We are stuck in Moorhead NC. On our way down the ICW we started taking on water, We called on 16 for the nearest boat yard that could haul out Kasidah. Boat US responed ASAP with a place and number which was right where we were. They were great. We did get her out of the water quickly to look for the problem. The shaft was leaking water in and lots of fiberglass material all over the place like a birds nest. The yard thinks something made its way in from the outside of the boat, they said they never saw anything like this before. We had to take the fuel tank out and they will be doing some major repair work to get her floating again.
It is cold here but I guess if I were in New York it would be colder. I don't think Christmas will be under a palm tree but maybe we can find a pine tree instead!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Oriental,NC
W
e have had an interesting week of traveling. We left Elizabeth City and crossed the Albermarle Sound, the wind was a little on the light side but that was fine, we then entered the Alligator River and went into South lake which is part of the Alligator reserve. One of the anchorage books we use said that there would be places to land the dogs in the grasses, all we could find was landings that looked like something out of “The Jungle book”. I found one spot and got out first to make sure there were no snakes or gators, trashed around a little then when I thought it was clear aloud the pups ashore. Sara wanted nothing to do with this over grown place so it did take a bit to get them to go. Jon was on the loo
kout and I was the block just incase…..
This place was so quiet and beautiful, and in the morning there was one of the most breathtaking sunrises, but we all know the old saying about that. We started the journey down Alligator river knowing a storm was coming and had to reach Pungo River or Pantego Creek before it showed it’s face. When we reached the mouth of Pantego creek the winds began to increase to around 20-25 and it was just down pouring. We decided to go to our second choice which was past Belhaven and up a small creek but by now it was down right miserable out. I decided that from the start of our trip we had not stayed at any dock which we had to pay so this seemed like a good one to do. It was quite a site. We were behind three other sailboats that did the same thing and a large trawler behind us. The sailboats went in a few minutes ahead of us and then Jon started in their channel with the wind on our beam. As soon as he could see how narrow it was and the problems the boats in front were having he looked at me and said “this is going to get ugly”, The boats in front of us were getting blown into the pilings and other boats and when Jon started to turn to make an exit he noticed the trawler was right on our ass. I said to Jon we can dock this girl ourselves just pick a spot and we will manage, as Jon started to enter a slip the dock master came over and said “no not that slip over here in this slip”, so Jon backed out and went into the slip with out any issues. About five minutes later another sailboat came in and once again the piling smashing and boat smacking began. I had all our fenders blown up and ready to deploy if necessary. That night I saw 54 a few times on our wind indicator and after midnight it was crazy around there. A few
of the boat anchored up stream pulled anchor because it was bad in the creek and came in with us.
Belhaven was a nice little town and we got to use the marinas golf cart to go cruising into town. Everyone you met ask if everything was OK and if we needed anything, we were even invited into someone’s home to see their Chr
istmas trees.
We left there and headed down some creeks and canals past the RE Mayo Co.(shrimp and fish) and notice a buck crossing a creek just in front of us so we slowed down to watch it, all of a sudden this small very fast boat pulled up between us and the buck and put two bullets into his head…..man oh man, you want to talk about sudden these guy’s killed the deer and had it in the boat and gone in about 30 seconds. Jon and I just looked at each other and said holy shit.
We made it to Oriental NC and anchored in front of the village in a very small field with a few other boats. We really like this place, everyone is very friendly and they like cruisers.
e have had an interesting week of traveling. We left Elizabeth City and crossed the Albermarle Sound, the wind was a little on the light side but that was fine, we then entered the Alligator River and went into South lake which is part of the Alligator reserve. One of the anchorage books we use said that there would be places to land the dogs in the grasses, all we could find was landings that looked like something out of “The Jungle book”. I found one spot and got out first to make sure there were no snakes or gators, trashed around a little then when I thought it was clear aloud the pups ashore. Sara wanted nothing to do with this over grown place so it did take a bit to get them to go. Jon was on the loo
kout and I was the block just incase…..This place was so quiet and beautiful, and in the morning there was one of the most breathtaking sunrises, but we all know the old saying about that. We started the journey down Alligator river knowing a storm was coming and had to reach Pungo River or Pantego Creek before it showed it’s face. When we reached the mouth of Pantego creek the winds began to increase to around 20-25 and it was just down pouring. We decided to go to our second choice which was past Belhaven and up a small creek but by now it was down right miserable out. I decided that from the start of our trip we had not stayed at any dock which we had to pay so this seemed like a good one to do. It was quite a site. We were behind three other sailboats that did the same thing and a large trawler behind us. The sailboats went in a few minutes ahead of us and then Jon started in their channel with the wind on our beam. As soon as he could see how narrow it was and the problems the boats in front were having he looked at me and said “this is going to get ugly”, The boats in front of us were getting blown into the pilings and other boats and when Jon started to turn to make an exit he noticed the trawler was right on our ass. I said to Jon we can dock this girl ourselves just pick a spot and we will manage, as Jon started to enter a slip the dock master came over and said “no not that slip over here in this slip”, so Jon backed out and went into the slip with out any issues. About five minutes later another sailboat came in and once again the piling smashing and boat smacking began. I had all our fenders blown up and ready to deploy if necessary. That night I saw 54 a few times on our wind indicator and after midnight it was crazy around there. A few
of the boat anchored up stream pulled anchor because it was bad in the creek and came in with us.Belhaven was a nice little town and we got to use the marinas golf cart to go cruising into town. Everyone you met ask if everything was OK and if we needed anything, we were even invited into someone’s home to see their Chr
istmas trees.We left there and headed down some creeks and canals past the RE Mayo Co.(shrimp and fish) and notice a buck crossing a creek just in front of us so we slowed down to watch it, all of a sudden this small very fast boat pulled up between us and the buck and put two bullets into his head…..man oh man, you want to talk about sudden these guy’s killed the deer and had it in the boat and gone in about 30 seconds. Jon and I just looked at each other and said holy shit.
We made it to Oriental NC and anchored in front of the village in a very small field with a few other boats. We really like this place, everyone is very friendly and they like cruisers.
Schyler called some friends that we had met years ago on our old boat Agapee who live here now. They came by and lent us a car for the day s
o we could go shopping and stuff. They are such nice people they even let Jim and Erin use their washer and dryer(thanks Art and Lynn that was so nice of you to do for us)). We were telling Art and Lynn about some of the other cruisers we have met and the couple from Australia came up, come to find out the boat they bought is their good friends old boat(very small world out here). We were going to leave in the morning but decided to pull up to the free dock for one more night. Jim needs to repair his roller furl and we have 
a few things to do so we are taking our time.
o we could go shopping and stuff. They are such nice people they even let Jim and Erin use their washer and dryer(thanks Art and Lynn that was so nice of you to do for us)). We were telling Art and Lynn about some of the other cruisers we have met and the couple from Australia came up, come to find out the boat they bought is their good friends old boat(very small world out here). We were going to leave in the morning but decided to pull up to the free dock for one more night. Jim needs to repair his roller furl and we have 
a few things to do so we are taking our time. If you are reading this today the 12/06 look at www.towndock.net and you can seeus at the free town dock
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Elizabeth City, NC
Well we made it out of the Deltaville boat yard on Thanksgiving morning bright and early. Those guys were wonderful to u
s and they rushed our work so we could be out quick. They were going to be off for several days so we would have been stuck if they decided not to bring Kasidah in and stay a little later that first night (thank you Chuck and all of the guys in the yard).
When we left in the morning it was like pea soup out so we were really glad for the radar, it worked awesome. We spotted a few 900ft cargo ships heading for us and lots of fishing boats. When the fog lifted we had to moto
r most of the way into Norfolk because there was nothing for wind. On our way into the bay we had a sub in front of us which was really cool to see. The battleships and other large vessels were also very impressive as we made our way to the anchorage. That night at about 3 am the wind picked up to about 30 gusting over 50 and the boat that was in front of us ended up in back of us, at that point it was lightning, hailing and down right freezing. We prepared ourselves for the weather just in case we dragged. The wind now was about 40 knots with gust up to 50. Then it started to come from one direction and then another, and then the anchor alarm went off we would drag a little then it would set, drag a little then set. The marina was right behind us and we decided we would pick up and reanchor out and away from the marina. The boat that dragged behind us picked up and left altogether. It was amazing how well we managed to reposition ourselves and how quick we had the anchor back down and twice as much out (that’s why we dragged in the first place, I should have put more out knowing there would be a storm). Jon ended up sleeping in the cockpit for the rest of the night. When we woke in the morning the other boat was gone however two other boats were next to us. Later that day we talked to several other cruisers who had broke bow lines at a dock and others who had also dragged where they were.
Friday we headed for the Dismal Swamp which is 22 miles long and at least 6 foot deep in center. We had many things come up to kiss Kasidahs bottom the whole way down the swamp. When you enter the Dismal swamp there is a lock which opens only a few times a day so you have to time everything as to get there on time and to exit it also. Robert is the Lock Master and he has been doing it for 16 years, he is very knowledgeable about the Dismal and he enjoys ent
ertaining cruisers. We
stayed that night on the swamp at the North Carolina visitor’s center. It can only hold a few boats so you raft up to each other. That night there was 7 boats. We rafted up with a couple who comes do
wn the canal from Norfolk for Thanksgiving each year. Later just before dark another 27ft sailboat showed up so we helped them raft to us. Turns out they are from Senica Lake in NY. One of the finger lakes. Small world and it's getting smaller.
We ended up on Pam and Dan’s
boat (36ft Albin Trawler) for dinner with Jim and Erin from the 27ft Catalina. Pam is a great hostess and Dan had a lot of info for Jon about cruising. I hope we meet up with them again some time or another.
We left Saturday to get to the lock by 11 which ended up just right. We will be traveling for a few nights with Jim and Erin so this will make things a little nicer having other cruisers around.
We arrived at the Town docks in Elizabeth City, NC around 15:00 and tied up with plenty of time to walk around town. Not much happening here but the people are so friendly and the docks are free of charge. There are two other boats here waiting to cross Albermarle Sound.. We are staying till Monday morning then crossing the sound.
s and they rushed our work so we could be out quick. They were going to be off for several days so we would have been stuck if they decided not to bring Kasidah in and stay a little later that first night (thank you Chuck and all of the guys in the yard).When we left in the morning it was like pea soup out so we were really glad for the radar, it worked awesome. We spotted a few 900ft cargo ships heading for us and lots of fishing boats. When the fog lifted we had to moto
r most of the way into Norfolk because there was nothing for wind. On our way into the bay we had a sub in front of us which was really cool to see. The battleships and other large vessels were also very impressive as we made our way to the anchorage. That night at about 3 am the wind picked up to about 30 gusting over 50 and the boat that was in front of us ended up in back of us, at that point it was lightning, hailing and down right freezing. We prepared ourselves for the weather just in case we dragged. The wind now was about 40 knots with gust up to 50. Then it started to come from one direction and then another, and then the anchor alarm went off we would drag a little then it would set, drag a little then set. The marina was right behind us and we decided we would pick up and reanchor out and away from the marina. The boat that dragged behind us picked up and left altogether. It was amazing how well we managed to reposition ourselves and how quick we had the anchor back down and twice as much out (that’s why we dragged in the first place, I should have put more out knowing there would be a storm). Jon ended up sleeping in the cockpit for the rest of the night. When we woke in the morning the other boat was gone however two other boats were next to us. Later that day we talked to several other cruisers who had broke bow lines at a dock and others who had also dragged where they were.Friday we headed for the Dismal Swamp which is 22 miles long and at least 6 foot deep in center. We had many things come up to kiss Kasidahs bottom the whole way down the swamp. When you enter the Dismal swamp there is a lock which opens only a few times a day so you have to time everything as to get there on time and to exit it also. Robert is the Lock Master and he has been doing it for 16 years, he is very knowledgeable about the Dismal and he enjoys ent
ertaining cruisers. We
wn the canal from Norfolk for Thanksgiving each year. Later just before dark another 27ft sailboat showed up so we helped them raft to us. Turns out they are from Senica Lake in NY. One of the finger lakes. Small world and it's getting smaller.We ended up on Pam and Dan’s
boat (36ft Albin Trawler) for dinner with Jim and Erin from the 27ft Catalina. Pam is a great hostess and Dan had a lot of info for Jon about cruising. I hope we meet up with them again some time or another.We left Saturday to get to the lock by 11 which ended up just right. We will be traveling for a few nights with Jim and Erin so this will make things a little nicer having other cruisers around.
We arrived at the Town docks in Elizabeth City, NC around 15:00 and tied up with plenty of time to walk around town. Not much happening here but the people are so friendly and the docks are free of charge. There are two other boats here waiting to cross Albermarle Sound.. We are staying till Monday morning then crossing the sound.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Out on the Chesapeake again
My new boots, nice
Well we are out of Cambridge today and it took only 40 days of wait to re-build Kasidah.
It was a real thrill to get out back out and moving today. I (Jon) was a bit worried about the boat being slower because of the added weight, and once out and moving I did notice our boat speed was down a bit, But our s.o.g. was good. Thinking that we were getting a good push from the tide we moved on. The AIS was working great, the radar was easy to read. The solar panels were pumping 6 to 7 amps into the boat. We were using more than that but that's OK. The dinghy was riding nicely after a small adjustment on the tie downs. Then the knot meter stopped working. WTF. (I get that from Bill) Well we made Solomon Islands, and set the hook by 3 PM. The dinghy was dropped into the water in 3 minutes, and Sara and Blue said thanks. Back at the boat I pulled the through hull for the tri-data and just laughed. You know this is the 2ND tri-data in the boat. the 1st one lost it's temp sensor and we had to scream and yell to get a new one before we left Cambridge. They were nice enough to give us (no charge) some RAYMARINE paint designed just for transducers. Well the crap had slid of the bottom of the transducer and wrapped itself around
the paddle wheel. I can hardly wait till tomorrow to see what it does to my real boat speed.
Tomorrow we head for Miller Creek just south of the Potomac River. It's night and I can now hear the wind generator singing to my batteries. We'll see how it does over night. A night cap and it out like a light.
Thanks to all for watching and caring. We'll get some pictures on tomorrow.Well we found our boat speed up and all was well.
Monday we were having some problems with dirty filters on the engine and we found our way to Reedville Va. on the Cockrellville Creek. We anchored in front of the Seafood Co. restaurant and walked the dogs there in the morning. The owner came by and was nice enough to bring Jon to a place to get some filters, come to found out he is the town supervisor and the town fire chief and…. The alarms went off while they were out so Jon arrived back at the boat with his wife...Ya right.
It was a real thrill to get out back out and moving today. I (Jon) was a bit worried about the boat being slower because of the added weight, and once out and moving I did notice our boat speed was down a bit, But our s.o.g. was good. Thinking that we were getting a good push from the tide we moved on. The AIS was working great, the radar was easy to read. The solar panels were pumping 6 to 7 amps into the boat. We were using more than that but that's OK. The dinghy was riding nicely after a small adjustment on the tie downs. Then the knot meter stopped working. WTF. (I get that from Bill) Well we made Solomon Islands, and set the hook by 3 PM. The dinghy was dropped into the water in 3 minutes, and Sara and Blue said thanks. Back at the boat I pulled the through hull for the tri-data and just laughed. You know this is the 2ND tri-data in the boat. the 1st one lost it's temp sensor and we had to scream and yell to get a new one before we left Cambridge. They were nice enough to give us (no charge) some RAYMARINE paint designed just for transducers. Well the crap had slid of the bottom of the transducer and wrapped itself around
the paddle wheel. I can hardly wait till tomorrow to see what it does to my real boat speed.Tomorrow we head for Miller Creek just south of the Potomac River. It's night and I can now hear the wind generator singing to my batteries. We'll see how it does over night. A night cap and it out like a light.
Thanks to all for watching and caring. We'll get some pictures on tomorrow.Well we found our boat speed up and all was well.
Monday we were having some problems with dirty filters on the engine and we found our way to Reedville Va. on the Cockrellville Creek. We anchored in front of the Seafood Co. restaurant and walked the dogs there in the morning. The owner came by and was nice enough to bring Jon to a place to get some filters, come to found out he is the town supervisor and the town fire chief and…. The alarms went off while they were out so Jon arrived back at the boat with his wife...Ya right.
We left shortly after and headed south in some heavy fog and not so nice weather but nice wind 20 25 on our stern to the Piankatank River, the rada
r works great…had a few 800 plus foot cargo ships coming at us and picked them up, plus could find out all about them with the AIS.
r works great…had a few 800 plus foot cargo ships coming at us and picked them up, plus could find out all about them with the AIS.
We were still having 
problems with the fuel and decided to call ahead to the Deltaville Marina, so here we are in Jackson creek (a little tricky to get into).
problems with the fuel and decided to call ahead to the Deltaville Marina, so here we are in Jackson creek (a little tricky to get into). Saturday, November 21, 2009
We're Off
Well, finally the day has arrive
d. We will be heading out to new l
ands and adventures first thing in the morning with our mightier Kasidah. The work that has been done to her is unbelievable. Andy’s Stainless steel work is much more than what we had hoped for. This guy is very talented and we will take our hats off and give him a bow. Mid-Sh
ore Electronics was wonderful and helped us in every way. They are some of the nicest people we have met
and worked with thus far. They also always made us feel right at home during the work on Kasidah (thank you very much for this). Here are a few photos of
the work.
Jill will be going to Amy and Jeremy’s house for the holidays.
We, on the other hand, have no idea where we will be for Thanksgiving,…but it will most definitely be further SOUTH. We’re sure there has to be a few more cruisers heading the same way as us.
Edited by Jill
d. We will be heading out to new l
ands and adventures first thing in the morning with our mightier Kasidah. The work that has been done to her is unbelievable. Andy’s Stainless steel work is much more than what we had hoped for. This guy is very talented and we will take our hats off and give him a bow. Mid-Sh
ore Electronics was wonderful and helped us in every way. They are some of the nicest people we have met
and worked with thus far. They also always made us feel right at home during the work on Kasidah (thank you very much for this). Here are a few photos ofthe work.
Jill will be going to Amy and Jeremy’s house for the holidays.
We, on the other hand, have no idea where we will be for Thanksgiving,…but it will most definitely be further SOUTH. We’re sure there has to be a few more cruisers heading the same way as us.
Edited by Jill
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wind, Rain and Lots of it
T
he stainless steel work has started to take shape on the back of Kasidah. It looks huge but hopefully wh
en finished with all the goodies and Dink will fit right in.
Jon has been busy today going over all the new items and how they should be wired, the different parts and locations of item that will be attached to the davits and of course finishing up the watermaker. He ended up using the booster pump that was bought for it to also circulate the cool water for our fridge. This was an option that we had purchased a few years ago when we replace the whole unit. Knowing that we would be in warmer climates it seemed like a good idea.
The wind has been blowing a good 20-30 all day and lots of rain. They say the next two days will be very wet and winds gusting well over 50. I will have to find things to do. Please email me or even better Skype me…..
Craig and Trish th
e other sailboat that has been here with us for the past few weeks, left yesterday to go to Annapolis to have other work done on their boat. They are from Australia and plan on sailing back at their leisure. We went to their boat to wish them well and have some wine. We gave them some crabs since we had so many, later Jon went over to see how she was doing with them and she said she couldn’t put them in the pot because they were holding each others claws(that’s cute). Trish made us a pan of Lasagna which was delicious, there was so much we had two meals from it.
he stainless steel work has started to take shape on the back of Kasidah. It looks huge but hopefully wh
en finished with all the goodies and Dink will fit right in.Jon has been busy today going over all the new items and how they should be wired, the different parts and locations of item that will be attached to the davits and of course finishing up the watermaker. He ended up using the booster pump that was bought for it to also circulate the cool water for our fridge. This was an option that we had purchased a few years ago when we replace the whole unit. Knowing that we would be in warmer climates it seemed like a good idea.
The wind has been blowing a good 20-30 all day and lots of rain. They say the next two days will be very wet and winds gusting well over 50. I will have to find things to do. Please email me or even better Skype me…..
Craig and Trish th
e other sailboat that has been here with us for the past few weeks, left yesterday to go to Annapolis to have other work done on their boat. They are from Australia and plan on sailing back at their leisure. We went to their boat to wish them well and have some wine. We gave them some crabs since we had so many, later Jon went over to see how she was doing with them and she said she couldn’t put them in the pot because they were holding each others claws(that’s cute). Trish made us a pan of Lasagna which was delicious, there was so much we had two meals from it.This is my catch 
This is from the Crab market
Once again Jon received a crap load of oysters, he will either be really sick of them when we leave or have a few good recipes so I will eat them (Sorry Laure). We have been fortunate to receiving fresh veggies from the owner here Frank, he has a garden and every few days brings us goodies, one new veggie we tried was “Bock chew” this is really good fried up with some onions, it taste like celery and spinach all in one.
I have noticed that one thing I really miss is have a washer and dryer. Not only is it expensive but you have to watch out for things that other people leave in the washers and dryers, like pens and chewing gum. yuk
This is from the Crab market
Once again Jon received a crap load of oysters, he will either be really sick of them when we leave or have a few good recipes so I will eat them (Sorry Laure). We have been fortunate to receiving fresh veggies from the owner here Frank, he has a garden and every few days brings us goodies, one new veggie we tried was “Bock chew” this is really good fried up with some onions, it taste like celery and spinach all in one.
I have noticed that one thing I really miss is have a washer and dryer. Not only is it expensive but you have to watch out for things that other people leave in the washers and dryers, like pens and chewing gum. yuk
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Getting Colder
This week has been filled with all different types of projects. We added a few solar vents to help with 
cond
ensation and bought a renewable water absorber doohickey to replace some of the ones that just fill with water (condensation) and then you throw them out.
We had the door made behind the head for the watermaker, this cost way more than we expected to have been. Jon will be doing more of this type of work if we want to stay out here.
We are working on the installation of it today so we should be able to make water before long. I sent the doggie’s paper work to the Bahamas on Monday because of course they are on “Island Time” and could take a month to get back to us.
Andy the Stainless Steel guy came on Wednesday and took all the measurements for the Davit system and will be back to do a fit Monday. We plan on being back on the water and moving some time this coming week which is a good thing because the temp is slowly dropping.
Ray invited us over to his “Ship” Copeing on Wednesday night to go over his charts and waypoints for the Bahamas, so I made a nice dinner and it ended the day off with good company and more knowledge for us to use.
Most of the Crab man have stopped crabbing for the season and started bringing in Oysters,
we ended up with a huge amount last night because one of the boats brought a large basket in for the owner of Mid-Shore and he was away for the weekend(Jon is in his glory). I bought a small crab pot and have been trying my crabbing out but every time I get a crab the little booger seems to get out as soon as I reach the surface with
the pot.
Every morning we walk the dogs down by the river where there are a few marina’s, well the night before Jon had woken to a three alarm fire and was wondering where it may have been. On this walk we found what had caused the alarm. At this one marina a large boat had caught fire and burned right to the ground. This really brings chills to our bones. We have been told that this was the third fire there this year. I smell something fishy in the air…….
cond
ensation and bought a renewable water absorber doohickey to replace some of the ones that just fill with water (condensation) and then you throw them out.We had the door made behind the head for the watermaker, this cost way more than we expected to have been. Jon will be doing more of this type of work if we want to stay out here.
We are working on the installation of it today so we should be able to make water before long. I sent the doggie’s paper work to the Bahamas on Monday because of course they are on “Island Time” and could take a month to get back to us.
Andy the Stainless Steel guy came on Wednesday and took all the measurements for the Davit system and will be back to do a fit Monday. We plan on being back on the water and moving some time this coming week which is a good thing because the temp is slowly dropping.
Ray invited us over to his “Ship” Copeing on Wednesday night to go over his charts and waypoints for the Bahamas, so I made a nice dinner and it ended the day off with good company and more knowledge for us to use.
Most of the Crab man have stopped crabbing for the season and started bringing in Oysters,
we ended up with a huge amount last night because one of the boats brought a large basket in for the owner of Mid-Shore and he was away for the weekend(Jon is in his glory). I bought a small crab pot and have been trying my crabbing out but every time I get a crab the little booger seems to get out as soon as I reach the surface with
the pot.Every morning we walk the dogs down by the river where there are a few marina’s, well the night before Jon had woken to a three alarm fire and was wondering where it may have been. On this walk we found what had caused the alarm. At this one marina a large boat had caught fire and burned right to the ground. This really brings chills to our bones. We have been told that this was the third fire there this year. I smell something fishy in the air…….
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Still waiting.......
We are still here in Cambridge, MD. waiting to have the work done on Kasidah. We decided on New custom davits, Radar with AIS-b, Wind, 2- 135 watt solar panels and possibly a ladder custom made by them(If you have used our ladder you know why we need this). We also are working on installing the watermaker behind the head in the storage area. I also changed the side panels of our canvas to clear panels so we can put them up during our trip down the ICW. We figure the weather will start to get a little chilly.
The owners 
of Mid-Shore Electronics invited us out to dinner the other night with another couple, it was a great time and we all had lots in common to talk about. The special that night was called the "Stimulus meal" it was very cheap and very good but they ran out of a few items a little early. This is Frank, Debbie, Leann and Chet (Thanks for the great night guys). Mid-Shores is suppose to be some of the best in the area to do the boat work so we are thinking the wait will be worth it(not to long if you are reading this Frank:)).
of Mid-Shore Electronics invited us out to dinner the other night with another couple, it was a great time and we all had lots in common to talk about. The special that night was called the "Stimulus meal" it was very cheap and very good but they ran out of a few items a little early. This is Frank, Debbie, Leann and Chet (Thanks for the great night guys). Mid-Shores is suppose to be some of the best in the area to do the boat work so we are thinking the wait will be worth it(not to long if you are reading this Frank:)). We just got back from getting info for the Bahamas from Ray and Susan.
They live on "Copeing" most of the time which is hull number 1. The inside is just gorgeous and you feel like your in a house and not on the water when you are inside. The engine room is almost as big as our garage was on Ryan rd. They are having fuel delivered Friday so we will have them fill us up too, the only difference is that we are getting about 15 gallon and they are getting 1500 gallons. WOW
They live on "Copeing" most of the time which is hull number 1. The inside is just gorgeous and you feel like your in a house and not on the water when you are inside. The engine room is almost as big as our garage was on Ryan rd. They are having fuel delivered Friday so we will have them fill us up too, the only difference is that we are getting about 15 gallon and they are getting 1500 gallons. WOW Saturday, October 24, 2009
Still here.....
We went to visit Jeremy and 
Amy for a few days since the weather was pretty crappy and we have a few weeks here. They have a really nice house at the end of a Lake in Dover, DE. It is very quiet in that area and yet seems to be close to everything. They have a new puppy so it was a crazy few days with four terriers running around the house.
One night we went to the seafood market and picked up a ½ bushel of crabs. They were awesome and we managed to eat all of them.
We ended up staying till Tuesday morning, this is when the weather started to warm back up and the sun has been shining since.
We have been sitting around for the last few days not doing much at all. About the only things we have done is, order some parts for the davits, put in some foot buttons for the windlass and replace the Kasidah name on our stern(Thanks Rob for the new one).
We do a lot of walking in the mornings with the dogs, the temp has been in the low 70s and if we need a car there is a company vehicle here that we can use anytime. This will make it much easier just before we leave to shop and do laundry.
Amy for a few days since the weather was pretty crappy and we have a few weeks here. They have a really nice house at the end of a Lake in Dover, DE. It is very quiet in that area and yet seems to be close to everything. They have a new puppy so it was a crazy few days with four terriers running around the house. One night we went to the seafood market and picked up a ½ bushel of crabs. They were awesome and we managed to eat all of them.
We ended up staying till Tuesday morning, this is when the weather started to warm back up and the sun has been shining since.
We have been sitting around for the last few days not doing much at all. About the only things we have done is, order some parts for the davits, put in some foot buttons for the windlass and replace the Kasidah name on our stern(Thanks Rob for the new one).
We do a lot of walking in the mornings with the dogs, the temp has been in the low 70s and if we need a car there is a company vehicle here that we can use anytime. This will make it much easier just before we leave to shop and do laundry.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Cambridge,MD
We left Annapolis
and headed about 40 miles south east on the bay to Choptank River. We headed east up the river about two hours to Cambridge,MD. It was very cold on the water so Jon stayed at the helm most of the trip. The first night we stayed at a free wall in front of the Cambridge County office buildings. When we first pulled up Jon went very slow just in case it was to shallow.At that point on the wall at low tide we did touch ever so lightly so Jon backed off and went all the way to the other side of the wall, which was in 8 ft of water. The next morning we scouted out the area and found the shop we were looking for to have some work done on the stern. The shop was just inside of a draw bridge and we would be backing Kasidah up between pilings. This would be the first time this trip we would call for the opening of a draw bridge and tieing to pilings(been there, done it) . These guys are so nice here. The shop is Mid-Shore Electronics and they can arrange for all kinds of work. We are waiting for the Stainless Steel guy to see if he can get the type of stainless for the stern to custom fab our davits...ect for us in a short time. If he can, we figure we will be here till the first part of November. If he can't get it in a reasonable time than we will be leaving this friday for warmer weather. This has been our plan all along so hopefully it all works out.
and headed about 40 miles south east on the bay to Choptank River. We headed east up the river about two hours to Cambridge,MD. It was very cold on the water so Jon stayed at the helm most of the trip. The first night we stayed at a free wall in front of the Cambridge County office buildings. When we first pulled up Jon went very slow just in case it was to shallow.At that point on the wall at low tide we did touch ever so lightly so Jon backed off and went all the way to the other side of the wall, which was in 8 ft of water. The next morning we scouted out the area and found the shop we were looking for to have some work done on the stern. The shop was just inside of a draw bridge and we would be backing Kasidah up between pilings. This would be the first time this trip we would call for the opening of a draw bridge and tieing to pilings(been there, done it) . These guys are so nice here. The shop is Mid-Shore Electronics and they can arrange for all kinds of work. We are waiting for the Stainless Steel guy to see if he can get the type of stainless for the stern to custom fab our davits...ect for us in a short time. If he can, we figure we will be here till the first part of November. If he can't get it in a reasonable time than we will be leaving this friday for warmer weather. This has been our plan all along so hopefully it all works out. 
In the next slip over is a crab boat, So I went over to talk to Scott the owner about crabbing and all that stuff. he said that the bait of the week is cow lips ...Yum Yum. He was telling us that with the weather getting cold the females start to head south to about Virgina or so till spring and then it will pick back up here. He will stop crabbing and start to fish and drag for oysters over the winter months. Scott has been doing this since he graduated from school and said he loves his work and could'nt see doing anything else.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Fun at the Boat Show
Wednesday our friends Schyler and Laurie from Skaneateles,NY came to work the boat show and to stay with us for a couple days. We had a great time walking the boat show with them. They had a truck for us to use so we went shopping and picked up some gas and water. They also brought us all kinds of goodies which we could really use(wine,beer).Thursday we went to the boat show and meet a few people that we know from New York and from the Blogs that we watch.
We were able to get into the show thanks to Andy and Carole owners of KTI which make the Filter Boss, we installed one on the boat when we first bought her. The filter boss is an awesome part of Kasidah and we would recommend it to anyone with a diesel engine (Thanks guys for the tickets).
Laurie and I just had to go see Bob Bitchin of Lats & Atts Magazine. This is 
the only sailing magazine we ever subscribed to. If you have never read a copy you should really pick one up and read it you will be hooked like us.
the only sailing magazine we ever subscribed to. If you have never read a copy you should really pick one up and read it you will be hooked like us.It’s amazing how small the world really is when you start seeing people you know from different places or even from the internet. We were checking a boat out that Skyler and Laurie would like to purchase and while boarding I heard a mans voice that I just knew was Jim from Kismit and sure enough it was him, then we went into a boat store to try on some shoes and I was 
talking to a lady who I said to Jon “This is really weird but I think that’s Christy from Veranda” and sure enough when she came back I was right on the nose. They are a couple that are cruising just like us but have been out there for a few years. We only knew them through the blogs till now.
After Fridays show we meet up with Dick and Ann and they invited us to a locals pub to have drinks and dinner with a whole crowd of people that once lived in New York. This was a great time and the food was fantastic.
Saturday Skyler and Laurie departed for home and we took care of a few things on the boat before heading in to the Bash at the Eastport Yacht
club.
Jon and I purchased a Honda 2000 generator, an Engel Frig-Freezer and Headsets that we can wear hands free to communicate on deck.
talking to a lady who I said to Jon “This is really weird but I think that’s Christy from Veranda” and sure enough when she came back I was right on the nose. They are a couple that are cruising just like us but have been out there for a few years. We only knew them through the blogs till now.
After Fridays show we meet up with Dick and Ann and they invited us to a locals pub to have drinks and dinner with a whole crowd of people that once lived in New York. This was a great time and the food was fantastic.
Saturday Skyler and Laurie departed for home and we took care of a few things on the boat before heading in to the Bash at the Eastport Yacht
club.
Jon and I purchased a Honda 2000 generator, an Engel Frig-Freezer and Headsets that we can wear hands free to communicate on deck.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
We finally made it.....
Cape May was a good place to stop and rest for a day. Some other cruisers we meet up north came in and rented a slip for 2.75 a foot and were just going to stay one night than move over to the anchoring area with us. Well when the tide went out they were on bottom and could not leave, they had to pay for another night. I am sorry but that seems like it should be a no charge night since they can’t leave…..
We went over to visit and had a glass of wine with them.
We went over to visit and had a glass of wine with them.
This is Tom and Maureen. Tom is a dentist and Maureen is an O. R. nurse so this is good company to be traveling with.
The night before departing from Cape May we stopped into town at the Lobster House with Dink to pick up some fresh seafood. This place had everything….. I went for the Large shrimp, ½ dozen oysters, seafood pasta, cucumber salad and some onion poppy bread, total bill with tip $21.25. Everything was awesome.
On our last night walk with the dogs Sara found this huge crab and cornered it. The crab was defending itself by showing its claws and Sara had know idea what to thi
nk of it. I finally broke it up and let the crab go on its way (next one won’t be that lucky or maybe Sara won’t be….).
We left Cape May at Sunrise and headed out the Cape May canal which has 7.5 ft. and two bridges 55ft high, we measured a few times just to make sure we could fit(51ft Kasidah is). Then we headed up the Delaware Bay with the current in our favor. What a nice day we had. We started off Sailing but then the wind died so we had to motor sail and then motor. The temp was around 75 to 80 and all our outer wear started to come off. This is what I have been waiting for. All the way down it has been none stop things to do places to get to and always with some type of weather. Now today was great, Ya I know the sailing was not that great but we are use to sailing in cold crappy weather so this was fine not to sail for a day and have some w
onderful weather.
We made our way up the Delaware Bay to the Cohansey River to anchor for the night. Tom and Maureen came in just before us. This river has so many turns in it that you think you may be at the end and another turn comes up. We anchored around the first corner just inside the cut. We went up the river with dink to get Gas, Diesel and some water. We found a nice little marina that had all we needed and moreJ. They also had this huge thing that looked like a UFO.
Bright and early we left for the C&D canal. We were able to sail most of the way up the Bay but when we got to the canal sailing is not permitted so motoring was the way for the 14 mile canal trip. It was Sunday and pretty quiet till we reached about the half way point and then there were so many power boats racing by us in all directions, every boat looked to have full capacity. Once on the Chesapeake we decided to anchor in the Sassafras River and finish off down the Chesapeake in the morning to Annapolis which is the first long stop on our journey.
We woke up at sunrise to walk the dogs and get Kasidah ready for the day. At the beach we did notice lots of horse tracks and where turtles had come up to lay eggs or something. Sara and Blue ran around for a few minutes before we made our way back to the boat.
We were able to sail all the way to Annapolis which was a lot of fun except dodging all the crab pot markers(that’s a real challenge).
Annapolis came quick, I called the Harbormaster(thanks to S/V Veranda) for a little info on the mooring balls and anchorage and he said moorings were all taken up at that point and to anchor would be tight so we decided to head one creek up from Spa Creek to a very quiet place called Weems creek. We went in with S/V Ozy to see what we could find and the anchorage was fine no problems for both of us to find a spot. We just happened to see some people on S/V Summer Dream which we meet on the Erie Canal so that was very cool
.
Weems creek is a little out of the spot light of the boat show but they have trolleys that will take us there and if we choose to walk it is only about 20 minute or less.
The second day we took Dink out and around to Spa creek to scope the anchorage out. We did see a few places that we could squeeze into but we decided for now we would stay put in Weems creek.
The night before departing from Cape May we stopped into town at the Lobster House with Dink to pick up some fresh seafood. This place had everything….. I went for the Large shrimp, ½ dozen oysters, seafood pasta, cucumber salad and some onion poppy bread, total bill with tip $21.25. Everything was awesome.
On our last night walk with the dogs Sara found this huge crab and cornered it. The crab was defending itself by showing its claws and Sara had know idea what to thi
nk of it. I finally broke it up and let the crab go on its way (next one won’t be that lucky or maybe Sara won’t be….).We left Cape May at Sunrise and headed out the Cape May canal which has 7.5 ft. and two bridges 55ft high, we measured a few times just to make sure we could fit(51ft Kasidah is). Then we headed up the Delaware Bay with the current in our favor. What a nice day we had. We started off Sailing but then the wind died so we had to motor sail and then motor. The temp was around 75 to 80 and all our outer wear started to come off. This is what I have been waiting for. All the way down it has been none stop things to do places to get to and always with some type of weather. Now today was great, Ya I know the sailing was not that great but we are use to sailing in cold crappy weather so this was fine not to sail for a day and have some w
onderful weather.We made our way up the Delaware Bay to the Cohansey River to anchor for the night. Tom and Maureen came in just before us. This river has so many turns in it that you think you may be at the end and another turn comes up. We anchored around the first corner just inside the cut. We went up the river with dink to get Gas, Diesel and some water. We found a nice little marina that had all we needed and moreJ. They also had this huge thing that looked like a UFO.
Bright and early we left for the C&D canal. We were able to sail most of the way up the Bay but when we got to the canal sailing is not permitted so motoring was the way for the 14 mile canal trip. It was Sunday and pretty quiet till we reached about the half way point and then there were so many power boats racing by us in all directions, every boat looked to have full capacity. Once on the Chesapeake we decided to anchor in the Sassafras River and finish off down the Chesapeake in the morning to Annapolis which is the first long stop on our journey.We woke up at sunrise to walk the dogs and get Kasidah ready for the day. At the beach we did notice lots of horse tracks and where turtles had come up to lay eggs or something. Sara and Blue ran around for a few minutes before we made our way back to the boat.
We were able to sail all the way to Annapolis which was a lot of fun except dodging all the crab pot markers(that’s a real challenge).
Annapolis came quick, I called the Harbormaster(thanks to S/V Veranda) for a little info on the mooring balls and anchorage and he said moorings were all taken up at that point and to anchor would be tight so we decided to head one creek up from Spa Creek to a very quiet place called Weems creek. We went in with S/V Ozy to see what we could find and the anchorage was fine no problems for both of us to find a spot. We just happened to see some people on S/V Summer Dream which we meet on the Erie Canal so that was very cool
.Weems creek is a little out of the spot light of the boat show but they have trolleys that will take us there and if we choose to walk it is only about 20 minute or less.
The second day we took Dink out and around to Spa creek to scope the anchorage out. We did see a few places that we could squeeze into but we decided for now we would stay put in Weems creek.
As we were going by the city mooring balls Jon happened to pick out S.JPG)
/V Kismit, they are friends of Dick and Ann and are from Sodus NY. They were not on the boat but we left them out card. We picked up 15 gallons of water and found out that if we need a pump out they will come to us so this makes things a little easier.
.JPG)
/V Kismit, they are friends of Dick and Ann and are from Sodus NY. They were not on the boat but we left them out card. We picked up 15 gallons of water and found out that if we need a pump out they will come to us so this makes things a little easier. Friday, October 2, 2009
Cape May, NJ
We h
ad a great time in Atlantic Highlands while waiting for the weather to be in our favor. On the last day we were visiting other cruisers on their boat and some weather was coming our way, so we finished our drinks 
and headed back to Kasidah in our dinghy. Well needless to say we got caught in 35 mph winds and biting rain drops. As we made our way down wind to Kasidah, Jon commented that we had the small 4.5 hp outboard on the dinghy and I had one chance to wrap the line around a cleat on Kasidah or we would fly right passed her and have to beach “dink” till the weather ended. Well that went as smooth as could be and we boarded Kasidah as wet as if we had been under a water hose for an hour. All we could do was laugh as hard as we could and strip the wet clothes off. At least four boats anchored with us were dragging all over the place. LOVE our new Anchor and All Chain!
We left first thing in the morning and headed out into the Atlantic for a 54 mile trip down the coast to
Barnegat’s inlet for the night. We saw so many boats heading south and commented that we never sailed with so many boats before at the same time. It was a perfect sail with west wind 15 to 20 knots all day. Barnegat’s inlet was a little tricky and all NOAA maps showed only 4.5 feet and of course we draw 6, but everyone we talked to said it was much deeper than that. Jon ended up calling the Coast guard and Tow Boat US to ask if there was more water than the 4.5 feet. The Coast Guard told Jon her could not say what he saw but he could read what NOAA charts had on them. Jon explained that we knew that already and that we would not hold him responsible if we grounded. The young gentlemen said to Jon “Well I can’t tell you the real depth but I can tell youit is closer to 20 feet than 4.5 but I can’t really tell you anything other than that”. Jon thanked him for the info. Now Boat US gave Jon just about every little thing you could possibly want to know about going into an unfamiliar inlet. (Thanks to all for that information). The anchorage was just about filled but we managed to find a place near a nice little beach to let the dogs run around for an hour or so.
We left Barnegat’s bright and early for Cape May which would be a 67 mile trip.
The wind was supposed to be out of the W-NW 5 to 10 so we figured we would motor sail most of the day. Well half way down the wind went from 10 to 25 gusting 30 and out of the south. It was a challenge but we have seen worst on Ontario. We made Cape May about 1800 hours and had just enough time to find a place in the already crowded anchorage field and walk the dogs before dark. We decided to stay here two nights and head up the Delaware Bay on Saturday when the current will be more in our favor, and we’ll be more rested.
ad a great time in Atlantic Highlands while waiting for the weather to be in our favor. On the last day we were visiting other cruisers on their boat and some weather was coming our way, so we finished our drinks 
and headed back to Kasidah in our dinghy. Well needless to say we got caught in 35 mph winds and biting rain drops. As we made our way down wind to Kasidah, Jon commented that we had the small 4.5 hp outboard on the dinghy and I had one chance to wrap the line around a cleat on Kasidah or we would fly right passed her and have to beach “dink” till the weather ended. Well that went as smooth as could be and we boarded Kasidah as wet as if we had been under a water hose for an hour. All we could do was laugh as hard as we could and strip the wet clothes off. At least four boats anchored with us were dragging all over the place. LOVE our new Anchor and All Chain!We left first thing in the morning and headed out into the Atlantic for a 54 mile trip down the coast to
Barnegat’s inlet for the night. We saw so many boats heading south and commented that we never sailed with so many boats before at the same time. It was a perfect sail with west wind 15 to 20 knots all day. Barnegat’s inlet was a little tricky and all NOAA maps showed only 4.5 feet and of course we draw 6, but everyone we talked to said it was much deeper than that. Jon ended up calling the Coast guard and Tow Boat US to ask if there was more water than the 4.5 feet. The Coast Guard told Jon her could not say what he saw but he could read what NOAA charts had on them. Jon explained that we knew that already and that we would not hold him responsible if we grounded. The young gentlemen said to Jon “Well I can’t tell you the real depth but I can tell youit is closer to 20 feet than 4.5 but I can’t really tell you anything other than that”. Jon thanked him for the info. Now Boat US gave Jon just about every little thing you could possibly want to know about going into an unfamiliar inlet. (Thanks to all for that information). The anchorage was just about filled but we managed to find a place near a nice little beach to let the dogs run around for an hour or so.
We left Barnegat’s bright and early for Cape May which would be a 67 mile trip.
The wind was supposed to be out of the W-NW 5 to 10 so we figured we would motor sail most of the day. Well half way down the wind went from 10 to 25 gusting 30 and out of the south. It was a challenge but we have seen worst on Ontario. We made Cape May about 1800 hours and had just enough time to find a place in the already crowded anchorage field and walk the dogs before dark. We decided to stay here two nights and head up the Delaware Bay on Saturday when the current will be more in our favor, and we’ll be more rested.Thursday, October 1, 2009
Getting into our new life.
As we had traveled across the Erie Canal, and thru the locks, sometimes you could see where the original canal is running next to the present one. Settings where huge homes overlook the canal can’t help but fill your mind with thoughts of history. Down the Hudson one senses the history of what once was. Majestic homes, towns, and areas on both sides overlooking the river all scream with the past, maybe I’m a little bite envious of a time gone by. I like to think of those times and envision what it was that drove these people of that time to create what they did. I put myself into that time and think about the opportunities that there were to furnish, prosper and profit. Then it hit me. PROFIT! Those evil people wanting to profit, prosper, and advance themselves, THAT was the driving force of what created the greatest nation in modern history. It is the one of the major differences between then and now. Those people lived and worked their whole lives to build as much wealth as they could during their lives, Build, Build, and Build. Build so they could pass it onto their children, and there was no one in their way. There was no retirement to look forward to, you worked to survive. You had your family and they all worked together. The harder you worked the more wealth that your family could acquirer and create, the better off your next generation would be and the further they could go in life, and the easier it would have been on the older generation. I see some of these Castles that where built from the PROFIT of their hard work and envision the commitment, sacrifice, and (this is going to be the hard part for most people to believe in) the people that they brought along with them. I believe they created more good people, more wealth, and took care of more people than is truly given credit to. More people had been taken care of by those means, yes the profit side of it, than the Government could have ever done. Basically, profit and their believe in God, returning what they could drove people to take care of people like we don’t do today, don’t you think.
Today it seems we only worry about too much profit. If somebody makes too much money then somebody else must be poorer. WRONG. We also aren’t as worried about our, children or parents. We only need to enjoy life to the fullest. “If you can’t be, with the one you love; Love the one you’re with”. Our Government will take care of you. And if enough care isn’t being handed out, vote for me and I’ll give you what you need and more, I’ll take it from the guy next door who works his fingers to a bone, He has more than he needs, and you need more than you have.
These are just my rambling thoughts, I could be wrong, but ,.............
Today it seems we only worry about too much profit. If somebody makes too much money then somebody else must be poorer. WRONG. We also aren’t as worried about our, children or parents. We only need to enjoy life to the fullest. “If you can’t be, with the one you love; Love the one you’re with”. Our Government will take care of you. And if enough care isn’t being handed out, vote for me and I’ll give you what you need and more, I’ll take it from the guy next door who works his fingers to a bone, He has more than he needs, and you need more than you have.
These are just my rambling thoughts, I could be wrong, but ,.............
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Waiting for the Weather
We decided to go right to Sandy Hook, NJ and skip NYC. We tried to motorsail but the wind was on our back all the was to Sandy Hook. There was small craft advisories issued, but I didn't think it was that bad compared to some Lake sailing we've done.
On our way into Sandy Hook we notice tons of Fishing trap markers which you really need to stay away from.
We decided to grab a mooring ball at Atlantic Highlands which includes free water taxi till midnight. There is a small hip town within walking distance with a Laundry mat, food store and lots of little Bistros. It is a very nice summer vacation town which is starting to close down for the winter. We have been finishing up some projects which I am sure will never end, but seem to be getting easier.
Dick and Ann from S/V Grey Hound gave us a bottle of Champagne to toast to the first new place we made 
it to so we popped the cork(Thanks Guys). We are going to stay one more night on the mooring and then anchor for the next night or two before doing our 30 hour sail down to Cape May. I was hoping maybe to have someone else do this part instead of me because of the dogs. I am afraid that Sara may hold it and not go on the boat for the whole time, which would not be good. We had no takers so we will just deal with it. Our weather opening looks to be Tuesday or Wednesday and it looks pretty good for sailing the whole way. The people we meet on S/V Tocorora will be here Monday and it sounds like his wife and kids will take a train down to Cape May and he will solo this part without them. We will sail with him till he pulls into a cut that he can pick up the NJ ICW. We draw way to much for this part and are just headed all the way to Cape May's deeper water. This will put us closer to Annapolis and there might still be a chance to make the boat show. But we aren't putting any push on for a time frame. It's just not worth it.
it to so we popped the cork(Thanks Guys). We are going to stay one more night on the mooring and then anchor for the next night or two before doing our 30 hour sail down to Cape May. I was hoping maybe to have someone else do this part instead of me because of the dogs. I am afraid that Sara may hold it and not go on the boat for the whole time, which would not be good. We had no takers so we will just deal with it. Our weather opening looks to be Tuesday or Wednesday and it looks pretty good for sailing the whole way. The people we meet on S/V Tocorora will be here Monday and it sounds like his wife and kids will take a train down to Cape May and he will solo this part without them. We will sail with him till he pulls into a cut that he can pick up the NJ ICW. We draw way to much for this part and are just headed all the way to Cape May's deeper water. This will put us closer to Annapolis and there might still be a chance to make the boat show. But we aren't putting any push on for a time frame. It's just not worth it. Thursday, September 24, 2009
Skipping down the Hudson
Jon and I have been trying to get used to this lifestyle of waking up, getting Kasidah shipshape, and heading for the next town or small quiet cove to lay her anchor. Then of course there are many issues we need to deal with. The biggest has been the computers not working right. These computers are only 6 months old and one thing after another has gone wrong with both of them, I think it is more the software than the computers. Well both are running so so for now.
Once again I would like to say how much we thank everyone that came over to wish us well, we love you guys and want to let you know it made our departure bittersweet. Now we have ate all the dinner leftovers, drank all the liquor, spent most of the money but still have some wool socks to wear and if we can only find a West Marine that will be used also:).
We Left Waterford after a days rest and some early morning fog. Headed down the Hudson for Castleton where the mast would go up. After the last lock (YAHOO) just around Albany and just before a big bridge a Sheriffs boat powers up to us and says "Put it in neutral Captain!" "Stay here and wait, President Obama might go over this bridge, You 'll be an hour!" You got to be kidding, I said, NO Sir he said. My last suggestion was " How about you board me, Search Me and then Escort Me under the bridge?" "Sir?" "WAIT HERE!!!" ok . They let us by about 45 minutes later and then we did see Air Force one taking off. When we got to Castleton they had the daily newspaper which on page one showed a picture of a C-5 air plane (Amy is flying this plane too) with the Precedent's motorcade being unloaded. Cool.
We made it to Castleton on Hudson where Jon and Adrian from s/v Tocorura stepped our two mast in about 4 hours. We spent the night there and the next day over stayed our welcome to get the mustache off Kasidah and get her looking awesome and ship shape. We left there around 1500 hours and headed 3 hours down to Coxesake were there is a free town dock. I think it is just day time use but no one cares. This town is so dead that within 5 minute anyone that did live there knew we landed. We had people offer us their washer and dryer, A ride to a near store and any help that we might need during the night......Then the Mayor came down and gave us the key to the Village, ... Not really he just came to help cast us off...
We left there bright and early and were going to stop at a restaurant with free docks at the Hudson bridge for one night but it was only 1400 so we decided to move on and we would go till 1800 hours to an anchorage that was behind Pollepel Island which has the ruins of Bannerman Castle on it. Going in we had t
o go a 1/4 mile south than hug the shore in 8 ft of water all the way in till it opened up to about 20ft. We put two anchors out so as to not swing to much. Blue and Sara had only a small area to use on land to do their thing but did not like it at all, We finally got Sara to go but Blue would not even think about it. In the morning Blue had to go so bad she went on the deck so we gave her treats and really made a big deal of it. Sara would not go and just looked at us. We decided to stop at a Store that had a dock you could get to and let them walk but on the way in the 10 ft channel we get stuck in 5ft under the boat. Kasidah managed to get us out of it with out a problem. Thank you Kasidah....
We headed out this morning with thoughts of making the 79th street marina and take a mooring ball but when we called the guy said they were all filled and could not guarantee one would be there. We decided to make an early day and head to
Haverstraw bay to anchor and do more projects on the boat, they have a great state park to walk the dogs and they can really use that. We will pass up on New York and head right for Sandy Hook in the morning.
We left there bright and early and were going to stop at a restaurant with free docks at the Hudson bridge for one night but it was only 1400 so we decided to move on and we would go till 1800 hours to an anchorage that was behind Pollepel Island which has the ruins of Bannerman Castle on it. Going in we had t
o go a 1/4 mile south than hug the shore in 8 ft of water all the way in till it opened up to about 20ft. We put two anchors out so as to not swing to much. Blue and Sara had only a small area to use on land to do their thing but did not like it at all, We finally got Sara to go but Blue would not even think about it. In the morning Blue had to go so bad she went on the deck so we gave her treats and really made a big deal of it. Sara would not go and just looked at us. We decided to stop at a Store that had a dock you could get to and let them walk but on the way in the 10 ft channel we get stuck in 5ft under the boat. Kasidah managed to get us out of it with out a problem. Thank you Kasidah....We headed out this morning with thoughts of making the 79th street marina and take a mooring ball but when we called the guy said they were all filled and could not guarantee one would be there. We decided to make an early day and head to
Haverstraw bay to anchor and do more projects on the boat, they have a great state park to walk the dogs and they can really use that. We will pass up on New York and head right for Sandy Hook in the morning.Sunday, September 20, 2009
Casting off and Underway
9/20/09 Sunday at Waterford, NY town dock
Well! This is a long overdue post.
Arline's computer has been acting up latley so we havn't been keeping you guys up dated :'(. Well here is a long over view of notes that we have been taking over the last week.
Plases take a look at all of our photos we have been taking. Leave us Comments!
Enjoy
~Libbys
9/07/09 Monday
Leaving
After our week long shake down cruise and a list of things to do on the boat, it’s Monday night after the long labor day weekend; leaving is with in sight.
We had a quick repair job done on the stern of the boat that we had been planning on pretty much since we built the boat but had been putting it off until our latest cruise left us with no options. Clint, from Water Craft, did the repair and structural additions. We think the boat had been hit in the stern and someone's bad quick fix proved to be the weak
point.
Man these guys can do glass work like champs! From now on if we need a tow using the stern as my pull point! Thanks Clint for doing the work so quick and great.
We had a busy weekend with a party here at the marina, great weather, many friends, and the fact that plans are going well for our departure (Which should be soon).
We saw our interview in “Living Aboard”, and have our copy! It's so calming right now, Arline and I are the only ones in the Marina, its dead calm, full moon rising over the stern of the boat. We’re so happy for many reasons: Jill is off to a great last semester at school with lots to look forward to while Amy and Jeremy are together in their new home in Dover now that she is done with some final training (I hope they showed her the Vulcan Death Grip). So I’m thinking “I want some cranking tunes man!” hahaha, but really, life couldn't get any better than this!
We’re sad that no one else is here to enjoy this wonderful evening. Many people have been bidding us fair well on our voyage, like they’ll never see us again! So it’s starting to be quite a roller coaster ride of emotions. The funny thing is that its just like any other end of boating season that we say goodbye! We wouldn’t see each other all winter, maybe see them on a random passing, but other than that we wouldn't see them untill next spring anyways. Since we are planning on being back here at the marina next spring the only difference is that we arn't leaving our boat. In the near future we will be even closer (geographicly) to my mom and dad and Amy and Jeremy. We are already planning on times to go visit them!
I have to admit that I’m very afraid it could all go bad. I’m afraid of a little bad becuase there is so much good in our journey thus far. There’s so many things to do on the boat and on land, I’m afraid we won’t even be ready next Monday, Tuesday Wednesday or even Thursday. But we’re going, and we’ll figure it out on our way, and if not, “We’ll just pull in some place and ask!”
9/13/09 Sunday
Ready To Go
Well the mast is down and on the boat; most things are packed on the boat and only a few things are left to do. Everything is starting wind down, but we were lucky that both Amy and Jill came to visit over the weekend. Amy and Jeremy came to pick up their Subaru to take it to Dover. They could only stay a short visit before heading back home, they were also shopping for a new dog on the way home and had to be back on Sunday. Jill and Ryan crossed their paths for about 5 minutes. Ryan is Jill’s new boyfriend but they had known each other all through school in Tully. This was, howver, our first time meeting him. It was nice to see the two of them together, having fun and enjoying the day with us.
Thanks Jill!
Many people have been coming by and saying fairwell. They come bearing gifts of: wine, cards, lotto tickets (we lost), wool socks, we can’t say thank you enough to all of you for thinking and caring about us. It really means alot to us as we make our way out!
It is a short 2 – 3 hour trip from Fair Haven to Oswego, where the canal begins. It would be nothing if we were sailing it, but with the mast on the deck we’re mindful of the weather that Lake Ontario can throw at us since the boat would be more like a cork on the water and be very rolley. Dick and Ann, on Grey Hound, have returned from a long trip to Canada, we’ve listened to the weather together and they tell us “Just Leave. We’ll bring you anything that comes UPS, to your next port of call. Just Leave on the morning calm!” However, Arline is the safety officer on board and all things must pass her for final inspection. Of course I would never try to move this boat in anything that would hurt it or anybody on board, I'm just stating the obvious...
Earlier today (Sunday) as I was re-working stuff on the mast and just getting ready to go, I was listening to some of my favorite music from “The Sim Redmond Band” and his solo CD “Wishing Well” The whole CD is a love theme. But you MUST listen to track 10 “Solitude in You”, the words of this song, today, really struck a cord with me as I think about what Arline and I are about to do. Where we are about to go and what it is that we will face. Here are a few words from that song;
“Let’s not stop till we get to the top,
Look around; See what we’ve found,
It might not be the here next time we come,
We might be older before it’s all over,
We better follow our hearts back to the start;
We better find what’s true
Don’t you know that’s what love can do,
I find my solitude in you,
I find my solitude in you,”
Thanks Sim for bringing to us.
Simredmondband.com
9/14/09 Monday
Well, the weather said for Tuesday and Wednesday that it would be 20 knots from the north. However, Monday morning had winds at 10 knts from the south turning west by late morning, so we packed it all in and left Monday as planned! We cut the lines a little later than we would have liked, but got out just before 10 AM. Dick and Ann helped cast us off and saw us through the channel. WE WERE OFF!!
Once out on Lake Ontario, we saw that the winds had already shifted west and were blowing about 10 -15 with some white caps. The waves were still rolling in from the north which was making the boat really move around. Arline was a wreck and I was a little bit nerves about the mast, so I threw the boat into some big waves and swells to see if the mast was going to move. If I was going to turn back I wanted to turn back in the 1st mile, not after 5 miles. Well the mast didn’t move and we made Oswego in about 2 hours. There, we topped off our fuel and happened so see a couple of other sailboats waiting to un-step their mast. They said there is now a 2 day wait for them to be done. So, we handed out Fair Point Marina Flyers for next year.
Sorry Jerry, we’re going to have a busy spring and fall, we couldn't help it....
Tim: I’m going to need more flyers when you come to visit!!
After talking for sometime we pushed off with our mast on deck and made Fulton for the night. Schyler and Laurie came to see us, Mitch and Jackie came, and Mark from last year came too. Some of us went to dinner and had a great night. Thanks guys you’re the best.
But of course we couldn’t have cast off without our new dear friends at Fair Point Marina, ALL OF YOU!!! Jerry’s help and friendship was like having a new family member. Fair Point Marina was indeed the right place for us to prepare Kasidah for this trip and life. We can’t thank everyone enough who came to see what the hell we were doing this weekend, or offer a meal, drink, campfire with guitar and Somores. Tim you have created a very special place and we will miss it till we come back. We will tell everybody about it. Does that make it a business write off?
9/15/09 Tuesday
We cast of from Fulton about 10am and had nothing but smooth motoring we will be docked in Brewerton this evening. Dick and Ann brought us our AT&T air card and Defender order. But more important that that they brought us Pizza and Wings from Twin Trees, (Nothing but but best from our friends)
Thanks.
We stopped at ESS-KAY boat yard to say hi and buy a few things for our to do list. They have a great store there with lots of well organized parts. I found parts for the spreader lights and a couple of other small items needed. Make it a point to stop and say hi to Kim.
9/16/09 Wednesday
Today was a lo
ng day with a lot of strange things that happened. We got up early to cross Oneida Lake which was a 3 hour trip. A retired couple from “Tom Cat” a 36 ft trawler, helped push us off the wall. We sat with them the night before at the dock in Brewerton and talked before Dick and Ann came. The lake was a bit foggy and beautiful; picking our way across was easy. We made Sylvan Beach and spotted a small boat with kids that we had been told about. The couple, in their late 20’s, Adrienne and Sara who have a 5 year old and a 5 week old. They are on their way to Florida for a year, or more, of cruising with no real destination in mind. I think we’ll be seeing a lot of them. Then “Tom Cat” pulled in and we helped them tie off. As they got off they said “We didn’t know we had been parting with celebrities last night!
” They had read the article about us in “Living Aboard” on the way across the lake.
We set off to the east and Locked though with the young couple and one other sailboat that came up fast in back of us. The next lock was only a mile away so we locked again with them at E-21. This was the last lock that we would lift in. As we are rising above the wall of the lock I could see some construction going on. There was a work lift b loaded onto a truck and, as I’m looking I thought that be funny if it was our old next door neighbor from Tully, WELL IT WAS!! Checked with the binoculars to make sure and yeah, that’s Lonnie. We let the other boats go by and docked. I ran over and talked to Lonnie. We co
uldn’t believe the chances of meeting up with him! He came over and looked at the boat real quick, and this is where it gets weird. He told us of a friend and neighbor that passed had just passed away yesterday, he had lost a long battle with cancer. This is what we talk about when we say things happen for a reason.
We stopped for the night at Lock 20, and Jon and Marguerite, from Fair Point Marina, came with dinner of Jambalaya, she also had brought some extra for us. (it lasted till Friday Lunch)
Thanks it was great! Jon brought me a case of Utica Club (The first beer sold after Prohibition was over)
9/16/09 Thursday
We stopped at Little Falls today, which really needs to do something about there town dock, or maybe we just missed it. It’s just another small town that looks like everyone left. Arline got her hair cut and we picked up a few groceries. We arrived at Lock 17 about 4:15. The lock are open till 5:00 and this one we found out is open till 5:30. Well this guy showed his true State Worker mode. “Well if you where one minute later I wasn’t going to let you through!”
Thank you and have a nice day too.
So we stayed overnight at Lock 16, Mindenville. Nobody was there and the boat worked great. Batteries are charged from the long motor and are giving us power to do anything we want. We walked on a nice paved bike trail that must have just been finished. There’s a map and this thing goes across nearly the whole damn $tate, most of it is next to the Canal.
9/17/09 Friday
Morning today was quite calm and a heavy fog had set in when we woke up. We had to wait till almost 9:00 before we could get under way. Arline was at the wheel all day except in and out of the Locks. I worked on the “To do list" Which is currently: Spreader lights, 12 volt outlet, and longer cord on the dingy pump. I also tried to get Arline’s computer to work, no go. This is why the Blog hasn’t been updated recently. The wind was blowing pretty steady at the end of the day making the locks a bit tricky. We stopped at Lock 9 which had on the map a park symbol, NO PARK just a concrete wall that looked like the air force had been target practicing on it. This is where we meet Peter and Bill on G’ Day. Bill use to be a comp
uter guy and was talked into working on Arline’s computer. Still no go.
We had to pull over and let this guy go. He was in the raw water strainer for the engine. hahaha
9/18/09 Saturday
We got off the wall and through the lock at 8:15. We only had 2 Locks to go both about an hour of motoring apart, we did this with Peter and Bill. Then we came to the Waterford Flight, a set of 5 Locks that are each a 35 ft drop and all of them are only minutes apart. So you are really working your way down the side of a mountain. It’s a really busy location with lots of on-lookers. It took 2 ½ hours to go through these 5 locks. The State decided that to save money they would use less Lock Masters, and makes one guy work 5 gates. So you’d lock through #6 and the same guy would drive in a state car down to 5 and get that ready. It was awesome. (sarcasim) I think it might be easier to get read of the one guy leaning on the shovel, or the supervisor watching the workers, or maybe the manager watching the supervisor....
DON”T get me started,….oh wait I don’t care, I don’t have a job.
So we are sitting at the wall in Waterford, just before the Hudson. Tom Cat is here, Peter and Bill, and tomorrow Adrienne and Sara will be here. They have
a fuel leak and want me to look at it. Monday we will head down the Hudson for Castleton where we will put the boats back together. From 
there we have no plans but south.
Well! This is a long overdue post.
Arline's computer has been acting up latley so we havn't been keeping you guys up dated :'(. Well here is a long over view of notes that we have been taking over the last week.
Plases take a look at all of our photos we have been taking. Leave us Comments!
Enjoy
~Libbys
9/07/09 Monday
Leaving
After our week long shake down cruise and a list of things to do on the boat, it’s Monday night after the long labor day weekend; leaving is with in sight.
We had a quick repair job done on the stern of the boat that we had been planning on pretty much since we built the boat but had been putting it off until our latest cruise left us with no options. Clint, from Water Craft, did the repair and structural additions. We think the boat had been hit in the stern and someone's bad quick fix proved to be the weak
point.Man these guys can do glass work like champs! From now on if we need a tow using the stern as my pull point! Thanks Clint for doing the work so quick and great.
We had a busy weekend with a party here at the marina, great weather, many friends, and the fact that plans are going well for our departure (Which should be soon).
We saw our interview in “Living Aboard”, and have our copy! It's so calming right now, Arline and I are the only ones in the Marina, its dead calm, full moon rising over the stern of the boat. We’re so happy for many reasons: Jill is off to a great last semester at school with lots to look forward to while Amy and Jeremy are together in their new home in Dover now that she is done with some final training (I hope they showed her the Vulcan Death Grip). So I’m thinking “I want some cranking tunes man!” hahaha, but really, life couldn't get any better than this!
We’re sad that no one else is here to enjoy this wonderful evening. Many people have been bidding us fair well on our voyage, like they’ll never see us again! So it’s starting to be quite a roller coaster ride of emotions. The funny thing is that its just like any other end of boating season that we say goodbye! We wouldn’t see each other all winter, maybe see them on a random passing, but other than that we wouldn't see them untill next spring anyways. Since we are planning on being back here at the marina next spring the only difference is that we arn't leaving our boat. In the near future we will be even closer (geographicly) to my mom and dad and Amy and Jeremy. We are already planning on times to go visit them!
I have to admit that I’m very afraid it could all go bad. I’m afraid of a little bad becuase there is so much good in our journey thus far. There’s so many things to do on the boat and on land, I’m afraid we won’t even be ready next Monday, Tuesday Wednesday or even Thursday. But we’re going, and we’ll figure it out on our way, and if not, “We’ll just pull in some place and ask!”
9/13/09 Sunday
Ready To Go
Well the mast is down and on the boat; most things are packed on the boat and only a few things are left to do. Everything is starting wind down, but we were lucky that both Amy and Jill came to visit over the weekend. Amy and Jeremy came to pick up their Subaru to take it to Dover. They could only stay a short visit before heading back home, they were also shopping for a new dog on the way home and had to be back on Sunday. Jill and Ryan crossed their paths for about 5 minutes. Ryan is Jill’s new boyfriend but they had known each other all through school in Tully. This was, howver, our first time meeting him. It was nice to see the two of them together, having fun and enjoying the day with us.
Thanks Jill!
Many people have been coming by and saying fairwell. They come bearing gifts of: wine, cards, lotto tickets (we lost), wool socks, we can’t say thank you enough to all of you for thinking and caring about us. It really means alot to us as we make our way out!
It is a short 2 – 3 hour trip from Fair Haven to Oswego, where the canal begins. It would be nothing if we were sailing it, but with the mast on the deck we’re mindful of the weather that Lake Ontario can throw at us since the boat would be more like a cork on the water and be very rolley. Dick and Ann, on Grey Hound, have returned from a long trip to Canada, we’ve listened to the weather together and they tell us “Just Leave. We’ll bring you anything that comes UPS, to your next port of call. Just Leave on the morning calm!” However, Arline is the safety officer on board and all things must pass her for final inspection. Of course I would never try to move this boat in anything that would hurt it or anybody on board, I'm just stating the obvious...
Earlier today (Sunday) as I was re-working stuff on the mast and just getting ready to go, I was listening to some of my favorite music from “The Sim Redmond Band” and his solo CD “Wishing Well” The whole CD is a love theme. But you MUST listen to track 10 “Solitude in You”, the words of this song, today, really struck a cord with me as I think about what Arline and I are about to do. Where we are about to go and what it is that we will face. Here are a few words from that song;
“Let’s not stop till we get to the top,
Look around; See what we’ve found,
It might not be the here next time we come,
We might be older before it’s all over,
We better follow our hearts back to the start;
We better find what’s true
Don’t you know that’s what love can do,
I find my solitude in you,
I find my solitude in you,”
Thanks Sim for bringing to us.
Simredmondband.com
9/14/09 Monday
Well, the weather said for Tuesday and Wednesday that it would be 20 knots from the north. However, Monday morning had winds at 10 knts from the south turning west by late morning, so we packed it all in and left Monday as planned! We cut the lines a little later than we would have liked, but got out just before 10 AM. Dick and Ann helped cast us off and saw us through the channel. WE WERE OFF!!
Once out on Lake Ontario, we saw that the winds had already shifted west and were blowing about 10 -15 with some white caps. The waves were still rolling in from the north which was making the boat really move around. Arline was a wreck and I was a little bit nerves about the mast, so I threw the boat into some big waves and swells to see if the mast was going to move. If I was going to turn back I wanted to turn back in the 1st mile, not after 5 miles. Well the mast didn’t move and we made Oswego in about 2 hours. There, we topped off our fuel and happened so see a couple of other sailboats waiting to un-step their mast. They said there is now a 2 day wait for them to be done. So, we handed out Fair Point Marina Flyers for next year.
Sorry Jerry, we’re going to have a busy spring and fall, we couldn't help it....
Tim: I’m going to need more flyers when you come to visit!!
After talking for sometime we pushed off with our mast on deck and made Fulton for the night. Schyler and Laurie came to see us, Mitch and Jackie came, and Mark from last year came too. Some of us went to dinner and had a great night. Thanks guys you’re the best.
But of course we couldn’t have cast off without our new dear friends at Fair Point Marina, ALL OF YOU!!! Jerry’s help and friendship was like having a new family member. Fair Point Marina was indeed the right place for us to prepare Kasidah for this trip and life. We can’t thank everyone enough who came to see what the hell we were doing this weekend, or offer a meal, drink, campfire with guitar and Somores. Tim you have created a very special place and we will miss it till we come back. We will tell everybody about it. Does that make it a business write off?
9/15/09 Tuesday
We cast of from Fulton about 10am and had nothing but smooth motoring we will be docked in Brewerton this evening. Dick and Ann brought us our AT&T air card and Defender order. But more important that that they brought us Pizza and Wings from Twin Trees, (Nothing but but best from our friends)
Thanks.
We stopped at ESS-KAY boat yard to say hi and buy a few things for our to do list. They have a great store there with lots of well organized parts. I found parts for the spreader lights and a couple of other small items needed. Make it a point to stop and say hi to Kim.
9/16/09 Wednesday
Today was a lo
ng day with a lot of strange things that happened. We got up early to cross Oneida Lake which was a 3 hour trip. A retired couple from “Tom Cat” a 36 ft trawler, helped push us off the wall. We sat with them the night before at the dock in Brewerton and talked before Dick and Ann came. The lake was a bit foggy and beautiful; picking our way across was easy. We made Sylvan Beach and spotted a small boat with kids that we had been told about. The couple, in their late 20’s, Adrienne and Sara who have a 5 year old and a 5 week old. They are on their way to Florida for a year, or more, of cruising with no real destination in mind. I think we’ll be seeing a lot of them. Then “Tom Cat” pulled in and we helped them tie off. As they got off they said “We didn’t know we had been parting with celebrities last night!
” They had read the article about us in “Living Aboard” on the way across the lake.We set off to the east and Locked though with the young couple and one other sailboat that came up fast in back of us. The next lock was only a mile away so we locked again with them at E-21. This was the last lock that we would lift in. As we are rising above the wall of the lock I could see some construction going on. There was a work lift b loaded onto a truck and, as I’m looking I thought that be funny if it was our old next door neighbor from Tully, WELL IT WAS!! Checked with the binoculars to make sure and yeah, that’s Lonnie. We let the other boats go by and docked. I ran over and talked to Lonnie. We co
uldn’t believe the chances of meeting up with him! He came over and looked at the boat real quick, and this is where it gets weird. He told us of a friend and neighbor that passed had just passed away yesterday, he had lost a long battle with cancer. This is what we talk about when we say things happen for a reason.We stopped for the night at Lock 20, and Jon and Marguerite, from Fair Point Marina, came with dinner of Jambalaya, she also had brought some extra for us. (it lasted till Friday Lunch)
Thanks it was great! Jon brought me a case of Utica Club (The first beer sold after Prohibition was over)
9/16/09 Thursday
We stopped at Little Falls today, which really needs to do something about there town dock, or maybe we just missed it. It’s just another small town that looks like everyone left. Arline got her hair cut and we picked up a few groceries. We arrived at Lock 17 about 4:15. The lock are open till 5:00 and this one we found out is open till 5:30. Well this guy showed his true State Worker mode. “Well if you where one minute later I wasn’t going to let you through!”
Thank you and have a nice day too.
So we stayed overnight at Lock 16, Mindenville. Nobody was there and the boat worked great. Batteries are charged from the long motor and are giving us power to do anything we want. We walked on a nice paved bike trail that must have just been finished. There’s a map and this thing goes across nearly the whole damn $tate, most of it is next to the Canal.
9/17/09 Friday
Morning today was quite calm and a heavy fog had set in when we woke up. We had to wait till almost 9:00 before we could get under way. Arline was at the wheel all day except in and out of the Locks. I worked on the “To do list" Which is currently: Spreader lights, 12 volt outlet, and longer cord on the dingy pump. I also tried to get Arline’s computer to work, no go. This is why the Blog hasn’t been updated recently. The wind was blowing pretty steady at the end of the day making the locks a bit tricky. We stopped at Lock 9 which had on the map a park symbol, NO PARK just a concrete wall that looked like the air force had been target practicing on it. This is where we meet Peter and Bill on G’ Day. Bill use to be a comp
uter guy and was talked into working on Arline’s computer. Still no go.We had to pull over and let this guy go. He was in the raw water strainer for the engine. hahaha
9/18/09 Saturday
We got off the wall and through the lock at 8:15. We only had 2 Locks to go both about an hour of motoring apart, we did this with Peter and Bill. Then we came to the Waterford Flight, a set of 5 Locks that are each a 35 ft drop and all of them are only minutes apart. So you are really working your way down the side of a mountain. It’s a really busy location with lots of on-lookers. It took 2 ½ hours to go through these 5 locks. The State decided that to save money they would use less Lock Masters, and makes one guy work 5 gates. So you’d lock through #6 and the same guy would drive in a state car down to 5 and get that ready. It was awesome. (sarcasim) I think it might be easier to get read of the one guy leaning on the shovel, or the supervisor watching the workers, or maybe the manager watching the supervisor....
DON”T get me started,….oh wait I don’t care, I don’t have a job.
So we are sitting at the wall in Waterford, just before the Hudson. Tom Cat is here, Peter and Bill, and tomorrow Adrienne and Sara will be here. They have
a fuel leak and want me to look at it. Monday we will head down the Hudson for Castleton where we will put the boats back together. From 
there we have no plans but south.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Living Aboard
Richard stopped by last week with a copy of "Living Aboard". This is the magazine that his story about our adventure is in. We have been so busy that we did not get time to sit down and really read it till a few days ago when some other cruisers "Veranda" let us know they had seen it. Thanks Richard for the time and info you gave us.....
Monday, September 7, 2009
Shake Up and Shake Down
What a great week spent away on a last minute “Shake Down”. Kasidah was awesome in every way. 
We had some pretty nasty weather between Waupoos, Canada and Kingston and she showed her full colors. This boat really knows how to sail. 
We headed out on Thursday and sailed to Waupoos, Canada where we checked in, then we went across to Waupoos Island to anchor for the night. S/V Grey Hound came in after dark and anchored near us. The next day they left for the Thousand Island which would be our destination also but we were in no hurry so with the high winds and the direction of the wind, we decided to stay in the area till the next day. Grey Hound ended up tacking 37 times with the wind right on their nose all the way (about 45 miles). We were on the north shore of Waupoos and decided to move to the west side because of the wind that was coming from the east. We had a great time on this island which does not have many people living on it and the dirt roads are great to walk with the dogs. The next morning we woke up early to lots of rain and wind but from the south and we were headed
east. They said 6ft waves and 20 knots, well at the beginning it was about 4 to 6 for waves and we read about 15, and then as we rounded the Island we were hit with 30 to 35knots of wind and 10 plus footers for about 4 hours. Now if you sail on the lake you know how this can be…. one wave after another these waves just have no space between them. Well we did fine but lots of water in the cockpit and very wet dogs.
We rounded Kingston and started up the St Lawrence River and into the Thousand Island, and WOW how beautiful it was here. We are from upstate New York and had never really taken the time to go and visit. Dick and Ann from Grey Hound rent this Island called Binniale,
it has a house on it and is on the Canadian side, each year they invite many of their friends and have a
hell of a week there. We really wish we had more time to stay and explore but maybe they will invite us back….(thanks guys).
While we were there we got the news, the most important news we had been waiting for all year. THE HOUSE WAS SOLD AND THE MONEY IS IN THE BANK. Well it took long enough……Yes Yes Yes.
The rest of the trip went smooth and we needed to get back to Fair Point to finish all the little projects before we leave. Our Time to depart looks like either the 14th or 15th so we will be very busy this week.
We had some pretty nasty weather between Waupoos, Canada and Kingston and she showed her full colors. This boat really knows how to sail. 
We headed out on Thursday and sailed to Waupoos, Canada where we checked in, then we went across to Waupoos Island to anchor for the night. S/V Grey Hound came in after dark and anchored near us. The next day they left for the Thousand Island which would be our destination also but we were in no hurry so with the high winds and the direction of the wind, we decided to stay in the area till the next day. Grey Hound ended up tacking 37 times with the wind right on their nose all the way (about 45 miles). We were on the north shore of Waupoos and decided to move to the west side because of the wind that was coming from the east. We had a great time on this island which does not have many people living on it and the dirt roads are great to walk with the dogs. The next morning we woke up early to lots of rain and wind but from the south and we were headed
east. They said 6ft waves and 20 knots, well at the beginning it was about 4 to 6 for waves and we read about 15, and then as we rounded the Island we were hit with 30 to 35knots of wind and 10 plus footers for about 4 hours. Now if you sail on the lake you know how this can be…. one wave after another these waves just have no space between them. Well we did fine but lots of water in the cockpit and very wet dogs.We rounded Kingston and started up the St Lawrence River and into the Thousand Island, and WOW how beautiful it was here. We are from upstate New York and had never really taken the time to go and visit. Dick and Ann from Grey Hound rent this Island called Binniale,
it has a house on it and is on the Canadian side, each year they invite many of their friends and have a
hell of a week there. We really wish we had more time to stay and explore but maybe they will invite us back….(thanks guys).While we were there we got the news, the most important news we had been waiting for all year. THE HOUSE WAS SOLD AND THE MONEY IS IN THE BANK. Well it took long enough……Yes Yes Yes.
The rest of the trip went smooth and we needed to get back to Fair Point to finish all the little projects before we leave. Our Time to depart looks like either the 14th or 15th so we will be very busy this week.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Just finishing up.....
We are trying to finish up all the things we have either started and just needed one or two small things to complete and the little “not that important things…..”
Schyler came up last week and dropped off our new Deka Gel 6 volt batteries which Jon is working on installing this week. He is also changing the oil and antifreeze which was a pain in the butt, he bought a kit for changing oil which has a pump and a couple hoses which one will always stay connected to the place you drain the oil on the engine so hopefully this will make changing it easier .
Jeff finished our new cabinet and bookshelves and they look great,
all he needs to do is come back to install our spice rack, knife holder, wine rack and a few other small last minute thing we can’t do without:).
We installed the E80 into the cockpit cabin wall and wired and connected everything. This chartplotter is
awesome. It has so many more functions than our last one. I ended up buying the Maptech Chart Navigation Pro for the computer and started buying some of our paper charts for as far south as the Chesapeake.
This past weekend our good friend Diane and her daughter Ann and husband Shaun came to go sailing and get in a little R&R. We had a little wind so first went for sail then anchored at the bluffs for a nice swim and 
to try out our new anchor and windlass for the first.time. Diane has been my good friend for years and years, so good of a friend that she has offered to receive our mail for the first year we are out there. Now that’s a good friend……..
Maya learns to snorkel
Schyler came up last week and dropped off our new Deka Gel 6 volt batteries which Jon is working on installing this week. He is also changing the oil and antifreeze which was a pain in the butt, he bought a kit for changing oil which has a pump and a couple hoses which one will always stay connected to the place you drain the oil on the engine so hopefully this will make changing it easier .
Jeff finished our new cabinet and bookshelves and they look great,
all he needs to do is come back to install our spice rack, knife holder, wine rack and a few other small last minute thing we can’t do without:).We installed the E80 into the cockpit cabin wall and wired and connected everything. This chartplotter is
awesome. It has so many more functions than our last one. I ended up buying the Maptech Chart Navigation Pro for the computer and started buying some of our paper charts for as far south as the Chesapeake.
This past weekend our good friend Diane and her daughter Ann and husband Shaun came to go sailing and get in a little R&R. We had a little wind so first went for sail then anchored at the bluffs for a nice swim and 
to try out our new anchor and windlass for the first.time. Diane has been my good friend for years and years, so good of a friend that she has offered to receive our mail for the first year we are out there. Now that’s a good friend……..Maya learns to snorkel
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