Christmas Presents

It’s amazing the kind of gifts that excite you when you live on a boat. Before we bought a boat and started cruising, I received the normal Christmas gifts…jewelry, perfume, lingerie and an array of things for the house. A few Christmases ago…before we started our incredible adventure; I received binoculars and an inflatable life jacket. My friends were not impressed! The binoculars have been used everyday…luckily I haven’t needed the life jacket. This Christmas we both received items that we will make cruising a little safer and easier and happy hour a little happier.

One thing I haven’t liked about living aboard was the lack of ice. We have a small freezer and there has never been room for more than one ice tray…well there’s room for more than one tray, but we do need to have room for food too. You can’t live on margaritas alone!  Santa (Stan) brought me a portable icemaker…I’m so excited. Life will be better this summer…I’m from the south and I love LOTS of ice in my drinks. Ice tea isn’t ice tea with out a lot of ice!

Stan’s big gift is a new radar with multi-function-display (chartplotter, depthsounder, etc.), The Pearl came with an old radar that we used a few time…mostly just to see if it would work if we needed it, and it did fine until this fall. About the time we decided we wanted to go to Maine next summer the radar quit working…I guess it didn’t want to be responsible for our safety on that trip! Stan’s new toy is on order and he will install it when we return to the boat…I’ll do a post on that when it we get back to Charleston.

The beautiful new addition to our boat.

Wonderful ice in just minutes...I love it!

Another gift we received for the boat is an antique anchor lamp. Although it's in prefect working condition...I think it'll stay in the salon as a decoration. What a great conversation piece.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Texas and the crew of The Pearl. 2012 was a great cruising season for us. We enjoyed spending part of the season cruising with friends and made a lot more along the way. We enjoyed the spring working on boat projects at Atlantic Yacht Basin in Great Bridge, VA and rediscovering some of our favorite places in the Chesapeake. After Memorial Day we headed up the east coast and spent the summer exploring New York, the Erie Canal, Lake Ontario, the Thousand Islands, the Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Montreal, the Richelieu and Lake Champlain. This part of the country is amazingly beautiful and we fell in love with upstate New York. The sights and the weather couldn’t have been better. We have a lot of people who spend winter in our area of Texas…we call them “Winter Texans”…we have become “Summer Yankees”, and love it. There just isn’t a better place to be when the heat moves into the south. We finished our cruising season by enjoying September in Baltimore catching up with friends and sampling some of the great restaurants (and taverns) it has to offer.

The Pearl is docked in Charleston, SC for the winter and we plan to spend time there in February and March…doing a little exploring and a few projects on the boat. We’re not sure when we’ll move the boat back to the Chesapeake…but we will. Our plan does include spending Easter in Texas enjoying family and the wonderful spring weather. Our summer cruising plan is to explore New England…everything from Long Island Sound to Bar Harbor. Stay turned blog followers for more adventures in 2013.  

Nov. 19 – Building a Boat

From my experience a man can never have too many tools or BOATS! We have a large shop full of every tool imaginable...at least from my point of view. Stan enjoys woodworking and can make just about anything out of wood. In fact he can figure out how to make or fix anything, he even built our home almost 30 years ago. Now with Google and YouTube it's even easier.

Stan has always wanted to build a boat, he's had plans for a Jon Boat for years...probably decades. Our shop is full of scrap wood and almost everything else needed to build a boat, plus he needs a project to keep him busy while we're not cruising. Stan also loves to fish and enjoys going in his Hobie kayak, but when the weather gets cold it's not as enjoyable. It's hard not to get a little wet in a kayak…this boat will give him another option.

Here are a few pictures of the project so far. He plans to use the outboard we have on the sailboat, which has a long shaft. So Stan had to make a few modifications to the transom so it can accommodate the motor. The only supplies he needed to buy were a few sheets of marine plywood, Glidden Polyurethane paint and extra screws. I'll post more photos when the project is complete.

Nov. 2 - Lavaca Bay

Lavaca Bay and the smaller bays and bayous around Port Lavaca are where our love for boating began. For Stan it was small fishing boats in the beginning...anything to get him out on the water by his home. As a grade schooler he would set trotlines before going to school. As Stan grew up, his love for the water and fishing grew. I’ve always enjoyed skiing and sailing...my love of the water actually includes being in the water, not just on it. Through the years we've owned countless numbers of fishing boats, a Sunfish, a floundering boat, a Hobie Cat, and several larger sailboats. At the moment besides our wonderful "Pearl", we own two kayaks and a 25' trailerable Venture sailboat, Wild Wind. Sailing, in fact, is where our love for each other began; we met sailing at our local beach and spent every free moment we had sailing the first summer. It's been years since we've taken the sailboat out, but today we came back to our roots and enjoyed a perfect day on the water sailing. The Wild Wind will keep us entertained and on the water this winter until we return to The Pearl.

Stan making sure all the rigging was in working condition before we went sailing

A perfect day on the water

Captain Stan

Wild Wind at anchor

Some of the treasures we found today...no arrowheads today.

"Rockport, TX"

"Powderhorn Lake"
Indianola, Texas

"Chesapeake City, MD"

Oct. 28 – Miss Liberty

Happy 126^th Anniversary Miss Liberty! Definitely one of the highlights of our trip this summer was the sight of the Statue of Liberty standing tall in the harbor and being able to anchor just behind her in Liberty Park. Not too many people get to sit on the deck of their boat and have such an amazing view…it’s a memory we will enjoy for years to come. Miss Liberty was closed to the public last October so renovations could be made to the interior. Today the crown reopens for the public to enjoy…if you can get a ticket!

"Miss Liberty"
June 2012

"St. Augustine, FL"
May 2011

"Waterford, NY"
September 2012

"Cape May Lighthouse"
September 2012

"Saugerties Lighthouse"
The Hudson River 2012

Oct. 21 – Adjusting to Life on Land

There’s always an adjustment period when we leave the boat and move back into our home. It’s nice to have more room, I enjoy my larger tub, the convenience of the car and we definitely like relaxing in our lounge chairs. Everyone asks and I guess they think we sleep better at home in our own beds…well the beds on the boat ARE our own beds too, and we actually sleep much better on them. This summer we slept with the windows open most nights, with a cool breeze blowing through the cabin. The only nights we closed the windows were the nights that were too cold to have them open. The fresh air and the gentle rocking of the boat make sleeping very easy. I truly miss those two things.

Catching up with family and friends is the best part of being home; it's what we miss the most about being on the boat. We stay in touch daily with everyone, but hugs and kisses are a little hard to email! Stan loves to fish, so being on the coast in Texas in the fall is a great time of year. Stan plans to spend as much time as possible in his kayak fishing on the bay...but first, things around the house have to be done. There are seven months of little chores and maintenance projects to catch up on. We work as quickly as possible to get these things done, so we have time to have fun. We also have all winter to plan our next adventure.

2012 Travel Stats				2011 Travel Stats
2678		Miles traveled		3987		Miles traveled
808		Gallons of diesel purchased		1085		Gallons of diesel purchased
379		Engine hours		566		Engine hours
209		Days on board		211		Days on board
68		Days of travel		96		Days of travel
10		States or provinces		13		States visited
55		Towns visited		71		Towns visited
106		Locks traversed		8		Locks traversed
121		Days at a marina		146		Days at a marina
46		Nights at a dock		11		Nights at a dock
30		Nights at anchor		48		Nights at anchor
10		Nights on a mooring ball		4		Nights on a mooring ball
2		Days on the hard		2		Days on the hard

Some of our neighbors are very...very large, but they will move south when hurricane season is over.

She looks a little sad...all closed up for the winter

Oct. 16 - Charleston, SC

The Harborage at Ashley Marina

It's this time of year, as we pack up and get the boat ready for our absence, that we begin to reflect on all the wonderful places we've been during our cruising year. This year has been a great year, not only in our cruising life, but our family life as well. We've celebrated two wonderful milestones...Kyle and Brytanie graduated from Medical School and Eric and Courtney becoming parents to the newest member of our family. Although we've seen amazing places and done some incredible things while we've been cruising, they can never measure up to the great feeling of accomplishment we have in knowing our sons are doing so well and are so happy in their lives. These events were the true highlight of our year.

We've covered a lot of coastline in the last two summers.You can go to this map to find more information about each marina and anchorage we've been to.

Oct. 14 - Charleston, SC

The Harborage at Ashley Marina

Just a short post today and a few pictures. We spent the day relaxing and enjoying Charleston. It is one of our all time favorite stops...lots of history, beautiful scenery and incredible places to eat. We went to Magnolias for our 30th anniversary when we were here in July 2011. We enjoyed it so much we went there again this evening to celebrate the end of our wonderful cruising season.

A few of the things we saw today

Pearlz...one of the places we like in Charleston

Magnolias is our favorite place to eat in Charleston

A toast to a great cruising season.

Not exactly sure what they called this dish...lobster, scallops, shrimp and grits. It was wonderful.

Oct. 13 - Charleston, SC

The Harborage at Ashley Marina

The boat is finally in its winter home. What a marathon the last eleven days have been...670 miles from Baltimore to Charleston. We were lucky to be able to travel each day, not that every day was a perfect day on the water. Stan did have some fog, rain and a few days with high winds, but Stan felt the conditions were all doable. He enjoyed seeing a lot of wildlife on the way, including three bald eagles. Today the winds were 15-20 MPH making the trip across Charleston Harbor and docking at Ashley's a little more of a challenge, but Stan looked like a pro backing into the slip.

My drive from Georgetown was about an hour. I went down Hwy.17 into Mt Pleasant, part of the highway is called "Sweetgrass Corridor", because it is home to more than 60 sweetgrass basket stands that display the craft of the Gullah-Geechee people of the Sea Islands and Low Country. Sweetgrass baskets are hand-woven by local artists who follow a weaving practice that is over 300-years-old. The baskets were traditionally used in agriculture to transport goods and to separate grain, though today the baskets are primarily seen as artwork. Unfortunately I drove through this area before 9:00 and most of the stands were not open yet. 

Next I drove by Shem Creek, which is full of fishing boats and seafood restaurants. This area is supposed to have the freshest seafood in the Charleston area. I then crossed the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge into Charleston and spent a few hours at the Farmers Market, which is one of our all time favorite markets...beautiful crafts, wonderful fresh vegetables, a wide variety of delicious food and entertainment. It's held in Marion Square and everyone brings their dogs...it's a great place to watch people. After the market I drove around historic Charleston (it's better on a bike) and stopped at White Point Gardens, it's at the end of Charleston (south of Broad) and I had a good view of the harbor. It was too early to see Stan, but I could definitely see his ride was going to be rough since it was so windy.

We'll spend the next 3-4 days relaxing, packing and getting the boat ready for winter. We don't have to winterize the boat this year, but there are things that need to be done before we leave it unattended.

Sweetgrass Basket Stands along the highway

Boats in Shem Creek

Peaceful street near Shem Creek

Marion Square and the Charleston Farmers Market

Sweetgrass Baskets

Beautiful home near White Point Gardens

Oct. 12 – Georgetown, SC

Sampit River – Anchorage

Today was a shorter day for each of us. I drove through Myrtle Beach…it goes on forever! Mostly stop and go traffic all the way. This area reminds me of Orlando…full of miniature golf courses, malls, go cart parks, themed entertainment centers and elaborate restaurants…decorated with all kinds of things to draw you in. It was nice to get close to Georgetown and have things calm down.

Georgetown was first settled in 1526 by the Spaniards, and was the first settlement in North America. The settlement failed because of a hurricane and Indian attacks and was later reestablished in 1726 in honor of King George II. This town was once an important international port, serving the area’s once-thriving rice plantations. Today, several marinas cater to traffic on the ICW and the old docks along the waterfront have been converted into Harborwalk, an array of restaurants and shops. Sixteen blocks of the downtown area are listed on the National Historic Register.

Stan’s trip was very uneventful…through the ditch all the way. When he arrived he tied up to the day dock and we explored the little town. We later moved into the harbor and anchored for the night. It was nice to have one last night on the hook.

The streets in Georgetown are lined with oak trees

and lots of old homes 

The clock tower was built in 1845 

Part of Front Street 

Harborwalk in Georgetown

A view of the harborwalk from the water...everything looks better from the water

Oct. 11 – North Myrtle Beach, SC

Barefoot Landing Resort

Another beautiful day…it started out cold, but by the time I got to Myrtle Beach it felt wonderful to walk on the beach. I start my days hanging out at McDonald's…drinking coffee and using their free wifi. It takes Stan 4-5 times longer to get to our destinations than it does me. That leaves me a lot of time to kill. Today I spent some of that time at the beach, the Myrtle Beach library, shopping at the Barefoot Landing and visiting with Dave and Barbara on Memory Maker…too. In fact Barbara made me a wonderful sandwich for lunch…it’s nice to have friends!

Stan’s day was a little more interesting…he saw a wonderful sunrise, an eagle and another buck crossing the ICW. Stan arrived around 1:30 and we spent the rest of the day relaxing and visiting with people on the dock. Our days start early, so we aren’t too interested in doing any exploring when we get docked. We're on a mission to get home…our granddaughter is calling

Stan's beautiful Sunrise

Our son, Eric, texted me a picture of his wonderful sunrise in Texas too.

Myrtle Beach

Looking across the ICW to Barefoot Landing

Our marina at Barefoot Landing Resort