2012 - Knowland Year in Review



Merry Christmas to all as we close out 2012 ...

This year marks our 3^rd year of retirement, and it was packed full of FIRSTS for us.

FIRST:  We left on January 8th for our 2^nd trip to the Bahamas - our earliest crossing yet and the farthest that we've traveled down the Bahamas island chain. This year, we travelled from the Abacos to the Far Out Islands, spending 3 weeks in the Ragged Islands, 62 miles from Cuba!  We wouldn't have been brave enough to undertake this adventure w/o some gentle coaxing from our good friends on s/v Passages and s/v Synergy.  Ed and Karin (s/v Passages) kept us supplied with fresh water and Chris and Karen (s/v Synergy) showed us the good fishing spots.

 

 

 

Beautiful but isolated surroundings.  No water, no fuel, no tiki bars (gasp!), no stores.  But lots of       like-minded cruisers settle here and the fishing is fantastic.  We have friends who literally eat lobster for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

 

Dan finally got to put his pole spear to good use - catching us lobster as well as Hog Fish (new to us, but sooo delicious!).  End of the day meant everyone was cleaning fish on their boats and the nurse sharks were everywhere, feeding on the waste tossed overboard (yes, kinda creepy!)

Besides fishing and snorkeling, we hiked the islands, searched for sea beans and sea glass, and Nancy learned to weave baskets out of palm fonds, just like the locals.

It's Monday ... and look at us!

 

 

The Ragged Islands may be isolated, but we were anything but lonely.  There were probably a dozen boats that stayed there for the winter, and most evenings meant a Happy Hour on the beach, bonfires, bocce and music (Dan finally put his guitar to good use!)

 

 

 

 

FIRST:  Our good friend and sailing companion, Jim Garfunkel, joined us in the Bahamas for his first cruise with us in this part of the ocean.  We spent a week in the Exumas, travelling from Staniel Cay to Georgetown and back again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST:  Our daughter got married!  Michelle and Craig Nelson celebrated their wedding in Savannah GA, which we were blessed to share with 100 family and friends.  Michelle left her job as a Management Analyst with the City of Loveland, Ohio in May.  Craig is a Captain in the Army, and as part of his career path, he moved back to the 'regular' Army from the Ranger unit to be a unit commander.  This moved also involved relocating to Germany, which they did one week after the wedding!



The happy couple ... Mr and Mrs Nelson!

SISTERS!
Family who joined us:  Jim/Julie/Owen Radey. Bob/Laury/Steven/Marie Schalau, Sheila Yule, Tom/Marie Knowland, Sarah/Ian Wardropper





First to arrive; Last to leave! Thanks from coming Dr. Yule :)
 

Celebrating her last night as a Knowland!

 

Proud Radey Women!



The gangs all here, how lucky are we!
Robert Ewing, Jim Garfunkel, Dan/Renee/Collette Devereaux, Paula Wheeler, Mikel Wheeler.

We rented an historic mansion for the weekend.  Too much fun for one house!

The Nelson family hosted a wonderful Open House for all guests on Sat. night.

 

The ceremony was held at the Massey School in Savannah ... the first public school in GA.

 

 

The Knowland-Nelsons ... our new and improved family of 5!

 

 

Every trip to Savannah needs an historic trolley ride.

Pretty ladies all in a row ...

 

FIRST:  We spent most of the summer with our son, James, in his new home in West St Paul.  James is in his 5th year as an elementary school teacher in St Paul, and he bought a home just blocks from where he teaches so he can walk to work and go home for lunch.  Sweet deal! We were there in time to help him totally remodel his kitchen (take out a wall, put in a floor, new cabinets, new appliances, new paint, new window), but the best part had to be the luxury of spending so much time with him..... a total of 44 days this summer!

Before ....

After ...



When we weren't working at James' house, we were visiting our other dear friends who have a guest room for us!  Staying with Jim in Webster WI (20 days) is one of our favorites b/c of his great hospitality, and he has a pool ... so whenever the summer temps soared, that's where you could find us!

 

 

 

James is only 20 minutes, and one river crossing, from our forever-friends Dan and Renee Devereaux. We spent 17 days with them, especially when enjoying all that downtown Minneapolis has to offer ... Twins baseball games, bocce tournaments, Gopher football or just a BBQ in their beautiful back yard.
 

 




 

 

We had no long road trips planned this year as we did in 2011.  We stayed close to home and roamed from Webster WI in the north to Rochester MN in the south to see my sister/brother-in-law, Laury and Bob Schalau (12 days).   

FIRST:  Nancy travelled to Germany to visit Michelle and Craig, spending almost a month with them at their new home in Amberg, Germany and visiting Prague, Vienna and Saltzberg.

Photos of Amberg, Germany

First floor apt is their new home in Amberg.

Downtown Amberg - just around the corner from their apt.

 

Photos of Prague, Czech.

 

 

Hungarian goulash in a bread bowl.  Delicious first meal in Prague.
 



amber amber everywhere ....makes for lovely window shopping

Photos of Vienna

Amazing architecture.  How did they build this hundreds of years ago?

Photos of Saltzberg

 

 

 

 

Return trip to Prague - this time with Craig



Karlstjen Castle



Drinking with the kids on my last night in Europe (yes, she's drinking hot chocolate!)



Travelling with Craig meant we could stay out late at night!

FIRST:  We crossed back to the Bahamas for the 3^rd time on December 9^th, the first time we have made the crossing this early in the season.   And the first time we have cruised with a watermaker on board!  After our trip to the Out Islands last year, we decided we needed this upgrade in order to travel places that did not offer the convenience of easy access to water.  Jim Garfunkel drove to GA in October to help Dan with the installation (while I was in Europe - nice plan, huh!).  And, while he was there, Jim experienced his first sky diving adventure over Amelia Island!

This was also our first experience with engine problems in the Bahamas, unfortunate but to be expected, I guess.  We covered the gamut from overheating (new water pump), replacing the starter, and repairing the outboard motor to our dinghy (aka our car!).

 FIRST:  James came to visit us in the Bahamas for 2 weeks over Christmas.   Due to our reoccurring engine problems, we didn’t do all the cruising with him that we had hoped, but when in paradise, there is always a rainbow.  Good weather, sailing, snorkeling, swimming … but most of all, having him with us for so long!

FIRST:  This was also a FIRST for the newlyweds who spent Christmas in the Alps, and I'm sure they missed us!  Craig is scheduled to deploy again in July '13, so we are planning to keep Michelle company in Germany while he is gone.  Maybe we'll be taking pictures on top of the world next Christmas ...

We are truly blessed that 2012 was a happy, healthy and fulfilling year for us.  We look forward to continuing the journey in 2013.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our dear family and friends!