Friday, July 27, 2018
MAMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN!
Mama Mia! Here We Go Again!
Another flashback/memory:
September, 2001. A scene right out of a movie, dark, rainy night, hauntingly humid and still. Add to that it was a few nights after 911. We drove to Boston with friends to see the musical stage production of “Mama Mia” The cramped, old fashioned seats (no recliners here, guys!) were 3 rows from the back, up high. We could scarcely breathe. The person in the seat next to me was stranded in Boston. Her husband back in LA had told her to get out of the hotel and do something. So here we all were, uncomfortable, a bit apprehensive, on edge, almost numb from the previous days’ news and events. All of a sudden the curtains burst open with loud and joyful music, loud and colorful costumed actors, and our shoulders dropped 3 inches. Our hands came together, and we all started to sing! MAMA MIA! For almost 2 hours we smiled, laughed, cried, sang, clapped, moved to the music, and at the end of the show we were all dancing at our seats. Such blissful, unencumbered fun! Oh, what a night!
We saw that musical several more times, on stage and the movie version, but never did I experience the emotions of that night. This past week we saw the new version. While not as dynamic or fun as the first, it does have a poignant message, at least for me.
So, yes it’s time to pull out the charts, the cruising guides, the Tide Charts and the Eldridge and start planning our trip south.
ICW HERE WE GO AGAIN!
But before we begin our planning we still have time to enjoy our familiar and favorite haunts and memories. With Leslie and Carl Hauquitz in town we DO have fun and share lots of memories, lots of laughter, lots of reminiscing, lots to catch up on and lots of lobster. It was like old times with the cockpit of Obsession full of people, eating, laughing, drinking (champagne of course) and having a good time.
Fourth of July fireworks in Block Island and Newport were both great shows. I haven’t mastered the art of taking pictures of fireworks with my iPhone, so you have to use your imagination.
A quick overnight to Cuttyhunk, then a hop, skip and a jump to Niemiec Marine in New Bedford which resulted in a huge sigh of relief. Exhaust issue solved!
We have spent the past two weeks in Newport. Cleaning Obsession inside and out became our Obsession. We added a few amenities, sorted through “stuff”, did some reorganizing, and enjoyed Newport. We caught up with some of our fellow Newport live-aboards and met some interesting people riding the launch.
With one week left of her life in our family, Ralph’s van died. A brake line let go. Since it was deemed unsafe to drive we called a tow company and said good-bye. We have a cute little rental car this week that will get us to our final appointments and provisioning stops.
Our cute little rental had Alabama plates.
We plan to head to Cuttyhunk on the 28th of July to get our spot for the fireworks as well as practice using our new communication devices (headsets), clean the bottom of Obsession and replace the zincs.
Then we will spend a few days in Vineyard Haven, take in Illumination Night in Oak Bluffs and probably stay for the fireworks on August 18. We will reprovision, top off the fuel tank and water tanks there and head for Block Island to officially begin our trip south around August 20.
MAMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN!
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
I wish I could report that living out our Retirement Dream on Obsession had only good things for us to remember. We do, however, have to deal with the bad and ugly. For my blog purposes though, I’m going to change THE BAD to THE BOYS. So really this blog entry should be titled THE GOOD, THE BOYS (MY BOYS) AND THE UGLY.
THE GOOD
Picking up where we left off in the last blog, the winds and waves off Block Island for the following day were predicted to be higher than what we’d like so we decided to stay put for one more day. Although that was bad news, it turned out to be a pleasantly cool, crisp day so we took a picnic lunch and a taxi ride up to the Southwest Lighthouse. It was a perfect, beautiful day to visit this famous lighthouse, enjoy the view of The Atlantic Ocean, the Mohegan Bluffs the first offshore wind farm in the United States.
MY BOYS
Perrin delivered an Oldport Launch to Block Island the next day so we had company going back to Newport.
THE UGLY
June 14th was the start of the Newport to Bermuda Race, and we were headed into Narragansett Bay East Passage just at the start of the race. This screenshot of AIS (Ship Traffic Intelligence-Automatic Identification System) that shows every boat in the entrance to East Passage at the start of the race. It does look impassable.
THE GOOD
We are sky-watchers. But, as good as my iPhone camera is, I can’t take good pictures of the night sky-particularly the moon and stars. A few nights in June we were able to view this configuration of planets. We often sit up on the bow of Obsession and enjoy the sights and sounds of the night. In Newport we have surround sound from the many wedding venues and open area bars. Obsession constellation appears on a nightly basis once the sun goes down. Powered with solar lights, it lights up the cockpit not only providing light for us, but the launch drivers can see our boat at night and find their way home. It gives new meaning to Follow the North Star.
THE BOYS
You can find David in his favorite seat looking cool, calm and collected most days that we are underway. He usually sits to starboard, I usually sit on the port side. Funny how we gravitate to the same spots.
THE UGLY
Rain and thunderstorms. Although we have never been hit by lightning we know of boats anchored or moored near us that have. High winds and boats dragging anchor in squalls can also create ugly scenes.
THE GOOD
Newport offers a myriad of concerts in different venues. This evening we packed up a picnic dinner and headed to The Eisenhower House at Fort Adams for The Navy Band Rhode Island Sound concert. Beautiful weather, beautiful setting. Great music.
THE BOYS
Cosmo accompanies us on many of our ventures. And Zin has found a comfortable resting/viewing perch down below.
THE UGLY
David and Perrin took Obsession our for what Perrin called an Italian Tune-up. The ran the engine at 3,000+ RPMS and blew out a lot of stuff from the exhaust. We were optimistic that we had solved the problem. But after a four hour motor to Block Island it appears we didn’t. ☹️
THE GOOD
A beautiful sail to Cuttyhunk. 8+ knots, beam reach, 4 hours mooring to anchor. Obsession loves this angle of sail and 12-18 knots of wind.
THE BOYS
Kenny joined us for that beautiful sail and a quick overnight to Cuttyhunk. A busman’s holiday for him.
THE UGLY
No sooner had we dropped anchor and the wind picked up to 30+ knots!
THE GOOD
Harbor watching is another favorite pastime of ours. We can spend DAYS sitting aboard Obsession enjoying the harbor sights.
Newport is truly a sailing/boating capital. But it isn’t just cruising boats, it’s the character boats, the sailing fleets, the tour boats, the fishing boats, the charter boats, the mega yachts, the cargo ships, the cruise ships etc. that make Newport a unique sailing harbor.
Cuttyhunk is just as much fun. Within minutes of anchoring in Cuttyhunk this boat had laundry hanging out to dry-they must have a washing machine.
And, in Block Island there are the boats that decorate for the holidays and the rafts of power boats.
THE BOYS
Cuttyhunk Raw Bar!
THE UGLY
Wiring behind the control panel. Cosmo (and David) can’t figure out why we had no shore power until the panel cover was opened. Hmmm-a mystery to be solved.
THE GOOD
Views of New Harbor from The Oar. It never gets old. We are also glad to have Oldport launch service so we don’t have to jockey for a dinghy space at the dock.
THE BOYS
A visit (and overdue hugs all around) with our friend Carl and his son Eric who sailed in to BI on Eric’s catamaran Purrfect. Can’t wait to see Leslie and Kelly and the girls Tali and Chloe.
THE UGLY
Tool box ready to go work on the outboard engine. Now I’m wondering if this is why the outboard engine wouldn’t start yesterday.
THE GOOD
Just for giggles-on a provisioning/errand run to Fall River on a very hot and humid day I snapped pictures of these sights. It made me laugh just to think they were on the roofs of cars in a parking lot in Fall River, NOT in Newport Harbor! Go figure!
THE BOYS
Our boys in the Navy are out there, on the sea and under the sea. Day and night.
THE UGLY
Fog. Slows down our progress. Affects plans. Makes for a hairy trip home from Block Island. There is a tug pushing a barge in this picture. Do you see it?
THE GOOD
Sunrises and sunsets. Here a few favorites of the past few weeks.
MORE GOOD
Obsession is ready for fireworks and celebrations.
As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, 2018 we rejoice for our country,
The land of the free and the home of the brave.
