Sleeping with tools.....erotic? hardly!

Living and working on a boat at the same time is not unlike doing the same when living in a house you build. I have had many days and nights living on all forms of boats, barges, oil rigs all types of floating places. Most times I was on the job trying to make a living either on my own or with a group of men. A major difference is that ‘Myor’, is a work in progress, with a purpose, to make a living for herself by sharing her gifts with all who have an opportunity to experience her.  As a sail boat she has to be readied to sail and now it’s all about deck gear to handle the sails.  Always having a decent shop to work in most of my life, I am currently setting up a small area in ‘Myor’ for my shop as I crave my tools, fasteners, parts and stuff in their proper place. Kate often observes me going nuts when I can't easily put my hand on a tool!

Using the dock side this week I needed to make some backing plates for deck hardware to be installed. Despite all my experience working on the water I am forever experiencing new lessons. In the last month I have lost into the water a “come along”, a fid to splice lines, and a $40.00 Harken hi load pad eye. Also lost a prop off the starboard sail drive but that is another story.

I have my diving gear set up and a dive tender “Kate” I will use it to try and find things I have lost. 

Anticipating the arrival of deck hardware we moved the boat yet one more time. This time at one of the oldest boat yards in St Augustine. There is a shop here and a vise to hold aluminum so that I can cut and drill it with out using my feet to hold it.

Living on the boat with all my tools and clothes since mid December 2010 I am only now begin to get somewhat organized. Kate has begun to organize the wood pile and make what was a bachelor’s pad transform into a happy comfortable environment suitable for dinner cruises and day charters.

It finely feels like ‘Myor’ is become a home, a home with a depth of spirit that is hard to explain and most be experienced. A marine world around, living on the water, the fish, birds and mammals, ‘Myor’ at ease immersed feeling safe and sound.

Each person who will visit will take something away from the experience that is as unique as the boat.

For now it feels like a floating shop and knowing where my tools are is so very crucial as essential tasks can be accomplished on beautiful ‘Myor’, that’s unless the fish are biting!

    

Room with a view

This has been the memorable view from our windows for the past few months, across the water from downtown historic St. Augustine. Our unobstructed view and never ending changing scenery. Passing vessels of all sorts, luxury yachts, historic trawlers and folks just heading out to the inlet for a sail.  Although we are a bit spoiled on our 360 degree sailing vessel, we still appreciate the design and beautiful lines of boats of all kinds. We are a bit partial to classic shrimp boats, as dear friends of ours Vern & Ruth own 'Leona' a 38' classic shimper originally built in South Carolina. They have been faithfully devoted & dedicated to updating her and excited to get her to work! We are too!!! More on 'Leona' later!

creative applications

sling shot & good 'ole come-along to get the job done

soon our winches will be here

catch of the day

I can’t remember the first time I put a line in the water with a hook to catch a fish. Some of the earliest memories were trout fishing in northern Maine with my dad. We used warms then and I really didn’t have any luck until dad showed me where to drift the worm under the downed trees along the bank. The thing about fishing for me is it is truly an activity that is all encompassing for me. The solitude and escapism from pressures of the world around and worries of day-to-day subsistence’s.

Dropping a fishing hook in the ocean in Florida is a whole different experience then a rainy day along a small spruce lined river in northern Maine. The verity of fish that by chance you might catch the biggest difference. I am not spending a whole lot of time fishing while here (still lots to do on the boat) but try to put hook to water when I can. I was never so surprised then this morning when I checked the line after letting it soak the night and find a small hammerhead shark. Never caught one of those before! I was hopping for a Red Fish good eating and they are in the waters here now. On our Sunday skiff ride we sew a group of men, all with poles in hand, fish on. Nice fish 15 to 20 pounds. They gave us some live bait when they left,,,, the school of red fish had past.

The small hammer head came to me at 0600.....Kate waking I said, “you’ll never guess what I just caught?” ,,we mind melded sort of and after a cat fish, Jack fish she said, “Baby Hammerhead”.....Amazing.

Still hope to catch a Red Fish for dinner, but if I don’t, I look forward to floating a worm under a downed tree in a clear water spruced lined stream in Maine. 

With some luck ‘Myor’ will take us there soon.

  

What's in a name?

So much thought & energy goes into a name.  A name that will remain throughout a life time. A name that will hopefully reflect spirit and intention. 'Children's names, their meanings and origin', as parents or out of pure curiosity we catch ourselves browsing these books at the grocery store checkout, wondering if given names fit personality or temperament. When Mark initiated the building of such a powerful sailing vessel by hand, it was very important for him to embrace the entire process in positive light. A familiar phrase of Mark, 'One Makes their Own Reality', was really put into action.  It was so very important he create his own environment to both live and construct his dream. As quirky as it sounds it was a type of Pleasant-ville, almost a slice out of Disney's Swiss Family Robinson.
With an outside kitchen, bathhouse and a 40'x70' synthetic quonset shop only feet away, Mark embarked on an adventure without hitting the sea.  Often questions would arise as to the the name of such a vessel.  Marks' brother Ron, a guy who appreciates the finery of words, joined him for dinner & drinks an evening, creative forces joined and thus 'MYOR' was born!  Her hulls stand on the water (freeboard) 5' tall and are 58' feel long (quite a noticable comparrison when docked along a 'normal' catamaran) The simple task of selecting a font or design of a name proportionally appropriate to the her overall scale & character is crutial. Strong, elegant and graceful she is indeed!  Call it what you wish, wether we create our own destiny or make our own reality, to create, live and share the adventure of life with gratitude and grace, seems effortless on 'MYOR'.

Let her FLY & DRY

The weather was amazing, great day to unpack the spinnaker and

hoist her up to let her air out, check for damage. It was amazing the power we could feel

as a few wind gusts caught her attention...we are so anxious to cut the dock lines!

worked on rigging today, crossed the bridge for a Porpoise Point beer at the A1A pub, roasted Mexican chicken tonight, my Mav seasons from within..yummm!

What's for dinner?

"MAVRIC" aka Mark caught dinner on my fly rod!

Quite the marina community experience, Robin a fellow catamaran owner, Dwight, Chrissy & hound "Buttons" were present to cheer on and assist with the landing (even with a butterfly net) We're thinking yellow rice, blackened fillets and a simple spinach salad? yum

a sail run

We hanked-on her Mylar stay sail jib for the first time.  

Her mast is 58' tall off the deck

Jim Brown & Andy Zimmerman visit

Jim Brown (World acclaimed Multi-Hull designer, novelist & boat builder) www.outrig.org Jims website for books/journal/events/classes along with Andy Zimmerman, (water sport aficionado, founder of Heritage Kayaks, now big dog consultant), spent a memorable weekend with us on 'Myor'. After a seven hour drive south pulling a trailer colorfully stacked with a Jim Brown 17' Windrider sailboat, & two beautifully designed kayaks from Andy's. Interesting side note...sensing they were close, we glanced from our back deck just in time to see their impressive rig crossing St. Augustine's historic Bridge of Lions. Needless to say they arrived in St.Augustine a bit parched quickly quenched with quality cocktails & amazing smoked Salmon which magically appeared out of their provision bag. Such an unexpected treat! We enjoyed the sunset and silhouettes of enchanting St. Augustine's Spanish architecture while dining on local Sheepshead fish tacos, (FYI-Mark speared). After an evening of sharing stories, updating lives & events, we hit the rack, jaws tired of smiling and laughing.

Andy slept in his nifty rig, woke early and curious to see a few St. Augustine's sights before his coffee. He hit his Simple bike to the road & narrow historic brick streets.  He arrived back on the boat impressed with the variety of sights along his journey.  World Tai-Chi tournament, held at the lighthouse park, Kids Surfing & sandcastle competitions being held at the Anastasia State park beach. He was amazed with the pristine beach on St. Augustine "one of THE BEST Florida beach I've ever experienced, he wanted to ride his bike back at low tide to ride out to the inlet. We took a wonderful dingy ride up the San Sebastian River to take Jim to West Marine to pick up a few parts, looking for wildlife interestingly noting the lack of Pelicans normally abundant. We arrived back on Myor, Andy constructing yummy turkey sandwiches with textural horseradish garnished with lettuce with perfect pickles, We munched while watching dolphins along Myor's side, heading out to the inlet. Mid afternoon cocktails? Andy brought a killer commercial fruit press juicer, salty dogs and margaritas. We are green with envy with this amazing contraption, we will wait for our lottery tickets to pay off!

Scott Watts repair/delivery/building website & his wife Karen (despite their 7th year anniversary) invited us to their home for a cookout and absorb some quality time with Jim. Great kids, Isabell (4yrs) Nathan (7yrs) and collection of critters (goat was my favorite) made for a delightful evening.
What could top such a glorious day? A trip down memory lane, the local retro Dairy Queen, (extra hot fudge). Jim shared stories about cruising with his children and their transition back to 'society', replacing  colorful native speaking characters, & experiencing the sea living dream to now trying to bond and fit in  with with local country kids who's delight was to "cruise the main street TASTY FREEZE in rural Virginia. We drove home singing lyrics to Beverly Hillbillies..incorporating our own words " loaded up the truck and moved to Cedar Key"

Evening stories again, too much laughter (is there such a thing?) almost to the point of tinkling in our cotton organic undies! Upon learning my love & appreciation of cultural textiles, Jim shared an amazing story on how he and his wife Joanna creatively shipped back a collection of over 600 pounds of village textiles from Guatemala, back in the 1970's. A small world as Andy later had a cookout at his home in Greensboro inviting neighbors, noticing one of Jim's books, thus he turned out to be the historic  shipping connection as he imported veneer from Guatemala.  I hope to see Jim & Joanna's entire textile collection someday!

Mark still checking his fishing rod, in hope of a catch. no such luck
Our Sunday morning traditional breakfast was served, biscuits, gravy, potatoes, eggs to order, melon and coffee from Guatemala. Mark quietly focused on cooking, his "wing gal" ME...by his side, Jim smiling impressed with cloth napkins! Andy on a health kick, yet he didn't decline just a "bit more" gravy on his potatoes.

Sunday was a work day, pulled Mark up the mast, just hung out, dove off Myor and swam with the current. No day went without a nap, Jim in his bunk and Andy in the salon corner. Mark & I on the deck again awaiting the "catch" while our neighbors are blaring favorites from the late 70's, I secretly wish they would turn it a bit down not to wake the sleeping beauties.

Bacon Lettuce & garden Tomato sandwiches for their departing breakfast, "did you see that whale?" was not an effective distracting line, thus I was not able to sneak a piece of the perfectly grilled apple wood smoked bacon!  We sent them off to Cedar Key, the 27th annual gathering of small boat die-hards sailors. They were going to sneak in a paddle on the Swanee River.

Thank you Jim & Andy for such a great visit, we are looking forward to getting together again soon, on our way north. Jim is instructing a boat building course in Brooklin Maine at the WOODEN BOAT SCHOOL and Andy is meeting us in North Carolina, with a few kayaks?