Tomorrow Night I/We leave....

Hey Folks
The trailer is all loaded up as is the trunk of the car. We will finish off packing today and be set to roll tomorrow evening. I will wait around until Janet is finished work in the hope that when she gives her notice at work they will just let her walk. Janet has booked airfare for the 14th of January but would rather drive out with me tomorrow. We can only hope though, I'm pretty sure they will want her to stray around for the last two weeks.
The travel plan is to stop in Kenora for the night tomorrow and then drive to Regina the next day. Over night there and head out to Calgary for New Year's Eve with my family there. Probably stay through New Year's Day and head to the boat the following day. Then the work will begin. The boat is winterized and only partially heated right now so the first full day will be just getting her somewhat liveable. I will also check out the job opportunities that are about as I will have to make a few bucks to help get the boat ready. I have a maintenance Log that will get well used over the next few months as we do the suggested survey repairs and start up-grading our home. Will use this forum to keep all who are interested up to date on our lives as the work progresses and we start making plans to sail away.
All for now and Happy New Year to everyone.

'B'

The End for this Year

Hey Folks

Well Journeyer is on the hard again due to a faulty dripless bearing. There is no longer time to fix her and head on before the locks close for the winter. I'll winterizer her and come back in the spring to bring her home. I want to thank all who have followed our progress and let you know that there will be another start. Have a great day and winter ahead.

Brett

Goderich

Hey Folks

Motored into Goderich today and got in before dark, thankfully. No range lights here I'm afraid and a very narrow channel into the yacht docks. Good marina though. The operator was about working on his own boat and opened up to sell me fuel. There is internet access and power at the dock and so am all set. Winds are going to be up tomorrow and out of the South so will have a long day bucking them into Sarnia where I will stop tomorrow night. I plan to spend a day on Lake Saint Clair while I change out the raw water pump and look at a boat or two. I may delay as long as Wednesday as a storm front with 50 knot winds is predicted. We shall see. The weather today started out rainy with 20 knot headwinds that diminished to 15 knots and a wee bit of sun by late afternoon when I arrived here. We shall see what the morning brings. Till tomorrow, peace to all.

Brett

Port Elgin

Hello All

Well, I woke up to no wind and blue skys. Motored out of Tobermory and managed to sail for a few hours before the wind disappeared again. Motored the rest of the way into Port Elgin. The rain came a few hours out but was more of a heavy mists. I got in here after dark again and am finding out how much I like range lights. I will head over to Goderich tomorrow and then Port Huron on Monday leaving Lake Erie for mid week. I hope to be in Port Colburn by Friday night where I will do some work on Journeyer until Andrew joins me on Monday night. After that we will motor over to Buffalo and head into the Erie canal system on our way to the Hudson River and eventually New York City. Hope to say hello again tomorrow night. Take care all.

Brett

Tobomory

Hey Folks

She took almost 18 hours slogging against a 20 plus knot wind but were here in Toby. Will head out on Huron tomorrow after a sleep in I think. Totally wiped out right now but wanted all to know we made her alright. Hope your Friday night is going well.

Brett

Weather is changing

Hello All

Well, the wind has finally gone down enough to leave. Will head out at five am and sail or motor to Tobermory tomorrow. From there down Lake Huron over Saturday and Sunday. I hope to be on Lake Erie by Monday afternoon. Weather seems to be in the right space so away we go. There is snow predicted here over the next few days but the wind is in the 15 knot range which makes for good travel. I'll put on the Atlantic Class survival suit and make snowballs all day...:-) Hope all is well for all of you. Will blog in whenever I find a signal and say hello.

All for now.

Brett

Out and Back

Hello All

Well, we gave her a try. Left Bay Moorings at about 5am under fairly calm seas. After 4 hours we were in winds up to 60 knots in clear blue sky under a staysail only. Headed into an anchorage for a few hours and motored back to the Bay for the night or two. Winds are predicted to die down on Friday. Will try again then. For now I will install a few new toys like a fuel gauge and a new oil pressure gauge. I also have a sail to repair so will be busy. The clock is ticking as well but still have lots of time to get to the canals.

Until tomorrow, good winds to all.

Brett

Hmmm Weather???

Hello All

Well, Journeyer is all set to sail south. I've got dock fever, (similar to Cabin fever) and want to feel wind in the sails, but the weather man is saying gale force winds and two to three meter seas. Not the most fun with a crew to help. Not fun at all alone. I will have to wait until morning to see how accurate they are. Right now the wind is out of the South and so it is quite warm here. If it stays this way tomorrow morning I will go out and see how it feels. I could be on a broad reach all the way to Toby if the wind stays the same. Will let the daylight decide. I may have to sit this one out and wait for less wind on Thursday. I have things that could be worked on and will certainly not sit idle all day so there you have it. Hope all are doing well out there. Catch you when I can.

Brett

Afloat again

Hello All

Journeyer is back in the water again. She is so much better looking with the masts up. Will spend most of tomorrow rigging her as the weather is not on the favourable side for sailing. If I get an opportunity I will sail out about 15 miles to an anchorage that will allow me a shorter sail to Tobermory. We will see in the afternoon and decide then. The people at Bay Moorings have been just phenomenal and I will always treasure the friendships I have made here. Thanks to Ken, Lynda, Tim, and Al and their great team who did all they could to insure that we were ready to go in time to sail south before the locks close. Their professional team have really allowed Journeyer and I to continue south and we will be forever grateful. Great job guys and gals, and thanks so much. I will sign off for now and may not be able to log in for a few days if we sail out tomorrow.

Take care all until we meet again

Brett

Masts Stepped

Hello All

Well, the bow sprit is on and the Masts are Stepped. Journeyer should hit the water in the morning if all goes well. I have a few things left to do and we should be able to head south again. I am hoping to set sail early Tuesday morning to try and get back to Tobermory in one day. After that it should be clear sailing down Huron and Erie where I will stop at Port Colburn to take the masts down and pick up Andrew in Toronto before heading into the Erie Canal system. If all goes well we should be seeing New York around the 10th of November and head south. I've made some good friends here in Bay Moorings. The crew here is excellent and the work they do top notch. For all who travel by water, if your in the area, drop by if you need anything. These people are great.

Until Tomorrow, Goodnight all.

Brett

Wow, What a Day....

Hey Guys and Gals

We got a ton done today for sure. The new toe rails are all fitted and ready to stick down permanently. The bow sprit is finished except for the final coat of paint. The new masthead light is installed and new wire run from the top of the mast to the cockpit switch panel. The new anchor roller is fabricated and ready to install in the sprit as soon as the paint dries. Half of the new stanchions are installed and the rest will be installed tomorrow. The masts are being stepped on Sunday and we may even launch if things go well. The survey was done today and Journeyer passed with flying colours. The weekend is going to fly by as there are a huge number of jobs to complete as we push to get the boat ready to leave. It will feel so great to be back afloat again. No climbing a 12 foot ladder to get on deck.

Well, all for now. Chat again tomorrow.

Brett

Rain to Sun

Hey Folks

She started a wee bit dreary today but dried out enough by the end to paint the bottom one more coat and start installing the stanchions that came back with the bow pulpit today. If the carpenter comes with the wood tomorrow and the weather holds, should be able to get everything installed by the end of the weekend and get ready to stand masts and launch Journeyer again. The rain delayed the survey for yet another day. He will try again tomorrow morning. Everyone here is trying hard to get us on the road and have been great. With everything coming together tomorrow hopefully we will be ready to rumble monday. I am off to relax and sleep as I will be up early tomorrow to keep things moving along.

Hope all are well.

Brett

Just another day in Paradise

Hey Guys and Gals

Progress everyday though sometimes I feel not enough. The Stainless is ready in Barrie and so may have to drive down in the morning and pick it up. It is supposed to rain tomorrow morning and clear off later in the day. Will be getting the survey done if it is dry out and perhaps start installing the teak toe rails. The bowsprit may be a few days longer but we shall see. I have plenty to do as I need to install new gauges for the oil pressure and temperature on the motor and if its dry, start installing the stanchions and bow pulpit. I'm feeling that Monday or Tuesday, may be more like the time we will get out of here. Things are coming together though and we'll push ahead. I'm very much looking forward to stepping the masts again and doing some sailing instead of motoring. Andrew arrives in Toronto on the first just before midnight so hope to be in Port Colburn a day ahead to arrange car rental and perhaps get the masts down for the motor through the canal system to the Hudson River. We may have Mark V. joining us in New York for a sail to warmer climes though if he comes Mark can only join us for perhaps 10 days. Will finish of for now and get a bit of cleanup done before sack time. Hope all is well out there.
Take Care

Brett

what a Day

Hey Folks

Well, what a day of ups and downs. We started with a call from the carpenter who announced we would have to spend about five grand to build a new bowsprit as there was wood rot in the tip, too, after inspection by the adjuster, a five hundred dollar repair. Nonetheless I got little of the planned work done today so will replace battery bank tomorrow in the morning. The insurance survey will happen tomorrow afternoon, and I will work on installing the teak toe rails if they arrive. Saw them today and they look great, though not quite finished. By this time tomorrow night I should have some idea what changes are required for the survey and will get working on them. The stainless should be ready tomorrow for pickup as well. Hmmm need two of me I guess.

Will bring you up to date on all tomorrow night. Hope your short work week is going well.

Brett

A Beautiful Long Weekend....

Hello All

Another amazing day weather wise in Penetanguishene. Cool as fall days are but wonderful. Worked on finishing the teak and caulking on the deck joint. Cleaned the engine room and tested the house batteries. Not good news there. The four house batteries are cooked and need replacing. Should have new batteries tomorrow and with a little change over will have a reliable house bank. I'm taking out the old 12 volt batteries and replacing them with golf cart batteries. As they are six volt, will take a little changeover in the wiring but should give me lots of storage. No more power problems. I pulled the newel posts and cleaned them up and will refinish them before reinstalling with the repaired bow sprit and pulpit. Tomorrow looks to be battery day and perhaps installation of some of the new teak toe rails if they arrive. If Barrie Stainless calls I will have to drive back up and pick up the bow pulpit and stanchions that have been made and get ready to install them. Looks like a very busy week, all in all. Need to push as I am hoping for a survey on Friday if it can be done. Am off to watch a movie and get some rest.

More tomorrow night. Hope you all had a great Thanks Giving.

Brett

Long weekend Sunday

Hello All

It's been a good day over all as I managed to install the new aft led light and finish the wiring for the new horn on the mizzen mast. The masts are now ready to go back on the boat as soon as the new bow sprit and Pulpit are installed next week. Put another coat of Ceatal on the port toe rails and the spreaders. I also installed the new BBQ and of course tried it out. I can highly recommend Dickinson equipment. Both the gimballed range and BBQ are great. The weather has been great down here and is supposed to stay fairly good through next week. We should have the boat ready for survey by Friday and with any luck in the water over the weekend. I would love to leave here on Friday but will see what is required on the survey. I am too meet Andrew in Toronto on the 1st of November so will head down to Lake Erie on my own as soon as I get the thumbs up. Anyone interested in a wee 500 mile sail should send me an email and come on down. Hope your long weekend is going well. Until Later.

Brett

Saturday going going....

Hello Again

Well, the bow pulpit will be ready tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning and if all else goes well we will have the stainless hardware back on the boat by Thursday night. The woodwork should be here on Tuesday and we will start to install the toe rails as soon as they arrive. With any luck all will be ready to step the masts on Friday either before or after launching. Best laid plans at any rate. The boat is cleaning up well. I've started putting the cetall on all the bright work. Will put a fresh coat on every nice day until we launch. I managed to pick up some storage bins that fit the starboard storage area so have sorted everything out and am much happier with that area now. I am looking forward to Andrew the Aussie arriving as his help getting through the canals will be needed and company is always nice. Hope all have a great Thanksgiving.

Brett

Friday Night in Penetanguishene

Hello All

Lots of small jobs got done today as I didn't have to go to Barrie. Will be of bright and early tomorrow morning though. We have been promised the bow pulpit by Wednesday so hope all works out. The woodwork is all in progress and I have the new spreaders installed already. The new coaxial is installed and ready to use as is the new wires for the steaming light. The painting is pretty well complete and other than a quick touch up on the bottom paint she is ready to get wet. I've cleaned out most of the different storage spaces and am in the process of drying out everything that is still wet. Will be resealing the deck joint over the weekend and trying to insure things stay dry from now on. We seem to be on schedule to have the boat ready to go by the 15th of October and am pushing for that date. Will keep you all informed on the progress.

Have a good night and Happy Thanks Giving to All

Brett

It's Thursday and things are progressing...

Hello All

Well, things are progressing. We should have the new spreaders delivered tomorrow and get them on the masts. I will also be driving down to Barrie with the Stainless hardware to have a new Bow pulpit built. They have promised it for next Wednesday and so should have it installed on Thursday if all fits. The stanchions will come at the same time and I should have all the wood on and ceatal on before then. I rewired the mast including new steaming light and wire as well as a high quality coaxial cable designed for lengths over 75 feet and ais compatible today. Will continue running the wire inside the boat tomorrow all the way to the vhs and panel. Things are slowly coming together and I am optimistic that we will be ready in plenty of time to make the Erie and Hudson canal system before it closes on the 15th of November. Hope all is well with all of you. Chat again tomorrow.

Brett

Day two on the hard...

Hey Folks

Another great day for weather and work. All the broken stuff is stripped of Journeyer and some of the fiberglassing is already done. Tomorrow should see the end of the fiberglass repairs and with any luck some of the woodwork will be returned. The stainless guy will be by tomorrow to pick up the Bow pulpit and stanchions to be repaired. I will be wiring the masts and hopefully replacing the damaged halyard for the mizzen as well as installing a second bilge pump and cleaning the boat. The jobs as always pile up and get done as seems the norm for boats. If time allows tomorrow, I will start refinishing the teak toe rail that has not been removed so it looks as good as the new stuff. Much easier right now as the stanchions are all off. I will also be reseating the through hulls and sealing the hull to deck joint while she is out of the water. Hmmm I feel tired just thinking about it....lol Till tomorrow, enjoy.

Brett

Things are getting done...

Hey Folks

Well, Journeyer is back on the hard and looking better all ready. The masts are off the deck and the stainless bow pulpit and the stanchions are removed. The teak that has to be replaced will come off tomorrow and the fiberglassing should be done in a few days. With luck, we may have the new teak toe rails installed by the weekend and be ready for the new stanchions and bow pulpet by early next week. I am optomistic that we will have Journeyer ready to travel by the 22nd of October leaving plenty of time to get into the Erie/Hudson canal system and make it to New York by the 10th of November. Back on schedule to head south to Bermuda. Keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep working hard to get her done. Will keep you informed of the progress as the days go by.

Hope your days ahead are filled with Sunshine.

Brett

Here at Last

Hey Folks

Well, Journeyer and I are in Penetanguishene tied to a dock at Baymoorings. The last 10 miles in the dark gave me some practice at night navigation into a strange to me harbour. Thank Greg for the GPS/Chart-plotter made the navigation easy. A good spotlight helped a lot to as only a few of the Buoys were lit. The rest are just reflectorized. I found a dock open and will get up early and walk over to the main office and see where they want us. For now I just need rest. Thirteen hours of motoring is painful at best. Time to rest and catch up on some cleanup and repacking the boat tomorrow.

Hope you all have a great day tomorrow. Will be back on tomorrow night.

Brett

One Last Leg

Hey Folks

Well, Journeyer and I are in Tobermory tonight and will finish this motoring thing tomorrow evening. I am hoping that we can have her back out of the water and on her way to being repaired by Tuesday. Had a long day today and perhaps a longer one tomorrow but with less wind if the forecast is at all right. It would have been a great sail today with the wind on the Port Quarter all the way but instead we just rocked and rolled all day long. I am too bed early tonight so will sign off for now. Enjoy this great fall weather. Until Tomorrow

Good Night.

Brett

Half way there....

Hey Folks

Well, Journeyer and I are in Little Current for the night having travelled from Sault Saint Marie to Hilton Beach on Day one, Hilton Beach to the North Channel Yacht Club off Serpent harbour on day two and now here. Things have been going very smoothly and the weather which has been good though a little cold is to get better over the next few days. I should be in Penetanguishene by Monday night and hopefully they will be able to start on Journeyer on Tuesday. The new coupling and shaft are working great and the engine has never sounded better. It is a little strange to motor so far but fuel economy has been pretty good and Auto has been doing most of the steering so I get to get caught up on reading and planning for the trip ahead.

I have a little maintenance to take care of and then early to bed as I will be leaving at first light so will sign off for now. Hope all of you are doing well.

Brett

Going to Baymoorings on Georgian Bay

Hey Folks

Well, we are off to Baymoorings Marina to get Journeyer back in shape. Will be leaving after a quick stop in Sault Michigan to deliver a mooring line to Tom at the shipwreck historical Society and get the boat fuelled, pumped and water tanks topped up. Seems everything is closed in the Sault Canada already. Will take about 4 or 5 days to motor to the marina if wind gives us a chance. Journeyer is in the water with masts strapped to deck and we are ready to go. Sault Canada has been an interesting place to spend a week. It's a clean town that learned a long time ago how to use their waterfront. I would certainly come back for a visit again. Thanks to all the people here who made my stay comfortable. Will try to get on line in my travels east and let you know how things are going.

Goodnight all

Brett

Already to dunk...

Hey Folks

Had a beautiful day in Sault today though I spent most of it inside the engine room reconnecting everything. We have a new shaft, dripless stuffing box, coupling, and rebuilt prop. They're all installed and the motor has been re-aligned with the shaft. With any luck we will be in the water in the morning and I will prepare the boat to motor to Midland where we hope to have the rest of the repairs done and finished in time to head south once again. The experience of the last few weeks has been surreal, fascinating, frustrating, and in many many ways told me how many great people are out there willing to help in any way they can. I will never have enough words of thanks for all who have been there when we needed them.

I will be talking with boat yards in the Midland area tomorrow and hope to have some concrete plans set by tomorrow night. Until then, have a great night and day tomorrow.

Brett

Up and down in a day....

Hello Folks

Well, the work starts. Pulled the prop and shaft today and will install a new one tomorrow afternoon including a new dripless stuffing box and bearing. Should be ready to drop back in the water by Wednesday afternoon. Will support masts on deck and motor down to Midland area where we will have a new bowsprit and pulpit installed as well as several new stanchions and some fibreglass repair. Hope to be headed into the Canal system by November 1st and get to the ocean by the 10th. Back on schedule for the trip south. Of course these are the best laid plans.

More tomorrow. Would like to hear the waves against the hull instead of the pier by this time Wednesday. Have a great day tomorrow.

Brett

What is that Orange Ball in the Sky...

Hey Folks

A beautiful sunny Sunday in Sault Saint Marie. Have spent the morning cleaning and getting ready for the next leg of our Journey. We'll find out by mid week weather we carry on or head back to Thunder Bay. Still hopeful we can get the damages fixed before it's to late to go south. Will keep you all updated as things happen.

Enjoy the Weather and keep smiling.

'B'

On the Hard

Hey Folks

Well the masts are down and Journeyer is on the hard in Sault Saint Marie. Waiting for the Marine Serveyer to arrive. Would like to get the work done and have her on the way soon but will wait for his go ahead. She looks in pretty good shape generally. Will know more tomorrow I hope. All for now.

Brett

Lovely Monday

Hey Folks

If only we had weather like this over the last two weeks. I had the opportunity to work on the bright work today as well as setting up some of the new but as yet uninstalled equipment we have for Journeyer. Tied up to an old tug boat at Pervis Marine is not as romantic as sailing up the Saint Laurence but we'll make due until I get the go ahead to head south. I have shore power as of today so can put my Honda generator away for now. Will have to fill the water tanks soon but that too seems to be a doable thing here. There is a head ashore so the holding tank is holding for now. Life is good.... lol

More tomorrow. Hope this finds all of you well.

Brett

Cleaning up and waiting.....

Hello Folks

Well I am alone for now. Janet has returned to Thunder Bay to return to work and I will spend the next few days cleaning up and sorting things out. I have lots of things to catch up on until the surveyer arrives on Wednesday. If we are given the green light to go I hope to be able to head south within a week. Time is of the essence as we need to get through to New York before mid November to get back on schedule. This meens heading through the Hudson Canal system to the Hudson river instead of up the Saint Laurence. We will keep you posted on all the events as they take place. Good sailing all and hope to see some of you on the way.

Brett

Hey Folks

Well we are off to Sault Saint Marie Canada tomorrow to have Journeyer lifted from the water and checked out by a marine surveyer who will be in on Wednesday. Until then we won't know much. The David Boyd will be towing us into the locks and across to the Purvis tug docks. After that we just sit and wait....

Brett

Repair Day

Well, its repair and cleanup day. I will be heading into the water to clear the prop and check out the rudder damage before lifting the engine and repairing the shaft coupling. It appears that the lines thrown over by CSL Niagara fouled the loose prop and allowed Journeyer to live on. In the conditions at the time it is amazing that the lines could have worked into the right position knowing how protected the prop is on Journeyer. With the prop stopped from spinning with the movement of the boat journeyer had little problem staying afloat and just anchored herself when she reached shallow enough water. I would like to add some more thanks to the list previous. Fred Stille from Thunder Bay put us in touch with Kathleen in the Sault. Without this valuable connection we may have never found Journeyer. Thanks Fred... 

Found...

We left whitefish point shipwreck museum at 09:00. After plotting a course too a probable location Journeyer could be at we headed out aboard the David Boyd, a 50 foot research vessel owned by the museum. After a few hours staring out at five to six foot seas Janet and I were getting a little worried. I had gone in to talk to Tom Farnquist about how far we had gone and were intending to go when Janet called for the Binoculars I was carrying. She had spotted something. Everyone else stared off into what seemed to be nothingness, unable to catch even a glimmer of something out there. Janet was sure though and we turned almost directly north. After a few minutes Journeyer started to come into view. It was unbelievable. She was just 17 miles from Whitefish point and anchored solid. She has some minor damage but will be ready to go again soon. Again we thank all you people out there who kept our spirits up while we looked and waited for weather and looked again. It's been a draining week for Janet and I and your emails and texts have helped to keep us going. Tom Farnquist the executive director of the Great Lake Shipwreck historical society and his staff have been super. Without them we may well have lost Journeyer. Everyone we talked to offered what ever assistance they could and we found hundreds of friends willing to go the extra mile. A special thanks to Kathleen McFadden who opened up her home to us and became an amazing resource. We owe her a bunch.... Her suggestions led us to Tom and eventually to Journeyer.

Now the time comes to fix a few things and motor over to Sault Canada where we will do the rest of the repairs necessary to carry on. Journeyer has proven her self, living alone on Lake Superior in one of the worst early September weeks in many years. She came back to us with a smile and we will always trust her to keep us safe. As Jack Purvis of Purvis Marine said to us a few days ago. Leave a boat on her own without the meddling of man and she can live thorough just about anything... He knew what he was talking about. Thanks Jack...

Lost but not yet given up hope...

Hey Folks
Janet and I are ok for now though missing our floating home. Journeyer for those who don't know is adrift on lake Superior somewhere between 10 and 40 miles from Whitefish point. We are at the Ship wreck society sight at whitefish and hoping to be reunited with our boat sometime tomorrow if the wind abates enough to go get her. She has not been sighted today but the weather is quite severe and she would be hard to pick out on the seas. Journeyer was spotted yesturday and so we know she is still out there. There are few ships sailing at this time so few to spot her. Canada Steamship lines has been especially helpful and we are indepted to them as well as the many other carriers that have been keeping watch for us. We will up date tomorrow night and let you know what is up. Thanks for all your good wishes in the last few days.

Brett and Janet

September 4th, and counting.

Good Morning Folks

We are in full catchup mode to get the deck finished and ready to sail. Yesturday in the rain we installed the new mainsheet traveller and the blocks at the mast bottom. Today we will try and complete the new deck hardware and get the outside of the boat set to travel. The maserator is also to be installed today and the wiring should be close to finished. We are getting there after a late night again lastnight changing systems over to the new electrics. The boat is safer now than it ever was and will soon be a modern sailing craft in a great old skin. Off now to have Breakfast and the start of another long day of finishup.

'B'

Hello Folks

Well, things are slowed down a bit as the rain in Thunder Bay is delaying some of our final preparations. We may not be able to leave until Monday morning now but will be gone by then for sure. The new main hatch slides have again been redone and will be ceatalled and ready to install tomorrow morning, the windlass is up and running, much of the new wiring is finished up. All of the safety alarms are installed including gas detector, high bilge detector, carbon-dioxide detector, and approaching ship alarms through the chart-plotter and ais radio. I have a ton of charts on board and will probably spend the better part of the first few days sorting them out and putting them in order. We still have only Janet confirmed as travelling with us and so if your dream is to sail away and would like to try one section or the other, email me at theros1@me.com and I will get back to you. The different points to join are Thunder Bay before the 5th, Toronto on the 19th we leave Toronto Island Marina, Kingston on or about Sept, 30th depending on survey results, Saint Andrews NB to Bermuda leaving about November 11th, and Bermuda to the Windwards leaving about December 1st.

Must start cleaning up and finishing of jobs. Chat again later.

'B'

September 1st, 2010

Good morning All

Well, it has been a very hectic few days. We are waiting on a macerator pump for the holding tank and a new water pump for better water pressure. The new spreaders are in place as are the slides for the companion way hatch. The new bracket for the windlass will be ready today and installed and I will be starting to install the new main traveller and deck hardware today. We are installing three new winches, twelve new line clutches, twelve rope organizers, all new running rigging, and just about everything else. The equipment will make Journeyer an even safer and more appealing charter boat for next season. As with all seasonal business we have to plan ahead to insure that we can give the best and safest possible service to our patrons. The work we are finishing up now will insure their experience with Sail Superior to be the best possible. Life is good and just four days to sailing away. Many of our friends are leaving today to head across Superior on their own treks south. We wish them fair winds and peaceful anchorages. We found out yesterday that our insurance is requiring an out of water survey before we leave the lakes. Greg has arranged to be pulled out at the Sarnia yacht club and a surveyor to attend. We may loose a day but will probably need it. We are hoping to be there for the 11th of September to get the survey done. If all is well we will be back on the water Sunday or Monday and headed to Toronto for the 17th. There I will loose my first mate Janet and hopefully pick up two or three people to help on the next leg. Still room on the Toronto to Saint Andrews leg for perhaps two more people. We could use two more for the Saint Andrews to Bermuda leg and four more for the Bermuda to the Windwards leg. Must get to work now. A Great Day to All

'B'

Good Morning world. Today we start out with a wedding on board. Then two afternoon charters. Will try and work some installation and repair stuff in the middle somewhere. Saturday may be better for that as we have a quiet day for now anyway.

Some of the following dates are important at this point. We leave for Toronto from Thunder Bay on September 4th with an expected arrival on the 17th. Leaving Toronto on the 19th I will travel up the Saint Laurence to Gaspe and on to Saint Andrews New Brunswick. I hope to leave Saint Andrews around the 7th to 12th of November sailing south to Bermuda arriving 7 to 10 days later. Will leave Bermuda around the 1st of December and sail south again to The windward islands where I have to be in Barbados before January 26th. We will hop around the windward/leeward islands until early March before heading to Florida to pick up a friend for the journey home.

A little wider awake right now then last night. Just an add in. I'm looking for crew from Toronto to Saint Andrews or any part there off as well as crew from Saint Andrews to Bermuda and Bermuda to The windwards.... Pay your own expenses and share costs of fuel, docking, exc. Must off to finish some needed parts. Have a great day and I will try and blog tonight.

As an interesting question: A man fell overboard on a club race last night. The two following boats sailed around him, flew there spinakers and continued to race even though the man in the water heard them say they knew he was there. The boat he fell off of had broached and took a few minutes to get back to him. The temperature in Lake Superior will allow a person to help themselves for perhaps 8 minutes before they are to cold and hypothermia sets in. What should the other boats have done? bye the bye... he wasn't wearing a life jacket... Answer later... :-)

What a day for Sailing

Had four fun loving ladies on board in winds gusting to 35 knots with a full main and Jib up. We were flying along with the rail close to the water and me standing on deck with auto in hand waving at all the racers coming out. What a gas. Up the mast this evening working on new spreaders and steaming light. Spent the day sanding the main hatch to get it ready for the new sliders and reinstallation. Have teflon slides to install so she will move easier. Tomorrow will be more work on spreaders, more fiberglassing in chain locker, and a six ocklock charter. We will be replacing the alternator with a heavy duty model this weekend as well as wiring new spreader lights, installing a new hatch in the main cabin, oh yes and lots of weekend charters....:-) Falling asleep so will end for now. Just ten days and counting to our leaving date......fun till the last second,,,,,

Paridise

Well, it's Saturday night and we just finished two back to back charters and a bit of work on the boat. I have been able to install the new drive piston for the auto helm today and will try getting it wired tonight and tomorrow. I also managed to get the chain locker ready for fiber fiberglassingglassing as I have installed a new drain and bitter end bolt to keep the new 200 feet of 3/8 chain from getting away. I ran a drain pipe to the bilge through the two forward storage lockers and will seal them off to use as dry storage when done. Will install the nav computer and flux gate compass tonight before I go to bed and hopefully get the auto-helm up and running tomorrow or Monday. Just another lazy day in paridise. Janet is cooking a prime rib roast in the new oven and it will be ready soon. We are both a little baffed but feels good to be getting things done. Just 14 days to cast off and lots left to do. We continue to be optimistic at this point as we have to be. We are leaving on Sept. 4th done or not. I can always continue to work as we sail which I suppose is normal anyway. Janet has a car load of stuff to load aboard so must get the things not coming, off the boat and stored at Greg's. This will be the newest old boat in existence when we are all done. More posts to come.

Brett

August 17th and counting

Greg and I spent most of the day running wires around the boat, getting ready to install the windlass and the new auto-helm that I picked up at the border tonight along with our new Honda 2000i Companion Generator. The work-list gets smaller every day though we seem to add things as we go as well. The new switch panel for the helm is installed and wired as are most of the new sensors we are installing. The Standard Horizon gps/chart-plotter is now installed at the nav station as is the new propane gas sniffer. I will be doing some fibre glassing over the weekend to enclose the new chain-locker drain and the conduit for the windlass. We also have several charters over the week so must work around them. Things are going along as smoothly as can be expected and with luck we will have the electronics all done by early next week. Perhaps I will even have the auto-helm up and running. My good friend Janet has been super supportive in her efforts to ensure that the boat is ready as well. She supplies that ever important third hand whenever possible and still manages to keep the boat fairly neat and supplies many of the necessities I just don't think about. She will be travelling with me for the Thunder Bay/Toronto leg and then later in the Caribbean and will always be an asset. We have 18 days left until we sail away. Just two on board too Toronto so far and then just me to the East coast unless you want to join in the fun.... Send us an email at sailsuperior.com and perhaps you may join us on our journey.

nineteen days and counting

This is my first entry in our travel blog. Journeyer is turned upside down inside as we install new wiring, a new windlass, new gps chart plotter, new radio, two new panels, new battery switch system, new spreaders on both masts, new nav lights (led), and the list goes on and on. I get to the point where I wonder if we will be ready. Janet, my sailing companion for the first part of the journey has holidays booked from the 4th of Sept. and can't change them so we are going. I may be installing things en-route.... We will work every day to get things as close as possible to being ready and then go as is.... I have the whole winter to finish up... :-)

Better back to work for now. Will add more later.

As an after thought. Looking for people to sail from Toronto to Saint Andrews New Brunswick and Saint Andrews to Bermuda...

Its but a few weeks to departure; The Journeyer is going to the Caribbean

Its going to be a bit of a rush to be ready for the 4th of September. Boat upgrades, trip planning, and taking care of the daily charters, however on the 4th Journeyer a 38ft Downeaster Ketch departs Thunder Bay for the 9 month voyage to the Caribbean and then back for her duties as Thunder Bay's Harbour tour and Island cruise vessel.

Undecided is the route, taking the Erie Barge canal, could cut off a month of sailing and over 1200 nautical miles, but Captain Brett has roots in St Andrews and would be just as happy sitting in New Brunswick waiting for the hurricanes to pass as he would be hiding out in the ICW ( inter coastal waterway).

Stay tuned....