Rain rain go away!

The humans slept well and once actually got up at the same time in the night to look at the stars. It was a late morning start at around 0900hrs. They had a leisurely breakfast which they ate in the cockpit. 

The day was grey and heavily overcast and it started to rain softly.  So oil skins were called for before setting off. Brec made some phone calls about the delivery of his new Liferaft and then we set off under engine. In to the grey wet day.

Once out of the anchorage the sea state was a little choppy and rolling, but nothing OTTER couldn’t handle. The humans used the engine the whole way as the wind actually increased somewhat. After about two and half hours they entered the main harbour of  New London.

New London is the home port of the lovely three mast Barque of the US Coast Guard the USCGC Eagle formally the Horst Wessel, (a war reparations prize) which we passed on her berth.

We had to wait a few minutes by the turning railway bridge at the entrance to Crocker’s Boatyard as a train was coming.

When the train passed the bridge opened and we moored up at the first available pontoon we found with Alan leaping with the lines on to the pontoon. Brec then went to the office leaving us and our BBF on the boat. When he returned with Alan on the helm and he on the pontoon he threw off the lines and we backed out and made for our permanent berth.

Once we were alongside this berth, Alan went below to make lunch and Brec tidied up the lines and deck then washed the deck down to get all the salt spray off.

The humans then had lunch and once that was over Brec did some more telephoning about his Liferaft and Alan then set to, to repair the one Burner on the stove which leaked and he had not fixed properly the first time.

He did that, but didn’t test it as he wanted the sealant he used to harden overnight. Our BBF then left to shower and change while Brec spent more time on his boat chores and on titivating OTTER ready for Sandy to come aboard and for our next adventure.

After Brec had showered the men went to find Sandy and Laura, Brec’s daughter, with whom they were having a meal in the Blue Duck Restaurant. It started to rain as they left the Boatyard and so Brec called Sandy to ask to collect us. It was in fact Laura that attempted to do so, but the humans missed each other and the men found the restaurant where Sandy was waiting. The rain stopped more or less after Brec made the call, so they were dry when they got there.

Our human had a Blue Duck Burger with Fries and asked to have Mayo with his fries!

Laura now took the men back to the boat yard to collect us and their luggage for we were all going to stay at Laura’s house in West Strand Road, Waterford. This is Brec’s families Lane as they call it and most of the little houses on it are owned by members of the family and have been since the 19th century. Each year the Family hold a Picnic on the lane and all members that can come to this annual gathering of the clan. We have been fortunate in having taken part twice in the past.

In Laura’s lovely little cottage we have the upstairs single room which has it’s own toilet and washbasin.

Brec and Sandy are in the study on an air mattress you could call it an Air B&B!

Brec went to bed early leaving Alan and Sandy to share the sitting room before they too retired to bed.

East to the Sun!

Our BBF slept better than he thought he would, got up once in the night to view the stars. As you can see he slept just below us in the Saloon.

He woke again just before dawn, but went back to his bunk until Brec emerged and like a typical single  handed sailor that he is, started the engine and said he didn’t need help.

He hauled the anchor up by hand and by the time it was on deck our BBF was there dressed ready to take the helm.

Head East to the Sun the skipper said which was easy enough to do in the beginning. The men quoted Rudyard Kipling’s “On the Road to Mandalay”

“and the sun came up like thunder”! But our sun came up more like a damp squib as it stayed hidden behind the clouds all day.

Brec soon put sails up and Alan turned the engine off and they were sailing nicely. The Autopilot was also tasked with steering, so all Alan had to do was sit there and keep watch. Brec made breakfast consisting of cereals with raisins, milk powder and water! The day remained cloudy and cool and at one stage even cold so that the humans put on more warm garments. Generally though it was a good day sailing, chatting about old times, about Kids screen time, politics and generally setting the world to rights. When the tide turned against us and we could no longer maintain 4.5-5 knots the engine was put back on and we motored sailed the rest of the way.

After 49 NM we arrived off Fisher’s Island where Brec put Alan back on the helm  and we made for the anchorage. Brec hauled the sails down and we found a nice spot between  and in front of two Trawler Type Motor Boats. Alan then went below to cook an evening meal while Brec cleared up the deck.

As we write it has started to rain and according to the forecast will rain all day tomorrow! Such is a sailor’s life!

It doesn’t get any better than this!

Brec  was up early to got to the dentist and do other things before sailing. Our human got up after ten the left, put coffee on an showered. After breakfast nahe repacked his kit cleared up the kitchen and sat waiting for Brec to return. Brec returned saying that he had bought a cheap pair of sneakers and as Alan had also wanted a pair told him to take the car to Bob’s Store which he then did and came back with a pair of Skechers Relaxed fit walkers!

We all then left for the boat. The two men now listened to another Jack Aubrey novel. Sailing as it was in the old days.

Alan got a barrow and they loaded the kit onto it and he  took it to the boat while Brec went to park the car. At the boat the neighbours next door, Harry helped our BBF load all the bags into the cockpit. Alan then returned the barrow to the entrance and placed the bags below. We found our place next to Pugsly with whom we have sailed before. 

Brec when he came threw the shore power off started they engine and began to throw lines off. Our BBF took up position on the helm and then we were off.

It was fine sunny day with just enough wind to sail comfortably. The riginal  destination was to have been Port Jefferson on Long Island, but as the wind was against us and we had set off a bit late, Brec decided that we should make for Charles Island. With our BBF on the helm and Brec our BF on deck setting sails we sailed beautifully. Our BBF was heard to shout, “I don’t just like it I love it!” At the top of his voice. Both these singlehanded circumnavigators and us Bears agreed that life doesn’t get any better than this.

The left turning the engine back on until the last minute and then Brec hauled in the sails and dropped the anchor just off Charles Island. Once they were satisfied that it had been well dug in, Brec changed and leapt overboard to scrub barnacles off the hull and propeller. 

While he was doing that our BBF prepared the evening meal and now found that they had left stuff behind, like onions for example. However, he found enough stuff to make a meal.

Couscous salad with tuna, sweet corn, tomatoes and a cucumber, the latter two items out of Sandy’s garden. The anchor beer was drunk and a toast to happy sailing adventures.

The moon was up as the sun set. Brec later tidied up the sails before we all retired to bed.

It works!

Our BBF was up early around 0630hrs to talk to the Bank. He put coffee on and then although he got through he was passed on and got cut off twice. Eventually he managed to reconnect and this time spoke to a Tobias Boor who was very helpful. There seems to be nothing wrong with the Credit Card. When Alan explained where he was and what our future intentions were he left Alan hanging to double check, when he returned Alan was told that this information had been passed on and recorded. As our BBF had put money on the card he was able to draw cash from a Bank without paying Interest, but the Bank charges would apply. 

Somewhat reassured our BBF had breakfast with Brec who then left to work on the Boat leaving Alan with a shopping list. Alan now sorted out the clothes he would need for the sailing adventure. 

It was a nice warm day again and so our BBF took the Truck to do the shopping. He went first to the out doors shop REI to get gas cartridges which will be the back-up if his repair to the paraffin stove fails. Then he drove to the Post Mall and tried an ATM and was able to draw cash with his VISA Credit Card. He  had lunch in the Mall.

Today  though, (Brec would be pleased) he had a Bacon/Cheese Burger with a Pepsi! After lunch he went searching for a small fan. He used the Credit Card again in the Sports Kit Shop, Dick’s, but did not find a fan there.  Brec had asked him to find a battery driven fan for the forepeak where he and Sandy would be sleeping and it could get very warm and sticky up there. 

He found what he thought was a great option in Walmart. A rechargeable fan with three speeds and it was fairly silent, a fan much better than the one he had in his own sleeping cabin on KARMA! He thought he might buy us one for our camping kit!

Then it was off to ShopRite to collect a prescription for Sandy and some last minute victuals which Brec wanted. He couldn’t resist the fresh strawberries so bought a box and some vanilla ice cream!

Back in Orland Street he packed his bags had a nap then prepped the evening meal. Brec came home on time after a successful day. While they were eating and between courses, Gail Brec’s sister phoned Alan from Phoenix in Arizona! This was a nice surprise as they had never met. After the strawberries and ice cream the humans sat and watched the news before going to bed.

What can go wrong will go wrong!

The humans were all up early today, there was lots to do and Sandy was leaving to spend time with her cousin in Maine for few days. Brec left after breakfast to go work on the boat and get charts for the upcoming voyage to Nova Scotia. Our human took the Truck to go find Halloween stencils for cutting pumpkins, but failed! Too early, though in some shops there is Christmas stuff but not all Halloween stuff!! He then went to Verizon to buy a SIM Card. He had chosen them as he had one last time 5 years ago and their SIM card also worked in Canada. It now took almost three hours to get it sorted. The first thing that didn’t work was his VISA Credit card, the screen showed not accepted! So he paid cash. Then the first SIM Card couldn’t be read or recognised. The salesman tried all sorts of things then eventually he rang Customer Services. To cut a long story short, he spoke to three different people and at least two different departments, turn the mobile off, take out the SIM, put it back, turn it on, call the emergency number, turn it off take out the SIM, start again. Eventually the third SIM Card worked. It was now late afternoon and our human was hungry.

He went to the Post Road Mall for a burger. Then back to Orland Street.

With a working SIM card in his mobile phone he was able to text Brec and Sandy. Brec asked him to check if Amazon had delivered a Cruising Guide to Nova Scotia.

Something from Amazon was on the door step, then Brec asked Alan to look at his pile of books yet to be read and see if there was a guide there, for he felt sure he had bought one, but just couldn’t find it.

Yea so now the humans had two. We have to say that this sort of thing happens to our human too. He is out shopping and sees something that he things he needs only to find two or three already in his cupboard. When he had a yacht of his own he did it for boat parts too!! 

Our human watched a bit of TV until it was time to cook an evening meal. He prepped that then watched the US News. The situation in Maui where POTUS was visiting was awful, the flooding in California was also terrible and then to cap it all they had an earthquake!

Brec arrived and the two humans ate and chatted amiably. Then Alan tried to find a weather channel on the TV where they could look at long range weather charts, but failed to find anything a sailor could use. The Internet would be a better place we felt.

Brec read his Cruising Guide while Alan watched the Rachel Maddow show and her commentary on the ongoing Trump saga. We seem to remember five years ago watching her talking about that human!

As our BBF wanted to get up early to talk to his Bank about the non-acceptance of his credit card he went to bed early. All in all it was a mixed day. Somethings went wrong, but the weather was nice sunny and warm.

Whales of August

It was a bright sunny day and as it was a Sunday the humans went to church.

The Pastor you see here was called Roy and did not wear Vestments, but a nice large cross on his chest. The sermon was about doing God’s will. 

On return to Orland St, Brec went to the boat while Sandy and our human went victualling for the voyage.

They rode with the top down and went first to Costco where they were already selling Christmas stuff!

When they had all the things they wanted Sandy took our human to the boat. Our human now helped Brec climb the mast, but found it was harder than when he did it in Gibraltar in 2002. Well it was 21 years ago, Brec is heavier and our human had a duff arm and a weak wrist on the other side. Brec is a good sailor, but he has a habit of using 1000 words where one or two would do and if there are two ways of doing things he would choose the complicated instead of the simple.

It was hard work and when Brec was at the spreaders he was willing to give up, but our BBF encouraged him to go on. Winching was hard, because of the weight, but also because of Alan’s duff left arm and right weak wrist. However, with the team work the two had developed they managed to get Brec to the top of the mast in the end.

It is never easy working at the top of a mast, but Brec is a Veteran of such work and managed to fit the new wind vane despite the problems he encountered and the swaying of the mast.

When Brec eventually came down having fitted it he was surprised by a group of yacht club members who came and gave him a standing ovation on the jetty! A job well done the two male humans cleared up, locked the boat and returned to Orland Street. 

Sandy had made a delicious meal of roast lamb, roast potatoes and beans. Our human quickly made some gravy to go with the meal. 

Then Brec and our human watched the Whales of August a Betty Davis movie set in Main! We hope to see whales when we are sailing in Main!

Surf and Turf

Our BBF was up first, put coffee on made himself some breakfast. Then Brec surfaced as did Sandy shortly after. Brec went to work on the boat while Sandy took Alan into Milford to the Oyster Festival.

There were fairground rides and stalls with lots of places to eat fresh oysters to lobster rolls. 

We were fairly early but people were queueing already to eat. There were also oyster eating competitions, but our humans did’t hang around to watch. They went into town to see the craft stalls. There were also many Service and voluntary organisations represented from the Coast Guard to Marines and the Police and the Boy Scouts.

Classic cars were also represented and fascinating, all highly polished and well maintained.

Near the WWII memorial was a US Veteran Stall where our BBF deposited all his loose change and obtained a US Poppy in exchange.

There were many interesting stalls and after a couple of purchases the humans returned to Sandy’s Car.

Our BBF was thrilled to see children running a stall on the street to sell lemonade. He had only seen such things in Peanuts Cartoons before this, but there were a few more on the streets.

Sandy drove our BBF to the Bridgeport Yacht Club where Brec keeps OTTER and they had lunch in the Bar where Brec joined them.

Our BBF went then to OTTER to help BREC with the preparation required for the voyage at the end of next week.

His task for today was to replace and repair the burners of the paraffin stove. We had a similar stove on KARMA when we sailed around the world, so our BBF knew more or less what he was doing. The photo shows the new burners in position as a test. BREC needed some self locking washers for his wind vane and went to the Chandlery to get some. Alan worked on the Burners while he was gone and texted him to bring some more fibre and copper washers for the repair. 

In the mean time our BBF found a few in the many plastic bags of spares BREC had and so fitted the burners. He then discovered that one burner’s control arm didn’t align with the holes for the splint which fixes it, so found another burner with a longer fitting and fitted that one. By the time BREC returned he had finished, but had not tested them. Sandy returned to take Alan shopping so he left BREC to it and prayed silently that he had done a good job.

Sandy and Alan went to “ShopRite” to buy Lobsters which were on offer. They bought a few other things and then returned home. Brec in the mean time had texted to say the burners worked and didn’t leak! He was pleased as a couple of years ago he had tried and spent almost two days on it and was convinced it was hopeless.

Sandy and Alan when they got back unloaded and then Alan made some Cream of Tomato soup and a Marinara Sauce. She then put the Lobsters in to cook.

And a steak on the grill.

Brec arrived in time to get changed and washed before eating.

The humans had Surf and Turf, that is Lobster with Steak and Salad and some green beans all washed down with Prosecco.

All three humans love Lobster and our human saved the tail to eat with the steak and salad.

The. Prosecco flowed freely and the humans were quite merry and thoroughly enjoyed a delicious meal and great company.

After Sandy had filled the dishwasher and sorted out the chaos in the kitchen, in part created by our human, he and Brec washed up the rest. They then sat repleted in front of the TV before going to bed.