SUMMER IS OFFICIALLY OVER!

The boat is put away for another year!   We had a very cool, but uneventful trip  to Gimli. 

We rounded Willow Island and as Gimli came into view there was the usual fisherman's net blocking the harbour entrance. 

 We never have any problem with nets, because of our keel, but they sure are a problem for others. 

As we entered the harbour, there was the trailer, waiting for us.  

And before long she is power washed and tucked away in her winter storage for another year.  

The summer seems to have flown by.  We only used our boat for two cruises this year.  I know we have been busy with the house and all, but I guess we have really lost interested in the boat.  So, it is going up for sale next year.  

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

KITCHEN PROGRESS REPORT

The fall colours are gorgeous out my kitchen windows.   It gets prettier every day.  

But when you step outside there is a real nip in the air.  So, it's a good thing our new furnace is being installed next week.  

This cool snap makes me think about Texas and how could I ever survive a Manitoba winter, without an escape to some warm weather.  It's been 10 years since we spent an entire  winter at home and even this small cool down makes me feel chilled to the bone.  

 

Meanwhile the counters arrived and are installed, the sink is in and I am staying busy inside working on my varnishing, 

while Dan has been busy installing some of the pull out shelving I want in my Pantry.  

WE'VE GOT TO BE FINISHED BY THANKSGIVING

LIFE ABOARD A TRAWLER

Living aboard a trawler is similar in many ways to living in a small cabin or trailer for the summer.  You get to enjoy summer at the lake, plus you have the benefit of being able to take your cabin to a different beach if you choose. 

A Trawler is traditionally a very slow, but powerful boat.  And that very much describes what "Thunderbird" is.  She is big and roomy and makes a good live aboard.  But, she is also very slow.  Her top speed is only 10 mph and our normal cruising speed is about 7 1/2 mph, therefore if we are going anywhere it needs to be well planned out. 

Not that we haven't seen some of the best laid plans go awry. Like the time we almost got sunk by the coast guard. 

For the most part we spend our summers close to our home port of "Boundary Creek Marina".    This harbour allows for easy access to everything we could possibly need.  Groceries, Hardware, Liquor Store and a variety of Restaurants within a short drive.  Even a Walmart 27 miles away in Selkirk and of course our lake access. 

We can venture out for cruises, to go out on the lake to swim, or to get away from a hot still day at dock, to cruise with friends for a raft-up or we cruise just to break the monotony that can occur in a long hot summer.

But a "Destination Cruise", is a whole different thing.  That takes planning.  You have to plan for fuel, where are we going to have access to Diesel?  Food, what to take and for how long?  Will there be stores?  Do we have all the tools we need if we have a breakdown?  Always a fear on a long haul.  And what about the weather?  But the "Destination Cruise" is the high-lite of living on board.  To take your home and move it to a new port or a few new ports for a real change. 

Navigating??  I think we are pretty good at navigating, we haven't gotten lost yet.  But when you are going into strange waters it is always best to check all your charts for updates. 

We rely on our GPS and personal notes for the most part, but I would never cruise away from our home port without my charts.  We have had incidents when the GPS has gone "out" when on a cruise.  So I don't rely on it alone. 

Weather??  Now this is the one thing that you have absolutely no control over.  Especially on Lake Winnipeg.  This lake is relatively shallow for a lake of this size, especially in the South Basin.  A squall can come through on land with high wind and rain and leave nothing behind but a few broken branches, some puddles and a little excitement. 

But out on the lake that same squall, can whip up substantial waves.  And if the wind keeps up for any length of time those waves can build to be quite huge and dangerous.  Many people have lost their lives on this lake.   We know from experience that you don't want to be caught out there in that and you most CERTAINLY would not venture out INTO it. But all in all. 

I LOVE LIVING ON BOARD OUR TRAWLER

RENO PROGRESS

Well, the utility closet is built with the shelving I wanted.  It just needs the doors installed.  

The last of the new wall panelling has been installed, and I have finished painting it all.  

I still need a finish coat  of varnish on my cupboards. 

I called to find out, "Where are my counter tops?" (they originally said 2 to 3 weeks and it has now been over 4 weeks)  and they told me they will be there by the weekend, so I guess we can busy ourselves with other  little chores until then.  

We have some moldings to install, and I still haven't finished my bathroom ceiling. Then the Power and Water can be transferred over to the new kitchen.  

THEN I CAN MOVE IN 

(And we can gut the old kitchen)

    

CRUISING AND SWIMMING

Today we finally took some time off, to take the boat out on the lake. 

We had family come out for a cruise and a swim. 

Once out of the harbour, Dan put Chris in charge of the helm. 

We cruised to the south end of the lake and stopped for a swim just off of Matlock.  

After holding their breath Chris and Wil took the plunge and once in they said the water was fine.  

Dan and Scott and Randy had a good visit.

 

Will took a break from swimming, then went right back at it, so I guess the water wasn't that cold.  

The boys told us not to bother with the motor, they could pull us in to shore.  And they actually did move the boat a little. 

Then Chris piloted us back to the harbour.  

ALL IN ALL A GOOD DAY ON THE LAKE