Log Abroad

The Log stowed away to Cienfuegos, Cuba with Alan Discont and Kim Elroy Swartz, who are pictured here. Cienfuegos, the capital city of Cuba’s Cienfuegos province, is known as “La Perla del Sur” (The Southern Pearl) for its beautiful seaside promenade and art deco architecture. While there was a travel ban for Americans to Cuba for many years, it was lifted during the Obama administration. However, Pres. Donald J. Trump imposed new travel restrictions as of April 2019, after this trip was taken.

Chuck Beattie and Joan Arnold, who call Santa Barbara home, took The Log to Oa Nang Beach, Krabi, Thailand. According to yourkrebi.com, this beach is one of the best swimming spots in the area.

Mark and Meera Hibdon, of Santa Ana, California, took a trip to the British Virgin Islands after Thanksgiving 2018 to learn how to sail a catamaran. “Our teacher is a young man from Antigua and he has sailed many miles in many parts of the world.We were in good hands. It was lots of fun to learn about the Caribbean and sail and swim in the warm waters in November,” said Meera. Sadly, the Hibdons reported the Virgin Islands are still recovering from Hurricane Irma in 2017. “You can still see boats that were tossed up on land or sunk,” said Meera.

Mark and Meera Hibdon, of Santa Ana, took a stern-wheeled steamboat, American Queen, down the Mississippi after departing from New Orleans, Louisiana and culminating in Memphis, Tennessee. “We took this trip to research taking a boat on the Mississippi and making a trip of our own to complete America’s Great Loop,” said Meera. “The trip on the river was a real eye opener, as we did not expect the river to be so diverse. There was lots of commercial traffic and debris with which to contend.”

Karen Knapp, a broker with Intripid Yachts based in San Diego, recently took a trip to Costa Rica – and she brought a copy of The Log with her. Here, Karen is pictured near a lighthouse known as Punta de Puntarenas. The capital city of the Puntarenas Province, the area is known for its modest beaches and the wildlife refuge, San Lucas Island, nearby.

Pete Scott of Ventura West Marina, visited Ayers Rock in Australia with his cousin Brad, who hails from Australia. According to Scott, Ayers Rock started forming about 600 million years ago and measures 5.8 miles around the base. “The Aboriginal people lived there around 10,000 ago,” said Scott. “It was just below freezing in the morning in July.”

Robert Wild, pictured here sailing down the Amazonian river Tahuayo, is a crewmember of the tall ship Bill of Rights berthed at the Chula Vista Harbor. Wild says, “I just returned from a two-month-long trip to South America, which included a two week adventure in the upper regions of the Amazon River basin in Peru. This photo was taken drifting down the Tahuayo River by my local guide Nixon, an employee of the Tahuayo Lodge where I stayed. My adventure took me down the Amazon River to majestic waterfalls in Brazil/Argentina, volcanoes in Ecuador, and concluding in the Galapagos Islands. The Log was a comforting reminder of home throughout my journey!”

Normally Bob and Huili can be found in their Whitehall rowing around Newport Harbor on weekends. During the Boao Forum For Asia, however, they travelled to Haikou, Hainan, China. Boao Forum For Asia is a yearly meeting of Asian Nations held in Hainan, which is the smallest province in China.

Mari Frank-Boshaw and Lloyd Boshaw took a copy of The Log along for their tour of the Greek Isles. Pictured here they are on Crete, an island known for the gorgeous beaches and The Palace of Knossos, believed to be the palace of King Minos. Frank-Boshaw said, “[We] loved the fried sardines, Greek salad and calm seas!”

Gregg and Nancy Hughes traveled to Galapagos, an island off the Ecuadorean coast known for the “melting pot” of marine species and animal life that inspired Charles Darwin to theorize on evolution. Nancy said, “We had a wonderful trip to the Galapagos on the Origin with Ecoventure! Snorkeling, kayaking, nature hikes galore and great food with a group of longtime friends who grew up spending summers at Two Harbors, Catalina – took The Log with us!”

Dana Point boaters Susan and Charly Ware, Robin, Dominique and Bob Noterman, and Margaux Tomasello enjoyed a seven-day cruise on Canal Du Midi in Languedoc, South of France. Between Port Cassafiéres and Castelnaudary, the crew had to negotiate 38 locks and went from sea level to approximately 400 feet high. The 45-foot boat with three staterooms and en suite bathrooms was rented from Le Boat. Built in 1681, the canal connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. Today, it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bob Noterman said, “As always, we had a copy of The Log with us!”

Dave Kelsen, technology director for the publisher of The Log, hangs out near Cazenovia Lake in Cazenovia, New York. The town is named after Theophilus Cazenove, who was a financier from Amsterdam, Holland. Notably Cazenove invested money into development bonds issued by Pres. Alexander Hamilton – some might say an early example of investments in waterside developments!

Captain Constantine V Metallinos and his first mate, wife Michelle, relax at Roda Beach on the Greek island of Corfu while reading The Log. The captain is a longtime boater in Marina Del Rey and has captained commercial vessels in the area for years.

“After a very long drive and unloading all our gear and food, it was finally time to relax on top deck of the houseboat at Wahweap Marina at Lake Powell,” said Marla Fogg, who recently took a vacation to the lake bordering Arizona and Utah, “Life is Good!”

Active sailing members of Southwestern Yacht Club, Karl and Suzy Wagner, Jerry Cope and Natilee Meacham, traded in the club location of Point Loma for a getaway to the San Juan Islands for a week. Karl Wagner described the experience in San Juan as: “Quite a new experience on a trawler. Great crabbing in beautiful surroundings.” The San Juan Islands are off the coast of Bellingham, Washington on the way to Vancouver, British Columbia and are known for the scenic beauty, orca whale watching and cold-water seafood.