The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...

The road across Nevada was decent and almost completely free from traffic. It is billed as “the lonliest highway in America”, and it deserves the title. While you don’t see many vehicles, the scenery is quite pretty: snow capped mountains and rugged high desert.

Towns are also pretty sparse, but we knew we could get fuel (expensive) in Ely. Mining used to be the main livelyhood here... judging by the vacant buildings, it must not be as profitable as in years past.

Molly made a fuss most of the morning. Joan wanted her to ride with us in the truck, I voted to keep her in the boat... yes, Molly rode with us. Until we stopped for lunch, and then there was blissful quiet in the truck.

The weather has turned cold; 56º was as high as we saw today, and that was early. This road takes us over several 7,000+ foot passes. Most of the day, the temps hovered around 50º. We were plenty comfortable in the truck, and satellite radio helped pass the time.

Wild Blue At Montego Bay... Well, close to Montego Bay. No, not the actual bay in Jamaica, the casino in Wendover. We are staying in the RV park connected with the Nugget Casino, just across the road from Montego Bay. Comfortably located between the casino and a seedy pawn shop. If things don’t work out at the tables, maybe we can pawn Molly?

WendoverE.jpg

Truth be told, Joan wanted to stay in tonight and watch TV; the finals of American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. Some things don’t change just because you’re in a boat. $15.25 for the night, 30 amp power, cable TV, the electric heater keeping us toasty, and Joan made pizza. We're livin' large,

Best wishes,
Jim

PS - Jay, thanks for the kind words. We were almost neighbors when we were in South Dakota. We really enjoy Wyoming... we were planning to swing by Jackson Lake and Yellowstone Lake on the way east, but Mother Nature is being a bit snitty. We'll try to pick them up on the way back west in a few weeks. We've sailed there before and are anxious to introduce Wild Blue to that wonderland.

Tom, I will never forget your chivalrious actions when you took us out on your boat. It is likely we would not have bought the boat had you not stepped up and invited us out on Susan E. I would never make fun of your frozen snot. :wink:
 
Another 400 miles or so today... we are in south central Wyoming (Rawlins) and it is supposed to get down below freezing tonight! :disgust It's been a few years since we made that drive across Utah and Wyoming, and I had forgotten how ruggedly beautiful the area is. We are above 7,000 feet here; snug in the boat with the heater going, bellies full.

Joan said to me, "You are a lucky guy."

To which I replied, "I sure am. Why?"

"Do you think any of your girlfriends before me would be happy living in a boat like this?"

I chuckled and said, "Hell, we've been together so long I don't even remember any girlfriends before you."

I guess that was the right answer... she laughed. :wink:

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I chuckled and said, "Hell, we've been together so long I don't even remember any girlfriends before you."

I guess that was the right answer... she laughed.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are very lucky, Jim. You're also pretty damn smart!

The tales of your adventures are truly inspiring. Thanks for sharing them.

Jim
 
Like I told you on Lake Powell, you definitely have the gift of gab (to me that is a compliment) but it's more than just the ability to talk to anyone about anything. You are a superb communicator, with both words and images. Thanks for sharing your gifts with us here.

Warren
 
Hi Warren,
You are making me blush. :wink: Most of the time, the C-Dory cruising stuff is just so much fun, that I can hardly contain myself. Like take today, crossing Nebraska... OK, so that really isn't such a good example. :twisted: Well, the fields are green, the truckers are pretty friendly, the stop at Cabela's was fun, and the bumps on I-80 were kinda like "light chop on the bay" if you use your imagination. On the bright side, there is only one more long day to go and then we will be down for a week or so. Family duty stuff, so there may not be much C-Dory stuff to write about... but it won't be long and we'll be back "out there."

There was ice on the boat when we got up this morning! :shock: 28º... it only took a couple hours for the sun to burn it off! The temperature gradually warmed throughout the day... to the point where we may not need heat tonight. Joan found us a $12 campground... I had to do some smooth talking to get the old guy campground host to let us stay. ("I ain't never heard of anyone RVing in a boat before,"... "Well, this will give you something fun to tell folks about, huh? Here, let me fill out that registration form for you."8)

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Jim & Joan,
We all enjoy your tales and travel logs, so don't let the fact that your in Iowa...(EYE 0 Way) stop your post. It should not take but a few hours to catch up with the family thing...than you can get back to posting stuff for us to laugh about. I am sure you have a bunch of Dixie storys you have not had the nerve to publish, so now you have a few states between you, don't be scared to part with them.
 
Oh, I got dem "my boat's on da trailer and I'm fussin' wit it" blues. (Everybody sing along!

We stopped for fuel about 200 miles from our destination. Our routine is similar at most stops: I get out and start fueling and check oil, then the hubs on the trailer, straps on the boat, etc. Joan logs fuel/mileage, cleans the windshield, walks Molly if there's time. She is great about making sure we keep 50 psi in the trailer tires. This time she said the words I don't like to hear: "We've got a tire problem." Sure enough, with about 12-15K miles on the trailer, the tread on one of the tires had separated in a spot about the size of my fist and the steel belting was showing... yep, that's a problem. Fortunately, there was a tire shop right behind this truck stop. The nice folks there didn't have another new tire to replace ours, but they found a used one while they were switching our spare onto the trailer. Close enough. We continued on.

We have WIld Blue in the driveway of my brother-in-law's home... blocking two of his 4 garage doors. We plugged in the boat, visited for a short time, and then went to bed (yes, in our boat). Tomorrow is an early morning: we have another family funeral to attend (Joan's uncle)... we found out enroute, and picked up our pace to be here in time.

When we got back late the next day, something didn't look right with the trailer... yep, the spare tire that we got from the factory is bigger than the other tires. :crook Swell. So, sometime in the next couple days, I will be replacing two more tires.

We are here to visit with my dear ol' 86 year old Mother. We moved her to an apartment two years ago, and that place doesn't allow boat parking. So, for my buddy Mike, I can't do this in just a couple hours. My sister from Kansas City is also here... she is absolutely "stuff-obsessed", wants to know what everything costs, and is certain we have lost our minds to have given up our careers to go "play with this boat." The dialog is more inane that the worst situation comedy you've ever had to endure. My tongue is bleeding from all the biting, and more than ever I am convinced that I was left on the porch by gypsies. (Whew, thanks, this is as close to therapy as I have come. :wink: )

Today, we will go visit my cousin, who owns a carnival. No, I am not making this up. Yes, I know it sounds like a skit from Hee-Haw. My cousin is no longer the black sheep since I have become hardcore unemployable sailor/boater trash <insert really BIG grin here>. Then we will come back and eat sensible food. There will likely be some discussion of Britney Spears and what a horrible state this country is in. Perhaps even in the same sentence.

Joan will pat my hand and give me that "it will be OK" look, Molly will help lower my blood pressure. Wild Blue is a sanctuary. In a few days, I will have completed my family-duty and we will be rolling again.

So, C-Dory friends, this has little to do with cruising, but serves to let y'all know that life goes on, we all have to deal... and Joan will verify that I am the most normal one in my family. I have asked for little in return for putting our travels here; if you want to offer a word of encouragement (or share any of your family weirdness), I would be most grateful.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Exerpts of actual conversations:
While having supper in a restaurant, a couple on a Harley pulled up. My sister asked...
Sister: Do you still ride your Harley?
Me: I sold it 4 years ago.
Sister: So you don't have a motorcycle now?
Me: I'm a "gentleman biker" (tongue in cheek), I ride a BMW these days.
Sister: A BMW? Who makes that?

Sister: Do you ever fall off the boat?
Me: I try to make it a point to stay IN the boat.
Sister: What do you do when it rains?
Me: I have enough sense to come in out of the rain.

Sister: Is that little TV all you have for entertainment?
Me: No, we have a 60" flat screen in the v-berth.
Sister: Oh, I didn't see that.
Me: Most of the time, we either don't have tv reception or don't bother to turn it on. We also have satellite radio, we read, play games, and have nice conversations.
Sister: Don't you run out of things to talk about?

Mother: Have you ever been attacked by a shark?
Me: Several times, but sharks are afraid of cats.
Mother: Oh, I didn't know that.
Me: Yes, that's why sailing vessels of old always had a cat aboard.
(Making up stuff like this is part of the entertainment for me. :mrgreen: )

Mother: Where do you get gas?
Me: Mostly at Mexican restaurants.
Mother: No, gas for the motor in your boat.
Me: We use these things called "gas stations."
Mother: Do they have those out in the middle of the ocean?
Me: Yes, they're called "7/11 Afloat". (I send her newsletters with photos about the places we travel. I've explained that we are not "in the middle of the ocean" with this boat.)

Mother: Will you ever go back to work?
Me: Unless something really interesting comes along, probably not.
Mother: You're too young to retire.
Me: They lowered the minimum age.
Mother: Oh. What if you run out of money?
Me: Then I'll ask for my inheritance early. (We support my Mother - she was one who believed Social Security would take care of her.)

Sister: Why did you name your boat Wild Blue?
Me: You have to call it something, and Wild Green didn't seem appropriate for a blue boat.
Sister: Is that like in the wild blue yonder?
Me: Exactly. In fact, our dinghy is named Yonder.
Sister: Really?
Me: Yes, really.
Sister: I never know when you're kidding.
 
Love it Jim! Put a smile on my face (even though it's real for you). I don't have that close and 'eccentric(?)' of a family to ask such questions of my lifestyle and boating, but I love the way you handle it, very good, keeps the conversation lively!!

About the closest such coversations come when we have family get togethers is they ask if I still have my boat. Then we proceed on where I take it (ocean/islands). Then they usually ask how I 'park' it in the middle of the ocean. I explain about harbors, moorings and anchoring -- briefly though. They also ask if my wife goes along. I say generally not, she gets sick and prefers homelife on terra-ferma. Plus she loves it when I take one or both kids (24/18) with me so the home's all to herself.

Jim & Joan, was such a pleasure meeting you guys and Molly of course. Love your free spirit, keep up the writings. I put off reading the Sunday paper because your adventures and tales are better reading! :thup
 
It was a sleepless night... no, not because of a storm at anchor or equipment malfunction. Because of a damn cat.

There is a local cat that has apparently taken a shine to Molly. Last night when I got on the boat, it startled me when it jumped out of the cockpit - a big yellow cat! Opening the door, I could see Molly was aggitated. Figuring my presence would keep it away, I got ready for bed... I was wrong. It hopped on the boat and stuck its face in the screen by the helm. Molly hissed and growled (yes, sweet Miss Molly), I went outside to chase it away. Sort of. This thing has no fear of humans (or is just mighty determined)... a swing and a miss!

I thought that would be enough to keep it away. Wrong again. A few minutes later, it was back at the same window. This time when I opened the cabin door, it came into the cockpit. OK, I wasn't expecting that. Molly was hissing, the boat was rocking, the big yellow cat was howling. Yeah, this is fun. Cats are fast - another swing and a miss.

Even though it was a warm night, I closed the helm window. I sat up in the dark to see if it was coming back... no sign of it. Since I was now wide awake, I turned on the computer. Molly jumped to the dash by the center windshield and hissed... a second later, the hatch screen over the v-berth came crashing down! One of us screamed like a little girl (I still think it was Molly), and I went charging forward. There was no cat in our v-berth, but he had his big ol' yellow face pressed up against the windshield. I don't speak cat, but I'm pretty sure it was saying, "Give me the chubby gray girl and no one gets hurt!"

Over my cat-scratch-fever-infected body! :x

I bravely reached over to the panel and honked the horn (yeah, the neighbors are gonna be real happy about that, but there is no reason I should be the only one up in the middle of the night). It worked - Big Yellow ran off. Molly hopped up into the helm seat, looked adoringly at me, and puked all over my helm seat. Well, not just the helm seat - it ran over the front and onto Joan's purse and our space heater (that's gonna smell).

I don't want to paint any horrific mental images, but me in my underwear, lit by the romantic glow of the cabin lights, wiping up cat puke, and using some swear words I haven't pulled out in a long time... it wasn't pretty.

I closed the forward hatch, leaving only the co-pilot's window for ventilation. Laid in the dark, waiting for the next attack. Molly snuggled up against me, looking for comfort. Joan didn't. Did you know that cats have a higher body temperature than humans? Twenty minutes later, the boat rocked, Molly tensed up, and I got my next anti-cat weapon (a glass of water) ready to launch. That damn cat is fast.

Two more boardings before the sun started to come up. Similar results. I'm sure that cat will be sleeping comfortably in one of the nearby big fancy houses during the day so it will be fresh for tonight. I will try for a nap in the v-berth and drive into town to see if I can find a place that sells coyote traps... aw, probably not; I'd likely step into it in the middle of the night.

This crap doesn't happen when we're at anchor.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Ohhhhhh, Jim.... I do so enjoy your posts! The girls at the office here are wondering why I keep cracking up...

Keep up the good work! ... you know you should be publishing this stuff!

John
 
owww stop, my sides are aching from laughing--- no don't stop. This is great- well, great for those of us that get to read your stories.
 
drjohn71a":345jqh0y said:
you know you should be publishing this stuff!
Click to expand...

He really does have a gift for observation and writing. It comes so naturally for him. In my 15+ years of life as an IT journalist/columnist I had to sweat my copy out.

Warren
 
Here's the photo of when Wild Blue threw a shoe... one of her trailer tires came apart. Fortunately, we were at a truck stop and Joan was checking tires while I fueled Big Red. Even more fortunately, there was a tire shop right behind the truck stop. The best they could come up with for a replacement was a used tire... and our spare that came from the factory was the wrong size! Yeah, I paid good money for their mistake.

TireRepairE.jpg

While visiting family, we pulled Wild Blue into the driveway of my Brother-in-law's home. Wild Blue saw the 4 car garage and thought she was due for service again.

ByGarageE.jpg

He offered us a bed/bath suite that is bigger than our whole house in Texas; he just shook his head when we politely declined that offer and stayed in our boat. This is a pretty swanky place... including a 3 slip marina that opens to the Missouri River.

We spent most of the week visiting relatives, being over-fed, and putting miles on the truck. Finally, it was time to get the boat ready to roll again and hit the road. We spent a few hours shining her up... vinegar takes off the hard water from Lake Powell and the salt from the San Francisco Bay.

JMBCleaningE.jpg

After 1700+ miles on the trailer since leaving the Delta, the poop tank was getting full. Our first stop at the marina at Lewis & Clark Lake in Yankton, SD, was the pump-out station. Other than the Fecal Freak at Rosche Harbor, this is the only other place where the guy at the fuel dock was right there to help with the hose duties. It doesn't matter where you cruise, some things can't be put off! I use rubber gloves for this chore... he seemed to think that was a good idea. Remind me to not shake hands with him if we see him later at the marina.

Lewis and Clark Lake is part of the "South Dakota Great Lakes" - formed by a series of dams on the Missouri River. 90 miles of shoreline, over 25 miles in length, and 30,000+ surface acres. A nice marina (and only $15/night with power and water), just steps to a great restaurant with a view of the lake.

LandCMarinaE.jpg

There is a beautiful state park along this portion of the lake, with lots of trees and grass, just made for cat-walking.

MollyWalkE.jpg

The terrain along the lake isn't what you might expect from eastern South Dakota; beautiful river bluffs that extend for miles. It truly is a jewel of a lake in this area that is mostly fertile farmland.

LandCBluffsE.jpg

Yes, it is named for the famous explorers who charted this area.

While walking the dock today, I ran into some old friends that we haven't seen in several years. They keep their sailboat here, and were mildly appalled that we had gone over to the "dark side." We visited with them on their sailboat... while in the cabin, there was no view at all. It is a lot bigger than Wild Blue, but is destined to live out its life sailing only this water. When it started to rain, we came back to our boat to close the windows... and admire the view from anyplace in the cabin. 8) Dark side, my butt. :twisted:

In a few days we will need to be back in the Black Hills to take care of some business, visit friends, and then it's off again.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Hi Jim,

Agian nice pics. I used your pics to show the fam the Delta trip since I did not take a single one - thanks.

Sorry to hear about the tire - I would be a little annoyed about the wrong sized spare on a new trailer. I had to use my King trailer spare and it was the right size and now I have a new one I bought myself.

How do you fill the holding tank when on the trailer? Does your head pump from the fresh water tank - just curious?

Steve
 
Hi Steve,
Yes, our head flushes with fresh water. You can control how much (or how little) you use, so you can be quite conservative when necessary. Let me know if you need me to go into more detail. :wink: We much prefer this type of head, since it is the critters that go into the hose with the seawater flush that cause the most odor.

Let me know if you need any photos from the Delta/Bay Cruise.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Jim,

Do you have one of the RV type heads or a standard marine head? Some friends had the RV type in a housboat that worked very well. Not that any of this is that important since I don't have a little room for a head.

If you have other pics of me/SeaSpray that you did not post I would be interested (Yes it is all about me). :lol:

Steve
 
The head on Wild Blue is the Dometic/Sealand, often referred to as the "RV" head. I think of it more as a really big Porta-potty that is glued in place and plumbed into the fresh water system... and with a pump-out and a macerator pump. I think it is a good set-up for these boats.

I'll go through the images I shot on the Delta/Bay Cruise and see if there are more of your boat in there. May be a few days.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Steve (Sea Spray) did you check the Delta Photo Album? I have more, just can't seem to get them in faster than about 5-10 minutes per picture, but little by little I'm still posting some. Here's at least one of your boat, there's another of you fishing too.
 
Sorry I’m late but I was away for a few days at that thing they call work. If you truly love all cats stop reading right here. If you truly love your own cat and only your own cat, proceed at your own risk. I you hate cats and what they tend to do to boats then read on and take note. Cats piss in boats for whatever reason and they do it a lot. Once one cat pisses in your boat then every cat in the neighborhood will want to piss in your boat. My good friend (I would never admit to this myself) has developed a sure fire, none lethal, boat pissing cat deterrent system. Jim had the first part right will a cage trap. Step one is catch the cat. Step two involves a power washer. :twisted:

Its takes a lot longer to brake a cats will with a power washer then you would think, but its well worth the time. At first its yelling and hissing and fury. It can really put the fear in your soul. Oh by the way play a radio really loud so the neighbors don't call the cops. After a few minutes and the anger is out of them its a lot of furrowed eyes brows and just waiting for you to stop. DON'T!!!!!!!!!!! It’s just a trick and early release could lead to major injury to you and your family, And not just once. If you stop to early in the process the cat will seek revenge for years to come on you and your children. Who ever said " hell have no fury like a woman scorned" never pissed off a cat. So when you think they are done just keep going. Wait until the care for life and hope leaves their eyes and they just lay down to die.....Then give it five more minutes just to be sure. After that just open the cage and let them walk away. Make sure you watch them walk away. Like john Wayne said in "she wore a yellow ribbon" "walking may hurt their feet, but us watching hurts their pride”, same thing with cats just without the feathered headdress. After this that cat will never ever come on your property again, but the other neighbors cat will so be prepared to do this several times until you have all the local cats "trained" Please check local laws and regs for the fines you may receive if caught. Happy trapping.
 
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