tandamalaika

[tandamalaika]

Freeport to Florida

The sail from Bahamas to Florida was beautiful, with following seas and enough wind to fill the sails. We all watched the sun dip into the ocean one last time, reflecting on what an amazing weeks it’s been. Matt and Gina are wonderful people. They have big hearts, adventurous spirits, great humor, and beautiful insight to share. Danny and I will miss spending time with them as we go our separate…

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Final hours in Bahamas

Final hours in Bahamas

Wendy and Ferrin Flanders (also known on the boat as Grandma and Grandpa), have been so wonderful to spend time with. It’s a good idea to surround yourself with people you admire and hope to be like, and such beautiful souls like these two, are the perfect example of what kind of people we all should be. In this short time, Grandpa has become quite the sailor! Knowing that we had a short amount…

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Adventuring and helping out

Adventuring and helping out

For our last full day in Bahamas, we decided that in the morning we would explore a beautiful beach and a blue hole or two, and in the afternoon we would shop for the five families in need. Gold Rock Beach is part of Lucayan National Park, and a splendid place to spend some time. We first walked a path that led us to a blue hole restricted to swimmers but open to scuba divers.  Many years ago,…

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[tandamalaika]

Freeport, Bahamas

The sail from the North end of Grand Bahama to Freeport, was calm and uneventful. Not one fish struck, and that was ok, since we have a fridge full of Mahi Mahi and Red Snapper. I’m always amazed at the various colors of the ocean. It’s all incredibly vast and beautiful! Once again, Mintaka brought us safely to our destination, where we docked at Grand Bahama Yacht Club. The facilities here…

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[tandamalaika]

Alice Town to Grand Bahamas

Alice Town to Grand Bahamas

This morning we set sail for Grand Bahamas in light airs. Soon afterward, a beautiful breeze picked up and our sail to the north end was gorgeous with billowing sails and following seas. We set two hand lines and a rod, and immediately felt the tug…tuna on the hook. Time and time again, the reels whizzed…each time we brought in something spectacular. Mahi Mahi are so beautiful and incredibly…

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[tandamalaika]

Fish On!!!

This morning I woke up and grabbed my snorkel gear and camera, and set out to watch the sunrise. Sleeping, sunburned little munchkins lay sprawled and draped about the boat like Dali’s Clocks, and the Sapona looked eerie against the morning light. Inside the rusty hull, stingray and turtle were already moving from patches of light, farther into shadows, and schools of reef fish breathed over…

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[tandamalaika]

Miami to Bimini

This morning we were planning on waking up at 3am to head fo Bimini, but woke up ready to face the world at 2am. The skyline looked beautiful beyond the darkness of the water. By 4am I lay down to nap while Danny manned the helm, then at 7am I took over while he slept. There’s something magical about being on watch at sunrise. Witnessing the world awaken, one soft pastel at a time, it’s an…

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[tandamalaika]

Home

I couldn’t sleep last night…I tossed and turned, then watched Netflix, then tossed and turned more, and the last time I looked at the clock it was 3am. Images of our boat, Tanda Malaika, were sailing through my head. Thoughts of the ocean, of secluded beaches, of full sails and of fishing lines set behind the boat. Finally morning came and we met Mintaka. She’s a beautiful 44ft Fontaine Pajot…

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[tandamalaika]

Meeting up

The Flanders family have been land sailing for the last two years. With an Airstream in tow and three sweet creatures in the backseat, they have traveled around exploring the US. Matt and Gina are a beautiful couple, and Danny and I are so excited to spend time with them and their family. Yesterday we met them at their campground for a delicious lunch and provision planning. There will be nine…

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Back in Florida

You know it’s a good day when you wake up to palm trees. They just don’t seem to grown well at 4800ft in the snow in Utah! Yesterday Danny and I flew to Fort Lauderdale for our next adventure, leaving Mycah, Russell and Emma to tend to the house and chickens. It’s so wonderful to feel some humidity in the air, and to know that not far from our hotel, lies the vast ocean. This journey brings us…

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[tandamalaika]

Change of plans

Life has an interesting way of throwing you curve balls…. Mycah and Travis/Russell/Bradlee arrived and it has been so wonderful to be with them. An incredible relief. The last three weeks on board Yellow Rose has been difficult for many reasons -which I won’t expand on, but understand that it has taken every bit of my emotional strength to power through. I had hoped that with the kids being…

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[tandamalaika]

Ray in his element

Ray in his element

As I stepped outside Yellow Rose this morning, I was greeted by a beautiful sunrise. The air is calm and colors, so warm and vibrant. Morning light intensified over the Hudson River, bringing with it the feeling of hope mixed with melancholy, as Christmas Eve Day begins. My heart is with my family. The past couple of days have been warmer, so I have soaked up as much sun as possible. I’ve sat…

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Don't be a curmudgeon!

Don’t be a curmudgeon!

Today was absolutely gorgeous, with a high of 45! I couldn’t believe it this morning when I woke up and saw that instead of 14 degrees, it was 34! Check out the temperatures predicted for Thursday!!! In several places in the marina, bubblers have been set up, which makes it look like sea monsters are exhaling as they ascend from the abyss. Bubblers are de-icers that keep an area of ice open –…

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Favorites...

Favorites…

Yesterday the sun came out and from inside the boat, it looked incredibly inviting outside. We decided to seize the moment and go for a brisk walk, and brisk it was! We walked along the Hudson River, and aside from seagulls, we were strangely the only ones out there… The cold quickly made its was through my jeans and long johns and burned against my thighs, but it felt so good to be out along…

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Frigid Thursday

This morning I awoke to the sound of howling winds, creaking dock lines and snow covered windows. The predicted winter storm had raged through the night and was breathing its icy breath, leaving a frigid mark for all in her path. The warmth of my electric blanket held me captive until finally I grabbed my clothes, and pulled them in to bed with me to warm them up. There’s nothing like sliding ice…

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Star gazing

Last night I lay in my berth and looked up through the hatch above me, and the Big Dipper looked back. There’s something magical about that. It’s so cold outside, the heater is on inside, I’m deep beneath my blankets, and the stars are above… Yesterday and today it has been especially cold, and tomorrow the forecast calls for a foot of snow. While walking down the iced over dock last night I…

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[tandamalaika]

Leap of faith

Yesterday my journey carried me 2200 miles, to a marina on the Hudson River. 

The air carries the perfect amount of humidity, and 50 degrees feels colder. 

 The road I am on has brought me to a beautiful boat named Yellow Rose, where I will be crewing for a while. I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, but I do know I will learn much as I get my sea legs back and help with projects on the boat…

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