Is bigger really better?

Hope so - cause we just spent a lot of money upgrading our anchor!

The new Rocna

Our new anchor - a Rocna 33kg = 73 lbs.

Our old anchor - a Bruce "type" = 44 lbs.

That's a big difference and should really keep us from dragging (piece of mind). 

We chose the Rocna because:

• Design allowed us to go bigger - it fit on our anchor roller.
• Known for "superior" holding 
• Plus the price was right with Doug's West Marine discount!

Of course, we still have to figure out how and what to deploy for our second/back up anchor.  But I know that Doug will make it happen.

Big event tomorrow! 

Sailing/motoring down to Keehi Marine Center to be hauled out for bottom maintenance.  A fresh coat of paint and new thru-hulls - Moondance will be good to go.

Great friends we have!  Some have "volunteered" to make the trip with Doug; others have offered us their boat to sleep in, plus their van for transportation. 

What a wonderful group!

The Plan

Well, The "as far as we know right now" Plan!

Hawaii to Fiji - with lots of stops along the way!

Looks like short hops, huh? Except for the first one - it is about 10 days sailing to Fanning. Fortunately, it is supposed to be a downwind sail (going with the wind - better!).  And, we won't be in a hurry. We are going to enjoy the adventure and see as many places we can - probably our only chance. The best part of cruising - no schedule.  Well, except that weather thing! Thanks to friends on Tao for letting us copy their route!

Inventory Time

Love these sunsets!

So, the work on Moondance continues.

We are inventorying every locker and making our lists - and definitely checking them twice.
 
Who would have thought that a cruising boat needed so much stuff?  But, it does!  Especially when you are heading to remote destinations.

We have definitely changed.  It used to be hard to shed personal items, clothing, toys, etc..  It is definitely getting easier.  We always need more space for provisions and spare parts.

Guess we really are Cruisers!


"Not all who wander are lost." - JRR Tolkien

It has started...

The saying "Goodbye's" that is along with the tears!

Aloha Dan and Sandra

Besides Moondance, there are so many of our wonderful friends from the Ko Olina Marina leaving over the next several months.

All heading different directions of course - some by air; some by sea.

Enjoying the Eats

Dan, Sandra, and Sevin (crew of the Jolly Lama) are the first. Going back to Hotlanta.

So our R&R Yacht Club threw them a helluva bash last night.

The Manly Men

We started with a great potluck on the promenade and then walked over to watch the sunset.

Catching the sunset

It was beautiful and almost a green flash - almost.

We ended up in the laundry room (warm and dry).

Love The Band!

That's when the party really got started.

The Band showed up and played all of our favorite sing-a-long songs.

Michael on the ukulele and Dave playing the guitar and the harmonica - what a treat.

The Laundry Room Girls

 And then the Girls got to do some dancing to Mel's version of the Pineapple Hula. Very entertaining I am sure.

Another beautiful sunset

It is amazing what lifelong friends you can make in such a short time.

We are going to miss the gang from the R&R Yacht Club for sure - so many wonderful memories.
A Hui Kaua (Until we meet again)!

You would think...

That after 4 big cruising adventures, Moondance and crew would be better prepared - but we are definitely not.

The Big Ass Boat!

 
We are scheduled to sail away in April, but instead of our project and shopping lists shrinking, they continue to grow.

That's not good. Are we getting to old for this cruising thing?  Not yet!

Dock Buddies

Everyone makes fun of my spreadsheets, but there is no way we would be able to remember half the stuff we gotta do before leaving.

Current projects include:

• Re-bedding chain plates and ports (yes, during the rainy season)
• Rebuilding and installing new winches
• Installing new VHF radio (with AIS - yeah)
• Revamping blower outlet
• And more

Surf's Up

And the shopping list is even bigger and more expensive.  Good thing Doug is working at West Marine.

All this and we are still working.  I am really looking forward to our 2nd retirement!

I know it is all going to work out just fine, but it is a little stressful. Whine, whine, whine.

PS: The Big Ass Boat is rumored to belong to Larry Ellison (arch enemy). This is his "small" boat!

2013? You got to be kidding!

How did that happen?  That means we have been docked in Hawaii over a year - yikes!

Celebrating with the Family!

But, it has been a great place to live and work and we have made the most of it.

Gavin and Pops and the rocket launcher

We have made some life-long friends with our dock buddies, done lots of touristy stuff, and made (and spent) some money.

Plus, had fun showing family and friends our favorite places on Oahu.

We are going to miss this place...

Lots of laughs

We had wonderful ending to 2012 - a visit with the family in Texas.  Happy to report that all are doing just fine.

A wild and crazy time with lots of food, drink, laughter and we made so many new memories (and lots of photos). 

Celebrating Conner's B'Day

Just went way too fast!

Now, we are back on Moondance and making plans for the South Pacific - yeah!

Anessa and Ryan - big grins

Yup, we got lots to do (and lots to buy) if we want to set sail in May.


So, it is time to hunker down and get busy (not our strong suit)!

But, we always seem to make it work.

Happy 2013

Our current sailing plans include stops at:

Fanning Island
Christmas Island (maybe)
The Cook's
The Samoa's
Tonga

And spend 2 years (at least) exploring all of those beautiful islands in Fiji.

Snow - yikes!

But, as they say, cruising plans are written in sand at low tide - always changing.  That's part of the fun.

 So if you are thinking you need some beach time, come and join us somewhere along the way. 

We would love to have you as crew on Moondance!

Wild Times with the Family!

Phil and Danette came to visit and we had a wonderfully wild time exploring Oahu together!

Life is a Beach!

Turkey Day

They fit right into our Turkey Day celebration at the dock.

The gang loved having them around - especially Phil's homemade Bloody Mary's.

Top of Diamond Head

Next day - hiking up the Diamond Head crater.

A great way to work off those extra holiday calories!

Lighthouse

Of course, that means a trip to the Kona Brewing Company and some R&R time at Bellows Beach.

The Sanitarium

We splurged and spent 2 nights in Waikiki at the Hawaii Prince.

Some shopping, some eating, some visiting, and lots of bar hopping.

Wolfgang's Steakhouse is still our favorite upscale eatery, but we loved Snappers for their Mai Tai Happy Hour. 

Enjoying Queen Emma's Palace

Part of our tour was checking out the Shrimp trucks.

Our favorite - Macky's Shrimp Truck in Haleiwa - right next to the 7-11.

Their garlic shrimp was amazing.  Get extra sauce for the rice!

Arizona Memorial and Might Mo

Of course, we had to tour Pearl Harbor. Seeing all of the photos and reading all of the stories about our hero's. So moving...

More beach time

We loved having Phil and Danette visit.  The time went way too fast, but we got to spend lots of time together - just talking and laughing and making new memories.

Miss them already, but will see them in Texas in 2 weeks. 

The family Christmas yearly get together. Yahoo!

Tsunami Watch!

Hawaii was informed last night about 7pm that there was a 7.7 earthquake off of the coast of British Columbia.

The Sheriff and Medusa

The effect - we were under a Tsunami Watch that was expected to hit Hawaii around 10:30pm.

Right in the middle of our Halloween party!

Fortunately, the Tsunami turned out to be a non-event - Yeah!

Lots of boats sailed out to sea - no one was allowed to stay on their boats.

Just starting the Party

So, we headed to high ground - the golf course up the hill.

We spent the rest of the evening celebrating life by partying and listening to the events on the local radio station.

Trick or Treaters

About 1:30am, the news reporters had given up - so did we - and headed back to the Marina.

The good news - the cruising community is amazing.

Doug on Tsunami watch

Everyone rallied together to make sure that boats were secured and people had a safe place to hold up.

Plus, cruisers volunteering to sail with people they just met - just to make sure that everyone was safe.

Proud to be a cruiser!