More brushes with fame

Today I took Cher to Gloucester, where I was photographed for a tourism brochure, sailing in a picture perfect postcard of autumn in New England. Perhaps someday I will see it and be able to share it with you. For now, this photo of They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships will have to do.

The whole story: Rosemary wanted to go up and see her (liberal cool) cousin Teri who lives in Gloucester and Teri agreed to show us where I could put my boat in while they took the dog for a walk on the beach. So she took me to Annisquam where there was an inlet not much wider than the lagoon we all love to navigate. So off i went, downwind where I noticed a man on the shore taking numerous photos of me. I hope he got my Red Sox knit cap in the photo (wait till next year!).

Before long I came upon a footbridge spanning the inlet with no way to get through. The photographer had made his way to the bridge and was still snapping away. Rosemary and Teri appeared on the bridge also, apologizing for the error. This is when they found out why the guy was taking photos. So I tacked back to where I had put in, against a mighty tidal current, which was tricky. Teri had this to say: "Sorry, but I'm not a sailor so I didn't know!"

Next she took me to various ocean beaches. No, that won't work either, waves crashing against rocks ala the Maine coast... I explained I needed something a little more protected than that.

The lightbulb went off and she took me to a road that dead ended on a tiny beach right on Gloucester Harbor. Perfect!!

Nobody sails there anymore.

It's too crowded.

Post-Debate

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A Sad Day in Sailing

Better Late Than Never

Look out San Diego Derby Dolls, here comes Linda

Angerica and I roller skated along the Charles River yesterday. It would have been a good idea to google "how to stop on roller skates" beforehand. But all went well, at least until we were on our way back to where the car was parked, and were passing by Fenway Park, which was in between games and there were hundreds of fans wandering around and sitting at sidewalk tables drinking beers. OK you know what comes next. Yes the sidewalk began a slight downward slope and I wiped out right into a bouncer who was standing at the entrance to one of the establishments, landing on my butt, while my sunglasses, hat & the soda I was carrying also went flying. Literally hundreds of people were staring at me. Angerica said "it could have been worse, there could have been tv cameras around". Fortunately I was wearing a red sox t-shirt so there were no hard feelings.

R U Smarter Then a Fith Greater ?

Finally somebody is. Click the title to find out.

Robin to the Rescue

Who's there for ya baby, the US Coast Guard or Robin?

why two times

Today we thought we had a window of opportunity - there was no rain, lightning or thunder in the immediate future, so Dave, Ross and Graham went out on various sunfishes, Linda and Stuart on the Vanguard 15. After straightening out some technical difficulties with the main halyard, Stu and Linda made slow progress paddling down the lagoon toward the bay. When they finally made it to the bay, a storm was visible. They managed to capsize twice before turning around to return to the dock and not before it began to pour. Now Lauren had made us promise before we left that we would tell her if we capsized, which we did. Why twice? a her question. "Because we weren't out very long."

Fun with playdoh

We almost missed Carousel because we were having too much fun with Play-Doh!

Three on a sunfish

Saturday, my "little sister" and I went to day camp on cape cod, where we played kickball, made tie-dye t-shirts, practiced archery and swam in the pool, but of course the most fun was sailing on a sunfish. Angerica didn't want to go out on a boat, so I took another "big" and her "little". Three on a sunfish, what fun!!! Meanwhile, after a bit more gentle persuasion by the camp counselors, Angerica decided to give boating a try.

The Graduate & Friend

Up, Up & Away

Perhaps a bowline would have worked better?


NORTH BATTLEFORD, Saskatchewan (AP) -- A skydiver's hope to set a new free-fall record might have come to an end Tuesday when his ride to the sky left without him.

The helium balloon Michel Fournier was going to use to soar to the stratosphere detached from the capsule he was going to use to jump from 130,000 feet (40,000 meters).

It happened after the balloon was inflated on the ground at the airport in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. The balloon drifted away into the sky without the capsule.

Ocean Sunfish

The Ocean Sunfish, otherwise known as Mola Mola.

I went on a long distance (2 days & 2 nights) ocean bird watching trip a couple of weekends ago and at about 100 miles offshore we came across a couple dozen of these guys. Weird looking fish they are. They were eating the large jellyfish that were also out in this area known as Tanner's Bank. A good fish to name a sailboat after.

Today's NY Times Xword Puzzle (for Stu)

see 27 down.

Opening Day Regatta

We led the fleet for the first 2 1/2 hours but we lost the lead and finished in second place. A good race and a fine party afterwards.

Tribute to Sox Hitters Past & Present

Click on the title to watch the video

End of Big Papi's Batting Slump?

Perhaps this was the cause?

Click here.

Spring Arrives

Approaching the Mark