Christa Bashes to Windward/Some History

Moored Naples FloriidaThis is an article that I penned for Latitude38 and was published a few months ago. It provides some history for newer readers of the blog. Plus I'm testing out the very cool Scibe technology. Latitude 38


What is Scribd? Click here. The iPaper document reader is very cool.

Received my Florida plate yesterday for the Green Hornet. I've held plates in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Washington State, California, Hawaii and now Florida.

Capt Chris


PS: Still working on a new article for Latitude38. A reflection on why I cut short my trip. And I'm putting on the finishing touches of my 2009 Year in Review Video.

Sitting On the Dock of the Bay.....Or Canal

Moored Naples Florida. Doing?
Working@ Ridgeway Bar & Grill
Moving to California in May. Why? Click Here

 Watching the tide roll away. No, not really. More like watching the Mexican lawn crews assault yards with leaf blowers and hedge trimmers.  On my first morning here in Naples, I was so excited to plop myself in the dock chair, coffee in hand and enjoy the magnificent surroundings. But the noise was deafening. Not all mornings constitute lawn care hell, but most of the time some one is running a machine.

 But I have discovered in the afternoon the suburban quiet I envisioned. Today, I basked in the 80 degree temperature in the afternoon after a strenuous yoga class, strumming my newly acquired Taylor six string.  No smell of shrimp beginning boil though, but I may be beginning to bald like brother Jimmy.

It was a real pleasure. In fact Naples is a real pleasure. I am very content. I really should have been doing boat projects, which I have been slacking on. I have a new main halyard that needs to be spliced and a jug of diesel that needs to be filtered and poured into the fuel tanks. I am horribly behind on other projects and my correspondence.

 But I could just not resist an hour or so of strumming in the sun. In fact I was so happy post-strumming that I went to Bikesdirect.com and ordered a new Road Bike. Next thing you know I'll be taking pictures of my veiney legs, Lance style. Share the road would ya?


Capt Chris

PS: Please don't forget to check out my pictures in My Picasa photo album and to keep up with the latest word, you can sign up using my RSS feed. I use Google Reader and love that I can aggregate in one spot all the websites I check out on a regular basis. A real time saver. Blam!

Been A Busy Weekend

Moored Naples Florida
Sunny, 70's, Beautiful Weather

Janina and I had a fantastic time, despite the fact I had to work the nights she stayed. We were undeterred. Janina hooked up with my Friends Mike&Amy while I was working and headed out to Harry's on 3rd. Any open air bar and restaurant with a DJ and proceeded to get down for a boogie. I got off work around 10pm and very uncharacteristic of me, I shifted canvas and met up with the party crowd. Then I got down for a boogie with the good people of Naples. I hadn't danced in a long time, something I love to do. Of course going to bed after 1 am, set me back the next day.

But we decided to head on down to Marco Island, only about 15 miles to the south of Naples. It seemed to be a pretty cool place and different in the sense that it has high rises lining the beach, where Naples has $50 million dollar mansions strung out along the shore line. We didn't spend much time exploring because I kind of petered out. We headed back to Naples so I could nap before work. Mission accomplished.

Yesterday, we lite out mid morning for some vittles at a breakfast joint not far from Christa and stumbled upon the Saturday morning street market. They close off 3rd, and the organic growing crowd comes in with their wares and set up tents and booths. Should be a perfect place for me to get fresh grub for less than the Supermarket.

We followed up a successful morning with a bike ride in the afternoon through the Port Royal section of Naples. Huge mansions line this exclusive neighborhood. It's a great place to take a bike ride with great visuals, easy access to the beach and big ole bike lanes. It was a great visit! So with that I need to roll to work!

Capt Chris

Janina's Aboard for a Visit

Moored to the Dock, Naples Florida

Well Janina made the journey south to Naples from her base of operations in Clermont Florida. It still is early and were trying to shape a plan. As you know, I'm a new car owner, and thus have not had the chance to strike out and explore locally. Today is a fine day to she what is what and who is who. As a working man now, time is a bit limited but no excuse to go out and have some fun. Weather is much improved, today should be sunny in the upper 70's. Beautiful! More later.

Capt Chris

Taking a Bite Out of the Anchor

Current location is central Florida, at my parents hacienda

I don't know the exact definition or origin of the term "swallow the anchor" but, here is my working definition. Maybe an example would be better. In any marina you'll find a starry eye'd new boat owner prepping and dreaming of fair away exotic locations and the dream of oceanic horizons. Over a period of time, the full definition of BOAT (break out another thousand) starts to sink in and the strain of digging up deep roots starts to weigh. Suddenly storm clouds start to appear on that oceanic horizon. Many times, a wife will start out being supportive, but then realize the irrationality that grips men with boats. Suddenly all weekends are consumed by boat related activities, weekday evenings are spent perusing World Cruising Routes and cataloging years worth of Cruising World. At some point support turns to concern, concern turns to strife and pretty soon a For Sale sign is hung from the bow pulpit. Then someone like me will stride on by and say "Well looks like Jim swallowed the anchor." Get it?

Swallowing the anchor can take many forms. When someone comes home from sea, sells the boat or eases into the life of a land lubber, your getting close to digesting a Danforth. Now take my new (to me) car. This is a sure sign of dust and dirt versus sea salt starting to cling to me. I have not swallowed the anchor yet, but I took a bite out of it. This is fine and on the agenda. At some point all sailors swallow the anchor, but the encouraging thing for me is, I am young enough to yak that anchor back up and head to sea again.

So, I have a special shout out to my dad who did all the leg work for me. Just kind of unfolded this way. I am now the proud owner of a green 2001 Honda Accord with 64,500 miles. Beautiful. I've named it the "Green Manalishi (with the two-pronged-crown)" which is a cultural reference. I have a penchant for naming things, such as my Honda generator is "Big Red" and my old Nissan truck was named the "Silver Bullet." As an aside, I learned yesterday that the "Silver Bullet" has now been re-named the "Puddle Jumper." I have no beef.

I rented a car yesterday and made the four hour drive to my parents house to pick up my car and visit for a day or two. Back to work for me on Wednesday evening followed by a visit from the lovely Janina on Thursday. And according the weather folks the temperatures in Naples will be back in the high 70's by weeks end. Should be a great week indeed.

In the HD video department I am working on a 2009 Video compilation. But this time, I am learning how to create the video soundtrack in Apple Garageband software. The learning curve is a bit steep and it will take time to learn the program. This is another fine example of how starting a sail blog has lead me to develop interests and enthusiasm in unrelated topics. That's how I roll.

Capt Chris

PS: Please don't forget to check out my pictures in My Picasa photo album and to keep up with the latest word you can sign up using my RSS feed. I use Google Reader and love that I can aggregate in one spot all the websites I check out on a regular basis. A real time saver.

Unedited Video I shot while in Luperon Dominican Republic

Moored Naples Florida
Weather is really cold, below freezing this morning



Enjoy the video. I continue to compile pictures and video from this passed falls sail north. Don't forget to surf on over to My Youtube Channel where I now have 70 videos.

Occasionally I change the picture atop the blog. This latest picture was my last sunset observed sailing north. I landed in Naples the very next morning. It was a bit cold, but the colors were different than what you normally see further south. I like the picture, hope you do to.

Please don't forget to check out my picture in Picasa and to keep up with the latest word you can sign up with the RSS feed. I use Google Reader and love that I can aggregate in one spot all the websites I check out on a regular basis. A real time saver.

Capt Chris

Crisp but Beautiful

Moored Naples Florida

The chilly grip of Mother Nature abated slightly over the passed 24 hours, but another front will cause temps to dip this weekend. Just this morning I stuck my head out the hatch just after sunrise to greet the day. It was so beautiful I snapped this picture to prove it.

 Occasionally I change the picture atop the blog. This latest picture was my last sunset observed sailing north. I landed in Naples the very next morning. It was a bit cold, but the colors were different than what you normally see further south. I like the picture, hope you do to.

Please don't forget to check out my picture in Picasa and to keep up with the latest word you can sign up with the RSS feed. I use Google Reader.

Thanks for stopping by!

Capt Chris

Shot Video Clip from St Thomas USVI

Moored at the dock, Naples Florida
Partly cloudy, maybe 40 degree's

I shot a fair amount of video clips this passed fall while northbound from Grenada. I've started to put together the smaller clips and post them on My Youtube Channel. And here is a clip from Honeymoon Beach.



Capt Chris

Today's Picture

Moored Naples Florida
It's Cold! 56 with a biting north wind

I know all the norther folks just can't come to grips when someone in Florida says, "man it's cold." But it is! Tonight in Naples the predicted low is 34 degree's. BURRRRR...SHIVER SHIVER. But aboard the Christa, we are well used to cold weather after grunting through two winters on Cape Cod.  I have this little electric space heater that keeps things nice and toasty aboard ship. The advantage of having such a small vessel is it's easy to heat. I can claim it is cold here in Florida, because when it gets as cold as it is up north, that really is no longer a cold, it is plain bitter. So up north bitter, down south cold. Fair enough?

I took this picture just the other day while peddling to work. I find the canals very charming. And love the fact I'm living on one. Life is stellar and look forwarding to sustaining the trend.

Aloha,

Capt Chris

Happy New Year and Welcome to a New Decade

Moored Naples Florida
Partly Cloudy, low 70's

 Well how things change in a year. A year ago this day I was in St. John USVI, just hangin with Janina and getting ready to push down island. I have covered a lot of blue water since then and am quite happy how things have gone over the passed year.

 It has been almost 3 years since I have lived aboard Christa plugged into a dock. It's everything I remember and more. At first blush you wouldn't think living on the hook or a mooring would be all that different than living at the dock. And for some boats it makes little difference. But for Christa and me it is a big deal. In terms of comfort, the boat is much drier and I am able to keep some order below. When your on the move, it becomes an exercise in constantly stowing gear and then re-deploying gear, sail covers have to come off and the result, at least for me, it seems a constant state of dishevel.

Here is a news flash. I had to buy a little ceramic heater! I've never lived in Florida before, but it has been colder than I had expected. I mean on my sail from Marathon to Naples, I was in full foul weather gear. I looked like the Gorton's Fisherman. With the chill in the air and me using the heater, the interior has dried out completely. I had become so accustomed being damp I hardly noticed, of course until things dried out. I'm already noticing these land lubber habits.

 On another sailing note. I am writing an article for Latitude38 that I hope they may publish. I spent years preparing and reading to go sailing around the planet. But after two and half years I learned a great deal and decided to stop sailing and alter my original intention. It is complicated as to why I have changed my plans. My point being is my strong opinion that most sailing mags don't seem to convey well long term cruising. Maybe it's just me. But many many people, like me set out with grandiose plans and don not fulfill them for many different reasons. Magazines are in the business of selling magazines and don't like to write about the rigors of long term cruising. And when they do, the starry eye'd sailor glosses right over the bad parts and focuses on sandy beaches and calm palm fringed anchorages. It is only natural. So I am working on putting that together.

I do my best to try and explain in word, video and photos what is going on with me. When I first starting blogging more than 3 years ago I had no one reading what I was blogging about. I remember months going by and noting the only one clicking on my blog was me! This set the notion in my mind that the blogs main purpose is to document what I am doing for my own personal consumption to be consumed when I'm old and grey or bald. It has been great fun thus far. So as I cast around and try and figure out what is "blog worthy" or not, please be patient. I have watched closely what the folks from Bumfuzzle have done and consider Ali and Pat to be modern day pioneers in terms of blogging and just sheer adventure. They leap from the ocean to terra firma, in a series of disconnected adventures but always seem to retain readership. Not that I expect to do anything close to what they are doing. But who know's? Being a full time college student in middle age may be interesting. Being an expeditor at a restaurant has surely been interesting. So with that here are two pictures I took on my way to work for New Year's Eve. Can you stand it? It is only two blocks on the bike and I am in the restaurant. The neighborhood is gorgeous with huge mansions, well tended lawns and spotlights illuminating coconut palms.

Looking east.....

Looking west...beach at the outskirts of the picture.

Hope everyone is well!

Capt Chris

PS: On an unrelated technical note. For Mac users buy the Apple Magic Mouse. This gizmo is amazing.