Like watching wet paint that won't dry

Hurry up and wait has been our mantra for the last two days.

We have a pump down in the lazarette that was not properly wired and Gary has been waiting patiently (is that in his vocabulary?) for a commercial electrician who is supposed to come down and rewire it for us. I think we may finally get it done today but I know it has been a "trying" wait for Gary. I think this is made worse by the fact that Gary has the knowledge to do the job but is not able to get to it due to the size of the lazarette.

We are ready to do some local cruising but need to have this pump working so we can begin to "make water" again and make sure that system is in proper working order. Over the winter you have the system "pickled" since the membranes will deteriorate otherwise. So now you might say we are "in a pickle" until we get it operating properly again.

The weather has been beautiful and is actually warm today. Gary loves to turn on the air conditioning and "chill out". I think he enjoys the comments from concerned boaters who do not consider an AC unit standard cruising equipment in the Pacific Northwest and often think our bilge pumps must be working overtime as the AC pours water out the sides. We are not sinking...just chillin out!

The E-Mail facilities I am using are pretty exciting. Jeffix computer lab is set up for "extreme gaming" and the kids come in after school to plan computer games. The technology is beyond me but they are on separate computers around the room playing a game with each other...shooting and running...etc. As the play continues they yell back and forth at each other and it gets a bit much for a fifty something lady just trying to do E-mail and regular E-Mail. The lab is owned by one of my former banking clients and so it is fun to experience a part of their business I had not really seen as their banker.

The real excitement in my life today was my daughter's experience getting to be featured on the AM Northwest TV program in Portland. She and another gal were guests to speak on the fact that they each have lost over 100 pounds without the use of any special program, diet or surgery. From Cindy's account, on her blog, it sounds like it was quite a positive experience and one where she made some new friends and contacts in her new world of fitness. I am VERY PROUD of her for what she has accomplished and the example she is setting for her children!

One of my friends told me yesterday they really enjoyed the title I put on this web log = oldbroadventures. She had read it as "old broad ventures" and I guess that applies just as well as the "old bro adventures" I had intended.

So I will sign off today as
Old Bro' and His Old Broad

Update on Launch and Fine Tuning

Well we were ready Monday morning bright and early for the big haul down to the boat harbor. I had always been working at the bank on the previous launch dates so this was a new experience for me. Gary had practice and learned alot by trial and error.

First step was getting the boat out of the warehouse. It is such a tight fit that we have to have a forklift pull it out. Gary has engineered a special hitch that goes on the tines of the forklift that makes it safe and secure. I had the fun of riding on top of the boat going out of the warehouse door telling them when the raise and lower the tongue to get the radar dome and roof rails to clear...just barely.

The ride down the hill with the tug "chasing us" was very smooth thanks to the perfectly engineered trailer Gary built for it and the magic break button that he held in his hand and tapped as needed.
Our only issue once we set the boat in the water was air in the fuel lines that had to be bled before we could take her out on her first spin around the harbor.

We are now tied to one of the commercial "working docks" right along Marine Drive and get to watch all the activity as the boats are hauled and launched. That is in between all the work we have been doing on the boat. Major accomplishment has been the installation of our new Sea Wise boat lift system. It is like the Weaver davits everyone uses but supports the boat better as it braces off the rigid floor of the tender. It has a crank that you use to pull the boat up on its side and the outboard swings up as well and rotates onto an upright stand on the swim step. We are still doing some fine-tuning on some of the nuts and bolts of it but once we are done it will be just what we needed and really simplify our cruising.

Yesterday was our big work day on the Sea Wise system. There are a number of bolts that had to be used to attach it all to the swim step. With the enclosed swim step this involved someone getting down inside the boat and up into the swim step to affix backing plates, washers, nuts, etc. This is in a very small space already occupied by fuel filters, water makers, diesel heaters, floscans, steering mechanisms (don't lean on the small thin bar or we are in trouble), thru hulls, etc, etc. Last year I would not have even thought of trying this, but this year I was surprised to find that I now fit. Flexibility was an issue but it is getting better. Once I got down there I told Gary I was not coming up until they were ALL done. Well I am paying for it today with lots of aches and pains...Tylenol is my drug of choice and it seems to be getting better.

Whahoo was my yell as I streaked by Gary after finally getting our new 10' Avon with 15 hp Honda outboard "on plane". Boy that was fun today when I took my first solo run around in the harbor. If not for Gary waiting on the dock I could have stayed out there all day. I don't know how fast I was going...but it was a real thrill ! I know we are both going to have fun with it this summer.

This afternoon Gary is waiting for an electrician to come down to the boat and work on rewiring a pump in the back lazarette of the boat. I could have reached it but did not have the technical knowledge to be able to tackle it. We are getting better at hiring things done when appropriate.

Expect we will take the boat out again in the next day or so to check out more of the systems before we head out on an overnight trip and some localized cruising. We have dental appointments on the 5th and 6th in Port Angeles so that keeps us close to here for a while longer. Other than that out next firm date is to meet our yacht club members in Poet's Cove (Bedwell) on May 27th.

Greetings to anyone checking this out to see what crazy things we are up to.

Take care and enjoy this nice weather.

Is it time to leave yet???

Never thought I would be this anxious to get started on an adventure!

We have been virtually "packed" for days now and just waiting for tomorrow morning to put my PT Cruiser in the garage, lock up the house and drive north with the dingy in tow. I think Gary was surprised and pleased when he saw the stack of boxes and bags in the garage was not quite the mountain he had invisioned (and feared). My secret is that most of the stuff is well compressed (don't tell) and will magically expand once I sneak it onto the boat.

Yesterday we were excited to hear by phone from our good friend Mike Bohart, captain of the 37' Nordic Tug "Sunshine". We met Mike and his wife Jan in Nanaimo two summers ago. We struck up a friendship and ended up accompanying each other to several destinations in Desolation Sound. They are into the casual style of cruising that we enjoy. No fuss and lots of relaxing. They are currently awaiting the birth of their first grandchild but it sounds like we will see them up in SE Alaska this year. It will be fun to catch up on Mike's "fish stories".

This morning I am going to a fun brunch for the members of my water aerobics class. I have made some really good friends over the past 3 months and also made some good progress in strengthening up my old body. Hope I can recognize them with clothes on!

Thinking this morning of our daughter, Cindy, who is participating in a half marathon in Vancouver on Saturday. So proud of her and the way she has taken charge of her own health and fitness. If you are curious, check out her blog at at http://cindysblog.blogspot.com

Enough ramble...

Old Bro's Old Lady here

Welcome to the Adventures of Old Bro'

Thanks for checking us out...

Our tentative schedule is:
• April 23rd back to Port Angeles just in time for meeting of PA Yacht Club
• Week of April 26th launch boat and install accessories for new dingy lift, etc.
• Week of May 2nd appointments in Port Angeles
• Regional “shake down” cruises to make sure everything is working great
• May 26 to 30 Memorial Day cruise at Telegraph Harbor with PA Yacht Club
• May 31 head North and a few days later fall into place with the Alaska Fish Camp boats as they catch up with us

Beyond that we have no schedule other than to get far enough south in the Fall (September/October) to avoid any nasty weather that decides to set in.

So check in periodically and we will try to share with you a bit of our crazy antics!

Old Bro' and his old lady

It's Raining Cats & Dogs!

We have a Davis Weather Station with a scrolling description of the weather. Today it read..."It's Raining Cats & Dogs" as the liquid sunshine fell out of the sky. Seemed like more rain than the 1/2 inch that the rain gauge measured and recorded on our weather station screen. Gary has just been talking about washing the car and Mother Nature did it for him.

We had a day of variety...had an early breakfast at our favority (Wildflower Grill in Lincoln City), drove to Salem for an appointment with the foot specialist for Gary, cruised the isles at Costco to find a few last minute supplies and staples we wanted for the boat, and still got home in time for a restful afternoon. I added cuffs to matching Old Navy sweatshirts for us. I had just finished embroidering them with our Old Bro cartoon mariner guy...yeah the same one you see on the top of our blog page. We will really be in style when we hit the water this year...oops...wrong terminology...I do not intend to "hit the water" at least not that cold water of the Pacific Northwest!

Nuff for tonight...may go ahead and send links to this site to those who may want to watch our progress this summer.

Keep Trying Techie

Well, daughter Cindy, I see the icon for the mariner man but it does not open up. Did you try going into it after you added it to my blog site? Appreciate if you can tell me if I am just doing something wrong or if it needs one more command from your techie book of tricks.

I missed a call this AM from a Seattle PI reporter wanting to interview me. Hope she calls back and catches me when I am not gone doing water aerobics at Salishan.

Tomorrow we are going to Salem to order some new diabetic shoes for Gary compliments of the VA. Might even cruise the isles of Costco to make sure there are not further items we may want on the boat...."42" as Gary would say...see earlier blog if you do not understand that code.

Did machine embroidery most of the day yesterday. Thought I was done but then Gary decided it might be nice to have an American flag on the sweatshirt I had just done for him. Did a really sharp looking bald eagle with flag blowing in the wind. Lots of fun but also lots of work. It was one of those ones less than 4" x 4" but had 23 color changes in it. Very dense and very nice.

Very close to being totally packed and ready to go.

Nuff for now.

Working with Technology

Daughter, Cindy, is working on adding our Old Bro' cartoon guy to this Web Log and we are learning together some new things about Blogging.
Just changed your level to "Admin" and I think that may make the difference for you Cindy...give it a try again.

So nice to have a "techie" daughter who is such a special "techie" friend!

My day today consisted of lots of hems and tucks in clothes that previously fit. Thank goodness Cindy has shared with me some of the items she has "shrunk" out of and that I am handy with the sewing machine.

Gary is beginning to think we will need a larger boat by the time I get everything aboard that I think I am taking on this cruise. He just walks by and mutters "42" (as opposed to the 32' boat we already have).

The neighbors are puzzled by our 10' dingy that Gary keeps wheeling out onto the driveway (so he can do woodworking in the garage). I think they have decided perhaps that is truely our "BIG" boat and not just the tender for it.

Gary started up the outboard today and ran it for an hour or so just to make sure everything is OK before we launch it for the first time. Initially it "purred like a kitten" but once I walked out to tell him how quiet it was, then it decided to spit and sputter and needed some royal talking to...you know those short words under his breath. That did the trick and it was purring again.

Nuff for now...

Getting Ready

Today was a busy day which included customizing items for our new Zodiac inflatable boat. There is one bracing bar that extends diagonally right in front of the legs of the person at the helm of this 10' dingy. We were concerned that the bar and it's bolts would scratch or irritate the boat operator. So I constructed a padded covering for the bar and also an attaching small bag that will work perfectly for our hand held VHF radio (I teased the Captain that this was his new "purse").

We again viewed the CD which contains the installation instructions for the Sea Wise davits and boat lift system. Sure are glad we had Inflatable Boat Center install all the associated hardware and pads on the inflatable. That was the most difficult part of the job. Hardest part of the task that now remains will be getting someone very small to crawl up inside the swim step to affix the backing plate and tighten the bolts/nuts on the lift pedestal. I can reach it now but do not think there is enough room for me to be effective enough to accomplish the full job. We will have to call upon our good friend, Mike Peabody. He is small in stature but enormous in heart, mechanical ability and willingness to help. What a godsend!

Tomorrow I think I will have time to finally work on our cruising clothes, making sure there are no further alterations to be made and that everything is in order. Would like to add some embroidery but am not sure I really have the time. Also have a nautical vest I would like to make but again timing is a factor so I will have to see if I get to it. Have all the financial and technical details outlined and ready for our trip. Thanks to my daughter's willingness to help out that will all go fine. Also carried my large jade plant next door today to our neighbor, Barabara Green, who is a plant person and will talk to it each day. Our neighbor on the other side, Barbara Slama, will water the out door plants as needed and feed the fish. Gee it seems like things got complicated here really fast but it will all be covered.

Enough for my first post...more as time goes on.