Report From Onboard Jenny

[Da...@schramm-family.net]

Sunday, May 31, 2009 9:51:33 PM Location: Brunswick, GA The boat position was not recorded. No recent weather observation is available. After staging behind Cumberland Island, Nicholas and I got up at 6 AM and raised the anchor for the last time over the coming months. We were on our way out the St Marys channel when the Coast Guard came on the radio and asked us to pull out of the channel and stand off 200 yards. They were escorting a Naval vessel in. Cool. I was hoping for a chance to see one of our nuclear subs. It took over an hour of clearing and waiting for the tidal current to stop before it actually came in. It was a nuclear missile sub and quite a cool thing to see go by. Then we still had some outgoing tide and we slid out into a perfectly calm and almost flat ocean. It took a several hours to get up to the Brunswick channel, and we caught it just as it turned to flood and brought us in. The channel was a little busy with ships and all sorts of pleasure boats. Since being back I am amazed with how many times boats were in need of Towboat USA to get out of a fix or get towed back to their dock. I think I've heard more "rescues" in the short time here than all other time on Jenny combined. I guess people here just rely on being rescued rather than doing the proper navigation or maintenance of their boat. The marina here is really nice. It holds a couple of hundred boats and is very modern and well kept. The monthly fee includes free laundry, water and Wi-Fi. It is strange being back on the grid and having all the water and electricity one could want. Last night I went out to dinner with some sailboat friends, then had Dan from Spirit over for some drinks. It was a good evening. Dan told me of his adventures crewing on Astor for the classic races in Antigua. Astor took first place after 5 days of racing. It must have been totally awesome. I am jealous. He also told me of the storm (60 knot winds, 35 ft waves) that he and his buddy went through coming here. It was the same storm that Ketching Up and I caught a piece of. Wow. I'm glad I wasn't there. I got the awning up over the front of Jenny and the screens up in the back. So, the conversion of Jenny to houseboat mode is well in progress. I also washed down the anchor chain and locker with fresh water to get the salt out and stop corrosion. I then walked the 2 miles to the Winn Dixie. Nicholas was down to his last bowl of chow. So, I got him a new bag, some veggies, bread, milk, etc. Then hiked back. Man, dog food is heavy! Rotten dog. I got the first couple of loads of laundry done. Tomorrow I flush the dinghy motor and cover it. I'll also spray down the engine room to get all the salt flushed out. I'll do a couple of more loads of laundry, and another run to Winn Dixie, more internet and computer work. The guy next to me has been working all day yesterday and today on his exterior varnish. He is definitely making me feel like a slug and driving me to get back to work on my interior varnish. UGH. I have to check into the USA tomorrow, and do some more laundry, food shopping, etc. Mundane stuff. David Powered by BoatExec http://www.BoatExec.com

[Da...@schramm-family.net]

Thursday, June 04, 2009 7:46:33 PM Location: Brunswick, GA The boat position was not recorded. No recent weather observation is available. What is life all about? For me, at this point in time in my life, it is about two hearts beating as one. It has always been so, but it competed weakly with other biochemical mandates. Maybe this is the prime differentiator between men and women. For me, for a long time, it strongly included conquering and proving and providing and responsibility. I had to conquer intimidating challenges. I had to prove that I was superior. I had to provide for family. I had to step up to my responsibilities and not let anyone down. I guess that one gets wiser as time wears down the edges and modifies the chemicals. I have been unsuccessful at what seems now to be most important of life's wonders. On the whole I am a Luddite, but considering the probability of finding the heart that beats with mine, maybe there is some value to what is happing on the internet. And maybe that will be its lasting triumph. I find myself facing an uncertain future with more and more constraints. When young, one has more time to recover from errors. Not so true now. Nicholas is my constant companion and saves me from depression. Almost ironically, Jenny was first named Constant Companion. I see my days through clearer lenses now. I see my mark upon what is left of life. And I see the future of life on Earth as today's currents flow. I believe now that the more chemical the culture, the truer it is to God's intent, vehemently excluding the Koran. While the future now seems to be directed to an electronic culture, it is clearly not what was intended or what is in the best interest of individuals or humanity. I have seen other cultures now. I have seen ones that embrace an openness of exploration at the chemical level that allows for optimization on that level within the bounds of selfless religion. God bless them. For they may be all that represents happiness in times to come. David Powered by BoatExec http://www.BoatExec.com