Big update, big fun!

Well this past Monday was a great day of sailing, with consistant winds and blue sky. The kids and I pushed off the dock around 9:30am and sailed her back into the dock around 5:30pm. In between was a great time and the kids did all the sailing! We set off on a port tack and sailed for almost an hour without changing a thing except adjusting a sheet or two here and there. Colby was at the helm the entire time including as we sailed right through the narrow & shallow channel at Andersen beach swim area. The winds swirl and change direction quite frequently in there and with not much room for error it was a challenge. This narrow pass is a challenge for many people that choose to sail in between the land masses, many don't even attempt it. 

After passing through the channel and rounding the island Peyton took over and without much help was able to sail us through past Bear island and Party cove. Peyton was at the helm for quite a while and several times I was below deck and not even up in the cockpit. She is beginning to lose her fear of heeling the boat and is starting to gain much needed confidence in both the ability of the boat, and in herself.

We then anchored in a new cove just around the corner from our marina and spent the afternoon swimming and listening to music the kids wanted ( God help me, I can only handle so much Boy band stuff ) We had a great lunch and the kids and I got plenty of sun and fun. We raised the main sail and I put Colby at the helm while I raised the anchor and we sailed off the anchor and all the way into the slip, pfft who needs a motor ;-)

Several years ago our digital camera broke and we hadn't replaced it, and to give you an idea how old it was I think it was 3 megapixal. Well after much research on the subject and reading I decided it was time to spring for a new one, and considering where we are going next year I don't want just "ok & so/so" pictures of this. I picked up a nice digital camera to help chronicle our trip in super detail, every bead of sweat and every grain of sand ;-) We are now the proud albit confused and overwhelmed owners of a Nikon D5100 SLR camera. These are a couple shots taken yesterday.

Today the kids and I went for a hike that consisted of several miles of rocky trails that we foolishly did all wearing flip flops. We had a great hike and got several shots with the new camera of nature, the kids and some really neat creative shots. 

It was around 100 degrees today and after that hike the kids couldn't wait to hop in the water. It was a great day and the kids are whipped... Of couse so is their father lol.. 

My day..

Today was a nice day to chill out on the air-conditioned boat.

We went out to go and see if we got any mail in the P.O. box and we did get some mail so we now know it is working. 

We went to the Old Hickory Dam and saw the water was stirred up a little bit. We saw the locks and found out where we are going to come out and explained to Peyton how it works.

Then we came back to the boat and we took a long nap.

We woke up and me and Peyton did the dishes in our bathing suits. After we finished we both jumped in the lake then rinsed the lake water off. I cannot wait for dinner tonight, we are going to have fajitas, they will be so delicious.

Tonight we might do some cat fishing and might get a good sized one. Also a 3D movie to watch tonight. I cant believe summer is almost over =,(. But i am glad that we are going to leave in one year, on my BIRTHDAY!! Its a great birthday present!

New plans, new departure date

Well after reading the book "Simply Sailing" it made me realize we will never be "ready", we will never have "enough money" and we are wasting valuable time with our kids while we try to attain those two things. With that in mind Jessica and I have revised our plan and departure date.

Our original plan had us leaving TN on Windsong Sept 28th 2014 which would be soon enough, however not soon enough for us! Our new plan is a departure date of Sept 28th 2013.. That's right 14 months from now!

Our lease here at the current marina expires in April/May at which point we will move Windsong to Old Hickory Lake and to a marina there. Red Solo Boat will be put up for sale and we will live in Windsong as we finish preparing.

We plan on shoving off early morning, Sept 28th 2013 on Colby's birthday with friends, family and any well wishers to see us off. We will be motoring down the Tombigbee waterway through countless locks, twists and turns. The trip to Mobile Alabama will take around 3 weeks or so and we plan on taking our time, after all we have no schedules, clocks or restrictions holding us back from doing whatever we feel at the time. Once we enter the Gulf Of Mexico the options are limitless. This should put us in the area at the very end of hurricane season and give us the winter to enjoy as well as plan what to do next. 

We have talked about doing our refit work in Marathon but recently other options have presented themselves and might be a better choice. Ft Meyers, Merritt Island and a couple others are intriguing as well while we work on the boat and prepare her for the salty drink. Getting the required work done as efficiently and cost effectively as possible is a high priority. 

From there I don't know, but I do know that St Croix is high on the list of places to get our feet wet. It has several advantages for us including being part of the US. This gives us the chance to work a little if we choose and stay as long as we want without any restrictions. 

I guess the clock is ticking, speaking of which it's time to re-oil the teak wood!

GET OFF THE BOAT!

So the weather hasn't exactly been great the past couple weeks with temps over 100 degrees (up to 109) and lack of winds. Well today at 5:30 I woke up to the sound of the halyards clanking in a 10kt breeze. I rolled over, told Jess good morning and then promptly told her to get her stuff for work and get off the boat!. Peyton woke up to the sound of the engine starting as we pushed off from the dock, we waived goodbye to Jess and off we went, just the kids and I. 

We went out and raised the main sail with Colby at the helm, the kids had pulled up the fenders/bumpers, secured the safety lines and stored the dock lines. The weather window was about 2 hours before another front had a chance of moving in and we wanted to make the best of it. After raising the main and getting started we forced Peyton to get up, come topside and then take the helm. Peyton spent the next hour at the helm with very little intervention from me. While sailing we had some cinnamon buns, drinks and just enjoyed a windy day. 

Now Peyton still has some fear of heeling over so we kept it just main sail only without deploying the jib. It kept the boat pretty much upright with very little lean, while slow it was a great way to help her build confidence in her ability. At one point I was inside the cabin up in the vberth while Peyton steered Windsong through a 10kt breeze. At another point I was up at the bow pulpit (very front of the boat) up in the what I refer to as the Titanic scene part of the boat, while I looked back at her. 

Coming in we had a little bit of a incident where the main sail got stuck up as we sailed into the marina, but we managed to recover and it turned out ok, however we did have to start the engine to finish docking. Our main halyard had a bad spot in it where the sheath was worn but the core was fine, well this time the sheath got caught up on the mast and wouldn't let the main fall. So today we will run into WestMarine and pick up a new halyard for replacement, about a 150.00 fix. (OUCH) 

Overall great day with the kids so far and it's only a little after 9am. Coffee on the porch with them and their little cream and sugar doctored cups, then washing dishes and getting the boat all bundled up and ready for the rain that is headed our way. 

So remember, unless your sailing, if there is wind and I haven't been out in a while "GET OFF THE BOAT!" lol. 

Red Solo Boat

WELCOME HOME Colby & Peyton!

We present to you the Red Solo Boat

1970 Gibson Drifter

Well we managed to keep the secret and surprise the kids! When they left for Michigan they had no idea what or where they coming home to live. They were not sure if they were moving into an apartment, house, or a tent, and trying to keep all the secrets we had in store for them was really tough, but it was all worth it in the end. 

My Grandparents brought Colby & Peyton home on the 4th of July, early in the morning. They thought they were coming to the marina because we were hanging out there, they had no clue it was their new home.

So we are adjusting to life on the Red Solo Boat and even better yet, we have moved Windsong directly next to it so we can have more space and privacy when needed *wink*

This move will allow us to cut time off our overall departure and maybe leave much sooner, as well as give the kids a small taste of the life we are moving towards. They spend the days Kayaking, swimming, fishing and of course sailing. They will have the biggest classroom of all, full of adventure, fun and much needed time together as a family. 

We keep pushing towards our goal and finding more ways to get there quicker. So far this journey has been amazing and all along the way things have just been falling into place as if this was what we were meant to do. Thank you to all of you that have been supportive of what we are trying to accomplish with our children and our lives, you are all a part of this..