Jan 28 - Jan 31, 2014
This is last year's snowy picture of our neighborhood.  We were so discouraged about our long, bitter. brutally cold weather that we didn't bother to record what the snow looked like this year. Just add more snow, more bone chilling wind, and prolonged gray skies, and that would have been the 2014 view.

We played tha game of.  "How far south will we have to drive to get above freezing?".   When we crossed the Oklahome/Texas line, the temperature finally nudged above 32.  Dodging winter storms that race through the midwest has always been our plan.  Since we delayed leaving on Monday due to 35 mile per hour wind gusts in Wisconsin and Illinois, we did not run in to any percipitation until New Mexico, and then just sprinkles.  However, the strong wnd gusts followed us all the way to Green Valley, Arizona.

 Jan 31, 2014
We detoured off our usual routes( I-94 to I-55 to I -44 to I-40 to I-25 to I-10) and drove through the Gila Mountain State Park in New Mexico( Rte 152).  It will be a favorite from now on.  This "flat lander" is always amazed at the high desert into mountain views.

 

Seeing any water in a stream is always a surprise

And then we're high enough for forest

Not sure when this fire occurred.  I wonder how long it will take to be re forested.

Picnic, anyone?  It is 43 degrees at this elevation, but the mountains block the wind.

And then, this massive scar on the land.  The southwest has its wonderful wealth of minerals and these mountain reducing mines can be seen many places.  It was such a shock after seeing the beautiful forests.  I am very thankful we have saved state and national parks or many views would look like this   

This is what is under the mountains.  Lots of copper but how can this ever be re forested??

First solo sail with Team Dad and Daughter

 Ship's Log: Dateline: May15, 2013  Time: 12:00 Noon
Memorial Day weekend.  57 degrees, cloudy and not much wind.  Because it is so cold, there are very few other boats on the lake.  Good for us because this is the first solo sail for team Dad and Daughter.  Emmett and I came along to carry the sandwiches, soft drinks mad take the pictures.

Diesel motor engaged to back out of the slip.

Time for a second sail with the Lombard Walshes

Hoist the sail

Craig and I make a Starbuck's run for hot coffee and hot chocolate.

The Irish Mist sails Lake Geneva!!!

Today was a perfect day for sailing-blue skies, warm breezes and lots of help setting the mast, rigging the lines and setting the sails.  (My apologies for inaccurate seaman lingo.  I will learn.)
The pictures tell the story.

Boat, trailer and previous owners(Tim and Barb) arrive

Fist step, rig (attach lines to) the mast.  Jenne works the ground part while Tim and Jim work from inside the boat.

Do not tangle the lines.

Lesson 101 on tiller and rudder installation

The Marina staff have never launched a cat boat.  It is a good thing Tim is here to supervise.

Placing the boat under the hoist to set the mast.

Mast,gaff,  and boom are temporarily removed so that the wooden transport supports can be removed.

Barb and I are busy stuffing all the extra sails, winter cover and wooden support in our car. 

   

Lifting the mast

Finally, into the water

More securing and attaching needed.

 

Jenne tapes the mast "skirt" in place.

The hole in the bottom is for  maintaining the propeller.

In the meantime, I have "landlubber" duty.  I got the title changed, paid for the license and the state taxes.  The Irish Mist is legal.

I'm camped out in the parking lot waiting for my ship to come in.

I repacked the car to stow the wooden transport supports under all this so we'd have room for Jenne on the way home.  Winter cover, extra sails, rudder paint and assorted fluids for the engine etc.  

First sighting.  Initially there was no wind and they had to crank up the motor.  Tim decided to show them how to reef the 

sail.  And then, the wind picked up and they "scooted" along at 3 knots they rest of the way.

Jenne took this picture as they approached Geneva Inn's dock

Tacking to come about.



Securing the sail.




Heading for #10 slip

Lines secured fore and aft.

 Sail cover secured.

Bright red 2016 Wisconsin License.  The Irish Mist is safe from the Lake Geneva Boat Police!!
This complete Ship Log #1. Date: May 16, 2013 16:30

Sail Boat Planning Dry Run May 12, 2013

 Today we scoped out the boat slip, the Marina that will hoist the mast and launch the boat and where to get the license and title changed.   We've provisioned with a map to Lake Geneva, auto inflation life preservers, and other miscellaneous lines and "stuff."  Jim is sooooo excited!!!

Geneva Inn has a wonderful area for docking behind the hotel

View from the slip

View from the hotel patio 

Slip #10 will be the summer home for the Irish Mist

Jenne and Jim perform manual inflation testing of their auto inflation life preservers.

The back story
Jim's dream of owning a sailboat will happen this week. He's had the "Irish Mist " named for 51 years since he sailed Lake Michigan as a teenager with his brother.  I used to tease him that he couldn't buy a sailboat until after I got my grand piano   Well, he bought that for me as a surprise for our 25th wedding anniversary.  Although he's "shopped" the internet for years, and I've encouraged him to buy, or rent, or crew on a sailboat, last year was the year he gave himself permission to buy one.  He found his favorite type of sailboat, an 18ft cat with a marconi rig in Sturgeon Bay, WI.  It is a perfect one man sailboat with a center board. (I have declined to be a reliable first mate). He test sailed it last October and bought it.  The previous owners  stored it there for the winter and will deliver it to Lake Geneva on May 16.  Jenne and Jim have completed 2 of their 6 sailing lessons at the Kenosha Yacht Club.