The Meaning of Christmas

The celebration of the birth of Christ is a little more than 24 hours away. Ryen's Quest left St Georges, Bermuda ten days ago and have broken the 200 mile mark within the waters of Tortola. The weather has been warm to moderately hot. Sounds awful, I know. The wind for the past three days has been on the nose and at one point they considered changing their sail plan and go instead to Antigua. Today was their last contact with RCC Bermuda.

The fatigue in Allan's voice gets more worrisome each day. With four hours on watch and four hours to sleep, there is little time to eat, clean up, and do boat maintenance. I regret not being an able sailor to help get the boat to the British Virgin Islands. But, it surely is a good New Year's Resolution. It is hoped that they are anchored early on December 26th and sleep until they get hungry enough to make themselves a decent meal. Canned food is losing it's appeal.

Christmas this year means that our plans have been altered for reasons beyond our control and Allan and I will be apart over the holiday for the first time. It means that being together is more important than the giving of gifts or receiving bobbles of glitter and gold. For us, it means being grateful for God's grace in guiding Ryen's Quest to safe harbour, and His will to bring us together again. (And I would really appreciate that being sooner, than later!)

This will no doubt be my last entry before Christmas, so on behalf of Allan, Mack, and myself aboard Ryen's Quest, I wish to all of our family and friends who follow this blog a very Merry Christmas and a terrific 2010. Follow your dreams, even if there are a few bumps in the water, and a bruise or two along the way. It beats watching cable television.

640 Miles From Somewhere

Al called again today from the satellite phone aboard Ryen's Quest. They continue to enjoy really nice sailing weather, with all sails up. She is sailing well with no problems. The watches are working well, and they are 640 miles from either Tortola or Bermuda. I am hoping they are closer to the BVI's than Bermuda. So the sooner they get there, sooner I get there. It is so less stressful getting calls that they are safe and warm and dry. Al said, and I quote, "Finally, this is what sailing is all about!"

Al says the tuna are literally flying out of the water and they are quite a sight to see. Maybe he has captured one or two on camera and will post them when he gets time. Can't imagine either Al or Mack fishing for their dinner. Sounds like they are having a blast!

Monday December 14th, 2009

I hope Santa's sleigh moves faster than Ryen's Quest. Today, she was 140 miles south of Bermuda, sailing with full sails in 15 knot winds on the starboard quarter. The weather is beautifully warm, and although the seas look calm the boat still feels a rolling, as a result of the poor weather to the north of Bermuda. No equipment malfunctions so far, but the engine is acting up. This will definitely be a priority to get fixed when they reach Tortola.

All is good, the boys are into their watches of four hours on and four hours off.

Bye Bye Bermuda

Today Ryen's Quest said it's good-bye to the beautiful Island and people of Bermuda. With a very good weather window for the next few days, it's off to Tortola. As of 5 pm today, the seas were rolling at approximately ten feet, and the temperature was warm. Much different from the temperatures in Dartmouth. More tomorrow, after what is hoped to be a calm sailing experience.

St George Christmas Celebration

Today was a big day on Ryen's Quest. The sails were put on and everything is a go in that department. They are just thinking about provisioning and waiting for me to leave before they top the water and diesel. After the work was done, we took a dinghy ride to the Dinghy Club for showers. They give you a token to put in a machine, and if you haven't rinsed the soap off or out of your hair, too bad. I would guess one token gives you ten minutes of shower time.

Tonight the Historical Society had a community celebration. All the stores and businesses were lighted up and there was entertainment at different historical locations in the surrounding area. Everyone was in a great mood and high spirit. Lots of artists with their paintings for sail.

Later we had some of the cruisers aboard for drinks, and if Amber from Halifax reads this, we also enjoyed meeting Adam. Nice guy, he's a keeper! Tomorrow we have been invited to Rod and Sweda's home for dinner. Rod works in the sail shop, and is originally from the Philippines. Really nice people. I will post some photos when Al downloads them for me.

All is good. Ryen's Quest looks like she is ready for another passage!

Slow Day In Bermuda

It's almost supper time on Thursday, and I know that because Allan is in the galley cooking spaghetti and meat sauce. Smells delicious. It is always better when somebody else cooks.

Today it rained here, for about a half hour. Just enough to freshen the air up. Not sure of the temperature but the rain makes it a bit muggy. I am not complaining. You don't have to shovel rain or muggy. The boys want me to mention that today has been a typical island day which means they didn't do enough to break the sabbath. Mack read for most of the day, while Al practiced some card games. I walked to the drug store and back and bought some nail polish to play with. It is really quiet in this part of the island. Obvious that the tourist season has died down to damn near nothing. Good thing we are here to kick the economy into the near year.

We have Canadian neighbours now. A couple from Upper Canada in their 45 Dufour "Entre Amis". I haven't met them yet but Al and Mack have helped them with their lines when they came alongside. We have also been offered the private dock of Mr P Outerbridge. The family name is quite well known in this area. Long story short, Mr Outerbridge married a Canadian lady and he has at least one son back in Nova Scotia. I am not sure if we will be moving to his place or not. Like I said, this has been a lazy day, and Al shut down his thinking too. It's nice to see his face soften a little bit. When I got here you could see the strain on his face from the storm me thinks. Anyway, I just hope he continues to relax and enjoy retirement.

I have been checking out some real estate prices. "If" you had a million dollars you could buy a property. A small cottage two bedroom with one bath in need of some TLC runs you about $775,000. That's after you put down a cool million to be able to buy. Gotta find me a cheaper island to live.

That's all from us. Hope everything home is okay. Kisses to Ryen, from Nana!

Nothing To Write Home About

It is hard to believe that a week has passed already. There is nothing to write home about tonight. I just want to take advantage of the internet time. Today the sails and canvass was ready for pick up. Remember the wave that took out the panels of the enclosure? All those zippers have now been replaced as well as the zipper on the stack pack which lost a few teeth on the way down. The top two panels of the stay sail needed to be patched. Because of some chafing during the storm, three small holes were identified. So all that is fixed and the enclosure is good as used. It keeps the sun out of our face. Temperature today was 68F degrees or 20C degrees.

The acronym for boat....Bring Out Another Thousand.

"Just Say No" to Mopeds!

With nothing planned for today, Allan and I thought it would be a good time to go to Hamilton. The sails were in getting the zipper fixed as were the panels to the cockpit enclosure. One travel option was to take a moped and that way we could take our time and stop along the way and take pictures. Maybe pack a picnic. Sounds great in theory, right? Not wanting to be a "negative nellie" I went along with it and dressed as if I was going to be driving a moped.

As we walked with a skip in our step we got to the moped rental shop. After a few quick question and answers back and forth regarding cost and insurance, the attendant invited us to pick out a helmet. You can't know my feeling about wearing other people's head gear. The bottom of my feet started to itch and I hadn't yet picked out a suitable helmet. I wanted both Al and the attendant/moped instructor/mechanic to understand that I did not want to rent this machine if I was not comfortable driving it. I have seen too much moped damage in my young life to risk what I have left. It was agreed. The guy renting these death machines was going to make sure I was comfortable driving.

First up was Allan. He picked a shiny black half helmet that you see worn by sexy, muscled Harley Riders, if they wear any at all. He caught on quick about the ignition, brakes, and mastered working the horn and kickstand. Al drove fearlessly up the small knoll and around the tree and coasted confidently down to the start line. With a broad smile across the attendant's face he was happy to rent to Allan.

Last up was me. I also picked out a shiny black half helmet, not because of my fantasy about Harley drivers, but because it looked like it was newer and cleaner than the rest. There didn't appear to be anything moving that might make someone want to scratch. I, too, caught on quick about the ignition, and the brakes, and the horn and kickstand functions were well woven into the threads of my memory from a previous lesson some thirteen years ago. So the attendant is telling me to get onto the bike and put both feet on the ground. I would have obliged if my legs had been another inch or two longer. Come on, people! It's not like I didn't want to put both feet on the ground. So I failed there. But he wasn't going to let me off that easy. He insisted I start the bike while he held the bike up and to turn the gas on "a little bit". He assured me he would be at my side holding the bike up if the need arose. So define "a little bit". Potayto Potawto! I competently turned the ignition on, gripped the handle, and twisted it a little bit more than either of us expected. With no choke built into the bike, there is no risk of stalling out. So up that little knoll I barreled with the attendant running, but still at my side. I was impressed that he kept his word. (Later I would learn that his fingers had gotten stuck in the grocery basket screwed on the back of the bike.) As I rounded the tree at the top of the hill, I turned my head to see Allan standing at the start line, smiling me on. He really wanted me to pass the instructors standards. Getting to the bottom was no problem. Ta Da! I had passed the finish line. The attendant was smiling, but he knew better than to give me anything close to a passing grade. He suggested we give the practice run another try. So again, he held me and the bike up while the ignition, etc, etc...... Finish line. Still not comfortable with giving me the key? So who was concerned about me driving this machine in the first place? :) After three tries of trying out this practice run I threw in the towel. Some things are just not worth the risk.

We took the bus. Hamilton was beautiful. Temperature today 76 degrees. No snow in the forecast. I hope something interesting happens tomorrow that I can write about.

Bird Lady!

Everyone Loves A Happy Ending!

I make no claim that the following information is correct. I wasn't there. But I did ask for some feedback pertaining to the trip from Halifax to Bermuda as one of my many readers has requested. Tonights post was going to be about me and the birds, but I guess that can wait another day. There will always be bird ladies. So from the mouths of Skipper Al, and Crew Mack, I offer you the following as your evening enjoyment. (Hope you are happy now James!)

The first three days, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday the weather was sweet. By Tuesday evening they were down to a stay sail and a mizzen. Wednesday was building weather, and by Wednesday evening all sails were down and a storm sail was put up on the stay sail track. Weather continued to worsen throughout the night Wednesday and by Thursday morning the boat was in consistent ten plus meter seas and consistent 60 knot wind gusting to much higher. This weather stopped all southerly progress to Bermuda and the next four and a half days were spent riding the seas and making no progress. By Monday evening of the following week, the storm started to diminish allowing the guys to put up a double reef main, and half the genoa. Weather continued to improve until Wednesday and by that time they put up the mizzen and changed the storm sail to a stay sail and continued sailing southerly. By Friday evening the boat was twenty miles off Bermuda with absolutely no wind, leaving the guys going no where because the engine was not working. They waited outside St George Harbour for two and a half days until finally accepting a tow on Sunday night. Thus making a seven day trip to Bermuda fourteen days.

The storm created several problems. A wave passed through the enclosure taking out the two side panels. Water so high that the fresh water tanks were contaminated through the vents. The engine wasn't working, because the ignition wire came off, wabasto heater exhaust through hull sea cock leaked and there was no valve to shut off which has been rectified. All problems, which were relatively minor, have been rectified and we are now enjoying some sunshine and slow days.

Throughout the passage communication was had between Ryen's Quest and RCC Bermuda, Halifax RCC on a daily basis assisting in an on-going search and rescue operation.

p.s Entry is now in my words. Al forgot to mention the three dozen eggs that smashed against the walls and floors of the galley. The toaster became a flying missile. The quarter cabin bunk slid out and everything stowed there went somewhere else. Both Allan and Mack are or were bruised from their waist to their knees as they tried to brace themselves and not be thrown around the boat in the high seas. They had at least one good laugh a day which usually involved Al laying on his back with his feet in the air capsized. All in all, it was a good trip, with a very happy ending. Al and Mack

More Pics While We Wait For Santa

Bermuda is Beautiful, and Warm!

In one photo we have Mack looking a bit confused. He did a bang up job today. While in the next photo we see Al standing in front of a big something. And then the church ruins, to the beautiful churches of Bermuda. I will post more of our pics taken on our tour of the town. Everything is so clean, and fresh. It's going to take some doing to get me back on that plane to go back to Halifax.

Christmas In Bermuda

Thanksgiving is over and we're heading for Christmas....already?

What's The Date?

Today is Sunday, and for the first time since I arrived, we had a bit of a blow last night. It was nothing to write about really, but you must be getting tired of always reading about how beautiful and warm and sunny the weather is here.

Al and I took a walk around the town and took some photos of the area. We chatted with shop keepers and of course the locals always want to hear about us and the boat. Mack is a great Ambassador for Ryen’s Quest and the entire country of Canada! We met and spoke with two couples who were badly damaged while underway when Ida hit them. One had their entire mast and rigging laying at the boatyard, and the other had huge chunks of their boat missing.

Later in the afternoon we took a dinghy ride to the Bermuda Yacht Services yard and had showers, talked to some people and then took another little ride to the Dinghy Club. For any of you who are familiar with this place, they now have two jetty’s.

The funny of the day was figuring out the date. None of us knew the day of the week or the date of the month. With the sincerity of a five year old I quipped, “I’m pretty sure we are still in November.” It wasn’t meant to be funny but the guys thought it was hysterical.

Hurry Up And Bring Your Camera

Today is Saturday, and it’s another beautiful day in Bermuda. The locals are wearing long pants and long sleeves plus fashionable woolen scarves. We three stooges are in shorts and tank tops and sweating from the brow. I could make this island my home, if I had the money.

Mack hollered to us to hurry and bring the camera. So we did both. Years ago, in Bermuda, if a wife was a nag she was publicly humiliated by being tied into a chair and dunked into the water. So a couple of times a week, the locals do a re-enactment of this sordid punishment to women. I am sure this is done in the spirit of entertainment; however, some would say it promotes violence against women.

Happy Thanksgiving Bermuda Style

Today fell short of a vacation by a long shot. All three of us carried every thread of wet clothing, bedding, etc., to the Laundromat. Because of the shortage of fresh water on the island, everyone goes out to do their laundry and it’s quite a social event rather than a chore. However, it was a chore to me.

With the laundry done, we took a vote and we all won. It was time for beers. While we were drinking our drinks a guy came along who owns a bakery and he began to throw big wads of bread at us. He was either a very good or a very bad throw because he missed us by inches, and the bread landed in the water just outside the balcony gate. I thought he was pretty dumb, because the birds were gathering at his feet and they weren’t much interested in diving into the water for a few crumbs. What happened next, I have never seen in my life. The fish came out of nowhere! There were needle fish, gold fish, yellow striped fish, blow fish, and other fish that looked familiar. They were jumping right out of the water to get the bread. The man had thrown the bread in our direction so that we could see this magnificent display of fish. I guess he wasn’t so dumb after all!

Tonight Mack thought he would install the BBQ. He made a few small mistakes, but after a while he had the thing ready to turn on. First thing, he turned on the propane. Then he clicked the electric start seven or eight times. By the time he hit the switch for the tenth time, and with all the propane that had already built up inside the BBQ, there was a huge SWOOOOSH, and blue flames billowed from under and at the sides of the BBQ. I apologize, but I laughed so hard I thought the top of my head was going to pop off. Allan asked Mack if he still had his eye brows, and Mack casually informed us that the electric starter switch worked well. I still laugh when I see that picture in my head.

We had unexpected visitors this evening and by the time he left, it was getting too late to flash up the BBQ again, plus run the risk of Mack losing more of his eye-brows and nose hairs. So, since today was Bermuda’s Thanksgiving Day we went to a nice place for turkey dinner, kind of. It wasn’t real turkey, the gravy was tomato base, and the potatoes were scalloped. It was good; however, but we have to stop eating out. Tomorrow I am hitting the kitchen and getting everything cleaned in there and put away. Next I have to make a proper bed to sleep in, and put my freshly laundered clothes away. It all sounds like a working vacation to me.

Happy Thanksgiving, we all have much to be thankful for.

Wednesday Is Work Day

What a beautiful day! Not sure of the temperature, suffice to say it was warm, very warm. I had a great sleep last night after I got to sleep. When I woke up, at my usual 11 am, I heard the fellas working around the boat. They had emptied the water tanks and filled them three times over. The water got contaminated because the vents for the tanks were under water for most of the voyage thus making the drinking water not potable. Things were beginning to come together again after the fourteen days at sea. More than anything we needed to get the boat dry. So we had as much stuff as possible on deck airing them out to prevent mold or any other stuff that you don’t want growing on a boat.

After a few hours work, we did what the locals do and signed off for the day. The three of us took the walk “downtown” which is ten minutes from where we were tied up. The cars drive on the wrong side of the street and the drivers sit on the wrong side of the car. I have no idea what sides of the street pedestrians are supposed to walk, but most of them walk in the middle. Horns blow continuously for no apparent reason, and the mopeds are the means of transportation for most

We had dinner at a great spot, The George and Dragon. We all had prime rib and it was perfect. The three of us play a game of guess the day and date. Mack is never right, Allan doesn’t care, and I worry that I will miss my flight back so I am always right. The tourist season is over here in Bermuda making it quiet for the most part. Very little pedestrian traffic and the local shops have notices in their windows about their closing dates until the new year. The weather is brilliant, not too hot, and certainly not cold. I could stay here for a very long time.

Fit For A Queen

What started out as an ordinary day, (you know get up, dress, and grab your bag as you run out the door to catch Continental Flight Number 3088 to Newark. That kind of a day!), turned out to be extraordinary. With the exception of being delayed on the tarmac for 45 minutes in Newark, the trip to Bermuda was relatively uneventful. Hindsight, I wish I had asked the flight attendant for a newspaper instead of a peanut snack pack. It was newsworthy to write about the Queen’s visit (yes our Queen) to Bermuda, but it would seem that I was the only one who had not read about it. The cabbie didn’t think it was a very good idea to go to Ordnance Island what with the Queen’s visit. With this little tidbit of local knowledge, I knew two things to be sure. The first was that my boat was tied up at the wharf at Ordnance Island. No, I wasn’t really sure of that. The first was, the Queen of the Commonwealth was visiting St Georges, at Ordnance Island, coincidentally at almost the same time that I was scheduled to be at Ordnance Island, St Georges. Weird, eh? Had my flight not be delayed for that forty five minutes, I would have arrived at precisely the exact time as the Queen was shaking hands with her loyal subjects. The second thing I was absolutely sure was that I didn’t have a clue where Ryen’s Quest was. Time to get directions; I know when I am lost. I was a little timid as I approached the Customs Office and smiled at the young man with the corn rows as he played Solitaire. I kept smiling as I cleared my throat a lil bit but was getting absolutely no where with this young man. Playing solitaire is intense. The humid Bermuda air was starting to get on my nerves. The temperature was like in the 80’s or 100’s and my throat was parched from eating the salted peanuts on the plane. I had been in this heat for almost an hour by this time. So I spoke a little too loud as I asked for directions. He pointed his mouse in a direction over my head so I turned and followed the imaginary line. The place he pointed was as quiet as a tomb. There was no Ryen’s Quest, there was no Queen, and there were no Royal subjects. There was just me and the young man playing Solitaire. Rather than disturb him again, I took another route and entered the exact same building, from the front. There was a reception counter, a rather obtrusive print of Her Majesty the Queen, and the sweetest looking young man in an official Customs uniform. When he asked if he could help me, I think my face gave me away. I needed his help badly. I didn’t know where the boat was, I didn’t know where Allan was, I didn’t know where the Queen was, and I wasn’t real sure where I was. All of a sudden my eyes filled up with tears, and my mouth was drooling out incomprehensible sounds. I managed “boat”, “Ryen’s Quest”, “storm”, “Halifax”, and in a matter of seconds, he had my luggage and me in his office. He radioed Al, and as always Al was on the other end of the call. He had been waiting for me and was unable to tell me about the Queens visit and that he had to move the boat for security reasons. YadaYadaYada! Could he come to pick me up? Negative I could hear Al respond, but he could walk down to pick me up. The Customs man looked at me, I sniffed again, and he asked Al to stand-by. The Rescue Pilot Boat was offered up to take me to Ryen’s Quest. I nearly fell in the water trying to get on that boat before someone changed their mind. Guess who the driver of the boat was? Yep, the Solitaire guy! Weird, eh? We didn’t talk much on the trip over. I asked him what the charge would be for his service and he said I didn’t have to pay. Maybe the stuff you have to pay for in Bermuda is expensive, but getting a free ride in the rescue pilot boat was pretty special. I should have offered a tip maybe but it never occurred to me.

I was most grateful to be aboard Ryen’s Quest. Mack had gone to dinner with folks we had met in Dartmouth. Allan and I took a rain check on dinner and just spent some quality time catching up and listening about the intensity of the storm they had just been through. There is nothing funny to write regarding the storm. It was unpleasant, and something they hope never to have to do again. Chances are good that their passage to the BVIs after December 9 will be better than their last passage.

As we were lying down in the aft cabin with the hatch open wide and the breeze flowing nicely over our sheets, we could see straight up through the hatch. The stars here are incredibly intense and vivid. Constellations are seen far more clearly. Bermuda is growing on me. It is beautiful, and clean, and the locals are some of the nicest people we have met on this trip so far. Although they are going into their winter season and are finding the temperatures to be cold, Bermudians have the warmest hearts of all.

God Save our Queen!

The Humidity Is Hell!

Tonight's update was quick. The boat is now along side and Allan did a quick walk about on the boat. He says there are a few things that need fixing, but overall Ryen's Quest is in pretty good shape considering the weather she just battled enroute to Bermuda.

Today was not the day to begin any work on her. The guys found, or rather could see, a charming little pub from where the boat was tied. They have decided to go there and find a corner to hide in so not to offend anyone with their salty sea man smells. After a decent meal, they will return to the boat for what they hope will be a decent night's sleep. Tomorrow, with fresh eyes and some sleep under their belt they will begin the task of doing a more thorough inspection of our girl and make a list of things that need some attention. Al loves his lists!

For those of us who are enjoying the Maritime weather, Allan wants us to know that the humidity in Bermuda is hell. Wow, better him than me, eh?

Al has asked me to extend his thanks to everyone who has emailed him and also to those who have left messages on the blog. He wishes there had been something more exciting to write on the blog, but I don't think I could have handled too much more excitement. As far as I know, the Coast Guard has still not been able to get in touch with the other vessel from the Halifax area. I hope the vessel and those aboard are all right. I would also like to thank those who called me, asking for updates and offering their support. I appreciate every call and I know that Al rests easy knowing that we have a circle of friends who I can go to during his absence.

Unless the sky falls, I hope to join Allan on Tuesday or Wednesday. I need to find out first hand that the humidity is that BAD! And more importantly I need to know that he is all right. My next entry may be from the cockpit of Ryen's Quest in Bermuda. Yippee!

Allan said he saw Tuna fish....hundreds of pounds each! I am gonna get me one of those babies. Wonder what kind of a worm you would use to convince the tuna to nibble on your hook. I think I have a book on fishing.

Feast or Famine

Today's update from Al "almost" had me feeling bad for him. Almost! The winds just aren't there, and Ryen's Quest is barely getting by 2 knots. So no wind! Cry me a river, boys. I am quite positive I didn`t hear any moans from disgruntled sailors, yet I am not sure why Al went on and on about it being sunny and warm, and eating and sleeping. Sounds like quite a winter escape after all. From my look out, I am seeing temperature drops to the minus, fleece-lined leather gloves, sheep-skin boots, and ear muffs.

As of suppertime, Captain Al (he is really gonna hate me for typing that :) ) and crew were about forty miles from Bermuda. He has opted to `try` to get the forty miles in before the break of dawn and be on solid ground early tomorrow. I am not sure if he priorized a beer and a bath, or a bath and then a beer. A woman would choose to have a beer while she bathed.

It is nice to be able to relax and chuck some stuff at the guys. Both Al and Mack deserve a break. I just might surprise them and knock on the hull on Wednesday. They probably need directions to the nearest `MacDonald`s.

Almost There!

Having talked to Allan yesterday, they were about 100 miles from Bermuda, enjoying sunny warm weather and a nice wind at the stern. Ryen's Quest is enjoying the trip now that she isn't being beat up by the wind and waves. The guys are eating and feeling much better. Both the Bermuda and Halifax coast guard have been in touch with them to possibly aide in contacting another boat that left Halifax at approximately the same time. Al said he could see and hear the planes flying overhead looking for this solo-sailor. The sattelite phone has sure eased my mind during the last two weeks. Money well spent me thinks!!

Although Allan expects to be in a marina sometime today or tonight, he will get there on Mother Nature's time. Finally, retirement has kicked in, and life is no longer a race!!

Where To Start?

Today is November 17, a week and a bit since Ryen's Quest left Halifax. The first three days saw the guys in fine weather, and down to their shorts and tee's. And then they ran into Ida....Hurricane Ida. It could only be described as a great shake down cruise with the new gear. The seas over the past week were so bad that Mack was sick. Allan had never seen Mack so sick in the thirty or so years since knowing him. The weather forecast from Tuesday until Sunday noon, was spot on at 30 foot seas, and 50k wind. That's worth getting sick over! Although the boat held up well, it's contents were not so lucky. Things stowed in the quarter cabin had to be moved to the aft cabin, and moved again to fix something that went sour with the steering. The dining table came right out of the boards, screws and all, and the engine needs to be looked at when the boat gets into Bermuda. With that came the water from their foulies and no surprise, the boat got miserable and damp. Sleeping was not an issue, it was an impossibility. As of yesterday and today, the guys got to be in nice weather again. I thought Al was sounding more rested, but he corrected me and said he was only less tired.

This may well have been Allan's most uncomfortable trip. Although he wanted me to make this passage with him, he thinks my decision to stay back was good given the poor weather. I am thinking I may stay back and wait until they get to the Carribbean Islands and fly to meet him there. Or, the option of flying down now and meeting them poolside when the boat gets there seems viable too.

To anyone planning to sail to Bermuda, I would strongly encourage you to visit the RCC Bermuda webpage and complete their forms. Yesterday, when I called them to give them an update of Ryen's Quest's new eta, they were familiar with us. They were going to begin radio contact! That gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to know that someone was going to start looking for them, had we not made an update contact.

Oh, and the news is...the boys are approximately 230 miles off shore of Bermuda. They spent lots of hours between the wind and the waves, going nowhere. But for them, nowhere is pretty darn close to heaven. As of 2030 hours today, all is good.

If you are reading this James Brown, I hope you have a smile on your face.

Finally - Departure

With less than ideal weather conditions, Ryen's Quest left the jetty today at 1330 hours. In an effort to avoid the possibility of running into bad weather north and west of Bermuda, Allan has decided to sail south east and sail into Bermuda from the south. Weather looks favourable until Thursday, so with some strong wind on the stern he hopes to make good time and hopefully be below foul weather before Thursday.

Ryen's Quest could not be more ready for this passage. She looks like a boat ready to do some serious passage-making and she is packed to the max with safety equipment (some would say overkill, until you need it), and she has enough food aboard to keep the crew of a small ship well fed for months. All systems are up and running and the engine purred like....a tiger.

I was amazed while sitting in the clubhouse having a soda with Brad and Joe, when one member said he watched Ryen's Quest leaving from Magazine Hill. She may not have gotten around a lot these past months, but she sure is recognizable to members of the club. I wish now that I had asked him if the sails were up. That would have been sweet!

Al will be calling me daily, with updates and I will post as soon as I hear anything. Oh my nerves, I am tense, and nervous, and anxious, and worried, and excited, and happy. All at the same time! But this time too shall pass and before I know it, I will be in Bermuda knowing that Al is just on the other side of Customs waiting for me. Or not! And that will be a whole other blog site.

Party Pictures

Photos were taken on the evening when our boat's name was officially changed to Ryen's Quest. All persons depicted in these photos gave their permission to have them posted on the blog. I can't believe that they actually agreed to that!

Beginning at the top, Shelly and Louise are cracking up over our tape cassette. Okay, so it's old. I do remember that Shelly promised to buy us a CD player. Sure do hope she comes through on that. Hey Shelly, when can I pick that up? I don't know why Louise thought it was so funny...she still uses an 8-track! They were hysterical!!

Second from the top, we have Shelly practicing her moves on the dance pole, which is really the compression post for the mast. I tried to tell her, but she saw a "dance pole", and she wanted to dance. Go figure!

Third one down. This is Brad later in the evening. Earlier you couldn't take his picture no how!

Fourth photo, that would be Allan and I just after the champagne was poured overboard. We were happy to have the business part of the evening over with, and happy to be in the company of our friends.

The following photo is Allison and Shelly very early in the evening. Before the promise of the CD. I really wish Allison could have stayed longer, she can be quite entertaining. So smart!

Next is the energizing bunny couple of Brad and Louise. They told us later it was the best time they have had in some time. Thanks, that means a lot.

The following photo is a wonderful addition to our get together and she taught me something I hope I will be able to pass along to other women. Thank you Jilly! Jilly's husband Roddy is to her left. Another great guy. Hope we can keep in touch with them as they continue to do upgrades to their beautiful Mason 54. Quite a proper yacht.

The second last photo is Allan and Jim. Jim has dedicated much of his time working on Ryen's Quest and feels a special connection to her. Hope Jim and Allison get down to see us somewhere in the Caribbean. The invite is there for them anytime they like.

Finally, we have Brad and Louise chuckling about something. We can never get enough of those two.

Biding Our Time

The weather window we had hoped for closed pretty hard, leaving us tied alongside possibly until Friday or Sunday. With the exception of provisioning the boat with some grub, this weather forecast gives Al and Mack some time to relax and rest for the trip. The boat is safe to sea, and all systems are in prime working order. Maintaining Ryen's Quest will be an on-going project, as any boat owner can attest. But when you think about it, we have to have something to do when we are bored with snorkeling or walking the beach or fishing or whatever people do when they have thrown their watches into a drawer and have to ask what month it is. We will be biding our time with our boat, and with each other.

Heads Over Hoses

While researching the Bermudian water laws, Al learned that it is required that all visiting boats must have a working sewerage treatment system aboard. Though we do have a system on Ryen's Quest we weren't quite sure that it worked. Yesterday, while I left for land to do a few domestic chores like laundry, Al went head first under the back cabin berth. Armed with his new tools and pretty white new hose, clamps, and y-valves the old hardware was removed and replaced with the new. It wasn't quite as easy as that. I heard a lot of partial words, some beginning with "fah", "kah", "jee". (Phonetics are wonderful to play with.) Dragging himself out of the hole after 11 miserable hours, Allan, wiped his brow and with a half smile determined it was time to turn the system on. I stood back with lots of trepidation (and paper towel), as Mack pumped water and Allan turned the knob....the machine groaned, then sort of whistled, green lights started to dance on the switch board. Yippee! No hoses broke loose, no leaks so far; but we had to do a series of "flushes" before the first flush gets macerated properly to meet the Bermudian standard for going out the through hull. Understand, that we aren't practicing with the real thing, we improvised with harbour water which is much the same only different. Al had gotten the system working and Bermuda was that much closer.

After a long hot shower, and before falling to sleep in freshly laundered sheets, Al confessed to me that he was glad he hadn't chosen plumbing as a career. I smiled in the darkness and kissed him good night. He was a plumber. Today he had been a magnificent plumber and did exactly what needed doing to keep our journey going. One job at a time, one day at a time.

The Definition of A Party

Being somewhat superstitious, it was becoming a matter of magnitude to undergo a proper name-changing ceremony for Ryen's Quest. To make a long story short, the new boat owners are to keep the Sea God Neptune happy by pouring copious amounts of champagne over the bow of the boat while chanting an appeal to keep the boat and those aboard safe. To this end, I casually told a friend or two of our intention and asked them to join us for the event, which was to take place last night.

Surprisingly, people began to arrive. Brad and Louise were first, probably because of Brad’s humbug attitude towards little children seeking out free candy on Halloween. Next, young Shelley arrived unannounced, but always and forever welcome. Our British neighbours on the jetty beside us, Jilly and Roddy knocked on the hull next. And finally, Jim and Allison showed up, but not without first making sure that the little children in their neighbourhood got their loot.

I wasn’t expecting anyone, but I was prepared for everyone. Having made a call to the Superstore on Friday, I had enough sandwiches, cheese, dips, pickles, and frosted cupcakes to satisfy the appetites of the local high school football team. Allan was entrusted with the liquid refreshments. He exceeded everyone’s expectation!

The weather for the evening was windy. Not cold. Just real windy. Someone mentioned 30 knots. When the whole ceremony thing was explained to those who showed up by their own volition, there was an awkward silence. Indeed, we were all to go up on deck, while the Skipper made his appeal, and I poured the copious amounts of too expensive champagne over the bow of the boat and into the grimy waters of the marina. In the wind. I might have heard Louise sobbing quietly as the bottle was up-ended because she does like her sparkly. However, in retrospect, I believe it was Brad I heard trying to suck the champagne out of mid air as it and the wind blew over the bow of the boat. It was dark, so it could have been either, or quite possibly both.

With the ceremony complete, everyone returned below and continued where they left off, which was drinking. The sandwiches weren’t such a big hit. Hardly noticed really. Quite disappointing for the person who made that phone call to the Superstore.

Even with the time falling back an hour; our guests were dropping like flies. Everyone except….you guessed it….Brad and Louise. The responsible, and children friendly, Jim and Allison were the first to leave. Morning comes early for those who still work for a living, even if it’s a Sunday morning and you might or might not be a church-going citizen. Roddy insisted he and Jilly leave before their adult son realized they were gone. Shelley sneaked away to the back cabin, but we later found her on the settee hidden under a blanket. Shelley snores. The quarter cabin was offered to the Bradbury’s at approximately 2 am after the time fell back. It sounded like an attractive offer until Brad saw what was on top of the bunk. There was stowed everything from diesel conditioner, to q-tips. Realizing that this stuff needed to be moved by someone before assuming a horizontal position on said bunk, Brad graciously declined the offer, and patiently nudged his beautiful bride who slept still chanting to the sea god Neptune in her dreams. It was at this point that the only sober person on the boat intervened. The recent weds were lead to and stuffed into the car and delivered safely to their door with the love akin to a duck and her ducklings.

This morning, all was well. Jim was on the job for 8 am while Allison was planning her teaching schedule for the week. Jilly and Roddy were back on their boat, work as usual. Shelley was on the job again, hanging out with Cohen. Brad was feeling seedy, as Louise caught up on missed episodes of Coronation Street.

All was as it should be.

Inventory check: 30 pints of beer gone, four bottles of sparkly Yellow Tail gone, one bottle of Bailey’s gone, forty ounces of Captain Morgan Black rum gone, three bottles of Gold Label Moet champagne gone. Sandwiches, cheese, dips, pickles, frosted cupcakes, and utensils are gone as well.

Definition of a party? A group of people who have gathered to participate in an activity especially for pleasure or amusement.

We definitely had a party!!