Raccoon Pal

Again this morning, and by that I mean 3 am, I was awakened by a noise out in the back garden. After lying there for sometime waiting for the noise to repeat itself, suddenly I heard it again. Not exactly the same noise but enough to let me know something was up in the yard that needed investigating.

I crept downstairs and tip-toed across the kitchen to our back door which had been left open. Whatever it was, only a screen door separated us. I stood there listening in the dark and heard a soft purring, the pitter-pat of little feet and a swishing sound. Flicking on the porch light a large raccoon suddenly froze in the middle of a swim in our fountain. His fun and games were evident all over the deck. Tiny wet raccoon footprints were repeated over and over, the table, the lawn swing and covered the deck. After staring at me for a time, I suppose waiting to see what I would do next, and finding I seemed frozen in my own tracks, the raccoon slowly climbed down out of the fountain and carefully padded over to the screen door.

We held the first annual raccoon/human staring contest for a good 60 seconds, little growls emanating from his throat before he decided he'd let me go my way and he his. He waddled over to the edge of the deck, slowly crawled underneath the tip of his handsome ringed tail the last bit to disappear.

We usually see the evidence of our little raccoon friend nearly every morning and for a long time though most of the evidence was dried up. We have been both convinced and frustrated by the fact that our beautiful fountain seemed to have sprung a leak. Most everyday we find the water level is significantly lower than the day before. Glancing around the deck it appeared the raccoon had had a water fight with the neighborhood raccoons. Now we know the source of the leak and I suppose the small inconvenience of having to refill the fountain everyday is a small price to pay for our furry animal friends to enjoy the ritual of their nightly nocturnal fun.

Our Yacht Photos

A number of people have asked to see photos of our yacht. So I have loaded a number of photos onto the blog. They are visible as a slideshow of thumbnails on the right margin of this page. Clicking on the slideshow will open up a much larger version of them in Picassa.

These photos were mostly taken during our first look at the boat while it was berthed in Seattle. A couple of them were taken off the broker websites. Specifically the photo of it out in the water with the bridge in the background and the layout diagram of the boat.

Tomorrow I take our signed addendum to the purchasing agreement to our broker's office. It agrees to let the seller have specific damaged areas on the boat fixed, have it inspected and then we will purchase the boat. He needs about 2-3 weeks but depending upon the amount of damage found as the work is done it may take longer. We are hoping for no more than a month so we will still have the boat for the rest of the sailing season. September and October can be beautiful for cruising and sailing here in the northwest so we are looking forward to that. We also want to be able to take our kids out on the boat when they visit from Britain in late August and early September. Then we also need to have it operational so we can practice the things we will have learned in our boating classes this fall.

Walter Cronkite Dead at 92

American journalism icon Walter Cronkite has passed away and I am feeling at a real loss thinking he will no longer walk among us. For those of us who grew up in the Baby Boom generation, Uncle Walter, as he was affectionately known, was our connection to truthful, straightforward, unbiased television news. He was considered to be the most trusted man in America by poll after poll during his tenure as the anchor on the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite from 1962 through 1981. Before the computer age, before the cable news channels that have given us news almost before it is news, there was Walter Cronkite each night with a half hour synopsis of the day's events. During a tumultous and sometimes frightening period in world events, Walter Cronkite could be trusted to put it all in perspective. He was at his anchor desk when he momentarily lost his composure to announce to a shocked nation that President Kennedy had been assasinated. He was there to help us through the scary moments of the Cold War years. Like me he was as giddy as a school boy when Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

I often remember where I was when certain important historic events have taken place. I vividly remember the hot July day in 1969 when I sat in my father's brown naugahyde recliner in our family room and watched Neal Armstrong take "one small step for mankind." I remember the shock on all our faces in Mrs. Hatch's 5th grade class when the principal tearfully came on the intercom and announced that President Kennedy had been killed and that school was going to be dismissed. School was out for a week and Walter Cronkite was our family's choice to watch the historic events of Kennedy's funeral. I will always remember when the Viet Nam War ended and no more 19 year olds would be drafted. Mr. Cronkite went to Viet Nam and his report back to the nation that the war was at a stalemate and a peaceful end needed to be negotiated helped convince the nation we were on the wrong course. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, the Hippies, the Civil Rights Era, the Watts Riots and the anger turning many inner cities into infernos, Watergate--Walter Cronkite reported it all from his anchor's seat. These were intense times in our nation's history and Mr. Cronkite helped many of us to better understand and sort through the craziness.

Though he hasn't been a regular presence in our lives for many years, in those moments when I have heard his distinctive voice for a PBS voiceover or he appeared on stage to MC the annual Presidential Awards in Washington, D.C., somehow all seemed right with the world. Tonight, when I read of his passing, I paused to remember where I was. I guess "that's the way it is." But, I will miss him. God speed, Uncle Walter!

Paseo Sandwich Heaven

After the frustration of our negative survey on the boat of our dreams, we decided to treat ourselves to area hot spot Paseo for lunch. My wife had eaten there before with our daughter and raved about it. She insisted we stop by on another occasion only to find the place closed (they are closed Sunday and Monday). Luckily for us this time we found Paseo open.

This little shack, for lack of a better word, is located along Fremont Avenue and has become famous for its Cuban-style cuisine. That fame is well deserved as the line out the door proves. Apparently lines out the door are quite common. It is a small establishment with coorugated steel walls and roof, 8-10 tables and it doesn't look like much at first glance. But I learned long ago that some of the best food in the world is served in places without white table clothes.

We worked our way toward the front of the line and ordered the #1 item on the menu--The Cuban Roast Sandwich. Each sandwich is made on the spot with chunks of marinaded pork shoulder, onions and peppers sauted together. This amazing concoction is then poured over a fresh-made crusty roll slathered with Paseo's signature tangy aioli sauce and then piled with romaine lettuce and fresh jalepeno peppers. For only a bit more than $7 you too can taste a bit of heaven. What a treat! We nearly got in line to get one to go.

No food stylist needs to dress up this sandwich. It really looks that good!

Check out the many other options on the menu including complete meals and be prepared to wait or take it with you. There may only be a few tables but they are worth the wait.

Their on-line menu (the link above) allows you to find out whether they have already run out of your favorite item at their Fremont spot. If so, stop by their Ballard outlet where you might get lucky! Either way Paseo is the place to go for outstanding Cuban cuisine!

Our Boat Purchase Update

This morning we drove down to Seattle to the Queen City Yacht Club where our prospective yacht was waiting to be surveyed. We expected a long list of items that needed to be looked into and fixed but didn't expect to hear the news we received early into the survey. As our surveyor tapped on the hull along the transom in the engine room, he noted inconsistant sounds in 75% of the transom wall meaning that the interior had been exposed to water. He also found the same issues in the bulkhead just aft of the master stateroom and in a support beam in the engine room. So the issue now is what more might be found as repairs are made? What will the costs be to do the repairs? And who will pay for those repairs?

The rest of the survey went well actually. No other deal breaker issues were found. However, we did elect not to go ahead with the pull out so the bottom of the boat wasn't inspected. Nothing too extreme was expected to be found in that part of the survey but we chose not to pull it out pending the outcome of the major issue. If that can be resolved satifactorily then the pull out can proceed. Otherwise, there is no use in spending the money to have the boat pulled out.

We are heartbroken. We absolutely love that boat but can't see spending thousands to repair something so serious that should already be in good working order. So we wait. Our broker will get a bid for having the work done and then approach the seller with the problem and a request him to repair the problem. We have no idea what the outcome of all this will be. If it comes to it we will renew our search and attempt to purchase another boat. We are in a wait and see mode now. So sad!

New Form of Travel Update!

A lot has happened since my blog entry a couple of days ago. My goodness, what you have to do to buy a boat. It is almost overwhelming except that in the end you own a boat which is pretty cool.

In our case, the entire negotiation over the boat our hearts were set on took only one afternoon and a couple of phone calls. We got a deal we are very happy with and that others have told us was a very good deal indeed. So, we have, barring any unforeseen circumstances surrounding the survey of the boat, become boat owners.

Next Wednesday we drive down to Seattle to do the sea trial and survey. The survey is a close inspection of all parts of the boat from keel to life jackets, fire extinguishers to motor mounts. Then the boat is hauled out of the water (no easy feat on a 32') and the bottom will be pressure washed, inspected and if all looks good, the zincs replaced. Then back in the water and return to the marina.

At that point we should have a very good idea whether we will either proceed or back out. Too many expensive fix-its and we may have to drop the deal. If things aren't too bad and can be fixed either easily or over time, then we proceed.

After feeling a pang of buyers remorse I began thinking about the advantages of owning a yacht like this. Think about it this way. Ever dream about owning a summer or winter place, a mountain cabin, a cottage overlooking the sea, a place on a deserted island? Well, take your pick. With a boat you own a moving summer home. Don't like it here? Move over there. Tired of going to the same spot every year? Go somewhere else. Just pull up the anchor and go!

Oh, yeah, you do have to fill it with fuel. You do have to do engine maintenance from time to time, haul it out of the water and work on the bottom. But what getaway wouldn't have some upkeep or other costs involved? But the beauty of a yacht is that you take your shelter with you and in the pacific northwest there are endless sheltered coves, resorts, quaint island towns, and deserted islands for you to explore. And if that isn't far flung enough for you, well, head for Alaska or the Oregon, or California coasts or even Mexico.

Oh, I'm not planning any long range trips to the south or even Alaska. There are a lifetime of discoveries right here in our backyard--The San Juan Islands and the Gulf Islands of Canada.

Am I just trying to justify the purchase? Oh, I suppose that is true to a certain extent. But I am looking forward to it. Besides the travel, the time on the water, the discoveries I'd never find without the benefit of the boat, I am also looking forward to the learning opportunities. That yacht has a whole host of electronic devices used for safety, fish finding, gauging depth, keeping track of other craft and showing you how to get where you want to go.

The depth finder is important due to the changing tides up here and to make sure there is plenty of water between your keel and the bottom. The RADAR keeps an eye on the proximity of other craft at night and in low visability. The GPS plotter gives you a heading and the best way to get from point A to point B using colorful, realistic computer generated maps. Of course, the compass is right there in front of you as well. I look forward to learning how to use these instruments.

I also look forward to learning about all the other details that are critical to knowing your way around a boat and the sea. Bouys, navigation devices, weather stations, planning the trip, dealing with VHS radio calls, and no doubt a whole host of things I haven't begun to think about.

We have signed up for a Coast Guard Auxiliary Class beginning in August and my broker, who is a boating instructor, has very kindly offered to give me some basic instruction in the use of my boat. Add to that the friends whose many years of experience on Puget Sound I will definately tap into and I think we will be in good hands as we embark on this new adventure in our lives. Wish me luck!

New Form of Travel

In the early 80's I was the proud owner of an O'Day 14' Javelin day sailor. I spent incredible days sailing out of Alameda and out into the unpredictable waters of San Francisco Bay. Nothing thrilled me more than the feeling of water coming in over the bow and to be hauled over at precipitous angles, the sea only inches from the top of the gunwhale, the edges of the sails snapping in the salty breezes. She was a sweet little boat and I delighted not only in sailing her but also in spending time polishing the bright work and waxing the hull.

I sold that boat a long time ago. It helped pay for my teaching certificate giving me my career for the past 30 years. So I owe her a lot. Not much thought went into boating since that time until we moved to Bellingham.

Since arriving here 15 years ago I have had intermittent pangs of desire to reenter the boat ownership world. These moments would ultimately be followed by the realization that it would really not be such a good idea. Well-meaning friends would regal me with stories or give advice as to why buying a boat was just a bad idea. I listened carefully and eventually talked myself out of the idea. Until recently.

I don't know what is different this time. Getting older, nearing retirement, getting senile! But I haven't been able to talk myself out of it this time and neither have my friends.

A clever story was told to me by our friend Keith Craswell who had a buddy who spent years going to boats shows. He loved going to those boat shows. He'd go on all the boats, checking them out from stem to stern, ask questions and have a blast. Finally after years of doing this he decided he was ready to buy a boat and he did. He discovered he loved going to boat shows. Badda-bing! Thanks Keith! Good story but. . .

The decision it turns out is full of a multitude of options--power boat or sailboat, what length, what type, class, model, etc. Of course, the bottom line for everyone save the most recent winner of the lottery is always about the money. I have spent hours of time perusing lists outside broker's offices, surfing the web, browsing magazines, narrowing down to those handful of boats that fall within the parameters I'd established.

I started out pie in the sky, looking at makes that I have always loved. My favorites have always been the tugs and trawlers. Sadly, their popularity and resale value makes the cost of even older models rather expensive and eventually led me in a different direction. So I can't afford a Nordic Tug (used 26 footers are $80,000), or any tug for that matter. So, I can't afford a Grand Banks trawler (actually I can but that would get me a 1960's vintage boat with a wood hull). The point is to be out on the water and do it in a safe, reliable yacht that has the options my family needs whether new or used.

So what exactly do I need in the boat that works for us?

• Diesel engines with low hours and which operate economically
• A full galley
• a complete head
• a dinghy with motor
• a clean solid hull
• sleeping accommodations for 6
• A boat that will require as little maintenance as possible
• a clean well maintained boat with few signs of wear
• a boat that shows it was well loved by its previous owner
  

Not asking too much am I?

Finally, I went to a local boat broker and gave him my list of demands and stood back waiting for him to blow me off or send me packing because there was no way I was going to get all of this with my budget. To my surprise he found exactly what I was looking for in his listings and we began to talk. The yacht, as they are called when over 28 feet, was in Seattle but he walked me down to the slips in the marina and showed me an identical boat as a 34 footer. I was shocked at the amazing use of space designed into the yacht. It was brillant!

We arranged for a fieldtrip to Seattle to see the real thing and today, Wednesday, July 8, 2009 we drove down and saw the boat. We were smitten! In only 32 feet they were able to build in 2 staterooms (boat talk for bedrooms), a full head (bathroom), full galley (kitchen) and plenty of open entertaining space. A flybridge on the upper deck included a second helm and enough seating for 6-8 people. The dual diesel engines have low hours, rest in a clean, dry bilge and show careful maintenance. Yes, there is wear around the edges but the bright work is clean and sparkles, the decks are clean, the fiberglass shines. She is ready to head out to sea just the way she is.

Now we have a survey done which is like a house inspection only for boats, we wait for the offer that we submitted to be either countered or accepted and then possibly in as soon as a week and a half, we will/could be yacht owners.

So, there she is, the current front runner and our choice for our yacht--the Bayliner 32 Motor Yacht.

I was most surprised as I said by Leslie's reaction to the boat. She loved it! I was afraid she was going to accept the full price offer just so we could take it on the spot. So we drove home this afternoon, quite nervous and giddy at the same time. What next?