SHIP'S LOG:
The great joy of getting together with family on Sunday was mitigated by the fact that my computer, while it was being optimized, suffered a nervous break down and I have spent hte last few days trying to get it all back up and working, along with Mohamed, Rajy and Gunga Din. And I am happy to say that everything is restored . . .except for the Quicken Program that controls my money(HA!) and let's me know how much I have to spend. Unfortunately, even a trip to my old stomping grounds did not reveal the needed dick and so it looks as though I am going to have to buy a new program. Just what I need!
I tried to uncover the leaks on ABISHAG, pressuring the boat with a shop vac and coating every fixture and potential opening with soap suds but no leaks were revealed, even in those spots where I absolutely know there are leaks. Perhaps it was too wind or something but I'll give it another try in the near future.
The whole process did reveal that my anchor chain needs oiling. Sitting in the chain lock, subjected to sea water and rain water and ICW water has corroded it a tad and so today I will take it all out into the sun and oil it down.
I also, on a more personal note, made a couple of my doctors appointments. The pronounnced me alive but didn't want to go any farther out on that limb. The day after my orthopedic appointment, my left knee started acting up. Perhaps it is because I have been favoring it so as not to dislocate my shiney new right hip. It is sort of like walking in jello. Perhaps I have a reoccurance of the Baker's Cyst that I had a few years ago. Unfortunately, that turn into a serious mass that had to be removed surgically and it took out 1/3 of the muscle in my left calf. I would not like to go through that again, so it means another visit to the orthopedist. Gosh, it is so much fun to be home!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
I Think It Can Only Be Worse In Seattle!
SHIP'S LOG:
It has seemingly rain every day for the last week and certainly hen it has rain, it has rained hard. The poor sailors who were racing Off-Soundings over the weekend really got pounded and came back damp, to say the least.
Me, well I got to have a cookout with my sisters and Bruce and Patt, talking about the trip and the up coming "grandchild/grandniece" who is due to make her appearance in 10 days or so.
Of course, to celebrate this wondrous event, my laptop decided to shuffle off this mortal coil. Not completely though. I have a company that deals with problems on my computer online from India. Actually they do pretty good work but this Sunday, in the midst of a "turn-your-head-and -cough" check, something happened that wouldn't allow me to get online. Eventually after hours of trying over the phone, I had to down load all my files and re-install the Operating System and then re-install all my files. Basically, it was a 48 hour project that is now "almost" complete. One program I saved evidently got "corrupted" and I am going to have to find the CD it came on or buy a whole new program! I really hate computers.
It has seemingly rain every day for the last week and certainly hen it has rain, it has rained hard. The poor sailors who were racing Off-Soundings over the weekend really got pounded and came back damp, to say the least.
Me, well I got to have a cookout with my sisters and Bruce and Patt, talking about the trip and the up coming "grandchild/grandniece" who is due to make her appearance in 10 days or so.
Of course, to celebrate this wondrous event, my laptop decided to shuffle off this mortal coil. Not completely though. I have a company that deals with problems on my computer online from India. Actually they do pretty good work but this Sunday, in the midst of a "turn-your-head-and -cough" check, something happened that wouldn't allow me to get online. Eventually after hours of trying over the phone, I had to down load all my files and re-install the Operating System and then re-install all my files. Basically, it was a 48 hour project that is now "almost" complete. One program I saved evidently got "corrupted" and I am going to have to find the CD it came on or buy a whole new program! I really hate computers.
Friday, June 10, 2011
The WInd Blows Where It Will!
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, we got another one of those storms last night. I am not exactly sure what is going on but it seems that NOAA's usual "30% chance of thunderstorms" which is a part of every cast in the summer is coming true. Usually it is just a CYA, but it has been amazing accurate the last few days. Even as I write this, it is clouding up and who knows, perhaps we are in for more rain(the wind is already here!)
Did a repair job on the dodger, using fiberglass reinforced tape on the splits in the "window." I can't see through this tape but then I never am moving with the dodger up in anything but nasty weather. That usually means that the dodger is rain soaked or water splashed and so you really can't see out of it anyway. Usually to take a peak requires standing up and peering over the dodger. It is more of a protecting against getting wet, or more than you usually are when it is up and in use. The tape will probably hold a month before the UV rays deteriorate it enough for it to fail and need to be replaced.
In the wind and rain last night, a 33 foot sailboat went up on the rocks at Eastern Point, just down the river from TYC. I don't know names and what they were doing out there nor weather any damage was done nor whether anyone was hurt. Hopefully no one was hurt and you can always replace/repair/buy another boat.
Big project tomorrow . . .if the weather is good. Finding leaks with a shop vac!
Well, we got another one of those storms last night. I am not exactly sure what is going on but it seems that NOAA's usual "30% chance of thunderstorms" which is a part of every cast in the summer is coming true. Usually it is just a CYA, but it has been amazing accurate the last few days. Even as I write this, it is clouding up and who knows, perhaps we are in for more rain(the wind is already here!)
Did a repair job on the dodger, using fiberglass reinforced tape on the splits in the "window." I can't see through this tape but then I never am moving with the dodger up in anything but nasty weather. That usually means that the dodger is rain soaked or water splashed and so you really can't see out of it anyway. Usually to take a peak requires standing up and peering over the dodger. It is more of a protecting against getting wet, or more than you usually are when it is up and in use. The tape will probably hold a month before the UV rays deteriorate it enough for it to fail and need to be replaced.
In the wind and rain last night, a 33 foot sailboat went up on the rocks at Eastern Point, just down the river from TYC. I don't know names and what they were doing out there nor weather any damage was done nor whether anyone was hurt. Hopefully no one was hurt and you can always replace/repair/buy another boat.
Big project tomorrow . . .if the weather is good. Finding leaks with a shop vac!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Now, About Last Night . . . .
SHIP'S LOG:
There seems to be a lot of work making the adjustment to being home. After setting up two dentist appointments, one to fix a cracked tooth and one to get a cleaning - the cracked tooth was coming first - I actually missed the first one which was Wednesday morning at 9:15. I thought it was next week and only realized it when my phone gave me a friendly reminder five minutes before I was to be 20 miles away in a dentist's chair. Well, such is life and it isn't like I was really, REALLY looking forward to it anyway. Still I had to reschedule it and that will happen on Friday morning. This one I should make.
Then there was the matter of 8 months' worth of snail mail to go through. Most was trash and got properly dumped. Some was important like my Social Security stuff. And some was very important like the registration renewals for the boat, the dinghy, the car and the motorcycle. Boy, I hope Publisher's Clearing house comes through - you know, I COULD be a WINNER!
After going through the mail, the best thing I could do was go for a sail and that's exactly what I did. It was really wonderful. No plotting, no courses laid in, no bridges to go through, just tooling around in familiar waters.I went five miles that-a-way and then five miles this-a-way, and then five miles back to TYC. No schedule, to anchorage or marina to make, no crazy fishermen, well not many. Just a nice sail under wind power alone! Almost too great for words!
And best of all, I am now off the dock. My mooring is in place and I was able to tied up on it and now am really at home. It's good to be home.
I wasn't surprised when a storm moved in last night. It was that type of day, weather-wise-hot and humid and screaming out for a good thunderstorm. And that's what we got, in spades. Lots of lightning, and I mean a lot. The flashes seemed almost constant. A lout of thunder, but not particularly loud. A lot of rain, but of short duration, and WIND! It was really honking there for awhile. I think we might have gotten a couple of sustained gusts of over 35mph. At the beginning of the storms, I was just sitting in the cockpit watching it come. I always liked doing that. After the first gust hit, I went and got my safety harness and PFD. i didn't put them on right away, even though ABISHAG was slewing around pretty well. I actually had to remind myself that I wasn't tethered to a 35lbs CQR anchor at the end of 120 feet of 5/8" anchor rode set in some creek or other along the ICW. I was secured to a bridle made of 3/4' line, attached to 30' of 3/8" chain. attached to 15" of 1" chain attached to an 800lbs mushroom anchor that has buried itself over four years in the bottom of the Thames. I wasn't going anywhere in this blow and, since it was a fast moving storm, I didn't expect it to last all that long. It might have lasted 15 minutes max, though its arrival and departure displays were quite a bit longer. I was nervous or frightened by it, rather I was attentive. I have ABISHAG ready to move in case events made it prudent, but having already been through several storms which made this one seem almost wimpy in comparison, my reactions were more along the lines of simply being prepared.
After the storm passed, I went to bed. Another came through later in the night but I didn't even get up. Everything was already in place and I saw no sense in getting up and monitoring the storm. It passed and that was that.
I have been living on ABISHAG since a year ago May and now am extremely comfortable and at ease on her in all situations. Truth be told, if I didn't get overly concerned with the weather on the trip from Manasquan to New London, there isn't much that is going to cause me much in the way of anxiety. I figure that God is in control of it all and if I use the gifts and the common sense God gave me, and the skills I have developed over the years, especially over the last 8 months or so, then, to quote Bab Marley, " Every little thing is going to be alright!"
There seems to be a lot of work making the adjustment to being home. After setting up two dentist appointments, one to fix a cracked tooth and one to get a cleaning - the cracked tooth was coming first - I actually missed the first one which was Wednesday morning at 9:15. I thought it was next week and only realized it when my phone gave me a friendly reminder five minutes before I was to be 20 miles away in a dentist's chair. Well, such is life and it isn't like I was really, REALLY looking forward to it anyway. Still I had to reschedule it and that will happen on Friday morning. This one I should make.
Then there was the matter of 8 months' worth of snail mail to go through. Most was trash and got properly dumped. Some was important like my Social Security stuff. And some was very important like the registration renewals for the boat, the dinghy, the car and the motorcycle. Boy, I hope Publisher's Clearing house comes through - you know, I COULD be a WINNER!
After going through the mail, the best thing I could do was go for a sail and that's exactly what I did. It was really wonderful. No plotting, no courses laid in, no bridges to go through, just tooling around in familiar waters.I went five miles that-a-way and then five miles this-a-way, and then five miles back to TYC. No schedule, to anchorage or marina to make, no crazy fishermen, well not many. Just a nice sail under wind power alone! Almost too great for words!
And best of all, I am now off the dock. My mooring is in place and I was able to tied up on it and now am really at home. It's good to be home.
I wasn't surprised when a storm moved in last night. It was that type of day, weather-wise-hot and humid and screaming out for a good thunderstorm. And that's what we got, in spades. Lots of lightning, and I mean a lot. The flashes seemed almost constant. A lout of thunder, but not particularly loud. A lot of rain, but of short duration, and WIND! It was really honking there for awhile. I think we might have gotten a couple of sustained gusts of over 35mph. At the beginning of the storms, I was just sitting in the cockpit watching it come. I always liked doing that. After the first gust hit, I went and got my safety harness and PFD. i didn't put them on right away, even though ABISHAG was slewing around pretty well. I actually had to remind myself that I wasn't tethered to a 35lbs CQR anchor at the end of 120 feet of 5/8" anchor rode set in some creek or other along the ICW. I was secured to a bridle made of 3/4' line, attached to 30' of 3/8" chain. attached to 15" of 1" chain attached to an 800lbs mushroom anchor that has buried itself over four years in the bottom of the Thames. I wasn't going anywhere in this blow and, since it was a fast moving storm, I didn't expect it to last all that long. It might have lasted 15 minutes max, though its arrival and departure displays were quite a bit longer. I was nervous or frightened by it, rather I was attentive. I have ABISHAG ready to move in case events made it prudent, but having already been through several storms which made this one seem almost wimpy in comparison, my reactions were more along the lines of simply being prepared.
After the storm passed, I went to bed. Another came through later in the night but I didn't even get up. Everything was already in place and I saw no sense in getting up and monitoring the storm. It passed and that was that.
I have been living on ABISHAG since a year ago May and now am extremely comfortable and at ease on her in all situations. Truth be told, if I didn't get overly concerned with the weather on the trip from Manasquan to New London, there isn't much that is going to cause me much in the way of anxiety. I figure that God is in control of it all and if I use the gifts and the common sense God gave me, and the skills I have developed over the years, especially over the last 8 months or so, then, to quote Bab Marley, " Every little thing is going to be alright!"
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Busy! Busy! Busy! Busy! Bust!
SHIP'S LOG:
The weather that I have been following or that has been following me finally showed up today. It got into the 80's down at TYC and the humidity was up there as well. As a result, I naturally decided to get started on a hundred projects. Didn't finish a hundred, don't even think I actually started a hundred, but it was a busy day none the less.
I was able to trim the patch made for the leak on the dinghy and blow it up and all seems to be holding. Of course, if things go as they have in the past, I have merely slowed the leak down. We'll see. I rigged a bumper on the front of the dinghy so that the tow rope and davit connection won't rub on the patch. Perhaps that will keep this effort intact.
I dismantled the rear most hatch which never really locked securely. IT has 6 latches but they were never properly adjusted to close tight. The intervening years have corroded the set screws so I had to remove the hatch so that I could properly soak the screws with PB Blaster. I eventually got 4 out of the 6 to work and was able to adjust them so that the hatch closes tight. To get the hatch off, I had to dismantle the arms that hold it open. Unfortunately these were held in place with ss screws set into the aluminium frame. Stainless steel and aluminium don't do well together in a salt environment. All the PB Blaster in the world was no help. In fact, the screws snapped off so I had to drill new holes for new screws in the frame. It was a rather involved process but it got done.
The last project was to call my orthopedist, my internist and my dentist to make appointments
OK, OK, 4 isn't 100 but so what. Tomorrow is another day. . . one with a dentist appointment on it!
The weather that I have been following or that has been following me finally showed up today. It got into the 80's down at TYC and the humidity was up there as well. As a result, I naturally decided to get started on a hundred projects. Didn't finish a hundred, don't even think I actually started a hundred, but it was a busy day none the less.
I was able to trim the patch made for the leak on the dinghy and blow it up and all seems to be holding. Of course, if things go as they have in the past, I have merely slowed the leak down. We'll see. I rigged a bumper on the front of the dinghy so that the tow rope and davit connection won't rub on the patch. Perhaps that will keep this effort intact.
I dismantled the rear most hatch which never really locked securely. IT has 6 latches but they were never properly adjusted to close tight. The intervening years have corroded the set screws so I had to remove the hatch so that I could properly soak the screws with PB Blaster. I eventually got 4 out of the 6 to work and was able to adjust them so that the hatch closes tight. To get the hatch off, I had to dismantle the arms that hold it open. Unfortunately these were held in place with ss screws set into the aluminium frame. Stainless steel and aluminium don't do well together in a salt environment. All the PB Blaster in the world was no help. In fact, the screws snapped off so I had to drill new holes for new screws in the frame. It was a rather involved process but it got done.
The last project was to call my orthopedist, my internist and my dentist to make appointments
OK, OK, 4 isn't 100 but so what. Tomorrow is another day. . . one with a dentist appointment on it!
Monday, June 6, 2011
I have Remiss . . . .
SHIP'S LOG:
Still tied to the dock at TYC
I have been remiss, I suppose, in that I haven't kept up the daily blog, then again i am making the transition from a "mostly-ship-based-always-on-the-move" life style to a "mostly-ship-based-but rather-stationary" life style. The adjustment is not as automatic nor as instantaneous as one might think.
The glad-handing that took place when I got back was unexpected and it really is a great feeling to be welcomed back by people who are genuinely interested. Friday night, the day of my arrival I was treated to dinner as I was again on Saturday night. Friday night and Saturday night I basically crashed afterwards. My body clock is getting all out of whack now that I am not really moving or have to go anywhere. I am still getting up with the sun - about 5:30AM - and still going to bed when it begins to get dark - which is still getting later.
It feels strange not to be going anywhere or getting ready to go anywhere. Even when I laid over in Fort Pierce and Miami, I always knew in the back of my mind that the day was coming that I would have to pull up anchor and move on. But not here, here is the place on to which I was always headed.
I actually got some work done today! I made a valiant attempt to fix the leak in the dinghy. I used some goop that is used to fix wetsuits. I'll see if it works on a dinghy. I als so bought some more closed-cell foam and made a new floor for the dinghy and bought a new oar. Now if they can get my summer mooring ball and pick-up pennant in place, I will have a way to get back and forth to the beach when the launch isn't running. And Tommie I may even begin to make a start at getting ready to begin cleaning up the boat after the trrip. I also have to see my dentist, my orthopediist, and somebody who can do my taxes. It is sooooooo good to be back!
Still tied to the dock at TYC
I have been remiss, I suppose, in that I haven't kept up the daily blog, then again i am making the transition from a "mostly-ship-based-always-on-the-move" life style to a "mostly-ship-based-but rather-stationary" life style. The adjustment is not as automatic nor as instantaneous as one might think.
The glad-handing that took place when I got back was unexpected and it really is a great feeling to be welcomed back by people who are genuinely interested. Friday night, the day of my arrival I was treated to dinner as I was again on Saturday night. Friday night and Saturday night I basically crashed afterwards. My body clock is getting all out of whack now that I am not really moving or have to go anywhere. I am still getting up with the sun - about 5:30AM - and still going to bed when it begins to get dark - which is still getting later.
It feels strange not to be going anywhere or getting ready to go anywhere. Even when I laid over in Fort Pierce and Miami, I always knew in the back of my mind that the day was coming that I would have to pull up anchor and move on. But not here, here is the place on to which I was always headed.
I actually got some work done today! I made a valiant attempt to fix the leak in the dinghy. I used some goop that is used to fix wetsuits. I'll see if it works on a dinghy. I als so bought some more closed-cell foam and made a new floor for the dinghy and bought a new oar. Now if they can get my summer mooring ball and pick-up pennant in place, I will have a way to get back and forth to the beach when the launch isn't running. And Tommie I may even begin to make a start at getting ready to begin cleaning up the boat after the trrip. I also have to see my dentist, my orthopediist, and somebody who can do my taxes. It is sooooooo good to be back!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Home Again
SHIP'S LOG:
Thursday:
I left Little Neck Bay for a run up to Milford, CT where my cousin, Bob, lives. I must be getting use to this type of sailing for the wind was blowing a stead 20 knots and I didn't think a thing about upping the anchor and heading out. A year ago, heck 6 months ago, even three month ago I would have stayed put and read a good book. After the Delaware Bay and the run up from Atlantic City to Manasquan, the 20 knots of wind and the accompanying waves really didn't bother me much at all. In point of fact, the sailing was tremendous though exhausting. Lots of waves over the stern port quarter and the wind did gust occasionally to 35 but ABISHAG was made for this type of weather and she took in stride, probably better than me.
The toughest part of the whole trip was cleaning the salt off my glasses in what seemed like every five minutes. After awhile, I took to simply licking them clean and waiting for the wind to dry them which took about 30 seconds. Over the 8 hour run to Milford, this added up to a lot of licking!
It was a bit of a chore getting into Milford as I had to turn such that the wind and the waves came over forward of the beam. This put a lot of waves onto the boat, getting me a bit wet and causing the boat to roll more that I would have liked. But once passed the breakwater, the waves calmed down though the wind was still blowing. Thank goodness for dockhands and a nice straight run onto a "T" dock head.
Bob came by when all was secured and we ran up an $80 bill in the Yacht Club Bar. I also present Bob with his bucket which he promised to take to his studio and do something spectacular with it. What, neither her nor I had any idea!
Friday:
The wind was pretty much the same as on Thursday but basically it was a straight shot sail, once out of Milford, all the way to the Thames River. It was a broad reach but in reality, it was a "screaming reach!"ABISHAG put her shoulder into the water and just took off. I hit sustained speeds of 8.5 knots for must of the trip and even ran for about 30 minutes at 9.3knots! I actually didn't think she could go that fast. Of course the wind and tide helped a bunch and even the waves contributed as I surfed down some at over 10 knots. It was one spectacular sail.
It was strange to see old and familiar sights as I closed on New London. I really knew I was home when I had to dodge two crossing ferries at the mouth of the river. The only thing missing was a transiting submarine surrounded by Coasties in rubber boats with machine guns! I got in about 5:15 and was spent. After tying up the boat at the end of the dock, I walk to a restaurant for a celebratory dinner and ran into two club members who celebrated my accomplishment by buying me dinner.
IT is really good to be home at last. Some people have already asked if I plan to do it again next fall. While I am glad I did it once, I think once is enough, at least by oneself. If I can swing it, I would be willing to help someone else, perhaps do the trip outside, but not alone in my boat. ABISHAG is pretty used and next rest and recuperation and I really have to tackle the endless list of projects which has grown in the last 9 months. The again, summer is just beginning!
Thursday:
I left Little Neck Bay for a run up to Milford, CT where my cousin, Bob, lives. I must be getting use to this type of sailing for the wind was blowing a stead 20 knots and I didn't think a thing about upping the anchor and heading out. A year ago, heck 6 months ago, even three month ago I would have stayed put and read a good book. After the Delaware Bay and the run up from Atlantic City to Manasquan, the 20 knots of wind and the accompanying waves really didn't bother me much at all. In point of fact, the sailing was tremendous though exhausting. Lots of waves over the stern port quarter and the wind did gust occasionally to 35 but ABISHAG was made for this type of weather and she took in stride, probably better than me.
The toughest part of the whole trip was cleaning the salt off my glasses in what seemed like every five minutes. After awhile, I took to simply licking them clean and waiting for the wind to dry them which took about 30 seconds. Over the 8 hour run to Milford, this added up to a lot of licking!
It was a bit of a chore getting into Milford as I had to turn such that the wind and the waves came over forward of the beam. This put a lot of waves onto the boat, getting me a bit wet and causing the boat to roll more that I would have liked. But once passed the breakwater, the waves calmed down though the wind was still blowing. Thank goodness for dockhands and a nice straight run onto a "T" dock head.
Bob came by when all was secured and we ran up an $80 bill in the Yacht Club Bar. I also present Bob with his bucket which he promised to take to his studio and do something spectacular with it. What, neither her nor I had any idea!
Friday:
The wind was pretty much the same as on Thursday but basically it was a straight shot sail, once out of Milford, all the way to the Thames River. It was a broad reach but in reality, it was a "screaming reach!"ABISHAG put her shoulder into the water and just took off. I hit sustained speeds of 8.5 knots for must of the trip and even ran for about 30 minutes at 9.3knots! I actually didn't think she could go that fast. Of course the wind and tide helped a bunch and even the waves contributed as I surfed down some at over 10 knots. It was one spectacular sail.
It was strange to see old and familiar sights as I closed on New London. I really knew I was home when I had to dodge two crossing ferries at the mouth of the river. The only thing missing was a transiting submarine surrounded by Coasties in rubber boats with machine guns! I got in about 5:15 and was spent. After tying up the boat at the end of the dock, I walk to a restaurant for a celebratory dinner and ran into two club members who celebrated my accomplishment by buying me dinner.
IT is really good to be home at last. Some people have already asked if I plan to do it again next fall. While I am glad I did it once, I think once is enough, at least by oneself. If I can swing it, I would be willing to help someone else, perhaps do the trip outside, but not alone in my boat. ABISHAG is pretty used and next rest and recuperation and I really have to tackle the endless list of projects which has grown in the last 9 months. The again, summer is just beginning!
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