Goin' South

Goin' South
On the Gulf Coast Waterway 11-2011

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Almost Gone!

Hard to believe it's just 9 more days until neighbors Sue and Al's departure date of Nov. 5th.  We'd love to join them, but here's our remaining To-Do list:

     >Finish interior cabinets and varnish (SO close!)
     >Make sail cover and windscreen (fabric came today!)
     >Install another water tank (we have 50 gallons and want 100)
     >Put lettering on the transom (Heidi's sent them)
     >Install safety netting on life lines.  (in the mail!)
     >Make cockpit cushions (closed cell foam's on the way!)
     >Buy loads of groceries & dog food and find room to stow them!

Actually, that list doesn't look so bad!  We've certainly honed it down!
     We had decided to go to Key West from here...750 miles straight across, but are now thinking of taking the Intracoastal Waterway part of the way, until the dogs (and US!) are used to the boat before an offshore crossing.  We're waiting for our Coast Guard documentation papers before we can leave the country, and may as well wait where it's WARM!   Just now, a northern front blew in with LOTS of rain, and it's supposed to get colder.  We'll see...  
      Pete's doing well, and recovering nicely from his leg surgery.  He still has stitches and a bandage, and taking antibiotics, but is already acting like his old self!  
      I ordered free boat cards last night, but now wish I'd paid extra for faster delivery!  The marina may have to forward them to Key West!   It's fun to do and you can see ours at www.svflyingdogsonline.vpweb.com  
     
     

Saturday, October 15, 2011

A brand new stove!

    Yesterday, we got 4 packages at the marina office, but none of them were our long-awaited new stove.  It finally arrived on a separate truck just before closing.   It took most of today to get the space cleaned out and the new one set, but it looks great, as you can see.  I'm so looking forward to being able to bake again,and I'm thrilled that my 15" pizza stone fits in it!  Gotta have pizza and the occasional cookies when you're out at sea!  I've been kind of limited with just a 2 burner alcohol stove and a microwave.
     We had a wonderful dinner at neighbors Sue and Larry's Carver power boat last night.  She made homemade beans and pork roast with salsa in a crock pot (served with tortillas) that made me want to get a 12 volt crock pot, but maybe I'll get a pressure cooker instead; much less strain on the batteries and takes less space.  Sue and Al introduced us to a great magazine, called Living Aboard that has lots of practical advice and fun articles.  www.livingaboard.com
    Daren still has to connect the tubes for the propane and make a vented shelf in the cockpit for the translucent fiberglass tank.  It gives a visual indication of how much propane you have.  It's also much lighter than a normal tank, which is a big plus when you're getting it filled in some remote place without a car!
 

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Stay sail!

    Yesterday was a big day!  Daren went up the mast to install a new cable (stay) for a stay sail, which makes us a cutter rig instead of a sloop, with more sail area.  Our nice neighbor, Bert, helped winch Daren up the mast, and the sail looks great!  We went for a late lunch and, after we got home,  I tripped off the boat and into the water!  (NO, I wasn't drinking!)  It was a slow-motion kind of thing and my watch scraped up my arm real good before it broke off and went to the bottom!  Daren said I don't need a watch anyway, but I was REALLY glad my cell phone wasn't in my pocket!  My hero (Daren!) pulled me out and I was bummed thinking maybe I'm too old for this!  He remembered that I fell in once before 28 yrs ago, when he was at the top of the mast at a marina in Jacksonville, so I guess that should make me feel better!  Anyway, no real harm done!  Now the score is:  Pete-6, Libby-4, Nancy-1!  Daren's still unsinkable!  : )
      Today, I worked on varnish and paint, and Daren built shelves for DVD's and books.  Varnishing is frustrating, as I keep finding DOG HAIRS in it!   
      Sue and Al made it back from San Diego and seeing their new grandson.  It'll be nice to have them back on the dock, but their boat's still in the yard.  A new motor sailor yacht came in tonight...54' and HUGE!  The new owners, Darlene and Kelly, plan to take it to Australia, which is where he's from.  Now THAT's an ambitious destination!  Costa Rica should be a snap!  
     
    

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Welcome to our blog!

Thanks for joining our travel adventure!  I'm hoping to post lots of photos so that you can feel you're along for the ride from Rockport, Texas to Golfito, Costa Rica!
     We'll enjoy reading your comments, too!  If you have trouble posting them, just write us at flyngdgs@gmail.com
     Welcome aboard!
     Much love from,
     Nancy, Daren, Pete, & Libby