Lets see, my last blog posting was last October 27th. It is now three months later and some of you may have wondered if I was lost at sea. Not the case at all.
I continued to hang out in Grenada with the exception of a three week visit to Trinidad. It was a short overnight sail with good seas and wind. In December I flew home for a one week surprise visit to my daughter's home. Robin gave birth to a baby boy in November and I had told here I wouldn't be able to see my new grandson until July. Imagine her surprise when she opened the door and saw me standing there with a smile on my face. She and here husband Hector named him Gavin Alexander. Now I love the name Alexander but Gavin is the same name as the once mayor of San Francisco who I hate because he is about as left wing as the "til of the Hun.". She assured me he was named after a rock star with the same name. I was also very happy to visit with my son Steve and his wife Jessie and my other two grandsons, Abe and Ray.
Christmas back in Grenada was not what I had expected or wished for. I spent three days in the hospital over Christmas with a very serious infection in my leg. Being a man I thought my body could fight off anything that I thought was just a bad flu wondering why my leg hurt so much. I finally cried uncle and had the cab driver take me to the emergency room at the private hospital. He promised me it wouldn't be the island witch doctor :). I'm thinking that the doctor would give me a shot in the butt and send me home and tell me I would be back to normal in 24 hours. Not the case. He looks at my leg and tells me I am in trouble and he ordered the nurse to prepare a room for me where I would have IV shots of massive antibiotics . The infection is gone. What still remains is a swollen leg which is shrinking back to its' normal size. Enough of that.
Two friends from California, Bob Scott and Bill Moore, flew to Grenada and we spent almost three weeks sailing north stopping at islands along the way to explore the view, food, and drinks of each of the islands. Last stop was St Lucia where I am now. Bill and Bob returned home to cold weather and I remained behind in paradise. Bob had moved to Denver so very cold weather awaited his return.
What's next? SAN FRANCISCO is in the Super Bowl so I am watching the game at one of the local bars and then on the next day I will set sail for a 3 1/2 day sail to Bonaire. Bonaire is one of three islands off the north coast of Venezuela. They are referred to as the A B C islands belonging to the Dutch. I am going to buy a pair of wooden jogging shoes. The other two islands are Aruba and Cuacao.I will be visiting these islands through March and then I am setting sail for Panama and the San Blas islands to visit again one of the most beautiful islands in the world and visit old friends.
The next decision after arriving in Panama is do I hold up there during this years hurricane season or shoot threw the Panama Canal and head north to El Salvador? Time will tell.
Well that's all. Sorry no photos to share. I promise to post a blog with stories and photos of the A B C islands before I leave for Panama. Until then, be safe out there.
Denny
s/v Dolce Vita
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Thursday, October 25, 2012
HASH HOUSE HARRIERS
HASH HOUSE HARRIERS? You are wondering what this is about. For those that want a complete description, Google Hash House Harriers. For those that don't want to be bothered, it is an organized hike and/or run through the jungle. The photos and movie to follow was from the 750th Hash House hike here on the island of Grenada. The hike happens every Saturday. Local people, tourists, students and cruisers gather, receive instructions and set off on the days hike or run. This week had four paths. The first was a short flat hike for the weenies. The second was a more challenging hike of three miles up and down hills through the dense jungle. The third was a seven mile run/hike trail over streams, up and down long steep trails and a few flat trails. Finally, for the bold ones in really good shape, the Iron man was an 8 mile run/walk capped of with a short swim. I took the third 7 mile run/hike trail. To say that my butt was dragging would be an understatement but after 2.5 hours I finally crossed the finish line where some kind soul handed me a cold beer and congratulated the old fart for making it alive and without any broken bones or cuts.
The photos and movie to follow will give you some idea of the hike and the party that followed.
Here we are gathered waiting instructions ahead of the hike. 450 people joined this weeks hike.
The start of the hike was on the beach and the party that followed.
If you are selected out of the crowd as having new shoes, you must drink a beer out of one of your shoes.
Hash master with instructions for the virgins. Virgins are those that are about to participate in their first Hash. Yes, I to was a virgin but no longer.
We are off
Entering into the jungle.
Looking down the slope that I just came up on. This was about three miles into the hike.
Back at the finish line.
Three cruiser friends.
Another sunset.
Here I am after finishing with the friend that talked me into the 7 mile hike rather than the easier 3 mile hike.
The reason for Stan's smile is because he holds a certificate showing that he is no longer a virgin. The wet hair and shirt is from beer that is sprayed over the unsuspecting virgins as they wait in a group to be rewarded.
Now one movie to experienced what I did. The panting noise in the movie is from me as I gasp for air.
I took other videos but the file sizes are too large for this network to handle.
Next weeks agenda. I am sailing south to Trinidad. This is an Island that is about 70 miles from here and 30 miles off of the coast of Venezuela. I started in North America, then Mexico and Central America, then Panama, the Caribbean Islands and soon South America.
I am visiting Trinidad until the end of November and then sail up and around the Windward islands until two friends fly down here to sail with me for a couple of weeks up to St Lucia.
Until next time, be safe out there.
The photos and movie to follow will give you some idea of the hike and the party that followed.
Here we are gathered waiting instructions ahead of the hike. 450 people joined this weeks hike.
The start of the hike was on the beach and the party that followed.
If you are selected out of the crowd as having new shoes, you must drink a beer out of one of your shoes.
Hash master with instructions for the virgins. Virgins are those that are about to participate in their first Hash. Yes, I to was a virgin but no longer.
We are off
Entering into the jungle.
Looking down the slope that I just came up on. This was about three miles into the hike.
Back at the finish line.
Three cruiser friends.
Another sunset.
Here I am after finishing with the friend that talked me into the 7 mile hike rather than the easier 3 mile hike.
The reason for Stan's smile is because he holds a certificate showing that he is no longer a virgin. The wet hair and shirt is from beer that is sprayed over the unsuspecting virgins as they wait in a group to be rewarded.
Now one movie to experienced what I did. The panting noise in the movie is from me as I gasp for air.
I took other videos but the file sizes are too large for this network to handle.
Next weeks agenda. I am sailing south to Trinidad. This is an Island that is about 70 miles from here and 30 miles off of the coast of Venezuela. I started in North America, then Mexico and Central America, then Panama, the Caribbean Islands and soon South America.
I am visiting Trinidad until the end of November and then sail up and around the Windward islands until two friends fly down here to sail with me for a couple of weeks up to St Lucia.
Until next time, be safe out there.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Grenada Carnival 2012 and more
Those of you that is hungry for another Dolce Vita blog can now have that satisfied once again.
I am still sitting here in Grenada waiting for this years hurricane season to pass us by. So far the only one that has come close was the same one that hit the US gulf coast. Its center was about 200 miles north of us. We had some moderate winds and rain but other than that it was just another day in paradise. If any of you are interested in tracking the tropical storms building off of Africa and headed this way you can do so on the National Hurricane Center web site.
In the mean time while we all watch the weather, I have been working on the boat to get her ready for the next leg of my journey. This is not to suggest that I haven't taken time to have fun by participating in all of the events here to keep us cruisers entertained. I would have to say the 90% of my time is allocated to fun while 10% is dedicated to working on Dolce Vita and spending needed $$$'s on her like a high maintenance woman.
Before I get into this years Carnival, let me share some details of what can happen as one cruises around the globe. Not all is romantic, with gentle winds and seas while you sit back to enjoy a cocktail. There are very few cruisers that don't experience a moment or two with the feeling that you are in a dangerous situation that can lead to cuts and broken bones or much worst. I have to admit that I have been added to this list. The good news was no one was hurt and the boat only suffered minimal damage. I ran up on a reef as Maggie and I sailed towards St Martin from the BYI islands. I called Mayday and a rescue boat and salvage boat came to our aid and pulled us off the rocks. Fortunately the seas were calm and the damage to the bottom of the boat was minimal. The rudder was untouched. Let me now show the before and after photos of Dolce Vita. She now has here best dress on and is showing off to the boats anchored near me.
These are the before photos. Here Dolce Vita is being pulled out of the water to be placed on the hard for needed repairs and paint revealing for the first time the damage that was inflicted on the boat.
This is the back of the keel.
A closer look reveals a damage done. Later you will see how this part of the keel is shaped when it is back to normal.
A view from the other side.
Deep scratches inflicted on the port side of the keel. That would be the left side for those of you that are land lovers.
This is the front end of the keel.
OUCH!
Now on the bright side, let be show the after photos. Remember what this looked like above? Just like new know.
This shows the front of the keel. Damage is fixed.
Looking good!
Proudly displaying here name and home port.
Getting ready to be placed back in the water.
OK, enough of that. Let's move onto the Carnival which is a five day event (party) when the islands population doubles from 100,000 to 150,000 or more. Grenada's Carnival is the worlds third largest, Rio and Trinidad being the largest.
The first event is the crowning of the Queen followed the next day by a four hour event in the stadium where we are entertained by 7 steel drum orchestras each in turn playing for a panel of judges that they select the best over all. Each band had around 70 drums of different sizes for the sound that they create played by individuals ranging in age fro 7 years old to 72 years old, men and women. Interestingly was that most of the orchestras had more women performing than men. Go girls!. The next days event started at 4:00 in the morning with a parade of load music and lighted costumes. Follow in the afternoon with a parade for the children. Then the next days event is where you must wear your throw away cloths because you are painted with motor oil and colored paint as a parade of load music again and revelers that have painter themselves and other watching from the side with stuff that washes off with a little soap and water. Finally the next event is the parade that we often see in the movies or television. Colorful costumes worn my both men and women displaying their stuff as they dance down the street shacking their bootee.
I will attempt here to display the photos in the same order of the events. Enjoy the Carnival.
Just to show you that the fun did not stop after the end of the Carnival. Here I am playing cricket for the first time in my life and also enjoying a dingy raft up where we enjoyed the music of a band playing from a barge off in the bay.
This is a photo of the cricket bat from the side and the edge
This is the wicket. I hope I have the spelling correct. I am not going into a lengthy note sharing with you the little knowledge of what the wickets present and how they work into the game. You will have to Google the rules and regs of this game. Good luck in understanding all of that. I had a great hit at bat but just like all Gringos, I dropped the bat and ran to the other wicket which unlike baseball, you are not to do. You must carry the bat with you. By the time I stopped and returned to pick the bat up and run again towards the wicket, I was thrown out. The end of my career in cricketry.
A batter
The pitcher which in this game is called the bowler.
Then onto the next event of the music raft up.
Maggie did not get to enjoy these two events. She started her return to Sydney, Australia after the Carnival ended and before I put the boat up for repairs. I am now single again looking for the next attractive woman to join be. This is all part of the sailing experience. :)
I am still sitting here in Grenada waiting for this years hurricane season to pass us by. So far the only one that has come close was the same one that hit the US gulf coast. Its center was about 200 miles north of us. We had some moderate winds and rain but other than that it was just another day in paradise. If any of you are interested in tracking the tropical storms building off of Africa and headed this way you can do so on the National Hurricane Center web site.
In the mean time while we all watch the weather, I have been working on the boat to get her ready for the next leg of my journey. This is not to suggest that I haven't taken time to have fun by participating in all of the events here to keep us cruisers entertained. I would have to say the 90% of my time is allocated to fun while 10% is dedicated to working on Dolce Vita and spending needed $$$'s on her like a high maintenance woman.
Before I get into this years Carnival, let me share some details of what can happen as one cruises around the globe. Not all is romantic, with gentle winds and seas while you sit back to enjoy a cocktail. There are very few cruisers that don't experience a moment or two with the feeling that you are in a dangerous situation that can lead to cuts and broken bones or much worst. I have to admit that I have been added to this list. The good news was no one was hurt and the boat only suffered minimal damage. I ran up on a reef as Maggie and I sailed towards St Martin from the BYI islands. I called Mayday and a rescue boat and salvage boat came to our aid and pulled us off the rocks. Fortunately the seas were calm and the damage to the bottom of the boat was minimal. The rudder was untouched. Let me now show the before and after photos of Dolce Vita. She now has here best dress on and is showing off to the boats anchored near me.
These are the before photos. Here Dolce Vita is being pulled out of the water to be placed on the hard for needed repairs and paint revealing for the first time the damage that was inflicted on the boat.
This is the back of the keel.
A closer look reveals a damage done. Later you will see how this part of the keel is shaped when it is back to normal.
A view from the other side.
Deep scratches inflicted on the port side of the keel. That would be the left side for those of you that are land lovers.
This is the front end of the keel.
OUCH!
Now on the bright side, let be show the after photos. Remember what this looked like above? Just like new know.
This shows the front of the keel. Damage is fixed.
Looking good!
Proudly displaying here name and home port.
Getting ready to be placed back in the water.
OK, enough of that. Let's move onto the Carnival which is a five day event (party) when the islands population doubles from 100,000 to 150,000 or more. Grenada's Carnival is the worlds third largest, Rio and Trinidad being the largest.
The first event is the crowning of the Queen followed the next day by a four hour event in the stadium where we are entertained by 7 steel drum orchestras each in turn playing for a panel of judges that they select the best over all. Each band had around 70 drums of different sizes for the sound that they create played by individuals ranging in age fro 7 years old to 72 years old, men and women. Interestingly was that most of the orchestras had more women performing than men. Go girls!. The next days event started at 4:00 in the morning with a parade of load music and lighted costumes. Follow in the afternoon with a parade for the children. Then the next days event is where you must wear your throw away cloths because you are painted with motor oil and colored paint as a parade of load music again and revelers that have painter themselves and other watching from the side with stuff that washes off with a little soap and water. Finally the next event is the parade that we often see in the movies or television. Colorful costumes worn my both men and women displaying their stuff as they dance down the street shacking their bootee.
I will attempt here to display the photos in the same order of the events. Enjoy the Carnival.
Just to show you that the fun did not stop after the end of the Carnival. Here I am playing cricket for the first time in my life and also enjoying a dingy raft up where we enjoyed the music of a band playing from a barge off in the bay.
This is a photo of the cricket bat from the side and the edge
This is the wicket. I hope I have the spelling correct. I am not going into a lengthy note sharing with you the little knowledge of what the wickets present and how they work into the game. You will have to Google the rules and regs of this game. Good luck in understanding all of that. I had a great hit at bat but just like all Gringos, I dropped the bat and ran to the other wicket which unlike baseball, you are not to do. You must carry the bat with you. By the time I stopped and returned to pick the bat up and run again towards the wicket, I was thrown out. The end of my career in cricketry.
A batter
The pitcher which in this game is called the bowler.
Then onto the next event of the music raft up.
Maggie did not get to enjoy these two events. She started her return to Sydney, Australia after the Carnival ended and before I put the boat up for repairs. I am now single again looking for the next attractive woman to join be. This is all part of the sailing experience. :)
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