In Kema Waterford Marina - Week 2

Whew, Steve's one hour a day working on the boat has increased and so has Carol's. We finished and tested the branch circuit to the flybridge, fixed the genset, fixed a shower leak, replaced hoses and a y-valve in the forward head and started installation of a weather system to replace the one that got damaged. Next week is finish weather station, fix the Bimini, connect the autopilot to the Garmin and calibrate/test the system, genset oil change and work on 12 other backloged items that we needed to fix sometime. With a list like this one could ask  what did we do before we left. Hey, it is a boat and we kind of knew that the trip from CC to Offatt would point out a few things we needed to do before we continued.

Did take some time to see the Nieces and took a couple of long walks. Was visited by John & Anne when they came back from a cruise on Royal Carriibian.

Not much else to chat about as work continues and each day get us closer to leaving on the next leg.

In Kema Waterford Marina - week 1

Well we have been in Kema for almost a week. All is well and we are getting our planned work done. Marina is good, floating docks, we are behind a bluff and Condos so the wind does not bother us. People are not as friendly but we have been staying to ourselves and trying to get some work done also.

We tried to chase and find the electrical gremlin the first couple of days. What we found was all the batteries were ok, load tested ok, wireing was ok, and charging both by engines and inverter was ok all the way to the electrical panel for distribution. Only found one wire that was not as tight as it should have been ane fixed that.

We then took the day off from boat work and went shopping and took the water pump to the maching shop. Would rather have worked. We combined all our shopping in one day and when we got back to the boat we were beat but it was done.

Now we are doing the branch circuit to the flybridge to get good clean and enough power for the electronics. That will be finished today and hopefully we will be done with the "electrical tests, fixes, tests and clean up by end of Fri. Wish we had found something that was BAD but we now know the system is ok and will monitor closely (I have set up monitors in all major areas - duh)

Probably spend the weekend relaxing, going to see the nieces, and cleaning the boat if weather premits.

Next week is water pump, wind instrument, bimini, and then starting on lots of other small stuff that has cropped up during the trip up and the anchor outs.

So that has been our exciting week -yeah right, but could not be in a better place right now to get it done and we and the boat will be better prepared when we again head out.

O'yes, the ADMIRAL has also declaired that there is cold weather and wind on the way and we are not going anywhere till she has approved the weather report.

Hope all is well with everyone out there. It  is here.

Fixin to leave Offatt -

Well after last Sunday the rest of this week was a cake walk. Well almost. Because of Sunday, we were a bit paranoid on Monday and for a bit on Tuesday. We set the anchor well after the wind laid back on Sunday but it was a continous watch to insure that we did not drift off again. The winds were supposed to lay back to 20-25 but someone snuck in some 30's with gusts to 40. All went well and we did not drift off again and still are holding in the same place. So a little calm has come back. Talked to another cruiser today that is in LA and they had a simular issue but all was well with them also. It is and was COLD. Did little outside the boat because of it. Got Gen 1 working and it sounded and produced elec good, then the coolent water pump decided to leak/throw coolent all over the engine room. got a new pump but now have to find a machine shop to unpress the old pulley and press it on the new pump. Put in a Recieve only AIS. Works great with the Chartplotter. Did other odd chores abound the boat and the relatives came to visit. Wow they must like us as we do them as we picked them up in the dingy on a cold night, they stayed awhile and we had a great time and then they had to brave the cold and the dingy ride again to go home. While they were here we found an issue with the electric system that MUST be fixed and it is not (one can hope it will be) a fast fix. For those that have purchased a boat that has had electrical/electronic equipment installed/removed before, you know the issues with wires to nowhere, circuit breaker that have no loads, circuit breaker that have to much load, etc. etc. etc.  Well we have one or more of those grelins and it involves the wiring to the flybridge and the radio and chart plotter. The radio does not like low voltage as does the chart plotter and every once in a while they quit and then come back and some of the critical lights go off when a circuit breaker that is not supposed to be controlling them is turned off.

Because of this issue , we have made the decision to go to Kemah tomorrow (Friday) and stay at the Waterford Marina for a month while we work out all or at least the most critical of the issues on the boat before proceeding on into La and eastward. So in the morning we will leave Offatts and go to Waterford. If any of you are in the area, come and see us.

O'yes, the stay in Offatt's was great. we stayed warm, had plenty to do, plenty to eat and drink,  learned a lot, had a beautiful view both day and especially at night, and loved to watch the ducks. We recommend it to anyone.

Sunday at Offatts - O' Boy

As those in South Texas know, there was a Low Pressure area that moved from Mexico through Texas and brought us some rain and wind. Well we knew it was comming and had tested the anchor, put out more chain and the storm bridle. Steve stood anchor watch from 0300 until around 0730. All was well and the storm was coming but we were ready (Hah). Had a quick breakfast and we went to the engine room to do a wire repair on the genset. The wind appeared to come up very heavy and rock the boat. Carol went topside and called for Steve to come up. Opps, the boat was drifting and the anchor was dragging. The drama began. Steve started the engines and turned on the windless. Carol took the helm and Steve went to pull in the anchor. Chain fouled in the pipe. Windless circuit breaker popped. Carol did a great job keeping us off the shore. Got windless going again. Carol learned how to help in heavy wind get anchor in. Tried resetting anchor, no joy, wind much to high so we went in the lee of a business building and were idleing there until the wind settled.  Carol hollered that the dingy was loose. Aparently, the lines we had the dingy tied with got under the boat and the spurs cut it loose. So here we are trying to catch a wayward dingy in 40+ winds. Got it and tied it along side. Continued our idleing until wind died down some. Reanchored and seem to be ok for now.  A survey of the boat though showed that the bimini aft of the radar arch was damaged. One side of he bows that hold the bimini cover had come loose and both bow zippers had ripped off. so have to sew that part back on. The flapping of the bimini had broken the wind speed instriment. Part to order. Lost our trashcan. But all is well, we got the boat back in control with no real damage and LEARNED a lot. Of course there were some frazzled nerves but nothing to stop us from going on.

At Offatts - day 1&2

Woke up to a beautiful cold 48 degree morning. Had coffee on aft deck, then fried onion/potatoes, bacon and eggs (goodddddddddddddddd). Talked to Bill W about where to stop from here to other side of La. Used his suggestions and compared to others and planned our next ttrip which is 11 + days to get from here to Mississippi. The + is for any place we stay more than one night at. Will post teneative stops etc. before we leave. Lanched the Dingy and went for a ride. Ride was fine but the water is so low all the "normal" park you dingy at and go for walk/shopping were hard to get out of the dingy onto the dock at. Then after a bit  we grilled steaks, chicken and sasuage (chicken and sausage for anotther day).

Next day was our first "shopping trip" in the dingy. Went OK but we learned a lot. parked the dingy at the public boat ramp, walked to a shopping center that had a Target and Home Depot. We did a little shopping at each getting some snacks, bread, snow boots, hardware, and salt for the head. Had to make a stop at the local West Marine also.Wind came up but the anchor held well.

On the way to Offatts - parts 5 & 6 - We are there

Left Matagora Harbor at 0730 and had a great trip. Followed a tow for a bit as he was goining almost our speed BUT he had a serious problem in a turn. After which we passed him but wanted to tie up and have lunch with them, They were BBQing on the side deck and smelled great. Met a couple people from the Island that stayed in Matagora Harbor when we did. They are in a 440 on their way to Flordia. They told us of a "new" marina (Surfside) in Freeport that was cheaper and nicer  that they liked so we decided to stop there. Did a few boat chores and laundry. turned in early and slept well.

When we got up it was foggy and so we waited until 0900 and left. Visibility was 2 miles so worked out fine. Nice easy trip. Got to go up river at the Brasos while a tow moved through the east gate.  Hit 9knts once as current was moving and of course, in Freeport it was against us especially during docking. But we made it. The marina was not cheaper but was LOTs nicer. Very helpfull and friendly people that helped in docking undocking and getting fuel. Had a beautiful uneventful day going to Offatts. Only issue was got there at low tide and the entrance to Offatts off the ICW is sholed up. At one point had only .9 ft beneath the keep. When clear of the shole, it was 7 ft all the way. Anchored, had our arival wine, cheese and sasuage and loafed the rest of the day.

On the way to Offatts - part 3 & 4

On Carol's Birthday (now  she is as old as Steve) we left Pauls Mott for what we knew would be a long day to get to Matagora Bay. And it was. The day did not start out well (anouther story for some other time but just a boat needing minor things taken care of) and it got CHILLY on the way. Had to break out the heavy jackets, hoodies, gloves and lots of coffee. Along the way we were escourted by lots critters including the gulls Carol fed the day before. There was lots of barge traffic around Port O'Connor and was slow going there with one case of having to wait on the side for a double wide to clear. After we got in the bay, a barge comming down the Channel from Port Lavaca made a turn to head East on the ICW and he missed. Ran over the red bouy and got stuck. So we had a ring side seat for all that till the ICW cleared. Finally made it to one of our favorite anchor spots and spend a great night.

With the weather and available anchor spots or the lack of and the FACT that we did not want to do another long day, we decided to go into Matagora Harbor for the night. Good decision. We had a bit of rain, got behind a tow that got real hung up in a tight corner, and fought a tough current in the Colorado Locks. But it was a good trip, the boat performed well and we got the boat rinsed off (rain and hose after we got here), garbage emptied, Carol did the stinky clothes and Steve did a couple of boat chores, had a great late lunch and CJ is snacking on what is supposed to be our supper while I am typing.

We plan on moving on in the AM after the fog lifts and go to Bridge Harbor for fuel and then on to Offatts the following morning for at least a 5 day + weather stay. Looks like we will have good weather till we get there and WE like that.

on the way to Offatts - part 2

Aransas Bay - Pauls Mott

We left Bahia with a bit more wind than advertised and after a bouncy night (not the wind - lots of tugs and they don't go slow and throw a big wake). Took a bit longer than we figured as the tide was wrong (about a 1.25 kn current) but all was well. Was a bit strange not having to go via Lydia Ann as now we can get under the bridge on 361. As predicted the winds shifted to the NE and the bay was just a little choppy and was great after we got to the lee of the island. We anchored down and had an arrival "lemonade" (ok it was red and out of a wine bottle). Here is the view from the aft deck as we are enjoying our arival;

Tomorrow a bit longer trip to anchor out in Matagora Bay.

On the way to Offett Bayou (Galveston)

First Stop: Bahia Cove in Ingleside

Departed CC Marina at aprox 1120 am on New Years Eve. Had a bit of fog but that is what they make Radar for and all went well. Anchored down and had an arival Lemonade. Did a bit of housekeeping (like stowed stuff that was just laying around and then as Steve has promised himself, he spent an hour doing something productive on the boat (spot tied loose wires). Settled in for the night, went to bed early, got woke up by a cousin calling at 1:30 in morning to wish a happy new year. By then the wind was up(had some gusts around 30) and Steve stood anchor watch. all went well except his sleep.

Continued housekeeping chores today. Checked the weather for the trip to Galveston and decided to leave here tomorrow morning for Pauls Mott in Aransas Bay and then on to Matagora Bay the next day.

Missed all the folks at the dock but got to admit it was great seeing the stars and all that while swinging on the hook.

Thanks for all the help in shoving off from the Marina.