Cone of Uncertainty

This entire journey has been quite an education.  I just learned that we are in the "Cone of Uncertainty" as regards Hurricane Irene.  The link below shows this morning's NOAA predicted track.  At this point, it looks like the eye will pass east of us, but it could veer west, toward us, or east, away from us.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/152238.shtml?gm_track#contents

Jeff, who has experienced four hurricanes - at sea and on shore - suggested we hook onto a nearby mooring ball, which we've done.  These moorings are called Helix and are screwed into the earth and are supposed to be the best.  We are situated far up Spa Creek, off a cove just 75 feet from Truxton Park among five other boats on mooring balls including Jan and Don who cut their East Chesapeake Bay trip short to return to Spa Creek.  Stan and Jeff have their boats moored farther down the creek.  We are all in a well-protected spot and feel secure with our moorings.  The one thing to worry about is other boats who may not be diligent about anchoring and could drag anchor.  Boats breaking loose and ramming other boats are what normally causes problems in storm situations.  Yesterday a big power boat anchored upstream of us in front of the sailboat that is in front of us.  We will monitor their anchoring.

I came into town early today to do laundry and other errands and will return to WW soon.  We are keeping up with the latest info on the storm and making decisions accordingly.  We're all doing the best we can to prepare and stay safe.  We don't have an internet connection where we are moored now so may not post another blog entry until after the storm passes. 

Now, everyone on the West Coast take a big breath, and when I count to three, blow that irascible Irene offshore to the east.  1..2...3...!!!

Windlass-less in Annapolis

Stan, Dave and Jeff in our "windlass workshop"  on the bow of Wayward Wind

The saga of mechanical issues continues, but thankfully the weather has cooled.  We ordered a new windlass from West Marine.  It came.  The footprint was much larger than Jeff expected, which would require some major retrofitting of the base upon which it sits.  We returned it.  Plan B was that Jeff would rebuild the old windlass and parts were available based on what we saw online.  We ordered the parts, but it turns out that six of the ten parts were discontinued  Jeff was on another boat delivery so upon his return on Thursday, we discussed Plan C - possibly a manual windlass.  The three of us are researching windlasses online.  To be continued...

The three guys delicately finesse the drum off of the old windlass.

A treat for us was that while Jeff was doing his boat deliveries, we got to dog-sit his little Cairn Terrier, Oz.  (Will post a photo soon.)  Oz is 16 years old and is deaf and blind...and perhaps dumb as he does not bark.   Jeff said he was thinking of renaming him, Tommy, because he "sure...plays...a mean...pin...ball."  Jeff says he also washes floors and windows, but we did not witness that.  We both fell in love with Oz who is pretty spunky for an old man.  Oz also inspired me to row him every morning in the dinghy over to nearby Truxton Park where he could take care of business.  Dave would take Oz in the evening to an even closer grassy landing.  (He did not row...snicker...)

Janis and Don, whom we fondly refer to as "the Texans," had us over for happy hour the other night.  They showed us a video on their humongous (for a boat) flat screen TV that was a travel-logue of various states and regions of the US as seen from the air.  Don especially wanted to show us Texas and Ohio.  I must say that it dispelled some of the stereotype images I have of the landscape.  Texas - near Don and Jan's home - has many wooded and green acres, although they said that with the terrible drought, there is little that is green now.  In the Ohio segment, there was a scene of a school bus pulling up to the drive that led to a white farm house in the midst of acres and acres of corn.  Don said, "That's me!  Except our drive was a half mile long."  Don says that they had everything they needed on the farm.  Their mom had a huge garden and canned fruits and vegetables, and they raised chickens and dairy cows.  Growing up, he said, they only drank water or milk, no soda.  Their mom would bake a dozen or more loaves of bread at a time along with rolls and cinnamon buns .  Don was the youngest of four boys when his mom and dad decided to try for a girl.  After the delivery, with tears of disbelief in his eyes, the doctor came out to the waiting room to tell Don's dad, "Well, it's twin boys!"  Not missing a beat, Don's dad replied, "Guess we'll be able to buy more cows!"  We're enjoying hearing about Don's childhood on the farm.

We also watched a segment on the travel-logue video about California.  We were surprised and proud that it mostly showed Northern California with its redwood trees, coastline, vineyards, farmlands and San Francisco.  But we know why...because it's the best part!!!  Sorry SoCal-ians!

We had a lovely happy hour that turned into hours with Stan from Coursaire and Greg and Jo from Sympatico joining in.  Greg and Jo have traveled to the Bahamas the past three winters, so we asked their advice on various subjects.  Jan asked about conserving water especially when washing dishes.  Jo said that she wipes the plates with a napkin to remove salad dressing and such before washing.  She said she knows someone who uses a spray bottle to rinse dishes.  Also used dish water can have other uses such as cleaning grime (bird poop!) off the deck.  Jo also bakes bread onboard so brings pounds of flour.  Lots of tips.



Anchoring Plane to Sea with Janis at the helm, getting ready for the next day's trip

The next day, Don and Jan left for St. Michael's on the east side of the Chesapeake.  I woke up feeling sad.  Even though we've known them just over a month, we really miss them.  Beyond being helpful by driving us around - they have a humongous truck - to buy food and pick up and return the windlass, we have enjoyed their companionship and have spent many fun moments together.  They showed us a place called Old Country Buffet, that has a pretty good meal for $7.29.  Such a deal!  I guess we've entered the cheap buffet phase of our lives...  Oh, well, guess I'll have another piece of chocolate mousse pie.

Suspended Animation

View from my dinghy on my early morning rowing routine

Since last writing, the refrigerator has gone out and now after a week, it works again.  We'd called a refrigeration guy who was supposed to come on Tuesday morning, but didn't.  And thank goodness he didn't.  Stan stopped by and, after wiggling some wires on the pump, it started.  We'll check these wires more carefully and clean connections.  On boats, it's all about connections.  After being shaken and stirred in a salt water/air environment, wire connections easily become loose and corrode.  Let's hope that this is it.  Not having the generator for a week and then not having the refrigerator for a week, especially during this hot weather spell, has been difficult. 

While the refrigerator was on the blink, the windless (anchor winch) stopped working.  We'd known that we were on borrowed time with this one.  Then the aft head started acting up.  I had manuals and diagrams spread all over the table.  It was really discouraging for a few days.  Stan helped us out with the head.  Our other neighbor on Spa Creek, Jeff, who spent a year working on windlasses at a marine shop, just last night offered to come over and work on ours saying, "I like to take things apart."  We are beholden to these kind spirits.

The other day we went sailing on Plane to Sea with our Texan neighbors, Don and Janis.  Stan was the motivating force, and while the wind was light, it was a nice afternoon and gave Don and Janis "seat time," as Stan calls it, on their boat.  Though they've had their boat for four years, they are new to sailing and have only lived aboard for one month here on Spa Creek.  They are eager to learn, so Stan and Dave gave advice as we sailed along.  I even showed Janis how to call the bridge tender on the radio to request an opening.  What a switch in roles for me!

Stan and Don

A note about Plane to Sea.  Don grew up on a farm in Iowa where he lived with his brothers and parents.  Due to a tragic family circumstance, at the age of eight he was needed to take over the early morning chore of milking their many cows.  When he was a young man, he moved to Texas where among other things, he learned auto mechanics, how to fly a small plane, first aide and beyond as well as how to fight fires culminating in his being a fireman for thirty years.  Janis grew up in Texas and worked in an office for her county health department for many years.  Their home port is Pottsboro, Texas, where they have been married for 17 years.  Both are retired.  Friendly, friendly people.

Don (full-blooded Norwegian American) and Janis

When I told Don I was a retired teacher, he said, "As a student, I was your worst nightmare."   He says he wasn't interested in school but was more interested in doing things -- sometimes naughty things.  Janis says, "I wouldn't have liked him then."  She says that she wasn't a bad girl, but she "wasn't no goody-two-shoes, neither."  If her parents didn't want her to do something, then she wouldn't.  Both grew up in close-knit families.  It's apparent that their upbringing contributes to their mutual respect for each other.  They work as a team and their enthusiastic nature is infectious.  It's plain to see how the crew of  Plain to Sea are a breath of fresh air!

Sunrise on Spa Creek