In Between the Rain

I must first start off by saying "THANK YOU!" to all who attended our going away dock party this last weekend. I had a blast! I learned how to spot a good mango from Bob and enjoyed razzing Ralph about his "hairy knuckle wine" (sorry Mr. Fingers - haha). It was just super being able to sit and relax, giggle and play. Thank you to Barry who patiently cooked all that chicken. Sorry Joyce for waking you and Barry up with a seal bomb! (not really :0)!!) Thank you to Bud for sharing his yummy potato salad. Thank you, again, to all of who came to wish us well.

Sunday was a great day! We were fortunate enough to be invited to go for a day sail with Joyce and Barry aboard their well kept Islander 36, "Jubilee II." We left just before Bud and Ralph aboard Bud's "Fandango". They thought they were going to skunk us but I think we won the race out of the channel. (sorry guys, haha) It was fun being able to goof off and heckle one another while we can....a boater thing. ("Mines faster, yours is smaller"...that sort of thing, all in good fun). We got to experience all the wonders of sailing here in San Francisco Bay and that is, no wind, little wind, a lot of wind, waves, currents, and back to no wind. All within less than an eighth of a mile of each other. We started with a sail through Racoon Straight. A nice little cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge and a little play in the gate. Followed by a breeze past the city front, across Alcatraz and back home to Point Richmond. Daisy and Neighbor Barry were also along for the ride. Daisy loved sitting behind the Dodger window away from the wind but still in the sun. After seeing this we think she will also be spending her days there on our boat when its all done. It was a lot of fun and Neil and I realy needed a day of sailing. It has been a long time since we have been out and it realy gave us "the Fever."

Yesturday I got one of the window panels sewn in. It was much more difficult to do with limited space and fabric's that tend to resist each other. All in all it will serve its purpose and give us nice visibility and privacy when in anchorage for siesta's or showers in the cockpit. The rest of the material just came in today as I didn't quite order enough before so I will have the rest of the week and into the weekend to finish the canvas. In between running parts that is.

Neil is still working on Michael's boat while working on ours. We get Neil until noon or better, than off he goes. Poor fella. Still, I am thankful for the last minute work and I am pretty sure they are thankful to have Neil! ( I know I am! )

Sewing and stuff

We are halfway done with the hard dodger. One more layer of glass and she will be ready for primer and paint. The windows have been cut out and the new ones have been ordered to match our others. It should look really nice, just a bit of tint, and they will be nice and big! We will bolt them in like we did the others. I will sew on a piece that will run from the dodger to the bimini frame that will have a "peep" window for checking sails. It will also have a cover that snaps in and out to block the sun if needed.

I have been doing our sewing and have also picked up a little side work doing small canvas works and various other sewing projects. For a person who doesn't care for sewing I am certainly getting my feet wet! I have learned alot and it is getting much easier. "Practice makes Perfect." (ugh! ha ha)

Today I amd going to sew in the vinyl windows on the side panels. The wind will hopefully settle down enough for me to set things up without feeling like I am trying to fly a kite! Than I have to wait for more fabric to arrive. I didn't realize it would take so many yards to complete it all. Who would have thought that 15 yards would not be enough....probably everyone but me? haha. This time I am getting 25 yards. More than enough and I can keep it on hand for whatever should arise. I still need to make the back panel, engine covers, a cover for the new raft, and may use some for our interior cushions. I would also like to make canvas that would snap in to the kids beds so that it "slings" them so that they don't roll out while we are heeling over. Projects!

We picked up an 8 man inflatable life raft. It is an ememergency raft that automatically deploys(kind of like an airbag and sits in a small case on top of the boat) in case we run into trouble and start to sink. It has a dome over top...very nice and I am very thankful we were able to get one for a great price. It will have emergency gear including first aid, food, water, flares..etc.. packed inside.

We went ahead and bought the new batteries so we can start off with "freshies." I am relieved as I really don't think that they would ever fully charge again. These new ones are waranteed far better than the old ones and that will take the worry out of the picture. A new charger will be purchased, as well, eliminating any chance of the overcharge issue that boiled our last set.

Our friends Ralph and Bud are putting together a little BBQ this weekend so that the whole crew can get together before we head out. What a sweet bunch of guys!

I was told by Jose at West Marine yesturday that they think it will be 3 months before we are gone...I really hope he will be proved wrong! :0)

Either way, we are staying busy with work, both on our boat and Michaels's boat. We are getting closer and closer each day and we are thankful for every day that we have to all be together with family and friends.

Week in Review

(ABOVE: Katie is enjoying the sunshine..Later..Stewart asleep in the Hammock and spends the night outdoors!)

Since my last post alot has been going on. We decided to go ahead and make a hard dodger out of fiberglass instead of a traditional cloth styled one. I like the idea of having the added strength when the winds get high. I have gotten the two sides up on the bimini. I still need to make window cut outs and add the clear vinyl with covers attatched. This will be interesting as I have not attempted to sew that before. We are lashing the panels to the frame and a zippered edge will be added over the frame seams later. That way we are more "waterproofed". It is not necessary but would be nice for later. Mainly we need shade where we are going.

We have added 2 hammocks in what has been reffered to as "the Veranda". The kids love it and Stewart even spent the night in it a few days ago when we had our mini heat wave. We should be able to "swing" and adjust the steering as well. According to Neil, I need to make a drink holder next! (haha)

This last week we had a fun evening of authentic taco's and a few pitchers with our friends on F dock. (James, Jim, Doug, and Richard). The kids were a bit suprised that the "taco's" were not what they have become accustomed to. Stewart, who loves all things wrapped in tortilla's, was excited about the menu and the fact that these will be everywhere down south! He is growing like a weed and, I swear, he is never full. I have heard this will continue to be the case until he is into his 20's? Teenagers! :0)

We also had another wonderful get together with our dear friends Joyce and Barry.
The people here at F dock are wonderfully fun people and I am thankful to know them.
Most of which have mixed emotions of excitement for us and sadness at the same time. I know our dear friends and family on land have expressed the same. To all of you I say...."We love you...and.....Meet us down there!!"

Neil has been working on and off with Michael and his Islander. She is almost ready for painting and Neil is getting ready to re-wire her from bow to stern. (he knows a thing or two about that one!)

This, with any luck, will be our last week here. We need to finish up the dodger and finish up the canvas. Neil is almost done with the watermaker install and we are still undecided about the replacement of our 6 volt batteries. I am thinking we may anyway, to be on the safe side.

Otherwise, the wind gen and solar panels are working great. We have not used the shore power for anything other than the TV. for the last 2 weeks and so far so good!

I am still anxious, still stoked, and still ready to go!

FLU (round 2)

Just as we thought we were out of the woods, the FLU came and visited us a second time around. This time it hit Neil pretty hard, me a little, and the kids are barely affected. (good as taking care of Neil when he is sick is like having 10 kids!!ha ha, just kidding). Tomorrow looks to be promising for Neil to get back at the clients boat and I get back into sewing. Katie has a fitting for her braces as the following visit they are going to be putting alot of new metal in her mouth. Stewart will also have some new gear put in this next visit! (poor kids) This will probably be their last local visit to the dentist. The rest will be done on the road so to speak. The weather this week is in our favor; sunshine for the next 7 days!

Our friends aboard "Pachuca" have just gotten into La Paz. I am reading their blog and looking at their pictures and it is making it so hard to stay and finish up. The days of being on "Island Time" are calling me. It is as if it were a biological clock ticking inside me....this time for my inner child to come out and just play the day away! :o)

Monday

Today the weather was on the fritz. The rain would start as soon as the sun would come out. I finished up my covers for the propane tanks, which are a bit reminiscent of R2D2..haha. Tomorrow we are going to be starting the Dodger frame as well as some work on our clients boat. All in all it was a great day.

Calibrating the Auto Pilot

I forgot to mention on Saturday that we took the boat out into the Harbor for a quick test run. We calibrated the new auto pilot system and radar. I feel a bit like a spoiled little rich kid now! It was great to see everything working properly and how nice it is going to be to be able to maneuver the boat from inside the cabin if necessary. We can adjust coarse from two locations with ease. The chart plotter with use of the radar will actually veer out of the way of an obstacle than back on coarse when it is no longer "seen". I think this is so neat. I have never had anything like this on a boat and well...did I mention that I feel like a spoiled little kid now? :0)

Looks like 2 more weeks..

This weekend the kid's friends Ian and Kira (Barrys kids) were here and they spent most of Saturday out in the bay in our little skiff. They went to Brooks Island and Red Rock. (just the four)I was so excited to see them able to go and explore without adult supervision and do it confidently and responsibly. It was funny to hear them go on and on about this and that. It definately has given them the desire to go and see new places.

Once again we have a bit of a plan change. Neil was called to do a re wire job and a few other electronic installs for a neighboring boat here in the marina. Neil does great work and the owners seem like a very nice bunch.

Stewart is Neil's right hand man on the project, and has a lot of knowledge to offer as well. I sure am proud of those two boys.

Katie has been a tremendous help with all the sewing. She helps keep me sane when I am attempting to make things that I have never done before. She is also becoming a darn good cook!

Daisy spent today on the bow of the Islander, that Neil was working on, sunbaking and making sure no one came aboard without her approval. She has done this since we started doing boatworks. She seemed quite content to be back in the game and being the best Mascott she could be. Seems like old times with our company, "Ship Shape Boatworks", all a go.

Although it is starting to feel like we may never leave,(haha) this last minute work is truly a blessing and I am not complaining a bit.

We do wish we were under way already, but hey, being here on F Dock with great people is not a bad way to end the winter.

video blog

Here is our first video blog entry..(for fun.) The kids helped me on this one..we will see if it continues...however in the meantime have a chuckle on us.

Ready to set anchor

I don't really know how many actually follow this. I am sure that once we are away from the docks more will be inclined to read. I am not the greatest writer and trying to keep a journal of sorts is a bit out of my league. I am sure things will be a bit more exciting once we are underway.

We are waiting on one more piece to be delivered today for the boom. Since it is all going overhead with the dodger and bimini combo we have had to re route the lines. It is actucally pretty cool in that they are all running through stop blocks and all on one side. "So easy a caveman could do it!" (if he weren't affraid of ocean monsters!!haha).

So once that is done it will be a clean up of tools and moving all gear below decks and we will set sail. We are not sure yet if we will head straight out or spend one night in Aquatic Park in San Francisco. Honestly I don't know if we will ever be back this way to see the lights of Ghiradelli Square and the city from the anchor. That is something quite nostalgic and magical for our family.

When we were here in the bay before, we would spend numerous nights anchored in the city. It was always fun to go to shore and explore the street vendors and little shops by Pier 39. We got to swim along side seals (unknown in the beginning exactly how many were actually there!). We would take our Kayak and row over to Alcatraz Island. Row up to Pier 39 and sit close to the sea lions. Neil and I even rowed out underneath the Golden Gate bridge in 5 foot waves! We would always go to fleet week and anchor up there for days. I will miss that place. I think we all will.
So if all goes well we will spend one more night there. Go to shore and get souveniers. ( This time they will be for us!).

In Half Moon Bay, the sewing projects will be finished up while on anchor. Well, actually our life will begin on anchor. (now that seems a bit profound, but true).

This is something that really excites me also. We have taken week to week and a half long trips totally away from shore. There was always something happening with our battery stores and we always made sure to conserve. When we bought a used wind generator it worked great until we were in about 30 knots coming back from Santa Cruz. It just stopped and never wanted to work again. Now we know perhaps the brake wasn't working, or it could have been a "hand full" of other reasons why it choked. Nevertheless we have a new one now, with warranty. In addition we have the solar.

Being anchored in a familiar area to "test the waters" will be nice. After a few days we will know if we need to replace the 6 volt batterys with new one..... We will see. Either way, No Worries!

Sailing with Teens

I have been trying to find info and blogs of other sailing family's with teenagers. This is a bit more hard to find but I did find a few. One thing I have found to be the biggest issue is not the "socializing" part of it. There are a ton of kids out there in every great tropical anchorage. In reading about the "cruising teens", most kids say they love the destinations but despise the passages making that the biggest issue. I think we have tried to overcome this hatred for passage by having plenty to do. Our kids are going to be part of the rotating watch. At first with one of us, than on their own. Night or Day. They will have chores and will have to help maintain the vessel. They are going to be reading and going over Spanish and French a big majority of the time. We have ample supply of books, especially geography and "sailing" as do most other vessels. I think a lot of Cruisers overlook the needs of teens. The younger kids are always given special things and accomidations are made but the tweens and teens....not so much. We have a daughter who loves art and can draw for hours. Our son can created any number of spit ball launching devises made out of rubber bands and clothes pins and other misc. items. He also has a huge lego and micro engineering toys. We have a guitar and keyboard aboard. We have plenty of movies and music, that are always good on night watch. We have gaming systems for the kids and the biggest kid, Neil! I have my paints and pencils and books....(honestly I have never been borred a day in my life). Once you get to your destination it is constant going to shore, diving, visiting markets, hiking...etc...

We have a bit of an edge too in that they have lived on a boat for some time. We are a bit cramped but not as badly as most would think. We ALL want to go explore the world and we ALL have a say in it. It IS a "Family Affair" and I think that makes a huge difference.

Time to go.

Well it has been quite the adventure being back in the bay. We are at about 90% complete on the boat. We are hoping to leave and head back to Half Moon Bay (home port) Wednesday morning. I think we may have a 2 week window to finish up whatever needs finishing and off we go! I am getting very excited just to be leaving here and heading south. (Not that I don't like being here...but I am anxious to get on with it!) It has been a lot of fun seeing and being around old and new friends. We have been fortunate enought to spend good quality time with some of our old friends while here in Point Richmond.

F Dock and Bay Area Review:

Bob, (Scorpio) who makes the best shoshimi(sp?)haha, that I have had. He has been a whirlwind of information and it has been a pleasure to get to know him. I admire his craftmanship as well as his stamina. I am jealous of his world wide collection of trinkets that I hope to be able to go and collect for myself just as he did.

James (DreamGirl) who has been our dear friend for a few years. Daisy just can't get enough of his lovin...not to mention his bbq-ing! (sorry about that cheeseburger). He has a warm heart and lots of spunk! We have shared some good times anchored and sailing together here in the bay and up the coast.

Bud's (Fandango) 70th Birhtday in which we got to meet his wonderful family. Hear his adventures of sailing and peek into his life as a wonderful father and family man, not to mention his friendship.

Barry and Joyce (Jubilee) who makes a mean chicken and the nicest couple ever! I love hearing her laugh and she has a smile as big as her heart.

Barry and his kid's(Ian and Kira) with whom our kids have had fun over the last few years playing together. Barry a good friend who can make a gourmet dinner out of nothing!

Ken and Saundra (Aquilla) who lived the dream and sailed off to the French Polynesians and off to New Zealand than back home via Hawaii..They made for some serious envy and also while following their blog learned a lot of useful information about the areas we also want to go to. Thanks to them for their detailed inspiration!

Jack ,a pirate at heart.

Ralph, who can make me laugh with his sarcastic wit.

Merle and Verna, two gems.

Marry Anne, who is as cute as cute gets and always so chipper. She can also rock a security uniform better than anyone I know..."you go girl!" :0)

Brian and Tye, a man and his loyal side kick, always happy.

Jose, a hard working family man who is most helpful at the local chandlery.

Robert, although briefly, (Pachuca) with whom we hope to catch up to in the Sea of Cortez.

Along with the above mentioned, there are so many others who have touched our lives with whom we are thankful we had the opportunity to get to know. Some we will likely run into throughout our travels(Lori and Kim).

It has been lots of fun.

But it is time to go.