Our planned haul out date was in mid-October. We wanted to squeeze as much out of our delayed boating season as possible. But 2020 has been quite the year, and true to form, things did not go as expected. 

We deliberately stayed away from the water over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Weekends are always more crowded, but this summer seemed to be even crazier on the weekends than in previous years. Not only were there more boats, the captains did not seem to be very experienced or were outright careless. As retirees, we can avoid the weekends (although this is really painful when the weather is beautiful.)

After Labor Day weekend we lazily headed over to Napatree again. 

Dean and MJ were also here at Napatree. Dean dragged Al out in the dinghy for a little fishing as the sun retired for the day. Evidently fish can get more active around this time. Or is it when the current changes??

The next day was lovely. Just a simple relaxing day at anchor. Al worked on the boat while I worked on a weaving project.

We spotted Renaissance Woman, a Kadey Krogen Whaleback. Marianne and I had connected by email and phone through the Krogen grapevine (Kadey Ladies). She had once fractured her back and offered support and wisdom to help me through my recovery. We were both thrilled to physically be in the same place at the same time. Former Connecticut residents, they now live on Renaissance Woman and are traveling south.  

Interestingly (to me), Al has decided he wants to fish now. He likes Dean’s approach – catch and release. Al has since spruced up and refurbished the fishing equipment that languished in storage at home. I think that’s good. There may come a day when there are fewer and fewer boat projects and he will need something else to do! We all know that when he runs out of projects, he sells the current boat. And that ain’t gonna happen this time!!!!

The weather changed overnight and I awoke to a thick and damp fog blanket. While enjoying my morning coffee and surveying the anchorage, I saw some movement.

After spending the weekend at home, back we went to SYC. The weather had turned chilly and windy so we reverted back to “dock potatoes” status. Hey, at least we were on the boat!

And that brings us to late September, still plenty of time for fall boating, right? We left SYC and scooted over to West Harbor on Fishers Island for a few days. On our way out, we stopped by our mooring in the outer Town of Groton field to pull it out for the winter. Al usually does it from the dinghy but he decided we could do it from the Kadey Krogen. It seemed to me that this could be tricky. How do you pull out a mooring that you are simultaneously secured to?? But hey, I went along with it. Al usually knows what he is doing. Or figures it out along the way.

After that chore, we traveled the four miles to West Harbor and chose to pick up a mooring instead of anchor. While on the bow securing the mooring line, Al noticed thinly spreading oil on the surface on the water near our bow. Uh oh…… 😳😬 the oil is coming from us. This is not good. Not good for the environment and not good for us because that should not be happening. Al surmised that it must be the bowthruster that is leaking oil. He immediately contacted Shennecossett to request an emergency haul-out the next morning. 

We spent the night in West Harbor, obviously disappointed that our short season was going to be even shorter.

The obligatory haul-out photos to document the event…………

Sometimes you need a little levity during times of disappointment. Dean snapped this photo at just the right moment —-

Once Kindred Spirit was on the hard on her poppits in her winter location, it was time to climb up and begin the process of removing our belongings and things that don’t fare well when stored aboard in the cold long months. I will be completely honest here. As I stood at the bottom of the ladder and looked down at the gravel and up at the transom, tears leaked from my eyes and I froze. This wasn’t because the season was ending abruptly. I was having a moment of PTSD remembering the last time I was on Kindred Spirit, on the hard, only four months ago. I was fine out on the water but this brought back a flood of memories. A deep breath and Al’s steadying hand on my shoulder helped me overcome it.

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, sometimes good, sometimes not so good. That’s just the way it is. Especially 2020. Our short season on Kindred Spirit was only 10 weeks. We were never more than 12 miles from our homeport and only put 20 hours on the engine. Of those 70 days, we spent 33 days aboard Kindred Spirit. Not too bad. I think those times actually helped me to recover from the spinal surgery by bringing a sense of normalcy to my life. We are looking forward to the 2021 season!

Away, Away, away from the dock!  The melody from “We Know the Way” (Disney movie,  Moana) with the refrain “Away, Away!” was singing in my head as we left the dock to GO somewhere. Side story here – I was admitted to the in-patient rehabilitation facility four days after my spinal surgery. The office administrator entered my room with paperwork in her hand. She said, with a confused and smiling face, “So, it says here that you are Polynesian…….. I’m thinking that’s not correct??” We both laughed, something I surely needed at that moment. Throughout the 10 days of my stay there, she would pass by and say “And how is my Polynesian friend doing?” A few evenings later, Moana was playing on the TV, so I watched it again and enjoyed it even more. There are “boats” in it.

But I digress……

For our first away from the dock overnight, we headed to Ram Island at the end of the Mystic River. We didn’t go far, less than 5 miles from the dock, but to me, it was like another world just to be out on the water again. Everything seemed new again.

For a Tuesday, it was pretty busy in the little harbor nook on the eastern side of Ram Island. We have been purposefully avoiding weekends on the water, but it didn’t seem to matter in August.  The boats did provide some entertainment.

Ram Island sits at the end of the Mystic River so you get to see a variety of boats —

We didn’t do much, just relaxed (I relaxed; Al never relaxes) and enjoyed the boat, at anchor.

Speaking of anchor, Al also worked out his new anchor snubber system. 

We also practiced using the dinghy hoist system. This is new to us. We have always had davits on the stern for our dinghy which made the dinghy easy to lower and raise. Storing the dinghy on the flybridge keeps the transom free of obstruction and makes it easier for me to board the boat from the dock. Al had already practiced the hoist system but it was now time for me to learn my role.

There are two motors that control lifting and lowering the dinghy, each controlled by a remote. 

What else we learned……. I can’t get into the dinghy from the transom. I stood there and thought and thought and realized that I am not yet able to move my body safely in that way. And if I could get into the dinghy, the water would have to be very, very calm so that I don’t bounce up and down.

The next week – a second time away, away! Off to Napatree, doubling our distance from 4 nautical miles to 11 nautical miles.! WooHoo!

The next day, Jallao arrived on their way home from BI. We planned a socially distant happy hour with Mary Jo and Dean in our cockpit for that evening. 

Wind and ran arrived just before our get together time. Checking the radar and weather apps told us that we were not going to get together after all. The blowing and rains didn’t end until around 10:30 pm that night. 

But morning brought a whole new view. 

We left around noon and headed towards the channel after pulling up the anchor. Then… uh oh….. the engine suddenly stopped. Whaaaaat???? Thankfully, we were not yet in the narrow channel and dropped the anchor so that Al could investigate. We tried to restart the engine, but it did not cooperate. Good news – there was nothing wrong with the engine.  Bad news – Al’s butt had unknowingly and accidentally bumped the fuel filter level to the off position while checking the oil which then starved the engine of fuel. Bad news – He has to “bleed” the engine to restart it which he has never done on this boat.  Good news –  Al read the manual and does it!! The engine starts up and off we go an hour later!

Our first two multi-day trips were not to faraway or exciting places, but it still felt very special to me. We are fortunate to live in a region that has so many fine water places, and so close. We are getting acquainted with this new Kindred Spirit and falling in love with her. For me, I am grateful to be on the boat, even if I can’t get off or go for very long. I am trying to be content with what I can do and not mourn what I can no longer do.

Looking forward to more little trips through September!

This probably counts towards another “dock potatoes” event, but I think it deserves its very own post. My son and his family came to see the new boat and hopefully go out for a ride. Alas, the winds were just a bit too much for my novice docking skills, so we stayed tied to the slip. All in all, I don’t think that bothered our grandchildren, Caleb (6) and Cecily (3 ¹/₂), very much. They found plenty to do and explore.

Up and down, in and out, all over the boat ……..all day long.  😍

If one does it, the other has to…… siblings!

By far the favorite place on the boat seemed to be that walk-in engine room.

It was a great day, filled with family, love, and fun.

That caught your attention, didn’t it? “Dock Potatoes” as in “Couch Potatoes.” Joan, the new admiral of Kindred Spirit #3, used this phrase which is much kinder than the phrase “dock scum,” which we had previously heard. That’s how I felt about the summer so far. The boat didn’t splash into the water until July 16^th and our boat time has been overwhelming tied to the dock, which is not our usual style. Although Al spent 2 days each week working on projects here, my boat time has been limited to weekends because of physical therapy appointments, and because my healing spine could only handle short times at first. 

After the launch and christening we began with a short day trip to be sure I could get on and off the boat and feel comfortable underway. My first trip out on the boat (if it could really be called a “trip”) was with a crew aboard for assistance. Anthony and Annette from Magnolia joined us for a day trip to West Harbor on Fishers Island. I watched while Al was at the helm and Anthony and Annette handled the lines.

For 4 weeks we spent a lot of time at the dock.

During our “dock potatoes” time, I adjusted to moving cautiously around the boat, trying not to bend, lift or twist (BLT). Haha, that is not easy to do on a boat. Al, of course, did boat chores and more of his projects.

It is harder to socialize these days with covid-19, but it can be done.

Finally, finally, we took Kindred Spirit out for an overnight away from the dock. This was my first time at the helm to take her out of the dock. I’ve handled the Morgan and the Mariner in and out of the dock, but the Krogen has a much different feel to the controls. Our headsets refused to work (whaaat?) With knocking knees (literally, not figuratively), it was still a successful first departure. Once we were at anchor, Al googled and found the fix for the headsets. Whew, they work again.

We returned to the dock the next morning which meant I had to bring the boat into the slip, and back her in. I played around with stopping the boat near buoys out in the Sound. That might sound silly to some boaters, but I know myself and I needed to do that. Al, as always was very patient. Back at SYC, slow and steady worked. Thanks to headsets and Al’s guidance in my ears, I did it. Oh boy, this was a whole new routine, but Al said his magic words, “Fine job, my dear.”

That afternoon, for a delayed 26^th wedding anniversary, we drove to Ford’s in Noank for lunch. Our first restaurant meal since….. February?? It was nice and felt safe. Outdoors, of course.

So, my conclusion? When the boat is this comfortable, even time spent as “dock potatoes” can be enjoyable.

While Al worked on the important systems of the boat all winter and spring, I spent my time thinking about how I wanted the interior of the boat to look to make it feel like “ours.”  

Time for a tour…………. starboard side first.

Decorating decisions began with the rugs for the salon and galley. Too many choices! There was very little color in the salon because the cushions and curtains were light beige/ivory tones with brown accents. After searching online for rugs that come in the right size (not always easy for a boat), I chose a more colorful option than usual. That decision drove my other choices. It was winter so I decided to weave some coordinating items for Kindred Spirit. 

About the pillows….. While poking around in my fabric stash, I rediscovered Bahama Androsia batik fabric from our last trip south. Hmmm, most of it was smaller sized yardage remnants. I played around with all the colors and designs until I could create patchwork pillows.

We have always loved beachcombing and collecting interesting finds, sea glass, sea shells, sea beans, pottery, stones and rocks….. We have tubs and tubs of containers filled with finds that I just cannot part with. Ninety percent of our collecting comes from our travels by boat, so it just seems natural to display some of the special finds on our boat.

Al and I discussed what we might hang on the large space in the salon on the back of the galley cupboards. Back in February while we were visiting Magnolia in Stuart, FL we stopped in the Marker 23 Gallery, a place we have toured before. I saw an ocean wave painting that I couldn’t forget. The original was too large and much too expensive so we had a giclée print in a smaller version made.

Over to the port side………….

We decided that the space next to the hutch would be good for a mirror.   It is easier to put on sunscreen and freshen up before leaving the boat while in the salon instead of going up and then down to the master cabin. To display more of our beach combing collection, Al made a frame that I filled with shells and sea glass.

And the galley…..

Across from the “hutch” on the starboard side is the galley. I love this galley. Al installed additional LED lights under the cabinets and a fan to keep me cool.

Three steps up to the pilot house……

On the last two Kindred Spirits, we displayed a photo of each boat passing by Ledge Light in New London, coming home, or leaving. Mary Jo and Dean are our photographers for these big events. One only needs to look at the blog’s header to see how special these photographers and photographs are to us.

Down the spiral stairs to the lower level ….

The head……. There aren’t really any decorating opportunities in the head. It is mostly a functional place.

And finally, the master (and only) stateroom …..

The master stateroom is very nice. Lots of head room and storage space.

I was determined to keep the blue and white sea shell pillow shams from our last boat, the Mariner. Those shams were made from fabric leftover from the curtains on the Morgan.