Scenes Of St John's

Scenes of St John's

The following are scenes of St John's seen daily and pic's taken of on a regular bases. Thanks to Bob from Ottawa, who visited us here last week and shared what he saw four few days when he was here. He also got to The famous George Street, and met the kittens.

By clicking on the image you will see it in a larger view.

Nice Days

View of St John's Narrows

St John's Water Front

Artful with new sails

Well the weather has been great these past 10 days or so. Have been checking out my new furlor and main stack pack sails. They sure work a lot different then the last set up. There are still lots of sail boat arriving, with all their destinations being north or Scotland and then some on to Norway. One fellow showed up with overheating engine, after checking a bit we were able to determine the heat exchanger was the fault. His crew member decided he couldn't stay any longer and so flew home to Norway. The chap now is staying here to fix his heat exchanger and wait the arrival of his son who will help him across the Atlantic. They asked if I would like to come along I declined.

At present have been finishing up a lot of small chores to the inside of the boat and getting ready to sail on down to Fermuse in 10 days and clean and paint the bottom of the boat.

As I sit here in Jungle Jim's writing this I realize that exactly one year from now will be getting ready for a mornings departure. I find my mind even now starting to deal with the departure with pondering the route and supplies and their storage. Its also at this time that several friends from Nepean Yacht club will be getting themselves ready for their trip this fall, four boats are going I believe.

Will have some updates with photos for the sail south and the work to be down on Artful's bottom.

Just a quick note to say that there are lots of Whales here now, and lots of fog. It was reported yesterday that a fishing boat ran into a catamaran

putting all eight in the water. They were rescued by the boat that hit them, and later transferred by the Coast Guard to St John's. They were hit off the Grand Banks in thick Fog. It was a French craft. It was also reported last night that a sail boat was also run into by a whale causing some damage, guess they were getting to close.

If anyone reading this, and gets a chance check out some of the sites I've listed that I view some great events happening, check out "Unfinished Business"

Sail Boats leaving

Sail Boats leaving

S/V Chelone

John Captain of the 38 foot Hans Christian, after spending 5 days in St John's, two of them in the St John's main harbour moved over to the Gute otherwise know as Quidi Vidi Harbour after I had invited them over, being there was a calm harbour, hydro, water and showers available, something not offered in the main harbour. We spent three days getting them ready for their trip across the northern Atlantic which could take anywhere from 14 to 19 days. The crew consisted of captain John two male mates and one female, Laura came aboard in Nova Scotia, out of the Armdale Yacht club, was very impressed with her seeming capabilities. They left on Sunday the 31st of June on the high tide.

S/V Tyhina

Peter seen here below leaving aboard Tyhina an aluminum 34ft sailboat for Greenland where he will meet his wife who will fly in from Australia near the end of July. Once they are both are aboard they will be setting out for their trip across the north of Canada through the North west passage. There is a good chance they will get froze in over winter and will wait it out until they are able to continue on to the west coast and British Columbia. Peter has spent 9 days here in St John's finishing up the repairs and such. Peter and I have been in touch since last year when we first met in St John's harbour. After sailing to Labrador, and back around the west coast of Newfoundland, he and his wife wintered the boat on the south coast and flew back home to Australia to work and earn money to continue their sailing dreams this year. Peter has been a great value of info in helping Karen and I understand how to read weather faxes, and starting to understand the workings of SSB. I'm sure going to miss his friendship, but we have made plans to both meet on the west coast of the Panama in 2010 when we should both arrive their about the same time.

Its been hard to not just get aboard Artful and head off on our voyage a year early, as we have helped and shared route's, watch plans with these departing sailors. As I was watching Peter sail away this morning at 6 am I felt a twinge of saddness in that there goes a great friend and really wishing I was going too. Although guess I'm not ready, have to learn how to use the new sails, SSB, and let Karin get her sailing legs and feel confident she will be ready, not also to forget that in November I have that Kidney operation. Today was NE winds at 15 knots and gusting to 30, rainy, just a down right shitty day weather wise. But aside from that one day closer to heading off.

New Sailors Friends

New arriving Sailors

Peter

Maeva

The above couple are on a quest to sail across the North Passage of Canada, I've included their link in the fellow sailors list at the side margin. There you will be able to watch their trip this year and see many posted pictures. These two lovely people are from Australia. Peter is right now finishing up the needed repairs and changes. Once finished he will head off this Friday to meet up with his wife in Greenland. I've been emailing Peter this past winter and staying in touch waiting for him to return, to continue their up coming trip this year. Peter has been helping us understand the Single side band, and many other things which will be of help to us once we head off.

Bob

Bob C

Captain Bob and Bob C are also from Australia, and they to are on a quest to sail in the North, so this Tuesday past a 6 in the morning they headed off. Bob is a ex Navy man, and has had quite an interesting life thus far. You can check out his site as well found in the side margin under other sailors, so stop by and have a look, he's a very interesting read, as well has pic's there as well.

Well it seems every day now there are arriving sailors from around the world. There is a Dutch chap here now in a steel ketch which he built himself, and I must say very impressive, and will enclose pictures soon. He sailed across the ocean from Wales to meet his wife here who will be arriving this weekend from Wales, and then they will sail home together. As many know I don't drink very much if any, but when on board Yan's boat with four other sailors he offered me a beer, which I passed on, as I don't drink beer never really acquired a taste for the stuff. But Yan offered me a little jigger of clear liquid, I would just say it was like drinking fire.

There also has arrived another chap from Wales, who has bought a Hans Christan boat in the United States and sailing it back home via Newfoundland as well to Wales.

I make it a daily thing to see who has arrived at the docks and chat them up and hear their stories, as well to see if there is anything else we can learn.

I will continue to give updates of other arrivals and their sites so you to can follow their adventures.

The Weather

The Weather

berg close up

the opening is blocked with an iceberg

The weather thus far has not been the best, while Ottawa is enjoying temps of 20's plus, its not so here. We might have a day or two in the low signal digits, but lots of RDF, know as rain drizzle and fog. This weather is also making one realize your age, with all kinds of aches and pains, due to dampness is what I'm chalking it up too.

With a small update the new sails and furler are on order, as well other new things which I will show pic's of and post updates.

There are also sailing vessels now starting to arrive, so will have follow ups on them as well pic's.

Wintering

Well winter is well over but temperatures not getting any warmer with spring here and summer just a few days away. There has been much going on since last here, one in particular was the attack of the kidney stones, with three trips to hospital, over a 4 week period, was not fun.

With now a little more than just a year left before we head off, on hopefully a five year trip around our world. Five years seems to be the norm for such a trip with all the times one has to wait out the seasons in different parts of the world.

We are making some changes to the boat this spring and summer, with the edition of a forward furler, and a new mail sail having a stack pack, which will be easier to sail the boat and present more safety. Also taking this time to finish up the interior of the boat, completing the forward clothing storage, anchor locker as well the last hatch in the cock pit. Once these chores are finished boat is ready, except for a haul out and cleaning of Artful's bottom sometime in July in Fermuse.

Fall

well its been an interesting fall with not the best of weather that I would have expected, been making plans for the springs departure, are for destination still not completely sure as yet. The destinations could be Europe by the northern route via Labrador, Greenland and on, or north passages to BC, and then could just head south the Caribbean. The winter has started early here with a few snowstorms already. With Christmas close have decided to spend it some where warm so with that of to the sunny south on the 19th of December. I realize haven't been very tidy in keeping this blog updated but, had to get a new computer and work with this program of vista, which is now starting to come around. Here in Newfoundland have found that this place is like stepping back about 15 years, both with peoples perceptions and the progress with changing times, most clothes styles, hair styles, and as well new housing are signs which one would have seen 15 years ago. The people here are all like brethren and help one another and everyone knows you or someone who knows of you, very small community. you are either a Towney, bayman or cfa(come from away) or other wise an import. The other interesting thing here is that politics here is a sport. well enough said for know, will be back soon with more and some pics of the development of the Artful, as well pics of friends from my travels thus far.