNHVVPtl/s320/Tulum+mast+3.jpg" width="133" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJInBwihVL-TrsqEgO2sPhbRt6WhMZEl7nWLY63keK3uoSuXxVH3sBFxDRHUDrK2sI-14BwvORzbdv-isi1Z21GbZIzV-vCvJk1RSvIMJsRMxJTvAj0yJFLW2f8vQhalm6EmBz9JVQNaHW/s1600/Tulum+mast+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJInBwihVL-TrsqEgO2sPhbRt6WhMZEl7nWLY63keK3uoSuXxVH3sBFxDRHUDrK2sI-14BwvORzbdv-isi1Z21GbZIzV-vCvJk1RSvIMJsRMxJTvAj0yJFLW2f8vQhalm6EmBz9JVQNaHW/s640/Tulum+mast+2.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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At Big Sand Cay in the Turks & Caicos, we wrote our personal catch phrase, <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2014/04/on-air.html" target="_blank">sung by radio show host Rhett Palmer</a>, in the soft, fine sand. This mark was washed away by the gentle strokes of the waves.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIYWpD1C-NbTOTcT6DfOXzDWDSw3vdVkxrZfjtOQEnuak5uP7jnH81NKZ5W4TshOoDfQIgM_wL4XYYXb0bCe4meacyIqRoJc4VHNPv50rcbmAK1G60cE5N6hN4H1zzQZ2aLS3NzW196fD/s1600/Big+Sand.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIYWpD1C-NbTOTcT6DfOXzDWDSw3vdVkxrZfjtOQEnuak5uP7jnH81NKZ5W4TshOoDfQIgM_wL4XYYXb0bCe4meacyIqRoJc4VHNPv50rcbmAK1G60cE5N6hN4H1zzQZ2aLS3NzW196fD/s640/Big+Sand.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Back on Boo Boo Hill as we return to the US through the beautiful Bahamian island, we, again, leave our mark. This time we created a wooden sign, each taking a turn to craft our message.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-ZkGTVJA5Ip1ptrg0quK9TVIb8m2dxoL2iPjYQt5P0G2qcI3wPXks8hFyXZzhh-xVS9QGCNxmKL41WJZi43nOvlidxm_CPjGWuq1W3eHpF-3Whv9M4qYd8LiC85Hmj8_N4HmvfllSTNK/s1600/Nicole.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-ZkGTVJA5Ip1ptrg0quK9TVIb8m2dxoL2iPjYQt5P0G2qcI3wPXks8hFyXZzhh-xVS9QGCNxmKL41WJZi43nOvlidxm_CPjGWuq1W3eHpF-3Whv9M4qYd8LiC85Hmj8_N4HmvfllSTNK/s200/Nicole.jpg" width="178" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfRWdCNyQdFMQg72xyLYTrsBtwuyVs3QpfhzBRqxBPGWOmonSChLnpxjKye9-7eBEMuJ4tx90_TTep1DQANBOYeOyJg0CBttkwyZE7YgS5c8EA868fCwHmmuO91i71i4TVmda1avziu-6/s1600/Greg.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfRWdCNyQdFMQg72xyLYTrsBtwuyVs3QpfhzBRqxBPGWOmonSChLnpxjKye9-7eBEMuJ4tx90_TTep1DQANBOYeOyJg0CBttkwyZE7YgS5c8EA868fCwHmmuO91i71i4TVmda1avziu-6/s200/Greg.jpg" width="113" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-SJpQMhvUdc1F3TkwhGRl5-7fLHOxljs-mk2XaWFRnUjYUjCAE1cJEiAj3qTlVKGQ2ZQud-WVwjiRWtC3-poqJl692xP-L8VbiP943ueyCu6cNVMjPLfOPz-ZR-DaO6d0_WjVP3igkh7/s1600/Cash.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-SJpQMhvUdc1F3TkwhGRl5-7fLHOxljs-mk2XaWFRnUjYUjCAE1cJEiAj3qTlVKGQ2ZQud-WVwjiRWtC3-poqJl692xP-L8VbiP943ueyCu6cNVMjPLfOPz-ZR-DaO6d0_WjVP3igkh7/s200/Cash.jpg" width="181" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2aDx-Ul6eJhDx9LVp0-i2GJXKu4ntuSgSdW2qWgdldjj4Mx52yJej-prl9m0QUahSdLgZXAuZvpqOLF75NM5xLf3NKaaCxmgNE32TOaF2TvK9RzRtOzW_RzZug-RBf2bXicExF8NVbbh/s1600/Paula.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2aDx-Ul6eJhDx9LVp0-i2GJXKu4ntuSgSdW2qWgdldjj4Mx52yJej-prl9m0QUahSdLgZXAuZvpqOLF75NM5xLf3NKaaCxmgNE32TOaF2TvK9RzRtOzW_RzZug-RBf2bXicExF8NVbbh/s200/Paula.jpg" width="141" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoH_l1oklxysl53Ulsc5DQ39TIfe9qJrQ3_fO53G3Le3LIa_EqXdv_GBTdsNnYE8HqbgJUR_By0wSrbRFwiqQVOB_OzJtYdmXmHf1l0mCOfWsW87lDTvf-2kxbBbyBWnAw-6g46afkLC21/s1600/Daystar+in+place.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoH_l1oklxysl53Ulsc5DQ39TIfe9qJrQ3_fO53G3Le3LIa_EqXdv_GBTdsNnYE8HqbgJUR_By0wSrbRFwiqQVOB_OzJtYdmXmHf1l0mCOfWsW87lDTvf-2kxbBbyBWnAw-6g46afkLC21/s640/Daystar+in+place.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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How fun it was to place it among others, whose boat names called out to us the many friendships we have made during our time out here.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_Gr4VH30shtSZJUZIM-h9DFtgs67XKq33593ImNiEu0WeL_ap52GN6Uikacsai9TkpSnbEKg8m_HK1I51tyC4m4TukXA2Teqj6oSwVr2m9keJneqpoHRNve5zBqxdUgC1rFjSno9-qoc/s1600/BB+Shambala.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_Gr4VH30shtSZJUZIM-h9DFtgs67XKq33593ImNiEu0WeL_ap52GN6Uikacsai9TkpSnbEKg8m_HK1I51tyC4m4TukXA2Teqj6oSwVr2m9keJneqpoHRNve5zBqxdUgC1rFjSno9-qoc/s400/BB+Shambala.jpg" width="435" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNcaH_Q1M5iDmBfOakat6mwBa2nwhU12hWH121qGfD82c8J8PfoLFGT0Bqyza01aQhPBOouEoKFdHsIzhBGSmj05K-t02qvTBzN66Eu-9zxBKk03I9I5P2dR1RoGu96ri4nwFBy80EMIT/s1600/Proud+Mary.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNcaH_Q1M5iDmBfOakat6mwBa2nwhU12hWH121qGfD82c8J8PfoLFGT0Bqyza01aQhPBOouEoKFdHsIzhBGSmj05K-t02qvTBzN66Eu-9zxBKk03I9I5P2dR1RoGu96ri4nwFBy80EMIT/s200/Proud+Mary.jpg" width="188" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqhuAbTdEU4dcl_IGeT7zeeA-P1YsSIklzvtXrWY2dI8Wyc3fzzgPlgqjefPFvlU3aMXBR4CAfUwf9N3LLlPtt7WUTvWxmx-isNhJsE-l6gUPNNwupfdhGsgzzYVblx_Sfc867kdYPJZk/s1600/skylark.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqhuAbTdEU4dcl_IGeT7zeeA-P1YsSIklzvtXrWY2dI8Wyc3fzzgPlgqjefPFvlU3aMXBR4CAfUwf9N3LLlPtt7WUTvWxmx-isNhJsE-l6gUPNNwupfdhGsgzzYVblx_Sfc867kdYPJZk/s200/skylark.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-bGrrqF59K13cYTQ89EKAgenh9VijQ1ZrKAOulKxGSWgJ2X6cjTJ9fwO41dp-E3SeyhiFsYd2D_ko3jaBIb81MR3F2L34ETsFMHW07QGCgrL20bgIwjWGhyphenhyphenH08IgRC4V8uv81vcEXvFL/s1600/TLB.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-bGrrqF59K13cYTQ89EKAgenh9VijQ1ZrKAOulKxGSWgJ2X6cjTJ9fwO41dp-E3SeyhiFsYd2D_ko3jaBIb81MR3F2L34ETsFMHW07QGCgrL20bgIwjWGhyphenhyphenH08IgRC4V8uv81vcEXvFL/s320/TLB.jpg" width="349" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mfqJDnIf05ZnrWa1BsYvKzlxk1p-miCbvuZARgr-dTNm7pUlpBshX695JNWdrxXpSWZuvtNKB9cPFMyMSOEzyNVsNGPrBLGijDQn_r0C59conDNGB60FgcnNghcIBON0NyAIOqE-luEO/s1600/Gavroche.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mfqJDnIf05ZnrWa1BsYvKzlxk1p-miCbvuZARgr-dTNm7pUlpBshX695JNWdrxXpSWZuvtNKB9cPFMyMSOEzyNVsNGPrBLGijDQn_r0C59conDNGB60FgcnNghcIBON0NyAIOqE-luEO/s320/Gavroche.jpg" width="327" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-5syxrPyrqB_NntUVR27c3tOkAuCj-NqmR0lh6Gtpx_VsKeywH_rOdPtgfZIJwTzGAmZrfOXJTjB8e03mRylHRA3en9MXwMBPG3q_q3db8C3V8KEEfhCjOoU4DjN1sJbdApUpZ4Cn1Ic/s1600/Baby+Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-5syxrPyrqB_NntUVR27c3tOkAuCj-NqmR0lh6Gtpx_VsKeywH_rOdPtgfZIJwTzGAmZrfOXJTjB8e03mRylHRA3en9MXwMBPG3q_q3db8C3V8KEEfhCjOoU4DjN1sJbdApUpZ4Cn1Ic/s320/Baby+Blue.jpg" width="306" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJI6EYkmej7VPpZ1ugwBmv6_RQeFwnsurhbjV2mgDA6PVZs1Rwbzu9S-kuEWmDXNV4nNcxnKaZK7Yp4As7w2tX-XvBid7fIr0tYmJpSURkJ93qIeoF0cHcXQjUDcdwoWLQyEcoDdo4Myz/s1600/BM+MR.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJI6EYkmej7VPpZ1ugwBmv6_RQeFwnsurhbjV2mgDA6PVZs1Rwbzu9S-kuEWmDXNV4nNcxnKaZK7Yp4As7w2tX-XvBid7fIr0tYmJpSURkJ93qIeoF0cHcXQjUDcdwoWLQyEcoDdo4Myz/s640/BM+MR.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Our time at sea has been an amazing journey in which one thing is for certain: it has left its mark on us.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-52837652061131739272016-06-08T12:21:00.001-04:002021-04-11T21:53:09.803-04:00Ash, Ash, and More Ash<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>by <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Nicole</span></i><br /><i>At anchor<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">, Staniel Cay, The Bahamas</span></i></span><br />
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<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVKjxhAuyuaJvXuGWYEF47vXEXkydxyGIAWahsz5Kwbrqf9EDYoqnLd9gGbkvzSfLU49tIV7qxzJhjKkohbFP7vKeSmsMik6Nf4shC7udl32lJFdQk9cduQUEwt78dICoV2IgPZVCW14/s1600/sign.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVKjxhAuyuaJvXuGWYEF47vXEXkydxyGIAWahsz5Kwbrqf9EDYoqnLd9gGbkvzSfLU49tIV7qxzJhjKkohbFP7vKeSmsMik6Nf4shC7udl32lJFdQk9cduQUEwt78dICoV2IgPZVCW14/s320/sign.jpg" /></a>Touring the ruins in Montserrat was a completely new experience. We had seen many ruins before, but nothing quite like this. On July 18, 1995 the dormant Soufriere Hills volcano became active, exploding and destroying the capitol city of Plymouth. From that time until 2000, nearly two-thirds of the island's population fled, mostly going to the United Kingdom. You can find out more about the island <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2016/05/the-emerald-island-of-caribbean.html" target="_blank">here</a>. The volcano has been relatively quiet since early 2010, but it is still studied closely. It is the most studied volcano in the world and it is known as, "Modern Day Pompeii." There is an exclusion zone around most of Plymouth, which means that no one can enter that area. Montserrat Springs Hotel is located just at the edge of the Exclusion zone. Until recently,<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>this area was within the larger exclusion zone, and the public did not have access to it. Now that it is open, people can explore it. These ruins were amazing because every surface was covered in a couple feet of ash. There was even a swimming pool that had been completely filled up. It was a crazy thing to see, and one that was completely unique. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUN6JPZ9O-ux5s5LeP8l_RhFWfaYZeEYVXNhkwt5q2o91M6U06xiGWcEl-tYzQzOQFuKh4ajzqaKd3ob9EtdiPFUnMtdLLt3z9ry6e5wfFzCyDRUo1IFLfzga97f-NmCQ9xAfb0-1CIU/s1600/volcano+in+distance.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUN6JPZ9O-ux5s5LeP8l_RhFWfaYZeEYVXNhkwt5q2o91M6U06xiGWcEl-tYzQzOQFuKh4ajzqaKd3ob9EtdiPFUnMtdLLt3z9ry6e5wfFzCyDRUo1IFLfzga97f-NmCQ9xAfb0-1CIU/s400/volcano+in+distance.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sufriere Hills Volcano, seen from the grounds of the Montserrat Springs Hotel. </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jf3-Ro-g_WKov2O946GKHReYEGM5GKhlVfXUuJK3JrhsPt5n7n7-H3-4VgVJjsU1rsgEd05EVta8-MVckY3hFu_mrtYzC30zQqDQu6uTgGnNQD-ADzufHmvtd2cvPEAE5MsfGJ6sGHQ/s1600/hotel+from+front.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jf3-Ro-g_WKov2O946GKHReYEGM5GKhlVfXUuJK3JrhsPt5n7n7-H3-4VgVJjsU1rsgEd05EVta8-MVckY3hFu_mrtYzC30zQqDQu6uTgGnNQD-ADzufHmvtd2cvPEAE5MsfGJ6sGHQ/s400/hotel+from+front.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Montserrat Springs Hotel entrance.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhobLwYsSnSB7lnEmd1GfJTpqNKYgRvI5iDLhyV7n4ScGiCDlyMP2lru_O6aXBoGN0kQ1Phjm7Hy2eLjKI3rf4q5bfsS9UqgvUszY6FAgVg_9SnseXMQ_KbaAEdKzjjoxcSEc8zycdeKI/s1600/entry.jpg"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhobLwYsSnSB7lnEmd1GfJTpqNKYgRvI5iDLhyV7n4ScGiCDlyMP2lru_O6aXBoGN0kQ1Phjm7Hy2eLjKI3rf4q5bfsS9UqgvUszY6FAgVg_9SnseXMQ_KbaAEdKzjjoxcSEc8zycdeKI/s320/entry.jpg" width="162" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZri-0HHRitvgaHVhxYbNtjd2LrUyPTK4o28uZM6SNHkcuzQf1B_k55zyKFRwHih4e5ExOWzhh8NUDqCVDGcTokaSKeznihNThOmDKGvrclDuvxeVltf79m4bi7a2Op97aoqgEHGXoOrE/s1600/lump+at+entrance.jpg"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZri-0HHRitvgaHVhxYbNtjd2LrUyPTK4o28uZM6SNHkcuzQf1B_k55zyKFRwHih4e5ExOWzhh8NUDqCVDGcTokaSKeznihNThOmDKGvrclDuvxeVltf79m4bi7a2Op97aoqgEHGXoOrE/s400/lump+at+entrance.jpg" width="445" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">In the lobby a path was dug through the ash. </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrei3e-PH7UrsXVRbzUmtGrHzHI3Pv1AlZ6BdjlZKj2x9tzsMbrcqZRr-lA5lz3BLWoz-CBIy6V6TO534T5vdb6_qJjl1ew7pPZkCubd6RMRJ7zGKcRz7d3r081WKRtIjL97kCBCcqtk/s1600/ceiling+fan.jpg"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrei3e-PH7UrsXVRbzUmtGrHzHI3Pv1AlZ6BdjlZKj2x9tzsMbrcqZRr-lA5lz3BLWoz-CBIy6V6TO534T5vdb6_qJjl1ew7pPZkCubd6RMRJ7zGKcRz7d3r081WKRtIjL97kCBCcqtk/s400/ceiling+fan.jpg" width="444" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbBRryxlDdB4ROyzZ3hTxKciBwr-8vQZMD7Wyjdx0vtpL8A_AcDIlBlqMGZixS5wAOQ2xyZbhdF3BRnhJpYuyyLkssmI8ZBLm8Msm3QqKT1xGkESBwMTYbCQp22qNZckRDPmRTQijdns/s1600/counter.jpg"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbBRryxlDdB4ROyzZ3hTxKciBwr-8vQZMD7Wyjdx0vtpL8A_AcDIlBlqMGZixS5wAOQ2xyZbhdF3BRnhJpYuyyLkssmI8ZBLm8Msm3QqKT1xGkESBwMTYbCQp22qNZckRDPmRTQijdns/s400/counter.jpg" width="444" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1XSeSohgJtZ8koEbaQAR1vhItiQFMd6h7pOqIsdmcnM1hkH0rskbIK6sARgAuog9YoUGUbkXvU7rksOOLRengjR7OQ1ItOXkXfUVyiXbsQoCCwdXiPUEG9kN-4wzLHSnapEmVbYFFQQ/s1600/devastation.jpg"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1XSeSohgJtZ8koEbaQAR1vhItiQFMd6h7pOqIsdmcnM1hkH0rskbIK6sARgAuog9YoUGUbkXvU7rksOOLRengjR7OQ1ItOXkXfUVyiXbsQoCCwdXiPUEG9kN-4wzLHSnapEmVbYFFQQ/s400/devastation.jpg" width="444" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NGfzB0t4P_uZ4-lda_1ir75VAjMY9yuqSKXjaFXeOQtVgaTpGR5oHCjS17tYaTAaGMx1TP4-cQbYAAnuuN2KMIlxvuVSubuhMaZ5ZL-_4N3YxRAYEmmNw0mk12veFmzm99zTivGnDK0/s1600/floor.jpg"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NGfzB0t4P_uZ4-lda_1ir75VAjMY9yuqSKXjaFXeOQtVgaTpGR5oHCjS17tYaTAaGMx1TP4-cQbYAAnuuN2KMIlxvuVSubuhMaZ5ZL-_4N3YxRAYEmmNw0mk12veFmzm99zTivGnDK0/s320/floor.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rl2Xo7nRwFyQs0Q5-oZ9_x323Ene5txBW0hSgg9j5XdFz2ttkVY5iJg4ctHUFX0vZdgjph7B9wEEeVlSI_SJ6iSxOktEu6mqvgX17PAKbuVU1cNYuZJ2fQm-u_6m0SrE2kC2Qvhw31A/s1600/floor+ash.jpg"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rl2Xo7nRwFyQs0Q5-oZ9_x323Ene5txBW0hSgg9j5XdFz2ttkVY5iJg4ctHUFX0vZdgjph7B9wEEeVlSI_SJ6iSxOktEu6mqvgX17PAKbuVU1cNYuZJ2fQm-u_6m0SrE2kC2Qvhw31A/s320/floor+ash.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOQjl8k6gA33aNaul3er9opf3OtIFoUQUbAiYpKv2GGSPE8DOZDEG1C5-0vOvzEymoykRiKZpnLFcfxnIFv_j6IjO3zgXviRFwMyKSzGm-dY85ZXoBikbTw3AzJRqzOqA_PvMqYqpeuY/s1600/paper+rolls.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOQjl8k6gA33aNaul3er9opf3OtIFoUQUbAiYpKv2GGSPE8DOZDEG1C5-0vOvzEymoykRiKZpnLFcfxnIFv_j6IjO3zgXviRFwMyKSzGm-dY85ZXoBikbTw3AzJRqzOqA_PvMqYqpeuY/s320/paper+rolls.jpg" width="169" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCaFowcPi7XoWHo0fC1PPda3vfMIXswlC5u5IJ6Kj11taSTSU_IM_sT9JTWtDf4W3PEo62jWEOJESHiBoxylojA8E90J-UBmVvCNSse80quIGEzPyX0MCvtqDh4tUPl1JTAj5gBxx6wE/s1600/hotel+paper.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCaFowcPi7XoWHo0fC1PPda3vfMIXswlC5u5IJ6Kj11taSTSU_IM_sT9JTWtDf4W3PEo62jWEOJESHiBoxylojA8E90J-UBmVvCNSse80quIGEzPyX0MCvtqDh4tUPl1JTAj5gBxx6wE/s400/hotel+paper.jpg" width="427" /></a>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJCFqpNkxYO7S6laDE9tdCdVDpdQnIoMzVuv9pyQtkOqXfTliByRU3-LEuunccUa23hyfCy1gzY_yi4UrTQu_JXeoV5KQDz3mMn9rydJEra2nUxsQfM6pqaknWVo1mR2RKkw42ufRAwo/s1600/pool.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJCFqpNkxYO7S6laDE9tdCdVDpdQnIoMzVuv9pyQtkOqXfTliByRU3-LEuunccUa23hyfCy1gzY_yi4UrTQu_JXeoV5KQDz3mMn9rydJEra2nUxsQfM6pqaknWVo1mR2RKkw42ufRAwo/s400/pool.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No one will be swimming in this pool for quite some time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHr5cq-uDE5DXyoOT6XrxM2Rg9-xl3CiWx3xY3ksjxbOxCuKLNpq1dp5_JaJktGF6vWoUoI-3Uoad45aLkxEJmjhzGgkDJvZILFjZp_PM2aUWxnGpKbfxw6o8O5JMR32ElF_-H6-KdnM/s1600/window.jpg"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHr5cq-uDE5DXyoOT6XrxM2Rg9-xl3CiWx3xY3ksjxbOxCuKLNpq1dp5_JaJktGF6vWoUoI-3Uoad45aLkxEJmjhzGgkDJvZILFjZp_PM2aUWxnGpKbfxw6o8O5JMR32ElF_-H6-KdnM/s400/window.jpg" width="444" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCrEJdtt-XtFCYAfUgfbBeKq6SVTf43ScNI4MhkdGiRpfVqzeHil0KALiL34Nk1eJT8YPuVKg2VvaoSqhoc5JoC0FLUptOydhlZi0T7RtD02xsXaMbB0gIOKOpHx8-4CvZRJD3JyW79g/s1600/other+steps.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCrEJdtt-XtFCYAfUgfbBeKq6SVTf43ScNI4MhkdGiRpfVqzeHil0KALiL34Nk1eJT8YPuVKg2VvaoSqhoc5JoC0FLUptOydhlZi0T7RtD02xsXaMbB0gIOKOpHx8-4CvZRJD3JyW79g/s320/other+steps.jpg" width="169" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFZHPyy-eDL8xjtpOzcA9RAq4LKzhouzYRlpqOchOHcJZ2HOvxcSu06YGX9ujvDSnd_0Jtke71fxjdYdalWEkiT2G7prIKsM4RBKzmdEDjTTiMR9XNC936n-XPH-XM3FAa9vImVYBwnQ/s1600/ash+on+steps.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFZHPyy-eDL8xjtpOzcA9RAq4LKzhouzYRlpqOchOHcJZ2HOvxcSu06YGX9ujvDSnd_0Jtke71fxjdYdalWEkiT2G7prIKsM4RBKzmdEDjTTiMR9XNC936n-XPH-XM3FAa9vImVYBwnQ/s400/ash+on+steps.jpg" width="448" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOUgxpi35RHCSQrEAsbVasYjRqmt8Rqlu_sMGaKYGxUvWKo85RXcmqNGO9z82tbPbvwmXwYcc9wzHTiuFuVejiybVADCtoNBS95Qsm9IKG3g6MnZhzDejcMBsUDw-V83Cy77xfe8Kx_4/s1600/hotel+stairs+and+window.jpg"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOUgxpi35RHCSQrEAsbVasYjRqmt8Rqlu_sMGaKYGxUvWKo85RXcmqNGO9z82tbPbvwmXwYcc9wzHTiuFuVejiybVADCtoNBS95Qsm9IKG3g6MnZhzDejcMBsUDw-V83Cy77xfe8Kx_4/s400/hotel+stairs+and+window.jpg" width="462" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddrS1jWWpB5VPfeQ5pTvm2Tw8c39sP2xl1I8BoqwBPjKShLCglCxGws9DhyUrDkBV1uVlEwN1cLErPOfUnHFQhx3-NtaGrPB771t4N3WXX5HdbrfefcVBzWqfMBu6stDnwtvqHLUVa4s/s1600/staircase.jpg"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddrS1jWWpB5VPfeQ5pTvm2Tw8c39sP2xl1I8BoqwBPjKShLCglCxGws9DhyUrDkBV1uVlEwN1cLErPOfUnHFQhx3-NtaGrPB771t4N3WXX5HdbrfefcVBzWqfMBu6stDnwtvqHLUVa4s/s320/staircase.jpg" width="153" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwuMu-pKrPZPyVGk7di27uYamLXgOJ7-Eu2EPWbs-zOH5JcXONFqjih455jYb-8XH-zerBbtV_Y1Gi8KvnX-sOoiweGNzchuDoGAZ2c4Z_73XwOnSiTKNAZAzBweN3T7VutTzL_VVUec/s1600/hotel+fan+room.jpg"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwuMu-pKrPZPyVGk7di27uYamLXgOJ7-Eu2EPWbs-zOH5JcXONFqjih455jYb-8XH-zerBbtV_Y1Gi8KvnX-sOoiweGNzchuDoGAZ2c4Z_73XwOnSiTKNAZAzBweN3T7VutTzL_VVUec/s400/hotel+fan+room.jpg" width="444" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6r-sh_iDtuyPvBG3Dpjs7fFKfvDrczbgyXZ72uVHiByCSarzmgMavg0fMc6CFQapGak0iNOgytEq-hdxu997Hr_ympaaYE1TsZlpWd9PNnmijYQoLx5gI88kQc50apAiwb2hhXF_-jfU/s1600/hotel+view+of+2+rooms.jpg"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6r-sh_iDtuyPvBG3Dpjs7fFKfvDrczbgyXZ72uVHiByCSarzmgMavg0fMc6CFQapGak0iNOgytEq-hdxu997Hr_ympaaYE1TsZlpWd9PNnmijYQoLx5gI88kQc50apAiwb2hhXF_-jfU/s400/hotel+view+of+2+rooms.jpg" width="444" /></a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com1Staniel Cay, The Bahamas24.1703498 -76.44040110000003124.1413768 -76.48074160000003 24.1993228 -76.400060600000032tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-82190337011986481642016-05-29T11:14:00.001-04:002021-04-11T21:53:30.700-04:00The Emerald Island of the Caribbean<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>by Paula</i><br /><i>At anchor, <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Matthew Town, Great Inagua</span>, <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The Bahamas</span></i></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi67euABM40-O3ck-3SWWbZbtzrsJentpE9mBSPSLnsClDnoxZkWF0nWtH_brmI5FRcxVRL1QZsniMy0laDVe0Vc6OTZf7I4fb065aTVAOlLq-Nhe500PcORLwmsMs4qbPCHSdZrYmdBE/s1600/bathtub.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi67euABM40-O3ck-3SWWbZbtzrsJentpE9mBSPSLnsClDnoxZkWF0nWtH_brmI5FRcxVRL1QZsniMy0laDVe0Vc6OTZf7I4fb065aTVAOlLq-Nhe500PcORLwmsMs4qbPCHSdZrYmdBE/s400/bathtub.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hate it when the bathtub gets filled with volcanic ash.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Irish don't normally spring to mind when thinking of the Caribbean, but in Montserrat, the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, they are a major part of its history.<br />
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In 1493 Columbus passed by this tiny island, naming it after the Montserrat Abby in Spain, and the first settlement of Europeans didn't happen until 1632. A group of persecuted Irish Catholics were forced to leave nearby Nevis, and they settled in Montserrat where they could freely practice their religion. In 1651 an Irish trader brought African slaves to the island, though they did not become the largest group until the early 1700s when sugar plantations began to thrive. The Irish continued to constitute the largest portion of the white population well into the 18th century, many of whom were brought to the country as indentured laborers. Evidence indicates the Irish language was spoken by both white and black residents well into the nineteenth century. To honor an unsuccessful slave revolt that occurred on March 17, 1768, as well as the Irish heritage of much of the population, the people of Montserrat celebrate St. Patrick's Day as a public holiday. Crowds from all over the Caribbean come to celebrate this major celebration that is unique among these islands.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We didn't manage to be here for St. Patrick's day, so these photos were found on the internet.</span></i>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv_mGymoWoRV7SOt5tZSQEbnDyHE4x6lpSdJVJHisTgkLjMLEbKgyHFgDkde_Vm78F4XLErYZPMCHdktMmKYMJtSvAmLI6F2sETWllaQaYxqZdzv39AVCSzCIr0T0WJj9KBNmnrzkZ3o/s1600/st+pats+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv_mGymoWoRV7SOt5tZSQEbnDyHE4x6lpSdJVJHisTgkLjMLEbKgyHFgDkde_Vm78F4XLErYZPMCHdktMmKYMJtSvAmLI6F2sETWllaQaYxqZdzv39AVCSzCIr0T0WJj9KBNmnrzkZ3o/s200/st+pats+5.jpg" width="159" /></a>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Police recording "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic"</td></tr>
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In 1979 George Martin (most famed for producing the Beatles albums) built the AIR Studios Montserrat recording studio here, offering state-of-the-art technical facilities in an exotic location. Montserrat became a very exclusive and private holiday destination. Those of us <i>of a certain age</i> might remember The Police's video of their song "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic," which starred some adorable kids and steel drum musicians along with the band - it was recorded in Montserrat. Other stars who came to relax and record included Dire Straits, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton.
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After a decade of recording, AIR Studios was reduced to rubble when, in 1989, Hurricane Hugo hit Montserrat. Devastating 165 mph winds damaged or destroyed 95% of all buildings on the island, 20-foot waves demolished the <br />
<a name='more'></a>180-foot stone jetty in the island's only harbor in Plymouth, and heavy<br />
rains created destructive mudslides. Ten people were killed in the storm, 89 injured, and 3,000 left homeless, and it took weeks to restore power, water, and phone service to the island. Massive relief efforts by the US and British governments helped to rebuild this island community over the next five years.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlGN4KhFLZ1Sm9A6BXbNlAPgOp0odUfRNR5sRouC5KqVUCdms0LcR-Vf3h3jDOfC6Rws8Qrjv0LD6Mw9oRdHdijyerMHBIJsIM-tpis_sExbIDT0_5efp-VPY1bVX5E5twgHNWvMMMxY/s1600/volcano+and+goat.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlGN4KhFLZ1Sm9A6BXbNlAPgOp0odUfRNR5sRouC5KqVUCdms0LcR-Vf3h3jDOfC6Rws8Qrjv0LD6Mw9oRdHdijyerMHBIJsIM-tpis_sExbIDT0_5efp-VPY1bVX5E5twgHNWvMMMxY/s400/volcano+and+goat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Soufriere Hills Volcano looks so peaceful now...</td></tr>
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The single most notable event in Montserrat's history, however, is the eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano. After 300 years of dormancy, the volcano came to life in July 1995 with tell-tale signs of an upcoming eruption. Steam vents became active, mild explosions generated ash in the nearby capital of Plymouth, and a new lava dome emerged.<br />
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These rumblings gave sufficient warning so that volcanologists prompted the safe evacuation of Plymouth and nearby towns before the large explosion on June 25, 1997 that produced pyroclastic flows. Seventy five additional explosions occurred between September 22 and October 21, and a massive lateral blast on December 26 caused pyroclastic flow and debris avalanches comprised of 60 million cubic meters of material from the dome and crater wall.
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF__qEv4EGrgFra_nU31UsXfOIcUJ9PV00ckl1jkdvdvaTshnf3L3YNu0dlWWnHBYl60W35VgCVzMRpD4Z4QvLA-bpNvaFOdjy87yVP7MSZemG3885p1dhjJi4varSkp99nBQ0xRsHLZU/s1600/buried+church.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF__qEv4EGrgFra_nU31UsXfOIcUJ9PV00ckl1jkdvdvaTshnf3L3YNu0dlWWnHBYl60W35VgCVzMRpD4Z4QvLA-bpNvaFOdjy87yVP7MSZemG3885p1dhjJi4varSkp99nBQ0xRsHLZU/s400/buried+church.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The steeple of this Plymouth church is all that remains above ground.</td></tr>
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Nineteen people died in the first blast, though it was due to their reckless ignoring of the evacuation orders. Grey mud and lava, as thick as toothpaste, flowed down the mountainside. Where the lava met the ocean the seawater boiled for days, and fishes and lobsters were plucked out already cooked. The capital city of Plymouth was buried by 39 feet of mud and ash, with complete destruction of the island's airport and docking facilities. Massive amounts of ash covered the entire island, and the wind carried it as far away as St. Kitts, Antigua, Guadeloupe, and Puerto Rico. Rain, as far as 2 km away from the volcano, registered a<i> pH</i> level of 2 (very acidic).
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWjwfsRfqI-NvC4a4pRc-vG23DY1WuvrFJAlDJ7ypjOPYx7OIEEKrSbLlE2IRQDhwtSk21z-N8l3U6Cbo9Rmp96SjrF6GvefLEcJaEr2sZ_2vMoh9zLZXnCbsuYKjL2e-7C3gMUd3f7A/s1600/map+holding.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWjwfsRfqI-NvC4a4pRc-vG23DY1WuvrFJAlDJ7ypjOPYx7OIEEKrSbLlE2IRQDhwtSk21z-N8l3U6Cbo9Rmp96SjrF6GvefLEcJaEr2sZ_2vMoh9zLZXnCbsuYKjL2e-7C3gMUd3f7A/s400/map+holding.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The small map on the left shows the Exclusion Zone in brown.</td></tr>
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Most of the Montserrat's population lived in or near the capital, and their evacuation significantly reduced the population on the island. Many left for Antigua or Guadeloupe, but the majority — about 4,000 — moved to the UK. In all about 7,000 people, or two thirds of the population, left Montserrat.<br />
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Like the Turks & Caicos Islands, Anguilla, and Tortola, Montserrat is still under British rule. Some other former British colonies like Antigua are now fully independent. Since the Soufrière Hills disaster, England has granted the citizens of Montserrat full British citizenship.<br />
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The most recent volcanic activity occurred in February of 2010, with another series of explosions. These produced more pyroclastic flows and the collapse of the lava dome left a crater on the north flank of the volcano. Since that time, only ash venting and fumaroles have occurred. Plymouth and St. George's are still within the restricted zone, but a lowering of the hazard level in 2014 has opened up access to the towns of Cork Hill, Delvins, Weekes, Foxes Bay, and Richmond Hill. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2IacnO120sYbpN3YU6-PDQMwh-3xuF5DBgBuhWdjXtvijCxfdgCoOPmewLL5g8uUtRbDC7pD2guqbDIvuBilANnvywDrRVdSiuRSE5kwDEtJO-q4owLamtJe8WwHUzQ2FwhwhFzhxD0/s1600/anchorage+from+hill.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2IacnO120sYbpN3YU6-PDQMwh-3xuF5DBgBuhWdjXtvijCxfdgCoOPmewLL5g8uUtRbDC7pD2guqbDIvuBilANnvywDrRVdSiuRSE5kwDEtJO-q4owLamtJe8WwHUzQ2FwhwhFzhxD0/s400/anchorage+from+hill.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new harbor at Little Bay</td></tr>
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Rebuilding has been difficult. A new town and port are being developed at Little Bay on the northwest coast of the island. The harbor, totally open to the west, is far less protected than Plymouth's had been, and yachts best come only in settled weather. Often the sea is too rough on the port even for cargo boats, with water breaking over the harbor. Sometimes the ferry that travels from Montserrat to Antigua can't go out for days.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicj_EUjT1E-3yz3i-k-6k0fZCgYH7DzSqfWBEyphbuSdRR2X3CLydatRucUz6_Al62X8MVqEJwDGpQUxoOJjuNJy-XqDmOXosio3ANRtyVD35Er1Q9WkASB08A30jfA5fPI2B89mftrDE/s1600/anchorage+2.jpg"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicj_EUjT1E-3yz3i-k-6k0fZCgYH7DzSqfWBEyphbuSdRR2X3CLydatRucUz6_Al62X8MVqEJwDGpQUxoOJjuNJy-XqDmOXosio3ANRtyVD35Er1Q9WkASB08A30jfA5fPI2B89mftrDE/s320/anchorage+2.jpg" width="284" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzICjd2LSRo3J6a6FaNBmUMeCA61-6YCGv0fLIy6BB49UKbvHJ1xbuKTgmoiCw1Spy2dzJtNfscuS8zBj4gOQxcE9Vvc81GcWTUCrmXhaCYSl1-_xQ6S6VofnFzyjJNOGs_a0rwM274s/s1600/anchorage.jpg"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzICjd2LSRo3J6a6FaNBmUMeCA61-6YCGv0fLIy6BB49UKbvHJ1xbuKTgmoiCw1Spy2dzJtNfscuS8zBj4gOQxcE9Vvc81GcWTUCrmXhaCYSl1-_xQ6S6VofnFzyjJNOGs_a0rwM274s/s320/anchorage.jpg" width="332" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Little Bay is not well protected and should be visited only in settled weather.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZZ0-iUqaw_beIYYVjaX60mEEJ82TkC-Hb_reAgiP09xoXhjCjT0DtBE_TYW3d453eJmWn-NZG320REGDbLRGOyhAHk5i5XPB3XEUWvaVomWK6t27JBYR9VLO5RJtaqdodIFBCY6mn5w/s1600/breakwater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZZ0-iUqaw_beIYYVjaX60mEEJ82TkC-Hb_reAgiP09xoXhjCjT0DtBE_TYW3d453eJmWn-NZG320REGDbLRGOyhAHk5i5XPB3XEUWvaVomWK6t27JBYR9VLO5RJtaqdodIFBCY6mn5w/s640/breakwater.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This breakwater can be submerged in rough weather.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBAD97cQu-MMrTbs_TSiwZYAa8J-NsE_qKlncvygjlhN4rPFwQ7rCkqElwcCbDj6savQFEQNk50Ix7LQZUOeAHNjzca8zCDGYRLM5yOuKVChLsUgOMdHjhfGz5va3BUzxPOavRdCOn9c/s1600/airport.jpg"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBAD97cQu-MMrTbs_TSiwZYAa8J-NsE_qKlncvygjlhN4rPFwQ7rCkqElwcCbDj6savQFEQNk50Ix7LQZUOeAHNjzca8zCDGYRLM5yOuKVChLsUgOMdHjhfGz5va3BUzxPOavRdCOn9c/s320/airport.jpg" width="325" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The new airport was built in such a way that it cannot be expanded. It can accommodate only 9-seater planes or smaller.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3NZoGIptS6kRdyoQMUeT3eIs9NSWsOqfbAa9oH5NoXIRtNYTwfFeNZnk1kH_idr_f3OEYYEJ8oeqpk7Di11nznOsz5fwtg2ukfUa_T519Q5UMUdh0jx-hKG7UIycRZ-WBHeaMEKwO40/s1600/plymouth+a.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3NZoGIptS6kRdyoQMUeT3eIs9NSWsOqfbAa9oH5NoXIRtNYTwfFeNZnk1kH_idr_f3OEYYEJ8oeqpk7Di11nznOsz5fwtg2ukfUa_T519Q5UMUdh0jx-hKG7UIycRZ-WBHeaMEKwO40/s400/plymouth+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Plymouth (photographed through a monocular) in 2016.</td></tr>
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When Greg and I sailed past Montserrat in 1999 the view of Plymouth was surreal. The land looked like a black-and-white photograph, as every structure or surface was covered in grey ash. The stark contrast against the deep blue sea was striking. As we sailed past Plymouth this time around, we were amazed to see the difference. Years of rain have washed away much of the ash so that buildings show much of their original color. Plant life, initially devastated by the ash and sulfur, is now abundant, growing verdantly in the rich volcanic soil.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlk2rAt42QF9laGJJNvBEBrGb9X_rt7ZloGQ_yczzndhO7j0u4qaK5qR8hqBpUicgVvBI0-Z0VL0OmgjdOn_NYgA7CzNKAZnr-Mh7jRxwOJW9ajFAM3189IPawr5CWNikyyuE1uSFkMQ/s1600/overgrowth+1.jpg"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlk2rAt42QF9laGJJNvBEBrGb9X_rt7ZloGQ_yczzndhO7j0u4qaK5qR8hqBpUicgVvBI0-Z0VL0OmgjdOn_NYgA7CzNKAZnr-Mh7jRxwOJW9ajFAM3189IPawr5CWNikyyuE1uSFkMQ/s320/overgrowth+1.jpg" width="335" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The plants are now growing like crazy in the abandoned towns.</span></div>
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Cruising this time around, we had a very small weather window, but managed a stay in Montserrat. We enjoyed a fantastic tour with our guide, Cecil Wade. Montserrat did not disappoint; it was well worth our time on this gem of an island.<br />
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Here are some more photos of our time in Montserrat:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVinRUWe_KQEGIIrjGncGAyrPnLaTVz-sBHAJe_Y_ffzHnaBG_P65sY3BghbyCvDA_tym8UTc_Om-23-DSR5bYZL0gc4SIPyqPI_YCwZgKpUMMGM1C8s1qKakWH2eOh0UBV6QGl0MTDs/s1600/driving+2.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVinRUWe_KQEGIIrjGncGAyrPnLaTVz-sBHAJe_Y_ffzHnaBG_P65sY3BghbyCvDA_tym8UTc_Om-23-DSR5bYZL0gc4SIPyqPI_YCwZgKpUMMGM1C8s1qKakWH2eOh0UBV6QGl0MTDs/s200/driving+2.jpg" width="195" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGhzGI7-1BJY-zLZesXKJZu_9tLKpRTQgMZG6ETcq0Xmz_L6bzNFgi5T1bjBUxmxWoy8Ct_oqk4Jl2JtLyRjKbnN8otsFpMwROxkkQRynIq29b9PbUvQwhxUp5HSLgnhTALYf8ogseJs/s1600/Wade.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGhzGI7-1BJY-zLZesXKJZu_9tLKpRTQgMZG6ETcq0Xmz_L6bzNFgi5T1bjBUxmxWoy8Ct_oqk4Jl2JtLyRjKbnN8otsFpMwROxkkQRynIq29b9PbUvQwhxUp5HSLgnhTALYf8ogseJs/s200/Wade.jpg" width="131" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBILZE_tluqcndGs-kuIEhO9MEmUSqteS75Zt4YG9zYJHKKF1QFRsio2_JTdG6Xxo2bxWDOzrw81ZgBADrImoc4eLs5Iv0dXrfG25nHHU3qBL03JXoyeNmvx1_iZJHWjlFXhI9H786hDo/s1600/greg+wade.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBILZE_tluqcndGs-kuIEhO9MEmUSqteS75Zt4YG9zYJHKKF1QFRsio2_JTdG6Xxo2bxWDOzrw81ZgBADrImoc4eLs5Iv0dXrfG25nHHU3qBL03JXoyeNmvx1_iZJHWjlFXhI9H786hDo/s320/greg+wade.jpg" width="286" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Wade's Tour was great, and we highly recommend him. Call him on 664-491-5214 or email wadececil@hotmail.com.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jf3-Ro-g_WKov2O946GKHReYEGM5GKhlVfXUuJK3JrhsPt5n7n7-H3-4VgVJjsU1rsgEd05EVta8-MVckY3hFu_mrtYzC30zQqDQu6uTgGnNQD-ADzufHmvtd2cvPEAE5MsfGJ6sGHQ/s1600/hotel+from+front.jpg"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jf3-Ro-g_WKov2O946GKHReYEGM5GKhlVfXUuJK3JrhsPt5n7n7-H3-4VgVJjsU1rsgEd05EVta8-MVckY3hFu_mrtYzC30zQqDQu6uTgGnNQD-ADzufHmvtd2cvPEAE5MsfGJ6sGHQ/s320/hotel+from+front.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVKjxhAuyuaJvXuGWYEF47vXEXkydxyGIAWahsz5Kwbrqf9EDYoqnLd9gGbkvzSfLU49tIV7qxzJhjKkohbFP7vKeSmsMik6Nf4shC7udl32lJFdQk9cduQUEwt78dICoV2IgPZVCW14/s1600/sign.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVKjxhAuyuaJvXuGWYEF47vXEXkydxyGIAWahsz5Kwbrqf9EDYoqnLd9gGbkvzSfLU49tIV7qxzJhjKkohbFP7vKeSmsMik6Nf4shC7udl32lJFdQk9cduQUEwt78dICoV2IgPZVCW14/s320/sign.jpg" width="308" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">We explored the devastated Montserrat Springs Hotel, just at the edge of the exclusion zone.<br />You can see many more photos of these ruins here.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnnJVnCEm4QqhF-IZCbfLLTr03dY0q_0_oOWdzkz_9M4Uxae4W-1MnRDROtWcKaxw96GkPtuQ6k2DIQ7ckgUMFcbmLhvsLO_mfwk9p2w0Jhk6wa5kk41CWK9_TeSb304rHTQXsMGuCKg/s1600/third+story+closer.jpg"></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1C_K8XIUckeFneg5ZqdxwpbYy0sMQ6a7tafO0AB9UqChtCzGtLhZwowbBI9znwdos49udJv6z1ZD4CtQ8LGHbgEad4X3bBChdqo3vDENphrGQ7lwGwkG8Hl-okLOVQKDq3wav06yj8k/s1600/third+story.jpg"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1C_K8XIUckeFneg5ZqdxwpbYy0sMQ6a7tafO0AB9UqChtCzGtLhZwowbBI9znwdos49udJv6z1ZD4CtQ8LGHbgEad4X3bBChdqo3vDENphrGQ7lwGwkG8Hl-okLOVQKDq3wav06yj8k/s320/third+story.jpg" width="288" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNIa03Pf6572axnlzySbGPRAOM6Pm1XZErEuWEQ2I22KfWuYnPyJEDKqdTz0CNL6pv9eVXMWedexDNCpjv7GzZy-4GSmIitait4LWjeiKyA99dFHwrUXWZXkOvMwRRxnd3Hw6Lanh3kw/s1600/third+floor+greg.jpg"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNIa03Pf6572axnlzySbGPRAOM6Pm1XZErEuWEQ2I22KfWuYnPyJEDKqdTz0CNL6pv9eVXMWedexDNCpjv7GzZy-4GSmIitait4LWjeiKyA99dFHwrUXWZXkOvMwRRxnd3Hw6Lanh3kw/s320/third+floor+greg.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">It appears that only 2/3 of this house is above the ground. However, this is the<b> third story</b> of this house!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Co824kOj2OMStJG6ZcXIPHbmDl8u75rZGGtSqYN8Jf572LpWgZth32vq4PawIs2U5QvRoa2XXnMM0-A6vYF1wl9t8ZeIURsqmnierCPHWWgOqqBn5tU_zvNOCAPzb_7XiH4dwFL3Ie0/s1600/mountain+from+sea.jpg"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Co824kOj2OMStJG6ZcXIPHbmDl8u75rZGGtSqYN8Jf572LpWgZth32vq4PawIs2U5QvRoa2XXnMM0-A6vYF1wl9t8ZeIURsqmnierCPHWWgOqqBn5tU_zvNOCAPzb_7XiH4dwFL3Ie0/s320/mountain+from+sea.jpg" width="308" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT-vP8w8llQPa6dLxs1mwnrPdQ9RHM-Qdg2DslnDWTTMIi9lVdTeeOetsc58BINgVgJHac2wEKFlIwk2iMeyLRLiRYUM0_n3dvpA7MKL-SB41gOK1ubT3EKZ_uh_tuc2u0Mdr6uOxNJ4/s1600/ash+trails+from+sea.jpg"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u-GkMJXiv0iGlijvJ4GdpFkUqDPqpne6kdsQtKzVsrdRugSMgSs8w5Ab5Pq6N6C323i8K_CV3bmpUPpgOqoNniW0OqhnwH9wgOWMrqWog1ebfNl-0-pWce7kbBTujNP5lxY9wSEvhPs/s1600/new+land.jpg"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u-GkMJXiv0iGlijvJ4GdpFkUqDPqpne6kdsQtKzVsrdRugSMgSs8w5Ab5Pq6N6C323i8K_CV3bmpUPpgOqoNniW0OqhnwH9wgOWMrqWog1ebfNl-0-pWce7kbBTujNP5lxY9wSEvhPs/s320/new+land.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">New land was formed by the lava, ash, and mud flows. It is estimated that the island, previously 39 sq. mi. in area, is now between 50 and 60 sq. mi. The area of land in the above right photo jutting into the sea is new.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3-Vn768PlJ-YPGDHmxEU2Htbzvd-tmnwOJimEnFxIGPg9T9DgSsooUCx8VO_5flev1w-_aY1kyYHeQ8PjXcY8Z_IQjvcRvKM3Cr2CxDv1kLGLAenmU3QqtAyktYug4PbBt620hG7PhM/s1600/runaway+gaut.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3-Vn768PlJ-YPGDHmxEU2Htbzvd-tmnwOJimEnFxIGPg9T9DgSsooUCx8VO_5flev1w-_aY1kyYHeQ8PjXcY8Z_IQjvcRvKM3Cr2CxDv1kLGLAenmU3QqtAyktYug4PbBt620hG7PhM/s400/runaway+gaut.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We drank from this small stream with hopes that it will guarantee that we will one day return to this wonderful island!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EoIeUcFybTD8JTX_CawPaOO3aH93s4OEVVQ6YDiixoYJOavzyCL9TCKhwsg3gET-ETl_S_59WW30tdh4jfcczbeoGCfYXbRStPpwZH8rcguwZYYwiUdciTVB3n_WkUuOb-fBu1YnQY0/s1600/geothermal.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EoIeUcFybTD8JTX_CawPaOO3aH93s4OEVVQ6YDiixoYJOavzyCL9TCKhwsg3gET-ETl_S_59WW30tdh4jfcczbeoGCfYXbRStPpwZH8rcguwZYYwiUdciTVB3n_WkUuOb-fBu1YnQY0/s200/geothermal.jpg" width="213" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3jR5-hH35QUII0EDURjxcRwFLK-MvymMD_QIANfsfbp6s74XZ3b_J-NNBX-VrFxDjh3pdcd5zOkwNX9H1zJKrHeX_B-0Rs2K9PNWoqpkJ2TMjgo2jzX4xpws4ksNx5MHvQQU-ZGWysE/s1600/sand.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3jR5-hH35QUII0EDURjxcRwFLK-MvymMD_QIANfsfbp6s74XZ3b_J-NNBX-VrFxDjh3pdcd5zOkwNX9H1zJKrHeX_B-0Rs2K9PNWoqpkJ2TMjgo2jzX4xpws4ksNx5MHvQQU-ZGWysE/s320/sand.jpg" width="312" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The country is looking to rebuild its devastated economy. Sand is collected and sold to other countries for cement production. Investigation into geothermal energy is in the initial stages.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpFJZ5mxJbdwBjhxMRfKyE1xK_3J6hFMDbOsMVv-fsBf4p5lcqm-Hs7RHqxKstbVVfy957POL1jefRiGmwS6GKGKitYJBp4IN0pPE-i7IpQB7ChDPN32KkcMP5MrDarynCXFj1Jso5Ls/s1600/museum.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpFJZ5mxJbdwBjhxMRfKyE1xK_3J6hFMDbOsMVv-fsBf4p5lcqm-Hs7RHqxKstbVVfy957POL1jefRiGmwS6GKGKitYJBp4IN0pPE-i7IpQB7ChDPN32KkcMP5MrDarynCXFj1Jso5Ls/s320/museum.jpg" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLK9P4jaKo6OFfpN5DPcmROb7tUz9nNPu9THrCDVlBBCZFm5pXYMN45U1PqpbzzrMvl0ig1W18nzn6grNgPX2kUt38O-_g6c8ZkHBOfbnSEcF5e48o7W6YeLqyQUN-vIo0SCTV63yxSbg/s1600/Cash+tower.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLK9P4jaKo6OFfpN5DPcmROb7tUz9nNPu9THrCDVlBBCZFm5pXYMN45U1PqpbzzrMvl0ig1W18nzn6grNgPX2kUt38O-_g6c8ZkHBOfbnSEcF5e48o7W6YeLqyQUN-vIo0SCTV63yxSbg/s320/Cash+tower.jpg" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There aren't too many cultural activities on Montserrat.<br />
This museum was simply an empty building remaining since sugar plantation days.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLctqwl5ksUmAy30oC0bsBPr11Ubt9q9HnU19aYQ0nNMteMy2S0_E7F-AbbN-ZqBJIxuz241orgfMcLA8YhJyijvRii1tW30g95AX6aHL8E4L_4p2WeHXAkE9cXDSCFF0Rk29elXy0A_4/s1600/license.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLctqwl5ksUmAy30oC0bsBPr11Ubt9q9HnU19aYQ0nNMteMy2S0_E7F-AbbN-ZqBJIxuz241orgfMcLA8YhJyijvRii1tW30g95AX6aHL8E4L_4p2WeHXAkE9cXDSCFF0Rk29elXy0A_4/s400/license.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know it's a small country when the license plate numbers are in the hundreds.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPQ7w2YVpn-JgHyHf3ES-guxpx6Kcn7BBwKM27RWExz2Vlu4z8H4AN471UtSxqScCWc_RVRtp0DpzJ5bd5vlXsKHln05VBj4E5KtPaCOfeagJDTb4Rl4aDM6SX03uZEPleZq59kYVJLc/s1600/ice+cream.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPQ7w2YVpn-JgHyHf3ES-guxpx6Kcn7BBwKM27RWExz2Vlu4z8H4AN471UtSxqScCWc_RVRtp0DpzJ5bd5vlXsKHln05VBj4E5KtPaCOfeagJDTb4Rl4aDM6SX03uZEPleZq59kYVJLc/s400/ice+cream.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much soft-serve in the Caribbean! Mr. Wilson was so nice, just like all the people we met here.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com0Matthew Town, The Bahamas20.9408006 -73.66833710000003120.8814816 -73.749018100000029 21.000119599999998 -73.587656100000032tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-40750524112888507732016-05-26T17:28:00.000-04:002018-01-02T21:47:17.761-05:00 Las Fiestas de Boquerón<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cash</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At anchor, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matthew<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Town</span></span>, Great Ina<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">gua, Bah<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">amas</span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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Boquerón is a party town. People come from all over, especially during spring break and summer, to enjoy themselves. When it comes to partying in Boquerón there are two things you need to do: listen to the music and eat the street food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQr1T3HzTp8/V0ZqXwRXKKI/AAAAAAAABw4/8tDy3aXp_MYcvRvm7cfqNBMIFCa_X2YewCLcB/s1600/160422%2BBoqueron%2Baround%2Btown%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQr1T3HzTp8/V0ZqXwRXKKI/AAAAAAAABw4/8tDy3aXp_MYcvRvm7cfqNBMIFCa_X2YewCLcB/s320/160422%2BBoqueron%2Baround%2Btown%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone want to buy some "stainless teel"?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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What's unusual about parties in Boquerón is that they're mostly carried out on the street. Bands play out on the street, and many people eat street food from stalls lining the road. Even shops have tables outside to sell their goods.<br />
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The party starts on Thursday with a just a little bit of activity. It grows and grows until it climaxes on Sunday. People lie on the beach all day and then head to the streets at night. From Monday to Thursday afternoon, the town is completely dead. There is no one anywhere.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nxSx4e5YfmY/V0cTlzICOBI/AAAAAAAABzM/nv5udrm1Kx43A37MZbeYgvlQRuogpaM5gCLcB/s1600/20160505_152653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nxSx4e5YfmY/V0cTlzICOBI/AAAAAAAABzM/nv5udrm1Kx43A37MZbeYgvlQRuogpaM5gCLcB/s640/20160505_152653.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
The park during the week. It's empty and the stands are not set up.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vfY5RZy1nPo/V0cS65_mHJI/AAAAAAAABzA/zKINuwwr8dEtqR3tOrMZOXca4cpWWY3jgCLcB/s1600/20160513_202050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vfY5RZy1nPo/V0cS65_mHJI/AAAAAAAABzA/zKINuwwr8dEtqR3tOrMZOXca4cpWWY3jgCLcB/s640/20160513_202050.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the shopping stands as the evening is just starting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4lmzDRkGMAg/V0dDYIXu8II/AAAAAAAAB08/ILv36rIWtd4KldapPxLi3nykWdG89Xs7ACLcB/s1600/20160501_193541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4lmzDRkGMAg/V0dDYIXu8II/AAAAAAAAB08/ILv36rIWtd4KldapPxLi3nykWdG89Xs7ACLcB/s640/20160501_193541.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It gets much more crowded as the evening progresses<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Lots more pics and videos of music, food, and dancing below:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friends: <i>S/V Neptune II</i>, <i>S/V Windhover</i>, <i>S/V Cedar</i>, and <i>S/V True Colors</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're not quite sure what happened here...</td></tr>
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We like the street food not only because it tastes great, but also because you can get a good sized meal for not much money.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The meats, top<br />
to bottom: chicken, pork, shark,<br />
shrimp, marlin</td></tr>
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This is usually the meal we get when we eat on shore.</div>
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Empanadillas, little empanadas in Spanish, come with many different meats, including chicken, beef, pork, and shrimp. </div>
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A pincho is meat on a stick, covered in a delicious sauce. Served with a side of bread.</div>
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An alcapurria is meat covered in a fried batter of plantain and yuca, a local root vegetable. These are great for my mom, because she can't have any flour, which rules out many of the foods on the street.</div>
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A pianono is a plantain wrapped around ground beef, then fried.</div>
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Here they sell fresh oyster, conch, and clams</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food stands. On the left is "El Kiosko de La Abuela", which<br />
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Other stands sell pizza or burritos. This truck pictured below is selling dinner-plate sized pieces of fried fish.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friend Elliott, from Neptune II.<br />
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The same truck sells freshly squeezed lemonade in a giant cup.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> The high-pressure lemon squeezer. Our arms got tired holding these big cups</span></div>
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Music is a big part of partying, and where live bands aren't playing right out on the street there are speakers playing recorded music or people singing karaoke. Many large fishing boats come to the dinghy dock, and often they are each blasting their own music. It becomes a competition between them to be the loudest, and the result is chaotic noise.</div>
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Competing Music:</div>
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Karaoke:<br />
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We have also come across two great rock bands.</div>
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The first rock band:</div>
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The second is a band called The Weekend Warriors. We had a great time listening to them, and went to their gigs several weeks in a row.<br />
They are on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/The-Weekend-Warriors-1441702106103482/?fref=ts<br />
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One week we saw a group of drummers and singers, both kids and adults. It was a combination of Taino (a precolonial Native American tribe) and African drumming. It was neat because we had seen them a year and half before, passing through Boquerón the first time.<br />
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Our favorite was to watch was the salsa band. Not only did they play some great Puerto Rican salsa, but the Latin dancing was amazing to watch.</div>
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We really like the town of Boquerón. It's a nice mix of lively action and calm. The food and music were great. There are many worse places we could have been for the while we were there.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10110379251327816163noreply@blogger.com0Boquerón, Cabo Rojo 00623, Puerto Rico18.0275695 -67.17268250000000818.0275695 -67.172682500000008 18.0275695 -67.172682500000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-61254640695198123402016-05-11T21:50:00.001-04:002018-01-02T21:49:36.545-05:00Hen Lee<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cash</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a</span>nchor, Boq<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">uer<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ó<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n, Puerto Rico</span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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During our very long stay in St. Martin, we hauled out our boat to get her bottom redone. One of our neighbors on the hard was <i>Hen Lee</i>, a big, beat-up, rusty, red cargo ship.<br />
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<i>Hen Lee </i>is a large steel boat, well past her prime. She was covered in rusty metal, the bootstripe was uneven and the paint was coming off. The crew working on her was doing everything from repainting (the stripe was in a straight line this time - mostly) to welding a new piece of steel to patch a hole in her hull. We met one of the workers, Sam, a young, quiet Dominican man with a ball cap and a friendly manner. He is from Dominica, but he is not overly fond of his country. One thing he says he dislikes is that many Dominicans do not want to work hard. In addition to working on <i>Hen Lee</i>, he is a tour guide and taxi driver in Portsmouth, Dominica. We spent some time talking to him, and he invited us on board for a tour<br />
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<i>Hen Lee</i>, originally used to drag for scallops, was built in the 1970s in Mobile, Alabama, and she is now used for transporting mostly fruits and miscellaneous cargo. She stops on the islands of Martinique, St. Martin, St. Kitts, and her home port, Dominica. The boat is manned by eight crew both when she’s being fixed up and when she’s underway. <br />
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To get a tour of this big ol’ boat, watch the video:<br />
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<span id="goog_1530875043"></span><span id="goog_1530875044"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10110379251327816163noreply@blogger.com0Boquerón, Cabo Rojo 00623, Puerto Rico18.0275695 -67.17268250000000817.997372 -67.213023 18.057767 -67.132342000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-85812788132673652842016-05-06T16:39:00.002-04:002018-01-02T21:52:15.075-05:00Haul Out<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cash</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">anchor, Water Is<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">land, St. Thom<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">USVI<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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One of the things we did in St. Martin was to repaint Daystar's bottom. Our bottom paint, which prevents barnacle and algae growth on the hull, needed to be replaced. We can't paint the hull while it's in the water of course, so we needed to haul Daystar out onto land. And of course, a boat can’t just be placed straight down on its skinny keel. To take a boat out of the water and support it on land is a difficult and dangerous but relatively common process.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U56ztvot7NU/VxkesRjZtjI/AAAAAAAABtM/TbwbNjm9QqkYvx_SJFCZqjHwgw6Aul-JQCLcB/s1600/TravelLift.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U56ztvot7NU/VxkesRjZtjI/AAAAAAAABtM/TbwbNjm9QqkYvx_SJFCZqjHwgw6Aul-JQCLcB/s640/TravelLift.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-khcgUufzS5w/Vyz3G39TKzI/AAAAAAAABvo/Dzyx6MB1PYsBkfBXvlOfb4sYa0FrH51xQCLcB/s1600/Daystar%2Bin%2BSlings%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-khcgUufzS5w/Vyz3G39TKzI/AAAAAAAABvo/Dzyx6MB1PYsBkfBXvlOfb4sYa0FrH51xQCLcB/s320/Daystar%2Bin%2BSlings%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a>Pictured above is a Travel Lift, the power behind lifting a sailboat. Slings hang down on each side. The Travel Lift is designed so that it can drive over the slipway where the boat is situated and lower the slings into the water under the boat. The slings are adjusted and then tightened so they are snug under the hull. Then (as boat owner tenses) the boat is lifted out of the water by raising the slings. The Travel Lift then slowly moves the boat into a spot on land where it will be supported. There are many tripod-like stands with big pads on the top that are placed in various spots under the hull so that the boat can be supported without the Travel Lift. The jackstands must be placed in the correct position so that the boat remains upright.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwjUd1NycJk/Vyz5Un7d8qI/AAAAAAAABv0/6RArPldlhU8qMY-UVquAEHa34mR3bS3AwCLcB/s1600/Jackstands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwjUd1NycJk/Vyz5Un7d8qI/AAAAAAAABv0/6RArPldlhU8qMY-UVquAEHa34mR3bS3AwCLcB/s400/Jackstands.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Daystar </i>on jackstands when hauled out in Carriacou in 2015</td></tr>
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All in all, it's a relatively simple process, but that doesn't mean it doesn't take skill. If the slings are off balance or adjusted incorrectly the boat could slide forward or back. If the jackstands aren't positioned properly the boat could fall over. So it's important to choose a boatyard that you trust to do the work correctly. <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05PuQ96QYvQ/Vyz3F_ID-pI/AAAAAAAABvw/gt0hDN_QLLA0cgyqXAkYsL-4pD5lHx8MwCKgB/s1600/Daystar%2Bin%2BSlings%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05PuQ96QYvQ/Vyz3F_ID-pI/AAAAAAAABvw/gt0hDN_QLLA0cgyqXAkYsL-4pD5lHx8MwCKgB/s320/Daystar%2Bin%2BSlings%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When we were in Luperon, Dominican Republic, some friends of ours told us their story of hauling their boat out in the shabby, understaffed marina there. The marina had no Travel Lift, so they had to make do with other vehicles. They backed a flatbed trailer into the water under the boat and attached stands to the flatbed to support the boat. They hauled the boat out using a tractor attached to the flatbed. They got the work done, but when the boat was ready to go back in the water the tractor was being used at a different job. They waited and waited, but the tractor was not released. Eventually the marina had to hire a dump-truck to back the boat into the water instead.<br />
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If a picture is worth a thousand words, think how many words a video is worth. Check out Daystar being hauled below:<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10110379251327816163noreply@blogger.com0Boquerón, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico18.019036725535543 -67.181053161621117.988839225535543 -67.2213936616211 18.049234225535542 -67.1407126616211tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-33198979548438250412016-05-02T12:36:00.001-04:002016-05-02T12:36:11.553-04:00Close Family Still on the Go<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Paula</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At anchor, Boqueron, Puerto Rico</span></i></span><br />
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Back in the spring of 2014, as <i>Daystar </i>made her way down the US Intracoastal Waterway, we stopped for a bit in Vero Beach, Florida. Through happenstance, we were introduced to a larger-than-life personality, talk radio host Rhett Palmer. Fascinated with our family's adventure, he brought us in for an hour-long live interview. You can read more about it and listen to the audio of the show <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2014/04/on-air.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I thought Rhett might be interested in an update on our travels, and he was! I submitted an article to <i>Vero's Voice</i>, the magazine associated with his show. Here's a link to the full article that came out on May 1st: </div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2AcgCg6QVTlQ05rRzJBZDBKUXM" target="_blank">Close Family Still on the Go</a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com0Boquerón, Cabo Rojo 00623, Puerto Rico18.0275695 -67.17268250000000817.997372 -67.213023 18.057767 -67.132342000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-89902413435585558222016-03-31T21:46:00.000-04:002016-05-16T12:26:18.577-04:00Kamals, Back-Staffs, and Octants, Oh My!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by Nicole</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At anchor, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">French </span>Lagoon, St. Martin</span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbwOFyg0lF2jXXONbftx2OUlHpHmLceFiLspOfk-2DAYlqzrYsOy7osb5A-bzWr0xDYqVbDmbMeRFPnzHMx0wCrLqWPWddrKvu5kb8urJwa5yYsDs5ZBEUKc_rYV2PKcn8dnAmDKZtpc/s1600/Nautical+Devices+11+Sextant+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbwOFyg0lF2jXXONbftx2OUlHpHmLceFiLspOfk-2DAYlqzrYsOy7osb5A-bzWr0xDYqVbDmbMeRFPnzHMx0wCrLqWPWddrKvu5kb8urJwa5yYsDs5ZBEUKc_rYV2PKcn8dnAmDKZtpc/s320/Nautical+Devices+11+Sextant+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a>Do you think you could use a pointed, marked stick to navigate your boat? Well, the Vikings did. For art and history, I made a booklet about the different nautical devices throughout history, and I wanted to share it with you. Navigating is much easier these days with GPS, but before it was invented, navigating was much harder. <br />
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As I explained in a <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2016/02/timid-virgins-make-dull-companions.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>, one of the earliest navigation devices was the compass. However, the compass is only used to know which direction you are pointing, not where you are. All the devices in my project were used to determine the latitude of one's current location. <br />
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The early navigation tools most sailors used were pretty primitive, sometimes nothing more than a marked stick. Through the ages, these devices have grown more complex, which makes them more accurate and effective. Now, we have leaped ahead with GPS that uses modern technology. We are very lucky we have modern devices that make navigation much easier, but that doesn’t mean it’s still not hard. <br />
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So this is the booklet I made below. I did all the drawings and text. Check it out!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com0Collectivity of Saint Martin, Collectivity of Saint Martin18.050656972029806 -63.09775226328127917.990273472029806 -63.178433263281278 18.111040472029806 -63.017071263281281tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-36942946682824518972016-03-31T13:30:00.000-04:002018-10-17T14:42:27.153-04:00Creep<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cash</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> anchor, French Lag<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">oon, St.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Martin</span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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Being always on the move, it can be tough for me to have opportunities to play music with other people. I have had a few of those opportunities, namely playing <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2014/12/jammin-at-jrs.html">with Colin in the DR</a>, and with Kate at the bar Lagoonies, not <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2016/01/jammin-at-lagoonies.html">once</a> but <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2016/02/jammin-at-lagoonies-round-two.html">twice</a>. I just recently had another chance, this time recording a song with Kate (from <i>Discovery</i>) and Emma (from <i>Day Dreamer</i>).<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9WopZUk0q0/Vv1R9bA3d2I/AAAAAAAABjo/ivQDGSYlMdADsJp33on3BoQiPQrgF_e3w/s1600/St.%2BMartin%2BStudios.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9WopZUk0q0/Vv1R9bA3d2I/AAAAAAAABjo/ivQDGSYlMdADsJp33on3BoQiPQrgF_e3w/s640/St.%2BMartin%2BStudios.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We didn't focus much on neatening the cables</td></tr>
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We were allowed to use an upstairs office in the Port de Plaisance Marina, and this is where we lugged all of our gear including three guitars (two acoustics and an electric), a bass guitar, a couple of ukuleles, a couple of keyboards, three mics, a couple mic stands, a computer, an audio mixing board, a couple of amps, a speaker, a couple cameras, and lots and lots of cables. This was the combined gear of three boats.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keyboard stands included plastic boxes, chairs, and big Styrofoam blocks</td></tr>
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Apart from for the mics and the speaker, we had no stands. But being the resourceful cruisers we are, we found a solution. Kate's family was in the process of moving off of their boat, so they had a lot of boxes full of stuff. We took several of these boxes and used them, along with some chairs, to prop up our gear.<br />
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Then we got straight to recording. We ended up doing a cover of "Creep", by Radiohead. I played guitar and bass guitar, Kate did the lead vocals, and Emma played the piano and did backup vocals. The drums were added in on the computer.<br />
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We also did a one-track recording of Hero, by Bonnie Tyler. We hadn't practiced this song at all. Kate spontaneously began to play it on the piano, Emma and I joined it, and we recorded it right there. Emma played the ukulele, I played the bass, and Kate sang and played the piano.<br />
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We set up two stationary cameras to capture us playing, one attached to a ceiling beam.<br />
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This recording studio almost became a second home for the five days we were in it. We (as well as my sister and Anna and Sara from <i>Day Dreamer</i>), were in it for most of each day, messing around, drawing, talking, playing different songs, or recording. We even had dinner in it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yN2hAGHybzc/VvtYylLEUMI/AAAAAAAABiw/ysYwbw-0flQTb6aAQ9az0F3iqcHHuQCqw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-30%2Bat%2B12.10.46%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yN2hAGHybzc/VvtYylLEUMI/AAAAAAAABiw/ysYwbw-0flQTb6aAQ9az0F3iqcHHuQCqw/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-30%2Bat%2B12.10.46%2BAM.png" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and even had dinner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WaPUfLoG5ck/VvtYQcJSgfI/AAAAAAAABiU/NR8_K2TsTjI7l6x8yNLoeNjxalrojt14A/s1600/20160211_192104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WaPUfLoG5ck/VvtYQcJSgfI/AAAAAAAABiU/NR8_K2TsTjI7l6x8yNLoeNjxalrojt14A/s320/20160211_192104.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not only did we play music, we hung out, drew...</td></tr>
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We had a blast doing this, and I'm sure we'd all do it again. Thanks to Kate and Emma for playing with me, and thanks for Anna, Sara, and Nicole for supporting us.<br />
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Now, without further ado, the finished product: Creep!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ylv-aqW6xWM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ylv-aqW6xWM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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More great pics below! <br />
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The Musicians:</div>
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So much stuff!</div>
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To stop the mic for the guitar amplifier from picking up other noise, I stuck it in the moldy bathroom: </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JV3TOwlM9Nc/VvtXZ0TZg1I/AAAAAAAABh8/Ur9hl8_W9tkGunoejohFmjl-rygvSzdDg/s1600/20160210_171818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JV3TOwlM9Nc/VvtXZ0TZg1I/AAAAAAAABh8/Ur9hl8_W9tkGunoejohFmjl-rygvSzdDg/s640/20160210_171818.jpg" width="640" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10110379251327816163noreply@blogger.com2Collectivity of Saint Martin, Collectivity of Saint Martin18.048587022658751 -63.09757180117185318.018396022658752 -63.137912301171852 18.078778022658749 -63.057231301171853tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-57091526041736022012016-03-29T22:36:00.000-04:002016-03-31T11:06:56.010-04:00Just Can't Stop Looking<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Greg</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At Anchor, French L<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">agoon, St<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Martin</span></span></span></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLL5ZOdqUSGtQd84p3doUzGlmdScY6XguIxB3JFlL6bBquuHPm8tUfSBUJjxBmyMNJQ99EXqHb8jTMAG36fWihUtkTuLdpl8a7H40xP2STUkoZZLufcPIuvKZqu8OGK9RCMa6veSkH7N6/s1600/20160324_103907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLL5ZOdqUSGtQd84p3doUzGlmdScY6XguIxB3JFlL6bBquuHPm8tUfSBUJjxBmyMNJQ99EXqHb8jTMAG36fWihUtkTuLdpl8a7H40xP2STUkoZZLufcPIuvKZqu8OGK9RCMa6veSkH7N6/s400/20160324_103907.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
We've spent plenty of time in the past living on our boat on the hard (on land in a boatyard). It ain't that much fun. At anchor, the boat has a pleasant motion, cool breezes blow through, your neighbors are hundreds of yards away, life is good. Boatyards however are hot, dirty, dusty, toxic places. After only hours in the yard, your boat will be covered with grit. Getting off and on the boat requires climbing a ladder between the deck and the ground. Falling overboard at anchor just gets you wet - on the hard it could kill you.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHM75VfVolXkv8FcEpNYpu8XMkf6KpFrRr_nRRRT-eZHbp3XgH1BP7x9ixJVujuqQbnVcvAPu0929OfQdhmfayCmMjPR5wDG0Tc2zkTdjkcbr22xOb3ozdJwsHv-hZFGE8qNxh1lif6-X/s1600/20160322_082425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHM75VfVolXkv8FcEpNYpu8XMkf6KpFrRr_nRRRT-eZHbp3XgH1BP7x9ixJVujuqQbnVcvAPu0929OfQdhmfayCmMjPR5wDG0Tc2zkTdjkcbr22xOb3ozdJwsHv-hZFGE8qNxh1lif6-X/s400/20160322_082425.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Cole Bay, Sint Maarten, from our balcony at Port de Plaisance.</td></tr>
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So this time (hauling the boat to repaint the bottom with anti-fouling) we treated ourselves to a room on land. The Port de Plaisance resort is definitely past its heyday. They are attempting to renovate it, so most of the rooms are either boarded up or are being gutted. Our room was a nice enough place (state of the art in the early eighties). but the room next door was being gutted, so we had jackhammer noises all day, and every morning I'd head out to the balcony to find it blanketed with a fresh coat of destruction dust. The casino was still open, but all the restaurants are closed. But we got a great rate, and the bed Paula and I shared was at least three times bigger than what we share on Daystar. Living on a boat has made us appreciate even the most basic pleasures of land.<br />
<br />
And we had a great view. I spent an hour every morning on our balcony
at Port de Plaisance drinking coffee and watching boats in Cole Bay on
the Dutch side of the St. Martin lagoon. Even when I'm not on a boat at
anchor, I still just can't stop looking at boats.<br />
<br />
Here's a short video of some yachts in St. Martin from the balcony of Port de Plaisance with some notes:<br />
<ul>
<li>At
0: 37, you'll see Yalla, a 240' motor yacht owned by the richest family
in Egypt. (Each member of <a name='more'></a>the family individually is a billionaire). We
saw eight crew members on board the entire time we were there, but there might have been more. The "garage" in
back is a deck for the swimming pool inside behind it. </li>
<li>At 1: 06, you'll see a
very pretty motor yacht heading for the Simpson Bay drawbridge. I don't
use that term about very many mega yachts, but this one
has a bit more of an elegant classic look rather than the typical look
of a floating condo. </li>
<li>At 1: 16, you'll see a megayacht out in Simpson
Bay that I believe is Eclipse, the second largest private yacht in the
world at 533'. Eclipse is owned by Roman Abramovich, a Russian oligarch.
It has a missile defense system. Mr. Abramovich probably needs it. </li>
<li>At 1: 30,
you'll see yellow things zipping across. These are pairs of tourists on
little guided motorboat tours. Dozens of them swarm through the lagoon
on their tours. They always remind me of a James Bond movie. I can see
it now: dozens of yellow motorboat-riding assassins come after him. Oh,
the creative ways he would come up with to deal with these guys.... </li>
</ul>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RkXsBDablNo/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RkXsBDablNo?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Here are a few more pictures from Bobby's Megayard where we were hauled. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnROTyTug2z1S9TBetpIg4oKcamIWGqYCj1blSIl4IplRUcYGj2HdhHQFgd6FgaWSnIbmLOUalGUueWycBG3Za7XribYN3LOw5RX28HoMOvpP5OMdp2vp2aMwgwBGcicqcZdzl4t5heiXS/s1600/20160324_115903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnROTyTug2z1S9TBetpIg4oKcamIWGqYCj1blSIl4IplRUcYGj2HdhHQFgd6FgaWSnIbmLOUalGUueWycBG3Za7XribYN3LOw5RX28HoMOvpP5OMdp2vp2aMwgwBGcicqcZdzl4t5heiXS/s640/20160324_115903.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handsome Dominican steel cargo vessel. We got a tour. Stay tuned for upcoming post on this by Cash. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXUXhMJkRuOR8JWwsdVVuKcJ-b4Ql2VFY3Zfw8Gk8lmUh22I03i36r8O3NL3KcQXZdNGMzrXH-U4Nthv7xc-J59cK11WQJWBKQAkByLQGXWSR407f3G3yqzuo6qjuYmsfJ4D0z6pxTPHu/s1600/20160324_115932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXUXhMJkRuOR8JWwsdVVuKcJ-b4Ql2VFY3Zfw8Gk8lmUh22I03i36r8O3NL3KcQXZdNGMzrXH-U4Nthv7xc-J59cK11WQJWBKQAkByLQGXWSR407f3G3yqzuo6qjuYmsfJ4D0z6pxTPHu/s640/20160324_115932.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful <i>Juno</i>, from Gannon and Benjamin. There's nothing they've done that isn't simple and beautiful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdwIhY74L-wg7L1dT8AtQcSjKoHwxyrUbUzOdiHsASUCg79Y4fPgTl1F34X8zw0Fg2C9Q8x7EKStIeRX1xEInTBFKx6TT_xWnnLCVbyLJLJAgrgG3vIUheDAv1mtPz2CLTB7_5QbxXeX5/s1600/20160324_120210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdwIhY74L-wg7L1dT8AtQcSjKoHwxyrUbUzOdiHsASUCg79Y4fPgTl1F34X8zw0Fg2C9Q8x7EKStIeRX1xEInTBFKx6TT_xWnnLCVbyLJLJAgrgG3vIUheDAv1mtPz2CLTB7_5QbxXeX5/s640/20160324_120210.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Juno</i>, waiting for the slings. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsKe1eaUKRFjEYq_LxGtPSgDWytkOovRbOWeB10qRrsSFClIpRANw60KslogZQuRkbph6y2P3Cwgn-DrINK7Ein0IpGbZzvoA1BU0XYfkqAUMiN6ya3s5h-VvD8nVIpXiwd8h63BgTBAn/s1600/20160324_103936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsKe1eaUKRFjEYq_LxGtPSgDWytkOovRbOWeB10qRrsSFClIpRANw60KslogZQuRkbph6y2P3Cwgn-DrINK7Ein0IpGbZzvoA1BU0XYfkqAUMiN6ya3s5h-VvD8nVIpXiwd8h63BgTBAn/s640/20160324_103936.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noel, the yard electrician, photo-bombing. I kept telling him to flex..., flex harder, FLEX, DANG IT!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNEVZllOqho86J5grYhN6dqVs90gkAsAhRq9WvfgCcKxGti3nzFrqD8giWP7l53-9h_R4vMawbSIWN429V9RUE0BCOt2aV23SNtRY4L11uFffXqMCksY8_wwRyaDLKM-RZVd9gDgn5srE/s1600/20160324_104121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNEVZllOqho86J5grYhN6dqVs90gkAsAhRq9WvfgCcKxGti3nzFrqD8giWP7l53-9h_R4vMawbSIWN429V9RUE0BCOt2aV23SNtRY4L11uFffXqMCksY8_wwRyaDLKM-RZVd9gDgn5srE/s640/20160324_104121.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MaxProp feathering propeller surrounded by lovely new bottom paint. Last time we hauled (eight months ago) I scrubbed it down to bare bronze and treated it with Pettit Barnacle Barrier paint. I was skeptical, but the stuff really works. Some barnacles grew, but I could flick them right off with an index finger.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361705444247119783noreply@blogger.com0Collectivity of Saint Martin, Collectivity of Saint Martin18.046731272696569 -63.09832192026078718.031634272696568 -63.118491920260787 18.06182827269657 -63.078151920260787tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-27737739185283894392016-03-28T12:56:00.002-04:002016-03-28T13:44:50.710-04:00Cipher Bunny<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Greg</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">anchor, French Lagoon, </span></span>St<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Martin</span></span></i></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAp5s7wbKUTC-ulRsnhy-1a-S6crJqxH1U_R2nP0VriiNBrtPOqrDIaQPQIUFz_X0q4ZA7RTWm2uR9hHz_ps5wuJelFiCGlnsKa6YklgwHgKBI3Zgo-zEn2ocp-mtsLgswJ2wW7bXUn5jx/s1600/20160327_095516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAp5s7wbKUTC-ulRsnhy-1a-S6crJqxH1U_R2nP0VriiNBrtPOqrDIaQPQIUFz_X0q4ZA7RTWm2uR9hHz_ps5wuJelFiCGlnsKa6YklgwHgKBI3Zgo-zEn2ocp-mtsLgswJ2wW7bXUn5jx/s320/20160327_095516.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAp5s7wbKUTC-ulRsnhy-1a-S6crJqxH1U_R2nP0VriiNBrtPOqrDIaQPQIUFz_X0q4ZA7RTWm2uR9hHz_ps5wuJelFiCGlnsKa6YklgwHgKBI3Zgo-zEn2ocp-mtsLgswJ2wW7bXUn5jx/s1600/20160327_095516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
I don't really think our kids ever believed in the Easter Bunny. If they did, it wasn't for long. It didn't make sense to them from the beginning, and we certainly didn't lie to them when they asked directly about it. But of course they still loved Easter egg hunts.<br />
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<br />
As they've gotten older, Paula has modified the tradition to keep it interesting. Now each egg contains one or more paper scraps, each with a letter written on it. The letters fit into a word scramble that it usually a combination of rhyme and puzzle or riddle. The answer to the puzzle or riddle leads to the Easter treats.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNeaFbTCsCH73ONSpgR8l5eXtKkFglZax2WxaX7xXUDm_xsOAHrj4hde3NMPe8_bSuhKgmU7WnPV5-bkWJRgXnjfU03pU3H9J64m1jeEATWptjOEXjetlObDLifl7BgUxiwkZcIk7SYXL/s1600/20160327_145836.r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU20tw2iacjSRUIc4Dld3hGeE2Gp2KIgtPRK7fBJ9nPHeAVWRYUi5snXD_w1TNtYlpn7MNR2494m0sHtaVvxJLIE3Jr7KIEGGOCSBCZ62Cg1Sz5fepi8dWxoD-uskaOH6zeUyona3PxIl/s1600/20160327_125838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU20tw2iacjSRUIc4Dld3hGeE2Gp2KIgtPRK7fBJ9nPHeAVWRYUi5snXD_w1TNtYlpn7MNR2494m0sHtaVvxJLIE3Jr7KIEGGOCSBCZ62Cg1Sz5fepi8dWxoD-uskaOH6zeUyona3PxIl/s400/20160327_125838.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisxqtzz03V-70kAuZu1gvdVrickRhR82zdAbWyt-7Dgn2eCzPtV8KTqK5t-vFRHM_wNcivJ611Iz1Uul6CnUcV8FE8OEPdttYsxpyOzS8NiCT2MO7ODShYExLNVsLiGaNOaB1FNqRLuY_/s1600/20160327_130505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisxqtzz03V-70kAuZu1gvdVrickRhR82zdAbWyt-7Dgn2eCzPtV8KTqK5t-vFRHM_wNcivJ611Iz1Uul6CnUcV8FE8OEPdttYsxpyOzS8NiCT2MO7ODShYExLNVsLiGaNOaB1FNqRLuY_/s400/20160327_130505.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43vbn6rvIDAC59ii5xqoKROd0LAnQ_eXEx9kWlBAzgpM8-wSn6f056dnYIEl9Bp3HAc33f3bNeb2Frfuu1OPPrdNLRqxRmvE4VCiigeds-GTnIGgEFNEcGWXO8LLy9mEnoy6DHWJJ-3rU/s1600/20160327_133833.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43vbn6rvIDAC59ii5xqoKROd0LAnQ_eXEx9kWlBAzgpM8-wSn6f056dnYIEl9Bp3HAc33f3bNeb2Frfuu1OPPrdNLRqxRmvE4VCiigeds-GTnIGgEFNEcGWXO8LLy9mEnoy6DHWJJ-3rU/s400/20160327_133833.jpg" /></a>
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<br />
Finished puzzle is below! <br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ855qWDNvmtGwCfwv7iuaBHOrBCG42x43NYxb-7vtALijiEWbaKfuYQyupOwB5H7hqW8ImNluLz6P1jkerCousnXAirQju30o8UHjFHxqrr60vLDPzyiBqGXEHuP89B6DfOn99gGU1hq/s1600/20160327_145836.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ855qWDNvmtGwCfwv7iuaBHOrBCG42x43NYxb-7vtALijiEWbaKfuYQyupOwB5H7hqW8ImNluLz6P1jkerCousnXAirQju30o8UHjFHxqrr60vLDPzyiBqGXEHuP89B6DfOn99gGU1hq/s640/20160327_145836.jpg" width="360" /></a>
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<br />
In case you have trouble reading this, here it is:<br />
<table align="left" cellpadding="35" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td>I live beneath the bluest sea.<br />
I have two fins that carry me.<br />
Along the currents of the reef,<br />
Whose fish I nibble with my feet.<br />
I have two ears which are quite long<br />
that hear the whale in mournful song.<br />
My tail is where it should be found,<br />
but it is flat, not soft or round.<br />
I dine on fish but long for honey.<br />
My name is merely AquaBunny.<br />
Today I give you both a treat<br />
Hidden near your sleeping feet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZNxuNOwEGevMmYZxHckxb0ZAhzqA2px1CnwK0RdgG-yd84bMiOujVIG8QaUWPQE0ugRp9UQTpY5DoWEq9BYQ4BMIFeVwd6_YIqZBvz-ycrRYTx309ApMj6WB8JkHI7-p9K_oDmaUI8F5/s1600/IMG_20160327_150005124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZNxuNOwEGevMmYZxHckxb0ZAhzqA2px1CnwK0RdgG-yd84bMiOujVIG8QaUWPQE0ugRp9UQTpY5DoWEq9BYQ4BMIFeVwd6_YIqZBvz-ycrRYTx309ApMj6WB8JkHI7-p9K_oDmaUI8F5/s640/IMG_20160327_150005124.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter chocolate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqnpg0dfkLk8xFYoou05CaeLsyEBHxNTk90QqO266qvOc-qVmcyEObFp9WjgA6TgxCI8k9klmN8A6-qIgZe9r4qxUXlLc7zl7UAi4YoUQn91MkbDpR_iOoeTq40CYzQveSbY8vFj12TvR/s1600/IMG_20160327_150010679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqnpg0dfkLk8xFYoou05CaeLsyEBHxNTk90QqO266qvOc-qVmcyEObFp9WjgA6TgxCI8k9klmN8A6-qIgZe9r4qxUXlLc7zl7UAi4YoUQn91MkbDpR_iOoeTq40CYzQveSbY8vFj12TvR/s640/IMG_20160327_150010679.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is AquaBunny, of the genus Leporidae Aqua. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361705444247119783noreply@blogger.com1Marigot, Collectivity of Saint Martin18.050004119987747 -63.09809558603518618.034907619987749 -63.118265586035186 18.065100619987746 -63.077925586035185tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-52036849201963119022016-03-25T21:23:00.001-04:002018-01-02T22:10:42.251-05:00Pasensie at Pikin Slee<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cash</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At anchor, St. Martin</span></i></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKT2zhifr8xh4iW1F7gYVk734oJ_zarYHiqvpsg0aDOacSoa83VFjCstxrVarFAWjnlIAPMGuCu25-aPoj8_fzT8CVgGUP7fOk-Pq-0tFwXUvDqB1SBmW8Dh4B3AYqmSJyKeNunQXwqHU/s1600/Pasensie+hut+side+fog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKT2zhifr8xh4iW1F7gYVk734oJ_zarYHiqvpsg0aDOacSoa83VFjCstxrVarFAWjnlIAPMGuCu25-aPoj8_fzT8CVgGUP7fOk-Pq-0tFwXUvDqB1SBmW8Dh4B3AYqmSJyKeNunQXwqHU/s400/Pasensie+hut+side+fog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pasensie sleeping quarters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One of the most memorable experiences we had in Suriname was <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2016/02/riding-the-suriname-river.html">taking a boat up the Suriname River</a> to stay at a "resort" by the <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2016/02/like-nothing-weve-seen-before.html">Maroon village</a> of Pikin Slee. While Pasensie is <i>called </i>a resort, it would be best described as extremely rustic. Our stay there was beautiful and peaceful, and we wished we could have stayed longer.<br />
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<br />
Pasensie is a small gathering of huts for sleeping, a roofed place to eat (no walls), a common bathroom, and the main house. The huts were wooden with thatched leaf roofs. There were four beds in each one, so one of us slept in a hammock. (There were five of us because Anna of <i>Daydreamer</i> was travelling with us.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAsqN9YChRDUDycboXCh-7BjGjxjv639e4RQ8_bDEEUppzsoplZjcTNViEHq_Yzp0kf7-LaXArFLlZMvfglKGtDMqaoxclxPBFNts92CsuSPqb3Jl-OTCihfXUqe90lohfsVCl4WvH1s/s1600/20151210_080655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAsqN9YChRDUDycboXCh-7BjGjxjv639e4RQ8_bDEEUppzsoplZjcTNViEHq_Yzp0kf7-LaXArFLlZMvfglKGtDMqaoxclxPBFNts92CsuSPqb3Jl-OTCihfXUqe90lohfsVCl4WvH1s/s400/20151210_080655.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main house</td></tr>
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Peter, the man who runs Pasensie, is a very relaxed, easy-going Dutch guy who works hard to keep the resort running smoothly. He lives in the main house, where people also might hang out on the porch in the morning, get their only source of beverages (a big cooler full of water and beer), or read Dutch books (the only English one was a cheesy police romance novel).<br />
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Pasensie had a generator that Peter ran every night from 6 PM until 10 PM. All of the other times, there was no<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ckuf9HJp_Gl_JXPeKvLMLdnZGTvqtmYBsbXYAuSMqIBEG5rXEo-G3kwWVMy7HeWNSPZuUbttlY7cUHi8e7ZULaG65tTI7JLo3DBR7N5ZHJQMg6WAsTig9JzqMm2igaF1MZ6TIwIjdnI/s1600/Pasensie+breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ckuf9HJp_Gl_JXPeKvLMLdnZGTvqtmYBsbXYAuSMqIBEG5rXEo-G3kwWVMy7HeWNSPZuUbttlY7cUHi8e7ZULaG65tTI7JLo3DBR7N5ZHJQMg6WAsTig9JzqMm2igaF1MZ6TIwIjdnI/s400/Pasensie+breakfast.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some of the time Peter cooked our meals, and some of the time he hired a lady from the local village. While we were there, there were five other people staying at Pasensie, and they were all Dutch. We all ate at the same time in a roofed pavilion with big picnic tables, and this was a nice way to get to know the other guests.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNAlUguiDmjfQiLVtHs_VFJbfXz6WYIdz28zNr7DdCEUSTDv0gZRrvfjfosdAtUVX-x_eZ-kh9ogYp4CRL4sykeOUHMj6sHiImwARX6NlApen15X-Ba0gNDRjP0pEdSi27h7w10RsApg/s1600/Pasensie+foggy+river+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNAlUguiDmjfQiLVtHs_VFJbfXz6WYIdz28zNr7DdCEUSTDv0gZRrvfjfosdAtUVX-x_eZ-kh9ogYp4CRL4sykeOUHMj6sHiImwARX6NlApen15X-Ba0gNDRjP0pEdSi27h7w10RsApg/s400/Pasensie+foggy+river+kids.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
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Pasensie was a very peaceful place. The only scheduled events were meals and when the generator was turned on. Otherwise, everyone relaxed and just enjoyed the beauty of the place around them. Pasensie was right on the Suriname river surrounded by lush forest. The wide river, dotted with large rocks, was especially beautiful in the morning. As the sun rose, large amounts of fog rolled in on the mirror-flat water. It was absolutely silent except for the birds chirping. Anna, Nicole, and I got up at 6:00 each morning and sat on the dock, enjoying the beauty.<br />
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Pasensie means "peaceful" in Dutch and it certainly lives up to its name. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDlpPEV2ccrLmzhEr1i1Jo3MywbTXKA73ETS-gJkjUhm6ul3fKuc0_08hLWpZNQ8X7GKmfM1J2pyZBUS06xxZo4PHv139x-7mj-4xKx2446lLRzMRRCy7d4_QzAnq5ftlWKw79SoARlo/s1600/dining+pavilion.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDlpPEV2ccrLmzhEr1i1Jo3MywbTXKA73ETS-gJkjUhm6ul3fKuc0_08hLWpZNQ8X7GKmfM1J2pyZBUS06xxZo4PHv139x-7mj-4xKx2446lLRzMRRCy7d4_QzAnq5ftlWKw79SoARlo/s640/dining+pavilion.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dining pavilion</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlp8NRTtSOJbuiyRdvO7GYS5W4fW8POfQIXYZfFu5cvDHAa541NC6mdV2zm4ua6GdqI66UBPI1Gghst9sMSoFSTXCZjUf_D7jw_MLLJ844iUtlYF5lOz1Gz6VzqPszmODH4nNmFihOmQ8/s1600/Pasensie+hut+front+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlp8NRTtSOJbuiyRdvO7GYS5W4fW8POfQIXYZfFu5cvDHAa541NC6mdV2zm4ua6GdqI66UBPI1Gghst9sMSoFSTXCZjUf_D7jw_MLLJ844iUtlYF5lOz1Gz6VzqPszmODH4nNmFihOmQ8/s640/Pasensie+hut+front+view.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clothes drying outside our cabin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpuua3LrpvUUs_zmn2-a_HTEXpfBWWmWZYqQe1YuIEBMJH7rrDPWt08Gtxc87w-yDg-6HvMNw6EPnalOF86RgM55yna9ofrBpVsuuk7Ujee5ScXNMyzMxHnS7HPM7fmhrRcjR2ubUitg/s640/Pasensie+hut+inside.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside our cabin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEEL6E2S-xW8C3DOudmDGcVCHGQufTvIW6oxCjiqCZQaiX2r50zGFofBH9qq2X8VdDdC9dArbNl6xNm8I2RHLrwaFiQi7HiLpoV37HFiO8S6dYelr_Lvg762WGgtRA9ATbl3T6vc_eZs/s1600/Pasensie+foggy+river+panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEEL6E2S-xW8C3DOudmDGcVCHGQufTvIW6oxCjiqCZQaiX2r50zGFofBH9qq2X8VdDdC9dArbNl6xNm8I2RHLrwaFiQi7HiLpoV37HFiO8S6dYelr_Lvg762WGgtRA9ATbl3T6vc_eZs/s640/Pasensie+foggy+river+panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The river in the morning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwFwoMx7G_zUjzrYdMjn40RIhecV3T_gHDry58TDEaLjE-oqToo554NhVNZc6sSmTs8Pxd2i64Frx17250VinkCslYY7LpoKaKnXfKzjYGuF3po_CjQuE_HMiYN6ykH3t6cV1O0QLU3Y/s1600/20151210_063437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwFwoMx7G_zUjzrYdMjn40RIhecV3T_gHDry58TDEaLjE-oqToo554NhVNZc6sSmTs8Pxd2i64Frx17250VinkCslYY7LpoKaKnXfKzjYGuF3po_CjQuE_HMiYN6ykH3t6cV1O0QLU3Y/s400/20151210_063437.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our cabin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tIcnuCxzyel8cfzYP_LrvHWPlk0JYFiWoEG8cARqwS3ZhGujUB_4ehqKqZ7MJMFrJrYiYgfJMG_BoS-8X6ZAgnvKIIMQdsCtOpGBW2FDMg2ZyQqyPaCvl3E1q8AaZrTwyAuMBx5m5jk/s1600/Pasensie+bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tIcnuCxzyel8cfzYP_LrvHWPlk0JYFiWoEG8cARqwS3ZhGujUB_4ehqKqZ7MJMFrJrYiYgfJMG_BoS-8X6ZAgnvKIIMQdsCtOpGBW2FDMg2ZyQqyPaCvl3E1q8AaZrTwyAuMBx5m5jk/s400/Pasensie+bathroom.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only "bathroom" sink. No showers.</td></tr>
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Pikin Slee differed from any of the other Maroon villages in that it had a two-room museum that exhibited various aspects of Maroon culture, as well as crafts and household items made by the people of the village.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvXc3mf1MPWm4VTsilk6PVPIV4XkjVhORA5Gv8kUrfuGYFo9eY1LizdvoCfDT6WZtHgs0IfrlSLCSXQe9RlZwUgMBpzdAK2SRfCuSX27QQYZ3OCnC140C9iyInhZf-p-HobjmM0SIFLo/s1600/151209+Maroon+Museum+%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvXc3mf1MPWm4VTsilk6PVPIV4XkjVhORA5Gv8kUrfuGYFo9eY1LizdvoCfDT6WZtHgs0IfrlSLCSXQe9RlZwUgMBpzdAK2SRfCuSX27QQYZ3OCnC140C9iyInhZf-p-HobjmM0SIFLo/s400/151209+Maroon+Museum+%252810%2529.jpg" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The palm fronds hanging down remove<br />
evil spirits as they brush your head</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sammaka Museum entrance. </td></tr>
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A group of five men from Pikin Slee built a workshop where they carve furniture, housewares, and statues out of incredibly heavy wood.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae-HHJZOxC5GPyzPmRIgRlJzzgIFeI8QbCaekKWOeTeNKtxlzUy1bLp_CnEZ7KF7x2QVURt4j0dH9zjP5lpl4lfGN6kY8vIBt8cG4mipwMt06mF8v_672SKvGeTieSu6live6F7TYqzI/s1600/woodworkers+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae-HHJZOxC5GPyzPmRIgRlJzzgIFeI8QbCaekKWOeTeNKtxlzUy1bLp_CnEZ7KF7x2QVURt4j0dH9zjP5lpl4lfGN6kY8vIBt8cG4mipwMt06mF8v_672SKvGeTieSu6live6F7TYqzI/s320/woodworkers+%25288%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv0VUVhNBNKNNIxQEiM1EVkQLikrO86lRLokJPe1InSq2hGbLQhxRHQelSLzZsIjozBmmud1bml5BUMqG-NWbBuVHsq_sWfCA_E0SN_fJQ3Nm-QDu83zeQ3a03YfnbqQ5tpp_Tz_f-6g/s1600/woodworkers+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv0VUVhNBNKNNIxQEiM1EVkQLikrO86lRLokJPe1InSq2hGbLQhxRHQelSLzZsIjozBmmud1bml5BUMqG-NWbBuVHsq_sWfCA_E0SN_fJQ3Nm-QDu83zeQ3a03YfnbqQ5tpp_Tz_f-6g/s320/woodworkers+%25286%2529.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIj5PqLoktpQt_VXn3Cz7fq9mR3Q9E7zcGxhU_AGfLV88NpRJJtluhDXGOxKiOfpECq6mBI2WceOzAfuoTK_dl6lxyDpFTPVaT4TZVyWM5qfulsPGf1L6gXVzNyNcztC_gmu9d2SeEVkg/s1600/151209+Maroon+woodworkers+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIj5PqLoktpQt_VXn3Cz7fq9mR3Q9E7zcGxhU_AGfLV88NpRJJtluhDXGOxKiOfpECq6mBI2WceOzAfuoTK_dl6lxyDpFTPVaT4TZVyWM5qfulsPGf1L6gXVzNyNcztC_gmu9d2SeEVkg/s640/151209+Maroon+woodworkers+%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com0Collectivity of Saint Martin, Collectivity of Saint Martin18.050563204114905 -63.09739794213862818.035466704114906 -63.117567942138628 18.065659704114903 -63.077227942138627tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-57211742336599100262016-03-14T19:58:00.000-04:002016-03-28T13:46:01.663-04:00Broken Windows, Killer Bees, Very Strong Rum<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by Nicole</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>At Anchor, Saint <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Martin</span> </i></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVFSCiPDEyOSfraE6n0Q2nurQlphrumKudsgtLtu65SY9h7AVpSFIa-F2mmfEX8CRoRfT5SOrQZqcfBw5i2WXXrma47Z8kafjT9xAQJciOslQryu363V_HluR6KhQ18KpAX6kwbCNOV4/s1600/outside+machinery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVFSCiPDEyOSfraE6n0Q2nurQlphrumKudsgtLtu65SY9h7AVpSFIa-F2mmfEX8CRoRfT5SOrQZqcfBw5i2WXXrma47Z8kafjT9xAQJciOslQryu363V_HluR6KhQ18KpAX6kwbCNOV4/s400/outside+machinery.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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While standing next to used, rusty cogs twice my height, I could hear the crickets chirping, the wind rustling the tall grass, the bees buzzing... buzzing – right next to my ear. Wait, what? AHH! Yes, the factory was filled with swarms of Brazilian killer bees.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQO3jdr6GnIHnnbU-L59VkOGdpjK2BC2faEpAgXtG9warjTiO9ao57DynQm0gnod9G7cbfyUSUrpdstMDn7ZmQzp5iDHYkh4s4wzat-eXrKZ4mpb-klvPg5srjccBO-bdm8kKUaklSwF8/s1600/welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQO3jdr6GnIHnnbU-L59VkOGdpjK2BC2faEpAgXtG9warjTiO9ao57DynQm0gnod9G7cbfyUSUrpdstMDn7ZmQzp5iDHYkh4s4wzat-eXrKZ4mpb-klvPg5srjccBO-bdm8kKUaklSwF8/s400/welcome.jpg" width="352" /></a><br />
In Mariënburg, on the Commewijne river in Suriname, we went to explore an old abandoned rum factory. It was the first plantation in Suriname to be equipped with electric lights, a railway, and the new vacuum pan system. It had a capacity of processing 300,000 kilograms of cane per day – the second largest mill in the world at the time. This thing was a big deal. The mill didn’t get off to a good start. Things kept breaking. The machines couldn’t handle the quality of the cane. The pouring rain made the railroad tracks sink into the soft ground. They installed a new steam boiler in 1885, but it was installed so badly the resulting leaks were almost impossible to fix. After that, it did well for a while, but frequently experienced economic difficulties. It was sold to someone else in 1964 and just fell out of use. It really gave the feel to me of something long-abandoned.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjCoRc-XHbjuXBg3bL7KSP31Cx6_Pt8MNiTuAFEMTvdVFz4Cp6HhcDE_JZPNTRfGTpZu2SsTDFxvoJGzMcUPWNYg-rSglPc5x7JGNVKE9AKgRSsX2HsxhNEJ8DDR1AEg-XdRHKW4T5Bc/s1600/doors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjCoRc-XHbjuXBg3bL7KSP31Cx6_Pt8MNiTuAFEMTvdVFz4Cp6HhcDE_JZPNTRfGTpZu2SsTDFxvoJGzMcUPWNYg-rSglPc5x7JGNVKE9AKgRSsX2HsxhNEJ8DDR1AEg-XdRHKW4T5Bc/s400/doors.jpg" width="236" /></a><br />
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The factory is huge, and it looks like it came out of a post-apocalyptic movie. The tower and buildings around it are overgrown and broken, but still clear enough for people to be able to walk around. Even with rusty metal and broken windows the walls were still mostly intact. The interior of the buildings were dark, with plants growing through the windows and along the walls. The outside areas not frequently walked on by visitors were full of knee-high grass in places, with lots of plants and the feel of spring. It really gives a feeling of ruin and abandonment. There is part of an old railroad that went all around the factory. The decrepit buildings were amazing, with the insides being even more spectacular. We learned not to go too far into them, however, as a wasp stung my dad when he did. Luckily, it wasn’t one of the African killer bees.<br />
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Past the buildings was a field with giant cogs and gears lined up in a row, used to process sugar cane. Two<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1uBanVKtFISy9QKG16o_pxIn__5CfemNZVdMcDqrJQAmqVT4gRVUUC067l3EZkPNCvSsaJlY6Oqmqgf65T7pn9Uwe4wOWH8sEjZVA0srDknEfaWZB92OOdI5DHHHcy-B68stNfWMSrs/s1600/cane+crusher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1uBanVKtFISy9QKG16o_pxIn__5CfemNZVdMcDqrJQAmqVT4gRVUUC067l3EZkPNCvSsaJlY6Oqmqgf65T7pn9Uwe4wOWH8sEjZVA0srDknEfaWZB92OOdI5DHHHcy-B68stNfWMSrs/s320/cane+crusher.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These giant rollers crush the sugar cane to squeeze out the juice.</td></tr>
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huge rollers were used to crush the cane. Underground chutes brought cane juice into the factory. Rum is made with either cane juice or molasses, which is fermented, then distilled to make it stronger. The rum that was made at the Mariënburg factory was 162 proof!<br />
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It was a wonderful experience to get to see the factory. Everything about it was amazing! Well, everything except for the killer bees.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyG9XQAWDejZMVlW3OdshR8wrdzFkhX7BaZFCoC8hGK4F4MP3kTnIGec65yGRl1p4jd0A9OB0zWZCkcT98bs5gMuuFVILVRNkwk6O5xowboyHtPA4JWZq4u12vbXu5bEwBeFg1Aos9HM/s1600/long+view+with+people.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyG9XQAWDejZMVlW3OdshR8wrdzFkhX7BaZFCoC8hGK4F4MP3kTnIGec65yGRl1p4jd0A9OB0zWZCkcT98bs5gMuuFVILVRNkwk6O5xowboyHtPA4JWZq4u12vbXu5bEwBeFg1Aos9HM/s640/long+view+with+people.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kYxMir_hC_Wt4hczTCpUvGPytCMKZTIUn52IaAgWdIUzcA3Wg2WtS3vRqHH9cKMbaulJgGSMW9ONZpcNACqEEPci7-AUUozNhhCJaSyEfn9nzmYXnWYrZLPm19sWukYYBX6DgcsQhTI/s1600/train+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kYxMir_hC_Wt4hczTCpUvGPytCMKZTIUn52IaAgWdIUzcA3Wg2WtS3vRqHH9cKMbaulJgGSMW9ONZpcNACqEEPci7-AUUozNhhCJaSyEfn9nzmYXnWYrZLPm19sWukYYBX6DgcsQhTI/s640/train+2.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi0dku-pLC_3RXr91Li40tNpN-o29CuYgQFLTfmS2Km6vGuOLHZqvKCCXCbtcIdQFnGLUkHRkPMl2-BBI0b7U1yCskk1bWcbttd9g5231R4wraw24i7iMEsCvBAry3iQnLmESKXIB5UA/s1600/tower+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi0dku-pLC_3RXr91Li40tNpN-o29CuYgQFLTfmS2Km6vGuOLHZqvKCCXCbtcIdQFnGLUkHRkPMl2-BBI0b7U1yCskk1bWcbttd9g5231R4wraw24i7iMEsCvBAry3iQnLmESKXIB5UA/s1600/tower+2.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSItTr9bhq4lbn4oq_67bWBIN7GT8YeWhQSz3QYAJpaE_rBP_nHTF9SPZGXweJYe533ZQOUpH_bVeYReCAfCeSpUN6Dq_bdDw0L-52mE1g7_WpecoauNRpbrJrKTXhyArBP-VWfnMGyc/s1600/view+of+interior.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="505" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSItTr9bhq4lbn4oq_67bWBIN7GT8YeWhQSz3QYAJpaE_rBP_nHTF9SPZGXweJYe533ZQOUpH_bVeYReCAfCeSpUN6Dq_bdDw0L-52mE1g7_WpecoauNRpbrJrKTXhyArBP-VWfnMGyc/s640/view+of+interior.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrSWMEMLJgD124SpRwfrGIdYm_YIt6wwfJ89eWYcBneo5XFI9v7kDprZfddlbi4x0rUzU70qWMZqRB29Xj8z3F0_2ZrpRjE8jB8RfngjCV8BsEA7xNXcKjwUgJWq5GnxNMsyUnqebfPY/s1600/outside+wall+of+windows.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrSWMEMLJgD124SpRwfrGIdYm_YIt6wwfJ89eWYcBneo5XFI9v7kDprZfddlbi4x0rUzU70qWMZqRB29Xj8z3F0_2ZrpRjE8jB8RfngjCV8BsEA7xNXcKjwUgJWq5GnxNMsyUnqebfPY/s640/outside+wall+of+windows.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwPFytrevLYSO2tLtHRecygE4Tram0fqspJjCh3a8Mc5SGgmDgq7cNn4VyC00QfNac1MqboJSRRgFfJovSi9KNCi4l3u0uCHXOtxjHhCZJeR1ZmlcaDe_p-MW_Hu0IkUwoxReXJjfx-U/s1600/vine+in+corner.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwPFytrevLYSO2tLtHRecygE4Tram0fqspJjCh3a8Mc5SGgmDgq7cNn4VyC00QfNac1MqboJSRRgFfJovSi9KNCi4l3u0uCHXOtxjHhCZJeR1ZmlcaDe_p-MW_Hu0IkUwoxReXJjfx-U/s400/vine+in+corner.jpg" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd71rk1c-xXUXP-zvg5-nni1-BbTDom_NH1fojQONQr24xPAQ9g0KcRhOrA4mItmPnt2IEXFaxXH6PBmjGgoaLXJzhQVYWoqSjhXAzKLtz92-Af2e9UyhrQ9jHvKAl8NJBfC6KUM15ng/s1600/floor+zig+zag.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd71rk1c-xXUXP-zvg5-nni1-BbTDom_NH1fojQONQr24xPAQ9g0KcRhOrA4mItmPnt2IEXFaxXH6PBmjGgoaLXJzhQVYWoqSjhXAzKLtz92-Af2e9UyhrQ9jHvKAl8NJBfC6KUM15ng/s400/floor+zig+zag.jpg" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CBEiAOYTfUR0-NUrn9lJEYIbW8VK9-W8ktzEbZXC7K6YYWqf-OsAk8qSdbPaDBkldgRqLlxqJdb9yHHkJd9ewkRDa4DGr6QEffq-7NGor3awFaykfCSXDrTNrvJXpSKYAk-z2apO450/s1600/looking+up+tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CBEiAOYTfUR0-NUrn9lJEYIbW8VK9-W8ktzEbZXC7K6YYWqf-OsAk8qSdbPaDBkldgRqLlxqJdb9yHHkJd9ewkRDa4DGr6QEffq-7NGor3awFaykfCSXDrTNrvJXpSKYAk-z2apO450/s640/looking+up+tower.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the tower.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-8QoaXDBs6FcdfGA9RiHFc-WcCUHmtDN6fyZGCQMXdI48YtflpVu95onP6SBTIiTxZjxyoCZrEB5RxhNDBIsSx35ratQFDh6-jMnSDtOPdh6gpE7C0ChAVXY3oiKu5uTU9_5BQ-rNzQ/s1600/outside+trellis.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-8QoaXDBs6FcdfGA9RiHFc-WcCUHmtDN6fyZGCQMXdI48YtflpVu95onP6SBTIiTxZjxyoCZrEB5RxhNDBIsSx35ratQFDh6-jMnSDtOPdh6gpE7C0ChAVXY3oiKu5uTU9_5BQ-rNzQ/s640/outside+trellis.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4A9m9EbKrZtHP2c-KMxJdx7xM8qp92ckDiixhyphenhyphenMgg1k03CQjQdU_vOtron3KUuVCT47GJoJConW9_1ytdX6xPgPAP6NTutxmE1G-wNIZy399Pdhz5uNtxL3vXdGg5sCaMJRE5FDpj_U/s1600/cogs+with+G+and+M.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4A9m9EbKrZtHP2c-KMxJdx7xM8qp92ckDiixhyphenhyphenMgg1k03CQjQdU_vOtron3KUuVCT47GJoJConW9_1ytdX6xPgPAP6NTutxmE1G-wNIZy399Pdhz5uNtxL3vXdGg5sCaMJRE5FDpj_U/s640/cogs+with+G+and+M.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8KipL50rvDikoOF3OYFaNQUN6A_U06_O-rnCFglDXBr1nedXhAmFRtDpp84Rhx9cSKF-xRznhbOCOkfEUZZtN27HtSI4SxEdPcDYOqKdRzVmvW54YIla2BPOBANxHtgWnmfMe6qLC_c/s1600/plant+in+yellow+and+pink.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8KipL50rvDikoOF3OYFaNQUN6A_U06_O-rnCFglDXBr1nedXhAmFRtDpp84Rhx9cSKF-xRznhbOCOkfEUZZtN27HtSI4SxEdPcDYOqKdRzVmvW54YIla2BPOBANxHtgWnmfMe6qLC_c/s640/plant+in+yellow+and+pink.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1gtwOnLl1KvQo4jXl1XNHAC8qtYZPbvnrziegDe4p1msC614zQ2IJNwfLq5XPMmvYYrPPkwlGj0ZsArLHH9dRimPONozYYqnWbE91tI_itYpsxJ4zcFNAsEON0GPsiPm_AP4hvAuo-I/s1600/woorkspoor.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1gtwOnLl1KvQo4jXl1XNHAC8qtYZPbvnrziegDe4p1msC614zQ2IJNwfLq5XPMmvYYrPPkwlGj0ZsArLHH9dRimPONozYYqnWbE91tI_itYpsxJ4zcFNAsEON0GPsiPm_AP4hvAuo-I/s400/woorkspoor.jpg" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipC0WqunqNJMq1QneOMz3RxH6_YcP3L8t3CvxT2xV-efHSo0s5rCQWgRLnJ-XdH84-mixtPtSUpDTZF-0vZrjqGLEEUpDpnM2yIs56hR7XNRd3HSsGoaya8kqleB_CXIk0FlcJ3AZL_Lk/s1600/giant+cog.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipC0WqunqNJMq1QneOMz3RxH6_YcP3L8t3CvxT2xV-efHSo0s5rCQWgRLnJ-XdH84-mixtPtSUpDTZF-0vZrjqGLEEUpDpnM2yIs56hR7XNRd3HSsGoaya8kqleB_CXIk0FlcJ3AZL_Lk/s400/giant+cog.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sSIovfQA0MJpj9hVBhRxjI_ZLDIffTvqI90AK7KRJTjIuhs2kUcYWb5TCR_tmiZ_jVYY7nLnnqoz8jaBJFdqnWCowsPtbwozZBT-vUHsn5GY0H5T8u5snIhuNPUIKRVUL_D2iYc6ZHI/s1600/vines+and+brick.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sSIovfQA0MJpj9hVBhRxjI_ZLDIffTvqI90AK7KRJTjIuhs2kUcYWb5TCR_tmiZ_jVYY7nLnnqoz8jaBJFdqnWCowsPtbwozZBT-vUHsn5GY0H5T8u5snIhuNPUIKRVUL_D2iYc6ZHI/s400/vines+and+brick.jpg" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5fKN-kfGkkZKxiyl-1hQatHw0nAPwhGlefCQPbENpMInD-kRdlN3Q-00yU4kqbzcGsnxV61JAekl6cSyd9f7eQ4kwEuOp4R-ORgWZQPHKlYFmNLJgUkl9pqkFpf4WOTUvGF42G8_kFs/s1600/brick+tower.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5fKN-kfGkkZKxiyl-1hQatHw0nAPwhGlefCQPbENpMInD-kRdlN3Q-00yU4kqbzcGsnxV61JAekl6cSyd9f7eQ4kwEuOp4R-ORgWZQPHKlYFmNLJgUkl9pqkFpf4WOTUvGF42G8_kFs/s400/brick+tower.jpg" /></a>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com0Saint Martin18.051948753002353 -63.09881813955075818.021752753002353 -63.139158639550757 18.082144753002353 -63.058477639550759tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-11429310266545299112016-03-01T10:14:00.000-05:002016-05-29T10:32:22.951-04:00That's Quite a Fruit, Jack<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>By Paula</i><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> anchor,<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> the<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Lagoon,<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Saint<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Ma<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rt<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-xtu5Wibf4FWA_YflxcIBrd8ZbvFPc-SlNC4IM5kjRxBq8mD1k40ZoMxTjjXsEPzJYfXa6UXxDy3oJqNdPTTvsiY4o2_yNd8jTL1RW4Qd6izc0vQmQJEAe4IBe2jhyphenhyphenC-Vezq8uI0cJs/s1600/Nicole+and+Matthew+Spring+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-xtu5Wibf4FWA_YflxcIBrd8ZbvFPc-SlNC4IM5kjRxBq8mD1k40ZoMxTjjXsEPzJYfXa6UXxDy3oJqNdPTTvsiY4o2_yNd8jTL1RW4Qd6izc0vQmQJEAe4IBe2jhyphenhyphenC-Vezq8uI0cJs/s400/Nicole+and+Matthew+Spring+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole and her friend, Matthew, back in 2012 at H-Mart.</td></tr>
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As an area with a fairly international population, our former home of Northern Virginia hosts numerous ethnic grocery stores. Among our favorites was H-Mart, a Korean supermarket known for its outstanding seafood section and the variety of unusual fruits and vegetables.
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Back in 2012, I stopped by for a quick purchase at H-Mart with Nicole and her good friend, Matthew, after a summer excursion to play mini-golf. They were intrigued by the jackfruit, and I took a photo of them with the bumpy and massive fruit.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0G0M3Oze7YroTVAQaFkHsIa1jlZLGk4kERtNnVnh22czfnyHy1QD2xfq-WGaRNl4HFovUOuS14Ihd2jQySspYhhrLDHykLhuTUuiekfFynn3Vfnk9tlxnM8-7PGhEzIArMdKK0PhVypE/s1600/paula+with+fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0G0M3Oze7YroTVAQaFkHsIa1jlZLGk4kERtNnVnh22czfnyHy1QD2xfq-WGaRNl4HFovUOuS14Ihd2jQySspYhhrLDHykLhuTUuiekfFynn3Vfnk9tlxnM8-7PGhEzIArMdKK0PhVypE/s320/paula+with+fruit.jpg" width="192" /></a><br />
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Little did I realize that jackfruit would eventually become a commonplace sighting in our daily lives. It grows on many Caribbean islands, and it isn't hard to miss.<br />
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At our visit to tiny <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2015/12/fort-island.html" target="_blank">Fort Island</a> in Guyana, we spotted a jackfruit tree growing along the path that lead to the old fort. A highlight of our time on the island was visiting with Mohammad, a very friendly local man who insisted on giving us a large bag filled with fresh food from his land. Included was a jackfruit, the largest of all the world's fruits. Yes, it was huge!<br />
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The skin is a bizarre expanse of conical, but soft, bumps, Cutting into it reveals a yellow flesh with a<br />
<a name='more'></a>small, whitish center. The flesh has a stringy consistency where it attaches to the rind, though it is still quite edible. Even more delicious are the softer portions of flesh that surround the large white seeds. These bundles of sweet flesh easily pop away from the stringier sections, though removing them is a sticky and messy endeavor.
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The taste is difficult to describe, but it is tropical with overtones of banana. The most difficult part of eating a jackfruit is finding enough people to share it with!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVewo5pvP77krACGREDP4TEfudt_YzB2df7bjdazdSK6iWoOUYi7KhJUEhOcdyqq_fz4GbRYvXvGskWTyW78l-rKYhDHFdglFHbkqL_F6au4YN_gU-TKEWfwCeTKvuwwZSYqQ02k-JGs8/s1600/tree+with+big+fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVewo5pvP77krACGREDP4TEfudt_YzB2df7bjdazdSK6iWoOUYi7KhJUEhOcdyqq_fz4GbRYvXvGskWTyW78l-rKYhDHFdglFHbkqL_F6au4YN_gU-TKEWfwCeTKvuwwZSYqQ02k-JGs8/s400/tree+with+big+fruit.jpg" title="" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The jackfruit tree on Fort Island, Guyana</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com0Collectivity of Saint Martin, Collectivity of Saint Martin18.050656972029831 -63.09775226328127918.02046397202983 -63.138092763281279 18.080849972029831 -63.05741176328128tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-62651982051987913542016-02-18T21:40:00.000-05:002016-05-16T12:26:18.573-04:00Timid Virgins Make Dull Companions<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRr-awJSG_p9pPFvfqWFj3BSPMt-KXikN1U04ASBq7H8sw_lCSUYiabT57XV_TMxwt3QphjwPnWCUzaapsnkg8UXC7EykuJoo3sO_wNBT-sAfVm4JPBa0nu9nDpEZU-9pxjH8TKn5ATDA/s1600/daystar+compass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRr-awJSG_p9pPFvfqWFj3BSPMt-KXikN1U04ASBq7H8sw_lCSUYiabT57XV_TMxwt3QphjwPnWCUzaapsnkg8UXC7EykuJoo3sO_wNBT-sAfVm4JPBa0nu9nDpEZU-9pxjH8TKn5ATDA/s400/daystar+compass.jpg" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daystar's compass</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by Nicole</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>At anchor, Fr<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ench Lagoon, </span>St. Martin</i></span><br />
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Have you ever heard the phrase <i>Timid Virgins Make Dull Companions?</i> It is a mnemonic that helps you steer and navigate your boat. If you want to sail somewhere, you don't just point your boat and go. It is a lot more complicated. You have to take into account many variables such as wind and current. Tools like the compass help. The compass may seem simple, but even that is not as easy as people think. <br />
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Compasses were invented by the Chinese as early as 1000 BC, and were
used all over the world. They used an iron needle suspended over
lodestone, which is iron oxide. The iron needle always points north,
because of the magnetic pull of the Earth. In Europe, however, one had
to be careful. The strange device that always pointed in the same
direction was thought to be witchcraft. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFM7sgK6USq03kx386a5vr05x8yYhesRoOqLdDBBclUnPSVugdOJBUoykA_yLbWLv4SwkLKuodcqkA0f8HnhIgevfAGyWP0oeipkzV1LGJTE73SarYReGl1-00XL_g_TH3O79lLFAJUU/s1600/Compass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFM7sgK6USq03kx386a5vr05x8yYhesRoOqLdDBBclUnPSVugdOJBUoykA_yLbWLv4SwkLKuodcqkA0f8HnhIgevfAGyWP0oeipkzV1LGJTE73SarYReGl1-00XL_g_TH3O79lLFAJUU/s200/Compass.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Compasses have 32 markings on them called points. In the olden days, sailors were expected to be able to, "box the compass,' and name off every point rapidly and in order.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezVzaTcg7tu-R0u2wNrgvVWrh7pQcErlgHtUj24X96onwpVnLZpkxVMlWVJZlUiHGTFTsrAMVoT9FCnT387HhjFQw4Bpqn2gIAus_RB0Tb7MHCIAq-bbNtNkC2woO31N4VXzymP_nSDE/s1600/Variation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezVzaTcg7tu-R0u2wNrgvVWrh7pQcErlgHtUj24X96onwpVnLZpkxVMlWVJZlUiHGTFTsrAMVoT9FCnT387HhjFQw4Bpqn2gIAus_RB0Tb7MHCIAq-bbNtNkC2woO31N4VXzymP_nSDE/s400/Variation.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of the difference between true and magnetic north </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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One's compass is vital to helping one steer the boat. It would be almost impossible without it. North on the compass, however, is usually not the direction to the north pole, or true north. The north on one's compass points to magnetic north, which is different than true north. The difference between these is called <i><b>variation</b></i>. In other words, you could be sailing magnetic north and actually be sailing NNE (north northeast). This would be an easy thing to overcome if variation didn't change, but variation changes from year to year and from place to place. Between 1580 and 1850, the variation in London changed over 34 degrees. Variation changes because the magnetic north pole moves. It averages a speed of 10 to 15 miles per year, but it moves daily as well. It moves in an elliptical shape around its average position. The elliptical path gets bigger when there are solar flares on the sun. There is a place off the coast of Australia where, in the length of two football fields, The variation changes more than<br />
<a name='more'></a>90 degrees. If you don't know the variation, then you don't actually know which way you are steering. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLus4nE0p6W0brkrcfokYkE_JA0wH-4XRJSPOUkn-HfHVu2QyRcb4Zz9z8BAmG8D7LCfMmsT6jcbuhGBteLB_FovgfChIepr7Lv1cmIzHBxth8lCbeqFFAcQxTomEINCQzp9DzZzUbmwg/s1600/Variation+Map.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLus4nE0p6W0brkrcfokYkE_JA0wH-4XRJSPOUkn-HfHVu2QyRcb4Zz9z8BAmG8D7LCfMmsT6jcbuhGBteLB_FovgfChIepr7Lv1cmIzHBxth8lCbeqFFAcQxTomEINCQzp9DzZzUbmwg/s640/Variation+Map.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A variation map, showing the different levels of variation around the world</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9LU13gOCeL3sPrD8x0KCUl3a0d_daLGpwWGYnMmWNkO2P_Q7xk7m72xj8HVWosJ_RiS4OF3QjZQccrGgYyFFNW6VQUdAlMbPvzYuuxV3_xXQwyNgltGS6t8sNQ3AXvX278u0rZ_PouY/s1600/Deviation+Iron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9LU13gOCeL3sPrD8x0KCUl3a0d_daLGpwWGYnMmWNkO2P_Q7xk7m72xj8HVWosJ_RiS4OF3QjZQccrGgYyFFNW6VQUdAlMbPvzYuuxV3_xXQwyNgltGS6t8sNQ3AXvX278u0rZ_PouY/s320/Deviation+Iron.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Binnacle with spheres to counteract deviation.</td></tr>
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Another thing to take into account when steering is <i><b>deviation</b></i>. Your compass might not even point to magnetic north, either. It might be a few degrees off. This is called deviation, and it would make it even harder to steer the boat accurately. Every compass has its own idiosyncrasies, which causes its deviation. An even bigger source of deviation on steel ships is the metal of the hull. To fix this, they would put soft iron and other magnets around the compass to counteract the ship, and even today steel ships have them. To make things even more complicated, deviation also can change depending on the direction of the ship and how much the ship is heeled. Amazingly, if a steel ship is on one course for too long, the deviation may change.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF261p3QU6TmVl9gaBoZuxA4UOSZaMnooW18ttyfdV_ZMHbafJp-2Z_sdxzPZ8UANZt1T930NNBaBDHvYQyo6uaFpEnAbnwiEzA6tM_EfArN2i31Rc_a2U2WJYs5k8O8663pLC2yD0aNA/s1600/Magnetic+North+Movement.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF261p3QU6TmVl9gaBoZuxA4UOSZaMnooW18ttyfdV_ZMHbafJp-2Z_sdxzPZ8UANZt1T930NNBaBDHvYQyo6uaFpEnAbnwiEzA6tM_EfArN2i31Rc_a2U2WJYs5k8O8663pLC2yD0aNA/s640/Magnetic+North+Movement.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The black line shows the movement of magnetic north in the past 400 years</td></tr>
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Another extraordinary thing is that the poles eventually will change positions. The earth’s magnetic field has decreased by five percent in the past century. In a couple hundred to a few thousand years the magnetic field will cease to exist. Birds won’t be able to navigate, compasses won’t work, ships wouldn’t be able to navigate. Eventually, after a long stretch of a non-magnetic earth, the magnetic field will return. It will get stronger, but with one difference: this time, the compasses will point south. <br />
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Compasses and our magnetic earth are fascinating, and they are vital to being able to steer the boat. The mnemonic <i>Timid Virgins Make Dull Companions</i> helps with this:<br />
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Start with <i>Timid</i>, or <b>True</b>, the true direction from your boat to your destination.<br />
Add to that <i>Virgins</i>, or <b>Variation</b>, the difference between true and magnetic.<br />
That results in <i>Make</i>, or <b>Magnetic</b>, the direction that your compass shows.<br />
Add to that <i>Dull</i>, or <b>Deviation</b>, how far off from magnetic north your compass actually is.<br />
This give you <i>Companions</i>, or <b>Compass</b>, the reading you should actually point on your compass.<br />
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So to figure out which direction you should go according to your compass, you will use this:<br />
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<i>Timid</i>/<b>True </b>plus <i>Virgins</i>/<b>Variation </b>equals <i>Make</i>/<b>Magnetic</b>. Add that to <i>Dull</i>/<b>Deviation</b>, and you get what you should steer on the <i>Companions</i>/<b>Compass</b>.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10110379251327816163noreply@blogger.com1Collectivity of Saint Martin, Collectivity of Saint Martin18.051948753002353 -63.09881813955075818.021754253002353 -63.139158639550757 18.082143253002354 -63.058477639550759tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-42811681624158217682016-02-14T21:25:00.000-05:002016-03-28T13:47:44.472-04:00Like Nothing We've Seen Before<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by Paula</i><br /><i>At anchor, St. Martin</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADz60QsbPuK4ArdmYUKQU8G2CaRHe-lVS7GocEP2Fh7uOpaFbpiGDLpxycZpxGgbpWkovutVVLBRX5Dw19l4dlgWv_ShMfaHxk194A6WDA4DtP_rQlTOJL5uq7zZCcLToC7ZG-piWGBc/s1600/N+washing+in+river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADz60QsbPuK4ArdmYUKQU8G2CaRHe-lVS7GocEP2Fh7uOpaFbpiGDLpxycZpxGgbpWkovutVVLBRX5Dw19l4dlgWv_ShMfaHxk194A6WDA4DtP_rQlTOJL5uq7zZCcLToC7ZG-piWGBc/s400/N+washing+in+river.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maroons doing dishes and bathing in the river.</td></tr>
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It was like stepping in to the pages of an old National Geographic magazine. In the bush and along the banks of the Suriname River are small villages populated by people known as Maroons. These throw-back communities were described to us as more like Africa used to be than any place in Africa today. They were like nothing we had ever seen before.<br />
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In 17th and 18th century Suriname, the English and Dutch imported slaves from Africa to work on their plantations. Not surprisingly, many slaves tried to escape their horrible fates. The escaped slaves, called Maroons, evaded capture by living deep in the jungle or up the river beyond the plantations. There they set up communities and lived like they had in Africa. Their descendants still live in those jungle villages today.
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T8B-4vp0dxH3psgmytvngLP6SHdPdcYfE36ojqqNbcmA6QosOrCDeNbt5Tnd_bDgL8X5Oox8E2h_-EN6rvHIfw0GFvM6zfOCbw8MGaUX5IZW2yjfuB6EWiCcNhm3kYRTNie-pgS93cg/s1600/N+boats+at+Atjoni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T8B-4vp0dxH3psgmytvngLP6SHdPdcYfE36ojqqNbcmA6QosOrCDeNbt5Tnd_bDgL8X5Oox8E2h_-EN6rvHIfw0GFvM6zfOCbw8MGaUX5IZW2yjfuB6EWiCcNhm3kYRTNie-pgS93cg/s400/N+boats+at+Atjoni.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dugouts at Atjoni are the only link to many of the villages upriver. </td></tr>
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Our trip up the Suriname River to visit some of these villages started with a drive along the long, lonely road to the small town of Atjoni. There the road ended, and any further travel must be by boat. Long, slim dugout canoes waited at the port, ready to take on passengers for points upriver. We paid $12 each for a three-hour ride to the village of Pikin Slee. We stayed at <a href="http://www.pasensie.com/" target="_blank">Pasensie</a>, a "resort" alongside the village.
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We've seen in our travels elsewhere some very poor people, some at a subsistence level. But most everywhere, the basic structure of their lives has been a simpler and poorer version of what we are used to in the US. Maybe someone's tiny shack has no electricity. Or perhaps there are many living in one room and they have few belongings. Life in the Maroon villages is very different.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXjnTWlge4TaGnCfoGZ6nfxbqspHIZrgXTVxxKhKfcUEhhFWxYD7pcjQK1wYoj5RhVEekQpaAclHR3xd8KLsaXZLTbQsmyILOnD31u6W5MU2mks16IWPz8IZVVxQtnhhfhENtABD7Few/s1600/Niew+Aurora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXjnTWlge4TaGnCfoGZ6nfxbqspHIZrgXTVxxKhKfcUEhhFWxYD7pcjQK1wYoj5RhVEekQpaAclHR3xd8KLsaXZLTbQsmyILOnD31u6W5MU2mks16IWPz8IZVVxQtnhhfhENtABD7Few/s640/Niew+Aurora.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the "big city" among the Maroon villages of Nieuw Aurora</td></tr>
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For most Maroons, life is centered on the Suriname river. Getting from place to place happens via the river. The river<br />
<a name='more'></a>is where they wash their dishes. It's where they wash their clothes. It's where they wash themselves and it's where they get their drinking water. As we traveled the river we saw all of this.
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Boats, under motor, paddle, or oar were always coming and going along the water.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbI20FfZvisyoAJSRDJUDlgSvYNnT0BV_58CtJm6ndAzNkIgNEQqjbxNeqfaFIeF6A3YWcNihL00te3GU8VXAXS0-xxN-CS0LCVt3wv23zt6y272BiU5yRY9QEQzzGUCCDZDycqK-N1BM/s1600/N+lady+rowing.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbI20FfZvisyoAJSRDJUDlgSvYNnT0BV_58CtJm6ndAzNkIgNEQqjbxNeqfaFIeF6A3YWcNihL00te3GU8VXAXS0-xxN-CS0LCVt3wv23zt6y272BiU5yRY9QEQzzGUCCDZDycqK-N1BM/s320/N+lady+rowing.jpg" width="308" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3HHy1ejovRHOYQ_sLzOAPS3T-tPvgzYSnEOTRr679GMuBT07P7-8XX9Fe3ycFqEpoGXpno8MBfIa00AHc8FluvBfAkK4UfcGa7nuCfngOJT61zNuXfO72DJyCeTBQZ_a7j3PD5opH0s/s1600/pasensie+foggy+river+with+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3HHy1ejovRHOYQ_sLzOAPS3T-tPvgzYSnEOTRr679GMuBT07P7-8XX9Fe3ycFqEpoGXpno8MBfIa00AHc8FluvBfAkK4UfcGa7nuCfngOJT61zNuXfO72DJyCeTBQZ_a7j3PD5opH0s/s320/pasensie+foggy+river+with+boat.jpg" width="266" /></a>
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Few docks exist here, so peole just offload supplies and people alongside a large rock or tree or by wading.<br />
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Women and girls stood knee-deep at the shore, bending over to wash dishes. Others stood near exposed rocks, washing clothes by scrubbing them against rocks or drying them by beating them on the rocks. Men, women, and children lathered up to bathe.<br />
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Clusters of Maroon homes are arranged in a haphazard fashion, some communities with just a few huts and others containing dozens. These tiny homes are built in a traditional way with the exception of using sawn (vs hand-hewn) planks, Most have thatched rooves, but some have corrugated tin rooves. A few have foundations of beach-made bricks which were created using sand from the river. A few have modern doors or windows, but most use only cloth to cover windows and doors, or nothing at all. Almost all are tiny with just a single room. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6dMAIZw9HOZb70J3cAhuiyloE-gEK4H5rjdZsBeHeiTHLnT8_2rVx-zP5RDRSR6ZyocQcUEyMxhf7qJRj3cr3R9vi1qnM5KkxLNfXc3Z5gaO4pJgMPbfAomHmbYC0475YA4ClZJvxK0/s1600/roadside+huts+2+closer.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6dMAIZw9HOZb70J3cAhuiyloE-gEK4H5rjdZsBeHeiTHLnT8_2rVx-zP5RDRSR6ZyocQcUEyMxhf7qJRj3cr3R9vi1qnM5KkxLNfXc3Z5gaO4pJgMPbfAomHmbYC0475YA4ClZJvxK0/s640/roadside+huts+2+closer.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgndNEAs-VxMtS0nzTM0nqCZozU4BjE6EyjCt3rjy4luCDaOrHLtbauRZG2FFuWfPXBoGfO6JF_TM8PT-llDTu4F-cO179ExzvcDc7XMHbyAAJGDK_He_e4vO9bmRmYzEy-x8_zqT22w/s1600/maroon+kitchen+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgndNEAs-VxMtS0nzTM0nqCZozU4BjE6EyjCt3rjy4luCDaOrHLtbauRZG2FFuWfPXBoGfO6JF_TM8PT-llDTu4F-cO179ExzvcDc7XMHbyAAJGDK_He_e4vO9bmRmYzEy-x8_zqT22w/s400/maroon+kitchen+1.jpg" width="400" /></a>Each home is actually a compound of three huts. One is built as the main living and sleeping space. A second is the kitchen, where food is prepared and assembled and where pots and dishes are stored hanging on the walls. The third hut is for cooking, which is done over an open fire or in a clay oven.<br />
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A woman's status depends strongly on the cleanliness of her kitchen and the number of pots, pans, and other items. Clean and shiny pots and pans are extremely important, and the smoke resulting from cooking over an open fire would soot thing up, so the separate building for cooking is necessary to keep the pots and pans shiny. Women load each meal's dishes into a wheelbarrow or a large basket carried on the head and walk them to the river for washing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgaYbqJWC28xo1BnR6Y02lVXy0x_ZmCCHDTTyx5aqF-GWux3atzCcp4hACriVkEV-K8eCupFZdHHhcTJm2kZYAwYwGZ0-nBiAO47DaKDPD-Z5hJhP7j-pRgKh1DGNx-9EKNoYog7rw3A/s1600/maroon+kitchen+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgaYbqJWC28xo1BnR6Y02lVXy0x_ZmCCHDTTyx5aqF-GWux3atzCcp4hACriVkEV-K8eCupFZdHHhcTJm2kZYAwYwGZ0-nBiAO47DaKDPD-Z5hJhP7j-pRgKh1DGNx-9EKNoYog7rw3A/s640/maroon+kitchen+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The status of this woman is not very high (not many pots and pans, and not much cleanliness). We did not feel comfortable taking photos in most of the village. We saw an kitchen that held easily 50 dishes, pots, and pans, more than we had back in the U.S., and each of them was blindingly shiny.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Top: outdoor cooking arrangement to the left, broom to the right. <br />Bottom: To the left is a very very nice house. Both left and right are <br />unleavened bread made from cassava root, drying in the sun <br />(on the roof and on a log). </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10yShKTskDTdTVCwKWGtRkD-OwgP4reZNLyKr5ghqUAhpppTFE1Z7QBO0nIyhPqnKv2GBCn-QK6Q1J2MSCXHBlqAj8ede5mWU_Xo_JIMzaYO_upFSFgn5WfIVSWhScpJQqM5PfvtaOps/s1600/maroon+mangos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10yShKTskDTdTVCwKWGtRkD-OwgP4reZNLyKr5ghqUAhpppTFE1Z7QBO0nIyhPqnKv2GBCn-QK6Q1J2MSCXHBlqAj8ede5mWU_Xo_JIMzaYO_upFSFgn5WfIVSWhScpJQqM5PfvtaOps/s320/maroon+mangos.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Many rely on local fruit trees, which are plentiful, for food.<br />
(Shown here are mangos).</td></tr>
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The Maroon villagers practice slash-and-burn farming. Small plots of land are burned during the dry season to prepare for soil-turning and planting the following spring. These small plots that provide vegetables for the village last just a few years before the soil is depleted prompting the need to start all over again. Eventually, the farmland gets further and further from the village. In some villages, the women, who are responsible for the farming, must walk two hours to get to their farm plots. Those villages that are inland and are not tied to the river simply move when distances from the farming are too great.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KFFbs0tnQ3Z5f33DfdAoA1EzHaSPkdQstJI24nuR87vJjaEQjBCjsHSomc6r0x7ofob8HMIr2HzxsJZIMsgk7KmHqN-hh5l5IEeg3TcIJU5VX0CpfXoBNV0n-jh7VMOE2OWnCg0Kfvs/s1600/roadside+hut+and+farming.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KFFbs0tnQ3Z5f33DfdAoA1EzHaSPkdQstJI24nuR87vJjaEQjBCjsHSomc6r0x7ofob8HMIr2HzxsJZIMsgk7KmHqN-hh5l5IEeg3TcIJU5VX0CpfXoBNV0n-jh7VMOE2OWnCg0Kfvs/s640/roadside+hut+and+farming.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lxcDvvUCKHegXnjnL6Hr2sQ1MKC4mB5Q5-bAAlBIK2EgHEgeGfRHItbZYvY-IOF47FRcB6leAfQ0tJWCf_fXHgSH9PgGyHv8S6AMQV8JCgo6hzzELxRW_T3hTKo8ENK3jWkqLWtJSfI/s1600/marriage+cloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lxcDvvUCKHegXnjnL6Hr2sQ1MKC4mB5Q5-bAAlBIK2EgHEgeGfRHItbZYvY-IOF47FRcB6leAfQ0tJWCf_fXHgSH9PgGyHv8S6AMQV8JCgo6hzzELxRW_T3hTKo8ENK3jWkqLWtJSfI/s400/marriage+cloth.jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dark blue piece<br />
is the marriage cloth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Polygamy is common in Maroon society, and some men have many wives. Women embroider a special cloth that is worn around waist to indicate their status as married and also to send various other messages. Designs or words are sometimes displayed at the back, one example being the message "he likes me the best." The wives often do not like each other often are very competitive. Marriages are not necessarily for life, and relationships can change without much trouble.
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<br />
Not surprisingly, responsibility for raising the children is with women. It is a child's uncle, however, who is financially responsible for a child's wedding and dowry. Some children attend school, but not all do. Maroons speak one of five dialects of the local "bush language," which is somewhat akin to the Creole language of Sranan. Suriname schools though are taught in Dutch, so Maroon children enter school with the disadvantage of needing to learn a second language.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoraGV0DXHKCxL_ock0bo-C0fcRuIgH33YJGdLMwWHmMma3ggfbKxfvRQ79KrD3bsmHpaA2S5jjniZRonwhhnle2RlLKG0KwYt3YS3x04isuIPVkE9wwe0HuHRRpNEKAtwreBbfFoLjc/s1600/dugout+canoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoraGV0DXHKCxL_ock0bo-C0fcRuIgH33YJGdLMwWHmMma3ggfbKxfvRQ79KrD3bsmHpaA2S5jjniZRonwhhnle2RlLKG0KwYt3YS3x04isuIPVkE9wwe0HuHRRpNEKAtwreBbfFoLjc/s200/dugout+canoe.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Men are responsible for hunting and fishing, and they eat just about any kind of creature including possums, lizards, and monkeys. Unfortunately, much of the wildlife has been depleted in the areas near these communities. Some men travel to Paramaribo to work, and return after a few months with money for the family. Men build the homes and the dugout canoe boats used to navigate the river.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbs04nNvi11gdZPa9B3HUVTtVdhdFQiy5VgKMSzdCgsNHZymnGQwGSxxE9bxgNY4B2s2ikLR53ccTe9m88s9beJbh1D2w19f2nwZOQztgKS00uqRbilJIG3OOXPve9YhvU-IXNZZy3bw/s1600/cell+phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbs04nNvi11gdZPa9B3HUVTtVdhdFQiy5VgKMSzdCgsNHZymnGQwGSxxE9bxgNY4B2s2ikLR53ccTe9m88s9beJbh1D2w19f2nwZOQztgKS00uqRbilJIG3OOXPve9YhvU-IXNZZy3bw/s400/cell+phone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Villagers are largely isolated, though that is made less so with the advent of cell towers in the area. Some villagers have cell phones, but that hasn't stopped them from continuing to live in such a traditional way.
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The Dutch government has funded a museum of Maroon culture that has opened in Pikin Slee. Founded by five young men, it displays their wood-work and shows what life is like in the village.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGSNM1nSoNt96symlTCeY7GFBSQPEqD_pQHdrwFbzqzgB2l1nbf5Gx8NhwOcs9gcdmjzC2mrlzwa30-iH5Mx44LIr18t2P9Qj4FEyDQn2JWgq0e3_Xm4B2anNxwfjCPDFTjHdlBUZ9DY/s1600/Samaaka+Museum.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGSNM1nSoNt96symlTCeY7GFBSQPEqD_pQHdrwFbzqzgB2l1nbf5Gx8NhwOcs9gcdmjzC2mrlzwa30-iH5Mx44LIr18t2P9Qj4FEyDQn2JWgq0e3_Xm4B2anNxwfjCPDFTjHdlBUZ9DY/s320/Samaaka+Museum.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Sraanan Museum entrance.</span></div>
</td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ilu0dCqxNzMR6NheMNAaqLYb4OOWHVySyDlgbBCRZ8w-1IYUUn8EMe07du7E-4uLvUbNkxM5eaUTqEIYc3jY51G9WF5ab9DWLVEpW7KZqAFEzfWWQ-0NlCRtV5eh6vCGzQ_rhyZgo30/s1600/Museum+owners+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ilu0dCqxNzMR6NheMNAaqLYb4OOWHVySyDlgbBCRZ8w-1IYUUn8EMe07du7E-4uLvUbNkxM5eaUTqEIYc3jY51G9WF5ab9DWLVEpW7KZqAFEzfWWQ-0NlCRtV5eh6vCGzQ_rhyZgo30/s320/Museum+owners+%25289%2529.jpg" width="299" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Four of the five museum founders.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC1Q-fLIWEwNPAYj3dLdB05eXVXGxBXRYSHUxvy73bk2YF0UJ5rkoM74xOQekX_2ul2T45bA_Z8oey9GD1RUU9WvxEcrrWFpPGiUGaWda0SDSKu4a0hJIImbJRpznNL-nM0TxQ_rpOZA/s1600/maroon+store.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC1Q-fLIWEwNPAYj3dLdB05eXVXGxBXRYSHUxvy73bk2YF0UJ5rkoM74xOQekX_2ul2T45bA_Z8oey9GD1RUU9WvxEcrrWFpPGiUGaWda0SDSKu4a0hJIImbJRpznNL-nM0TxQ_rpOZA/s400/maroon+store.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The owner of the only store in Pikin Slee (considered quite big)<br />
was happy to have us take his picture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We found the people of Pikin Slee to be somewhat cool to our presence. A walk through the village to the museum prompted waves from some children but little contact otherwise. We passed one group of children who were pointing, waving, and repeating a phrase which we assumed meant "hello." However, we were informed that what they were saying was "white guy, white guy, white guy." Women were aware of our presence, and some took care to cover their breasts, which are normally bare. The two people working at the museum were friendly and gracious, but other villagers kept to themselves. <br />
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Efforts by the government or others to "improve" their lives are largely rejected by the Maroons. Installation of a platform containing multiple plastic cisterns for rain-water collection has been left broken and unused. A recently-erected Catholic church was burned down. These humble people seem determined to continue a traditional way of life that is largely gone from the rest of the world.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com0The Lagoon, Collectivity of Saint Martin18.1146247 -62.98514239999997218.1070787 -62.995227399999969 18.1221707 -62.975057399999976tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-74313954308573656922016-02-08T09:28:00.000-05:002018-01-02T22:14:21.818-05:00Riding the Suriname River<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by Cash</i><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At anchor, the Lagoon, St. Martin</span></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKtN-IZdI4VMIR-P0NhZdUuquPUCFzx7uVM849Z6uhovXcPUpM-nBXyMIOcUH7IEmuc5aYZ-jcGFwWViH807GuQ4h6pLH4h4B71Efi9brwCh6RKOnK_q6OLGKMZujacJXH4Gy4YBmep0/s1600/atjoni+boats+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKtN-IZdI4VMIR-P0NhZdUuquPUCFzx7uVM849Z6uhovXcPUpM-nBXyMIOcUH7IEmuc5aYZ-jcGFwWViH807GuQ4h6pLH4h4B71Efi9brwCh6RKOnK_q6OLGKMZujacJXH4Gy4YBmep0/s400/atjoni+boats+1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Living on a boat, the only way we have to get to shore or to another boat is by dinghy. We have gotten used to this by now, and so it's not big deal for any one of us to drive the dinghy. But if we thought we had dinghy-handling skills, we were completely outdone by the boatmen of the Suriname River.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAle1xDGQX0V88WDXl1dMPSD99U3Z8nPAIhivd1hSq_LS3I229iQ1PAPKuDOkW5_GRpOmyE77R11T3228huhfkKKVE0LAw1vMUVryReOOe1_aCiDQxpWioAlBa2P1eZ_0bcFoXNeP8mAw/s1600/Greg+Nicole+Anna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAle1xDGQX0V88WDXl1dMPSD99U3Z8nPAIhivd1hSq_LS3I229iQ1PAPKuDOkW5_GRpOmyE77R11T3228huhfkKKVE0LAw1vMUVryReOOe1_aCiDQxpWioAlBa2P1eZ_0bcFoXNeP8mAw/s400/Greg+Nicole+Anna.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
We stayed for a couple of days at a "resort" on the Suriname River in the depths of the Surinamese jungle. All along the river are villages. To get to the resort, we had to drive to a town on the Suriname River called Atjoni, which is very remote in itself. This town is three hours away from<b> </b>Domburg<b> </b>by car, driving down a long, empty highway.(Before they paved the road, this trip took eight hours.) From there, we took a local boat two and half hours up the river.<br />
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The pilots of these boats have to be very skilled to navigate the river. The river is generally very shallow in spots, and so they have to memorize an exact route through the river. In our case, they had to know the route through the river for the entire two and half hours. And the farthest villages are six hours away! <br />
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<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr align="center"><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MyZGF9A8eubtFuGrsn8OfxtQstcdMKUHkKlZJbCIWHBw2iDySi2l9RbOUZYZl1QdVbRj2pwaSJfAk12ptcOQCxL_MYb1e9Rp6llqk4UcB9Yv-RJPWH1OK03HjHBuyxGx6dWM7I43aHQ/s1600/view+forward.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MyZGF9A8eubtFuGrsn8OfxtQstcdMKUHkKlZJbCIWHBw2iDySi2l9RbOUZYZl1QdVbRj2pwaSJfAk12ptcOQCxL_MYb1e9Rp6llqk4UcB9Yv-RJPWH1OK03HjHBuyxGx6dWM7I43aHQ/s320/view+forward.jpg" width="293" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The driver knew how to wind through this minefield of</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">rocks without a scratch on the boat </span></td>
<td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5Ilp7NwW1qA8bcoJxCRii7qqOi84-awvc9iRR0-z0cT0H1rCvJu8NDmF30NEnwN_RGh-jf66Qq0NWGAE-ybvd_BYNPaOQ7ASaN189JFz0uaO9b0rRnxj8J7IbWxBkdH2o0oO0rJKE2E/s1600/bowman.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5Ilp7NwW1qA8bcoJxCRii7qqOi84-awvc9iRR0-z0cT0H1rCvJu8NDmF30NEnwN_RGh-jf66Qq0NWGAE-ybvd_BYNPaOQ7ASaN189JFz0uaO9b0rRnxj8J7IbWxBkdH2o0oO0rJKE2E/s320/bowman.jpg" width="295" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The bowman's job was to use a pole to rotate the boat</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">in tight spots </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
We often came literally inches from rocks as we sped past. In
many cases, the river was so shallow that we couldn't<br />
<a name='more'></a>pass it with the
engine down, but we couldn't drift through because we were going up-river. With perfect timing, the driver would gun the motor, lift it at the last second (rotate it on
it's mount to pull the propeller out of the water) until the shallow spot
had passed, put the engine back down, and keep driving as if nothing
had happened.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr align="center"><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQD9BFu7cxhNVmRYmXDvvNHJCZ9JJEDW58ONjViGEdOIVs3mmZ4PjHIRKLsLivOTdlUvgT4W6OhHycqRHB53D2V5E-0-BkxBVp7nUgvsXZ-pAAv0EUcbaNHrY3bh242qecZq6YUcx6yk/s1600/pulling+engine+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQD9BFu7cxhNVmRYmXDvvNHJCZ9JJEDW58ONjViGEdOIVs3mmZ4PjHIRKLsLivOTdlUvgT4W6OhHycqRHB53D2V5E-0-BkxBVp7nUgvsXZ-pAAv0EUcbaNHrY3bh242qecZq6YUcx6yk/s320/pulling+engine+2.jpg" width="338" /></a>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Gun it...
</span></td>
<td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgWUBdoPKyyjQjGUeQ5N58bepgSEIVSPFykv2nCdHhZiNNtscSTN5MVCuBPX32pYPlRz3GCL6mgM9opMBXC_NUTK64Vi8muMVxaASYm_YmPiyKGLazrEkxfWfrODtcFuJHfhPwswGVbU/s1600/pulling+engine+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgWUBdoPKyyjQjGUeQ5N58bepgSEIVSPFykv2nCdHhZiNNtscSTN5MVCuBPX32pYPlRz3GCL6mgM9opMBXC_NUTK64Vi8muMVxaASYm_YmPiyKGLazrEkxfWfrODtcFuJHfhPwswGVbU/s320/pulling+engine+1.jpg" width="242" /></a>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">...and then pull up the engine.
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</tbody></table>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfHC76zAuioEzDW55WGnH0DTbWGBABsDkN9yP-JUvnAw7xKJTxAwFXCXq5vUYoXh2MrcC4C5oYYJvP9B8uCvXOR1ldlFE2JBKKKVkq225zsyHg772JRPeV0TbehPu1VD3oHBDroGY4jI/s1600/close+to+rock+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfHC76zAuioEzDW55WGnH0DTbWGBABsDkN9yP-JUvnAw7xKJTxAwFXCXq5vUYoXh2MrcC4C5oYYJvP9B8uCvXOR1ldlFE2JBKKKVkq225zsyHg772JRPeV0TbehPu1VD3oHBDroGY4jI/s320/close+to+rock+2.jpg" width="271" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWXpW7LHxNnEG6TltFa0FtV5FAEp9siX_nC5cB4md98MaV-1AjOsucSRLSjdn0-S9vXUefGBv4Xk58yTzEosWpszD7DSPcQr7eYBzuChzUwd8OQYgB-NZd3JEn0yIof1iignV2korhAk/s1600/close+to+rock+3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWXpW7LHxNnEG6TltFa0FtV5FAEp9siX_nC5cB4md98MaV-1AjOsucSRLSjdn0-S9vXUefGBv4Xk58yTzEosWpszD7DSPcQr7eYBzuChzUwd8OQYgB-NZd3JEn0yIof1iignV2korhAk/s320/close+to+rock+3.jpg" width="356" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">It was amazing how close we came to the rocks.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREEmoePyK6a4hoc86z9QD-1tm5d8bCH4L716TQeat06iKyJifgUE5gztzVoWEx-6-TQtoGRK1jfX7tPQ-_fnJfuY5mUH0VaKhQKcMEEGfr3OHIL9uEkR9xemfcEdxLmXSd1EVGhxEwx8/s1600/portage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREEmoePyK6a4hoc86z9QD-1tm5d8bCH4L716TQeat06iKyJifgUE5gztzVoWEx-6-TQtoGRK1jfX7tPQ-_fnJfuY5mUH0VaKhQKcMEEGfr3OHIL9uEkR9xemfcEdxLmXSd1EVGhxEwx8/s320/portage+1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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At times, the river was so shallow that the boat loaded with people couldn't make it past. In this case, we had to make a "portage", where the drivers would offload the passengers and some cargo<b> </b>and move the heavy items like propane tanks to the back of the boat. The drivers would move the lighter boat past the shallow spots and the passengers would walk along the river until it was deep enough for them to get back in.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3-9DOdv9CX1Jor9AMKii6YsZ_rpFUQ6Nwt4pzVRyYimXGOt4Ux_NPosUwga60QuoHHcs7OCW7lxI_yP15TVYCOzV7z3s8xiiQvwGKXA0i9rQsYeyjQxKbI8rRcti0v45Gjf4uVdlb3w/s1600/portage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3-9DOdv9CX1Jor9AMKii6YsZ_rpFUQ6Nwt4pzVRyYimXGOt4Ux_NPosUwga60QuoHHcs7OCW7lxI_yP15TVYCOzV7z3s8xiiQvwGKXA0i9rQsYeyjQxKbI8rRcti0v45Gjf4uVdlb3w/s640/portage+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's a video of our ride up the Suriname River:
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesZl3IywiQ-LbpYpWY-S_tlvH2-EpJ0H4VENedjj8yVJ3BGXU1p_v83D2oB2F9nnBoA-V9yiK8VnhtwKhymHh7cboBo-EmmlQkPiJYa4obolrRa-UZA2Xirij_qJ61NBhaFvUyBG_YM4/s1600/atjoni+us+at+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesZl3IywiQ-LbpYpWY-S_tlvH2-EpJ0H4VENedjj8yVJ3BGXU1p_v83D2oB2F9nnBoA-V9yiK8VnhtwKhymHh7cboBo-EmmlQkPiJYa4obolrRa-UZA2Xirij_qJ61NBhaFvUyBG_YM4/s640/atjoni+us+at+boat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The loading station at Atjoni</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFLYo53iPvCoJCsrd2hXvmb9BemiefoKtvPpnFWTZ6k9NhZKKXPPq1ZNhi1K6H7mqUtR0sE0H9_427z6kbkvKapI4_JUcsUNeLP02lDZqap2rKAoLmfE4mrm_wCCFtHRtLCzhyFWMPtU/s1600/driver+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFLYo53iPvCoJCsrd2hXvmb9BemiefoKtvPpnFWTZ6k9NhZKKXPPq1ZNhi1K6H7mqUtR0sE0H9_427z6kbkvKapI4_JUcsUNeLP02lDZqap2rKAoLmfE4mrm_wCCFtHRtLCzhyFWMPtU/s640/driver+sitting.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our driver, Blanki. He lived in one of the villages and drove up and down the<br />
river every day. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1bnYN9PhhiyGyp9It5w0yfuSAGG1uQRPGpwXq5b_jDmxSSonJHDyQwi3Q-ld3maLY4V3D6hWkY-VAvIYewUj-92rKSXq0nuYZ4IM0hxpuR49C9ozQTkpY17fOIGxBHd2sdjp4-MafsE/s1600/Cash+on+cargo.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1bnYN9PhhiyGyp9It5w0yfuSAGG1uQRPGpwXq5b_jDmxSSonJHDyQwi3Q-ld3maLY4V3D6hWkY-VAvIYewUj-92rKSXq0nuYZ4IM0hxpuR49C9ozQTkpY17fOIGxBHd2sdjp4-MafsE/s320/Cash+on+cargo.jpg" width="303" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvdXcVtcjUrM8nFiOrXGGO6eV48fKwjcWSLaR7jimwhd1jeEwx3WTups1y2mcZdfD14gNmQFtA_Mk-Nkg942UFEjFEOETPcsReUTFhUWtkdcdLc00nzzIDXDljzACIRSFmLGdyqLWSwo/s1600/Greg+Paula.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvdXcVtcjUrM8nFiOrXGGO6eV48fKwjcWSLaR7jimwhd1jeEwx3WTups1y2mcZdfD14gNmQFtA_Mk-Nkg942UFEjFEOETPcsReUTFhUWtkdcdLc00nzzIDXDljzACIRSFmLGdyqLWSwo/s320/Greg+Paula.jpg" width="315" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhLZQR6UFQ2Vv9EBQ0FFTLR2tSo39YCWOrZl5YuSNw3IeVQYQA7o40SoYRmCjza1Vi5k6I_eifvbm4Wp7E994Fz41kViobLo2qSfQFDmSGxVLzjFr7K__3c2c9i6FQ70g6lUvMzP09eM/s1600/load+aft+end.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhLZQR6UFQ2Vv9EBQ0FFTLR2tSo39YCWOrZl5YuSNw3IeVQYQA7o40SoYRmCjza1Vi5k6I_eifvbm4Wp7E994Fz41kViobLo2qSfQFDmSGxVLzjFr7K__3c2c9i6FQ70g6lUvMzP09eM/s320/load+aft+end.jpg" width="313" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdc8mM8-Le1fKAqFyojV8vNyX-F03zcSI-pcFfMuwQCDbIfdvxxsiUSH0113NMRREhsM9IKVsIg7ne25_DTphT7ddrMXmJKOz3dFYUao1Vg7ToDRu1EjvBnpy8wolwl-BK1_Kc3xL73E/s1600/load+forward+end.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdc8mM8-Le1fKAqFyojV8vNyX-F03zcSI-pcFfMuwQCDbIfdvxxsiUSH0113NMRREhsM9IKVsIg7ne25_DTphT7ddrMXmJKOz3dFYUao1Vg7ToDRu1EjvBnpy8wolwl-BK1_Kc3xL73E/s320/load+forward+end.jpg" width="329" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">These boats are so long we couldn't get the entire thing to fit in the frame of the photo.</span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9ChKLtWQXjFy7qSWETfnnzwy7gzBKuMBnjz3ukC9mBu4triDBMk_Y_FV8Vs_-_esVgPJ9L0GbMc4XUGl5NoedPLeFoNXsd7lg5OBPVZqQIdZNGsAJSRUywMjisldQrcogpoSVuBRpe4/s1600/loading+lots+of+stuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9ChKLtWQXjFy7qSWETfnnzwy7gzBKuMBnjz3ukC9mBu4triDBMk_Y_FV8Vs_-_esVgPJ9L0GbMc4XUGl5NoedPLeFoNXsd7lg5OBPVZqQIdZNGsAJSRUywMjisldQrcogpoSVuBRpe4/s640/loading+lots+of+stuff.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People loading into one of the boats at Atjoni</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLYLFLe3td_EP1BWHGznGw0tmjW1Pg0rDuOpGVCuAAXuTAtfFxIkN449yfq_Vppr2wMhlT3UflO7u2vxuBPu1fNXRhj2iBexhzv-RFM9__hp8ODqY1gJKLyapmql5GEwmJDIER4Zf6N0/s1600/makeshift+anchor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLYLFLe3td_EP1BWHGznGw0tmjW1Pg0rDuOpGVCuAAXuTAtfFxIkN449yfq_Vppr2wMhlT3UflO7u2vxuBPu1fNXRhj2iBexhzv-RFM9__hp8ODqY1gJKLyapmql5GEwmJDIER4Zf6N0/s640/makeshift+anchor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Makeshift anchor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uyRKvYw-2mK4pVd7fyDBuCaZLzV64EaaY90RLqkpPDKjKsD7sBAebqiOdnWsy5gA5XxGc_tmNGyHhU_prJiOaIgvilB-7buUxm6Z5s9PNtswg7oP-7061aEhxjJY6g5mxGpSM8XlbHY/s1600/beer+boat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uyRKvYw-2mK4pVd7fyDBuCaZLzV64EaaY90RLqkpPDKjKsD7sBAebqiOdnWsy5gA5XxGc_tmNGyHhU_prJiOaIgvilB-7buUxm6Z5s9PNtswg7oP-7061aEhxjJY6g5mxGpSM8XlbHY/s640/beer+boat.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This boat was carrying a whole lot of beer. They kept getting stuck because they didn't want to offload the beer.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSEk0XRfdeBnVVN1podEgm2_T1N8Sf8rDXII9JVVysXzKWCSz4deG23pEsNF6sGov3GfU6R1zcfNnKbux9wsNOpSWjTBQkgSJtx6Pep2A_0NTbcU-asomLy1MwR0YfBNEULToWt4C92E/s1600/women+offloading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSEk0XRfdeBnVVN1podEgm2_T1N8Sf8rDXII9JVVysXzKWCSz4deG23pEsNF6sGov3GfU6R1zcfNnKbux9wsNOpSWjTBQkgSJtx6Pep2A_0NTbcU-asomLy1MwR0YfBNEULToWt4C92E/s640/women+offloading.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dropping passengers off at a village </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas2xopO4euGTcyAIaacMjsKHCfWS7NwzFKrDe9wHBHLe0qIYIcOQ7wa85OjEM_ofU23-UMguOX8Urqs8Je3rf8QO4ZllLDAJ99D5q2NBt6wEVlqV85u9oaN2LubcCWxpw3rmHJTKS69Y/s1600/asleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas2xopO4euGTcyAIaacMjsKHCfWS7NwzFKrDe9wHBHLe0qIYIcOQ7wa85OjEM_ofU23-UMguOX8Urqs8Je3rf8QO4ZllLDAJ99D5q2NBt6wEVlqV85u9oaN2LubcCWxpw3rmHJTKS69Y/s400/asleep.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a looooong ride.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkcwftQctXjbGRP6WJS4KWwsr1R7pbm5rDn3KvcEKI74et42JKSKq_5uPAGiTNDER93p_LbhMGfPs6HcTdeAA-zytmOmVLW1f4L9dPmLS2VQ1pr3Dc2_fRNB3elnzsOSZDJfyhxIcqT0/s1600/pulling+in+to+Atjoni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkcwftQctXjbGRP6WJS4KWwsr1R7pbm5rDn3KvcEKI74et42JKSKq_5uPAGiTNDER93p_LbhMGfPs6HcTdeAA-zytmOmVLW1f4L9dPmLS2VQ1pr3Dc2_fRNB3elnzsOSZDJfyhxIcqT0/s400/pulling+in+to+Atjoni.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back again in Atjoni. The return trip took less time because the tide was high and we did not need to portage.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEion5uE9A0U3NiVnS6REF_ESIv43UiHZOTgjtVvyjBftIwa2F_MzcmDlK1MmGZLGVi-90eGGUJNanvKDGN9E5t5bSA2K6buQiNuwJK42St0-L38i7lI_0Z0LIVz-rMT7wmOlElncBGCpFw/s1600/disembarking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEion5uE9A0U3NiVnS6REF_ESIv43UiHZOTgjtVvyjBftIwa2F_MzcmDlK1MmGZLGVi-90eGGUJNanvKDGN9E5t5bSA2K6buQiNuwJK42St0-L38i7lI_0Z0LIVz-rMT7wmOlElncBGCpFw/s640/disembarking.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No docks in Atjoni, so we had to walk across another boat to get to shore.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13192680731059710510noreply@blogger.com0Collectivity of Saint Martin, Collectivity of Saint Martin18.054233699267087 -63.09744484853513318.024039199267087 -63.137785348535132 18.084428199267087 -63.057104348535134tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2554026613920015206.post-19003272689347840692016-02-02T20:39:00.002-05:002018-01-02T22:29:43.106-05:00Jammin' at Lagoonies Round Two<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>by Cash</i><br /><i>At anchor, St. Martin</i></span><br />
<br />
As I hope you read previously, I <a href="http://www.closequarters.us/2016/01/jammin-at-lagoonies.html">recently</a> had an opportunity to play with my friend Kate at the jam session that happens every Monday at Lagoonies Bistro Bar in St. Martin. This week, we did it again!<br />
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Kate and I put together four songs to play, and the band backed us, figuring out how to play the songs for the first time up on stage.<br />
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We had a lot of fun! Here's a video of the four songs we played:<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10110379251327816163noreply@blogger.com0Sint Maarten18.04248 -63.05483000000003817.9216915 -63.216191500000036 18.1632685 -62.89346850000004