Frigid Sunrise

     We arrived at the boat on Monday afternoon only to be welcomed by very cold and "windy" conditions.  Fear not, we have a diesel fired furnace on the boat!  So, we opened up the boat, ran a shoreline connection, threw a few switches and hunkered down for the best mother nature could throw at us.  Monday night was cold but uneventful.  It wasn't until Tuesday that the fury was unleashed with sustained class 5 winds on the Beaufort Scale, which are described as a "Fresh  Breeze" at 18 -24 MPH.  Let's not forget the wind chill factor.  But then it gets better,.  The winds were to build into the afternoon and gusting to class 8 "Fresh Gale" at 39 - 46 MPH.  When I say the boat shook, it shook, which is not a pleasant feeling considering the boat is supported by anemic boat stands on each side. So the winds settled down last night and we arose to a beautiful sunrise this morning, 18 degrees and no wind.  Cool enough to ice over the water in the marina. Just in case you are wondering, the boat's plumbing system is winterized and the marina bathrooms are 100 yards away!  Pictured below is Sharon enjoying the frigid sunrise at 7 am today.

Better Safe than Sorry

It occurs to me that the saddest thing I have ever heard can be expressed in the concept - better safe than sorry.  What follows is my editorial debunking that popular notion.   If, when looking back on my life, I were to have lived safely, I am sure that I would have lots of regrets.   The future is not for the faint of heart.  Yet most people lead lives of  quiet desperation.  Life is not about being safe.  It is about taking risks.  It is about driving through a snowstorm to be with the ones you love on Christmas.   It is about selling your possessions and taking off in a boat for lands unknown.  Perhaps I have more wanderlust than the average person.  But being average is a concept that is as deadly as being safe.   For those of you who want nothing more than to be safe, I say - bah humbug.  Live a little and have an adventure worth remembering.  Better ventured than safe!

Eagle Scout!

You will have to bear with us while we brag about our youngest son, Grant.  On Sunday, December 13, 2009, Grant passed the final challenge of Boy Scouts, the Eagle Scout Board of Review.  In addition to being  a Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B), a Volunteer Firefighter,  and Outstanding High School Student, Grant can now add Eagle Scout to his list of accomplishments.  And he is just 18 years of age. Grant's next planned challenge is college, where he would like to major in Applied Networking & Systems Administration at Rochester Institute of Technology (NY).

Flashback ( That's not Bullwinkle! )

     (Unfortunately, we do not have photographs to document this encounter, but nonetheless, it is quite a memory that we both can still visualize to this day).
     Sharon and I were kayaking on Osgood Pond in the Adirondacks.  It was a great day for a paddle and a great location. Our day trip took us north on Osgood Pond and  the Upper Osgood River.   About 2 miles upstream from the pond there is a designated campsite, where we stopped for a late lunch.  The campsite was on top of a small hill that provided an overlook of the river and the wetlands on the opposite side of the river.  After lunch, Sharon and I decided to head back to Osgood Lake, as we had a 1 hour drive back to our campsite on Floodwood Road.  Don't ask me why, but when we kayak on rivers and creeks I will take the lead and Sharon will bring up the rear.  On this particular occasion, Sharon took the lead.  As we proceeded downstream we came to a series of bends in the river.  I could see Sharon just ahead of me, but I could not see around the bend.  Then with very low and calm voice I heard Sharon exclaim "Bob, your not going to believe this".  I could see Sharon was back paddling very quietly but I could not see why.  Then as I rounded the bend, I saw it, a cow moose standing  in the middle of the stream , 25 feet from Sharon, obstructing our travel.  As I started to backpaddle, I quickly scanned all around us looking for a calf, and was relieved not to see one.  We managed to quietly backpaddle to hold our position without scaring the moose. However, the moose did get nervous, turned, walked away from us, then it went up onto the river bank and disappeared into the forest.  Wow, our first encounter with a moose, up close and personal!

     We did not get to share this experience with anyone until a few days later when we were heading home to Pennsylvania.  We stopped at the kayak shop where we had purchased our kayaks the previous year and were swapping stories with the clerk.  When we told her of the moose encounter, she said she was envious as she had been living and paddling  in the Adirondacks for 20 years and never saw a moose.  We left the Adirondacks that year feeling that the day trip with the moose encounter was something very special.

        

Cold Turkey

     I wish that I was writing about left over turkey from Thanksgiving, but that's not the case.  I was abruptly hit with a ton of bricks this morning when I looked at the calender.   It has been 2 1/2 weeks since the boat was hauled, and I am already suffering from withdrawal. I know that I have written about the time leading  to our departure  in November 2010 as being a very short time, and there are so much preparations to do. This is a case of the other side of the coin.  Sharon told me a few days ago that she had to stop reading other blogs about full time cruisers.  Now I understand what she meant.  Even though the boat is on the hard, we will be going down to the boat for a few days between Christmas and New Year for a boat fix.   

T-Minus 11 and Counting

     November was not a good month for our preparations towards being full time cruisers.  I was very involved in winterizing the boat and having the boat hauled.  Sharon offered a couple of days to help with winterizing, which I gladly accepted.  Winterizing a boat is very labor intensive, and if you pay someone to do it, very expensive.
     There was talk between us about different transition projects, but we never actually got to work on any of them.  The cooking recipe database projects continues with no completion date etched in stone.  One of our original plans was to have a yard sale late next spring to liquidate most of those possessions that won't be needed (or fit) on a boat, like a 50" big screen TV.   While we were on the boat for winterization, in October, we discussed another idea to start offering some of the items on eBay or CraigsList to expedite "disposal".
     On another note, something worth celebrating, Sharon decided to retire 6 months early.  Her retirement was effective the 20th of November.  It was back in October she decided to do this and I fully support her decision.  Just another step forward in our quest to become full time cruisers and start our adventure.

Flashback (Taking It All In)

     Although some lakes and ponds in the Adirondacks allow power boats, we did not kayak on those bodies of water. Because we kayaked on "remote" waters, we did not find trash, graffiti or other signs of the masses. I guess most of the lakes we visited required some work on our part to get there before we got the kayaks wet. That eliminated the hooligans who might destroy such places with their carelessness and disrespect for what mother nature has provided us. I believe on this particular day (see photo), we saw one other group of kayakers, who respected our privacy with a distant wave hello and paddled on.

     Here, in this photo, Sharon can be seen enjoying the peace and tranquility of Slang Pond. The rock outcropping Sharon is sitting on is part of a designated campsite, one of only 2 sites on Slang Pond. Most of the lakes we visited had designated campsites, and each one of those campsites was carefully placed to take advantage of something unique to that particular lake and its surroundings.

Flashback (Boot Camp)

     If you are familiar with our blog you are probably saying to yourself "I saw that picture before".  And your are right.  This photo has been published in the right hand column of random photos as "Our favorite spot in the Adirondacks".  We've been there twice, and we have never been disappointed.   Before I tell where this special place is let me tell how to get there.  From Paul Smiths, take NY Rt  30 north, turn left onto NY Rt 458 , go a very short distance and turn left onto a dirt road, drive  for about 8 miles to a small parking lot.  As you travel the dirt road, rub your good luck idol that no one is traveling in the other direction for there  are very few places to pull over and let another vehicle pass.  From the parking lot, you have about a 1 mile hike with your kayak. Note - we strongly recommend the use of kayak dollies to access this body of water.  Once you have launched your kayak, the paddle to Boot Camp Island is about 2 hours up the flow as the channel snakes through the aquatic vegetation.   Although there are other locations that are more remote, this  was by far the most remote location that we paddled in the Adirondacks.  This waterway is far off the beaten path of publicized places to kayak for the average Joe.  The place is Quebec Brook flowing into Madawaska Pond, also referred to as the Madawaska Flow. If you have a Adirondack Paddler's Map, you will find Madawaska Pond NNW of Paul Smiths.   If you have the time, this is a very good remote paddle.  Be prepared for an all day adventure, starting with the off road excursion by vehicle, a short hike, a great paddle to the cabin, and the return trip.   We do not know of any approved camping sites on this body of water.

     The second photo sums it up very well as to how we named the spot Boot Camp.  Yes, in the center of the photo is a boot that has been hung on the wall.  Having built and lived in a log home for 18 years, I was fascinated with the design and construction of this old log cabin, vertical logs instead of horizontal logs.  The vertical logs would shed water quickly and also dry faster.  We never did go inside because the floor was ready to collapse, and the cabin was probably a haven for snakes.  Rumors from the locals was that a crazy ol' trapper lived here many years ago.  I don't know about the being crazy part.  Was he deemed crazy for where he chose to live - remote location, beautiful scenery and no people!

Bitter Sweet Moment

     Just what exactly is a bitter sweet moment?   Bitter in the fact that we hauled the boat for the winter.  Sweet, that it's the last time we haul the boat for winter.  Next year we may haul the boat in the fall for preventive maintenance measures, but then its right back over the side and off we go at a mind numbing 7 knots speeding down the ICW.  The photo below shows Big Run in the sling of the travel lift being raised out of  the haul-out slip.

Who's a Slacker?

     I know what your thinking, another photo of the "event", the sunset.  I'll  have you know I was up bright and early (6:30 AM) today, in time to catch a magnificent sunrise.  The water was very calm, the birds were just getting started on breakfast and I was standing on Big Run's foredeck in a t-shirt as we were experiencing a unusually warm spell for November in Maryland.

PS - Don't expect too many sunrise photos!

Changes

    We all go through changes in our lives, so do blogs. We didn't change the blog template much, however we added a reactions and comments section to each entry. We did reserve the right to view the comments before they get posted. We don't expect to censor the comments unless they have profanity or malicious thoughts. In those cases, we will delete the comment in its entirety. Have fun, we can take it.

Still Hav'n Fun - Part 2

    This past weekend had the potential to be a good weekend on the boat. We had the fall foliage, cool temps and our favorite anchorage all to ourselves. Despite the rain, the one mile visibility, we had a great weekend. We fended off the cool, damp temps by firing up the diesel furnace, tuning in a football game, making pizza and later we watched game 3 of the world series.

     It was also a great weekend for wildlife sightings. During the cruise to the anchorage, we spotted a very large buck swimming across the creek. I tried to get a good photo of the deer, but he had no intentions of letting us get close enough for a decent picture. We did manage to get a photo of one of the two bald eagles, that have taken residency at Millstone point, as it flew close to the boat.

     So, rain, foggy conditions, swimming deer, bald eagles, good food, football and baseball - Yeah, were still hav'n fun!

T-Minus 12 and Counting

     It doesn't matter what you call it, 12 months or 1 year, it's a short amount of time. The countdown continues and so do the preparations. Sharon has finished those projects to reduce snail mail. Over the course of the next year we will still need to monitor all mail we receive. As mentioned in the T- Minus 13 blog entry, we will be subscribing($) to a mail service to receive our snail mail and forward($) our mail to a location of our choice with ample notice to the service. We want to reduce mail (weight) which has to be forwarded($). Most mail services also offer a scan option ($), where they scan($) the envelope so that you can then view the envelope online($) and make a decision to trash it or forward($) it. And if you would like to pay another fee($), they will open($) your mail and scan($) the envelope's contents for viewing online($) , so once again you can decide to trash it or forward ($) it with your next mail package($). Did you catch the underlying theme ($) here?

     As a preparations bonus this past month, Sharon has decided to enter all of her recipes into a database (RecipeMaster) she downloaded from the net. This will minimize storage of all the recipes she has on paper. RecipeMaster will also allow us to access recipes by categories, ingredients or country of origin . Sharon has also been able to adapt the program to our dining habits by modifying categories and ingredients. As our live-aboard adventures take us to different regions of the world, we will be able to enter those local recipes that we like into our database. I already know of one recipe, the Abyssinia Special, Sharon can enter into her database whenever we catch up Kim and Eric on board the M/V Abyssinia. The Abyssinia Special is a crab and halibut recipe we've discussed in our earlier blog entry "Flashback Alaska - Call me anything but late for Dinner".

Flashback (Can you say "Free"?)

    The Adirondacks is a great place to kayak, but you need a place to stay or camp. Sharon and I accidentally discovered that, within the park boundaries, there are free campsites on park lands. In this photo, our RV is at site number 11 on Floodwood Road in the St. Regis Canoe Area. This particular campsite is well isolated from other campsites (there are only 11) and within walking distance of a group of lakes connected by streams. So, with the use of our kayak dollies, we can be paddling within minutes of leaving the campsite. You are permitted to stay for 3 days without a camping permit. However, with a camping permit you may stay up to 2 weeks. We did not have a permit when we parked the RV here one Sunday in July. On returning to the RV on Monday after a day of kayaking, we discovered a note on our windshield from the local park ranger informing us of the length-of-stay policy. On the note was the ranger's name, phone number and address in Keese Mill, a small town about an hour away. As it was early Monday evening we decided to call the ranger's office on Tuesday during business hours to make arrangements to stay longer than 3 days. The next morning, we got up early to kayak on Long Pond, a local pond on Floodwood Road, and planned a early return to the RV by mid-afternoon. We would then take the Jeep to find cell phone coverage so that we could call the ranger as there was no cell phone coverage at the campsite. Also, we thought we may need to travel to the town of Keese Mill to secure a permit. While we were on the lake, we stopped for a early lunch at one of the designated campsites. On our departure, as we were back-paddling the kayaks away from shore, we noticed a canoe approaching us. In the canoe was a single paddler. As we exchanged greetings with the gentleman, he asked us if we were enjoying our visit. We replied that we enjoy kayaking and camping in the Adirondacks. Somehow it came up in our conversation that we were camping on Floodwood Road. Without hesitation the gentleman said "Site No. 11?" to which I replied yes. The only way he could know this was if he was the park ranger who had left the note on our windshield. So I asked him if he was the Ranger Smith (fictitious name) and he replied yes! We informed him of our plans to call him later that day to learn how to get a extended stay permit, to which he replied "I can issue you a permit right now". So there we are, in the middle of the St. Regis Canoe Area, getting our 2-week camping permit. Then to our further surprise, we were informed the permit is issued without fees. The site was free and the permit was free - Thank you state of New York. Note - Park policies (camp sites/permits) may have changed since our last trip in 2006.

The above photo is a view of campsite No. 11 from Floodwood Raod. Also shown is the Jeep with the kayaks loaded ready to go on our next Adirondack kayak adventure.

Flashback(Which way is up?)

     The Adirondacks, a kayaker's paradise, are filled with vistas such as the one in the above photo taken at Low's Lower Dam. But, which way is up? Hint - one of the 2 photos in this particular blog entry is correct.

     New York state has managed to get one thing right - The Adirondacks - especially for kayakers and canoeists. The Adirondacks are filled with remote lakes that are accessible by water only. Most of these lakes have designated camping areas available to anyone on a first come first serve basis. It is very possible to be out and about and never see another person, see any kind of civilization or even hear a jet passing overhead. Believe it or not, canoes are the main mode of transportation in the Adirondacks as families pack up their canoes for a couple nights of camping on their favorite lake. For the locals, the Adirondacks is a way life. I remember one gentleman, who was done paddling for the day, got out of his Kevlar canoe, threw the canoe up on his shoulders to portage the canoe to the car, looked at Sharon and me and said "Not bad for an 80 year old man, eh!". On another occasion, we spotted what was obviously an elderly grey haired woman paddling solo in her canoe. As we progress through fall and winter in Pennsylvania, we will provide more flashbacks to our adventures in the Adirondacks.
     The photo below was taken on the Oswegatchie River as we were returning to the river access point. Have you decided which photo is oriented correctly?

Getting Educated

     This past week I went to the boat on Sunday. Then on Tuesday, I traveled to Solomons, MD for Trawler Fest sponsored by PassageMaker Magazine. Although Trawler Fest did not start until Friday, I was there for what is billed as PassageMaker University (PMU). On Wednesday and Thursday, I attended a 2 day workshop for the Lehman Ford Diesel Engine. I enrolled in this workshop back in June to make sure my reservation was accepted, for this class quickly fills up. The instructor was no other than the legendary Bob Smith of American Diesel Corporation. If you are not familiar with the Lehman Ford diesel engine then you would probably not know who Bob Smith is. Bob Smith was instrumental in the marinization of the Ford engine when the program was started in the early 60's. Today, in his seventies, Bob Smith conducted a workshop at PMU that included lecturing on the Lehman Ford diesel engine on the first day. Day 2 was a hands-on instruction with a Lehman Ford 120. Also on day 2, the class of 14 other fellow boaters and myself applied what we had learned and pulled the injector pump, valve train and injectors. We then retorqued the head, reinstalled and timed the injector pump, bench tested the injectors and reinstalled them, reinstalled the valve train and set valve clearances. Next, we were tested on what we had learned. We wheeled the diesel engine outside and started it. Imagine being at a Holiday Inn and see a bunch of guys fire up a diesel engine outside the hotel without a muffler on the engine! Yes the engine ran, and we all "passed the test". Although I do have a mechanical background, I found this course very enlightening. It will greatly help with our Lehman Ford 120 on board Big Run. If you have a Lehman Ford 120 or 135, you will find this course very beneficial. I especially recommend it for those who have the 120.

T-Minus 13 and Counting

     First, I would like to state that I am not superstitious - 13 is a cool number. And in this case, 13 refers to the number of months till we cast off all of our ties with land. 13 months is not very long and I'm sure we will be asking ourselves where has the time gone. Although we will be doing some extensive cruising next summer, November 2010 is the expiration of our slip contract at Long Cove Marina. November 1st is also the date in which insurance companies allow you to head south beyond Norfolk, VA. At that time we will be heading down the ditch(Intra Coastal Waterway [ICW]). We have already starting developing lists of what has to be done and what needs to purchased for our adventure to begin as full time cruisers Hopefully, all preparations will be concluded by August 2010. There is so much to do - and I 'm not talking just about boat work. Sharon will be handling all the legal/financial issues and other matters related to converting from land based to live-aboards. I, on the other hand, got the easier task of boat preparations. Right now, Sharon is working on reducing our snail mail to something more manageable for a mail service to handle. Most statements are available via the Internet. Sharon is also working on setting up accounts to be paid through the internet. One project Sharon just completed was the scanning of all of our photos that were on paper. All photos are now stored digitally with a backup to a external hard drive. Hopefully we will able to continue our countdown and provide an insight into the transition.

Road Hazard

     And you think potholes do damage to your car's front end! This tree trunk would cause considerable damage to the hull and/or running gear. Fortunately, we were anchored when this log came racing by with the outgoing tide. When we departed from our anchorage on Reed Creek the next day, we kept a watch for this hazard, but it was never seen again. And you want to cruise at night?

Difficult Times

     The month of August has been one of the most trying times of our lives. Sharon and I did take 2 weekend cruises in August, one after the loss of my sister Linda, the other cruise was also a "mental health" weekend because of other events that have been playing out during the month. And it doesn't end there, just recently we were delivered with yet another emotional setback when a family member was hospitalized unexpectedly. Hopefully, September will bring favorable closures to those things that have been testing our fortitude. Looking forward, October offers some great times to be gunkholing on the Bay. Cool temps at night and the prospect of good fall foliage color due to the weekly rains this summer should provide for some interesting times.

Flashback (Honeymoon Suite)

   The day after our wedding, Sharon and I left to go on our honeymoon in the Four Corners region, the Grand Canyon being our ultimate destination with other scenic stops in the surrounding area (states). This photo was taken in Monument Valley. Our customized van served as our honeymoon suite for those 3 weeks, I guess that you can say we have always been adventurous or crazy.

Still Hav'n Fun

     It has been 2 weeks since our last blog entry so I thought I would post something from this past weekend. Last Friday, Sharon and I drove down to the boat together, which usually only happens when the boat is on the hard. The weather forecast for the weekend was to be hot with increasing humidity, so we decided to head up to Comegy's Bight. The openness of Comegy's Bight would surely provide a breeze and just as we hoped it would, the gentle breeze cooled the boat for sleeping that night.
     Saturday's weather called for thunder storms, and as predicted the thunder storms popped up that evening, a severe cell passed to the north and later a strong cell formed to the south. We on the other hand, had a brief shower and strong winds to raise the chop in our anchorage. After listening to the forecast on Sunday which called for more thunderstorms than the previous night, we decided to seek safe harbor in a anchorage that offered a little more wind protection, so we headed down to Reed Creek where this photo was taken. Yep, your right, the storms never formed, we had little or no breeze and because we were closer to land we had bugs - you know, the kind that bite. But you know what - we're still hav'n fun.

Flashback (Words of Wisdom)

     You will have to bear with me while I try to explain this photo. In 2006, we were with our friends Jeff & Wendy at their condo in Ocean City, MD. Close to their condo is the night club Seacrets. On one of our nights clubbing, we were at Seacrets, and for reasons left to your imagination, Sharon had to visit the "Powder Room". There, for some unknown reason was a blackboard in the ladies room. Well, one thing led to another and Sharon left a message to inspire the younger generation. Then to document her inspiration, Sharon captured the moment with a photo to share with us.

Common Addiction

     If you find yourself being bored with sunsets, forget about the notion of being a serious cruiser. As we enjoy the close of the day, we notice others on their boats also being captivated by the event.

Life is Good

     Yes, Life is Good, especially when you can prop up your feet and enjoy a view such as the one pictured here. When Sharon and I are looking for a anchorage that provides great scenery, we choose Millstone Point on the West Branch of the Langford Creek on the Chester River.

Limited Access

     The headwaters of the West Branch of the Langford Creek have limited access for boats due to the low water depth - about 18 inches. This low water depth provides for some excellent kayaking into areas that most people do not get a chance to enjoy.

Fourth of July Celebrations

     Friday the 3rd of July was the start of Sharon's vacation. As Grant was in New Mexico at the Philmont Scout Ranch for a 2 week hike, we had Sky with us. One of our "dog friendly" anchorages is Conquest Beach, "across" the river from Comegys Bight. On Friday night, we were treated to Rock Hall's fireworks, which I charted to be 5 miles away as the crow flies. Although we did not have the audio portion of the program, we did have an excellent view due to the low humidity. Then, on the 4th of July, we were again treated to not one but many fireworks displays, and from the same anchorage of the previous night. To the east was the fireworks from Chestertown (7 miles away), and to the west we could get a glimpse of the show from the city of Baltimore, across the bay. Then, to the north, we saw fireworks from a unknown community, and to the south of Chestertown was yet another display. And then there was the amatuer fireworks display from the shoreline that amused us for some time. So you might say we had the best seats in the house!

Comegys Bight

      Comegys Bight could be called a "bay" on the Chester River and also a anchorage that no one uses. This past weekend Sharon and I enjoyed a spectacular 3 days there. Although the anchorage may not provide protection from storms, it does offer an openness that most cruisers will pass up.

Double Feature

      Every sunset has its merits. This sunset in the above photo would not make the top one hundred. So what made this evening's sunset so memorable? How about a mirror image of the sun in the east!

      As the sun was setting in the west, the above photo captures a full moon rising in the east. Impossible to view at the same time (east vs. west - unless you have eyes in the back of your head) but still a moment to behold. These 2 photos were taken just moments apart from each other. The contrast of colors is accomplished by using different settings on the digital camera, sunset scene vs. night scene.

Skate (a.k.a. Cownose Ray)

     On the first night of a week long fishing trip I caught this Skate. No official time on how long it took to play this Skate, but it was estimated at 20 minutes on 10lb. test monofilament line. Landing it was just as big of a challenge. First, the Ray had no desire to swim into the net. Did I mention the net was too small? And when we did net it, it took 2 of us to lift it onto the cockpit deck. The Ray was returned to Langford Creek with no injuries other than a sore "lip".

Paddle Time

     Grant was needing to "stretch his legs" a little, so he thought a trip around Shaw Bay would help burn off a little of that excess energy that he had stored up.

Test Drive

     Jesse taking the new dinghy for a test drive. He thought it was a convertible sports car and if he cruised the neighborhood long enough he could locate a few eligible ladies.

M/V Ark Angel

     In the dictionary next to "Bristol Fashion" you will find a picture of this boat. If you are going to cruise the bay with good friends, why not do it with some style.

The Event

Sunset at Shaw Bay, Wye River

M/V Glory

     Friends don't let friends drink and drive, but they will sit on your foredeck and flaunt their good time in your face while you man the helm. This boat is a Trumpy motor yacht.

How Long Do We Have to Sit Here?

     This photo is reminescent of days gone by when they were not so innocent and would have to sit on the bad boy bench.

M/V Mosey

     This "trawler" was hauled at our marina to have some work done on the swim platform. This boat has a very interesting story. The hull is steel and was actually built for a sailboat design, and after sitting idle for many years, the current owner purchased the hull and started the conversion work 8 years ago. Although it is a work in progress, the owners are liveaboards with hopeful plans to sever their dirt ties after Thanksgiving 2009. The design offers plenty of views from the pilothouse, salon and galley. It also features 2 suites with walk around berths. The owner told me that they had a 1995 Kadey Krogen and that the Krogen design has influenced some of their design in this boat. This is a beautiful one-of-kind boat and we wish the owners calm seas and fair winds.

First Impressions are Wrong

     What appears to be just a photo of a beautiful sunset taken from the pilothouse is more than that. If you look closely at the water you will see that we were experiencing a very heavy downpour. This photo was taken on Saturday evening after we got caught in this deluge while touring the area with the new dinghy. Yes, Sharon and I got soaked but we laughed it off, Sky on the other hand did not find it amusing.

Quality Time

     One of the many advantages of boating is having the time to do the things you enjoy the most. Here Sharon is doing research for our summer cruise in June. Our preliminary plans for the cruise are to explore the Choptank River on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Foul Weather Has It's Silver Lining

     Monday's foul weather gave me an opportunity to troubleshoot the generator in depth to discover why the starter was not cranking over the engine. Well, after dismantling the starter twice I resolved the problem, and unlike some mechanics today, I did not swap out parts until I corrected the problem. In fact, no new parts were required.

The photo above was taken on Monday evening from our new slip as the storm was winding down. During the day it rained and the wind was gusting 20 to 25 MPH.

Season's First Cruises

     After slipping Big Run back into the water on Thursday, Sharon and I took our first cruise of the season on Friday. It was a very pleasant trip up the Chester River to Chestertown, as a matter of fact, we almost had the river to ourselves.

      One of three boats we passed was the schooner Sultana, this schooner is a replica of a Boston-built merchant vessel originally built for the British Royal Navy and was the smallest schooner in their fleet. Today, the primary role of the vessel is unique educational programs. On this particular voyage it was filled with youth.

     On Saturday we cruised Gray's Inn Creek and the east and west branch of Langford Creek. Because we were having starting issues with the generator, we were not able to stay out over the weekend. On Saturday we anchored next to Cacaway Island for an early dinner before returning to Long Cove Marina.

Table for One

     This photo was taken on Monday, less than 24 hours after Sharon's departure on Sunday. In a matter of hours I was able to convert a table for two into a table for one and a catch all for whatever as I work on the boat. I did manage to keep one end of the table for what a table is intended for - eating. And yes, that local tabloid at the far end is my place mat. Quite often when I have been banished to the boat, this table will collect more junk than shown in this photo, but I think this was a new record for the time taken to clutter up the table.
     This view of the table is nothing compared to the guest stateroom which looks like a hurricane disaster area. I expect to get my orders this week to shape (clean) up or ship out.

And now for something totally different, we are looking to gracefully slip Big Run back into the waters of Langford Creek next week and take our first outing of the season that weekend. I still have to do that bottom paint thing - any volunteers?

New Dink

     On Saturday, Sharon and I took a trip over to Annapolis, the self proclaimed sailboat capitol of the East (Right) Coast, to pickup the new dinghy. Our intentions were to bring the dinghy back to the boat, hoist it up onto the top deck, install the dinghy chocks and call it a day. Yeah right, somebody forgot to pay homage to mother nature and request good weather. It was a beautiful day except for the 25 MPH winds gusting to 40 MPH. Had we attempted to hoist the dinghy, it would have been to the amusement of about 30 fellow boaters who were working on their boats. They would have thought we were trying out a new dinghy shaped kite. So Sharon and I had a relaxing afternoon out on the backporch, thats Krogenese for cockpit! This photo was taken on Sunday as we worked on placement of the dinghy on the top deck so we could install the dinghy chocks.

The Ladder to Adventure

     One of my winter projects was to finish the wooden steps for the access ladder to the flybridge and top deck. The steps had never been finished and had a dull boring look. After 5 coats of Cetol and double strips of anti-slip on each step, the project is done. One project down and I don't know how many more to do - I lost count. As discussed earlier, most projects are on hold except for the Must-Do projects and the projects that are labor intensive and require minimal expenditures, as in $1.00 or less. Next Must-Do project is bottom paint - wahoo! I can hardly wait. The excitement keeps me up at night.

The Unofficial Start to Boating Season

     We are off and running with the boat repairs so to speak. However I should clarify the title to this blog entry. It should read " The Unofficial Start to the Boat Repair Season. If you have a boat you will understand what I mean. I spent one day down in the engine room taking care of a few necessary items. You got to love those Gulf Coast Filters. The large one used to polish the fuel uses a roll of paper towels as the filter medium. We also have a Gulf Coast junior filter for the generator that uses a roll of toilet paper to filter the oil. No high priced proprietary filters. Yes, those engineers who designed these Gulf Coast Filter units should be highly commended for applying the KISS (keep it simple stupid) method. After all, you can purchase paper towels and TP at almost any store.

     Next week we will be pulling the hydraulic steering pump from the flybridge helm and sending it out to be overhauled. It has been leaking for some time. I had considered overhauling the pump myself but decided to let a professional do it. Then I know it will be done right. Speaking of pumps, I removed the raw water pump from the generator to rebuild it at home on a proper workbench, something that the boat is lacking is a good workbench. Maybe Sharon will share the galley counter top for installation of a hefty vise, it could also be used to crack those stubborn crabs.

     I have decided to scale back on boat work while the boat is on the hard - first is the issue of no running water. Then there is the ladder deal to get on and off the boat. So, slap some bottom paint on her, send her over the side and let the work begin.

    On another note, a pair of Bald Eagles have taken up residence again in the Osprey nest across from the marina office. Last year a pair of Bald Eagles tried to move in on the same nest, that was until the Ospreys returned from down south. Believe it or not, the majestic bird of this great nation, the Bald Eagle, does not stand a chance against the more aggressive Osprey. Well, at least our forefathers did not adopt Ben's Turkey as the national bird.

Not Only Bears Hibernate

     Let's just say we are going to write off January and February. Other than catching up on some reading and taking a few wilderness hikes, those 2 months were a total bust. Now would be the time to get serious and get back on track - boat work. I had generated a boat work list for this season that was comprised of the following categories - Must Do, Safety Issues, Electrical/Mechanical Upgrades and Luxury Gotta-Haves. Well, this year's boat work has been drastically shortened by the economy when it decided to puke all over itself. Sorry, but I will not be doing my part to kick start the economy this year. Although we did try to sustain the local economy in Rock Hall last year. So we are going to apply some bottom paint, install dinghy mounts for the new dinghy, fix the generator raw water pump and a few other must do items. When that short Must Do list is done, we may just slip back into hibernation. By the way, did I say the hibernation was going to be on the boat with a couple of cold ones!

Flashback (Farewell Alaska, until we meet again)

Our trip to Alaska will never be duplicated, although we will try. This was the adventure of a lifetime. We were very fortunate with Sharon's selection of Kayak Transport Company for our mothership kayaking cruise. The "crew" of the Abyssinia, Eric and Kim, provided the stage for us to explore Southeast Alaska, to experience the wildlife and to sample a portion of Alaskan cuisine. Alaska provided the beautiful backdrop while we kayaked around great locations like the Inian Islands and George Islands. Mother nature provided the deer, bears, eagles, sea otters, whales and sea lions to name a few. The weather cooperated and no one cared if it rained, we were in Alaska.

The best aspect of our experience was the camaraderie of those who shared those 8 days in our lives. We all shared a common ground: a passion to kayak, an appreciation of our surroundings and good fellowship. To our new friends, Kim & Eric, who had just as much fun as we did, and to Ron & Mary, our new friends from New Zealand, who added a colorful downunder perspective - Thanks.

Alaska, we will return.

The cast of characters (all deserving academy awards) - Eric, Ron, Bob, Mary, Sharon and Kim.

Flashback (Without me they would have to eat beans)

Did I tell you of the story of the one that got away? Well, we were out in the Icy Strait fishing for salmon, just as I was explaining to everybody on the Abyssinia how great of a fisherman I am...(the bigger the lie the greater the fisherman is)....and all of a sudden the line started stripping off of the reel and the rod was about to break it was bent so hard.......

It doesn't take much skill or luck to be a successful fisherman when you are in Alaska. Having a knowledgeable guide with you has a lot to do with it. It's just a matter of location, location, location. We did go fishing for halibut, dungeness crab and salmon. In the first photo I am holding a small halibut I caught. (I didn't want to embarrass anyone by showing the photo of the ship's crane hoisting up the big one I caught.)

In the second photo is the fruit (crab) of my labor in the plastic tote as Captain Eric fiddles with his dinghy. Actually, we went for a dinghy ride and Eric said, "throw a crab pot over the side right here" and the dungeness crabs voluntarily wandered into the crab pot and made the ultimate sacrifice! Photo credit goes to Mary.

In the third photo, Ron holds up 2 salmon as Captain Eric looks on. "You should have seen the king salmon that got away" exclaimed Ron! Ron is also a great fisherman. Once again, photo credit goes to Mary. (Nothing escapes her!)

Then with a wave of my magical fishing rod and presto we have a platter full of grilled salmon!

Flashback (Running the Gauntlet of Thugs & Bullies)

If you circumnavigate the largest island in the Inian Islands group, you will travel through Middle Passage. Let it be known there is a gang of sea lions waiting for you, and you are trespassing on their turf. At first, prior to entering Middle Passage, we were surprised by how close they would surface to the kayaks, maybe 60 or 70 feet away. Then, as we entered Middle Passage, the sea lions got very bold and it wasn't just 1 or 2 sea lions trying to intimidate us, it was packs of 5 or 6 surfacing 15 or 20 feet away. At times they appeared to be chasing us. The sea lion's curiosity of us is only surpassed by our curiosity of them as seen here with me photographing the sea lions from the red kayak as the events unfolded. Captain Eric of the Abyssinia is in the blue kayak with a front row seat.

The upper photo shows two very close brutes over the stern of my red kayak. In the lower photo, 3 sea lions can be seen over the bow of Eric's blue kayak and 1 very large brute can be seen between Eric and me. This encounter with the sea lions was by far the most exciting wildlife experience we had in Alaska. Our friend from New Zealand, Ron, is credited with these photos.

The sea lion encounter lasted for over two hours as we paddled into Middle Passage and peaked with a very close flurry of activity as shown in these pictures.

Flashback (Call me anything but late for dinner)

This entry has been prompted by our friends onboard the M/V Abyssinia and their top ten food list they recently counted down on their website. There are not too many things I like better than eating, but we are only going to discuss food at this time. While in Alaska for our Mothership Kayaking Adventure I went fishing for halibut, salmon and dungeness crab and was successful each time. There is nothing better than freshly caught seafood served up for dinner. The crew of the Abyssinia have some wonderful recipes including a excellent signature dish, the "Abyssinia Special", which is halibut over crab. The recipe is one of those "I'll tell you but then I would have to kill you" things. Hopefully someday, Kim or Eric will share the full recipe with Sharon, after all food is one of the universal languages. In the above photo, my plate includes some freshly grilled salmon.

Add caption

In this photo, Mary captures everybody feasting on the day's catch, fresh halibut.

     Here, Capt. Eric is preparing dungeness crab for the evening's dinner. Got to go, I'm making myself hungry.