After the mast gets pulled...what do you do with it?

Well it is finally time for a complete re-rigging of Spirit of Freedom. She is now hauled out at Canoe Cove, Sidney BC to have Blackline Marine re-rig her and do a couple of other things like bottom paint, fix the cockpit sole where the rudder stops have compressed it as well as a few other little bits and pieces. It is never easy having work done on a boat, and I suffer so much angst when she is hauled out. Especially this time, as the mast is being pulled for the first time in I don't-know-how-many years!

We are NOT Desert People!

Well, we tried the RV lifestyle in the desert. Even going so far as to trade in our brand new trailer on a used Class C motor home while we were in Arizona. The irony of it...the RV model is "Spirit" and has the name written all across the side....now we have two Spirits... our beloved "Spirit of Freedom" and a dirt-bound "Spirit."

After being gone all winter, it is good to be home! We really missed the water...right now I am gazing across the inlet watching (and hearing) the waves crash as the wind is howling. Love it!! But I hope it does calm down a bit...next week I head up to Canoe Cove in Sidney BC to have Spirit of Freedom re-rigged. I love wind, but I don't want the gale that is blowing right now! It is a bit of a run for me, with Spirit moored in South Puget Sound, but it should be a great downwind run if the "normal" winds prevail.

I really did discover that the ocean is very important to me. After leaving the desert and reaching the coast of California, that first glimpse of the blue ocean really lifted my spirits. Both my husband and I laughed because we both had the exact same reaction along with a big loud sigh of relief!

Land-Cruiser!

Land-cruising?

It seems that my newly-retired husband and I are going to have a bit of a different adventure this winter. After years of multi-month cruising on my boat, (first as a single-hander with occasional crew, and in the past few at least part time  accompanied by my hubby) we are going land-cruising! We just had our first shakedown in our newly purchased little camping trailer. And little is the operative word! Quite a downsize from our boat.... think Bayliner Capri dropping anchor next to a Selene 55!We didn't want to expend many dollars, who knows if we will like it?

So this winter is going to be very different; we are going on a road-trip, heading south to warmer climes, to explore deserts and such. Quite the opposite from cruising between South Sound and Alaska! So, all is packed, the dog, cat, Cliff and and I are ready to go...sometime in December.

Back home again...

I suppose I better sit down over the next few days and bring this up-to-date. I left Fair Harbor May 1, 2011 to go cruising and have just now returned...as the autumn rains begin to pour. A wonderful 6 months spent on the west coast of British Columbia...peaceful, no itinerary, no plans...just taking it one day at a time. Our house feels huge, the ceiling in the bedroom too high so I am not sleeping well...it will take several days to adjust. Driving a car for the first time in half-a-year, bright lights and crowds at the mall. I already long for Burly Bay and Joe Cove....

Delays

Sitting here having my first cup of coffee....looking across Case Inlet, watching white caps build and the rain come down. Again. Still. Another weather delay in the process of getting the new enclosure finished on Spirit. All we need is two or three days of no rain, and no wind (or at least only light wind!) and the final gelcoat touch-up on the new hard tops can be completed. Then the new canvas can be hung. Then we have the stainless work to be completed...needing more good weather.

A girl could get really frustrated with the delays; not only due to weather, but other causes as well...broken hands, delays due to contractors having "bad personal days" (what ever THAT is!), wrong parts being shipped, other parts on back-order....you name it, we have had it.

I guess it is time to email the rigger and let him know we won't be making our April rigging date...one set months ago. I wonder just when we will be able to leave the dock?

Food, fun and women on the water.

Today I attended a wonderful Indian Cuisine appreciation luncheon put on by Marilyn Michael and Vivian Strolis for those of us women who worked at the Seattle Boat Show on behalf of Northwest Women in Boating. A lovely time with some very special women. Several live-aboard, some blue water cruisers, some power, some sail and all in love with boating.

Marilyn asked me if I had a blog; I had intended to start blogging in 2008, when I first set up this blog. However, I failed to do it. I have also been remiss in keeping our Family Yacht Club website up-to-date; I still have not posted our cruising adventures from 2010. And now, in a months time we leave for another several months! So, maybe, just maybe I will keep it up. It is difficult to do while we are cruising as we rarely have Internet access. But I promise Marilyn, I will try. Meanwhile, enjoy all the old news on my website: http://www.familyyachtclub.com I have my sailing and photo logs from as far back as 2000 up to, and including 2009. For a direct listing of my photo/sail logs you can go directly to: http://www.familyyachtclub.com/spirt_photo_gallery.htm Enjoy!

Spirit of Freedom

Spirit of Freedom
1989 Sceptre 41

Home port: Port of Grapeview, WA