Camotes Trip Summary

I posted the photos I took on Facebook. Meredith posted hers too and I shared them too. I think April will upload her photos too. I will share them through Facebook too. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2627567205420.148686.1142497870&type=3

So here is the summary that should have accompanied the pictures.

We moved the Katie Lee out of Pepe's yard about 1:30 Friday cause the tide has been really low during the day lately. As it was, even at high tide, we caught one of the lines in the prop. The boys had to dive under and untangle it. The lines hold each boat in its place next to the ramps.

We spent the evening cooking, cleaning and getting ready. About 7 AM I started ferrying the guy out. and we left by 8. Only a slight breeze on the nose (as always!) so we motored across to the islands. The new GPS says 17.5 miles overand motoring only 5 knots took all morning. A half hour of hunting an anchorage that I thought I knew where was found us over a quarter mile off the beach.

As soon as the boat was secure, the guys started questioning the local fishermen about a fish. I had a little trouble following. Soon they wanted to take the dinghy. Off they went and followed a fisherman to the beach up a ways.Edith, April and Trinda, having just sorta recovered from the "sea passage", began cooking rice and lumpia (a pork spring roll). The guys came back and said they had arranged a grilled fish and we should eat it on the beach so the girls could enjoy the solid ground under their feet at least while they ate. It seemed to take forever, but we got everyone on the grassy ares just up the beach.

Part of the reason it took so long was the dinghy. It has been mostly idle for these 6 months. It hasd gotten water in the fuel a few times so I had cleaned and re-caulked the fittings on the tank. It is still hard to start. A couple of the boys were trying to bring the dinghy back and gave up starting it. They rowed the quarter mile back out to us. They took turns counting out 100 strokes each before switching places and doing it again. Turns out the "new in Majuro" safety kill switch had failed and basically turned the motor off! I opened the top and disconnected a wire. Closed it up and it started on the second pull. They wished they knew how to do that!

A few beers and Tanduay Ice and the fish arrived and disappeared before anyone got out a camera. Thus the photos of the bones. And a few creative photos as well. The fish turned out to be Trinda and my favorite, darado or mahi-mahi. It was cooked perfectly and was so good that we unanimously voted to go negotiate the other half for a late night snack. That took until dark and low tide, so the trip back out to the boat was slow over a very shallow reef.

The wind came up during the night and made the anchorage a little rolly. April, Edith and son Merjohn  in the V-birth had a little trouble sleeping. But the boys were fine. They had tried gallantly to finish the beer that Jimmy and Trinda had acquired for the trip. Rumor was one was "pole dancing" on the staysail around 2AM.

We moved the boat around to the NW point of the island where there is a tiny off-shore island for protection from the waves. Again the guys took off in the dinghy to explore some. We got the dive-board out and when the got back most of us took a turn diving behind the dinghy. As usual it was enjoyed.

Trinda got out some balloons for Merjohn. Naturally soon one was floating toward the main shore where several islander kids raced after it. The guys got into the swing of that quickly enough. soon most of the balloons were gone and the kids on shore had one each. Several swm out toeward the boat to get one. Some even got tehir father to come in hei canoe to get one ahead of the others.

Later I found that the guys had put a few pesos in some of the balloons for the kids. They really are a pretty good bunch of boys.

We had to leave by 1 PM to get back to Carmen and DryDock before dark. We let loose the mooring ball and headed home. A nice breeze was still blowing, on the beam this time. So up with the sails and off with the motor! We sailed at 6 to 6.5 knots all the way back. So they did all get to see the sails up and experience the smoother ride of sailing vs motoring.

I think we all had a good time.

Tomorrow The Internet Will Begin to Die

Check this site and sign the petition:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_internet_d/

Send letters to your congressmen at this link
https://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/9042/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=8173
Ill conceived legislation is dangerous to us all.

Closer and Closer

Not finished yet! I first set the month I'd be finished, then the week and now the day. I have missed each by more than the unit of measure. At HP we used to say "if they said fall, expect it spring. If Aug, then Sep, and 3 weeks meant at least 4.

I told everyone we were going to the Comotes Thurs, but now it looks more like Saturday. 3 of the 4 sails on, but the mizzen needs a special shackle that I don't have. Genoa to go up in the morning.

Looking from the 'gang plank', its looking white!

Trinda having a hard time getting off before I took her picture!

The deck is painted, the teak trim is polyurethane varnished and the topsides are waxed. Only one storage closet left to stow aboard and ready! Of course all my tools are mixed with 'their' tools so we'll have a tool sorting party tomorrow too. Still a few brass things below not re-installed and lots of Trinda's nets to keep things in their closets while sailing, but they will keep!

I noticed Trinda's treasure chest was not as shiny as the rest of the teak and asked. No they didn't spray the ultraviolet protective coat on it. Didn't realize it stayed outside. So while they painted some coats on it after quitting time, they installed the last outside fixture in between coats.

Lyndon, Don-don, Rico, Louie and Mike with a last minute fix. Off with the ninja masks in time for the second photo!

Backwards and T-shirts

I usually write a note here then Facebook picks it up. Today I uploaded the pictures to facebook first.

So I'm all backwards today.

Servers me right I guess. We installed the new(ish) wind generator on the new bracket on the mizzen mast. I decided it was too flimsy and took it back down. Not sure how long it will take to replace it. Or even if I'll replace it yet. There is a severe shortage of welders here capable of aluminum.

I have needed lots of rags with all the cleaning and painting. At the paint store, they sometimes have rags, but they are generally not good for painting. Mostly tiny scraps of 100% polyester sewed into a pot lifter shape. So I bought cheap T-shirts at the used clothing shops. Trouble was the 25 cent shirts were preferable to what the guys were working in, so I'd buy 10 and get to use 5. This happened some. So Trinda noticed a sale on new T-shirts at the local dept store and bought them all one to take home.

Lyndon, Chris, Mike, Louie, April, Rico, Me, Don-don and Rene

You can zoom the picture to read most of them.

Deck Paint and Non-Skid

We are getting closer every day. This week we painted the deck. First sprayed all the areas without a non-skid coating for 3 coats. Then masked it off and rolled on a coat in the non-skid areas. Next rolled and sprinkled grit in the wet paint. And last (almost) rolled a last coat over the grit.

There was a little confusion and a final spray finish on the parts that needed it.

Ready for the non-skid

Rico and Louie doing the really agressive non-skid around the main mast.

Its beginning to look white!

More grit in the paint.

Louie and some Ninjas.

Rico and a couple more Ninjas.

This Ninja mask, hahaha is a T-shirt over the head, looking out the neck hole and sleeves tied behind. The whole idea is to keep sun, dirt and paint off the head. It does make it hard to recognize Lyndon, Don-don and Randy though. They are a little more camera shy than Louie and Rico, who jerk their Ninja costume off when they see the camera! Ha!

Trinda is making chocolate chip cookies today. We are planning to make pizza this afternoon too. Meredith, our neighbor from the apartment may come to visit this afternoon too.

Home Improvement

My cousin Gary and a friend are swinging tools near Reno in a new venture,
Reno Home Improvement LLC And I am shamelessly offering a plug! The are also developing a website with photos of their work at http://www.renohomeimprovementsllc.com/ Gary comes from a very gifted family line, with words, tools, metals and yarns of all the definitions I know. If you live in the Reno, Nevada area, check out the work of Reno Home Improvement LLC or call them at 775-224-9192.

Another Short Story

The boat is actually about 7 kilometers from Carmen and 9 from Danao. There are a few hardware stores there where some paint, wood, nails, sandpaper, paint thinner, masking tape, etc can be had. Any real supplies come from Cebu city an hour's bus ride away. Actually there are 4 hardware stores within 2 blocks just off the terminal square. Like Portales, except instead of a court house, it is the terminal for the buses, tricycles and pedicabs all in lines for each direction and destination.

No one hardware store seems allowed to have in-stock all of the requirements on any given day. In fact, lots of days come up short all together! I was after 240 and 400 grit sandpaper ("Only buy Nikken brand", the boys said) and on the previous trip 3 days before I had bought the last of the 240 in Danao. They were still out!

This means I usually walk the 1/2 mile out to the hi-way, wait for a tricycle (small Honda motorcycle with sidecar) 5 to 10 minutes then the 15 minute ride to town. They slow down by every pedestrian begging for passengers on the way. They usually take me to the terminal. I then walk the square back to the hardware store that I think has the best chance of supplying the days wants.

On one corner, just off the square, between two of the hardwares is a small motor rewinding shop. An older gentleman (older than me a few years anyway) usually sits or is standing in front. I always smile and wave or say "Maayung boontag" or "Good morning" as I go by. As one human being acknowledges the existence of another.

A while back he insisted I stop a minute and talk. Rudy, he is, was impressed that I always am rushing back an forth, in a hurry, but can find the time to say "Hi". He's a very personable guy with surprisingly good English. And so I rush on again after the brief introduction and visit.

A couple weeks ago the wet-dry vacuum dies again. This time the motor needs a new bushing. A friend had given me his old vacuum cause it had suffered an inept re-winder who broke the commutator. Ahh, an opportunity to patronize Rudy's family shop. So off to Danao again. I wander over to Rudy's, show him the broken motor and ask if he can get it repaired. "No I cannot. But I have a friend that is better than I am." and he not only gave me directions to his friends house, but he wrote an letter of introduction! I was shocked! But then again, I wasn't really. This was Rudy who singled me out because I seemed to respect an old man. Well I dropped off the motor and we'll see if his friend can get the part.

A few days later as I go by looking for tape this time I think it was. Rudy pops up, the usual greeting and I tell him about the motor. He insists I sit a minute, he has something. He comes back a minute later with a sketch pad and a pencil. Says he's going to sketch me. Ugly as I am, he proceeds with the below. I am pleased but I can't think what to do. With a friendship growing, I couldn't cheapen it with an offer of money for the sketch, so I just said "Thank you very much, kind Sir" and had to get on with the shopping. I stopped and picked up a few charcoal pencils and a new sketch pad, but that wasn't nearly enough so I took them home and thought about it a while. Then I noticed he signed his full name on the sketch. It was an easy name to do in wire, so I set to writing his name in stainless steel wire.

I hadn't needed anything from the hardware for several days, but today I got a ride in with a friend who has a car. I said I had an unusual stop but he could come along if he wanted. I presented Rudy with the wire, "Rudy C. Cal" and he was speechless. Says no one has ever given him a personalized hand crafted gift before. I thought he was going to cry for a minute there. Rich went on to the hardware store for his stuff and was back in a few minutes. Rudy was still so excited. He sat Rich down and did his sketch too. Then he recited a poem/love letter he had written for a writing contest. It was null and unusual, but no way can I remember it for this.

He finished the dedication on Rich's sketch then we said adieu and finished our shopping.

"Larry" by Rudy C. Cal

This is kinda like, "Remember to stop and smell the flowers along the way."