Wednesday, August 26, 2015

August 12-25, 2015 Brunswick Landing Marina, Georgia

Wednesday, August 12
We had breakfast at Maggie Mae’s since we didn’t have any refrigerated food on the boat.  Then we rode bicycles to a small neighborhood grocery store to get the basics for the boat. We had an early dinner, then joined others at the marina Happy Hour to say hello to the other sailors.  Some still here and new ones arrived while we were gone. 

Thursday, August 13
We went to the Farmer’s Market near our marina this morning (Tues, Thurs, Sat).  Great source of fresh vegetables, fruits and eggs.  The peaches were the best-vine ripened.  We also bought fig preserves, something new.  They were whole figs in a sugary syrup similar to honey.  Very good, but I wouldn’t buy them again-too sweet. 
There is a free movie on Thursday nights at the yacht club.  We always forget, but remembered tonight.  I think it was called “the killer within in me”.  It was horrible.  About half way through, I went to the laundry room and worked on a jigsaw puzzle.  There I met another couple that have a 2006 Beneteau 423 (ours is a 2007).  So it was fun talking to them about similar boat issues.  She had just returned from a 3 month recovery of a broken arm.  She was walking through the boat carrying things in both hands.  She stumbled and hit the handle of the door on the head and broke her arm up high on the humerus.  Kind of worries me when you hear of things like that happening so quickly.  I immediately think I would stay with one of my sisters to recuperate.  But I would have a hard time finding either of them home for 3 months straight.  Our family loves to travel.

Friday, August 14
Laundry for me today.  Dave started reinforcing any through holes in the canvas (bimini an dodger) before we replace it on it’s frame.   We are concerned the rough edges will tear.  So he placed a small section of rope in a circle at the opening and then stitched around that to reinforce the canvas at each hole.  The dodger has 4 holes for a support bar that comes through to the outside for a hand hold.  The bimini has 8 holes to support our solar panels about the bimini frame.  I offered to help, but the canvas and the thread are pretty thick.  Even he was getting blisters.  So I just keep him fed and he is happy.

Saturday, August 15
Dave put our dodger back up today.  The boat looked so naked without it.  Much better.
I spent the evening at the club house playing dominoes-Mexican Train-with 5 other boaters.  One was an 8 year old boy from New Zealand.  I had to chuckle every time he said “that’s a pain in the bum” in his accent. 

Sunday, August 16
I walked to church for the 11:00 mass and my friend, Rosemary, gave me a ride to a restaurant downtown afterwards.  I met Dave and 5 other boaters for brunch at a new restaurant.  It was a limited gourmet menu.  You chose one of 3 beverages, one of 3 entree choices, and one of 2 desserts.  And it was $20 per person.  Little spendy, but unique and very good.  I had eggs diablo and Dave had a pork and grits meal.

I played triominoes (spell checker didn’t like that word) this evening.  Something different and fun.  Dave finished the sewing and put up the bimini!  He actually prefers that I leave the boat and play games with others.  After feeding him, of course.  He gets a lot of work done while watching ‘Lord of the Rings” for the hundredth time.  And he gets out of playing games with me.  Works for me.  I’m getting my “social fix” while we are at the marina.

Monday, August 17
Dave is calling this “unlucky shit day”
His plan for today was to put the jenny sail and the solar panels back on the boat.  When he took the jenny sail out of the packaging, he discovered that the exposed end of the sail that was to be recovered had not been recovered (the sun cover).  It had been sent from Florida, where we dropped it off, to New Hampshire to be cleaned and reconditioned, and sent back to us.  So now it has to be sent back to Florida to have the area recovered.  We stressed that we were hoping to leave soon.  And they reassured us that they would rush the order and wouldn’t have to pay for shipping.  But it all still takes time, at least a week. 

Then Dave went to the hardware store by bicycle to get a part he needed for the solar panels.  It’s about 8 blocks away, but it is 88 degrees and 67% humidity.  He returned cussing in search of his wallet. 

We received some new phone charging cords in the mail.  They didn’t fit with our cases, but Dave was able to “adjust” them with his pocket knife.   

In the meantime, we were expecting a packing slip for UPS to arrive in our e-mail to print and send the sail back to Florida.  After a few phone calls, Dave gave them a different address and it arrived.  Crazy day.

Tuesday, August 18  No engine
Today, the engine mechanic from Jacksonville was scheduled to arrive at 9:00 am to install our rebuilt fuel injector pump and take our boat for a sea trial.  We got up early and started moving things around so he could have access to the engine from all sides.  About  9:10, Dave called to see if he was on his way.  I knew something was wrong when I heard Dave say “Gosh Almighty! A phone call would have been appreciated.”  The guy had car trouble and couldn’t make it.  Their excuse was that they were going to call us when they knew when it would be rescheduled.  Right now it will be Thursday or Friday.

We put up the main sail today.  We were told we could put on SailKote ourselves.  It is teflon and it helps it furl tighter in the mast.  Dave had to feed the luff of the sail into the mast to run the sail up the mast.  He was painting both sides of the sail as it was raised.  I was in the cockpit raising the sail with a winch.  As more sail was raised, of course the area became wider.  So I would go out on the deck and hold the end of the sail out straight for Dave to paint.  Occasionally a breeze would pick up and want to fill the sail.  I thought one of us would end up in the water, or at least stumbling on the deck.
adding SailKote to the main sail
finishing touches on the SailKote

Wednesday, August 19
Second coat of SailKote on the main sail.
Thursday, August 20
Now mechanic is scheduled for Monday :(
Another boater gave me a ride to the grocery store.  We actually went to Walmart and Publix, so we are now well stocked.  After I returned from the grocery store, we put away the refrigerated items and immediately went out to eat!  Can you believe it?  A couple boaters wanted to discuss “buddy boating” with us up the coast to the Chesapeake.  Afterwards, Amy, who is new to boating, had to wait for someone.  So she helped me store my groceries, just to see what I do on my boat.  We took all the boxed items out of their boxes and bagged them.  And we marked the lids of the canned goods with what it was and the expiration date.  She was great help!!
Friday, August 21
I rearranged my food storage areas, regrouped items, and stored new items.  Cleaned heads.
Saturday, August 22
We opened the bilge so I could store food in containers under the floor.

boxes for the bilge
Sunday, August 23
Walked to church, left at 10:20 in 80 degrees and 80% humidity.  Took 25 minutes and several paper towels to dry my forehead and neck.  My friend, Rosemary, gave me a ride back to the marina. 
Dave drained the oil before the mechanic could install the fuel injection pump on Monday.
Monday, August 24
Engine mechanic from Jacksonville FINALLY made it to our boat.  He took about 3 hours.  Then Dave had to refill the oil and change the drive belt.  He washed his hands, but shredded cheese for dinner which removed more oil and grease from his hands onto the side of the cheese.  I just cut it off as if it were mold.
Tuesday, August 25
Dave worked on the aft vent covers for the air intake and exhaust for engine and generator.  He has never liked the position of these vents because if the boat was “pooped” (water up over the back end) water could come in the vents. Previously, he had removed the excess caulk and loose paint.  Today, he fiberglass repaired the cracks in the plastic. Then he sanded the covers and spray painted them.
painting the aft vent covers
different angle on the vent covers

Since there is a tropical storm/hurricane brewing, I thought I should update my blog.  Some people were checking to see where we were.  We chose this marina in Georgia because it is a good “hurricane hole”, fairly well protected.  We have weather sources that give us information before it gets to the media. 

We are planning to head north up the coast, but will watch the weather as always.  Thanks for your concern.


Ricardo watched our boat while we were in SD/MN.  Then we watched his while he was in Brazil.  He brought us each a pair of flip flops from Brazil. 

Monday, August 10, 2015

August 5-11, 2015 MN week with family

Wednesday, Aug 5
Hung out in LeSueur.

Thursday, August 6
We drove to Dave’s sister Debbie’s home in Cumberland, WI.  We took the back roads to skip going through Minneapolis and St Paul.  Dave’s mother is 82 and would like to be able to drive there by herself.  So we found a route through Red Wing, MN that followed 2 highways, 19 in MN and 63 in WI.  We stopped for lunch in Red Wing at a restaurant called Bev’s.  It was my sister Bev’s birthday today, so we felt close to her by eating there.  Happy Birthday Bev!
lunch spot in Red Wing, MN

We arrived in time for a nice dinner at Debbie’s cabin.  Debbie lives on an acreage outside of town.   We had a great home made “hot dish” or “casserole”.  Debbie’s grandson, Mateo, has been here for the week.  He is half Mexican and is exposed to all kinds of ethnic food in the Twin Cities.  He called this dinner “white food” :)

Friday, August 7
We spent time driving into Cumberland.  They have an awesome meat market.  So we picked up bratwursts for dinner.  They had about 30 different kinds.  After dinner, we had a bonfire in Debbie’s back yard.  It was a beautiful night of star gazing.  Mateo who is 16, saw his first falling star.  He lives in the city and doesn’t usually see the stars.
Mateo and Great Grandma
Mateo and Charlie

Saturday, August 8
Today, I drove to Wyoming, MN, about an hour from Debbie’s, to see a dental school friend of mine, Stephanie Larson Stec.  We had a great afternoon visiting.  She said she was called by some news company to ask her about our classmate, Walter Palmer, who killed the lion in Zimbabwe.  She chose not to comment.  We weren’t friends with him, so we never stayed in touch. 
Ed and Steph holding their daughters' hats and coats and were asked to be goofy

I made it back to Debbie’s in time for a fish fry.  Mateo, and Debbie’s friend, Randy, caught about 50 sunfish earlier this week.  So they fried them up for us.  This week, Mateo not only caught fish, but cleaned and cooked them for the first time. 
Mateo grilling sunfish

Sunday, August 9
After church, we all had breakfast/lunch at a local restaurant out in the woods called County Line.  I had a 1/4 chicken dinner for $6.50.  Crazy.  It was nice spending time with all of Dave's family at Debbie's home in the woods.

We drove back to LeSueur through Minneapolis so that we could drop off Mateo.  We sure enjoyed spending time with him.  He is such a nice young man.  He plays football and rugby and hopes to go to play rugby in college. 

Monday, August 10
Spent the day at Dave’s mom’s getting packed and having another good home cooked meal.  We have enjoyed our time in SD and MN, but we also feel it’s time to get back to our boat.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 11 we will fly out of Mpls and get back about 10:00 pm. 
Dean, Alice, Debbie and Dave

Debbie, Mateo, Alice

Alice, Debbie, Dave, Mateo, Dean

Dave and Mary

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

July 29- August 4, 2015 MN week

Wednesday July 29
We left Aberdeen before 6:00 am.  We picked up another couple in Webster, SD.  Larry and Roxy drove from DeSmet, SD this morning to meet us. 
We arrived about 11:30 for the 12:00 game and met up with Dave before buying tickets.  We ended up in the same section, but we were further up in the shade.  Besides Dave’s mom, his brother Dean joined us.  It was fun to see the game live in their new outdoor stadium, even though the Twins lost.
After the game, we went to dinner with the Roths at the Leaning Tower of Pizza near Dean’s home.  We were all ready for bed after the drive to LeSueur, MN.
Larry, Jim, Janice and Roxy
Dean, Alice, Dave and Mary

Thursday July 30
Just a lazy day in LeSueur.

Friday July 31
Happy 60th birthday Dave!!
We decided to drive to the lake home of my cousin, Vern and Ruth Schaefer.  It is near Monticello, MN about 90 miles north of LeSueur.  Vern and Ruth sold their home in Iowa and bought a condo there and this lake home to be near their grandchildren.  Dave calls grandchildren “magnets”  because they have this strong pull on you to be near them.

It was a nice relaxing day at the lake.  We had cake and ice cream for Dave’s birthday.  After a tour of their home and yard, we went for a ride on their pontoon around the lake.  The afternoon was gone before we knew it.  So we stayed for bratwursts on the grill.  We made it home by 10:00 and had a nice view of the blue moon on the way home. 

It was really nice that Dave was able to spend the day with his mom.  And we all enjoyed visiting with Vern and Ruth.  If you are reading this, Thanks!
Dave and Alice-birthday cake, ice cream and decorations
Alice, Mary and Dave the birthday boy
Alice and Dave relaxing by the lake
Ruth and Vern with their house in the background
Ruth, Vern and Mary by their garden

Saturday August 1
We spent another lazy day at Dave’s mom’s doing laundry and computer downloads.  Then we drove into Minneapolis to celebrate my brother Jerry’s birthday.  We went to the Black Forest restaurant with Jerry and Barb and Dean met us there.  We used to go here a lot when I was in dental school.  We happen to see friends there, Jim and Julie Clausen, their kids, Jim’s mother and their niece, Melanie, Joe Clausen’s daughter.  Nice surprise. 
Dave and Jerry the birthday boys

Happy Birthday Jerry!

Sunday August 2
We took Jerry and Barb out for breakfast at Maria’s, a Columbian restaurant.  Great meal and even had leftovers.  Then we drove around downtown Mpls to see the progress on the new Viking’s stadium.  We went to the Guthrie theater to look at the stadium from the 9th floor.  Then we enjoyed the view over the Mississippi River on the other side of the theater complex. 
That evening, Jerry cooked ribs for us.  Great recipe with root beer in the bbq sauce.  Barb and I played a few hands of cribbage while Jerry was cooking.  Then Jerry and I played a few hands.  I am getting my cribbage fix while I am here.

Monday August 3
We spent the day with Dave’s niece, Dena and her kids in the cities.  We spent part of the day at their home in Bloomington.  Their cat has 4 kittens.  I forgot how fun they can be.  Then we spent some time at 3rd Lair skate park.  11 year old Malachi is into skate boarding and qualified to compete at the MN state fair.  We really enjoyed watching him.  Then Dena, Julianna, Dave and I made a break to have “fro yo”, frozen yogurt.  Mateo was at his Grandmother's, so we will see him later this week.  It was really a nice day of visiting and silliness. 
Dave teaching Malachi about emergency openings inside trunks-which failed
Malachi showing us his tricks
Julianna and Dena

Tuesday August 4
Dave had a dental appointment in Mpls with a class mate of mine, Peter Hinke.  He is following up on the implant that was placed in SD last month.  We will return here in November for him to restore it.  We also got to see his dental partner and spouse, Kordie Reinhold, another classmate.  Peter reminded me that the dentist that has been in the news lately that killed the lion in Zimbabwe was a classmate of ours. 

We made it back to LeSueur to have dinner with Alice’s apartment complex.  It was National Night Out, so they had a BBQ picnic right outside of her apartment at their community room and picnic area.  It was nice to visit with her neighbors and put some faces to the names of the people she talks about.