In just over a week we would have departed for the voyage of a lifetime.
This year we were all set. Everything was in order. I actually got down to the last thing or two on my long "to do" list.
Because of the airline industries volatility, we are forced to put off our trip for another 12 months. I am already counting the days.
Not only are there no leaves being granted at Horizon, they are canceling vacations and struggling to find pilots to fill our vacancies. It just isn't a good year to get any time off.

In the mean time, I am rebuilding the entire coolant system of Ghosts engine. It was the last thing on my list. It bugs me that I can't start the engine and go if i want or need to, but this had to be done. So far, the project is under budget and has been easy to do.

Anyways, 374 days until departure........and counting.

I thought I would post our possible timeline for our Alaska trip

Departure: as early as March 29th. ( can still make Alaska with a departure as late as May 15)
Route: unknown, but probly will check into Canada in Sydney then work our way up the BC coast.
The first week will be sort of a shake down for the BC coast. Winding our way through our beloved San Juans and the Gulf islands.
Campbell River will be a big stop for us. We will stock up on perishables, fuel, water, and an internet uplink.
Then about 3 weeks to get to Ketchikan. Arrival around May 1st.
About a month to get to Glacier Bay, June 1st
Then we turn around and head south.
Ketchikan around July 4th.
Campbell river around August 1st
Then home by Sept 1st

Highlights: (whales and bears every day)
Departure
Lasqueti Island to Campbell river. 50 miles/ 10 hrs all open water (dawn watch)
Seymor narrows
Queen Charlotte Strait 12 hrs on pasific ocean open water (dawn watch)
BC coast
Dixon Entrance open ocean water entering Alaska (dawn watch)
Ketchikan
Anan bear reserve
Wranglell
Wrangell Narrows
Petersburg
Glaciers
Hotsprings
Glacier bay
Juneau
Glaciers
.......return

Too much adventure to list

Well, I have been wanting to get a generator for a long time. When we leave the dock I turn into a sun freak. Always aiming the solar panels to get every amp possible from the solar gods.
This week Honda had a sale, so I bit the bullet and bought a new generator for Ghost. Now we will be able to do laundry on our trip and I won't have to worry so much about the sun and solar getting along all day.

Also, on a sad note. Our starter bit the dust. Last week I had done a "pre- departure" start and warm up to get ready for our week end away. When I started the engine the starter sounded kinda funny. Not "ha ha" funny....but "click click buzz" kinda funny. The engine started ok, but I didn't like the sound.
Anyways, at departure time for our Saturday AM dawn watch, there was no start, just buzzzz click click.

Now I have another addition to my list. Amazon has the starter for $112. Go figure.

Cheers

The big projects are winding down. We have a couple week end sailing trips planned in the near future, so i am gonna put off the heat exchanger project until after xmas.

In the next few weeks i am going to:
Hang "Boo" in the davits
Clean up, register, and put name on "Shadow"
Change out, lower running, steaming, and spreader lights to LED

Tonight Angela is at a meeting, so i am taking the chance and making a new dish for the kids.

Spam and velveeta!

These two items are somthing that may go a long ways in our provisioning.

We love baked mac n cheeze.

So,

I cooked up some bacon and prepaired some penna.
A little butter, flour and milk to add to the cheeze
Stir all together in baking dish
Top with some chedder and bread crumbs

Bake

Done!

Add a loaf of fresh baked bread and all is good.

I will fry up the spam and see how the kids like it.

And with a fire crackeling away and some wine...i can make it through any complaints!

I had written letters to all the "higher ups" to plead my case for getting the 5 months off. I am not sure what I expected, but the initial response is that my leave has been denied.
The keeper of the keys explained that it was simply too early to grant my request.
We will see. We are not giving up that easy!

New freezer