by Jen
09/03/2010, Mobjack Bay Marina, Mathews, VA

Hurricane Earl passed on by the Chesapeake Bay with little effects. We had some rain for most of the day but all in all it was a non-event. I am updating our SmugMug page with new photos of the work we are doing. Per your suggestions we have decided to go with the butyl tape for bedding our stanchions. So far only one has been re-bed and it was 98 degrees inside of Anastasia when we did it. My hope is that the forecasted 70-80 degree days upcoming will improve my opinion of the process. I am OK with the contortionist positions but when you add intense heat to being upside down, sideways and squished the sweat dripping in my eyes sends me over the edge!

Check out the new gallery Summer Work On Anastasia!

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by Jen
08/29/2010, Mobjack Bay Marina, Mathews, VA

The long, long list is slowly getting shorter and shorter. We have FINALLY replaced all of the head hoses. I say finally because we bought new hose last fall before we left and took it all the way to the Bahamas and back in the same coil it was shipped in. So that is DONE!!

We have also removed, cleaned and re-lubricated all of our winches. We have bought a new/old sewing machine that has enabled us to sew up a storm! We made a new mainsail cover, staysail bag, outboard cover & jerry jug covers. Our super awesome friend Ben (the same one who climbed the mast in New Bern, NC), who is a stellar welder, helped us design and fabricate an outboard hoist. Photos to follow soon!

We are currently in the process of: removing ALL stanchions to be re-bed and polished, removing jib and staysail tracks to be re-bed, installing new lifelines, and replacing the caulk in the teak deck seams in a few spots where it is cracking. We have some leaks from the stanchion bases and where the jib tracks fasten to the deck so we are pulling up everything! If one spot leaks, it will not be long until another spot leaks.

We have committed ourselves to 6 days a week of work, 9-4. At this rate we will have the list shrinking in no time! The down side to all of this hustle and bustle of activity is that Anastasia is a mess. Down below looks like she was picked up and shaken upside down for thirty minutes.

Hopefully, soon we will begin the wood work. Our plan is to sand all of the teak in preparation for Cetol. The thought is that it will be easier if it all is applied at the same rate.

The weather has cooled off quite a bit. No more days of 100+ temperatures. The nights have been great with lows in the 60s. This has helped tremendously to spark our fire of motivation.

So, today is Sunday. We are taking a break. Otherwise, I'd be at work!

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by Jen
08/04/2010, Mobjack Bay Marina, Mathew, VA

So we are now on the hard for the next few months. Nothing too exciting to report. The list of "to dos" extends longer than the ladder I climb every day up and down to Anastasia. Good news is that we are not roasting in the triple-digit temperatures we have been experiencing. We cheated and installed a temporary AC unit over our forward hatch. I have found however, that it encourages "inside-ness." Hopefully we will have weather soon for "outside-ness."

The marina we are at does not offer internet. I know! You would think that by now EVERY marina should offer wi-fi! They don't. So, we have to drive and bum it from a coffee shop and that means a cup of coffee each time.

Updates on our projects to come! Wish us "outside-ness" weather!

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by Jen
07/18/2010, Gloucester, VA

Looking for some advice on this one. From our experience in the Bahamas, there were always beautiful, friendly and welcoming children on every island we visited. I am sure that will be the case throughout the Caribbean and wherever we visit while sailing. I would like to take some things to give to these cuties. I know of some other cruisers who took things to the schools in the Bahamas but I am thinking smaller scale than that. We do not have a lot of room on Anastasia for too much but a coloring book and crayons here and there will surely fit.

I would like to know if anyone has experience with this and what stories you have to share. You can email us or just post it in a comment.

Thanks!

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by Jen
07/14/2010, Gloucester, VA

One thing about being home for the summer and preparing Anastasia for the spa/boatyard is that we become uncontrollably conscious of the cash out-flow. On our trip we tried very hard to be frugal. We rarely ate out at restaurants and only bought what was necessary at the grocery and because of this restraint we did very well on our budget. Then wham!! We are home. And the US is the land of spending money! Here, there and everywhere you go you are sure to find things to buy, and all of those things you really NEED!! The first month was rough...$500 spent in one week. Ouch. It was time to implement the utmost in monetary control, in our OWN country.

As you might already know, Maxwell and I worked the Food & Wine Festival at National Harbor for a week in June. It was nice to be earning some money after over a year of unemployment. And we met some great friends too!

A few weeks later Maxwell was preparing to leave for his offshore trip to Nova Scotia when my Grandfather offered him a day job of cutting grass. It was a one-time thing, helping him with an extraordinarily large yard that was not in his usual routine. I didn't waste the opportunity and volunteered my services in lieu of Maxwell's. It was a great day with my Grandfather and I went home with a little cash in hand too.

So the rest of the summer we hope to pick up some odd jobs to pad the kitty and hopefully it will make the withdrawals a little easier. I have been doing some sewing, design consulting and jewelry making. All of those things will surely help.

Just in case anyone should feel moved to help us along, we do have a PayPal donate button located on the right panel of the blog page. Thank you to those who have already shared with us...we sincerely appreciate your support!

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by Jen
07/03/2010, Gloucester, VA

Well we are still here at home in Gloucester. Maxwell left on Thursday morning for his offshore trip to Nova Scotia. I have been receiving position updates at noon each day. Today at noon they were located at:Latitude:38.59347
Longitude:-72.14872. I am sure he is having a great time and learning a lot!

While he is away, I am preparing our house for new renters. We hope to have it occupied by the end of the month. And then...Anastasia goes to the spa.

More to follow! Happy 4th to all!

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