Getting Ready

Karin working Little Dodge

Well time is closing in for our departure. The weather has been some what cooperative for letting me to get somethings off our to do list. With living full time aboard one is able to see how somethings work with that it allows one to rework ideas which when first applied seemed the best. If I was to suggest anything to anyone encountering to live aboard and sail off for distance shores, it would be, live aboard first and see what works and what doesn't. But it must be said living aboard and working can and does create different obstacles.

Karin and I have been attending our Pilot/Seamanship course every Tuesday evening at the Coast Guard Station. Now that we are half way through it has found us with a keener interest, and that is a good thing.

Karin unfortunately is still working for a few more weeks, where with myself not so. Seems with busness slow have been laid off until it picks up. Being that; that it is, it seems that with our closing date of departure a good thing.

Yet moving forward the days are counting down very quickly. I've found myself with this time off not only nailing the to do list, and its long, but also planning departure dates on our charts, entering way points, calculating times, distances and course bearings to steer.

Some of these plans are to refit in Fermuse, sail southern shore for a bit, then on to Baddeck Nova Scotia. There will be a slight detour at that point to slip over to PEI and visit Fred Karin's dad, really great chap, who has an interesting history, good sailor, not to mention a good chess player. Rose his wife is one person who just bubbles with energy, will be great to see her as well.

It's at this time I would like to relate our story about Fred and his sail boat. It seems as the story goes Fred's sailing days were in the Florida keys. Every winter when Karin was just a young girl, her parents would take her to Florida for a break. To make a long story short, it seemed that for Fred circumstances change and going to Florida had just taken its course and it was now time to get on to other things. Making the move to close everything up in Florida and bring his boat back to Canada which he had bought in Florida, all loaded up for their last trip home, headed for the boarder he went. At this time one has to know that over the years Fred had figured out that a really late crossing was real good especially when there is a young girl a sleep in the back seat on top of a pile of things; you can make your own guesses here with this one. On this last time across the boarder at about 2 or 3 in the morning, Fred comes to a stop at the Guard shack.

The Guard peering into to the vehicle, with a young girl asleep a top a mound of things:


anything to declare Sir

Fred: no sir nothing

Guard: your sure

Fred: no nothing sir

Guard looking to the back of the vehicle where there is a sail boat on a trailer with Florida plates

: your sure

Fred: no sir nothing

Guard: well I'm wondering is that your boat sir

Fred: Oh yeah, gee forgot about that, it's so late and all, been driving non stop all night


Well lets say Fred had to pay the duty but no fine.

Now back to a few of our plans again. Once we reach Halifax, somewhere around the first part of June, Karin's mom will come out to join us for a short visit. We are hoping at the same time to find time to meet with old friends at the Dartmouth Yacht club. This timing should let us cross paths with our friends Mic/Bee/Toot of the sailing vessel Hannah, on their way up from the United States to Labrador.

Withfinding this our fourth winter here in St. John's Newfoundland coming to an end, has let us come to an understanding about Newfoundlander's values, that being that family comes first above all things. There are other as well and will share them in following posts.




Patric, Karin, and Butch









Here in these following pictures one can see the before and afters of Artful's refit

Sea Surge Part II

These pictures are of theBattery

the entrance to St John's Harbour Starboard side through the Narrows

These pictures are showing the aftermath of the sea storm surge, and its destruction. As you can see as one looks at the pictures there is quite a mess. It was also reported that some families were evacuated because water was at their back doors.

To the best of mt knowledge, there were no persons hurt, and they are now trying to repair the Battery stages, as some are still secure and could fall into he harbour.

Storm Surge

On the 5th of February there had been a Blizzard warning issued for St John's Newfoundland and area. The one thing that was not forcasted was a Storm surge from the ocean. At around 8:30 at night we were watching a movie when I heard what I thought was a machine gun going off. When I got out of the boat to investigate I found chunks of ice and debris around the boats and water coming up between the boards of the dock, the slapping noise giving the sound effect of rapid gun fire. The sea had come into appoint where the water was coming over the dock. I also noticed water was up a couple of inches on the tires of our car. Starting to scan around the harbour to see the real story I had noticed Gray's stage behind me, I could see his boat as it is always hauled up; at first it never registered but as I looked longer I realized his cabin was gone, washed away.

If you click on the pictures they enlarge








here in this picture you can see Gray's cabin to the left, the white building











In this picture I took today, after the storm there is no cabin, boat or ramp all gone washed away by the sea surge.












In this picture you can see two cabins in the right side of the picture, a white one and a green one.















This pictures shows no white cabin and the front part of the green cabin gone as well.

This roof in the water is from the white cabin in the previous picture

here you have a better picture of the white cabins roof and hydro stack

In this picture you can see that there is only steps to cabin and no stage

another picture of green cabin and the settling sea surge

this picture now shows the white roof again but now its hitting into another dock and deck, before it was washed out to sea did make some damage

there is debris here between the two stages

further debris

sea finally starting to abate

This is all that is left of Grey's stage his out house floating on its platform, held by anchor in the water.

This has to been one of the most wild things I've ever see or been involved in. While standing on the dock beside our sail boat, water was washing in over the dock to a height of up to my knees. Still standing on the dock at the highest sea surge at 10:30 the boat was so high I could put my hand on the boot strap, which is where the water line is on the boat. I must say to hold back 10 tons of a boat, could not have been able without the way the dock lines had been tied. The other interesting thing was at the same time our car was on the dock but floating, water was up half way on the doors. When the surge went down I moved the car more up on the dock. The evening started at 8:30 and went to 3:30 in the morning, it was a very active night keeping the boat off the dock and keeping all the floating deadheads from causing damage to our boat/home.

This dock although it never got washed out is damaged as all the other docks here in the gute.

In the four winters our boat has been tied here to the dock beside the brewery this has been the most distructive, glad we are pushing on in a number of weeks to warmer weather and most likely more adventerous times.

Count down is on

Today the 27th of January, when I can up on deck and check things out around us after the nights wind and rain I saw this board wedged between the dock and John's boat who is wintering if front of us.

As I went more forward on deck to check it out I could see it was beating into the side of the hull. Its was low tide now and with the rizing tide it could sure go through the hull.

Looking down over the side of the dock I could see it was holding the boat off the dock and beating into the hull. So got aboard John's boat and worked at getting it free, took about 30 minutes as it was wedge between dock boards and up against the Hull.

So here it is a new 4x4 8 feet long, for sure this could have put a hole in the Hull if not removed. Unless you had been on the deck of our boat no one would have ever seen it.

Well the count down is on for our spring departure and in writing this I wonder am I tempting fate once more. There is one thing though we are getting off this rock, and heading south how far and how long we will have to see.

Not wanting to waste away the days sitting around and surfing the net I've come up with a plan for each day, and see if I can make it work.

As for Artful she is doing a good job keeeping us warm and dry, where as I'm out breaking up all the ice around her. The ice is not real thick but it does move around a lot so keeping it away is a good thing.

Karin and I are attending a seamanship course over the next 12 weeks to refresh our minds on our navigation skills. With me the second time around is always the winner, I always seem to get it. I'm just guessing its my thick Irish back ground that is the cause of that, but once its in there its stuck.

Wintering here in the Quidi Vidi Harbour is sure pretty when you stop to have a look as seen in the following pictures

Here we have the entrance form Quidi Vidi lake which empties into the Gute

While was out for a stroll I came upon the local police force on horse back.

Here we have another view of the Gute and the waters entrance from Quidi Lake

This is finally where we are tied next to the Brewery, with John's boat in front of us the one I pulled the 4x4 from under.

Christmas Holidays

Karin and I went home for Christmas to see my mom and her's as well, and as well many of our great friends and some family members, with a few surprises. I'm sure some who see theses pictures will just see them as family and friends yet for some who know us will have a few surprises and no doubt questions.

We must say that Butch here is our great pal and bud spent Christmas at a cat spa, he is here trying to fit into his grand mother's suit case to head back to Ottawa.

This little sweet dear is my grand daughter
Tyneshia

This young couple is my son-in-law Dale and my daughter,

Tamara-lee!

Here we have Jessica, Karin's daughter who celebrated her birthday on the 24th of Dec and her mom Gossie as we call her, both very special to us.

These two fellows are Karin's son Shawn and her father Fred, two very great guys and also special to both of us.

In this picture you have me, (Patric), Karin and our very best friend Richard. Richard is a Pilot with a major Air line and single as well, has a great boat, runs marathons, skis, and if there are any ladies out there who wish to know more drop us a line, as he would be a great catch.

This pic is of the two most important ladies in my life Karin my love, and Lily my mom. Its been almost 7 years since I had seen my mom, and that's not good as a son but will be correcting that in the future.

Here I am with my mom who has been the best mom in the world always there for all the times of which I've needed her, and that always seems to be when ever I got home, but this year was different it was to have her meet Karin and then maybe have Karin understand a little more about me as well.

Love you mom and your the best.

When ever we are back in Ottawa we always make a trip to our most favorite restaurant, El Meson, here we have Gossie and the three waiters, and once more another great meal.

Over the years of being in Ottawa I always go to a little restaurant and have some breakfast and there would be Jazz our great friend. With becoming great pals and friends we try to get together. Although now she works for Cora's we make sure to always have a visit. We wish you the best with your new venture in the new year Jazz.

This fine couple are the owner's of Ada's dinner where we met Jazz, must say they have a great breakfast, one that if you haven't had while in Ottawa it's worth checking out. They are on Bank Street.

With Christmas over and the New Year just a couple a days away, Karin and I have some schooling to do in the new year for a few weeks, and start getting ready for our spring departure.

We wish everyone a Happy New Year, and good health.