tuba river to ARICIFE Island,64nm,leave 0515,drop anchor 4pm.chartplotter shows lots of medium blue circles to avoid=coral reefs=0-10 metres depth.0800 RRR HF sked,Our Oddysy one day ahead.
0930 EXERCISE SESSION.it is difficult keeping fit on a boat,if not go ashore.it was being fit for mt kinabalu.Kerry says she is training for Camino de Santiago,the 800km,500 mile,pilgrim walk in northern spain.my inspiration is partly Contrails and Swannie boats from 2011 indonesia rally-michael and swannie,jim and barbara were 2 of the fittest looking couples on rally.barbara in particular showed you can stay fit with exercise on boat.we do step-ups,muscle training with rubber arm exercisor(thankyou sophia) and running on spot holding dive weights(thanks kerry)-he latter very aerobic.all done with ipod up loud.feels good.
then poled out for lovely downwind sail to aricife island.kerry fixed broken phone charger cord using wire strippers-another of her favourite tools from her extensive collection!
bruce finnished 2nd book of agnes keith trilogy,Three Came Home,about her time in japanese POW camp in borneo in WW2.PROBABLY THE BEST READ I HAVE HAD THIS YEAR.MORE RELEVANT AS THE 1SY CAMP WAS SANDAKAN,THEN KUCHING,WHERE WE HAVE BEEN,AND HAVING BEEN TO SANDAKAN MEMORIAL,AND ESPECIALLY HAVING BEEN TO AGNES KEITH HOUSE IN SANDAKAN.NEXT I WILL READ 3RD BOOK,WHITE MAN RETURNS.orry about caps!.
after dropping anchor had early drinks ,and read ,enjoying scenary-anchored off small islans,with abandones resort,with caretaker-we did see humans,but could se their outriggers on beacb,and their dogs playing,and hear their roosters.the nearby coastline has hills and little mtns,turning purple,under jagged riding clouds.
breakfast0600.lunch 1100,dinner 5pm,bed/sleep 7pm!kerry stayed uo till 11,doing sailmail and finnishing Blood Brothers sabah and australia 1942-1945,which she said was a very good book.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
PHILIPPINES-PALAWAM-TUBA RIVER 190812
we made it to the island of palawan today.we plan to continue up to main town of puerto princesca,where we can check in and get visas,and also check out.There also a friendly yachtclub there.Then we could come back,or go up and around to El Nido,and back,or continue down west coast,palawan passage,to kota kinabalu.deadline is kk by 23sept,to fly sipidan to go diving.hope weather holds.
Have never been so underprepared going to another country.1st time to nmt have the appropriate lonely planet.we have one cruising guide book,latest edition,=1998!it has some history-magellan arrived 1521,and the spanish ruled till spanish-american war of 1898,then ww2=japanese,then independence 1946.this history once summarised as 300 yers in a convent,then 50 years in hollywwod.1998 population 60 million.archipelago with 21,500miles of coastline,7107 islands at low tide,but only 55 >1km square,of which we have been to 2.however we are prepared for sailing palawan.
The wind came up and we had a fine sail into the tuba river.big barges load nickle/zinc ore,from nearbt mine,onto barges,which tugs then tow out to big ships in deeper water offshore.further upriver we dropped anchor opposite stilt village over rier.looked like rain ,so we staye on haven,having relaxing drinks,finnishing land under the wind & sailmailing.the sun came out,illuminating a pretty scene-stilt houses,and lots of outrigger boats going past
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Have never been so underprepared going to another country.1st time to nmt have the appropriate lonely planet.we have one cruising guide book,latest edition,=1998!it has some history-magellan arrived 1521,and the spanish ruled till spanish-american war of 1898,then ww2=japanese,then independence 1946.this history once summarised as 300 yers in a convent,then 50 years in hollywwod.1998 population 60 million.archipelago with 21,500miles of coastline,7107 islands at low tide,but only 55 >1km square,of which we have been to 2.however we are prepared for sailing palawan.
The wind came up and we had a fine sail into the tuba river.big barges load nickle/zinc ore,from nearbt mine,onto barges,which tugs then tow out to big ships in deeper water offshore.further upriver we dropped anchor opposite stilt village over rier.looked like rain ,so we staye on haven,having relaxing drinks,finnishing land under the wind & sailmailing.the sun came out,illuminating a pretty scene-stilt houses,and lots of outrigger boats going past
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
PHILIPPINES 18aug2012 BALABAC ISLAND
we sailed to the Philippines today.Balambangan to Balabac,50nm.Beautiful twilight over Banggi mtn as we left 0530.slight breeze,so motorsailing,as we have boiled egg on vegemite toast(kerrys bread).Finnished Knockdown.Anchored off Balabac town,in lovely harbour,with stilt village over water,and lots of colourful wooden boats,many with outriggers either side.sun came out ,lighting up the scene,calm deep water in front o village,palms and jungle covered hills behind.so dinghy ashore,to where ferry boats are.sleek white wooden narrow boats with outriggers,with blue painted ban=mboo floats.walked village and back.spent our 1at 100 pesos on mobile phone topup.back on haven i cooked some greens and cauliflower,added to beef curry,and enjoyed pink sky above pink still water,listening to local mosque.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
TIGABU to BALAMBANGAN island,17aug2012. ITS A BOY!
46nm.sailing before sunrise is a nice way to start the day.goosewinging,as wind behind,mainsail oneside,and genoa-foresail,out the other side with spinaker pole.
Sailmail from the Kesbys back home-Jos and Sabrina have had a baby boy-called Lorenzo Richard-CONGRATULATIONS!.
Breakfast is usually bought muesli.to today we added rolled oats from australia,raisons from USA,dates from egypt,figs drom thailand,milk from NZ/Australia/Malaysia,lovely little local bananas,and papaya,and local lowfat yoghurt.
kerry cooked bread this morning.looks good.the wind dropped ,so we had a swim,then lunch-the lovely fresh bread,with butter and vegemite,and with dried figs.then motorsailed to balambabgan island,still in malaysia,but in balabac strait between bornoe and palawan.entered lovely harbour,between coral reefs,. Sandy beaches,a few huts,a few boats.we did aerobicsexercise sessoin on boat,then the usual shower,sundowners with another great sunset.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Sailmail from the Kesbys back home-Jos and Sabrina have had a baby boy-called Lorenzo Richard-CONGRATULATIONS!.
Breakfast is usually bought muesli.to today we added rolled oats from australia,raisons from USA,dates from egypt,figs drom thailand,milk from NZ/Australia/Malaysia,lovely little local bananas,and papaya,and local lowfat yoghurt.
kerry cooked bread this morning.looks good.the wind dropped ,so we had a swim,then lunch-the lovely fresh bread,with butter and vegemite,and with dried figs.then motorsailed to balambabgan island,still in malaysia,but in balabac strait between bornoe and palawan.entered lovely harbour,between coral reefs,. Sandy beaches,a few huts,a few boats.we did aerobicsexercise sessoin on boat,then the usual shower,sundowners with another great sunset.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
SANDAKAN to TIGABU 16aug2012
81nm
big winds o/n.another yacht dragged,and their chain over ours.no problem-sorted ,and off 0600.11 yachts followed us out of sandakan harbour,we went north,the rest south,most going to kinabatangan river.the others left yesterday.a contingent of 10 are heading back to australia,4000 nautical miles.aft breeze-motorsailing.tin=me to precook meals for palawan passage-the buffalo became curry,the chicken -tamarind and tomato-enough meals for a week.put palawan and balabac waypoints from pacific expres blog into our chartplotter.did some sailmail.
.reading Land Below the Wind,by Agnes Keith,set in sabah,1939.enjoyable.it reads like short stories. So also reading Knockdown,about the famous 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race.A gripping read.Got it from yachtie bookswap at sandakan(got rid of katherine hepburn).
drop anchor 7 pm,after sunset,having followed our previous track on chartplotter.the chicken was delicious.
this is 1st time i have done blog from sailmail-HF radio-fingers crossed.can upload photos when we have internet in puerto princesca,palawan,philippine,in 7-10 days.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
big winds o/n.another yacht dragged,and their chain over ours.no problem-sorted ,and off 0600.11 yachts followed us out of sandakan harbour,we went north,the rest south,most going to kinabatangan river.the others left yesterday.a contingent of 10 are heading back to australia,4000 nautical miles.aft breeze-motorsailing.tin=me to precook meals for palawan passage-the buffalo became curry,the chicken -tamarind and tomato-enough meals for a week.put palawan and balabac waypoints from pacific expres blog into our chartplotter.did some sailmail.
.reading Land Below the Wind,by Agnes Keith,set in sabah,1939.enjoyable.it reads like short stories. So also reading Knockdown,about the famous 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race.A gripping read.Got it from yachtie bookswap at sandakan(got rid of katherine hepburn).
drop anchor 7 pm,after sunset,having followed our previous track on chartplotter.the chicken was delicious.
this is 1st time i have done blog from sailmail-HF radio-fingers crossed.can upload photos when we have internet in puerto princesca,palawan,philippine,in 7-10 days.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Monday, 27 August 2012
MANILA 25&26aug2012
We had a lovely weekend in Manila.we were impressed with the history.caught cheap flights with cebu air.lovely airport at Manila.Our hotel was the W hite Knight,in Intramuros.400 hundred years ago ,the spanisd built Fort Santiago,with 4.5 km of big stone walls,enclosing a 65 acre city,= I ntamuros,within the walls.I t must have been grand in its day.the americans took over in 1898.and they had their army hq there.then the japanese took over in WW2.Much of it was bombed as manila was retaken .recently it has been partially restored as a national monument.
we went to the main part of fort,which overlooks the pasig river,near the sea.macarthur said as he escaped-I will return,which he did,to help defeat japan.
this section includes the Rizal shrine.he is the philippines main hero,an intellectual,,who was for phillipino independence.He was famously executed by the spanish ,in 1896,and his last days were spent imprisoned in the fort.
we then walked the wall.an impressive wall and an impressive walk.apart from the river,the wall is mainly surrounded by an immaculate green golfcourse,creating an elegant,barrier with the modern city.some parts od wall are quite thick,with many people,mainly young students from intramuros educational facilities,doing exercise classes,relaxing,being couples.no obvious bars,.lots of armed soldiers,in period costume,so a safe place.out to a nice little restaurant near our hotel.
Awoke to soum=nd of bells of St Augustin church across the road.had breakfast at Mitre cafe,looking at st augustins.cafe has a bishop theme ,and the placemats are a photo of bishops.st augustis is the only one of 9 intramuros churches to survive WW2.It is 400 years old,UNESCO listed and has a great museum.the museum covers 2 floors,contains all sorts of religious treasures,like local wooden church carvings,statues with ivory heads and hands,colourful procession carts.upstairs gave access the choir section on mezzanine at back of cathedral-during a mass,but no choir,a good view.
casa manilla is a museum in intramuros -a restored house in same walled compound as our hotel,showing how the wealthy lived in late spanish times-lots of lovely timber,very tasteful,very nice.
caught a pedal trike to national museum.I particularly liked the burial jars ,from ayub cave,2000 tears old,with each jar top an individual face.also the room with photos of church ceilings from bohol.
late lunch at barberos again,and then it was time to catch taxi,through busy manila traffic,to airport,and fly home to haven,Just in time for sunday night buffet at yacht club.a good crowd,and a great meal.visiting manila was certainly worthwhile.
we went to the main part of fort,which overlooks the pasig river,near the sea.macarthur said as he escaped-I will return,which he did,to help defeat japan.
this section includes the Rizal shrine.he is the philippines main hero,an intellectual,,who was for phillipino independence.He was famously executed by the spanish ,in 1896,and his last days were spent imprisoned in the fort.
we then walked the wall.an impressive wall and an impressive walk.apart from the river,the wall is mainly surrounded by an immaculate green golfcourse,creating an elegant,barrier with the modern city.some parts od wall are quite thick,with many people,mainly young students from intramuros educational facilities,doing exercise classes,relaxing,being couples.no obvious bars,.lots of armed soldiers,in period costume,so a safe place.out to a nice little restaurant near our hotel.
Awoke to soum=nd of bells of St Augustin church across the road.had breakfast at Mitre cafe,looking at st augustins.cafe has a bishop theme ,and the placemats are a photo of bishops.st augustis is the only one of 9 intramuros churches to survive WW2.It is 400 years old,UNESCO listed and has a great museum.the museum covers 2 floors,contains all sorts of religious treasures,like local wooden church carvings,statues with ivory heads and hands,colourful procession carts.upstairs gave access the choir section on mezzanine at back of cathedral-during a mass,but no choir,a good view.
casa manilla is a museum in intramuros -a restored house in same walled compound as our hotel,showing how the wealthy lived in late spanish times-lots of lovely timber,very tasteful,very nice.
caught a pedal trike to national museum.I particularly liked the burial jars ,from ayub cave,2000 tears old,with each jar top an individual face.also the room with photos of church ceilings from bohol.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)