Rowena

Recently we have had several friends who have left on great adventures and we have been reading sailblogs.
Things seem to always make a full circle and I thought now would be a good time to start things up again and start posting.
In the last few years since our last post we have been working on the boat and have crossed most of the items off the list, I’m not sure if the list ever ends but it seems to continue with things I never thought of, needless to say the boat is looking great.

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Although we started with good intentions, it's been awhile since we have posted. Do not fear our loyal followers... are their any? :P We are still moving toward our goals of sailing the boat to the South Pacific!

Since our last entry we have married off all the children, new grandchildren have arrived, and the boat has been adorned with new - and used - stuff.

We have been using the boat. The summer of 2014 we braved 'The Graveyard of the Pacific', aka Columbia River Bar, and sailed (motored) up to Barkley Sound Canada. How amazing that trip way. We learned the ocean can be a very scary and beautiful, Ray gets seasick, Radar IS important to have in the Pacific Northwest, and most importantly cutting the dock lines and just heading to the Ocean is what we truly enjoy!

Our Yacht club, SIYC, keeps us using the boat monthly for local cruising, sharpens our skills and inspires us to again cut those lines and head for the sea.

In the summer of 2015 we again headed north, via O.P.B (other peoples boat), to again cross the Columbia River Bar and head for Canada, this time Nanaimo! We learned what those 'other' boats sail like. The boat we were on was a Outbound 44' and beautifully, thoughtfully rigged for total comfort. Electric winch... what?! Amazing, that is all.

All of this cruising has just confirmed to us both that we really need to cruise. So, we are planning for a Fall of 2016 departure.

One of the many amazing features of our particular boat is that back couch. Along the stern of the boat is a couch spanning the full width of the boat. When I look at it all I see is potential.

Some friends of ours with the same boat have their couch dialed in. It is deep and soft and glorious! Ours is not quite there yet... you see we have two propane tanks along either side laying sideways. Although we tried to 'pretty' them up with matching covers, it never fails someone thinks they are a pillow and has a rude awakening when hey hit metal. With the captains seat in place it makes a pretty odd seat for any additional passengers.

So, Ray told me when they are empty we would change them. I cooked up a storm trying desperately to use up the propane. (Hence wanting the oven to work :)
"Yes! One tank down one to go" -Alicia
"Sweet! Last tank is empty, couch here we come!" -Alicia
"Hey babe I think I'm going to just refill that tank out there." -Ray

So, the saga continues. We will update you with pictures.

In other news, this week also had painting of the house top and work on the head holding tank (we enlarged the size).

With the cold rainy weather upon us Ray has upped the productivity. In the last two weeks this boat has really become a home. Below is a list of what we've done:

1.) The starboard water tank has been removed and replaced, lost a few gallons but it has no leaks so I think we came out on top. There were 5 holes in the old one.

2) The oven now works, it's glorious to be able to bake! We tested it with a batch of cookies that made the boat smell amazing for days.

3) Bought and mounted a 12V TV that we found with a built in DVD player. With an antenna outside we have quite a few channels. Now we are ready for Downton Abbey this winter :)

4) Found a dodger at the local chandlery that was a bit big, but with Ray's amazing skills bent and changed the frame, then did a bit of sewing and ta-da! We have a dodger!

5) One of the dirties job of all, the shower bilge was leaking. Ray tore into it and cleaned it all up fixing the leak.

Highlights:
Oven for Alicia
Dodger for Ray
TV for Both of us!

We attended our first SIYC meeting, the topic was places to anchor along the Columbia River. It was wonderful, what an amazing group of people! We plan to attend the Thanksgiving cruise Nov 16th-17th, this will be our last event before induction to the Yacht Club.

Overall, it's been a busy few weeks. We have been doing projects and buying DVD's :) We are not yet in the habit of weekly blog posing but hope to be soon!

Ray, Alicia & Matilda (dog)

On a high from our fabulous weekend with SIYC we had a few problems....

First, we decided to wander downstream and enjoy the day on the boat. Our plan was to wait for the wind to pick up and then have a long sail home. What really happened is... Alicia was at the helm and when the wind picked up on the east side of government island, she got so excited she turned the boat around the wrong way and slid her into sand!

We decided to have lunch while the tide came in and we could gently float off the sand. 30 minutes goes by, nothing... and hour goes by, nothing... time to call Captain Ron! He arrived with a smile and camera in hand to document the moment. "What the hell are you doing here in 4.5' of water?" Ray pointed at Alicia, that was all that needed to be said.

Within minutes we were free!!! Glorious!!! However, looks like we missed the wind window, not enough to sail home now. We motored home quickly only to encounter our next obstacle, the dock!

After three attempts with no wind and no current we were literally doing cookies in the N. Portland Harbor. Our dear friend Peter of S/V Penelope must have seen a few of our awesome moves and came to our rescue.
Ok, have you ever seen a big tanker being pushed sideways by a tug... keep that image, and now think of Rowena and a dingy. Thanks Peter, you are right, we do need bow thrusters!

Great weekend with new friends of Sauvie Island Yacht Club. 16 Boats arrived, most of which have seen extensive cruising... inspiring us! The theme was Halloween and Alicia was extremely excited to dress us both up for the event. We carved pumpkins and donned our best 'homemade' pirate attire, arrrr.. we were ready to party! The spread what long distinguished, including a meatloaf foot with beacon bandage and onion toe nails. Overall an amazing weekend with wonderful folks. We look forward to more events with the SIYC.