Merry Christmas!

Christmas music is playing and colorful holiday lights are brightening the night as I begin to look back over our year with gratitude. Peter and I welcomed in the new year at an extravagant party hosted by one of Peter's golf buddies and his wife (one of Katya's former tennis coaches).

Sherri and Peter at a New Year's Eve party

The winter was a record-breaker for snow. Katya doesn't like winter sports, but she loves the snow, so one day we headed for the mountains but only got as far as Neveda City before encountering road closures, so we stopped there for lunch and a walk with the fluffly flakes drifting down around us.

Peter and Katya in the snow in Nevada City

Peter and I missed most of the winter wonderland delights as we left in early February to go sailing on our boat again. We arrived in Florida on February 9 to warmth and sunshine and prepared the boat for getting under the Stuart Causeway Bridge, a task that was a bit easier than it was for the five-man crew in November 2022, even though there were only two of us. We sailed to Pompano Beach to spend time with our good friends Enis and Ula and position ourselves for crossing the Gulf Stream. After a couple busy days provisioning and making final preparations, we set off on February 17 with Enis on board.

Notice the degree of heeling needed and the clever ways this was accomplished!

Provisions

Ula, Enis, Peter and Sherri

What a delight it was to be back in the Bahamas! We cleared in at Lyford Bay on New Providence Island and did some snorkeling before Enis flew home. Then Peter and I set off across the Tongue of the Ocean to the Exumas. We stopped at Shroud Cay and Great Guana Cay before sailing into Elizabeth Harbour to join hundreds of other yachts, many of which visit every winter.  It was particularly busy as the George Town Cruising Regatta was about to begin. The festivities kicked off with a variety show (so much talent!), and continued for almost two weeks with games (including a baseball game with mostly older yachties playing against and losing to the much younger local Bahamians), contests, races, and other social activities. (For more details and many photos of our adventures on Mantra, please see the blog:  https://thebrownsmantra.blogspot.com/.)

A few days after we arrived, my sister Beth Ann and her husband joined us in the crystal clear waters for six days. We explored on Mantra and in the dinghy, going to the north end of Elizabeth Harbour for a couple days. Beth Ann was excited to see swimming pigs--until she wasn't, when they pooped in the water around us and tried to board the dinghy. We escaped as quickly as we could! We enjoyed eating out on Great Exuma and Stocking Islands as well as snorkeling and hiking.

Rich feeling a bit anxious about pigs attempting to board the dinghy

Sherri, Peter, Rich and Beth Ann waiting for lunch on the beach

Beth Ann and Sherri setting off to snorkel

It's too bad they couldn's stay longer. After their departure, we continued to enjoy the regatta activities, with me volunteering and Peter competing in the hilarious small boat races. Peter and I, with another couple, competed in the cut-throat Coconut Challenge, in which four-person dinghies powered only by fins attempt to collect as many floating coconuts as possible in the Fruit Bowl (a cove on Stocking Island with many boats bearing fruit names). Particulary enjoyable was the party hosted by the Exuma Office of Tourism for the yachties, including an abundance of fantastic food and great entertainment.

Peter competing in the conch blowing contest

Our good friends from Washington, Lori and Germán, arrived in late March. We enjoyed concerts, long walks on the beaches, snorkeling, sailing and swimming. Peter and I stayed in George Town through April 22 to watch the Family Islands regatta races and then began sailing north toward the Chesapeake Bay. It was so pleasant to anchor in quieter places in the Exuma chain. Before leaving the Bahamas, we stopped in Lucaya on Grand Bahama to spend a few days with our friend Paula, who was visiting there. 

Germán, Lori and Peter on the "Lazy River"

Sherri, Lori, Peter and Germán at the Chat 'n' Chill on Stocking Island

Sherri and Peter enjoying kayaking through mangrove passages, Shroud Cay

Paula and Sherri at Paradise Beach on Grand Bahama

On May 5, we set sail for the States. One of the great things about sailing is being attuned to nature and the weather, planning our days and nights of sailing to take advantage of favorable winds and avoid storms. We were afraid we would be stuck in Beaufort, North Carolina, due to engine failure, but once again, Peter, through two days of perseverance, puzzling and arduous work, solved the problem and we were able to continue north to Oxford, Maryland, where we prepared the boat to go on the hard.

Peter practicing blowing his conch shell horn before sunset

Sherri at the helm

Near the end of May, Peter flew to England to spend time with family there (including Matthew!) and attend his nephew/godson's wedding in early June. Meanwhile, I spent a few days with Lori and Germán in Washington, delighting myself with free concerts at the Kennedy Center and visits to museums, gardens and historic houses, much of it with Lori, who is now retired (and sometimes Germán, who is still working). 

Sherri by the Reflecting Pool near the Lincoln Memorial

On June 1, I flew home to California. It was great to be with Katya again. We did a bit of hiking and I worked in the garden before we went to San Francisco to visit Paula. Paula and I visited some gardens and other places down the peninsula. 

Katya on the Cascade Canal Trail

Paula and Sherri at Hagone Garden in Saratoga

Then I took a direct flight to London on June 28 to join Peter and Matthew in England. On July 1, Rob and Susan (Peter's brother and sister-in-law) hosted a wonderful Brown family reunion for about three dozen relatives and close family friends. What a delight it was to see everyone again!

Brown family reunion

Afterwards, Matthew, Peter and I went to London and stayed with an old friend, Liz--who is such a kind and thoughtful hostess--for 12 days. While Peter and Matthew spent some time relaxing at Liz's lovely flat, I packed in as much sight-seeing as possible every day. I could be a tourist in London for months and never lack for new things to see and do. As much as possible, Liz joined us. Particulary delightful were a performance of Shakespeare's A Comedy of Errors at the Globe and an evening with Liz and a couple other roommates from Peter's Oxford days on her rooftop terrace.

Matthew, Peter and Sherri totally drenched after the Household
Division Beating Retreat Military Musical Spectacular

Peter and Sherri in both the eastern and western hemisphere at the Prime Meridian

Matthew, Peter and Sherri by the Sheldrick elephants, Spitalfields

Old Oxford friends Roger, Richard, Peter and Liz

On July 15, we flew to Washington. Peter returned to Mantra to finish up some work and Matthew and I drove to Charleston, West Virginia, to visit my dad and other family there. The World Scouting Museum  had just relocated there, and my dad, Matthew and I enjoyed looking at the plethora of well-organized memorabilia.

Dad and Matthew

From there, we drove back to Maryland, picking up Peter in Oxford and continuing on to the beach in Ocean City, Maryland, for the annual Rodgers family vacation. Katya could not be there because of a summer internship, my dad is no longer able to travel, and Lori and her family (who have joined us for years) were on vacation in France, but it was still a big and boisterous crowd.

Most of the Rodgers clan in Ocean City, Maryland

By August, we were home again. Fruit had ripened on the trees, so it was time to do some canning. During the late summer and early fall, we occasionally hiked in the foothills and the mountains and spent time with local friends.

Loquat/apple jam

Peter among the abundance of wildflowers on the trail to Lake Winnemuca

In October, Peter and I set off on a 10-day road trip to Southern California. Our first stop was Pinnacles National Park, where we hiked among the rock formations and marvelled at the California condors soaring above the spires. On our way farther south along the coast, we stoppd at Mission San Luis Obispo, Pismo State Beach, Oslo Flaco Lake State Park, La Purisma Mission, Santa Barbara and Point Mugu State Park, camping or staying in hotels while stopping to learn about history, watch and identify birds, walk along beaches and hike. Our southernmost stop was Los Angeles where we had a wonderful time attending the wedding and reception of Dan (Paula and Andrew's oldest son) and his new wife Olivia. 

Peter setting up camp at Point Mugu State Park

Peter resting on the Misha Mokwa Trail in the Santa Ana Mountains

Heading north up the eastern side of the Sierras, we stopped at Red Rock Canyon State Park, the Alabama Hills, Mammoth Lakes, Inyo Craters, Obsidium Dome, Silver Lake, Mono Lake, Yosemite National Park, and Arnold, reveling in the great variety of terrain and biota that exists in California. 

We visited Paula the weekend before Thanksgiving. (Matthew flew to San Francisco from England.) She hosted Turkeyfest for about 60 people, which she combined with a short memorial for Andrew. 

Louise (Ian's wife, Matthew, Mary, Ian, Dan and Olivia at Paula's

A couple days later, we flew back east to celebrate the holiday with my family. Despite several cases of norovirus, we all had a great time together. I organized the annual women's Christmas craft party, which includes dinner, dessert, a Christmas story, Christmas caroling and of course, the craft making. This year we fashioned wreaths from wire frames and wired ribbon. During the party, I presented the purses (17 of them!) which I had designed and sewn from some of Dad's old neckties. The day after Thanksgiving, Christmas presents were exchanged among those who would not be in Charleston for Christmas.

Katya and Peter enjoying Christmas lights in Charleston's

We returned home in the middle of the week after Thanksgiving and went to San Francisco again to enjoy Christmas markets, decorations and light shows as well as a celebration in Chinatown featuring a gu zheng performance as well as lion dancers. 

Katya along the Embarcadero

This past Sunday, we hosted our annual Christmas party. Nearly 50 people came, and the Christmas gift exchange was a lot of fun.

Matthew, Katya, Carolina, Sherri and Peter after the Christmas party

We hope that you have many great memories from this year. We wish you happiness during this holiday season and peace, love and joy in the new year.

Love,

Sherri and Peter