The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...

[Steve Grover]

Try 4.5 feet of snow. Covering the C-Dory. Happy Biorthday Dixie.

 

[JamesTXSD]

Try 4.5 feet of snow. Covering the C-Dory. Happy Biorthday Dixie.

Aw, Steve, my sympathies. :cry Bet that sailboat down in Mexico is sounding pretty good about now, huh? Margaritas and tomales - not just for breakfast anymore!

Gizmo is such a fine looking boat - I hope one of those folks who are looking for a 16 gets the chance to see her.

Stay warm, buddy!

 

[JamesTXSD]

Friday, January 18th. North to Corpus Christi (by land) to be fingerprinted at the Coast Guard office here. My paperwork is done, the testing is done, got to wait in a small office while the crowd built, all waiting to get fingerprinted. There will be one more background check... so as long as the FBI doesn't find out about the riff-raff we hung out with in May and July (aka C-Brat gatherings), I should be good to go.

With the bureaucracy out of the way, we got to spend the weekend with our boat buddies Brent and Dixie, and Dixie's sister and brother-in-law. They met us in Corpus; we spent a chilly couple hours at the Texas State Aquarium then out for lunch at a beach restaurant. On to Rockport (where they are staying in their 5th wheel); parked the Leisure Travel one site over from their rig and spent the next couple days catching up. The weather was downright chilly, so we didn't get out on the water, but wandered through some interesting galleries.

The time passed quickly... lively conversation, some possible boat trip ideas tossed about, Dixie's fine cooking, and lots of talk about C-Dorys. We made the 4 hour drive back home Sunday night, and got a couple days of sea time in Wild Blue on Monday and Tuesday. The weather was back to normal: sunny, hazy, temps in the 70s. By this afternoon, the overcast returned, but it was still pleasant with a light breeze. The water was flat. It was a nice break.

Today, I did my part to hold the line on spending: I never ran the throttle above 2000 RPMs. The fuel flow meter said we were burning just a bit over 1 gallon per hour. We had no agenda, no destination... just wanted to be out there. Watched the dolphins and the pelicans. Saw an oil rig in the distance being moved down the ship channel. Watched South Padre Island disappear in the light fog behind us. It was cheaper than an afternoon at the movies (and more entertaining). Besides, I don't think we could have smuggled Molly into the movies. :wink:

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[Byrdman]

:thup Sweet! :smiled :cocktail Life is good.

Byrdman

 

[JamesTXSD]

A norther rolled in this week on Wednesday morning; dropped our temps into the 40s and 50s, windy, gray sky, and drizzle. To keep from getting cabin fever, we took in a movie, even made a trip to Brownsville for a nice lunch out and some mall walking. It was supposed to clear off by Friday. It didn't. Same for Saturday. We fired up the Wallas and went out. Put $100 worth of fuel in ($2.89/gallon, on the water), and cruised around. We were one of a very few boats out there, and it was a good remedy for the "fever."

We made plans to spend Sunday out. The weather weasels had promised, "today is the day." We woke up to chilly temps and fog. No matter; we loaded Wild Blue with some food, the Sunday paper, and headed out.

It was nearly still. The light fog made for some interesting light. Here are 5 pelicans balancing on a No Wake sign just out of our canal...



Turning into the ICW, we saw this bay shrimper. No weekends or gray days off for them...



In the Port Isabel turning basin, we came upon this...



It's a passenger barge... more of a floating, sight-seeing hotel. It comes this way a couple times during the birding season; down the ICW from Galveston to Port Isabel. The rooms onboard are very nice, each with a view. It spends most of its time on the Inland Waterways.

Then it was down the ship channel, heading for the Gulf. Of course, there were dolphins...



We poked out into the Gulf. The fog was a bit thicker out there...



Look close, there's a ship out there. He shows up a LOT better on our radar.

We came back in, pulled into a cove off the jetties, and put down the anchor. It was an afternoon of relaxation: reading the paper, listening to Radio Margaritaville, some guitar playing... and after the fog lifted, we were treated to a parade of boats. Excursion boats, sailboats, fishing boats, Coast Guard boats, shrimpboats, a sea tug, a couple crew boats; even several kayakers enjoying the unusually calm conditions. I guess we weren't the only ones looking for some sunshine.

By late afternoon, we decided it was time to head in. Back out into the Gulf for a bit...





The water was still smooth, but now a prettier shade of blue with some sunshine on it.

Just before we got to our canal, we were treated to another dolphin show...



Tied off to our dock, Wild Blue got a fresh water washdown and the motor flushed. I took my time, enjoying every moment. She is ready to head out again when we are. Looking over my shoulder as I came into the house, this was the view...



A nice end to the day.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[CatyMae n Steve]

Now the pelican picture is one your son-in-law should definitely work into the new strip! I'll bet he could think up several conversations to script to that picture!

Once again, great shots...and thanks for sharing with us...it was a slippery commute to work this morning! But the sun's come out and melted most of the snow...for now :lol:

Caty

 

[JamesTXSD]

The Wild Blue and Discovery crews are together again!

Well, we're about 200 miles apart this winter, so close enough for regular visits back and forth. This past weekend, it was Brent and Dixie's turn to come here. It was a real treat to show them around our home area, since they have so graciously done that for us at their home.

We had 6 out on Wild Blue, and there was still plenty of elbow room...



Meals together, sundowners, beautiful weather, a fresh sea breeze, trading stories... more of the good times we've come to expect when we're together. A friendship that came together thanks to this forum.

We introduced our friends to Pirate's Landing, a restaurant on the bay. The food was good, we had a window table with a great view... and leave it to Dixie to find the touristy part of the place...



I have to say that I didn't know Brent had such curvy cleavage.

And here's a shot that Dixie or Diann (Dixie's sister) took of us...



Nice candid image!

We even got to do the Super Bowl together again. Instead of a bar in the Keys, we had comfortable seats in our living room. No booze basket to win, but plenty of libations and food.

And to think all of our kids thought we should be careful about "meeting someone on the internet" !! 8)

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[Papillon]

Jim & Joan,
Congratulations on 50 pages of the finest entertainment you have provided to the site. I look foward to the next 50 pages of your adventures and feel proud to have been included in the first.

Mike & Judy

 

[JamesTXSD]

Aw, Mike... when I gave you that $20 to say nice things, you were supposed to be more subtle about it.

So, how's the next project coming?

 

[Discovery]

As Jim already posted, we spent 4 days in Port Isabel with Wild Blue and crew. We toured the area by C-Dory and by land. It was a good "fix" for Discovery crew that hasn't cruised since last August. We spent time at the Kite Festival--it's windy in South Texas-- and touring the wildlife refuge. We ate in the best restaurants, including Joan's, and really had a great time. Jim and Joan are terrific hosts and couldn't have made our stay more enjoyable.


Jim and Joan at the Kite Festival

Thanks Wild Blue and crew!

 

[Dora~Jean]

Hey Brent and Dixie, great photo of Jim and Joan! Monster kites they have down there, never seen one that big.

You don't suppose you could exert a BIT of PRESSURE on Jim and Joan to sign up for the Delta Extravaganza do you? Would be real fun to be together again... :thup

 

[JamesTXSD]

WARNING:

If viewing sunny images of dolphins cavorting by the boat will set you off, click off this thread. On the other hand, if you need to some warm fuzzy (and wet) images, keep reading...

It's been windy here in the Tropical Tip the last couple weeks. Well, some would say it's always windy here, but winter brings us northers that eventually get chased off by our typical prevailing southeasterly wind. Today - no wind. Well, it started off absolutely calm. I'm talking flags were hanging limp. The palm trees weren't swaying. The wind was out of nowhere at 0.

We had a few errands to run this morning, but as soon as we came back home, Wild Blue was ready to go. The wind had come up... 4 with occasional gusts to 5.5. :wink: We cruised out of our canal and into the ICW; from there to the ship channel. On our way to the Gulf, we had to dodge a couple dolphin watch excursion boats... our finny friends were out in force.

We passed by a couple sailing buddies out on their catamarans. The wind was now up to about 8 and steady... enough to move those efficient sailboats around nicely. We exchanged waves and smiles and headed out into the Gulf, running north along South Padre Island. It was sunny, warm (mid-70s), and just enough wave action to make it sporting. What a day!

When we came back inside later, we had a pod of dolphins running along with us...



In fact, they were close enough to feel the spit from their blow holes, and even zoomed out, Joan couldn't get this one all in the photo...



There were about 8 of them in this pod, plenty active, and one little one amongst them. Here's a shot of his little tail about to disappear...



Did I mention: what a day!

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[JamesTXSD]

...
You don't suppose you could exert a BIT of PRESSURE on Jim and Joan to sign up for the Delta Extravaganza do you? Would be real fun to be together again... :thup

Hey Steve,

If we were heading west, it wouldn't take much pressure - we enjoyed the people and places on the Delta/Bay cruise. If anyone hasn't done that cruise, sign up quick before the available slots are full. Fun!

We look forward to the next time our paths cross.

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[JamesTXSD]

Just found out (US Coast Guard has a site to check on the progress of license documents) - the upgrade on my Captain's license to a Masters has gone through and is to be printed. I did have some concerns regarding the background check that they might find out about some of the scallywags I've been associating with here. :wink Apparently slipped through under the radar.

How to celebrate? A day out on the boat, of course!

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[JamesTXSD]

Friday, Feb 8th.

Today, we saw the folks on the boat that first introduced us to C-Dorys. A few years ago, I asked my neighbor about his Nimble Nomad trawler (based on the Nimble sailboat hull). When I told him what we intended to do with the boat, he said, "You don't want a Nomad, you want a C-Dory."

"Great," I replied, "what's a C-Dory?"

And then I started searching the internet... found the C-Dory factory site, the old C-Dogs, and this great place. My thanks to Leonard for steering me in the right direction and here's a look at their boat at anchor...



I still think it's a great looking boat. Not a planing hull, though. The front cockpit is great for handling anchor duties (but you lose the v-berth). This would be a perfect boat for the NY canals and other protected waters.

We tossed out our anchor not far from them and set about some serious relaxing. It wasn't long before this Lark came our way...



Lark in... Lark out...



Originally used for amphib troop transport. It makes a good tourist excursion boat down here, since it can go from South Padre Island, across the ship channel and up onto Boca Chica Beach on the other side (what would normally be over an hour by car).

And here's a look at how I spent most of my afternoon...



Watching boats, birds, dolphins. I contemplated many of the world's problems. I have some solutions, but they all involve me being out on our boat... probably better than the government money give-away... but, I digress. :wink:

Heading for home, the hazy light made for this interesting view of this backlit shrimpboat...



We were out for about 5 hours... just tooling along leisurely. Had lunch on the hook. Went a grand total of less than 14 miles and according to the fuel flow meter, burned less than 3 gallons of gas. Pretty cheap entertainment.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[JamesTXSD]

The anticipated 50 Ton Masters License arrived today! So, it's official.

Late this afternoon, we took a quick trip around the island. It was mostly overcast, with some breaks in the clouds; mid-70s, light breeze (less than 5). It's been over a week since we've been out, and I really needed this. I plan to spend the next few days out on the boat.



There is a lunar eclipse tonight... I went out to check on it (just started) and you could see the moon through a light fog. By the time I came inside to get the camera, the moon was gone. We have a couple hours before it's a done deal, but the dew point and the temp are getting pretty close. Hope it's clear where you are - it's gonna be a couple years before we get to see one of these again.

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[rogerbum]

<stuff clipped>
There is a lunar eclipse tonight... I went out to check on it (just started) and you could see the moon through a light fog. By the time I came inside to get the camera, the moon was gone.
<more stuff clipped>

No moon, no problem... you've handled that before with photoshop. :wink:

 

[JamesTXSD]

No moon, no problem... you've handled that before with photoshop. :wink:

I was making a Christmas card image with the other photo we are discussing. Tonight, I was hoping to record an event. And, a reminder to go out and take a look if you can see it in your area. It comes and goes, but too weak to get it in the camera. I suppose I could "re-create" it... 8)

 

[rogerbum]

No moon, no problem... you've handled that before with photoshop. :wink:

I was making a Christmas card image with the other photo we are discussing. Tonight, I was hoping to record an event. And, a reminder to go out and take a look if you can see it in your area. It comes and goes, but too weak to get it in the camera. I suppose I could "re-create" it... 8)

If you can't record it, create it! I'm sure your version would look better than real life anyway (just tweaking you of course, you HAD to know it was coming).

 

[JamesTXSD]

OK, Roger...



Real or created?