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.