Moored Naples Florida
I just love getting swept up into a new activity. I regret not investing earlier in a higher end digital camera before I went sailing in 2007. The Fuji-Fine pics I used was adequate, but compared to the Canon G11 it is lackluster. The Canon is a complex piece of equipment that takes some study. It's common sense, that in order to get any pictures, let alone good pictures, you must have your camera with you. It is a bummer to that I'm working so much and have less of a chance to take pictures and or write blog entries. But today, Tuesday is my only day off, and while driving to get some dinner, I noticed the sun was setting and thought why don't I take a swing to the beach. Of course I had my Canon and tri-pod in the trunk of the Green Hornet. Turned out to be a really nice evening along the Gulf of Mexico. And now I share some of my pictures with you.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Blooming Interest in Photography and Video
Posted by Christian Allaire, BMCS (ret) at 8:53 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Rouge Wave
Moored Naples Florida
A short blurb on the news this morning got my attention. Cruise ships slams into a abnormally high wave killing two passengers. Here is the video clip of the wave.
I have experienced a couple of rouge waves in my life. One of the these waves was snapped in a series of pictures by none other than Tom Larson, formally of Sandpiper and currently of Sadie Sea fame. I had the conn this morning as we were heading out of Kodiak Alaska. The swells were large and well spaced. But we slammed into a doozey. Buried the bow completely, ripped off the ships bell, the original from the 1960's and bent steel stantions. We slowed downed! Keep in mind Morgenthau is 378 feet. Below is the series of pictures. Thanks to Chief Warrant Officer Dave Holder, USCG.
Check it out!
Capt Chris
Posted by Christian Allaire, BMCS (ret) at 3:31 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Morgenthau, Sandpiper, U.S. Coast Guard
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Around Naples Florida on the White Rino
Moored Naples Florida
I am now officially getting trained up for the GranFondo out in California. I have been doing some riding, in spite of the cold tempts and north wind here in Florida. I don't care what anyone says. It's cold! Before someone wants to dispute the definition of cold, please keep in mind that I have been to both the Antarctic, Arctic and the Aleutian Island chain in the winter. It really is a matter of expectation. I put together a little video of my routine and some footage along my path.
Untitled from Christian Allaire on Vimeo.
Please leave comments!
Capt Chris
Posted by Christian Allaire, BMCS (ret) at 9:57 PM 3 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo
For a more complete history of me and sailing click here.
I love to run. But, I'm aware that after years of pounding the pavement, the toll on the body can outweigh the cardio benefit. Many runners morph into cyclists and garner the cardio workout benefit while mitigating the strain on the joints. Or so the experts say. I am no different. But I have always loved to ride a bike.
It is keeping with my genetic penchant to roam. As far back as I can remember, I would set a course for the woods with streams and ponds. Traverse across golf courses and pastures. Trespass with my buddy Brad to "The Illegal" with Ugly Stick in hand and a new Repalla Water Dog lure and slay Rainbow and Brook trout and then high tail it in retreat as the hunt club caretakers gave chase. As each year passes I continue the same roaming routine, but the vehicle or maybe the surroundings change. Surely I don't fish illegally anymore.
So it was with great excitement that my Uncle Mike got in touch with me to invite me to ride with him in the King Ridge GranFondo. Here is an explanation.
"The Gran Fondo is a celebrated tradition in Italian cycling culture. A Gran Fondo is a long distance, mass-participation cycling event – not a race – that welcomes professional, amateur, and recreational cyclists of all abilities . While not strictly competitive, these rides are timed to ensure cyclists complete the entire course and provide some scoring for quick completion of unique sections of the route."
Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo from Bike Monkey LLC on Vimeo.
The course starts in Santa Rosa California, north of San Francisco and only 10 miles from where my little cottage is in Glen Ellen California. I will ride for 65 miles through some of the most beautiful countryside and ocean side real estate our great country has to offer. An opportunity like this is surely one of the reasons I came ashore. Of course I will be attending Dominican U of C at the time of the ride. October 9th 2010 is the date. I'll see you on the road....training!
Capt Chris
Posted by Christian Allaire, BMCS (ret) at 10:40 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: California, GranFondo, Road Bike
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Short Video Clip of Sailing in the Florida Keys
For a more complete history of me and sailing click here.
Untitled from Christian Allaire on Vimeo.
Capt Chris
Posted by Christian Allaire, BMCS (ret) at 2:37 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Christa
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Scenes from a Morning Beach Stroll
For a more complete history of me and sailing click here.
One of the great things about my situation in Naples is the short distance to the beautiful beach. Sometimes I run the beach and other times I take a stroll with the ladies. I prefer the stroll. This day, we hooked a left and headed south along the Port Royal section of town as far as the Port Royal Club. You want to see some money spent, just click on the Port Royal Club link. Bam! It's nice.
For all the northers thinking were soaking up the rays at the beach in south Florida, think again. Just check out our attire. But I can say the threat of flurries was not a concern.
PS: You can double click on the images to expand them to see the full 10 mega-pixel capabilities of the Canon G11.
Posted by Christian Allaire, BMCS (ret) at 3:24 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Wordpress Coming Soon to christianallaire.com
For a more complete history of me and sailing click here.
Posted by Christian Allaire, BMCS (ret) at 8:14 AM 4 comments Links to this post
Monday, February 15, 2010
Rigors of the Job
For a more complete history of me and sailing click here.
As some may know I took a job as an Expeditor at a restaurant here in Naples. It has given me a whole new view into life in America after 20 years in the Coast Guard community. Once I'm done my tour of duty at Ridgeway Bar & Grill, I'll give a more thorough review of my experience. It is a low level job in the grand scheme, but one should never adopt the view that they are "above" a certain occupation. Having a job is a blessing. Having the opportunity to aspire higher is even more of a blessing.
An Expo is the coordinator of the galley. In my case, there are two of us and even then at times two Expo's become overwhelmed. On the busiest of nights the restaurant has 13 chef's working behind the line and 300 to 500 meals are pumped out between 5 and 9pm. Ensuring the meals come out timely and with a crisp quality is the Expo's bread and butter. Speaking of bread and butter. One thing I do many times per night is take a hot tray of bread and discharge it into the bread warmer. I've burned myself twice doing this. You can see above the latest scorch job. When the latest burn happened I didn't even know it, but when I looked at my arm a few minutes later, we had bubbleage! Medic! Medic! No one paid attention, so I went and got some ice and dove back into the Expo mayhem.
Capt Chris
PS: Happy Presidents Day! And I'm driving across the country in late May through early June time frame. You can read about that in a blog entry by clicking here. I wanted to thank everyone who have extended an invitation for me to "camp" out on there couches. It really really is appreciated and I'm excited to meet blog readers! So thank you and see you soon!
Posted by Christian Allaire, BMCS (ret) at 9:21 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Across the United States in the Green Hornet
Christa and I are Moored in Naples Florida
Moving to California in May. Why? Click here.
Along with a move to California comes a very enjoyable project. And that is a cross country trip in my Honda, with great time flexibility. I've now started to do some real thinking about my path and what type of adventures I'd like to create. I'd also love to see friends that have scattered like splitters along the way. I just hope I don't get so excited about getting back to the Bay Area, that I blast west in three days time. I generally plan on leaving mid May, after getting Christa on a truck and pointed westerly.
I have driven across the country before. After my first tour in the Coast Guard aboard CGC Polar Sea (WAGB 11), homeported in Seattle, I was transferred to USCG Station Point Judith Rhode Island. In January 1991 I took off in my 1989 rag top Jeep and decided to take the northern route. Recall youth breeds poor decisions. By the time I was in northern Idaho I was in a blizzard. But my little Jeep cruised very well through snow drifts on the highway. I kinda loved it. But all hell broke loose when my Jeep, with 5,000 miles had a catastrophic failure. A rod burst and penetrated the side of the block right at the exit to Miles City Montana. This started a 3 week adventure that burned up all my leave. Miles City is a real cowboy town, they had never even seen a Coast Guard guy and were just baffled at my presence. Once I got towed, I checked into a Budget Inn and headed to the Bison Bar.
This is the place where it all happens. They have actual western saddles for bar stools. Folks still could gallop on up and lash up there horse outside. My second day in town I plopped down next to a Federal Judge, having a noon cocktail after a tough morning of lawyering. He became agitated that a service man was staying in the Budget Inn. Well a couple of days later I was packing my stuff and moving in with the Judge and his wife on there ranch. Well it was later on during my first night, that I met the Judges daughter..... all 275 pounds of her. She took a shine to me and was coming on strong. I sounded retreat and left around midnight and walked the two plus miles back to the Budget Inn. Temperature was well below zero. I rapped on the proprietors door, who I now was on a first name basis with (small town), he answers the door, I say "I need my room back" and he says "you met the Judges daughter." I was set-up and all hands in town just wanted to see how this little piece of entertainment would play out. Word on the saddle at the Bison Bar was that the daughter worked as a bouncer at the only strip club in eastern Montana.
The next day I went to court, hat in hand and explained to the Judge it may be best if I bivwac at the Budget Inn. He roared with laughter, he knew. I'm just happy I didn't end up in a hole in the Great Plains, after dishonoring the Judges family. It took a smooth 3 weeks for the dealership to get a new short block and drop that sucker into my Jeep. Mom and Dad to the rescue. I didn't have the scratch to pay for 3 weeks in a hotel. They footed the tab.
View Larger Map
This go around I don't anticipate the same type adventures as I did in Montana, but I really would like to experience the south. I hope to visit places I have always wanted to go. Austin Texas is high on my list of what tickles me. I hope to see the LBJ Presidential Library and check out some good music while in Austin. I also would like to check out the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station Texas. Further west, the four corners region, Sedona and Flagstaff are on the agenda. Maybe the Grand Canyon, which I have seen, but maybe this time I'll pitch a tent. When in LA I plan on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. I have been to the Reagan Library before, but now Air Force One is on display. Then onward to my final destination of Sausalito and the Presidio Yacht Club. So if anyone who may be near these destinations would like to put me up for the night, well I would appreciate that!
Capt Chris
Posted by Christian Allaire, BMCS (ret) at 8:05 PM 6 comments Links to this post
Labels: California, Dominican University of California, PYC
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Easy Like Sunday Morning
Posted by Christian Allaire, BMCS (ret) at 4:24 PM 1 comments Links to this post









