Autumn Borne is now on the HARD (at Shady Harbor Marina) off the Hudson River
(first time in 18 years... that we stayed in the NORTH country...

WELL.... this has been interesting....
I fell the other night and ripped up muscles in my souulder.... the one I use to raise the anchor...

So tomorrow when we head to GA could be interesting....
:ouch...

But we've been traveling for days with Benny and his crew (Chris from Hawaii)... that has been fun...
Great dinners, and conversations.

OK...

It's been raining now for more than 3 days....

This morning we put the dinghy on the foredeck (sort of)... (it''s crossways to where it normally sits, but it's somewhat centered)...

and... Put water in the AB tanks... In case we have to run to the HUDSON River to "get OFF these docks..."..... keel boats put lots of pressure on the minimally secured docks... sideways pressure...

While greasing the steering gear a couple days ago... I leaned lightly on a hose under the floor in the aft cabin.... and water "spit" at me.... OH OH.... crack in hose... !!!!
(see PIC).... 3/4" dia. hose... with crack... could be a "boat sinker".... iF not repaired..
SO.............. DONE... and repaired.

It's still raining ... and we have discovered a few leaks we've never had before...
(It's a BOAT)...

It's anchor chain marking time again...
When we were on a mooring in Vero Beach Florida...we "FLIPPED" the anchor chain "end for end"

that "FLIP" made most of the "OLD" markings appear in the wrong places.... BUT I remembered where the marks were... and adapted well on the 35 day trip north...

BUT NOW.... all the correct markings (every 25 feet === PLUS red / black / red at the end...

and RED (space) RED at about the 12 foot mark.... (where we determine IF we're going to raise the Mains'l while still at anchor (but "pulled UP short"...

Good Morning…. It’s saturday, I think…. (we’re cruisers…and have lost the clock that say’s “Monday / Tuesday… etc.)….

It’s Fourth of July weekend, and Canada Days…. It’s a shame it’s NOT sunny and wonderful outside…right NOW… BUT sun will return this PM and tomorrow… (I think)…. The tropical storm formed near NC is heading out to sea… (I hope)….

We finished the cleaning of the waterline of AB, and the polishing of most of the Stainess steel, AND yesterday I spent many hours cleaning fenders, and changing their support lines…. I’m cutting up some of the lines (that we’ve stored for years in the aft deck box… that we’ve never used…)… and now making use of them…

the AB is getting LIGHTER every day…. I’m tossing things (parts/ lines/ JUNK/ some spares….). In preparation for either a wonderful, or final sailing season…. We’ve done this for 18 years…. Gone up and down the entire coast of the USA 36 times… ( i see the flora, and fauna of the coats in my mind)…

I’ve pickled the watermaker for this summer season…

I’m trying. to clean up the inside of AB, so that we don’t look like an episode of “Hoarders”… from cable TV.

There’s NO tent here at the marina to play music UNDER…(weather being a factor)… and there’s NO “heated POOL” this year… Liner being ripped and the Owner not willing to spend time or money to replace, and FILL…. SO… this year at the marina is one of worst so far….
The good thing is we have a secure dock with fixed cleats, and nice neighbors….

Last night we had a great music, and happy hour (under the VIRTUAL TENT; NEAR THE VIRTUAL POOL)…. 🙂

OH WELL… time to get on with the day….
SUN is coming OUT… NICE!!
--

WELL.... we've decided to make some changes to the way AB is arranged for "coastal" passages...

We've decided to put the dinghy on the foredeck (that is NOT new)... but what is new is that we'll put it ON the Foredeck WITH the outboard motor ON IT.... and have it ready for immediate Launch IF we want.... sort of like having strong davits...
on the stern...

OUR stern has the Monitor Wind Vane (sort of making aft davits a PAIN...

Anyway.... to make room for the motor we've had to remove the life raft... But...considering that the life raft hasn't been serviced in years.... and we don't do that much open water cruising anymore.... we doubt it will be catastrophic...

the other change made to AB is we've purchased a WINCHRITE winch handle to make lifting the dinghy/motor much easier, and quicker...

SO.... we'll see how this combination of things work out this coming season.... I'm suspecting that It will make life much easier....