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April 30, 2007
Cooper Island to Soper's Hole
I sit with my coffee in the cockpit shortly after 6am. I look across to Tortola, and can make out the masts of the boats in the marina from where we came yesterday. The sun is beginning to kiss the peaks of the tall hills. Today, we plan to go to Soper’s Hole on the west end of Tortola. It is not a long journey, so I won’t hasten to wake Chis. I’ll pour another cup of coffee, grab my book, and contemplate life.
After a super-healthy breakfast of fresh fruit and bagels, we had a swim, shaved and showered. We sat in the cockpit and watched the morning exodus of boats from the anchorage. Probably half of the boats are chartered like ours, so it’s hard to tell one Beneteau from another. Around 10am, we decided to head out. This trip, about 11 miles as the crow flies, has the wind dead astern. We tried a couple of things with the sails, and determined that a series of deep broad-reach gibes was the rule for the day. This would add about 3 miles to the journey, so we expected a mid-afternoon arrival. It was a beautiful sail. Compared to yesterday, beating into a stiff headwind, this was a pleasant downwind sail. A little pokey, but who’s in a rush?
We picked up a mooring shortly before 2, tidied the lines, and hopped in the dinghy to go ashore. Following a light lunch on the dock, we wandered through the little shops, bought some ice, and headed back to the boat for reading, snoozing, and sunset watching.
For those who followed our Platina journey, Soper’s Hole is the place where we left the boat to go to Chis’ sister, Kate, and Ian’s wedding in May 2005. It hasn’t changed much. There are three entrances to this little harbour, and last night we realized that we have been through each of them at least once. Most memorable is the middle entrance, through which we left the Virgin Islands to sail to Puerto Rico.
The winds picked up after dinner, and shortly after, a series of squalls. Wind, heavy rain, no wind … wind, heavy rain, no wind … and so it went through the night. The good news is that it rinsed all the salt off the boat. The bad news – the dinghy is now a bathtub. We will have to bail it out – otherwise it will be like dragging a dead body.
Posted by dave at 02:37 PM | Comments (0)
April 29, 2007
Peter Island from Cooper Island
Posted by dave at 08:18 PM | Comments (0)
Cooper Island Anchorage
Posted by dave at 08:11 PM | Comments (0)
Hodges Creek Marina to Cooper Island
I woke early in the morning, immediately back to my ritual of waking with the sun. I had packed our favourite coffee and set myself to the task of making some. The boat has a percolator, which I haven’t used since I was a kid at the cottage. The propane stove was a challenge, but at last, sweet nectar of the morning. I sat in the cockpit watching the big white clouds blow by, and the waves crashing on the reef just outside the breakwater. I couldn’t wait to get underway.
The image rolls out in front of me. The stern of the boat, the dock, another row of cookie-cutter boats, more boats out on moorings, the breakwater, and a smattering of islands to the south, just about to be kissed by the early morning sun. Today, we will sail to one of those islands, one called Cooper, a brief 6 mile trip into the wind. We will get comfortable with the boat, shake out some sails, and see what she can do. I haven’t dared turn on the equipment yet, but my spidey senses tell me about 15 knots of wind from the east. 15 knots of salty, humid, fresh breeze.
Our technical briefing was important. Chis, of course, deviated to all things mechanical, we both focused on safety, and I focused on navigation and rigging. We fell instantly back into our strengths, and found again that we could finish each other’s sentences. Perfect compliments.
We left the Sunsail base shortly before noon. Once clear of the reef and in deep water, we turned into the wind to set the main. On Platina, this was done with the carefully choreographed push of two buttons. On Santana, this was work. With only two of us, and an autopilot that turned out to be unreliable, Chis eased the main sheet, and began hoisted the main halyard. Without me to tail the halyard, he started grinding it up on the winch. I just kept the boat pointed into the wind. Chis did all the hard work. Once set, we turned off the wind, and set our course. Then, the jib. Once again, Chis did all the hard work. I just looked at the sails and suggested the appropriate trim.
Flying along doing 6.5 knots in about 10 to 15 knots of fluky winds, we sat back and enjoyed the exhilaration. Two brilliantly executed tacks later, and we were there. It was time to put away the sails. On Platina, we’d cast of the jib sheet and push a button to furl the jib. On Santana, with manual furling, Chis started to bell-ring the furling line. The jib would not budge. After trying a few things, and rapidly approaching a really rocky point of land, we decided to set the jib and tack away from the island. Once away from the pointy bit of land, we looked things over. The blocks for the jib sheets had jam cleats, so even though we had cast off the sheet, it was not running freely. Once we released the jam cleat, the jib sheet ran freely, and the jib furled in nicely. We wouldn’t be making that mistake again. Down came the main, on went the engine, and we motored slowly into the anchorage. Chis did a spectacular job picking up the mooring pennant and getting us fixed for the night.
We found ourselves going through our normal routine, as if it were Platina, putting lines away, zipping up the main sail bag, etc. Once settled, we hopped in the dinghy and went ashore to the Cooper Island Beach Club. We found a shady table under the seagrapes, and settled down for a cold beer and some conch fritters, listening to the waves lick the beach. We returned to the boat, grabbed our books and the chart, and settled down to watch the sun set. Chis snoozed, I read, and after sundown, it was time to figure out dinner. The was not the palatial galley of Platina. This requires skill to coordinate fridge openings, cupboard openings, and cooking. And, in virtual darkness because the boat had one battery (unlike the 12 we had on Platina). I don’t think either of us made it much past 9pm – sun, fresh air, wind, no noise – this is so not New York!
Posted by dave at 08:10 PM | Comments (0)
April 28, 2007
Tortola N18.3 W64.3
Despite only minor delays leaving JFK airport, the pilot wasted no time reporting to us that he would take a course to avoid weather in the Western Atlantic Ocean on our way to San Juan, Puerto Rico. This would be the huge and potent front related to the storm that only yesterday dumped inches of rain in New York.
We arrived in San Juan only 30 minutes late, and my instinct to book a later connection to Tortola had been a good one. Now, how to kill three hours? Three hours turned into four because of mechanical issues with the aircraft.
At last, we arrived in Tortola around 6:30pm, reminiscing as we flew over islands and bays where just two years ago we had enjoyed with Platina. Arriving at the marina at Hodges Creek, we were told where to find our boat, Santana, and we leapt aboard with our gear. A pleasant surprise, the boat was neat, clean and tidy. We sat in the cockpit with a glass of wine, and enjoyed the ocean breeze and gentle rocking of the boat. Oooh, I miss this.
We did a brief recon of the lockers, and thought best to wait until our “technical briefing” in the morning. It was a very long day, and we are both looking forward to a good night’s sleep.
The wind kicked up in the middle of the night, and we found ourselves leaping about closing hatches as the rains came. This made things hot and muggy below, and we patiently waited out the rain so we could let some air in.
Chis has worked very long hours lately, and he has earned this break. We plan short day trips, giving plenty of time for lounging, reading, snoozing and snorkeling. Nothing aggressive.
Posted by dave at 08:09 PM | Comments (0)
April 27, 2007
BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS
This has been circulating through viral email, but I actually think there is something to it. A lot of it is common sense.
1. No Breakfast - People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.
2. Overeating - It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.
3. Smoking - It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.
4. High Sugar consumption - Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.
5. Air Pollution - The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.
6. Sleep Deprivation - Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.
7. Head covered while sleeping - Sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.
8. Working your brain during illness - Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.
9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts - Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.
10. Talking Rarely - Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain.
The main causes of liver damage are:
1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
2. Not urinating in the morning.
3. Too much eating.
4. Skipping breakfast.
5. Consuming too much medication.
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring , and artificial sweetener.
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.
8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver. Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.
We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to "schedule."
Because :
Evening at 9 - 11 PM : is the time for eliminating unnecessary/toxic chemicals (detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes). This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife (ed. Note – or a househusband) is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on health.
Evening at 11pm - 1 am : is the detoxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state.
Early morning 1 - 3 am : detoxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.
Early morning 3 - 5 am : detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.
Morning 5 - 7am : detoxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel.
Morning 7 - 9 am : absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30 am, for those who are sick. Breakfast before 7:30 am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 - 10 am rather than no meal at all.
Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4:00 am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood. Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.
Posted by dave at 08:09 AM | Comments (0)
April 25, 2007
Savasana
Once a week, I challenge myself with my yoga practice in two fundamental ways. I take a class in Japanese, and I take two classes in one day. I practice in Japanese because it requires extra focus; I don’t have the dialogue to tell me what to do next. I take two classes in one day to challenge my endurance and dedication, and to move deeper into the poses.
Today was a double day.
I was lying in savasana (corpse pose) after this morning’s class, with a towel over my eyes. I had fallen asleep. I was alone in the studio. I looked out the window on a brilliant blue sky. My eyes blurred to middle space, and I lay there, completely relaxed. It could have been an eternity by the time I realized that I had actually focused on the image behind the blurred middle space. The layers proceeded like this: The plastic covering the window (to keep the draft out, and the heat in), the window, the iron fire escape crisscrossing the framed image beyond, the million suspended particles between the fire escape and the Flatiron building, full of sirens, honking, beeping, yelling, talking, and white noise. The Flatiron building was crawling up the side of the Met Life Building, past its stunning 5 story clock, and onward to its beautiful gold dome and orb of lights at its top. The time on the clock was irrelevant, but the fact that something could tell me the time seemed safe. I was safe.
It occurred to me that this was an image that would remain with me for a very long time. Not because it included famous New York landmarks, but because of the sheer simplicity of the moment. Imagine being so relaxed, so like a corpse (except for breathing), while at the same time being conscious of the images beyond your focus on middle space.
I digress. So, what does one do between two hot yoga classes? Eat a big piggy lunch, for sure. Avoid distracting tasks. Like cleaning the bathroom. Or calling your mother. Do you go for a long walk? Sit in the park? Go shopping? Write a poem?
Here’s what I did after my big lunch. I grabbed a canvas bag, went to the bank to withdraw cash for our upcoming trip to the Virgin Islands, which I couldn’t do because I think I left my bank card in my shorts, or in a store, or damn, maybe on the floor at home. Forget the cash, shop at the pharmacy for cotton swabs (do you have any idea what kinda goo comes out of your ears after hot yoga?) and toothpaste. I waited patiently in line behind the eight people waiting for the ONE cashier, while THREE employees stocked the shelves (can’t buy what’s not on the shelves, can’t buy what’s IN MY HAND!). I paid my $3 with my credit card. I went to the grocery store for yogurt, milk and parmesan cheese. I dropped the cheese on the floor and it burst, ricocheting off the dairy cooler and bursting into a thousand little shreds of finely grated cheese. I sought out a broom, and offered to clean it up myself, but the guy said “no problemo, es mi trabajo” and proceeded to swiftly take care of my embarrassment.
I returned home, read some emails, talked to our Canadian tax accountant (grrrrr), and contemplated bailing on the second class in the afternoon. What? What was making me waver? I was so committed? The clouds had rolled in, I closed the windows as the temperature dropped, and the rain started. Bugger! My spirit was sinking.
I went through my usual pre-Bikram stuff. Put on the shorts, make sure I have electrolytes, have a handful of cashews and a piece of fruit, strap my mat to my back-pack, put on my shoes. I looked in the mirror, and simply said “deal, or no deal”. No deal is way too easy. No deal is not a challenge.
I went. I was a rock star (Britney?). My discipline paid off. And I realized that everything I strive to achieve in my life has taken commitment, dedication, focus, and discipline. I realized that today was a new start. A great new start.
Posted by dave at 08:05 PM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2007
Nosy Spring
What a day!
Like every Saturday in New York, I got up early, made strong coffee, yogurt & fruit smoothies, and waited patiently until 7:45am to wake up Chis. He fell asleep on the couch last night, desperately in need of sleep. It was a busy week. 7:45 is important because we find it best to eat something at least 2 hours before yoga at 10.
About 40 minutes into our class, Chis by my side, I started to notice red droplets on my towel. I cut the pose short, looking for the source. It turned out to be my nose. I haven’t had a nose-bleed since grade school. I’ll save that story for another time. Nick offered me a box of Kleenex. I was so far from the door, I likely would have alarmed everyone in the class if I had bolted for the door. I sat on my mat, lowered my heart rate, and allowed the bleeding to stop.
It freaked me out. Not the sight, but the taste.
I tossed the towels in the garbage at the end of the class.
Mid-afternoon, we dug our bikes out of storage. Ahh, the sweet rhythm of the wheels. It has been a long time, Chis on his Mongoose, me on my refit recycled Rocky Mountain Fusion, we sailed down the Hudson River Trail to Battery Park, shot the wrong way across one-way streets in Downtown Manhattan, and wound up at the South Street Seaport. It took 10 minutes to be overwhelmed by the tourists, and turned back. It was a marvelous afternoon, although I think I burned the back of my neck.
After two-and-a-half hours of cycling, we dropped our bikes back to storage, and wandered over to the famous Chelsea nabe. We dropped into a wonderful patio and had a glass of wine (okay, maybe two).
We forgot the camera. To bad, because we had umpteen opportunities to take wonderful photos of architecture, people, sights, and unbelievably handsome men on bikes (ummm, that we would Chis).
Big news! We’re off next Saturday for a week of bareboat sailing in the Virgin Islands.
Posted by dave at 07:29 PM | Comments (0)
April 17, 2007
Happy 80th, Audrey
Audrey and Dave dancing at Audrey's 80th birthday party at Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club, Toronto.
Chis came flying through the door last Thursday, shortly after noon. Our bags were packed, ready to catch our 3:30 flight to Toronto. I was on the phone with the airline. Our flight had been cancelled because of the heavy rain, and there was no way we would get to Toronto that day. So much for dinner with Chis’ family.
We arrived in Toronto on Friday in time for lunch with Katherine and Michael, dropped our things off at Jim & Luc’s house, and headed out for drinks, dinner and opera with David & Audrey. We saw “Luisa Miller”, one of Verdi’s early operas, in the new Performing Arts Centre, and it was wonderful.
On Saturday morning, we went to a Bikram yoga class before brunch with David and Alex. While checking in for our class, I noticed David’s name on the list. Sure enough, he had decided to come see what we had been raving about. We think he’s hooked. We had a wonderful brunch, following which Alex drove us down to Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club for Audrey’s 80th birthday party, complete with music by Peter Appleyard’s jazz trio. After the party, we hopped in a cab back to Jim & Luc’s house for dinner.
We met up with my parents for brunch on Sunday, and they drove us to the airport to catch our flight. We arrived in loads of time, and about 20 minutes before boarding, the airline cancelled our flight. I immediately called the airline on my cell, and they confirmed us on a flight Monday morning. Having cleared US Customs in Toronto airport, we had to clear back through Canadian Customs, and fetch our checked luggage. By the time we got outside for a breath of fresh air, we decided to check-in to the Sheraton hotel at Terminal 3.
We took a room on the “Club” floor, where they have a lounge with snacks and drinks. We read the newspaper, checked email, and had a glass of wine. Three women walked in and we overheard them say that they had just come off a flight that left Toronto, tried to land in New York, and turned back because it was so rough. They had started from Calgary earlier in the morning. They were pooped. We had a wonderful visit with them.
At last, we got on our flight Monday morning and made it back to New York. Shock of shocks, our flight was on time!
Posted by dave at 04:09 PM | Comments (0)
April 07, 2007
Two Down, One Up
When we were in New York with Platina in September 2005 we visited a restaurant for lunch one sunny afternoon in the Meatpacking District. The Nicoise Salad was outstanding. The restaurant was called MARKT, with a beer list as long as the wait for a table. When Jim and Luc visited New York last May, we turned on our heels with news of a 3 hour wait for a table at Buddakan, and went to MARKT instead. It closed to make way for more chichi women’s clothing retail space.
One down.
In our random strolls southward from our old Midtown apartment to see our new Chelsea apartment, we would stumble into a place on the northeast corner of Sixth Ave and 22nd Street called Sensa. Really great calamari (although one time we couldn’t order it because “the computer” had not been updated with the “dinner” menu – it was about 5pm). It closed.
Two down.
And then, the most amazing thing. It was like that HGTV show “Trading Spaces”. The light above the door suddenly said MARKT, just below the sign that said Sensa. And the race was on. The construction crews gutted the old restaurant, assembled the new one, and opened in what must have been four days. It was incredible.
One up.
We went last night to have a glass of wine. It was fun. Not nearly as loud and boisterous as its former southern incarnation, but with the same Belgian bistro charm.
I wonder if we could hire the same construction crew to finish our building?
Posted by dave at 08:27 AM | Comments (0)
April 05, 2007
Flavio
Last night, we saw the New York City Opera’s production of Flavio. Written by Handel in 1723, this is an opera we have never seen, and one that has not been presented in New York since the early 1800s. It is a baroque opera, which means that the music is littered with imitative counterpoint, where different voices and instruments echo each other but at different pitches, sometimes inverting the echo, and even reversing thematic material. The plot is complicated, full of twists, and frankly, a little difficult to follow. There is King Flavio, who reigns over the make-believe kingdom of Lombardy (by the costumes, I would guess it is loosely French), as well as Britain. Flavio has two loyal counsellors, whose offspring are manipulating their way into falling in love with each other, or the king, or whomever happens to be on the stage at the time. Which means that the characters bend genders. The costumes are bright and fun (although the sequins were a bit too “Broadway” for me). The music is stunning. The singing was really spectacular. Baroque opera is very difficult to sing because of the repeating scales and short, quickly changing notes. In the final scene, they have all sorted out their love interests and they celebrate with a double wedding. Big, bright, gaudy white lights lower above the stage, to which I groaned. An unnecessary bit of schmaltz. I would see this opera again, for sure.
Next opera: "Luisa Miller" in Toronto Friday, April 13th.
Posted by dave at 09:29 AM | Comments (0)
April 02, 2007
Of Cigarette Butts & Plastic Bags
Monday morning rant: Why do retailers insist on double bagging everything? Why do smokers think it's okay to toss their cigarette butts on the street?
As for plastic bags, I think I do my part. I carry canvas bags with me everywhere, and I try my very best to decline a bag if offered. The garbage bags we use are made from 40% recycled materials. But compostable garbage bags are hard to find in New York. I guess I should buy them on the web.
San Francisco has made a huge decision to ban non-biodegradeable plastic bags. The EPA estimates that only 5.2% of plastic bags are recycled. Ireland imposes a tax on plastic bags, which has cut the use of plastic bags by 90%. The plastic bags going to landfill will take some 1,000 years to decompose. 1,000 years!
I heard a statistic on NPR last week that I found astonishing. New York City recycles only 17% of waste. While New Yorkers can be proud of a lot of things, this is not one of them.
Now, as for ciggy butts. It is estimated that 4.3 trillion cigarette butts are littered each year. If, at the same moment a smoker tosses a butt on the street (and invariably does not stomp it out), I tossed a candy bar wrapper on the street, I suspect they would holler at me to pick it up and toss it in the bin. Why do smokers think this is okay? Couldn't they toss it on the ground, put it out, pick it up, and toss it in the bin? Couldn't they carry one of those portable ashtrays? Do they realize that it takes 12 years for the filters to decompose?
There. I feel better now.
Thanks to the New York Times for the photo.
Posted by dave at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)