Christmas in Nome

"Snow Machining" (aka snowmobiling) in Nome.  We are dressed for 0 degrees F.
I got cold just waiting outside for the snow machines to be started
and ready to go.  Deb and Rolland bought seal skin hats.
We all wore two hats, many scarves, and feet and hand warmers (of course after we
got too cold). 

Bianca running away from the camera (a common event)

Jannelle getting the the van for our snow machining afternoon.

Rolland in his seal skin hat.  

Rolland, Deb, Bianca and Jannelle.

Bianca

Rolland gave us all really sharp knives for Christmas.  I unfortunately experienced just how sharp while removing it from its case.  No one believed me that I sliced my thumb, I just got scolded for swearing.  The blood that came next was a little more persuasive.  Rolland  was more than excited to use his first aide kit (contains everything to run a small clinic-including intubation kit but just short a defibrillator).  I had my wound irrigated and a pressure dressed before I knew it.  

Jannelle

Ninja

The Trowbridge family with all of their loot.

Me in front of the frozen ocean.

Christmas with the Trowbridge family was very good.  We did some snowmobiling (only for a few hours...soooo cold) the first day on Christmas Eve and later to church and then a nice little Christmas dinner and gift exchange.  Saturday was vegging out and doing nothing and later some sledding (man that wind can be wicked).  We did pretty good with two sleds.  We dressed a little bit better for the sledding by putting the hand/feet warmers in before waiting for our appendages to get too cold.  (It makes me wonder why we never used those things when I was growing up.  Those endless hours of outdoor work in the cold would have been much better.)  It seemed to be such a process before going anywhere...had to dress before going, even if driving there (the van doesn't warm up especially fast.) And then upon arrival removing everything before you start sweating too much.  Sunday was radio station for Rolland (I went with him) and then church and a lot of time of just hanging out reading/movies/eating/music etc.  The last day was actually a productive day.  Since it was Monday Rolland was back to work so Deb and I did some work on the upstairs apartment that they will be moving into this week.  Deb cleaned the walls and I taped for a coat of paint.  Rolland surprised us and got the afternoon off and we finished up by getting 2 layers of paint in the living room and kitchen.   We covered up the previous color we think was called "dirty water" and now looks 100% better and brighter.  All ready for the Landlord to put in the new kitchen cabinets.  We all had one last evening together sharing a taco dinner, a movie and even desert.   I left that evening, took a night flight home and now here in 60 degree F weather in LA and back to the busy city where people steal from you the cab that you are already getting into.  Pretty crazy how different things are in all aspects. It was good to be in Nome for a nice slower pace.

Marina Del Rey Boat Parade

Merry Christmas!

 Sunset just before the parade

 There was a dingy in the competition.

Pirate snowman

This on was my favorite.

Dingy and all.

I was having a little trouble figuring out taking pictures in the dark with lights that are moving.  Thank goodness the boats rounded 3 times plus some so there was plenty of opportunity to catch a few good shots.  

This Christmas I will be going to visit Deb, Rolland and the girls in Nome, Alaska.  I went to the storage unit to dig up all of the cold weather clothing that I have.  Can you believe I don't even have boots any more?  I haven't been in snow for two years now.  I tend to get rid of stuff that I don't use and winter boots got the boot.  I think we will be doing some sledding and some outdoor Nome type stuff.  Either way it will be good to be with loved ones.

Freak Show/Venice

Two headed turtle

two headed snake

This guy swallowed the whole balloon

Venice Canal

Venice houses

Strange man on strange roller skates selling strange things

Windmill

Pasadena "Dinner in the Park"

Happy Thanksgiving every one!!!

The serving hands.

I was greeted in my car like I had just finished a triathlon by a huge

 group of people when I dropped off a few donations.  It was great.

 Goody bags for after the Dinner

 There was a table for each type of food such as desserts, warm food,

beverages, plates and stuff, breads, and meats.  Very well organized and plenty of help, 

the volunteer registration was "full."

 The guests trickling in.

 Face painting for the kids.

 Waiting for it all to begin.

 Family Volunteers were abundant.

 The guests waiting in line.

 Finally...dinner is served.

 Some with family, 

 some alone,

and some with their pets. 

They have done this for the last 30 years.  They plan for 5,000 homeless to come. 

 There was a lot of food.  Wonder if this was comparable to feeding the 5,000 

back in the day.

Happy Thanksgiving.

New Sails here at last.

New Main

So a few posts ago I mentioned new sails were being made.  For the non sailor readers there is going to be a bunch of boat jargon.  The main point is a bunch of work was done, a few problems solved and a few more that need to be addressed.

 Rolland working on rigging.

Well a month ago Rolland came into town with the sails and we went to work doing a bunch of stuff on the boat.  Rolland worked on standing rigging (the part that holds the mast up) and I redid the running rigging (the part that holds the sails up), even got new life lines.  That stuff took most of our time.  Also had the yard redo the bottom, we put a new zinc on too.  The sails were not quite all the way finished so did most of the finishing touches....enough to get it on and see what else needed adjusting.  Turns out this main sail is a tiny bit longer than the other one, so later I cut some of the top off but not enough to make it fit.  Turns out that over the  last few years running rigging inside the mast has been a bit tangled but have managed just having a little friction when raising the main.  But now it can't go ignored any longer.  Just too much slack.  Its one of the deals that could take one try to fix or days of putting the halyards in and out until it works right with potential to hire some one with tricks to get it right.

Chanty with new bottom paint.
(Had the water line removed since it always had growth on it.
 It was easier to fill it in that to move the water line up...cheaper too.)

I cut the top head sail off and put a larger one one under it .
(this was to shorten it a little)

Other boat stuff I have been doing is working on the motor.  I found that when you don't run the motor often, it gets plugged and overheats.  So, with a lot of phone calls to Rolland, I managed to find the blockage by taking one hose off at a time.  Also discovered how to do other things like change the zinc on the motor and the temperature sensor and a review on how to change the impeller.

New impeller 

Old motor zinc

This was where the blockage was (hoses are off)

Aside from that have just been finishing the sails, splicing and whipping few lines.  Also did a sand down and re-varnish job on the rudder and still working on the companionway.  Still have to do finishing touches on the storm sails.  The next big project is a sail pack, (a device that collects the main sail without the sail going all over the place, nice for in rough weather when you have to get it down quick.) 

My first splice

You can sort of see the blue tape on the areas being varnished.