Posts
August 19, 2009 Wednesday hot, hot, hot
?:??
Phil's up.
9:12
I'm up and ready. We're prepping for underway.
9:19
"Fouled steering" Phil says "Check the 'head' cabinet" This is where the chain from the wheel travels behind our bathroom cabinet. "Oh, the bed's out upstairs" he remembers. When it's pulled out to full size, like when Sailor and I pull it out to play on, it blocks the wheel from turning.
9:44
A quick trip to home dock - we're here.
We spend the evening doing errands, playing with friends and playing at the mall.
Night
When we come out of the mall it's still hot, hot, hot. Back at the marina, before heading down the ramp, I stop to put Sa's life jacket on him. I bump his hand that's holding his new little fire engine that he bought at the mall. We watch it roll down the ramp, off the edge and into the river, faster than we could get to it. Fortunately the water is low so the fire truck is barely submerged at the edge. I watched it land. Sailor errputs into a painful cry. I call Phil on the cell phone. He meets us down at the rivers edge trail. He holds Sa as I slide over the brush and about 20 feet down to the muddy river's edge. I have one little foot slip and catch myself. I have the fire truck in hand, and then in my pocket. Sailor is all smiles when I hand it to him in Daddy's arms.
August 18, 2009 Tuesday
9:30
Phil and I are up . . .
10:00
Sailor wakes and says he needs to pee.
I ask "in the river or the potty?"
Potty it is and Phil's outta there in a flash.
most of the day
We visit at Grandma's. Sailor and I swim in the pool with his new goggles, just like the big kids.
18:00
We drop Phil off at the boat at the park, Sailor and I go on to the Library storytime. During a story of the sea, Sailor announces to the Librarian reading "Daddy's Navy boat sank!" When she didn't give proper regard he said it louder "Daddy's Navy boat sank!!"
"Oh", she acknowledged confused.
21:15
Sailor and I are back at the boat with Phil.
22:10ish
We're all sitting outside on the v-berth roof counting stars. I lay back, thinking Sailor's laying back too. Then we hear a thud! Sailor cries out, he's laying on his back, his head askew, legs in the air, stuck down along the narrow walkway. He somersaulted down there. We uncrumple him.
late night
Spiderman plays on computer until we fall asleep.
9:30
Phil and I are up . . .
10:00
Sailor wakes and says he needs to pee.
I ask "in the river or the potty?"
Potty it is and Phil's outta there in a flash.
most of the day
We visit at Grandma's. Sailor and I swim in the pool with his new goggles, just like the big kids.
18:00
We drop Phil off at the boat at the park, Sailor and I go on to the Library storytime. During a story of the sea, Sailor announces to the Librarian reading "Daddy's Navy boat sank!" When she didn't give proper regard he said it louder "Daddy's Navy boat sank!!"
"Oh", she acknowledged confused.
21:15
Sailor and I are back at the boat with Phil.
22:10ish
We're all sitting outside on the v-berth roof counting stars. I lay back, thinking Sailor's laying back too. Then we hear a thud! Sailor cries out, he's laying on his back, his head askew, legs in the air, stuck down along the narrow walkway. He somersaulted down there. We uncrumple him.
late night
Spiderman plays on computer until we fall asleep.
August 17, 2009 Monday
Windy & cool
Phil's been up for hours.
7:00ish
I hear Phil helping Nik dock canoe and get off to work.. Nik is whining about having to "paddle 40 minutes each way".
Phil tells her "It's okay to be hot". Trying to get her to think about the pluses of such a workout.
8:53
I get up to help Phil find his cell phone. He's going to canoe to Nik's boat w/our car battery along, to see if he can drive it to this dock.
9:00
Sa wakes.
9:30
I worry about Phil. He'll need to raise two anchors by himself, with Nik's boat b eing close to the rocks, and he'll need to pull the canoe along behind.
Phil calls - he's trying to find the boat keys - Nik's 5 dogs are barking in the background.
9:48
I see Nik's boat coming up the river. Phil ties her up behind us. Now the dock is full.
Morning
Sa and I play in the park pretending to be Sam the dog and running through the sprinklers.
We see a lot of periwinkle snails in the shallow river water. We head back to the boat when Phil calls and says breakfast is ready.
afternoon
Sa and I spend the afternoon in the air conditioned Toys R Us store. We went for Bodukan but end up with a new hot Wheels race track.
Nik's here, happy to be back at the dock.
A couple 'rough' girls strip to their underwear and jump in the river. You gotta appreciate that.
Evening
We paly with the new race track and we bring Sailor's raft into the Pilot House and play in that.
10:10
Phil's on the front deck trying to get computer reception.
Night
We play Hot Wheels and watch cartoons until we all fall asleep.
Phil's been up for hours.
7:00ish
I hear Phil helping Nik dock canoe and get off to work.. Nik is whining about having to "paddle 40 minutes each way".
Phil tells her "It's okay to be hot". Trying to get her to think about the pluses of such a workout.
8:53
I get up to help Phil find his cell phone. He's going to canoe to Nik's boat w/our car battery along, to see if he can drive it to this dock.
9:00
Sa wakes.
9:30
I worry about Phil. He'll need to raise two anchors by himself, with Nik's boat b eing close to the rocks, and he'll need to pull the canoe along behind.
Phil calls - he's trying to find the boat keys - Nik's 5 dogs are barking in the background.
9:48
I see Nik's boat coming up the river. Phil ties her up behind us. Now the dock is full.
Morning
Sa and I play in the park pretending to be Sam the dog and running through the sprinklers.
We see a lot of periwinkle snails in the shallow river water. We head back to the boat when Phil calls and says breakfast is ready.
afternoon
Sa and I spend the afternoon in the air conditioned Toys R Us store. We went for Bodukan but end up with a new hot Wheels race track.
Nik's here, happy to be back at the dock.
A couple 'rough' girls strip to their underwear and jump in the river. You gotta appreciate that.
Evening
We paly with the new race track and we bring Sailor's raft into the Pilot House and play in that.
10:10
Phil's on the front deck trying to get computer reception.
Night
We play Hot Wheels and watch cartoons until we all fall asleep.
August 16, 2009 Sunday
Some days - even weeks - I just don't have computer access or sometimes I have access but no internet connection. Anyway, that's why this is posted some days after the actual date. I always keep a paper log.
August 16, 2009 Sunday Cool and cloudy
6:00
Off to work.
16:00
I meet the guys at granmda's place, an apartment complex along the river, only a half block from our marina.
18:00
We're heading to Sellwood dock to try to get Nik's boat there.
18:15
Th river water is so low you can step from the inside of the beach right onto the dock without getting your feet wet. I've never seen it this low.
Ivan has his sailboat in the one deep inside spot.\Phil moves our boat forward a few feet do Nate, Nik and us are tight on the outside, leaving enough room for the ski boats to land.
11:40
We played the night away. We're in bed now with cartoons on. I hear Nik get a paddle off our deck. She's conoeing home to the cove.
August 16, 2009 Sunday Cool and cloudy
6:00
Off to work.
16:00
I meet the guys at granmda's place, an apartment complex along the river, only a half block from our marina.
18:00
We're heading to Sellwood dock to try to get Nik's boat there.
18:15
Th river water is so low you can step from the inside of the beach right onto the dock without getting your feet wet. I've never seen it this low.
Ivan has his sailboat in the one deep inside spot.\Phil moves our boat forward a few feet do Nate, Nik and us are tight on the outside, leaving enough room for the ski boats to land.
11:40
We played the night away. We're in bed now with cartoons on. I hear Nik get a paddle off our deck. She's conoeing home to the cove.
August 15, 2009 Saturday
06:00 It's Woodstock 40th Anniversary Party Day
I'm leaving for work. I give my guys each a kiss. They're so cute, laying the same way, snuggled under the blankets.
16:00
When I get 'home' from work Phil already has the ribs sautee'ing and grilling. Most of the food is out for the party. Sailor's busy playing with his toy pirate ship.
16:30
People arrive throughout the next hour and begin eating right away. K's here first carrying her original 1969 purple Woodstock t-shirt. We hang the shirt from the stern rafters in a place of honor. She goes back to her bus for herWoodstock CD. Sailor tags along. Sa' asks her to "Say it. Say it."
"Say what?" she asks.
Sa' looks at her with amazement, as if, 'how could she not know what he's talking about'.
"Ohhh" and she understands and says Sailor's Secret name (that I don't know) that he told her two weeks ago. Sa' cracks up with laughter.
17:00
Sailor takes a nap in his v-berth.
17:30
We get underway to Waverly marina's gas dock. We put in 80 gallons of diesel = $172.00 = maybe a couple inches worth in Victory's big tanks.
Then, we head downtown to silhouette. K's up in the Pilot House driving. She's the guest of honor and the only person here that attended Woodstock.
19:00
Sa's awake. As we near the park dock he wants to go fast - which is relative in a full displacement hull. Sa sits on Phil's lap up in the Pilot House. Phil kicks up the speed.
Everyone on deck looks at me questioningly as we speed past our stop. I explain.
evening
We visit the evening away as we watch the sunset and the city lights come on.
21:00
Sz comes late. Sa'gives her a tour of the Pilot Houe helm. He gets the fast/slow, forward/reverse throttles correct which relieves me, because sometimes, since I seldom drive, I forget.
21:30
Sz, her chihuahua Poppy, Sailor and I head up to the park to play ball.
Our niece and her friend make a beer run and stay in the park late with Sz and N, our sailboat neighbors.
12:00
We're all tucked in for the night.
The last visitors head home. Suzann
I'm leaving for work. I give my guys each a kiss. They're so cute, laying the same way, snuggled under the blankets.
16:00
When I get 'home' from work Phil already has the ribs sautee'ing and grilling. Most of the food is out for the party. Sailor's busy playing with his toy pirate ship.
16:30
People arrive throughout the next hour and begin eating right away. K's here first carrying her original 1969 purple Woodstock t-shirt. We hang the shirt from the stern rafters in a place of honor. She goes back to her bus for herWoodstock CD. Sailor tags along. Sa' asks her to "Say it. Say it."
"Say what?" she asks.
Sa' looks at her with amazement, as if, 'how could she not know what he's talking about'.
"Ohhh" and she understands and says Sailor's Secret name (that I don't know) that he told her two weeks ago. Sa' cracks up with laughter.
17:00
Sailor takes a nap in his v-berth.
17:30
We get underway to Waverly marina's gas dock. We put in 80 gallons of diesel = $172.00 = maybe a couple inches worth in Victory's big tanks.
Then, we head downtown to silhouette. K's up in the Pilot House driving. She's the guest of honor and the only person here that attended Woodstock.
19:00
Sa's awake. As we near the park dock he wants to go fast - which is relative in a full displacement hull. Sa sits on Phil's lap up in the Pilot House. Phil kicks up the speed.
Everyone on deck looks at me questioningly as we speed past our stop. I explain.
evening
We visit the evening away as we watch the sunset and the city lights come on.
21:00
Sz comes late. Sa'gives her a tour of the Pilot Houe helm. He gets the fast/slow, forward/reverse throttles correct which relieves me, because sometimes, since I seldom drive, I forget.
21:30
Sz, her chihuahua Poppy, Sailor and I head up to the park to play ball.
Our niece and her friend make a beer run and stay in the park late with Sz and N, our sailboat neighbors.
12:00
We're all tucked in for the night.
The last visitors head home. Suzann
AUgust 14, 2009 Friday
We've had no internet signal for awhile, so I have to enter when I get a break at work. . .
Cloudy and cool
Early
Phil's up. Every time I open my eyes he's doing something different, making coffee, glueing a broken model back together, reading a new book his son in Germany sent, cooking breakfast.
09:30am
Sa' and I are stretching awake.
Morning
Hot Wheels, Hot Breakfast, super heroes play and book reading.
Sailor is sitting on the galley counter announcing all that's going on around us "There's a fishing boat, there's a red ski boat, look at the goose . . ." he pauses, thinking, then announces "It's a new day!".
12:30p
Phil's cleaning tools off the back table, prepping for our Hippie Party tomorrow - it's the 40th anniversary of Woodstock.
After reading Super Heroes books about 8 times, Sailor's ready to take the plunge and get underway for the Sellwood Park.
13:27
We're underway, an easy backout
14:00
Sailor helps me on the deck coming in - he holds big greenie (fender) at the touch point.
Tied at Sellwood Park. Phil finishes securing Vic to the dock.
14:01
Sa's jumping into the river
15:00
Sa's out of the river and dried off, playing on the back deck. I get a chance to see the excellent job of cleaning up that Phil did - ship shape.
Phil's walking to our marina, about 1/4 mile, to get extra life jackets off sailboat for tomorrow and checking in on his mom.
night
Sa's napped. Phil's back. I've done a store run for tomorrow's party. We play super heroes much of the evening. Sa's tired and bouncy. We decide to use some battery power for late night cartoons.
12:00-1:00
We all fall asleep on the cabin bed.
Cloudy and cool
Early
Phil's up. Every time I open my eyes he's doing something different, making coffee, glueing a broken model back together, reading a new book his son in Germany sent, cooking breakfast.
09:30am
Sa' and I are stretching awake.
Morning
Hot Wheels, Hot Breakfast, super heroes play and book reading.
Sailor is sitting on the galley counter announcing all that's going on around us "There's a fishing boat, there's a red ski boat, look at the goose . . ." he pauses, thinking, then announces "It's a new day!".
12:30p
Phil's cleaning tools off the back table, prepping for our Hippie Party tomorrow - it's the 40th anniversary of Woodstock.
After reading Super Heroes books about 8 times, Sailor's ready to take the plunge and get underway for the Sellwood Park.
13:27
We're underway, an easy backout
14:00
Sailor helps me on the deck coming in - he holds big greenie (fender) at the touch point.
Tied at Sellwood Park. Phil finishes securing Vic to the dock.
14:01
Sa's jumping into the river
15:00
Sa's out of the river and dried off, playing on the back deck. I get a chance to see the excellent job of cleaning up that Phil did - ship shape.
Phil's walking to our marina, about 1/4 mile, to get extra life jackets off sailboat for tomorrow and checking in on his mom.
night
Sa's napped. Phil's back. I've done a store run for tomorrow's party. We play super heroes much of the evening. Sa's tired and bouncy. We decide to use some battery power for late night cartoons.
12:00-1:00
We all fall asleep on the cabin bed.
August 13, 2009 Thursday
Overcast, cool morning
9:30am
I finally get up. Phil's been up for hours. I've been hearing him move around the boat. I feel when he steps off and back on. He's straightening decks, coiling lines (Sailor likes to feed them into the river) and importantly, Phil's rigged the waist line - oops! it's called a warp line. Now I hear him dumping yesterdays rainwater out of the wagon and buckets and into the river. . .
We should have an easy out today. There's no work barge taking up half our fairway this time. They've been repairing the winter storm damage to the barns.
9:49am
Phil's checking the gas - that means, unscrewing a little brass cover on stern deck and dipping a stick. He comes in and says "Six to seven inches of fuel. We just haven't used much". Fortunately this boat sips diesel. We decide to get gas on Friday when we move to the Sellwood dock. Today our destination is RiverPlace Marina. Sa's been asking for weeks to "Get underway, go downtown".
11:13am
We switch to holding tank water and fill tank.
Phil rousts Sailor, telling him about our upcoming trip. Sa asks to push the (starter) button.
11:26am
Sailor, standing on a stool at the helm. pushes the button . . . it's his first solo start up of Victory. He's needed Phil's strength to help push in the past. Victory starts right up with a puff of white smoke.
I disconnect the power cord, Sa & Phil move topside.
I single lines the loose bow line, then loose stern line, run in trhough cabin to port and pull warp line. There's nothing quite like feeling the wieght of a 15 ton wooden boat being turned by using me as a pivot. Then I pull in the fenders and coil the lines. I really do like being the crew.
Phil navigates us into the channel and announces our presence with a nice riff on the brass bell.
As I coil lines on the bow I hear a whisper and then hear it again "I want my bottle". Ilook up to see Sailor peeking over the Pilot House window ledge. I hand him up his bottle.
11:55am
We're all in the Pilot House heading down river, River Place Marina is in sight.
"Do you have her ready for starboard to?" Phil asks
I'm relaxing back with Sailor on my lap, "No", and I realize I still don't know what the 'to' means.
12:09pm An easy slide alongside the dock. WE get off and pull her up around to the corner 'free' spot. Again, I like feeling the wieght of her as I pull her lines. Sailor really likes to help pull the lines along with us.
There are workers on the dock replacing the whalers. Phil helps pull one standing on a little floating dock, around Victory.
Sailor gives a good, long wave to the passing Willamette Jet Boat. His wave outs always bring lots of smiles and a boatful of wave backs.
13:30
Sailor and I head up to the park. We play in the sand that has been used to fill holes. We're among a big flock of geese. After the sand we walk over to the Hawthorne Bridge. We stand under on of the lanes and watch the cars pass over head.
We meet up with our friend K and walk her back to her car.
15:00
Back at boat. Cooking corn dogs on the BBQ that Phil just repaired (malfunctioning hose).
We're on battery power, our little generator is lent out, so I'm trying to be an electric miser. I don't use light in the bathroom. I use water out of a jug instead of using the pump. We don't use extra dishes - all corn dogs on one plate.
afternoon
Sailor's playing with Hot Wheels. He looks out the back window and says "Downtown is nice".
Niece drops by for a visit. her work is slow, she's kind of down.
17:00ish
Sa and I move his race track and bucket of cars back to his v-berth. Sailor lays back on and dumps the cars on himself like a blanket, then falls asleep.
18:00ish
I walk niece to her car. We see about 6 men in wet suits jump into the river - they're training for next Sunday's triathalon.
I pick up Little River Cafe ice cream on the way back to the boat.
20:00pm
On back deck at ice chest filling baby bottle. It's grey and raining.
We have the little brass lamp lit for light. Phil's looking out at city lights and says "I like the Low Power aprofile".
21:00
Sa' wakes. He climbs down the ladder from his v-berth bed. and runs to the cabin's full back window. With delight he says "Look at the lights! We're downtown!" He's soooo happy.
night
we play with HOt Wheels much of the night. We go up to the Pilot House to play, calling down the voice tube 'orders' for various cars, blankets, snacks. Phil hands them up to the window.
02:30am
We're all crashed in the big cabin bed.
Overcast, cool morning
9:30am
I finally get up. Phil's been up for hours. I've been hearing him move around the boat. I feel when he steps off and back on. He's straightening decks, coiling lines (Sailor likes to feed them into the river) and importantly, Phil's rigged the waist line - oops! it's called a warp line. Now I hear him dumping yesterdays rainwater out of the wagon and buckets and into the river. . .
We should have an easy out today. There's no work barge taking up half our fairway this time. They've been repairing the winter storm damage to the barns.
9:49am
Phil's checking the gas - that means, unscrewing a little brass cover on stern deck and dipping a stick. He comes in and says "Six to seven inches of fuel. We just haven't used much". Fortunately this boat sips diesel. We decide to get gas on Friday when we move to the Sellwood dock. Today our destination is RiverPlace Marina. Sa's been asking for weeks to "Get underway, go downtown".
11:13am
We switch to holding tank water and fill tank.
Phil rousts Sailor, telling him about our upcoming trip. Sa asks to push the (starter) button.
11:26am
Sailor, standing on a stool at the helm. pushes the button . . . it's his first solo start up of Victory. He's needed Phil's strength to help push in the past. Victory starts right up with a puff of white smoke.
I disconnect the power cord, Sa & Phil move topside.
I single lines the loose bow line, then loose stern line, run in trhough cabin to port and pull warp line. There's nothing quite like feeling the wieght of a 15 ton wooden boat being turned by using me as a pivot. Then I pull in the fenders and coil the lines. I really do like being the crew.
Phil navigates us into the channel and announces our presence with a nice riff on the brass bell.
As I coil lines on the bow I hear a whisper and then hear it again "I want my bottle". Ilook up to see Sailor peeking over the Pilot House window ledge. I hand him up his bottle.
11:55am
We're all in the Pilot House heading down river, River Place Marina is in sight.
"Do you have her ready for starboard to?" Phil asks
I'm relaxing back with Sailor on my lap, "No", and I realize I still don't know what the 'to' means.
12:09pm An easy slide alongside the dock. WE get off and pull her up around to the corner 'free' spot. Again, I like feeling the wieght of her as I pull her lines. Sailor really likes to help pull the lines along with us.
There are workers on the dock replacing the whalers. Phil helps pull one standing on a little floating dock, around Victory.
Sailor gives a good, long wave to the passing Willamette Jet Boat. His wave outs always bring lots of smiles and a boatful of wave backs.
13:30
Sailor and I head up to the park. We play in the sand that has been used to fill holes. We're among a big flock of geese. After the sand we walk over to the Hawthorne Bridge. We stand under on of the lanes and watch the cars pass over head.
We meet up with our friend K and walk her back to her car.
15:00
Back at boat. Cooking corn dogs on the BBQ that Phil just repaired (malfunctioning hose).
We're on battery power, our little generator is lent out, so I'm trying to be an electric miser. I don't use light in the bathroom. I use water out of a jug instead of using the pump. We don't use extra dishes - all corn dogs on one plate.
afternoon
Sailor's playing with Hot Wheels. He looks out the back window and says "Downtown is nice".
Niece drops by for a visit. her work is slow, she's kind of down.
17:00ish
Sa and I move his race track and bucket of cars back to his v-berth. Sailor lays back on and dumps the cars on himself like a blanket, then falls asleep.
18:00ish
I walk niece to her car. We see about 6 men in wet suits jump into the river - they're training for next Sunday's triathalon.
I pick up Little River Cafe ice cream on the way back to the boat.
20:00pm
On back deck at ice chest filling baby bottle. It's grey and raining.
We have the little brass lamp lit for light. Phil's looking out at city lights and says "I like the Low Power aprofile".
21:00
Sa' wakes. He climbs down the ladder from his v-berth bed. and runs to the cabin's full back window. With delight he says "Look at the lights! We're downtown!" He's soooo happy.
night
we play with HOt Wheels much of the night. We go up to the Pilot House to play, calling down the voice tube 'orders' for various cars, blankets, snacks. Phil hands them up to the window.
02:30am
We're all crashed in the big cabin bed.
August 12, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The rain has stopped.
I drained it off Sa's toys on the back deck.
Sailor's starting to wake.
I'm a bit anxious because we're talking of getting underway today. I think I have a healthy level of anxiety - enough to be safe - compared to our early boating days when I stressed our underways for days leading up to it. Although the last time we went out I forgot to unplug the shore power and we ended up ripping the tongs from our marine power cord. The $100 pop was a good lesson.
There really are a number of things to do attached with getting this old 40' boat out and moving.
We just had a rain torrent. Afterward I carry Sailor for a walk on the docks. Coming back to Vic, a whole fairway away, we hear water pouring into the river.
"That's our boat" Sailor tells me.
He's right. Phil decided to pump out the rain water. At three years old he can tell which bilge pump is ours.
Back at Victory, Phil and I are debating now about getting underway. Rain clouds are on the horizon.
Phil ends up on the stern deck making a "Sam ramp". He's taking about a four foot length of wood, putting a fender float under it, putting hinges on one end, screwing slats across it. The Sam ramp is to help Nicole's black lab Sam get out of the river and onto her boat.
12:30pm
While in the building process Phil gets a call from a boat friend, who got a call from a boat friend, who says the Sheriff says they are coming to the cove with a tug boat and taking the boats out of there. This would include our nieces boat. We take some time contemplating what we should do.
1:14pm
Phil's headed up to the garage to take the battery out of the car. We figure the car battery should be enough power to get Nik's boat started if we need to. We decide to go to the cove by sail, there's wind, and we don't want to get Victory in the middle of a possible mess, or associated with any Sheriff's activity.
1:25pm
Phil's back loading the battery and stuff into the sailboat. I notice that with a toddler on board it takes two seconds longer each trip over the gunnels because I have to lock the gate each time.
1:45pm
We're loaded up in Steady Buzz -dog ramp, car battery, snacks...and on our way. Half way there Sailor calls out "Red buoy four. Up there's green buoy five".
By golly, he's exactly right.
2:10pm
We're in the cove at Nik'sboat. Phil attaches his cool 'Sam Ramp', it seems perfect. He puts a tarp over the bow to keep the leaks out.
We don't see any Sheriffs action. There are two docks and four boats in the cove, but no one seems to be stirring. We decide someone over reacted with the Boat moving warning.
3pm
We head out. The wind is crazy, stiff then stopping, from the West, then the North. Sa's tired. He tries laying in the cuddy for the first time. But we both end up sitting on the bow, ducking the mainsail as Phil solo sails and plays with the shifty winds. We pass buoy 5 three times, going backwards to get forwards.
4:09pm
We're home on Victory.
The rain has stopped.
I drained it off Sa's toys on the back deck.
Sailor's starting to wake.
I'm a bit anxious because we're talking of getting underway today. I think I have a healthy level of anxiety - enough to be safe - compared to our early boating days when I stressed our underways for days leading up to it. Although the last time we went out I forgot to unplug the shore power and we ended up ripping the tongs from our marine power cord. The $100 pop was a good lesson.
There really are a number of things to do attached with getting this old 40' boat out and moving.
We just had a rain torrent. Afterward I carry Sailor for a walk on the docks. Coming back to Vic, a whole fairway away, we hear water pouring into the river.
"That's our boat" Sailor tells me.
He's right. Phil decided to pump out the rain water. At three years old he can tell which bilge pump is ours.
Back at Victory, Phil and I are debating now about getting underway. Rain clouds are on the horizon.
Phil ends up on the stern deck making a "Sam ramp". He's taking about a four foot length of wood, putting a fender float under it, putting hinges on one end, screwing slats across it. The Sam ramp is to help Nicole's black lab Sam get out of the river and onto her boat.
12:30pm
While in the building process Phil gets a call from a boat friend, who got a call from a boat friend, who says the Sheriff says they are coming to the cove with a tug boat and taking the boats out of there. This would include our nieces boat. We take some time contemplating what we should do.
1:14pm
Phil's headed up to the garage to take the battery out of the car. We figure the car battery should be enough power to get Nik's boat started if we need to. We decide to go to the cove by sail, there's wind, and we don't want to get Victory in the middle of a possible mess, or associated with any Sheriff's activity.
1:25pm
Phil's back loading the battery and stuff into the sailboat. I notice that with a toddler on board it takes two seconds longer each trip over the gunnels because I have to lock the gate each time.
1:45pm
We're loaded up in Steady Buzz -dog ramp, car battery, snacks...and on our way. Half way there Sailor calls out "Red buoy four. Up there's green buoy five".
By golly, he's exactly right.
2:10pm
We're in the cove at Nik'sboat. Phil attaches his cool 'Sam Ramp', it seems perfect. He puts a tarp over the bow to keep the leaks out.
We don't see any Sheriffs action. There are two docks and four boats in the cove, but no one seems to be stirring. We decide someone over reacted with the Boat moving warning.
3pm
We head out. The wind is crazy, stiff then stopping, from the West, then the North. Sa's tired. He tries laying in the cuddy for the first time. But we both end up sitting on the bow, ducking the mainsail as Phil solo sails and plays with the shifty winds. We pass buoy 5 three times, going backwards to get forwards.
4:09pm
We're home on Victory.
August 11, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
I always hear the best place to start a story is at the beginning, but I disagree. . . In our family's case, I'll need to start with today. I will add more of our history as time permits. Right now, Sailor has his arms full, carrying two monster trucks and one of his favorite hot wheels. As he headsout the cabin to the back deck I hear one of his toys fall to the deck. We get a flashlight and find he dropped his blue hot wheels right by a scupper and it rolled on out and down into the river. It's gone. "That's alright momma" he assures me "I have a lot more in my v-berth". Yes, he uses correct nautical terminology at 3 years old. But his sense of security with his hot wheels is short lived and he asks for his favorite blue hot wheels car a few minutes later. A few minutes after that Sailor and I are of to Fred Meyers to hunt out a new Hot Wheels.
I always hear the best place to start a story is at the beginning, but I disagree. . . In our family's case, I'll need to start with today. I will add more of our history as time permits. Right now, Sailor has his arms full, carrying two monster trucks and one of his favorite hot wheels. As he headsout the cabin to the back deck I hear one of his toys fall to the deck. We get a flashlight and find he dropped his blue hot wheels right by a scupper and it rolled on out and down into the river. It's gone. "That's alright momma" he assures me "I have a lot more in my v-berth". Yes, he uses correct nautical terminology at 3 years old. But his sense of security with his hot wheels is short lived and he asks for his favorite blue hot wheels car a few minutes later. A few minutes after that Sailor and I are of to Fred Meyers to hunt out a new Hot Wheels.
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