Have you ever seriously thought about living your dream? We did and now we are full time cruisers onboard M/V Big Run. Everyday is a new page to be written in our ship's log as we travel to new places and revisit some ol' favorites. Come along and share our experiences and journeys.

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Welcome to our Adventure

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Back In the Saddle Again

     Spring launch has come and gone without much fanfare except for yours truly.  On April 14 we gracefully lowered M/V Big Run into the chilly waters at Long Cove Marina and with the aid of a pilot boat we reintroduced Big Run to her slip for one last boating season on the Chesapeake Bay before we become full time cruisers.  
     Just before the launch, Big Run received a fresh coat of bottom paint and the boot stripe was reworked.  We tried something new this year for the rudder and prop.  They each received a separate coat of anti-foulling paint designed especially for the running gear - we see how well it works next time we haul the boat.  And for good measure, we installed a swim ladder for those inclined to go swimming with the nettles in the bay.  
     Once the boat had been launched, the fun didn't stop there.  We also decided the chain locker needed a face lift.  So I gave the locker a good scrubbing and applied 2 coats of bright white paint.  Do you know what looks good with a newly refurbished chain locker?  How about a new Delta Fast-Set plow style anchor with 250' of 3/4" three-strand anchor line.  This will be our secondary anchor.  Our primary anchor is an old reliable 66 lb. claw style anchor with 200' of 7/16 chain. That is some heavy gear  which does give us comfort at night while we sleep.  And we still have a emergency anchor (a 40 lb. Danforth with 400' of triple strand) in the lazarette and there are 2 Fortress anchors to boot.       
     Despite all the work, what it all boils down to is that it is a good feeling to be back on the water again.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Christmas In April

     There is a upside to everything, including selling my Harley.  I have taken a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the motorcycle and treated the boat to some new toys.  A chartplotter and bimini for the flybridge is long overdue.  A Rutland 913 wind generator will reduce charging time with the diesel generator.  Some new safety features on the boat will be a new state of the art VHF radio with 2 remote units, an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon), new Mustang automatic PFDs for the Admiral and Captain and software upgrades for the primary navigation computer.  And, because I made the sacrifice, the Captain has a new Nikon Digital SLR camera and a Garmin Oregon 550t GPS unit (way kool).  Stay tuned, Santa's not done!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

T-Minus 7 and counting

     "Along for the ride" is how Sharon described her bout with the flu.  The flu ran its course and we were along for the ride.  Yes, we both suffered from a case of the flu in March, and the good husband that I am, I  am the one responsible for Sharon being contaminated with the virus.  This particular bug was 2 weeks of hell with residual effects for another week or 2.
      Our boat transition projects received very little attention in March and if we hadn't started as early as we did in 2009, we would be very much behind schedule. 
      Historically, March is the time that I would have started working on the boat for a spring launch the first week of April, but I was derailed like a runaway locomotive.  So much for the momentum we had built up in January and February.
     Although being full-time cruisers is a life style we have happily chosen, getting to that point does have its drawbacks.   We are abandoning the materialistic world and one of those items I have given up is my Harley.  Yes, I sold my Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic.  There will be tears in my beer for sometime to come
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