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Arrived. This area is just stunningly beautiful. There are places here that look like something straight out of Tolkien. It was a little wet and cooler than expected but overall not an unpleasant ride. My shoulder held up pretty well but I’m concerned about the the next two days. I like this place. It’s nice here. And iOS continues to be the bane of my existence. #fortlewis #virginia #countryroads #bmw #r1100s (at Fort Lewis Lodge & Farm) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChVYrGdOnnq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

“Adventure” This was not the plan. No one was supposed to be at the wheel piloting this boat by hand. The auto-helm broke (computer that keeps the boat on course for you) 1.5 days into the trip just as we were approaching the North Atlantic gulf stream and a storm was coming towards us. This meant that for 24 hours a day no matter how rough it got someone had to be outside in the cold and wet at the wheel while the other two rested in preparation for their shifts. “2 hours on 4 hours off. During your off time you need to either eat or sleep. No exceptions. That means you too Yermo.” For three and a half days … then things happened and some shifts had to be much longer … my longest was 00:30 to 06:00. … and remember Wayne and I have never done anything like this. This was no joke. Much more later. #adventure #highseas #northatlantic #squall #sailing #tabascosailingyacht #didntknowicoulddoit (at Chester Basin, Nova Scotia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdN1sXkrprm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Captain Mark dropped us off at a close by small ferry dock that led up a staircase through thick vegetation. We walked along impossibly tight little roads past huge exquisitely maintained houses behind stone walls to a beach unlike any I have seen. Rock and coral outcroppings could be seen dangerously close to shore. Gentle waves crashed in blue green colors as we walked along this nearly empty beach. #beach #walkin #tabascosailingyacht #beautifulday #sailing #sailingadventure (at Hamilton, Bermuda) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccv8ij2rd2Y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Another sunset over Bermuda … on the sailing yacht Tabasco. #sunset #tabascosailingyacht #sailing #stuckinbermuda (at Hamilton, Bermuda) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcthP2rLbFx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Sunset over Bermuda last night … #sunset #bermuda #tabascosailingyacht #stuckinbermuda (at Hamilton, Bermuda) https://www.instagram.com/p/CctPdqNOiVi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Today, once these crazy winds of the last two days died down we motored over to Hamilton for a change of scenery. Given unfamiliar waters, confused seas, and tight channels bordered by reef and rock, it was just easier to motor. Since it was windy and raining, it provided an opportunity for Captain Mark to introduce Wayne and I to all the electronics that dot the pilothouse. They are not unlike what I used on the AraVilla back in November but the differences are enough that it’s taking some getting used to. There’s a large reef. Waves were about three feet on the inside but up to 10 beyond. We stayed behind the reef and navigated a set of fairly narrow channels with reef heads and little islands all around. This was my first time at the helm in the pilot house. For much of this little two hour tour, I kept watch and pressed auto-helm buttons when instructed. Mark is such a wealth of knowledge and experience and always shares it when asked. This trip is about crewing on a delivery but it’s also sailing instruction. The weather between here and Nova Scotia still sucks with “gale force winds” and will for some time so we are still “stuck in Bermuda”. #sailing #tabascosailingyacht #learntocrossanocean #sailingadventure #stuckinbermuda (at Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcoTtVZrzeD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

“You spray. You lay traps. Yet … Canadians.” #canadianseverywhere #canadians #sailing (at St. George's Island, Bermuda) https://www.instagram.com/p/CclwYwoLXaU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It’s a bit windy outside. Dinner is being served in the pilothouse tonight. #boatdinner #boatlife #tabascosailingyacht #stuckinstyle #dinneronthewater (at St. George's Island, Bermuda) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cclks3IrjWM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I’m currently sitting outside at a pub founded in 1700 trying to get things working under iOS again … once again, not my bug. #mobilelife #werkin #ioswillbethedeathofme #sailingadventure #bermuda (at St. George's Island, Bermuda) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccf4UdGLftq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Cannonfire in the morning is not something I expected. #cannonfire #sailing #bermuda @tabascosailingyacht (at St. George's Island, Bermuda) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcfuotvLkOL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I decided to get out and move for a bit and got a new seat and phone holder for the antique #bicycle and went for a ride. Sadly, the phone died about three maybe four miles from home. It was a good chance to test the latest code and compare to a released app, namely Stava. The focus of Strava is on exercise where as what I’m building is more about planning and tracking together. Less stats, more story. So I’ve been trying to find a bike path way to get from here to, where else?, McGinty’s. It would just be so useful to be able to lay out a bicycle route over bicycle trails the way I can lay out routes for motorcycles. So I looked. I should not have. It turns out the routing engine I use for planning trips, called GraphHopper (which /ROCKS/) now has a “mountain bike” profile … which would immediately let me layout routes over bicycle paths that I could then download to my app on the phone … So I upgraded … but they failed to mention the database needs to be updated … which takes many many hours. #oops #routing #maps #funnylookingmotorcycle #upgradehell #yermoonabicycle (at College Park, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbbMkcXr6rK/?utm_medium=tumblr

Leed’s Manor Road in Virginia, while a bit chunky and covered in loose chipseal is so far the nicest road of the day. The weather is proving to be beautiful. #virginiaroads #apptesting #r1100s #k1300s https://www.instagram.com/p/CbTCmovuMHB/?utm_medium=tumblr

Strange looking motorcycle. After some conversations with Aaron, and realizing I spend way too many hours sitting at the computer working away, I decided to see if I could resurrect my old bicycle. I took a quick walk down to Proteus to get new tubes, tires, and brakes. For good measure I picked up a pump, patch kit, and tire irons in addition to a new helmet and gloves. Working on bicycles is much easier than working on motorcycles. I had everything done in under an hour which surprised me since this is the first time I’ve done this job on this bike. Given how low my endurance has been I was curious to see what a little ride would feel like. It is definitely easier than rowing. It was a cool but very nice day. I can take a three hour break, right? Sadly, iOS is now killing my app since this latest iOS update. So I’ll have to figure out what they changed. #funnylookingmotorcycle #bicycle #sunset (at College Park, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca-2ompL1dZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

Starting over is so much harder than just starting. It’s so easy to forget that you can no longer do what you used to be able to. Historically, this is how I’ve always injured myself when restarting. I tend to push myself too hard and break things. This time I’m trying to be much more cautious putting the remnants of my ego aside. Taking Andy’s safe advice, I’m just doing “something” to get back in the habit … #rowing #lifting #getbusyliving #bouttime (at College Park, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaYhPUALWHV/?utm_medium=tumblr

Today was a good day. #r1100s #timewithbestfriends #marylandroads (at Downtown Silver Spring) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaRGxYrLfxd/?utm_medium=tumblr

When you take a break from coding to help your friend get his new toy serviced. #rotary #mazdarx8 #sportscar #newexhaust (at Hagerstown, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ4vTFJLGoF/?utm_medium=tumblr

We went to the water to see how bad the flooding was. Even up on the Severn River the water level was well above normal. Even on many local bottomland roads we saw signs if quite a bit of flooding. #localride #k1300s #r1100s #water #marina #flooding https://www.instagram.com/p/CVq8SlpLExw/?utm_medium=tumblr