Sailing season has ended!

Well another season has ended. This is the last weekend that we we on the boat. Now we have to put it up on land for the winter. We'll go down next weekend to clean it out, winterize the water and the engine and take the sails and the canvas off. It was a fun season maybe just a little hard because of the rain we had. Next season we should have a jump on things. All we have to do is clean, wax and paint the boat and it's in the water, ( knock on wood! ). There are no under the waterline work that we have to do. Launch should be late April next year! There will be some chilly but fun spring sailing that we'll do.

Halloween gets scary!

Here is a house that we past this weekend. It was being attacked by a giant blow up Scary Snoopy and other fiends.

At Cape May

We spent Friday at Cape May walking around enjoying the gale force breeze. We tried to fly a kite until it was ripped out of our hands by the winds. Then we watched them try to dock the ferry. We were critiquing them docking in a 40mph wind. We ended with dinner at the luncheonette at the Lobster House.

Theater Night

Marilyn and I went out to the Philadelphia Theater Co last night. We saw Murderers. It was a good three act play. The sets were very elaborate but since it was a series of three monologues it did not need them. The actors told the story and brought you into the play. Before going to the play we had dinner at the Sansom Kabob House. I recommend the lamb kabobs and the chai tea.

Wegapalooza

I went to the Grand Opening of Wegmans in Warrington .

What a zoo! That food store chain is crazy crowded normally and the being the first day that it is open it was a nut house. It's still chock full of all the good things Wegmans is known for. And it's going to be great to get tasty bread and fresh seafood. But I'm going to have to find off hours to go!

Leaf peeping motorcycle ride.

We rode the motorcycle to the Nockamixon State Park area. The ride was beautiful. It's a crisp day and the leaves are changing color. I hope it lasts for a while longer.

Chilly

It's a little chilly today had to turn on the heat for the first time this year. It's staring to look like fall.

Frost Arrived

The first frost of the year hit. The garden is now done. We picked the last of the peppers this afternoon. Marilyn is pulling up the last of the plants now. I'll rototill the garden this afternoon and we'll plant garlic for next year.

Shadow

Finally got the bike to Fast by Farracci. The service manager said that it looked like a nice used bike. Maybe this is some vaildation for all the work that I did? I told him of the history of the bike as I knew it. He's going to do an full inspection on it and he'll let me know what it needs.

Jay in town

Marilyn saw Jay after he was finished up with convention last night. They went to Farmicia for dinner.

Sailing

Today was cold, 3ft waves and a small craft advisory no sailing today.

Jay In Town

Jay's in town for a conference at the convention center. Marilyn saw him yesterday. I've been snowed under with work and have not had a chance to see him. I think they are going to get together again today. One tip for Jay keep away from the ducks!!!!

Shadow

Well the gas tank finally arrived for Marilyn's motorcycle! I'm going to work on it tonight and with luck I'll be able to get the motorcycle working next week and to Fast by Farracci for state inspection.

Meeting the Mystic Whaler

On Sunday we went to the boat. We took off from the dock and headed out to the bay as we got there. The new rigging worked like a charm the sail went right up and we adjusted it properly. The only thing was there was no wind. Let's just say we were in no wind. Wind is a funny thing it not constant, it gusts, it changes direction and is subject to pockets. On the bay you can be in a pocket of calm air and boats all around you have full sails. Or all the boats around you are calm and you are in a full gale! We got out the pocket and sailed around all afternoon. As we were heading back to Rock Hall we saw a two masted schooner. As the bay is just not filled with two masted schooner we had to check this out. It turns out to be a Windjammer cruise operating in the Upper Chesapeake. The Mystic Whaler was running three day crusises in the area.

On Monday we went out and it was a full calm. We motored to out favorite creek and anchored for lunch. We had leftovers from the pasta dinner. The bread that Mike had brought over was especially delicious. Only two more weekend and a clean up and boating season will be over.

Pasta Time!

Mike, Meg and Jim joined us for a great dinner. The cleaning and the cooking were all successful. Marilyn and I made homemade pasta using the Urania model 150 pasta machine the Frances had given us. We were a lot better at it than we were last year. We left the noodles a little thicker and wider and floured them more so that they would not stick.

In all it was just pasta and meatballs. But putting dinner together with Marilyn and having friends over the house maked it great.

The Big Cheese

The rain did not stop me from making a run to DiBruno's House of Cheese. Neither snow nor rain nor dark of night would prevent me from my appointed rounds of getting cheese and olives for the pasta dinner tomorrow night. I got some grating cheese and some tasting cheese and an assortment of olives. On the way home I have to stop at the market to get meat and other ingredients for the gravy.

Pasta Prep

I hope the rain slows today as I want to go to DiBruno's for cheese and olives

Contacts!

Finally! I got contacts I can use! Nice an clear and no blur-outs! Still have to use reading glasses for computer work.

Politics

I really hate politics . But the elections are in a month and the forecast is that we will see hot air and bull from the politicians. Look out below!

Sailing

Woo Hoo!!! We finally had some good weather to go down to Rock Hall this weekend. There may be a problem though. I getting gas for the boat at the Shore Stop. When we left a woman came driving after us saying that we have left without paying and the woman at the store has taken out license plate number. We we went back and showed out receipt. She said I drove off with $25 of gas. "I my 5 gallon can? " I said. She had no idea what was going on. I told her my car is on "E" and I have 4 gallons I just bought in a can in my trunk. I shrugged, she shrugged I said well what now? I'll check the video taped she said. Hmmm. I've been waiting for the Rock Hall police to break down the boat door all weekend.

Anyway we got out on the boat. The new rigging got it's first real try. What I really would like is just to hoist a line and the sail to go up and hoist another on and the sail to go down and packed away. This new rigging is not it. An no rigging on my boat will ever be like that. But the modifications goes a long way to reduce the amount of work it takes to raise and lower the sail. The big thing is the lazy jacks which cradle the boom and the sails instead of letting it fall to the deck. Also we can adjust the sails pretty well from the safety of the cockpit. The wind was light and building as we went out and we controlled the sails well for the first time out with the new rig. We came in when the wind and drizzle had come up.

The sky cleared up in the late afternoon. There was first annual marina party at Spring Cove. We went after quickly whipping up a hummus dip with fixing from the boat ( no barnacles! ). We meet all the dock neighbors.

We then came home Saturday night as there was going to be rain on Sat night and Sunday.