Well a lot has happened since I last posted. Operation for me went well and am feeling great. Just before Christmas, my son was rushed to Emergency in Jacksonville, Fl with a massive tumor in his upper colon. So off to Jacksonville, Fl I went. After his operation which two tumors were removed , both benign and a total of three weeks in the hospital he was allowed to return home. I was planning to stay till he was able to get around and return to work, but it did not work out that way.

On Jan. 9th I received a call that my best friend and simi companion of 15 years had passed away from a massive heart attack. So I rushed back to Rockport. It took me almost three weeks to recover from my funk of her loss. Then to top it off I was left with the responsibility of taking care of her belongings and personal property. That done, and it was hard as her two step sisters wanted nothing to do with her or her things. Thankfully she and I had discussed what she would like to have done with her things and that made it a little easier since there was not a will.

So now I have a house trailer that is empty of all her things and now that what I had in storage is now in it. Not sure what is going to happen to my planned trip. I think that I am going to pack up all and put it back in storage and head to Florida and points beyond. Or at least pack it up and rent a truck and take it to Florida.

I have to wait till the weather warms as Vickie wanted her remains scattered in the bay she so loved. Anyway that is way I have not left yet.

I do have a few things I must do before getting underway to Gypsy Soul and I am beginning to get my ducks in a row. Before I go I have a lot of dental work to be done as one of my cancer medications has played havoc with my teeth. So this going to slow me down some what. But I plan to still go....now if the weather will just co-operate and the Lord wills.

It has been far to long since I updated this blog. But a lot has been going on. I lost my fuel pump and then developed an leak that I still have not been able to locate. Then I have had several health issues that with all the other has kept me from doing little if any sailing this past sailing season.

But with the removal of a kidney stone next Tuesday, I should be able to really get the boat in the shape it needs. Right now all system or go except for the addition of an AIS. I spent most of the summer varnishing and learning to sew with my new Sailrite LZ-1, Still have a problem sewing a straight line.

Wish to make a Bimini and Dodger...Learned on the last trip just how much one is needed. So will spend the cold days working on them. Any way to all a happy Thanksgiving as I have so much to be thankful for...A great home in my boat; my family, though they are in Florida; and my friends.
I will try my best to keep this updated more often so till then,,,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Just a short note to show you the work done in the yard is posted. I also completed the mounting of the wash-boards to hold the extra fuel tanks, installed a new and primary depth sounder to the front of the keel. Built a box en-closer to cover the Honda 2000i generator. re-painted the top side decks and sanded and panted four coats of Varnish to the toe rails. So all and all it was a busy but productive yard experience. I'm now ready to go as soon as the hurricane season is past.

Well the underway time for Florida is fast approching. I moved
"Gypsy Soul " from "Mustang Marina" to the "House of Boats" Boat yard today. I am glad that I had a friend (Craig) with me to help with lines to day. The wind was picking up as we left and I alomst caught the the dock as I backed out when the wind caught the stern and pulled around. As some of you may know...A sail boat does not back up for shit.

To top it off I had so many barnicals on the prop that I was losing power and really had to kick it in the ass. That is one of the reasons that I was pulling the boat for a final bottom check. I also needed to raise the water line a good 8" to 10".

When I originally got "GS" It was a bare bones boat....No engine installed...fuel tanks and Water tanks were never used...plus she never had all the equipment both electrical and deck items installed. n When I originally started rebuilding "GS" All I had was a hull, mast and small boom. Having a brain hic-up I used the old water line.

So after installing a new engine, a anchor windless, ice box, and all new topside equipment.......course the boat was going to ride deeper in the water. A LOT DEEPER...About ten inches lower.

Now I have to sand all the old paint off...prep it and then repaint it. If you check out my photos you will see a section for the April 29th haul out and see just how bad the bottom sides were where there was no bottom paint. I had just launched her a little over a year ago and where there was bottom pain the was nothing but a little green slime. Not one barnacles any where to be found. BUT where the boat did not have any bottom paint......It was covered with Heavy barnacles and sea growth.

While I have "GS" out I am going to change Three overboard plastic discharges to Brass and install another depth finder up nearer the bow. I have one but it is further back towards the stern. Because if this I could be aground before I new it. This new depth sounder is incorporated with my Garmin GPS so It is in front of me at all times, where the other one I have to lean way over to read it if I am seated on the Stbd side.

Another thing that I just completed was installing to wash boards to the port and starboard side. To these I have installed straps for three 5 gallon reserve jerry cans on each side. This will give me an extra 25 gallons of diesel fuel for the engine and 5 gallon of gas for my Honda 2000i .generator. We also installed two PVC 4" pipes about four feet long on the stern rail. Since I am not set up for butane cooking, each one of the tubes will whole 4 one pound butane camping cans for use with my grill. I have also included pictures of these two installed item in the photo section.

If I have time I will also touch up the varnish and the deck paint. I am sure that there is other items that I will find that need to be done while I am hauled out....But the list is really very short and hope it stays that way.

So all my friends...... so long for now and hope you all had a very happy and safe Easter.

" Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover...............(Mark Twain)

Richard
S/V "Gypsy Soul'

Well here it March already and I am still have not departed Rockport. But there have been some reasons that help to explain it. First of all It turned to cold to leave. I mean sailing in 30 degree weather is really not fun. I set my sail date to be sometime in the late February to early March. While waiting for this date to get here....I decided to mount my Amp Air 100 wind generator.

Now this was a job in it self as I had to have a very stable mast to mount it to. After much work and the help of Jon at "Cayton Aluminum Fabrication", we came up with a very sturdy mount. (See pictures in the Galler). Never realized how much it was going to run me. ALUMINUM and other item to build it are not cheap. Now All I have left to mount is the solar panel.

So why am I still here? I was eating a very good stake one night and I bit down on a sliver if t-Bone and cracked several teeth. Well it trned out to worst than I thought. Seems I shattered one and cracked four others. How I have very extensive dental work to get done...and DENTIST are not cheap. So now my date has changed to depart in late March early April.

So my very good friends that why I am still here....But I going to going very soon. I may put off some of this dental work till I get to Jacksonville.

I can not beleive that it has been so long since I have updated this Blog. I have to apologize all my followers and friends as I have really been quite busy and really nothing of major importaqnce has been going on.

The biggest events are that Gypsy Soul how has a new Roller Furling and a new 150% Jib. I must admit that that has made so much difference in the sail handling of GS. WE have been sailing a lot in the local area to get the nicks and little bugs out that tend to happen after a long eight year rebuild. Well I have to admit that I am quite surprised that there are not more problems but .... Knock on Wood... there have been very, very few.

About the bigest was that the 50 gal fuel tank has never had a breather vent installed. After trying to fill up one day and my fuel came blowing out at me only after 5 gallons ...I new something was amiss....Well that problem is now solved. Thanks so much to Gatewood Marine in Rockport for their expert advice. To any of you sailors or motor boaters That are in the area this the place to get repairs or advice of where/whom to get to do the work if they can't.

Well we are nearing the time for the trip down the ICW and the Gulf to the Florida keys and on to St Augustine Florida. Been working on the charts and routes. I am lucky that the Salty Dog web site
( http://www.saltysailors.com/index.html )
has had two stories of their trip by other boaters with a world of information. I will try to update daily or often as I can on Facebook and my blog of the trip and what is happening.

Also I have added a new photo album "General Sailing" in the photo area.

Thanks for being so patient with me and Gypsy Soul. I also have a Facebook blog at : http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home . Take care and happy sailing to all.