Mike, what with being employed and all, brought a couple of personal gadgets that were great fun. First was a "Spot Me". Unfortunately the link did not work on the blog, but with its satellite signal, it allowed our families to track our progress across open water. He also had his iPhone that was loaded with a star application. You can point at any star or constellation and it will name it. And, f you want to find a constellation, it will direct you to it. Fabulous. Notes to self upon return to US: 1. Get a job. 2. Get an iPhone.
We made such good time with the front that we decided to bypass Grand Turk and head on to Provodentiales, commonly referred to as Provo. We arrived to Provo around 11am, providing direct overhead sunlight to thread our way through the coral heads. Our total trip was 456 miles and took 3.5 days. Mike's flight leaves from Provo and now that we are settled here, we can relax and have some fun for our short stay in the Turks and Caicos.
Leaving Fajardo; Mike at the helm.
During the day we frequently see flying fish jumping outward from the boat. At night, it apparently changes to a suicide game and they jump towards the boat. You see an occasional flash out of the corner of your eye and wonder if it is an apparition. A morning search of the boat reveals the truth. Some of them don't make it across. Diagnosis? Closed head injury, diffuse axonal injury and asphyxiation. Poor little flying fish.
What happens when I am awake. What happens when I am asleep.
Daytime stuff. Boat speed 8.4 knots!! I never get over it, and this time, being in 22,000 feet of water, "something" passed only 10 feet under the boat. We saw several cargo ships and cruise ships on our trip.
On watch. Look up. Look left. Look right.
On watch. Look up. Look left. Look right.
Over four hundred miles and everyone still smiling!
Arrival to Turks and Caicos. Shallow water with lots of coral heads. Mike and I take turns ont he bow while Craig threads the needle.
My swim suit model, striking a pose.
At anchor in Sopadilla Bay. This is Jergen, a 22yo single-hander from Norway on Morning Star, a 30' Hunter he bought in Florida for $20,000 and took off for destinations south. We were following him across the shallow bank when he suddenly dropped his anchor. We called him and turned out his shaft had fallen out. For those of you who do not know, the shaft is what turns from the engine to the propeller. He has no propulsion and is in the middle of reef-strewn waters. We are not sure why he did not take on water because it is a big hole. Fortunately, it got caught on the rudder so he was able to retrieve it and put it back in place. He declined a tow and we stayed in touch with him via VHF radio until he arrive in the anchorage. We invited him over to dinner. Bless his heart. Plenty of provisions on his boat but no telling how long it has been since he had a cooked meal. We had pressure-cooked port tenderloin, carrots, potatoes and salad. Oreos for dessert. He has never heard of them....
Arrival to Turks and Caicos. Shallow water with lots of coral heads. Mike and I take turns ont he bow while Craig threads the needle.
My swim suit model, striking a pose.
At anchor in Sopadilla Bay. This is Jergen, a 22yo single-hander from Norway on Morning Star, a 30' Hunter he bought in Florida for $20,000 and took off for destinations south. We were following him across the shallow bank when he suddenly dropped his anchor. We called him and turned out his shaft had fallen out. For those of you who do not know, the shaft is what turns from the engine to the propeller. He has no propulsion and is in the middle of reef-strewn waters. We are not sure why he did not take on water because it is a big hole. Fortunately, it got caught on the rudder so he was able to retrieve it and put it back in place. He declined a tow and we stayed in touch with him via VHF radio until he arrive in the anchorage. We invited him over to dinner. Bless his heart. Plenty of provisions on his boat but no telling how long it has been since he had a cooked meal. We had pressure-cooked port tenderloin, carrots, potatoes and salad. Oreos for dessert. He has never heard of them....
Sopadilla Bay:
OK. Here are a couple of things I forgot to mention in Fajardo. This was a gift from Lisa. This is an actual wax candle, vanilla scented....powered by flickering LED lights!! How fab is that??
I'd also like to turn you on to her sister's jewelry business. Among other things, she specializes in compass rose jewelry. www.maggieleedesigns.com
Notes to self upon arrival to the US: 1. Have Craig get a job. 2. Drop hints around Christmas regarding the diamond compass rose.
So we are here for a couple of days. Diving tomorrow.
1 comment:
Welcome Back to the World. I loved watching your path via the Spot. so cool to see you slowly move across the chart.
I AM SO JEALOUS of you guys out there having fun.
keep writing!
xo pirate skip
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