Father Paul

Though it probably doesn't really belong on a blog.  I just found out that long time cruising friend Paul Stokes died of cancer.  He definitely had some great influence to the way I think about cruising and the equipment I sail with.  Paul, we will miss you and your humour.  May you have great following winds to carry you off to heaven.

Mars Launch

Hey I got to see the Mars launch today.  My trip to Merritt Island just happened to fit in with the rocket launch carrying the new Mars exploration vehicle.  This is my first live viewing of a rocket launch.  Though I have been to one before, that mission was delayed so I missed it.  It was way cool.  The pictures are not that great but I will post what I have when I have a little more time.

The Rocket taking off right above Uncle Mike.  He used to work for NASA

It was at this height that we heard the noise from the liftoff several seconds earlier

Sari Timur is in the Harbor of Refuge

On Sunday, Nov 19, we took  Sari Timur into the Harbor of Refuge.  Why?  Mark is leaving for the US and Pauline will be staying behind to take care of Sari Timur.  It would mean sitting at our mooring at the Yacht Club and if a storm hits, she will have to take the boat into the Harbor alone.  So we enlisted a couple of friends and took the boat in and Sari Timur is now all nicely secured in the Harbor of Refuge.

The Harbor of Refuge is where boats go when a typhoon approaches.  They put lines down to four huge cement blocks anchored to the bottom.  There are many cement blocks located all over this harbor and boats will be tied up next to one another.  It can be quite harrowing (so we were told) when the wind blows and the boats are heeled over right next to one another.  We pray we won't have to experience that.

Right now, there are a few boats in the harbor.  They are mostly boats abandoned by their owners, or boats that are unable to move (without engines, masts, etc).  Will try and get a picture to show what it looks like in there.

It is pretty calm and we take our dingy to a dock built by the shore, so we don't get wet getting to shore.

Heading to Fort Lauderdale

Well it appears I am heading to Fort Lauderdale from November 28 through December 2.  I have to renew my STCW cert for my Captain's License.  So since I was making the long trip I figured I would stay a few more days and see family and friends.  Pauline needs to stay behind and watch after Sari Timur which we will put in to the Harbour of Refuge in case one of those T word things rears its head.

Halloween

We had a Halloween party at the Marianas Yacht Club, Guam, where we helped with the decorations.

Scary

The buffet table

Is she strangling the alien?

the tip bucket

the dessert table

table decoration - rats

table decoration - snake

Mark as Alice Cooper

some members of MYC

Evie - green eggs and ham

Amanda - Picasso's Blue Period (note the tampon necklace)

Jeff and Liz - some Japanese characters