The Grumpy Bear Saga Continues

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! - Day 10 of 15

Well wasn't that a bit of news! I received a call from my Yacht Broker this morning and it seems the previous owner of my boat has had a falling out with the Yacht Club and by association; I have apparently lost my guest privileges. John suggests I remove my boat from their slip before they pull her out of the water and charge me storage yard fees.

I was planning on heading back to San Diego on the 15th, but the situation calls for a quick change of plans. I contacted Amtrak, they don't have a train going all the way to San Diego until Monday, but they have a bus going through Red Bluff at 1 pm. I made a reservation, called Dad and he agreed to shuttle me to the Taco Bell / Bus Stop. got to love rural communities! Now all I have to do is figure out what to take along.

No big deal, I will get into the San Diego train depot at 5:30 in the morning, with any luck, Ernesto the maintenance guy from Tijuana usually arrives to work about 5 am/ He knows me so I can get him to let me in if I promise to make some coffee. Fortunate for me, after not getting my equipment installed last week; Bruce told me just yesterday that he had a technician working on my boat as we spoke! I was beginning to wonder if they would be done by the fifteenth, but of course Bruce did seem to be running out of plausible excuses, he even had to use the dental appointment pretext twice. But with the boat ready, I will pick up some groceries, take her out on a quick shake down trip to check out the new equipment, get fueled up and be on my way (gulp) into the big Pacific Blue. I should be back to Red Bluff in time for Hurry Back's Wednesday Night Karaoke Contest, if the weather holds out...

mine own Grumpy Bear

Red Bluff Bound! - Day 5 of 10

Well the paper push is complete, the Grumpy Bear is all mine. I bought a 17" GPS Monitor and antenna as well as the software to chart the entire Pacific Coast, the radar kit that goes with it and a $900.00 antenna array, a plasma TV, and a satellite dish so I can travel in style. It was all supposed to be installed yesterday, but the service manager said his wife threatened to leave him if he worked over the holiday weekend. Flinching from feeling somewhat empathetic I agreed to the installation on Tuesday, and left a key to the boat for Butt Crack Bruce (certainly NOT my nickname for him) at the front desk in the Clubhouse. I am house sitting for my brother while he vacations in Florida, so for now it looks like I am Red Bluff Bound! It is difficult leaving my new home so soon. The people here at the Silver Gate Yacht Club are very friendly, and the is so much to do in San Diego, the weather is beautiful and the ocean is wonderful I feel right at home all ready.

the Infamouse Maiden Voyage of the S.S.Grumpy Bear

first entry - Day 1 of 3

This is dedicated to the S.S. Grumpy Bear a 30' Sea Ray cabin cruiser and my new home. I'm driving down to finalize the paper work today. I hope I am ready for this, I have always dreamed of living on the open seas. Traveling about living the sailor’s life. I successfully passed my physical and dutifully received my international shots, my passport is current and Mission Bay will soon be the gateway to my future. I have been reading up on seamanship, navigation, repair and first aid. These are the reading materials I have been ingesting:

WEATHER FOR THE MARINER
THE COMPLETE BOOK OF ANCHORING AND MOORING
SEAWORTHINESS: THE FORGOTTEN FACTOR
ADVANCED FIRST AID AFLOAT
STORM TACTICS HANDBOOK
ESSENTIALS OF SEA SURVIVAL
BOATOWNER'S MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL MANUAL
CHAPMAN PLOTING SEAMANSHIP
US COASTGUARD BOATING SKILLS & SEAMANSHIP
KNIGHT'S MODERN SEAMANSHIP
THE MARLINSPIKE SAILOR
THE ELEMENTS OF SEAMANSHIP
ROUGH WEATHER SEAMANSHIP for sail and power
HOW TO READ A NAUTICAL CHART
TIDE TABLES: WEST COAST OF NO AND SO AMERICA
CHARLIE'S CHARTS OF THE WEST COAST OF MEXICO
THE CRUISING GUIDE: Golden Gate to Ensenada
SPANISH FOR CRUISERS: boat repair phrase book
MEXICO BOATING GUIDE

If all that didn’t overwhelm me or kick my better senses in the butt, I guess nothing will. Avast ye lubbers I’m shovin’ off to discover the new world. Or am I just shelling out a lot of clams for a Vikings funeral?

Horsing Around

A friend and blogger posted her reaction to horses when she was young and it dredged up a few memories of my own. I thought I would go ahead and post my comment here.

I started out on horses very young, I think my 4th birthday present was a trip to Knotts Berry Farm where my only memory was the thrill of sitting atop a cream colored shetland pony tied to a center stake and rode in circles forever. Well I also remember getting my picture taken with the saloon girl statue because my Mom would bring the picture out any time she thought there might be an opportunity to embarrassme until my cheeks would reach the same rosy color as in the photo.
Every Summer until I was 12 or 13 I went back to Arkansas to stay on Grandpa’s farm. I got to feed chickens, slop hogs, milk a cow or two, and take the old retired chestnut plow horse out of the barn for casual stroll around the grounds.The workhorse was old, flea bitten and mangy, sway backed and slower than Grandma in the morning, but to me he was a wild stallion, a knights steed, a thoroughbred racehorse,and Roy Rogers Trigger, Cisco Kid’s Diablo and the Lone Ranger’s White Feller, or Silver as he later became known all rolled into one. I curried and groomed that old nag, treated summer sores, swamped the stall and brought treats every day. It was a tragic day when I discovered that justbecause a horse was named buttercup, that one should never feed fresh buttercups to any livestock.Poor Buttercup nearly died from colic that summer.
By the time I was in my teens I was no longer making annual treks to the homeland. I felt horse saavy enough to hire on as a tour guide in Trabuco Canyon at Beardsley’s horse rental. I fed and cared for a half dozen trail horses, all misfits just like me, it was a perfect summer job. After I got to know the equines I chose my lead horse, Apache. A natural choice becausehe refused to follow the others. I always got a personal laugh when timid riders would gaze at all the horseflesh and thenfocus on Swayback Taffy. She appeared old and docile, but what they didn’t realize is that she spooked real easy and whenclimbing trails she would flinch and buck if a branch swung back on her. It is always important to listen to your trail guide.I had an especial fondness for Shagnasty. He was a right proud Fox Trotter, about 15 hands tall. Grey with black mane and tail, bright eyed amd sure footed. In the corral he was a popular choice for riders, but I reserved Shagnasty and Midnght Lady for the pretty girls with a date. Midnight Lady was very much a gentle lady, but her one flaw was a deep and sincere love for Apache. She would follow him anywhere and not leave his side. Shagnasty was strong, bold and very fast, but if I left a hand full of carrots or apples in a bucket in his stall he could think of nothing else and would invariabley turn tail and run back to the corral about ten minutes into the ride. Sometimes you shouldn’t trust your trail guide. As I said for me it was a great summer job.

meme

Sue sez I'm supposed to post my response comment to her meme on my own blog,so here goes;

x) Smoked a cigarette

( ) Crashed a friend’s car

( ) Stolen a car

(X) Been in love

(X) Been dumped

( ) Been laid off/fired

(X) Quit your job

(x) Been in a fist fight

(X) Snuck out of your parent’s house

(X) Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back

(x) Been arrested

(x) Gone on a blind date

(x) Skipped school

(x) Been to Canada

(X) Been to Mexico

(X) Been on a plane

(X) Been lost

(X) Been on the opposite side of the country

( ) Gone to Washington , DC

(X) Swam in the ocean

( ) Felt like dying (felt like I was gonna die a few times)

(X) Cried yourself to sleep

(x) Played cops and robbers/Cowboys &Indians

(x) Sang karaoke

(x) Paid for a meal with only coins

(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t

(x) Made prank phone calls

(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose

(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue

(X) Danced in the rain

(X) Written a letter to Santa

(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe

(X) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about or love

(X) Blown bubbles

(x) Made a bonfire on the beach

(x) Crashed a Party

(X) Gone roller-skating

(X) Gone ice-skating

1. Any nicknames? Cook, Preacher, Michaelpipes, Modo, Hey You!
2. Mother’s name? Dusty

3. What is your favorite drink? Diet coke

4. Tattoos? one

5. Body piercing? Ears? yes

6. How much do you love your job? Scale of 1 to 10? ummm retired, but I have enjoyed all my “jobs” even the Navy
7. Birthplace? Arkansas

8. Favorite vacation spot? Australia

9. Ever been to Africa? No

10. Ever steal any traffic signs? Yes

11. Ever been in a car accident? yes
12. Drink Cup size? “Umm shouldn’t this come with a handle?”
13. 2 Door or 4 Doors? 2

14. Salad dressing? Homemade Bluecheese
15. Favorite pie? cherry

16 Favorite number? 9

17. Favorite movie? McClintock

18. Favorite holiday? Halloween
19. Favorite food? Lobster (favorite ethnicity - mexican)

20. Favorite day of the week? Friday

21. Favorite brand of body soap? I’m a guy, you know the one with a volcano on the label.”
22. Favorite TV show? Ozzie and Harriet
23. Toothpaste? it comes in a purple tube…

24. Favorite smell? hands down, Baked bread (well maybe Janet)
25. What do you do to relax? read, write, “World of Warcraft”, play with the critters

26. Message to your friends? You have been the most important ingredients to our recipe for life.
27. How do you see yourself in 10 years? Maybe by looking into a three dimensional holographic mirror?

28. What would I rather be doing? Traveling

29. Furthest place you will send this message? the blogosphere

30. Who will respond the fastest? Sizzle (I cheated and looked)

31. Least likely to respond? The dead… greatful or otherwise.