Parallel Universe

We will be switching to a new blog site when we resume the cruise.  Please make a note of the new address:

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/bearnbligh/

The new site is set up for sailing type blogs and much friendlier for the publisher.  It will have a map that shows progress and some other really good features.  Let me know what you think

Jake

It is funny what we have found as entertainment since being on land.  Started to say since being home but then again, we are at home on land and on Why Knot.  As mentioned earlier, we started to empty an old freezer that has been in constant duty for over 28 years in our dungeon.  Said freezer had an ice berg about six inches deep in the bottom into which food has been entombed for close to the full time. Old bread, candy bars, ice cream and at least some of every soup or stew we have made since moving the thing there.  We built the house around it thus cannot get it out.  The decision was to empty it and use it as a trunk.  We have now done that but in the process we tossed the food "down the hill" so the critters could make use of it.  We have a very fine specimen of a gray fox that has dined for almost two months on the "booty".  Guess what folks, we are done with the project and have only a few more items from the fridge, to include left overs from Thanksgiving, for old Jake to enjoy.  I know, I know, it is not a good thing to thus train wild life but old Jake has enjoyed it as much as we have enjoyed spying on him after dark as he dines.  All good things come to an end and he is really going to miss the crew of Why Knot.  Starting about Saturday, next, the neighborhood punt dogs and cats better look out.  Then again, the danger might not be so bad as Jake prefers the flavor of soy sauce and a pinch of wasabe.   Methinks we might just leave a bowl of the stuff out there to enhance the taste of whatever rodentia or  domestic house pet he chooses in the near future.  After that old Jake is on his own.  We simply have to get back aboard to help Bligh lose the 33 pounds gained during this shore liberty.  Be well fellow scurvs and have one great Thanksgiving.  Don't forget that this and all previous such holidays are brought to you courtesy of some fine young lions who are willing to do harm on your behalf at possibly the loss of all their future holidays.  May God wrap his grace and care around them.  We'll be back on the flip side. 

Close, really close

Nothing like a very quiet Sunday morning watching "A River Runs Though It" to inspire one's thoughts about what we are about to resume.  By this time next week, we will most likely be on our way back to Why Knot.  We will encounter an entirely different feeling this time since we left.  The southern migration is in full swing as evidenced by the dock cam at Charleston.  I look at it every day, half expecting WK to be crushed between two "ships" but it has not happened.  Some days, the dock is completely full and others almost empty.  This is due to the transient traffic seeking warmer, clearer water south.  The anchorage across from the dock has been busy and at times full.  I would bet it would accommodate a hundred boats easily. 

The go box is ready and all that is left is to load it into the blue toad rental car we have.  Enterprise must have us on some good customer list somewhere as we have, withing the last 10 months rented over 100 days.  Soon that will end and we are ready to get away from tourism ashore, except by dinghy.  The Bear's back thing has prevented us from using the dinghy since leaving the Keys.  We have missed much along the waterway in terms of gunk holing (exploring remote places).  That will change although we  plan to dodge some of the skinny water of the AICW with offshore work.  We are in the state of mind now just to enjoy Thanksgiving with family and a few friends then leave the house as it should have been the first time.  That 35 year old freezer in the dungeon that held an ice berg time capsule will now function as a trunk to hold family stuff.  That pile of brush below the old BBQ deck is now gone as is the old pit.  The air conditioner has been serviced and will be set at 50 degrees to keep the house from freezing should it come to that. 

As we did in January of this year, we will forgo long showers, large fridge, big tv and big spaces to once again live the dream.  We will see some ports of the past and some new ones.  We hope to skip some such as the back water marina in Pensacola where we had to intentionally walk out of sync lest we wobble the dock.  I wonder if the horse flies are still in the marshes of Georgia?  Our time here has been wonderful but we have the call of the sea yet to fulfill.  That window, thought not yet closed, is starting to close and we have much to do before we must tie her up one last time.  Given the volume of pictures we took the first 9 months, I am not sure the old hard drive will keep up.  Just how many beautiful sunsets, or rolly nights at anchor can one remember?  We'll let you know.  Look out troll, it's time to step over dead center.  Very Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Stuff that changes during absence

Twelve days more or less until we point WK's bow to sea.  It depends on what we find when we get aboard again.  Stuff does change.  For instance, we found the wild life really closed in around our house when we left last time.  We now have a really fine looking pair of fox that enjoy leftovers.  Jake is the one that comes closest and he is the first gray fox we have seen here.  His friend stays farther in the woods.  Jake has made it a habit of checking the place where we dump scraps every night.  By morning, the stuff to the  crumb is gone, except the pinto beans.  Methinks we might have made them too spicy for his tastes.  It is entertaining to watch him on the night scope.  We have a very nice buck with an excellent rack also roaming the yard.  The other day might have ended differently if I continued walking his direction. He was not giving up ground.  I thought it best to avert the joust given the state of my running abilities these days.  Then the other night we had a visitor that I did not recognize.  It was low and slinky and black about two feet long.  I don't have any idea what it was other than some one's ferret. The point is that during the time we were gone, wildlife moved in.  I sure hope the same is not true for Why Knot.  We should have left a fumigator aboard in our absence.  We are still looking for one for our resident troll. 

We have been in touch with SV Breezin' currently underway to Florida.  They spent last evening in Offatts Bayou after a 65 mile day in one of the busiest parts of the ICW (south of Galveston).  He encountered 35 knot winds on the nose and lots of tows.  It brought back memories as we hit similar conditions in that stretch of the ICW.  Rain, 50 degrees and high winds make for miserable days underway.  Breezin is about to enter a very boring part of the ICW east of Galveston where the tallest things one sees are cows and High Island.  That island is an ancient salt dome in the middle of the low country.  Otherwise, it is like walking from Van Horn to Sonora- straight and nothing to see.  This time of the year the fronts are frequent and can be nasty.  It is not necessarily a good time to "do the GIWW ditch".  Though we passed that way in early February, the nights are about the same lately.  It is difficult to stay warm when there is a fine 45 degree mist in the breeze.  Then again, as we found, a good double wowzer day happens every now and then so one can warm up.  Breezin is motivated by the destination of St. Petersburg where such days are common. 

We went on line today as we do every day to look at WK on the dock cam.  MV Bacalao is gone.  We had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know the captain of her and it is a bit of sadness to see her leave.  That is the way it goes and we hope to see Bacalao again somewhere.  Along the way, we have met several crews and look forward to seeing them again somewhere. 

Traditions of the sea

It is less than three weeks until Bear and I climb back aboard Why Knot and resume the dream.  Having had the time at home to actually prepare the house for extended absence, we recognize some things were overlooked last time we left.  The yard was nicely mowed when we returned thanks to our San Antonio son and family but the lower yard was cluttered with debris from the old swing and some rather large woody weeds.  Thus, I have spent time outside doing the Paul Bunyan thing (without the Blue Ox of course) whilst Bear has been engaged in her part of the upcoming cruise prep.  The go box is growing and we need to leave before the rental car we have is too small to carry the junk. 

A news item this morning caught my attention and I did a bit of internetting to learn more.  The event was the commissioning of a Navy War Ship, the USS Jason Dunham.   More on that later.  The Navy still observes a quaint but time honored tradition in building ships which is to put items under the base of the mast during construction.  This tradition dates back to the Greeks and Romans.  As legend has it, it is tied to the tradition of placing coins on the mouths of deceased so as to ensure payment to the entity Charon for the ferry ride across the River Styx to the afterlife.  Ships sent to battle were given coins for each crew for the same purpose and said coins were placed under the mast at the time they were "stepped" (installed).  Today said items are for marking ship's birth and to seek safe passage for the crew. 

So, where is this going?  DDG-109, the USS Jason Dunham has a box at the base of the mast for items commemorating Corporal Jason Dunham's act of unbelievable heroism.  He did the unthinkable and gave his life to save his rifle squad in Iraq.  Basically, he planted his helmet and himself over a grenade.  For this his family accepted the Medal of Honor and the US Navy named the ship.  It was commissioned today.  In the mast box were many items including a number of coins signifying dates of importance and the sum of which equals the ship's hull number.  Other items included his dog tags, a piece of his  Kevlar helmet and the Guidon of  Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines.  For more on this you can whip by the web site:  http://www.jason-dunham.navy.mil/default.aspx . This site will give details of each item. 

Back to the world of the protected- it is cold here today and that hurts, literally.  Springing out of the rack is no longer an option.  Instead, we go through what is similar to a start up procedure. Boy are we looking forward to sailing south to clearer water and warmer days.  I wonder if Why Knot has a coin at her mast base?  If not we will figure a way to make it happen-  or not.  Be well, ya'll.  Fair winds, SV Breezin' now underway in the ICW to Florida.

Darkness and Dreams

Bear will be the first to point out that I am a gadget freak.  We have redundant systems for charts both electronic and paper and most every other system on the boat is backed up with parts or redundant systems.  In a sense we are a bit beyond the Joshua Slocum method of cruising but that it not the worst thing in the 21st century.  We are not in to Facebook or Twittering as we will never be a Tweeple.  Our younger family uses those medium to stay in touch and the older members of our family barely know that computers are everywhere. 

We have had a wonderful visit to the Hill Country to see family and friends and even attend a 60's decade high school reunion.  Now, we are in the prep mode to return to Why Knot and take her to sea (Murdock) once again.  This time we head south for a bit and over familiar ground (sort of).  We have a hull cleaning dive scheduled and our dock rent is done at the end of November.  If we are lucky, the tax man will not have found WK and levied a property tax upon her in our absence.  South Carolina will do so if one stays more than six months in their water in a calendar year.  By the time we get back aboard, we will be over that limit.  Can't they see the hailing port of Port Aransas, Texas?  Does it matter? 

As Wurstfest ended today in New Braunfels, we were disciplined to attend only once during the 10 day event.  One can only yell so long over a Wursthalle bench.  After a wonderful day yesterday listening to a three string ensemble playing Texas music along the Guadalupe and then dinner with the extended crew of Why Knot in a double wowzer evening, we are getting ready to head back to the water world.  I acquired another gadget from American Express using some of the 30 years worth of points we had.  I got a night vision scope.  I remember the starlight scopes we had in the Nam and this thing is way better, lighter and easier to use.  Since being home we have adopted two fox that are not the least concerned with our presence.  They like the stuff we are tossing from our dungeon freezer that has been in the ice berg for over 20 years.  We throw chili, sausage and tortillas out there for them and they dine within 20 yards of our house.  Tonight, I trained the night vision device on them and we both were entertained.  Boy, that brings back memories of very dark nights so long ago. 

We have been ashore long enough to lose sea legs and start thinking about socks.  Fortunately, I have misplaced the directions on how to wear them.   Once aboard again, we plan to take WK offshore but not until we have some time aboard to check systems and get motion back in our persona.  I did not say motion was rhythm.  We have none, having grown up in an area that frowned on dancing.  It will be cold when we are aboard again.  Perhaps it won't be as cold as the first few weeks of our cruise back in January of this year.  There will be destinations south of our present location that will offer clear water and warm nights.  We miss the crystal clear water of the Keys.  This time we are taking spear guns and fishing gear.  Now, if we can only remember which fish cause tummy aches and which we can't murder we might be ok- or not.

Status Report

Rumor has it that we, especially Bear, are not fit for the cruise we plan to continue.  Not so. We would not continue if we were the least bit unable to perform the duties aboard Why Knot.  While Bear is moving slowly, it must be realized that she had a back surgery from which she is making a remarkable consistent recovery.  The idea in coming home was to see  family and friends and we chose to make the visit about two months long to give both of us time to get to the point physically where we can continue.  It will take many months for the crew to achieve pre-cruise conditioning.  One of the real benefits to "no plan, no schedule and no destination" is that we can take it easy and still live the dream.  So, to those with concerns, thank you for the thoughts but we can sit aboard as easily as at home.  We may not cover 70 miles a day but that is no big deal. 

S-25 and Counting

Porthole shot of sunset on Lydia Ann Channel of the lighthouse at Port Aransas

Things are going slowly but improving in the crew healing process.  It appears that the six months inactive has cost Bear a great deal in stamina and range of motion but we are happy that she improves daily and is ready to get underway again.  As the season changes and the concerns over hurricane season abate somewhat (Hurricane Tomas is still stinging the islands) we are looking forward to Thanksgiving with family here in the Hill Country.  Tomas is as of this writing targeting Haiti, a country that has yet to even start to recover from the earthquakes.  I heard today that over a million persons are still living in tents and under tarps and that hurricane will not be welcome.  Our thoughts are always for those in the "kill zone" of storms but especially for those with no place to go. 

The season has gone from balmy and almost boringly predictable to the pattern of weekly frontal passages. This is the time of the year when sailors start to monitor the weather for that perfect time to cross the Gulf or some other body of water on the heels of a frontal passage.  That is so for our friend on Breezin' who hopes to cross the Gulf in a few days.  He plans to do it alone and with limited early warning devices aboard except his own observations.  A fast crossing is a relative thing and can be as short as five days on a fast boat.  Breezin is not among the fastest thus it will take a few days longer.  The way it works for "single handers" is simple but unbelievably strenuous.  He will remain at the helm most of the time and grab a few winks whenever the horizon is clear.  Usually, single handers rely on a clock to awake them every 20 minutes during sleep periods.  Thus, the entire passage will be marked by 20 minute time blocks.  The longer it goes, the more it becomes the norm but the first few days cannot be fun.  One must rely on the bounty of the experience to stay focused and safe.  The captain of Breezin is a strong fellow with quite a few sea miles and he should do quite well.  We know of others who have crossed the Atlantic and even the Pacific alone.  What manner of men are these?  Slocum did it alone around the world in the late 1800's.  Certainly we wish Breezin fair winds and following seas.  Keep the SPAM in dry bilges. 

We look at Why Knot every day at the dock on the dock camera.  She sits patiently at Charleston waiting for us to return.  I think about the crud which must be now growing on the water line and the fact that we will get someone to dive the boat before we depart that place.   I would do it but old bones in cold water don't make for a meticulously cleaning.  Shivering often gives way to spotty results and perhaps to way too much rotten grapes thereafter.  We have the charts and the gear to open many alternatives not the least of which is to spend some time in the Keys.  Gee, what a decision that would be.  I cannot wait to show Bear some of the great places we passed when finally stopped to get some repair work on spines.  For the next three weeks we keep looking at the pictures we took along the way.  To our friends back home and those in our old port, we very much got recharged by seeing you again and hope to do so at least a few more times before we get back to the liquid world.  We have the great expectation of seeing some who have indicated that soon they may be joining us underway.  To the crew of CJ now aboard their new boat, the Sand Piper, we hope we run across you and your ice maker "out there".  To Breezin, we hope you will join us.  And to the Huey driver, we can only say: get thee east.  See if you can keep that beautiful brightwork underway. 

If you read this today- we hope you voted.  If not, shame on yer junky butt.