A first time for everything

Life is full of first's. The first time you kissed someone not your parent, the first dance you attended, your first car, first apartment, house, husband or child. Then the firsts slow down and life becomes routine. You don't see as many firsts as you get older, but they don't stop. This is the first time I've spent Christmas away from home, the first time I didn't make cookies, decorate the house, and the first time I have not had Christmas breakfast with the family. But on the other side of the coin, this is the first time I didn't feel rushed, the first time I didn't spend more money than I had in my checking account and the first time I wore a tee shirt on Christmas day. Some firsts are good, some not so good, but they don't stop, it gives us something to look forward to. Dave and I have had a different holiday, calm, peaceful and yet happy. Friends filled our day. Randy and Ellen, family in our hearts, visited while I was putting up the hammock. We laughed about how our lives have crossed and brought us to this place. It's because of them that we stopped in Oriental for what was supposed to be a night or two. Now it's going on two months and we are still enjoying it as much as the first week. Melinda and Keith stopped by to say Merry Christmas. He's a computer wizard, hooked me up with wifi, Melinda is a love who has a great garden full of herbs, blue bottles and bricks. They brought us a bobble-head dog for the wheelhouse, a pair of poka-dot socks and Snow in a Can. Our afternoon was spent with Billy and Donna. She made a great Christmas dinner, ham, roasted veggies and corn pudding. What a treat. It's not like Christmas in Truro, it's the first one while living on a boat, but it was a good one. So what's next? I'm looking forward to First Night, where here in Oriental they have the running of the Dragon, a sixty foot monster with many people under it. I'll get out a pot to bang on and join others in the street to make lots of noise and keep the dragon moving. It will surely be a first.  We wish you the joy of many firsts, may they all be blessings.  Fair winds.

The Christmas Spirit

Let me give you an example of why Dave and I have decided to stay in Oriental. They have the Spirit of Christmas here. It begins today. Cookies, cider, refreshments, open houses this afternoon and then an evening of luminary delight. Candles in paper bags lining the streets. The town is decorated with lights, wreaths and signs, Joy Joy Joy. There will be two boat parades beginning at 5pm,
 one for decorated kayaks, canoes and paddle boats and a second flotilla for larger boats, all decorated with lights from stem to stern. Then there is the Pamlico High School Choir who will lead the citizens in caroling while the star at the head of the harbor is lit. There is a Chorale of Christmas music at the Methodist Church and a Christmas pageant at the local theater. That's just today. Tomorrow there is more. A parade on Broad Street, open houses serving a variety of food, wine tasting, book signings and if you missed it the first time there is more music scheduled for Saturday evening. Now this is what I call Christmas Spirit and its just one reason for us to stay.

Reason number 2- at noon today a gentleman named Keith showed up at the boat with a box of wires, antenna, routers, and other paraphernalia. He proceeded to set up a WIFI system for me. Now it should be explained that I didn't ask or mention it at the coffee shop, he just came by and said, "Since you are staying the winter I thought it may be easier for you to have WIFI on the boat." No charge. I can now post on my blogger site, pick up email, pay bills and check out FB without leaving the Richard & Arnold. A couple of days ago I traveled three miles to the Yacht Club to use their internet to pay some bills, but then it got late and I didn't get to write to my friends. So now - watch out- you'll be hearing from me on a regular basis.

Oh, I paid Keith with reason # 3.
This morning some local fishermen were unloading their catch and Dave being who he is, went over to the boat to help with the offloading. The fisherman gave him a bag of shrimp, about four pounds. I cleaned them and put three bags in the freezer and one in the fridge for supper. Keith got one of the bags. Its the least I could do. Thank you Keith, it works like a charm!
I'm sure that the Spirit of Christmas is in all your hearts whether you know it or not, but here in Oriental there seems to be real effort to show it. God Bless you all,  now, during the holidays and always.  Fair Winds.

it is a wonderful life

I am so pleased to announce that Publishers Weekly has rewiewed "the Fishermen's Ball". Check it out at PW.com. November 30. I wish I could figure out how to form a link to it but I'm still learning how to use this iPad.  As many of you can guess we are still in Oriental, looks like we have found our winter place, but nothing is written in stone when it comes to water. All I can tell you is that we are looking forward to the Spirit of Christmas on the 12th of December. It was described to me as similar to the movie 'It's a Wonderful Life' staring Jimmy Stewart. People open their homes, there's a parade, and boats get decorated. Now how could we miss that.
My sister, Susie said she thinks we have found our spot. We will see after the parade how we feel, especially if the temperature drops below 40. So far it's been safe, warm, and dry. Shopping this year will be strictly Internet, I don't know if there is a mall within 100 miles. I hope you are all filled with the spirit of Christmas even if you are not in Oriental.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. This is a very different holiday for Dave and me. The family is far away and I miss them as I do everyday. I can picture everyone preparing for the feast, baking, cooking, cleaning, but this year we won't be a part of it. We have every reason to give thanks and we do everyday. I am thankful for my family and their understanding our wanting to go away for the winter. I am thankful for our health and the health of our loved ones. I am thankful for my husband, his uniqueness, his love of boats and his support of me. I think I'm the one who talked him into leaving our home and hitting the waterways. If I'd said, "No way" we never would have left. So this Thanksgiving I am cooking shrimp and fluke along with veggies from my garden: squash, tomatoes and potatoes. My oven is too small to roast a turkey and since we wanted to do something different this year, why not go all the way. I bought local fresh shrimp yesterday and my oh my aren't they just wonderful. We've had them a number of times since we landed in Oriental. One of the local fishermen gave us a pound right from his boat and we've eaten them at local restaurants. I had coconut shrimp the other night, wow was that something. I've got to find the receipt. As you may have guessed we are still in Oriental, NC. We've studied the charts and it seems because our boat draws 7 feet we may not be able to get through the ICW without going aground. That may not seem like a big deal to some but it can be an awful experience for a 50 ton vessel like ours. And even if we stay in the channel and never touch bottom while in the Inter-Coastal Waterway, there are almost no places to anchor where the water is deep enough for us. That means we'd be looking for marinas all along the way and that can get very expensive. For us to tie up it costs about $100 / night. That would drastically cut our winter budget. It has been explained to us that the Army Corp of Engineers was responsible for the ICW, dug most of it, and maintained it up until a few years ago when federal budget cuts put the control into the hands of individual states. NC mostly keeps up with dredging because many parts of it are used commercially. But in places where commercial use is non-existent such as portions of South Carolina and Georgia there is little or no dredging. The waterway fills in and is left to currents, winds and tides. Vessels with less than 6 feet are said to pass without difficulty. And so the conundrum: stay here where we are safe warm and dry or risk no anchoring areas for us and the eventuality of going aground.  Whatever we decide will be ok with me. I'm back writing, love the town and have almost everything I need. Just need a grandkids fix.
Still I'm thankful, I guess I'd have to say I'm thankful for life itself and all the goodness it contains.
If you have the time check out towndock.net there is a great shot of the Richard & Arnold

Tiny home and a world with big problems

It is so calm where we are tied up that it doesn't feel like I'm on a boat, just a tiny home. I remember seeing programs on HGTV about tiny houses and now I know how it feels. It feels good. I don't run up and down the stairs carrying my vacuum and I don't have to walk fifteen feet to put food on the table from the stove, I just pass it over to Dave. We have access to a laundry at the marina so I'm sitting in the club house while the machine does its thing. OK, it might be easier to carry the laundry to the basement, but it really isn't to difficult to carry it over here.  Last night we plugged in a tv episode of Justified, a friend gave us all the dvd's of the program, unfortunately they start at episode 3 so we were a bit confused as to who was who. Anyway it was the first time we'd seen anything resembling tv. I've not seen or heard the news for three weeks. When Dave came back from his morning stroll to the coffee shop with the news of the Paris bombing I cried. We need to stop calling these lunatics - terrorists -and begin calling them what they are: cowards. We cannot live in fear of them because they are cowards who think they can terrorize people. We cannot be afraid of cowards who hide their faces when committing murder. They pick on those who cannot defend themselves and they do not love life and therefore do not love God. For no matter what they say or preach or believe, they could not possible love God. I was taught that God is love.  Let's not give them any power over us, they are not terrorists, they are cowards.

Maybe I'm hiding my head in the sand, but it feels good to disconnect from the realities of the world for a while. It's why we go on vacation, to remove ourselves from our daily routines, tie up in unfamiliar waters and unplug the tv. I miss family, friends, neighbors and familiar faces at the Stop & Shop, but I'm surprised at how little I miss the TV, the house, and all that stuff.

I received an email that made me very happy. My book, The Fishermen's Ball has been chosen for review by Publisher's Weekly. Needless to say I'm thrilled. So much so that I began writing again, first time since we left. Dave said I needed a little prodding and I guess this was the impetus. I started polishing Arethusa. The review most likely won't be out for a number of weeks, if I hear anything I'll let you know. In the meantime if anyone happens to see it, would you save me a copy.

Velcro

A lady at the coffee shop told me this morning that this town has a 'velcro effect' on boaters. It's all about the people we meet, the stories they tell, and the help they offer. I'm sitting in the wheelhouse looking across a  harbor that is smaller than between Fishermen's wharf and MacMillan wharf. Boats come and go on a daily basis, yachts, sail, and fishing boats tie to the town dock or the commercial pier or the private marina, here it's boats, boats, boats. It's a stopping off point for those heading south in winter and north in spring and I can see why. Its safe and friendly. Dave is in his element. He goes to the local coffee shop every morning and talks with everyone who comes in, locals, fishermen, and those just passing through. This is the first vacation he's had in over twenty years. We took the Richard & Arnold to Stonington ME back in 1980 visiting Peter and Pat Morris and stayed a week. Now we've already been away for three weeks and we're so relaxed its hard to stay awake. We have spent the past 5 nights tied to Sherrill & Phyllis Styron's commercial fishing dock alongside the offloading facility. We watched a boat unload a catch of jumbo shrimp this morning, I hope to buy some this afternoon and stuff my freezer full.  Mr. Styron is away but his son's have told us its ok to spend time tied to the wharf at no charge. Many people have stopped by the boat to let us know that she's not only good looking but looks like she can work as well. To the local fishermen the boat is a bit of an oddity: small with the lines of a schooner, with the wheelhouse in the stern. The shrimp boats have a classic look with the wheelhouse up front, big and beamy. They are beautiful, practical and sea worthy, but there are stories of loss here just as in most harbors. Five years ago a shrimp boat named Miss Mary was lost with all hands. The town of Oriental has a population of 900 and yet thousands of boats stop here each year.  Well the day is flying and I've not done a thing so I guess I'll get up and make some lunch then I can go back to do nothing again for awhile. We are planning to leave, I just don't know when. It must be the velcro effect.

Oriental NC and a rest

They say that sailing is either complete peace of sheer terror. Well let me tell you about what happens when you think you've got it made. God comes and gives you a tap, telling you not to get too cocky. Two nights ago Dave and I finished a 70 mile run from Coinjock to Belhaven, NC. We were tired but there was no wind, cloudy with a threat of rain, so we decided to anchor in the harbor instead of tying  into a marina and paying the $100. We are on a strict budget and we have all winter to get through. Anyway the anchor seemed to be holding, I made us a fish dinner, had a glass of wine, and was reading a book. (The Girl in the Spider's Web). Dave had gone to bed. With the suddenness of a lightening strike the wind picked up and began howling through the rigging. I jumped up ran to the hatch and looked out. Not good. We were swinging, moving, dragging the anchor. Dave was up in a flash and into the wheelhouse to start the engine. It was pouring rain. We hauled up the anchor having drifted a quarter of a mile across the bay. Luckily the bottom is mud, silt and no hang ups. We went back to where we had been anchored and let it go again. We stayed in the wheelhouse watching our position, but not for long. Again we dragged and again we tried to set it. It's still pouring. The third time we set the anchor and it dragged we decided to find a berth. Now it is midnight, raining and we can't see a thing. We found what looked like a bulkhead, but when we got close enough just feet away we could see that there was no poles, no cleats, no place to tie. We drifted away from the land and saw what looked like pilings. A sign said 'Private Marina.' We needed a place and that was it, a port in a storm. There wasn't a soul around to ask permission from so we tied up the Richard & Arnold, got out of our wet clothes and slept like babies. The next morning a nice gentleman came by at 6:30 to say he watched us last night. With all the lights on he wasn't sure what kind of a boat we were and it looked like there were a lot of people running all over the boat. I said, "Yes that was Dave and me." We left the dock a few minutes later and did a 49 mile run to Oriental. It was rough where the Pungo River meets the Nuese River but the boat didn't seem to mind. Right at the area where we were to turn to port and head up the Nuese for Oriental, I said to Dave, "That anchor looks like its going to slide off the deck." He said, "Nah, it's not that rough." Five minutes later the anchor slid off the deck and Dave flew out the wheelhouse door. The anchor, chain and most of the line (200) feet was on its way to the bottom. Dave managed to grab the last six feet of line and wrap it around a cleat. The boat was thrashing in a six foot chop as he put the rope around the capstan and brought the anchor back aboard. We made it into Oriental Harbor at about 2 in the afternoon. We have a great spot to tie up with the commercial fishing boats and will be here for a few days visiting friends, Randy and Ellen.

Norfolk and the Navy

I wanted to add a small post about where we spent the night because I'm so impressed with what surrounds us. We have reached mile marker 000 of the Inter Coastal Waterway at a bend in the Elizabeth River. Everywhere I look I see America. People working on ships. Ships that protect us, serve our country, keep us safe. This is the heartbeat of the Navy and it makes me proud. It is amazing what we can do when we are pulling together.  The port of Norfolk / Portsmouth has got to be the busiest place I've ever been on the water. We went from a tiny sleepy harbor one night to a bustling waterway the next. The trip is giving us a picture of our country from the deck of a moving boat. A strange way of seeing our coastal communities. This is the I-95 of the waterway. Now that we are tucked into the ICW all we have to do is follow the charts, buoys and cruising guides. Its like planning a trip across the country by car only much slower, there's time to prepare. We are not without some anxious moments, like passing a tug and barge in a narrow channel, or when the depth sounder read no water under us, or tying up feet from the stern of a million dollar yacht (don't even think of touching it). We keep moving south. The temperature is 76 and I'm barefoot and sleeveless. I believe this is why we are doing it. I checked the Provincetown weather today and it said 60 with fog, so not so wintery yet. Still this is an adventure of a lifetime for us. I'm still learning about how to navigate, keep the boat headed in the right direction and how to tie up so that we look like a smart crew. The yachts we've seen are absolutely remarkable, right out of James Bond movies. Lots of smaller boats as well, but nothing at all like our Richard & Arnold. Everyone asks us about her. She's unique, that's for sure. I'm comfortable living here and I'm pretty sure I'll make it through the winter without going stir crazy. My grandson is doing much better, I'll talk to him again tonight, he's home from the hospital. Thanks to the many who have send get well wishes. To all my friends, family and fellow boaters: Fair winds.

Chesapeake Bay, the queen of bays

This is finally beginning to feel like a real vacation. My stomach has unclenched, my blood pressure is down and I am enjoying the scenery. We celebrated Dave's birthday with friends, the boat tied up at SkipJacks Marina in the Sassafras River near the top of Chesapeake Bay. Our friends, Joe, Chrissy and Joshua picked us up and took us to PA- Amish country. We had two full days of R&R, hot showers and laundry, and then I found myself missing the boat.  I think I'm hooked. We left on Monday and headed back down the winding river then turn to port when we reached the big bay. This waterway is absolutely remarkable. So many tributaries, rivers and bays entering and continuously flowing into the mother bay. I can understand how a person could explore the Chesapeake for a lifetime and not see it all. For our next stop we headed to St. Michaels, a cozy little town on the eastern shore, nestled in the Miles River - up Eastern Bay off Chesapeake Bay. It took a good two hours after leaving the Chesapeake to get there, but it was worth it. A wonderful maritime museum dedicated to the mariners of Chesapeake Bay, the Queen of Bays (as National Geo calls it). The museum is 18 acres so we did some hiking. They have a great boatbuilding workshop, railway, history exhibits of oystering, crabbing and steam boating. There are wonderful boats on display both in and out of the water. The harbor came highly recommended by Steve Kennedy who also loves old wooden boats. It was worth the trip. We departed at 6:45. The air was damp and sweet smelling. As the sky became lighter we were greeted by a heavy dark fog. Not my favorite way to travel, but Dave used the radar, autopilot, chart plotter and computer to find our way through the pea soup. The air remained thick with fog for about 2 hours, then patchy, and finally full sun leaving a clear skyline. Mother nature has been on our side for this entire week, light to no wind!!! The joy of water traveling, at least for the motor-cruiser. After a 7 hour steam we came into the Patuxent River and around the bend into Solomons Island. This narrow piece of land is a bright spot for mariners, lots of marinas and friendly oystermen. We met a great couple who go oystering together daily and have for five years. Great to see women working the water. We had a wonderful experience as we came close to the harbor. Dave was hailed on the radio by the captain of a research vessel, the Rachael Carlson, who recognized the Richard & Arnold from last Sept when he was in Provincetown doing research. While he was in Provincetown he picked up a copy of my book, Nautical Twilight and he just happened to be reading it when he looked up and saw us going past. He invited us to tie up to the fishermen's dock at the University of MD biological lab. There is a shared dock space that the University set aside for commercial fisherman, and here we are tied up nice and sweet and

at no cost. As a matter of fact we have only paid for two nights so far. Out of 14 days that's not bad. The picture is St. Michaels as we were leaving, hard to believe but 30 minutes later we were in a thick blanket of fog. Its been a grand two weeks. Oh and by the way, my 7 year old grandson is in the hospital in Maine, has pneumonia, so please say a prayer for the little man. We love him dearly. Thanks. Fair winds.

Delaware Bay, C & D Canal

Today the Delaware and the C & D canal. We left the Cape May Inlet at 7:00 am and went through the Cape May Canal. We had the tides on our side and slid through doing 9 knots. When we came out the other side and turned up Delaware Bay, Dave put up the small jib sail that we brought for just this purpose. We had a southwest wind that pulled us along at a brisk 10 knots. Really felt like we were flying. Its not really that fast, just about 14 miles an hour but on the water - for us - that's fast. The tide stayed with us the entire route and brought us to the C & D canal at noon. The sail had to be brought in and there was some busy time while Dave took the sail in, brought the stabilizer arms up and tried to keep a steady course. He's a good mariner and I have to admit I'm not much help. I hope I'm learning. I need to get the hang of tying up properly, so as not to embarrass ourselves and keep us safe. I get anxious when entering port, leaving port, navigating and just about everything else that goes with the mariner's life. The only time I'm truly relaxed is when we tie up. Dave says I'll get better at it. At least I've not been seasick on this trip and I stopped taking Bonnine. We are currently tied into the Chesapeake Inn, Restaurant and Marina. Had a great hot shower, nice lunch out (shrimp, crab cakes and salad and a beer (to calm my nerves). Now I'm back at the keyboard where I feel most comfortable. I have not written a word on the new book, although I have plenty of ideas in my head. The days fly by while I check the charts, watch the weather, wind and tides while planning our next stop. When I get really nervous I call my son, the professional mariner, and he tells me what I need to know. He's a peach. I can hardly believe we've been gone only 9 days, seems like a lifetime. We took a walk after lunch to the Municipal Marina on the other side and found out we could have tied up for free. Dave saw a boat and said, "That looks like Paul's boat, the 'Scup'. He's the assistant harbor master in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard." Well wouldn't you know but he was right on. We sat and talked with Paul for awhile, he's made this trip many times. He's heading for Key West and we hope we meet up with him again. If not it will be next spring in Oak Bluffs.
Early night for me tonight. The days run took 7 hours and now its time to rest.

Heading south

The Richard & Arnold has a lazy roll every time another ferry leaves the dock here in Atlantic Highlands, NJ in Sandy Hook. We came down the east river with the outgoing tide doing a brisk 10 knots. That's good going. I marveled at the UN building, saw a tram passing overhead from Manhattan to Governor's Island, was in awe of the Statue of Liberty, but nervous leaving the East River through 'the narrows' at lower Manhattan because I've never seen so much water traffic. Ferry boats to Staten Island, Tugs with barges, US Coast Guard, a couple of sailboats, tankers and us. We passed the four masted Peking docked alongside an old lightship and the Sherman Zwicker from Maine. I think that's how its spelled. All this and helicopters and airplanes overhead. I think we went under eight bridges today. We could see the traffic and marveled at how slow we moved in comparison. The day went smoothly, light winds, sun and we docked early. Last night we moored in City Island and walked around the town, visited the City Island Maritime Museum. Did you know that City Island is famous for building racing yachts like 'Freedom' that won the America's Cup. The town built many famous wooden sailing yachts, but when fiberglass took over the boat building industry and waterfront property became so valuable (1970-80's) the old boat yards began to close down. None of the big boat building yards have survived, but there is a sail maker there and a small travel lift for taking out boats. Barron's Boat yard, good people and the mooring was only $35 for the night. There is a full moon tonight and because we have a long ride tomorrow we will most likely leave around midnight to cruise the Jersey shore. It will most likely be 16 - 20 hour trip and we'd like to enter Cape May while there is still light. We shall see how it goes. Also the forecast is good weather for tomorrow and then Wednesday it turns yucky. We hope to make it in to port before the wind picks up and rain comes down.  I have asked myself why I choose to do this trip and I honestly don't know. It is something we've always talked about and now it's happening.
Living aboard is comfortable. We have everything we need and I'm content. Miss my grandkids like crazy, face-time works and I talk to them every other night. Well it's almost 8pm and I need to hit the bunk. Have safe travels out there in your cars going 60 miles an hour - I feel like a turtle.      

Slow start

Off to a slow start. We've said goodbye to our family, friends and neighbors.  Finally moved aboard only to be held up by winds blowing in excess of 35. Dave said there's no reason to beat up the old girl, that would be me not the boat  ( she can take it). We've had a comfy / cozy berth at the  wharf where the Hindu usually ties. The beautiful Hindu is on her way to Key West having left less than a week ago she is already in the Carolinas. Must be nice to have a great crew, including Mike Winkler and his son. They do watches, 24/ 7 and just keep going. They will be there before we leave Massachusetts. We'll do it our way; stopping every night in a new place. Taking in the sights, meeting new friends, and enjoying each day. The Richard & Arnold is as prepared as she can be. Tanks full, plenty of water, gas and food. I've learned how to use my phone as a hot spot so I can send out emails, check the weather, blog and do everything I could do from land. The only things my floating home lacks are: TV (don't miss it one bit), a dishwasher (using less dishes anyway), washing machine (we can wear our clothes a little longer). We are anxious to cast off and it looks like Wednesday AM we will be heading for the Cape Cod Canal. I hope to keep my friends informed of our travels and add a few pics as we go along, I will post a blog weekly. We are heading to Martha's Vineyard for our first stop, after that we'll check the charts, tides and weather each night, and then select the next stop.

Moving ahead and Making ready

Want to mention that I will be speaking and reading from The Fishermen's Ball on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at the Truro Public Library at 6:30 pm. WOW that's tomorrow. Hope to see you there. This will be the last public speaking engagement for awhile. It's stressful for me, I get nervous. I try to remember what Jerry Sinfeld said, "A survey was taken of the American public, asked what was their greatest fear, the #1 answer was public speaking, #2 was death. So Jerry said, People would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy." I guess I'd rather stand up and give the eulogy.

On the home front we are preparing to let go the lines and head the boat south to warmer waters for the winter. This will be the first time since 1981 that Dave and I have ventured forth on the water for an extended cruise. There are similarities but also this will be very different. We've been preparing the boat and ourselves. The Richard & Arnold has new batteries, inverter, hot water heater, alternator, new stove and a freezer. Today Dave is cleaning up his tools and making room for the freezer. I think the boat will do fine. I've got plenty of Bonine, so I'm ready. We will be moving aboard next week, I hope. We need to store gear: clothing, food, kitchen equipment and all the rest of the amenities that make living aboard possible, like flash-lights, netting, bungie cords, binoculars, air horn, survival suits, and a thousand other items that will keep us safe, warm and dry. The past week we put sound-down on the ceilings of the engine room and sound proofing floor mats for the wheel house, I'm hoping I wont't need ear plugs. We purchased, via Craig's list, two new wheelhouse chairs. These are  bucket seats out of a Honda Oddessey, never used, like new, with arm rests! Dave said it's a good thing he didn't have them last summer when he was fishing, he'd probably have fallen asleep at the helm. This is the first time in the 33 years that we have owned the Richard & Arnold that I have my own seat in the wheelhouse. Dave hopes this isn't going to lead to a mutiny.
A couple of days ago we learned that we couldn't take the tracking device off the boat for the winter, we thought because we were heading to Florida for vacation and there would be no fishing that we could just unplug the thing. No such luck, so now we are installing a new, mandated new, tracking device that will track our every move. And we thought Big Brother was a myth.
I have to sign off for now, my granddaughter is on the couch with a sore throat, needs some TLC. She hates the idea that her Nonnie is leaving for the winter. I will keep in touch as we journey south. Fair winds.

July 2015 Boat Nuts

Hope everyone had a happy and safe Fourth of July. We watched the Provincetown fireworks from the deck of a friend's house. It proved to be a lovely night with lots of oohs, aaahs and wows. Since the 4th fell on a Saturday and fishing for fluke runs Sunday - Thursday, Captain Dave was on the road back to Woods Hole to pick up the Richard & Arnold at 1:00 AM. It was a good time to travel, but he was really tired when he set out off of Noman's Island at 5 AM. He still thinks he's forty years old. There are just a few boats working the area now. Dave counted six. Some of the fellows are fishing closer to Nantucket, but for Dave the distance would add a couple hours to his already tiring day.
We are talking and planning a trip with the Richard & Arnold this fall. If all goes well we will head out in October. First stop  - Block Island since I've never been there. We will follow a plan, but we know that sometimes wind and tides dictate when and where we go. Our plans include stops in CT, Montauk, City Island, Sandy Hook, Cape May, the Delaware, Chesapeake,Orient NC, Darian GA and the inland waterway through to Florida. I hope to be able to blog along the way, maybe sell a few books as well.

In other news, our son Bob launched his 36' Harris on Thursday and yesterday he had it going 19 knots skipping across Cape Cod Bay. It has taken 3 years of work to get it back in the water. He put in a new/rebuilt engine, new fuel tanks, lots of fiberglass work. It took so long because he could only work on it when he wasn't on his three week rotation aboard the tugboat Yellow Fin in the Gulf of Mexico. The nut really doesn't fall far from the tree. Boats, boats, boats. Like father like son. And I'm proud of both my sons. Jackson loves the water, has a run about boat of his own and is a talented carpenter who is building beautiful homes.

And oh YES, the book is done and should be available at Amazon around July 20, 2015. Look for The Fishermen's Ball by J. J. Dutra and let me know what you think. It's a murder mystery set in Provincetown in 1938-39, a little different from the last one but still has some fishing included.

Nautical Twilight is still available, also on Kindle for those who use the lighted screen. I finally broke down and got one so that I could read at night and not disturb Dave with the light. I like it well enough but I still take a book to the beach because you can't see the screen in the sunlight. Mostly my grandchildren use it to play games, something the captain doesn't like, but I'm all for technology if it is tempered with lots of outdoor play time. It is recommended that for every hour of computer time a kid should play three hours outdoors. Sounds right to me. Fair winds fellow boat nuts, see you soon.

Fluke season is off to a rough start. It's the forth day in and today there was tragedy in Menemsha Bite, MVI. The Robert C went down. Captain Dougie was pulled from the water and he is reported to be safe. Dave told me this when he phoned from the island this evening. It seems two boats collided and the Robert C went down in minutes. Dave said he didn't see it, but heard the Coast Guard on the radio. Six or seven boats were fishing the bite.  Dave said he's not sure how it happened. Like so many of the boats, Dougie fishes alone. As Dave is fond of saying, "Too much work for one man but not enough money for two." Fishing alone is how most of the guys manage, so I can see how these things can happen. The other boat, the Peddler is safe, but most likely out of commission. Capt. Walter and Capt. Dougie are old hands at fishing, so this is a terrible accident that neither could have imagined. The  Robert C was a beauty, I don't know her details, but she looked like a Stonington Dragger. She was old, wooden, heavy planked and currently hailed from New Bedford. She was a beautiful old girl. The men are safe and that really is all that matters in the long run. Say a prayer for our men and women at sea. Remember our fishermen. And don't forget to give thanks.

Update - June 2015

After much hard work, long hours, and an inpouring of money the Richard & Arnold is back to work. Dave says she's better than ever. The engine: a complete overhaul done by RCS Diesel Service in Ludlow MA has put the boat on a smooth coarse. It is not using oil, doesn't smoke, and has more power. I can't say enough about the efforts at RCS, great mechanics, all business, and fair prices. Thanks to Mike Miner and all the men who worked on it.
The new wheelhouse was a challenge. It's amazing how much stuff accumulates in a small space after thirty plus years, but on a boat it's all necessary, well most of it. It took months to replace everything from the old wheelhouse. We knew the wheelhouse needed changing when one day, out at sea, Dave showed me how the old house was moving. Literally swaying on its foundation. So glad to have the new one in place, bolted and fiberglassed in.  Everything had to come out of the old house and either be refitted to the new one or new equipment had to be purchased. All the important electronics are back in place, radar, depth sounder. The steering and autopilot are working. Hydraulics up to speed. Radios, computer, tracking device, antennas, have been rewired in. Safety equipment, deck lights, EPIRB in good working order. Only the odds and ends left to do, things like shelves for tools, hooks to hang oil-gear and a soft seat for the mate (that would be me) will all be done as we go along, because  now the fishing begins and when Dave is fishing there's not much time left to do anything else.
Dave took the boat to Woods Hole last month for squid, but he got a late start due to the massive amount of work to the wheelhouse, and the squid didn't come in jumbo numbers so he came back to Provincetown Harbor. He brought aboard a thousand pounds of lead for needed weight in the bilge. He then changed nets and end-for-ended the wire on the winches. He left for Martha's Vineyard last Tuesday to fish for Fluke. Now we hope for a good season to put us in shape for travel this winter. The boat is ready, Dave is looking forward to taking her south. I'm excited, nervous, worried, and making lists of a million things that need to be done before I can cut the ties to land. Things like auto pay of bills. What do I do with all my house plants? What clothing should I bring, how much linens, blankets, etc? How much food can I store? Yes it is exciting, but the idea of leaving my grandkids is almost heartbreaking. My feeling is that everyone will survive one winter without me. I'll keep up with kids on face-time. And I should have more time to write. Right?

Time and busy winds moving quickly as Northeasters come in cycles. The winter winds have been wicked this past month. The boat remains at the wharf, vulnerable. We are hoping the winds leave her undamaged. So far, so good.  We are transitioning, hoping to have the engine back in the boat before Christmas, then the real work begins for Dave. He's already put new fuel tanks in. What a job. Thanks to Mike Winkler, Jon Salvador, Marcey's Oil, and Wesley Medieros, we are off to a good start.  RC Motors is completing the engine and we are hoping for a Christmas present, having the engine back in place will be wonderful. In the meantime we find surprises everywhere. Dave is using space from the previous tanks which were much larger, for the hydraulic tank, he's installing it now. We will be carrying 500 gallons of diesel fuel. Sometime in the coming year we are hoping to rig the boat with sails, but one thing at a time, engine first.  We need the engine for fishing, but perhaps we can use sails for transitioning, for efficiency. I know we both love to sail, so its something we are looking forward to trying.

Transitions, land and sea, can have strange effects on the body. The inner ear can give you sea-sickness. When everything is moving, the feeling can causes other types of illusions and body distortion. On a  trip last September from Martha's Vineyard to Provincetown I had an unusual experience, at least I wasn't fearful of the feelings that I felt that day. Now, I think I know why old sailors call the boat 'her', as if it were alive.  I was sitting on fish boxes watching and listening as the world pass under, above and beside me. I watched the water as it undulated, peaked, cupped, crested, and waved. The constant motion caused an optical illusions, for what else could I call it. When I looked from the sea to the railings, the wooden structure that caps the sides of the boat, the wood became alive. As I looked at the Richard & Arnold, I could see the wood in motion. The wood was moving, swirling, swinging like a body dancing. It appeared as if the molecules in the wood were moving together as part of the world. I watched what shouldn't be moving - move. Not like the whole boat was wobbling or that the vessel's structure was shaking, more like the planks that made up the boat were still alive. It has got to be one of the strangest experiences I've had while out on the water and I've had a few. The illusion was most likely optical, but perhaps it was my overactive imagination. Whatever the cause, she came alive to me.

The Richard & Arnold is waiting patiently. She's doing just fine.

Heading in the right direction

We're heading in the right direction again. After a couple of weeks of "Oh M,G. The doctor said what?" Not only has it been awfully cold, but we spent hours in the E.R. then an overnight in Boston hospital only to be told that once every 10 or so years they see someone like Dave. Can't explain it, but looks like you're going to live. Our medical event has put life and death in perspective and now we can get back to where we were before all this medical broo-ha began. Even with the bitter cold, the engine is back in the boat. Shelves have been built, fuel tanks installed, batteries in place, hydraulic tank in place. Now fuel lines, hydraulic lines, and about a million other things and then the boat will be moving on her own again. I know for a fact that this will be the last in a long line of updates and overhauls to our dear Richard & Arnold. The new wheelhouse seems much bigger, although it is only six inches bigger on each side. I wish I could help out with the work, but Dave said I should just keep writing. He's doing all the work so that he can again go fishing this spring and summer to pay for next winter. In the fall we have plans for a trip south. It will be the reward for all the effort. I'm so proud of the work that's been done to the boat to preserve her. She's almost 90 years old and the way she's been maintained she'll last another 90 years. Hopefully she will have someone like Dave to take care of her. We are working to make it possible to take the boat on a trip. Heading south next fall to see friends and meet new ones. We have a goal, a destination and the willpower. I know I have at least one more adventure in me and I know Dave wants to have one winter when he won't have to shovel snow.
My latest book is just about done, I'm on the fourth rewrite. It has been professionally edited and now I move toward publication. I'll do the same as I did for "Nautical Twilight". I'm too old to wait for an agent or publisher to find me. I'll put it out there and hope for the best, just like we are doing with the boat.  Stay warm everyone, Fair winds and God Speed.
I am pasting part of the cover for the book, The Fishermen's Ball. Let me know what you think.