Does it seem like I always end up on a raft?
… first time on just the bamboo variety though. We arrived in Yangshuo last night after several metro transfers, a train ride, immigration clearing out of Hong Kong, [read more]
Dim Sum and then Some
The bed at my AirBnB was like sleeping on a board. I actually looked under the sheet to see if there was any kind of mattress going on. Indeed there was. Four fine inches of no give. I say I prefer firm, but this is like lying on the floor with only my yoga mat. I think its designed [read more]
Recovery Day in Hong Kong
I took the bus from the airport (about 45 minutes) to Kowloon. I missed my stop so I walked back an extra half mile or so. This part of town is lit up like Times Square but with a slightly different flavor. Not to worry, there is plenty of neon too. I finally [read more]
Around Brooklyn
I wanted to take it easy today, still plenty of walking (about 6 miles) but a major break from the last couple days. I took the train to the station nearest the Brooklyn Bridge and hoofed on over to it. Up some stairs and you’re on a shared pedestrian-bicycle boardwalk that [read more]
Can’t Get Much More Tourist-y Than This
Today was my day to visit the Statue of Liberty. Mostly clear but cool and windy, I thought this might be my best bet. I decided to get downtown by way of a hop-on, hop-off bus. This started [read more]
Another Day, Another Blister
Actually, no blisters (knock wood) but my feet are feeling it. just over 8 miles walking today. Back on the train to Penn Station this morning. My plan was to go to the observation platform on the Empire State Building but it was windy and a little rainy so I decided [read more]
Manhattan on Foot
14 miles walking recorded by my Fitbit – today was my day to get a feel for the place. I took the train to Penn Station then walked up to see the Flat Iron Building and Madison Park. I then headed for the pubic library and Grand [read more]
Rafting the Merced River Just Outside Yosemite
How fun was this day? Drew, Julie and I booked a 10 mile rafting trip down the Merced River. The heavy winter snowpack made this some of the best water I had seen in years. Drew and I [read more]
Salt Island and the RMS Rhone
We left West End, Tortola yesterday headed to Salt Island. Straight into the wind and current, we motored the whole way. The 12 mile trip took about 5 and a half hours. We had anchored in on the lee side of the island and have a calmer anchorage [read more]
West End, Tortola
Our sail today if from Norman Island to West End, Tortola. This is an opportunity to provision but the store has very little selection of anything. We took a walk along the boardwalk and got to take a quick tour of a very nice yacht that a crew was scrubbing for their next charter. [read more]
The Indians and Pirates Bight
Started the day with a lovely snorkel in the cove. Not many fist but I saw a nice stingray. We pulled anchor and set off for the Indians – four rocks projecting out of the water. There is a nice reef around the whole thing [read more]
Cooper Island
We departed Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda for a 4 mile trip to Copper Island – not much here but some mooring balls. We hooked onto one and were immediately greeted by our token 3 foot barracuda. [read more]
The Baths
Last night we anchored just outside the restricted area for the Baths on Virgin Gorda. It was another rolly night – I decided to change my strategy and sleep sideways on my berth. It helped a bit but I could never stretch out. We had a long and slightly scary swim ashore [read more]
Bubbly Pool & Poison Trees
We left our happy Jost Van Dyke to sail to Little Jost Van Dyke to hike the trail to the bubbly pool. This is part of a rock formation between two islands that creates a jacuzzi pool. The waves roll in over some high rocks and then drop in to the pool [read more]
Jost Dan Dyke – Sharon’s Birthday
Today has been scheduled around celebrating Sharon’s birthday at Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke. We struck out at about 9:00am for the 1.5 hour sail. This is a very busy anchorage and the strategy was [read more]
Leinster Bay, St John
We left St. Croix this yesterday at about 8am. Sailing was almost due north to St. John. We took turns at the helm and got acquainted with the nav equipment. At about 3:30 we entered Drake Channel with St. Thomas and St. John (USVIs) on our left, and Tortola, Norman Island [read more]
Last Day in St Croix
We dinghy’ed to the marina this morning and walked about town for a while. We took a few minutes at the fort and then hit the ATM for our boat money. It wasn’t long before we found ourselves at a dockside bar. Really Mom, its about the WiFi [read more]
SCUBA Graduation and Meet Up with Sailing Yacht
Yesterday we finished up our instruction in the pool and finished with two reef dives in the afternoon. We performed the required tasks, took our final exams and are now PADI certified. We celebrated at Rumrunner with our instructor [read more]
St Croix
We arrived in St. Croix 3:45 yesterday afternoon. We disembarked and were immediately offered rum samples. I was unable to find a taxi willing to transport us to our address in Christiansted. There was a high-priestess [read more]
Best Vacation Ever!
I am back in Male after 7 days in paradise. Every day snorkel, breakfast, move to next reef, snorkel, lunch, explore a small island, snorkel, dinner, rinse and repeat. [read more]
South Male Atoll (Kaafu)
This Hawksbill Turtle was not particularly alarmed by my presence nearby. I was snorkeling the South Male Atoll (Kaafu Atoll) and came upon several. This turtle stuck around and seemed to be as curious about us as we were of it.
Home Sweet Home
I am at the airport to meet up with the group. The boat (pictured above) is a strange blend of fishing and houseboat. There are 4 guest cabins. I will be sharing mine with a 20 year-old girl from Denmark. [read more]
What a Nail-Biter Getting Here
I woke up on Wednesday, to a text alerting me that Lufthansa had just gone on strike. That means that my flight that day from Frankfurt on was cancelled. [read more]
On Top of the World!
Up early this morning to get to the airport where a small passenger plane is waiting to take us up to see Mount Everest. I had come too far NOT to see it. We after about 25 minutes it was in sight. We flew over the very tall foothills but not the high peaks. Miles of incredible scenery [read more]