SHIP'S LOG:
SIGH! There is only one boat left floating in the mooring field and it is leaving tomorrow. Then the field will be empty and the sailing season is really and truly over. I am depressed. The only thing left to do now is winterize ABISHAG and hope that the Norwich Housing Authority quickly reaches the decision that I am poor enough and old enough to qualify for elderly housing. they do everything by snail-mail. They hate phone calls and emails. Every day is a trek to the mailbox in Groton to check and see if they have sent me a letter of acceptance.
In the mean time the weather continues to become more like the fall, perhaps even early onset winter. And I hate winter. My current locus will have to be vacated on the 17th but the next residence is already set up and that will be the last until Norwich comes through. Or doesn't. SIGH!
Monday, November 10, 2014
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Wind, Wind Wind WWWWINNDDD
SHIP'S LOG
For the third weekend in a row, we have got wind! With the exception of last Saturday, when we had a wedding at the club, the last three weekends have been small craft warning and gale force winds. When Jim Avery bails out of the last two Sunday Chowder Series Races because there is too much wind and it wouldn't be safe to race, that is too much wind.
Right now I am watching a gull trying to make headway against the wind and it is basically flying in place. Eventually it will simply tire, land and walk to wherever it wants to go.
There are still 10 boats out in the mooring field and they are getting battered. One of 17ft skiffs has filled with water and is heeling to starboard. The only thing keeping it afloat are the fenders on the starboard side, The rail is under as the gas tank has floated out of the boat, attached only by the 6 foot fuel line. Like I said, it probably won't sink but it may turn turtle - flip over - and then we'll find out how tight the engine bolts were tightened, securing the engine to the transom of the boat.
The wind is averaging 35 and the gusts are in the mid- 40's, and that's MPH not knots! I'm at the club basically to keep anyone from trying to get out to their boat. It simply ain't worth it.
For the third weekend in a row, we have got wind! With the exception of last Saturday, when we had a wedding at the club, the last three weekends have been small craft warning and gale force winds. When Jim Avery bails out of the last two Sunday Chowder Series Races because there is too much wind and it wouldn't be safe to race, that is too much wind.
Right now I am watching a gull trying to make headway against the wind and it is basically flying in place. Eventually it will simply tire, land and walk to wherever it wants to go.
There are still 10 boats out in the mooring field and they are getting battered. One of 17ft skiffs has filled with water and is heeling to starboard. The only thing keeping it afloat are the fenders on the starboard side, The rail is under as the gas tank has floated out of the boat, attached only by the 6 foot fuel line. Like I said, it probably won't sink but it may turn turtle - flip over - and then we'll find out how tight the engine bolts were tightened, securing the engine to the transom of the boat.
The wind is averaging 35 and the gusts are in the mid- 40's, and that's MPH not knots! I'm at the club basically to keep anyone from trying to get out to their boat. It simply ain't worth it.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
First Frost!
SHIP'S LOG:
When I went out to my car yesterday, what I took for dew was frost. I knew that it was going to be cold but all the weather reports said that we down here on the coast would be spare the frost. Well, NOAA strikes again. If I had been able to unload the condo say back in May, I'd be somewhere in North Carolina by now battling the mosquitoes and the green face flies. But such was not the case. Well, there is always next year.
I had to go to Yankee Boatyard Saturday to get some items of ABISHAG, She is still in the river and the yard crew is really busy. A large number of boats showed since Columbus Day weekend and more are certainly coming. The I am hoping that ABISHAG will get hauled soon so that I can begin the process of winterizing her. I won't do the complete strip out as I did last year but there is still enough stuff that must go that makes the process truly work. And as I get older, the work is becoming more like WORK!
I haven't heard anything yet from the Housing Authority though it is probably too soon. That multi-paged application I filled out is filled with all sorts of items that have to be crosschecked and verified so that they can be sure that I am old enough and poor enough. I am foolishly hopeful that I will have spot by the end of the month. Bouncing around from place to place is a fine thing when you are doing it on a boat, but such a nomadic life is a lot less fun on dry land. But this too will pass.
When I went out to my car yesterday, what I took for dew was frost. I knew that it was going to be cold but all the weather reports said that we down here on the coast would be spare the frost. Well, NOAA strikes again. If I had been able to unload the condo say back in May, I'd be somewhere in North Carolina by now battling the mosquitoes and the green face flies. But such was not the case. Well, there is always next year.
I had to go to Yankee Boatyard Saturday to get some items of ABISHAG, She is still in the river and the yard crew is really busy. A large number of boats showed since Columbus Day weekend and more are certainly coming. The I am hoping that ABISHAG will get hauled soon so that I can begin the process of winterizing her. I won't do the complete strip out as I did last year but there is still enough stuff that must go that makes the process truly work. And as I get older, the work is becoming more like WORK!
I haven't heard anything yet from the Housing Authority though it is probably too soon. That multi-paged application I filled out is filled with all sorts of items that have to be crosschecked and verified so that they can be sure that I am old enough and poor enough. I am foolishly hopeful that I will have spot by the end of the month. Bouncing around from place to place is a fine thing when you are doing it on a boat, but such a nomadic life is a lot less fun on dry land. But this too will pass.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
It's winter! !! ! !! !! ! !! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
ABISHAG is in the Connecticut River in Portland, been there since Sunday, a mere 100 feet from where she will rest during the winter months. As a result, as far as I'm concerned it is winter, even though today's temperature hit 70!
With my "summer residence" no longer available, I am now, technically, without a place to stay but I will have one soon. Currently I am "living" with a fellow from TYC but this is only a short term deal. I have made application for elderly housing and elderly housing for "poor" people. I qualify for both being over 65 and receiving a mere $1,662 a month. The paper work involved in this process makes the trek to get the Merchant Mariner Certificate look ridiculously easy but since the housing requirements are amazingly similar, I had all of the documents and got the application filled out in about an hour. Now I am awaiting their checking out all the info, approving the application and , most importantly, having an apartment available. How long all that will take I haven't the foggiest. One thing I say about the process, it makes me feel "old" and "poor." I never really thought of myself that way but reality has reared its ugly head and I guess I just have to accept the fact that it is true. Ah! Such is life! A new adventure begins!
ABISHAG is in the Connecticut River in Portland, been there since Sunday, a mere 100 feet from where she will rest during the winter months. As a result, as far as I'm concerned it is winter, even though today's temperature hit 70!
With my "summer residence" no longer available, I am now, technically, without a place to stay but I will have one soon. Currently I am "living" with a fellow from TYC but this is only a short term deal. I have made application for elderly housing and elderly housing for "poor" people. I qualify for both being over 65 and receiving a mere $1,662 a month. The paper work involved in this process makes the trek to get the Merchant Mariner Certificate look ridiculously easy but since the housing requirements are amazingly similar, I had all of the documents and got the application filled out in about an hour. Now I am awaiting their checking out all the info, approving the application and , most importantly, having an apartment available. How long all that will take I haven't the foggiest. One thing I say about the process, it makes me feel "old" and "poor." I never really thought of myself that way but reality has reared its ugly head and I guess I just have to accept the fact that it is true. Ah! Such is life! A new adventure begins!
Monday, September 15, 2014
The Story So Far . . . . .
SHIP'S LOG:
The Red Sox have dropped of the edge of the world. A truly rotten years, but until they crown a new World's Champion, they are still Number #1.
Since it became September, summer has gone away. The wind, which usually comes out of the SW but has been NW-N-NE most of the summer, continues that trend, bringing with it cool and down right cold evening temperatures. For the last week or so I have been sleeping under blankets in sweats.
TYC has basically shut down and I am running the launch on a pay-as-you-go basis seeing if there is sufficient interest in extending full-time launch service during the weeks of September. So far, response has been minimal.
I finally sold my condo. what an experience that was, worse than buying it. After paying off the taxes, the lawyer, the realtor, and for all the paper work it required, I netted $5.79! Yup, $5.79! That's not even a grande latte at STARBUCKS.
My knees are awful. The right one has cartilage that needs trimming at least and the left one has bad arthritis and probably a baker's cyst. when I drive the launch, after a couple of hours of swaying back and forth to keep my balance, they both ache something fierce. I will have to have another sit-down with my orthopedist and see where we go from here.
I am about a month away from taking ABISHAG up the Connecticut River to Portland and the Yankee Boatyard for the winter haul-out. It's depressing just thinking about it, but it means it will be another day closer to Spring launching.
The Red Sox have dropped of the edge of the world. A truly rotten years, but until they crown a new World's Champion, they are still Number #1.
Since it became September, summer has gone away. The wind, which usually comes out of the SW but has been NW-N-NE most of the summer, continues that trend, bringing with it cool and down right cold evening temperatures. For the last week or so I have been sleeping under blankets in sweats.
TYC has basically shut down and I am running the launch on a pay-as-you-go basis seeing if there is sufficient interest in extending full-time launch service during the weeks of September. So far, response has been minimal.
I finally sold my condo. what an experience that was, worse than buying it. After paying off the taxes, the lawyer, the realtor, and for all the paper work it required, I netted $5.79! Yup, $5.79! That's not even a grande latte at STARBUCKS.
My knees are awful. The right one has cartilage that needs trimming at least and the left one has bad arthritis and probably a baker's cyst. when I drive the launch, after a couple of hours of swaying back and forth to keep my balance, they both ache something fierce. I will have to have another sit-down with my orthopedist and see where we go from here.
I am about a month away from taking ABISHAG up the Connecticut River to Portland and the Yankee Boatyard for the winter haul-out. It's depressing just thinking about it, but it means it will be another day closer to Spring launching.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Summer Is Over!
SHIP'S LOG:
. . . . . well, not really, but it seems so. The weather is like the middle of September, not August. The kids are done with the sailing classes so they're not down at the club anymore. Besides, they are getting ready for school. Strangely, the parents aren't down either for the most part and launch driving has gone from chaotic to dull and boring. If the weather portends good for the weekend, I expect that it will, be crazy again as people try to squeeze the whole of summer into the last two weeks. I hate the fact that summer is ending.
. . . . . well, not really, but it seems so. The weather is like the middle of September, not August. The kids are done with the sailing classes so they're not down at the club anymore. Besides, they are getting ready for school. Strangely, the parents aren't down either for the most part and launch driving has gone from chaotic to dull and boring. If the weather portends good for the weekend, I expect that it will, be crazy again as people try to squeeze the whole of summer into the last two weeks. I hate the fact that summer is ending.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
The Fun Of Being A Launch Driver
SHIP'S LOG:
There ain't much! Most shifts are 6 hours, some are 4 and some are 8. You spend most of your time standing in a rocking little 26 foot launch trying to keep from falling over. You fight to keep your balance and after your shift, your legs are screaming, especially the knees, which in my case are already screaming.When things are hectic, you are trying to keep a list of the pick-ups you have to make, trying to remember whether the boat is in the North Mooring Field or the South Mooring Field. I want to pick them up in the order they call - first call, first to get picked-up - but sometimes it isn't always convenient or even possible. And every now and again, you forget one and they quickly remind you.
Then there is the approach to the boat itself. Depending on the wind and the wave action, it can be a piece of cake or a horror story. Ideally, one wants to"hit" the fattest part of the side of the boat and grab hold and hopefully the boarding ladder will end up right at the gate from the cockpit. But the launch is a pig with little way on and that often makes for a lot of last minute maneuvering. And you never know what you are going to get. This past week, I've had people with two large dogs, a man and his son with two bikes, assorted bags and a spinnaker pole almost as long as the launch. Everyone comes aboard with at least a knapsack and most often also a cooler. One out of every four trips in requires a trip back out to retrieve something they "forgot" - cell phone, wallet, car keys.
It is useless to order lunch or dinner for the simple fact that someone will call after the first bite. And even when things are slow, you drop off some one at the dock, tied up the launch, walk up the dock to the clubhouse and sit down, and then there is a call on the radio for another pick-up and off you got again. Any problems or complaints or requirements that anyone has get dumped in your lap. O, it is so much fun.
There ain't much! Most shifts are 6 hours, some are 4 and some are 8. You spend most of your time standing in a rocking little 26 foot launch trying to keep from falling over. You fight to keep your balance and after your shift, your legs are screaming, especially the knees, which in my case are already screaming.When things are hectic, you are trying to keep a list of the pick-ups you have to make, trying to remember whether the boat is in the North Mooring Field or the South Mooring Field. I want to pick them up in the order they call - first call, first to get picked-up - but sometimes it isn't always convenient or even possible. And every now and again, you forget one and they quickly remind you.
Then there is the approach to the boat itself. Depending on the wind and the wave action, it can be a piece of cake or a horror story. Ideally, one wants to"hit" the fattest part of the side of the boat and grab hold and hopefully the boarding ladder will end up right at the gate from the cockpit. But the launch is a pig with little way on and that often makes for a lot of last minute maneuvering. And you never know what you are going to get. This past week, I've had people with two large dogs, a man and his son with two bikes, assorted bags and a spinnaker pole almost as long as the launch. Everyone comes aboard with at least a knapsack and most often also a cooler. One out of every four trips in requires a trip back out to retrieve something they "forgot" - cell phone, wallet, car keys.
It is useless to order lunch or dinner for the simple fact that someone will call after the first bite. And even when things are slow, you drop off some one at the dock, tied up the launch, walk up the dock to the clubhouse and sit down, and then there is a call on the radio for another pick-up and off you got again. Any problems or complaints or requirements that anyone has get dumped in your lap. O, it is so much fun.
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