Now that Jeff and I are Mexicans, we’ve resolved to explore our adopted country more thoroughly. So this weekend, we visited Baja wine country in the Guadalupe Valley. Most gringos aren’t aware that some of the best wines in North America come from this area. With over 150 wineries and a … Continue reading
“Whale!” I shriek, lunging for the lifeline on the beam of El Gato. “Grab my camera!” It’s barely moving,, just a long stretch of its brownish back, but it’s a WHALE!! No, wait. It’s not moving at all, I realize as we pass it by. Is it dead? No, turns … Continue reading
I’ve been told, no, promised, that I’d see whales on our sail to Catalina Island. It has been 10 hours, and I haven’t seen one breaching baleen. What I have seen are hearts. Big, red, mylar heart-shaped balloons, a reminder of this past weekends Valentines Day. They are floating on the … Continue reading
Where to start? OK, not gonna bore you with the details. Here it is in a nutshell. After 3 agonizingly long months, Kismet finally got a new engine. During that time: a) we found a boat on the west coast that we eventuallly bought, and b) we were displaced from … Continue reading
We’ve been battling rolling ocean swells for over 26 hours, and I have never been so ready to get off the boat. Jeff is exhausted and, after the boat is nestled securely in the marina slip, he is sound asleep. Walk. I must walk. I need to stretch my legs and … Continue reading
For almost two months now, Kismet has been out of the water in Cambridge, Md. awaiting a new engine. During that time, Jeff and I have been living in a state of limbo, moving around, waiting until we can get back to our home aboard and finish our trip to … Continue reading
SHIT! SHIP!! SHIP!!!! Jeff drops, no, slings, the chart aside as he grabs the wheel and slams it to port (left). Directly off our starbird (right) side is what at first appears to be a mega yacht cruising full speed ahead toward our beam. On a second, less hysterical look, … Continue reading
I have struggled over how to write a post that can come even a smidge close to describing the beauty that has besieged us on our way north through New England. No Can Do. So I’m just gonna post some pics for you to enjoy. … Continue reading
When Jeff and I decided to sail Kismet to New England this Summer, the only reason Rhode Island was even on our radar was because I could then mark it off as one of the remaining 3 or 4 states I have yet to visit. Other than that, no plans … Continue reading
“Sputt…Sputt….” Nothing. Silence. No engine running. Just the sound of waves and current. “Shit! Jesus, take the wheel” (A joke we use, referring to a Carrie Underwood song, when someone else needs to steer the boat) We are heading into the cut to take us to Highbourne Cay, a beautiful marina/resort … Continue reading