Alisha Silverstein – Exhale on the Water

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

Ten years in the making – It’s official – Tony Rodriguez and Alisha Silverstein got married on July 12, 2025. That announcement is worth the fireworks!!

Fireworks from St. Michaels, Maryland

Rick and I, along with Gail and David Bernstein, flew from Annapolis to CA for the sweet event. We started the weekend with Maureen O’Gara and Craig Adford (thank you!), in their beautiful home in Moorpark, CA. The monarch butterfly from their yard is for Alisha.

Wedding Magic – Mixed Tape

It is estimated that 150 people made the journey for the destination wedding at the secluded Pine Rose resort in Twin Peaks, CA [near Arrowhead]. Friday night was a casual mixer at the Strawberry Lodge, with roughly 60 people; a relaxed introduction of family and friends from both the bride and the groom, including childhood pals from Alaska, and special folks from CA, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Ohio, Nebraska, Kansas, Florida, New York and more!

Long-time friend from Alaska, Elizabeth, brought fresh Moose Meat, recently killed by her handsome hubby. Now that’s truly organic! Photos offer just a small sample of the happy faces who joined us.

Carly, Tony, Alisha, Mary S, Zach, Julia, and Elizabeth.

On the stairs Mo captured some (not all) of the Alaska Family: Austin, Kingston, Ella, Millie, Mary S, Julia, Tony, Alisha, Elizabeth, Joe, Brandon, Ruby, Carly, Zach and Elke.

Here’s one more from the stairs:

**Zach Silverstein, Mary S, Alisha and Tony** – photo by Maureen O’Gara

On the outside patio we found Alisha, Tony and Elke.

The Big Event

Saturday, 7/12/25 at 3:37 pm the magic commenced. If you are a fan of the epic Christmas movie, Love Actually, you must recall the wedding scene – go ahead, click on it, as a full choir and hidden band members surprise the bride immediately AFTER their vows, magically performing “All you need is love”.

To the delight of EVERYONE, the Big Event’s bridal procession began with live music, a marching band, with a trumpet and a drummer. The procession was accompanied by Alisha’s cousin, Joe Buckendahl, expertly performing on saxophone. Alisha’s cousin Kingston, and Tony’s business partner Joey, were strategically positioned in the audience on electric guitars.

Then the big surprise. Alisha sang, with confidence and skill, as she entered the venue. The procession song was Ray Lamontagne’s finest “You are the Best Thing”. Click here to listen to the original version – but you should know that Alisha did it BETTER. As she sang to Tony, there was not a dry eye in sight.

To keep the magic flowing, we are sharing some of the love witnessed that evening, with the help of many friends and family members who sent photos. Instagram captions give credit to the photographers.

Tony‘s vows resulted in uproars of laughter as he shared his deep appreciation of Alisha – who was caring for a well fed cat when they first met. When he realized it was a community cat, not actually her cat, he knew what she really needed – “not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, not 6, but 7 furry babies” who are now spoiled members of their family. Beloved critters include three dogs – Jocey, Tilly, Mookie; and four cats – Taco, Belle, Luka and Jac.

The 100-year old wedding veil has been passed along in the Silverstein family, I believe it has been worn by eight women (is that right Wendy and Elise?). Thanks Grammy (Norma Silverstein), you were there in spirit every moment of the day.

Enjoying the magic with Craig, Maureen, Gail, David, Rick and yours truly.

Father of the Bride, and the bride, singing the Otis Redding classic, “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay“ . They both know all the words :-)

**Alisha Silverstein and Steven Silverstein**, photo by **Tanja.**

Yes the late night chicken was this good!

So Proud

Rick Ginsburg and Mary Silverstein, photo by Carly

Closing with an exquisite photo of the new Mr. and Mrs. on Sunday morning! Zoom in, Alisha’s t-shirt reads: “eat your heart out, I’m Married.” Mazel Tov and Congratulations to Alisha and Tony.

Special update: Tony’s beautiful daughter, Pristine, gave me a warm hug as we were checking out on Sunday. She seemed happy to enlighten me – since Tony is my son-in-law her two sweet babies, Juliette (age 3) and Penelope (age 1) are my great grandbabies! Pristine is truly beautiful, inside and out, and I am beyond thrilled to be a great grandma. Wow. Congrats again everyone.

The happy Mr. and Mrs. – photo by Mary S.

Next Up: Traveling Chesapeake Bay, a slow journey to Washington D.C. See you soon Craig and Maureen.

Counting Manatees

Mariner’s Cay Marina in Manatee Pocket

During our slow travels on Exhale we love spotting marine life. We have seen awe-inspiring whales, playful dolphins, resplendent turtles, formidable alligators, flying fish, and splendid manatees.

Over the past 9 years we have stayed at the Manatee Pocket marina in Stuart so many times that we have lost count. BUT here’s what I can report, with full confidence: number of manatee sightings in Manatee Pocket = zero, zilch and nada.

On a positive note, at low tide, Buttercup found a new vantage point, she’s sitting on the tv shelf (the tv lowers behind the couch).

Buttercup, keeping a close watch, as the world goes by.

Boater’s Tip: Mariner’s Cay Marina is often windy. With fixed docks, be prepared to tie up without assistance. Consider using Sunset Marina, which is easy walking distance to the bustling little downtown of Stuart.

For us, a visit to Stuart equals time with Marty and Anders, fondly referred to as Meanders! Because of them we purchased our first trawler, NP4906, delivered in April 2016. Keeping with our special tradition, we enjoyed a fabulous Thai meal, at Krua Thai (click here) including the best curried duck ever!

Hey Caryl, are you familiar with Big Fred, the staghorn fern? Located in Titusville FL, he measures a total of: 88.5 inches in diameter (that’s almost 7.5 feet) and 278 inches in circumference (That’s 23.16 feet around). For more random details about Big Fred, click here.

Not sure if this Stuart fern has a name, but thought you might appreciate the photo of this healthy, mega fern.

Vero Beach Yacht Club

Shout out to the general manager, head chef and head bartender at Vero Beach Yacht Club for the friendly chatter and bubbly on Mother’s Day. Boater’s Tip, if the yacht club cannot accommodate your vessel, we recommend you stay at the adjoining Vero Beach city dock where you will find plenty of lizards. This multi-colored lizard is a Peter’s rock agama, also known as a rainbow lizard.

Eau Gallie, Melbourne FL

Melbourne is well worth the stop, although the Eau Gallie Yacht Club is closed on Mondays. We enjoyed reconnecting with consummate sailors Brenda and Phil Spletter – another day of spoiled attention for Buttercup!

After hours of heavy rain, it was a quiet evening as Exhale sat all alone on the south dock. Sorry, Phil S, unlike our adventures in Rockport, there was no opportunity to crash another wedding in a certain yellow slicker. We can try again the next time we meet up!

Red Sunset for Finny

This is for you, little sister.

Smyrna Yacht Club

How old is this club? Dating back to 1928 it is fast approaching a 100-year milestone!

Smyrna Yacht Club made history in 1932 as the host of an international sailing regatta with participants from the US, England, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden & Cuba. The grand prize was the tall silver Lipton Cup Trophy, designed by Sir Thomas Lipton, which is now permanently on display in the Club’s trophy case, it is the only one in Florida.

History Lesson: Lipton® Tea traces back to Sir Thomas Lipton (1848 – 1931). After opening his first grocery stores in Glasgow in 1871, he saw the profit potential in this deliciously aromatic beverage and bought a number of tea fields in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). His key to overwhelming success was direct sales – pissing off the Brits when he refused to sell through their middlemen at “tea auctions.” Lipton’s trademark slogan was “Direct from the Tea Gardens to the Teapot” which also meant a significant $ gain into his Lipton bank account.

As a yachtsman, Sir Lipton was not so successful – he lost 5 straight America’s Cup races. For the Spletters, and all of our other sailors: To learn more about Lipton and his part in the first of the J-Class, click here.

Fun architectural detail about the club, I like the “mushroom” accent found in the grand entry-way!

The club logo, a signature sideways “S”, is for Ray Houle, fondly referred to as “Sideways” for a certain boating maneuver, without thrusters, that he absolutely mastered!

Admiral Buttercup liked this stop!

Halifax River, Daytona Beach

And now a photo for the Aussies – look at that light in our salon! The stowaway is ever present. Come join us!

We had an exceptional evening at Halifax River Yacht Club. Capt Rick was very excited to be served liver and onions, for our subscribers it’s one of those menu items that makes you smile, or, very likely it makes you cringe; thus it’s not easy to find! It’s also a dish that is not easy to prepare – be assured, the chef at Halifax got it right!!

Camouflaged Tesla tank. Starry Night wrap makes it almost tolerable. Almost.

Palm Coast Marina

And now for a well disguised Yuengling, aka PPW, according to David Hendry.

Boater’s Tip – the 5th Element serves up fresh, delicious, authentic Indian food. Disregard the never ending bollywood dancers streaming in the background. Worth the walk to the European Village Palm Coast.

Beach Marine, Jacksonville.

Boater’s Tip: Windward, The Wharf is so unremarkable I did not take any photos, but we DO appreciate the floating docks at Beach Marine, finally.

These fire red flowers are for Alisha, Holly, and Zach – just because. And that’s a wrap for this week!

Celebrating Milestones:

Happy Birthday Chris Moles! 63 on Monday, May 19;

Celebrating Life: Carol Lee Mayo. You are loved!

Next Up:

Oyster Bay Yacht Club, at Fernandina Beach. I don’t expect to find the Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that Gail and I enjoy, so much, since the grapes are grown in the Wairau Valley within Marlborough, New Zealand. But one can hope!

Yes, Gail, we are definitely Heading North!

The Key Largo Queen

A truly iconic steamboat, the original African Queen is docked in the Marina Del Mar Marina in Key Largo, FL, which is part of the Holiday Inn Complex at mile marker 100. Yes, she could use a coat of paint!

No, the classic movie was NOT filmed in Hollywood or in Florida, it was in fact filmed in the Belgian Congo also known as German East Africa. The boat was transported to Key Largo in 1982. A few years ago we blogged about spotting her on the waters, in the distance. This time, we were able to get up close to take a proper photo.

RANDOM HISTORY LESSON: Curious about the boat? The Congo African Queen was a 30-foot steam boat built of riveted sheet iron in 1912 in the United Kingdom for service in Africa on the Victoria Nile and Lake Albert – where the African Queen was filmed in 1950/51. Originally named Livingstone, she was built for the British East Africa Railway and was actively used from 1912 to 1968.

In 1951, the classic movie won 4 oscars [a special year for more than one subscriber], and, the film left an indelible print in the minds of many. We are curious, what’s your recollection? Do you smile with approval at the feisty courage of Kate, or do you recoil from the thought of leech infested waters? I relish in the memory of watching the movie with a special someone. Comments are encouraged!!

If you have not seen it yet, it’s well worth streaming (try Amazon Prime or YouTube). Here’s the IMDB description of African Queen, loosely based on actual events: In WWI East Africa, a gin-swilling Canadian riverboat captain {Humphrey Bogart} is persuaded by a strait-laced English missionary {Katherine Hepburn} to undertake a trip up a treacherous river and use his boat to attack a German gunship.

Key Largo American Legion

Post #333 is roughly 500 yards from the PilotHouse Marina. Open to the public, we stopped in for a very inexpensive delightfully cold beer. On the wall were post plaques from every state, including Alaska. Stepping inside the old post was a nostalgic moment for me because my dad, a WWII vet, belonged to American Legion Post #5 in Seward Alaska. It was easy walking (or stumbling) distance from our house. Do you remember, little sister Finny?

While drinking a cold beer I wondered, was it a good time to learn the NATO phonetic or Pilot’s alphabet? If you are a pilot, like Craig Adford, or a SeaBee, like Sideways, using the pilot’s alphabet is standard radio chatter. For others it’s a way to sound cool. Let’s be cool together.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our Vets for their service, and for their sacrifice.

Kentucky Derby Time

On Saturday, the Run for the Roses reminded us of our Kentucky based friends. This year the race was a mud-filled track, what a mess! Congrats to Jockey Junior Alvarado and Sovereignty for your first win!

A Blast from past Derbys, hello Gail Bernstein, Dale Morgan and Ann Hughes

F-1 Races in Miami

Do you favor the racing team of Red Bull? McClaren? Mercedes? Whoever your prefer, the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix was projected to have around 284,000 attendees, a record high. We often follow the races on F1-TV, typically cheering for a certain team – that did not fare well in this race.

Why did we really care?? because of the massive influx of boaters for the three-day event – think LOTS of mega yachts – the Miami marinas were booked well in advance and well after the May 2-May 4 event. That means we had to skip staying at Miami for now. Tip for boaters – research the local events – to either join in or avoid.

Key Biscayne

We spent one night in Key Biscayne, where the sunsets are spectacular. This is for Finny.

Miami Skyline

AFTER the crowd cleared from the Miami F-1 race, we slowly traversed to Lauderdale, enjoying the familiar city skyline.

Lauderdale – exquisite family time!!

Buttercup was eagerly awaiting dinner guests at the Lauderdale Yacht Club!

Special guests included the insanely talented Alisha Silverstein and her highly-skilled genius brother Zach Silverstein (this blogger’s A to Z), who are working on a new tv show based in Miami. The exquisite Holly Pilato-Scharnweber, loyal Buffalo Bills fan, and former Commodore’s Ball escort, is also on the crew.

We were very excited to host dinner on board: grilled steak (perfectly rare), Alaskan smoked salmon, roasted potatoes, fresh veggies, and a yummy salad.

Zach Silverstein, Alisha Silverstein, Holly Pilato; dinner on Exhale

MORE family stuff, just in time for Mother’s Day. Proud momma plug: In December of 2024 Alisha, Holly and Zach wrapped an incredible movie – filmed in Morocco. Last year, this blogger witnessed the phenomenal setting first hand. Final Production efforts are now underway by Angel Studios. In Theaters beginning Dec 19, 2025, let’s go see Zero A.D.!! Here’s the trailer. https://youtu.be/vWVQYdAUvb8?feature=shared. Before kings and empires feared Him, a tyrant sought to erase Him. Click here for a Special Cinema Moment, introducing Zero A.D.

Thank you to all three for making the drive to visit us in Lauderdale! Buttercup said, “Come Back again soon”.

North Palm Beach Safe Harbor – If you travel inside on the Intracoastal Waterway, “ICW”, there are 21 bridges between Lauderdale and North Palm Beach. No surprise, Captain Rick efficiently analyzed the opening times and the distance between each bridge. With a 25-foot air draft, we needed 18 openings.

Note, if there is a tug with a commercial barge the bridge tender will open on demand, off schedule. Thanks to the calcs from Capt Rick, we only had to wait for one bridge. Was it a lazy operator, or was it because of a tug – we don’t know.

Boaters Tip: listen up on VHF Channel 9!

If you opt to stay “outside”, aka along the ocean shore, you are subject to wind and waves – but there are NO bridges. You might already know, Tonto’s Reward greatly prefers to rock ‘n roll on the wild side.

Stuart – Manatee Pocket aka Mariners Cay

We have stopped here, many times, to visit Meanders. Delightful friends, easy stop, worth the trip.

MILESTONES: Birthdays – May 8, Danielle Ginsburg; May 11, Michele May Jackson; Anniversay – May 7, Ray and Caryl celebrated 21 years!

Congrats to Pope Leo. Cool name (same as our oldest grandson!)

Happy Mother’s Day!!

Ophelia, enough already!

In the words of Natalie Merchant, “Ophelia was a tempest cyclone” From New York to New Jersey, it continued to rain. Enough already, seriously.

Sag Harbor, New York

Navigating the puddles, we walked about Sag Harbor. Like Tumbleweed, we enjoy this little spot.

Civil War Memorial

This memorial, “In Liberty and Union” commemorates the lives lost during the Civil War.

The 1864 cannon is nearly 1,500-pounds.

Sag Harbor Trivia

Phineas Taylor “P.T” Barnum once owned a segment of land running through the village. The adage “there’s a sucker born every minute” was frequently attributed to P.T. (Wikipedia).

It turns out, Barnum aimed to establish a home base for his circus in Sag Harbor, but disapproving residents put a stop to his dream. To that I say, New Yorkers are smarter than the average circus bear! Much later the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey ended up in Sarasota Florida. For all of you Florida transients, no additional comments required.

Port Jefferson, New York; Danforth Marina

Named after Thomas Jefferson in 1836 (he spent big bucks in the region), locally the area is called Port Jeff.

A very walkable village, it shall always remind us of that one time, when we saw Tumbleweed! It is also a place of great pride.

Great Kills, Staten Island, New York

Before you question the soundness of this alarming village name, I found it was the result of the Anglicization of the words “Groote Kell” which, from Dutch, may translate to “many creeks“. To me it sounded like an original name from Sandy Grosvenor. By the mid 19th century the village was a popular fishing spot.

New Yorkers pick some great boat names!

As tropical Storm Ophelia was bearing down on the coast, we traveled 114 nautical miles from Staten Island, NY to the safety of Cape May, New Jersey – departing at 3:45 am with only the twinkling stars to guide us (Dave Lub was spared the morning photo!).

No need to romanticize, the run was very stressful, especially for 4 seniors who have crappy eyesight to begin with. When we arrived around 6 pm, after more than 14 hours on the water, strong survival/arrival drinks were a must.

Cape May, New Jersey; South Jersey Marina

This quaint little town was preparing for Halloween!

Halloween Colors including the candy corn fire hydrant.

Pumpkin for Morgan

Flowers for Morgan

As the boats were safely tucked in, the rain and wind hit hard.

Cape May New Jersey Boat names also worth mentioning.

This is for Alisha!

This name is NOT a good choice – no sense in practicing misery, right Sideways?

You decide … good name or maybe not?

Foodies Bonus

It’s been a long time since we have featured a restaurant. Introducing Brine, located at the South Jersey marina.

Brine is BYOB, so we were spoiled by Tonto’s Reward, they supplied the best wine!

Although not the same as Sandy’s lump crab, the food was very good.

Something Rotten

After a long day on the water, I sat down in my favorite corner and stretched out my legs. Instantly I was overwhelmed by the pungent smell of something rotten. Was it my stinky feet? Embarrassed – without saying a word to Capt. Rick – I went below, scoured my questionable feet with a brush and my favorite scented soap (thanks to Fred and Deb Luddington, NP45), dried them, and put on socks. Feeling confident I had eradicated the offensive odor, I returned to the salon and got comfy again; yet the stench remained. Without a doubt, it wasn’t from me. It was someone else’s malodorous toes (go ahead, Commodore, look up that word).

Inquiry for the Followers

At what point do you decide it’s time to part with your shoes? I know the birthday boy, Roger B has a brilliant system for inventory rotation. He writes a date on all his running shoes, with a thick black sharpie, to safely avoid equipment failure! SFYC members can attest Roger is an award-winning runner, so this practice serves him well. I have no proof, but I suspect Connie B donates her beautiful extra shoes to charity whenever they have collected too much dust, and Donna W trades them in as the season changes.

Boat Shoes

Since we began this journey in April, Capt. Rick has purchased multiple pairs of boat shoes, planning to retire his beloved Timberlands. Perhaps relating to Goldilocks, he keeps trying to find a pair that was “just right”; he also claimed to Gail B and David B that the old pair would last a little longer. Really??

Now back to the saga of “something rotten”. This morning I found the real source of the bitter smell. The soaking wet shoes refuse to dry. Notice the lack of tread and the bona fide holes. Followers feel free to chime in, is it time for a burial at sea?? Gail and David will attest, there are several new pairs of shoes on board, just waiting to be worn.

Delaware Bay Lighthouse

Closing this post with a fun pic of a lighthouse that seems to have eyes, watching you.

With that, we are current on our posts, Ann J, at least for now! Hope you enjoyed your coffee break.

Celebrating Milestones.

Belated birthday wishes: September 23, Bruce Peck

September 27, David Floyd and Roger Berardinis

Coming Up:

Bear, Delaware; Summit North Marina

New York, New York

We crossed into Maine some time ago; now we are in New York, again. That means this post will cover a lot of territory.

So, pour a cup of coffee, Ann Johnston, or a glass of wine, and let’s get caught up.

Dysart’s Southwest Harbor, Maine

Thanks to Jim and Susan Merritt, Exhale was scrubbed from top to bottom, just in time to say Hello to Ray and Caryl! Buttercup loves it when the cookie man is in the house.

Capt. Rick, Buttercup, Gail B, Caryl M, Jim M, Ray “Sideways”, and Susan Merritt

Reuniting with our 2018 Looper buddies, we intentionally overlapped our guests. Thanks to Gail and David B, Sideways was upgraded to premier class on the first night, spoiled in a cabin on Tonto’s Reward.

Visiting with two Hollywood Legends

An Elvis Co-star – It was a privilege to see Joan Freeman again. Look her up, she was an amazing star! She and her husband, Bruce Kessler were enjoying their summer in Maine.

Lobster Fest

Perfect Timing – Micah, the generous local lobster fisherman, holds an annual birthday party/lobster fest at the Dysart’s marina. We arrived just in time to chow down with old friends Bruce Kessler and Joan Freeman-Thank you Micah! Lobster-ific!

Rockport, Maine

We love Rockport. The sky tells the story, serene, and magical.

Unfortunately, Phil, there were no weddings to crash.

Boothbay, Maine

This photo was not altered in any way, the Maine weather was this perfect!

Portland, Maine – Dimillos

We said goodbye to Ray and Caryl in Portland, Maine – thanks for joining us guys!

Fashion Week – New York City, New York

I had the privilege, again, of supporting my daughter, Alisha Silverstein, during New York fashion week. Along with the insanely talented Carly Lennon Maurer (my niece), we spent 7 nights working in the Big Apple.

Hello New York! Carly Lennon Maurer and Alisha Silverstein

I am extremely proud of Mija who continues to elevate the Selkie brand with her exquisite talent. Here are just a few Selkie photos showing us at work behind the scenes in preparation of the fashion show

Alisha Silverstein and her cousin Carly Maurer

Alterations completed. Late night final touches.

A total of 64 outfits were displayed on the runway. All of them were customized to fit the models. Spectacular Results.

Yes, the starry night dress I am wearing and the black jumper Alisha is wearing are Selkie designs.

And yes, David Bernstein, we are drinking Aperol Spritz to celebrate!

Meanwhile, the show on Exhale went on as scheduled, with a well-qualified Understudy. A heartfelt thanks to First Mate / Photographer, Craig Adford! With Craig’s experienced, able-bodied support, Exhale continued to travel.

Crew change. First Mate, Craig Adford arrives.

Wentworth by the Sea, New Hampshire

Pickering Wharf Salem, Massachusetts

Witches for a Good Cause

For our Massachusetts friends, if you are looking for a local cause to support, check out this unique grocery store/food pantry.

The Daily Table, a Boston-based nonprofit. So far, the grocery store chain has a total of 5 stores, typically located in dense neighborhoods with little or no fresh food offered – known as food deserts. The Market is a unique food pantry found on the ground floor of North Shore CDC’s Lighthouses building at 47 Leavitt St. https://www.dailytable.org/

Photographed by Capt. Rick, the stores are absolutely beautiful.

Sandwich, Massachusetts

thru the Cape Cod Canal,

Pope’s Island, New Bedford, Massachusetts

uhhhhh – this is a hurricane warning flag

Flying towards the storm, again.

After an exciting fashion show, I met up with the crew of Exhale in New Bedford, MA, where they found protective shelter from hurricane Lee. Thankfully it was significantly less than predicted!

Note from the archives – New Bedford was the safe holdout we used when hiding from yet another hurricane in 2021. If you want to see the exceptional engineering watch this short video!

Closing the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier

I got to see Craig for one night, then he flew back to LA to celebrate Mason’s birthday. We said Goodnight under the Red Sky of New Bedford.

Mystic, Connecticut

Celebrating Milestones: Belated birthday wishes: September 10; Eileen Pitel; September 15, Tony Pearl Jam; September 18, Mason turned 5!

Coming Up: the next post will take us to Sag Harbor, New York. Thanks for following us!!

Nova Scotia with a Nat Geo Legend

The 1972 hit by Carly Simon, “You’re So Vain”, is one of my favorites, especially this part of the third verse, “you flew your Leerjet up to Nova Scotia, to see the total eclipse of the sun”. A fan of Simon’s music from a young age, exploring Nova Scotia was very high on my bucket list.

For my niece, Carly. Click this link to see and hear your namesake, Carly Simon performing live! Can’t wait to see you in NYC!

Commodore’s Quiz

Hey Commodores Greg and Gary, what are people who live in Nova Scotia called?

St. Peter’s, NS

The marina is run by very friendly volunteers from the Lion’s Club. As we tied up in the well-maintained marina, we found yet another adorable Rosborough from Florida. Hello to Melissa and Mike Read.

We did have a starry night – but without a camera with a high f/stop, it’s impossible to photograph. With a fun app, introduced by Chris, you can get a sense of how strong the stars were.

Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, NS

This quaint town is peaceful and sweet in the summer. Winter population is less than 1,000. Baddeck is also the summer home of the Grosvenor family, descendants of Alexander Graham Bell.

Perfect time for a dinghy ride

Traveling by water you get a close-up view of the lighthouse.

Inside the Yellow Rectangle with a Nat Geo Legend

Tied up at the Baddeck city dock, we received a warm welcome from several members of Sandy Grosvenor’s family. Say hello to Graham Grosvenor and his legendary father, Gilbert “Gil” Grosvenor.

Graham and Gil Grosvenor on board Exhale

Thank you, Gil and Graham, we are eating your lobsters tonight!!

Born in 1931, at 92, Gil Grosvenor is spunky and witty. Gil is the great-grandson of Alexander Graham Bell.

Alexander and Mabel Bell made Baddeck their summer home beginning in 1885. Mabel, who was 10 years younger than Alexander, had a fabulous sense of humor, as noted in one of her letters found in the Alexander Graham Bell museum:

“… it was impossible to see your stars last night. I am sorry because I wanted to see them because you were so anxious that I should, and because now we shall have to sit up again, and Oh dear it is so hard to care two pence for anything in heaven above or the earth beneath at four o’clock in the morning. “

Stock Photo: Alexander Graham Bell Museum

The stories of Grosvenor and National Geographic

The National Geographic magazine dates back to 1888. That’s 135 years! Without a doubt, the exquisite photojournalism inspires humans, young and old, to explore our earth.

For me, the extraordinary stories found in National Geographic sparked awareness of, and appreciation for, our fragile world. Growing up in a rural Alaskan setting, I was an avid reader. My love of traveling was directly influenced by the glossy photos and in-depth stories. Passing on the tradition a few years ago, our teenage grandson Leo is now enjoying the remarkable magazine.

Alexander Graham Bell was one of the original founders of the National Geographic Society. The first full-time editor of the National Geographic magazine was Bell’s son-in law, Gil’s grandfather, Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor (1899–1954), followed by Gil’s father – Melville Bell Grosvenor (1957–67). Our visitor, Gilbert Melville Grosvenor, was the third-generation editor (1970–80), later taking over as president of the National Geographic Society (1980–96).

Our friend Sandy is the great-great-granddaughter of Alexander Graham Bell (her father was Gil Grosvenor’s brother).

About a year ago Gil authored a book that you should definitely order (that is unless someone special already bought it for you, Sideways, just saying).

Click here to order this book on Amazon! A Man of the World: My Life at National Geographic. This description is from the Amazon website, “filled with pirates, royalty, treasures, frostbite, shipwrecks, impenetrable jungles, hidden tombs and ancient temples.”

Gil told us he wanted to title the book “Inside the Yellow Rectangle.”

Changing with the times, National Geographic has fully embraced the use of social media platforms. Currently, its Instagram Page has 282 million followers, reportedly the most of any account not belonging to a celebrity. As more and more online followers elected to “Experience the world through the eyes of National Geographic photographers” in 2022 circulation of the printed magazine dropped to roughly 1.8 million. By comparison, readership was around 12 million in the late 1980s.

Now owned by Disney, I was saddened to read in the Washington Post, “as of June 2023 the magazine laid off all of its staff writers, shifting to an entirely freelance-based writing model. Beginning in 2024 it would no longer offer newsstand purchases.” Perhaps a more positive perspective, the shift away from “news that is fit to print” is good for the trees.

More Grosvenor Family members!

Thank you to Sara, who went out of her way to say hello!

Finally, a BIG thank you to Sandy, the queen of crab cakes, for sending us to Baddeck. Say hello to Ironbear and Grogu, continuing the Grosvenor family tradition, they are world travelers, currently in the Netherlands!

Today, Sandy is busy as an International Judge at The Hague, and the World Sailing World Championships. That’s not a typo by the way. Here’s the schedule.

St. Peter’s, NS again

We circled back to St. Peter’s for one night. Paul and Donna, this time we got to dine at the Bras d’Or Inn, where we finally learned the meaning of Bras d’Or.

No Commodore, it’s not a lady’s garment, the translation is arms of gold. And the food was fantastic.

Fishermans Harbour, Guysborough County

Today we are weathered in at Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s a well-protected little cove.

Craig Adford, what do you do when you can’t travel on the waters? Fish, of course!

Dinner on board Tonto’s Reward – A question for #8

While Gail B was making another wonderful dinner, she noticed the spice you introduced, #8, Slap Ya Mama, is labeled kosher. Intrigued by the kosher-ness, here is Gail’s question for #8, “if you sprinkle a kosher spice on your food, does it make the food kosher?”

For the tribe, what do you think?

Wondering where we are? Here’s the exact coordinates!

Trivia answer for the Commodores

People who live in Nova Scotia are called “Nova Scotians”. It’s good to have an easy quiz once in a while. There are over 900,000 of them; over 400,000 of whom live in Halifax.

Celebrating Milestones

Happy Birthday Alisha, from Buttercup!

Anniversary: August 19, Danielle and Sandra; August 20, Ann and Howard celebrating 45 years;

More Birthdays: August 21, Tom Turke; August 23, Matt Jackson.

Up Next: When the weather clears, we are headed to Halifax. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia has exceeded all expectations! Jim and Susan, we can’t wait to see you!

Memorial Day Weekend

This Memorial Day weekend we offer a humble thank you for your service followed by a heartfelt thanks for surviving to our active and retired military family members and friends.

Did you know this federal holiday dates back to 1865? Officially observed on May 30 up until 1971 – when the Monday observance supported a 3-day holiday – it began as a day of remembrance for the loss of soldiers who tragically died in the Civil War. The holiday was originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags.

Formula 1 – Chub Cay

Sunday, May 22 was the exciting Formula 1 Race in Barcelona. Courtesy of David B, who tapes the race, we skipped the commercial breaks, and enjoyed a magnificent spread aboard Tonto’s Reward as my favorite racer overcame the challenge of a malfunctioning DRS (Drag Reduction System) to win the race in Spain. Go Max Go!

Fortunately for us, Craig Adford (crew from Exhale) is a master chef; yes, he outperformed, again, with his infamous charcuterie board. Recognize the nautical cutting board? It’s the People’s Choice Award from the Trawlerfest in 2018! Gail’s spinach dip and Jo’s addictive pretzels (One Fine Tolly) rounded out the feast!

Spanish Wells

At 6:00 am on Monday we left Chub Cay for a bucking bronco ride to Spanish Wells. After a long day on the water, we were rewarded with another spectacular Sunset.

Bahama Crypts

Perfect timing for Memorial Day Weekend, Maureen spotted the burial vault in this photo. In the Bahamas, instead of stones, memorial shells are often placed on the graves. Vaults were often found along the side of the road.

Similar to New Orleans, burial plots tend to be above ground because the water table is so high. At the time of this post, it is raining HEAVILY. A casket will float if it fills with water – is that why they say “you can’t keep a good man down?”

As we searched for sand dollars, crabs and starfish, Craig and Mo found a place to totally chill.

For Gary – M/V Knot Dreaming. Blue Waters

Harbour Island, aka Briland

If you say Harbour Island real fast, with a few silent letters, you get Br-i-land, the local name for this lovely oasis.

Solar Panel Repair time – Our solar panels gave up almost a month ago. Capt Rick identified the necessary repair, but needed an extra set of hands, preferably from someone agile enough to crawl onto the hardtop.

Meet Max

Time for a Boat Wash! Max Etienne was found meticulously washing the boats at Ramora Bay. Happy to lend a hand with the successful Solar Panel repairs, he then washed Exhale with care and precision. Give him a call from anywhere on the island: 1-242-470-2069

Pinks Sands

A trip to Harbour Island MUST include a walk along the pink sands. Stretching three plus miles, the beach is as wide as 100 feet. Although a rare beauty, the phenomenon can be found in several countries, including Bermuda, Greece, Indonesia and French Polynesia.

When ever possible, Capt. Rick will take a dip in the local pool – so far this one at Ramora Bay is one of the best.

Briland Club. Best Burger $$$$.

Adjacent to Ramora Bay, a new marina for mega yachts is under development. Situated on 27 acres of land, built to withstand a Cat 3 hurricane, the marina can accommodate yachts up to 300 feet! A local fisherman told us the Club served an outrageously good burger. Forewarned the portions were generous, the three couples ordered a total of three burgers, splitting each one in half. Although pricey (Capt Rick said that was the most expensive burger he has ever ordered), it was delicious, earning four stars! We strongly recommend you go to the new Club by dinghy. It was a nerve wracking challenge in our golf cart as the road is under construction. With limited signage, and no help from Siri, we took numerous wrong turns.

Miami Vice Time – any visit with Craig and Mo is a chance for Capt. Rick to make his magnificent blender drinks!

More Chart toot er ie – Check out the Salami Blossoms! Craig told us all that he trained with a master Sushi Chef in Japan (fact check pending).

Roger’s Dock – For Connie & Roger :-)

Mask up Bahamas

Masks are still required in most of the small retail shops in Harbour Island. This is by far the best sign we have seen (thanks for spotting it David). A lovely tribute to Queen. Can you hum along?

Local Favorite.

This little gem of a store has a nice array of fresh veggies and produce. Clever Signage – make sure you notice the spelling, one g in each word. Not to be confused with the major grocery store in the US. which uses double g’s.

Covid Test Time

Craig and Maureen departed on Saturday, unintentionally leaving behind Mo’s persistent sniffles. By Sunday morning my use of a large quantity of tissues prompted concern by our boat mates. With rapid tests on board we were able to determine it was not Covid. So thankful.

Sharing is Caring.

Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco

Sunday, May 29 is race day! As recent retiree Dave Lubs, North Pacific 45, noted – the harbor in Monaco is quite spectacular, with an overwhelming presence of mega yachts. Let’s just say Exhale would be minuscule by comparison, think of something teeny tiny … you get the idea.

One Proud Mama

Bravo Mija – Congrats on landing a new project – filming in Philadelphia begins June 1^st.

Breathe, Costume Designer: Alisha Silverstein

Keep an eye out for this action thriller sci-fi film – credits will include a VERY talented Costume Designer. So proud!

Celebrations and Milestones

Anniversary: May 27, Carly and Brandon (sorry I missed it in my last post)

Birthdays: May 28, Brennyn (she is six!) and Scott Ginsburg; May 29, Doug Belknap and Joe Solari; June 1, Craig Adford, Mark Marlow, Amanda Saylor and penguin fan June Bug – Skyllar Gill; June 2, Sue Gillespie, and June 3, Lorrie Swink.

Next destination: somewhere in the Abacos, early reservations in Hope Town pending, trying to rendezvous with SFYC :-)

Baa Haabaa or Bar Harbor?

Bar Harbor ME

As we entered into Bar Harbor with the distressed sailboat in tow, Gail from Tonto’s Reward pointed out we would soon be close to Silver Shalis, again, the yacht belonging to Larry Silverstein. The unique powder-blue hull makes her stand out from a distance. Along our journey we have seen her several times.

Silver Shalis, 180-ft yacht. Owner, Larry Silverstein. Newport, RI. Photo by Gail

After rescuing the sailboat without a scratch, my Bar Harbor story now includes a very rare and special viewing of Mr. Silverstein (my friends refer to him as my “uncle” Larry, although we still don’t know if he’s truly related).

It’s my story, and I am sticking to it.

We spent the first night in Bar Harbor on a Mooring Ball, peacefully surrounded by a myriad of boats, large and small. The next morning – as we were enjoying our coffee with the rolling waves – off our bow Capt. Rick noticed a small rowboat closely followed by the familiar blue tender from Silver Shalis.

Gentleman Rower escorted by Silver Shalis tender

Admittedly, the person rowing may or may not have been Uncle Larry. As pointed out by David Bernstein, the rower had on a large hat, making it impossible to see the face of the person. The rower, small in stature, was progressing slowly with intermittent rest breaks along the way.

On the bow of the escort tender a uniformed crew member from Silver Shalis stood guard, ready to dive in and rescue if need be. Impressively, the rowing continued for more than an hour. If indeed it was Uncle Larry – reported to be 90-years young – I say BRAVO!

Introducing Mr. Hospitality

The 2nd night we managed to get space on the town dock, where we rocked and rolled, a lot. With that said, we enjoyed this spot, and stayed for a total of 4 restful days. This picture is for all our Looper friends (especially Misty Pearl, Houlegan, and Gypsy). Yes, it’s Herb Seaton on our “back porch.” Thanks for the memories.

The sunsets are award winning in Bar Harbor.

Outdoor movies in the Park! Great way to enjoy the view.

Wednesday Night Movies in the Park at the Harbor

Moose in Agamont Park

We find it interesting that although it is heavily marketed, you never see a moose (unlike in AK where they interrupt the flow of traffic and gladly walk across your lawn). Guessing the moose don’t get royalties, either.

Frenchboro, Outer Long Island

On to another remote location. Lunt Harbor is well known for its Dockside Deli. Accessible by dinghy, it was a treasure.

Frenchboro is a quaint, picturesque town. This First Class Outhouse was up the hill from the deli.

Hollywood News

We interrupt this story with a shameless bragging moment from this very proud Mama.

“Production begins in Buffalo, New York on Alejandro Monteverde’s ‘The Untitled Cabrini Film’. Christiana Dell’Anna, John Lithgow, David Morse & Rolando Villazón star in powerful true story of unknown American legend, Frances Xavier Cabrini … Costume Designer: Alisha Silverstein”.

Yep. That’s my daughter!! Want to know more about the movie? click here!!

The story is based in the 1890’s, and the costumes are spectacular! Wow, Mija.

Alisha Silverstein, Costume Designer; Austin Maurer and Carly Maurer.

Not only is Alisha the Costume Designer extraordinaire, she made a cameo appearance in the movie (her first ever) and she scored a roll for two of her Alaskan cousins who spent a VERY memorable week in New York. Here’s an unauthorized photo of their restaurant scene! Happy Birthday Carly (August 6) and Alisha (August 19).

Afternoon tea in Buffalo, New York c. 1890
undisclosed, Carly Maurer, Austin Maurer, and Alisha Silverstein

North Haven

The Maine Event Story continues. We found yet another adorable little village, and stayed an extra night in North Haven. Check out this community billboard, better than Facebook, especially when there is virtually no Verizon cell service, again.

Local artists flourish

Sadly, the ice cream sold out before Capt Rick arrived.

Devil Island

We anchored near Devil Island, with little to no visibility AGAIN.

As the fog slowly lifted we could see the water was like a sheet of glass.

We leave you with a trendy drink for Tyler :-). See you soon!

on the label: “It’s SODAsgusting – Totally Gross Soda”

Celebrating Milestones: Birthday: August 19 – Alisha Silverstein, August 23 – Matt Jackson; Anniversary: August 19 – Sandra and Danielle Ginsburg; August 20 – Howard and Ann Freedman; August 22 – Wedding Nuptials – Megan Ginsburg in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Next stop: Anchoring out in Merchant Row, Maine