Well, we're full on fuel, water, food, beer wine and all the essentials. The boat is as ready as we can get it. The oil leak is fixed, the windlass is fixed, the manual bilge pump is fixed (along with the two electrics) and the boat is as sound as we can make it. If the weather cooperates, we'll let go the mooring lines tomorrow morning and start on the trek back to Brunswick.
Thank you Marathon for another great season.
Bev got a new work opportunity at Dr. Smith's office filling in for someone on medical leave and now they want her back in the fall. So if the hospital doesn't give her hours, she should be able to work with the doctor.
I did a small show at the theater. It was a "reading" called "Looking." A very cute play about 4 middle aged people on blind dates. It was very funny and had a short rehearsal schedule. I also tried out for next season's "A Few Good Men." That will be interesting.
So, here we are trying to relax and get a good night's sleep so we can start out rested. Watch for our SPOT updates here and on Facebook.
Wish us luck. Our next post will be from an anchorage.
Watch out Tispy McSway's, here we come!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
Getting ready
After a good season in Marathon, we're getting ready to head back to Georgia. The first good sailing day after this Friday and we will be setting out. The bottom's been cleaned, the engine oil leak fixed, cooling system leak fixed. The electric winch is operational and the anchor windlass has been repaired. We just need to fuel up and provision and we'll be on our way.
I just tested the link between Blogger and our SPOT messenger and it seems to be working. You will be able to follow our travels either by Facebook or by this Blog.
On an different note, we have discovered that our little Monk Parrot, Morgan, has high cholesterol and will have to go on medication. We have an appointment with the vet on Wednesday to learn how to administer the meds to the little guy. This all started when he had a weird reaction to having his talons trimmed. His feet curled up, he had trouble keeping his balance and seemed disoriented. The vet did some tests and found the cholesterol problem. We'll see how this develops.
I tried out for another play for next season at the Marathon Community Theater. It will be a challenge if I get the part - it's "A Few Good Men." Yeah, me in a uniform, strange, huh? Hey, that's why they call it "acting!"
It should take us about two weeks to get to Brunswick, weather permitting. Then we will hit the road in our minivan on a long road trip. Matt, Bev's son, is getting married in MA in May, then it's off to California for Chandra's High School graduation, Fourth of July with Ben, Sara and Daniel. After that we plan on taking our time getting back to Georgia by way of a few National Parks. This is all assuming that the minivan holds up.
In the mean time, look for our SPOT posts. Each of these SPOT posts will include a link to Google Maps which will show you where we are anchored. Clink the link to see just where in the world we are.
I just tested the link between Blogger and our SPOT messenger and it seems to be working. You will be able to follow our travels either by Facebook or by this Blog.
On an different note, we have discovered that our little Monk Parrot, Morgan, has high cholesterol and will have to go on medication. We have an appointment with the vet on Wednesday to learn how to administer the meds to the little guy. This all started when he had a weird reaction to having his talons trimmed. His feet curled up, he had trouble keeping his balance and seemed disoriented. The vet did some tests and found the cholesterol problem. We'll see how this develops.
I tried out for another play for next season at the Marathon Community Theater. It will be a challenge if I get the part - it's "A Few Good Men." Yeah, me in a uniform, strange, huh? Hey, that's why they call it "acting!"
It should take us about two weeks to get to Brunswick, weather permitting. Then we will hit the road in our minivan on a long road trip. Matt, Bev's son, is getting married in MA in May, then it's off to California for Chandra's High School graduation, Fourth of July with Ben, Sara and Daniel. After that we plan on taking our time getting back to Georgia by way of a few National Parks. This is all assuming that the minivan holds up.
In the mean time, look for our SPOT posts. Each of these SPOT posts will include a link to Google Maps which will show you where we are anchored. Clink the link to see just where in the world we are.
Check-in/OK message from Mike's Spot SPOT Personal Tracker
Mike's Spot
Latitude:24.70907
Longitude:-81.08865
GPS location Date/Time:04/01/2013 15:00:00 EDT
Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!
Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/Ba9BW/24.70907N/81.08865W
If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=24.70907,-81.08865&ll=24.70907,-81.08865&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Mike's Spot
You have received this message because Mike's Spot has added you to their SPOT contact list.
Every day is an Adventure. Share Yours.
http://www.findmespot.com
Latitude:24.70907
Longitude:-81.08865
GPS location Date/Time:04/01/2013 15:00:00 EDT
Message:This is Bev and Mike on board Queequeg, just letting you know we're OK. Click the link to see where we are!
Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/Ba9BW/24.70907N/81.08865W
If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=24.70907,-81.08865&ll=24.70907,-81.08865&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Mike's Spot
You have received this message because Mike's Spot has added you to their SPOT contact list.
Every day is an Adventure. Share Yours.
http://www.findmespot.com
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Heading SOUTH! We hope.
We are ready.
The boat is ready. Now if the weather cooperates we will be out of here tomorrow, or at the latest Friday. Our concern right now is temperature. The nights have been in the 40s here in Brunswick and we are worried that if we anchor out and don't have power it might be too cold for Morgan. So we watch the weather carefully and head out when we know it will be warm enough at night for the bird.
This week has had its challenges. On Sunday I changed the oil in the engine. That went OK. Then I started the engine to make sure everything else was working OK but noticed a slight leak in the sea water pump. Yuck. I pulled the pump out and took it apart thinking a new impeller and seal would fix the problem. Nope. The inner workings of the pump were badly worn, bearings and seals bad, etc. I checked the Jabsco website to see if a rebuild kit was available. Yes, sure, it was available. BUT...the kit I needed was $317! A whole new pump was about $350 so rather than take a chance of not getting it back together right, I just ordered a whole new pump. It came in on Tuesday and I had it installed and running the same day. Now there are no leaks.
We had had the yard man put in a new gasket on the valve cover in July and now it seems we have no oil leak either. Hey, there's a novelty - a clean, dry engine room! For now anyway. It is a 30 year old engine, after all.
This last week has been one of socializing as well. Bev's friend Jane and her friend Tony are sailing from Cape Cod to St. Pete in his Catalina 27 "Patience." They stopped by along with a buddy boat "Hawks Nest." In addition to Tipsy McSway's for trivia night, we also had several dinner parties on Queequeg, one on Hawks Nest and one next door on "Grace." Whew! Whirlwind social life. Tonight it's Tipsy's trivia again along with Jim and Bruce from Hawks Nest and our friends Mike and Shantee, who live in Brunswick. Mike and Shantee have graciously volunteered to "van sit" while we are in Marathon for the winter.
So, if it will just warm up a bit, we can head out without freezing the bird!
The boat is ready. Now if the weather cooperates we will be out of here tomorrow, or at the latest Friday. Our concern right now is temperature. The nights have been in the 40s here in Brunswick and we are worried that if we anchor out and don't have power it might be too cold for Morgan. So we watch the weather carefully and head out when we know it will be warm enough at night for the bird.
This week has had its challenges. On Sunday I changed the oil in the engine. That went OK. Then I started the engine to make sure everything else was working OK but noticed a slight leak in the sea water pump. Yuck. I pulled the pump out and took it apart thinking a new impeller and seal would fix the problem. Nope. The inner workings of the pump were badly worn, bearings and seals bad, etc. I checked the Jabsco website to see if a rebuild kit was available. Yes, sure, it was available. BUT...the kit I needed was $317! A whole new pump was about $350 so rather than take a chance of not getting it back together right, I just ordered a whole new pump. It came in on Tuesday and I had it installed and running the same day. Now there are no leaks.
We had had the yard man put in a new gasket on the valve cover in July and now it seems we have no oil leak either. Hey, there's a novelty - a clean, dry engine room! For now anyway. It is a 30 year old engine, after all.
This last week has been one of socializing as well. Bev's friend Jane and her friend Tony are sailing from Cape Cod to St. Pete in his Catalina 27 "Patience." They stopped by along with a buddy boat "Hawks Nest." In addition to Tipsy McSway's for trivia night, we also had several dinner parties on Queequeg, one on Hawks Nest and one next door on "Grace." Whew! Whirlwind social life. Tonight it's Tipsy's trivia again along with Jim and Bruce from Hawks Nest and our friends Mike and Shantee, who live in Brunswick. Mike and Shantee have graciously volunteered to "van sit" while we are in Marathon for the winter.
So, if it will just warm up a bit, we can head out without freezing the bird!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
So where have we been?
Where haven't we been, that's the question.
We ended up buying a minivan and driving north. We went to the Catskills in NY to see my sister, Albany to see my son and Massachusetts to see Bev's family. We also spent some time in Newburyport visiting some sailing friends and in Hyannis visiting Bev's friend Jane. Along the way we did a bunch of sightseeing.
Some of the highlights of the trip include an exhibit of Grandma Moses' paintings, Thomas Jefferson's house at Monticello and the Ludwig von Mises institute in Auburn Alabama.
Now we're back on Queequeg cleaning, fixing up and getting ready for a trip south. Our current plans are to spend the winter in the Keys, then come back to Brunswick and pick up the car for another road trip. This time we'll include a cross country trip to California to attend my granddaughter's graduation and visit Ben and his family.
During this summer's trip, we cleaned out my storage locker and had a yard sale. Anything family didn't take, went. We did bring back some clothing so now we have to triage all our old stuff to make room for what we brought back with us. At least we have the minivan to store the overflow. We REALLY need to lighten the boat!
Where haven't we been, that's the question.
We ended up buying a minivan and driving north. We went to the Catskills in NY to see my sister, Albany to see my son and Massachusetts to see Bev's family. We also spent some time in Newburyport visiting some sailing friends and in Hyannis visiting Bev's friend Jane. Along the way we did a bunch of sightseeing.
Some of the highlights of the trip include an exhibit of Grandma Moses' paintings, Thomas Jefferson's house at Monticello and the Ludwig von Mises institute in Auburn Alabama.
Now we're back on Queequeg cleaning, fixing up and getting ready for a trip south. Our current plans are to spend the winter in the Keys, then come back to Brunswick and pick up the car for another road trip. This time we'll include a cross country trip to California to attend my granddaughter's graduation and visit Ben and his family.
During this summer's trip, we cleaned out my storage locker and had a yard sale. Anything family didn't take, went. We did bring back some clothing so now we have to triage all our old stuff to make room for what we brought back with us. At least we have the minivan to store the overflow. We REALLY need to lighten the boat!
 | |
| Our $2000 Mininvan |
Sunday, June 24, 2012
What's happening?
Well, we're stuck.
We're in Brunswick, GA at the Brunswick Landing Marina. It looks like Queequeg won't make it any farther north this year.
We started out great, making good time. We were a month behind our times from the last trip when we started, but we caught up to within 5 days. Had we been able to keep going, we would have reached NY ahead of schedule, but thing just didn't work out.
First Tropical Storm Beryl cost us a week. We had a great time waiting her out in New Smyrna Beach, but still it put us behind.
When we reached Jekyl Island, a cold front came by and stalled, giving us thunderstorms every day. We moved a few miles further, stopping at Brunswick.
By the time the front had moved on and the weather became more favorable, we discovered an oil leak in the engine. So now, we're sitting here waiting for parts to fix the engine.
The marina is very nice, with free laundry, nice showers, etc. The town has a few things to offer while we stay here. And it's a great hurricane hole.
It will be another week until the engine is fixed, and that makes it too late to head north. We'd reach NY and MA just in time to turn around and head south again.
So now the plan is to buy a cheap used car and drive north. Not what we really want, but it will get us the chance to visit family while keeping the boat safe from storms.
Wish us luck finding a decent but REALLY cheap car.
We're in Brunswick, GA at the Brunswick Landing Marina. It looks like Queequeg won't make it any farther north this year.
We started out great, making good time. We were a month behind our times from the last trip when we started, but we caught up to within 5 days. Had we been able to keep going, we would have reached NY ahead of schedule, but thing just didn't work out.
First Tropical Storm Beryl cost us a week. We had a great time waiting her out in New Smyrna Beach, but still it put us behind.
When we reached Jekyl Island, a cold front came by and stalled, giving us thunderstorms every day. We moved a few miles further, stopping at Brunswick.
By the time the front had moved on and the weather became more favorable, we discovered an oil leak in the engine. So now, we're sitting here waiting for parts to fix the engine.
The marina is very nice, with free laundry, nice showers, etc. The town has a few things to offer while we stay here. And it's a great hurricane hole.
It will be another week until the engine is fixed, and that makes it too late to head north. We'd reach NY and MA just in time to turn around and head south again.
So now the plan is to buy a cheap used car and drive north. Not what we really want, but it will get us the chance to visit family while keeping the boat safe from storms.
Wish us luck finding a decent but REALLY cheap car.
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