Photo by Patrick Gregory
Taken from Skyline Blvd in the Berkeley Hills looking West towards San
Francisco.
Morpheus was designed by Carl Schumacher, built by Davie Norris Boatbuilders in New Zealand and launched in 2002. She spent her first 18 months cruising the South Pacific before reaching her home port of San Francisco. Since that time, Morpheus has been raced and cruised extensively. This blog will document her ongoing adventures.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Why we like California (3)
Photo by Patrick Gregory
Taken from Skyline Blvd in the Berkeley Hills looking West towards San
Francisco.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
"Home" for Christmas!
Deb and I arrived at my mothers house early last week. The boys both arrived yesterday. It's nice to have the family together!!
Merry Christmas to all that read this blog. I hope that you all will be enjoying some time with with your families as well!!
Jim Gregory
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
On The Road Again
Four days after losing our transmission, we are back on the road and heading southwest towards what we hope will be warmer temperatures.
With any luck, we'll make it to New Orleans tonight, and San Diego Friday evening.
I have some Etchells sailing to do on Sunday!
Jim Gregory
Monday, December 09, 2013
Montgomery, AL
Well, the car should be ready, tomorrow, so it looks like we will be missing my brother and wonderful sister-in-law in Austin. Waaaa! The bright side is that we may be able to get to San Diego faster. We will see!
Deb
Sent from my iPhone
Deb
Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, December 08, 2013
Friday, December 06, 2013
Transmission Failure
Today's plan was to drive from Destin, Fl toy sisters house in Florence, Al.
That was the plan. However, the reality is that 20 miles after crossing the Alabama border, our transmission made a very loud thumping noise and suddenly I found myself in "neutral"!! Not good.
D and 3 are dead but I still can limp along in 1st 2nd or reverse.
We made it 6 miles to a small town called Andalucia and a Chrysler dealership.
Diagnosis pending. Will update.
Jim
Jim Gregory
Thursday, December 05, 2013
Heading West
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
On the road again!
We have left my Sister and her family's farm in Bonita Springs after a wonderful and tasty Thanksgiving visit! Now on our way to Destin to visit Friends. Rumor has it it's cold and rainy up there... Why am I leaving?
Deb
Sent from my iPhone
Deb
Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, December 01, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Thanksgiving in Florida
I am thankful for the fact that I am warm and most of the United States is not!
We’ve been enjoying our time visiting with Deb’s sister Tori and her family here in Ft. Myers, Florida. The Thanksgiving feast/football marathon was fantastic, and Patrick and I have also managed to get in some great kitesurfing. Yesterday, Pat kitesurfed through and around a pod of Dolphin. I think they were actually following him for a while.
We are here through Tuesday and then push on to Destin, FL. to visit with Calvin and MaryPat Cedarleaf before continuing on to Florence, AL. to spend some time with my sister Lori and her family.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Back in Newport!
Deb and I are happy to be back in Newport, but who can tell me what is wrong with this picture???
Jim Gregory
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Back to Barcelona
After two great days/nights with our friends Ulf & Sara in Seville, we are on the train and bound for Barcelona.
This afternoon we will check the boat one last time, and then it will be time to fly to NYC.
Jim
Jim Gregory
Sunday, November 03, 2013
Thursday, October 31, 2013
High Fashion
Sara provides Deb with a lesson covering fashion requirements for Seville's annual Fair which is the highlight of Seville's social calendar each year.Jim Gregory
Monday, October 28, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Almost done putting Morpheus to bed...
Not much to report, and its hard to make cleaning, stowing, organizing, and winterizing, sound interesting.
Morpheus will be hauled on Monday. Once all is settled, Deb and I will be heading to Seville via train to see our friends Ulf and Sara one more time before we fly home to NYC on Nov. 1st.
Things are about to change rather radically for us. I hope we are ready for life on land...
Monday, October 21, 2013
Raise the Anchor!
Its not often that you see something like this. I guess during the night the wind died and the boat swung entirely around dragging the anchor chain with it across the bottom until it hooked the anchor. I was more than a bit surprised to see the anchor come up with 30 feet of chain still in the water. Once I figured that part out, I started thinking about what would have happened if the wind came up after the change in direction. I'm thinking that anchor probably wouldn't have been doing a very good job, and we could have been very unhappy!Thursday, October 10, 2013
10/10/10
Today is an anniversary of sorts. Perhaps it's better to simply call it a significant day.
Three years ago today, Debbie and I were working furiously to get a hundred loose ends tied up so that we could jump onboard Morpheus, throw off our dock lines, and leave the Richmond Yacht Club and the San Francisco Bay Area behind.
October 10th, 2010. That was our target date to begin the adventure that continues today.
Well, we didn't get all those loose ends organized, and we ended up leaving three days later.
But, we did leave!
That first step was a big one. Lot's of people talk about taking it, but never quite get there.
Three years later, I'm sure glad that we did!
Three years ago today, Debbie and I were working furiously to get a hundred loose ends tied up so that we could jump onboard Morpheus, throw off our dock lines, and leave the Richmond Yacht Club and the San Francisco Bay Area behind.
October 10th, 2010. That was our target date to begin the adventure that continues today.
Well, we didn't get all those loose ends organized, and we ended up leaving three days later.
But, we did leave!
That first step was a big one. Lot's of people talk about taking it, but never quite get there.
Three years later, I'm sure glad that we did!
Monday, October 07, 2013
Don't try this at home!!
I think we've mentioned the "Human Tower" contest during the Barcelona MERCE Festival several times, but the pictures and video that I took didn't do it justice. Luckily, I've found a couple of videos online and if you have a couple of minutes to watch you will be amazed at what people can do.
Just for fun!
Well, if all goes well and the weather cooperates we will finally be leaving Barcelona tomorrow morning. I was going through some of our photo's and video last night and threw this together. Enjoy. Or not...
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Debbie got to go to a horse show!
Monday, September 30, 2013
Barcelone Merce Festival - One more thing...
Christopher Gregory, this is right down your alley!!
Each night during the festival last week, thousands of people would gather in the city hall plaza waiting to see "The Projection Show"!
I guess its one of the traditional events each year, and each year the people involved strive to make that years show better than the last. I have no point of reference here, but this was a pretty amazing feat of technology and animation.
There are three projectors on the roof of the building on the far side of the plaza. One for each third of the front of the building shown above.
My first thought was that showing a video on a complex building front would ruin any effects. But, those designing the show were way ahead of me. I don't know how, but they built the animation to actually take advantage of the structures (e.g. the pillars) on the building. The building actually enhanced the show.
Take a look at the video below. Deb thinks there were some serious drugs involved, I think there were some really creative and smart people behind this. Enjoy!!
Each night during the festival last week, thousands of people would gather in the city hall plaza waiting to see "The Projection Show"!
I guess its one of the traditional events each year, and each year the people involved strive to make that years show better than the last. I have no point of reference here, but this was a pretty amazing feat of technology and animation.
There are three projectors on the roof of the building on the far side of the plaza. One for each third of the front of the building shown above.My first thought was that showing a video on a complex building front would ruin any effects. But, those designing the show were way ahead of me. I don't know how, but they built the animation to actually take advantage of the structures (e.g. the pillars) on the building. The building actually enhanced the show.
Take a look at the video below. Deb thinks there were some serious drugs involved, I think there were some really creative and smart people behind this. Enjoy!!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
You guys are going to burn!!
As Debbie and I wandered around just prior to the start of the "Parade of Fire!" during the Barcelona MERCE Festival, we started to notice people in hooded sweatshirts, wearing sunglasses (at night), and bandana's covering their faces. Humm, interesting. It's 80+ degrees out, these are funny outfits.
We'd read about this parade, but ultimately you need to see it to understand it. Clearly, this event would be illegal in any other place that I've ever visited. It's more than a bit convenient that Barcelona was basically built of stone!!
Just minutes before the start of the parade, and only a block from the kick-off float, a nice guy came up to us. Looked at our shorts, short sleeved shirts, and asked "Do you guys understand what is about to happen here??" We assured him that we did, and that we planned to keep a safe distance from the fireworks. Ha!! What's few sparklers between friends???
Then the devil's drums kicked into gear, and another equally friendly guy came up to us and was a bit more direct. "You guys are going to burn!!!", he said. You need to move much farther away....
It turns out they were both right, and we had no idea what we were about to see.
The parade started. We ran for cover!!
We'd read about this parade, but ultimately you need to see it to understand it. Clearly, this event would be illegal in any other place that I've ever visited. It's more than a bit convenient that Barcelona was basically built of stone!!
Just minutes before the start of the parade, and only a block from the kick-off float, a nice guy came up to us. Looked at our shorts, short sleeved shirts, and asked "Do you guys understand what is about to happen here??" We assured him that we did, and that we planned to keep a safe distance from the fireworks. Ha!! What's few sparklers between friends???
Then the devil's drums kicked into gear, and another equally friendly guy came up to us and was a bit more direct. "You guys are going to burn!!!", he said. You need to move much farther away....
It turns out they were both right, and we had no idea what we were about to see.
The parade started. We ran for cover!!
Barcelona MERCE Festival
We are glad that we stayed to enjoy this Festival. The town has certainly gone a bit crazy, but its been fun to be in the middle of it.
I'll put something better together soon, but for now here's a bit of what we've been seeing
I'll put something better together soon, but for now here's a bit of what we've been seeing
Human Towers up to 9 people high!
Devil's and Demon's Parade
Otherwise known as the parade of fire!!
The Giants Parade
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