BarneyandDiane

Monday, 27 July 2009

New York, New York

July 27, 2009 - New York NY, United States

We sailed up the New Jersey Coast and into New York. Very Busy harbour with barges, ferries and tripper boats. We saw this famous lady too.

Statue of Liberty

We visited Ellis island, the immigration centre for NY for many years. Lots of interesting history and stylish architecture.

Ellis Island

After 2 days we had enough and left up the East River, nearly got landed on by a plane.

Sea Plane

Saw some crazy mansions built on the top of tower blocks

Mansions in the sky.

And were glad to escape to the relative peace on Long Island Sound.

Saturday, 4 July 2009

Sailing in Chesapeake Bay

July 4, 2009 - Baltimore MD, United States

Shake down sail in June 09

After launching we took a few new friends from the yard sailing. Some who had never sailed, some who needed a reminder of what it was all about.

Anchored near the Washington monument

We sailed north up the Chesapeake Bay taking a week or 2 on a small side Mission to Washington DC.

Tourists in Washington

We spent two days in the noisy city and managed a few memorials, museums and statues before we could walk no more and became tired of tourism.

Getting a tow

We sailed on to Solomons Island up the bay and spent a few days watching the world go by whilst fixing the raw water pump on the engine. We watched this beautiful reproduction boat come into the harbour, but they were unable to drive away from the fuel dock and had to be towed out to see. The skipper should be flogged.

Di and the sunset

Sailing from the sunset

Once all was repaired we had some great sailing days up to Annapolis to meet our first guests of the season.

More sailing from the sunset

Iris and Wilson visit Sea Gal in USA

Iris and Wilson joined us for a week to enjoy the pleasures of cruising.

What happens after we catch it

Wilson donating some equipment and expertise to enable Barney to catch our first fish of the season, an 8 pound cat fish. Wilson also lend the will power to hit it repeatedly over the head so Iris could get it into the oven.

Osprey

A common but still wonderful sight are the Osprey nesting on the marker posts around the bay. Each week the chicks get bigger and louder.

4th July

We also enjoyed the fireworks on the 4th July, but the locals were most surprised when we said we didnt celebrate the day !

Baltimore Harbour

We then sailed into busy Baltimore to bid farewell to our guests, whilst surrounded by dragons !

Thursday, 7 May 2009

Getting the boat ready for 2009

May 7, 2009 - Richmond VA, United States

We flew into Richmond Virginia and back to the boat yard to find our beloved Sea Gal. Then the work started.

Rested after winter and in need of paint

We scraped

Its a dirty job!

And we sanded

Endless rounds of sanding

Then we painted

The painter and her new paint

It was tough

Working hard

Then like proud parents

Proud parents

We let her go for a swim

Launching with the new paint job

Down the ramp and into the water. Off for another summer of adventure. With her new paint and plenty of repairs she was ready for the summer and we were ready for a rest.

Saturday, 20 December 2008

Off to Davos in Switzerland

December 20, 2008 - Davos Dorf, Switzerland

After training it was off to find our new home for the winter. The beautiful Tivoli Lodge. Right on the slope, very new chalet with all the satellite, and wifi we could need. Also a wonderful pool to enjoy ( and fix ).

Chalet Tivoli

View from Chalet Tivoli

Lucy, Ali, Helena and Diane. Chalet Tivoli staff

First order of the day was to meet the new team. Helena , Ali, Lucy and Ayshea.

Aysha, Lucy and Alex. Chalet Tivoli staff

Lucy, Helena, Alex, Christmas 08

Then Christmas seemed to turn up pretty fast.

Lucy and Ayshea, chalet TIvoli staff

Ali and his beloved snow thrower

It kept snowing and Ali kept clearing it away.

The ski touring group Davos '09

We managed plenty of skiing on our days off, and especially memorable day was taken with Tony ski touring. Basically walking up mountains and skiing off-Piste down them. Pretty knackering for us unfit people. But great views.

Off piste skiing in Davos

Phil Smith tromping up

Near the end now Di

Off piste skiing in Davos

Barney at the top of the world

Di skiing Davos

Di's new helmet

Getting arty

Monday, 15 December 2008

Off to the Alps for the winter

December 15, 2008 - Moutiers, France

Well it was off to France for our 2nd season with Descent. We started with a training course in a hotel in Brides-le-Bains near Moutier in France. Diane did a sterling job of organizing the hotel and the logistics of the training, with plenty of spread sheets of course. Barney fixed a few things, and learnt how to set fire to stuff. Mainly some tissue hot air balloons on the last night.

Paper hot air balloons. Descent training '08