So where to start?? On Jan 21 we hauled the boat out of the water. We got everything done we set out to do. Installed two new through hull fittings and instruments, got the centerboard working, washed the bottom, and put new zinc's on. Thanks to the guys at Seabrook Marina, You did a great job.
I also got most of my Raymarine toys working, and I can tell I'm going to be real spoiled. It is pretty amazing. I don't know how I ever went anywhere before. We have finally discovered the cause to our fuel problem and currently have both engines running smooth as tops. Apparently although the fuel filter numbers crossed in the parts store computer, our engines know the difference and they do NOT work. Yea another mystery solved.
Then on the 25 of Jan. We took off on our last road trip for awhile. Jen drove her truck, while I drove my I-Haul. (which I still love) We started with an 11 hour 30 min drive to Woodward where we left the pickup and have dinner with most of Jen's family. Then we spent the better part of Tuesday with Jen's Grandparents before going to OKC to drop off the I-Haul. Then on Wed, before all the snow and ice hit hard we rented a car and took off back to Houston. But not before making an elaborate plot to catch the UPS Guy before leaving town. Thanks for another night at the Hotel Grenzebach, the continental breakfast was yummy, and we will definitely miss you guys. We just barely made it out before the ice settled in, we ended up driving through about 70 miles of it, but lucky for us it wasn't sticking to the road yet. We got some good pictures of our LAST ICE STORM EVER!!! 
Friday Night some our our dock friends had a little going away party for us. Mom and Deb ended up playing their guitars and singing until late in the evening. They played like they have been playing together for years. Very entertaining, I think they sang every oldie ever written. It was a blast. Thanks guys! We hope to see you "on down the river"!
We are excited for the beginning of our adventure and yet at the same time are not quite ready, and the boat is not completely finished but Tristan Jones says it best....
"For the average small-craft voyager three things are certain: if he waits until his boat is one hundred percent ready, or if he waits until he has enough money, or if he listens to most "sensible" people, he'll never get away from the dock."
-Tristan Jones "The Improbable Voyage"
Houston we have left the Marina!!!
"And now the moment you all have been waiting for".... Saturday Jan 30, 2010 9:30 am we cast off our bow lines seeking adventure in all the uncharted islands of the world asking for nothing more than perfect sunsets and fair winds Oh! and rum lots of Rum.
We left the safety of South Shore Marina Dock 17 at a low tide; thanks to the Northern winds, but that just means we won't hit our mast on the bridge on the way out, I also think that I need to send a bill to the marina for dredging the channel. The way is clear for you now Al!
Once out of Clear Lake we headed to the Houston Ship Channel it was a perfect day for sailing, we were running with the wind at an average of 7 1/2 knots, ship and barge traffic was light. Once we hit the Intercoastal Waterway and had the wind on a beam reach we hit a top speed of 9.2 knots. WOW! We may make it to Florida quicker than estimated. Once we got close to the Galveston bridge we tried to roll up our roller furling, and the dang thing wouldn't roll up again! This is the second time I have had to pull it down like a conventional sail, I am NOT impressed. So with just the main we finished out the leg; we still made about 5 1/2 knots. We were also able to sail into Offats bayou right to where we anchored.
So now, here we are... Still in Offats Bayou, waiting on the offshore weather to be more favorable, since last Saturday. I have gone to shore several times to walk Sissy, I have taken the bike to shore to go to O'Reily's and Home Depot, We have dinghyed to shore to eat. What else is there to do?!
We have had a really bad windstorm. The radio said gusts of 40 knots, but the highest we observed on the boat was 34 knots, with an average of 25-28 knots. Even with two anchors out we still drag in this slick clay and have had to reset the anchor several times. Our electricity rationing hasn't worked out quite so well either. The wind generator will run one fridge and one computer; if you turn anything else on we go backwards. We haven't seen any sun since we have been here, so we don't have a good feel for what the solar panels will add. But we will probably add some more panels in Panama City. We have been running our generator 2-3 hours a day. Instead of the one hour every other day like I had hoped. On the plus side our water is lasting great. We have been good about conserving and have been able to catch rain water, so we haven't had to use our water maker yet.
We still had date night on Wed. I made Spaghetti and we watched a movie on the big screen. Hopefully we will be leaving Friday morning for Florida, that is the plan anyways depending on weather, right now the forecast is looking good.
Well I better get off here, there is a line forming for the computer and Internet.
Until next time,
Ryan and Family
Oh and I promise (again) to keep you better updated on where we are and what we are up to.
PS: This is a video of how our props work. I have had several people ask.
They are feathering props. They turn so there is no drag when we are sailing.
And they rotate 180 degrees so that they have the same pitch in forward and reverse.
1 comment:
you two stay safe.... so glad to see all this talking and dreaming has paid off!!! miss you!
---angela
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