10/9/15

Scenes from the Erie Canal.......

Barn along the way.....

Fall colors!

Bridge along the Erie.

Approaching Lock 8 near Scotia, NY

Docked for the night at Lock 8.  Just enough light left for a quick walk.

Reflections at sunset.

We made it to Waterford, NY around noon today (Friday).  Beautiful traveling weather Wednesday and Thursday with rain on Friday as we came through the flight of 5 locks into Waterford.  On our way to the Hudson on Sunday.

SPOT GPS Tracking Device

10/5/15
The last two years friends and family could follow us on a SPOT tracking device as we sailed from Tenerife in the Canary Islands with Jerry Luh and last year to the Caribbean with Ryan and Kari.  This year we purchased our own SPOT device.  This is the link for the page that should show where we are: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0GDxHcnIICYp8nUSWJhRhxonUejZNOheg
It saves 7 days of positions - I just have to remember to push the button that will send our position.  If you don't see an update and no position recorded, no worry.  Just means I haven't pushed the button.  Especially if we're anchored someplace and haven't moved.  It should automatically go to my Karen Pakkala facebook page.
I just pushed the button so it should show our position here in Pennellville, NY.  We should be off the dock and underway tomorrow.  I'll try to remember to push the button!

10/1015

So many tasks completed and a few left to do in order to
depart.  We hoped to be ready around Oct. 1.  Won't be far off.

New timing belt on our Volvo MD22. 

Look how happy I am to be back in the engine room!

Kurd, our supervisor, at the galley window looking for dinner and company.

Jerry works on more wiring - this pix - inverter install preparation.  Thanks for the use of the crimping tool Kevin!

                                       Inverter is installed in the aft cabin, port side.                                                                                         (You can see copper sheathing from previous owner on the hull used for an SSB installation.)

The AC panel Jerry worked on after installing the inverter.

There are many many projects that I haven't listed or pictured here.  More photos will be posted as I find time.  We're trying to install 2 solar panel "wings" before leaving.  Maybe done tomorrow?  Don't bother asking where we're going for the winter......the answer will be south.  With a new boat and new systems, plans will be made as we seek warmer weather......

9/13/15

New running lights installed, stanchions with lifelines installed, stern rails too! 

Video From November Passage Beaufort, NC to Virgin Islands - Karen on watch

Sailing Video - BVI with Dale and Roni

The Mice Will Play While the Cats Are Away 2/13/15

 Kari and Ryan flew out a couple weeks ago for family celebrations.  That left Jerry and I aboard Valkyrie for a few days of work before Jerry’s buddy Dale and his girlfriend Roni flew in for a week.   Work included getting in the water to scrape the grass and critters off the bottom of the boat.  (There’s one boat here at Water Island that has not moved in years.  Besides grass and barnacles there are little lobsters who have made their home in the growth around the propeller!)

After free Cruzan rum samples at the airport arrival gate we took Dale and Roni to the boat for dinner.  The next morning off to the “big” grocery store on St. Thomas – Pueblo for groceries and then to Honeymoon Beach.  Nothing like a burger at Heidi’s Honeymoon Grill to prompt a hike up to the fort at the top of the hill.  In just one day Dale and Roni experienced shopping here, sampled the Water Island cuisine, roamed the island, had a couple of painkillers, and listened to Barefoot Davis play at Dinghy’s Beach Bar.  The next morning – Roni’s first experience sailing as we beat our way to St. John in brisk winds.  Back and forth we tacked and strained our muscles cranking on the winches as we sailed to Bitter End on Virgin Gorda over the first few days.   Dale and Jerry had their “sailing fix” and marveled at the grace and speed of Valkyrie.  “It’s like sailing a big dinghy!” they’d exclaim and let out whoops as we whizzed by other sailboats.  Every anchorage we stopped at included a walk on shore for our guests to see the sights, feel the sand beneath their feet, and mingle with the locals and tourists.  Dinners in the cockpit at the end of each day followed by sailor’s tales and star gazing.  And then back through the BVIs with light winds the rest of the week.  Our whirlwind tour ended with tacking back and forth up Lindberg Bay on St. Thomas.  Lindberg Bay, appropriately named, as this is where the airport is just a short dinghy ride to the beach and up the road.  Hugs all around for Dale and Roni as they flew back to Florida with smiles, tans, and a boatload of memories.

Yacht at the Bitter End Yacht Club

Another yacht at the Bitter End.

Dale at the helm

Dale dreams of sailing his own boat to the Caribbean

Dale and Roni

Full moon at Cane Garden Bay

Galley Girl

Beautiful iguana

Jerry poses at the kiteboard equipment center at Bitter End

Roni enjoys a hammock at Peter Island

Dale and Roni at Sandy Spit

Sandy Spit thinking man

Sunset at Cane Garden Bay