Happy Father's Day

Picture: Dad helping me with the tent.

If only I could find a man like my dad! He pampers my mom, loves to cook and do the dishes, and is our "go to" man for all mathematical problems :-) He plays a mean piano too. Happy Fathers Day!

Tiberious Defaced!

My poor Tiberius was struck early this am by a drop-n-fly (as opposed to a hit-n-run). It is reported the offending product was deposited by one or more "feathered" culprits who live just north of where Tiberius berths for the night. I am more outraged than Tiberius who seemed to take it in stride ( though Tibe was a bit peeved that I refused to wash the said offended product off until I could take a picture of him). Here is a vid of the culprits, they live in the north parking lot to the marina. I would guess there are at least 400 birds of about 6 different species. BTW the punks nearly got me too! Thankfully, they missed so no need to bathe with bleach and seek mental counselling :)


Here is a vid of poor Tiberius who just got a bath last Thursday.... having issues with vid upload so here is a picture instead. Viewer be warned its yukky, so girdle your loin.




PS
though it looks like a weeks worth of poop, this happened overnight, he was spankin clean when I parked him.

Blonde moments

Just wanted to recap my blonde moments for the month.




Blonde moment #1
Forgot to drill drain holes on anchor storage before whipping said storage to stanchions.(see photo below)

Blonde moment #2
Whipped 100 feet of line to secure anchor storage instead of using 2 big hose clamps.



Blond moment #3
Used 2 inch galvanized nails to secure carpet to big floating dock, wised up and bought 1 inch nails ( but only after hammering 40 of the 2 inch :-) )

Blonde moment #4
Hung my SSCA flag upside down. I didn't notice the upside down flag until the SSCA commodore stopped by to chat, he pointed up at the flag and asked if I was sending out a distress signal. In my defense (kinda) my neck was so sore from nailing all those 2 inch nails in the floating dock, the creak in my neck prevented me from looking up at the flag :-).

Well thats all the blonde moments for this month. Yes I know it is only June 18th but I figure (now stay with me) I'll post early so there will be no more blonde moments until July 1st...that is called blonde strategy :-)

It Is Good To Have So Many Friends!

Above picture: Igor my pet fish, the only picture I am able to get of him. If you blow it up you just might make the out line of his profile and tail fin. He is always hanging around but disappears whenever I get the camera out.

Picture below: Now here is the new addition to the family. Da dada da! introducing Harvey! He is an absolute riot, very comical and is always up to antics. He loves to fish from the middle of the dock lines as they bounce and dip with the waves, he nearly falls in the water at least once a day. He has been a bit grumpy lately, I think it is because he has a girlfriend and she is giving him the run around. I told Sue Ellen (we named her Sue Ellen) he was a straight up gentleman and would make her laugh but she is being picky (women).

My Flotilla...In The Making

The above photos are of my floating docks. They were at my old marina and I finally found some kind soul to help me get them over to my boat. One I bought for $20 bucks from a guy moving to Hawaii. I put carpet on it and seems to be a good float to work on and keep my future inflatable on. The other little floating dock is for my kayak and I will put carpet on it this weekend.


I am learning to sew! My mom finally put her foot down and refused to sew one more stitch for me, stating it was high time I learned myself. Well, I always considered myself very inept at sewing but it seems when the going gets tough (mom), the tough get going (me :-)). So my first sewing project was a sunbrella canvas storage bag for my beloved hammock. Have I told you about my hammock? I bought it in Mexico and love sitting in it every morning at sunrise and every evening at sunset (on my days off). Above is a picture of Bunny enjoying the hammock on the bow of OG...Bunny's story - Bunny was given to me by my niece on my birthday to keep me company aboard OG, I had also just lost my cat. Bunny also went to Mexico with me. I took lots of photos of bunny having fun on vacation and on the boat, I will make a book about bunny's adventures for my niece for her birthday. She loved that bunny and it was quite a sacrifice to give it to me but she said she wanted to give me the best birthday present ever and she did :-).


My rigger friend installed a new topping lift today and we ran a flag halyard up the backstay. He also installed a new windex with an extension off the back so I can see it much better. I told him when I'm in the Pacific I will think of him every time I peer up at my windex. I have known Robert for 15 years and is like a crazy uncle to me. I am like a annoying little sister to him -correct that, I am like an annoying little blonde sister. He has an endless supply of blonde jokes, Drives me crazy cause some are strangely similar to me...hmm, makes one wonder where he gets his material ;-).

The Durability of the Human Spirit

Sorry it has been a while since writing, this entry was written a week or so ago but wasn’t sure if I wanted to post it, but what the heck, most people reading my blog probably think I am a bit touched in the head so whats another nail in that coffin . So here goes. Alecia, you wont be surprised about this but I promise to be more careful next time.

OK, let me start at the beginning. Near my hospital where I work is a community of homeless people, they panhandle on the corners and camp out under the bridges. There is usually only one or two around due to the city running them off. One day I got off early from work and was driving home. I was sitting at a light about three cars back and a homeless guy was standing at the corner holding a sign and a cup, asking for money. I didn't have any of my homeless packs to give him (a bag of provisions I like to have handy for just such a situation). I was thinking to myself that I can't give him any money because I didn’t have any small bills, all I had was a hundred dollar bill and 87 cents in change. I just couldn't give him 87 lousy cents, I rolled down my window and placed the folded hundred dollar bill into his raggedy old cup. I told him God had blessed me today and I wanted to pass the blessing on to him. I quickly rolled my window up, nudged my car forward a bit and stared ahead up at the light willing it to change. He gave the general "thanks" and glanced down at his cup. Hunched over peering in my window with his sign in one hand and his well worn begging cup in the other he looked and looked into his cup. He looked up at me, eyes wide and shaking his head mumbling he couldn't possible take such a sum, he actually tried to give it back to me. I just waved at him through my window, nudged my car a bit more hoping the traffic light would hurry up and change. I was very nervous about my actions and what this may lead to, I sound dramatic but anyone with street sense would never do such a thing, or at least they wouldn't do it in the way I did it. I wouldn't even tell you about it if it wasn't for his next actions, it is imprinted on my memory and has impressed and heartened me, if I wasn't so nervous and attentive to his proximity of me I would of missed it. He stuffed the money in his pants and turned away from my car. He took two steps as if to resume his work but stopped short and looked down at his cup and his sign, he studied them as if he'd never seen them before, as if they materialized in his hands. He stood there frozen, trying to figure out how the cup and old cardboard sign got there. Then he sprang to life, he threw the cup and sign down and laughed at the sky. He didn't just drop them, he threw them. He disposed of them with such force, as if it scalded his hands.

The darn light had still not changed. The homeless guy laughed and bounded to farthest corner of the street. He raised his arms and held up the silver cross that he had around his neck, he waved the cross to all the cars bustling by and then waved to my line of cars waiting at the light. I felt very exposed, I just wanted to slip the money to him and fade away, but the light was taking so long. Finally the light changed and I drove away. As my car passed by he pointed at the cross and smiled to the sky.

I hope you don't think I am bragging, this isn't the actions of a saint, I just wanted to help the guy. Again, I didn't want to write about it, didn't want to write about what I had done. But I did want to write about what he had done. I think a whole book could be written about that moment, that beautiful moment when he threw down his cup and sign. I am so amazed by the human spirit, the durability, the beauty, the unbending, unbreakable spirit.

Welcome Home Como No !!

I have had a busy week! The arrival of some friends after a 13 year circumnavigation has given my motivation a real boost. Thursday I ran into my friends Ann and Will s/v "Como No" in the marina laundry house. I knew they were coming home but wasn't sure when. kinda amazing, the last time I saw them was at my parents circumnavigation party and now they were coming home from RTW. While washing and drying my laundry Ann transported me to a Pacific atoll, sailing up the Great Barrier reef, and a magical Mediterranean voyage. She added about 4 more must see cruising ports on my already growing list. So dag nabbit, it looks like I will end up circumnavigating after all, funny how I have come full circle on that (am I good with the bad puns or what :) ). Then Will (captain of Como No) shared a captivating story about a pirate close encounter and my favorite topic of all time...ANCHORS!!! He is an encyclopedia of information for boat repair and systems. Last weekend we went out to dinner together and I mentioned my project of tightening the alternator belt, it may sound like an easy project but I am a bit timid about touching my new inboard diesel, a Volvo MD 2020 aptly named "Honey bunny". Anyways, when I mentioned I needed to tighten the belt, Will smiled broadly and said he's got just the tool for that project and to wait for him to get back in town so he can direct me how to use it. They also gave me a chart of the Spanish/Portugal coast.. this brings up the question, do you think my mom and dad would mind if I asked Como No to adopt me :-) just kidding mom and dad!

My uncle is out of ICU and even took some steps!! way to go Uncle Bill!! We have been praying hard for you. The other family drama seems to be settling down too so looks like projects on OG are going to ramp up again (yahoo).

Release the Hounds!

Last Saturday I was invaded by a hoard of landlubbers and it was quite interesting to see how they reacted to my little floating life. The invasion was for a BBQ with my co-workers from the hospital along with their families. Here are some pictures of the strangest species God ever created the land loving dirt hugin house livin humans...very strange indeed :-).

Landlubbers, Gods strangest species

Pictures: My friend being accosted by a pirate but she soon got the upper hand! Don't mess with this pint size gal! Then there is a picture of me (not so pint sized :-) ) this was taken on formal night on the aft deck (you can't tell but the wind was trying to spit me out to sea).

It seems a long time since I wrote but I see it was only a week, so much can happen in a week! I have been dealing with a family emergency and now last night we have another, kinda feels like we (my family and I) are in the tenth round with the great boxer Ali. I know we will make it but man what a beating!
Among the drama, and at the urge of my family, I did go on a cruise. Things had calmed down a bit on the home front and I really could not cancel on my friend or she would be going alone. So I left out of Galveston on this big monster of a boat. Frankly, I did not think I'd like it, I didn't think I'd be able to feel the ocean on such a beast, but happily I was wrong. The ocean was there in all her glory, the sea life so abundant, the water so blue. I loved walking around on deck and even found a beautiful quiet corner where I could look out onto the sea(we nicknamed the spot "Erika's nook"). At night my nook was very dark, so star gazing and ocean watching was perfection. I am very rusty with star gazing, I couldn't spot the southern cross (should of been low on the horizon) and I couldn't even be sure about identifying the major constellations for that matter (a shabby sailor for sure!).
The boat was filled with landlubbers, I can't say I ran into anyone who just wanted to be with the ocean, they mainly swam in the pool and hit the casinos...landlubber are a strange lot and I will never understand them! I tried to tell someone who had stopped by my nook to chat about the phosphorescence at night. She just gave me a blank stare and a frozen smile. Funny, I could see her mind working, forming an escape plan from this obviously demented person who talked of glowing sea animals and glittery trails behind the boat..yep I will never understand landlubbers.
The friend that went with me was a perfect traveling companion. She loved the casino, so after dinner and the nightly show I would head off to my nook and she would go have fun at the Blackjack table. It gave me my needed alone time with the sea and she was just as happy on her own as well. We are already planning our next trip :-).
It was very strange to cross the Gulf in such a beast. To be a spectator instead of a participant, very strange indeed. In many ways I was fighting the feeling of being a traitor, or well, that is not quite it, really it was a feeling of doing something beneath me..I had no idea I was such a sailing snob! That feeling though was quickly replaced with a feeling of being spoiled and pampered, and after the last week of drama I was feeling like a wounded bird seeking refuge, and that big beast of a ship was just the refuge I needed. Every morning I would get up and go to my nook with a nice cup of tea, sit cross leg on the teak deck and watch the sunrise, is there anything better than a sunrise at sea? No I say!

Some sealife encountered on the gulf crossing aboard the beast, we also saw the standard dolphins and lots of sagrasso seaweed (spell?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Man_o'_War
I love PMOWs ever since I saw one sail up a wave on a close reach - no kidding the things can sail!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_squid
The squid I saw at night as it surfaced for some reason. It was a very strange creature and took me a while to figure out what the heck it was.

Below is an excerpt from an account of an Atlantic trip with a psycho crew and a close encounter with a cruise ship, maybe it will explain my conflicting feelings towards the beasts of the seas..the cruise ships that is.

The Psycho crew from hell

In my twenties I was first mate on a 37 ft sailboat from Texas to St. Thomas, s/v Parrothead. In Miami we picked up an additional crew for the Atlantic run down to St. Thomas (to make 3 total on board). I did not get good vibes from this guy, he seemed a bit strange, but my captain wanted an extra hand for offshore. We crossed the Gulf stream and the Bahamas without much trouble and left out the Northeast passage heading due east out into the Atlantic to catch the trades south. The first night offshore the new crew member took the 11 to 3 watch. Linda and I were down below sleeping and the new crew was on his watch. At about 2 am I woke up from a bad dream and could not shake the feeling of danger. The boat wasn't “creaking” right, nothing was really wrong..she was just sailing a bit "off". After a few minutes lying there listening to the boat I decided to have a quick look on deck. As I walked towards the companionway I noticed the crew member who should of been on watch SLEEPING in his bunk. Now, with a feeling of urgency, I bounded out into the cockpit. I looked off the port beam and there, less than 150 yards away, was a Cruise ship. At the angle the cruise ship was traveling she was going to graze our bow with her quarter. I grabbed the helm, yanked hard to starboard and fired up the engine. I punched the turbo diesel full throttle. In my haste (read panic) I forgot about the sails and nearly ripped the mast off jybing but she is a stout boat and took the hard blow without damage to the rig. It was such a surreal moment and my brain kept trying to deny what was happening but at the same time the moment I saw that yahoo sleeping in his bunk I knew that a ship was about to run us down, I knew it down to my bones. The captain rushed out on deck to see what the heck was going on but no explanation was necessary once she saw that huge wall of white hull behind us. In the traffic jam of thoughts going on in my brain I wondered if there was anyone at the helm of the beast and would they even know if the props chewed away at our beautiful sailboat? how cold was the water? the dark black water. The captain and I both stared forward away from the bright lights of the ship as if urging Parrothead forward, I was a little afraid to look back. Even at full throttle we were nearly sucked into the cruise ship’s wake/prop. I could feel the lift of her stern as the ship edged closer and closer in spite of our mighty little engine working double time, but at last we made head way and soon cleared of the monster. Once we got the boat back on course and got our heart rate down to a cool 150, we woke up and confronted the new crew. When the discussion about proper watch keeping got uh er a bit heated (read we chewed his butt off) he began to rock back and forth and made a growling noise, seeing this odd behavior stopped us dead cold and we decided to back off and let it go (we may of been a bit slow but we were not stupid). His behavior got more strange the further we got off shore. After another near collision the very next night Linda and I took over all the watches and we tried our best just to stay clear of him. He mainly hung out in his bunk (rocking and growling).

Now let this be a lesson for all you captains out there, TAKE NOTE: When interviewing a potential crew member remember: a little strange behavior on shore makes for psycho behavior off shore.

As any good sailor would, my sea stories usually focus on hardships and near death experiences. Landlubbers hearing these stories always look at me as if I were crazy and then would ask why the heck I'd go out into the ocean. But it is amazing how one fleeting moment of the true beauty of being offshore can completely eclipse hours of being wet and tired.

Once in the Atlantic, with seas off our beam, my boat fell off an especially large wave into a trough. In the trough, we were surrounded by a wall of deep blue water about as high as the spreaders (beautiful!). Anyways, it was a bright sunny day, we fell off this big wave into a trough, and off my beam in the wall of the next wave is a 20+ ft pilot whale. The whale was above me looking down into the cockpit, and I was looking up at him into the wave. He was maybe 15 feet away, running parallel to the boat, his head even with the cockpit. I had the pilot whale’s complete profile from nose to tail and our eyes met! Never in all my imagination would I of thought I’d have to look up to see a whale. That is the great thing about the ocean, it defies even my wildest imagination, God sure knows how to dazzle this sailor gal.

There is more to that story, a fierce Atlantic storm and the boat sprung a pretty bad leak, all the while dealing with a seasick captain and a very disturbed crew member, but I haven't had time to write it all down (I thought I did but can't find it). Anyways, my love affair with the sea began when I was a baby in Hawaii and to this day she still captivates me, how blessed I am to have such a love.

Boat projects are kinda on hold but I am still working on the bow anchor roller and still a bit confused about the choice between HT and BBB. Sailors I respect have differing opinions on the merits of HT and G3, I'd love to reconcile myself with 1/4 HT and a larger anchor but don't know if in the end I want to be a pioneer in anchoring techniques, I will leave that up to someone else..maybe.

Here is a vid of what got me jumping up and down on my deck and waving my arms like a fool :-) I love planes and these were WWII japanese bombers practicing near my marina. Another reason I love this area, we have an Air Force base so we see planes, jets, bombers, I even saw a Guppy plane (can't remember the full name) and I have seen the space shuttle piggy backed on a big 747(?).

Could not upload the OG tour, I think because it is too long, will remake a shorter version and try to post that.

I am off to Mexico with a girlfriend! We are taking a cruise ship to Cozumel and back, last time I was close to a cruise ship it tried to run me down, lets hope being aboard one instead of nearly under one is more fun. I leave Thursday and will be back on Monday, will post pics. This vacation is the final fun for me. From now on it is work work work all for my little precious OG.She will be in the Pacific by 2012 so no fun for me until then! Well actually my girl friend wants to go play in Costa Rica next...
How do you balance a life and a boat refit?
Hey the vid just finished downloading, lets see if it works.
Cheers,
Erika

Some Research Links For Anchor Tackle

I was asked to post some of the anchor tackle research links, so here they are..enjoy! BTW- the photo to the right is what I look like when I need to dive and set my own anchor (are you reading this soul mate? :-) ).. mom stop laughing..

1) good anchor review
http://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/gearreview/boat-anchor-test/

2) PS view of manson anchor co
http://www.practical-sailor.com/marine/new_zealand_marine_manufacturers.html

3)good article about using two anchors/swing room
http://www.goodoldboat.com/reader_services/articles/anchor.php

4)this is just a quick excerpt about what you don't want to happen while at anchor, plus it is a very interesting website with links to other real interesting websites...
http://johnsantic.com/cruising/galap_easter/visit_ei_boat/getaway1.html

5)Good advice about the importance of stretch in your anchor tackle
http://www.dulhunty.com/dmp3.htm

6)A VERY COOL SITE, A MUST SEE!!
http://alain.fraysse.free.fr/sail/rode/forces/forces.htm



Erika

Dreams and bowsprits

Here is a diagram of my bowsprit as it is now. Yes, I used microsoft paint, and it is as good as this computer illiterate gal can get it, my friend TRIED to educate me in the fine art of auto cad (sorry Martin!) but..well see for yourself. It does give you a general idea of what I have to work with. I decided on a single spartan bronze bow roller and shortening the bowsprit to move the load as close to the strong stem of the boat. Also, at the end of this long post is a video OG tour (at the request of my friends at work, I really do live on a boat w/o a TV!). I hope it it will work. **BTW Mom - pay no attention to the messy galley cabinet! I had put the dishes away in a hurry to do the video, it is nice and seaworthy tidy now :).----never mind can't get the video downloaded (sorry girls!!) I will try again latter.

I had a wonderful dream last night. Now I dream every night and usually they are funny and weird, many times I will wake up laughing because my dream struck me as so hysterically outrageous. But this is not one of those dreams, I wouldn't bore you with that. This was one of those "revelation" dreams (which also might be boring to you, but since this is my blog you are the hapless victims who must suffer through it:) )

Anyways, my dream...
I was at the hospital and I was comforting a patient that was having a hard time breathing. He was wearing the regulation hospital gown, sitting hunched over in a wheel chair. I had him hooked up to oxygen and his staturation was good, but he was very anxious and fearful, trying to get more air. I was whispering to him in a low soft voice "everything is ok, take nice slow breathes, you can do it, everything is ok." I was coaxing him to calm his breathing down, trying to give him my strength as I had done many times before. I had my hand on his shoulder when suddenly the patient I was comforting reached up and grasped my hand. He held it firmly and looked at me with such love. In an instant the comforter (me) became the comforted (me!). It was a magical moment, him holding my hand and me drawing strength from it. He didn't say a word just looked at me with such assurance.

I woke up at that moment, and as I stared up through my hatch out into the baby blue morning sky, the boat softy swaying, I enjoyed the beauty of it, floating.. and that beautiful moment of comfort.

I wonder if my patients know how amazing they are, how strong, how brave. I wonder if they even suspected how much I admire their courage, do they realize just how amazing they are? (May sound strange but it is an honor to be allowed a role in their battle. This isn't a new feeling, as a nurse you feel so many strong emotions, I just don't always have the clarity to understand them. Heck, I don't know if any of this makes any sense, but I just wanted to share, those people walking down the halls of the hospital, in gowns open at the back, getting tests and injections, and taking all those damn medications, it is kinda hard to describe someone so strong when they appear at their weakest, but they are mountain climbers in my eyes.

Thank God I have my boat to come home to, such a beautiful life aboard OG…God spoils me rotten. E

Look Out Look Out, Old Lady Comin Through!

Work at the hospital this week has been very exhausting, by Friday I felt like an old lady! My mom was kind enough to offer to help me with the boat projects but I just didn't have the energy for it this weekend..sigh. These are the days I wish Ocean Girl (the boat and the girl) was about twenty years younger:-). So the only project done this weekend was research and washing out the engine compartment.

I went to the SSCA meeting this Saturday, met a great group of sailors. I got a tip on a haul out facility up near Dickeson bayou called Hillmans. I am very relieved to find a place I can do my own work, most haul out yards around Clear Lake wont allow owners to do their own work. So, as soon as I get my savings back up I will haul her out and do a bottom job and replace all her T-hulls, whew will I be relieved when that is done. After haul out is done the work continues, she also needs all new standing rigging, the anchor roller with lateral bowsprit supports need to be fabricated, refrigeration installed, stove installed..I better stop listing, I am feeling like an old lady again :).

Right now I am practically obsessed with OG's ground tackle and anchor roller fabrication. I was up into the wee hours of the morning researching about it (I know, Saturday night and I am researching anchor loads and proper welding techniques? this gal needs a man!) Anyways, I spent hours and hours sifting through posts on the SSCA, Cape Dory, and Cruisers Forum (all sailing chat groups for you landlubbers out there). I also researched anchors and bow roller loads on various websites. Some samples of what I walked away with is.

1) new generation anchors are great for long scope but generally not for 2:1 (as you would see in crowded anchorages) and they like to settle before setting.

2) "off the shelf" anchor rollers wont have the strength I need if OG gets in a bad anchorage situation. I cannot always rely on a snubber to take the load, if I need to pull up or reset the anchor during a blow the anchor roller will be under tremendous strain.
** the spartan bronze roller is an exception being very strong for production made, but it will only fit one anchor at the bow and it has a metal roller which I do not like (I will see if they make a rubber roller that can fit the spartans).

3) I need a 33-35lb anchor min if New Generation, 44lb if a Manson Ray.

4) I need a min of 100ft of 5/16 chain, 200feet of line

5) I am too old and rickety to haul up 100lbs of ground tackle so I will need a windlass.

6) I think a manual windlass will be my ultimate choice due to simple/reliable design.(if I can't fix it, I can't have it aboard)

7) The kong swivel is not a good idea, will probably go with the crosby shackles that have excellent working loads and are cheaper anyways.(thanks to all the CF people for that discovery!)


I added about 11 inches of bowsprit length when I replaced the old rotten bowsprit. (I had to buy a big long plank anyways), I did this in case I needed to add J measurement to reduce the weather helm. I haven't moved the forestay yet and now will probably trim off about 4inches of the new sprit to reduce weight and get the anchor tackle load closer to the boat.

A fabricated anchor roller may allow me to fit two rollers at the bow and I could incorporate ss tubing from the end of the sprit to supports on the hull to add lateral strength to my plank style bowsprit. The only snag is my shear will not allow a strict horizontal support bar. But since the load would be lateral and downward, I think a mount that has a slight offset downward will work. If I sound like I know what I am talking about...fooled you! If you are confused - welcome to the party! I am flying by the seat of me pants, maybe that is why I am so obsessed with it, my brain is trying to figure out something but the poor thing is in way over her head (sorry for the pun:) ). In fact I think I will go dock walking and study the bowsprits again. I have been walking the docks for a few weeks now, looking at every unique anchor roller configuration for design ideas. I have been amazed how many bent, warped, broken anchor rollers there are on boats. All of the damaged rollers were "off the shelf" brands (except one), this is yet another reason I am leaning towards custom made.

Well, that is all from the exciting life aboard OG. Sorry you had to suffer through that long winded anchor stuff. I promise one day the posts will be about tropical breezes and blue water passages, but until then it is all about the refit. Hey it could be worse, at least you haven't gotten a play by play of the sanitation system replacement, oh the horror!

Cheers,
Erika

Seagulls, the lousy thugs of the sea.

Babies have arrived and they are so sweet. I am talking about the baby ducks! I feed them (and momma) when they wander over to my boat. This morning the seagulls found the clan and took off with over half of them. I just couldn't watch the carnage, I went down below and turned my radio up. My instinct was to hurl projectiles at the thugs but I know it is part of the circle of life.... Circle of life be damned! Seagulls are thugs, the stinkin vultures of the sea. Hmm, maybe I am taking this a bit hard:-) but you would too if ya saw these adorable chicks. I didn't cry over their demise...yet.

Last weekend I locked my mom down below Ocean Girl. She brought her sewing machine and couldn't come out until all my canvas whims and necessities where sewn. The list included a Companionway cover, curtains for the main salon, curtains for the forward storage nooks, two squares of canvas (2x2s and 4x4s) for general purpose, A cup holder (yes canvas cup holder, I'll take a picture when installed), and a keeper for recycled grocery bags. There was more to do but I needed a nap (she was making so much noise!) :-)

Well gotta get to work. It is kinda weird, everyday going from this quiet floating life of sunshine to the crazies of the OR with no windows. But at least there are no thugs flying away with cute little chicks...lousy thugs.

Oh Lord! It is 1 o'clock in the morning and Erika is feeling philosophical!

This morning I was thinking about the moment I decided to go back to sea, it was while I was driving to work and the song “Cool Change” came on the radio. I know that song has been played to death but I never tire of it. Anyways, this morning I was thinking about how I had locked away the ocean girl in me to go to nursing school. I had lived on boats since I was 19 and then at 35 I decided to become a nurse. However, if I wanted to go back to school I had to live on land (yuk). So ocean girl needed to sleep and it was a painful separation. I locked ocean girl away for years, and for years she slept. For years I didn't know exactly where the wind was blowing from, didn't gauge the force of the blow. For years I only noticed the rain if I was going outside, didn't worry about hurricanes, didn't own a West Marine catalog :-). Honestly as hard as nursing school was, the separation from the water was the hardest part and I don’t think I could do it again. In ‘07 I graduated from school. Funny though, the ocean girl in me stayed silent, waiting. I did catch a glimpse of her the first time I stepped into the operating room of all places. The surgeon was performing an open heart. Among the machines and instruments, the beeping of monitors and the soft voice of the surgeon as he skillfully repaired a beating heart, I had the feeling of standing on the deck of a sailboat looking out into a raging ocean. It was that same feeling of life and death, of witnessing something grand and mesmerizing, and it was also that same terrifying beauty. I even told my nurse friend about that moment of feeling as if I was offshore again, they thought it a strange connection but it made perfect sense to me. It was a sign, I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Then a few weeks later I was driving to the hospital and that song came on the radio and filled my little car with these words ..Cool Change... now that my life was so prearrange, I know that it’s time for a cool change… and I realized I had accomplish my goals, I was a nurse. The ocean girl in me had been patient long enough, she demanded my attention, and got it. Actually, a more accurate discription would be that ocean girl yelled "what the H E double L are you doing living on land and how fast can you get your butt to the ocean!". I was going back to sea!! I felt like I was released from a burden. The ocean girl in me sprang up like a genie from a bottle, joyous in her freedom, reveling in the beauty of a her dreams come back to life. Within 8 months I bought my ocean going boat and was living aboard. Whew!

Moving aboard was as much a divorce from land as it was a marriage to the sea. I don’t miss the four walls of a home, couches, paintings, or big screen TVs. I don’t miss driveways, mailboxes, doorbells or staircases. It is not a dislike of these things, it is just a lack of connection.

Now the boat, the sea, I can wax on and on about the things that give me joy while living aboard my beautiful vessel. I love the foot pump in the galley. I love the creak in the cabin sole as you step past the aft bulkhead. I love the wood, varnished and bare. I love the patina of my bronze ports, the feel of the cool fiberglass beneath my bare feet. I love my old brass anchor light, creaking lines, and the view from my bunk up into the sky. I love sailing, the thrill of surfing down a wave, the heel with the first puff of wind, the thump of the sails as they fill. I love the feel of the helm as the water flows past the rudder with an exhilarating hum. I love marinas, the rows and rows of vessels bobbing in their slips, each vessel, custom and production, unique. I love transoms and boat names, hailing ports and cleats. The long walk down the dock is a stroll through an art gallery of form and function, so many interesting designs with their tumblehomes and shears.

Obviously I am not a land girl, probably never will be. I am so very grateful that I have my sea life back, every morning I thank God for it. I am an odd duck, for some reason it is not natural for me to be on land. Don't get me wrong, land is fine and dandy, but it is not for living on and especially not for sleeping on. Yep, I am an odd duck, but a happy one.

Pampered and lovin it, Meeting My Friend (the stranger), Where de water go?

Well busy week for OG (the boat and the girl). Thursday was pamper day ahh. OG the boat, got a good hull scubbin and interior sprucing. OG the girl, got a swedish massage (say sveeedish massage). And last but not least, Tiberius (my car) got a wash and oil change. So we were quite the pampered ones on Thursday (life is so tough!)

I met my friend this weekend (aka the perfect stranger). His name is Wayne and he is cruising aboard a beautiful steel hull Bruce Roberts 50. Right now his vessel (Learnativity) is in New Zealand. I met him through my mom (long story kinda, will explain one day). Anyways, we have been emailing back and forth for a month or so and when the opportunity for him to visit the states appeared he arranged to fly into Houston for a day. We had a lot of fun talking boats and and cruising. I showed him OG and he gave me some great advice about refrigeration (he is quite the handyman). See photo of the little New Zealand lamb :)

Last night a northern hit and took all the water (see photo, that is my neighbor across the way). OG is now hard aground after bumping most the night. This is the first time we have been aground all winter. I thought spring has sprung, did old man winter get the memo?

Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone..

Not much to report here on OG. Work has come to a stand still, though the to do list has lengthened (ho hum). I have been sick since feb 24th, yes FEB 24th! I picked up some killer stomach bug from hell. I either got it from my yacht club restaurant (asparagus) or I got it from some bag lettuce. Nurses tend to wait till deaths door before going to a doctor, and since I am a nurse I had to live up to the reputation. But by day 9 I finally saw a doc who informed me that I have a stomach bug(surprise!) I am now on meds (day 3) hoping I will feel better tomorrow.

The addition to my To Do lists are
1.)Buy life jackets (forgot I threw out the old moldy ones)
2.)Get anchor onboard, they don't work very well stowed in the dock box (kinda important don't ya think?)

I really need to buy a new anchor, right now her only anchor is a 25lb plow. I like the Manson 25lb, they are made in New Zealand I believe. I will have 70 feet of 1/4 PC chain and 250 of mega plait for her rode. I posted a pic of a SS version of the new style Manson anchor. The roll bar over the top is supposed to make it self-righting. It is rated for everything (mud, rocks, sand, coral,and grassy bottom). I am trying to pick out a swivel for connecting the anchor to the chain but the SWL and BS are hard to find or inconsistent. I like the Kong swivels. When I worked for West Marine they carried the Kongs, back then they were works of art (form and function)I wonder if they still are.

Sunday:
After church my BFF Maritza came by to see the boat (and me too). Maritza and I were in college together. We had lunch at the Yacht club then went for a walk around the marina. It was great to hang out with her and catch up on all that was going on with us.

Tonight I was looking at my to do list, I have two lists:

OCEAN GIRL’S TO DO LIST TITLED “ THINGS TO DO SO OG (the boat) CAN GO SAILING WITHOUT SINKING OR BEING DISMASTED”

1. Plug hole above waterline
2. Get mast tuned (not critical but would like a pro to check the rig out since building the new bowsprit)


TO DO “SO OG (the girl) CAN HAVE A NICE SAIL” LIST

1. Organize laz and close access board to engine
2. Buy HH VHF (will be primary radio until DC system fixed)
3. Fill fuel tank
4. Secure cabin (fridge, storage containers forward)
5. Charge batteries fully, run engine (start, run 1 hour, stop, wait 3 hour, start, run 1 hour, stop wait 6 hours, start).Or buy new batteries!!!
6. Raise sails (make sure my lines are right)
7. Get jib out of storage
8. Hmmmm

SSCA Meeting Weekend

Saturday:
My mom spoke at the SSCA meeting this weekend, it was a lot of fun and she got to tell her sea stories. My friend skip came too, plus I got to catch up with some friends I haven't seen for ages (Kerry and Kevin aboard a Cape Dory 31, Mike and Cathy aboard a Cape Dory 36). Mom also got to plug her book, The Oceans Are Waiting (by Sharon Ragle).

I also had Graphics By George come by and start on OG's name, they need to remove the painted on name, buff out the stern, and apply new name.

God spoils me.

I love the water! I woke up to the sun shining into my hatch and I thought to myself how much I love this floating life. The lapping of water against the hull, the creak of the lines as my boat bobs in her slip, the windchime of hallyards softly playing. God spoils me rotten:).

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery(1900-1944)

Happy Valentine's Day

Nurses know how to party!

I went to the Houston AORN Gala and it was a blast! 300+ operating room nurses, doctors, and scrubs having a great time. BTW, I am red faced because everyone was making fun of my rather low cut dress. I didn't realize my new dress was so revealing until I saw myself in a mirror at the party (I got ready for the party in a marina bath house with a tiny mirror). I used the flowers for some uh er coverage, everyone thought that was even more halarious! I thought to myself - so this is a "wardrobe malfunction". But when these things happen ya just gotta take it in stride and get back on the horse( though the dress is getting returned). This sailor gal can play "dress up" but I couldn't wait to get back into flip flops!
Cheers,
Erika

Kayaking

Here is a shot of my neighborhood.


I haven't named the kayak yet.

Saturday, sunshine, one small cloud, and a kayak.

Well, we finally see the sun!! It is sunny, I have the boat open, and the cool breeze is ablowin. It feels like Ocean Girl's heart is beating again, but one small cloud appeared above the horizon. I am epoxing a few holes on deck and generally putzing about the boat when I see that I still have Gracie Jack's scratching post with a small cat brush hanging in the cockpit. I find it amazing that my cat has been gone for months and I am still finding her stuff about (hence the one small cloud). How do you miss a big scratching post? How did I not see her stuff before? Oh well, the mind is a weird place few should travel to. Here is a snap shot of her in her favorite spot. I miss ya Gracie Jack, you darn cat. Now I will go kayaking.
Cheers,
Erika

This picture was taken in the Gulf of Mexico. From left to right - Squeaky, Harry, Freckle face, and the acrobat boys. Do you see my reflection in the upper right taking the picture? The boat in the reflection is s/v Tigger, my parents sailed Tigger around the world.

My boat fairy...Igor

Well, I am about to get ready to go to work but thought I'd post a quick line as to not appear to of abandoned my blog at it's infancy.
Work has been crazy but that is nothing new. It is raining and I have decided that I'd like to see this winter end. I don't care that P****Phil saw his shadow (no way I can spell his name!). I am done with winter. So turn up the heat God, please. On the up side, it is nice and gusty with winds in the mid 20s. I love it when it is windy and the boat is rockin and rollin, it reminds me of being offshore.
Did I tell you I have a pet fish? His name is Igor (from Young Frankenstein). He is a big sheepshead and loves to clean my hull. The other night as I was just drifting off to sleep I heard this odd scraping sound coming through the hull, I realized it was Igor scraping the growth off the portside of OG bow - too cool! I like to joke about needing a "boat fairy" to work on the boat while I sleep, well God always answers prayers and in the most unexpected ways:). He is very camera shy but I will keep trying to get a snap shot of him (Igor not God). Also, Igor has recently met a girl sheepshead (just in time for Valentine's day). Ahhh, to hear the pitter patter of little fins about the boat..
Cheers,
Erika

Pack weekend

This weekend my project was not boat related, it was making homeless packs. Homeless packs are bags of provisions for the homeless guys that live under a bridge outside my work. I think I did pretty well and got most items on sale. I made two packs and each has about a weeks worth of food, a fleece jacket (on sale for ten bucks!!), and 10 bucks in small bills. I added some scripture (God loves them stuff) and a hygiene kit. All in all the packs are about 30 bucks each (that includes the cash).
I hope to make two packs a month on a regular basis. The trick is dropping them off without putting myself in a potentially dangerous situation but most of the guys are harmless and just need a little help. If you are interested in making homeless packs for your area here is a couple good links with recommended items and pointers on safety.
Blog written by a homeless guy great blog! scroll down to the bottom.
Packs for the homeless
Cheers,
Erika

Tap Tap Tap..is this thing on?

OK, my first post on my first blog. I should say something profound... hmmm I got nothin. Well, before I unleash my thoughts upon the universe I better make sure this thing works.
God Bless,
Erika