Listening to WBUR Boston's NPR News Station
Nothing ever works on a sailboat. NOTHING! Okay, this is an exaggeration, but that is how it feels sometimes. You go to flush the head, the head that you just soaked with vinegar and thoroughly cleaned, and nothing happens. You go to check the radar, the very radar that was working mere moments ago, and *poof* it's suddenly gone. You sit at the dinette under the dorade vent tapping away on your computer when suddenly a drop of water plops down. Never mind that the vent was just resealed. Never mind that after it was resealed you sat with a hose and sprayed it with everything that little spigot could handle. No. This is a boat and everything on it has a shelf life and, despite your expectations, some expire faster than others.
We have had a trying day. Days. Time is passing faster than ever, and every thing that does not get done or suddenly stops working is a mini disaster. Now, when a replacement part needs to be ordered, we are actually looking at a calendar to make sure that it will arrive before we leave. Notice has been given, a departure date has been set, several friends have agreed to crew, and we are feeling the heat.
I'm certain this is my inexperience talking, but there is a part of me that feels it will all be okay. I almost feel that we could take off tomorrow and, with what we have, be more than okay to start our travels. Sure, there are things that need tending, but isn't that what cruisers do… travel the world and go to beautiful places to work on their boats? Of course, unlike Drake, I am not in charge of the safety and well being of everyone on board and tomorrow comes faster and faster.
It's not all despair and ringing hands. Today Drake made wonderful progress cleaning off the deck and cockpit and I've learned something. Much like a car, washing the boat seems to be a sure fire way to bring about some serious rain. The last three times I have washed the deck rain followed within several hours, and as I sit here the rain is pattering away on those lovely clean decks. *shrug* Perhaps we'll be like the rain god mafia and people will pay us to stay away from their outdoor events. Pay up or it's grey skies for everyone!
I have also been working on several things. My avoidance of laundry has left me riffling through the back confines of the clothes locker where I discovered we had a serious moisture and mold problem. (Do I sound like a broken record? mold mold mold!) This is interesting since the very next locker is fine, but this one is quite obviously NOT fine after I discovered one of my favourite jackets spotted with mold. Blah! After removing the shelves I scrubbed the whole area with a bleach mixture and will lay down a few more layers of insulation as soon as the surface is dry...hopefully that will take care of the problem.
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| Before scrubbing |
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| After scrubbing |
Since everything that was in the locker is currently piled high on our bed in the aft cabin, Drake and I are bunking in the salon. This has its perks. Tonight we will lay on the settee, watch an action film that has nothing to do with sailing (I'm thinking The Bourne Identity), and recharge our batteries. All I can think is...tomorrow will be a better day.
P.S. I promise not to talk about mold for a while, maybe, and I've also included this sunset to remind me of the beauty that I am surrounded by every day.
P.S. I promise not to talk about mold for a while, maybe, and I've also included this sunset to remind me of the beauty that I am surrounded by every day.
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| Sunset on Whittaker Creek |
Monique
ReplyDeleteI feel your frustration...and it's all part of living on a boat. How well I remember the very same things that are happening to you now. When we were counting down the days till departure the radar went out also, and the autopilot, windlass, etc etc etc. It seemed to be never-ending. But shove off we did and spent everyday while cruising fixing things! But it is so very worth it!!
Cecilia
How true. I think I'm just antsy to get out of dodge. *grin*
DeleteI have and still am dealing with mold I've been living aboard for a year now and had very had mold hiding in the vbirth. Cleaning with bleach got rid of it but it came back. So I sought out a paint with mold inhibitors in it. (Bear ultra exterior paint) works well and has held up well for a year now and no mold in the vbirth. Now I am waiting for the temps to come up some so the walls stop sweating and I can coat the inside of my cabinets with the same paint, keep the mold away.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting idea and sounds like it's working for you. It's much to chilly to attempt to do this now, but perhaps we can try something like this before we head across the Atlantic. Thanks for the suggestion!
DeleteMo, I love the sunset picture. Here is the deal on mold...You & Drake will have to change plans of cruising the Caribbean or where ever else you are planning to go to in a month or so & consider sailing up the St Lawrence & cruising the Great Lakes this Summer. it's beautiful sailing up here & my recommendation is to over winter in Canada. Paragon just needs one winter of sub-zero temperatures to KILL all the pesky mold that resides therein. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteHeh, well, we are heading up to Canada this spring, but we're not planning on staying the winter…as much as I would love that. Our plan right now is to head north in a little less than three weeks and sail to Ireland via New York, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Greenland, and Iceland. Though I'm not sure Ireland will help our mold problem, eh?
DeleteOne day I would love to sail around the Great Lakes and even spend the winter in Canada. My family is in Montreal and it would be so cool to get a chance to live there again. It's on the list...
Chris they would likely enjoy the great lakes and North channel.Tiny is a great area. I live there as well.
ReplyDeleteAt one point we had talked about sailing down the St. Lawrence to Montreal, but plans have changed. One day I hope to do that, but for now we're headed to Ireland.
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