11.27.2010
Happy Thanksgiving! Hope everyone was able to enjoy great food with their friends and family! We were lucky enough to crash a last minute thanksgiving dinner with some of Brad's family. We weren't planning on being here for Thanksgiving and they thought we had already left - so it was a surprise for everyone!
After much hard work and money spent, we are finally ready to push off. We aren't leaving until tomorrow so that we can catch the Ravens game today, but are spending most of the day tying up a few loose ends. We are both anxious to leave and cannot wait to start our adventure. The preparation for this trip has been unbelievable and we are hoping it will pay off. Although I am sure there will always be something that we didn't plan on happening, we are as prepared as we are ever going to be.
Unfortunately, our extensive amount of preparation has cut more deeply into our funds than we had anticipated! We are hoping our charm and good looks will get us far once we get there....haha. We may be home sooner than expected, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we aren't going to let it pass us by! Lucky for us, we have very supportive family members who are helping make this dream come true - and for that we are so very grateful!
So tomorrow is the big shove off date! Stay tuned as we travel back down the west coast and over to the Bahamas! BON VOYAGE!!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Up, Up, and Away...
11.14.2010
So one of the large tasks that we have been putting off for so long is going up the mast to replace the anchor light and checking the wiring on our anemometer (the thing that tells us the direction and speed of the wind). Yes, that meant that one of us was going to have to be hoisted all the way to the top of our 59' mast. And of course it only makes sense for the lighter of us to be the one to go - so, up I went!
Brad strapped me into a bosuns chair and attached it to our main halyard line as I started to get a little nervous about this whole endeavor. I did feel a little better when Brad told me he wasn't nervous and that I would be fine. We started slowly, making sure that everything was set up correctly and the line was going to hold my weight (I'm no lightweight!). Everything seemed fine, so Brad started hauling me up.
It was a long and arduous process; me shimmying up the mast trying to take some of the pressure off of Brad, both of us having to rest every 15 feet of so. When I was almost at the top, Chelsea (my friend visiting from Jax) arrived and immediately starting laughing and taking pictures - we were quickly turning into the neighborhood entertainment.
Of course I reached the top of the mast only to realize that I was too far down to actually see the top and could, in fact, barely even reach up to change the bulb! Talk about frustrating!! So I wrapped my left arm over the top of the mast and with my right arm, attempted to unscrew the cap off the anchor light. After a few setbacks - after twisting for 10 minutes I realized there was electrical tape around the base that I had to remove, and then I couldn't reach the top of the screwdriver to unscrew the screws to remove the actual light fixture - I finally managed to just changed out the lightbulb and replace the cap. Although we were hoping to change the whole fixture, this was better than nothing.
I took a few pictures of the top of the mast and of me hanging so high in the air. And of course, of the marina, the scenery and our boat which looked so tiny down below! Then Brad and Chelsea slowly let me down.
All in all, it was uneventful and a lot more fun than I had ever thought it would be! And of course, as soon as I was safely down on the boat Brad said, "Thank God! I thought I was going to be sick the whole time you were up there!" Well, at least he is a good liar!
So one of the large tasks that we have been putting off for so long is going up the mast to replace the anchor light and checking the wiring on our anemometer (the thing that tells us the direction and speed of the wind). Yes, that meant that one of us was going to have to be hoisted all the way to the top of our 59' mast. And of course it only makes sense for the lighter of us to be the one to go - so, up I went!
Brad strapped me into a bosuns chair and attached it to our main halyard line as I started to get a little nervous about this whole endeavor. I did feel a little better when Brad told me he wasn't nervous and that I would be fine. We started slowly, making sure that everything was set up correctly and the line was going to hold my weight (I'm no lightweight!). Everything seemed fine, so Brad started hauling me up.
It was a long and arduous process; me shimmying up the mast trying to take some of the pressure off of Brad, both of us having to rest every 15 feet of so. When I was almost at the top, Chelsea (my friend visiting from Jax) arrived and immediately starting laughing and taking pictures - we were quickly turning into the neighborhood entertainment.
Of course I reached the top of the mast only to realize that I was too far down to actually see the top and could, in fact, barely even reach up to change the bulb! Talk about frustrating!! So I wrapped my left arm over the top of the mast and with my right arm, attempted to unscrew the cap off the anchor light. After a few setbacks - after twisting for 10 minutes I realized there was electrical tape around the base that I had to remove, and then I couldn't reach the top of the screwdriver to unscrew the screws to remove the actual light fixture - I finally managed to just changed out the lightbulb and replace the cap. Although we were hoping to change the whole fixture, this was better than nothing.
I took a few pictures of the top of the mast and of me hanging so high in the air. And of course, of the marina, the scenery and our boat which looked so tiny down below! Then Brad and Chelsea slowly let me down.
All in all, it was uneventful and a lot more fun than I had ever thought it would be! And of course, as soon as I was safely down on the boat Brad said, "Thank God! I thought I was going to be sick the whole time you were up there!" Well, at least he is a good liar!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Procrastination
11.12.10
We have accomplished the majority of the menial TO DO items on the list, leaving of course the biggest and most complex until the end. So we are procrastinating. These projects are daunting and in depth and will require help from the neighboring, more knowledgeable sailors. And also lots of blood, sweat, and tears. These few large tasks are all that stand between us and our sailing out of here next week.
Well, looks like we may be here a little longer....ha!
We have accomplished the majority of the menial TO DO items on the list, leaving of course the biggest and most complex until the end. So we are procrastinating. These projects are daunting and in depth and will require help from the neighboring, more knowledgeable sailors. And also lots of blood, sweat, and tears. These few large tasks are all that stand between us and our sailing out of here next week.
Well, looks like we may be here a little longer....ha!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
We're Baaa-aaack!!
OK, we are finally getting back on the horse - bear with me as I try to get my blogging mojo back!
Well, we obviously safely made it into St. Petersburg where we holed up for 4months during hurricane season...a very long 4months! We attempted to find jobs, but apparently the economic decline has hit here pretty hard as it was impossible for us to find employment. So, instead we enjoyed the air conditioner that we purchased ASAP upon getting to St. Pete and relished in having free cable on our $15 pawn shop TV.
Our marina is less than adequate - think barely floating boats that couldn't move if they had to, wobbly docks and a bathroom made of plywood with no heating or AC. Yep, that about sums it up! But, the price was right so we made do with what we had. Needless to say we spent most of our time holed up on our boat, occasionally getting out to hang out with some of the friends we had made here in town. (Blake, Molly, Shane - we wouldn't have made it without you!!) We were also able to get up to MD/VA area to see old friends and family and spend time with our Jacksonville friends. So although we weren't able to get jobs, we have enjoyed catching up and visiting with old friends.
As October approached, we realized we needed to get serious about outfitting our boat for the big trip over to the Caribbean. So, here we go!
We have a wind generator waiting in the wings to be installed (anyone know anything about electrical work?!) Thanks to a visit from family members, we are almost completely stocked with food, drinks and pet supplies. We still have many small repairs to accomplish before our sail date can be set. But, after serving as a floating house for 3 months it's nice to know this big girl can still look like a real boat!!
Although we still have a long way to go, we are hoping to celebrate a Bahamian Thanksgiving. Stay tuned as we try to outfit the boat as needed for the big trip. The theatrics have only just begun!!
Well, we obviously safely made it into St. Petersburg where we holed up for 4months during hurricane season...a very long 4months! We attempted to find jobs, but apparently the economic decline has hit here pretty hard as it was impossible for us to find employment. So, instead we enjoyed the air conditioner that we purchased ASAP upon getting to St. Pete and relished in having free cable on our $15 pawn shop TV.
Our marina is less than adequate - think barely floating boats that couldn't move if they had to, wobbly docks and a bathroom made of plywood with no heating or AC. Yep, that about sums it up! But, the price was right so we made do with what we had. Needless to say we spent most of our time holed up on our boat, occasionally getting out to hang out with some of the friends we had made here in town. (Blake, Molly, Shane - we wouldn't have made it without you!!) We were also able to get up to MD/VA area to see old friends and family and spend time with our Jacksonville friends. So although we weren't able to get jobs, we have enjoyed catching up and visiting with old friends.
As October approached, we realized we needed to get serious about outfitting our boat for the big trip over to the Caribbean. So, here we go!
We have a wind generator waiting in the wings to be installed (anyone know anything about electrical work?!) Thanks to a visit from family members, we are almost completely stocked with food, drinks and pet supplies. We still have many small repairs to accomplish before our sail date can be set. But, after serving as a floating house for 3 months it's nice to know this big girl can still look like a real boat!!
Although we still have a long way to go, we are hoping to celebrate a Bahamian Thanksgiving. Stay tuned as we try to outfit the boat as needed for the big trip. The theatrics have only just begun!!
Coming Soon!
The blog will be up and running again this week. I'll fill everyone in on the not-so-exciting details that have been going on since the summer and keep you updating as we prepare to hit the open water again.
By the way - we have finally seen manatees in the wild!!! I was beginning to think they were a myth!
Stay tuned....
By the way - we have finally seen manatees in the wild!!! I was beginning to think they were a myth!
Stay tuned....
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