How Cold Is It?

This morning it was a cozy 31 degrees inside.  Below are photos of ice and frost on the deck.  I had to tread carefully as a slip and slide into the water would have been chilly.  BRRR!

Yesterday Dave and I planned our route to sunnier climes while the rain poured down outside all day long.  We turned on the generator and heater for about an hour in the morning, an hour in the afternoon, then an hour in the evening.  It was bearable.  Drank lots of hot tea and made a big pot of potato soup with ham and veggies. 

 

Once the sun came out today, it was quite lovely with a clear blue, blue sky.  We took the bus to Best Buy and Radio Shack where we bought SD cards to download NOAA maps for the new GPS, a portable AM/FM shortwave radio/back-up SSB so Dave can listen to the radio on night watches, a battery charger with rechargeable batteries for our various electronics, and a cable to run my computer directly off of the 12 volt battery.  Ka-ching! 

Jeff will come tomorrow to finish up the installation of the GPS by connecting it to the autopilot as well as adjust the rudder seal and steering.  We'll also work on the portholes and hatch.  It's supposed to be a nice day tomorrow though we may get rain in the evening.  Wish us luck.

Much love to all!

Are We in the Bahamas Yet?

Which way to the Bahamas?

The Bahamas, this ain't.  Yesterday Dave and I took Wayward Wind for a quick spin to try out the steering system after Jeff redid the rudder seal.  All is good.  Also filled up on diesel and water.  As you can see from Dave's garb, it was chilly.  This morning we awoke to a crisp 37 degrees inside the boat.  We've got the generator and heater going but won't keep those on all day so are dressing in multiple layers.  Jeff says, just keep putting on clothes until you're warm.  Jan and Don called this morning from Florida where it is a lovely 80 degrees.  I told Jan I feel like the Pillsbury Dough Boy wearing all of these clothes, but it works.  Snow is predicted today just to the west of us.  Right now it's blowing about 20 knots here in Spa Creek on a cold rainy day. 

 Trees are turning colors

Still have the hatch, which arrived yesterday, and the portholes to repair/install which will wait for dry, warmer weather early next week.  Ordered a grounding system for the SSB radio to improve reception and transmission.  The SSB will be our primary source for weather reports when we are out of the US.  Right now we use the short range VHF radio to listen to NOAA broadcasts.  Also ordered a new battery monitor as our old one is not working properly and we've learned that it will help us in the long run with managing our electrical use.  When will we leave Annapolis?  Soon, very soon.

Plane to Sea Departs, But Not by Sea

Stan, Dave and I helped Don and Jan put Plane to Sea onto their trailer.  On Sunday afternoon we waited until things quieted down at Truxton Park to dock PTS.  Earlier that afternoon, when Don tried to lift the keel, a bolt broke so he was not able to lift it.  The plan was to back the trailer into the water and drive PTS onto the trailer thereby pushing the keel upward so that Don could then lock the keel in the up position.  Due to the slightly lower high tide compared to three months ago when they launched, we had difficulties backing the trailer into the water, so had to nix that plan.  The next day, Don adjusted the trailer and arranged for a lift out at Port Annapolis Marina.  It's truly amazing to watch the process of the travel lift driver jockeying the travel lift into place and moving 20,000 pounds of boat.

Lifting Plane to Sea out of the water

The next trick was to lower the boat enough so that the keel could be raised and bolted in position without putting too much weight on the hull.  It was fun to watch the young guy at the stern do his little dance of directions for the travel lift operator.

Raising the keel

And finally we had to lower the mast.  Don had to unbolt the mast and remove some of the stays (side cables), rig two temporary poles, then attach it to the winch at the front of his trailer. 

Attaching mast via the forestay to winch

Except for one line snapping, which pulled the lowering mast in the direction of the shiny, cherry red sailboat for sale parked just to starboard, it went quite smoothly.  It took the five of us exactly thirty minutes to lower the mast.

Smile, Don!  You've got white duct tape!

The hard part was over.  And we all admire Don.  Every step of the way, whenever there was a glitch, Don would trouble shoot and not give up until he solved the problem.  He is incredibly knowledgeble and skilled with all things mechanical.  We've all learned so much from him and marvel at his capabilities.  Another thing we'd always marveled is the size of Don's truck.  We teased him about his "duelies," but alongside PTS, that truck was dwarfed!

Tres Hombres (note proximity of cherry red boat)

We said our good-byes to Don and Jan and promised to meet again -- the Bahamas or California or Texas -- and left them to finish securing PTS to the trailer. 

The happy (RELIEVED!) couple

Don and Jan are now on their way to the Florida Keys where they will leave PTS, then fly to the Cayman Islands to attend their friends' wedding, then on to Texas to visit family for the holidays.  Right after Christmas, they will return to the Keys and wait for a weather window to depart for the Bahamas on PTS.  Happy trails, Plane to Sea! 

Until we meet again

Not much new

Moonrise over Spa Creek

Sorry about the sparse posts.  We're just plugging along with our myriad projects and began some bulk shopping for provisions.  Our Texan friends, Don and Jan, have so sweetly offered to drive us around when they have errands to do.  We usually have lunch together at the Old Country Buffet, Don's fave. 

Misty morning on Spa Creek

Fall has brought nighttime temps in the mid-40s, brisk winds -- BRRR! -- and drizzle for the past few days.  The forecast looks sunny and in the high-60s for the next several days, which will be good for the sailboat show that begins on Thursday.

The other night we went into town to The Federal House (built 1830 now a bar/restaurant) to watch the Dallas Cowboys play the Washington Redskins with Stan, Jeff,  Don and Jan.  We had a great time sharing appetizers and beer and complaining about the temper tantrums of the Dallas quarterback, Tony Roma.  Also Jeff would give a running "sound track" of what the players were "really" saying.  "One...two...four...no, NO!  It's one...two...three!"  Kept me in stitches!  Although we could hear that there was another Cowboy fan somewhere in the place, Don and Jan subdued their enthusiasm for their home team because we were most certainly surrounded by Washington fans.  It was here that I learned from Janis that (though she and Don do not) many in Texas consider the Dallas Cowboys to be "God's team."  As Jan would say -- I tell you what, I am learnin' so much.

The night before last, Stan suggested we have a taste test between two winter beverages -- Irish coffee and hot buttered rum.  So Don, Jan and Stan braved the chilly nighttime wind and dinghied over for hot refreshments.  Heating up the steamy drinks and baked brie made for a warm and cozy time on Wayward Wind.  Stan's mom was Irish and loved Irish coffee made with hazelnut Creamora, so that's what we had, and this won the contest hands down over the hot buttered rum.  We actually are not as toasted as we look in the photo below; however we were feeling quite merry.  Now this is my kind of contest!

Don, Jan, Dave, Linda livin' it up on Wayward Wind...

and Stan, too!