Day 365 The end of our first year on board!!

What a year this has been.  We moved on board Zephyr one year ago all set to set sail on our great adventure.  Now, a year later, we are much wiser and much poorer but much safer and far more knowledgeable than we certainly were a year ago.  

Oh the great plans we had.  We'd be off to Mexico by the end of August after our quick one month refit in Washington state little realizing that it's not safe to go there till mid to late November (hurricanes).  We'd be wiggling our toes in the sand and having margaritas.  We were so green!!!

Now, a year later, we are in touch with Zephyr and all her systems.  We know her inside and out.  Having replaced heads and fiber glassed sewage tanks.  Torn down and rebuilt all the winches for controlling the sails.   Added macerators to both heads as well as new plumbing.  Fixed the water systems so we have access to all 265 gallons of water in our tanks.  We had had only access to approximately the first 65 before we started sucking air into the system.  Heck, we even installed new pumps to pump the water.  We've installed new filters in both the diesel lines as well as the oil lines.  Replaced the transmission TWICE.  Impellers for pumping water through the engine.  Had Zephyr all rewired to make her safer.  Six new batteries and charger/inverter plus we replaced her computerized electrical monitor system so we can track exactly what is happening in her electrical systems.  

All her rigging--both standing(holds the mast up) as well as running (controls the sails) has been replaced.  Add on a carbon fiber spinnaker pole to make the sails work well in downwind sailing.   We had every sail inspected and fixed where needed.   We changed out many of the lights on board so that they will use less electricity.  We've added new lines for new equipment until we have line(rope) all over the place almost making it hard to remember what goes to what(sure glad I labeled them).  New reefing lines (makes the mainsail smaller) and a winch  to pull them in.  We rebuilt the roller furling system for the big Genoa sail at the bow and had the bow rollers for the anchor straightened.   We added on a wind and water electrical generator and will be adding on a wind powered auto steering system later this Summer.   We repacked the rudder post to keep the water out and overhauled the steering systems assembly while we were at it.  We had Zephyrs heating system rebuilt and rewired.   A new three burner propane stove and a new freezer/refrigerator system to make life easier.  Added on new navigation electronics and updated some of what was already on board.  A new out board motor for our dingy so we don't have to row so much.   Had the dodger canvas all resewed and new zippers put in.   The list goes on and on. I won't even go into the number of spare parts and pumps we've put down in the lockers for the future.   Each project was done to make Zephyr better and us safer.  Zephyr was in a midlife crisis and we had to make her right and that is just what we did.  Yes, it has slowed us down but we are far better prepared for what is to come and for that we are glad that we took the extra time, not that we had any real choice in the matter.

Add in the classes taken--electrical, as well as diesel mechanics and the manuals we've read and we are far more prepared for what is to come.  We can't thank Bill and Susan Gardner(Zephyr's previous owners) for all the help, information and understanding they have given us over this past year.  They've answered so many questions that I've lost count.  It would have been much harder through this with out their input.  If you're reading this Bill & Susan, Thanks!!! 

Now she's right and so are we.  We know what switches do what and what that noise that goes bump in the night is and whether or not it should go bump in the night.  We're no longer the green kids we were a year ago.  We still have lots to learn and that will come with time and experience.  Each day we get better at what we do and learn, learn, learn.  I've read more manuals than I can remember and each one makes me better at what we are and will be doing.  

We've met some wonderful and some not so wonderful people over this past year and will meet more of the same in the years to come.  That's what life and a cruisers life is all about.  It's a small community out there where you may see the same people over and over again as you sail into different harbors and there are some friends you will never see again as yours paths may never cross.  It's a big world out there and we  feel much better prepared for it.  Time will tell if we are. 

It has been a great year!!  Would we want to repeat it?  Not on your life!!!  There were times we just had to leave Zephyr while the workmen were on board doing what ever it was they were doing.  Some times  it just got too frustrating being there through all the upheaval.  We're both glad that stage of our journey is over and we can now look forward to what is to come.  We stay as long as we want and then decide where we want to stay and see next.  Tomorrow we will be off again.  Perhaps not a long trip but who knows.  It all has to start with the first step or at least with untying the dock lines and starting the motor and just getting out.  As Captain Ron (if you haven't seen the movie Captain Ron, your should) says "If it is going to happen, it's going to happen out there" and that is where we want to be--out there!!!

Now for today's activities.  Today started out cloudy with the weather people saying it might or might not rain.  Nope, not here.  By the afternoon, it was lovely.   Early in the morning, as we went on deck to the sound of big engines, along came a Canadian Coast Guard ship and a LARGE  hover craft with it.  Apparently, someone had reported a dingy floating in the strait just

outside our bay and they had been dispatched to look into it.  It was there just floating along.  I'd seen something earlier but dismissed it as it was so far away.  The poor little wooden dingy had floated away from someplace and was missing its bow section.  Being wood, it still floated but out they both came to investigate it.  The hover craft loaded it up and off they went with a roar.  I'm sure hearing plugs are mandatory on that baby.

After seeing the house of drift wood yesterday, we had to make our own so we walked the shoreline till we found a piece of drift wood and took it over to the house this afternoon.  With there being no wind, we just hopped into Puff and started Dragon and off we went around the point and down the coast to Conover Cove and took it up and hung it among all the others.  It's an amazing collection of peoples memories.

Tomorrow we are off to another inlet or harbor.  We've been here for several days and enjoyed it but it's time to move on.  Two to three days is our max before we get antsy and are ready to move on.  At least so far.  We'll see what happens as time goes on.  Tonight, a great barbecued steak dinner in celebration of our anniversary.  YUM!