sailblogs.com/member/cricket
Hi all, I have loved this blog site but it does not do remote entries or give long/Lat. so I am switching to sailblogs for now.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday - a tale of two sisters.
Hi ALL!
our view
Ed sailing
Ed and Lila
Ben getting his yearly shorn
Monday - a tale of two sisters.
To contrast the lifestyles... I rolled over in a queen sized bed, got up in my 70 degree room, had a hot shower with plenty of water pressure, brushed my teeth (and rinsed them with fresh water) was able to easily pass by my husband on his way to the bathroom without changing course, style my hair in a rather large picture mirror, watch the news, use the hotel WIFI, and sit at a kitchen table and enjoy the morning.
Pam on the other hand, rolled over in a torpedo tube of a nook that I'm not sure Ben can even sit up straight in; got up in a cabin that is probably about 40 degrees, if she wanted to shower would have to walk around the dock (it is 39 degrees out) up the ramp and around to the non-heated bathroom with barely any water pressure (to the point where you practically have to jump around to get wet); brush her teeth with the water there coming out of a tap encrusted with some sort of green barnacle stuff, brush her hair in a rather tiny mirror mounted too high (it does say "you're pretty" below it); walk back to the boat with cold wet hair, navigate back on board, tip toe around the nav station; down the steep ladder to get to the kitchen nook. (no wifi).
If you can live with that most days, then here is the payoff. A beautiful stroll with your best friend, surround sound picture windows that only God can put together; meeting people that us city dwellers would probably rush past; experiencing new cultures; living with breathless nature and animals; the freedom to go where you want, when you want without the shackles of society; and love.
Ed and I wish them all the best for a safe, happy, fun, adventurous trip. We will be happy to fly and meet you where ever you land!
This is Nola, signing out!!!
Bug nets! much needed so you don't go crazy!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
My sister, Nola's perspective (she and Ed are visiting)
We interrupt this blog for a different perspective!! This blog is being written by Pam's land-loving, city-dwelling sister to give you non-sailing type a picture of what is going on.
While I'm not totally without "rustic" skills (we went camping when we were kids, and the Army was nice enough to provide more outdoor fun and excitement over my 22 year of service) I've decided that my new definition of "roughing it" means that my 5 star hotel's concierge called in sick!
The weather in Georgia today is absolutely perfect! Pam doesn't give enough props to the weather here. We had beautiful blue sky's all day. The drive down was country as you have to go cross country to get here.
We picked Pam up at the coffee place where she was spread out working on something. She had a large ziplock of cables that turned out to be a satellite phone. My husband is over the moon as he's been a tad concerned about them having trouble "in the middle of nowhere".
Off we went to the boat. We walked by their collapse able bikes locked up on the rail, down the ramp to the dock and around to their boat (the only non-white boat in the place). I was happy to see the solar panels on top as that means electricity! (electricity good! Things can be plugged in while on water).
This is the first time I've actually seen Cricket actually in the water... It looks much smaller with its underbelly hidden. Since they are still in provisioning mode, stuff is everywhere (like the Beverly hill billy truck on water, only much newer! Not saying that they are hillbillies but at this point they are definitely are hillbilly-esq).
Lila ran to greet us and was happy that we didn't bring our brat Cammi with. Ben was waving and showed off his new boat pants. They are pretty cute Ben! He calls them bug and sun protection.
We were starving so we went for lunch. Their boat is right in the thick of the historic district of St Mary's. So we walked to a cute little restaurant. After lunch we went on a golf cart tour of St Mary's. Ed really enjoyed the tour. Our tour guide was very informative without being boring. Then it was time to get things done.
We went to the boatyard to see where they have been living. I've been to two boat yards do far and this was the third. Because of my past experiences, my expectations were low. Boat yards have a "junkyard" feel to them. All these sad boats hobbling on crutches, with the boat doctors (and owners) trying to fix them up. This yard had lots of genuinely nice people just wanting to help. We met all the boat doctors and nurses, and dogs.
To comment on the bugs, while I wasn't as bothered, I could see the buzzing little varmints creating little halos around everyone else. The British couple were sporting matching portable screen tent shirts, quite stylish. Robin had peeled his zippered full front mask to talk to us. Pam aspires to have the full body version one day.
Pam mentioned candles and one of the guys starts unloading all these mason jar candles. No lie! About 4 boxes of candles appeared like magic! With essences like "monkey farts", how could I resist? I opted for cucumber.
We checked into our "hotel" on the naval base. Not 5 star but not bad. It's transient housing for navy guys. I'm used to roughing it in hotels. Ran by the class 6 (liquor store for you non military) for more important provisioning; and buy the time we finished all this, it was time for dinner.
We ate at seafood and more. Almost everything in St Mary's has "and seafood" at the end of it. I love eating at the coast! Fresh, cheap, great seafood! For $22 total, we had heaping plates of shrimp and scallops. Fat and happy, it was time to get to work.
Back to the boat we walked by the bikes and then came to the really steep ramp... Wait!!! It wasn't steep earlier... Pam explained that this beautiful concrete dock is floating and pointed out the crustations that were now on the cement poles. Somehow tons of concrete float. Cool.
At night there isn't a lot of difference between the black dock and the black water so thanks to Ed and is handy flashlight app I was doing good. I'd not want to try it after a few drinks!
"permission to come aboard" said Ed, "granted" chirped Pam, and onto the boat we went. I had been on the boat before only from a ladder on hard. I thought it was tricky then but thought it would be better on the water. Nope. There is a flimsy rail that I was sure wouldn't hold my entire weight that prohibited you from putting your foot in the area that would make it easy to get on board. So you have to put a foot in this area that is barely wide enough to accommodate said foot, figure out how to get the other foot past the railing, around the boat housing and into the navigation station. Whew! I made it! Being known for some rather artistic falls, I didn't want to add to that string.
There isn't a lot of room for 2 let alone have company. Top that due to provisioning efforts it did sort of look like an episode of hoarders with all the food and stuff everywhere. Pam and Ben seem to move effortlessly around... Ed and I... Not so much.
I felt like we were playing a human version of that little puzzle game with the numbers you have shift till you get them in order. Pam and I went in first with Ed and Ben behind. To get Ed to the bench you put Pam in the kitchen, me by the back, Ed on the bench, Ben off to the side and me back to the kitchen. This was repeated in various routines throughout the night.
Kitchen= enough square footage to turn around. On one side small shelf, next cabinets and nooks ( one that is about 4-5 soup cans deep) , next side is two sinks (one salt water, one fresh) and the last the opening. Pam and I did fit in this space but didn't move around much.
For those of you that have read about "natures head". This the the toilet that you poop in peat moss. At first descriptions it sounded gross, but it's no worse than an airline toilet and actually smells better! It smells like potting soil and I equate it to more like kitty litter for humans only you don't do any scooping. It was much cleaner than the airline throne.
Pam and I proceeded to reduce the family sized packages of pancake mix, coffee, wheat thins and various flours into reasonable sized packages. We had my food saver and were sucking the air out (when it worked) and sealed it in thick plastic. It seems that if water gets in you don't want a 5 lb bag of pancake flour to be goo. This way only the opened ones get ruined.
While Pam and I did packaging, Ed made a proper inspection of the helm and other stuff.
We were completely pooped by this time so we exited to the hotel where we promptly passed out into a deep sleep.
From What to You
Friday, January 27, 2012
Most all systems a GO!
Welp today we finally got all of our "emergency" stuff in line.
Back up water Reverse Osmosis - Check
Back up bilge pumps working - Check
Sea Anchor or Parachute Anchor - comes in the mail tuesday - check
Charts electronically and now a paper birds eye view of our path - Check
Too much food - Check
GPS - back up hand held with all charts loaded - Check
SSB - Nope so we bought a Satellite Phone - one can only do so much - We could not see buying a new SSB one more thing on our electronic failure list from the lightening strike in the boatyard - on the other hand now we can actually call you all sometime. Get this.... you can SMS/text us anytime for free! yup!
Sat-phone - Check I will give you our email address and sat-phone once I can figure it out. I'm downloading the software as we speak.
extra Lines - check
extra sails - check
sewing kit - check
Eplirb - Check (that is a mayday long/Lat beacon)
Ditch bag - Check (that is a bag of stuff we throw in if we are to move to our safety raft)
passports - Check
Coast Guard certificate - waiting for the mail to come - close to check
coffee - check
Solar panels - Check
Generator - Check
AIS our new one came in the mail and Phil will help us install on monday - check
We would be never ready if we tried to think of anything and everything that could go wrong. So sometimes you just have to leave. Write your emergency list and then move along. Ben and I are to that point. We have 90% of what we need or so we think. we have covered the major bases. We have the boating community with us wherever we go. It's time to go.
My sister and brother in law will be with us this weekend to hang out and help with the last preparing of the boat and stuff. then they will take our car back to their house to store for us and we will be car-less as most boaters are. It has been a luxury having a car these past few weeks.
we anticipate leaving wednesday or thursday....
depending on the weather
but don't worry we will send out an email of how to get a hold of us and how to text us. that will be fun!
Blessings
Pam
Back up water Reverse Osmosis - Check
Back up bilge pumps working - Check
Sea Anchor or Parachute Anchor - comes in the mail tuesday - check
Charts electronically and now a paper birds eye view of our path - Check
Too much food - Check
GPS - back up hand held with all charts loaded - Check
SSB - Nope so we bought a Satellite Phone - one can only do so much - We could not see buying a new SSB one more thing on our electronic failure list from the lightening strike in the boatyard - on the other hand now we can actually call you all sometime. Get this.... you can SMS/text us anytime for free! yup!
Sat-phone - Check I will give you our email address and sat-phone once I can figure it out. I'm downloading the software as we speak.
extra Lines - check
extra sails - check
sewing kit - check
Eplirb - Check (that is a mayday long/Lat beacon)
Ditch bag - Check (that is a bag of stuff we throw in if we are to move to our safety raft)
passports - Check
Coast Guard certificate - waiting for the mail to come - close to check
coffee - check
Solar panels - Check
Generator - Check
AIS our new one came in the mail and Phil will help us install on monday - check
We would be never ready if we tried to think of anything and everything that could go wrong. So sometimes you just have to leave. Write your emergency list and then move along. Ben and I are to that point. We have 90% of what we need or so we think. we have covered the major bases. We have the boating community with us wherever we go. It's time to go.
My sister and brother in law will be with us this weekend to hang out and help with the last preparing of the boat and stuff. then they will take our car back to their house to store for us and we will be car-less as most boaters are. It has been a luxury having a car these past few weeks.
we anticipate leaving wednesday or thursday....
depending on the weather
but don't worry we will send out an email of how to get a hold of us and how to text us. that will be fun!
Blessings
Pam
Thursday, January 19, 2012
finally progress
Yesterday and today was a day of strides and man do we need a few big strides.
Ben connected our ground plate - he has been working on a copper ground system that runs through out the inside of the hull and connects to a big plate outside the hull, this is all necessary so we can use our SSB. Yeah! that is done. Now to get into the water to see if the rest works.
Just before we got to the boatyard there was a lightning strike. It hit a boat across from us but many of our neighbors electronics stopped working and of course ours is no different. So for the past 3 months we have been chasing the cats tail in a circle again! around and around. the lightning seemed to have effected our chart plotter, radar, and now we find out possibly our AIS is not working... Grrrr that is all I can say is grrrr! It might have effected our SSB too but we won't know that until we get in the water.
Oh back to Strides: we fiber glassed the rudder, the front chest lid cover is close to getting done, we sanded and varnished the small chests, the solar panels went in and they work!!! (so far)... i have been cataloging all the extra parts we have for the boat and been collecting a list of things that we still need to buy. As one boater put it... "There is no way each boater could bring 2 of everything nor could we forecast what things will go wrong and that is why we have a boating community to help each other out."
we have been trying to put things in lockers/cubby holes all around the boat. we have an extra set of sails that are good. Those we just tucked in under the bow birth. they are big so it is nice they actually fit in there out of the way. I have been ziploc-ing most all of our things since last year anything that will get moldy - will And anything that will rust - will, And anything that supposed to stay dry will get wet.
for food we have found a great place (thanks for the tip Ron) for canned meats. We just had canned beef and it was amazing. We have bought many different kinds of sprouts for some fun "fresh" thing to eat while sailing. We have all the charts on our electronics and now we need to pick up paper pilot charts.
well I should go and figure out my taxes before we leave.
that's all for now folks. more updates as we get closer.
blessings
Pam n Ben
Ben connected our ground plate - he has been working on a copper ground system that runs through out the inside of the hull and connects to a big plate outside the hull, this is all necessary so we can use our SSB. Yeah! that is done. Now to get into the water to see if the rest works.
Just before we got to the boatyard there was a lightning strike. It hit a boat across from us but many of our neighbors electronics stopped working and of course ours is no different. So for the past 3 months we have been chasing the cats tail in a circle again! around and around. the lightning seemed to have effected our chart plotter, radar, and now we find out possibly our AIS is not working... Grrrr that is all I can say is grrrr! It might have effected our SSB too but we won't know that until we get in the water.
Oh back to Strides: we fiber glassed the rudder, the front chest lid cover is close to getting done, we sanded and varnished the small chests, the solar panels went in and they work!!! (so far)... i have been cataloging all the extra parts we have for the boat and been collecting a list of things that we still need to buy. As one boater put it... "There is no way each boater could bring 2 of everything nor could we forecast what things will go wrong and that is why we have a boating community to help each other out."
we have been trying to put things in lockers/cubby holes all around the boat. we have an extra set of sails that are good. Those we just tucked in under the bow birth. they are big so it is nice they actually fit in there out of the way. I have been ziploc-ing most all of our things since last year anything that will get moldy - will And anything that will rust - will, And anything that supposed to stay dry will get wet.
for food we have found a great place (thanks for the tip Ron) for canned meats. We just had canned beef and it was amazing. We have bought many different kinds of sprouts for some fun "fresh" thing to eat while sailing. We have all the charts on our electronics and now we need to pick up paper pilot charts.
well I should go and figure out my taxes before we leave.
that's all for now folks. more updates as we get closer.
blessings
Pam n Ben
Monday, January 16, 2012
getting closer to leaving
Blog 2012
Just Four years ago Ben and I dreamt of sailing far away in 2012. Here it is and we are on "schedule".
I've had many of you ask where is my blog and what are we up to. Living in a boatyard for three months is boring to write about unless you have been here. It is hard to describe. It's hard to explain why we work on the same thing for days and still don't get closer. But we are getting closer now"
We have holes in the rudder to patch and fiberglass. Why.? You ask? Cuz there was a tiny crack in the rudder and it filled with water. We drilled relief holes and out poured a gallon or so of water. Then the weather has been too cold to glass! I'm getting used to living in cold, 35-50 degrees. At night we have a heater till things warm up. Then we turn it off till morning. That is when I don't want to get out of bed in 35 degrees! Baby! I can't wait for warm.
During the day we get slowed down by gnats, no see ems that BITE! What the heck!? You can't hardly see Em and chomp chompnchomp! I'm so bugged!
We are trying to get all systems go! Emergency stuff like reverse osmosis water back up. We found a water hand pump. It pumps one gallon of water an hour of pumping. So in an emergency we will be pumping. It is small enough to put in our ditch bag.
We have acquiesced to the idea of getting a satellite phone for work. You might get a call from us in the middle of the ocean! Cool eh?
On to our plan or ideas. We think we will be provisioning the last week of January. Then off to sailing east - almost to Bermuda then take a right and go straight south to the virgin islands. (we think that will be 12-15 days). Then we will island hop if time permits all the skipping along to panama. (BVI, San blas islands,Aruba, and on to panama).
The goal is to be in panama the first week in April. Then Galapagos and islandBlog 2012
Just Four years ago Ben and I dreamt of sailing far away in 2012. Here it is and we are on "schedule".
I've had many of you ask where is my blog and what are we up to. Living in a boatyard for three months is boring to write about unless you have been here. It is hard to describe. It's hard to explain why we work on the same thing for days and still don't get closer. But we are getting closer now"
We have holes in the rudder to patch and fiberglass. Why.? You ask? Cuz there was a tiny crack in the rudder and it filled with water. We drilled relief holes and out poured a gallon or so of water. Then the weather has been too cold to glass! I'm getting used to living in cold, 35-50 degrees. At night we have a heater till things warm up. Then we turn it off till morning. That is when I don't want to get out of bed in 35 degrees! Baby! I can't wait for warm.
During the day we get slowed down by gnats, no see ems that BITE! What the heck!? You can't hardly see Em and chomp chompnchomp! I'm so bugged!
We are trying to get all systems go! Emergency stuff like reverse osmosis water back up. We found a water hand pump. It pumps one gallon of water an hour of pumping. So in an emergency we will be pumping. It is small enough to put in our ditch bag.
We have acquiesced to the idea of getting a satellite phone for work. You might get a call from us in the middle of the ocean! Cool eh?
On to our plan or ideas. We think we will be provisioning the last week of January. Then off to sailing east - almost to Bermuda then take a right and go straight south to the virgin islands. (we think that will be 12-15 days). Then we will island hop if time permits all the skipping along to panama. (BVI, San blas islands,Aruba, and on to panama).
The goal is to be in panama the first week in April. Then Galapagos and island hop to tonga then wait till November or dec to sail to NZ... Ta da...
Now you all know. I will let you know the new website when I get used to it.
Have a great night!
blessings!
getting closer
Blog 2012
Just Four years ago Ben and I dreamt of sailing far away in 2012. Here it is and we are on "schedule".
I've had many of you ask where is my blog and what are we up to. Living in a boatyard for three months is boring to write about unless you have been here. It is hard to describe. It's hard to explain why we work on the same thing for days and still don't get closer. But we are getting closer now"
We have holes in the rudder to patch and fiberglass. Why.? You ask? Cuz there was a tiny crack in the rudder and it filled with water. We drilled relief holes and out poured a gallon or so of water. Then the weather has been too cold to glass! I'm getting used to living in cold, 35-50 degrees. At night we have a heater till things warm up. Then we turn it off till morning. That is when I don't want to get out of bed in 35 degrees! Baby! I can't wait for warm.
During the day we get slowed down by gnats, no see ems that BITE! What the heck!? You can't hardly see Em and chomp chompnchomp! I'm so bugged!
We are trying to get all systems go! Emergency stuff like reverse osmosis water back up. We found a water hand pump. It pumps one gallon of water an hour of pumping. So in an emergency we will be pumping. It is small enough to put in our ditch bag.
We have acquiesced to the idea of getting a satellite phone for work. You might get a call from us in the middle of the ocean! Cool eh?
On to our plan or ideas. We think we will be provisioning the last week of January. Then off to sailing east - almost to Bermuda then take a right and go straight south to the virgin islands. (we think that will be 12-15 days). Then we will island hop if time permits all the skipping along to panama. (BVI, San blas islands,Aruba, and on to panama).
The goal is to be in panama the first week in April. Then Galapagos and island hop to tonga then wait till November or dec to sail to NZ... Ta da...
Now you all know. I will let you know the new website when I get used to it.
Have a great night!
blessings!
Just Four years ago Ben and I dreamt of sailing far away in 2012. Here it is and we are on "schedule".
I've had many of you ask where is my blog and what are we up to. Living in a boatyard for three months is boring to write about unless you have been here. It is hard to describe. It's hard to explain why we work on the same thing for days and still don't get closer. But we are getting closer now"
We have holes in the rudder to patch and fiberglass. Why.? You ask? Cuz there was a tiny crack in the rudder and it filled with water. We drilled relief holes and out poured a gallon or so of water. Then the weather has been too cold to glass! I'm getting used to living in cold, 35-50 degrees. At night we have a heater till things warm up. Then we turn it off till morning. That is when I don't want to get out of bed in 35 degrees! Baby! I can't wait for warm.
During the day we get slowed down by gnats, no see ems that BITE! What the heck!? You can't hardly see Em and chomp chompnchomp! I'm so bugged!
We are trying to get all systems go! Emergency stuff like reverse osmosis water back up. We found a water hand pump. It pumps one gallon of water an hour of pumping. So in an emergency we will be pumping. It is small enough to put in our ditch bag.
We have acquiesced to the idea of getting a satellite phone for work. You might get a call from us in the middle of the ocean! Cool eh?
On to our plan or ideas. We think we will be provisioning the last week of January. Then off to sailing east - almost to Bermuda then take a right and go straight south to the virgin islands. (we think that will be 12-15 days). Then we will island hop if time permits all the skipping along to panama. (BVI, San blas islands,Aruba, and on to panama).
The goal is to be in panama the first week in April. Then Galapagos and island hop to tonga then wait till November or dec to sail to NZ... Ta da...
Now you all know. I will let you know the new website when I get used to it.
Have a great night!
blessings!
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