Reversal and Re-reversal

1) The REVERSAL

We filled Trefoil up with diesel earlier this week and discovered that the moronic mechanic that installed the tank had made a small but important mistake! WHAT? A LEAK! OH NO!!!!

We had this discovery in Haverstraw while the wind was blowing at 40 gusting to 50 or more. What a joy.

We left Haverstraw for Kingston with the sad thought that we would have to pull the boat, probably for the Winter. We were cold, wet and discouraged. (Oh, I forgot to tell you that our nav computer would not find our GPS).

2)RE- REVERSAL

After reaching Kingston and resting for a day, we took a look at our tank situation and discovered that the problem could be corrected! We can not fill the tank to capacity or we will re-institute the damage but....it'll be all right.

Navigation - Karen called the Garmin Corp. (maker of most of our GPS equipment ) and apparently found the absolutely SMARTEST tech they have. After SEVERAL HOURS he had created a digital miracle which allows a match between components that CAN'T MATCH! So, we are able to return to a southerly course with adequate fuel and our nav system (backed by paper charts) functioning. We three will rest well this night.

Dick, Karen & Colby

It's great to have friends!

We finally received our new furling jib. Fed Ex really dropped the ball on this, but our friends came through, "Pony Express" style! The sail arrived on Tuesday at Jim Morris' business in Queensbury; he drove it to Kathy Burns in Clifton Park that evening, and Kathy drove it to us in Catskill on Wednesday. Thank you both so much!

Our mast went up late yesterday afternoon, and we spent all today today rigging. With a brand new roller furlng system, there was new hardware to install. So tomorrow we will put on the main, re-install the bimini, fuel up with diesel and be on our way. The folks at Riverside Marine Services here in Catskill have been most helpful. They even offered to adopt Colby as a "yard dog."

We have enjoyed the company of new friends, Ingo and Anneliese aboard Strademarius. Ingo gave us a software program with tide tables, which is very useful.

It is supposed to drop into the high 20's tonight. Brrrr! We are glad to have our little heater. Hopefully we'll see some warmer temperatures before much longer.

Waiting in Waterford!

Departure from Port Henry was at 4:00 PM on October 14. W e anchored the first night at Fort Ticonderoga, then on to Whitehall. After going through Lock 12, we tied up at the town dock for overnight. Then two more days in the canal, arriving at Waterford on Friday, October 17. What a nice facility here; walking distance to grocery store, laundromat, and restaurants, and a Farmers' Market on Sunday with lots of fresh produce, so we really stocked up.

We had lots of company here; Kathy Burns stopped by, Sharon Davidson and Mike Nelson also came to visit. Our good friend Larry Ascenzi took us to do errands all Saturday afternoon, and helped us discover that a potential problem wasn't really a problem at all on Sunday. We are waiting for Jim Morris to deliver our new jib which we had ordered from JSI about a month ago. He offered to have it shipped to him, and is planning to bring it to us here. Once we have that, we will be underway again, down the Hudson. We are planning to have the mast stepped at Catskill, where will also be able to get diesel and propane for our stove.

Colby is doing well; he really prefers it when the boat is tied to a dock, so he can play more!

Nights have been chilly, with frost the past two nights, but we have a small ceramic heater when we are plugged in, and an alcohol burning heat pal for nights at anchor.

Ready to set sail!

Finally! After 8 years of work on Trefoil, our Tartan 34C, we are almost ready to depart the dock at Van Slooten Harbour Marina in Port Henry, NY. Our anticipated departure date is Tuesday, October 14.

We hope you enjoy following our travels!

Richard, Karen and Colby