No time in a boatyard is fun. Period. Add that you came from 2000 miles away, and are used to things getting done on California time (our boatyard in Newport Beach is so damn efficient), you can expect that the experience likely won’t be grand. It wasn’t. Our boat was left in the boat sling over the weekend (which pretty much is a no no, but if you HAVE to do it, you block the boat so she doesn’t swing…
Friday morning, after I brought muffins from the epic local bakery to the boatyard folks, Mike and I unloaded our little cargo van. Got the Mo Box (and its contents) and the solar panel on the boat. Attached our anchor, and put the mast on top of the deck. It was super hot outside. It was silly to shower beforehand. I didn’t need the reminder, but I don’t like manual labor. Afterward, we went to the Thirsty Turtle, had a…
Mike here: Ok, firstly, I must point out that Mary was a bit influenced by her imbibery last night when writing her post…I know–it is difficult to believe, but there it is. Give the girl some live blues & jazz, a nice meal and a few good beers, and…well, there you have it. With that in mind, I have to begin this entry by expanding on her minor mention of “bikers galore” on Beale Street. There were literally hundreds of…
Monday, we left Tucumcari, New Mexico in beautiful weather. Since we stayed in a vintage Route 66 motel, we decided to take Route 66 for our next leg to Oklahoma City, OK. Our first stop was Adrian, Texas which is the mid-way point between Santa Monica and Chicago on the historic Route 66. We had an excellent breakfast at the Midpoint Cafe. The drive through Texas was boring and super windy. We finally got into Oklahoma and stopped in Oklahoma…
Mike here: Boat left for parts east at 3 AM Saturday morning. We left at 10, Sunday morning. Driving a Nissan NV 200 mini cargo van, stuffed with boat stuff, we headed out on the I-15 Freeway towards the gambling mecca. Coming to our senses, we took a right turn just past Barstow on Highway 40. Much of the scenery along the route reminds one of a lunar landscape, sans the flora. So much of the same. We made camp…
Mike here: Sailed Forever Friday from San Pedro to Newport Harbor Shipyard on Tuesday, 8/14/2018. A very nice, smooth, uneventful trip. Accompanying me was dock mate Karl Kirkman who, along with wife Nora, own a beautiful Jeanneau 49 sailboat. I think he might have a tug in his future…but don’t let that get out. Prior to leaving San Pedro it was necessary to remove several items from our upper deck(s); the radar mast & scanner, AIS antenna & two GPS…
Mike spent much of the weekend sequestered in our engine room…Changing main engine (Cummins 380 hp turbo diesel) oil <14 qts>, oil & fuel spin-on filters, wall-mounted Racor fuel filters/water separators, our Northern Lights generator’s oil + fuel & oil filters. Cleaned & serviced was Mr. Cummins’ Walker Air-Sep air filter (responsible for helping to keep our bright & shiny engine room…well, bright & shiny). Lastly, all of the sea-water strainers for main engine, genny, and air conditioner were removed,…