And yet another Christmas music video

This time the musical instrument is a Glass Harmonica which was invented by Benjamin Franklin. Yep! That's right!

Rumor has it that the sound is so eery that some communities outlawed the playing of the instrument due to its hypnotic sound. I'll say this, it sure is pretty cool!

Campy Out!

Really GOOD Geeky Christmas

Let's hear it for a bit of innovation, some spare time, and Geeky friends!  Another one to put your Scroogish attitude to rest!  

The things people do with iPhone and iPads!

Campy Out!

This should put you in the mood

This post should get ya in the mood! 

This is a pretty wicked display of the mastery needed in several "art" forms to pull this off.  Showmanship, musician, exquisite wood working, compressed air management, pipe fitting, brazing and soldering, mechanical and electrical engineering, not to mention a few hours sitting on that big big bench! 

Thanks Michele! Great find and a WICKED COOL job! (Imagine... that's his JOB!)

Campy Out!

Why didn't I get the lights on the house today?

This is a basic rundown of today....

0430 - Awake and feeling wonderful! Big change after a week and a half with a cold!

0700 - Kiss the wife goodbye! Off to work she goes!

0750 - While sitting on the can, the house phone rings, then my cell phone, then the house phone, then the cell phone, then the house phone... This has got to be more important that what ever I was trying to achieve. (Bummer#1) I make a full attempt to answer the phone... as soon as I am able to...

0800 - Emergency errand received! Bring green bag and ID Badge to Susan at work!

0810 - Start Saturn, notice red low coolant idiot light! Top off coolant with antifreeze. Scrape windows. Drive to Tacoma.

0840 - Call Susan to tell her I'm almost at the Hospital, when I notice I forgot the ID and Green Bag! DUMMY! Back to Port Orchard! (Bummer#2)

0905 - Low coolant alarm, and steam from engine compartment. Can't see leak! But it looks pretty much isolated to the radiator or the upper hose. Move to the truck! (Bummer#3)

0910 - Start truck, scrape windows, move my gear and the green bag and ID Badge to the truck.  Notice that left front tire is pretty low.

0915 - Head to Chevron close to home to inflate tire.... No air pump! Butt Heads wrecked it! Head back home. (Bummer#4)

0920 - Bum Ford key from Kelsi. Start Ford, Load Ford up with all gear, scrape windows, head out to Tacoma.

0945 - Arrive at hospital, deliver goods! Depart Tacoma, proceed to coffee shop.

1010 - Arrive at coffee shop. Nice to see the guys after a week and a half off!

1100 - Leave coffee shop. Dog puked in car.  (Bummer#5)

1140 - Clean up Dog puke.  (Bummer#6)

1300 - After blowing like four inline fuses (Bummer#7) and tripping the circuit breaker twice (Bummer#8), I decided that chasing those old blown out, large colored, light bulbs like my father used to do 25 years ago was not going to be conducive to me maintaining a positive attitude.

Normally I'm not cool with not doing the easy stuff on my Stuff to Do (STD) list. However today I really didn't want to push my luck any further!  Hope you had a better day than I did!

Hey I'm still breathing, and I know I'll ready to give tomorrow another go at it!

Campy Out!

Prohibition of POT

My two favorite Governors!  Christine Gregoire of Washington, and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island... trying to bring sense to the senseless!

 The Oregonian, "Governors Request Pot Sales"

In 1920 Congress passed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution which prohibited the, "...manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States..." Thirteen years later and who knows at what price to the government both in cost of enforcement and prosecutions, and in lost revenue, Congress ratified the 21st Amendment to the Constitution thus repealing the prohibition of alcohol.

How much longer does this have to go on? If we, the people of the United States, forget about the potential medical benefits of marijuana and focus on the industrial implications of this prohibited "weed," we just may be able to create another industry around this formerly accepted textile, which by the way, was a huge player in helping the US win World War II.

HEMP FOR VICTORY!

Thanks to YouTube, WikiPedia, the Oregonian, and the Tacoma News Tribune!

Campy Out!

Just found this Marina Listing Website...

This is the way information should be presented!

Port Orchard Marina in WA, United States

This is my new favorite marina locator website.
Don't forget to load this one into your smart phone favorites!

Campy out!

America Is Blessed!

It seems to me that all the misery that we in America are experiencing is generated by our interpretation of the very influential network evening news programs, Google news, BBC, and other "Main Stream" mass media outlets.

Its all I hear these days, 9% national unemployment, Occupy Wall Street and other similar "Occupations" across America, job robbing low cost Chinese manufacturing, Indian technology workers "stealing" U.S. technology jobs, Mexican drug cartels slaughtering their way to power in the poorest Mexican areas in order to meet drug demand in the U.S, The Arab Spring threatening the stability of the Middle East, and the impending implosion of the Euro-Zone. Man, that is a mouthful of reality now isn't it! Even with all that and then some, try comparing what is happening in our great nation to any other nation in the world.

Most of the world's nations don't allow public assembly for any reason, let alone to gripe about their

government... or any other reason that comes to mind for that matter. Just watch any of the "Occupy Somewhere" chuckle heads on YouTube. Sure some have a clue, but I think most are there to bitch, party, sing, or just plain old get laid. I'd even place a bet that less than a quarter of them voted yesterday.

In this great country, EVERYONE is still FREE TO BELIEVE in whatever or whomever they want to, which was the very reason that America was conceived and created in the first place. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to bare arms, and freedom to gather, are among our basic rights in America.

While I know there's a lot of suffering out there, I can't help but think that if people didn't ask for their personal "debt ceiling" to be raised (sound familiar?), the "EVIL" banks wouldn't have granted so many "doomed to fail" loans. Sure the banks are getting the bad wrap on this, but again, and I'm going out on a limb here, no bank or lending institution has EVER loaned ANYTHING to ANYONE who didn't ask for a loan in the first place! How many people actually KNEW they were going to be "in over their heads" and still took the risk?

So just WHO are WE blaming in America? The 1%? The Super Wealthy! The Banks? Congress? The President? Corporate greed? How about if we each just step back and take a deep look in the Mirror of Pity and ask, "How did I create MY personal financial melt down?"

I read a dear friends post today. He was asking for God to Bless America again. I say America is Blessed. People just need to start paying attention to what they NEED versus what they WANT. You WANT a bigger house. You WANT a new car. You WANT a big screen TV and surround sound system. You WANT a new computer. What do you really NEED? What can you really AFFORD? I wonder why 90% of the people in this country still have jobs? Is it because they hold recession proof jobs or is it that they are hard workers? I don't know what the answer is, but I'd start by looking in the mirror.

I'm off the mental soap box now. Thanks for reading another rant!

Campy Out!

Did you Vote?

A person who doesn't vote registers an empty complaint! Just think... all the polling numbers you will see tonight and tomorrow morning, for whatever the cause, issue, or person, was registered one person at a time. Just ONE PERSON at a time!

Its YOUR RIGHT as an American citizen to vote. Exercise that right every time you get asked to vote. Be smart and learn about the issues and people you vote for. Make time to be informed with your issue, person, or process. Activate your civil duty and VOTE! Good young people have fought, killed, and died to maintain YOUR RIGHT to vote. Honor a veteran and vote whenever you are asked to.

Remember, if you don't vote, you didn't do anything for anyone! If I hear you complaining about something to do with Government, I'm going to ask you if you voted on that issue, or became involved with that issue. If you say, "No." I'm going to reply with a kind... "Thanks for wasting my time!"

Campy Out!

What I Did Last Summer

Today I feel like a slug. So I figured I’d write down what I did this last summer. Here goes nothing!

1. Sue and I flew to San Diego with Chief for a VHA conference, got to meet Astronaut 

     Jim Lovell and NASA Flight Director Gene Kranz during a tour/reception on the USS 

     Midway.

2. I had the privilege of rebuilding a dead desktop and a dead laptop PC for a good family.

3. Kelsi and I drove to Los Angeles with Kelsi for her College Internship with Dana and 

     Suzanne.

4. I flew home with Chief from Los Angeles.

5. Chief and I flew to Los Angeles to pick Kelsi up and drive back home.

6. On the drive back we visited Sequoia National Forest, Mount Shasta Caverns, Crater 

     Lake, and Multnomah Falls.

7. I refit the sailboat inside and topside, and it came out pretty neat!

8. My brother Ron and I visited Mount St Helens.

9. Ron and I sailed around Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, and Blake Island in three 

     days.

10. Learned how to crab in Puget Sound.

11. Sue and I spent 8 days vacationing on Hood Canal with Chief and some very dear 

     friends who were kind enough to let us into their family time. Man it felt really nice to 

     be a part of a large family.

12. I rebuilt two marine outboard motors and reconditioned an inflatable dinghy.

13. Chief and I sailed from Port Orchard to the terminal end of the Hood Canal stopping 

     at Kingston, The Kitsap Memorial, Pleasant Harbor, and the Alderbrook Inn.

14. Chief and I went to a KC and the Sunshine Band concert and fund raiser with Susan.

15. Chief and I sailed to Seattle and back in an afternoon.

16. I kept up with my blog and started two new ones, one for me, and another for a 

     bunch of friends.

I'm sure I missed something that I did last Summer, but the real point of this exercise was to list what I did, so I didn't feel so much like a slug!

Campy out

Bad Lip Reading: The Current Field of Presidential Hopefuls

Here's a bunch of Bad Lip Reading videos. I think that these are brilliant!
Here the majority of the Republican hopefuls.

And now our Commander in Chief, Mr OBAMA...

 
Have a nice day everyone! I hope your day started off with a laugh!

Campy Out!

Little Napolean???

Does anyone in my family remember this car?


You've got to dig wayyyy back!
 
I'm sure it used to visit your house regularly!

And it used to bring Dunkin' Donuts to us in the 70's!

An

Wicked Cool Video of the Week!

This is so awesome! This is either going to be exciting or sickening for you. Nothing cruel, but extremely exciting! Make sure you full screen this one!  Man what a ride!

What ever you do, check out the jump that starts at 7:40! Watch the pass done at about 8:05! I crapped just watching it!  WICKED COOOOOOL!!!!!

The video was shot using several GoProHD cameras. These cameras rock!  Add one of these cameras to my Christmas list!


Campy Out!

Old news story about a dead beached whale

I love this story...  Cracks me up every time I see it!



Campy Out!

Religion! Religion! Religion! Religion!

Campy Out!

Wicked Smart Lights from wicked smart people!

 Now how's this for "green" lighting? Way wicked smart!




Which goes to show you, there are very smart people all over the world! Makes me wonder what we're missing in the shadow of capitalism.

Campy Out!

Woonsocket Baked Bean Recipe

To start off the holiday baking season, I'm posting a family favorite.

Woonsocket Baked Beans as cooked by my grandmothers. Both recipes work, both fill you up, and both are known as "Extreme Comfort Foods."

Ingredients:
One bag of White Navy Beans (Can use Northern Pea Beans if Navy not available.)
One smallish white onion
One table spoon mustard powder
One half cup dark molasses
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
One 4-6 ounce slab of Salt Pork, or Pork Fat Back, or you can use a shit load of bacon if you can't find the chunky fat meaty goodness.

Note: This is Memere Hebert's recipe, Memere Trottier added 1/4 cup white sugar and cut the brown sugar to 1/2 cup. Memere Trottier also added 1 teaspoon of salt.

Note: The Undefeated Bean Hole Bake / Klondike Derby Championship recipe that we cooked up, was the above recipe from Memere Hebert plus 1/2  cup Clove Honey!

Cooking:
1. Clean and parboil beans (I hate chewing bean sized rocks)
    Parboil Method 1: Soak overnight, put only one inch of water above one package of beans! (You know what can happen!)
    Parboil Method 2: Boil (more like lightly simmer, not a rolling boil) for 1 hour or until husks start to come off beans)
2. Save the parboiling water, you're going to add this water to the bean mix after the next step.
3. Throw everything into a crock pot and let it stew for 10 - 12 hours or until nice and thick and gooey dark brown!
4. Mix everything up just enough, but not too much or you'll have mashed beans when your done cooking them.)
5. Pour in the parboil water to cover the beans only about 1/2 inch!
(No more or you'll be cooking the beans until tomorrow before its thick.)

A Finer Dining Note:
Don't forget to serve the beans with rolled and tooth picked boiled ham slices, and an ice cold salted "Gansette" to have the full Woonsocket Ice House experience!

Campy Out!

Douche Bag of the Week!

Michael Laws:

A New Zealand Sunday Star Times Commentator and a local Christ Church, New Zealand broadcaster is my selection for Campy's Douche Bag of the Week!

I want to be sensitive on this issue and say that everyone is entitled to his or her opinions and should voice them or write them if they feel so compelled. As such, I feel compelled to let the world know that I feel that Michael Laws is a first class, top notch, class A, posh, silver lined, gold encrusted, perfumed DOUCHE BAG!

You got to read his commentary:  Michael Laws on Japan Whaling

And if you're up for it, try this one too: Even more of his crap...

This guy is a DOUCHE BAG!

Campy Out!

What do you know about fire?

 What about fire?



Now you know as much as I do about fire!

Campy Out!

Please Respect the Service Dog! PLEASE!!!!

Why do some people feel that it is OK to talk to and to pet my service dog without my permission? When a service animal's "Service" vest is on, it's on duty! I'm so amazed at the liberties people take with my service dog when we are in public. Just because you love animals, does not give you the right to engage in a conversation with a service dog!

My service dog Chief, wears, but is not required by law to wear, an easily identifiable service dog vest. I do not appreciate it when he is distracted by someone's twisted definition of "children", or someone's inability to control an urge to pet a strange dog, let alone a working dog, without asking first. At times it is all I can do to be as nice as possible in confronting an offender amicably in an effort to educate them. Many times, especially in crowds, I don't have the capacity to educate, as I am just "getting by" with my service dog's help.  

One employee… One employer! Chief is not bound to respond to you, however he is to respect your presence and alert me to any danger I may not be aware of.  If Chief is acting irregularly, it is for a reason. And I should be the recipient of his attention and energy, as he is the recipient of my attention and energy. Chief has special abilities that I have recognized and capitalized upon, through many hours of training, in order that he my serve my needs, not your emotions! Please respect the relationship between a service dog and his handler.

I know I don't "look" disabled, but that doesn't mean I don't need and rely upon my dog's service. Chief is my employee, not my pet, not my "baby", and certainly not my "little boy" as some self centered, animal lovers address him. I expect Chief, and rely on Chief to perform as I have trained and continue to train him to.

Thank you to my friends and my family for understanding my firm relationship with Chief. Thank you for your support and your help with Chief. 

Campy Out!

No equal! Over 20,000 made and still growing!

Catalina 22 Nationals~! 


And another Catalina 22 in a light breeze



Another Catalina 22 showing how nimble they really are


And yet another Catalina 22, this time on Naraganssette Bay!


That should be enough to get rid of the guilt you feel from not sailing this year! I'm guilt free man, guilt free!

PS:   Catalina 22 Statistics

Campy Out!

Dumb Stuff Sailors Do...

I can hear Chief Blair now... "What the Hell were you thinking? OH! I know... You weren't!" This is for the "Dumb Stuff Sailors Do" file...

Bremerton Sailboat Crash

Campy Out!

Roger's Ultimate Christmas List

Christmas time is almost here!

Since it is so incredibly difficult for me to recall something, anything really, from my personal brain cached

"Christmas List" when asked, I figured I would post my well thought out ultimate Christmas List, including acceptable options, for 2011.

So Here it is! Listed in order of preference for your convenience...

1. WEST MARINE, Antigua 7x50 Waterproof Binoculars with Compass ($349.00),  
    or
    WEST MARINE, Huahine 7x50 Center-Focus Binoculars ($79.00),
    Westmarine.com

2. Sears Craftsman 17310 19.2-volt C3 Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless Compact Drill-
    Driver  ($119.99)
    With spare battery, Craftsman Diehard 19.2-Volt Ni-Cd Battery ($89.00)
    or
    Sears Craftsman 17191 19.2-volt C3 Cordless Drill/Driver  ($79.99)
    With second or spare battery, DieHard 19.2 Volt C3 Replacement Battery ($39.99)

3. Grunge Pullover Hoody - Black ($75.00)
    SeaShepherd.org

4.  Jolly Roger Beanie - Black - 100% Organic Cotton ($30.00)
    SeaShepherd.org

5.  Jolly Roger/Rammed & Sunk Long-Sleeve - Black - 100% Organic Cotton ($40.00)
    SeaShepherd.org

6.  Soprano's DVD (Not Blue Ray) Seasons 4, 5, 6a, 6b ($27.43 per season)
     or  (I know... dig the contrast!)
     Ben Hur - Blue Ray Disc ($45.00)
    Amazon.com

7. Timex Expedition Intelligent Quartz Tide Temperature Compass Watch ($169.95)
    REI.com
    or
    Timex Ironman Shock 30-Lap Full ($60.00)
    On Base

8. Autohelm Series ST1000 Plus Tiller Pilot ($399.99)
    westmarine.com
    or
    DAVIS INSTRUMENTS, Tiller Tamer, Model #160739 ($37.99)
    eBay.com

9.  New Asymmetric Spinnaker for 22' Catalina  ($849.00)
    SailStore.com
    or
    Used Asymmetric Spinnaker for 22' Catalina  (Less than $300.00)
    eBay.com search!    (as measured - Luff 26, Leech 23.5, Foot 13.5)

10. New Shopsmith Mark 7 - PowerPro Model with Pro-Fence Table System ($3899.00)
     or
     Used Shopsmith Mark V - Can find on eBay, but tough to get delivered (<$600.00)
    or
    14" x 41" Wood Lathe, Harbor Freight ($199.99)

11. An email, ($$FREE$$)
     or
     A letter, ($0.44) (FREE if by carrier pigeon, or active duty in war zone)
     or
    A phone call from you! (FREE if you use Google Chat, Google+, Facebook,
    Verizonwireless, or XBox360)

Now that should cover it!

Students and Heroes

I don't know if this is true or not, couldn't verify it on snopes.com or google for that matter. Either way, the story sounds cool, but don't go quoting it as fact, because as it stands right now, its pure fiction. Forwarded from Facebook, with a couple of punctuation and grammar corrections (I couldn't resist)...

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal, and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom.

When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. "Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?" She replied, "You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk."

They thought, "Well, maybe it's our grades?" "No," she said. "Maybe it's our behavior?" She told them, "No, it's not even your behavior."

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren’s classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, "Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he or she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you."'

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, "You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it."

By the way, this is a true story. Please consider passing this along so others won't forget that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by U. S. Veterans .

America's Cup Update

Well not really an update but a really cool crash video.  These boats are fast, light, wet, and wicked cool!



 Campy Out!

Solo Round Kitsap, Update 9

Took the boat out yesterday for a sail and what a good day it was! Set sail, towed the dinghy, anchored, boarded the dinghy from the boat, shipped Chief aboard the dinghy, went rowing with Chief, and put it all away!

Everything worked as expected with the exception of stowing the anchor, I need a bigger, preferably wider not taller, bucket for the anchor rode and chain! Someone recommended using an old fashioned laundry basket.

Hey! I'm ready to stow and go! Looking forward to some warm days and cool nights. The forecast is all about the GIANT high pressure system that is parking itself right off the north west coast. Which means late summer quiet and cool nights, and warm, sunny, and windy days! Looks like I hit the lotto on the first leg of the trip.

Still have a couple of things to post.  Pictures and forms.  I know boring to most, but if I post them, I'll always have a record of them on any computer I happen to come across on any trip I make.


Campy Out!

Rat Kills!!! I AM IN AWE!

Yep! This one is a gross one, but I had to post it. 


WARNING!  DON'T FOLLOW THE LINK if you're an animal rights advocate, PETA, rat lover, or just plain get queeeeezzzzzy at the thought of rats being killed. I didn't know that there is almost a cultish following on YouTube! 





Campy Out!

Solo Sail Around Kitsap, Update 8

Time for another update...  Only one week left to go!

I spent the last two or three days working on stuff around the house and putting together a collection of procedures and cheat sheets that will be centrally located, easily readable, water proof, and simple to use.  I'll post them here When I finish them.

Been going over the lists, and checking them twice, and boning up on local rules and restrictions on crabbing and fishing in the areas that I'll be sailing in.  Looks like crabbing season is over on the Tuesday, Sept 5th which is good because I don't have to buy anything else for crab season, but it sucks because I won't have crab to eat. Maybe next year! Scratch crab stuff from the list!

I'm going to try to passively fishing for salmon. It seems that I'll be sailing during good salmon run times, so I'll be dragging, or trolling, a fishing line in an attempt to catch something worth eating and telling about. I don't want to jinx myself, but the fish reports this year are very good for all salmon and it looks like they are actually almost twice as big as last year's fish, that is both in size and number! The salmon researchers are wondering if El Nino, conservation efforts, or both are working together to help the salmon. It would be nice if just one keeper jumped into the boat... and cleaned itself for supper.

Back down to Tacoma today. Yep... West Marine bound, again, to "up size" the 6 inch anchor cleat for an 8 incher. The smaller one looked all "Mickey Mouse", puny, anemic, and just darn wimpy when I "dry fit" it to the deck.  I'm real glad I didn't drill any holes yet!  It would have sucked to have put holes for the smaller cleat in the teak and deck only to find that the new cleat has wider spaced holes! Man, I would have pissed myself!

I also figured out a couple of places where I can anchor the boat, beach the dinghy, and take The Chief for a "nature call" during the long Hood Canal push. That's a big relief for me, and no doubt The Chief.

Looking at the weather forecast made me really happy. The weather has been cloudy and cool for the past three days, but will be changing as a large weather high pressure system builds and sits off the coast for the foreseeable two weeks. Which means blue skies and warm weather for the majority of the first leg of the trip.

That's all for now. Hope to post again tonight or tomorrow.

Have a nice day, and I hope you all are planning a wicked nice holiday weekend!

Campy Out!

Solo Sail Around Kitsap, Update 7

Good evening!

11 days till underway!

Reflection time:

It seems like many people have been voicing concern about me sailing solo, let alone around Kitsap Peninsula. I'd like to take a moment to set the record strait and aleviate any fears that my friends and relatives may have about my being "fit" for solo sailing.

I'm 49 years old. I have had Parkinson's Disease for well over 10 years now. 18 months ago, I had brain surgery to install a Deep Brain Stimulator (DBS). The surgery was a breeze, but recovery was slow. The brain surgery was done for several reasons I'm sure, but to be quite honest I only remember two of them.

The first reason was that the DBS surgery in an early onset of Parkinson's patient, like me, might just be neuroprotective which "might" actually delay the "progression" of Parkinson's. (I hate that word progression. It is so misleading.)

The second reason that I remember was that I could get off some of the meds that I was taking, which also worked to prolong the "period of effectiveness" that most of the Parkinson's medications seem to have. This actually did happen. I'm on half the meds I used to be on.

So what's it all about any way????

When you, faithful reader, wake up in the morning and go through your morning routine, do you ever stop once to think that you might not be able to brush your teeth tomorrow? or tie your shoes? or zip your fly? Eat cereal from a spoon? Read the paper? How about just take a leak... standing up?

It's like this... I've been on and in the water my entire life. I grew up in Rhode Island and have Blue Ocean Water hard coded in my DNA. I have been sailing since the age of 13. Joined the Navy and retired after 3 ships and a few years at sea. I've cultivated a deep respect for the water, mother nature, good luck and more importantly... bad luck.

I am concerned about my safety, my balance, and the general day to day status of my Parkinson's disease symptoms. If I sat and wondered if I'll be able to sail next Summer, or if I'll have a "bad day" or "freeze" while sailing, or if I can physically handle The Chief (my service dog) while sailing, I would have "spent" a lot of time wondering, and would never get that time back. I could "wonder" myself into a depressive state, and that would do me absolutely no good! So I started scheming and made myself a deal...

The deal was that when my brother came up for a visit, I'd go sailing with him. It was his idea actually. And it worked out like a champ! Me and Ron had a really good time! I had initially planned on taking him down the Hood Canal and leaving the boat there, however the weather didn't cooperate. We ended up sailing for 3 days and had a blast! When he left, I got bummed, because I realized that I could have done the trip, but chickened out!

Sue and I sailed together two years ago and had a blast. She's by far my choice to sail with any time any where. Ron and I sailed this year and had a blast. I sailed a larger boat with some friends earlier this year and had a blast. Reflecting on these thoughts was invigorating! I had sailed my boat many times alone so what was stopping me from doing something that I'm very comfortable with?

And that was when I decided to talk to Sue about me doing the trip solo! She said, "Sure! You need to do this!"

I'm fairly competent at sailing, adamant about safety, push my luck on occasion, and have a deep respect for the power of wind and water. I like meeting new people and seeing the world from a different perspective. I am learning how to listen to my body and I think I'm actually getting better at listening to my body. Its all about fixing your boat to your standards, thinking through the scenarios, making sure that all the pieces of the puzzle have been carefully stuck together, and then get underway and deal with the outcome of your preparation.

So, when I get out of bed tomorrow morning... I will take a leak standing up, brush my teeth, have a bowl of cereal, read the paper, put my pants on, zip my fly, and tie my shoes.

If I can manage all that, I'll damn well go sailing!


The Friday, End of the Week, Break Down:

1. Tested two bank battery charger, SAT!
2. Tested both batteries. SAT!
3. Tested DC system analog volt meter. SAT!
4. Installed jack line (safety line).
5. Varnished anchor cleat wood blocks.
6. Installed dinghy seat box.
7. Painted holey bulk head.
8. Rewired and tested compass light. SAT!
9. Installed Jacobs ladder.
10. Stowed boat.

Left Ta Dooos:

1. Exchange 6 inch cleat for 8 inch anchor cleat, and install.
2. Test anchor system.
3. Test dragging dinghy.
4. Test motoring dinghy.
5. Test transferring from boat to dinghy and back.
6. Fabricate chart table
7. Varnish wood work
8. Evaluate fabrication of new awning.
9. Fabricate new sail gaskets (4)
10. Supplies
11. Clothes
12. Cruising Cash (How much per marina)
13. Log Book
14. Float Plan
15. Trailer Plan

Now to wonder where tomorrow will take me.
Grass = Maybe!
Plants = Maybe!
Boat = Maybe!
Sail = Maybe!
Movie = Maybe!
Long walk = Maybe!
Paint Shed = Maybe!


Maybe I'll get to them all, if I can tie my shoes.

Good night for now!

Campy Out!

Solo Sail Around Kitsap, Update 6

Good evening!

Two weeks left to go!

Got a bunch of hard stuff done today and yesterday. I've also been "Greening" the original list in update 3.

The weather here has been Pacific Northwest perfect for like 3 weeks now. And I've been capitalizing on my time on the boat, which has had the unfortunate and opposite effect on our yard. I think I'm going to have to water the flowers tomorrow and cut the grass.

So here's the break down so far.

Monday and Tuesday I worked on:

1. Installed two bank battery charger, hard wired to a dedicated 15amp outlet.
2. Installed second marine deep cycle battery, and hard wired both batteries to the battery charger.
3. Charged batteries over night, and received a satisfactory green light indication on battery charger.
4. Installed DC system analog volt meter. Installed in power distribution panel, adjacent to old "good/bad" battery indicator. Hard wired new volt meter to existing volt meter. Tested satisfactory.
5. Installed jack line (safety line).
6. Finished fabrication of dinghy seat. Will paint tomorrow and install in dinghy Thursday.
7. Went for a much needed two hour sail today with Don and Jake.

Left ta dooos:

1. Install anchor cleat.
2. Install dinghy seat.
3. Test anchor system.
4. Test dragging dinghy.
5. Test motoring dinghy.
6. Test transferring from boat to dinghy and back.
7. Paint bulk head
8. Fabricate chart table
9. Stow boat
10. Varnish wood work
11. Evaluate fabrication of new awning.
12. New sail gaskets (4)

Now to wonder where tomorrow will take me. Grass? Plants? Boat? Man, maybe I'll get to them all!

Good night for now!

Campy Out!

Solo Sail Around Kitsap, Update 5.

Spend this last weekend working on the tedious projects that I really hate to do like sanding teak blocks, filling in nail holes on the dinghy seat, fabricating a jack line.  Spent time buying flashlights, some non perishable food, deep cycle battery, battery charger, and other things that have been on my list of stuff to get.

This weekend I worked on:

Finishing the inflatable boat seat box. Figured out how to fasten it to the wood floor of the dinghy, what to paint it with, and how to attach the hinge.

Buying more stuff to finish outfitting the boat.

Painted registration number on boat. Place annual sticker on boat.

Today I hope to complete:

Install outlet

Install battery charger

Charge Batteries

Paint aft bulkhead

No varnishing today... rain predicted... bummer

Bolt on Zodiac Bench after installing piano hinge and latch to top, and painting box.

Bolt on Anchor Cleat after varnishing it.

Install Jack Line

Stow safety lighting

Install cock pit item holders.

Plan meals (shopping list) for trip.

I think that should keep me busy for the day today.  Got to go to the gym first to work some of these muscle and joint kinks out.  Will update you all later on today as to my progress.


Campy Out!

Solo Sail Around Kitsap, Update 4

OK Sports Fans... Another update on the Solo Sail Around Kitsap project (S.S.A.K.)

18 Days left till underway!

Anyone with a better acronym or name for this project please feel free to chime in!

Yesterday I worked on:

1. Making the dinghy rowing seat. Looks pretty good so far. Nice and strong and just the right height. Filled in the screw holes and stowed the boat.

2. Wired in the compass, but shorted out the circuit and blew a fuse. After moving fuses around, I still had no light on the compass but every thing else on the circuit worked. Maybe the light is too weak and has to be seen at night.

3. Figured out a Jack line for the boat. I love Harbor Freight!

4. Oh... need more fuses. New item on the list!

5. Filling in screw holes in the aft bulkhead.

Today, I worked on:

1. The forward anchor cleat, which requires a teak sandwich above and below deck in order to strengthen the cleat. Made the sandwich... got to round the edges, bolt together, varnish, and install on the boat. (Don't want to rip the cleat out of the deck on a dark and windy night at anchor... No sir!)

2. Purchased permanent battery charger and 2nd marine battery. Installation may have to wait until Monday, need to install another house outlet on the boat.

3. Finishing the Dinghy seat/box - bought molding, paint, need cushion for top. I've also got to find latches to secure the lid and to secure the box to the wood floor of the dinghy.

4. Purchased chart 18840 for chart table! Need craft epoxy to finish the Chart Table.

5. Installed spare tire holder and tire on trailer, freed up brake line connectors.

6. Fabricated "Jack Line" from 3000 pound webbing, and 500 pound shackles from Harbor Freight... cost: $18.00. ($70.00 at West Marine!)

Tomorrow's a planned light day.

Field day shop in AM...
Les Miserable at the 5th Ave in the Afternoon.
Chill out at home with the little lady.

Campy Out!

Solo Sail Around Kitsap, Update 3

As promised yesterday here is the list of items left to complete prior to my planned Sept 7th underway. I didn't include dates on these items due to the fact that this list is a moving target of money, energy, weather, and time.  I will color each item Green when completed. So here goes nothing!

Windsocket Refit Items:
Paint Registration Numbers on Inflatable dinghy
Fabricate and install Seat for Inflatable dinghy

Inflatable in Water

Rig and test inflatable tow line
Rig and test inflatable with boat motor
Install anchor cleat with backing block
Rig and Test anchor system
Fill old screw holes in bulkhead

Install dinghy tow cleat with backing block

Install battery charger

Install deep cycle battery (#2)

Charge deep cycle battery (#1)

Install Jack Line

Fabricate cooking board for cockpit (could be combined with inflatable seat)

Refit trailer

Measure and balance mast

Install cockpit item holder

Epoxy Puget Sound Chart to table top

Crab Trap

Stow boat

Supplies (Non Perishable)
Supplies (Perishable)
Fast Cruise Port Orchard
Underway

I'm so looking forward to getting underway, although I really enjoy working on the boat just as much sailing her.

Stay tuned sports fans! More updates coming!

Campy Out!

Sail Around Kitsap Update 2

OK Sports Fans... Another update on the Solo Sail Around Kitsap Project (S.S.A.K.P.)

I know, I really got to come up with a better acronym... any witty suggestions???

I've set the date of departure as September 7th, more specifically, on the falling tide and with a following wind. My second task was to work a three mandatory portage dates in the schedule in order to meet obligatory personal engagements. Here's what I've worked out:

We Aug 17 - Refit Continues
Su Sept 4 - Refit Ends
Su Sept 4 - Supply Load Out (Non Perishables)
Mo Sept 5 - Stow Gear, Review Saftey Gear, Inventory Check
Tu Sept 6 - Supply Load out (Perishables)
Tu Sept 6 - Fast Cruise
We Sept 7 - Depart Port Orchard Marina
Th Sept 8 - Kingston Municipal Pier, Kingston, WA
Fr Sept 9 - Pleasant Harbor, Brinnon, WA
Sa Sept 10 - Hood Canal Marina, Union, WA
Su Sept 11 - Visit Allyn Warf, Allyn, WA
Su Sept 11 - Hood Canal Marina, Union, WA
Mo Sept 12 - Ludlow Marina, Port Ludlow, WA
Tu Sept 13 - Poulsbo Marina, Poulsbo, WA
We Sept 14 - Return to Port Orchard Marina
Th Sept 15 - Event Prep
Fr Sept 16 - Major Event
Sa Sept 17 - Recover
Su Sept 18 - Restock Boat
Mo Sept 19 - Depart Port Orchard Marina
Tu Sept 20 - Docton Docks, Mauri Island, WA
We Sept 21 - Longbranch Warf, Longbranch, WA
Th Sept 22 - Visit Port of Allyn, Allyn, WA
Th Sept 22 - Fair Harbor Marina, Grapeview, WA
Fr Sept 23 - Swan Town Marina, Olympia, WA
Sa Sept 24 - Gig Harbor Municipal Pier, Gig Harbor, WA
Su Sept 25 - Return to Port Orchard Marina
Su Sept 25 - SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS!!!!

Now that's out of the way, I can focus on the left yet to do list and get the list projected out from to departure date. Just think... only 17 days of refit left!

Tomorrow, I'll update the project list for everyone to follow along.

Good night for now!

Campy Out!

Solo Circumnavigation of Kitsap Peninsula, 2011

After a few weeks of thinking and rethinking, I think it's time to set a date and actually start planning my solo sail around Kitsap Peninsula, in a 38 year old, 22 foot Catalina sailboat called "Windsocket". Since I'll be leaving from the Port Orchard/Bremerton area located on the Puget Sound's Sinclair Inlet, the trip will be somewhere just over 400 miles of sailing. I think I'll start just after Labor Day and take three lazy weeks to complete the trip and really soak in the beauty of the Puget Sound.

So looking at a calendar, it appears my begin date will be September 5, 2011. Since I've been working on the boat most of the summer I think it's pretty well prepared at this moment to get underway. Since I have three weeks to get underway as a couple of things I need to add, or modify in order to make it a safe and comfortable cruise for me and Chief my service dog.

Some of you reading this just reread the phrase "service dog". Yes I have a service dog. His name is "Chief" and is a two-year-old Australian Shepherd mix that's just about as smart as I am. I travel with Chief wherever I go. For those who don't know me I'm a 49-year-old guy with Parkinson's disease. I've had Parkinson's for about 14 to 15 years, and 18 months ago I had brain surgery to install a deep brain stimulator in my left brain! After some initial programming setbacks, I feel much better, stronger, and although a bit heavier (up 25 pounds), I feel pretty darn good most days. Back to Chief, he used to help me get around, but now he pretty much reminds me to take my medicine, rest went I'm tired, and finds things went I can't remember where I put them. Chief is pretty cool!



I'm not going to worry too much about the Parkinson's thing. I've had it for so long now that I don't think about it most days, with the exception of taking my medicine 4 times a day. I don't intend to let Parkinson's disease rule my life anymore. I used to sail quite a bit, and after nearly one year off, I'm ready to hit the water again and see if I've still got the mental and physical strength to reclaim myself from Parkinson's. As long as I can move safely, I don't want to miss any opportunities... In other words, I don't want to have any regrets or doubts later on.

So now back to the list of things I've got to do to the boat before going away:

Install a hardwired battery charger
Replace number two battery battery
Install cockpit gear holders
Install anchor cleat forward
Install dinghy cleats (also acts as aft anchor points)
Install a safety "jack" line aft to forward
Test the anchor system
Test inflatable dinghy towing and motor transfer.
Buy new (2nd) crab pot
Buy new logbook
Buy Salmon fishing gear (Will be dragging a line for the duration)
stocked boat with food, supplies, and clothing.
Reschedule dental appointment
Reschedule doctors appointment
Clear calendar for three weeks

It probably seems like a long list, but should take only a week to finish. I figure this day and age of reality shows, websites and blogs, it would only be fitting for me to chronicle this event as electronically as possible, so look for pictures, movies, blog updates, and Picasso picture posts during the trip as I find Wi-Fi availability.

So that's my update for today! I'm looking forward to taking pictures of what the boat looks like, upgrades, stowage, sleeping and cooking arrangements, and bathroom issues.

Stay tuned kiddeeees!  This is gonna get fun!

Campy Out!

Well???

Hey man... Its Summer!

I've been ignoring email, my blog, and the yard, but I have been working on the boat, sailing, traveling with my daughter, sailing with my brother, going on a vacation with my wife next week, and hanging out with The Chief.

I'm sure once the clouds and rainy weather come back, I'll be a little more in the mood to write something.  Until later...

Campy Out!

Innocent Until Proven Guilty.... I hope....

Let's talk about the US Justice System. I know that there are some variations state to state, but the overall premise that anyone accused of breaking the law is to be considered "innocent until proven guilty" seems to have been forgotten.  In this day and age of "real time" news, it seems to be increasingly difficult for the public to wait until an accused person is legally proven guilty by a jury of his or her peers.  This inability for our country's news hungry public to wait until the court and legal system to run its course may be driving the media to print, run, and rerun illegitimate hearsay and legally inadmissible evidence on the behalf of whoever is least culpable. 

  

It is a real sad state of affairs, in which the media is allowed to pre-convict, or in some cases erroneously prove innocent, a person who may or may not have conducted an illegal act no matter what that act may have been.  The job of conviction is always best left up to the legal system because there is so much in the balance.  Let's face it, someone's life and integrity will be decided by a jury of peers, strangers, people who are directed and expected to conduct themselves in a certain manner for the duration of the case.

If any of us has the opportunity to serve on a served on a jury, as I have, it really is a humbling eye opener and should not be assumed with a careless heart.  Legally convicting and at times, legally sentencing someone to a punishment that suits the crime is serious business. The system is not perfect and definitely has its faults, however the system is set up to protect the accused, also known as the defendant, not the prosecutor, accuser, ill treated, or the harmed. 

Casey Anthony was found INNOCENT in OUR judicial system, by a jury of her PEERS. So much for being found innocent in our society these days... the public venom still flows freely, and the hate for this woman that the media has developed is a shame and a sham. Good lies, bad story, innocent, or guilty... her life has been ruined, and that's that. No matter what is said or done, that poor kid will never come back.  It is a plain shame that our legal system allows for the media to slander someone before, during, and after a trial, under the guise of "Freedom of Speech".  

Conversely, Amanda Knox, the college student in Italy, was found GUILTY of murder in the ITALIAN judicial system. Its funny how we American’s can take the polar opposite view in this case based on the media’s reporting of contaminated and insufficient DNA evidence.  As a matter of fact, the Italian judicial system is very different from the US Judicial System, and so are the police, the lawyers, and the prison system.  However one thing that seems to have remained the same is the Medias involvement in swaying the public masses opinions on who is “Innocent” or who is “Guilty” before, during, and after a court case.

In any case, it is news when an event is happening; it is sensationalism when news people speculate and offer an opinion.  Be aware that if an opinion is offered by a reporter, the report is sensation, not balance and in no way fair and honest.  

When I stop and think about this whole argument/rant, I can only wonder who throws the most bull shit our way, Lawyers or Reporters. Rupert Murdock and his empire need to bask in their own spotlight for a while.

Campy Out!