We be Gammin'!

Yes, last weekend we missed a post.  But we have a good excuse ... we went out on Abake to SSCA's 2012 Gam!  The term gam came from a gathering of whales, and SSCA (Seven Seas Cruising Assn) adopted the term for weekend get-togethers, where there are speakers, vendors, round tables, parties, and lots of socializing with fellow cruisers.  We met some wonderful people, who we'll see again, and we enjoyed the speakers and the events.

Yes, we took Abake, so she moved out of the slip and around the corner (without sails) and we anchored her in the Rhode River, near Camp Letts.  We saw some beautiful sunrises, too.

About 65 boats anchored for the Gam

Eye Candy at sunrise

We be cookin'!

Mike had cleaned her up a little and had gotten the stove installed, and the fresh water pump working, so we were able to cook and get fresh water!

We still used a cooler for refrigerated items (we're waiting on insulation panels for the refrigerator lids), but all was good. 

What was THAT noise?

Zander even enjoyed himself and became very exploratory.  But, when the engine was started he was scared.  So he found himself a safe perch, high atop the dresser in the aft cabin.







But the rest of the time, he was relaxed and enjoyed the undivided attention he got from going from one of us for scratches, brushing, and loving, to the other, and back again.  We have no doubt he'll enjoy the cruising life.  He's already found his favorite nap place.

Nap time

Yes, we have projects left.  But we installed our new halyards (although one was too short and needs to be re-ordered) that weekend and tested the stove (but not the oven).  We had no sails on (which made it easy to find her at night!), but they are ready to go.  And, Mike hand-sewed the new slugs (30) onto the main on Wednesday, while Jenny was loopy, recovering from an operation on her thumb.  She had an old softball injury come back to haunt her.  The ligament (the ulnar collateral ligament) had stretched to the point that she was losing (pinching/grip) strength in that hand.  It will be a few weeks of recovery, followed by physical therapy.  Better now than later.

 Between fixing the Toyota's emission problems, working on Abake, volunteering at the Gam and the boat show, and Jenny's surgery, retirement has been quite busy.  We do plan on heading South this winter.  It just won't be as early as we had originally hoped.