June 12, 2006
Well, the big news of the day is that the new mast is upright and in its fittings. The rigging is about half done. It’s one of those “put-together” days so Mark is feeling good. The girls and I meanwhile, did a little grocery shopping, played with friends, and combed the house for stuff to leave in storage. After Thursday we will be down to one car. Friday the boat goes into the water.
We are still looking good, but the pressure is definitely on. Grandma’s Marathon is wishful thinking. Days off for Mark are history. Our shakedown trip may become our first few days. Every night we relentlessly tick off lists. During the day I get to go through my tasks at a manageable, even fun pace, while still trying to give the girls attention and fun. Mark gets to the boat at or before 6:00 a.m. and pounds away at stuff until he runs out of something or it gets dark. For those of you who wonder, “What does he do all day?” here’s a sampling:
· Ground out all rust on the hull, inside and out (remove all cabin interior that blocks hull)
· Paint over rust spots
· Replace cabin interior
· Reinstall overhauled motor and batteries to withstand a 360 roll
· Customize second hand mast to fit our hull, spreaders, and rigging
· Install SSB radio
· Paint entire boat
· If you are not daunted yet, here are 7 of about 1000 tasks that may or may not happen before we leave:
o Double the size of the spice rack
o Install reading light for our bunk
o Replace lee cloths with our homemade much-improved ones
o Install new grill
o Hammer toy bags on v-berth walls for the girls
o Hang netting for fresh food
o Replace old netting on lifelines
The more good juju Mark feels, the better—so send it good energy his way! It’s a bit strange to be so close to such a grand, intensely together adventure, but to currently be leading such separate lives. We are tired and just beginning to max out. But at least we are not getting weeks behind. We may just pull out of here on the 26th yet.
Hey, we thought you might find it fun to see what food is stored in our bilges at this moment. We are hoping it will last up to six months and have an almost-accurate list, as follows:
DRY GOODS
(COST: APROX. $940)
GRAINS
Oats— 35 lbs.
Hot cereal—15 lbs.
Wheat flour—15 lbs.
Wheat flour (coarse)—5 lbs.
White flour—
White pastry flour—5 lbs
Farina—10 lb
Country blend—2 lb
Rice River—2 lb
Rangetop cereal—2 lb
Pasta – 21 lb ?
Mac & Cheese – 7
White rice – 15 lb
Brown rice 40 lb
Wild rice—8 lbs?
Quinoa—1 lb.
Millet—5 lbs
Barley—1 box
Bulgar—4 lbs.
Soda Crackers—2 boxes
Wasa—2 box
Stoned Wheat Thins—3 boxes
Cornmeal—4 cartons
Grape Nuts—6 boxes
Brown sugar—4 lbs
White sugar—5 lbs
Cheerios—1 box
LEGUMES
Pinto beans – 47 lbs.
Black beans – 25 lbs.
Kidney beans—5 lbs.
Garbanzo beans 3 lb
Mixed beans—1 bag
Lentils—3 lb
CANS
Canned tom:
--small diced 12
--large diced 4
--small whole 6
--w/ chiles 6
--small sauce 12
--paste 12
Cr. Of Shroom—24
Cr. of chicken—12 lg
Canned beets—4
Canned creamed corn—3
Canned corn--3
Canned green beans—3
Canned shitake mush.—5
Canned reg. mush—3
Canned water chestnuts—3
Canned bean sprouts--2
Canned pineapple—3
Canned mandarin oranges—2
Baked beans--4
CONDIMENTS
PB—6
Syrup—1
Safflower oil—1
Sesame oil--1
Canola oil 32 oz? - 1
Olive oil 32 oz? -2
Tamari—1
Braggs--1
Rice vinegar
Wine vinegar
Cooking wine
Soy sauce - 1 very large
Mayo—2 squeezies
2 catsup
2 Newmans dressing
1 teryaki sauce
1 honey
yeast—1 jar
Stevia—2 oz.
Lemon juice
Cornstarch
Baking soda and powder
Choc. Chips—2 bags
SNACKS
Apple sauce—30- miniature?
Fruit rollups—12
Tiger bars—6
slim jims—20
Cliff Bars—42
MEATS
Tuna canned—14 large
Chicken, canned—13 large
Canned corned beef--2
Canned ham—3 sm
Sardines – 12
Tofu--
DRINKS
Soy milk box—11 lg
Cran. Juice—2 jars
Green juice—3 jars
v-8 12pack—3
v-8 1 lg
juice boxes—12
rice milk-6
Gatorade—4 dry
DRIED
Dr. chic. N soup—12
Chicken TVP—1 lb
SausageTVP—1 lb
Hi-heat milk—1 lb
Dried green pepper—1 lb
Dried peas—1 lb
Dried corn—1.2 lb
Dried tomatoes—3 bags
Apricots—1 lb
Craisins—1 lb
Ramen—19
raisins—6 cartons
NUTS AND SEEDS
Flax—3 lbs.?
Sunflower seeds
sesame sticks—2 lb
Peanuts
Almonds
Cashews
Soynuts
Walnuts
Pecans—1 lb.
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