New Neighbors

I've had Alana moored alongside my Coast Guard cutter for the last couple days. It saves me some commuting time and provides convenient access to electricity and fresh water. I'm trying to make use of my off-duty time to spiff up the varnish on Alana's toe rail. I plan to have her alongside for the Change of Command & Retirement ceremony at which I will enter the next phase of my life, so it's important that she look good.

I was surprised during my sanding of the toe rail to glance up and see a large pinnacle bearing down on me. A replica of the ship that delivered Sweden's first settlers to America was mooring at the adjacent pier. She is a splendid looking ship, though I'm not sure that a great proportion of the crew would survive a surprise urinalyses.

Boat Life Doesn't Suck!

I had not initially planned to sail today, but the weather was just too nice to miss out. It seemed particularly spectacular after the weeks of unrelenting rain we have been subjected to. Conditions were just about perfect with westerly winds in the 12-13 knot range, 1-2 foot seas and partly cloudy skies keeping temperatures moderate.

Alana performed like a champ (better than her owner), even when the winds kicked up over 20 knots requiring two reefs in the main. It took two tries to successfully pick up the mooring when I got back to Salem, but nothing was damage except for my pride. I'm still very much a learner in many, many ways.

Now it's time to stow the rest of Alana's gear and start thinking about a shower and a spaghetti dinner.

Boat Life Sucks!

Ever since I moved aboard nearly a month ago, it has rained! The entire nation, with the exception of New England has been seeing record high temperatures, and here we sit wrapped in dense fog, with highs in the low 60s, with never-ending rain. I know it will get better, and I know it could be far worse, but for right now I am pretty disgruntled.

Even if the weather does not change, and I am certain that it will, life will take a turn for the better in 4 weeks when I retire and no longer have to be at work at a certain time each day. I'll be able to delay my dingy commute until AFTER the deluge and I'll be able to get rid of all my uniforms. It is clear that boat life calls for swim trunks and t-shirts, not pressed Operational Dress Uniforms.

Keep your fingers crossed that this weather will soon improve so that I can open the hatches, air out the boat and get rid of some of this dampness.