Saturday, December 26, 2009
Merry Christmas
We made our 2nd round trip to Buffalo, to see my family. It was good seeing some of my sisters, and their families last night. The "kids", are not kids anymore. Amazing how fast they grow. Thanks to Robin and Chuck for hosting again. Sorry we missed Lynn, Bill and the girls.
The girls are home, and bouncing in and out with friends, and we're done traveling for the holidays. I just want to sit back, relax, and maybe get a few chores done, but without the stress of deadlines. This is a good time to melt away some of the stress that seems to cling to us during our daily routine. I can escape the auto industry until Jan. 4th.
Nicole brought her dog Mo, home with her. He's a cute little guy, and very well behaved. Kind of nice having a dog to pal around with again. We keep calling him "Murf", as he looks so much like our last dog.
We can't forget Chewy, who couldn't make the trip, and had to spend Christmas in a kennel. Knowing this cat, Kelly is going to have a fun time when she gets this feline home. I'm sure Chewy is already plotting the payback she's going to deliver.
Well, "Cheers to you all", this holiday season. Someday soon, we will blogging from the water, and not from the dirt. Preparations are being made :)
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Vitamin D
Well it's not that at all! We lack vitamin D! Actually we lack a lot of vitamin D. Deb was really low, and that can explain a lot of things going on, but I won't go there. Maybe I just did. I was told to start taking it, as I was very low too, and Deb has to mega-dose. All the aches and pains are not all due to old age creeping in. The generally low level of energy and the blah's, that we've been feeling, have a lot to due with low levels of D. We need sun! Twenty minutes in the sun gives you all you need for the day. If you are in the northern latitudes, you can't get it from the sun during the winter. I guess pills will have to get us through to May. Now I understand why so many cruisers feel so great after they sail away. It's not the lifestyle, it's the sun! OK, the lifestyle is pretty cool too :)
So, for all you miserable assholes north of latitude 35... you need more vitamin D!
Google vitamin D, or read this.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
We're not from Texas
We took off for San Antonio, and got a hotel room on the river walk. The river walk is nice, but it's all restaurants and hotels. People just walk or ride a boat around, looking for food. Kind of weird, like a gluttony trail, but it was a good experience. Deb scored front row seats for the Holiday Boat Parade. This was THE event in San Antonio, and there was a huge crowd in town for it. It was nice, but they could have done a better job on the floats.
You know, you can't find a good pizza in Texas. We even went to an Italian restaurant, and it still sucked. I guess they're all about steak and seafood. The meals were pricey, and the food was nothing to get excited about. The TexMex looked good, but lacked variety. Seems like every menu was the same. What made it nice were the people. If the river walk was in NY, they'd be pulling drunks and floaters from the thing every hour. If it was in Rochester...it wouldn't be in Rochester.
We stopped by the Alamo, because, well, it's the Alamo. It was a good stop, and a good history lesson. Never realized it was a church. There were some guys dressed up in period costumes walking around, and you were not allowed to touch anything, and make sure you take your hat off, or some angry guy dressed up like a frontier warrior will yell at you. It wasn't me. I took my hat off before entering.
The people in Texas are nice, very friendly and they like to talk. It was a good experience, and we were treated nice, even though our nasally new york accent told them we were not from Texas, they wanted to talk to us anyway.
It was good seeing the girls. They look great, and are doing well on their own. Miss them. Next time we go we'll spend more time laying around the beach, and just hanging out.
Thank you Nicole, for putting up with us in your apartment, and making a mess in your kitchen. We appreciate all the effort. Sorry about having you purchase all the stuff we never used. Leave the Gosling there for me for next year :)
Nicole has a little buddy called Mo. He looks eerily similar to our old dog Murf. He's been a great pal for Nicole. Nice sweater.
Happy Birthday to Kelly! Love ya kiddo.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
blogging at 20,000 ft
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Humdrum
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Boat Show
Sunday, October 4, 2009
End of the cruise
From the August cruise (last cruise post)
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Portland Oregon
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
More of the August cruise
Sunday, September 27, 2009
From the August cruise
We exchanged names and blogs with Janice and Bob on Tsamaya. I was invited to look inside at this beauty, but declined, as I smelled like a bear. I have to learn to be more sociable, or get better at taking early showers.
We took the bikes for a ride in the morning, and followed the river for a few miles and back. We went down to the waterfront for a smoothy, and watched all the landlubbers walking around. What is it with guys wearing Capri pants up here? Unless you're dressing up as a pirate, you should leave these for the ladies to wear. The weather was spectacular today, and should be for the rest of the week. We spotted Bill from Avatar, and he's here with Nautilus for showers and shopping.
We're going to lazy around the boat today, then head out for dinner. Tomorrow it's Prinyer cove, then either Belleville, or home.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
A new home for the summer
I wish we could take the A-dock sailors with us, as they are the best, but time to move on. This feels like our first step in our great adventure of living on the boat, and sailing to new places. We have some friends moving to the same marina, so it will be a good time there too.
We will miss the view from the back deck, as it's the best, but anchoring out gives us an even better view. So, to all at Oak Park, sorry, the break wall is leaving. If you see my bike parked outside Captain Jack's, stop in and I'll buy you a cold one.
I will miss these sunsets. I'll have to go to the beach to see them now.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Gan
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Name Change
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The Escape
We ate dinner at a supposed Irish Pub. Not even close. I got a black and tan in about 30 seconds, so that tells you there is no Irish in this pub. The food was pretty bad too. We went into town, to King street, and found The old English Pub. Okay, this should be interesting. Well, the Brits win this battle, as it was great! Nice place, small, crowded, and they had the Bills game on. We stayed until the half, and then went back to the boat to crash for the night. Bills looked pretty bad. Just an observation...I think every Canadian city has a King st., just like every American city has a Martin Luther King blvd.
Life can be good.
Sunday
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Lazy Day
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Dogs and Boats
Saturday Morning
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The smoking belts
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Beautiful Moonrise
Dead in the Water
Friday, August 14, 2009
The Crosby
Prison Beaurivage
Friday?
I ended Thursday evening with a Dark and Stormy, twice. One was a drink, very good, and the other was weather, very bad. Shortly after sunset we got a good blow come through the anchorage. The wind gusted up pretty good, and the rain came down hard. Deb and I sat in the cockpit and stood anchor watch. We referenced points on shore, and lined them up with something on the boat. If we don’t see them lined up just right, then we know the anchor is dragging. The squall passed, and the weather got pretty mild after. Very good sleeping weather. In the morning we decided to pull up anchor, and head over to Camelot, or Stave island. Little did we know that we were not meant to leave prison Beaurivage just yet.
Beaurivage
Writers Interlude
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Island Time
Wednesday?
With the help of my cat friends, we are off the wall, and on our way to the
One of the "cottages" along the Bateau channel
All in all it's just a, 'nother day on the wall
Monday, August 10, 2009
Shit Happens
Monday
We woke up early for crossing the lake, and the waves were kicked up about three feet, and the wind was less than what we were motoring at, so we did not raise the sails. I hate it when the waves are up and the wind is not. We got to about Psyche shoals and had to make a little detour. For those of you that like to set the auto pilot, and take a nap, or read a book while crossing, just remember there are really big freighters out there. This is the second time we had to wait and let a big ship cross our bow, as we were on a collision course.
After the detour, we were about to turn toward nine mile point light, when the engine RPM dropped off a bit. When you’ve been listening to an engine run steady for 8 hrs, you notice any change immediately, Deb and I glanced at each other, with that uh oh look. Maybe it will pass. Just a fluke. Minutes later it did it again. It gradually got worse until the engine just stopped! Crap, now what? We re-started, and it came back to life, but we thought sailing would be our best option at this point. We thought we could save whatever the engine had left for docking maneuvers.
We were pretty nervous about this, and I went down below to the engine room to try to sort things out. I was having fan belt issues, they were smoking on occasion, and so I loosened the alternator, checked the belt, and it looked fine. I tightened it back up, and just one more turn on the wrench....Shit! The friggin bolt stripped the alternator threads!
This is one of those moments where you stare at the damage, and wonder to yourself why this shit has to happen now, and if this might be the time where you really cooked your goose. I was so mad at myself, but then I quickly snapped out of it and had to figure out a way to get that alternator locked down. I carry a lot of loose nuts and bolts on board, and I found one I could slip through the alternator and get a nut on it. Phew. Now I don’t have to tell Deb we were screwed. Well, we will be if the engine won’t run.
We had planned on anchoring in Prinyers cove, but Deb had a change of plans. To
No problem my ass! We called when we were about a mile out, and were told “no slips available, but we’ll put you on a waiting list, and in the meantime you can tie up at the day docks or on the wall.”
The day docks are only 19 feet long. Hello, I’m 44 feet dude. Hmm, he said the wall. We’ve done that before. Been tied up to the Radison wall many years ago with the kids. Hated it, but had no other choice. We sailed up the entrance of confederation basin, furled up the headsail, and with the motor at low RPM, we crept in. She just kept purring the whole time, and I counted my lucky stars that we made it this far. Just a little more to go.
We docked on the hotel wall, where we read the sign that said “NO Docking by the order of the City of
“Just go over there”, like I was driving a car for Christ sake. I ran back to the boat, yelling for Deb to prepare to cast off. I explained it all as we were getting ready to go. There was not much room left on the wall, and I wanted to get there before all the other idiots came barreling in here. Getting off the hotel wall was no easy feat, but we managed, and then bopped over to “the wall”. How much water, I ask over the radio. “about 9 feet, you should be fine”. Yea, and I should have no problem getting a slip either. If I run aground, I’m going to strangle the guy on the radio. There were two spots on the wall, and I was going for farthest, as it had more room. The other spot was between a catamaran and a trawler. Tight fit. As I was heading for the spot, the cat guy came out and said it was too shallow. Radio dude said 9 feet, so maybe…” Looks too shallow for you”, said the cat guy. Just then the depth read 5 feet. We draw five and a half. Full reverse! I’m going back to the first spot.
I wish I could remember cat guys name (CRS), but he was a great guy, and helped us in. His lady friend (hot), also was a great help. I thanked them with an ice cold Canadian lager. Turns out they’re heading to Trinidad, and
So, “The Wall” cost $65. No cleats. No power. No water. Plenty of tourists walking by, and of course the dogs taking a crap on the sidewalk where you have to climb up and over a rusted chain rail. Living it up in