Winter?

Headed up to Stowe VT for a little snowboarding and found some of the worst early winter conditions in years. Still a fun trip because its the friends that make it. 

It's a Carry'on Mon

After a hectic Wednesday of running through airports to catch connecting flights after take off delays, my brother, <name retracted>, and I successfully arrived on the island of Grand Bahama. Whew. It was touch and go all morning with battling slight hangovers (ok...we may have started vacation early) -- delayed take-off in NY -- landing just in time in Charlotte, NC to make our flight (we took off 15 min after getting on the plane) -- only to arrive in The Grand Bahamas realizing we haven't eaten since the prior night (or gone to the loo since 6:30 AM).   Estimated total time in all airports = 25 minutes..gotta be a record.   Did I mention my carry-on suitcase?

Oh Snap

Another fish getting smoked:

Decided to go with two red snappers in the 3lb range. Left in a brine bath for about an hour while I made a marinade out of 3 tbs fresh mint, 1 tbs fresh parsley,  1 fresh orange zest, 3 tbs organic olive oil, 1 tbs sea salt, 1 tbs cracked pepper, 1 tsp Cinnamon and 1/2 tsp ginger. Applied this liberally to all sides and interior of the fish then threw a slice of orange in the cavity and mouth to open up the smoke flow.

Winterize

Interior. Needs some remodeling in the V berth to make more space, re plumbed
all electrical rewired, wood refinished, galley rebuilt and lots of other little things.

Cold bilge work. Rebuilding some floor supports after finally getting the bilge
emptied. The engine needs to be replaced.

Going Underground

We visited the abandoned mines in Rosendale NY this past weekend. They used to be used for mining cement that most famously was used in making the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. After they closed some have been turned into mushroom farms, used in films and for concerts. Below ground are endless cavernous rooms, deep cold water, roads, and even a city. Above ground are houses and a cement factory that have been forgotten and are being reclaimed by nature.

First mine we came to. They have a stage off to the right set up for concerts.

Flooded section that seems to go back quite far.