April 5-11, 2022 Hi All, In those infamous words…..WE’RE BACK!!!! We arrived back on Mystic Moon on Tuesday early evening, 4/5. Let the 2022 Cruising Season begin!!! Eleven hours door to door from our home in Brentwood CA. 1st impression inside….cold but smells fine…why are so many lights on??? We do have a boat watcher … Read More →
African Safari Leg 4: Cape Town and South Africa Winelands, part 2, THE END
September 1 – September 7 Hi All, Weather: After a gorgeous and fairly warm Day 1 & 2, the weather changed dramatically for the rest of the trip. Day 3 was cloudy and rainy, although we did manage to tour Cape Town in between rain showers.. Then in the Winelands, while it did not rain, … Read More →
African Safari Leg 4: Cape Town and South Africa Winelands, Part 1
Sept 1 – Sept 7 Hi All, Ever since I read all 20 of the Patrick O’Brian nautical historical novels (think Aubrey & Maturin in Master & Commander) I have wanted to visit Cape Town….what an historical city as well as such a vital role it played in opening up the Southeast Asia/Australia trade … Read More →
African Safari Leg 3: Botswana and the Okavango Delta, Vumbura Camp, Part 5
August 21 – September 1 Hi All, Due to Covid, the Victoria Falls part of the original Botswana safari was cancelled (yes, I was sad as Victoria Falls was on my bucket list but, oh well….so much to see, so little time, plus more critter time) and the Vumbura Camp was added. It’s rated as … Read More →
African Safari Leg 3: Botswana and the Okavango Delta, Jacana Camp, Part 4
August 21 – September 1 Hi All, Aug 26-29: Days 6-9: Jacana Camp: “Located on a beautiful island in the Jao Concession in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Jacana is a typical Delta camp. Surrounded by seasonally-inundated floodplains and papyrus swamps, Jacana has five en-suite Meru-style tents, built on raised wooden decks to take advantage of the … Read More →
African Safari Leg 3: Botswana and the Okavango Delta, Kings Pool Camp, Part 3
August 21 – Sept 1 Hi All, I continue the Botswana Secluded Safari on Day 3, 8/23, after arriving at the Kings Pool airstrip and starting the game drive to the camp: We arrive ~3:30ish and do a short game drive to Kings Pool. Kathy was the hero as her keen eyes spotted another leopard … Read More →
African Safari Leg 3: Botswana and the Okavango Delta, Qorokwe Camp, Part 2
August 21 – Sept 1 Hi All, I continue this blog at the Qorokwe Camp (first camp) after lunch on Day 2, 8/22: Weather: Well….it is hot and then more hot in Botswana…..but, gee John, it’s a dry heat you say…..hmmm, it’s still an oven I reply!! The days are in the high 80’s to … Read More →
African Safari Leg 3: Botswana and the Okavango Delta, Qorokwe Camp, Part 1
Aug 20 – Sept 1 Hi All, This continues the blog about our African Safari from Aug 3 – Sept 7, 35 days of a trip of a lifetime!!! We visited 4 different countries: Rwanda, Kenya, Botswana and South Africa. We left Nairobi on Kenya Airlines on time at 7:45am. Driving into the airport was … Read More →
Captain’s Log: Fall 2021 Cruise out of Sitka, Alaska
October 6-22 Hi All, We finally made it back to Mystic after a 3-month break. This is exactly why we brought Mystic back to the USA to allow us to do other things!!! We spent the month of July enjoying family & friends in the Bay Area as well as a trip south to see … Read More →
African Safari Leg 2: Kenya, The Great Migration Safari and Nairobi National Park (part b)
Aug 14-20 Hi All The 2nd part of the Kenya Migration Safari: We left off as we were moving to the Nat Hab mobile Camp by the Mara river: “Maasai Mara, also sometimes spelled Maasai Mara and locally known simply as The Mara, is a large national game reserve in Narok, Kenya, contiguous with the … Read More →