Dont do it!

Open air living.

Can you see the rainbow?

My room is that top left corner up the hill under the palm tree!

My view upon waking... St thomas!

Savannah Smiles Piano Bar

I took this with my phone, when my Mom and Aunt Nita came to visit me in Savannah we went out one night to Savannah Smiles, the dueling piano bar! On the mirror behind the pianist it says "Jolea is sailing off to Tortola!" The deal is, you pay them any amount of money and they write whatever you want on the mirror, the only way to get the words erased is to pay more money than the person before and replace it with a new phrase. It's really funny. Mom and Nita paid to get that up there and it stayed for a good long while until the batchelorette party behind us got wild and started making fun of the bride to be, they must have spent 200 bucks on mirror phrases that night! This is the only picture I have from that night and let me tell you, we had so much fun!

Reflections at churchills pub in savannah! Imagine the smell of baked onions and sausage, bangers and mash. This is irish savannah!

Back in Savannah again!

And it feels great to be back! I have really fallen for this city! Not to mention I am back working on the Mega Yacht, making great money. Rebecka's friend in Sweeden is letting us store all our pictures on his server so if something happens to our cameras or the computer that our pictures are loaded into we will always have them safe on the server, the only problem is, I don't know how to get to them yet! Ha ha! As soon as I figure out how to get them I will make a picture blog so you guys can check out all the pictures I have taken so far.

I finished reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil on the plane ride here last night, and I am ready to explore all the places the author talks about in detail. Rebecka and I took a trolley tour and the tour guide pointed out the Mercer House and a few other spots from the book/movie but I had yet to see the movie or read the book so I had no idea what she was talking about, now I do. While reading the book I did recognize the streets and places he referred to so it really made me miss the city. I think Drew and I may go to the Bonaventure Cemetary on this rainy Savannah day, perfect weather for visiting the garden of good and evil...

I will be updating this regularly now that I have internet access easily available, bye!

LONG overdue update!

HELLOOOOOO EVERYONE!  I am so sorry it has taken me forever to update this but I am finally somewhere with an internet connection and 5 minutes to myself! Mom tells me that I have a few fans out there so here goes...

The trip from Charleston to Savannah was relatively uneventful. When we got to the drawbridge to get to our marina we realized it was broken and had to dock right downtown at the Hyatt. The next day Gorge and Quin had to go back to Atlanta so George hired Capt. Walt to drive the boat and me over to Thunderbolt Marina on the outskirts of Savannah. 

With the Quark all tied up and silent at the marina I called my old buddy Drew who had just moved to Savannah from Key West and he headed over to pick me up and take me out. Just after I got off the phone with him I heard a knock on the hull. I crawled out of the hatch to see a pretty little blonde girl, she said "Hi I am Rebecka" with a sweedish accent. She was the newest member of the crew, and I was happy to have another girl on board. She came below and we had a cocktail and got to know each other a bit, Drew showed up and we invited her out with us, she agreed but first she had to stop by her crew house and tell them she was going out.  Rebecka was workin on a 150ft motor yacht called Francine. The boat had been out of the water for 2 months while they repaired the engine so the crew was living in a cute little house up the street from the marina. We came inside and met the crew, Capt Ged and Johnny from Austrailia, and Lou from Puerto Rico, Doug from the U.S., Matt from New Zealand and Mike from England were off doing their own thing so we didnt meet them till later. They had the grill going and enough food to feed ten people and they asked us to stay for dinner. We did. It was a wonderful first night in Savannah. After dinner drew took us downtown where we dropped his car off at his apartment and called a cab. This is how we met the best cabby in Savannah, her name is Cassandra. 

Cassandra looked to be about 25 years old, heavy set as she was, and pregnant with her 4th child she told us. Her hearty laugh and helpful advice made for a great ride into town, we tipped her well, got her cell number and promised to call her for rides from now on. Which we did. All week long Cassandra shuttled us to and from the marina and resturants and bars and anywhere we needed to go if she was working when we called. 

Rebecka and I spent the week exploring and doing touristy things like riding the old town trolley. Savannah is the most beautiful city I have ever seen. The old live oaks with spanish moss dripping from the branches and the beautiful architecture made me seriously consider staying in town for a while. So much so that I took Rebeckas job on Francine when Capt Ged offered it to me.  Compared to what George had paid me for 2 weeks of work, the salary on Francine was an offer I couldnt refuse. I was torn between keeping my word and delivering the Quark to Apalachicola and staying in Savannah for a while and making a ton of money to stash away pretty fast. I told him I needed to take the job in Savannah. He was understanding and said he wished I would stay but that I needed to do what was best for me. I spent 3 days cooking for the Francine crew and doing Stewardess duties on board when I got word that I had a package at the marina office. My contacts had arrived from Dallas.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++They didnt want me to go, and I hated to leave them. Its amazing how attached I became to them in such a short period of time. I hope I will see them again someday. 

So George arrived at the boat that night and he was happy to see me and hear that I would be on the boat for the next leg, and I told him that I needed to be paid the same as Rebecka and he agreed. We gained another crew member Scott that night and left Savannah the next morning. We went a few miles offshore in sight of land and under an almost full moon we traveled overnight to a wonderful marina called the Conch House Marina in St. Augustine Fl, just in time for Reggae Sunday! We headed to the store to provision and made it back in time for dinner at the wonderful restruant at the marina. The next day we sailed 2 beautiful nights down the coast to West Palm Beach Fl, fueled up and headed across to Grand Bahama Island.

 We arrived yesterday afternoon, watched a beautiful Bahamian sunset and Rebecka and I had no problem meeting new friends in the marina. We spent the evening singing dancing and as I made cocktails we chatted with our new friends Mike, Paul and John of the fishing yacht Stranglehold. They left this morning to head to Lucaya just down the island from the West End which is where we are. Hopefully we will see them again if we make it to Lucaya. This morning Rebecka and I cleaned up the boat a little and started the laundry. We rented bikes from the cabana on the beach and rode back to the boat. We chatted with her family and her boyfriend on Skype in sweeden and now we are headed to fold the rest of the laundry and to the beach! I will post bahamas pics next time I get internet access, it may be Key West.  I will try to post some good ones from the trip down! 

Bye!

Ahh... Georgia is pretty nice!

Yar! I love savannah! Having dinner at the pirate house with rebeka!

Crossing under the bridge leaving charleston harbor last night.

My view upon waking. : )

It's Finally Here!

In less than 12 hours I will be on a flight bound for Baltimore. I am so exhausted I can barely think of what to write. I have to finish packing here in a bit, make sure I have everything and try to get some sleep. Usually when I am excited about something I can't sleep, like on Christmas eve and the like, but tonight I doubt I will have that problem... I have been running around all day tying up loose ends around town, with the help of my mom. (Thanks mom!) This morning as I start my day of errands, I pull into the parking lot at the bank and *CLUNK*, the sound, then the car stops dead in its tracks. I try to push it into a parking space and after a couple of guys from the bank come out and help, we get the Festiva into a space. The wheel is bent out to port, I assume the axle is broken. Great. Just what I needed. First I call the house, to have my mom tell my brother that I have somehow managed to break his car, on the very last day I need it. They come up to the bank and pick me up, Jeff says its a C-joint or something, and that he will fix it no big deal. And off my mom and I go. I went to so many places and appointments today, by the time we got home and mom chopped up the Brisket, I was more than ready to have my favorite BBQ sandwich. At this point I am full and happy, and procrastinating. I need to iron, and pack. I'm sure I will get around to it... OH! Thanks to everyone who came to wish me well last night! I love you guys!

There it is!!!

After a long relaxing weekend spent lying in the sun, writing addresses of loved ones down on address labels to be affixed to various postcards at various ports along my trip, and packing everything I could pack into my duffel that I wont need till I get to the boat, my passport has finally arrived! All it took was a stern e-mail to the us passport center and it was here via UPS urgent mail! I have to say I am very impressed. Now I can really focus on all the important things I need to do in my last 2 days here in Allen. I am having friends over tomorrow night instead of Wednesday night because my flight is at 7am Thursday morning. Looking forward to seeing everyone. I am in a little bit of a funk today as some people inevitably want to rain on my parade, whether it be an old friend or someone I don't even know, I hate being told what to do and it seems I remember reading, "Once you start talking about going on a [trip or adventure], you'll probably take some heat from other people. Most people don't want you to get away and be happy-they want you to stay with them and suffer. But don't ignore the losers who tell you that [it's] a frivolous escape. Just say 'You got that right. See ya!' ". - Cameron Tuttle
But of course, the compliments and encouragement I have received from friends and loved ones far outweigh the pessimism from others. I hear a lot of "If I was your age..." and "Don't pass up on an opportunity like that..." and the ever present "Shut up, I don't want to hear about your stupid trip anymore!" - Jessica :) These things remind me that if I don't take this chance I will spend the rest of my life wondering what would have happened if I had. I don't want to be the old lady who says "I wish I would have done something like that when I was young." I want to be the crazy old bag who smokes Cuban cigars and tells amazing stories about all the amazing places she has seen and the people she has met along the way. So, with only a few days left till departure I have a few things left to tie up around here, a bag to finish packing, a storage building full of junk, and I couldn't be happier.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

Where the heck is my passport?!?!?

With the recent addition of The Bahamas on the float plan I am now stressed about my passport not being here. I know I can just print off my proof of application from their website but I would really like to have it since I applied for it THREE FREAKIN MONTHS AGO!!! I am really annoyed. I have e-mailed and called the passport agency and they say they will do everything they can do to get it to me before I leave next week. Yeah... right. I guess I shouldn't stress about it but I can't help it. Its coming down to the wire here... this time next week I will be on The Quark! I can't wait!

News from Captain George

As I checked my email this evening, I notice I have one from my new boss Capt. George, so I immediately check it before the others. He was just touching base with me making sure I have all my flight info in order and to let me know he is just as excited as I am about the trip (could he be tired of my "i am so excited you have no idea oh my gosh i cant wait" emails?) and that my enthusiasm is contagious, very kind of him. He also attaches a little float plan reminder, glance over it as I have many times this past week only something new catches my eye... "From Savannah GA to Key West" OK yes, seen that, but wait, he continues on... "by way of the Bahamas." BY WAY OF THE BAHAMAS??? I practically fall out of my chair. This is the first I have heard about us going to the Bahamas and I am ecstatic! I must be dreaming, great new job on a great new boat with a great new boss, going to key west where I get to stay for a while and visit old friends, and now the BAHAMAS?!?! If this is a dream, please don't wake me up!

9 Days and Counting...

Yesterday I told my boss about my big adventure and he couldn't be happier for me. Like I said, he knows me so well and he said I shouldn't pass on an amazing opportunity like this, and added that if I ever come back I could have my job back! See? I told you he was an awesome guy. That was my major stress and now its over so I can relax and start getting stressed about something else... :) Like overnight passages, rogue waves, and the bowsprit breaking off. ( My old KW buddies will remember those fears!)


Over the weekend I went to Houston to visit old friends and my aunt Nita. I got to spend some time at my favorite haunt in town, Curb Checkers, where I saw old friends and made new ones! (Hi Steve, Mike, Darla, Bill, Jim and Capt. Jon!) I had such an amazing time visiting everyone and just want to say thank you to everyone for making it such a memorable trip. I would especially like to thank my sweet car the "FestEVIL" for getting me there and back in one piece... I will miss you old girl!



Another neat thing that happened over the weekend, I got back in touch with an old friend from Key West! My buddy Drew now lives in... Savannah GA! Which is great because I will be docking there for a few weeks on Quark, now instead of scooting around town alone, I have an exploring buddy! So I'm pretty happy about that. Well thats about it for today, I just spent about 2 hours by the pool trying to get some sun on my pale body so I don't burn to a crisp my first few days out on the boat and it's time for a nap... night night.

Boat Specs

VESSEL’S NAME: QUARK

LOA: *45’3” LWL: *38’9” Beam: *12’6” Draft: *5’0”

Gross Ton: 15 Net: 14 Ballast: EXTERNAL & INTERNAL LEAD

Designer: L. FRANCIS HERRESHOFF Builder: BROOKLIN BOAT YARD

Year Built: 2002 Rebuilt: -- BROOKLIN, ME

Market Value: $800,000.00 Replacement Value: $950,000.00

Topsides: DOUBLE PLANKED FIR OVER CEDAR

Bottom: DOUBLE PLANKED FIR OVER CEDAR

Stem: CLIPPER BOW WITH OAK STEM

Stern: TRANSOM STERN

Frames: 2 ¼” x 2 ¼” LAMINATED FIR ON 14” CENTERS

Floor Timbers: 1 ¾” OAK SIDED ON 14” CENTERS

Fasteners: MONEL SCREWS CUSTOM MADE FOR THE PROJECT

Deck Beams: 1 3/8” x 2 ¾” OAK ON 14” CENTERS

Decks: 5/8” ATLANTIC CEDAR INNER DECK, 5/8” PLYWOOD SUB DECK & TEAK

Keel: FULL KEEL OF OAK WITH LEAD BALLAST

Centerboard: NONE Skeg: NONE

Worm Shoe: COPPER Bilge: CLEAN

Superstructure: LOW PROFILE TRUNK CABIN OF TEAK WITH AFT COCKPIT

Bulkheads: MARINE PLYWOOD PARTITIONS

Ground Tackle: 40 LB LUKE w/ ALL CHAIN RODE; 100 LB LUKE, CHAIN LEAD, EST 200’3/4” 3 STRAND, ADDITIONAL 200’ RODE

Anchor Windlass: 12-VOLT DC IDEAL VERTICAL WINDLASS w/ CHAIN WILDCAT

Winches: DECK: 3- LEWMAR BNZ 48ST MAIN: 2- LEWMAR BNZ #48ST

MIZZEN: 2- LEWMAR BNZ $40ST

Radios: ICOM I-M502 VHF; FURUNO FS-1502 SSB

Radar: FURUNO NAV NET w/ REPEATER Chartplotter: FURUNO NAV NET w/ REPEAT

Compass: 6” RITCHIE SPHERICAL BINNACLE COMPASS

Depth Finder: RAYMARINE ST40 DEPTH

Horn: KAHLENBERG M-511A CONTROLLED AIR HORN

Misc. Instruments: BRASS CLINOMETER, BRASS THERMOMETER

Clock: BOSTON Barometer: BOSTON Bell: NONE SEEN

Running Lights: 12-VOLT DC Anchor Light: 12-VOLT DC

Main Engine – Location: AFT END OF GALLEY No. Type: 1- DIESEL

Make: YANMAR Model: (s) 4JH3-TE Serial No.: (s) E11853

(p) (p)

No. Cyls: 4 RPM: 3800 HP: 55.2 KW Year: 2002

Approx Speed: 7 KT When Overhauled: NOT Pan Under Engine: YES

Engine Bed: WOOD Reduct. Gear: TWIN DISC

Engine Cooling: CLOSED FRESH WATER Ventilation: ATMOSPHERE

Caburator-Flame Arrestor: N/A Blower: NONE

Fuel Pump: MECHANICAL Bowls: ENG FILTER Filters: RACOR

Exhaust Silencer: F/G POT Cooled: RAW WATER

Exhaust Line: WET EXHAUST RATED HOSE

Engine Alternator: 2- 12-VOLT Controls: PEDESTAL MOUNTED

Shaft Logs, Type: BNZ TUBE Bearings: NONE Stuffing Box: FLEX FLAX

Propeller: FEATHERING 3 BLADE Spare: 19” MAX 3 BLADE

Propeller Shafts: STAINLESS STEEL

Struts: DOUBLE ARM BRONZE Bearings: CUTLASS - RUBBER

Propeller Protection: GOOD STBD, POOR PORT Rudder: KEEL HUNG WOOD

Bilge Pumps: LG MANUAL DIAPHRAGM, 12-VOLT RULE 2000, HYDRAULIC BILGE

Pumps: GALLEY & HEAD HAND PUMPS, 12-VOLT PARMAX 4 SW, 12-VOLT SHURFLO GALLEY SW, 12-VOLT SHURFLO MACERATOR GALLEY SINK, 12-VOLT AFT FW, EDSON MANUAL HOLDING TANK

Air Compressor: 12-VOLT FOR HORN Safety Valve: N/A

Toilets: WILCOX CRITTENDEN SKIPPER II w/ HOLDING TANK

Thru Hull Fittings: BRONZE SEACOCKS

MAST & RIGGING

Mast: MAIN AND MIZZEN ARE BOX CONSTRUCTED SITKA SPRUCE

Booms: MAIN, MIZZEN AND STAYSAIL BOOM ARE SITKA SPRUCE

Standing Rigging: 1x19 STAINLESS STEEL WIRE WITH SPLICED ENDS

Running Rigging: BRAID

Sails: MAINSAIL, MIZZEN, STAYSAIL, MIZZEN STAYSAIL, REACHING GENOA

Cover & Awnings: MISC CANVAS COVERS

West Texas sunset.

I'm gonna miss these... Taken at my Uncle Michael's ranch. I also just sent this from my phone via the "mobile blogger" just to see how it worked! This should be helpful! Toodles!