To see as much of the world as we can,
Using the smallest carbon footprint we can,
Spending the least amount of money we can,
Making as many friends we can.

Team Red Cruising

  • Land Cruise Underway

    About a month ago, we had questions about the rig.

    And they were answered.

    We're not there, in case you weren't sure.

    It's almost Hurricane Season. We opted to drive around the US, birding inland locations while we waited from the canvas folks to finish the dodger work.

    We'll be …


  • About the Mizzen

    "Are [the rivets] just holding the spreaders in place until the shrouds are installed?" someone asked.

    (Not just random "someone", but someone with a 16' catamaran with a simpler rig. A boat that can easily sail circles around Red Ranger. But doesn't have a bar or heads.)

    Red Ranger at Anchor
    Red Ranger at …

  • Mast Inspection Report

    Riggers called us back today.

    (Not them in this picture, it's an old picture of me.)

    Steve at the top of the mainmast
    Steve at the top of the mainmast

    Things up there look really good to the riggers, too.

    This news is a huge relief to us. Huge. Relief.

    When I went up the mizzen, I …


  • The Sailing Season

    I think our sailing season has slipped away from us.

    We would need to haul out before June to avoid Hurricane Season.

    Because of some other travel, we have less than two months open to us.

    If all the work was completed tomorrow, we might try to get launched and …


  • Mast Inspection

    I went up the mast today.

    Steve at the top of the mainmast
    Steve at the top of the mainmast

    Things up there look really good.

    I swapped out the mast-head light. The old LXTA-S (an OGM light sold by Weems and Plath) worked; the wiring harness had failed.

    In a panic, I had purchased a replacement …


  • Uhane Kai

    Sailing refreshes our souls.

    The hurricane damage was a personal injury. Like a broken finger or a knee that needs replacing.

    It's not a permanent disability. It's something we'll either get over completely, or, we'll learn to live with our new body in whatever shape it takes.

    The separation for …


  • Dodger and Solar Power

    The last three days? Major accomplishments. All with "R".

    • Restored the Dodger
    • Repaired the Dodger
    • Rebuild the Solar Panel Wiring
    • Ran the Engine

    Dodger Restoration

    Our big mistake was leaving the dodger windows in place. Hurricane Ian's wind pummeled the windows, ripping the entire dodger structure apart.

    Three of the …


  • Initial Cleanup

    So far? The work for the first 3 days look like this:

    • Fix the flooding
    • Start cleaning
    • Make some repairs
    • Re-stow and re-arrange

    Flooding

    After she fell over, Red Ranger took on serious water. My thesis was the long piano hinge on the port-side lazarette was exposed to Hurrican Ian …


  • Travel Days

    We think we've worked out a pleasant trip down (and back) to Punta Gorda and the Save Cove Boatyard.

    It's a little weird to go by way of Savannah, Jacksonville, and Daytona to get the Gulf Coast, but, there's no real E-W road other than I-4 through Orlando.

    In Jacksonville …


  • Some Armchair Sailing

    We've got a ton of stuff to do before we even get splashed.

    Indeed, we don't even know where we're going.

    We're looking all around the Gulf Coast for -- perhaps -- a marina that's got slips and doesn't cost as much as buying a house in Los Angeles or Washington, DC …


  • Repair Updates -- Many Things Completed

    Many things are completed. Not everything, but, many things.

    New Paint
    New Paint

    Here's the painted hull.

    The board on the top of the starboard-side winch coaming has been replaced by the carpenter.

    The picture shows the dodger is still laying across the front of the cockpit.

    We're waiting for the canvas …



  • Starting 2023

    Cthulhu Waiting To Consume Mankind
    Cthulhu Waiting To Consume Mankind

    Where are we at the start of the year?

    Waiting for some repairs to Red Ranger.

    Traveling through New Mexico. This is in Carlsbad Caverns.

    Here's how I figure out what week we're in.

    >>> from datetime import date
    >>> start = date(2021, 10, 20)
    >>> today = date …





  • Cross-Country Tour, Week 5

    We're not on the boat. Nor are we in our hurricane-season hide-away near Asheville, NC.

    On October 20th, we loaded the truck and started west. Some places are bivouac locations, other places are proper destinations. Catch up on mail. Do some birding.

    • Week 1
      • Oct 20 - Mount Juliet, TN (near …

  • Cross-Country Tour

    It's been about 54 days since Hurrican Ian. We have a mechanic, a canvas company, and a carpenter working on things. While Red Ranger is getting fixed, what have we been doing?

    We've been seeing our kids (and grandkid) on the west coast.

    And -- of course -- seeing the west coast …


  • Repair Plan

    It's been about 6 weeks (45 days) since Hurrican Ian.

    We've been righted.

    Main Saloon
    Main Saloon

    The batteries are plugged in and the pumps have run, so there's minimal water in the bilge. The dehumidifier is standing over the galley sink, so the interior is unlikely to be mildew hell.

    We've …


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