#Cape Liberty Fly and cruise

[bostonluxorlimo]

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Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

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[amplesalty]

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

If I can make it there, I’ll make it anyhwere...

We’ve just had another Friday the 13th so it’s time to dust off the old slasher franchise for my ongoing attempts to make it all the way through the series. Let’s see where we left off last time, 6? Well, that’s not strictly true. I did watch 7 last November but never bothered posting about it. Which, I probably should have done because for once it actually bucked the trend with these movies and I actually kinda liked it? Just try to imagine ‘Jason vs Carrie’ and that’s basically it. Kinda takes the whole thing in a slightly different direction which is a welcome change after so many chapters of ‘Jason stabs camp councilors...again’. Maybe I’ll revisit it in more detail some time.

This movie isn’t quite that far out with it’s gimmickry there’s definitely an element of that with swapping the shoes of Crystal Lake for the neon lights of Manhattan. At least, that’s what the title of the movie would have you believe.  It doesn’t exactly play out that way though.

The opening of the movie seems to be going that way as it takes you on a guided tour around the dark city streets, with steaming sewer vents, shady alleyways complete with muggings, subway rides, diner coffee orders and a shot of Times Square.  It’s all set to the stylings of Metropolis and ‘The Darkest Side of the Night’. I dig the song, has a very 80’s rock vibe to it, like something by Survivor that you’d get in a Rocky movie but it just seems a little out of place here.

Wait a minute, is that the Batman symbol?! Forget Jason vs Carrie, give us Jason vs Batman. Don’t tell me DC wouldn’t go for that, they seem more than happy to license out the Caped Crusader. I mean, we did just have crossover movies with Scooby Doo and the Ninja Turtles in recent years.

The requisite awakening of Jason takes place, this time jolted into life by the 1.2 gigawatts of electricity running through an underwater cable next to his watery grave. From there, we bumps off a couple of kids making whoopee in a house boat before stowing away on board as the boat slowly drifts into port where a high school pleasure cruise is about to set sail.

And it’s here that the bulk of the movie takes place which...isn’t the worst idea in the world? Would have that same sort of idea behind Alien where you’re trapped on board with this killer, not quite as extreme since there are some ways off a ship if need be. The movie touches on it to a degree, there’s a sense of paranoia and claustrophobia that develops but it doesn’t feel fleshed out.

You could throw in a sort of moral element to it, like the characters coming to terms with there being no escape and no way to eliminate Jason so they ponder whether to destroy the ship and sacrifice themselves so Jason doesn’t make it to land. Then you have the obvious sequel bait of him actually surviving and finding himself a whole host of new victims.

It just feels like a bait and switch. Just look at the poster, how awesome is that? You’ve got one of the most iconic skylines in the world and home to some of the tallest and most famous buildings but yet Jason looms over each and every one of them. And the subtitle ‘Jason Takes Manhattan’ conjures up all these images in your head of Jason rampaging through the streets like when the T-Rex gets loose in San Diego in The Lost World. I guess ‘Jason Goes Boating’ doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. Jason being in the big city is a novel concept which hasn’t really been explored in the series up to now. Sure it starts to move away from just being confined to the camp grounds but it’s still a pretty rural area so to go to this level of widespread panic would be interesting.

At first I thought the movie might be trying to be a ‘best of both’ worlds and the ship section was just to explain how he gets to the big city. It kinda gives that impression the way it starts rattling off all the people on board and starts killing them off quicker than it can introduce them. This one rock chick is in all of two scenes and the second one is her death. They’re characters done with very broad strokes so it feels they’re doing the bare minimum to give you some context before Jason kills them off, just to keep the pace up before we get to the real meat and potatoes of the action in the big city. It’s almost like The Breakfast Club with all the stereotypes we have on show; the jock, the nerd, the beauty queen...

We even get elements of the controlling father of EMILIOOOOOO’s character with young Sean Robertson who’s own father is the ships captain and seems quite keen on Sean taking up the family business. Are you not taking things a little too seriously to be in full naval uniform and ribbons for the sake of some exaggerated high school graduation party?

And don’t forget basket case Rennie who has visions of a young Jason drowning. Except, her dog spends this scene looking at the port hole in a very worried manner as well before getting freaked out and running away so apparently he has these visions too?!

Rennie clearly isn’t too popular amongst her peers as the bitchy, popular girl promptly hip checks her off the deck, sending her flying through the air and into the icy waters below. Have the people who made this ship not heard of a guard rail?

I’m not sure what the deal is with Rennie and all these weird visions she has, like blood coming out of a tap or young Jason bursting through the mirror and gooziling her. The movie never really explains what the link is between the two of them, at most it seems to be this mutated childhood trauma where she nearly drowned, mixed with warnings she had back then that she needed to learn to swim lest she end up drowning like that Jason Vorhees boy. It’s just like the puritan origins of those urban legends, clearly all along Jason Vorhees was just a means of scaring kids into taking water safety seriously.

Still, as unexplained as it is, it still adds some enjoyable moments to the movie and I’ll gladly take the writers throwing a bunch of weird shit at the wall to see what sticks over some of the earlier movies.

I love the moment when the core group of survivors eventually make it off the ship, taking refuge in the life boat, rowing day and night to try and find some sort of sanctuary before eventually seeing a torch on the horizon; that of Lady Liberty. One of the most iconic images in human history, a great symbol of hope to the tired, poor and huddled masses yearning to breathe free that made their way to her shores. Like those that came before them across the seas, finally their nightmare is over.

Or, at least it is for all of about five minutes before they get promptly mugged by two street urchins.  Not just muggers mind you, given that they usher Rennie away with disturbing plans in mind for her.

Which, say what you will about Jason, he does stop an attempted rape in this movie. Probably not going to tip the karmic scales in his favour after the hundreds of grizzly murders at his hands over the years but still, it’s a start. Plus, this is doubly puritan as this guy injected Rennie with heroin or something so Jason is taking a stand against drugs as well.

We also get one of the characters standing up to Jason on a rooftop and trying to use his boxing skills to good use by giving him a series of right hooks and body blows. Only, Jason has been following the Homer Simpson school of boxing as he just stands there and takes it before the other guy gets too fatigued to carry on. At which point Jason literally knocks his block off like a Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em robot and the guys head rolls away into a nearby dumpster which then slams shut in a very satisfying manner.

Rennie and Sean end up in the sewers but need to get out again as the sewer system is about to flood with toxic waste. Lucky that they just have buckets of that lying around that Rennie can just throw in Jason’s face. He then removes his mask in what I can only assume is a loving tribute to The Phantom of the Opera to reveal the mutated freak beneath. Maybe this is another Toxic Avenger origin movie?

Then lightning strikes The Statue of Liberty because...symbolism, I guess?

And Jason succumbs to his one weakness; drowning. Only this time in the aforementioned toxic waste so it’s nice to have a bit of variety. At which point he turns back into child Jason because...I have no idea. Maybe it’s another one of their visions, or they’ve somehow exorcised the demons of zombie ghost Jason and now the spirit of child Jason can rest in peace?

You know what the most amazing thing about this movie is? Other than the fact that Rennie’s dog shows up again at the end because it seems to have the homing skills of one of those animals you read about in the papers who travel across country to their old house, these characters have been through the innards of a manky old ship, been lost at sea for however long, trudged through the shift encrusted sewers and tussled with a decaying monster and still manage to come out without a speck of dirt on them.

Maybe I’ve just been going into these last couple with super low expectations but I’m actually beginning to enjoy them now? Like I said before, I found the old ones really boring so changing up the formula is refreshing and they’re tickling my ‘so bad it’s good’ senses with all the weird shit going on.

Like, amongst all those images in my head of what a Jason in New York movie would be, funny wasn’t one of them but it just seems to really ramp up in this finale. You have individual moments like when a bunch of thugs are listening to music from their boombox which Jason storms past and punts in the air. They don’t too kindly to this, pulling out chains and switchblades to threaten him, to which he calmly lifts up his mask and causes them to flee with their tails between their legs.

But there’s also this broader idea which serves as this sort of amazing anti climax that having Jason turn up in New York is not the cataclysmic event you think it would be. It’s like no one outside of Crystal Lake has even heard of him so no one bats an eyelid when some 7ft behemoth goes by in the street or on the subway at 1am. I mean, who’s going to notice another freak around here? When Sean and Rennie storm into a diner looking for help, their cries of a maniac being on the loose and trying to kill them is met with a rather quizzical look by the waitress who simply replies ‘Welcome to New York...’.

Then Jason bursts through the wall like the Kool Aid man and the cook just shakes his head and walks out to confront him. He does it so nonchalantly as if he’s had to deal with his a hundred times already, like it happens so often that it’s lost all meaning. This whole movie has a pretty damning outlook on this city, maybe the true horror in our lives isn’t playing out on TV or on the big screens of our local cinemas. It’s a call to arms that the true horror is the violence and crime taking place on our city streets every day and the systemic issues going unchecked that give rise to it.

[gcww]

Here’s the latest newsletter from Excursions Unlimited. Be sure and checkout the coming events. I’ve traveled with this bus company several times, and think their trips and pricing are some of the best:

Things are starting to roll again, so don’t miss the bus for the trips we have listed. Some are the Day Trips that we are offering as well as popular Summer trips. Contact our office to make reservations on any and all of these tours.

*ST LOUIS CARDINALS VS BRAVES ... JUNE 20 ... Another summer trip against one of the better teams in baseball, the “Red Birds” of St Louis. The Braves hope to beat this

team that has a long history of success in the National League. Transportation, ticket, & one meal. Covered seating ... $149

*PEACHES, PRISON SITES, & YODERS ... JUNE 22 ...Let’s celebrate

Georgia’s most famous crop as we visit the Lane Packing Company in Fort Valley in the heart of the Peach Belt. You can bring back as many bags

and bushels as the bus will hold and see how the operation is run. Lunch is a treat at Yoder’s Mennonite Restaurant. It's only a short drive to historic Andersonville, the site of the Confederate prison during the War Between The States...too many captives and not enough food or space. Our group will tour the Drummer Boy Museum, famous for its Confederate and Union drummer boy uniforms, complete with original drums, and a local guide will narrate and point out many interesting facts of this tragic chapter in America's history. Return home late afternoon ... $109

*SUMMER MYSTERY TRIP ... JULY 13-17 ... Every Year this “MYSTERY TRIP” is our Number One Tour, a 5 Day Experience that no one wants to miss. This year, as always, is A VERY SPECIAL Mystery Tour as we will take you to unique places, with entertainment-filled days, and interesting tours. We can’t tell you where we are going, only that you will have the BEST time. 10 meals included along with all tours, top hotels, entertainment, & guaranteed great time. You will love this trip and all the fun we will have ... $839

*GRAND PARENTS & GRAND CHILDREN TRIP ... JULY 20-21 ... Bring the "Grands" along as we ride the train to South Carolina, enjoy a dinner show at the Pirate’s Voyage in Myrtle Beach, and cruise the harbor in Charleston for a Great trip for young and older... $399 / $269

*BOOTHBAY HARBOR & LOBSTER BOATS ... JULY 18-25 ... NEW DATE ... One of the TOP TRIPS of the summer as we have added another date. We motorcoach to Maine to quaint Booth Bay Harbor for a 3 night stay at the Tug Boat Inn and with a Clam Bake & Lobster Cruise to Cabbage Island, and time to stroll the village, you can eat all the lobsters you choose. Other highlights include a trip to the Statue of Liberty, & lots more. Join us to get away from

the heat of the south on this exciting trip...$1499

*BILOXI BOUND ADVENTURE TOUR ... AUGUST 10-13 ... Spend 3 nights at the Beau Rivage and during your stay enjoy a Shrimp Boat Excursion on the Gulf of Mexico and a Swamp Cruise in Louisiana. Plenty of time for great meals and gaming or just enjoying a wonderful getaway. $639

*CRUISING THE CHESAPEAKE ... AUGUST 15-22 ... This trip is full of highlights including Legends in Concert in Myrtle Beach, the Outer Banks of NC, “The Lost Colony”, Kitty Hawk, Cruise to Tangier Island, Annapolis & Naval Academy, St Michael, train ride home, and lots more. We have condensed the trip and lowered the price, so hop aboard. $1499

*THE ARK ENCOUNTER & GOSPEL MUSIC ...

AUGUST 16-19 ...

For the past few years the Ark Encounter has been one of

our most popular destinations and now a new feature has

been added. The Ark presents “40 Days & 40 Nights of

Gospel Music”, with every day noted Gospel Groups and

entertainers perform live on stage, as well as highly

reputable religious speakers. This trip is packed with

music, inspiring speeches, good food, hand-clapping

entertainment, and of course, THE ARK. Also included is

a Dinner Show in Pigeon Forge and lunch at the Dillard House, 8 Meals ... $689

*WILD WEST TRIP... AUGUST 29-SEP 5 ... NEW ... Board our motorcoach for a drive to the west. Highlights are many as we visit Graceland, the home of Elvis in Memphis, stop at the Mercantile for lunch which is home to the Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond) in Oklahoma. We spend 2 nights in Dodge City with Boot Hill and the Long Branch Saloon, before continuing to Nebraska for a cookout and on to Colorado to fly home. So many highlights on this wonderful tour to the “Wild West”... $1599

*BLACK HILLS, YELLOWSTONE, TETONS & MORE ... SEP 5-13 / SEP 14-22 ... This wonderful trip highlights the beauty of the American West featuring the Black Hills of South Dakota, historic Deadwood, an overnight on a ranch, and the National Parks of Wyoming. See Mt Rushmore & Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Mt, Yellowstone & the Grand Tetons with 2 nights in Jackson Hole, tour Wild Bill’s Deadwood, the western town of Cody with the Buffalo

Bill Museum. There should be plenty of wildlife sightings ... 16 Meals, & the Best of the West ... $2599 MUSICAL TRIPS WITH SHOWS & ENTERTAINMENT ...

“HAMILTON” ... OCTOBER 5-6 / 6-7 / 12-13 / 14-15 ... Dates have moved again and are now finalized. The biggest Broadway show in many years is coming back to Jacksonville. It is a true landmark of American culture that centers on Alexander Hamilton, one of

our most important (and colorful) characters in American history.

In 2016, this exciting show won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and

11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and many

more! We are excited to be able to offer you a travel package

that includes Orchestra Seating to this popular Broadway

Musical. Our package includes Deluxe Motorcoach

transportation, an overnight hotel in Jacksonville with breakfast,

a Pre-Theatre Dinner, St Augustine Sightseeing Train, and

reserved FIRST Orchestra Tickets at the Times Union Center (Great Seats) for “HAMILTON”. Seats are limited and going fast, so don’t delay. A $200 Deposit is required for booking. Price of trip ... $479

“THE GLORY OF GERSHWIN”... OCT 2 ... “Brad and Jennifer Moranz (producers of the long running Charleston Christmas Special) present “The Glory of Gershwin” on this entertaining one day trip. This musical revue celebrates the lives and songs of George and Ira Gershwin-from their beginnings on Tin Pan Alley to their work on Broadway and Hollywood musicals, and finally to their greatest achievement, "Porgy and Bess". Starring an all professional cast, the show features such classics as I Got Rhythm, Embraceable You, Our Love is Here to Stay, Strike Up the Band, and S’Wonderful, Rhapsody in Blue, Porgy and Bess and many, many more. Motorcoach to Charleston with Lunch included ... $139

SOUND OF MUSIC” AT ALHAMBRA ... AUGUST 21 ... The heartwarming musical based on the real life story of the Von Trapp Family singers, one of the world's best-known concert groups in the era immediately preceding World War II. With such memorable songs as “Edelweiss”, “My Favorite Things” and of course “The Sound of Music”, you don’t want to miss this show... $125

TRIPS FOR THE FALL ...

Contact our office for more information or check our Tour Book.

OLE CAPE COD ... SEP 11-19 (New Itinerary)

AMERICA’S PACIFIC COAST ... SEP 7-16

LANDFEST IN THE MOUNTAINS & ON THE LAKE ... SEP 16-18 CANYONS OF THE WEST ... SEP 19-27

THE ARK ENCOUNTER & CREATION MUSEUM ... SEP 20-23 / OCT 25-28 VEGAS, CANYONS, & MORE ... SEP 27-OCT 2

AUTUMN IN NEW ENGLAND ... SEP 30-OCT 9 / OCT 14-23

BALLOONS, BRANSON, & LOTS MORE ... OCT 3-11

AUTUMN ALONG THE CHATTAHOOCHEE ... OCT 11-13

2 NIGHTS AT THE GRAND HOTEL & LOTS MORE ... OCT 15-24

GRAND RESORTS OF THE BLUE RIDGE ... OCT 18-21

COUNTRY MUSIC HIGHWAY ... OCT 21-25

TRAIL OF TEARS & TENNESSEE TRAINS ... OCT 29-31

[pacificeagles]

https://pacificeagles.net/the-german-raiders-thor-and-michel/

The German Raiders Thor and Michel

After the loss of the Kormoran on November 19th, 1941, there were no German auxiliary cruisers still afloat anywhere in the Pacific or Indian oceans. Keen to put pressure on the Royal Navy and force it to defend the sea lanes all over the world, the Kriegsmarine had already decided to send more “hilfskreuzer” to prey on British merchantmen in the far reaches of the world’s oceans. 

The Raider Thor 

The next raider to been sent on a cruise in Far-Eastern waters was the Thor. Known as “Schiff 10” to the Germans and “Raider E” to the British, Thor was one of the smallest of the raiders with a displacement of just under 3,800 tons. Built as a banana boat for the South American trade, she was due to be named Santa Cruz before she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in the spring of 1939 before completion and converted into a merchant cruiser. The construction of this ship had been subsidised by the Kriegsmarine, which knew that small, fast merchantmen would make ideal auxiliary warships when the time came. Thor was equipped with six 150mm guns, four torpedo tubes and a suite of anti-aircraft guns. In June 1940 she set out on her first cruise in the Atlantic, during which she sank 12 ships for a total of almost 100,000 ton. Thor had also survived three different encounters with Royal Navy armed merchant cruisers, sinking one of them, before returning to Germany in April 1941. 

Thor underwent a thorough refit at Kiel’s naval dockyard. She was given new 150mm guns and a Seetakt radar, the first to be fitted to an auxiliary cruiser. She retained a single Arado 196 floatplane for reconnaissance, to be flown by Flying Officer Meyer-Ahrens. Thor also had a new commanding officer, Kapitän-zur-See Günther Gumprich. Her second cruise got off to an inauspicious start. Departing Kiel under a blanket of thick fog, the raider rammed the Swedish ore carrier Bothnia and sank her. Thor’s bows were damaged and she had to return to Kiel for repairs. 

Setting sail again on November 30th, Thor benefitted from poor weather that helped her slip through the English Channel before she reached La Rochelle in France. She remained there for several days before making an abortive attempt to break out into the Atlantic, which was thwarted by British air patrols. Forced to return to port, she finally left France for good on the 17th of January, 1942. Turning south, Thor crossed the equator on February 4th and arrived at her initial patrol area in the South Atlantic by the 25th.  

A month later she came across the Greek-registered M.A. Embiricos, took off her crew, and sank her with a torpedo. On the 30th of March Thor shadowed a freighter for several hours before Gumprich sent his Ar 196 into action with orders to use a grappling hook to rip her radio antenna away. This being achieved, the target was unable to escape and after a brief shelling was stopped and boarded. This ship, the British Wellpark, was then scuttled. Two days later another British freighter, the Willesden, was dispatched in similar fashion, and on April 3rd the Norwegian freighter Aust was likewise sunk. A third British freighter, the Kirkpool, followed on the 10th. 

Thor was finally ordered into the Indian Ocean when the Michel arrived to take over the South Atlantic beat. She rounded the Cape of Good Hope on April 22nd, evading a British armed merchant cruiser in the process, before meeting the tanker Regensburg to re-provision and transfer prisoners. Consultations with the Japanese Navy had led to a division of responsibility in the Indian Ocean – I-boats were active in the west, where the British were about to initiate landings on Madagascar. To keep clear, Thor was to operate well to the southeast.

On May 10th, 1942, Thor’s Ar 196 was airborne on patrol when it spotted a large liner. The ship’s crew in turn spotted the plane and prepared for an attack. Six hours later the Arado returned and initiated a strafing run, as well as unsuccessfully attempting to rip off the ship’s aerials. Thor soon appeared on the scene and shelled the vessel, but not before SOS messages were sent out. Finally, as the raider’s guns began to find their mark, the captain of the ship – the Nankin – stopped and order his passengers and crew to abandon ship. A German prize crew went aboard the liner and repaired the slight damage caused by a sabotage attempt, before both the Nankin and the Regensburg were sent on to Japan. 

On the 14th June of June Thor’s Seetakt radar picked up a target in the dark. The raider closed in to attack and opened fire in the darkness, quickly finding that range and landing hits on target. Almost immediately a fierce fire began to rage on the victim, which turned out to be the Dutch tanker Olivia. Only one survivor was picked up, but 12 more escaped in a boat. Eight of these survivors died before the remaining four washed up on Madagascar a month later. 

Five days later the patrolling Ar 196 came across another target, and attacked with machine guns and bombs. A warning salvo that followed shortly afterwards from Thor convinced captain of the Norwegian motor-tanker Herborg to stop. She was carrying a valuable cargo of 11,000 tons of oil. A prize crew was sent aboard and took the tanker to Japan. On the 4th of July another Norwegian tanker, the Rossbach, was discovered and again a combination of strafing, bombing and shelling brought her to a halt. She was in ballast, or empty, but taken as a prize nonetheless. 

Thor gave chase to another target spotted by her lookouts on the 20th of July. The ship tried to flee from the raider, but also fired back with her single gun and transmitted an SOS message, necessitating a running fight which eventually resulted in the target’s gun crew and the radio operator being killed. On fire, the freighter Indus came to a stop and 49 survivors were picked up. She was to be the Thor’s last victim. The raider cruised unsuccessfully off Western Australia before passing through Sunda Strait and making for Borneo. She briefly stopped there before heading to Japan for refit, arriving in Yokohama on October 9th 1942.

Whilst moored in Yokohama, disaster struck. On the 30th of November the nearby supply ship Uckermark, herself undergoing refit, underwent a series of explosions and caught fire. The fire quickly spread to Thor, the captured Nankin, and the Japanese ship Unkai Maru. All four ships were soon destroyed by the conflagration with 12 of the Thor’s crew being killed. Gumprich survived and was soon assigned to another raider that would arrive in Japan early in 1943.

The Raider Michel 

The final German auxiliary cruiser to reach the Pacific, indeed the last hilfskreuzer to be active anywhere on the world’s oceans, was Schiff 28, known as Raider H to the Allies, and named Michel. This ship was launched in April 1939 as the MV Bielsko in Danzig, but was seized by Germans after the invasion of Poland and renamed Bonn. It was originally planned to fit out the Bonn as a hospital ship, before the decision was made to convert her into a raider. Main armament for the Michel was taken from the raider Widder, a sister of the Atlantis, which had been decommissioned due to her unreliable engines. Michel had the usual raider armament of six 150mm guns, six torpedo tubes with 24 ‘fish’, and anti-aircraft guns. She was also outfitted with two Ar 196s and a light speedboat.

Michel was commissioned on September 7th 1941, under the command of Kapitän-zur-See Helmuth Von Ruckteschell. She departed Kiel on 9th March 1942, but was attacked by British patrol units during her attempt to break through the Channel. This caused minor damage and the death of one officer, but the raider nevertheless safely arrived at La Pallice on March 17th. Three days later she departed and broke out into the Atlantic. Michel was to be assigned the South Atlantic area which had been vacated by the Thor, which had moved into the Indian Ocean. In time, Michel was to follow her predecessor east.

Michel had a busy time of it, sinking nine ships in the Atlantic over the next few months. First, on April 19th, was the British tanker Patella, whose crew was taken off before the ship was sunk with demolition charges. Three days later the American tanker Connecticut went to the bottom. On the 1st of May, however, one potential victim managed to escape. Heading south passed St Helena, the Michel came across a liner and, with her crew disguised as British sailors, order her to stop. Suspicious, the captain of the Menelaus refused and went to maximum speed to escape. The 16-knot Michel could barely keep up and sent the speedboat Esau to intercept, but the liner dodged her torpedoes and eventually escaped – the only ship ever to escape from a raider after an attack had begun. 

Normal service was resumed on the 20th of May, when the Norwegian freighter Kattegat was stopped and scuttled. On the 5th of June Michel found the disabled Liberty ship George Clymer after listening in on her distress signals. Esau hit her with two torpedoes but she remained afloat, eventually being finished off by a British ship. Six days later Michel fired without warning on the freighter Lylepark, which soon caught fire. Survivors were taken off, and the burnt out ship later sank.

Michel found and sank the elderly liner Gloucester Castle on July 15th, before finding two tankers on a parallel course the next day. The Esau was sent after one, the tanker Aramis, whilst Michel herself gave chase after the William F. Humphrey. This ship was hit several times by shells and at least one torpedo fired by the raider. 29 of the crew escaped into boats and were picked up by Michel, which then met up with Esau and finished off the Aramis. Heading south again, Michel met with the raider Stier and the pair briefly hunted together without success, then split up again. At night on the 10th of September, Michel came across and quickly sank the US freighter American Leader. The next evening, Michel found the motor ship Empire Dawn and shelled her to a stop. Despite the crew signalling their surrender, Ruckteschell ordered more fire on the ship which killed several of the crew. After the war, he would be tried for this action and others whilst in command of the raider Widder. He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison, however he died in prison in 1948.

Michel then entered the Indian Ocean, after Ruckteschell had a brief ‘discussion’ with his commander in Germany as to the best hunting ground for his ship. The raider refuelled from the tanker Brake on the 14th of November, and commenced hunting. Two weeks later Michel encountered a feighter in the dead of night, and closed quickly to short range before opening up with a devastating salvo that hit the target’s bridge, defensive guns, and lifeboats whilst also starting fires. Torpedoes from the Esau soon followed and the freighter, the US-flagged Sawolka, sank. 39 survivors were fished out of the ocean.  

On the 9th December, a storm had forced the Michel to halt and ride out the swells, but a surprisingly another ship emerged from the gloom and all hands were quickly ordered to their battle stations. This was the Greek freighter Eugenie Livanos, whose crew was busy celebrating St. Stephen’s day. Torpedoes put and end to the party, and more survivors were plucked from the sea. The raider was then ordered back to Germany, to the joy of her crew. She re-entered the Atlantic and on 2nd January her Ar 196 spotted the British freighter Empire March. Michel and Esau together stalked the target, before the cruiser opened fire with guns and torpedoes, and the speedboat added her own fish as well. The freighter quickly went down, with 26 survivors taken aboard Michel. This was the first time on the entire cruise that the pilot, Konrad Hoppe, had found an enemy ship whilst patrolling.

Ruckteschell then received a change to his orders, forbidding him from attempting to break through the Allied blockade and return to Germany. Instead, he was ordered to Japan. By February 7th lookouts spotted the island of Bali, where the Michel briefly docked at Batavia. She then headed for Singapore, where her prisoners were landed. On the 2nd of March, Michel arrived at Kobe in the Japanese Home Islands, 358 days after she had left Germany. Ruckteschell took the opportunity to request his relief, due to ill health, and spent the rest of the war in various Japanese hospitals. He was replaced as commander of the Michel by Kapitän-zur-See Günther Gumprich, who had been unemployed since the destruction of the Thor in November 1942.

After undergoing a thorough refit, on May 1st Michel departed Japan and headed back to the Indian Ocean. By June 14th she was 300 miles west of Australia, where her Ar 196 reported a ship heading west. Michel closed and launched a surprise attack at night in Gumprich’s preferred style. Fires broke out and the crew began abandoning ship. This was the Norwegian freighter Höegh Silverdawn, which was heading for the Persian Gulf. Two days later lookouts spotted a large tanker which was shadowed until nightfall. This was another Norwegian vessel, the Ferncastle. The Michel again closed in to attack. 2 torpedoes from the Esau caused damage but Ferncastle’s captain thought they came from a U-boat. When Michel came into view, the crew realised that escape was impossible and surrendered, although several escaped in the dark in lifeboats. Worried that the escapees might report his location, Gumprich then took the Michel south of Australia into the Pacific. Pickings were slim for the Michel and she crossed the entire ocean without encountering any shipping and was off the coast of Chile by late August. There she narrowly avoided destruction when she spotted the American light cruiser Trenton, but Michel managed to slip away without being spotted.

Heading back west, in the vicinity of Easter Island Michel spotted a tanker, Again, she was shadowed until nightfall and then attacked. Almost at the first salvo the tanker, the Norwegian India, split open and a huge fire engulfed the vessel. There were no survivors. Michel then had a miraculous escape when, in foul weather, she found herself coming across an American convoy with strong escort. Carefully moving away she allowed the distance to open, and slipped into the gloom. With increasing Allied strength and limited opportunities, Gumprich elected to return to Japan.

On October 17th, as the raider was heading for Yokohama, she was spotted by the American submarine Tarpon, which shadowed and attempted to gain attack position. This achieved, a spread of torpedoes was fired, two of which hit the Michel. The ship stopped and began to list, before the Tarpon fired a second salvo of torpedoes which caused Michel to explode. Only 110 of the crew of 373 survived, Gumprich not amongst them. Michel was the last of the raiders, and with her demise the hilfskreuzer were consigned to history.

[thesteveyates]

Title picture : Dudley Dix, cape ‘cutter Elvee’, photograph courtesy of Ryerson Clark.

Jim Young ‘Rocket’

Dudley Dix ‘Retro’

From Cape Cutter to Comanche.

Blog time : early January 2020, the brief spell of dry and cold weather has passed and it’s back to the usual mildly cold but very wet winters we have down here in the south-west of England.  I can’t carry on with the drain work out back because the drain pit has flooded again and i definitely can’t do the cement work.  This morning we hit the builders merchant with a big (by my standards) order for the posts, rails and decks for my workshop storage : after that it’s home, coffee and a long writing session.

Iv’e been thinking a lot about boat designs recently for a couple of reasons : firstly that iv’e been discussing Jim Young’s ‘Rocket’ design with my mate Al down in NZ and he’s been getting me up to speed on modern shapes and rig proportions.  By chance i watched the Sydney Hobart start and then by accident i was online for the live feed from the finish as the super-maxi ‘Comanche’ ghosted up to the finish line.  To me Comanche looked freaky with that ultra wide stern, chines and a rig almost back in the cockpit and Al says that’s the way race boat design has gone.   Secondly iv’e been fantasising what i will build when i win the lottery…..and in the real world thinking about the smaller boat i would actually like to build for my next major sailing project.

The work i am doing right now in the workshop, and the reason for my big materials order, is to completely clear one side of the workshop such that i can have as large a work space as i can on that side ; enough perhaps to build a small boat in there with maybe a temporary extension at the door end.  In this post i’m not going to talk about the actual boat and design that i’m thinking of building this coming winter as i haven’t quite nailed down the specific boat that i want although i am down to a couple of contenders.

What iv’e always wanted to do with my website is to feature boat designers that have made their mark with small boat designs, dinghy’s, dayboats and smaller cruising boats : i recently re-posted my ‘Boxfather’ blog post (Phil Bolger) and had a sudden rush of something to the brain that i should work through the alphabet, my problem being that the two designers that i’m looking at are right down at the far end : Francois Vivier and John Welsford !.    I would love to start with the late Ed Burnett’s work although his main body of work was with medium to large traditional cruising boats and as much as i admire his work i wouldn’t want one myself…..except definitely his collaboration with Nigel Irens and the ‘Roxanne’ design which would be a perfect fit for what i do.

Irens/Burnett ‘Roxanne‘ hull with modified rig in Dartmouth.

Ed Burnett designed ‘Nomad‘ in Poole.

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For a big and husky offshore/ocean cruising boat i would love something that looked like Nomad except that she is a deep draft yacht and one of my primary requirements is to be able to sail in shallow water, access the rivers and creeks that you see in my cruising posts and then dry out level on the mud or sand.    Iv’e talked about my design requirements in small boats before, the kind of boats that my budget will allow and just to re-iterate : low budget, shallow draft or variable draft, ability to sail offshore in moderate conditions, dry out easily, basic comfort for one or two people.

When i think about a ‘blue sky’ project and if you will, my ‘ideal’ boat, the same parameters apply except that the budget goes out the window !.  It’s a kind of fantasy exercise but fun all the same except that this year i’m collaborating with my mate Big Al down in New Zealand who is also working on his own ideal boat project and our two very different end points come out within a foot of each other.  They are very different boats and while mine is still based on my stated parameters, his are nearly all about cruising speed and windward ability but with a lot of practical considerations thrown in : this year i intend to do a whole series of posts about his project and how it compares with my own thoughts.

Roger Martin Presto Sharpie….current fantasy boat !, like a Liberty with muscles and attitude.

While i’m here though i would like to take a look around the ‘D’ in the D. is for Design because a couple of Dudley Dix’s designs are ones that have inspired me and one of them became a close candidate for ‘the’ boat……and i like a lot of his designs !

Two years ago i wintered in the Exe at Topsham and i really enjoyed my time there in both the river and the village ; the river is shallow and tidal, just perfect for WABI”’ and Trout’s at Topsham really helped me out and kept an eye on the boat.  In the summer that year i was cruising in the estuary one time when i decided to dry out on the Bull sand which is right in the middle of the river, and go for a walk over as far as i could at low water to Exmouth.    It’s absolutely the kind of thing i like to do with WABI”’ and kind-of demonstrates what i need out of a boat ; shallow draft and the ability to dry out level.

Hunter Liberty, WABI”’

Anyway, later that day i was back on a mooring when this little red gaffer came beating down the river against the last of the flood tide.  I’d seen the boat a couple of times on it’s mooring up by Starcross and recognised it as one of Dudley Dix’s designs : i’m not sure if it’s the Cape Cutter design at 21′ or the smaller Cape Henry at 19′.  Thinking back….i definitely had an impromptu race against a Cape Cutter in the Hamoaze one time in my Frances 26 and even with a very fresh and smooth bottom and brand new sails the Cape Cutter out-tacked me up that river….mainly by being able to tack quicker and get moving better after the tack.  If anything the Dudley Dix design reminds me of the Cornish Shrimper only a bit more modern and with a more powerful rig.

Dudley Dix, Cape Cutter.

The larger of the 2 designs is definitely one that would have done the same job as WABI”’ has done for me over the last few years and would be a perfect fit in my home river as being very shoal draft with her board and rudder up ; once again i just like the look of the boats.  I borrowed this image below from the Dix designs website and i can only apologise that i don’t have any interior photographs.   Of interest i note that there is an active owners group and one of these boats was filmed in the ‘Classic boats’ series ; link at the bottom of the page.

For this post i took another look at Dudley Dix designs website to see if there was anything else in a similar vein to the two ‘Cape’ designs and there is another one ; the Cape May design at 25 feet which is very similar, just larger, and then a ‘Cape Charles at 32 feet which i have excluded because it has a shallow fin keel.

Earlier on in the post i mentioned my mate Al and his requirements for a boat ; that performance comes very high on his list and that he’s prepared to work around that. Interestingly Alan also wants to have less draft than the original design and a rig that’s not only going to get moved (from the original) but also needs to be drop-able easily.      In contrast i ask for ‘enough’ performance , i like to get the best out of my boats and iv’e talked about the practice of doing that with small boats and i certainly wouldn’t want a total dog : the little Liberty isn’t a fast or powerful boat but it does embarrass other larger boats in light conditions.  Along the way i did look at some higher performance lifting keel boats that were just about in my budget, went to see one of them which i didn’t like and then wasn’t able to go and see the next two which might have been better boats for me.  For the record the one boat i did visit was a Dehler 25 and the two that i missed out on were the Evolution 25 and the Parker Super-Seal at 26 feet.

At the same time i did a similar exercise to see if there was a small, high performance boat that had more space than the Liberty, a lot more speed , that would sit on a soft bottom and that looked right…at least to me.

What i found was this….which made me very moist indeed.   This is Dudley Dix’s ‘Retro 29’ design which i think is based on his earlier radius chine sport boat which was slightly shorter and had a more ‘modern’ look.  This certainly looks quick , and with that bulb lifting keel looks both powerful and beach-able…..i’m not sure about the rudder arrangement on this one as that definitely needs to lift and lower easily : but what a great looking concept.  Just so that you know there are several rig options, from a very modern square-top , one high peaked gunter and one gaff but each comes with a bowsprit and the chance to fly some decent canvas offwind.  The one below is the racier version with a short coachroof….there is a longer coachroof version with a double bunk under the bridge deck which would be neat.

Photograph from Dudley Dix designs website.

D. is for Design. Title picture : Dudley Dix, cape 'cutter Elvee', photograph courtesy of Ryerson Clark. Jim Young 'Rocket'

[3monthsineurope]

May 5 and 6, 2019

Sunday I woke up with Ingvar and we had breakfast of our left over charcuterie board from the night before. He drove me home and said goodbye (I always miss him so much!), and then I finished up packing, took a shower, and got all sorted for the cruise and trip to Orlando! I left Bellingham around 2:30, and arrived at home on Camano around 3:30.

I met Mom at home and transferred all my things into my medium sized luggage. We said goodbye to Maddie, loaded up the car, then went down to Huntington’s to get Dad. Right around 4:30, we left Camano and headed south. Haley had arrived in Seattle earlier in the day, so we picked her up from the Cheesecake Factory, where she had been with Malik. It was good to have the whole fam back together!

We dropped off the car at Master Park, and took the shuttle to the airport. Mom, Dad, and I were checking bags, so I printed up the bag tags, then we dropped them off. Haley has wanted to check a bag, but didn’t, since she was flying standby, she was worried her bag would get lost if something went wrong with her flight. We got through security super quickly, then decided to sit down for dinner. I had a breakfast burrito, Dad had a sandwich, and Mom and Haley shared some nachos. We hung around for a bit, then Mom and I headed to one of the lounges with my priority pass, to see if they could print out our boarding passes and luggage tags for us.

We walked across the whole airport, and the woman working the desk was able to help us! Mom got to see what a lounge was like, then we headed back to meet Dad and Haley. We all walked to gate C17, where we only had about ten minutes until boarding. Mom, Dad, and I were in row 18, with Haley being second on the standby list. She ended up being in premium economy, in row 8. The plan was to sleep as much of this flight that we could, since it was a red eye, leaving Seattle at 9:15, and arriving in Orlando before 6am, with the time change. But, I wasn’t super tired at 9pm! I tried to sleep, and did sleep a couple hours, but definitely not as much as I had hoped. Mom hardly slept and watched two movies, Dad tried to sleep but really couldn’t, and Haley slept for about three hours.

We landed pretty early in Orlando, just after five. We met up with Haley, took a tram to the main terminal, and grabbed our checked baggage. We didn’t really know what to do, because we couldn’t check into the boat (the Carnival Liberty) until 1:30–about 8 hours away! Dad came up with a really good idea: getting a hotel for a few hours to rest. We called a couple places, and one finally had room for us! We got a Lyft, and drove about ten minutes to the Ramada Hotel. We checked in right around 6 am, which was something new for me, haha! Mom ran across the street to grab some water and Diet Coke, while Dad and Haley passed out prettttty quickly. I waited for Mom to come back, then we all slept, until 11 am.

We all changed and that’s about it! We checked out of the hotel right at noon, then grabbed coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts. We called a Lyft, to take us about an hour away, to Cape Canaveral. It was a bit of a tight squeeze with all of our luggage, but we made it! The driver, Cyril, was super nice. Him and Dad got along really well. We got to the port in about an hour, even though we did have to stop for gas. Cyril dropped us off, and we gave our bags to a porter to bring them to our room.

It was everyone’s first cruise but mine! We went through security, got our passports looked at, and then boarded the Liberty! Our first stop was the second floor, where our rooms were! I used my cruise points (this was my third cruise with Carnival in three years), to get Mom and Dad a room with a window. Haley and I got a typical state room, on the inner side of the boat, without a window. Mom and Dad’s room is super nice! It’s soooo nice to have a window! Haley and I’s room is right across the hall, and a little smaller.

We hadn’t really eaten, so we dropped our stuff in the rooms, then headed up to the ninth floor, the Lido deck. That’s where all the buffet style/always open food is. We bobbed through the buffet, then Haley and I got burgers from a Guy Fieri’s spot, and Mom and Dad got tacos. Boy, was it hot! We hadn’t left the port yet, and there were so many bugs! Apparently, it’s “lovebug” season in Florida. And it’s so humid! We looked around a bit, after lunch, and checked out the adult only area “Serenity”. We checked out the inside of the ship, to get away from the bugs.

Around four, we had to go to a safety meeting. We had to listen to what we would need to do, in case of an actual emergency. After the briefing, we all changed into our swim suits and headed up to the Lido deck, to lounge around for about an hour and a half before dinner. Just when we got some seats on the upper level, it started to rain. It wasn’t bad at first, but when Haley and Mom came back with some drinks, the rain drops were huge! We hadn’t left the port yet, so I guess this is what happens in Florida? We wandered around the boat for a bit, found some land yards to buy to keep our room keys in (that’s all you need on the ship! It’s your room key, and form of payment for everything), then headed down below to change for dinner.

We had dinner on the fourth floor, in formal dining. I had a cold strawberry soup, shrimp spring rolls, sweet and sour shrimp, and tiramisu. You can have as much as you want! We have three servers that help us, and we’ll sit at the same place all four nights. Haley tried four or five desserts! And we all really enjoyed our food. After dinner, we put in our suits again and headed up to a hot tub. It wasn’t too hot, but it did feel really good! We watched the last bit of Instant Family, on a huge projection screen, from the hot tub, which was pretty cool. By then, I was ready to call it a night. I rinsed off and got ready for bed, while Mom, Dad, and Haley went to the casino, hahah. Around 11:30, they came back, and Haley and I watched some of the movie Tarzan. We were looking forward to our next day, a full day on the boat! :]

[yestravelguy-blog]

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[manaboutworldmag]

Go Now✈ Go Later✈: Gay getaways you won’t want to miss 🌈🍸

Some gays plan their gay getaways far in advance. Some plan last minute. Some go both ways. We’re those gays. But no matter which you are, we’ve got awesome recommendations for gay getaways to go to now. Next year. Or both!

Gay Getaways: GO NOW!

8 Days of Paradise with Atlantis – August 25

Atlantis Events takes on Europe with the Oasis of the Seas for the biggest European gay cruise ever. Meet guys from all over the world as this gorgeous Royal Caribbean ship sets sail for a trip of a lifetime. Amazing parties by night, and incredible ports by day. Enjoy bike rides in Mallorca, snorkeling in Capri, wine tasting in Provence and art walks in Florence. The ship departs on Saturday, August 25 and returns September 1.

Don’t miss this epic European journey. Book now and GO!

Cruise NYC to PTown with VACAYA – August 11

Join ManAboutWorld’s Billy Kolber (and up to 2,000 of our closest friends!) for the first full-ship LGBTQ+ charter with VACAYA aboard the five-star Celebrity Summit.

The ship will depart NYC on Sunday, August 11 and sail to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Then, it’s a day in quaint Bar Harbor, Maine, and then two full days in fabulous Provincetown.

Kristin Chenoweth kicks off the departure from Cape Liberty, with lots of entertainment onboard and off — including an overnight call in Ptown to kick off their crazy Carnival week. Vacaya’s maiden voyage, promises a new kind of LGBT+ experience. Book now and GO! Save & Close

Explore Morocco with OUT Adventures – September 13

Morocco should be at the top of any queer travelers bucket list! Take the journey with OUT Adventures from Casablanca to Marrakech.

The epic experience kicks off September 13 and lasts for 10 unforgettable days. Travel with a pack of gay travelers through desert landscapes and moody villages. Sleep in a hotel made of Saharan sand, picnic in mountain gorges, cook classic North African cuisine, and share memories that will last a lifetime. Book now and GO!

GAY GETAWAYS: GO LATER

Pride of the Americas – April 21-26, 2020

Two continents. 35 countries. Five languages. One love. No matter who you who are, Greater Fort Lauderdale invites you to celebrate LGBT+ advocacy on the beach at the first-ever Pride of the Americas in 2020. All are welcome to fly their flag high, make an impact and radiate life. Join the ManAboutWorld team for this first ever Pride uniting our community from Arctic Canada down to Tierra del Fuego! Book your flights and accommodations today! 

Atlantis & Virgin Voyages 1st Gay Charter from Miami – May 21-June 7, 2020

Atlantis and Virgin Voyages will make history in 2020 when they embark on the first gay charter of the Scarlet Lady. The ship will set sail on May 31 – June 7, 2020 from Miami and traverse the Mexican Caribbean. Be one of the first to discover Virgin Voyages adult-only by design experience that will transform the cruise industry.

The Atlantis charter isn’t on sale yet – it’s not even listed on the Atlantis website. But trust us, you’ll want to be on this first gay charter of the Scarlet Lady, the revolutionary new cruising experience from Virgin. Mark your calendar and reserve your vacation days now.

Gay Wine Weekend – July 18-21, 2020

Gay Wine Weekend 2019 just happened, and it was epic. If you missed it, mark your calendar now for next year. Called “One of the best events of the summer season,” Gay Wine Weekend takes over Sonoma Valley from July 18-21 for a 3+ day celebration of food and wine in Northern California’s Sonoma Valley!

Check out the 2019 details, and mark your calendar now.

The hosts of this super fun event look forward to meeting you Out In The Vineyard of “our” Wine Country!

Plan a Once In A Lifetime Gay Safari – August 22-30, 2020

The boys at OUT Adventures have an incredible safari planned for 2020! Their brand new gay tour of Kenya kicks off outside Nairobi – Safari Capital of the World – before venturing into the savannah. Here, authentic yet luxurious tents and lodges will provide shelter in Amboseli National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve. All meals are included on this excursion, including a fab Bush Barbecue. OUT Adventure trips sell out far in advance … so Book now and GO! 

Our very own Kenny Porpora will experience this fabulous OUT Adventures Kenya safari this August 2019. Follow his safari on Instagram at @wozels1102 and get a sneak peek at everything that awaits you in 2020.

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[theladyjstyle]

Live blogging from Explorer of the Seas - Preamble

We go on our fair share of Royal Caribbean cruises, so when there is an opportunity to knock something off our bucket list of must-do cruises, it makes the cruise extra special.

After seemingly buying every accessory, specialty apparel, and gadget one might run across while searching for an "Alaska cruise packing list", we are ready to head to Seattle for a 7-night Explorer of the Seas sailing to Alaska.  Going on a sailing that takes to an all-new to us itinerary is pretty special, and on top of it, we are sailing with so many of our friends as part of the Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise.

We have been looking forward to this particular sailing for a while, having booked it back in early 2017 at the behest of my wife who really wanted to try an Alaska cruise.  I certainly relished the prospect of heading west and sailing on a completely new itinerary for me.

When you talk about a cruise to Alaska, you are looking at one of the most beautiful places on earth to take visit and cruising is a natural fit. I have probably put off a cruise to Alaska for this long primarily due to the distance required for us to travel (we are flying from Florida), but with my daughters geting old enough to sit on an airplane and remain civil, the time is right to go West.

While the itinerary will be new to us, the ship is a repeat for me.  My very first Royal Caribbean cruise was on Explorer of the Seas out of Cape Liberty in 2006.  Going back on Explorer of the Seas after all these years is a bit of a homecoming for me, and I am looking forward to getting back on her after a large absence.

  If you read any kind of blog post, article, infographic, or MySpace post, you will likely see a mention that when you sail to Alaska you must book a balcony room.  It will cost you extra, but it is worthwhile and so I listened to the experts and booked a Junior Suite that connects to a standard balcony for our family. While not as epic is our Grand Suite connecting to a balcony room, it should be a great way to not only see the beautiful Alaskan nature, but also provide separation from our kids at night.

I will be sailing with my wife and two daughters (ages 7 and 3), and my kids are most excited for Adventure Ocean, exploring Alaska, and as much soft serve ice cream they can eat (probably in that order).

Speaking of who I will be sailing with, we have over eighty Royal Caribbean Blog readers joining me on this incredible adventure. Being able to share in the excitement of this sailing and explore Alaska together is an added bonus. As is the case with any Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise, we have one or two events each day of the cruise that everyone is invited to join us for.  These events include a pub crawl, Royal Caribbean trivia, photo safari, private ice skating session and more.

Of course, this is a group cruise too, which means we have a large contingent of fellow Royal Caribbean fans joining me and I could not be happier. There is just something so fun about seeing friendly faces all around the ship, and being able to share in the experience in person is second-to-none.

Itinerary

This Royal Caribbean cruise is by far the most intriguing itinerary I have taken to date. When you cruise to Alaska, Royal Caribbean offers three types of sailings: a round trip, a one way northbound and a one way southbound.  

We chose the roundtrip primarily because I did not have vacation time to do two weeks for both one ways and I was not mentally prepared to fly to or from Alaska.  I understand the argument that the one way sailings offer a superior itinerary, but a roundtrip from Seattle is what is in the cards for us this go around and I think it will be a great introduction to Alaska.

Our shore excursion plans

Here is what we have planned for each of our ports.  We spent a lot of time looking over the various choices and came up with these.

3. Alaska Sled Dogs & Musher's Camp (Juneau) [Link]

My wife insisted we do some sort of excursion that involved Alaskan husky dogs (preferably puppies), so we picked this 2 hour trip.  Besides involving super cute puppies, we think our daughters will enjoy going to the countryside and getting a first-hand look at what Alaska is all about.

We will have some extra time in Juneau after the excursion is over, and may hop into a taxi to visit the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and do some "light weight" exploring.

2. Yukon Hummer Adventure (Skagway) [Link]

I thought this excursion sounded like a really fun one, primarily because it allows us to see a lot of beautiful areas in Alaska and Canada from the comfort of a Hummer.  I have always wanted to drive one of these cars, so I think this is perfect opportunity.  

One caveat is this excursion states my youngest daughter is not allowed to come with us.  I am not entirely certain why and we are guessing it may have to do with car seats.  We will talk with the Shore Excursion staff onboard Explorer of the Seas and get a better sense of what the issue is all about.

1. Craigdarroch Castle And Butchart Garden (Victoria) [Link]

It seems like the two places to visit in Victoria are Butchart Garden and Craigdarroch Castle, so we booked the excursion that brings us to both.  I am slightly concerned my children will be bored by the pace and subject of the tour, but I remain optimistic that they will have a good time...and with a bribe of a present to keep them in line (it's not my first rodeo).

What's next

Our Explorer of the Seas cruise begins on Friday, June 22nd (although we will fly to Seattle a day earlier), and I will be sharing the details on the blog, as well as across my social media channels.  Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Periscope for live updates throughout the day.

I invite you to share in this experience with me, by posting in the comments for any blog post questions and comments you may have.  I try to make these live blogs as interactive as I can, so I want everyone to feel welcome to share their thoughts.

Thanks for reading all of this and welcome aboard our next fun live blog experience!

Category: 

Explorer of the Seas Live Blog

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[nammo10008]

Mind Blowing Cape Liberty Fly and Cruise Services

Take the stress out of the airport parking and make your travelling by air much easy and hassle free by approaching us for our mind blowing Cape Liberty Fly and Cruise services. Visit our website to get your bookings done. http://trinityreservations.com/Baltimore-park-and-cruise.php

[curatedglobaltravel]

Last Minute Holiday Getaway Ideas You'll Love For A Fabulous Winter

Do you need to end your year with something spectacular? Or find that guaranteed fabulous start to your new year? Scouring every corner of the globe, our experts have hand picked amazing destinations to escape to this winter! The perfect cure for those January blues! You’ll add a few more pages to your bucket list after reading our top destinations around the world, starting with...

 South America - Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia

Feel the rhythms shake through your bones at the carnivals in Brazil. Explore the depths of the jungles of Peru, Ecuador, and Columbia. Experience and learn about the world’s biggest rain-forest, the Amazon. Really get people’s eyebrows raising when you tell them you’re going to spend the holidays in South America! Have a completely new winter holiday experience by basking in the sun on soft white sands and mesmerizing blue seas. Not a snowflake in sight! You’ll swap out your thick coats and big boots for light short-sleeve tops and sandals, whilst lapping up the luxuries of this unspoiled nature retreat on the water. Your family will love these adventure-packed destinations!

Quebec City, Canada

Still love wrapping up warm and heading out into the crisp winter days? Quebec City is full of Christmas delights that will fulfill your holiday spirits. Get lost in the popular German Christmas markets and villages, blanketed by the warm scents of honey roasted chestnuts and sweet treats. Learn to ice skate at Place D’Youville for that perfect winter photo. Explore one-of-a-kind UNESCO World Heritage treasures on an exciting carriage tour. To top it all off, stay in the most talked about hotel in the city, Hotel De Glace, an ice hotel that oozes frosty fantasies. Unique to North America (the only one of its kind), choose from 44 themed rooms and suites that have been injected with colorful lights. After a day of sightseeing and Christmas shopping, relax in the hotel’s many hot tubs and saunas. You’ll be totally whisked away into another world this Christmas.

 Sedona, Arizona

Stunning Sedona scenery awaits your itchy traveller feet! Escape the hectic Christmas scenes from home to a land where peace, healing, and wellness are set centre stage. Lose yourself gazing at the vast canyons and mesa’s. Find contentment at the healing spas. Be enlightened in the vibrant arts scene. Once you have found calm, energize yourself with horseback riding, rafting, biking, and other activities! You’ll be surprised how much you can do over this Christmas!

 London, England

London is electric at Christmas! Home to the most flamboyant shopping displays that provide passers by a theatrical show, you’ll be mesmerized by the energized department stores that Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Selfridge’s, and Liberty’s all create. Marvel at the sheer amount of Christmas lights on every street you turn, juxtaposed upon the quintessential old buildings of traditional London. Really take all this energy in by ice skating at Somerset House, joining in by candlelight with the carollers at the Royal Albert Hall, and sinking into a comfy seat watching The Nutcracker at The Royal Opera House. Families will love the many museums with great kids activities too! The V&A Museum is forever a popular choice, with The Science Museum right next door. Love Christmas? Love London!

 Tuscany, Italy

Get the best of Italy this Christmas without all the crowds. Experience a more peaceful Italy this December at the Toscana Resort Castelfalfi. Located in the heart of Tuscany, you’re never far from Italian culinary delights and fine wines, which can be grouped together with tours and tastings. You’ll also have the luxury to choose from unlimited golf and spa packages, to Christmas and New Year’s Eve specials that include live music and exquisite, romantic accommodations.

 Central America - Costa Rica, and Panama & Mexico

Jump on over to a culture rich destination paired with the some of the world’s most beautiful beaches! See the fascinating Chichen Itza in Yucatan, then venture down to Ek Balam for the well-preserved sculptures and carvings on the walls and temples. All that exploring needs the perfect sun, sand and sea treatment, so stretch out along the stunning beaches of Celestun and Progreso. Your family albums will be full of great memories from this trip!

 South Africa

Escape to The Cape! Often overlooked but never to disappoint, South Africa has sunshine, beaches, culture, food, and the world’s best safaris! See enormous elephants, lounging leopards, rumbling rhinos, and lions yawning ferociously in their natural habitats!

 The Caribbean

There are still many stunning islands open to visitors! Turks & Cacaos, the Dominican Republic, Grenada and more have announced that they are welcoming many back to vacation, with lots of spaces left! Dip your toes into the bright, turquoise seas lined with the whitest sands you’ll ever see!  Did you know you can volunteer your vacation time and help the many thousands in need? Just let us know and we can arrange one of the most rewarding excursions of your life! 

 Northern and Eastern Europe

Finland and Sweden, Estonia and Croatia, and many more! These countries are gear up to what they really do best; Christmas markets! Unmatched by their twinkle, shine, hot chocolates and sweet treats, these destinations are sure to dazzle your family! Pick up exclusive, traditional and local gifts for a surprising holiday season.

 India

Fancy escaping more than the country this season? Try flying into a totally different world! India is sure to give you those fascinating stories to tell your close friends and family, as well as incredible photos to stick to your refrigerator door or frame on your desk at work. Begin in the fast-paced, hilariously chaotic, and bustling cities in the north such as Mumbai and New Delhi. Connecting New Delhi is Jaipur and Agra forming the Golden Triangle, creating a stunning and energetic tour of some of India’s best known sights. Take a trip down south where the vibe is a lot more chilled out. Reflect on your vacation by laying down on one of the many picturesque beaches along the coast.    

Israel and Jordan

Spirituality is a powerful and euphoric feeling, matching it with the joyful communities and bustling market streets of Israel and Jordan and you’ll have a vacation you’ll never forget!

Morocco

The deep and colorful scents of magical Morocco will move you down into the narrow market streets, overflowing with vibrant, locally made goods. When the sun dips below the horizon, Morocco shimmers as night lights illuminate plazas, cafes, and restaurants with a warm golden glow. You’ll be speechless at Morocco’s incredible beauty.

 South East Asia and The South Pacific

Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tahiti, and The Islands of French Polynesia! Big, bustling cities to quiet, calming, towns. South East Asia has a wide variety of destinations catering to both sides of the spectrum. Your family will love trying the vast variety of foods and spices available throughout this region. Scorpion on a stick anyone??

 USA - Southern California, Hawaii, Florida

Fly like a bird this December and migrate south to avoid those harsh winter temperatures. Warm up those feathers on the sunny shores of Florida. Get an island vibe without leaving the USA by heading over to Hawaii. Take back breath-taking photos with you from a tropical paradise Christmas. There’s almost limitless choices for you to enjoy, from snorkeling to taking a cruise around Kealakekua Bay and other scenic wonders , to touring the rain forests of Hana and the eye-opening sea cliffs of Maui via Maverick Helicopters. Outdoor enthusiasts can opt for a whale-watching kayak tour while those seeking a restful spa vacation can find the perfect retreat. Getting a golden tan this season is totally possible! Explore your backyard parts of the USA for a straightforward but relaxing vacation! Leave your heavy coats in the wardrobe this December! 

 BONUS - UNESCO sites?!?!

We’ve Got ‘em! Are you are eager to get your world heritage tour started?. Contact us now for a free travel planning consultation and we can begin to map out your bucket list!

Click here now to book your adventure with Curated Global Travel!

[janetgannon]

1868 miles to go; Stormy Georgetown then Quiet Anchorage

Having cruised more than 4000 miles in 11 months on our trawler,  this is a good time to start mentally preparing for the final legs of our Great Loop adventure.

Take a look at this list breaking down the remaining segments we need to traverse to complete our Loop ( as of April 30).     Our loop started at the Mackinaw Bridge on June 10, 2016; we were in Charleston, NC on April 20th . 

This list shows the remaining  1868 miles in manageable subcategories:

Charleston to Norfolk Virginia *end of the Atlantic ICW*    473 miles

Chesapeake Bay:   Norfolk VA to C&D Canal                               185 miles

Delaware Bay:   C&D Canal to Cape May NJ                          60 miles

Atlantic Ocean:  Cape May to Manasquan NJ                        100 miles

Atlantic Ocean:   Manasquan NJ to NY.NY.                           35 miles

Hudson River:  NY NY to Erie Canal (Waterford NY)              155 miles

Erie Canal:  Waterford to 3 Rivers                                            160 miles

Oswego Canal: 3 Rivers NY to Oswego NY                             25 miles

Lake Ontario: Oswego NY to Kingston ON>                           50 miles

Lake Ontario:  Kingston to Trenton ON.                                 60 miles

Trent Severn Waterway:  Trenton ON. To Port Severn       240 miles

Georgian Bay: Port Severn to Killarney ON                          175 miles

North Channel: Killarney to Drummond                                100 miles

Lake Huron:  Drummond to Mackinaw Bridge MI.                50 miles

Remaining miles from Charleston (in April)to finish line at Mackinaw Bridge Lake Michigan (estimated arrival July ):   1868 miles.  

If we don’t think ahead, might risk cruising by something important!!     Here is a random  list of sights to see and things to do.  If we don’t cross them all off our list, we just may have to come back for a repeat!  Any comments or suggestions welcome!

Things to do, see or stay on the Eastern portion of the Great Loop :

Support local Artists

Join in summer festivals

conquer Albemarle and Pamlico sounds

Light houses Of SC:  Roanoke River, Ocracoake, Cape Hatteras, Roanoke Marshes , Currituck light house, Bodie Island light house in Nags Head NC  / outer banks.

Lighthouses of Virginia  and the Chesapeake and New Jersey

Outdoor concerts

Visit a Maritime  museum

visit historic churches and cemeteries

Explore , fly a kite on the beach,

Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers

Revolutionary war sights

See the Wild Spanish Mustangs on the beach

Colonial History sights

tour a ship

Visit the Statue of Liberty

Take a  horse drawn carriage tour

Narrow down a New York List:   Empire  State Bldg, Central park, Metropolitan Museum, Times Square…..   Mmmmm….  Just thoughts!

911 Memorial in New York

Visit America’s Culinary Institute in NY

visit National Parks

See family along the way

reconnect with loopers we have met

I borrowed this next picture from pinterest:

To get things started we left St Johns Yacht Club marina south of Charleston on Monday May 1- timiqng for the slack tide to carry us through the rocky and narrow Elliot Cut.     Our hope had been to anchor off the point of Fort Sumter, however the high winds and waves prevented anchoring.  Plus it was early and the museum would not be open.

 CRUISING BY FORT SUMTER

Location of the first shot of the Civil War

GEORGETOWN, SC

The review of Georgetown as an anchorage warned of muddy bottom and silting for poor holding.  We gave it a good try; it took three tries to get a good setting on our anchor.  Or so we thought-    several hours later we checked our location and could tell the anchor was dragging; the boats and docks appeared much closer!! in the dark we hear a voice from the city “day Dock” offering a hand with lines moving in to the dock?

The dock was posted as “no overnight stays” but with the storm fast approaching we decided to pull anchor and move to tie up on the free dock.   Quickly secured our lines by 11:15 pm, and it started pouring and lightening!    Later Dave commented that one engine would not start making docking a bit tricky.   Earlier the generator stopped working- Dave will be trouble shooting for a fuel issue.

GEORGETOWN MORNING WALK

Next morning we walked around town and had breakfast with out having to drop our dinghy in the water! Bonus!!   The town is smaller than Charleston and Savanah, but proud of its history.  Disappointed that both the Rice Museum and Maritime Museum were with in walking distance, but did not open until 11 am.        

At the recommendation of a tour guide on the docks, we ate at Thomas Café – Dave ordered the  Shrimp and crab omelet with salsa and  grits.     Notice the vintage ice box, stools and tile floor!  This is not shabby chic- just hard working original café!

Cute- one patron left the dog on the bench while she went in for coffee- of course brought out water first!

The weather cleared and made for a great day to head to our next anchorage with the rising tide.  There are a few shallow spots in the next few miles and the additional depth of high tide will be a benefit!      Head out across  Winyah Bay, north on the Waccamaw River, to our anchorage at Enterprise Creek Oxbow.  The scenery has changed dramatically- no longer the salt marshes of Georgia;   instead we have hard wood trees, grasses and Cyprus trees. The river water is littered with hyacinths just waiting to bloom.   With this change in trees, the osprey, eagles, turtles and other birds are more abundant.

At night the vultures roosted near our boat.

We took the dingy out to explore the dark waters- The tanic roots of the Cyprus give a dark color to the water. Great for reflection photos!        It was a very calm night, Clear sky with lots of stars. Also lots of noises in the night- a couple times we shined our powerful spot light into the shore to see if there were eyes shining in the dark. (yes, a few!) In the morning pulled anchor and had to leave this lovely anchorage.  Thanks for taking  a few minutes and reading to the end of the post!     Hope you enjoyed, and may be planning your own trip along the ICW some day.

Filed under: A year on a boat, Architecture and Gardens, Atlantic ICW, Moon Shadow Log Tagged: Atlantic ICW, Bird Photos, Boating, Georgetown, Great Loop, South Carolina, Things to do, Turtles Read More Here ….

The post 1868 miles to go; Stormy Georgetown then Quiet Anchorage appeared first on YachtAweigh.

from http://yachtaweigh.com/1868-miles-to-go-stormy-georgetown-then-quiet-anchorage/ from https://yachtaweigh.tumblr.com/post/160411659841

[jeantparks]

1868 miles to go; Stormy Georgetown then Quiet Anchorage

Having cruised more than 4000 miles in 11 months on our trawler,  this is a good time to start mentally preparing for the final legs of our Great Loop adventure.

Take a look at this list breaking down the remaining segments we need to traverse to complete our Loop ( as of April 30).     Our loop started at the Mackinaw Bridge on June 10, 2016; we were in Charleston, NC on April 20th . 

This list shows the remaining  1868 miles in manageable subcategories:

Charleston to Norfolk Virginia *end of the Atlantic ICW*    473 miles

Chesapeake Bay:   Norfolk VA to C&D Canal                               185 miles

Delaware Bay:   C&D Canal to Cape May NJ                          60 miles

Atlantic Ocean:  Cape May to Manasquan NJ                        100 miles

Atlantic Ocean:   Manasquan NJ to NY.NY.                           35 miles

Hudson River:  NY NY to Erie Canal (Waterford NY)              155 miles

Erie Canal:  Waterford to 3 Rivers                                            160 miles

Oswego Canal: 3 Rivers NY to Oswego NY                             25 miles

Lake Ontario: Oswego NY to Kingston ON>                           50 miles

Lake Ontario:  Kingston to Trenton ON.                                 60 miles

Trent Severn Waterway:  Trenton ON. To Port Severn       240 miles

Georgian Bay:  Port Severn to Killarney ON                          175 miles

North Channel: Killarney to Drummond                                100 miles

Lake Huron:  Drummond to Mackinaw Bridge MI.                50 miles

Remaining miles from Charleston (in April)to finish line at Mackinaw Bridge Lake Michigan (estimated arrival July ):   1868 miles.  

If we don’t think ahead, might risk cruising by something important!!     Here is a random  list of sights to see and things to do.  If we don’t cross them all off our list, we just may have to come back for a repeat!  Any comments or suggestions welcome!

Things to do, see or stay on the Eastern portion of the Great Loop :

Support local Artists

Join in summer festivals

conquer Albemarle and Pamlico sounds

Light houses Of SC:  Roanoke River, Ocracoake, Cape Hatteras, Roanoke Marshes , Currituck light house, Bodie Island light house in Nags Head NC  / outer banks.

Lighthouses of Virginia  and the Chesapeake and New Jersey

Outdoor concerts

Visit a Maritime  museum

visit historic churches and cemeteries

Explore , fly a kite on the beach,

Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers

Revolutionary war sights

See the Wild Spanish Mustangs on the beach

Colonial History sights

tour a ship

Visit the Statue of Liberty

Take a  horse drawn carriage tour

Narrow down a New York List:   Empire  State Bldg, Central park, Metropolitan Museum, Times Square…..   Mmmmm….  Just thoughts!

911 Memorial in New York

Visit America’s Culinary Institute in NY

visit National Parks

See family along the way

reconnect with loopers we have met

I borrowed this next picture from pinterest:

To get things started we left St Johns Yacht Club marina south of Charleston on Monday May 1- timiqng for the slack tide to carry us through the rocky and narrow Elliot Cut.     Our hope had been to anchor off the point of Fort Sumter, however the high winds and waves prevented anchoring.  Plus it was early and the museum would not be open.

 CRUISING BY FORT SUMTER

Location of the first shot of the Civil War

GEORGETOWN, SC

The review of Georgetown as an anchorage warned of muddy bottom and silting for poor holding.  We gave it a good try; it took three tries to get a good setting on our anchor.  Or so we thought-    several hours later we checked our location and could tell the anchor was dragging; the boats and docks appeared much closer!! in the dark we hear a voice from the city “day Dock” offering a hand with lines moving in to the dock?

The dock was posted as “no overnight stays” but with the storm fast approaching we decided to pull anchor and move to tie up on the free dock.   Quickly secured our lines by 11:15 pm, and it started pouring and lightening!    Later Dave commented that one engine would not start making docking a bit tricky.   Earlier the generator stopped working- Dave will be trouble shooting for a fuel issue.

 GEORGETOWN MORNING WALK

Next morning we walked around town and had breakfast with out having to drop our dinghy in the water! Bonus!!   The town is smaller than Charleston and Savanah, but proud of its history.  Disappointed that both the Rice Museum and Maritime Museum were with in walking distance, but did not open until 11 am.        

 At the recommendation of a tour guide on the docks, we ate at Thomas Café – Dave ordered the  Shrimp and crab omelet with salsa and  grits.     Notice the vintage ice box, stools and tile floor!  This is not shabby chic- just hard working original café!

Cute- one patron left the dog on the bench while she went in for coffee- of course brought out water first!

 The weather cleared and made for a great day to head to our next anchorage with the rising tide.  There are a few shallow spots in the next few miles and the additional depth of high tide will be a benefit!      Head out across  Winyah Bay, north on the Waccamaw River, to our anchorage at Enterprise Creek Oxbow.  The scenery has changed dramatically- no longer the salt marshes of Georgia;   instead we have hard wood trees, grasses and Cyprus trees. The river water is littered with hyacinths just waiting to bloom.   With this change in trees, the osprey, eagles, turtles and other birds are more abundant.

At night the vultures roosted near our boat.

We took the dingy out to explore the dark waters- The tanic roots of the Cyprus give a dark color to the water. Great for reflection photos!        It was a very calm night, Clear sky with lots of stars. Also lots of noises in the night- a couple times we shined our powerful spot light into the shore to see if there were eyes shining in the dark. (yes, a few!) In the morning pulled anchor and had to leave this lovely anchorage.  Thanks for taking  a few minutes and reading to the end of the post!     Hope you enjoyed, and may be planning your own trip along the ICW some day.

Filed under: A year on a boat, Architecture and Gardens, Atlantic ICW, Moon Shadow Log Tagged: Atlantic ICW, Bird Photos, Boating, Georgetown, Great Loop, South Carolina, Things to do, Turtles Read More Here ….

The post 1868 miles to go; Stormy Georgetown then Quiet Anchorage appeared first on YachtAweigh.

source http://yachtaweigh.com/1868-miles-to-go-stormy-georgetown-then-quiet-anchorage/ from http://yatchaweigh.blogspot.com/2017/05/1868-miles-to-go-stormy-georgetown-then.html

[yachtaweigh]

1868 miles to go; Stormy Georgetown then Quiet Anchorage

Having cruised more than 4000 miles in 11 months on our trawler,  this is a good time to start mentally preparing for the final legs of our Great Loop adventure.

Take a look at this list breaking down the remaining segments we need to traverse to complete our Loop ( as of April 30).     Our loop started at the Mackinaw Bridge on June 10, 2016; we were in Charleston, NC on April 20th . 

This list shows the remaining  1868 miles in manageable subcategories:

Charleston to Norfolk Virginia *end of the Atlantic ICW*    473 miles

Chesapeake Bay:   Norfolk VA to C&D Canal                               185 miles

Delaware Bay:   C&D Canal to Cape May NJ                          60 miles

Atlantic Ocean:  Cape May to Manasquan NJ                        100 miles

Atlantic Ocean:   Manasquan NJ to NY.NY.                           35 miles

Hudson River:  NY NY to Erie Canal (Waterford NY)              155 miles

Erie Canal:  Waterford to 3 Rivers                                            160 miles

Oswego Canal: 3 Rivers NY to Oswego NY                             25 miles

Lake Ontario: Oswego NY to Kingston ON>                           50 miles

Lake Ontario:  Kingston to Trenton ON.                                 60 miles

Trent Severn Waterway:  Trenton ON. To Port Severn       240 miles

Georgian Bay:  Port Severn to Killarney ON                          175 miles

North Channel: Killarney to Drummond                                100 miles

Lake Huron:  Drummond to Mackinaw Bridge MI.                50 miles

Remaining miles from Charleston (in April)to finish line at Mackinaw Bridge Lake Michigan (estimated arrival July ):   1868 miles.  

If we don’t think ahead, might risk cruising by something important!!     Here is a random  list of sights to see and things to do.  If we don’t cross them all off our list, we just may have to come back for a repeat!  Any comments or suggestions welcome!

Things to do, see or stay on the Eastern portion of the Great Loop :

Support local Artists

Join in summer festivals

conquer Albemarle and Pamlico sounds

Light houses Of SC:  Roanoke River, Ocracoake, Cape Hatteras, Roanoke Marshes , Currituck light house, Bodie Island light house in Nags Head NC  / outer banks.

Lighthouses of Virginia  and the Chesapeake and New Jersey

Outdoor concerts

Visit a Maritime  museum

visit historic churches and cemeteries

Explore , fly a kite on the beach,

Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers

Revolutionary war sights

See the Wild Spanish Mustangs on the beach

Colonial History sights

tour a ship

Visit the Statue of Liberty

Take a  horse drawn carriage tour

Narrow down a New York List:   Empire  State Bldg, Central park, Metropolitan Museum, Times Square…..   Mmmmm….  Just thoughts!

911 Memorial in New York

Visit America’s Culinary Institute in NY

visit National Parks

See family along the way

reconnect with loopers we have met

I borrowed this next picture from pinterest:

To get things started we left St Johns Yacht Club marina south of Charleston on Monday May 1- timiqng for the slack tide to carry us through the rocky and narrow Elliot Cut.     Our hope had been to anchor off the point of Fort Sumter, however the high winds and waves prevented anchoring.  Plus it was early and the museum would not be open.

 CRUISING BY FORT SUMTER

Location of the first shot of the Civil War

GEORGETOWN, SC

The review of Georgetown as an anchorage warned of muddy bottom and silting for poor holding.  We gave it a good try; it took three tries to get a good setting on our anchor.  Or so we thought-    several hours later we checked our location and could tell the anchor was dragging; the boats and docks appeared much closer!! in the dark we hear a voice from the city “day Dock” offering a hand with lines moving in to the dock?

The dock was posted as “no overnight stays” but with the storm fast approaching we decided to pull anchor and move to tie up on the free dock.   Quickly secured our lines by 11:15 pm, and it started pouring and lightening!    Later Dave commented that one engine would not start making docking a bit tricky.   Earlier the generator stopped working- Dave will be trouble shooting for a fuel issue.

  GEORGETOWN MORNING WALK

Next morning we walked around town and had breakfast with out having to drop our dinghy in the water! Bonus!!   The town is smaller than Charleston and Savanah, but proud of its history.  Disappointed that both the Rice Museum and Maritime Museum were with in walking distance, but did not open until 11 am.        

  At the recommendation of a tour guide on the docks, we ate at Thomas Café – Dave ordered the  Shrimp and crab omelet with salsa and  grits.     Notice the vintage ice box, stools and tile floor!  This is not shabby chic- just hard working original café!

Cute- one patron left the dog on the bench while she went in for coffee- of course brought out water first!

  The weather cleared and made for a great day to head to our next anchorage with the rising tide.  There are a few shallow spots in the next few miles and the additional depth of high tide will be a benefit!      Head out across  Winyah Bay, north on the Waccamaw River, to our anchorage at Enterprise Creek Oxbow.  The scenery has changed dramatically- no longer the salt marshes of Georgia;   instead we have hard wood trees, grasses and Cyprus trees. The river water is littered with hyacinths just waiting to bloom.   With this change in trees, the osprey, eagles, turtles and other birds are more abundant.

At night the vultures roosted near our boat.

We took the dingy out to explore the dark waters- The tanic roots of the Cyprus give a dark color to the water. Great for reflection photos!        It was a very calm night, Clear sky with lots of stars. Also lots of noises in the night- a couple times we shined our powerful spot light into the shore to see if there were eyes shining in the dark. (yes, a few!) In the morning pulled anchor and had to leave this lovely anchorage.  Thanks for taking  a few minutes and reading to the end of the post!     Hope you enjoyed, and may be planning your own trip along the ICW some day.

Filed under: A year on a boat, Architecture and Gardens, Atlantic ICW, Moon Shadow Log Tagged: Atlantic ICW, Bird Photos, Boating, Georgetown, Great Loop, South Carolina, Things to do, Turtles Read More Here ….

The post 1868 miles to go; Stormy Georgetown then Quiet Anchorage appeared first on YachtAweigh.

from http://yachtaweigh.com/1868-miles-to-go-stormy-georgetown-then-quiet-anchorage/