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Sunday, June 19, 2011

BIZZEEEDAYBIZZEEEDAYBIZZEEEDAY....

 Could not ask for better weather.




 Barb and I breezed through chores.
 Then, Gar and I drove down to the Farm Market in the village.  It opened today.  Stopped in at Java first for breakfast.  Jenny got there at the same time.
 As people more people arrived our table grew to six and we had lively conversation.

 Finally got over to the market.  Just a few vendors today, but that will change from week to week as more crops are ready.

 Hanging baskets were only $10!  Why didn't I buy one?
 Sally was there.
 So what was available?  Radishes, tomatoes, spinach....
 strawberries.....


 homemade sausage....
 and lots of flowers....

 (above are the baskets hanging throughout the village)
 Next stop was the Welcome Center.  A friend called last night and told us there was a sailboat docked from Norway.  We love meeting our visitors so we stopped by.
 The boat, SS-Ilanga is 39 feet long and the Captain is Harald Solejeld.  He is on an 8 year journey.
After speaking for 10 minutes, we invited him to join us for lunch out at the Carlton.  Jenny and I were taking Gary there and thought Harald would enjoy it.
 What an interesting man.  He retired after working 34 years on an oil platform in the middle of the ocean.  300 people worked there!  His family joins him off and on but much of the time he sails alone.




 After lunch we headed back to the Welcome Center as Gary had duty from 4-6.

 We took a tour of the boat.






 It looked like it would sleep six and had TWO bathrooms.


 Harald is going to pick up his wife and two other family members in Buffalo early in July, and will head back down the Erie Canal.  We hope to meet them when they arrive back in Brockport.  He gave me a card that has his itinerary on the back.  Incredible!
Norway, Greenland, Canada, USA, Cuba, Jamaica, Panama, Galapagos, Easter Island, Chile, Cape Horne, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Surinam, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, California, Hawaii, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, Vanatu, Salomon, New Guinea, Fillippinerne, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Indonesian, Australien, Mauritius, Madagascar, South Aftica, St. Helena, Brazil, Carribian, Bermuda, Acorene, Scotland and back to Norway.

Can you even imagine this trip????? The waves are huge...the sail is gigantic!  He clips a rope to a harness he wears when he is out in the ocean so he won't get swept overboard in rough waters.  Holy Moly!!!!!  Gary asked him how he gets any sleep...get this!  While the boat is moving, he takes 20 minute naps...sets an alarm and wakes up to check that all is ok, then does it again and again.
 We meet so many wonderful people from around the world...right here in our little village.
Our friend George (who was on duty before Gary) drove Jen and me back to the farm in his sporty little car, so I didn't have to go back and pick up Gary.

 Mowed, mowed, mowed today....did evening chores.
 Gucci and Phoebe kept me company.
 Right when I got off the lawn tractor, Bing and Ruth stopped by to pick some spinach.  We already gave some to Gina, Hanny and Neet earlier.  A good thing, there was SO much.




So much for today.  I'm tired.
Night all.

PS - the moon was beautiful last night.

8 comments:

Oak Creek Ranch said...

My brother wanted to sail around the world. He started in San Diego and then sailed alone to Hawaii. He had a very small sail boat - 32 feet, I think. He did the same 20 minute nap thing. It took him 3 weeks to get to Hawaii. From there he went to Tonga and then Fiji - same route I'm guessing as your friend. ...but then he and his wife had a baby and he stopped trying to sail around the world. His stories scared me to death. I'm glad he's sticking to little day trips.

Jo said...

I loved the visit to the market, the tour on that massive yacht and also the lovely weather on the farm. Blessings, Jo

Louise said...

I have a cousin who lived, with her husband, on a sailboat for several years. They, too, traveled all over, though I don't think that they were quite as adventurous as your new friend. She told me just the other day that she misses that life very much.

Sharon Creech said...

Wow, what a feast for the eyes and soul. Love the pic of Jen & Gary . . .and all the flowers and food and animals and the voyager. My book THE WANDERER is based on a trip my daughter took across the ocean in a 45 ft sailboat w/6 guys. Your new friend sounds amazing!

thecrazysheeplady said...

How cool is that! What fun.

Kritter Keeper at Farm Tails said...

i love your posts...i feel like i am right there living in the little village. my grandparents from vermont were very social like you. loved all the flowers and it is nice to see a town care enough to hang pretty baskets. the sailor man is incredible but the sleep thing, well, that is not very healthy! i could not do what he has done...what a great day you experienced, thanks so much for sharing! :) p.s. the ponies look awesome in their paddock

Photos by Stan said...

Your fruit/veggy shots are scrumptious. And, the flower pics are really superb -- keeps gettin' better all the time! The portraits of your daughter are gorgeous -- guess she has as much to do with that as the photog -- lol.

Victoria Cummings said...

Wow - what a day! There's a lot going on in your world. How cool to meet a gentleman sailor. And the flowers and fruit at the market are gorgeous. Summer is here!