tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51186251718065783372024-03-14T03:09:38.556-04:00Planes, boats and bicycles--sv & rv Odins/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-48763150645108153142018-02-15T09:34:00.000-05:002018-02-15T09:37:14.538-05:00Blog migrationHello friends! We are currently back on the boat in St. Thomas, USVI.<br />
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Since Blogger no longer supports their iphone/ipad app, and their website is incompatible with tablet browers, I am experimenting with migrating the blog over to Wordpress.<br />
Check us out at: <a href="https://planesboatsandbicycles.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">https://planesboatsandbicycles.wordpress.com/</a><br />
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We are also active on our FaceBook page: @svodinthewanderers/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-67309581723076441952017-10-03T15:42:00.003-04:002017-10-03T15:42:47.450-04:00Navigation in an RV<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is your Bible. When all else fails, follow a trucker...</td></tr>
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Nothing ignites a fire storm in a RV forum like "which GPS/navigation system do you use?" The most common are Garmin, Rand McNally & Magellan. Others claim only an atlas is reliable. Many are stuck with what came installed in their RV. <b>A friend's recommendation was make sure it gives advance turn instructions & shows you WHICH LANE you should be in!</b> The best of course is a trucker's GPS (more expensive). However, after doing research and not being able to decide, here's what we cobbled together in the beginning & it still works. I haven't been able to justify spending more money.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><u>DISCLAIMER</u></b>: As pilots and sailors, we can honestly tell you, <b>NEVER TRUST YOUR GPS OVER YOUR EYEBALLS & YOUR GUT</b>. Stop. Pull over. Unhook the dinghy & drive ahead if you have to. All the good stories start with the little voice saying, "I don't like it..." There are plenty of stories about a GPS attempting to turn people off a snow-covered cliff. Your only mistake will be trusting one source of information.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Start with preliminary planning: zoom in on the route in Google Maps and consult an atlas. Have two reliable GPS programs running while driving (we feel slightly more relaxed when they agree). You can still get bad information. (No one from Google Maps will come out to help you unhook, then back up that narrow road with no shoulders. IT'S OUR HOUSE!). <b>I have found no one source of navigation info that is perfect</b>. Every forum is full of people giving examples why they'll never use "X" again. Most importantly, you have to be comfortable with what you are using--load it up on days you don't need it so you're comfortable with the nuances (I prefer that Odin the Sailboat or Winnebago doesn't start moving until we both agree with what is entered, but $hit happens...) Also, the GPS is primarily for navigation. We use a variety of apps to find campgrounds, fuel stops & rest areas. Don't even bother trying to find a GPS that does it all. It doesn't exist.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The roads with orange highlight are trucker friendly</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Truckers' Atlas</b>:</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> We originally purchased the National Geographic Road Atlas from Camping World. It’s helpful for an overview during longer trips, but mostly useless. Buy the <b>Rand McNally Deluxe Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas</b>. If the trucker’s can do it, you should be able to also. (We love following a semi onto roads we’re unsure about). It means there shouldn’t be any width, height or weight restrictions or turns we can’t handle. Highways highlighted in amber are a “designated route for authorized dimensions". The pages are laminated to withstand use & abuse. Did you know the minimum width for highways changes from state to state? (96'-108'). And height also? (13'-15'). The truckers' atlas has a table in the front by state. It's also handy for finding state parks & national forests we want to visit. Our National Geographic Atlas gathers dust. We pull out the Trucker's Atlas daily while on the move. (Many Visitor's Centers still give our State Maps--handy to have in a pinch. A State Atlas is also handy, much this can get expensive if you travel extensively)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Check for construction</b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">: While doing your planning the night before, check each state’s DOT website or call 511. A lot of times, there is nothing you can do about construction areas, except be aware of them (and make sure The Colonel is driving during the majority of them & not me!). However, it may add more time or affect for lunch stop for the day. Sometimes, you may be able to route around. (The truckers' atlas has a list of the DOT websites.)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-Stereo-Audio-Cable/dp/B00NO73MUQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507045829&sr=8-1&keywords=3.5+mm+male+to+male" target="_blank">AmazonBasics-3-5mm-Stereo-Audio-Cable/dp/B00NO73MUQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507045829&sr=8-1&keywords=3.5+mm+male+to+male</a></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Marriage Saver (or driving solo)</b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">: I highly recommend an app or GPS that gives <b>voice prompts. </b> I only have to load our destination, double check the routing matches the atlas, then monitor & give occasional “2 hours out”. Don’t like your voice prompts? That's between you and Bitching Betty! </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">If you look closely at your dash stereo and see an tiny aux input (about the size for headphones) then I HIGHLY recommend getting a <b>3.5 mm male to male stereo audio cable</b>. This runs the audio from our primary navigation iPad, straight through the dash speakers so the driver can clearly hear the voice directions and control the volume. When properly set up, it will also mute any music for the voice prompts.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Maps</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Google Maps</b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">: This is good for initial planning (& the primary in the car) BUT it has limitations for RV navigation:</span></div>
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<li>It always takes the shortest route (sometimes it "appears" to give you options) but it will <b>REROUTE</b> <b>from your original planned route</b> if it sees a slow down ahead. </li>
<li>It uses lot’s of secondary roads and doesn’t recognize height/width/weight restrictions. </li>
<li>The travel time is based on speed limit (the speed limit in South Dakota is 80!) not our normal 62 for fuel mileage. </li>
<li><b>If you lose cell service, it will quit working!</b> You can download small areas for offline use (check out the blog on how to do that here: <a href="http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/01/cheapskates-on-move-saving-data-offline.html" target="_blank">cheapskates-on-move-saving-data-offline.html</a>) but it expires every 30 days and of course, you may not know you need it and then YOU CAN'T DOWNLOAD (good for driving through the Mt Rushmore area, for example. Use Bad Elf for location when there’s no cell service—see below)</li>
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<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Advantages:</span><ul style="font-family: "times new roman";">
<li>We use Google Maps satellite view during planning to zoom in and look at the route (is that a two-lane or 4-lane divided highway?)</li>
<li>As a backup in the RV (on one of our iPhones)</li>
<li>For searching for fuel stops or rest areas without disrupting our primary navigation app (type in “rest area” or “rest stop”). </li>
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(<u>A stand-alone GPS</u>: We don't use a stand-alone GPS. They range in price from $300 on up and they get TERRIBLE reviews. With aviation backgrounds, we'd normally lean towards Garmin. However, with two iPads onboard with big beautiful screens, we have found they work just as well. The initial intention was to have a screen where the driver could see it, but we quickly learned the voice prompts are most important for the driver. The copilot monitors the on-screen map. Also the stand-alones are not user-friendly when it comes to updating the database or downloading additional maps.)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our primary navigation app</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>CoPilot RV USA</b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">: This is an iPad app we originally purchased for $35 (I believe the price is slightly higher now). It is our Primary navigation because:</span><br />
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<li>It has downloaded/offline maps </li>
<li>Allows you to add your RV dimensions so it can check for for restrictions along your route (low bridges, narrow road construction, bridges with weight restrictions)</li>
<li>You can select preferred roads for routing (ie. interstate/highway are primary, then secondary roads, etc). </li>
<li>When you are nearing an exit, it switches to a screen with a diagram of the exit lanes. </li>
<li>You can adjust the route by “skip road” or adding a fuel stop. </li>
<li>Easy to update the database & download additional maps.</li>
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Disadvantages:</div>
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<li>It gives you more voice prompts than necessary. ("Two miles ahead, continue straight when Highway 36 splits off...") These are usually exits, so you wouldn't normally worry about being in the correct lane. It doesn't bother me. The Colonel doesn't like it.</li>
<li>It quits talking when it doesn’t know it's GPS location (even with maps downloaded), SO we are very careful to listen for voice prompts as we initially navigate out of the campground.</li>
<li>During your initial loading of route, you need to zoom in & out with the +/- arrows (it would be nice if you could confirm the route by zooming in & out with the touch screen)</li>
<li>You need a GPS capable iPhone/iPad OR other source of GPS location data--see Bad Elf below. </li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Maps without GPS information</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Maps with GPS information</td></tr>
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<span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><b><u>Bad Elf Pro</u></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">: Wifi only iPads do not have an internal GPS chip (Pilots have been using Bad Elf in flight for over 5 years--here's a great explanation of iPad requirements you need to navigate an RV or airplane: <a href="https://www.foreflight.com/support/faqs/gps/" target="_blank">https://www.foreflight.com/support/faqs/gps/</a>). Without a built-in GPS, Google Maps & CoPilot won't know your exact position. We bought the Bad Elf Pro after I had a brain fart and bought a wifi only iPad. Friends used the Bad Elf to navigate from the Bahamas to Grenada on their boat. It's also handy when you are in a “No Service” areas like National parks that don’t have cell phone towers. It also doesn’t use cellular data. It is relatively simple to use if bluetooth doesn't scare you. (Also good for remote hikes when my MapMyRide app doesn't have any cell service.)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anker 12-v car charger. One in the car & one in the RV</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><u><b>12v car charger</b>:</u> with 2 USB ports (for your primary & secondary navigation devices or Bad Elf because “house” outlets don’t work while driving unless you start the generator). I like this Anker—without getting too technical, some chargers only trickle charge and will not provide enough juice to charge while you are using a navigation app (you need 2.1 amps/port or 4.2 amps minimum for the 2 port pictured above). </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Navigation in the Dinghy</b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">: </span>One disadvantage of being a full-time nomad is simple chores aren’t simple. Buying groceries and doing laundry are good examples. Where’s the grocery store? Is there more than one? Can we stop on the way in with the RV? A laundromat at an RV park is preferred, occasionally a State Park will have a laundry room but usually it involves a run into town. This means a second navigation source for the dinghy/tow car. <br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">For solo laundry & grocery runs in a new town, I use Google Maps on my iPhone (download the area for offline use, if needed—McDonald’s or truck stop on the way in), with volume set to “Louder” (settings, Guidance Volume, LOUDER. Also, “Play voice over Bluetooth” if you have that capability.). We have a dedicated 12 volt phone charger in the car (because after a couple errands, you may not be able to find the most direct route back!). I also recommend an audio cable so you can hear the voice prompts through the dashboard speakers—see above, Marriage Saver).</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Phew! Did you get all that? Of course all this tech changes every year. Let me know your favorite way to navigate...</span></div>
s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-17447189401249580272017-09-05T15:30:00.001-04:002017-09-06T09:24:13.030-04:00Hurricane Irma. Hurricane Warning for Puerto Rico<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our home base in northeastern Fajardo, Puerto Rico</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We are safe in our RV in Colorado. Our boat is insured. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">When we left the boat in storage in June, it was prepped for a hurricane. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We monitor the Caribbean weather daily. We’ve been watching Irma since it was in the mid-Atlantic. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We've experienced a low-wind Tropical Storm & 70 kts at anchor, but this is our first time in the path of a hurricane.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6fNJhKefRBo/Wa7oo8AYf8I/AAAAAAAAE18/WQN9LhPxsrgSJsKl5XLdW4RgULghdOyLACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-1100944232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6fNJhKefRBo/Wa7oo8AYf8I/AAAAAAAAE18/WQN9LhPxsrgSJsKl5XLdW4RgULghdOyLACHMYCw/s400/blogger-image-1100944232.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry boat storage at Puerto del Rey</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Irma's track has been adjusted south this morning and Puerto Rico has officially activated emergency hurricane plans. We are officially freakin worried about our home island, that floods when it rains...</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>“...IRMA BECOMES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>CAT 5 HURRICANE...</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...175 MPH...280 KM/H…</b></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hurricane-force winds extend outward </b></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">up to 45 miles (75 km) from the </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">center </span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><b>and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward </b></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><b>up to 140 miles</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>(220 km)…”</b></i></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MsH1iNCD1Hk/Wa7onoCHtII/AAAAAAAAE14/K4_H7tA-AGI-7Q2oDlS2REJgNtBAuDlKwCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--2147482894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="329" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MsH1iNCD1Hk/Wa7onoCHtII/AAAAAAAAE14/K4_H7tA-AGI-7Q2oDlS2REJgNtBAuDlKwCHMYCw/s400/blogger-image--2147482894.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOAA wind forecast</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><b>Our hurricane plan</b></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">: </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">s/v Odin is in dry storage at Puerto del Rey, Fajardo, Puerto Rico. She's stripped and strapped down. We chose Puerto del Rey because it is largely considered one of the safest storage yards in the Caribbean and is approved by our insurance company.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
<div style="color: #003f7a; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“Puerto Del Rey Marina provides excellent </i></span></div>
<div style="color: #003f7a; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>protection </i></span><i style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">from hurricanes for </i></div>
<div style="color: #003f7a; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">mono-hull and catamarans. </i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Underground hurricane-proof steel and </i></span></div>
<div style="color: #003f7a; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>cement structures are protected from the sea </i></span></div>
<div style="color: #003f7a; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>by 100,000 square meters of US NAVY </i></span></div>
<div style="color: #003f7a; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>controlled mangrove. A block-and-jack-stand </i></span></div>
<div style="color: #003f7a; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>support system is used within a </i></span></div>
<div style="color: #003f7a; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>network of strong tie-down points.”</i></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6Unv6QJ0CSE/Wa7olJaTDTI/AAAAAAAAE1w/vOU4BFKj0zc7MaWPNWtghQ23Zd8-qAKLwCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-1452461960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6Unv6QJ0CSE/Wa7olJaTDTI/AAAAAAAAE1w/vOU4BFKj0zc7MaWPNWtghQ23Zd8-qAKLwCHMYCw/s400/blogger-image-1452461960.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our location in the yard, back row next to a large powerboat</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><b>Hurricane monitoring</b></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">: We receive Chris Parker & NOAA weather forecast emails daily. When there is a threat, we monitor the NOAA Tropical Storm Forecast every 6 hours. There are several other websites that we follow also.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9c9guoST8Lo/Wa7ojap_u_I/AAAAAAAAE1s/s2DXC7UcRk8ng7f4u4nYeupQL8XlINkQgCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-718880712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9c9guoST8Lo/Wa7ojap_u_I/AAAAAAAAE1s/s2DXC7UcRk8ng7f4u4nYeupQL8XlINkQgCHMYCw/s400/blogger-image-718880712.jpg" width="365"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Officially the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic Basin</td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><b>Hurricane Hugo</b></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">: </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hurricane Hugo is the most talked about weather event in Puerto Rico. It was part of the criteria when we chose our storage facility. It was a Cat 5 approaching the islands, Cat 4 over St. Croix and a Cat 3 when it reached Puerto Rico (Cat 4 damage recorded on the ground). You can read more here:</span></div><div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.nap.edu/read/1993/chapter/2#3" target="_blank">https://www.nap.edu/read/1993/chapter/2#3</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sailors may remember that Hurricane Hugo is the storm that took Fatty Goodlander's boat Carlotta, while anchored in Culebra, Puerto Rico. You can read an excerpt here:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.fattygoodlander.com/corina__other_boats/carlottas_end" target="_blank">http://www.fattygoodlander.com/corina__other_boats/carlottas_end</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Latest Chris Parker forecast</u></b>: <i>N PR near SanJuan: ENE<NE@7-15<15-20k Today; then NE<N@15-20g25k overnight-Wed6 morning N@15-30<W@50-70k<SW@40-70k Seas 25-35’ Storm Surge 6-10’ Wed6 afternoon-Wed6 midnight; SW<S@40-70<S@30k Late Wed6 night-Thu7 morning then similar to Guadeloupe-Leewards Thu7 onward</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Webcams</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Puerto del Rey: <a href="http://www.puertodelrey.com/en/boatyard-storage" target="_blank">http://www.puertodelrey.com/en/boatyard-storage</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Fajardo: <a href="https://www.webcams.travel/webcam/1277812058-Weather-Fajardo-Bay-View-from-Rabirubia-Vacation-Rental-Playa-Sardinera" target="_blank">https://www.webcams.travel/webcam/1277812058-Weather-Fajardo-Bay-View-from-Rabirubia-Vacation-Rental-Playa-Sardinera</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Links:</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Chris Parker</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">NOAA Hurricane: <a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/" target="_blank">http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Puerto del Rey: <a href="http://www.puertodelrey.com/en/boatyard-storage" target="_blank">http://www.puertodelrey.com/en/boatyard-storage</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Tuesday morning forecast, NOAA Hurricane Center, Public Advisory:</b> (</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT1+shtml/051742.shtml?" target="_blank">http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT1+shtml/051742.shtml?</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>000</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>WTNT31 KNHC 051159</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>TCPAT1</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Hurricane Irma Special Advisory Number 25</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>800 AM AST Tue Sep 05 2017</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>...IRMA BECOMES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE...</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>...PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION IN THE HURRICANE</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>WARNING AREA...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>SUMMARY OF 800 AM AST...1200 UTC...INFORMATION</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>----------------------------------------------</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>LOCATION...16.7N 57.7W</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>ABOUT 270 MI...440 KM E OF ANTIGUA</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>ABOUT 280 MI...445 KM ESE OF BARBUDA</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...175 MPH...280 KM/H</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...929 MB...27.44 INCHES</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>WATCHES AND WARNINGS</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>--------------------</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The government of the Dominican Republic has issued a Hurricane</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Watch from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti and a</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Tropical Storm Watch from south of Cabo Engao to Isla Saona.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>* Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>* Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>* Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>* British Virgin Islands</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>* U.S. Virgin Islands</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>* Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>* Guadeloupe</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Haiti</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>* Guadeloupe</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>* Dominica</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>* Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engao to Isla Saona</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>dangerous. In this case, for some of easternmost islands, the</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>hurricane conditions are expected within the next 24 hours.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>completion.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>expected somewhere within the warning area in this case within 36</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>hours.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Interests elsewhere in the Dominican Republic, along with Haiti,</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>the Turks and Caicos Islands, Cuba, and the southeastern and central</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Bahamas should monitor the progress of Irma.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>For storm information specific to your area in the United</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>the United States, please monitor products issued by your national</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>meteorological service.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>------------------------------</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>At 800 AM AST (1200 UTC), the distinct eye center of Hurricane Irma</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>was located near latitude 16.7 North, longitude 57.7 West. Irma is</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this general</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>motion is expected to continue today, followed by a turn toward the</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>west-northwest tonight. On the forecast track, the dangerous core of</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Irma will move near or over portions of the northern Leeward Islands</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>tonight and early Wednesday.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Reports from NOAA and U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>indicate Irma continues to strengthen and maximum sustained winds</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>have increased to near 175 mph (280 km/h) with higher gusts. Irma</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>is an extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(220 km).</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The latest estimated minimum central pressure from aircraft data is</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>929 mb (27.44 inches).</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>----------------------</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 7 to 11 feet</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>above normal tide levels along the coasts of the extreme northern</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Leeward Islands within the hurricane warning area near and to the</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>north of the center of Irma. Near the coast, the surge will be</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>accompanied by large and destructive waves.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>moving inland from the shoreline. The water is expected to reach</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>time of high tide...</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>British and U.S. Virgin Islands except St. Croix...7 to 11 ft</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Northern coast of Puerto Rico...2 to 4 ft</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Southern coast of Puerto Rico and St. Croix...1 to 2 ft</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>short distances. For information specific to your area, please see</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>office.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>warning area in the Leeward Islands by tonight, with tropical storm</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>conditions beginning later today. Tropical storm conditions are</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>expected within the tropical storm warning area where hurricane</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>conditions are also possible. Hurricane conditions are expected</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>to begin within the hurricane warning area in the British and U.S.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Wednesday, with tropical storm</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>conditions beginning tonight. Hurricane and tropical storm</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>conditions are possible within the watch area in the Dominican</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Republic by early Thursday.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>RAINFALL: Irma is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>of 4 to 8 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches across</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>the northern Leeward Islands, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands,</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and Puerto Rico. These rainfall amounts may cause life-threatening</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>flash floods and mudslides.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>SURF: Swells generated by Irma will affect the northern Leeward</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>during the next several days. These swells are likely to cause</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>products from your local weather office.</i></span></div>
<div>
<br></div>
</div>
s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com04900 State Road 3 Km. 51.4, Fajardo, 00738, Puerto Rico18.284381 -65.63483099999996318.22409 -65.715511999999961 18.344672 -65.554149999999964tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-72563302180693429842017-08-24T15:09:00.002-04:002017-08-24T15:09:41.717-04:00Hanging with Cowboys in Buffalo, Wyoming<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKQpgfqTjUE/WZcBFTueZcI/AAAAAAAAEzM/3jrauKvJoI8mtdq1WG7gp3IYXoE2s-GHwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKQpgfqTjUE/WZcBFTueZcI/AAAAAAAAEzM/3jrauKvJoI8mtdq1WG7gp3IYXoE2s-GHwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3123.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our spot at the Buffalo KOA "Journey" (apparently there are three different types of KOA's). $47/night</td></tr>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the blog that almost wasn't. I didn’t plan a blog for this stop since it was just a layover, without a lot of exciting photos. BUT, this is a great little town and I hope we get to opportunity to visit again and stay longer! Here's the scoop:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aGE5G-DQ0TQ/WZ360PNZQyI/AAAAAAAAE0g/x5zxlH1u-NMIBJo5bs3hdRdzAHTnU3_ZgCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--1397497543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aGE5G-DQ0TQ/WZ360PNZQyI/AAAAAAAAE0g/x5zxlH1u-NMIBJo5bs3hdRdzAHTnU3_ZgCHMYCw/s400/blogger-image--1397497543.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Map of our KOA next to a Hampton. Nice spot to meet up with family</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It is a short hop (130 miles) from Devils Tower to Buffalo. Campgrounds with openings are slim in peak season (& not cheap!) as we near Yosemite. The result is our first KOA (largest chain of privately held campgrounds in the world). Our scheduled 4 nights became 3 when we stay an extra night at Devil’s Tower (although Buffalo KOA graciously didn't charge us, despite not making the 48-hour notification cutoff). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's a nice campground with a clean laundry room adjacent to a back patio for lounging, an outdoor kitchen for gatherings, a game room, and small cabins for rent (Sturgis motorcyclists were taking advantage of these). We had a shady spot, with only tent campers as close neighbors. However, it filled up on the weekend (& wifi slowed to a crawl).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">My ideal campsite involves a shady spot under the awning & a picnic table. <br />Bonus: The outdoor power outlet works! What a luxury!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffalo is at the crossroads...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Buffalo is at the intersection of I-90 and I-25. This is the end of our trip on the I-90 corridor. We'll be heading southbound on I-25 toward Colorado. This stop also puts us within reach of exploring another National Forest.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Colonel bike ride #1</td></tr>
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The Colonel discovers our location is ideal for some bike riding. There is a "Strava segment" just outside our campground. Our elevation is 4646 ft (note he climbed another 1162 & 1179 ft respectively!)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike ride #2, "That hurt a little."</td></tr>
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Another fun fact for the Longmire fans out there, is the author Craig Johnson lives in the area. Parts of the fictional town of Durant are based on Buffalo including The Busy Bee. So I headed out for walk...<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This shop was closed, but the window display was fun!</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even though the TV show was filmed in New Mexico, many cast members attend the yearly "Longmire Days". We just missed it!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The local "bookstore" turned out to be mostly Craig Johnson & CJ Box!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Craig Johnson's list of things to do from Cowboys & Indians magazine, "The Longmire Loop": </span><a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="async" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cowboysindians.com%2F2015%2F09%2Fthe-longmire-loop%2F&h=ATNXbNQpEs1yK3SoaY1cOTcfwb3qnRbvnE_Ww5oFfjXpMkZsG2iL-MEZJV6Sj7tPcezp1hoJ0kMkWNflCoq-3bb4mieHs8P6Fn4Et07wpe-qCPeIRzXxJoT-2P5UZr4iXtdpaoOBH1DOYjdKr6TeWA4QUYXcy3D4zAHYJKjKz4X7ue_yT0_3-iD4nUjkCF5MASvUERYdcwLzor-qiQ3dKNXgss1d3CLWqp-TRZvrHDEeer6fsVKWOdZJMuUK4-YQko4yGUPKlA3T7jIpDFayLR_suEBGhktup0A7l32O8Q_szQ" rel="noopener" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; letter-spacing: -0.12px;" target="_blank">http://www.cowboysindians.com/2015/09/the-longmire-loop/ </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">C.J. Box is another favorite mystery author whose books are set in Wyoming. He's from Casper & still lives in the area.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Busy Bee, next to the Occidental Hotel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is a genuine "wild west" downtown area, without being touristy/cheesy. Despite being ON the route to Yosemite, it was hopping with locals in Wrangler's & cowboy hats by happy hour.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Carnegie Library that inspired Sheriff Longmire's office and a history museum are also here. Next time!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow. A nice trail system we did not explore enough!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sculpture dedicated to the Basque</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bozeman Trail passes through the area</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Loaf Mountain Overlook (see below for peak names)</td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On our last day, we decided to take the Cloud Peak Skyway Scenic Byway through the "southern loop" of the Bighorn National Forest. We took 16 West from Buffalo to Ten Sleep then returned. Peak elevation of 9666 ft. Our most scenic stop was the Loaf Mountain Overlook. <br />(for more info try the WY DOT Scenic Byway brochure: <a href="http://www.dot.state.wy.us/files/live/sites/wydot/files/shared/Planning/Big%20Horn%20Scenic%20Byway.pdf">http://www.dot.state.wy.us/files/live/sites/wydot/files/shared/Planning/Big%20Horn%20Scenic%20Byway.pdf</a>)</span><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_qMxll7IVMc/WZcB-Ug4SxI/AAAAAAAAEzw/z6b0TcEZ4tQ93wB3jadzAAzyi8TbKUVswCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3146.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_qMxll7IVMc/WZcB-Ug4SxI/AAAAAAAAEzw/z6b0TcEZ4tQ93wB3jadzAAzyi8TbKUVswCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3146.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you have a full day, they recommend doing "the loop": 16 west to Worland, north to Greybull, then 14 west to Sheridan (Bighorn Skyway?) and back south.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road conditions driving in the National Forest</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are in the car, but we're always taking note of road conditions. Could we get Odin the Winnebago up here? Because there at least are four National Forest campgrounds/dispersed camping locations! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The answer is yes. The road is wide sweeping curves with a modest shoulder and rumble strips. After our stop at Devil’s Tower, we are more seriously scouting stops at National Forests. The good news is, the ones we saw were dirt roads but near the main road and looked accessible for our Class A. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USDA Forest Service website is worth checking but not all-inclusive!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There are whole apps/websites dedicated to "boondocking" or camping without hookups. National Forests are one of the options. We haven't found it easy to get info on them, but we're learning. <span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Apparently one of the ways to find these gems, is getting a map of vehicle accessible roads from the park ranger. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recreation.gov does reservations for the campgrounds in Bighorn but does not include all dispersed camping options.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And for the finale: a HUGE ribeye. Can you say, John Candy's 96 ouncer from Great Outdoors?!</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And after seeing </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">real cowboys on horseback herding cattle in the foothills, the boss was in the mood for a steak!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stay tuned for our final stop in Wyoming--Glendo State Park...</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">@WyomingTourism @WyoStateParks #ThatsWY </span></div>
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s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0Buffalo, WY 82834, USA44.3483072 -106.698937544.3028847 -106.7796185 44.3937297 -106.6182565tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-56951347335763795972017-08-18T10:54:00.002-04:002017-08-18T10:54:09.209-04:00Hiking Devil's Tower, WY (Pictorial & Maps)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KAiejkL5yig/WZY7FC21W0I/AAAAAAAAExI/2LifrYarE2sVTvaqNerz73NtaBfBotniQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="640" height="172" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KAiejkL5yig/WZY7FC21W0I/AAAAAAAAExI/2LifrYarE2sVTvaqNerz73NtaBfBotniQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3033.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our hike on Devils Tower to the valley (& campground) below</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Be sure to grab a NPS brochure</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">NOTE: The elevation is 3900 ft at the campground (base of these hikes). You'll need sunscreen or a long-sleeve shirt, hat, eye protection, lots of water (water fountain at visitor’s center), a snack and a trail map.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of Tower Trail around the base of Devils Tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just us and several hundred bikers...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's even more stunning up close</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At one point, the trail goes right up to the base</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><b>Tower Trail (easy, paved, 1.3 miles)</b></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">: If you want a short hike or are limited on time, then the popular Tower Trail at the Visitor's Center is mandatory. There are some great views from here. However, I highly recommend taking the time for one of the two following options:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of Hike #1: Prairie Dog Town</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belle Fourche River or "Pretty Fork River" was named by French fur trappers</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ancient red sandstone cliffs you see from the park entrance</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Beds trail takes you right along the cliffs. Wow!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot The Colonel?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Visitor Center trailhead</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: center;"><b>Hike #1 Red Beds Trail, longer loop (4.1 miles, easy-intermediate)</b></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: center;">: </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Does not included Tower Trail loop. See #2</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: center;">. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Views of Belle Fourche river, the spectacular red sandstone cliffs, Devils Tower and the valley below. Shallower sections through several meadows. (This side of Devils Tower should look look familiar from the movie, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".)</span></div>
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<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From the Belle Fourche Campground (see Campground Review blog: <a href="http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/08/camping-at-devils-tower-wy.html" target="_blank">camping-at-devils-tower-wy.html</a>), take Valley View Trail along Prairie Dog Town and the Belle Fourche River for 0.6 mi. </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cross the road & head up towards Red Beds Trail </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Turn RIGHT on Red Beds Trail for 3 miles. (</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-style: italic;">You’ll have a more gradual climb than turning left and you’ll hike along the red cliff’s with a view down on the valley).</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> </span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">About halfway, you’ll pop out at the Visitor’s Center (Tower Trail is another 1.3). </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Continue on Red Beds until you reach the South Side Trail </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then head back down for 0.6 miles, back across the road, through the Prairie Dog Town to the campground.</span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two routes through Prairie Dog Town</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pick your direction--left or right</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A clearly defined, but single-file trail on hike #2</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><b>Hike #2 Red Beds shorter loop with Tower Trail (4.2 miles, intermediate)</b></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was the hike we did first, but we both agreed the one above was our favorite. Spectacular views of the river valley and Devils Tower.</span></div>
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<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From the campground, take the 0.6 miles South Side Trail through the Prairie Dog Town,</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cross the road, then climb up to join Red Beds Trail. (This was the steepest part) </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then turn left for a 0.7 mile more gentle climb than the first segment (but steeper than Hike #1) to the Visitor’s Center (and for us, a COMPLETELY FULL parking lot full of Harley’s). </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tower Trail is a 1.3 mile gently rolling, paved path. (Total elevation climb from the campground at 3900 ft to 4400 ft). This is fabulous walk because the Tower changes with the light. There are American Indian prayer flags visible from the path. You will be able to see several groups of rock climbers. We saw a white tailed buck, hawk, and bluebird.</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Return the same route.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>NOTE: While headed out on Hike #2, we ran into a family with two kids (8 & 10?), walking down the main road from the KOA. We pointed them down to Southside Trail (Hike #1) as the shortest distance to the Visitor's Center. As we reached the Visitor's Center, I wondered what happened to them. A short distance later, we found them stopped & enjoying the view. Their youngest daughter in flip flops, looked tired but was excited and was "glad they came"--although, they were a little disappointed we had caught them already! So I call it intermediate because of the altitude, and it's not paved, but definitely possible even for kids. Just stop to take pictures & catch your breath!</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting rock formations with a small cave</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The intrepid adventurers...(intersection of Valley View & South Side--both hikes)</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><u>Option #3</u></b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">, next time: Valley View, right on Red Beds Trail, Joyner Ridge Trail loop, return. (4.9 miles?)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2385100355" target="_blank">http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2385100355</a></td></tr>
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Screenshots from MapMyRide of our hikes. Click on the links to see more.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2382945227" target="_blank">http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2382945227</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><u>Reference links</u>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">NPS map: </span><a href="https://www.nps.gov/deto/planyourvisit/hiking.htm" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">https://www.nps.gov/deto/planyourvisit/hiking.htm</a></div>
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Another hiking website with maps: <a href="https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7012726/red-beds-trail" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7012726/red-beds-trail</a></div>
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A good way to find hikes: mapmyride.com</div>
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#FindYourPark <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">@WyomingTourism #ThatsWY @WyoStateParks</span><br />
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s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com2Devils Tower National Monument, WY-110, Devils Tower, WY 82714, USA44.5902098 -104.7146167999999917.882508299999998 -146.0232108 71.2979113 -63.406022799999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-28612843485930756482017-08-17T16:11:00.000-04:002017-08-17T16:11:40.155-04:00Camping at Devils Tower, WY<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devil's Tower National Monument</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For this stop/blog, I recommend </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Watching the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" to get in the mood. It just so happens to be the 40th anniversary! (<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">After an encounter with U.F.O.s, a line worker feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen. L</span>ink for the rerelease trailer on YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/dSpQ3G08k48" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/dSpQ3G08k48</a>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Download the theme song to play during your hike around the base of the tower or at sunset in the campground </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Make mashed potatoes to accompany all of the above (a friend mentioned this on FB & I thought it was brilliant!)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Why Devils Tower?</u></b> (no apostrophe) The various Indian names for the landmark include "</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Bear's Lodge," "Bear's House," "Bear's Tipi," and "Bear Peak". "</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Aloft on a Rock" and "Tree Rock." </span><span style="background-color: white;">"Bear Lodge Butte," "Grizzly Bear's Lodge," "Mythic-owl Mountain," "Grey Horn Butte," and "Ghost Mountain." One version of the story is an interpreter mistakenly calling it "Bad God's Tower".</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>History</u></b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Devils Tower or Bear Lodge has long been considered a sacred place by the American Indians. It's believe French fur trappers visited the area, but the first documented white expedition was in 1859 (they were on their way to Yellowstone). It was designated as a U.S. forest reserve in 1892 and was declared America's first National Monument in 1906 by President Roosevelt. It's also </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">popular with rock climbers with the first recorded ascent by local ranchers in 1893. (We could see at least four from every angle.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It also has an interesting geological history with different theories on it's formation, but you'll have to research that on your own.</span></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Herbert Collins painting depicting the Cheyenne version of the folklore courtesy NPS.gov</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Summary of the story of its creation, </u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>according to the Akta Lakota Indian Museum</u></b>: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">A Lakota tribe was traveling through the area </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">when several little girls wandered off </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">and were surrounded by a pack of hungry bears. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">The girls huddled together on a hill </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">as the bears began climbing after them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">The earth shook and groaned </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">as the little knoll, began to rise out of the ground, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">carrying the children high into the air. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">The frustrated bears growled and clawed at its sides. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">Sharp pieces of rock broke away from the rising spire </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">and crashed down upon the angry bears.” </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">(</span><a href="http://aktalakota.stjo.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8792" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">http://aktalakota.stjo.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8792</span></a><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example of the road conditions. Little bumpy. Devil's Tower in the distance</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Devil's Tower is the CoPilot's pick while in the area. The Belle Fourche campground on the National Park grounds is first-come, first-serve (NO RESERVATIONS), for $20/night! The KOA just outside the National Park grounds is $60+, a no-go on principle. As previously mentioned, it's the Sturgis Bike Rally and peak tourist season in the Yosemite/Rushmore corridor but The Colonel agrees to roll the dice. Alternate? WalMart parking lot in Gillette.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s a short hop across the Wyoming border from Rapid City (110 miles from our campground) with an elevation gain of 1300 ft. After leaving I-90, it’s 27 miles of winding and hilly road with a narrow shoulder (but still a truck route per our Rand McNally Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas). It's our most challenging drive yet, with a 9% downhill grade and a peak elevation of 5000 ft. Based on the number of motorhomes we pass going the other way, we are hopeful. I'm breathless as the Tower appears in the distance. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12px;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A short line at the entry gate</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We arrive at the National Park gate behind a line of Harleys ($15, no NPS senior pass YET). We are instructed to pull in & unhook the dinghy a mile inside the entrance (for those wanting to continue onto the Visitor’s Center) but this is also the entrance to the campground.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Maps view of Belle Fourche</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our favorite pic from this stop</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm hyper as we unhook {snap, snap, snap—see The Colonel’s fav photo above) and I bolt off in the car to not only find a spot (there were plenty) but to find the BEST spot, which I had studied on Google Earth and reviews (turns out it's not necessary to unhook for navigating the campground). We end up in a primo spot in Loop A, facing Devil’s Tower with no neighbors except the camphost two spots in front of us.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Devils Tower through the trees</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our campground, nestled in the Belle Fourche river</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The pull-thrus are big enough for our 36 ft Winnebago, with good views, some shade and are relatively level. There is no electricity or dump station (there are multiple water spigots but not at each site). We’re basically dry camping or "boondocking", but it’s 79F with 29% humidity and a light breeze. The quandry is, without electricity, do you want shade to keep cool? Or sunlight for our solar panel? We compromise (we run the generator for 30 min before sunset. It's a nervous night, since our generator will auto-start if the batteries get low and that's a no-no during quiet hours!) The good news is, we awoke to the same 12.6 we went to bed with.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHmieW3POZI/WZTBj54NyjI/AAAAAAAAEvo/a3t3r_SXIFoj88cachyl2hGjDIsLnlstQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHmieW3POZI/WZTBj54NyjI/AAAAAAAAEvo/a3t3r_SXIFoj88cachyl2hGjDIsLnlstQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3015.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view our spot</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You pay on honor system but the Camphost and Park Rangers make regular rounds, so be honest! (The Colonel took down our slip as we prepped to leave & the Camphost stopped to ask for it...) We originally paid for one night but we ended up staying two. We drove all this way after all! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our moderate shade, the trees will effect your view</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We still aren't the biggest RV in the campground. Including us there are 4 class A’s, and three fifth wheels. The rest of the 50 campsites were tent & van campers. The first night was full was late afternoon, but that didn't stop a few people from driving through after dark. (The second night did not appear full & was mostly tent campers).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prairie Dog's keeping a close eye on us</td></tr>
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<li><u style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Visitor’s Center</u><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">: The parking lot was full of Harley's so we didn't stop</span></li>
<li><u style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Prairie Dog Town:</u><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Dang they're cute & make a funny chatter as you walk by. This was a popular turnout with the Harley's</span></li>
<li><u style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Hike:</u><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> (stay tuned for a link) There turned out to be some great hikes from the campground but we met people who hiked from the KOA!</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> </span></li>
<li><u style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Nothing:</u><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> This was a very quiet, peaceful campground and aside from the distant hum of motorcycles during the day, it couldn't have been darker or quieter at night!</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5MSn2tm6xtw/WZTCFQqfUWI/AAAAAAAAEvw/RNLuzObwTkkjeDdvUpVqLIsSE7XIN_WDwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5MSn2tm6xtw/WZTCFQqfUWI/AAAAAAAAEvw/RNLuzObwTkkjeDdvUpVqLIsSE7XIN_WDwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3021.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the trail that starts at the campground (Prairie Dog Town)</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Summary</u></b>: </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This stop is difficult to explain. Even The Colonel acknowledged there is a different vibe here. The Indians believe it is a spiritual place and we'd have to agree. Everything from the fact that I had trouble sleeping at night because I felt wide awake to the incredibly clear pictures I took with my iPhone. It's difficult to describe. If you didn't spend the night on the grounds, you'd be missing a part of the magic. It's also a truly unique geographical feature that is even more spectacular in person.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If nothing else, this stop has inspired The Colonel to add another solar panel or two. If the temps are reasonable, and we keep the stops to 5 days or less, more extreme boondocking is closer to reality for us. (Watch for our stop at Glendo State Park!)</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stay tuned for our hikes around Devils Tower!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>References</u></b>:</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">NPS: <a href="https://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm" target="_blank">https://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm</a></span><br />
Akta Lakota: <a href="http://aktalakota.stjo.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8792" target="_blank">http://aktalakota.stjo.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8792</a><br />
Wikipedia: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Tower" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Tower</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">@WyomingTourism #ThatsWY @WyoStateParks</span></div>
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s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0Devils Tower National Monument, WY-110, Devils Tower, WY 82714, USA44.5902098 -104.7146167999999917.882508299999998 -146.0232108 71.2979113 -63.406022799999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-56858016303730559902017-08-11T18:08:00.001-04:002017-08-24T13:18:44.216-04:00Rapid City, SD Part 2 Scenic Drives<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixa4EUdOI9o/WYob_bCizpI/AAAAAAAAErE/YPInyw3HVtcIY3GF77M0i5hfyAu6kPZVgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixa4EUdOI9o/WYob_bCizpI/AAAAAAAAErE/YPInyw3HVtcIY3GF77M0i5hfyAu6kPZVgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2790.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Rushmore in the Black Hills</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ve been to Mt Rushmore twice for work, but The Colonel has never been. We’re up early. We forgot the time change and are on the road by 8:30 am—the best way to beat the crowds. Another advantage of our location is we’re right on Business-16, the truck route for Rushmore which circumnavigates downtown Rapid City. We see more motorhomes pulling enclosed trailers than motorcycles. We pass two nice looking RV resorts just as we enter the National Forest and make note: Mystery Mountain Resort if you like shade and gravel pads. Rushmore Shadows RV Resort for big flat, paved spots (but not a tree in the place).</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don't forget a paper map or download Google Maps for the area (link: <a href="http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/01/cheapskates-on-move-saving-data-offline.html" target="_blank">planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/01/cheapskates-on-move-saving-data-offline.html</a>) </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">because cell phone reception is spotty in the Black Hills National Forest.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQpPzprfXLE/WYocIvrr-iI/AAAAAAAAErE/O7J1mcsSvX0pt2BZpJtJLhazLfXZHJIegCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQpPzprfXLE/WYocIvrr-iI/AAAAAAAAErE/O7J1mcsSvX0pt2BZpJtJLhazLfXZHJIegCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2796.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Colonel trying to figure out, "How did they do that?"</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We pay our $10/car, park in the parking garage (was there always a parking garage?) and head in. There is a decent crowd for so early and we take the 0.6 strenuous loop (giggle now but high elevation and lots of stairs actually had me out of breath). I get some amazing shots from this angle. The Colonel wants to go around again!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy Horse Memorial</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We continue through the Black Hills National Forest for 20 minutes to the Crazy Horse Memorial which came highly recommended ($22/car). It started in 1948, when Lakota elder Henry Standing Bear commissioned the sculpture. They have a long way to go! There is a large collection of Indian artifacts from all over the country in the Museum. Maybe we were getting tired, but this wasn't our favorite stop. We continue into the town of Custer for lunch and caught up with our first large group of motorcycles.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group of Harley's join us in Custer for lunch</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We stumble into a nice cafe that serves buffalo burgers (on gluten-free bread!) A few bikers wander in for lattes...After spending $30 on lunch (an expensive tourist day!), we head back through Custer State Park.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artists have painted buffalo and they are on display around the town of Custer </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of three one-way tunnels (note the skid mark...)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's $20 for a weeks pass at Custer State Park. We drive the 16A route through the middle (we later learn that you could drive this route for free but I plan to return for the Wildlife Loop) and spot a few nice campgrounds to add to the list (Grace Coolidge & Game Lodge, easily accessible for big rigs but booked solid despite the few empty spots we see). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We choose the Iron Mountain Road route for our return through the Black Hills (popular ride for the bike rally) since it has the most tunnels (No, we couldn't have gotten Odin the Winnebago back here!) It's a narrow, winding, one-lane road and the tunnels end up being hazardous. We see the aftermath of one motorcycle accident in one tunnel and in another tunnel, apparently they didn't get the message, and a van tries to join us IN the tunnel from the opposite direction! Peak elevation for the drive is 4200 ft.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first herd of bison off in the distance</td></tr>
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I highly recommend setting aside a morning for the Wildlife Loop Road through Custer State Park. The geography is very different from the National Forest, with breathtaking and peaceful rolling plains. The best time to see tatanka (Lakota word for bison) is morning or evening when the wildlife is most active. I ditch The Colonel and was on the road by 6:30 am (but I wish I'd left earlier!) You can take the route through the National Forest if you like, but if you've already been through, I recommend following the signs to the East Entrance to maximize your time here.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFHKlbMRzZw/WYodJ56nssI/AAAAAAAAErE/8CdWxzZqzPIV8ie3nQXYas7WEfH26SuMQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFHKlbMRzZw/WYodJ56nssI/AAAAAAAAErE/8CdWxzZqzPIV8ie3nQXYas7WEfH26SuMQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2922.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One half of the herd on one side of the road</td></tr>
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Just inside the entrance, I had spotted a herd off in the distance, then another lone bull near the road. However, about halfway through the park, as if on cue, I rounded the corner to a herd that was working it's across the road, with traffic stopped!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ws9Bbwq7DqE/WYodI_jloOI/AAAAAAAAErE/HYOkQq55Hbc53rRywrhqBViqTuWWGo9cgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ws9Bbwq7DqE/WYodI_jloOI/AAAAAAAAErE/HYOkQq55Hbc53rRywrhqBViqTuWWGo9cgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2934.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A South Dakota traffic jam</td></tr>
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A game warden quickly arrives and monitors the herd, advising everyone to stay in their cars (except for the two lone motorcyclists, of course) because the bull's are in rut. He gets out a whip to encourage a lone buffalo that was eyeing the cars to take another way around.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yDcQYnOP34Y/WYodU4C-1II/AAAAAAAAErE/d7OlMw6dpAgKsE8LafOKtVfsj88NMDIawCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yDcQYnOP34Y/WYodU4C-1II/AAAAAAAAErE/d7OlMw6dpAgKsE8LafOKtVfsj88NMDIawCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2946.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other half of the herd on the other side of the road. See the baby?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We ran out of time before we could do some hiking, explore the George S. Mickelson bike trail or drive the scenic Needles Highway. Next time.<br />
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To get in the mood for your visit, I recommend the movies: "Dances with Wolves" (filmed in the area and several museums advertise props from the movie), or "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee".<br />
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Stay tuned for last stop in the area, Devil's Tower!s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0Custer State Park, 13329 U.S. 16A, Custer, SD 57730, USA43.7442368 -103.4305789999999720.574158800000003 -144.73917299999997 66.9143148 -62.121984999999967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-34062922513594852852017-08-10T18:00:00.002-04:002017-08-18T10:27:38.613-04:00Rapid City, SD Part 1 Museums<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fiLdwiThQEI/WYob-RThb9I/AAAAAAAAEps/X7k-90gMz1sTh_k9aqHeRPXlUZ0PiYTCQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fiLdwiThQEI/WYob-RThb9I/AAAAAAAAEps/X7k-90gMz1sTh_k9aqHeRPXlUZ0PiYTCQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2779.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">America's Mailbox RV Park</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Before departing St. Louis, friends reminded us to check the dates for Sturgis bike week. Dang! We'd be arriving the week before with an overlap. All the state park campgrounds were already booked a month in advance (even the weekdays, our bread & butter). I resorted to calling around on the phone & the first campground laughed, “They start arriving two weeks before the rally! We’re full!” I started working my way east with the second phone call and hit pay dirt. “Wow. We have a spot. I can’t believe it. You know it’s the Sturgis bike rally, right?”</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We arrive in Box Elder, South Dakota (between Rapid City & Ellsworth Air Force Base) with The Copilot behind the wheel. America's Mailbox RV Park is behind the Flying J, along I-90 and is basically a gravel lot. No shower house, no laundry, no shade, but there is wifi for $10 (we used our T-Mobile for streaming) and our reserved spot has full hookups (electricity, water, sewer). </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We paid double their normal rate, since it was Bike Week. Nothing fancy but good location for running around since it was right on Business/Truck Route 16.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nJPBhg32G0k/WYob8PqbOEI/AAAAAAAAEpo/xJaYeqzW0RkgxcWAdjsyfkHi5vqGzBLGQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nJPBhg32G0k/WYob8PqbOEI/AAAAAAAAEpo/xJaYeqzW0RkgxcWAdjsyfkHi5vqGzBLGQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2783.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first Rapid City sunrise</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We’ve slowly climbed to an elevation of 3200 feet (the gas mileage on this tank will only be 8.0 mpg) The average high for our stay in late July is less than 80F but it's crazy windy (we never found our entry rug).</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3HZyEWTbRQc/WYocr_OctII/AAAAAAAAErE/NHUbwh1j-TY2_6Si7oEUVyxhpxVCIA35gCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3HZyEWTbRQc/WYocr_OctII/AAAAAAAAErE/NHUbwh1j-TY2_6Si7oEUVyxhpxVCIA35gCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2865.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minuteman Visitor's Center</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We rarely miss an Air & Space Museum but there are some unique sites in the area related to the Cold War Era. I recall "duck and cover" drills during school--like hiding under our desks would save us from a nuclear attack. The movie, "The Day After" was filmed in my hometown of Kansas City and was so controversial many parents wouldn’t allow their children to watch it (I did). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Minuteman Missile Museum is actually five locations. Interestingly enough, I never considered that as the missile launched, it destroys the silo. Therefore Launch Control is in a different location and actually controlled ten or more missile silos in the area. The five locations we visited are:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Visitor Center</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Delta-01 Launch Control Facility (requires reservations)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Delta-09 Missile Silo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">South Dakota Air & Space museum (Ellsworth AFB)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Base Tour (training silo)</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">To get in the mood for your visit, I recommend the movies: War Games, Red Dawn or Hunt for Red October. </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;">Visitor Center</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> along I-90 is a small, free, museum about the Cold War and has an overview of the Launch Control facility.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AwjUkoPvxg/WYocntb3IoI/AAAAAAAAErE/G75-MxaFuYooKhfz8yNNL0UfWwmL7BDIgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AwjUkoPvxg/WYocntb3IoI/AAAAAAAAErE/G75-MxaFuYooKhfz8yNNL0UfWwmL7BDIgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2863.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A diagram of the control center</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold;">Ranger-guided tour of Launch Control facility: </span>This used to be first-come, first-serve but now requires reservations ($9/each. My original reservations were a week in advance but we heard they were up to a month in advance from the Ranger. Monitor the website daily for cancellations--and click fast if you see any available! A woman tried to guilt me into handing over my tickets so they're whole family could go in together. Um, NO!). We walked through<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> the living accommodations up top, then went down into the capsule, behind a 3 1/2 foot thick door. When decommissioned in 1993, they learned three missiles were pointed at this location and the Russians came to inspect after everything was decommissioned. The treaty allowed us to keep this one launch center for historical purposes.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wL_8TMXD-iQ/WYocd7-4S7I/AAAAAAAAErE/CZ26DMxYyVI7JzpYSuofqo8RenN0gilswCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wL_8TMXD-iQ/WYocd7-4S7I/AAAAAAAAErE/CZ26DMxYyVI7JzpYSuofqo8RenN0gilswCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2862.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delta-01's blast door: "30 minutes or less" from silo to the target</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Much like the aircraft nose art of World War II, the launch control's blast door was frequently painted by the crew. You can do an internet search to find more.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1bDTbCzbs4s/WYocZ7WKZwI/AAAAAAAAErE/FjPwND4HY2MBYz7LPtkLOwLQba020xAFgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1bDTbCzbs4s/WYocZ7WKZwI/AAAAAAAAErE/FjPwND4HY2MBYz7LPtkLOwLQba020xAFgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2856.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just like the movie War Games</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N64Aifh6UfY/WYpBs073JJI/AAAAAAAAErs/fLFLkdAYk2YllR1bWHCZfAQfu9DKKoKoACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N64Aifh6UfY/WYpBs073JJI/AAAAAAAAErs/fLFLkdAYk2YllR1bWHCZfAQfu9DKKoKoACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_0793.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Google Map view of the Delta-09 formerly active missile silo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Exit 116 is an </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold;">actual</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold;">Minuteman Missile Silo</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> that is no longer active. It is a nondescript, low structure right off of I-90. They have placed a glass dome over it, so you can look down the silo. This stop & the audio tour are also free. A park ranger is available during certain hours to answer questions. (We were told they had the lid off earlier in the day for a movie filming but it was back on when we arrived.) NOTE: Once you know to look for the silos, you can see them from the road, otherwise you drive right by. There are still Minuteman III silos active in the U.S. but not in SD. If you have time to spare, you can use Google Earth to look for other defunct silos that still reside on private land. One rancher later dug up the copper wiring to a tune of $75,000!!!</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37fYvLEA_l0/WYocih2Ah7I/AAAAAAAAErE/M2qwlw37-lsSjGqjPZydhl4-Ex-DI6VKgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37fYvLEA_l0/WYocih2Ah7I/AAAAAAAAErE/M2qwlw37-lsSjGqjPZydhl4-Ex-DI6VKgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2864.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ten silos surrounding the control center</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJXBefGCJNI/WYocONyGh6I/AAAAAAAAEqE/2PUvm3H62O8QsX9UbkUVKRlyolgPWqvIQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2830.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJXBefGCJNI/WYocONyGh6I/AAAAAAAAEqE/2PUvm3H62O8QsX9UbkUVKRlyolgPWqvIQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2830.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;">South Dakota Air & Space Museum</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">is located just outside Ellsworth Air Force Base and is free! Built in 1942, it was the home of the B-17 bomber wing in World War II, followed by B-29 Superfortress and B-52 Stratofortress. Ellsworth was also a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base. The only aircraft now based here is the B1-B (we were very fortunate to see them fly over twice). </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xbe7WQOJQzQ/WYocR34mi5I/AAAAAAAAEqM/xbgNluRKS9QSsUlIWsUNsAjabyVR1iWOQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xbe7WQOJQzQ/WYocR34mi5I/AAAAAAAAEqM/xbgNluRKS9QSsUlIWsUNsAjabyVR1iWOQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2840.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Training silo maintenance hatch that took 45 minutes to open</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;">Ellsworth AFB bus tour: </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From the museum, you can take a</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> $9/each bus tour of the base which includes going DOWN INTO the silo used for training maintenance personnel. If you're tight on time, do the base tour first. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(Bring an ID and be ready for a background check at the gate. Any outstanding warrants will get you arrested!) </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And yes, commercial aircraft have mistaken the AFB for the civilian airport with the same runway configuration ten miles away (No, I never landed here but I did fly into Rapid City a few times).</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mqtCTnu-1Ik/WYocOctJsFI/AAAAAAAAErE/rlnPxYzk9DAJWjQJ_eDidg37iBDqn5p7QCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mqtCTnu-1Ik/WYocOctJsFI/AAAAAAAAErE/rlnPxYzk9DAJWjQJ_eDidg37iBDqn5p7QCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2839.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The training silo from the maintenance level</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e89oZUQDO2U/WYocZUH8J1I/AAAAAAAAEqQ/Ji6GW7zKjIM0zF1p19BM-OOfbkUF2mHqQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e89oZUQDO2U/WYocZUH8J1I/AAAAAAAAEqQ/Ji6GW7zKjIM0zF1p19BM-OOfbkUF2mHqQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2843.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trailer that delivered the missiles to the silo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(Ironically, as I edit the final version of this, we turn on the news and see the North Koreans are pointing missiles at us.)</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79VsLVEWhgA/WYodU88GDDI/AAAAAAAAErA/l2HF_dHh4DM9eBmjXQ1tKhdVq-QeytIlgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79VsLVEWhgA/WYodU88GDDI/AAAAAAAAErA/l2HF_dHh4DM9eBmjXQ1tKhdVq-QeytIlgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2964.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Museum of Geology</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another free museum in Rapid City is the <b>Museum of Geology</b> at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. The collection of fossils, mostly from the Black Hills area is awe inspiring, with specimens still being unearthed in the area today. Their mineral collection includes samples from around the world. The school opened in 1885 and is historically significant for at least two reasons: 1) the gold mines in the area from the 1870's until 2002 when Homestake mine was closed. 2) The evolutionary theory that the Bering Land Bridge allowed people and animals across to the Americas from Asia. South Dakota lays right in that path of migration. The area was also underwater at one point indicated by the fossils of crab, lobster and other salt water creatures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stay tuned for our scenic drives around the Rapid City area...</span></div>
s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0Rapid City, SD, USA44.0805434 -103.2310148999999943.8980029 -103.55373839999999 44.263083900000005 -102.9082914tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-23302869998925610862017-08-07T19:19:00.003-04:002017-08-18T10:28:03.732-04:00Campground Review, Left Tailrace. Chamberlain, SD<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of US Army Corp of Engineers website</td></tr>
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After ten days in Forest City, Iowa it's time to hit the road. We've decided to take the scenic route to Colorado. We're heading north into Minnesota, then I-90 west through South Dakota to Buffalo, WY then southbound. Our big stop is Rapid City, South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore. The tricky part of this route is that it puts us on the much traveled route to between Rushmore & Yellowstone. We usually like to wing dates and stops, but we had to make a few reservations for this trip. Specifically, because of the Sturgis bike rally the first week of August!<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"There's a front-loader and an RV in a round-about... </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>(Insert joke here. We just crossed into #Minnesota. Check!)..."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"We're streaming 93.7 Denver on iHeartRadio but our CoPilot navigation app keeps switching the music to Kenny Chesney. It took me awhile to convince The Colonel that it wasn't me!"</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our first billboard for Wall Drug 355 miles.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The rain delayed our departure but we got in 144 miles after lunch. First</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> stop is <a href="http://www.adrian.govoffice2.com/index.asp?Type=B_LOC&SEC=%7B37BF5E1E-0906-41FC-9285-598A01179A51%7D" target="_blank">Adrian, MN Municipal Park Campground</a> which is shaped in a circle! $30/night. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We only stayed here for the night. It was easy access off the road, the staff was friendly and it was a quick in & out with a swing through the truck stop the next morning. I'm refraining from a full review, but the shape is either ingenious or weird. I couldn't decide. It does make your spot pie shaped which was tolerable but I could see how it could get tricky if the park was full. They also don't understand "pull-thru". We were able to pull through one spot into our spot without unhooking, but the dinghy hung into the spot behind us (which was empty). Not a true pull-thru--especially if they were full.</span><br />
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<i><i>"The Copilot took the wheel today! </i></i></div>
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<i>I drove from our campground to a rest stop (1 1/2 hours). Of course, we went into three different construction zones that involved lane changes, riding the right AND left hand lines and cones on our side of the line! Terrifying, but then the open road is SO much easier! It was equally terrifying for The Colonel but he was a good sport!</i><i></i><br />
No RV's were damaged."</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The campground in the middle of the Missouri River and below the dam! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Headed to our first Corp of Engineers campground. Tours of the Big Bend Dam sealed the deal (there are more upriver if you want to explore). </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Recreation.gov only took reservations more than 24 hours in advance so I</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> called before departing Adrian and were told, "Come on up! We have room. We'll let you in early." (Normal check in/out is 4:00 pm! </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We were able to get a</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> r</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">eservation for the weekend when we arrived on a Thursday).</span> </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Passed the exit for the Laura Ingalls Wilder house in DeSmet, SD.</i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">"We found the Missouri river, ya'll. We are not lost!"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: left;">We turned just before the Missouri River and followed the river north from an elevated position. </span>Panorama from the overlook just north of Chamberlain</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's the furtherest we've wandered off the highway in search of the perfect spot (30 miles). The rolling hills of South Dakota were breathtaking as we followed the Missouri River north, along a portion of the </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Native American Scenic Byway (</span><a href="https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways/byways/2596/maps/South_Dakota_Section" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways</a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">) </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">through the Crow Creek reservation, to our campground. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Dakota section of Native American Scenic Byway courtesy of www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Directions</b>: We had the GPS & directions from the Recreation.gov website </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">but it was still a little confusing </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(recreation.gov below, italics are mine)</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">. They advise taking Hwy 50 up the east side of the river. This is the most scenic drive. However, we departed on Highway 47 & according to our Trucker's Atlas, it is an equally suitable road.</span></div>
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<li>From west bound I-90 take exit 265 at Chamberlain SD, </li>
<li>Turn right on to Highway 50 (<i><b>also Main Street just before the bridge crossing the Missouri River</b></i>) travel approximately 16 miles,</li>
<li>Turn left on to BIA Highway 4, travel 8 miles to Ft. Thompson SD, </li>
<li><b><i>(At the roundabout)</i></b> Turn left on to highway 47 travel 3 miles <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;"><u>there is currently a 11-ft restriction for a small bridge under construction</u></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> (one-lane, light traffic, we were able to take it slow)</span> </li>
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<li>Then take a left at the Left Tailrace Campground sign on Big Bend Dam <i><b>(you'll start across the bridge across the dam. There is an unmarked left turn at the flag display that will take you to the campground, otherwise look for the sign saying Powerhouse Lobby/Left Tailrace exit--doesn’t say campground)</b></i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Then travel approximately 1 mile to the Left Tailrace Campground.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> (</span><b><i>Not much signage but just follow the loop (camper’s & fishermen or marina signs) until you see the little log hut that is the campground office</i></b>). </li>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Services</b>: All sites 30 & 50 amp but only a few water spigots (so ask before entering). Dump Station on the way out. Our T-Mobile iPhones were roaming on AT&T (200 mb, no streaming) but immediately switched to T-Mobile at the top of the hill (next time we would drive up to parking lot across the highway & download some Netflix!).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Spot #51</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are in truck country which means fifth wheels rule. However towing a fishing boat behind that appears the norm! </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(We saw this is CO last year also)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We were joined by lots of local fishermen over the weekend. We were in spot 51, a pull-through on the dam end but on a walk I discovered </span><i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>spot 12 is the primo spot with an amazing view of the lake, followed by 22A</b></i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">. A quick glance shows spots 23-26 (or 28-29) are within reach of the water spigot if you have a couple hoses. There is a two-week limit, but the cashier said there is a boondocking site “up the hill” that allows a two-week stay also.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot #12 sunrise</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>To do</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Big Bend Dam tour:</u> Sorry, no pics allowed. The creepiest section was 109 ft below the lake, behind an 8 foot thick cement wall, below the generators. Be sure to walk along the water outside after the tour and see the HUGE fish right up against the dam.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Akta Lakota Museum:</u> A free museum in Chamberlain and well worth the stop. Again, photography was not allowed, so you'll have to check it out for yourself. <a href="http://aktalakota.stjo.org/site/PageServer?pagename=alm_homepage" target="_blank">http://aktalakota.stjo.org/site/PageServer?pagename=alm_homepage</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Lewis & Clark trail</u> passes near here. We're from Missouri and kind of immune to the trail, so you're on your own with this one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">References:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/487165/big-bends-left-tailrace-campground-now-open/">http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/487165/big-bends-left-tailrace-campground-now-open/</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.recreation.gov/camping/left-tailrace-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=150041"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">https://www.recreation.gov/camping/left-tailrace-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=150041</span></a></div>
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s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0Big Bend Dam, Fort Thompson, SD 57339, USA44.049473 -99.44858599999997820.791355499999998 -140.75717999999998 67.3075905 -58.139991999999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-81843013365294143252017-08-03T16:37:00.002-04:002017-08-04T09:40:58.293-04:00Attending Camp Freightliner<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(A slightly technical overview about the class. All errors are mine, not The Colonel’s)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration: underline;">According to their website, <a href="https://www.fcccrv.com/owners/camp-freightliner/" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">https://www.fcccrv.com/owners/camp-freightliner/</a>:</span><br>
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<i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Take advantage of our comprehensive and captivating two-day training session in {Gaffney, SC/or a rally}, to learn about the benefits of driving a motorhome built on an FCCC chassis. This is not a hands-on workshop. Class size is limited to ensure one-on-one coaching and interaction with the instructor in an intimate setting. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fee: $225.00 for single attendance or $275.00 for driver and co-pilot for the two day classroom portion.”</span></i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>(What is a chassis? The almost everything underneath the Winnebago "box"!)</b></span><br>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><br></u></span>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Included</u>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Box lunch on both days and one dinner (including spouse) </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>A course binder</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A handout of “Chassis Information per VIN”, specifically for your coach</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Acronyms handout</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 t-shirt per participant & 1 coffee thermos per participant</span><br>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We attended after the Winnebago rally, so parking on rally grounds was free (electric, water & dump--after rally, available) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration: underline;">Topics:</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">DTNAconnect.com website explanation with Parts Pro: specs for our VIN, manuals, part numbers, and schematics </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Engine & engine brake usage, required maintenance </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fuel filter: use of fuel additive, tips for required maintenance</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Weight distribution & tires: getting a correct weight, importance of correct weight distribution. </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tire pressure: Michelin handout (<a href="http://www.michelinrvtires.com/reference-materials/" target="_blank">http://www.michelinrvtires.com/reference-materials/</a>), determining correct pressure (with 5 psi fudge factor), recommended gauge (Milton Tire Gauge S-976 is calibrated, available on Amazon), blocking (not plastic & no wheels off the ground/block—air bags, NEVER rears off ground) and storage (soap & water—no protectants, cover tires, if storing on concrete or rock—cardboard, plastic/trash bag, plywood, carpet, mud flaps). Ozone & UV. Should now last 7-10 years. Check bead is equal around rim. </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Transmission: Use of Allison shift selector. <b><i>Best mileage (1730-1800 rpm/63-65 mph with eco mode on rolling terrain), climbing hills (Eco off, cruiser control off, maintain 1900 rpm—cooler temps & better mileage)</i></b>, eco mode, recommended synthetic fluid--TranSynd TES 295 cheapest at WalMart. </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Air brake system & ABS proper usage, air dryer required maintenance</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Suspension: appropriate ride heights (check yearly)</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Component location (fun lunch break activity)</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Maintenance intervals: current service intervals (no more 6 month, just 12 month. 1 yr, 5, 9, 13, 17. 2 yr, 6, 10, 14, 18. 3 yr, 7, 11, 115, 19), with pictures, coolant test strips</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Vehicle storage</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">What we Learned</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> (in my words, The Colonel probably already knew all this stuff). </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have a decent amount of maintenance documentation from the second owner (Freightliner dealer maintenance in 2013, 2014, 2015) but not from the original owner. Nice to have documentation of original service recommendations & updates.</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Carry fuel filters, a serpentine belt, v-belt & a hub nut removal tool. Proper storage of belts.</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">DTNAconnect.com: there should be link off of Freightliner RV page for this. We didn’t know this existed!</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Updates in service/recommendations for tires (extended to 7-10 years), transmission, and oil/filters </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mx log should include receipt (copy/photo because receipt fades), part number & odometer reading</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Air drain lanyard every 6 months (didn't have a clue these existed!)</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our oil should be refilled with 19 qts instead of 21 (2 quarts just below out)</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Confirmed we were manufactured with non-synthetic but has been changed to synthetic transmission oil </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Checklists in maintenance manual for daily, weekly, monthly, yearly (YEAH, me!)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Summary</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">:</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our two day Camp Freightliner class is done! We’re now eligible for Camp Freightliner II in Gaffney, SC:</span><br><br>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"Camp Freightliner II is a Service & Maintenance Class held at the factory Service Center. This is not a hands-on-course, but pairs you with a service technician in the service bay to observe the proper service techniques and ask questions about the chassis."</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Colonel has an excellent reference manual for maintaining the coach himself, but we’re still waiting for access to DTNA. For a non-mechanic owner it explains proper operation techniques and when inspections are required (when in doubt, call </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a dir="ltr" href="tel:1-800-FTL-HELP" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="5">1-800-FTL-HELP</a>/1-800-385-4357</span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> BEFORE AND DURING if you have questions. Preferably visit Oasis dealers on the road)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We’ve vowed not to use the word “chassis” for at least a few days. </span></div>
s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-62091928183565393942017-07-30T13:17:00.001-04:002017-07-30T17:59:51.078-04:00Our first Winnebago Grand National Rally<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TFIGzSOnsfU/WX0M-94XMJI/AAAAAAAAElQ/pkNmUU5zfFkCDZH6MKMhba9t_nfh9z1XACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TFIGzSOnsfU/WX0M-94XMJI/AAAAAAAAElQ/pkNmUU5zfFkCDZH6MKMhba9t_nfh9z1XACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2621.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Odin the Winnebago returns to his birthplace in Forest City, Iowa</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When we purchased our coach in Florida, The Colonel quickly determined that we’d be driving by the Freightliner factory in Gaffney, SC and they taught classes about the chassis (everything under our Winnebago “box”). YEAH! But they were booked for the year. BOOO!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I got the email with the 2017 class schedule, I quickly signed The Colonel up for the class at the Winnebago Rally as a birthday present. “Maybe we can catch a few days of the rally beforehand.” </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>What is a rally?</b> The aviation equivalent would be the yearly Women in Aviation convention or the EAA Oshkosh airshow. For sailing, we attended the Chicago Sailboat Show. The bonus is the Winnebago Grand National Rally is at the factory in Forest City, Iowa. (This is unusual as very few manufacturer’s host a rally like this at their factory.)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pfY-oSFrlc0/WX0M-ZqMUSI/AAAAAAAAElI/754sH2amwJkeqfCFd_iFVDAOd6nKuFPNgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pfY-oSFrlc0/WX0M-ZqMUSI/AAAAAAAAElI/754sH2amwJkeqfCFd_iFVDAOd6nKuFPNgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2624.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great start to the rally</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;">Things you should know about a rally</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">: </span></div>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Like any convention, some people come to rally’s for the socializing (Kickoff Party, golf tournament, bean bag tournament, trivia night, a parade, coffee social every morning, an ice cream social, and state row parties), others for the live music throughout the day and finally the people hoping to get service at the factory (No appointments taken. You sign up on a list and they call you. They anticipated servicing 600!!). As new RV owners, we came for the seminars & to meet with vendors.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Parking</u> is in the Winnebago’s Rally Grounds across from the factory, ie. a farmer’s field (Don’t be scared. There were brand new 45 ft Grand Tours & Ellipse’s parked out there!). They open the grounds up for $20/night for the week before the rally, so that people can trickle in (to avoid the crush of 1000 RV’s arriving at the same time!). The same applies to departure on Saturday morning—you can stay until Tuesday for no extra charge (or Friday if you’re in Camp Freightliner).</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Services</u>: You share a power pedestal with your neighbor for electric. There is a water spigot at the end of every other row. We have two hoses but that wasn’t enough so they encourage a “water brigade—great way to meet your neighbors”. Our neighbor, a veteran rallier, had multiple hoses laid out for sharing. And yes, we did end up meeting all our our neighbors on Day 2 as everyone filled their tanks. I’m sure sewer for a group this large is challenging. We can go 4-7 days depending on amenities. Electing to shower in the coach instead of walking to one of two shower houses, we ended up paying $25 for the “honey wagon” visit on day 5. They drive up & down each row every morning in a truck and stop if you have your coupon taped up (leave locker unlocked, open, and empty of all personal possessions). For the first time this year they installed campground wifi for the rally. It had it’s aches & pains, which was to be expected. Many were having trouble getting the log-in page (a common problem, but we know to look for it), it dropped out occasionally (understandable) and most interesting—the seventeen antennas installed around the grounds were plugged into power pedestals and several were “mysteriously” unplugged on the first day. Overall, it was tolerable considering, but bring your own hotspot if you NEED to be connected (it's "Verizon country". AT&T users were grumbling about only getting a few bars. We have T-Mobile and it showed Iowa Wireless. We were streaming the Tour de France & British Open).</span></li>
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<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We paid $340 for “50-amp & car parked next to coach” ($20/night x 5 = $100 + free Women on Wheels course) because it was going to be HOT and we’d heard about how cramped it could be. Next time, I’d sign up for 50-amp. (There is a shuttle into town that includes the grocery store. We did take the car into town a few times but the bike path also that takes you directly to the grocery store. Unless you want to go out to dinner in the evenings, you don’t need a car).</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arrival is much like the EAA airshow at Oshkosh with published arrival routes, greeters, and parkers (one difference—it’s assigned spots so they guide you all the way into your spot and then say “Don’t move!”. Many of these people are volunteers. Be nice! (Departure is "a free for all"!)</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8KCSQx2YX9o/WX0NATdvXdI/AAAAAAAAEmg/V6Sx-HVsSm0Zlle9DpUCceTlc14k9DMOgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8KCSQx2YX9o/WX0NATdvXdI/AAAAAAAAEmg/V6Sx-HVsSm0Zlle9DpUCceTlc14k9DMOgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2652.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise over a field of of Winnebago's</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold;">Highlights for us</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">: </span></span><br>
<ul>
<li>Much like attending a conference, it’s awe inspiring to be around so many like-minded people. The wide variety of Winnebago’s (class A’s by far the biggest number of attendee's but tons of class C’s and even a Winnebago 5th wheel as a neighbor) and especially JOURNEY’s of all vintages.</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWTjYguxJjQ/WX0NAxApvFI/AAAAAAAAElo/1CftcZA0hmcwxwBnL29CDWb-EHDdjduygCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWTjYguxJjQ/WX0NAxApvFI/AAAAAAAAElo/1CftcZA0hmcwxwBnL29CDWb-EHDdjduygCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2657.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Colonel inspecting a Freightliner chassis that just rolled off the line (Forza)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<u>Special Building” Tours</u>: We had hoped to attend ALL the behind-the-scenes tours, but pooped out after "Motorhome Assembly" and "Chassis Prep & Metal Stamping".</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<ul>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cuOJtMOz_wA/WX0NGKtayuI/AAAAAAAAEmU/Rj-TjEOvvy8F3fJmYnBKnzr5qfq01s75QCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cuOJtMOz_wA/WX0NGKtayuI/AAAAAAAAEmU/Rj-TjEOvvy8F3fJmYnBKnzr5qfq01s75QCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2709.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our final swag pile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Vendors</u>: The Colonel probably already knew this, but having a conversation with the people who built your components can be more enlightening than the manufacturer. Additional service info, troubleshooting and change of service recommendations (see future blog post about Camp Freightliner). We scored a Thetford Level Gauge sample (review to come), spoke to the AirxCell (Coleman) air conditioning vendor (check for leaks. Replacement units ARE available), and HWH who did many of the early slides (until they switched to Lippert). I also attended a Michelin tire seminar. Even more interesting, many vendors have roaming techs for installation (Blue Ox & Safety T Plus), upgrades (Airxcell fan blades) and troubleshooting (HWH tech visited Odin & said, “Yeah, it’s broken. Either some wiring or hydraulic lines switched. Could be the controller. Visit the factory. They can overhaul your controller instead of buying a new one.”)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SOXYM0fu-ao/WX0M_ifkSnI/AAAAAAAAElY/qHDFgonK0aICy6TEU6aLFeCKOWyCnUP7ACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SOXYM0fu-ao/WX0M_ifkSnI/AAAAAAAAElY/qHDFgonK0aICy6TEU6aLFeCKOWyCnUP7ACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2637.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning to drive a 42-footer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<u>Women on Wheels”</u> (WOW) is a free course offered at the Winnebago Grand National Rally (there are rumors of it being expanded). You need to sign up in advance, so watch for the rally magazine with contact info. They divide the group into gasser’s & diesel. We scored a brand-new Tour 42QD diesel-pusher with a tag axle and only 104 miles on it.(<a href="https://winnebagoind.com/products/class-a-diesel/2014/tour/overview" target="_blank">https://winnebagoind.com/products/class-a-diesel/2014/tour/overview</a>). Our instructor was Carol Leigh & there were three students in our group. Carol drove us to the high school from the Visitor's Center then I was quickly nominated to go first (I don’t know why!). We started out with practicing stopping in the parking lot, then left & right turns in the neighborhoods, a campground simulation at parking lot—90 left turn, 90 left turn (with trees on the right), drive between 2 cones (10 ft), then back into cones, followed by a road with a sweeping curve, then a narrow country road at higher speed. Then there was a separate ground school session with Sue (a former truck driver & RVer)--some men also attended. (Watch for the separate "What I learned" blog). The third segment was the “Outside of your Coach” walk-around which The Colonel attended (and resulted in some lively albeit educational conversation afterwards). Note: we have an older coach so you have to ask questions or adjust accordingly.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<ul>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X3Cyq1GuMrw/WX0M-3ZQxRI/AAAAAAAAElM/xQVznYNqp1UUT8BU-TaGIH3gWILbORrNgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X3Cyq1GuMrw/WX0M-3ZQxRI/AAAAAAAAElM/xQVznYNqp1UUT8BU-TaGIH3gWILbORrNgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2630.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An older Journey paint scheme</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMTZulAi2A0/WX0NFUDbILI/AAAAAAAAEmk/BnNGmdPsCxIs8V3LojZbpOQMcj9RfeaZwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMTZulAi2A0/WX0NFUDbILI/AAAAAAAAEmk/BnNGmdPsCxIs8V3LojZbpOQMcj9RfeaZwCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2697.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An older Journey with a newer paint scheme</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tz9aV80oh_w/WX0M_brd75I/AAAAAAAAEmg/YssUEXwPDwMv1oLr5Qe3uOxtalwG3wM3gCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tz9aV80oh_w/WX0M_brd75I/AAAAAAAAEmg/YssUEXwPDwMv1oLr5Qe3uOxtalwG3wM3gCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2631.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mid-age Journey (logo is cursive)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Where else are you going to see this many Journey’s or Winnebago’s in one place? Taking pics of Journey paint schemes was another goal.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<ul>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W9lNoITrC_w/WX0NHAmKUyI/AAAAAAAAEmg/RGrd1AjYafEXkelSk4Asye7axBNay5WWgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W9lNoITrC_w/WX0NHAmKUyI/AAAAAAAAEmg/RGrd1AjYafEXkelSk4Asye7axBNay5WWgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2717.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If we went beige...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J7BJOY4hjQ/WX0NFpMgBRI/AAAAAAAAEmg/uCqmZx4_RQ8MLDLWZbOtTzvIAhekn6G7ACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J7BJOY4hjQ/WX0NFpMgBRI/AAAAAAAAEmg/uCqmZx4_RQ8MLDLWZbOtTzvIAhekn6G7ACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2704.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new Journey (note modern logo). This paint scheme caught both our attention several times (I ended up with multiple pics of the same coach!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--rZcg8nskxw/WX0NGvk3MkI/AAAAAAAAEmg/it-xmFfEseQWCGb4PKCBosUxbYvA2do1gCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--rZcg8nskxw/WX0NGvk3MkI/AAAAAAAAEmg/it-xmFfEseQWCGb4PKCBosUxbYvA2do1gCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2715.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new simplified Tour paint scheme in grey. We likey.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While working on a homemade pizza, we noticed lots of our neighbors outside stowing loose items. The radar didn't look too bad, but then a wind gust got my attention. The big awning was in, but I headed out to put the small bedroom awnings in when I saw our neighbor's flag pole bend over 30 degrees. INSIDE, INSIDE, INSIDE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2i3OvxuoWyg/WX0NBCgNR7I/AAAAAAAAEls/jSXyXDboUA8shL6Avn3yYstJ5qOTGrFAQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2i3OvxuoWyg/WX0NBCgNR7I/AAAAAAAAEls/jSXyXDboUA8shL6Avn3yYstJ5qOTGrFAQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2676.jpg" width="225"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The biggest storm in recent rally history</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yz-FT4oDZUk/WX0NDYPLZJI/AAAAAAAAEl0/oYKQfDbd6YAv07f0LHLpjyWegRz_T7uUACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yz-FT4oDZUk/WX0NDYPLZJI/AAAAAAAAEl0/oYKQfDbd6YAv07f0LHLpjyWegRz_T7uUACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2681.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last stop on the way back to Odin, the Freightliner tent.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">All of the tents on the rally grounds were damaged. Fellow rally attendee's said that is the worst storm they'd seen (the average # of year's attending? 15!) The next day’s seminars were cancelled while everything was evaluated (the focus of work seemed to be on the main entertainment tent which had a pole poke through). Instead, we walked through new Winnebago’s on display.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U8UKYtLsU5w/WX0NETjGWOI/AAAAAAAAEl4/CFkJuhP3Q9QGU7JFV4Mbu_ppI2uSmngKwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U8UKYtLsU5w/WX0NETjGWOI/AAAAAAAAEl4/CFkJuhP3Q9QGU7JFV4Mbu_ppI2uSmngKwCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2683.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The seminar tent I was in earlier that day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lme9tYR-I5w/WX0NEe_88DI/AAAAAAAAEmg/MuvkWn4U4pAPCOmvDj-Y-ANHqNq1SbBagCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lme9tYR-I5w/WX0NEe_88DI/AAAAAAAAEmg/MuvkWn4U4pAPCOmvDj-Y-ANHqNq1SbBagCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2682.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More tents down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mzldni25E_Y/WX0NElYkqCI/AAAAAAAAEl8/-ygWUDr7UT8_Os04LK3yijhBaOyUKTMHgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mzldni25E_Y/WX0NElYkqCI/AAAAAAAAEl8/-ygWUDr7UT8_Os04LK3yijhBaOyUKTMHgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2685.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hSqGr4g_t6Y/WX0NFmVmQSI/AAAAAAAAEmI/BQ6gzwHsSVAi1jqKfu9nOp6cgPG5R9EhwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hSqGr4g_t6Y/WX0NFmVmQSI/AAAAAAAAEmI/BQ6gzwHsSVAi1jqKfu9nOp6cgPG5R9EhwCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2703.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last official day of the rally</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Saturday morning was the official end of the rally. A lot of people in our area left on Friday. Sunday was a rest day and after beating the crowd to the laundromat, I drove our coach from section C-50, through the dump station and into our spot we picked out in section A (a required move for Camp Freightliner. Close to water and short walk to class so we could pop out during breaks).</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31ePvjblXNw/WX0NBVw4gpI/AAAAAAAAEmg/_BvtDkhVmQgOamJBIrOj2a665lGA2F5EwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31ePvjblXNw/WX0NBVw4gpI/AAAAAAAAEmg/_BvtDkhVmQgOamJBIrOj2a665lGA2F5EwCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2680.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Iowa sunrise</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Summary</b>: </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For me, the Women on Wheels was worth the trip to the rally. I just needed the motivation to throw him out of the driver's seat.</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As we know from aviation, the rule of thumb is you don't want to buy an aircraft with less than 100 hours on it and not just because of depreciation. Like the RV forums we frequent, the people we met at the rally confirmed new coaches are going to require some warranty work. After walking through new RV’s, if we we upgraded we’d buy a Forza, but there also things we prefer about our older Journey. </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is lots of info you could learn elsewhere (some we already knew) but other things we didn’t know to ask. </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Overall, highly recommend you attend a rally!</span></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xtp9i0i1xW0/WX0NF0b07ZI/AAAAAAAAEmQ/nO1Mqsd6ApAbtHrWLyyJKgy7Rzz-mX_tACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="1280" height="161" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xtp9i0i1xW0/WX0NF0b07ZI/AAAAAAAAEmQ/nO1Mqsd6ApAbtHrWLyyJKgy7Rzz-mX_tACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2706.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0Forest City, IA 50436, USA43.2624685 -93.63719370000001243.1699475 -93.79855520000001 43.354989499999995 -93.475832200000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-7263132793722597462017-07-23T09:00:00.000-04:002017-07-23T09:00:31.240-04:00Working our way back. Brewer's Beach, USVI<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHKRMuNJHpk/WWUtB1K6sxI/AAAAAAAAEf4/cOlABPUTOp0GIY5wg1z7ngvcH62fz9lhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHKRMuNJHpk/WWUtB1K6sxI/AAAAAAAAEf4/cOlABPUTOp0GIY5wg1z7ngvcH62fz9lhQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2023.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A Brewer's Beach sunset</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whew! Way behind on the blog. Here are the photos and random thoughts you missed if you don't follow us on FaceBook:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Drinking tea outside this morning, enjoying all the early a.m. activity that is Brewer's Beach. I'm leaning over the side, watching the tarpon have breakfast, when a pelican dives into the water, 4 feet in front of my face. I can hear the WHOOSH of air just before he splahes down. Tea spilled."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Things you need on a boat:</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">1). Metal skewers. I'm not sure why I bought these. We seldom used skewers at home. Maybe I thought we would be grilling veggies more. Anyway, they get used for lots of other things. Today The Captain absconded with one to clear a locker drain...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">2). A really BIG magnet on a really LONG string. Inevitably, a tool will go overboard. It's the sound you hear when a kid breaks a toy.... "{splash} AWHHHHHH...". A ratchet went in today. He could see it, but we're anchored on 25 ft of water. I was willing to get in but I can't dive that deep. Out came the magnet on 30 ft of string! A boat moves a LOT even in relatively calm water. Add in some current. It took me awhile. The ratchet was under the boat and then "Whoops on the outside of the hull!" "Nope! Now I'm inside the hull...". Got it!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Another beautiful sunset...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Puerto Rican Pastelon--it what's for dinner! I had been wondering what to do with those frozen plantains I saw at the store. The Captain said it sounded terrible but ate a bowl, even after catching me pour an egg over the top. I LOVED it. Hamburger, bell pepper, onion, tomato sauce & cheese. What's not to love? More leftovers for me. I primarily used this recipe but followed some tips from a second one (added more spices). Standby for a full write-up over at #OdinEats: </span><a href="http://www.elboricua.com/recipe_PastelonPlatanoMaduro.html" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">http://www.elboricua.com/recipe_PastelonPlatanoMaduro.html</span></a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ahhhhh</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">"Don't be alarmed. This is smoking...". Wait, what? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">It could also be captioned, "boat life vs professional aircraft mechanic". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">That's why I'm short a canning jar!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"There's a leek in the boat!"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bonita's Cantina for #TacoTuesday</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">So many ideas in my brain that I'm taking notes on my iPad AND a notebook, but not getting any ACTUAL writing done. #goodproblem</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And here is where we made our side hatch sunscreen: <a href="http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/05/BoatProject-PDQ-SideHatchSunscreen.html" target="_blank">http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/05/BoatProject-PDQ-SideHatchSunscreen.html</a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">#sailing #sunset #nofilter</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For my STT peeps,</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We finally got up enough motivation to take the safari bus halfway across the island to grocery shop at Cost-U-Less. We were rewarded with some treats (Ocean Spray grapefruit juice & Presidente) and good deals (if you have room for a case of tonic water)...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">Awkward photos are an attempt to show pricing.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">FB page, "Odin Eats": Things are quiet here on Odin, as we count down the days until our haul out. My current time-filler is flipping through recipes, which usually results in visiting the 5+ grocery stores on the island. {gulp}: I have an idea for a pasta dish for lunch. After flipping through recipes, this looks like my base. I've attempted versions of this before and they weren't up to par. I didn't know I needed to look up a recipe for pasta, olive oil & garlic! </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here's the proper technique for Aglio e Olio...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/spaghetti-aglio-e-olio-recipe-2043225">http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/spaghetti-aglio-e-olio-recipe-2043225</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While scrubbing the dinghy bottom, I glance down & see a group of Blue Tang swimming underneath me. #Priceless Thanks for the company </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">#STT #USVInice</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">And here's your Sahara Dust #sunset #nofilter</span></span></td></tr>
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s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0Brewers Bay Beach, St Thomas 00802, USVI18.3435671 -64.977091700000017-6.6980264 -106.28568570000002 43.385160600000006 -23.668497700000017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-26047144532859789152017-07-22T17:16:00.000-04:002017-08-18T10:28:58.884-04:00F.W. Kent Park near Iowa City, IA (Tiffin, IA)<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drive into the campground is about a mile but it's worth it!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you’re looking for a stop in the Iowa City, IA area off of Hwy 380 & Hwy 80, here’s a little secret, take the detour to this park!</span></div>
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"Kent Park" as it's called, is a beautiful county park near Tiffin, IA (technically, Oxford).</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are no reservations. It is first-come, first-serve but we were able to get a spot on a Saturday afternoon.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our spot with the awning facing the woods</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Directions</u>: There is good signage before the highway exit and all the way into the park.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We were greeted by a friendly camp host who advised:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">South loop is closer to bathrooms (where the wifi router is) and has a few pull-thrus.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Park rangers stopped by twice as we settled in.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the road</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are 86 spots, all with electric (30 & 50-amp). Like many state parks we've visited, there is a water spigot every 6-12 spots, so arrive with a little water in your tank or bring an extra hose. All spots are $20. (The dump station is set up for departure, so it's not a convenient for filling up water on arrival).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The campground is WAY back in the park, but it's worth it! The roads are plenty wide for our 36 ft Class A.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not all spots are shaded but it feels much cooler down in the trees.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of <a href="http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_conservation.aspx?id=4055" target="_blank">http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_conservation.aspx?id=4055</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Website</u>: <a href="http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_conservation.aspx?id=4055" target="_blank">http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_conservation.aspx?id=4055</a></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our T-Mobile </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(using Iowa Wireless)</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> & AT&T phones had 2 bars & were still tethering. The campground wifi had a good signal near the bath house and is sufficient for checking email during off-peak times.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The lake is currently drained for an environmental renovation (the first in 20 years). Otherwise, it is a popular fishing spot. Maybe that's how we got a spot on a Saturday...</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had a few neighbors, but it was very quiet for a Saturday evening.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The park also has lots of hiking trails that we didn’t get to take advantage of. Next time.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gates close at 10:30 pm</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We fell asleep to the crickets, awoke to the birds singing and could see a deer grazing while I drank coffee. This is right up our alley & we highly recommend staying longer than on</span></div>
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s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0Kent Park, 2048 Highway 6 NW, Oxford, IA 52322, USA41.7280558 -91.726570117.6592533 -133.0351641 65.7968583 -50.417976100000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-69890856775867174792017-07-22T16:48:00.001-04:002017-07-22T16:48:42.508-04:00On our way back to PR. Lindbergh Bay, St. Thomas, USVI<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's a short clip from our sail to St. Thomas^^^<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that speed!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Whew! Almost two months since I've blogged about sailing. Ack! It didn't feel exciting enough for a blog, but there are some great pics to share (if you don't follow us on FaceBook).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's time to depart St. Croix and head towards our home marina for hurricane season.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">4/27 Tweet: "Exactly 4 weeks after arriving, departing #STX for Lameshur Bay #STJ, or Lindberg Bay #STT.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Wherever the wind takes us, baby!"</span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Main sail & anchor up by 8:00 am (after loosing up wheel to fix a frozen autopilot lock) to motor-sail out of the channel.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(Phone rang.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Our p</span>ermit for Buck Island? Next time). It can be a little rough in the channel, but as soon as we cleared the island, it improved and the genoa was 3/4 unfurled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We were quickly doing 7 kts and both engines were shut off and retracted.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A beam reach is usually desirable but we're also riding over 4 ft waves.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>At least today their more consistent instead of a washing machine.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Heading for St John would put us on a close reach and more into the waves so we immediately fall off for St. Thomas and hear from our friends on sv Eva.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> "</span>We're here until Saturday."<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lindberg it is!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Beach bar.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Wifi.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Safari to Havensight to return my non-waterproof camera.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Y</span>eah!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">We're not familiar with this point of sail. Gonna have to get out the book!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">(Double reef main, 3/4 genoa. Engines retracted)</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We pass the propane tanker and the ferry that go back & forth to St. Croix along with a sailboat going the other way before dropping anchor in Lindbergh.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tweet: "Did I mention we sailed the WHOLE way?! Departing the channel of Christiansted to the entrance of Lindberg Bay. Definitely a top 10, maybe a top 5 (which would include St Croix last year to/from different anchorages)"</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The marine environment is hard on things! The Captain's first project was to finally dig this bin out of the locker & find out what was leaking in the bottom. Turns out it wasn't the epoxy resin, but the epoxy hardener. Messy, messy, messy. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(Remember, we've lived on the boat 2 years. Most of those rusty cans were purchased in that time frame!)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While playing around on the computer, we realize our friends on sv Outta Control are in the Google Earth picture for the anchorage!</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We caught lunch at Beachcomers with our friends on sv "Eva" before they departed for their haul out in Anguilla. Good times. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Important info they shared: </span></div>
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<li>It's Carnival on the island (so DO NOT go downtown this weekend to return my camera!)</li>
<li>The new grocery store (VI Finest Foods d/b/a West Bay Supermarket) down near Brewer's is open!</li>
<li>Inspect all guests luggage for cheese they forgot to unpack!</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Odin from Beachcombers</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinghying over to Krum Bay to get propane...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">How come the propane only goes out when you're making coffee? Never when you're making lunch or dinner!</span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1hF2RRk_Nw/WWUa--JEbbI/AAAAAAAAEeo/gskzwEp5bEM2kh8B_hPlUvJzh5MIoD2VgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1hF2RRk_Nw/WWUa--JEbbI/AAAAAAAAEeo/gskzwEp5bEM2kh8B_hPlUvJzh5MIoD2VgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1981.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dinghy dock</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">I rode along on the dinghy ride around the corner to Krum Bay for a propane refill. Shorter walk to Pueblo Grocery, quick stop Crown Bay Marina Gourmet Gallery for curry paste, & met The Captain at Tickles, Crown Bay Marina, St. Thomas, USVI's. Dinghy ride back with groceries instead of walking was AWESOME!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A different view of the dinghy dock</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's Raven's (aka ding ding--our dinghy's) one year birthday. It came with an awesome seat cover/organizer that we get a lot of compliments on. However, it's starting to suffer and The Captain is going to use it as a template then improve on it. He's cut into the VERY expensive spare roll of pfifertex that we've been carrying around for a year. I guess that's what it's for!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Check out the separate "Highfield Underseat Bag" blog: <a href="http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/05/boat-project-upgrading-dinghy-bag.html" target="_blank">http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/05/boat-project-upgrading-dinghy-bag.html</a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that brightly lit grocery store with wide aisles! Nice.</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Excitement for this cruiser is a new grocery store!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>West Bay is 1.0 miles from Lindbergh Bay but only 0.6 (with a hill) from Brewer's (yes, along the safari route).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It is well-lit with big wide aisles (something I took for granted back in the States).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_LUP0RGwDcM/WWUbpAAD3JI/AAAAAAAAEe0/XlTZiM3piJkmaOvDKJ5b8VOl1hvz2pk-QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_LUP0RGwDcM/WWUbpAAD3JI/AAAAAAAAEe0/XlTZiM3piJkmaOvDKJ5b8VOl1hvz2pk-QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1958.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T-z0U7W_p_0/WWUbpN6b6HI/AAAAAAAAEew/u3uuMSMfRHs-REugq_4Fubyou3KM6uxzwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T-z0U7W_p_0/WWUbpN6b6HI/AAAAAAAAEew/u3uuMSMfRHs-REugq_4Fubyou3KM6uxzwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1959.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The prices seem similar to Pueblo with lots of little things we like (the "good" grapefruit juice and some yummy veggie burgers) but missing some others (hamburger, bananas, vanilla & less than 2 lbs of chicken thighs).</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The staff is friendly (seriously Pueblo cashiers, at least look up...) and are actively asking customers what products they don't see that they would like them to stock.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The manager stopped me today to chat.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">See below for some pricing (Yes, there's a vegetarian section.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Gluten-free pizza?</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes!</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">With tofurky pepperoni.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">No, thank you). Oh, and the baggers are excellent, even when you hand them a duffle bag!</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This will always be our first stop.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moment you realize oar locks are perfect for hanging grocery bags...</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Watch the video above to see the big tourist draw at Lindbergh Beach. People come out here from the cruiser ship dock just to do this! (You need a Captain's 6-pack license to drive that jet ski!)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the best parts of living on a boat</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">You know you're a cruiser when your husband compliments you on your newest scent...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">and it's bug spray! </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Citronella, lemongrass & cedar)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">"Things I've learned in the Caribbean: Fixing potholes & installing speed bumps is redundant."</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good night, from Lindbergh Bay!</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">All of our neighbors have gone. No cruise ship in port, so a quiet beach day. This season is winding down.</span></span></div>
s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com2Lindbergh Bay, Saint Thomas, VI 0080218.3332621 -64.970128700000032-6.7083154 -106.27872270000003 43.3748396 -23.661534700000033tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-8883302035316556022017-06-09T16:53:00.001-04:002017-06-10T08:23:53.333-04:00SMS from 88162348xxxx@msg.iridium.comLat+18deg17'10" Lon-65deg38'0" Alt+139ft GPS Sats seen: <a dir="ltr" href="tel:11%202017-06-09" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0">11 2017-06-09</a> 20:52UTC <a href="http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=18.286338&lon=-65.633388">http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=18.286338&lon=-65.633388</a> Sent via Iridium GO!s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-23943542481308610122017-06-03T14:57:00.001-04:002017-06-04T09:02:19.483-04:00Save Data by Sharing with Bluetooth<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FyHi_Zyp4CM/WTMDaXCok6I/AAAAAAAAEbY/1ybsF6uMOiE5XbwFSGa8Co08CKS2W4OcACLcB/s1600/Airdrop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FyHi_Zyp4CM/WTMDaXCok6I/AAAAAAAAEbY/1ybsF6uMOiE5XbwFSGa8Co08CKS2W4OcACLcB/s320/Airdrop.png" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Any way we can save our precious cellular data is welcome!</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Did you know you can share between Apple devices without using the internet? Nowadays, we tend to text or email out of habit but there is another way, especially if it's a big file (no restriction on file size).</span><br>
<div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since Blogger quit supporting their apps, I've been frustrated with getting photos from my iPhone over to the iPad for editing and to insert into the blog (without digging out the power hungry laptop). Recently, a friend showed me AirDrop, which transfers photos (and other data) from one Apple device to another over bluetooth. Brilliant. No sucking up precious gigabytes.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It's also a way to share without exchanging info ie., that sunset pic for the tourists you just met in a bar. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Additionally, it is more secure since it is a peer-to-peer connection vs the internet.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Here's how</u>:</span><br>
<ul><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<li>You need to be near the person you want to share with (within bluetooth range or in the same room) </li>
<li>Swipe up to see the control center, ("How to swipe": <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202769">https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202769</a>)</li>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<ul>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fRjP6BJgF9o/WTLUMnJGryI/AAAAAAAAEbE/1WZdNHz23_YFtGDD1xR3DJxX39ffyn8XQCHM/s640/blogger-image--48150576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fRjP6BJgF9o/WTLUMnJGryI/AAAAAAAAEbE/1WZdNHz23_YFtGDD1xR3DJxX39ffyn8XQCHM/s400/blogger-image--48150576.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Control Center</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Airdrop ON</b> by selecting "Contacts" or "Everyone". (This will also turn on your Bluetooth & Wifi if they weren't already on).</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<ul>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-42IAjwlfVnE/WTME1LtrmsI/AAAAAAAAEbg/BpJg_9znLuEhUUKdbf4JhbxI3G-TnYwQwCHM/s640/blogger-image-1791964327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-42IAjwlfVnE/WTME1LtrmsI/AAAAAAAAEbg/BpJg_9znLuEhUUKdbf4JhbxI3G-TnYwQwCHM/s320/blogger-image-1791964327.jpg" width="289"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Share button</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<ul>
<li>Go the item you want to share (a pic, a website, a contact, a note). <b>Press the "Share" button.</b></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kfNaGuoiCmE/WTLT8otvOgI/AAAAAAAAEbA/tZ0PdzClmw86Lct9gsigXxW0ZH-zpd3rACHM/s640/blogger-image-1943099403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kfNaGuoiCmE/WTLT8otvOgI/AAAAAAAAEbA/tZ0PdzClmw86Lct9gsigXxW0ZH-zpd3rACHM/s400/blogger-image-1943099403.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Select recipient</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Locate their device</b>: There will be circles at the top (recipient's initials or the pic from your "contacts"), with a header of "Tap to share with AirDrop". Select recipient.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The recipient will be prompted to accept or decline</b>, then it is automatically saved in the appropriate place (ie. Photo goes to "Photos", Note goes to "Notes")</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you AirDrop to yourself (same Apple ID) then you don't have to accept.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>References</u>:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span>Sometimes we forget going directly to the source is your friend. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here's Apple's support page on the topic:</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204144" target="_blank">https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204144</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another good explanation: <a href="https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-airdrop-how-does-it-work-1994512" target="_blank">https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-airdrop-how-does-it-work-1994512</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-47947980284777520972017-05-29T11:57:00.001-04:002017-05-29T11:57:04.365-04:00Adding a custom widget to your blog<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ0nmXACxYE/WSw9afZOgDI/AAAAAAAAEZk/ySfLQ01QzLkGoyaofzThziRpMYN8NUslQCLcB/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-05-29%2B11.24.15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1332" height="215" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ0nmXACxYE/WSw9afZOgDI/AAAAAAAAEZk/ySfLQ01QzLkGoyaofzThziRpMYN8NUslQCLcB/s400/Screenshot%2B2017-05-29%2B11.24.15.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windy widget or gadget on the right-hand sidebar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There are <b><i>widgets</i></b> (or as Blogger calls them, Gadgets) available for your blog, but as sailors, some of ours are customized. I also have a double sidebar (on the left & right) so some need resizing.<br />
<br />
Many of your favorite websites will have HTML code for sharing a widget on your website/blog in their FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions). Here's a simple one to start:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bC85NcBBKmw/WSw-wzl1p5I/AAAAAAAAEZw/-0FoPccUE2sOWC_LFw6vLudWiOUAiTZKwCLcB/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-05-29%2B11.30.42.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="653" height="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bC85NcBBKmw/WSw-wzl1p5I/AAAAAAAAEZw/-0FoPccUE2sOWC_LFw6vLudWiOUAiTZKwCLcB/s400/Screenshot%2B2017-05-29%2B11.30.42.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windy.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Windy.com is a fun website showing wind & current all over the world! (try zooming in on the Mona Passage between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico on a windy day.)<br />
<br />
To get their "HTML code" you can do a Google search "Windy widget" or go to <a href="https://www.windy.com/widgets?50.067,14.383,5" target="_blank">https://www.windy.com/widgets?50.067,14.383,5</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3y2E5djzWQ/WSxAij-gquI/AAAAAAAAEZ8/bAAuhAktppQeZz8DEPhgw28pFrP-nRBJACLcB/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-05-29%2B11.25.15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="987" height="160" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3y2E5djzWQ/WSxAij-gquI/AAAAAAAAEZ8/bAAuhAktppQeZz8DEPhgw28pFrP-nRBJACLcB/s400/Screenshot%2B2017-05-29%2B11.25.15.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windy Widget options</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
They give you the option of "Animated Map" or "Forecast for one location". For this example, I chose "Animated Map".<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQ7-O_GrUJE/WSxAvq3IgzI/AAAAAAAAEaA/TFRJbVjcsaMIqTHw8MNSprTvFQw13unEwCLcB/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-05-29%2B11.25.32.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1210" height="238" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQ7-O_GrUJE/WSxAvq3IgzI/AAAAAAAAEaA/TFRJbVjcsaMIqTHw8MNSprTvFQw13unEwCLcB/s400/Screenshot%2B2017-05-29%2B11.25.32.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now let's adjust some settings...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Use the map on the right to drag then zoom in & out to find your desired location.</li>
<li>I resize to "width 200 px x height 200 px".</li>
<li>Adjust "Overlay" for wind or waves from the drop down menu.</li>
<li>Now you're ready to copy and paste the HTML code at the bottom.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b4UlQ2NDdA0/WSxCLgQVtnI/AAAAAAAAEaM/0gPn2B51mPosfokEsAtJruuH863Ifm2ZQCLcB/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-05-29%2B11.44.55.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="574" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b4UlQ2NDdA0/WSxCLgQVtnI/AAAAAAAAEaM/0gPn2B51mPosfokEsAtJruuH863Ifm2ZQCLcB/s400/Screenshot%2B2017-05-29%2B11.44.55.png" width="350" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I use Blogger (WordPress calls it a Widget), so: </span><br />
<ul>
<li>Log in at Blogger.com</li>
<li>"Layout"</li>
<li>On the sidebar, "Add Gadget"</li>
<li>"HTML/Javascript"</li>
<li>Paste into "Content"</li>
<li>"Save"</li>
<li>("Preview")</li>
<li>"Save Arrangement"</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Stay tuned for creating your own Google Maps and adding them to your Social Media or blog page.</i></b></div>
s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-85544437025670371532017-05-26T08:55:00.001-04:002017-05-26T08:55:11.797-04:00Nine Spices You Don't Need<div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JVSQCvX8Yg4/WSOBhMlYOpI/AAAAAAAAEUk/L1DhbPFWiJ0Uis7bQMNISSj2yM7tztGCACHM/s640/blogger-image-489869686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JVSQCvX8Yg4/WSOBhMlYOpI/AAAAAAAAEUk/L1DhbPFWiJ0Uis7bQMNISSj2yM7tztGCACHM/s400/blogger-image-489869686.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FaceBook recipes for tiny kitchens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Another segment in the Cheapskates on the Move series: </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you are a follower of Odin Eats on FaceBook (link: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OdinEats/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">facebook.com/OdinEats/</a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">)</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">, there is nothing new for you here. (Except an Avery template for printing labels!)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Substitutions or recipes? If you have a well-stocked spice rack, there are nine spice blends you don't need to buy.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Whether you are trying to avoid gluten, control sodium or you're just "OUT" ("Who can be out of Chili Powder?" It happens), Google is your friend. For the home chefs who are also "tiny-living in a boat or rv", this is nine less jars taking up</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);"> space in the spice rack. This also keeps your spices fresh, rotating everything out quicker (onion powder, for instance solidifies quickly in the Caribbean). An added bonus is the ability to adjust for your preferred taste. And why lay out more money, when it's all sitting right there in the cupboard?</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBYeISp3QmI/WSgdwDxSZvI/AAAAAAAAEVQ/4Y8Y_zKzLp89MAHVzRpIScxKkr1kNSnuACLcB/s1600/mortar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBYeISp3QmI/WSgdwDxSZvI/AAAAAAAAEVQ/4Y8Y_zKzLp89MAHVzRpIScxKkr1kNSnuACLcB/s200/mortar.jpg" width="182" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);">TIPS: Whole spices last longer than ground (mortar & pestle or small coffee grinder dedicated to spices). Spices should be swapped out every 1-3 years or when their scent and taste start to fade (mark the date opened on the jar in permanent marker. I found jar on the boat from 2012!). Storing in glass jars is preferred since ziplocks can allow moisture in (if you must, use higher quality freezer bags or food quality storage bags). </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Measure spices away from the stovetop instead of tipping the jar over a steaming skillet helps keep moisture out. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0);">Heat is also the enemy, so the spice racks right above the stovetop are shortening your spices lifespan.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Before we start, some recipes can be pared down to a single-serving for a recipe. Others are more difficult.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1uWSnFKo1FQ/WSN-h88Zp4I/AAAAAAAAEUQ/9Tpb1J2VsKcJC4OJBrKdtawmdBZ1o0z9QCHM/s640/blogger-image-329726408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1uWSnFKo1FQ/WSN-h88Zp4I/AAAAAAAAEUQ/9Tpb1J2VsKcJC4OJBrKdtawmdBZ1o0z9QCHM/s200/blogger-image-329726408.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">A 4 oz or 1/2 cup wide-mouth canning jar is excellent for spice recipes than are harder to reduce OR so you can dip in with a Tablespoon (ie. Taco Seasoning or Garam Masala). Try Amazon, WalMart or Ace Hardware: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ball-Mason-Quilted-Jelly-Bands/dp/B00B80TK2K/ref=pd_sim_201_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00B80TK2K&pd_rd_r=17E9BVSVTES9HKRZE7S0&pd_rd_w=YSta1&pd_rd_wg=d2qs1&psc=1&refRID=17E9BVSVTES9HKRZE7S0" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">amazon.com/Ball-Mason-Quilted-Jelly-Bands</a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PJ7dXbytHG8/WSN-iuHssyI/AAAAAAAAEUU/C3gfRV4k2HMLO0Soc53CYFBsf6v0MXeqgCHM/s640/blogger-image--665279819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PJ7dXbytHG8/WSN-iuHssyI/AAAAAAAAEUU/C3gfRV4k2HMLO0Soc53CYFBsf6v0MXeqgCHM/s320/blogger-image--665279819.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Consider swapping out the metal canning lid with a plastic lid (especially on a boat). Harder to find but again Amazon, WalMart or Ace Hardware (in canning season): </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ball-Wide-Mouth-Plastic-Storage-8-Count/dp/B000SSN3L2/ref=pd_sim_201_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000SSN3L2&pd_rd_r=17E9BVSVTES9HKRZE7S0&pd_rd_w=YSta1&pd_rd_wg=d2qs1&psc=1&refRID=17E9BVSVTES9HKRZE7S0" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">amazon.com/Ball-Wide-Mouth-Plastic-Storage-8-Count</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">These Avery "Print to Edge" 2" round stickers (#22807) work nicely on canning lids and look nice on gifts (A pumpkin butter fetish in 2013). Try Amazon or an office supply store: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Avery-Permanent-Print-Labels-22807/dp/B005IMAKYG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495477524&sr=8-1&keywords=Avery+round+label" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">amazon.com/Avery-Permanent-Print-Labels+round</a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sPZRdRPRktE/WSOCAEiT-DI/AAAAAAAAEUs/4OGubc1mo2k9jBj5VmaFJQHz7RwU4kjngCLcB/s1600/IMG_2103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sPZRdRPRktE/WSOCAEiT-DI/AAAAAAAAEUs/4OGubc1mo2k9jBj5VmaFJQHz7RwU4kjngCLcB/s400/IMG_2103.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empty spice jar, canning jar, refill old jar</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Spice jars are for those recipes that may require sprinkling (Chai). We also keep these on the spice rack in the galley for inspiration. I think I broke a lid or two so buy a few spares or try using discarded spice lids ($0.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond, ask at Penzey's for extra lids): </span><a href="https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/spice-jar/1010167124" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/spice-jar</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Avery 2"x2" "Print to Edge" Labels in Kraft Brown (#22846) are perfect for these spice bottles: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DDXCM66/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">amazon.com/gp/product/B00DDXCM66/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've done the work for you. If you bought the labels above, you can download this document & hit print. No more digging for the recipe (these are the spice jar-size recipes. See recipes below for smaller portions). It also includes some bonus mixes including Greek, Julia Child's, No-Salt and Jerk. Print using Avery's number or cut out & laminate on with scotch tape or packing tape.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">PDF version: </span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/abvft0ccn14k0v6/Label%20Spice%20Blends.pdf?dl=0" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">https://www.dropbox.com/s/abvft0ccn14k0v6/Label%20Spice%20Blends.pdf?dl=0</a></div>
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Word version: <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/29mdxjkni3xkmi1/Label%20Spice%20Blends.doc?dl=0" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">https://www.dropbox.com/s/29mdxjkni3xkmi1/Label%20Spice%20Blends.doc?dl=0</a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lcZq-afWE2w/WSN-8dCnJ8I/AAAAAAAAEUY/g9Rz2l7vd6oO5uPr3_MtUllGD0TZs7wDACHM/s640/blogger-image-734541021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lcZq-afWE2w/WSN-8dCnJ8I/AAAAAAAAEUY/g9Rz2l7vd6oO5uPr3_MtUllGD0TZs7wDACHM/s400/blogger-image-734541021.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allrecipes.com</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://allrecipes.com/" target="_blank">Allrecipes.com</a> is good place for finding spice blend recipes and reducing by adjusting servings. Be careful, though--it gets "confused" about reducing below 1/8 tsp so double check the proportions. Note: A normal sized spice jar holds 6 Tbsp (3 tsp is a Tbsp. How are your fractions?)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">ANOTHER NOTE: In the US, I recommend Penzey's Spices. I can attest to the fact their spices don't have a fillers because they clump in the Caribbean. They are also sold in ziplock bags so you can refill your glass jar (save the planet & money!). I also like Badia-brand (WalMart, ethnic aisle or anywhere in the Caribbean. In smaller proportion ziplocs & CHEAP)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">According to Odin Eats, you can't have enough of (Do you see a trend here?):</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Coriander</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cumin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Garlic powder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Onion Powder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Oregano</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Paprika</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ground Pepper (fresh ground as you cook, ground in the following recipes)</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>Chili Powder</b></u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We use this a lot, so we're always out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 Tbsp (OK, </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">this adds up to 2.75 tsp. but if you do "slightly rounded" you're close enough)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 Tbsp paprika</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 tsp oregano</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 rounded tsp ground cumin</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 rounded tsp garlic powder</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/8 tsp onion powder</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/8 tsp cayenne</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>Taco seasoning</b></u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">#TacoTuesday Some mixes use flour to prohibit clumping. If you're celiac, this is problematic. Nowadays, many manufacturer's have switched to corn starch, a whole other can of allergies. However, everyone can benefit from controling the sodium (and preservatives). A commercial "packet" is the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Tbsp chili powder (see above)</span></div>
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<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 1/2 tsp cumin (you can't stock enough cumin!)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 tsp salt, (cut in half or optional)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 tsp pepper</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 tsp paprika</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp garlic powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp onion powder</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp oregano</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(Optional: cornstarch and a little water will thicken things up like the commercial packets, but we don't find it necessary)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>Emeril's Essence or Cajun seasoning</b></u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Excellent on meat. This was my "salt & pepper" for years (this makes a spice jar):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 1/4 Tbsp paprika</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Tbsp salt, optional or reduce</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Tbsp garlic powder</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 Tbsp black pepper</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 Tbsp onion powder</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 Tbsp cayenne pepper</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 Tbsp dried oregano</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 Tbsp dried thyme</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>Italian Seasoning</b></u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'd never heard of this until I found the Italian Sausage recipe below. </span><span style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif;">My Penzey's jar says: </span></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Turkish oregano</li>
<li>Basil</li>
<li>Marjoram</li>
<li>Thyme </li>
<li>Rosemary</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">These are all basics in my pantry except marjoram, so I exclude it. Close enough. A 1/8 tsp of each for the Italian Sausage. Also good on chicken, in homemade marinara or pizza sauce...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>Italian-Style Sausage</b></u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Excellent in pasta or in Baked & Stuffed Acorn Squash. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 lb ground pork, beef, or turkey </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 tsp black pepper </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 tsp salt (already reduced from original recipe) </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(1/2 tsp dried parsley, optional) </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 tsp Italian-style seasoning (oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme, rosemary) </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp garlic powder </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp crushed fennel seeds (Or sub anise) </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp paprika </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp dried minced onion </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>Garam Masala</b></u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This isn't always easy to find and taste varies wildly. It should really be made from whole spices & toasted then freshly ground but this will work. This recipe is easy and is nice on potatoes, curry, or in a spicy mayo!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This proportion is a little heavy-handed for my chickpea curry, but I like it like that:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></div>
<div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 1/2 tsp ground cumin</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4 tsp ground coriander</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4 tsp ground cardamom</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4 tsp ground black pepper</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 tsp ground cinnamon</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp ground cloves</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp ground nutmeg</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">= 4.75 tsp (recipe calls for 4)</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>Sazon</b></u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Means "seasoning" in Spanish & is also a commercial brand that covers a good 1/4 of an aisle in a big Puerto Rican grocery. This recipe (From Skinnytaste.com that is frequently shared on Puerto Rican cooking sites) is free of MSG & you can control the sodium. This makes approximately 1 1/2 tsp which equals one commercial sazon packet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #343634; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -36px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp ground coriander</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #343634; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -36px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp ground cumin</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #343634; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -36px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSCJHPW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HSCJHPW&linkCode=as2&tag=ginsweiwatrec-20&linkId=F5I557NZI5M3BXKV%22%3EMarshalls%20Creek%20Spices%20Annatto%20Seed%20Seasoning,%20Ground,%20XL%20Size,%2020%20Ounce%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ginsweiwatrec-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00HSCJHPW%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 51, 153); color: rgb(0 , 51 , 153);">ground annatto</span></a> seeds (achiote) or turmeric or paprika</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #343634; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -36px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp garlic powder</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #343634; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -36px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp kosher salt, optional</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #343634; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -36px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);">1/8</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> tsp dried oregano</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #343634; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -36px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Pinch ground black pepper</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="AveryStyle1" style="text-align: left;">
<u><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Pumpkin Spice (approx 1 1/2 tsp)</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
<div class="AveryStyle1" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Pumpkin pie's of course, but also Fall smoothies, oatmeal or coffee</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="AveryStyle1" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4 tsp ground cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="AveryStyle1" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp ground nutmeg<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="AveryStyle1" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 tsp ground ginger<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="AveryStyle1" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext;">1/8 t ground allspice or </span>cloves</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>Chai</b></u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Fun in coffee or smoothies. (It also smells fabulous! I think it's the cardamom). This makes a spice jar:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 1/4 Tbsp ground cinnamon</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Tbsp ground cardamom</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4 Tbsp ground cloves</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 Tbsp ground coriander</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 Tbsp ground ginger</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 tsp ground black pepper</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Share your spice mixes below! Tell us what you made with the mixes above!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>References</u>:</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">FaceBook Odin Eats: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/odineats" target="_blank">@OdinEats</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://allrecipes.com/" target="_blank">Allrecipes.com</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/homemade-sazon-seasoning-mix/" target="_blank">http://www.skinnytaste.com/homemade-sazon-seasoning-mix/</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://theboatgalley.com/" target="_blank">TheBoatGalley.com</a> or The Boat Galley Cookbook "Substitutions"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-25901401482488222642017-05-25T10:30:00.001-04:002017-05-25T16:21:24.944-04:00SMS from 88162348xxxx@msg.iridium.comLat+18deg18'5" Lon-65deg18'15" Alt+140ft GPS Sats seen: 10 2017-05-25 14:29UTC <a href="http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=18.301597&lon=-65.304273">http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=18.301597&lon=-65.304273</a> Sent via Iridium GO!s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-91734286032252226602017-05-23T13:32:00.001-04:002017-05-24T08:14:46.796-04:00SMS from 88162348xxxx@msg.iridium.com<div>Lol. This is NOT where we are. Electronics. Still PFM (pure freakin magic)</div>Lat+18deg17'56" Lon-65deg15'10" Alt+140ft GPS Sats seen: <a dir="ltr" href="tel:10%202017-05-23" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0">10 2017-05-23</a> 17:26UTC <a href="http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=18.2989">http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=18.2989</a>s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-17440858925024609162017-05-18T15:02:00.001-04:002017-05-18T15:15:44.738-04:00Boat Project: PDQ side hatch sun screen<div style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gUVlAHZl7s8/WR3sp7Ha6wI/AAAAAAAAETU/nxabJsryASoki9lQTxHTn_zPCT2ddGB0gCHM/s640/blogger-image--940300269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gUVlAHZl7s8/WR3sp7Ha6wI/AAAAAAAAETU/nxabJsryASoki9lQTxHTn_zPCT2ddGB0gCHM/s400/blogger-image--940300269.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished project</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l9d8883DYXk/WR3sRqdM4LI/AAAAAAAAETA/SitpLf52d9QlqIu8I7alORsuvyf3zJTtgCHM/s640/blogger-image-441397491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l9d8883DYXk/WR3sRqdM4LI/AAAAAAAAETA/SitpLf52d9QlqIu8I7alORsuvyf3zJTtgCHM/s400/blogger-image-441397491.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The problem</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Concept</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">, a baby sunshade for the side hatches on a PDQ 36 catamaran:</span></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The sun always seems to hit one side of the boat more than the other while anchored. </span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Bonus--we only need one (it can be moved side to side, less storage space)</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Also may act as a wind scoop?</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Provides moderate rain protection?</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Provides UV protection for fenders and/or SUP</span></li>
<li style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Easy on & easy off. One person installation. No d@mn snaps!</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sgD_4t4Lsyo/WR3sXWsXc8I/AAAAAAAAETE/J90kxxLH8yQvOyJ2-hxii6KpBP2NYwcggCHM/s640/blogger-image-1273393726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sgD_4t4Lsyo/WR3sXWsXc8I/AAAAAAAAETE/J90kxxLH8yQvOyJ2-hxii6KpBP2NYwcggCHM/s400/blogger-image-1273393726.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inspiration</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Back story</u></span></span><br>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">One day, after hanging out laundry, I realized the laundry hanging on the life lines, had the added bonus of shading the bright sun from coming in our two large side hatches. Hmmmm.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We've been on a lot of catamarans that have some kind of cockpit shade that runs from the hard bimini to the lifelines. A friend explained their set-up could attach to the lifelines or the toe rail, depending on need. They also only had ONE since the sun is usually only on one side! This set-up is difficult on our boat since it would block the main walkway. However, after sitting and studying a neighbor catamaran's set-up (two solar panels as their "bimini roof" with side sunshades attached from the solar panels to the life lines), I walked down below. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Znyv4ptVhcw/WR3ssvGky5I/AAAAAAAAETY/_VHdycacx5AOVX7X1vudp0YVCiHg11MsACHM/s640/blogger-image-715543633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Znyv4ptVhcw/WR3ssvGky5I/AAAAAAAAETY/_VHdycacx5AOVX7X1vudp0YVCiHg11MsACHM/s400/blogger-image-715543633.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside view of what we are trying to shade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Dang! The sun is really shining on the starboard side of the boat! Some days, I even close those hatches and put the insulation in. Then lightbulb! A baby sunshade from hand rail to the life lines! Apparently I was talking out loud, because The Captain said, "Huh?" and followed me as I ran back out on deck. At first he was puzzled, then he started to picture it. "It could also be a wind scoop". YES!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t2FOOhbVTEU/WR3slGBjAFI/AAAAAAAAETQ/HmAPAYwuGJYgUNBF6plUQxPBGLoOcKligCHM/s640/blogger-image-745134668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t2FOOhbVTEU/WR3slGBjAFI/AAAAAAAAETQ/HmAPAYwuGJYgUNBF6plUQxPBGLoOcKligCHM/s400/blogger-image-745134668.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scribbled concept</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; text-decoration: underline;">Construction</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We have a roll of black canvas to match dodger and a roll of black webbing</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Using the lower hand rails leaves the normal walkway open</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Measured for second life line but took webbing attachment it to the toe rail</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A minor error left the shade longer than originally intended. It "almost" reaches the side head hatch.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Boat is curved so it ended up with a bulge. Added a dart</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H2xqO71dMH4/WR3scEQxjEI/AAAAAAAAETI/4Ra9Kjca12wrPRWMsU9f9M1azU7Oz5n9gCHM/s640/blogger-image-851905555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H2xqO71dMH4/WR3scEQxjEI/AAAAAAAAETI/4Ra9Kjca12wrPRWMsU9f9M1azU7Oz5n9gCHM/s400/blogger-image-851905555.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The result</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; text-decoration: underline;">Conclusion</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><font face="Times, Times New Roman, serif">Pros:</font></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Still get indirect sunlight & airflow.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Easy on & easy off</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">May make a second one to cover the SUP (protects from UV) instead of using the dinghy cover.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Con: I have to hang the laundry on the other side or move the sunshade.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Share your feedback and improvement ideas. Show us your sunshades!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C4Wm5cder9M/WR3sgZfPTZI/AAAAAAAAETM/rDHQKvvzrBsF5plkaxFPWngKezThUA3bQCHM/s640/blogger-image-65947945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C4Wm5cder9M/WR3sgZfPTZI/AAAAAAAAETM/rDHQKvvzrBsF5plkaxFPWngKezThUA3bQCHM/s400/blogger-image-65947945.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another View</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></div>
s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-1760574650831170642017-05-16T18:11:00.001-04:002017-05-17T06:10:57.505-04:007 things we love about St. Croix<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 11px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S0tauC62GxY/WRIEoes3uBI/AAAAAAAAENY/3u44xsL5ii8tyMrqVLmuOowmDuQ_XqSwwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S0tauC62GxY/WRIEoes3uBI/AAAAAAAAENY/3u44xsL5ii8tyMrqVLmuOowmDuQ_XqSwwCLcB/s400/IMG_1742.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Downtown Gallows Bay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you've been following our travels for awhile, you know we visited St. Croix last year (click here for the post </span><a href="http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.in/2016/06/gallows-bay-st-croix-usvi.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">gallows-bay-st-croix-usvi.html</a> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">or do a search on the left for "St. Croix"</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">). I'll try make this blog post more like a summary--but sorry, not short. Lot's of memories to save from our visit!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What I'll remember about this year's visit is how rolly it was in Gallow's Bay anchorage! "Hand me the Bonine". There's nothing worse than being sea sick at anchor. Some days we went ashore just to get a break! I swear it wasn't like this last year. There was an almost constant north swell the whole month. The reef largely protects Christiansted, but not completely. Monohull friends anchored over near the reef (where the seaplanes land) swear it wasn't bad over there. Next time. (Last year, we were here in May and of course, soon as we depart for St. Thomas, the north swell subsides. Perhaps our timing was just off). </span><br>
<br>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"A NORTHERLY SWELL IMPACTING THE </i></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>ATLANTIC WATERS </i></span><i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: small;">WILL CONTINUE TO </i></span><br>
<i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">SLOWLY SUBSIDE THROUGH <b>THURSDAY</b> EVENING. </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>A SECOND SWELL EVENT COULD IMPACT THE </i></span><br>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>LOCAL ATLANTIC WATERS </i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>BY THE <b>UPCOMING WEEKEND</b>."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><u>First, let's make our way over to St. Croix</u>:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Waiting for the winds to fill in but the main is UP! I was beginning to wonder why we bothered to put it back on!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Goodbye Salt Pond! (We'll be back). Hello, St Croix. A whopping 33 miles straight south.</span><br>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We ease of our mooring ball at 8:00 am, raise the main and unfurl the genoa with 4-13 kts of N to NE wind and a 0.5 knot westerly current. Before The Captain can finish trimming the sails, I have St. Croix in sight. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As we exit the boundary of Virgin Islands Reef National Monument, a fishing line goes out. Pretty soon, we have a huge sportfish trolling perpendicular to our path where the water drops off quickly from 100 ft to 3000 ft. "Watch those lines! We're on the fish!"</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">What do we do while underway? Lots of time to untangle fishing line...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">FaceBook post: "Wow! I just saw a HUGE Mahi swim by the boat (yeah, he was that big, that fast & that close to the surface--that he caught my eye) & take a run at our lure! We missed him but he was FABULOUS! What a rush!"</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Hello St. Croix! Nap time...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">St. Croix's "Schooner Channel" entrance is challenging in a north swell. Again, there's a steep shelf of water going from 3000 ft to 100 ft. A current flows over the reef & back out, opposing the ocean north swell. "Was it this bad last year?" Oh, yeah. We were loopy after a 23 hour sail. Hard to say. There are no park mooring balls here, despite what the guide book says (just "private" moorings or as we would learn from the locals, moorings marking sunk boats!) We drop anchor in Gallows Bay along channel markers G7, 9, 11.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Overall, a little bit of a lumpy ride but tolerable. The Captain and First Mate disagree if it was better or worse that this or that... However, we'll hear later from sailors going the other way that they had a wet ride! Still better than the 23 hour trip we did last year. (Our friends on Glory of Christiansted text to tell us they departed St. Croix for BVI the same day and we passed enroute. Dang it! See last years post for one of our favorite pictures of us, taken by Patti & Peter)</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Summary</u>: Total time 6:55, avg speed 4.9 kts, total mileage 33.9 nm. Motor-sail on one engine (avg 50% power) with main & genoa. NE wind & swell 5-15 kts.</span><br>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next morning, we end up re-anchoring farther east, after one side of our bridle took a swim overnight. Better. Still rolly.</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fort was built by the Danish in 1738. See more pics under "Architecture"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>1) HISTORY</b> </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Early inhabitants of the island were the Taino or Arawak indians followed by the Carib indians. Christopher Columbus visited the island in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World. He named the island Santa Cruz (or Holy Cross). Later, the US Virgin Islands would become known as the Lesser Antilles and the Danish West Indies. St. Croix has flown seven flags including the England, France, Spain and the Netherlands. However, Denmark ruled for almost 200 years. Sugar cane was the dominant crop (and of course the resulting rum). </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of our founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton was born in Nevis but grew up in St. Croix. Locals sponsored his travel to New York City for college. He would become the first Secretary of the Treasury. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We arrive just in time for the 100th anniversary Transfer Day fireworks (official holiday celebrating the Dutch selling the islands to the US). The barge catches on fire after the display. Locals: "Yeah, that happens every year." Wow. We are not in the States anymore! The fleet of historic Danish </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">ships escew us for Fredericksted.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">St Croix also boasts the largest island barrier reef in the Caribbean.</span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A panorama of the historic fort</td></tr>
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<b>2) RESTAURANTS</b><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not just "there are more restaurants than the Bahamas" or "less touristy restaurants than St. Thomas", but an abundance of restaurants a couple foodies can really get into. I don't know how to describe it. We've only scratched the surface. Despite some favorites, we rarely eat at the same place twice. Yes, many a cruisers dropped the hook here and never left. I can picture that, but we'd have to get jobs to support our dining-out budget.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful & historic downtown area: "Are you coming? Hurry up! 4 Strand is just up ahead!" Silly me, stopping to take pictures!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We didn't catch any fish, so stop #1 is 4 Strand Eatery, a restaurant recommended by a local cruiser friend last year. I'm pretty sure The Captain & I ordered the same thing we had last year--a steak and the chickpea bowl. They don't disappoint, especially when the dessert menu includes a "gluten-free" cheesecake. </span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't remember what kind of cheesecake it was, but it was FABULOUS!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Bones, the pretty entranceway</td></tr>
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The staff at the marina recommend No Bones for lunch & wifi. It's across from the working port, so it's frequented by the DPNR officials, harbor pilots and customs agents. It looks a little rough looking from the outside or even looks closed (the pic above is the prettier side entrance) but when you open the door, it's white table clothes and full of locals with "regular tables" and "the usual". The food was a wonderful. We were a little taken back! I have a blurry pic of some nachos. Apparently, I was hungry.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reasonable cold beverages and FAST wifi</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you are looking for us, this is the place to start. </span>We become regulars at Ocean View Cafe (in the marina) during our stay. We passed it up a few times before we realized they had FAST wifi. The bartenders were low pressure & happily tolerated our presence as we nursed cold beverages and they even plugged my laptop in behind the bar. (We tip well). The best bargain is the all-day breakfast. Try their homemade ginger beer. Sv Three Sheets will finally catch up with us here for a brief hello.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brunch at Toast</td></tr>
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Sv Kailini invited me to a girls brunch at Toast downtown. The pic above is breakfast sandwich arepa (gluten-free "corn pocket", origin Venezuela or Columbia, made from ground maize. Must find recipe!). They recommend a side, and I think I had fried plantains but I later learned one option was cheesy hash browns. Dang! Next time! (Yes, that's a bloody mary. BRUNCH WITH THE GIRLS! They give you a slip of paper JUST for your blood mary order. Wow.)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Lunch & wifi at Shupe's on the waterfront. Owners and all the bartenders are from Missouri. Small world!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Next stop is Schupe's on the waterfront. It's a new stop for us and also came recommended. Schupe's and the Brewery next door are both are owned by a couple from Missouri (and all the bartenders are from MO!). Excellent burgers. I know, expensive burgers, but yummy ("Go Jayhawks!") Friends on sv Kailini also recommend their homemade veggie burger. Wifi and a beautiful view. Dinghy parking right out front.</span></span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Taco Tuesday's at Maria's. Add it to the calendar!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We met sv Kailani in Culebra through our friends on Dos Libras. FB tells us Kailani is also in St. Crois. They text to invite us to lunch at Maria's in Gallows Bay. "It's Taco Tuesday!" Call 9 Juan Juan...</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">#Sailboats & #sunsets from #StCroix!</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">3) SUNRISES AND SUNSETS</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"But don't you post fabulous sunrise/sunset photos everyday?" Well, yes. Life on the water, and the Caribbean in general is known for its sunsets. However, geography plays a role. Our anchorage location vs the view to the east and west, is influenced by the sun is rising or setting behind land (and how big that land mass is). I'd say over a small landmass is usually the most dramatic, and of course, with a few boats in the foreground.</span><br>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Rain showers on the horizon made a spectacular sunset...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Random FB post: "US Warship calling Christiansted (harbor) Pilot, US Warship calling Christiansted Pilot..."</span><br>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Huh?! Yep, there they are! ("I wonder if we can take the dinghy out to get a closer look? No?")</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Never seen this in a Chris Parker forecast: "Fair sailing all times either direction with peak wind late overnights"</span><br>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We should probably go somewhere!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Good Friday, anchored just off the public boat launch. Locals camping on the park beach--the sounds of kids playing, dogs barking and music as the sun sets...</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Time to crank up the generator & watch some Netflix...</span></span></td></tr>
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(Again, see last years post for some surprisingly different and stunning sunrises and sunsets. Hint, purple?!)<br>
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<b>4) RAIN</b></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Most rainshowers in the Caribbean are quick and usually over before we can close all the hatches. However, i</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">t literally rained buckets while we were here. It turns out our modified sun shade is the perfect funnel for catching rain off the hard top. I've got approx 13 gals of free water for laundry (yep, when the 2 5-gal buckets got full, we had to pour them into a jerry can)! Woo hoo! Thank you, Mother Nature! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And ANOTHER downpour, just after I went to bed. Apparently, I muttered "buckets" and The Captain jumped out of bed. They filled so quickly, he had to dump them into a jerry can before returning to bed. The dinghy was more than ankle deep when we tried to head in for a laundry run (he had to dig out the pump instead of bailing!). A</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ccording to cruiser friends on other islands, they weren't getting the rain we were. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Maybe it's a St. Croix thing. Good intel. Maybe we don't need a watermaker, we just need to catch more rain water in St. Croix!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">You know you're in the islands when: At the coffee house, <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">the wifi isn't working...</span>& the electricity blinks off...And locals don't even flinch. They don't even look up!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A few more random thoughts:</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a friend noted yesterday, cruising is like being in college--grocery shop together, do laundry together...</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Easter is a 5-day holiday in the Virgin Islands! </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Both of our neighbors have been all over the world and cruising for more than 10 years (88 countries?!)! </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A horse and their person just swam through the anchorage (twice, see below). </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our neighbor's cats usually run out and hiss at other boats when they hear anchor chain, but apparently they didn't do that when we arrived (even before we over to give them cat food!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">It's been HOT the last week--heat index into the 90's & light wind. Yuck.</span> </span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Is a horse out for a swim laid back enough for you?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>5) MORE EXPATS AND FEWER TOURISTS</b> <b>= LAID BACK</b></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">OK, I know we say this a lot. We're in the Caribbean! But every island has a different vibe. This island has attracted a lot of US expats (remember a US territory and the cost of living cheaper is than St. John).</span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I recommend the book, "Life in the Left Lane" by Emy Thomas to learn more about her wonderful life as an expat in St. Croix.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There is also fewer tourists. The occasional cruise ship comes into Fredericksted but the bulk go to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. There are no chain hotels here.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another Caribbean translation: “Come back tomorrow/next week/next month” doesn’t really mean that.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It means, “I don’t know”; “I don’t feel like doing that today”; “I don’t know who to ask but it definitely isn’t me”; or “I’m eating lunch right now”.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Still learning!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(credit: http://womenwholiveonrocks.com/all-the-things-the-expats-never-told-me/)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(<u>Small soapbox</u>: An observation about getting off the beaten path. We've noticed many islands have started catering to tourists by serving cheeseburgers and pizza. Hawking trinkets (imported from China) instead of handmade wares. Doing jetskis and zip lines. In St. Thomas, the tourist safari from the cruise ship dock is something like $15/person, "So you don't have to make so many stops..." instead of a $1. What's lost here is the chance to mingle with the locals (who are very friendly and helpful), trying their local cuisine, and learning about their native skills like basket weaving, boat making and carving. When you move away from the "prettiest beach" (where the locals don't go because it's too crowded) to the "locals beach", you may get funny looks at first. A "hello" is a nice ice breaker...). Anyway. Moving on.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">More fun local culture facts: #Camping in St. Croix for the Easter holiday is popular. There is a large Puerto Rican population here (US territory) and they brought this tradition with them. We're anchored off of Altona Lagoon and have been observing the activities of the two groups mentioned in this newspaper article! One group has been here over a week. Tents, outhouses, portable showers, huge water tanks, covered kitchen & living areas, generators & flat screen tv's, oh my! Link: <a href="https://t.co/WDkwgEEfbh" target="_blank">St. Croix Source, Easter Campers</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12px;">Cruising is a small world--someone flags you down for a ride to the fisherman's dock & you realize you gave them a ride to their boat at Brewer's Beach, St Thomas!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Watching for weather windows. </span>Turtle!</span><br>
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<b>6) ARCHITECTURE</b><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even a modern "US-style" strip mall has arched arcades to protect pedestrians from the sun and rain</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">More architectural ideas we could use in the States: When the Danish occupied the VI's, the buildings were built with the warehouse on the bottom, business on second floor, residential on the third floor & an "arched arcade" or overhang to shade the sidewalk. There are several beautiful, historic streets in downtown St Croix that preserve this architectural style. You can walk blocks in the shade or out of the rain. </span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The world would be a happier place if we painted buildings bright colors</td></tr>
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I can't believe I don't have a picture, but historic "sugar mills" (dutch windmills for grinding sugar cane) still dot the island. There is one overlooking our anchorage. Another on the way to the grocery. Another preserved in a private residential community. Love it.<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mCJiyBeEj-0/WRIMjED6IMI/AAAAAAAAEP0/hYi2Q8l5644EiNhyrwkBuZvDjMYJX331gCLcB/s1600/IMG_1898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mCJiyBeEj-0/WRIMjED6IMI/AAAAAAAAEP0/hYi2Q8l5644EiNhyrwkBuZvDjMYJX331gCLcB/s400/IMG_1898.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arches at the Fort</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">More random thoughts:<br>Cruiser Brain: </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We decide to start the generator in the middle of the day to </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1) charge the laptop so I could finish a blog </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2) Do an EQ on our batteries.</span><br>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">30 min later:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Is the generator running?"</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Yeah."</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I don't hear it."</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Oh, maybe I forgot the turn the charger on. It's just idling."</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">{stick my head out a hatch} "No, I really don't hear it."</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Oh, you know what? I went to put gas in it & got so excited that the I caught 2 gallons of rain water that I forgot to start it!"</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7DPdG4eRGD4/WRIMjbEXKRI/AAAAAAAAEP4/k9rOyCe1l5kwRi9TNHQDchxVMf105cH_gCLcB/s1600/IMG_1903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7DPdG4eRGD4/WRIMjbEXKRI/AAAAAAAAEP4/k9rOyCe1l5kwRi9TNHQDchxVMf105cH_gCLcB/s400/IMG_1903.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shaded arcade at the Fort</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px;"><br></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A possible weather window back to St. John/St. Thomas is approaching. We've been here for a month! I always do better with a deadline. Time to make up for lost time.</span><br>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We head to the fort, attempt apply for a permit to Buck Island while we're there (nope), head to Taco Tuesday at Maria's Cantina, then a quick grocery stop in case we get to spend a week in southern St. John. While I unload groceries, The Captain heads back with our boat registration & to return our permit application. "OK, we'll get back to you." "How long?" "A few days...". Dang. I was still optimistic. (My phone will ring as we motor out of the channel..."You're permit is approved..."). Ughhhhh</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After posting a blog, one last run for water, a stop at our favorite bar/wifi spot and a SUP around the bay, the dinghy was raised up into the davits. Ready!</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a great grocery, and a GREAT grocery. My foodie friends will understand</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><br></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>7) EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME IN THE GALLOWS BAY AREA</u></b></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We like the little community of Gallows. Let's take you on our 0.6 mile walk into town: St. Croix marina dinghy dock, marina chandlery, (breakfast at the marina restaurant, optional), Yamaha dealer, No Bones restaurant, hardware, post office, bank, coffee shop (wifi), book store, Seaside grocery, second grocery. Stop at the marina restaurant on the way back for a cold beverage and FAST WIFI. A slight detour and you're at the laundromat, that for some reason, I find cozy despite the lack of air conditioning or wifi (Wow. I'm spoiled but that's my dream laundromat. I've been there. I'm going to open one in the Caribbean with a coffee bar!). While drying laundry, I usually do the short walk to the well-stocked pharmacy.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lot's of expats mean a good wine & "American food" selection. There is also a large rastafarian population thus the wide selection of produce and vegetarian options. (The first decent avocados I've seen. Really?)</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><b>St Croix cruiser notes</b>:</u></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">NOTE: St. Croix Marina is even more rundown than last year. They've changed hands again. However, it is convenient access to the Gallows Bay area with water, trash, fuel and a nice bar with wifi. We still recommend. $20/week for access. (Anchorage wifi not currently working and doesn't seem to be any motivation to get it fixed. "Keep trying." "It works sometimes." "We don't know what's wrong with it." (I suspect, they should pay the bill). Be sure to visit in the dinghy before paying for a slip. It's just as rolly as the anchorage.</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Dinghy</u>: St Croix marina ($20/week & didn't charge us extra for trash) or cleats along town waterfront/boardwalk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Groceries</u>: Seaside grocery, good produce & selection, gf options, decent liquor prices for USVI (small Gordon's Gin $9, Bombay (regular) $18. Rent a car for CostULess (& the grocery next door is supposed to be good also).</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LZmsjCXWAJ8/WRspZUJb_GI/AAAAAAAAESU/uOejaWua_6Y1cvRNGY8Is13FNP4uiMI7ACEw/s1600/IMG_1798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LZmsjCXWAJ8/WRspZUJb_GI/AAAAAAAAESU/uOejaWua_6Y1cvRNGY8Is13FNP4uiMI7ACEw/s400/IMG_1798.jpg" width="225"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-Mobile roaming</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><u>Internet</u>: Our T-Mobile is better than St. Thomas but still very slow (early mornings and late evening is best. Again, T-Mobile isn't supposed to work in USVI). We have a 10GB for $60 AT&T sim card (but again, AT&T sucks. Uses 1 Gb/ day instead of 1 GB/week with T-Mobile). A<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> friend mentioned we get a certain amount of roaming included in our T-Mobile plan. I hadn't tested it until yesterday. While at the laundromat, my phone switched to Innovative 3G! I was able to download a few books from the library before I got this text. Good to know! (Innovative had been so slow in STT, it was unusable)</span></li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>St Croix Marina: good signal if anchored in Gallows Bay, but currently down (we pay $20/week for use of the dinghy dock, trash & wifi because we like this end of town)</li>
<li>Ocean View Cafe has opened IN the marina. THEY have wifi & it's FAST. This is our afternoon beverage stop.</li>
<li>The Bistro Coffee Shop (Gallows): Popular with locals. I can stay as long as I want. Stop on the way to the grocery. Next to the bookstore. Open wifi. Outdoor seating. Decent speed (ask for reset if it's not working after you buy something!)</li>
<li>No Bones (Gallows) : Restaurant just outside the marina. Excellent food (have the pork nachos. The best since Culebra!). Better speed than the Bistro.</li>
<li>Waterfront/boardwalk: Schupes, Angry Nates, library</li>
<li>Library: We haven't visited yet, but fellow cruisers said to take your computer to the front desk so the librarian can type in the password. Bring a jacket (air conditioning!)</li>
</ol>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o4uqVZz785g/WRspZ_HquGI/AAAAAAAAESg/jSQgFhmHWB0lwEkWlyMiFbFWoXog5d5NwCEw/s1600/IMG_4199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o4uqVZz785g/WRspZ_HquGI/AAAAAAAAESg/jSQgFhmHWB0lwEkWlyMiFbFWoXog5d5NwCEw/s400/IMG_4199.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laundry Time, St. Croix</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><u>Laundry</u>: Gallows, see above</li>
<li><u>Water</u>: marina (dang, I forget how much/gallon. Not bad.)</li>
<li><u>Trash</u>: Marina or public trash cans (recycling & solar trash compactors downtown at the Boardwalk & Queen?)</li>
<li><u>Restaurants</u>: see above</li>
<li><u>Hardware/Marine Parts</u>: Chandlery at St. Croix marina, Yamaha dealer/Gallows Bay Marine outside marina, hardware store in Gallows Bay</li>
<li><u>Propane</u>: ???</li>
<li><u>Mail</u>: Post office in Gallows Bay. Not sure if they take general delivery.</li>
<li><u>Cruisers Net</u>: No, but lots of resident liveaboards. Knock on some hulls if you have questions</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aJFTxrO-kMA/WRspZsuw66I/AAAAAAAAESY/WoDA9itXjKcPnLmb-5sTdy8hmqT4MGtTACLcB/s1600/IMG_1760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aJFTxrO-kMA/WRspZsuw66I/AAAAAAAAESY/WoDA9itXjKcPnLmb-5sTdy8hmqT4MGtTACLcB/s400/IMG_1760.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">"Da new ferry is here! Da new ferry is here!" </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">http://viconsortium.com/business/ferryboat-between-st-croix-and-st-thomas-approved-service-starts-tuesday/</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><u>Ferry</u>: to St. Thomas multiple times a day for $50/each way. Limited baggage. Yuck. I wanted to check it out. Maybe they'll lower their prices eventually.</li>
<li><u>Library</u>: yes</li>
<li><u>Park/Attractions</u>: The Fort, the historic district downtown, Buck Island, the Cruzan distillery and numerous historic sights around the island</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oj7tzS72qb4/WRspZpyi7GI/AAAAAAAAESc/wFi9Um9A8ssbjKoUOaC6s6jsYGddhBFEQCEw/s1600/IMG_0356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oj7tzS72qb4/WRspZpyi7GI/AAAAAAAAESc/wFi9Um9A8ssbjKoUOaC6s6jsYGddhBFEQCEw/s400/IMG_0356.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How do we know where we're going? Guidebook pic</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><u>Channel entry</u>: Two channels. One is mostly commercial. Unless you're going downtown, I'd do the sailing channel. Even though they converge on the way into St. Croix marina, we've seen a lot of confusion out there with small boats. Beware of channel marker "RR". <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's a dual-marker red & green. </span>It confused us both times and without an accurate chart, you could turn OUTSIDE of it. We saw at least one large sporfish run aground here trying to keep the "green to port".</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edm8KYeY9Es/WRIGaXp5pBI/AAAAAAAAEOM/cNb4QKw3GqEUYCe8Y91RY9jrKYlakIC7gCLcB/s1600/IMG_1777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edm8KYeY9Es/WRIGaXp5pBI/AAAAAAAAEOM/cNb4QKw3GqEUYCe8Y91RY9jrKYlakIC7gCLcB/s400/IMG_1777.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An excellent find at the book store: Don Street's Cruising Guide!</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>RANT</u></b>: I'm not a fan of the Virgin Island cruising bible, Scott's "Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands". There. I said it. Even Bruce VanSant recommends this book. The pics are great but it seems to be geared more towards bareboaters & marinas (advertising). There's also quite a few errors & no errata on their website (ie. Enter Salt Pond with rocks awash to starboard--after snorkeling that side, I'd recommend the port side--deeper & less intrusive to the reef & wildlife. Also, the description of anchoring in St. Croix is confusing & contradictory to their map). I also despise the organization. I can never find the area I'm looking for. I wish they'd get rid of the tabs because they just lure you into the idea that it's easier than a Table of Contents with page numbers (Wait. There are no page numbers in the Table of Contents!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Pavlidis books are better, despite the rumor he's not really updating them anymore. They are more geared towards cruisers and include more anchorages with fuel, water & trash info that doesn't always involve a marina. Not perfect but better. They are now available as Amazon ebooks for my iPad & cheaper because you can buy it in smaller "chunks" than the published book (I usually prefer my reference books in paper but when you need a guidebook, a download is handy).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I guess I'd say you should have them both. Add in a little googling and you're close to the Bahamas Explorer Charts. Someone should work on that...</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">UPDATE: The Don Street book (above) is dated but with Active Captain, you would be set. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(Slightly dated but still relevant) </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.billdietrich.me/PlacesVirginIslands.html</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(Local knowledge):</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">FB USVI Cruisers or</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?Cat=0</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And always ActiveCaptain.com</span></div>
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s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-8756903288302036492017-05-08T15:22:00.001-04:002017-05-09T08:45:05.402-04:00SMS from 88162348xxxx@msg.iridium.com<div>Click on the link below to see our arrival in Brewer's Bay, St. Thomas:</div>Lat+18deg20'30" Lon-64deg58'42" Alt+141ft GPS Sats seen: <a dir="ltr" href="tel:10%202017-05-08" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0">10 2017-05-08</a> 19:20UTC <a href="http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=18.341688&lon=-64.978543">http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=18.341688&lon=-64.978543</a> Sent via Iridium GO!s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-46903175721706523642017-05-02T15:04:00.004-04:002017-05-03T06:51:48.229-04:00Something Old & Something New in St. John<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I97OkNvQZuQ/WQEgACjA7eI/AAAAAAAAEFA/3CHyMIccGx8r2gp562o3OexxU8KiOvW6gCEw/s1600/IMG_0315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I97OkNvQZuQ/WQEgACjA7eI/AAAAAAAAEFA/3CHyMIccGx8r2gp562o3OexxU8KiOvW6gCEw/s400/IMG_0315.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Routing on Garmin BlueCharts app</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Hansen/Round/Coral Bay, St. John, USVI</u></b></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">: </span>Hansen Bay comes up a lot in discussions about anchoring in St. John (also good snorkeling). We agree to give it a second chance based on good protection and a town nearby. </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(Here's our post from last year: </span><a href="http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.in/2016/05/virgin-islands.html">http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.in/2016/05/virgin-islands.html</a>).<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are happy to see fewer boats and more room north of Pelican Rock this time. However, it still takes 3 attempts to get anchored. A south wind blowing into the bay isn't helping.</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">More "Crazy boats of the BVI"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">How do we know where we're going? Here's a snap of one of our guidebooks.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">My corrected chart of anchorage depths</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We'll probably return here again, because there is good all-around protection, but here's my notes on anchoring in Hansen:</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica;">1). The first problem is it's much deeper than charted--see above. What is supposed to be 15 ft is really mostly 50-30 ft until you get very close to the beach.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica;">(We vaguely remembered this). This is one of those instances when The Captain gives me the "She be crazy" face..</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Depth?" 50 ft</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Depth?" 30 ft</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Depth?" 30 ft</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(Just off the beach) "DEPTH?!!!!" 20 ft</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">{crazy face}</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">2). The second problem is a hard-packed sand and coral bottom. The first drop never bit. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The second drop holds but leaves us closer to some rocks on shore than I like for the possible west wind. We wait & contemplate until the neighbor in front of us lifts anchor & motors away. Score! We move forward, drop the anchor in 30 ft of water and the boat settles in 15 ft of water. If we drag, it will be uphill! I jump in & follow the chain out to check our anchor, and suddenly our chain just disappears! It's down there somewhere, I hope! </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Note: Option two is Long Bay (south of Pelican). Fellow cruisers text to say they had good luck farther south & farther off the beach than where we were last year.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I became convinced last year that the reason for all the moorings may be justified: a crowded anchorage in poor holding is bad for business. Cruisers just shake their head and say, "No, no, no. They just want our money." Yes, maybe that also. It is easier for charter boats and the hard packed sand/coral bottom looks like sand from on deck until you snorkel. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Summary: Total time 1:27, avg speed 4.9 kts, total mileage 7.0 nm, 2-engine motor.</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Our beach view from the cockpit</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">The Captain sitting on the back steps, prepping for a snorkel to Pelican Rock</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hi, Dude~</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Oops, she saw me." Second pic, after he started changing from white</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">"Now she can't see me! I'll just scoot over by this plant." Second to last pic as he turned brown and snuck into the plants</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DFLUBW3hJ8M/WQEg3hEJl8I/AAAAAAAAEFg/RMR0SKrlyrEeO3VU3J2QlhDJcHnadyvHwCEw/s1600/DSCN0588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DFLUBW3hJ8M/WQEg3hEJl8I/AAAAAAAAEFg/RMR0SKrlyrEeO3VU3J2QlhDJcHnadyvHwCEw/s400/DSCN0588.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Zoom in to see the abundance of tiny fish living here</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span></div><div>{Context: Missouri girl...} <br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two fawn scampering down the beach with Mama looking on! <br>What's wrong with that sentence?! <br>(I believe we had a deer sighting here last year on a different section of beach!)</span><br>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lgyZXr4rRZk/WQEh6-xXwvI/AAAAAAAAEFs/FvcJaMQhttwdWJBSnpHM3y2X2YkAYSz6wCLcB/s1600/DSCN0612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lgyZXr4rRZk/WQEh6-xXwvI/AAAAAAAAEFs/FvcJaMQhttwdWJBSnpHM3y2X2YkAYSz6wCLcB/s400/DSCN0612.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the mothership from the SUP</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">More info about the Hansen Bay area:</span><br>
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<span class="s1"><a href="http://onislandtimes.com/guide-to-hansen-bay-vies-beach/"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">http://onislandtimes.com/guide-to-hansen-bay-vies-beach/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br></span></span>
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Different beach list: <a href="https://cimmaronstjohn.com/beaches-on-st-john/"><span class="s1">https://cimmaronstjohn.com/beaches-on-st-john/</span></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br></span></span><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">More Coral Bay: <a href="http://www.cruisingthevirginislands.com/c/st-john/coral-bay/map"><span class="s1">http://www.cruisingthevirginislands.com/c/st-john/coral-bay/map</span></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br></span></span><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">A Cruiser blog: <a href="http://www.svwanderlust.com/single-post/2016/10/07/Why-Hansen-is-the-BEST-bay-in-St-John-USVI" target="_blank">http://www.svwanderlust.com/single-post/2016/10/07/Why-Hansen-is-the-BEST-bay-in-St-John-USVI</a></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Another St. John sunset</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While here, I was writing a blog about using the US Customs Small Vessel Reporting System after, for the first time, effortlessly filing a float plan from the BVI to USVI. It's enabled us to go into ports where customs is not available & clear in with a phone call. However, when I tried to replicate the feat so I could get screen shots & verify my tips, I was told "Last itinerary entry must be return to US location" even though I tried USVI and PR. Disregard. Back to regularly scheduled programming. Who wants to go to the south coast of St. John? ME, ME, ME! (I finally got it done. PITA: <a href="http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/03/small-vessel-reporting-system-svrs.html" target="_blank">http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/03/small-vessel-reporting-system-svrs.html</a>)</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We're leaving before exploring the beach (honor bar & a dive instructor?), Haulover Beach & Angel's Rest (a floating bar on weekends), the NPS moorings in "hurricane hole", and revisiting Coral Bay from the water side. It seems there is always something else to do! At least we have that to look forward to next time.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After 3 nights in Hansen, we're off! Headed for Salt Pond. A grand total of 4 miles! </span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not often our direction coincides with good light for pics of land, but the sunrise was in my favor. Approaching Ram's Head, southbound</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Photography on the boat is challenging. My favorite 70-210 zoom lens is too long for underway. The boat motion makes it too difficult to focus. We have a small digital camera but it can be difficult to see the screen in the sunlight. The iPhone has become the primary but will only zoom out so far before it gets grainy. And the biggest problem, it seems, is the sun is never in the right place--not like on land, where you can move around and take pictures from different angles! Therefore the wonderful geography/geology we've seen while sailing along the coast is largely undocumented. However, this morning I was able to photograph Ram's Head, a scheduled hike with the morning sun behind me. Watch how it changes colors...</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px;"><br></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Rounding the south side of Ram's Head. Looking back north.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">A panorama or Salt Pond</span></td></tr>
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<u><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Salt Pond Bay, St. John, USVI</span></b></u><br>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Departing by 9:00 am for the 4 mile trek around the southeastern tip of St. John to Salt Pond National Park Service mooring field. We couldn't decided if we wanted to revisit Lameshur or try somewhere new and as luck would have it, we pick up the last ball in Salt Pond. (Guide book says enter to starboard but snorkeling showed that side shallower and full of delicate wildlife?). The beach is full of tourists. Our new neighbor and a mutual friend from Hau Pana quickly pops over to say hello and invite us over for drinks. A spotted ray swims by and neither of us had our cameras handy. She tells us about the huge barracuda under their boat and when we jump in to snorkel, there he is! All teeth and eyeballs...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Our beach view from the cockpit (Eco resort on the hill)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Scott's, "The Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Our swimming pool just off the back porch steps</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Captain decides to snorkel the middle reef. The snorkeling has been fabulous this year. Every reef seems to have something to offer: a new fish or coral, bigger fish or coral, or more fish or coral!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">The reef here is healthier therefore the growth is TALLER!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Pic 5: "I will not sit still for your picture!" And then the current swept we on to the next thing...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Underwater photography has also proven challenging. Scaling is difficult. Colors don't pop on my camera. I love coral but it hasn't photographed well for me. Some fish are experts at camouflage so they are difficult to photograph before they change colors. Everything is moving including the water and the fish. I can't just sit and wait for the shot. You may only get one or two clicks before the water carries you off. Although I have followed several fish for long distances, it has it's own inherent dangers ie. not paying attention to where I am or things around me. Apparently, a dive certification and a better camera is in my future if I want to pursue underwater photography.</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Giant elkhorn coral from above</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Giant elkhorn coral from the side</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSDPgWYMmCA/WQEjzQA2aXI/AAAAAAAAEHY/wYnj5azkidEBoW29kGIcRaETS3Z7yiodwCEw/s1600/IMG_0345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSDPgWYMmCA/WQEjzQA2aXI/AAAAAAAAEHY/wYnj5azkidEBoW29kGIcRaETS3Z7yiodwCEw/s400/IMG_0345.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Courtesy of Hau Pana. A pic of the resident barracuda during happy hour</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Happy hour on sv Hau Pana. We've never met a cruiser who didn't have a fascinating story to tell. After "where did you come from & where are you headed", charts are pulled out and future stops are marked. Then we move on to batteries, solar, wind generators and boat projects. Never a dull moment. Always lots of laughter.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Summary: Total time 0:53, avg speed 4.7 kts, total mileage 4.2 nm, 2-engine motor.</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Sunrise over Hau Pana</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XAygI-MOiYQ/WQEjSLEcBxI/AAAAAAAAEGo/mgaS05k8q6srJkrB6Q6C7GNyPwYKsogLQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1611%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XAygI-MOiYQ/WQEjSLEcBxI/AAAAAAAAEGo/mgaS05k8q6srJkrB6Q6C7GNyPwYKsogLQCLcB/s400/IMG_1611%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Panorama of Salt Pong from the beach</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Special Report" blogs mean, "Oh my GOODNESS! I can't wait to tell you about this..." Insert Ram's Head hike here: <a href="http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/03/special-report-hiking-ram-head-from.html" target="_blank">http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2017/03/special-report-hiking-ram-head-from.html</a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">The view from the beach is just as stunning as the view from the boat!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwJ0xK3Uob4/WQEj2HYOgiI/AAAAAAAAEHY/uhHBIJBvgEcK7vrjuBUQ3LbkrWIXa-uDwCEw/s1600/IMG_1708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwJ0xK3Uob4/WQEj2HYOgiI/AAAAAAAAEHY/uhHBIJBvgEcK7vrjuBUQ3LbkrWIXa-uDwCEw/s400/IMG_1708.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Hi, Odin! Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">A highlight from our hike</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Another view from the top of Ram's Head towards St. Croix</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A coral and rock beach. Unique</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Love the patterns & textures</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hey, the boat is still there!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We see a local charter power boat drop anchor in the bay (no anchoring here). Soon after we get a visit from Alister, our bay host, who was very helpful including bus info & info about volunteering as a bay host (and yes, taking a picture and emailing to the Park Ranger is the best way to deal with offenses you see in the Park). We learn later from cruiser friends he is a chemist who works from his boat. Wow. You're my idol!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Beautiful end to a wonderful day in St. John</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our time in St. John has come to an end. A weather window to St. Croix has arrived and our bay host confirmed the north swell will drive more people to the south side. We're outta here!</span></div>
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s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118625171806578337.post-29395106264150716812017-05-02T07:51:00.001-04:002017-05-02T08:07:05.056-04:00Boat Project: Upgrading Dinghy "Underseat Bag"<div style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Highfield Underseat Bag that came with our dinghy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our Highfield dinghy came with a very nice padded seat cover with built-in organizer. It was basically a duffle bag suspended under the seat. There's enough things floating around in the bottom of a cruiser's dinghy, and ours doesn't have a locker. It is a nice way to hide our PFD's, pump, nav light, dry box with boat cards, dry bag & a spare bottle of oil (and on a good day, the smaller pockets act as a cup holder for the First Mate). </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have received lots of compliments.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">PFD's, pumps & various accoutrement</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Looking a little raggedy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The seat cushion had a zippered compartment hanging off the front with straps on the rear of the cushion that go under the seat to hold it all together. However, the non-UV, vinyl, seat fabric wore through & with everything in the front zipper compartment, it was always sliding forward. There was was a drain hole in the bottom but when we pulled everything out, it was still damp from the last rain.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Captain was considering part canvas, part pfifertex. I voted all pfifertex. Better uv & quick dry.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">He only scribbles down notes when he's serious!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Using the previous underseat bag as a template, the redesign included:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To keep the seat more secure, instead of buckles holding it on, the seat is raised up & the bag is slide on</span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lift seat & slide on</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Replaced seat cushion with a scrap of leftover camping pad.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Eliminated front zipper. Salvaged buckles from the back & used on the front </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Salvaged zipper pockets & "Highfield" logo (the two outside pockets were already part black pfifertex, so they look like they perfect!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Reinforced with webbing</span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The front</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">The back. Instead of straps under the seat, it hangs straight down.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Completion time: Months of redesign in his head. Actual sewing? Half a day--done by lunch!</span></div>
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s/v Odin the Wandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183937326005762324noreply@blogger.com1