Beaches and Boys

Now that John is working at a local restaurant and our boat's topside starts to resemble a cluttered front yard (complete with plastic shovels, assorted game pieces, and a bicycle) it has truly hit me that we are staying here in St. Augustine until hurricane season descends upon us!

I have finally admitted defeat in one of my many mommynag vs. boyswarriors  battles..."NO RUNNING ON THE DOCKS!!!" They swerve after pelicans, skid to a teetering stop before a slip's end, and slash at imaginary dragons with delight!  I smile and surrender to youth's beauty after locking Dante in his "naggie" aka lifepreserver.

We visited family in Cocoa Beach...returning spoiled rotten by soft rugs, big screen TVs, and comfort food.  Honestly in shock by our primitive hull and lack of space.  Now, three days later, it all seems perfectly normal again...

Multitasking here in the marina lounge...doing laundry and now I'm up for childcare...that would be my farewell song...

St. Augustine Splendor

Ten days since my last posting...240 hours of high jinx and drama on the high seas!!!  We officially ran aground...stuck in the muck as we prefer to say.  John had tried to put on our fenders and our salty tiller decided to make her own decisions.  We have hit bottom before and our motor smoked and spat us off.  Not this time.  The mud was so thick and black you could hear it sucking and sniggering victory!  The feeling of the boat gradually tilting was bizarre.  The kids thought it was great fun and called it tilt-a-world. An hour later, an old-timer in a coon hat came to pay us a visit.  Said his name was brownie, a cajun creole with a smile for life.  He offered us a ride ashore which we declined until the boat finally settled when the tide reached it's lowest.  Before that mudflat happened however, Seatow showed up and plucked us off faster than Blake and Dante could scream YEEEEHAWWW!

We experienced our first outside passage as a family...over 100 miles in the ocean.  It was breathtaking and terrifying at the same time.  Although I was harnessed to the cockpit, during the hour of the wolf I sat rigid...refusing to look over my shoulder, convinced some shadowy figure wished to toss me into the inky black above or below...

Ten miles further out, our new found friends aboard their vessel Liberty, sailed on through the night.  It was a comfort to know that we were making the passage together.   They are leaving St. Augustine this afternoon and we feel rather glum about it.  Their ten year old son, Josh, had become great friends with Blake.  It's hard to be constantly letting people in only to release them so quickly from the bonds of friendship.  It is the ebb and flow, the bringing and the taking of the tide that is our new paradigm...The inner heart remains safe from this, however, and we cherish all of our new friends knowing we will stay in touch and perhaps meet again as we travel this amazing world!

St Augustine has so much to offer as a safe harbor where we can hopefully build up our sailing kitty and do some work on the Vindhler.  The oldest city in the US, it's full of ancient forts and historic houses dating back hundreds of years...come and visit us....or at least send a card!

Bondellio's
Vessel Vindhler
General Delivery
St. Augustine, Fl.
32084

Magical Savannah

Savannah's streets hover in between deep melancholy and surface sunshine.  The pavement itself swirls a strange melody.  Each corner I turn does nothing to sway this dichotomy I feel.  Rather like falling in love is the best way to describe my response to being here.  Becoming rather dark and moody, John gave me five hours shore leave and I have walked and stared and discovered to my pounding heart's content!  I have ultimately landed in an overstuffed arm chair cuddling my triple cappucino  and computer.  Almost out of time, satiated, so in love with John who realized before I did how much I needed some alone time!

Blake decided to get his hair cut for the New Year!!!  He still looks like a little rocker as the decision was made to keep it a little longer on top...Dante is still insisting that he is five and wrestles daily with his brother as if his relentless strength and stamina will ultimately convince the rest of us of this truth.

We press on tomorrow, hoping to do an ocean passage on Monday or Tuesday.  The ICW has been beautiful but, we are canaled, creeked, and rivered out for the moment...

A New Year in South Carolina

Finally Blake and I have found that rare illusive combination... Father Time hanging around a great cafe with strong WiFi...

2010 found the B's in a serene anchorage with plenty of pelicans and sandpipers celebrating in  the New Year.  The big thrill on board was setting off a twenty year old flare...so bright that no one could look at it, hissing and sparkling for a full three minutes!

We lament to say "The Arctic Blast", as they fittingly call it here in SC, lingers on.  The temp inside our cabin hasn't made it above 51 for a few days.  We've all packed on the pounds in layers...pillsbury dough boys and girls...all of us rosy cheeked...John's beard turning mysteriously whiter and whiter...

AND YET...still giggling that we are actually DOING THIS!!!  Charleston was completely cooly urban...Beaufort is breathtaking...We leave tomorrow AM for Savannah.

Our boys continue to be our center.  They test our patience and grace, teach us about laughter and joy, and always astound.  Last night Blake recited some sea shanty out of the blue and then read us "The Blue Men of the Minch"...a tale of tricky poetry loving fellows who destroy ships unless you can successfully finish their verse.  It seems entirely possible that the waters are full of such magical beings when you live and breath in it's salty spray!

Dante told us why he had awakened in the wee hours of the morning (not uncommon) screaming (Not common)..."there was no mommy....no daddy....no toys and........WAAAHHHH...NO...BOOKS"   John and I hugged him so tightly!  The love of the written word is with us all.

Speaking of which, thank you all for your holiday words of encouragement!  They mean a great deal.

Have to run...Dante and John just showed up...