a grand visit

Well, lots and lots and lots of things have been happening. First and most important is that my grandfather finally was able to come out here for a visit from Michigan. He'd never been on a plane before and though he hasn't seen the ocean since he was a kid in the 1940's he's always been very fond of all things oceanic and nautical. He spent lots of time on the great lakes in his boating heyday and I grew up fishing with him on little inland lakes. Him finally making it out here and getting a turn at the helm of a real ocean-going sailboat is a landmark occasion.

Other news is all pretty large as well.

1. We've fully moved aboard Madrigal!
2. The Fitz is being hauled out and drydocked this Friday at 3:00
3. There is a couple who is highly interested in purchasing the Fitz to live aboard in Boston harbor: a good way to see the boat go. It was good to us and we'll miss it.
4. Excluding the head and the trim which will hold up the headliner when we get it installed, all the interior woodwork on Madrigal has now been refinished.
5. We did our first overnighter sailing trip to Peddocks Island with a group of about 6 other boats from our marina. Tons of fun, but it was kinda rainy and we forgot to take pictures. oops. All went off pretty flawlessly though.

-Justin

tip top

It's late at night, so I'll be short with the words.

I went up the mast for the first time and placed a windvane on top to help us amateur sailors. Afterwards we cooked some flounder that a fellow liveaboard caught. Tasty.

Unfinished Business

Both Justin and I had 5 days off together, so we spent nearly all of that time working on Madrigal. We've gotten quite far in the sanding/refinishing of the main cabin...we're quite happy thus far.

Anyway, I took some pictures of it before we put the 3 coats of varnish on, so I figured I'd post those for now. I haven't taken any pictures of it since it's been varnished, but I'm sure in the next couple of days those will be up here too.







More soon!

-Jenny

vikingligr veldi

Those who know me, know that I listen to lots of so-called "viking metal" (hence the Isengard song on our playlist at right). Thus, the Ericson yachts logo on our new boat is only all too fitting for me to liveaboard :)

I love it.

-Justin

Dinghy Attack!

Justin took this pic of me as we were coming back from Southie yesterday. Notice the intense concentration going on here, even though there were no boats to be seen around us, aside from the dinghy we were towing...


-Jenny

a slight change of plans, for the better...

We've been two-boat owners for about a month now, but until now, this hasn't been quite so apparent. Madrigal was across town, where we couldn't see it, work on it, improve it.

We made the decision to have both boats at the marina for the month (which, for the record, is May 17th - June 16th...the 31 days we paid for).

Yesterday morning, we picked up the dinghy and Madrigal, and brought everything back here. We were able to park Madrigal directly next to the Fitzcarraldo, so we are able to go back and forth between the two boats very easily and readily, and have been doing so for about 24 hours now, since we brought her back.

Already we've made great improvements since we've had her here, and it looks as though it is going to be a very productive month.

I've been taking pictures along the way, so we will soon have a post with some new pictures. I have to admit, we've got Madrigal torn up inside because we're sanding down all the wood to refinish it, so it isn't looking to pretty, but the end result should be well worth it.

Anyway, back to sanding!

-Jenny

education

Only 3 more days of school left...

I feel like I'm wading neck deep in homework so I keep singing Dory's song from the Nemo cartoon.

"Just keep swimming
Just keep swimming
Just keep swimming..."

It's getting me through- slowly.

-Justin (the fish) Halteman