Posts from the ‘Mischief Managed’ Category

Full circle

After a wonderful couple of years traveling the Country full time in our motorhome, we’ve settled again close enough to the Chesapeake to be back on the water. The lengthy process of searching for a suitable boat, and going through the survey and negotiations finally met with success.

The search criteria, apart from affordability, was a comfortable, well equipped and structurally solid sail boat 32-36ft in length. Several boats were inspected from 32 to 40 ft varying in age from 25-35 years, all but one were in the immediate Annapolis area which will once again be home port.

The lucky winner is an ’88 Catalina 34 tall rig, wing keel. This is a familiar boat, though I’ve never sailed this model. It is nearly identical to my former Catalina 30 – same rigging, keel, electronics and engine – just several feet longer. The extra length provides for more comfortable living quarters, and capability to handle a wider range of sea conditions – at least with more comfort.

 

 

 

 

She is in remarkably good shape for a 30 year old boat, clearly well cared for over the years and upgraded to current standards. That said, there are a few maintenance and improvement issues. The head sail needs a good cleaning or replacement. The bottom will be sanded out and given 2 coats of ablative paint before we launch and move to her home slip. Some detailing is needed on the interior, as is maintenance of the refrigeration. Planned improvements include a windlass and a stern swim platform to facilitate getting on and off the dinghy – especially with a dog. That would be Tacker, a 40lb, 9 year old Brittany.

I think he’s going to be helpful crew … … that is if I can get him to stay awake to stand watch …

Looking forward to being  in a slip with sailing friends as neighbors, AND it’s a short dinghy ride to one of the best seafood restaurants in the Annapolis area – especially good crab cakes! And, it’s only a 10min run down creek to the Bay.

She’s a documented vessel, though expired, so renewing with the Coast Guard and changing name and home port are top on the to do list. Hoping to get help at the Coast Guard Documentation Center which is only 45 minutes away.  Currently named Althea, she will be christened Valinor II following her predecessor.  The ceremony to secure Neptune’s blessing will be employed when the time comes……with appropriate libations.   Stay tuned for more about our adventures on the water to come.

Ready, set,……set,…….

First step was an early delivery. Back last Fall we committed to the decision to go exploring the Country as soon as Denise could retire. We cemented that decision with the purchase of a 2017 Tiffin Phaeton 36GH motor home. Since it was a factory order and had yet to be built, we planned on taking delivery sometime in March of this year. Then the phone rang in November. Seems our coach would be at the dealer in N Tonawanda, NY by the end of the month .. ‘when did we want to come get it?’  So, ready or not, off to NY we went after scrambling to get a towable car.

 We were now the proud owners (along with the bank) of a brand new Tiffin motor home – no looking back.

That set in motion a series of related activities and what we assumed would be time consuming delays. House went on the market expecting at least a couple months breathing space. House sold in 2 weeks. A short timeline to get what we were keeping into storage and disposing of the rest. The process of upgrading my driving license to comply with Maryland MVA rules took a bit longer, and actually was accomplished just days before we had to vacate the house, move into the coach, and move it to an RV park – step 2.

Granite Hills RV Park – Fairfield, PA

Given the early season, the closest open  park meant an hour commute for Denise to work. It was about 10 days before a local park opened, which is where we sit as I write this (Yogi Bear RV Park).

Finally, step 3, the day came for her official retirement, and life began to improve.  

That said, she had promised to remain available for training and consulting for at least a couple weeks.

Fellow traveler, Cricket, was beginning to become impatient…….

 

So, now we wait. Time is spent doing the odd errands, arranging and re-arranging addresses, insurances (never simple), and planning our early travel with stops on the way to the Tiffin factory in Red Bay, AL – a visit with friends, a stop to see family, and a bit of sightseeing.

With all arrangements done and reservations made, our departure date is finally set for April 27^th ! Barring last minute issued, it is now a “Go” – step 5.

Stay tuned for reports along the way: Verona, VA, Williamsburg, VA, FT Chiswell, TN and Loudon, TN, Chattanooga, TN for a few days, then Red Bay.

 

Reviews:

Granite Hills RV park (Fairfield, PA) – 10 day stay, FH 50a. Friendly, helpful folks. Pleasant atmosphere and scenery. Modest, roomy sites on gravel – well maintained. Did not use bath/shower facilities.

Yogi Bear/Jellystone RV park (Williasmport, MD) – Friendly staff, lots of kid activities, store and café. Gravel sites, easy in/out, well maintained. Sites, a bit narrow for the price, included table and fire pit. Opening weekend – lots of kids! Then dead quiet ……

Step one …

Valinor has provided eight wonderful years of sailing adventure. Together we’ve explored much of the Chesapeake Bay, sailed twice around the DelMarVa peninsula (once each way), and made the long ICW trek to Key West and back. In that time, we’ve motored on flat, still water, had lively sails in fresh 8-15kt breezes, anchored in serene coves, and fought 40-50kt winds with 4-6ft waves. She is a study boat and never let me down.

Thus, it is with some sadness that this chapter is coming to an end. Valinor has moved on to new owners.  I know she will provide them with equally great service and lots of new adventures. They say the best two days in a sailor’s life are the day he buys his boat and the day he sells her…  selling comes with mixed feelings, it sure doesn’t qualify for one of my ‘best days’! But there’s more to come…..

Though Valinor’s part of this blog comes to an end, it will be replaced with other adventures. We’ll be trading sails for wheels as many of our sailing friends have also done. There’s a new motor coach in the near future. Money down and we’re on the build schedule for a Spring delivery.

So, whether it’s Valinor II or some other name, there are more adventures just around the corner ….

Critical Times

Given the unfolding events of the past week or so, I stopped to assess my feelings and have tried to ferret out the truth from all the hype and questionable reporting. Based on the responses I see from my on line community, and considering the sense of the Country, it is a remarkably unusual time. I have never seen a more disreputable or dysfunctional Presidential campaign in my 50+ years of experience. We face profoundly important choices in the near term that will affect our children’s and their children’s lives.

I shy away from the conspiracy theorists and extremists of all kind. Yet, recent events cannot be ignored. Evident, blatant campaign fraud; mishandling and destruction of classified materials; clandestine and unethical meeting crossing political and active legal interests; lying to the Congress and FBI; death of an email hacker in a jail cell; apparent conflict of interest and possible fraud in the management of a family Foundation. Granted that these stories are often spun for political gains, but in mass, and given the timing, it doesn’t pass the laugh test to believe there has been no wrong doing. I believe both political sides have their own set of troubling issues.

Others have said it, and I believe it – we face a crisis of confidence in our leadership. Laws are being bent or ignored to accommodate the powerful, examples of inequality/injustice are pervasive – not just in race and life style, but across the spectrum of human activity. The elite behave as though they have the only truth, and the rest of us had better get with the program or be penalized – and the laws apply differently to them, or not at all. These conditions cannot persist if our Country is to survive in a form we can accept, and the Constitution and Bill of Rights promise.

I called for the FBI Director to be fired for what I believe was a breach of justice if not law. After some consideration, and further information, I retracted that statement in part. In fact, the responsibility and accountability rests higher up the chain. The DOJ Attorney General still has the opportunity to set it right however unlikely that may be. Further, the President is culpable in his enthusiastic support of a candidate whose integrity and judgement is very much in question.

I appreciate what this Country has stood for, even with some occasional warts. I have been pleased and proud to be a citizen. Yet the treatment of all our citizens by the government has increasingly restricted our personal freedom, whether in the name of safety from external threats or the imposition their ‘wisdom’ over ours to force changes in our behavior and/or beliefs. This is all very disheartening. Should this trend continue, conditions will become far worse than merely disheartening. I fear increasing and violent turmoil if our leadership doesn’t correct the path we’re on. Worse, I see little or no evidence of that correction, and strong indications that the electorate in general is unprepared and/or unwilling to act in the Country’s best interest.

From a practical perspective, I cannot in good conscience vote for either of the presumptive candidates, leaving my only option to vote for those ‘down ballot’ who demonstrate a willingness to bring thoughtful change to a broken governmental system – I hope other will do so as well.

Moving on……

The only constant in life is change. That’s one of the lessons I’ve learned – repeatedly!

So it is that my world is shifting yet again. So has Maggie’s. In fairness to her, she has found a new home with a loving family.

Perhaps there will be a new ‘Maggie’ when life gets resettled.

Since retiring, sailing has occupied much of my time and energy, and provided wonderful friendships and shared experiences on the water and on land. Valinor and I have sailed all around the Chesapeake, some off-shore and down the east coast to the Keys and back. Traveling the Intracoastal Waterway was a special experience, and created so many memories I will carry with me of interesting places, fascinating people, and assorted experiences – from peaceful to more exciting than I needed.

Along the way I’ve made good friends – some even have left the water for similar on-land adventures. Many of the stories are shared here on this blog.

Valinor is now For Sale, and hopefully will find another sailor to treat her kindly and continue the adventures. (reply here if you would be interested in purchasing a great boat!)

In the works now are plans to cut the home ties, move into an RV motor coach and go exploring our great Country. It has been some years since I’ve traveled much on land, so looking forward to renewing old friendships, making new ones, and revisiting the many wonderful places I’ve been to but briefly – not to mention being able to take the home where it’s warm — all year around!

So, stay tuned for more adventures of a land-based kind. Our Spot will travel with us, and we’ll do our best to share the fun!

Season opener

March 12th marked the opening of sailing season for Valinor! It was just a short day sail, but cranked the engine  – started on the first try! Brought along a couple friends and  Maggie — managed to find enough wind for a delightful sail.

Discovered that a February wind storm had driven the boat against the dock and chipped the gel coat. A call to my favorite maintenance folks (Diversified Marine) got the repairs done quickly with excellent results. Another call Boat US Insurance got the claim approved and payment in full within a week. Two great outfits to deal with!

March 29th was a short work session. Moved the dingy off the fore deck and stowed against the stern. Turned the boat around to bow in and readjusted all the dock lines. Shut down all shore power and 12v uses leaving the solar panel to maintain the batteries. Left to do: flush the fresh water systems and fill the tanks, change oil and filters, check all fluid levels and do a complete cleaning above and below deck. Will get a diver to clean the bottom and check the zinc early May after a late April delivery from Florida to Annapolis.

Looking forward to another great sailing season! You can follow us here, and check the Spot link to see where we wander…….

How the terrorists win:

•  We stop trusting everyone, except those who agree with us..
•  We impugn the motives of anyone with whom we disagree..
•  We hide in our cave(s), afraid to travel or associate in groups..
•  We give up our personal freedoms, and privacy in exchange for a false sense of security..

……………………….
There is and always has been evil in the world. Fighting it is a continuing challenge. The ISIS threat is not new, though it may be different in kind in some significant ways. It feels extreme and a fundamental threat to civilization. It cannot be allowed to persist.

Individual citizens have incomplete information, and likely false information in part, on which to judge government actions/policies. Determining who/what source(s) to trust is a separate challenge.

For these, and other significant reasons, deciding how to respond to the Syrian refugee issue is especially problematic. Compassion says open our doors, caution says no, wait or some variant prompted by concern for imbedded ISIS threats. I choose to believe that no one wants these individuals to be thrown to the wolves. Deciding how best to help those fleeing from terror, without impugning the motives of those who have different views, should be the goal of a sensible and useful debate.

Listening to disparate news reports and the very personal attacks and counter attacks by our leaders is singularly unhelpful. Leaders of both political parties, especially the President, should be ashamed by their behavior to date.

I for one, want to help those truly in need, AND I want reasonable assurance that my government is protecting us – personally and our way of life – AND our ability to safely enjoy it. These may be conflicting goals that call for some accommodations by all of us – citizens and leaders.

Let’s start by focusing on solutions, sharing fact-checked information, and dispensing with rhetoric and name calling … those can’t do that are not being helpful and should get out of the conversation.