Center Cockpit Designs

Center cockpit sailboats are suppose to be easier to sail (we'll find out in a couple of months) due to the height of the cockpit and the fact that about half of the boat is in front and behind the person navigating.  Our sailboat, a Hunter 420, has a nice roomy cockpit and a large deck behind. The other big reason for a center cockpit is that the design allows for a very large aft cabin for extended traveling.

All the comforts of home...away from home.

Sunrise over Still Waters

The sun crests the peninsula that protects the southern side of the entrance to the harbor at Green Turtle Bay. Off in the distance, a pair of fisherman try their luck where the channel from the harbor meets Lake Barkley/Cumberland River.

Play on Words

Boat names are notorious for their play on words. One that caught our eye this past weekend was the aptly named Byrd Ketcher. I assume that the "Byrd" is the last name of the owners and the sailing vessel is a "ketch".  Another assumption is that the owner(s) has an affinity for old Warner Brother cartoons---but I'm just guessing on that one.

Nautical Traditions

Proudly displaying both the Stars and Stripes along with a blonde on the aft deck of the Time and Tide.

Sitting on a Dock of the Bay

Assembling the seemingly necessary dock box for addtional storage. Fairly simple and straightforward.

Dock box completed. Have no idea why they use them yet.

Maybe it is because they can be used as "chick" magnets! Who would have known?!?!

Out with the Old...

One of the many things that needed to get done was removal of the vinyl lettering on the "sugar scoop" on the Time and Tide.  The previous name was a play on the owners name---and no, we are not superstitious on changing a boat's name.

Starting on the starboard side, the vinyl removal is fairly straightforward and other than making sure I keep a bit of balance, it is just a simple task of heating the lettering and adhesive with a hand held hair dryer that was donated for the cause by the little woman applying orange oil below deck.

Vinyl removal complete and was mostly an easy peel, now for the hard part....getting the "gunk" off!!!

Fortunately, I have some "gunk" removal but it still takes time and a lot of elbow grease.

Finally!!!  All the lettering and gunk is gone.  Now for the port side.

Had to take a break...seriously, my arm got tired :)

Down to the "gunk"

And all clean like the starboard side!!!  Now just have to measure and order some new lettering.

Rubbing it in

The little woman was busy today rubbing orange oil into the teak wood throughout the cabins today. They are looking much better but some will need another coat or two to bring out the best look.  Nice citrus grove scent certainly freshen up the stale air.

Sunset at Green Turtle Bay from Slip 50

First day was productive and instructive. Now is the time to kick back, rest and continue in the morning. Got the place to ourselves mostly as our neighbors are either working, planning for the weekend only or not coming at all.

Didn't bring my anaglyph glasses so I have to assume the software did its thing.

Time and Tide is in Her Berth

A serendipitously named Slip 50. After many cartloads of stuff and hours of cleaning she'll be home to us for the next several nights for a little TLC and in-port operational knowledge.

Merry Christmas to All

No Lumps of Coal this Year!!!

Judging from the gift wrapped booty it appears that like there have been a bunch of good boys and girls this year

Kitchen Upgrades

The old oven/microwave combo unit in our kitchen had a small fire inside the microwave a few weeks back and gave us the opportunity to upgrade one of the last of the older fixtures in the kitchen. Still have to modify the drawer below but other than that things are good.

I'll never tell who started the fire......

Variations on a Theme

Was able to get a few photos of car-like pickups.  There were several other car makers that made versions as well.

An Original (mostly)

This was probably the most well kept air-cooled VW I saw over the past few weeks (heck, the last few years). Just moving through traffic in the metroplis of downtown Paracatu.

Supersize Me

While there are many VW vehicles in Brazil---both air and liquid cooled, the large trucks made by VW took me a bit by suprise. The combination above is of course a dump truck, but there were many
variations using the cab and frame---mobile crane (below), box bed (below) and regular semi
truck.

Big Black Beetle

Just your basic beetle running around here in Brazil ---not the German engineered variety (plenty of those) but the kind found in Mother Nature.  This one is about 3" long, very similar in size to some of the larger ones found when I was growing up.

Right Before the Fight Started....

 It seems that male hummingbirds have about the same personalities anywhere you go. In the upper right of the top photo, a near silhouette of a hummingbird roosting after feeding on the flower (the same one the parrot was eating).  Below, another hummingbird wants a bite but the homesteader wants none of it.

And off to the races---upside down!!!!

   This guys are a dark iridescent indigo color with lyre type tails.  I've also seen some of the now normal variety though with the abundance of flowers they are definitely not as numerous as 54 Holly Lane with some good sugar water.

Loud and Proud

The parrot (conure?) is the king of the hill as he begins to dismantle a tasty flower. Seemed to be plucking off the pedals and seed pods then cracking open the seeds as he pulled the petal through his mouth. There are many of these guys along with a few other varieties here in town that pretty much have it made snacking on tropical fruits that are growing in many of the yards as they make their daily rounds.

Miss DHS Dance is Tonight!!!

The Littlest Princess is set to dance the night away (ok, so not the whole night).