Sailing Grace
Summer dreams

We brought Grace home to our yard several weeks ago, put a frame up and covered her for the winter months. It was cold, sad work. We are still feeling our disappointment in NOT being South for the winter, this in spite of loving Maine, home, friends, family and community. We'll enjoy sailing Maine this spring and summer and will renew our effort to travel the ICW, earlier next fall. But...
Sigh.

David has done the necessary maintenance (I think he feels the disappointment most keenly) and I've washed sails, lines and cleaned up and out. David will, no doubt, continue to "improve" the boat throughout the winter, researching and maybe installing a new depth sounder and autopilot.

I, on the other hand, am ready to be finished with most things boat until April. Of course, I'll attend to emergencies, should they arise (please, no) and will enjoy warm, spring thaw-type days (such as today when we repaired some leaks in the cover), organizing and day-dreaming about our summer sails. Already I've "planned" to get the boat in the water in early May (David hates it when I make these arbitrary "plans") and have set aside the first 2 weeks in June for a down east get-away, shake down cruise with David and maybe Amelia.

But for now, I need a rest from the boat. Our focus has been on her for more than 7 months. While I'm not excited to be in Maine for the winter, I am enjoying a shift in focus to community and home. Ready for my winter sport of reading in front of the wood stove.

Grace snug and tucked in close to our land home for the winter

 Looking forward to continuing, or starting, a Sailing with Grace blog next spring. Blessings abound.

Yowsers! Busy days settling (?) Grace for the winter. She has more systems and is larger than Compass Rose.

A friend suggested we could truck Grace south and join the boat after Christmas in say, Georgia, thus skipping the lousy weather and fear about boating so late in the season. Intriguing....for only a few minutes from my perspective. Friend? David and I made a "let's sleep on it" agreement. Next morning over coffee we decided to bring the boat home and conclude our ICW ambitions for this season. We're both pretty exhausted by this entire effort which has held our attention and most of our time and money since April. Let's see, that's 7 months (!) with David doing most of the physical and mental work and me providing support (financial and emotional with a bit of physical boat work). The idea of opening another chapter of ICW/Grace this year...? No. I couldn't do it. So, she's home in our driveway.

Expanded driveway, Grace field:

In Slings again at Brewer's Freeport Marina

Our own personal living room sail loft:

With kitty helping:

A Snug fit. Almost lost the grill on this move. About a 12" clearance!!! And nearly as stressful as the nor'easter in Scituate.

View from David's office window.

It snowed here already! Below is one of sails, post-washing and trying to dry. It feels cold and damp even though the temperature isn't THAT low at 39 degrees in the middle of the day today. Chill definitely in the air. But Amelia and I are sitting in front of glowing embers in the wood stove.

Sail "drying" in the snow

Last 2014 motor down river

We're decommissioning Grace. It's a sad thing to be doing given our ambitions for this winter of living on her in a sunny, warm, Southern clime...but must be done.

Awaiting taking the masts down

Taking the masts down is something like neutering one's favorite pet. At least it is a reversible process. And she still has lovely lines and looks sturdy which she is.

Neutered Grace. She'll travel over land better this way.

Thinking of expanding our lower driveway to more easily accommodate her living here beside us this winter.

Also toying with the idea of having her shipped/trailered (by a professional, not us) to SC or GA next month and we'd fly or drive down and continue south, as planned. Or bag the sailing idea for this year and go to Spain for a couple of weeks to visit friends, Dick and Nora.

We are both blessed...and cursed...with possibilities and options.

At the beginning of our trip I tried to get a photo of Two Lights. I managed on the return though it is NOT postcard material.

Warm, foggy day. Lovely, really lovely, in a blurry sort of way. Lots of boats coming out of the water at Brewer's Freeport Marina where Grace is docked temporarily. I made a trip to take all the food off the boat, so we'd have food at home. Later in the afternoon David and I stripped the sails, packed some clothes and moved our books off...stripped the aft cabin berth... We'd provisioned Grace well for an extended journey.

I'm settling back onto land with less despondency. I realize, though, that I'd high hopes of using this water journey as a place/time to ponder how I might want to use my time and energy (talents?) during the coming 10 years. I'm privileged with good health and a modicum of wealth that allows me to not strive regularly for food, shelter, warmth. So, how to use my available time/energy purposefully? It is harder to ponder these/this question(s) in my "home" environment when there are so many pulls at my attention...hard to keep eye on the prize...or to know what the prize is. Sigh. Turns out self-discipline is not my strong suit...and waiting, quietly...meditative state isn't either. Still...

Sorry I didn't get a photo of Grace in the pink light of fog. She knows how to sit...waiting, quietly...mediative state...waiting...patiently...

Less bummed out today. Holding all these disparate emotions - disappointed, relieved, confused, grateful...We humans. Flexible. I realized that I'd placed a lot of hopes/expectations on this journey - hoping to challenge some familiar habits, get out of regular environment to take a look at other possibilities, other options about how to use my time and energy. Maybe w/no pressing commitments beyond boat safety and food, there would be clarity and decision. Walking back into our wonderful home I was faced with familiar habits, regular environment and lack of clarity. Gotta get that by another avenue, I guess.

On the plus side of the "journey" balance sheet - I'm much more comfortable estimating distances on the charts, even finding where I am on the chart. I know how to use the Elderige tide book. I know more about effect of wind on waves and how to manage effect on steering a course. I know the sequence for starting and stopping the engine. And, I have a new app on my smart phone that predicts the wind speed and direction. Not rocket science but good to be somewhat conversant. I can turn on the heat and cook on the propane stove

We put some good systems in place during our 2+weeks on board.

And today, we got to SAIL for the first time since leaving, only my 3rd sail. Maggie joined us. We got 4 sails shaken out and working, 10 degrees of tilt, 6 knots. Beautiful sun. Not too cold. Just between Bustin and Little Bustin, then round little Bustin and sail to our red nun, then motor back to the dock. Totally delicious.  Maybe the photos Maggie made will be available tomorrow.

Yesterday morning in Kittery the decks were icy, a clear indication that it is time to be home. Beautiful morning. Foggy windows made navigating out the river a bit dicey but a combination of "wipe the windows" and "stick my head out the door" made it possible to avoid lobster pots, lobster boats, and see the navigational buoys.

Glassy ocean for the first couple of hours of the trip, light wind at our backs as we headed along rather familiar coast of southern Maine. The wind and waves picked up a bit but never too rough, maybe 2' waves plus the ocean swell...it was swell! It was warm enough that both David and I spelled each other from the helm and took breaks on the aft deck (until I suggested that was too much trouble to look back to make sure he'd not fallen overboard) and the foredeck. Lovely watching the waves as Grace easily plowed through them. The vibration of that powerful engine and the sound of the splash of the waves stimulated....my bladder. And there was the long view making way for expansive, questioning thinking and just plain joy and gratitude.

Long View

We decided to continue to Freeport even though it meant a 9+ hour sailing/motoring day. Lots of standing at the helm as the seas were rough enough to require constant attention and handling of the boat - not "heavy" helm exactly but erratic helm...sort of like driving a car on bumpy, twisty and unfamiliar roads...in the dark. Constantly alert trying to anticipate where the next wave will head you (generally off course) and mitigating that effect as much as possible. Pretty physically and mentally active.

Dick and Nora called us as we passed the beach they walk at K'bunkport. "We see you!" I waved in their direction but couldn't really see them.

As we passed Cousins Island I l slowed the rpms, slowing our progress home. Didn't want to get there too fast. Disappointment settled into my spirit, though David was more sanguine. Familiarity was wonderful...and I'm totally appreciative and know this was the correct, prudent decision but...disappointment.

Shannon gathered us. I brought Amelia home and she immediately took to the stairs...away from all things "travel".  I remained totally blessed.

Pepperrelle Cove just off Kittery point, ME.  This morning I was adrift, so to speak, wondering what I was returning to in Maine. Here I was, expecting to get out of my familiar habits, new frontiers, etc. and now I'm returning. Grateful to have home and friends to return to but/and.... now what? Hoping to keep some of the space, psychic space, I've enjoyed without pressure of "work" and jobs (volunteer or otherwise). Hoping to keep mornings sacred to meditate and be spacious...open space for important messages or.....intuitions.....or whatever. But the discipline to stay vacant!!! Odd as that sounds.

Classic sunset in Maine - Pepperrelle Cove near Kittery

 We had a great day of motoring with the wind on our nose. Easy, though, with mild seas. Careful decision making about York Harbor or Portsmouth  Harbor. It tickles me that I know some of the things to consider - tide, wind, time of day, etc. Reading some, comfortably while David steered. Being helms person some. Not able to get into internet to do homework. Picked up our friend, Ben Fowler, who brought Mexican take-out, and dined on a mooring with him. Great laughter. great remembering how we'd supported our parents as they passed. Wonderful sharing of difficult times and some of our regrets, knowing we all did the best we could. Getting colder. Ready to get back to Freeport and see what comes next. Sweet "sail" today. Reading interesting book The education of Oversoul Seven by the woman who wrote the seth books.

David & Nancy excited to leave Gloucester after 4 days waiting for weather to change

Annisquam Villege where Don Tison used to live

Lighthouse at entrance to Annisquam River

Just home from dinner with our friends Diane and Don who have packed up their Gloucester house and have moved to Long Island. Chinese take-out, champagne in plastic cups (celebrating the sell of above house) and a SHOWER for David and me. Wow! What good friends.

Used Toni's gift of the change purse full of quarters, plus some of my own, in the laundry mat today. Now we have clean towels and undies and jeans! Laundry mat was just up the road and a nice one, too. David tackled some wiring, successfully. Now we each have a cigarette-type plug at our seat in the salon so we can recharge our various tech instruments without creating so many tripping hazards. What a guy! Other "home" improvements - I finished the hand work on another cushion today and scraped some more varnish off railings.

It was great to have bright sun this morning, after a night of wind and rocking and rolling. And, the just past full moon on our walk back from Diane and Don's was wonderful. Mild, welcome day/night.

Thinking we may leave this port tomorrow late morning. We've been befriended by Val who works here. She gave David her card and said, "Now you call me when you get home. I worry." We'll check the wind/wave action before heading out tomorrow. I have that app (Windfinder) on my phone now, too.

Naming Grace. Sailing with Grace. This seems an appropriate topic following the, for me, very disappointing election results. 

When we purchased the boat she was named Dreamer, a name that did not resonate with us. Sounded a bit adolescent, an age neither of us misses nor would choose to return to. What sort of name would be more appropriate to our stage in life, our ambitions for journeying with the boat, and something about personal values, philosophy, spiritual beliefs.

We each made lists of names and compared notes and brainstormed off of each other’s ideas.  Pearl, Blue Pearl, Compass Rose 2, Rescue, Sanctuary, Home, Maggie, Audette, Jewel….there were many more now gone from memory and we can’t find the various lists. David came upon grace, Amazing Grace, gracious, graceful.

Grace – elegance, beauty, poise, blessing, kindness; grace of God, living in grace; referencing dance, how we’ve managed to compose our lives over many years without specific, conscious plan and goal, ….  The boat IS elegant with lovely, sweeping lines. She is sturdy and strong. We are her keepers, her stewards, as she is ours, keeping us safe in the water.

David and I are well aware of our long and hard work (David with his numerous skills and me with mine) and the contributions of our ancestors that make our position of relative wealth, good health, and privilege possible. We are grateful. We know so many people who have worked equally hard (or harder)  who are not as blessed with good fortune and good health and privilege.  

Grace seems to fit where we are now and where we hope to remain...”in a state of...in the presence of... living through/with/in...grace” 

So, we named the boat and honor the grace with which we are blessed.

Totally weird "title" to last post. And it happened again. Maybe because I'm composing in Word and Copying and Pasting??? Anybody have insights?

Nearly full moon, muffled by clouds a little, off our aft deck. We’re comfortably situated in a slip in Gloucester, MA, plugged into “shore power” so we’re not draining our batteries or propane supply for light and heat. Ah, the good life. But what day is it? Is this lost-the-day syndrome due to “Ah, retirement,”  “Ah, cruising,” or "Ah, age."???

 

(left: Scituate Light)

We finally left Scituate yesterday around 1 PM after testing, adjusting, purging, testing again the fuel filter system…getting the air out. We continued to check the filters throughout our 4 hr passage back to Gloucester. The passage was easy enough but we had to open the engine compartment to check the filters. Big, powerful engine is extremely noisy when the compartment is open. Amelia took up drinking!

We arrived in the  Gloucester harbor after dark. Oh boy, another stress for this helmsperson since I don’t see well at night. The reflections on the water add to my vision challenge. David provided sight and navigation. I followed the arrow on the electronic chart (GPS). I was reminded of flying by instruments as a kid and my Dad’s admonition to “trust your instruments” regardless of your instincts. Worked for us many times in my childhood and for David and self yesterday. We picked up a mooring in this somewhat familiar harbor and slept comfortably.

Today…fuel, head pump out (some lovely young dock hands in Cape Ann Marina in the Blynman Canal end of the Annisquam River), negotiated a slip that feels snug for the coming rain and wind, a loooong walk to the other side of the harbor to visit the Maritime Heritage Center and finally a ride on the public bus to the food store and back with a friendly bus driver...dinner onboard.

 

Rain predicted tomorrow and winds way too high for us to consider leaving port. Another opportunity to plan a different “escape” to a warmer climate this winter.

In spite of election results which I believe were based on people’s fear… I’m

feeling blessed. Hope others are, too.

David makes contact. Harbor lights in background.

Oh woe and bother. Much conversation, soul searching, weighing options and timetables - great disappointment and a bit of relief, we're postponing our ICW dream until next year. Starting back to Freeport tomorrow which will probably take a week or 10 days given the weather. Thanks to all who've lent support of so many kinds to our ambitious journey. We plan to pick up the dream earlier next fall after making even more improvements to our water home and transportation. We've already started the winter work list for Grace.

At the moment a beautiful day in Scituate. We're getting a bit of air out of our fuel system. 

 Our powerful Ford Gustavson engine plus a different view of Capt. David, the mechanic.

Way easier to do this sitting in a slip than on a mooring. We've purged those nasty mud-dobber wasp nests from the air vents which will, no doubt, help but are now checking all the hoses for any kind of leak or obstruction.

How Amelia deals with any stress she may have.

Awoke to SUN this morning and it took a while to realize that the wind was still blowing a gale, but from a different direction so we weren't getting whiplash as has been the case for the past two days. And, really, sun does make a difference in attitude. Late breakfast of French toast since we still weren't going far...only across the harbor at low tide. We (David!) negotiated a slip complete with electricity (i.e. electric heat and lights) and SHOWERS. We unshackled Grace from her mooring and motored over. Landed with help from our friend, Gary Powell, who joined us onboard for lunch and some journey planning. Gary is familiar with the CT coast and Long Island Sound and beyond. Some good advice and encouragement.

A walk to the hardware store for door insulation, rather than the chaffing rags we've been using, and a short walking tour of Scituate. Then Louise and Paul joined us for wine and snacks before dinner. Toasty in the Pilot House with Amelia snoozing between us. I wonder if the red navigation light causes by passers to think they are in the red light district.

A full day of riding out the wind, mostly in bed, kitty in the cave made by our bodies. Daylight savings time did not save us from the constant howling wind. I'm feeling safe but not comfortable. Definitely weary of too many unpleasant days of high winds and sitting, well bouncing around, in port.

Some philosophy about fear - after I've discharged the tightness / frozeness of the emotion (crying and shivering) and done all I can to make the situation as safe as possible (run the boat to help David get the extra mooring pennant on), what's the point of fear? None that I can see. So, give outcome up to Divine Spirit, I guess. I admit that I did some imaginary Reiki on the boat (keep your integrity, Grace) and had a chat with my ancestors and angels about keeping us safe. Others might call this praying. But fear. Why bother? I've done what I can do. I wonder if people in a war zone reach this point? Strong gusts from the northwest do not equal a war zone by any stretch of my imagination. But what about fear and its usefulness? And when to (maybe how to) give it up?

So, we're considering our options about how/if to continue this journey. I'm reluctant, thinking That adhering to our timeline, necessitated by previous Freeport commitments, takes the pleasure out of the journey and makes it "work" for me. What about next year with an earlier start? David wants to press on and wants to honor our partnership in this journey, and I want to support David. And the wind howls! Damn. We may think more clearly when the wind dies down tomorrow and we may have a shower at the marina.

Meanwhile, hamburgers for dinner. Such a cook, I am. And, kitty snores on my lap in the salon. I am blessed to have options to consider. Many who work just as hard as we have fewer or no options.

Trick or Treat? The photo I didn't get yesterday. Another opportunity today as Capt. David went out IN THE SNOW!!! to check the mooring gear.

I'm sorry I didn't get a photo of Capt. David in his red and yellow foul weather gear. Soaked. Wearing his life jacket and the life line dangling. He'd been out adding a extra mooring pennant to the one from the marina. A safety precaution. He was wet!

So what to do on a stormy day on the boat. Worry? Keep watch? Eat soup? Eat left over Halloween candy? Work Sudodu? Yes, all. I'm less scared now that I've had a good, discharge "I'm scared" cry. However, I'm pretty sure that this kind of scared is not good for me! I know that trying experiences are, frequently, good learning experiences. But..., I don't think this is good for me. See me shake my head "no, not good." I've known for sometime that I am truly a fair weather sailor and this is NOT fair weather.

Fear aside, I'm so grateful for David's skill and experience and for his attention to detail and safety. Really, Nanc, this is a regular ol' nor'easter. You just happen to be in a "new" boat in an unknown place rather than in front of the wood stove in your land-bound home! I was in charge of motoring Grace forward (! in 36 mph winds??) so David could get a grip on the original pennant to add ours to it for safety. Frustrating, (did I mention the high winds???) but we succeeded. We need to practice our hand signals.

Philosophically speaking, there is something for me to learn about having no, or limited, control and recognizing that reality. Holy storm, another *@#* learning experience. I am truly outside my comfortable habits! I don't like it very much.

Meanwhile, we're dry. we're warm, and as safe as anyone else, really. And, it is the JOKE show on Prairie Home Companion. And I love my husband in spite of the fact that he can't calm the storm. We've had some confidence-building conversations with local and distant sailing friends.

And, two of the dancers I asked to join me for the Freeport Players Telethon Cleaning Ladies Dance have accepted.  Staying warm and dry!

OKAY. Our first living onboard nor'easter experience. I'm breaking out some of the bon voyage gifts - Mary's Lapsang Souchong tea, Toni's cut the fingers out gloves. Last night we enjoyed Dick's Scotch. We slept in this morning, following our animal instincts to lay low during storms. Now breakfast is past, phone calls being made...what to do on a chilly, stormy day on a mooring? Who knows. A concern: I'm not sure how much candy corn is left from Halloween and if we're here for 3 days that could become a problem

I'm feeling more comfortable now but last night "sleeping" was a bit of a fearful experience. Swinging and rocking. The boats tilt indicator showing maybe 1 degree of tilt does not adequately measure the effect my internal organs feel when prone and tilting back and forth. And the water gurgling and slapping around the boat - not particularly comforting. Would those be boat burps or boat farts?

We had a little dance party in the Pilot House last evening complete w R&R music and red lights. Wearing our head lamps gave us the option of strob lights but that was a bit disorienting with the swing/roll of the boat. No trick or treaters arrived though.

 Amelia has become "relaxed" enough to exhibit curiosity...or longing for land(?)

View from the Bridge this morning Note the rain, the deflated bag of candy corn on the starboard side, pontoons from the inflatable dingy on foredeck.

While not totally comfortable I feel safe, enough to go brush my teeth.

Happy Halloween! But difficult day. New lesson learned and hopefully remembered as it was told to us often enough in our months of prep - when the weather is good, GO. We dallied too long, the wind shifted causing VERY disturbed seas outside the Scituate harbor. We barely got out of the harbor before things, including the cat, went skidding. We bucked it for only several minutes before David said, wisely, "we're going back." Oh yeah! Checked out a too expensive marina. Talked by phone to a couple of friends in the area and secured a mooring in the inner harbor. Yes! Bought some additional groceries, made soup, lashed down everything that could be lashed, bundled the prayer flags and are sitting peacefully. Expect to wait out the nor'easter until probably Monday or Tuesday. Good books and naps await.

Oh, to add to the difficult day I've learned that neither my MacBook nor my version of Safari is "supported." Does that make me old?

Whoooo, whipped whelps! 10 hours of motoring makes for a long day. We put the sails up once but the wind was so much close to our nose that there was no gain in speed and we tipped. The cat hated us for that tipping. But, we made good time to the mouth of the Annisquam River/canal, picked up a mooring while we had lunch on board and a 5 minute nap waiting for the tide to be in our favor. Then through the canal. There were beautiful homes on the river banks and a little house on a raft complete w/t.v. antenna and propane grill on the deck sitting at the edge of the channel! I wanted to take photos but staying in the channel was toooooo stressful to allow photos, especially since I couldn't see in the blazing sunlight. There was also a giant frog painted on a rock at the river's edge...in blue. Too funny. We were lucky enough to follow a lobster boat through the canal and through the TWO bridges that had to open for us!

The winds were calm enough that we decided to cross the MA Bay today even though we'd arrive in Scituate later than our personal guidelines.  As we came into the harbor we passed a boat from Swan's Island, ME. They're on their way south, too, and traveling at about the same rate. They'll go through Cape Cod canal tomorrow while we'll stop in Ducksbury to visit friends. Easy passage today, though long, and we're post dinner on the boat and soon ready to turn in for a good nights sleep.

A sweet patriotic moment this morning in Portsmouth - as we were ready to slip the mooring we heard the Star Spangled Banner playing from the Portsmouth Navel Yard. We went out on deck and saluted. What else do you do when in the presence of a Navy yard?

Remember to vote!

 Annisquam Yacht Club

First bridge that ever opened for Grace

I forgot to post, yesterday, the photo of our domestic bliss, being on a friend's mooring in Portsmouth (Kittery really) so here it is.

Today we're on an all day journey across MA Bay heading to Scituate (sp?). More later when we stop motoring (!). We did put a sail up today but it gained us no speed and made us tilt. Kitty HATES tilting. She may hate us at this point.

The spinach/onion/cheese scramble would not have passed my 4H Club "pretty and inviting" test but it was delicious.

And the answer to yesterday's question - not a bit closer to the Cape Cod canal! We were fogged in most all day long. There were 3, count them 3!, sunshine sightings and a small patch of blue sky that quickly faded. A pleasant day though, puttering on the boat, "messing around" as Mr. Rat says in "Wind and the Willows". David drained scum from the fuel in the engine. I organized and consolidated stuff. David went ashore and shopping with our friend, Ben Fowler, whose mooring we are on in the river at Portsmouth. I read and sewed up a cushion end on the aft deck. A totally domestic day on the boat. Warm, just foggy.

We watched the "Ghost", what looks to be a Navy experimental boat, take a test run. It is a menacing looking vehicle just in time for Halloween. We watched from afar, mind you.

Feeling pretty grateful for the safety provided by friends, for the privilege of not having to rush our trip to get somewhere, for having enough money to not stress about taking this cruise, for my ancestors and living friends and family who've helped make this journey possible, and for the love that surrounds me.

Prayer flags flying from our rigging.

Slowly making our way south. An easy day of motoring (the wind was on our nose). Most all systems working. Kitty sleeping in the salon rather than burying her head in the blankets of the aft cabin. Up the river at Portsmouth to refuel and find the mooring our friends Ben and Sarah gave us for the night. Figured out how to lower the inflatable dingy into the water from the boat bow. Got the outboard motor attached and...we're off again to meet above friends for dinner in Kittery. Now back on  Grace for a quick catch-up of tomorrow plans, pet the cat and crawl into bed.

Question for tomorrow: How close will we get to the Cape Cod canal???

Traveling again. Aaah. Leaving...always leaving....always arriving. Standing on the aft deck, waving goodbye to Ken, one of our angels at Camp Ellis, crying. For heavens sake, crying to leave a man we've known for 2 days! Last evening he had to abort his own plans to leave for Key West this next week. So, sad for that postponed dream as we embark on ours. He's starting a non-profit, Turnbuckle, to engage teenagers (troubled teens) in sailing and the marine industries. He needs jack stands to borrow for this winter so he can haul his boat. Please, anyone with jack stands to lend, help him out. ksquard@gmail.com

Angels of another kind kept us in port yesterday. David had noticed a leak in the steering system hydraulics, started to tighten a nut, and it came off in his hand. So he spent the day repairing and upgrading with help from Dick Tryon and his grand daughter, Lilly. Photos below. All is well now. I, in true triple Capricorn nature, organized.

We're discussing Portsmouth or Cape Ann as our goals today. Wind on our nose....a very familiar place for us...so we've goosed the motor power a bit. Our "bus heater" is working well. Amelia is way more relaxed today than the first day out. Ears still alert and eyes wide though...as documented below.

 Dave & Amelia Head Down working on Steering

Lilly helped welcome us to Camp Ellis

Sunrise on Saco River

Beautiful. Sunny. WINDY! Disappointed to not be traveling AND grateful to David for being cautious and all about safety. We're staying at the town landing in Camp Ellis today and will get off early tomorrow morning. An opportunity to complete (ha!) stowing our gear, food, toys and do some additional maintenance. And, give kitty a day to recover from her first day at sea. An odd experience last night of sleeping w/our heads about 10 degrees below out feet due to the eddies around the dock and the push of the river current. Reminded me of hanging out on the inversion table that Don Grieco brought to the Bates Dance Festival one year. There must be some physical benefit to having our feet above our hearts.

AT LAST111 We were up before sunrise and saw amazing starry sky. By 6 AM the stars were fading and we were really getting ready. Brought the inflatable onto the forward deck and lashed it down. Secured the coolers to the aft deck where we are storing extra line for mooring, etc. Made coffee. One last stop in the on-shore head and we're off at 8:30 AM. Sounded the horn at Pound of Tea and Bob Johnson came onto his deck and played his trumpet back to us. A PERFECT send-off!

We plotted a course to Cape Elizabeth, past Two Lights (but my pic only shows one light). Amelia (kitty) was not pleased with the sound and vibration of the engine and, no doubt, the choppy waves. A small throw-up but is now sleeping quietly at David's side. A short first sail (motor) as the winds picked up to 20-25 knots. We ducked into Camp Ellis - I forget how much slower 8 knots is than 70 mph so this seems like a small advance - where the current was RIPPING and we entered the Saco River at "flat" high tide. A new friend (I was told these folks would show up everywhere along the way) Ken K. helped us dock. Given the current, I'm not confident only David and I could have managed ourselves. Then he took us to the food store. We are now even better provisioned than before. Ken is planning his own trip south in his 32' Bristol in the next week or so. Perhaps to meet up again along the way

Now cozy with bellies full of spaghetti - our first meal aboard!- reading and blogging. Since we are finally underway I'm sharing the blog with Captain David and all our friends. Feeling blessed by all the friends we are leaving, temporarily, in Maine and already loving the adventure. Blessings all.

 Harraseeket

One of Two Lights

At last! We've moved onto the boat...more or less. We're still stowing the stuff in the canvas bags, pots and pans aren't on yet but the coffee pot is here, the bed is made complete with my mother's quilt and our favorite pillows, a little food...and Amelia, the cat! She's found a place but who knows if it will be her place to curl up. We'll bring food on board tomorrow and make a couple of final trips to the house to get...clothes, for example. Neither of us have brought clothes on board yet. Then close up the house and take the keys and our plants to our neighbor caretakers.Hoping to leave our home port in the early afternoon for a short sail/shake down sail and to acquaint Amelia with sailing and motoring. Then, onward toward warmer climes. !David and I are continuing to do all sorts of things, small and large, to make Grace warmer and more comfortable for the sail ahead.

Today was meltdown day. Awake at 4 AM I think "bad idea", "too late in the season to leave", "we haven't even had a good shake-down sail". In the daylight it's "hey, let's get this journey on the road" (so to speak), "just need to go grocery shopping", "foster out the house plants", "move aboard".
But today it was a nor'easter, blowing like a bastard. David brought Grace to Brewer's Marine rather than landing on our more exposed yacht club dock. Good move! I went to the boat hoping to get excited, again, about our proposed journey. Rather, the boat was in chaos due to David's late night engine repair project. Totally necessary and understood but it was just too depressing - the wind, the rain, the delays, the chaos. A good cry on Capt Dave's shoulder. Then ready to "get these projects done"!! Two more days of nor'easter. Enough time to pack. Merde!

Still in home port - double berth complete, flip-up table in the Pilot House complete, propane cooking and heating complete, bus heater nearly complete, running backstay complete, kitty's harness bought, provisions mostly complete.... Now waiting out the storm. Maybe moving onto the boat Thursday or Friday. Maybe leaving on Saturday.

Short history. David and I have been looking at Nauticats for about 5 years. Our past best boat (28' Cheoy Lee) allowed us to sit at the table and see out the port lights, without standing up. Her interior had a warm glow on rainy days. Sweet. The Nauticat Pilot House is even better with 360 degree unobstructed view. We found this 33' Nauticat in need of WORK and therefore, in our price range. She is really a "rescue boat" having been left unattended and UNCOVERED by the previous owner in a MA boatyard for the last 2 years and, we're told, for nearly 10 years previous to a 2 year period when a live aboard shipwright took care of her. So, we negotiated and still paid a bit more than we wanted. But we have the boat we expect to sail us into our 7th decade. We've (Capt. David much more than I) put months of grueling work into the boat (April to August). We finally brought her, by sea, to our home port in mid-August and have continued to make her ready. Now, almost there...nearly ready to sail away. I'm sure there will be complicated surprises when we're underway but many "surprises" (aka, unexpected deficits) have already been tackled.

Waiting for the storm to pass.

Kitty - Amelia - checks out the newly covered cushion.

Our original departure date was two days ago. Still Here (referencing Bill T. Jones). Enjoying the beautiful fall colors in Maine. Delays are mechanical and woodworking and heating system delays. Nothing major but everyone is busy. Can we imagine that. It isn't possible to settle the living space until these above details are complete. Having not left yet, I have an empty calendar and am at 6s and 7s with how to use my unscheduled time, not there isn't a long list of possible "to do's".

I've been thinking a lot about "getting ready" and "leaving"...and my parents' spirits (my parents, really) are close. All this makes me pensive, a little sad, a little nervous. Getting ready to leave. Leave what? To go where? Why? It's clear what I'm leaving - Freeport, Maine family and friends, our beautiful pond earth and neighborhood, familiar work...all things/people I love dearly. Less clear is where, toward what, we're going - south/South, water journey, new friends, new skills, adventure - are the positives; danger, cold, fear, wetness and, oh dear! the unknown!!! I've ventured into unknown territory many times before so why is this different? I'm older, not as physically strong and flexible, recognize the possibility of injury and that my physical self is not immortal, and I clearly don't see myself as "independent" in this journey acknowledging the need to rely on David and the goodness of friends not yet met. And the "why"? For Love of David. And the new challenge and to push myself out of my comfortable habits...to live fully. There are so many ways to live fully. I'm choosing this path now, while it is still possible.

And then I remember my parents flying off into the morning, literally (in their small airplane), into the unknown. I channel their courage, their love and smile.

Freeport Harbor, 8:30 AM, 10/17/14

Had our engine checked out today only to learn that we need a new gasket (repair). And our new berth is taking more time that anticipated. This "getting ready" is like building a house - always takes more time and money than expected. Meanwhile, a photo of the amazing deck work David and I did this spring.

We're still getting ready. We've been dreaming about this ICW (InterCoastal Waterway) trip for a half dozen years. Well, Capt. David has been dreaming about it much longer. Really, its his dream. I'm along for the adventurous ride...something like moving and rebuilding the home we now have...and hauling our first (wooden and rather decrepit) sailboat from Long Island, NY to Portland, ME to rebuild it in our apartment's backyard.

But this getting ready is for a long-term (4 months) live-aboard (w/cat) water adventure.