Hello from Roatan Honduras!

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Looking back...

I was feeling a bit nostalgic and put together a photo album of some of the vessels I have either owned, captained or built. Thought I would share them here...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y468S19M1582dZpf1

Click HERE for Photos and LINK to Blog Post

for adventurers: the great american waterways

Words and photography by Dalene Heck

I have long eschewed the idea of a cruise. I always deemed it a lazy and impersonal way to travel with many blank days at sea and little to differentiate locale or direction. Simply coasting from port-to-port, hardly straying from dock, never actually interacting with anyone in the places being visited. This may be a stereotypical view and likely not representative of the whole, but with so many other wonderful ways to view the world, I just have never really cared to seek out the truth. But give me a smaller ship, an interesting itinerary, and a more personal experience, and that, I would consider. A Great Lakes cruise that included the interior waterways of the US instantly intrigued me.

We started down the coast from Rhode Island, up the Hudson River to Albany, then through the Erie and Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario, and then finally across four of the five Great Lakes to Chicago. That’s a lot of water to cover – 1,600 miles over 16 days – with 38 locks to pass as we gained and lost altitude along the way. We spent several lazy days solely on the water, which for this introverted Pisces meant many blissful hours of introspective time staring at waves and watching the scenery change along the shore. My favourite times to move were at night though – the gently rocking ship lulled me into a deeper sleep than I ever expected.

I stared, wrote, read, worked, ate (a lot, the food was so good), and wasforced to play photographer without Pete at my side. The other passengers on the trip, less than half of capacity for the off-season cruise, did skew older and of course were almost all couples. But while there were moments in which I admitted loneliness (textbook romantic loneliness though – whilst staring out at rippling waters), I also found kinship and comfort in the others. And that was because this route does not attract the typical cruise types.

By the nature of the itinerary, it attracts adventurers.

This route does not attract the typical cruise types.

Myself, and several of the other cruise passengers I spoke to, were first surprised that such a trip was even possible. But really, how foolish, of course it is. The Erie Canal, of which we’ve all heard of at sometime or another in our lives, and where we would spend several days of our trip, was built to make the journey possible. That canal shaped the character of this portion of the country, bringing prosperity along the route and expanding settlement all the way through the Great Lakes to Chicago and beyond. This man-made ditch allowed for goods to ship inland at 95% reduced cost and a week quicker. The areas it touched exploded in wealth and progress.

That wealth can still be seen along the canal in surprising ways. I never anticipated much from our first scheduled stop along the canal in Troy, New York, ignorant as I was of the historical relics this city holds. In the St Paul’s Episcopal Church I encountered my first moment of true awe upon seeing “the motherhood of Tiffany windows”. It is only one of four churches in the world to have so many, and as such is one of the most expensive churches to maintain. Which is a struggle for the small congregation, given the decline since.

Wealth can still be seen along the Erie Canal in surprising ways.

Troy, like many other industrial cities we would visit on this path, is not the city it once was. The Erie Canal, which brought the area to the height of prosperity, lost it’s commercial activity to railroads and the St Laurence Seaway. It now primarily handles tourist traffic, and usually in the form of small personal boats. As such, maintenance of the canal is debated; its viability is always in question.

The ship we were on, built with the limits of this route in mind, is the only commercial provider of this journey (it clears the lowest bridge on the canal by only 6 inches). Our stops along the way numbered 13; many surprised (Troy!), and others provided deep lessons that I will carry with me. Some were used mostly as just a way to stretch my legs and run errands, but many were truly memorable.

new york skyline

From a mid-afternoon departure from Warren, Rhode Island, we watched the sun dip over the Race Rocks Lighthouse, built in the late 19th century after 8 vessels crashed against its treacherous island by the same name. I slept a little uneasily that first night, but Captain Dave got us through safely and upon New York just as the day was breaking. And under the fog and mist of the harbour, we strutted right up to Lady Liberty herself and hovered for several minutes. This was a remarkable and unforgettable start to the trip, as even the sight of her gets this Canadian choked up.

The ship we were on, built with the limits of this route in mind, is the only commercial way to make the journey.

rochester, new york

I have to say that I wasn’t terribly disappointed when I learned that the group tour wasn’t going to be as scheduled (to the International Museum of Photography and Film via Kodak), but instead a stop at the Susan B. Anthony house. Sorry Kodak, but this lady wants to know more about this remarkable woman who fought so hard for the woman’s right to vote in America.

This lady was not disappointed. Being Canadian I knew more about our own suffragettes than I did Ms Anthony, and the tour through her Rochester home and office was simply inspiring. (More about this in our last month’s newsletter.)

I left this city wanting to know more. And maybe that is one of the points of a cruise that I was missing before – it gives just a taste so that I’ll know where to return to.

I left this city wanting to know more.

The Susan B. Anthony House

oswego

I wouldn’t say Oswego tops my list of places to return to after this trip, with little to woo me besides a place to stretch. I walked through the main part of the city but succumbed to humid heat, and rested at a boardwalk cafe to quench my thirst. That refreshing moment was pure bliss, but what made this stop worth recording was not that, nor the city itself, but instead the remarkable sunset I chased down later.

niagra falls

I always considered myself a bad Canadian for not visiting this, one of our most iconic treasures. A brief dip back into Canada was made in order to have views of both sides of the falls, and sorry to my homeland, but I must confess that the American side is prettier. And it’s also where we boarded our boat to take us up and close to the falls. It was then that I really got to know what it is like to shower with a few hundred total strangers. If that’s not adventure, I don’t know what is.

View from the Canadian side

View from the US side

cleveland

Call me weird, but I’ve long had a desire to visit Cleveland. Partly because as a kid one of the only VHS tapes in our house was Major League, and then while watching the (albeit fictional) adoration of the city during a few episodes of 30 Rock, my fascination was sealed. Oh, and if you didn’t know that I was a music junkie, I am. And so the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has been calling to me for many years.

We had a rainy arrival, but no matter, I heralded an Uber and headed straight for the Hall of Fame. I choked up several times, tapped my foot to melodies several more, and was there to near-closing. I then met a friendfor tacos, wandered around the downtown, and got back to the ship just in time for a stunning sunset.

The city itself was stunning to me, not in the traditional sense of beauty, but in its plain intrigue. Its industry and population has been declining for several decades, but the remnants of its powerful past are everywhere with lofty bridges and buildings. I found it a fun challenge to photograph, and departed with another city on my to return list.

Cleveland! I always knew you’d be good to me.

The city itself was stunning to me, not in the traditional sense of beauty, but in its plain intrigue.

mackinac island

We stepped off of our ship and back in time over a hundred years. This tiny island is less than 4 square miles and sits in between the Upper and Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It is almost entirely encompassed by a state park, built for tourism, and does not allow motorized vehicles. Everyone gets around by horse or their own two feet. People come for a multitude of cultural events, the quaint charm, and an alarming number of fudge shops.

I enjoyed it for the beautiful vistas, of which I explored plenty in our overnight stay. (And the fudge, of course.)

chicago

The Windy City was our last stop and it was glorious. Not at all because I was eager for the cruise to be over, but because I went on a date with the city.

I broke away from the group and enjoyed the day for what it was – my last as a solo traveler (for awhile, at least). And I stuffed my day with as many tourist-y things as the time (and heat!) would allow. I went up the Willis Tower, devoured a deep dish pizza, and even took the famed architectural tour along the Chicago River.

Early in that river tour, just as we began, the guide dove into the history of the Chicago with a brief overview of what we’d see along the way. And most importantly, she mentioned how the Erie Canal had turned the city into a big shipping port and shaped its entire future.

It was then that my trip was brought full circle for me. How this extended passage I traveled on, done simply for my pleasure, had once played an integral part in shaping a large swath of the continent. I felt, after tracing the path and visiting diverse stops along the way, that I understood this history more than I ever could have otherwise.

It was an absolutely perfect end to the trip.

The Windy City was our last stop and it was glorious.

The end in sight

I’m still not sure I would call myself a cruise person, in the more traditional sense anyway. But I am a ship person, a boat person, an admirer of history, an adventurer, and a person who is truly appreciative of this off-beat expedition.

A weekend back in time...

A review of Hotel Para Siempre, Jerico, Colombia

We visited Cauca Viejo for a weekend away from Medellin, Colombia. This is a development of vacation homes designed to replicate the ambiance of a 1880 to 1930's colombian village. It is easy to get to by driving from Medellin and takes about 2 hours. I recommend stopping for coffee in Fredonia along the way. The village is easy to find off of the La Pintada - Bolombolo road along the Cauca River. Upon arrival we were greeted by the staff and given a welcome drink and chilled towel while waiting to check into our room. The room and hotel represents the turn of the century period very well, while having all modern amenities like air conditioning, modern shower with hot water, spacious and tastefully decorated with comfortable beds. There is a nice pool and seating areas within the hotel. The community is gated and secure and easy to walk around and enjoy the duck ponds, mountain views above and the interesting architecture and style of the village. The residents are friendly and welcoming. We enjoyed the company of other interesting guests at the hotel. There are two other restaurants outside the hotel and a cafe/ice cream shop. Activities include walking, horseback riding, sightseeing nearby and relaxing by the pool. The food served by the chef at the hotel was excellent. A combination of typical Colombian fare with an international touch. Portions and quality of the meals were excellent. Service, this is where the experience is way above average. The staff were very attentive, friendly with attention to small details such as fresh-squeezed juice waiting outside the door in the morning, turn down service, flower petals in the room and bath, and chocolates at night. These touches made our stay extra special. The quality/value here was very good. Although a little pricey by Colombian standards, the quality of service and the ambiance make this a very good value overall. We will go back again and hope to share this experience with other friends as well.

Call Navi World Travel at 904-297-4996 (USA) or 320-782-1269(Colombia) or email: mike@naviworldtravel.com to make your reservations for a fantastic getaway in Cauca Viejo!

New Friends, Familiar Places...

I found this interesting LINK (from 2014): http://blogs.gonomad.com/readuponit/2014/07/days-sea-new-friends-familiar-places.html

A Few Days at Sea, with New Friends in Familiar Places

by Max Hartshorne

We have been at sea since Friday afternoon, and as I sit here we are docked at Vineyard Haven. It’s just about four am, and as has become my shipboard custom, I’m awake and in the big salon of the Grand Caribe after a bout of insomnia. Sleeping on a boat isn’t like sleeping anywhere else, there is an inherent aspect of claustrophobia that sends me out of my cabin every night in the wee hours. Mary  slumbers peacefully, but I toss and turn and have to escape.  Later, I will return and complete my brief night of sleep.

These past few days have been wonderful, however, far exceeding our expectations. We began by a night time visit to Cuttyhunk, walking down the ramp onto the dark of the island and taking a walk to see a few highlights, simply the road that went to the fishing dock, as golf carts motored back and forth. Then we sat on the ferry dock and watched the movie Jaws with a small crowd of locals. In the distance we could see people around a campfire on the beach. The ship departed at 2 am, and the next morning we awoke in Nantucket Harbor.

Nantucket is beautiful in the morning, and at this time of year the yacht harbor was full of mega-yachts and we anchored far out and took tenders to come to shore. With some of the friends we’ve made on board, we took a bus out to Cisco Brewery where there was a huge crowd of people young and old listening to a live band and hoisting pints. We have met so many people we like in the space of just a few days, as often happens when you travel in tight quarters and get the chance to have meals together where the details of your lives spill out and you find similarities and past histories are shared.

We had a Captain’s party in the big top floor lounge, with a bar full of top shelf liquors and hors d’oeuvres like shrimp and mushroom caps. I got a chance to ask the captain, Mike Kiernan, about why he chose to live in Medellin, Colombia. He said he and his wife love it there and during their four-month-long vacation, she preferred to stay there than to come visit the US. I love people’s stories like this, and this ship is full of them.

We’ve met two couples here who told us this is their eighth voyage with Blount Small Ship Adventures. I can see why, as these little ships are intimate, the routes taken are unique (how about sailing from Rhode Island to Chicago via the Erie Canal?) and the staff treats everyone very well, with great food and interesting off boat excursions.

Today we will take the Martha’s Vineyard tour, another touristy jaunt that always yields interesting information, camaraderie and laughs. I plan to take our new friends to our favorite island place, Menemsha, and sit outside of Larsen’s seafood to slurp oysters and chomp down a lobster overlooking the water.

2015 cruise schedule is out...

Here is the Blount Small Ship Adventures 2015 cruise schedule: 2015 Cruise Schedule

Wow, how nice of the girls in the Blount office to remember my Birthday! The "inside joke" is my habbit of wearing Bow Ties to party's onboard the ship.

Vaya, qué bien de las chicas de la oficina de Blount para recordar mi cumpleaños! La "broma" interna es mi costumbre de usar corbatas para fiesta a bordo la nave.

What happens when your cruise ship can't leave the dock due to weather?

Jan Ross's Blog about her Lake Michigan Cruise

The 2014 Cruise Catalogue is out!

2014 Cruise Catalogue - Blount Small Ship Adventures

Waking up to a view...

This is the view we wake up to from our new home.

Fun with Bow Ties aboard the Grande Mariner...

Here is the Deck Crew of the Grande Mariner making fun of their Captain for his habit of wearing Bow Ties to "Captain's Parties" aboard the ship...

I have just completed the "GREAT LOOP" a circumnavigation of the eastern part of the United States. Since 2007, I have pieced together various itinerarys cruised by Blount Small Ship Adventures and with my arrival at Navy Pier this morning in Chicago I have completed the circumnavigation!

Scratch another item off my "bucket list"...

More details on the Great Loop here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Loop

In July, 2012 - I was Cruising...

July, 2012 - Islands of New England Cruise

Rhine River Christmas Markets Cruise - Photos

Photos: Zurich - Basel - Strasbourg...

First Class car on the Zurich to Basel Train.

Zurich to Basel Train.

Basel City Hall.

Tram we took from Basel Train Station to Ship Terminal.

MS AMALEGRO waiting at Basel Terminal.
Ship is 360 ' long and carries 148 passengers.

A Busman’s Holiday (continued) - Pre-Cruise Adventures…

Day ONE – Maine to Zurich, Switzerland

Hopped on the Logan Airport Bus from Portland, Maine and smooth ride into Boston for our evening departure to Zurich. Breezed through security and check-in. Boarded Flight 053 on SWISS AIR, ah good decision so far! Swiss Air’s service is outstanding. My last trip to Switzerland was in 1984 on an American carrier and of course I fly frequently and so am able to compare and sad to say, U.S. carriers have a long way to go to compete on service. One observation I had is that the Swiss Air seats may not be properly designed for some American derriere’s! Seats seem a little “skinny” in the width dept. but have plenty of fore & aft clearance.

Arrived on time in Zurich and zipped through immigration, easy to find the train station where I got a 3 day “Zurich Card” good for unlimited travel on the rail, trolley & bus systems in the Zurich area and includes FREE ADMISSION to over 37 Museums in Zurich. Took the train right into Central Station and just a few steps away and checked into our hotel, the Walhalla. The Walhalla is perfectly situated to walk to all of the major downtown sights, shopping and eating as well as on the transit lines connecting throughout the city.

We walked the famous Barnhoff Strasser (Main Shopping Street), and surrounding area, visited the Largest ChristKindli (Christmas Market) in Europe in the train station and listened to local children sing Christmas Carols from the “Singing Christmas Tree”. We then enjoyed a nice Italian Dinner out and conversed with some locals to find out about the local Holiday Drink (more on that later). Continued our stroll through the “Old City” section and stopped for a pint at an English Pub.

Great start, don’t you think?

Day TWO – More Zurich

Started the day with a typical continential breakfast in the hotel. Joined the City Tour by trolley bus in the AM and got familiar with the city. This is a great way to see the “highlights” and then decide what to go back and focus on during the rest of your visit. We left the trolley tour at the Barnhoff Strasser, and visited a couple of department stores to get a sense of how the locals live. Then off to a nice lunch in an Irish Pub and watched the run-up to the Big World Cup announcement being made here in Zurich (big news).

After lunch we took a tram back to central station and then walked to the Swiss National Museum. Spending the afternoon here was very enlightening and worthwhile. We learned a lot about Switzerland that I hadn’t known previously. Before dinner we enjoyed some of the local “holiday drink” GLUWIEN(sp?). Gluwien is sort of a HOT WINE drink with spices and a high alcohol content! Locals stand in LONG LINES to get a cup of this and then enjoy a standing version of “happy hour” with their friends before hopping on the trains back home…

Another dinner out then hit a café for dessert and coffee and we called it a day.

Zurich is well worth visiting and if you can afford it (everything is expensive here), you could spend a week here and still not see everything worth seeing.

Day THREE – Zurich to Basel by Train…

Photos from Zurich

Here are some views of our first night in Zurich. We visited the largest Christmas Market in Europe at the Zurich Central Train Station. The tree in the first photo is decorated in Swarovski Crystals. The 2nd tree is the Singing Christmas Tree. There are children up in the tree singing Christmas Carols.

This is one of the many canals and rivers in Zurich. Yes, it is SNOWING OUT!

Mrs. Kiernan walking in the Old Town Section of Zurich.

Stopped for a Pint here.

A Busman’s Holiday – Preparing for a “study vacation”.

Busman’s Holiday: Free time spent in much the same pursuit as one's work. For example, Weather permitting, the lifeguard spent all her days off at the beach--a real busman's holiday. The term alludes to a bus driver spending his day off taking a long bus ride. [Late 1800s]

Many of our passengers often ask; “what do you do in your off time?” Well, in addition to the very long “to do” list that Mrs. Kiernan prepares for me upon my return from a busy cruise season; I also have a rather extensive continuing education commitment to maintain and upgrade my USCG Master’s license. This usually involves several weeks of training away from home at my own expense. Also, I own and manage an excursion vessel business which operates in partnership with the Maine Maritime Museum and there is a significant requirement to plan for each season, analyze the last season, make marketing plans, train crew, maintain and improve the vessel and comply with numerous USCG regulations and other matters as well…


…Sometimes, I get to take some “vacation time” too.

Thanks to the help of one of our travel industry partners, Michael Geske - of Exclusive Tours in Toronto, Canada; a travel firm specializing in Small Ship cruising, I booked a cruise on the Rhine River from Basel Switzerland to Amsterdam. On this voyage, I will be able to observe the operations of a European river cruise company that provides a small ship cruise experience somewhat similar to what I do as Captain of the Blount Small Ship Adventures vessels as we cruise the inland waterways of the U.S. and Canada. I hope to learn a few things that might prove helpful in improving the experiences of my future passengers.

The booking process with Exclusive Tours was fast, easy & accurate. I elected to make my own flight arrangements and was able to fly on SWISS AIR from Boston to Zurich. I also researched and prepared my own “tour” for a couple of days prior to the cruise and an extra day in Amsterdam. I was in Switzerland back in 1984 in Montreaux , and visited a bit in France & Italy at that time too. I had not spent much time in the “German” section of the country and so elected to focus my time in Zurich on this trip.

NYC to Toronto Cruise 2010

Click on this LINK http://johnlovgrenphotography.com/site/#/gallery/nyc-toronto-general/ to see a slide show courtesy of Photographer John Lovgren of this recent cruise.

Merci Madame Monique et Monsieur Delphis Duhamel!

On October 13, 2009; I had the pleasure of meeting Monsieur & Madame Duhamel at their home on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.

These are two very special people. Since 1964 they have been saluting vessels traveling the St. Lawrence River by raising the Flag(s) of their country of registry and the flags of the crewmembers onboard as well as playing their respective national anthems on loudspeakers that can be heard out in the river over 1 mile away.

Don’t think that’s very special? Well, just imagine that you are a sailor from South Africa and are many months and many thousands of miles from home. As you travel this unfamiliar waterway early in the morning, suddenly you hear your national anthem and look to see where this sound comes from and then you see on the shore your national flag rising on a 60’ pole up on the 200’ bluffs above. You stare dumbfounded for a few moments and then you feel the goose bumps rising as this moment sets in and your thoughts are taken back to your hometown, country and family…

Mr & Mrs Duhamel have been doing just this for sailors and passengers passing by their home since 1964. They have saluted Kings, Queens and Heads of State as well as yachtsman and lonely crewmen from many far-away places. They have maintained a log of all such salutes and Monique was able to look up and show me their first salute to an American Canadian Caribbean Line vessel, the Mount Hope in 1970 and all of our vessels since then!

I was able to present this special couple with a letter of appreciation for their generous effort over the years to brighten the day of so many people plying the waters nearby and provided them with a few gifts as an expression of our gratitude. We shared some wine, fellowship and many good stories as well. I was pleased to have been able to meet such a wonderful couple.

Since 1970 they have given this salute to the crew and passengers of countless ACCL cruise vessels and without exception, our passengers stand breathless on deck while they hear our national anthem, see our flag rising on the bluff and begin to realize what a special moment they are witnessing. Another unique and special experience that we can share with you on your next cruise aboard. Come and join us!

Following Henry Hudson 1609 to 2009...

Henry Hudson cruised it and again in 2009 the Grande Caribe is back on the river that bears the name of it's first European explorer. Of course, many nameless native Americans traveled this waterway long before Mr. Hudson, time has dimmed our memory of their names to some extent. Some remnants of their "tribal" names do remain however, Wappinger, Sing Sing, Manhattan and other names we use all the time have their origin in the original human occupants of this area...

Today was truly an "Indian Summer" day on the Hudson River. Warm breezes allowed our passengers to enjoy the Sun Deck all day and into the evening as we all enjoyed some of the most beautiful scenery to be found on any river in North America as well as an all day running commentary by Sam Ladley our on board historian who filled in all of the history of this great river from the last Ice Age to recent times. There was something for everyone to enjoy as we made out way from Chelsea Piers in Manhattan to Troy, NY a distance of +/- 120 miles.

The Skip Parsons Trio topped off they day with their Dixieland Jazz and other great music after another fine dinner by our Chef Courtney.

Now its time for the crew to get some sleep as tomorrow we start the day by lowering the Pilothouse one full deck level and dropping our "air draft" so that we can fit under the bridges on the Erie Canal!