M/V Marlee Ann

37th Wedding Anniversary

2009-12-28T05:17:00.003-06:00

December 22 was our 37th wedding anniversary. We celebrated by having Sunday brunch at Commander's Palace in Destin. Later this week Glenn & Gail and Tim & Kim will be coming to town to celebrate the New Year. Then back to Houston to resume our job (babysitting our granddaughter, Marin).

Happy and Prosperous New Year to all our friends.

Blake & Morele

Dreams Can Come True

2009-08-20T18:30:00.005-05:00

Morele and I have been vacationing together in Destin since the early '70's. We've always talked about getting a place of our own. Well, real estate prices are reasonable again so we pulled the trigger on a great place on Destin harbor. Marbella has a marina so when we eventually move here the M/V Marlee Ann will have a home also. For the immediate future, we're quite content in Houston spending time with our daughter, son-in-law and, of course, grand daughter.

M/V Marlee Ann Has A New Home

2009-06-28T07:59:00.002-05:00

Well, we brought the boat back to Houston. Our new home base is Harborwalk Marina in Hitchcock, Texas, about 10 miles from Galveston.

Baby Marin Has Arrived

2009-05-02T20:23:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Brenda P for reminding me to post on this blog. Marin has her own website at http://www.themarinshow.blogspot.com/

Early Visit From The Easter Bunny

2009-03-29T11:00:00.002-05:00

We got home after a long day of traveling to find that the Easter Bunny had left a welcome home note and a care package. We suspect that the Easter Bunny had some help from the Melgaard and Davis families.

BVI Day 28 Time To Go

2009-03-29T10:54:00.002-05:00

We are not "carry on travelers".

BVI Day 27 Lunch At The Tamarind Club

2009-03-29T10:44:00.002-05:00

Very glad we decided to stop here for lunch. Food was very good and the bar by the pool was relaxing.

BVI Day 27 Red Flag Day At Josiah's

2009-03-29T10:36:00.001-05:00

BVI Day 27 View From Fahie Hill

2009-03-29T10:31:00.003-05:00

Fahie Hill is a small community on the Ridge Road near the east end of Tortola. Guana Island is in the background.

BVI Day 26 Soggy Dollar Zoo

2009-03-29T10:14:00.002-05:00

The Soggy Dollar has become a caricature of itself.

BVI Day 26 Lunch At Gertrudes

2009-03-28T05:23:00.003-05:00

Morele loved the garlic/lime grilled shrimp at Gertrudes

BVI Day 26 Day Trip To Jost

2009-03-28T05:18:00.002-05:00

Lot's of boats in White Bay

BVI Day 25 Da Best Kakes

2009-03-27T05:57:00.003-05:00

Cinamon rolls from Best Kakes

BVI Day 25 Another Day At Smugglers

2009-03-27T05:49:00.004-05:00

BVI Day 24 Peter Island

2009-03-25T05:34:00.005-05:00

We took the Peter Island ferry over for lunch.

BVI Day 23 Gonna Be A Rolly Night In CGB

2009-03-24T15:54:00.003-05:00

BVI Day 23 Johnny Cakes

2009-03-24T15:49:00.003-05:00

My breakfast is Johnny Cakes purchased at the roadside stall across the road from Lighthouse Villas. Very similiar to beignets.

BVI Day 23 Spaghetti Junction Lunch

2009-03-24T06:20:00.004-05:00

Not a good beach day so we went into town to look around.

BVi Day 23 Zemi

2009-03-24T05:56:00.004-05:00

I found this rock on the beach at Smuggler's Bay. I thought it might be a Zemi and was reluctant to move it. Probably not a Zemi. I brought it to the BVI Folk Life Museum where they accepted it for evaluation.

BVI Day 23 Pic Of The Day

2009-03-24T05:52:00.004-05:00

Proof that I am not the only one who's wrecked a dinghy at the Cane Garden Bay dinghy dock.

BVI Day 22 Home Cooking

2009-03-24T05:47:00.004-05:00

Nothing like steaks grilled on Malcia's pool deck.

To Kim & Tim and Mason

2009-03-23T17:11:00.003-05:00

K & T, We'll be home soon. Need a fix of Tim's boiled crawfish. Looking forward to Good Friday.

Mason, Clock above the grill is permanently set at 05 seconds til 5 o'clock.

BVI Day 22 Little Known Fact About BVI's

2009-03-23T05:54:00.003-05:00

Red Bull grows on trees. Truly an island paradise.

BVI Day 22 Lunch At Smuggler's

2009-03-23T05:50:00.003-05:00

Cooked by Chef Patricia

BVI Day 22 The Road To Smuggler's Beach

2009-03-23T05:33:00.002-05:00

A few rough spots on the way, but worth the effort.

BVI Day 21 Ain't She Pretty

2009-03-23T05:30:00.003-05:00

No further comment required.

BVI Day 21 Bananakeet, The Food

2009-03-23T05:25:00.002-05:00

Morele had scallops and I had seafood jamboree. Very good with very good service.

BVI Day 21 Bananakeet, The View

2009-03-23T05:19:00.002-05:00

Maybe the best restaurant view in the BVI's

BVI Day 21 Malcia's New Pool Guy

2009-03-22T17:28:00.003-05:00

BVI Day 21 Strolling Through Cane Garden Bay

2009-03-22T17:09:00.004-05:00

BVI Day 21 Long Bay Resort

2009-03-22T16:56:00.005-05:00

We drove over to Long Bay Resort for lunch.

BVI Day 20 More Cow Wreck

2009-03-22T16:33:00.006-05:00

BVI Day 20 Pic Of The Day

2009-03-22T06:44:00.003-05:00

Cow Wreck Beach, Anegada BVI

BVI Day 19 Nicole's Beach Bar

2009-03-22T06:28:00.003-05:00

BVI Day 19 Distillery at Brewer's bay

2009-03-22T06:22:00.002-05:00

The ruins of the distillery at Brewer's bay

BVI Day 19 Pic Of The Day

2009-03-22T06:18:00.004-05:00

Brewer's Bay

BVI Day 18 I Saw The Green Flash

2009-03-21T13:17:00.004-05:00

Today, we turned in the powercat and headed for The Lighthouse Villas in Cane Garden Bay. This was the sunset view from our balcony. I saw the Greeen Flash when the top of the sun dipped below the horizon.

BVI Day 17 Lobsters - Abe's by the Sea

2009-03-21T12:56:00.003-05:00

BVI Day 17 JVD Ridge Road

2009-03-21T12:34:00.007-05:00

The Ridge Road on Jost is a rock and dirt road with very steep grades. You get some great views from up there,including some "rock art". Enlarge the second picture to see what I mean.

BVI Day 17 White Bay Establishments

2009-03-21T12:11:00.004-05:00

BVI Day 17 Pic Of The Day

2009-03-21T12:05:00.003-05:00

White Bay, Jost Van Dyke. Finally a good weather day.

BVI Day 16 Lobsters- Harris' Place

2009-03-19T06:34:00.004-05:00

These lobsters were in Harris's cage. They didn't seem too concerned with the rain.

Click on the picture to enlarge for better view.

BVI Day 16 Keith and Me

2009-03-19T06:31:00.002-05:00

Ivan still has the picture of Keith and me hanging on the wall.

BVI Day 16 The Liquor Dance

2009-03-19T06:02:00.003-05:00

Have your liquor
Drop your pants

Take a chance and
Find Romance

When you do

When you do do do

When you do the liquor dance

Lyrics courtsy of The Iquanas

Did I mention that it was a rainy day.

BVI Day 16 Soggy Dollar & Ivan's

2009-03-19T05:45:00.003-05:00

We drove over to White Bay for a couple drinks. Did I mention it was raining.

BVI Day 16 Foxy's Taboo

2009-03-19T05:37:00.004-05:00

We drove to Foxy's Taboo for lunch. Took a wrong turn but finally made it using my finely honed navigation skills. Did I mention that is was a rainy day.

BVI Day 16 Pic Of The Day

2009-03-19T05:31:00.004-05:00

Our chartered boat, Moorings Hull 20, moored in Little Harbor, Jost Van Dyke on a rainy day in the BVI's. Sidneys Peace and Love and Harris' are in the background.

BVI Day 15 More Pics From BEYC

2009-03-16T05:27:00.004-05:00

We enjoyed our stay at Bitter End, especially the Gazebo Dock.

BVI Day 15 Destin?

2009-03-16T05:23:00.003-05:00

Saw this Grand Banks home port, Destin, Fl moored in Biras Creek. Never did see anyone aboard.

BVI Day 15 Fat Virgin's Cafe

2009-03-16T05:17:00.001-05:00

Dinghied over to the Fat Virgin in Biras Creek for lunch.

BVI Day 15 Weird Pool Policy

2009-03-16T05:12:00.003-05:00

It seems like visitors get paid $10 to use the pool at BEYC. We never used the pool so we didn't try to collect.

BVI Day 15 Pic Of The Day

2009-03-16T05:08:00.001-05:00

The Gazebo Dock at BEYC.

Hello Mason

2009-03-15T14:37:00.002-05:00

You are correct, sir. The boat is the Maltese Falcon. We saw her under full sail today but could not get a picture.

BVI Day 14 As Close As I'll Ever Get

2009-03-15T05:38:00.002-05:00

Picture of Necker Island taken from Saba Rock. This is as close as I'll ever get to Necker, unless Sir Richard reads this blog and invites me.

BVI Trip Day 14 All Dressed Up

2009-03-15T05:33:00.002-05:00

We dressed for dinner at BEYC.

BVI Trip Day 14 Slip at BEYC

2009-03-15T05:28:00.002-05:00

Our "slip" at the Bitter End Yacht Club. It's really a private pier.

BVI Trip Day 14 Saba Rock

2009-03-15T05:21:00.002-05:00

We dinghied over from Bitter End Yacht Club to Saba Rock for lunch.

BVI Trip Day 14 Boating Essentials

2009-03-15T05:18:00.003-05:00

Gotta have Bloody Marys and music.

BVI Trip Day 13 Jumbies

2009-03-14T06:06:00.006-05:00

The Mocko Jumbies put on a show at the Leverick Bay Friday night BBQ

BVI Trip Day 13 Pic Of The Day

2009-03-14T06:01:00.002-05:00

This young pig was the guest of honor at the Leverick Bay Friday night BBQ.

BVI Trip Day 12 Don't Get No Betta

2009-03-14T05:57:00.001-05:00

We grilled a pork tenderloin with yams and black eyed peas.

BVI Trip Day 12 Marina Cat

2009-03-14T05:50:00.003-05:00

I guess we must be cat people cause the marina cats always seem to enjoy our boat.

BVI Trip Day 12 The Baths

2009-03-14T05:43:00.003-05:00

We drove to the far west end of Virgin Gorda to have lunch at The Top Of The Baths restaurant.

The view across the Sir Francis Drake Channel is one of the best in the BVI's

BVI Day 12 Pic of the Day

2009-03-12T16:29:00.002-05:00

We decided to rent a car and drive around Virgin Gorda. This is the view of North Sound from Gorda Peak. Saba Rock is the tiny island in the middle.

BVI Day 11 Pic of the Day

2009-03-12T16:21:00.004-05:00

We cruised from Trellis to North Sound, Virgin Gorda and took a slip at Leverick Bay Resort & Marina. We're in the power cat. I tried to charter the "boat" behind me but it wasn't available.

BVI Day 10 Drunken Dog

2009-03-12T16:15:00.002-05:00

Can you find the drunken dog?

BVI Day 10 Trellis Bay Sunset

2009-03-12T16:09:00.002-05:00

BVI Day 10 Pic of the Day

2009-03-12T16:00:00.002-05:00

We cruised from Cooper Island to Trellis Bay. The local businesses sponsored a Full Moon Party that night. I counted 90+ boats in the mooring field.

BVI Day 9 Cooper Island Beach Club

2009-03-12T15:53:00.001-05:00

BVI Day 9 Pic of the Day

2009-03-12T15:43:00.004-05:00

Did you know that the BVI's were windy and cold in March? Neither did we. We cruised from The Bight at Norman Island to Machioneel Bay at Cooper Island. When the picture was taken the wind was blowing about 25mph out of the north.

BVI Day 8 Pic of the Day II

2009-03-12T15:39:00.002-05:00

This is a guy from Wisconsin we met at the Moorings Base. He and his friends stopped by our mooring in The Bight for a cocktail.

BVI Day 8 Pic of the Day

2009-03-12T10:30:00.002-05:00

Can't post a pic.not enough bandwidth at the Bath & Turtle WIFI hotspot. Winds still up. Pretty lumpy out there. Cruised from Road Town to Norman. Norman to Cooper. Cooper to Trellis Bay. Trellis Bay to North Sound, Virgin Gorda. Will post pics when we get a better connection

BVI Day 7 Pic Of The Day

2009-03-08T05:46:00.003-05:00

It was a sunny day but the north wind and shade combination made it feel cool so Morele bundled up. Pictures taken at Smuggler's.

BVI Day 6 Pic Of The Day

2009-03-07T04:46:00.003-06:00

Worst weather day so far. The channel between Tortola and Jost had 10 to 15' swells. The picture was taken in Carrot Bay looking west toward Long Bay.

BVI Day 5 Pic Of The Day

2009-03-06T14:40:00.003-06:00

The brugmansia id blooming in the yard at Guava Road Apts.

BVI Day 4 Best Meal So Far

2009-03-05T05:01:00.003-06:00

We grilled a couple Mahi Mahi steaks along with spinach and pinto beans and dined al fresco on the veranda.

BVI Day 4 Pic Of The Day

2009-03-05T04:59:00.001-06:00

Taken from the courtyard at Sebastians.

BVI Day 4 $11 Styrofoam Ice Chest

2009-03-05T04:54:00.004-06:00

Today was not a good beach day so we did some more exploring. Stopped into the "Department Store" in Duff's Bottom to buy a rain slicker for Morele. No rain slicker but we did pick up this fabulous styrofoam ice chest for only $11.

BVI Day 3 Trellis Bay Aragorn's

2009-03-04T07:30:00.003-06:00

BVI Day 3 Trellis Bay Cybercafe

2009-03-04T07:16:00.006-06:00

Rainy day so we drove around the island visiting places we've never been to

BVI Day 3 Gear

2009-03-04T06:42:00.003-06:00

This is just some of the gear we packed. VHF radio, GPS. charts,binoculars, (2) Ipod shuffles, Ipod speaker,portable inverter, hands free walkie talkies, snorkle, flashlights, assorted cables, and, of course The Drinking Man's Guide To The BVI's. Needless to say, we're not the "carry-on only" type of travelers.

BVI Day 2 Start To Finish

2009-03-03T04:58:00.002-06:00

Just kidding, we bought the wings at Bobby's.

BVI Day 2 Jolly Roger

2009-03-02T16:27:00.003-06:00

Jolly Roger for lunch.

BVI Day 2 One Two Three

2009-03-02T16:19:00.002-06:00

We left Smuggler's Cove and drove the back road to Soper's. These are three different yachts anchored at the Entrance to Soper's hole

BVI Day 2 Smuggler's Cove

2009-03-02T16:15:00.003-06:00

Latest picture of "Queen Elizabeth's Car"

BVI Day 2 Smugglers Cove

2009-03-02T15:58:00.004-06:00

Drove over to Smuggler's this morning. Arrived about 10:00 am. By noon there were 30 cars in the parking lot. Smuggler's has definately been discovered.

BVI Day 1 Mr. Prince

2009-03-02T15:51:00.002-06:00

We headed to Cane Garden Bay around 5:00. Walked the beach then popped into Myett's for a drink. Morele recognized the bartender, Prince, from our past trips. Went over to the Elm for BBQ.

BVI Day 1 Bomba's Shack

2009-03-02T05:16:00.002-06:00

We are two blocks away from the infamous Bomba's Shack beach bar, home to the adult version of the Full Moon Party and Mushroom Tea.

BVI Day 1 Sebastian's and Coco Plums

2009-03-02T05:11:00.002-06:00

Our apartment is just around the corner from Coco Plums and about a block from Sebastians.

BVI Day 1 Guava Road Apartment

2009-03-02T05:04:00.002-06:00

We arrived Tortola on Saturday night, picked up our rental car and drove to Guava Road Apartments in Little Apple Bay. Little Apple Bay is located at the intersection of Zion Hill Road and the North Coast Road.

Miss LaFontaine

2009-02-22T12:14:00.002-06:00

While we were at Harry T's we met Miss Lafontaine. She owned the second restaurant ever opened on Destin Harbor. That restaurant is now called the Lucky Snapper. She also owned the Green Knight restaurant and bar. It was a lot of fun talking to her about the old days in Destin

Mardi Gras Without The Puke

2009-02-22T11:48:00.005-06:00

Saturday was the first ever Mardi Gras parade at the new Harborwalk Village. We grabbed a table at Harry T's and had a bird's eye view.Pretty big crowd and lots of fun.

Baby Soon Come

2009-02-15T14:17:00.003-06:00

Everyone was asking to see pictures of Robin. 2 1/2 months to go.

Queen's Reunion

2009-02-04T06:45:00.004-06:00

Several of the past queen's of the Krewe of Rex Arborius gathered at Tim & Kim's lake house for a weekend of fun and frivolity. This may become an annual event.

Christmas Day at the Hammond's

2008-12-30T07:53:00.004-06:00

Christmas Eve at Eddy & Anne's House

2008-12-30T07:45:00.007-06:00

Conundrum

2008-12-30T07:42:00.002-06:00

C'mon, Solitare isn't that hard.

Kemah Boat Parade

2008-12-18T07:56:00.006-06:00

We joined Brannon and Jennifer on their 67' Hatteras for the annual Christmas Boat Parade. It was a great party and a mighty fine yacht.

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-11T05:20:00.003-06:00

We timed our arrival back in Houston perfectly. It snowed the night we got back. Pretty rare for Houston.

Flounder Slayer

2008-12-09T16:33:00.002-06:00

After hanging around the dock for all this time I finally decided to do a little fishing. During the fall flounder are migrating from the bays to the open water with rest stops in between. They especially like to hang around structure like piers and pilings. I've caught a couple dozen which we've been grilling. SoooGoood.