First Sail

Athena was moved to her new residence on Saturday, October 7th.
What an awesome and thrilling day....
The motor down Big Marco River was beautifully sunny like any perfect day in SW Florida.
We had lots of food and a great lunch.
Vicki made yummy vegetarian sandwhiches.

After motoring down Big Marco River, we took Athena out for her very first sail since I became hers just one year ago this month.
Out we went through Coon Key Pass and into the Gulf past Coon Key Light.
Engine off, sailing away...
Oh, but someone told me never to go sailing on a schedule...
It was a perfect day.
But, the rest of life called,
we had to turn around...



As we returned, the final part of the trip into the marina became quite an adventure as the motor faulted and the decision was made to sail into the marina....
There are no words to explain how tricky this was, and we were darn lucky we were coming in while still on an almost full moon high tide...


The challenge was awesome. I'll be sorry the day I forget.
Vicki, thanks for being the depth sounder!!!
Russell, you are an amazing sailor and it was just awe inspiring to see you in action :)
My hero, my mentor :)

Earth or Water?

Earth or Water...



Spending a lot of time on land lately.

Capricorn is an Earth sign...

represented by a creature half goat, half fish...

Wonder if that's why I'm torn between Earth and Water...

Either way, sailing or mountain climbing, both ways to find one's isolation.

If you click the photo to the right, you will see the Mt. Isolation sign better. Clicking to enlarge the photos can be done on almost all photos on the Blog website.

De/Re-naming Party Date Set in Stone !

After much angst at having to change the date of the sailboat de/re-naming party...

A date has been set and full color invitations sent out to set the date in stone!

Everyone is Welcome to the
Sailboat Denaming-Renaming Toga Party

In honor of Athena, Greek goddess, and new name of Sailboat
And, having to call upon Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, for the denaming-renaming

Saturday, November 4th

Denaming Ceremony at 5:00 pm
Renaming Ceremony at 5:30 pm

According to legend, each and every vessel is recorded by name in the Ledger of the Deep and is known personally to Poseidon

What to wear to a Toga Party:
togas, sandals, and wreath of laurel leaves around one’s head. be creative!!

!! Wear your bug spray !!!

Champagne and Mojitos will be served.
Other than that, you’re on your own ;)

Location: Wherever the sailboat happens to be that day!

To Be Announced

Please R.S.V.P. by November 1st

Moon Rise at 5:01 PM; Sunset at 5:43 PM

Soap Box

On the anniversary of 9-11, I do feel saddness over the loss of life that occurred five years ago and the loss of life that continues from that day...
I also feel great saddness over the events that would have lead up to such an event.
I heard one of the newscasters say that today is a reminder of our resolve to fight for freedom.
Freedom, I chuckled... Has anyone looked around lately???
We are not free.
We are trapped in our ideals of what the American Dream is...
Super-sized house, super-sized meals, super-sized debt so we can keep up with the Jones', super-duper-sized fuel guzzling vehicles, super-sized packaging...
All the things I just listed are somehow connected to the consumption of LIMITED fossil fuels.
Any time anything is transported, fossil fuels are consumed. Petroleum products also include plastics (look around, what is NOT plastic???) and fertilizers... and is used for pesticide production, wonderful substances meant to kill that we willing allow the agricultural industry to throw on the food that goes into and becomes part of our bodies...
Agriculture directly accounts for ~17% of all the energy used in this country. I'm sure I don't have to mention the compounding of animal product production... but I just did.
hmmm... fossil fuels.
Our society has developed unsustainable practices. We are "addicted" to using fossil fuels.
Is anyone addicted to a substance free?
People fight pretty hard to maintain the supply of those substances they're addicted to...
don't they?
Of course we didn't go to the Middle East because of fossil fuels...
What crazy nonsense to think such a thing...
Kinda funny though, lately, when I question, it seems I'm treated as if I have no clue, a fool to question or think differently. When did society learn such techniques to control those who question by treating them as if they are crazy, uninformed... It's everywhere.
We are all uninformed.
How free are we really?
Where is our Pura Vida?
What's it going to take to make a difference?
Some crazy girl with a "green" sailboat anchored in the federal waters off some "rich" island destined to be the burr in the side of the people whom believe if they can afford it, it shall be done and handed to them on a platter...
next year...
It is estimated that less than one sea turtle in every thousand will survive to adulthood and return to complete the breeding cycle.

Is my chance of making a difference less than one in one thousand?

How about one in Ten Thousand Islands???

As one of my friends recently said, and I reiterate here.
Every choice we make is a vote.

We should all make informed choices, right?
Education and exposure to the facets of all the people of this world are key.

Ran the Engine

Among other tasks incomplete today (a few more letters off the stern, mast boot attachment attempted, a few windings of seizing wire around the shroud turnbuckles), I did accomplish recharging the batteries and started Athena's engine. To hear her engine run still brings a tear. Perhaps because of all the work put into the engine, or perhaps because the sound is the sweet sound of freedom...
Ran her for about 1/2+ hr. Fluff naps all day. Patty is a bit scared and very tired after the whole event.
Had a visitor on the deck today ;)

The Dock is Bare

This last friday I worked all day then went for a great run on the beach. The sunset was beautiful. Heat lightning dancing across the sky over the tree tops.

A pink like one thousand Spoonbills reflecting on the clouds against the blue of heaven and framed by wonderful white wisps.
Back home and glad I made it past the snake infested (a.k.a. saw one large black snake once....) walk to the dock, a smile on my face, I stood peering into the darkness at the end of the dock thinking, "who kicked my solar shower into the water?" and "surely the crabs didn't all join forces and pick the solar shower teeming with lukewarm water and toss it over the side?"... "who would have done such a thing?"
Well, the dock was bare for sure. no matter how long i starred into the darkness, no nice lukewarm solar shower to come home to after a nice hot sultry (a.k.a. very humid) run on the beach appeared.
One of the problems with being tied to a solar shower is the requirement that one fill it with water and put it out on the dock (or deck of boat) to heat nicely in the sun all day...
Sometimes when leaving for work at 6:30am, it's difficult to remember, let alone feel like, filling the solar shower with water... that was the case this past friday... only, i'd forgotten that i hadn't put it out to warm... otherwise, i would have skipped the run.
alas. i showered with the last bit (perhaps a little less than a gallon) of cool water remaining in the solar shower that had been hanging in the AC boat all day...
Perhaps that is why my muscles decided to wake me at 1:30am! at least though i could calmly lie awake, knowing that my Evil Eye was protecting me from the crabs ;)

Motivating to go backwards...

After being MIA from friends, family, and even sometimes work for three months of May through July, this past August it's been difficult to get motivated again and September's been no different. And, I'm so so close to having Athena ready to go sailing...
So, I motivate this 4th day of September, and now that the day is over, I wonder if I'm further behind than when I started the day. I know I'm not, but it sure feels that way.
As usual, Patty was either under foot or overseeing the action ;)
The tasks I set out to do never seem to be the ones I actually end up working on... today was no different.
There are two fresh water tanks in Athena; one beneath the cushions in the Vbirth and one beneath the floor in the salon. The one in the Vbirth drains by gravity to the one in the salon. To stop the flow from higher Vbirth tank to lower salon tank, I replaced old with a new handy dandy valve (which lies next to a transducer I have yet to figure out what it does...). This task involves a trip to the hardware store... then a trip to West Marine... then a trip back to the hardware store... Course, that's what it's like every task, why should this one be any different !
Patty sits on the Vbirth water tank and looks as if to say "whatchya gonna to do about it!"
Meanwhile struggling trying to fit 1/2" I.D. tube onto 3/4" O.D. tank fittings is next to impossible and now it's too late to go back to the hardware store. And Eileen Quinn sings on my radio... "I love sailing, except for when I'm hanging, over the railing..."

Next task... stop the drip drip drip that keeps my Vbirth bed semi-dry instead of dry!
I've been thinking it's the gasket... So, I replace both gaskets, one each on the two hatches of Athena, and wait as the rain comes again...
Yup, that's the mast I see looking up from the Vbirth.
But, alas, the drip drip drop does not stop.
Upon further inspection I realize it's the sealant around the plexiglass that's cracked in one corner. That task will have to wait until a dry day when I can get full use of a tube of silicone, or until I find clear caulk and take on the dreadful task of recaulking the hatch... Arrrgh.
"I love sailing, except for all those times when, my courage is failing" - Eileen Quinn

So, I give up for today, shower, and remember, even though my fresh water system still isn't done and my hatch is still leaking over my bed, I have so much more than most people in this world. I am thankful for all that I have.

"then he brings me a sunset with a green flash
and he gives me a bow wave where the dolphins splash
and we go dancing on the beach in our bare feet
life doesn't get much better than this, so I admit defeat
because I love sailing, and the alternative is quickly paling"
I Love Sailing by Eileen Quinn

Evil Eye

I guess it depends what you believe, but I was having a difficult time not associating an evil presence with the shaking of the boat the night I wrote about the sea gull and the continued feeling of being watched the next night as well, opening my eyes to a sudden brief beam of light filling the boat searching and the shadow of an old mariner on the dock watching. Granted the "shadow" was probably a distant palm poised in the dark night. To fall back asleep, I had to keep telling myself it was nothing. Just a palm.

Hearing my tales the following evening, Lynne (Russell's wife) opened her heart and gave me an Evil Eye to hang in the entry to the boat. I went home that night and immediately afixed the Evil Eye to the companionway with white duck tape ! I will more permanently adhere the eye the next time I have some caulk out ;)
I suppose it could all be in my head, but I'm sleeping better now.

The Turkish protective talisman meant to turn away harm, now hanging in Athena's (Alexis Dares') companionway, traveled across the Atlantic Ocean with Lynne and Russell from Turkey. How cool is that ;)

The Turkish name for this amulet that protects one from the evil eye is nazar boncuk. It has no religious significance. Some still believe in the power of the evil eye, some do not. To me it is another reminder of customs and traditions deep rooted in other cultures. Leaving me with the feeling that deep rooted Country-wide tradition is something we are missing in this melting pot of cultures in the U.S. Belief in things beyond our visual minds.

Sleepless Night

The winds from Ernie seemed to have settled down by mid-night last night. But I was still wired from the stress of the storm. At some point I managed to fall asleep, but was awoken at 4 AM to the howls of the wind. The wind didn't just rock the boat gently like a woman cradles her baby and rocks them to sleep. No, the wind kept grabbing hold of the top of the mast and shaking it, vibrating the mast down into the boat and sending those vibrations through the boat. It was a fitful sleep and I wondered if the same thing would happen if not tied to a dock.

Live Free or Die

It came to my mind again today, as I was cleaning the sailboat and smiling at the New Hampshire license plates I have afixed to Alexis Dares' stern rail, which can be seen in some of the photos I have posted...
The state's moto, "Live free or die"
For a state with so little coast line to escape to the sea, it seems to me their moto rings true of a sailor's heart.

What does one do in the rain on a boat?

What does one do in the rain on a boat while the tail end of a tropical storm goes by?
Read, write, "play," play games, nap...
Perhaps clean one's boat !!!!

The "breeze" was kickin', the sky was spittin', in the boat hid the kittens. Up on deck, Jen was a scrubbin'.

I hadn't cleaned the sailboat for quite some time. Earlier in the year, during the winter dry season when the Osprey were constantly leaving "presents," it seemed all I was doing was cleaning the boat. Having the Osprey finally fledge and the mast off the boat for some time, I enjoyed a clean boat. With mast back up, I've had some presents, but it hasn't been too bad yet. No catfish wings or backbones of late.
However, this green algae-like stuff appears to have started growing on the boat, along with some other mildewy type growths. Being from New England this type of growth reminds me of something that should occur on the North side of a tree or rock, or anywhere if you're in Maine ;)
but not Florida, the sunshine state! how can that be?
Well, I guess this stuff likes the Florida rainy season cause it liketh my boat!

For some reason cleaning the sailboat clears my head in some ways and lets thoughts, ideas, and creativity flow in others. At one point, I even thought I felt the spirit of Alexis Dare, the current name of the sailboat, even though I lovingly call her Athena. With the denaming and renaming planned for the fall equinox, September 23rd, just 24 days away, I become a little nervous about changing her name. But, I sense that she just wants to enjoy the last few weeks as Alexis Dare, but knows Athena will take her into the next part of her story. The actual history of a boat can never truly be taken away or changed. Silly for the sailor to develop a denaming ritual that removes all traces of her past. Although most guidance I had found suggested destroying all notation of the boat's name before denaming and renaming, I think I will follow the guidance of my good friend Capt. John, who suggested afixing her old name on her somewhere. I feel that is something I must plan to do.

All cleaned, I stood on Alexis Dare and watched the fading feeder bands of Tropical Storm Ernesto sweep across the sky whispering of the louder center storm.

Sunset Before Storm

The evening before Tropical Storm Ernesto's arrival, the sunset was breathtaking.

Trail Angels on the Trail of Life

As I was writing my last post on friends as great examples of compassion, I was reminded of two other trail angels on the trail of my life. Brian & Beth, very fondly known as B&B.
The night before I was to leave for my trip back "home" to MA, all kinds of karma was flying around me; at the time I thought it was bad. Time then passed and upon reflection I realized the karma was likely good karma in a strange package. The Universe protects us in unexpected ways by means that may not seem to have a positive pull, not to mention my angels know I can be very stubborn and it takes some working to get me to change a set course!!!!
Having returned home from work after a very strong thunderstorm had passed, there was no power to the sailboat, which meant no AC for the cats. During FL summer, it's much too hot for the cats to be left on the boat without AC. As the rain continued, I attempted to get power back to the boat to no avail. Scrambling to finish all tasks to leave for vacation, the time grew too late for me to drive to the east coast, the first leg of my trip home to MA. At 10pm, B&B took me and the cats in. Me for one short night, and the cats for a week. The next morning I drove to the east coast; I saw a number of bad accidents on the roadways. I believe there was reason my angels didn't want me driving that night before. Upon return home after the week in New England, the power was mysteriously returned to the sailboat.


While I was away, the cats did play, and Beth let me know that I could take the cat out of the boat, but I couldn't take the boat out of the cat ! I guess Patty wants to go kayaking ;)




And, as usual, words cannot express how grateful I am for B&B.
They are two very important trail angels on the trail of my life.

Tropical Storm Ernesto Preparation

I learned a buddhist meditation last week that I absolutely love. I see every day how the meditation can be done within one's self, and even how it manifests outside our selves and into our actions.
Simply, the meditation is wishing and breathing away the pain and suffering of others and breathing back compassion and the light of love, all the while destroying one's own ego.

Expect nothing in return for your compassion and no ego is yours.
Friends are amazing examples of compassion.
With the help of my friend Capt. John, Athena was secured in prep for Tropical Storm Ernesto.

I learned about cow hitches (which were promptly renamed tofu hitches, in the name of veganism!), proper tie placement on pilings, proper tensioning of lines, preferred types of lines, etc. etc.
Pulled off the dock a mere 4 feet, it may as well have been 50, because that was just enough to sit fear like lead in my feet from stepping off the boat and onto the dock.

Capt. John, Thank you for the hand.

There is nothing that warms the heart like the light of love from a friend.

Patty Spots take 3

In preparation of Tropical Storm Ernesto, the cats visited my office.

As usual, Patty found places to explore :)

"Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps" - Cake (a great musical band)
perhaps perhaps perhaps, my office will be clean some day...

Evil in the World

My trip to New England reminded me of the hidden unexpected evil that exists in this world too.
This picture may seem innocent. But upon return to this spot, the spirit had left the sea gull's body. My friends and I debated whether or not it was really the same bird lying lifeless at the edge of the tide.
Be weary of those that seem to have the ability to tame others. Their intentions may not be compassion.

But... Life goes on... As these pigeons are well aware !!!!

Did one bird spirit need to be lost for another to be gained?

The main Maine Goal

Visiting New England refreshed in my mind one of my goals...
The Maine Goal.
Sail from Florida to the coast of Maine.
Will I be doing this single handedly...
Only the Universe knows...

New England Home

I took a week off from living on the boat and went back "home" to New England.
My favorite beach for family memories in Salisbury, MA, with New Hampshire not far in the distance.
I love the New England coast.

First Month - August 15, 2006

First month.
I'm loving living on the boat :)
For the past week I've been sleeping in the Vbirth on newly covered cushions.
See fluff napping in back corner :)

Although content with the space I have now. The size of the space changes depending on who I have on the boat... Some personalities make the boat seem too small, others fit right in. I wonder if the difference I feel is somehow connected to how that person feels about the size of the boat, even without expressing it verbally...

7 inch shaft

Is it a new-age link tang or a modified pump shaft from a wastewater treatment plant ??? It's both !!!!
The most creative artistic craftsman, Bill (i.e. crane operator extraordinaire during demasting and Erection parties), came to the rescue when I discovered I needed a connector between the new roller furler-headstay and bow of the boat.
Seven inches between pin eye centers, this solid stainless steel shaft is bound to create shaft envy amoung sailors ;)

Instead of being right on top of the anchor, the new shaft has raised the roller furler drum up above the anchor, giving it more of the cruiser style :) Everything happens for a reason...

With shaft in place, the rigging was tuned and the jib raised :)
A little tug from the wind, a little tug on my heart.
Stainless Steel the wind from my breath... Let's go sailing !!!!!