Endings, and new beginnings

The week spent getting the boat ready for haul went fast … too fast. Stripping sails, getting our cradle ready, removing everything that shouldn’t freeze and that we might need over winter, climbing the mast to take down our wind instrument … it was all a blur. Lifting our boat is always scary, in part because it is so heavy (30,000+ pounds). And just to make things even more interesting, we decided to keep the mast up this year.

We worked, and planned, and worked some more. Finally lift day came and we were (mostly) ready:

It’s hard to put into words how unnerving it is to see your only home dangling high in the air from two tiny straps, but all went well. After much ado we settled into our cradle with only a slight list to port. Now began a week of cleaning, organizing and preparing Pachina Mia for winter. We’d already done an oil change while in the water, and filled the diesel tank, so now the tasks were to winterize the engine and water systems, empty and winterize the bilge area, and then build the winter cover structure.

With the boat out of the water we were now homeless once again, but as luck would have it one of the little rooms at Stillwater was vacant, and the marina owner rented it to us for the week at a pretty decent price. The room is small, with just a sink and toilet, but at least we had space to sleep, and to sort out what we needed for the winter.

Slowly things took shape. Weather was somewhat uncooperative with high winds and more rain than we’d seen in the last four months. This made the job of getting the cover on more challenging but things came together:

We spent the days working on the boat, and the evenings planning, sorting, and saying goodbye to our Stillwater friends; Marvin, Frank, Gary, Chris & Deb, and many others … we’re going to miss you all.

By week’s end we had the cover on , everything winterized, and most things sorted. Ann also did loads of laundry, including washing her old, and much loved, sailing hat: 
 

At least I know what to get her for her birthday 😉

Finally, with boat and motorcycles all set up for winter, we packed the car and said our final goodbyes to everyone and headed off on our next adventure. We’re heading west via the easterly route, heading to Ottawa first to hang out with Mom and Sis , then off to Rossport, Thunder Bay, Calgary and eventually our winter home in Penticton, BC. Cheers!