Saturday, November 24, 2012

The End is Now


Chopper has learned computers and the whole is now open to him
Chopper is most concerned about our plans. He's been researching the Everglades National Park, looking for campsites.  He must have overheard us talking about going to Southern Florida where the weather is warm and warm sounds good right now. He's also worried that no one in this family has "a job" anymore and has been looking at the Craigslist employment section. What a good boy! Not really. In truth, we have told him over and over again, that the  premise of this trip is to make no firm plans, and to go where the signs point us. Follow the knows!  I have never travelled with this much freedom, and it makes me giggle.

We're taking off tomorrow, finally. Me Voy is winterized, and we are back to hauling water  to brush teeth and make tea. Takes me back to the good ole days of her refit.

Engine room rot removal.

We have set up the car, got new front tires, tinted the back windows, got a cargo carrier, and a bike rack. We have made a little mobile kitchen in the back of the Fit, to store our food, and stove, and not have everything in one big pile like it usually ends up. Since this picture was taken, the plywood has been covered in black contact paper, and everything is packed away, i.e. lost,  including the camera card to upload finished car pics. Oh well, you'll have to take my word for it, it looks awesome, and only takes four small screws, discreetly placed to keep it attached. Our cans and pots and pans fit into the back shelves, with books and toiletries going on the shelves behind the seats. Really packs out nice. We'll see how this all works on the road, but you might be looking at the first prototype of a Honda Fit camping kit, you just never know.

Honda Fit camping kitchen build
We are not thru with Me Voy, and will be back to live aboard her in April. She has a lot more to teach us, but for now, this is the end of a chapter. She has been brought back from the "dead yard" and our goal of living aboard her has been completed. So, as everything must come to an end, so it is with this blog. It is finished.  We are going IRL. So lock your doors, close your windows, and keep your children inside, its gonna get ... well probably very peaceful actually. 

The archives will be up for those researching boat restoration, as somewhere in there you might find some useful information. For those who have been with us throughout this process, thank you! Its been fun and somewhat dusty, and I hope you were able to keep your hands clean of Epoxy. I've had a blast sharing this project with you, getting to know you thru your comments and suggestions. If you wish to keep in touch, become our FBFF and friend our social media representative Chopper on Facebook, as we will occasionally post things there. 


Be happy, be peaceful, and when you're stuck in a tight spot, don't forget to think BIG!

Love to you All, bye



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The things we do


...to get ready for winter.

Folding sails
#1 Fold sails. Above is our main, genoa and jib. We also have a staysail and another main sail which also got folded into neat little bundles like the one below. It is no wonder furlers are so popular. Loading, and unloading sails onto the deck, hanking and unhanking after every trip, and of course putting them away for the season, these are not things you think about when seeing a pretty boat on the water. Next year we hope to join the civilized sailing world by saving up for some furlers.


All the sails get put away in these bundles and stored in sail bags. We used to keep them in storage for the winter, but since our storage has gotten ridiculously full, were gonna keep them on board. I  hope mold and mildew won't be a problem, coz right now with us still here and the weather getting cold, it is very damp in the boat.

Riding the bosuns chair

#2 Mast touch ups. Next was my time to shine as Travis lifted me in the bosuns chair to touch up some flaky paint on the mast. Armed with sandpaper, epoxy and paint I had no time to be afraid of heights.

M touching up mast
As you can see I am keeping a firm grip on that mast. Its funny feeling up there.

Chopper naps on kayak
Once again our deck mates proved useless.

Billy naps in v-berth
I'm seriously considering a rebirth as a pampered house cat. I mean how good is that life?


Friday, November 9, 2012

Counting down



After weeks of gloomy skies, the sunshine is back!

It has awoken us out of a stupor, and shone the light on the fact that we will be leaving, really leaving, the week after next. This has snapped us out of our let-it-happen mode into a make-it-happen mode.
There is the boat to be winterized, and shrink wrapped. Storage to be organized and consolidated. Car to be pimped out, camping gear to be acquired, address to be figured out, finances to be set straight, and all the other things I'm forgetting.

Better get to it.