MudNCrud Forums
Sitting and Day Dreaming => Mud Puddle => Topic started by: mynameismud on October 10, 2023, 02:20:59 PM
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Hi All,
Been a while since I have posted. I have backed off on climbing and biking, still doing both but not as much. I did take a sailing a bit, well I think I took it up. I have bought a couple of sailboats. I initially boat a boat to see if I liked it and then bought one because I got a deal I could not pass up. So, I sailed a bit more and with a bigger boat, I liked it. So being a rational well thought out person that is not know for taking risk, I bought a bigger sailboat. I boat a bigger boat in another country.
I will step back just a bit, I was thinking of going all in, I traveled and looked at a couple of boats. While I was in the British Virgin Islands looking at a boat, I called a bunch of places to see if I could get on a boat and sail for a week. After spending most of a day calling places and getting no response I gave up and started to look for touristy things to do. I was in the BVI for two weeks, one week to work and one work to have fun. Monday morning 9:30 AM I get a call from a sailing school, they have a boat leaving at Noon, I can partake if I get there by 11:00, it is a two-hour walk. So, I asked her if she can send a cab. Cabs are not a real simple thing in the BVI since no one really uses addresses. You just have to be able to provide a good description of the place. If you typed the name of the place into a search engine it came up down the street. She stated that she would send a cab and it would be there in 20 minutes. I gave her my card info and started to pack.
The sailing class ASA 103/104, I had already taken 101 and there is no 102, consisted of sailing between a half dozen islands and snorkeling. There were two moments that really hit me. One was at an outdoor restaurant with a thatch roof. They cooked fresh lobster over a homemade BBQ made from old barrels. I was sitting there staring out from under a thatch roof, looking out over white sand, and into a pale blue sea. Time just seemed to stop, people were talking, dinner went on, there was music, dancing, limbo, but my mind was off. It was as though I had no thoughts just mesmerized by the sea.
The second moment was when we went to Saba Rock. The instructor and I went there, and the rest went over the infamous Bitter End. After a drink, the instructor told me I should go out back and check out the beach. It is a man-made beach with hammocks, sand, and some tables off to the side. Normally I am not into this kind of stuff, but after staring out at the vast blue in front of me for a while I walked over and laid in a hammock and just stared out into the Caribbean Sea. So much stress from so many years just seemed to flow out, I just sank into the hammock, the gravity of time just sucked me down. I was stuck, I felt like I could not move, did not want to move, just laid there and stared. After a bit I pulled myself together and got up.
I went inside and everyone was there and starting to close out tabs since our table was available. I sat down ordered another drink closed out my tab and started get ready to go to our table. The instructor looked at me and asked, “ What did you think”, my reply was “ I’m going”. That was it, nothing else, it just came out and at that point I knew. The sailing was awesome, we hit a few more Islands and it seemed the instructor gave me more time at the helm and questioned me a bit more after that.
I came home and purchased the boat in the UK that I had decided not to buy and called a Real Estate agent and told her I needed to sell my house. I took the sailing course the end of April, and about 6 months later I am homeless and have a boat in the UK. I live part time in my boat in Everett and in the camper on the back of my truck. I am still working but work remote and drop into the office on occasion. I have been to the UK and spent time working on the boat, mostly cleaning, and removing layers of grime. The boat was well loved but not well cleaned. Also, it has been sitting in a boat yard for around 3 years. Most of the systems are out of date and basically needs a full refit.
Working remotely has challenges and rewards, I have been getting out way more than I have been in a long time. I did two of the best MTB rides since being in WA, lots of walking, I wore out a pair of shoes in less than a year, wore out as in going through the soles, saw part of WA I have not seen in a long time. The biggest challenge is of course connectivity, but also electricity. Not being plugged into a socket and still needing a day or a couple of days of power for electronics in order to work.
I will update later with some pictures.
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I could kind of figure some of this out from Instagram posts and such. Do you sail the new boat back to Washington, will the Virgin Islands be your new home or do you go back to the boat and sail to other destinations? Sounds like you had a great trip to the Caribbean and got some much needed relaxation.
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Yeah, how did you get the new boat back to Washington? And what make is it and how big (I've sailed a fair amount with my uncle on San Francisco Bay and have a passing knowledge of boats).
Meanwhile, I bought the climbing guidebook to Vantage, Washington after Vicki and I passed through there on the way home from the PCT in August. Maybe I won't see you there after all?
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That is such wonderful news.
What a great change of LIFE!
When l think of you on the boat it puts a smile on my face :yesnod: :biggrin: :thumbup: :arf:
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^^
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It sounds like he bought one boat in WA and one in BVI.
Good on ya dude!
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The sailboat in Everett it is an S2 9.2, it is a good coastal cruiser or a good Puget Sound boat. I was thinking about selling it but ran it by my nieces and nephews, if they were into sailing, I would keep it and they could use it. One niece I mentioned it to her, and she was disinterested but her husband a really nice guy really lit up. She seemed a bit surprised and they are willing to give it a try. So, I will take them out and they can see. He is normally a really quiet person, sometimes you do not even realize he is there, so it was a bit of a surprise to see him get excited. Another niece seemed uninterested but mentioned her husband would be so I may just keep it. I think she warmed up to it because my brother-in-law really liked it the day I took him and my other niece out. As long as the boat is used, I am good with keeping it. Moorage is not too bad.
My other boat is on the river Dart in southern England, well actually it is in a boatyard off of the river Dart. It is a Tanton 43, which is a bit different since it is a Cat Ketch. A Cat boat is a boat with unstayed masts and Cat Ketch of course has two masts.
Once I get it fixed up a bit so I can take it out and have confidence that the water stays on the outside and the systems are fairly reliable, I have no idea where I will first take it. Eventually I would like to make it back to the Carribean. But, I have no solid plans and no itinerary, I think after approximately 40 years in tech living and driving to deadlines and results, I just want to go sailing and see where it takes me. In time I would like to get back to the Puget Sound and my preference at this time would be to do that via a cape and not via a canal.
Currently I bounce between the two boats and the camper. I never really know where I am or where I will be tomorrow. The Tanton needs a bit of work; bottom paint needs to be removed and redone, thru holes need to be replaced, diesel needs to be refreshed but looks to be in good shape, probably the port lights redone and the electrical needs to be replaced. I spent a couple of weeks just removing layers of grime. Cleaning out the bilges was a bit disgusting, I am not sure what that growth was. But the boat looks semi respectable and does not have that diesel muck smell so much anymore. The only real setback so far is I have been doing so much walking my bum knee is acting up.
Here's to sweat in your eye.
Mud
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I just read about a yacht like yours on Cruising World's website (built in 1982). Sounds sleek.
Does she have a name yet?
I wasn't sure when you said the UK if you were talking about England or BVI - so thanks for clearing that up.
I love the movie White Squall.
I have always been fascinated by stories of being aboard sailing ships and adventures at sea but never acted on it.
Must have been one of my past lives. :winkagain:
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I just took a look at the S2 as well and expected something smaller not realizing it is 9.2 meters.
I imagine with your penchant for adventure one of your first may be sailing through the Bermuda Triangle :yesnod: :biggrin:
Maybe on your way to Tierra Del Fuego :thumbup:
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How do you like that area of England? Looks like a some decent sized towns and interesting things there. Do you have a place to stay?
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No name yet. I have a couple of ideas but have not settled on one yet. Yeah, 9.2 made me realize that long term I wanted something with a bit more room. It is a bit cramped after a couple of weeks.
I like this part of England, lots of small villages and yet there are bigger cities as well. Plymouth is a bit overwhelming for me but has some cool stuff. Torquay is cool but building up. The coast here is amazing would be really nice to sail, lots of ports. So many of the rivers have shallows so that would be a challenge, plus there are some big tides. I have stayed in a couple of Airbnb's and have done stealth nights on the boat in the yard.
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"The boat got to be part of a man, like his pants or his shoes." from The Big Sky. Sound like this is happening.
Que la suerte te acompañe el Capitán Barro!
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Here's a book I read that is about sailing to the west of Plymouth. The Fastnet Race is a world famous sailing event. The book is about the disaster that overtook it during one year's contest. Maybe read the book (if at all) when you're not going to be sailing for a while (kinda like Accidents in North American Mountaineering in that way).
https://www.secondsale.com/p/fastnet-force-10/359089?ean13=9780393308655&id_product_attribute=58825328&campaignid=18999200123&adgroupid=&keyword=&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI76qhl6rvgQMVPRqtBh0slQtTEAQYAyABEgLyiPD_BwE
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Clink, like with Uber I end up have to look words up, lol (this is a good thing), and thanks.
Nice website, I was not familiar with it, I am familiar with that race incident. I will read, thanks.
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Hey Brad - I'll read that book if you give it to me next time we see each other.
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Here's something scary (but the shirt is appropriate) - a little early for Halloween but tomorrow IS Friday the 13th.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ADCreHcXOkkTTYg0z1JjI2iOa0pe3TQBy7aL6MHPUFw8PqnuD2OfC6Pagllgp5PMAtT2aJcQMNF3aVr0OhQxuQCkArWB2mt7UlBSOyzaNqIIzW4zAykwH9eDdcYKFQ9qciQSIp4p7Ywy6PfVzvcHvtqisHgn=w527-h602-s-no?authuser=0)
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Hey Brad - I'll read that book if you give it to me next time we see each other.
I don't have the book - my uncle lent it to me. Should I buy a used copy and have it sent to you? I might read it a second time if you'd then lend it to me.
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Your call. I'll trade you an old star dryvin and a Leeper hanger for it.
I read the intro and it sounded interesting and looked like it might be a quick and easy read - plus I tend to like stories about true-life adventures/events.
I'm surprised you were able to respond - I thought you might have a heart attack after I made a request to read.
Curses...foiled again! :yesnod: :lol:
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If anyone didn't "get" my picture scroll back and look at Steven Stills t-shirt.
I don't have a red cap and orange just wouldn't be proper.
I have a chunk of wood from Calypso encased in lucite on my mantle.
The inscription/quote reads
"Calypso! One look at her was all it took to decide that she would become my ship...I will sail with her, she will become my home, my universe"
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I've been thinking about your new boat and how exciting it must be to enter into a new worldl of unknown things and adventures.
The unknown and the unknowing is what keeps me going.
It's good to have things to be excited about.
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Thanks for the clarification JC.
Yeah, I really have no idea what I am doing. I am just doing what is necessary to get to the next step. I have not felt this way in a long time, feels good. I am feeling better about the boats. Had a couple of guys on board to do some work, they just kept saying; this is a blue water boat.
Your trip to Japan must have been amazing. Something different around every corner, you and your bike.
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Your trip to Japan must have been amazing. Something different around every corner, you and your bike.
Riding a bike is possibly the best way to experience new places because you are in it. It really provides a lot of freedom. You can stop anywhere and not worry about parking . You can cover more ground than a backpacker and for the most part don't have to rely on public transportation. Being in the elements and being able to converse with local people at any moment is good too. People really seem open to talk because it's totally obvious what you are doing. It's a cool experience and I hope to do it again soon.
I would imagine traveling the world in a boat will also have it's unique advantages. Definitely bring a bike with you to explore! You could have some great bike packing adventures.
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Did you experience any language barrier problems while in Japan? Did you study much Japanese?
I do plan on taking a bike.
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I studied Japanese for one semester in 1995. That was a beginning conversational class. Only knowing that much what would tend to happen is I start talking to someone, they assume that I speak Japanese and then they say a bunch of stuff I don't understand.
Google translate is really handy especially if the person you are"talking" to also has it on their phone. This way you can both type simultaneously and show each other replies. Sometimes I would pre type the question, approach someone, say in Japanese "hello excuse me I speak very little Japanese" and show them the question in Japanese on my phone.
While Google translate is helpful it becomes tiresome pretty fast. It left me feeling like I wanted to have a less awkward conversation. Great for reading things like menus. I think I will take another course at the community center in Japan town before my next visit.
So to answer the question there was never a specific problem or incident with the language. Like I said in the TR if you know a little bit it goes a long way because people feel like you are making some effort. I see a lot of Amercan tourists who make no effort. Just walk right up to other people and start speaking English. I think no matter what country some one is visiting they can learn excuse me, thank you, I'm sorry, hello, goodbye, my name is, etc.
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Once I get it fixed up a bit so I can take it out and have confidence that the water stays on the outside and the systems are fairly reliable, I have no idea where I will first take it. Eventually I would like to make it back to the Carribean. But, I have no solid plans and no itinerary, I think after approximately 40 years in tech living and driving to deadlines and results, I just want to go sailing and see where it takes me. In time I would like to get back to the Puget Sound and my preference at this time would be to do that via a cape and not via a canal.
Wow, please continues to share your adventures with us.
I once thought about learning to sail, but I have very bad motion sickness. One time a client of ours invited me to a boat cruising around the bay, I puked left and right 80% of the ride. I was sooooooo embarrassed. :'( So I crossed the Sailing off from my list.
But I'd loved to read about your journeys.
Have fun and be safe!
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So is that how you become known as BAP?
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So is that how you become known as BAP?
Now I know why! ;D ;D ;D
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I was never bothered by motion sickness when I was young but I discovered I had it when I went to an amusement park in my early 30's. I had not been to an amusement park since I was a teenager. Since then I have been on boats and yachts but most of the time took dramamine. That seems to work fine until it completely wears off a day or two later and then I still end up feeling woozy and like the ground is moving but not sick. We went out on a tall ship replica from Moss Landing one year and 50% were puking over the rail, 40% were green and 10% were having a good time. I was in the first group and Kat was in the last. I have never been so glad to get back to shore. It was a flat bottom boat so it acted like a cork bobbing in the bay. It was choppy that day too.
Okay...now I have to go :puke: :puke: :puke:
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i=29lLj70soNduHfvQ
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Since then I have been on boats and yachts but most of the time took dramamine. That seems to work fine until it completely wears off a day or two later and then I still end up feeling woozy and like the ground is moving but not sick.
I took Dramamine when I had to take some bus rides while trekking in Nepal. The medicine put me to sleep 90% of the time, the rest 10% time I would wake up and stick my head and half of my body out of the bus to puke. :'(
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Here's a book I read that is about sailing to the west of Plymouth. The Fastnet Race is a world famous sailing event. The book is about the disaster that overtook it during one year's contest. Maybe read the book (if at all) when you're not going to be sailing for a while (kinda like Accidents in North American Mountaineering in that way).
https://www.secondsale.com/p/fastnet-force-10/359089?ean13=9780393308655&id_product_attribute=58825328&campaignid=18999200123&adgroupid=&keyword=&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI76qhl6rvgQMVPRqtBh0slQtTEAQYAyABEgLyiPD_BwE
I read the copy of this book Brad loaned me. Yes - you can get up off the floor now - Cook read a book. It was a little dry in spots since a lot of the format was similar to "accidents in mountaineering" (Brad warned about that), but it was interesting nonetheless - especially the personal accounts. I liked the info about how the event was viewed and criticized by the general public afterwards. There was a stats summary at the end that helped synthesize things quite nicely. It was the 30 footers or right around that size that got hammered. The 55 footers (or so) acted like it wasn't that bad - they tended to say they had experienced worse (Ted Turner's boat and the boat the author was on for example). It doesn't sound like my cuppa tea but it was still pretty riveting to read about. The chapter about the unluckiest boat in the world...sheesh!
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I read the copy of this book Brad loaned me. Yes - you can get up off the floor now - Cook read a book.
This should go in "Historic". Cool, does Brad rate books? R for the dry sections, X when you fall asleep multiple times trying to read it and eventually give it up? B1-B100 rating system for how intriguing and interesting the book is. Using abcd's for big words(that you have to look up). Stars for the overall reading experience, even reading on a Kindle you can rate books by giving it stars.
The Bible for example might get a B-59bX. The Very Hungry Caterpillar a B-97*****. Red Mars a B92cm****(the "m" is for included maps), and so on.
P.S. If I'm found murdered in Monterey County, it was Waldo, for posting this.
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I read the copy of this book Brad loaned me. Yes - you can get up off the floor now - Cook read a book. It was a little dry in spots since a lot of the format was similar to "accidents in mountaineering" (Brad warned about that), but it was interesting nonetheless - especially the personal accounts. I liked the info about how the event was viewed and criticized by the general public afterwards. There was a stats summary at the end that helped synthesize things quite nicely. It was the 30 footers or right around that size that got hammered. The 55 footers (or so) acted like it wasn't that bad - they tended to say they had experienced worse (Ted Turner's boat and the boat the author was on for example). It doesn't sound like my cuppa tea but it was still pretty riveting to read about. The chapter about the unluckiest boat in the world...sheesh!
Definitely an interesting story. There is a similar story Queen's Birthday Storm down around New Zealand, a large depression came through and caused the largest rescue operation in that area's history. Ultimately not as bad as the Fastnet Race but that is likely due to the location. Seven boats were abandoned some of which showed up later.
Link to analysis there is also a good youtube documentaty. Just search Queens Birthday Storm.
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The one thing I will say is weather reporting has improved significantly since both events. Starlink has also made a significant impact since there is now a somewhat affordable and real-time means of having connectivity while at sea.
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Definitely an interesting story. There is a similar story Queen's Birthday Storm down around New Zealand Just search Queens Birthday Storm.
Thanks Mud.
We watched the documentary yesterday and it was good (Kat watched it with me).
The clairvoyant lady was a hoot!
I liked the little video simulations they showed - especially the one of a yacht pitch-poling followed by a full roll. Hard to believe people can survive such a thing. I learned what pooping was from the Fastnet book - so I knew what the one couple was talking about when they said they got pooped several times. It's a whole new vocabulary. The scariest and most dangerous part was trying to get from their yachts onto the much larger rescue vessels. I think the strange bright white light that lit up the entire night sky (they all saw it) was aliens (so did the clairvoyant lady). The hours that the radio crews and rescue crews put in were insane. Take home point? Never give up the ship!
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Many rescues come do come to the conclusion, stay with the ship until it is actually going down. There is one other big race rescue that went down and that is the Sidney Hobart race. There are some good videos on that. I think those are the big three. The clairvoyant lady was entertaining.
An interesting race series that you can check out is this year's GGR (Golden Globe Race). They sail solo, non-stop (well there are three anchorages for press talks), unassisted, around the globe, in sailboats that are 32 to 36 feet long. No electronics or modern gear. There is a good video that goes over the original race in the 80's (or whenever), I think it is called A Voyage of Madmen, I watched the movie and read the book. This year's race was pretty good.
The Maiden movie is also worth watching.
Cheers
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Many rescues come do come to the conclusion, stay with the ship until it is actually going down. There is one other big race rescue that went down and that is the Sidney Hobart race. There are some good videos on that. I think those are the big three. The clairvoyant lady was entertaining.
An interesting race series that you can check out is this year's GGR (Golden Globe Race). They sail solo, non-stop (well there are three anchorages for press talks), unassisted, around the globe, in sailboats that are 32 to 36 feet long. No electronics or modern gear. There is a good video that goes over the original race in the 80's (or whenever), I think it is called A Voyage of Madmen, I watched the movie and read the book. This year's race was pretty good.
The Maiden movie is also worth watching.
Cheers
The subject is maritime disasters and how to stay alive and you end with "cheers?" Seems like a disconnect to me :P
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LOL,
Too funny. Well, it is the maritime world where you can fix just about anything with a nip of Rum.
EDIT, note to below the first GGR was in the 60's.
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The subject is maritime disasters and how to stay alive and you end with "cheers?" Seems like a disconnect to me :P
He's just getting in the British frame of mind.
He could have just as easily said "Ta"
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A bit of an update.
I am back in the UK for the month. There was a re-org, and my new boss wants everyone in the office three days a week. Will see how it goes. I came out here because the electrical equipment has arrived. I just do not have the time bandwidth, so I hired someone to do the install. We went over what I want done and what he can do. I am doing the demo work so I have been spending my time here removing old electrical and plumbing (I also hired someone to install new plumbing).
Glad I decided to remove the old wiring. What a mess and some connections came undone with a simple tug. I have all the electrical and plumbing removed from the back one third of the boat. The rest of the time is spent cleaning, sweeping and vacuuming. The boat at this time is a complete mess. There is stuff everywhere. I have had to remove the ceiling panels to get some of the wiring out and as a result I am putting in insulation as well.
Do not think all this work will be done during this trip. A bit stressful all in all, but this is how it goes. Slowly it gets cleaner albeit a bit messier.
Cheers from the UK
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Thanks for the update dude.
Home improvement project - you're no stranger to that.
Hope it goes smoothly (does it ever?) and fingers crossed that you discover some hidden booty behind one of those panels.
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I like the hidden booty idea!
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But I thought you liked short shorts 8)
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I definitely like the idea of hidden booty. I am looking high and low.
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first project and best upgrade so far (the only upgrade so far), diesel heater is installed. So, so nice, it is cold and drizzly outside, and I am in a T Shirt. First time in a while.
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That kind of stuff is some of the best moments. Kind of like when you are super dehydrated and thirsty and you realize just how good water is. Many times when I had a motorcycle I would get caught on the freeway in the rain and get totally soaked. Used to like to change clothes and then sit in front of the oven with the door open set on broil.
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sit in front of the oven with the door open set on broil.
Yeah, I had the boat on roast there for a bit.
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Get baked! :devildevil:
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Have watched the gram for updates, but it's not the same as hearing about the process here. Hopefully an update is coming soon.
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Update:
I was hoping to get the boat in the water when I was out there last month but the guys, I am dependent on, did not get the rudder installed. Due to other life dependencies, I will not make it out there until Feb or Mar. The boat should be ready when I get out there then.
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Reconsider relocating to outside The Pinns…its not too late.
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^
Seems like that ship sailed quite some time ago.