Out for a stroll

Out For Stroll

Well finally got out for a stroll, weather was the best kind today, just RDF as all, which means rain, drizzle and fog, a common occurrence here on the rock. Well we've been aboard a week now and still have lots to due. The cock pit is slowly getting closed in as you will see in the following pictures. We've also put back the sails as well, seeing we have just a hundred days left before we head permanently out the gut and on our way into our five year trek around the globe.

And here she is the princess in my life Karin doing what Karin does best being the true tourist, she makes life interesting I must say. Karin has been spending all of her spare time studying for the ham coarse, seeing she will be communications officer, she must get 80% and trust me she is studying. All I here is what is this electronics's about, volts, amps, resistance, power, kilohertz, and so on, in her frustration she says all I have to do is turn it on push the button and speak May Day, May Day, May Day, three times and I will be saved, but then I say to her but sweetie what frequency, and then puts her head back to the books.

Well there she sits Artful, have turned her around after the winter's weather and starting to clean her up for future sailing shake downs

As one can see the cockpit is getting closed in slowly, and none to so, Pat from United sails has been working very hard at making everything work just perfect, spending many trips and back and forth to the boat, measuring and thinking of how it will all come together. I must say that he is a great chap with a great attitude towards the whole thing, as I usually am always in the way but he hasn't given me any remarks about being in the way. At the end of the day he usually walks down from his place just up the hill to check and see what we think and inform us of his next step, great communications I must say , Pat is going to go a long way.






Here is another view of the enclosure, also the boats around Artful, the boat in front of us has a family aboard, Mother, Father, and two young daughters, my praises are good on them for living all winter in such a small pace, which is smaller than ours, by at least half. DJ Tours boat is behind us and it seems they are getting her ready as even this picture has been taken for a special tour for Neil Young on Monday or Tuesday, not sure which but will guess it will be a great place to be if one is interested in seeing Neil Young. For ourselves we will see him in concert Tuesday evening.

What you are seeing here is the basin just before you enter the entrance to Quidi Vidi Harbour otherwise know as the gut.

Its from this view one is able to see the inner portion of the Quidi Vidi Harbour

This view is of the Quidi Vidi gut or entrance, at low tide one with a draft of 4 feet could make it but not advisable, better when high tide then a boat with 6 and a half feet will be fine. Its also very calm today, usually there is a sea on.

And here people is the view of which will be so sweet in 100 days when we and Artful head out on our trek. If you click on the pictures you can get a larger view.

Back Aboard

Back Aboard

This is just a quick update to say after a weekend of leaving the small apartment we are now back aboard, with some serious down sizing to be down by us, but would say mostly by Karin. First night was great rocked to sleep with the winds around 35 to 40 knots, but still was calm. Will have a further updates later this week, as we are also just about finished our cockpit enclosure, as well now storing all our gear, and more shoes.

Adjusting

Adjusting for living back aboard

Karin being the tourist as Randy says she is, but moving back aboard is a big adjustment for Karin one which will be for the next 5 years, so she is being an optimist, finding her comfort zone, and seems she is doing it quite well.

Slowly I'm getting back to re acquainting myself with my galley, and where everything belongs, but the food we cook on board tastes so much better.

This is my galley, still trying to remember how I juggled everything but I'm getting the hang again

Here is our communications station, as well Randy's berth for when he sails with us from Halifax to Bermuda and then on to the BVI's as Goosie has given us permission to let him while she is not aboard.

Updates

Now for a few updates on things, both Karin and I passed our VHF coarse, both got the same mark, as well we both got the same questions wrong after we compared our exam results. At present we are about 2/3rds of the way through our ham coarse, which appears will finish sooner than we thought as we have been attending classes on Saturdays as well.

With all the planning we've been making for moving aboard there is always some bumps in the road, and with that we have come up against one we thought won't be a problem, and that was having made plans for showers, seems those plan are not happen so we will find another route, guess I'm joining a GYM

Other changes in the works have been the purchase of a new VHF radio, having DSC, along with GPS. Ordering our A/T 130 tuner for our single side ban radio, which once it arrives the task will begin to set it all up including an antenna on our back stay. That just leaves us to get our EPRIB with GPS and our new 2000 watt Honda generator. Then the big task will begin with compiling our stores and supplies list and where to store then as well how and in what.

Karin to give us a break has got some tickets for a Neil Young concert, which should give us a little break.

If anyone has any questions you can reach us at razor@magma.ca

Slowly moving back

Slowly Moving Back

Nice warm Fireplace

Karin Studing for VHF Exam

Karin having a tear over her her first meal back aboard

Patric slaving over first dinner back aboard



Well we are in the process of moving back aboard, with today having me cooking our first dinner on board. It was a real treat to be back in my galley using my stove and all the other neat things.

Over the last few weeks we have been taking and studying for our Ham license, not to mention also doing our VHF course as well. There has been a lot of studying and testing each other with questions. One of us has to get a 80% mark so we can use the HF frequency's.

We have also decided to close in our cock pit for when we are back aboard to have an extra room, this is going to be a great added addition for our living aboard life. As one can also notice the days are ticking down, and our minds are shifting to all our preparations to be made, the list are made and we are adjusting the storage's for the supplies we are planning to take with us.

Will end it here for now and will be back with some more up dates soon, also have been getting emails from other sailors on there way here this summer, and so far there are nine, two of which are considering wintering here in the Quidi Vidi harbour tied to the Brewery.

Long Winter

Long Winter

This winter has been a long one with many twists and turns for sure. Some of the turns are that both Karin and I finding out we have arthritis, her in her hands and myself in my back, seems the weather doesn't help, something of which will be cured in about 5 months when we leave for the south.

On another note we have both started our Ham radio course, as well our VHF as well, will be a busy next 10 weeks. AT the same time we are readying for moving back aboard April first. On thing we hope will be finished is our new enclosure for the cockpit, giving us another room and protected entrance for the boat.

As for our arthritis we both started swimming and using the hot tub at the Delta hotel, which after the first visit we felt great.

Wintering

Wintering

Calm in the Gute

Fresh Snow

As one can see the weather in the Gute is much better today then yesterdays winds of 100k. Have started our to do list, and it is large, but we are starting with it right away. First on the list is clothing down sizing, for heading to warmer weather. We've ordered and received our new charts for our trip, doing the studing and ploting thing now, glad we took our coastal naviation course back in Ottawa, at least with both our heads working on these charts there should be some good from it and we do have several months to work on it.

The New Year 2009

The New Year 2009

Quick Sand

The year has arrived for our departure and from now until we release the dock lines many things have to take place, from projects on our to do lists of storage, provisioning, making the interior of Artful home, as well with attending classes for our canvas sewing to getting our Ham license, and yet all this to be done in a 193 days.

With missing many of our friends and family we decided to head on home for the season and get our fix. With my family living in the Barrie area it was going to be hard to get that done, as with the winter storms and bus strike in Ottawa, making there were none if any cars to rent. When I think on it its been a few years since I've seen my mom and although I talk with her often its not the same. So the way I've decided to correct that is my mom's Christmas next year will be with us in the BVI's along with Karin's mom.

We had a list of things we wished to do when we got home and I must say we got them all except one which will happen today, and that is enjoying a dinner at Baton Rouge. We also were able to see our favorite band Quick Sand although bongo Mike wasn't there, catch up with Laura and Graham, Ian and Sharon who were home from their trips on their boats headings south. Was able to have breakfast at Ralph's, and Ada's, and a great dinner at El Maison. The high light of our visit home besides being with family was catching up with our sailing family at the New year's party at our home sailing club Nepean Sailing Club.

So with the holiday nearing its end we look forward to getting on with our quest, and I know some say its not always good to set a detailed plan but then one has to have some sort of idea of what they are up to, so we are saying this is what we hope to be up to doing.

On or near Thanksgiving 2009 from Halifax harbour to set sail for Bermuda, which should take from 7 to 10 days, with a short stay of a few days then on to The British Virgin Islands which will be from 8 to 12 days, then hang out in the Carb for a year and a half, now if that gets accomplished then we will fill in the next leg which with a little hint means going through the Panama Canal.

So with all that said we wish everyone friends and family a very Merry and Happy New Year, with the thought that you only live once, and only get to go around once, so don't leave your dreams and wishes to long or they will pass you by.

Richard
(our sailing buddy)

with all our love

Patric, Karin

Butch (cat)