The Nineveh is no longer our primetime home. We packed all of our belongings up (raising her about a foot or more out of the water) and went to Memphis. Josh has some projects in Memphis so its logical to stay there while we looked for a home in Knoxville, TN. We decided to look over the holidays since we were driving to Baltimore for Thanksgiving.
After looking at 6 houses or so (and plenty more on the internet for weeks prior) we decided to look at one that we weren't too excited about but we hadn't been too excited anything yet and we couldn't loose anything, right? Well, turns out we really liked the house and decided to get a signed contract! Now, it needs renovation - which we are not a stranger to - but it's in the neighborhood we like, in a good school district, and we can afford it. If the inspection goes great then we will be in our new (to us) home in early January!! I'll post photos as soon as we get some!
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Nineveh Mutiny - to Demopolis
So after Bates Lake everything went fairly smooth. We adjusted to having to use the generator in the morning to start the engine and using our kerosene lamps at night for light. In the meantime we were able to meet up with Last Paradise (whom we first met in Memphis. They have been our inspiration to continue sailing with Will since they have their own little one!) and have a nice dinner. Thank you Abby, Jeff and John for a fabulous night!
The day after was when Hurricane Ida hit land and brought tons and tons of rain our way. The river ran so fast that we could only make 4 knots by hugging the bank (thank you Josh! Such a fabulous Captain!). We didn't mind having to deal with rain or only being able to go 30 miles a day - what we did mind was the change in river height and the lack of information on the bridges straddling the Tenn-Tom.
I am not lying when I say we may have had to grease up the masts to get under the bridge at mm 174. Not only did we just barely make it (we maybe had 3 inches of clearance), there was a new bridge (new bridge!!) downstream of the bridge on the map. Had we have waited to pass these bridges we would have been stuck on the river until the river height went down 5 or more feet.
What should have taken us 4 days took us 6 days. Without all the mutiny and weather the Tenn-Tom is quite pleasant and I would travel it again, but maybe not in a sailboat with her masts up!
We were so happy to make it to the Demopolis Yacht Basin - they are so nice and friendly. Great staff and a nice marina with good facilities.
The day after was when Hurricane Ida hit land and brought tons and tons of rain our way. The river ran so fast that we could only make 4 knots by hugging the bank (thank you Josh! Such a fabulous Captain!). We didn't mind having to deal with rain or only being able to go 30 miles a day - what we did mind was the change in river height and the lack of information on the bridges straddling the Tenn-Tom.
I am not lying when I say we may have had to grease up the masts to get under the bridge at mm 174. Not only did we just barely make it (we maybe had 3 inches of clearance), there was a new bridge (new bridge!!) downstream of the bridge on the map. Had we have waited to pass these bridges we would have been stuck on the river until the river height went down 5 or more feet.
What should have taken us 4 days took us 6 days. Without all the mutiny and weather the Tenn-Tom is quite pleasant and I would travel it again, but maybe not in a sailboat with her masts up!
We were so happy to make it to the Demopolis Yacht Basin - they are so nice and friendly. Great staff and a nice marina with good facilities.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The Nineveh Mutiny - Mobile to Bates Lake
We leave Grand Mariner Marina in Mobile on Saturday November 7, 2009. Everything is going great - we get through the Mobile Bay and into the Mobile river (which is much calmer than the bay). Soon we realize that our batteries are not charging and Josh checks the alternator - which is obviously not working. We turn off everything except our depth finder to try and conserve as much of our batteries as possible. I am convinced, as is Josh, that The Nineveh is rebeling from being dry docked at Demopolis. She knows what is coming and is screaming and kicking. We push as far as we can and hand anchor on the Tensas River at mile marker 45.
Josh checks the alternator and the engine and finds a series of unfortunate events has unfolded - the water pipe (which has been just fine for as long as we have lived aboard) burst immediately next to the alternator. It shorted out and therefore couldn't charge the batteries. It also meant that our water pump had been pumping water into the bilge for however long and we now didn't know how much water we had left. We turn on only the anchor light and Josh raised a portable anchor light as well just in case.
The next morning - a Sunday - Josh calls the Coast Guard (who couldn't get enough of us on the Gulf) who recommended calling our insurance. Our insurance was as helpful as could be - finding someone in Mobile who might help. Only that company would charge us 6 hours (at $150/hour!!) just to come out and charge our batteries. This is on the offchance that our alternator would work after this charging. Boo. We decide this isn't an option and Josh figures he will take the dinghy to shore and try to find someone to help.
Let me tell you right now that the hunters and bass boaters of the river are the volunteer Coast Guard and should be respected and upheld for being good people. We flag down a bass boater who offers to take Josh to shore to get the starter battery charged. Josh and I accept and this wonderful hunter/bass boater not only helps us charge our starter battery but also takes Josh to AutoZone to get a generator!! Too sweet. They return, Josh gets the generator aboard and realizes he left the oil onshore. But we have enough onboard and are fine. We get the batteries charged and set off to try and get even 10 miles up river (the alternator is now working - hmm). Only one mile or less up the river another bass boater flags us down and pulls up beside us to give us the oil we left ashore! They found us on the river to give us our oil for the generator. Too awesome!
We anchor at Bates Lake (mm 54) - we use our oil lamps during the evening and have only the anchor light on. We are now on "conserve battery" mode even with a generator. I write very little down in our log hoping to not upset The Nineveh. I have quickly become quite supersticious.
Josh checks the alternator and the engine and finds a series of unfortunate events has unfolded - the water pipe (which has been just fine for as long as we have lived aboard) burst immediately next to the alternator. It shorted out and therefore couldn't charge the batteries. It also meant that our water pump had been pumping water into the bilge for however long and we now didn't know how much water we had left. We turn on only the anchor light and Josh raised a portable anchor light as well just in case.
The next morning - a Sunday - Josh calls the Coast Guard (who couldn't get enough of us on the Gulf) who recommended calling our insurance. Our insurance was as helpful as could be - finding someone in Mobile who might help. Only that company would charge us 6 hours (at $150/hour!!) just to come out and charge our batteries. This is on the offchance that our alternator would work after this charging. Boo. We decide this isn't an option and Josh figures he will take the dinghy to shore and try to find someone to help.
Let me tell you right now that the hunters and bass boaters of the river are the volunteer Coast Guard and should be respected and upheld for being good people. We flag down a bass boater who offers to take Josh to shore to get the starter battery charged. Josh and I accept and this wonderful hunter/bass boater not only helps us charge our starter battery but also takes Josh to AutoZone to get a generator!! Too sweet. They return, Josh gets the generator aboard and realizes he left the oil onshore. But we have enough onboard and are fine. We get the batteries charged and set off to try and get even 10 miles up river (the alternator is now working - hmm). Only one mile or less up the river another bass boater flags us down and pulls up beside us to give us the oil we left ashore! They found us on the river to give us our oil for the generator. Too awesome!
We anchor at Bates Lake (mm 54) - we use our oil lamps during the evening and have only the anchor light on. We are now on "conserve battery" mode even with a generator. I write very little down in our log hoping to not upset The Nineveh. I have quickly become quite supersticious.
New Orleans to Mobile
Our trip from New Orleans to Mobile went smoothly - thanks to our crew! Plus the weather was very nice - maybe a little chilly with the wind.
We didn't sail our first day because there was not enough wind. However we did have plenty of action. We were boarded twice (twice!) by federal agents. First by Customs (en route) and then by the Coast Guard (once anchored). We saw dolphins and jellyfish! Very cool - the jellyfish were very numerous. It was like a school of jellyfish going around our boat. Better than any aquarium!
Our first night we anchored behind Ship Island and had a beautiful sunset. Unfortunately, our anchorage was great for the wind (coming NNE) but bad for the waves (coming east) - so we rocked and rolled all night.
The next day we decided to push through to Mobile. We were able to sail for about 2 hours and then the wind died. Boo.
Close to Mobile we were approached by Marine Enforcement (why are we getting picked on?) but they just asked us to be careful and didn't board. We approached Mobile during sunset - which was very pretty except that the wind had picked up blowing perpindicular to us and huge huge ships were entering the channel as well. They didn't bother us too much (they look out for the little guy unlike on the Mississippi river). However, we had to find an unlit channel to Fort Morgan Marina. A fabulous little marina that has new facilities and great people working there. But try to get there in the daytime - the channel is clearly marked but not lit.
Our awesome sailor enjoying the wind and not minding his Magic Jacket.
Under way sailing!
The Nineveh at anchor south of Ship Island.
Daddy and Will enjoying the sunset in the cockpit.
Entering the Mobile channel. A huge THANK YOU to Lil and Katherine for their help during the leg of this trip!
We didn't sail our first day because there was not enough wind. However we did have plenty of action. We were boarded twice (twice!) by federal agents. First by Customs (en route) and then by the Coast Guard (once anchored). We saw dolphins and jellyfish! Very cool - the jellyfish were very numerous. It was like a school of jellyfish going around our boat. Better than any aquarium!
Our first night we anchored behind Ship Island and had a beautiful sunset. Unfortunately, our anchorage was great for the wind (coming NNE) but bad for the waves (coming east) - so we rocked and rolled all night.
The next day we decided to push through to Mobile. We were able to sail for about 2 hours and then the wind died. Boo.
Close to Mobile we were approached by Marine Enforcement (why are we getting picked on?) but they just asked us to be careful and didn't board. We approached Mobile during sunset - which was very pretty except that the wind had picked up blowing perpindicular to us and huge huge ships were entering the channel as well. They didn't bother us too much (they look out for the little guy unlike on the Mississippi river). However, we had to find an unlit channel to Fort Morgan Marina. A fabulous little marina that has new facilities and great people working there. But try to get there in the daytime - the channel is clearly marked but not lit.
Our awesome sailor enjoying the wind and not minding his Magic Jacket.Under way sailing!
The Nineveh at anchor south of Ship Island.
Daddy and Will enjoying the sunset in the cockpit.
Entering the Mobile channel.The Last Great Adventure
I will have to post photos later as technology is not cooperating this morning - Boo!
Josh and I have been thinking about moving back to Knoxville, TN for a little while now. With that comes the hard decision as to where we should live. Should we get a house? Should we move The Nineveh?
Moving The Nineveh to Knoxville would take about a month of non-stop sailing and motoring. We've done two weeks before and didn't feel like four weeks would be a wise nor comfortable choice. Plus this time we would be fighting the current the whole time. Another factor is that Will is curious, full of energy, adventurous and almost a year and a half. Our 275sf living space is getting a little cramped. Plus, there is no space for Josh's Architecture firm and CoolCorC on the boat. So, we have decided that The Nineveh will have to have other keepers to make her happy.
But, we have to move the boat out of New Orleans (out of the hurricane zone - insurance is cheaper as is slip fees). Hence our Last Great Adventure!
Josh's mom and sister became our crew and we sailed The Nineveh from New Orleans to Mobile, AL. From there our crew left and Josh, Will and I headed up the Tennesee TomBigBee waterway to Demopolis, AL (the first marina north of Mobile). During this time Hurricane Ida hit land. We have quite a story and some nice photos which will be posted soon.
The short of it is everyone and The Nineveh arrived safe in Demopolis. The long of it will be in the next post!
Josh and I have been thinking about moving back to Knoxville, TN for a little while now. With that comes the hard decision as to where we should live. Should we get a house? Should we move The Nineveh?
Moving The Nineveh to Knoxville would take about a month of non-stop sailing and motoring. We've done two weeks before and didn't feel like four weeks would be a wise nor comfortable choice. Plus this time we would be fighting the current the whole time. Another factor is that Will is curious, full of energy, adventurous and almost a year and a half. Our 275sf living space is getting a little cramped. Plus, there is no space for Josh's Architecture firm and CoolCorC on the boat. So, we have decided that The Nineveh will have to have other keepers to make her happy.
But, we have to move the boat out of New Orleans (out of the hurricane zone - insurance is cheaper as is slip fees). Hence our Last Great Adventure!
Josh's mom and sister became our crew and we sailed The Nineveh from New Orleans to Mobile, AL. From there our crew left and Josh, Will and I headed up the Tennesee TomBigBee waterway to Demopolis, AL (the first marina north of Mobile). During this time Hurricane Ida hit land. We have quite a story and some nice photos which will be posted soon.
The short of it is everyone and The Nineveh arrived safe in Demopolis. The long of it will be in the next post!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Barnacles Galore!
Being in salt water has pros and cons. Currently the main con is the sea life that grows on any surface touching the water. These pictures sum it up.
Close up of the horrors.
Half-way there!
Though not technically barnacles, these mussels found a little home in our raw water intake cylinder for our air conditioner.
The Barnacle Cluster on our dinghy: my enemy for the day.
My tools to fight off said enemy (Goggles are not pictures as I am wearing them). I would advise anyone to use GoofOff on barnacles - they lose their footing much easier.
Close up of the horrors.
Half-way there!Once the dinghy's hull was free of barnacles Josh and I had to laugh - there were bits of barnacles (shell, oozy things, and little crawly things) all over me. I was even wet from the rain that had passed through. I looked like a crazy lady who just hacked her way through four months worth of barnacles.
Monday, September 28, 2009
If everything is going well - you've obviously overlooked something.
The previous owners of our boat had left it "as is" for quite some time (3 years I think). There were pots and pans, old linens, clothing, towels, toilet paper, cups, and soda along with miscellaneous boat parts and tools throughout the boat. In the galley lay a sign reading "If everything is going well you've obviously overlooked something." We had a laugh and thought it was a neat sign. Through our 5 years of living onboard we have realized it is not just a funny saying but a very true one.
Everytime we get the boat straightened up and organized something on the boat breaks or needs repairing. In order to fix whatever it is, all the tools and boards and things need to be brought out of their hiding place and into our main salon. This makes the boat very hard to live in for a day or two with just two people. But then whatever needed fixing is fixed and we clean up and wait for the next event to occur.
Our latest event concerned our infamous air conditioner. Yep - once again. Josh had cleaned up and repaired the aft cabin for Will. Will really enjoyed his personal piece of The Nineveh and took to sleeping there during the night without protest (he still feeds 2 or 3 times at night but that's another story). Everything was really looking great and Josh and I were thinking we could really get use to living in New Orleans (we still don't know if we'll be staying in New Orleans or moving to Knoxville, but that is a different story for another posting).
Then Josh is sick for a week, then I get sick and the air conditioner stops working. Thank goodness Josh is feeling better! Josh believes he knows the problem (the pipes need cleaning) so Will and I get out of the boat and Josh gets to work. We aren't use to brackish water and the constant maintenance of the water pipes. So this seemed like a plausible reason for the air conditioner to not work. Cleaning the pipes didn't help.
So we make the best of it for the night, turning on our portable air conditioner in the forward cabin. We try to entertain Will as best we can in our v-berth. The next day Josh continues to work on the air conditioner - being quite fluent in working on it we are both positive he will fix it. Unfortunately even after replacing a number of things that had gone bad and cleaning out the raw water intake strainer (which had little clams growing in it) the air conditioner did not work. Will and I traveled around town checking out the playgrounds and malls keeping him as cool and active as possible. I am completely worn out as is Josh. That night he tells me that the bilge pump is broken. I ask "the automatic or the manual?" to which he replies "both." Oy.
For a week we are without air conditioning and work to keep Will cool and happy. We have two air conditioner guys come out to repair it. The first started to tell Josh about other air conditioners we should look into while he is working on ours. He makes no headway in fixing it. The second guy rings in success by finding the internal breaker has gone bad. Apparently marine air conditioners do not need it and it's a nuisance so its removed and our air conditioner roars to life bringing cool, dry air into our boat. Ahhhh.
Now, onto the bilge pump . . . Josh finds that the pump itself is bad. He goes and gets a new one with an internal float switch (which seems like a great idea) and after checking it and hooking it up it doesn't work. The float switch doesn't work and nothing is turning on. So he has to unhook everything and go back out and get another one. He decides to get one without an internal float switch and installs it and Hazaa! it works.
I would like to point out that through all of this Will was a complete trouper and brought even more joy to Josh and I. We would be so exhausted and frustrated with everything and Will would smile or murmur something or do a dance and Josh and I would smile and laugh and just be filled with happiness. No matter what the circumstances, being together just makes everything better. I have learned so much from Will.
Everytime we get the boat straightened up and organized something on the boat breaks or needs repairing. In order to fix whatever it is, all the tools and boards and things need to be brought out of their hiding place and into our main salon. This makes the boat very hard to live in for a day or two with just two people. But then whatever needed fixing is fixed and we clean up and wait for the next event to occur.
Our latest event concerned our infamous air conditioner. Yep - once again. Josh had cleaned up and repaired the aft cabin for Will. Will really enjoyed his personal piece of The Nineveh and took to sleeping there during the night without protest (he still feeds 2 or 3 times at night but that's another story). Everything was really looking great and Josh and I were thinking we could really get use to living in New Orleans (we still don't know if we'll be staying in New Orleans or moving to Knoxville, but that is a different story for another posting).
Then Josh is sick for a week, then I get sick and the air conditioner stops working. Thank goodness Josh is feeling better! Josh believes he knows the problem (the pipes need cleaning) so Will and I get out of the boat and Josh gets to work. We aren't use to brackish water and the constant maintenance of the water pipes. So this seemed like a plausible reason for the air conditioner to not work. Cleaning the pipes didn't help.
So we make the best of it for the night, turning on our portable air conditioner in the forward cabin. We try to entertain Will as best we can in our v-berth. The next day Josh continues to work on the air conditioner - being quite fluent in working on it we are both positive he will fix it. Unfortunately even after replacing a number of things that had gone bad and cleaning out the raw water intake strainer (which had little clams growing in it) the air conditioner did not work. Will and I traveled around town checking out the playgrounds and malls keeping him as cool and active as possible. I am completely worn out as is Josh. That night he tells me that the bilge pump is broken. I ask "the automatic or the manual?" to which he replies "both." Oy.
For a week we are without air conditioning and work to keep Will cool and happy. We have two air conditioner guys come out to repair it. The first started to tell Josh about other air conditioners we should look into while he is working on ours. He makes no headway in fixing it. The second guy rings in success by finding the internal breaker has gone bad. Apparently marine air conditioners do not need it and it's a nuisance so its removed and our air conditioner roars to life bringing cool, dry air into our boat. Ahhhh.
Now, onto the bilge pump . . . Josh finds that the pump itself is bad. He goes and gets a new one with an internal float switch (which seems like a great idea) and after checking it and hooking it up it doesn't work. The float switch doesn't work and nothing is turning on. So he has to unhook everything and go back out and get another one. He decides to get one without an internal float switch and installs it and Hazaa! it works.
I would like to point out that through all of this Will was a complete trouper and brought even more joy to Josh and I. We would be so exhausted and frustrated with everything and Will would smile or murmur something or do a dance and Josh and I would smile and laugh and just be filled with happiness. No matter what the circumstances, being together just makes everything better. I have learned so much from Will.
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