The first tropical storm of the season blew through this week, the media made a big deal out of nothing (as usual). I've already been through much worse storms than Bonnie and had no problems, other than my SSB radio stopped receiving anything, no AM, FM, LW, or SW... just funky fuzz. I fixed the radio by taking the case apart, rising it in vinegar then rising the vinegar off with 90% rubbing alcohol. Salt air does terrible things to electronics.
I've had a re-occurring dream on this voyage, the basics are that Waltzing Matilda gets destroyed and I have to find a way back to Arkansas, I am frustrated and wake up inside my berth to discover it is a dream. I've laughed out loud several times when this happened. Last night the dream was extremely realistic an with a bit of a twist. This time Waltzing Matilda and I were riding out a hurricane at anchor, the sampson post ripped out and the fore began to fill with water. Despite my best efforts the mast was ripped off, and we began to take on water. I started the motor to have some control and was able to choose where we were washed ashore, we wound up between buildings in an apartment complex. There were people there that helped me get a few things from the boat and put me up for the night. I awoke and thought, "whew, it was just a dream" but I found myself in a strange apartment sleeping on the floor. I started to make my day and noted that the clock on the microwave said it was 5:00am. By 8:00 I was almost done salvaging what could be from the boat.
We burned the remains and I started to hitch hike home, after a day of catching lifts I stopped to sleep under a bridge, and woke up in my berth, safe and dry in the Waltzing Matilda
Whew, it was just a dream.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Another anchor story
Anchor stories are easy, they happen so often!
The city of Gulfport posted notices that all vessels had to be 300 yards away from the fishing pier for the fire works show. I wasn't interested in getting hot ash rained all over Waltzing Matilda, nor do I want another bullet hole so I was quite happy to relocate further out in the bay.
I motored out and dropped hook in a good spot and after cleaning and maintenance things laid down for a nap. I was in the middle of a bad dream involving my dragging anchor when I was awakened by the sound of a motor close to me. I popped my head out of the hatch to see a local "sailor" (I use the term lightly) having his vessel towed to anchorage about 100' off my bow. Seems that his engine wasn't working correctly and he was out of 'sail fluid'.
I had 75' of anchor rode out and this should have given plenty of clearance, except that the other sailor dropped a bow and stern anchor out so that his vessel could not swing, he then boarded the tow boat and left his vessel.
I moved rather than tangle with another vessel
I got my Uniden radio back from the factory last night, it was sent in for warranty repair after it quite working. The customer support was fair , nice people on the phone but I was on hold an average of 20 minuets each of the three times I called them. I had a note on the returned item telling them to contact me for shipping address but they just shipped it to the address it was ordered to. Mom shipped it to me in a box with some sweet goodies.
When the unit got back to me the invoice showed that the main board, mic and faceplate were all replaced, leaving only the original shell with all new guts. This is nice except that they did a poor job re-assembling it,the rubber gasket that seals the faceplate to the body was pinched out so I had to take it apart and assemble it correctly.
The radio works fine again, I hope it lasts more than 6 months this time.
The city of Gulfport posted notices that all vessels had to be 300 yards away from the fishing pier for the fire works show. I wasn't interested in getting hot ash rained all over Waltzing Matilda, nor do I want another bullet hole so I was quite happy to relocate further out in the bay.
I motored out and dropped hook in a good spot and after cleaning and maintenance things laid down for a nap. I was in the middle of a bad dream involving my dragging anchor when I was awakened by the sound of a motor close to me. I popped my head out of the hatch to see a local "sailor" (I use the term lightly) having his vessel towed to anchorage about 100' off my bow. Seems that his engine wasn't working correctly and he was out of 'sail fluid'.
I had 75' of anchor rode out and this should have given plenty of clearance, except that the other sailor dropped a bow and stern anchor out so that his vessel could not swing, he then boarded the tow boat and left his vessel.
I moved rather than tangle with another vessel
I got my Uniden radio back from the factory last night, it was sent in for warranty repair after it quite working. The customer support was fair , nice people on the phone but I was on hold an average of 20 minuets each of the three times I called them. I had a note on the returned item telling them to contact me for shipping address but they just shipped it to the address it was ordered to. Mom shipped it to me in a box with some sweet goodies.
When the unit got back to me the invoice showed that the main board, mic and faceplate were all replaced, leaving only the original shell with all new guts. This is nice except that they did a poor job re-assembling it,the rubber gasket that seals the faceplate to the body was pinched out so I had to take it apart and assemble it correctly.
The radio works fine again, I hope it lasts more than 6 months this time.
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