by Judy Handley | Dec 6, 2011 | Cape Cod, USA, Sailing Logs Year 7 |
Day 28, Year 7: The Bird War
Date: Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Weather: Overcast and Rainy with Wind, High Temp in the Upper 50’s
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, N Falmouth, Massachusetts
We spent our morning continuing our war with the birds. Putting up the strings of plastic flags last night worked. Yeah! So we won last night’s battle. There was no new poo on the deck this morning, only what was deposited from the time I cleaned yesterday morning until we put up the flags last night. So we know the flags work when it is windy. We’ll have to wait for a calm time to see if they work as a deterrent then. But still I had to hose down the canvas and the deck once again to clean off yesterday’s mess. Then Mark went up the mast to take down the wind speed indicator before the birds destroy it again as they did in South Africa. It is an expensive item to replace and we don’t want to have to do this again. After removing the indicator, Mark then installed the Bird-B-Gone spiky things to further deter our fine feathered friends. Unfortunately, we underestimated the number of these that we needed, so we purchased more today and will install those in the morning. We are making progress in our bird war and we have to thank Heather and Jed for encouraging us to actively pursue this issue before the plastic cover goes over Windbird tomorrow. Between the fluttering flags and the spiky things, I think we have a winning combination.
In addition to the bird war, we are also fighting the war to figure out Mark’s health issues. He received the results of more lab reports today that indicate that he definitely has some source of internal bleeding. If it is coming from the gastro-intestinal side of things he will find that out on Monday. But we are also trying to pursue the idea that the problem could be from some sort of parasite picked up in our third world travels. Mass General has a division that deals with this, but we don’t know how to get a referral. So one of tomorrow’s tasks will be figuring that out.
When Heather and Jed came home from work this evening, they brought home a repaired violin. This is a half-size violin that was first Heather’s and then Justin’s. Sam now claims it and he was so excited to get the repaired violin and new bow. Sam played and Jonah sang. The songs were Twinkle, Twinkle and the ABC Song, so we need to work on the repertoire, but still it was delightful to watch our budding musicians.
by Judy Handley | Dec 5, 2011 | Cape Cod, USA, Sailing Logs Year 7 |
Day 27, Year 7: Encounter with a Red Fox
Date: Monday, December 5, 2011
Weather: Overcast, Fog Late, High Temp in the Upper 50’s
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, N Falmouth, Massachusetts
We always go up to bathrooms in the clubhouse first thing when we get up in the morning. And the past couple of mornings, as soon as we step out onto the deck, we have been overwhelmed with the amount of bird pooh. Dozens and dozens of birds have been landing on Windbird first thing in the morning and doing their business. This morning was no exception and the run to the bathroom was as usual. But a little later when we left the boat at 8 am to head up the dock to the car, I saw what looked like a small dog at the top of the dock. I looked again and said to Mark that it looked like a red fox. The animal ducked behind the trash bin and I got out my camera. It then played hide and seek with us as we walked up the ramp and it became apparent that it really was a red fox. As soon as we stepped onto the road, we saw her slinking away. I think it was a she, so I’ll call her that. She looked at us and almost ran away, but then decided to walk right out to the middle of the road and sit down to look at us It was definitely a neat encounter with a wild animal and we will look forward to meeting her again.
I was so upset with myself for being so clumsy that I didn’t mention in last night’s log that I had let my foot slip off the bike path we were walking on when headed to the parade yesterday. The bike path drop-off was about three inches and when my foot slipped off, my ankle turned. I didn’t break my ankle but I certainly sprained something in my foot. So I’m limping around, but at least I can get around. Last night we had to dig into our medical storage areas to find Vet wrap and an ankle brace. Vet wrap is what is used to wrap horses’ legs. It is great stuff, thinner than an Ace bandage, and it sticks to itself. So that is holding my foot in place, and I am wearing the ankle support brace that I used after removing the cast from my broken leg. This injury is to the left leg, not the same one I broke in the South Pacific. In digging into our medical kits to find things, we found Power Bars and smoked cheeses and sausages that we had put in our “ditch” bag in 2005. Thankfully, we never needed a “ditch” bag, and it is certainly time to replenish the supplies. We won’t do that until we take off on another cruise, so in the meantime, our arsenal of wrist and knee braces, along with a ton of Ace bandages, can reside in the “ditch” bag instead of the bathroom cabinet. And we can use that space for things we actually use!
Mark went to Boston to Mass General today. He met with Dr. Cutie, his urologist, before heading to his pre-op testing, but after being brought up-to-date on Mark’s recent issues, the operation for this Friday was cancelled. Dr. Cutie won’t do the surgery until the cause of the anemia is tracked down. Mark is disappointed but he agrees with the decision. So now it is back to the family doctor here and the upper and lower gastro-intestinal testing set for next Monday. In the meantime, Mark will just have to continue self-catheterizing six times a day until sometime in the New Year when the surgery can be done. We thought the surgery was out-patient, but Mark found out today that he will have to be admitted and spend the night.
Heather and Jed gave us an early Christmas present today. They have heard us complain about our bird problem and after doing a little research, Jed actually found that West Marine right here in Falmouth where Mark works has a product called Bird-B-Gone. Jed called there this morning and found that there were five boxes of these spiky things that repel birds hidden on a top shelf. I stopped at West Marine on my way to pick up the boys and got a couple of boxes as well as a couple of strands of plastic flags. We put up the flags tonight and will put up the spiky things up tomorrow in the hopes of deterring the dozens of birds who are using Windbird as a rest stop. Windbird is getting her winter cover on Wednesday, so tomorrow is our last chance to try and deter the birds. Until we put up the Christmas lights we had been flying a strand of signal flags. When we took those down, we started having hordes of birds visiting us each morning. So hopefully the new flags and the spiky things will end our bird woes. Whether or not the new arsenal works, we really appreciate the early Christmas gift from Heather and Jed.
Heather came home early from work today and when Sam was getting up from his nap, Heather was leaving to do a bit of Christmas shopping. When Sam came downstairs, he asked where his mommy had gone. I said she went Christmas shopping. He looked me straight in the eye and said, “Then needs to rent a truck.” I almost fell in the floor laughing. I don’t know what Sam thinks he is going to get for Christmas that won’t fit in a van, but obviously he thinks the van is way too small.
by Judy Handley | Dec 4, 2011 | Cape Cod, USA, Sailing Logs Year 7 |
Day 26, Year 7: Falmouth Christmas Parade Day
Date: Sunday, December 4, 2011
Weather: Partly Sunny Day, High Temp in the 50’s
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, N Falmouth, Massachusetts
Falmouth completed the holiday weekend with a Christmas parade that included every organized group in town-the policemen, the firemen, the military, people who have served in the Peace Corps, Habitat for Humanity, the Masons, the Shriners, the Lions Club, Rotary, the Elks Club, the Soccer Club, and on and on and on. And then there was the music and the dancers-the pipe and drum bands, the school bands, a jazz band, a punk rock band, a military band, the community dance classes, and the ballet academy. There were antique cars, clowns, jugglers, and even a Chinese dragon. This went on for about an hour and a half and I have never seen Sam and Jonah sit so still. They had a curbside seat and they didn’t move except for a little of bit dancing on Jonah’s part when the bands came by. And, of course, the parade ended with Santa. This time he was riding in a Well Fargo carriage instead of a boat, but after two days of festivities, he was still smiling.
Tonight we talked to our son Justin but our attempt at a Skype video call didn’t work. The internet connection in their new location is just not strong enough to support video. We did see Ziggy long enough to hear him say, “We can’t see you. We REALLY can’t see you.” Just as we had to do when we were sailing around the world, Justin and Jo are going to have to go to a local internet café or to the local library and use their connection when we want to see each other. Since we will be in New Mexico in three weeks, we won’t worry about this until after we return home.
We also talked to good friends from New Hampshire tonight. Tom and Detta Porat are close friends from my days of teaching in Concord. Detta and I taught next door to each other and across the hall was Sue Robichaud. Detta is much too young to be retired, but Sue has joined the ranks of us retirees. While on the phone, we made plans to get together in mid-January. Because it is an almost three hour drive to New Hampshire, we have only seen our good friends the Kanegsbergs and a few members of the Concord Yacht Club since returning in late June. So it was good to hear from the Porats and set a date to get together with another set of friends.
by Judy Handley | Dec 3, 2011 | Cape Cod, USA, Sailing Logs Year 7 |
Day 25, Year 7: Santa Arrives in Falmouth . . . By Boat
Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011
Weather: Mostly Sunny Day, High Temp in the 40’s
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, N Falmouth, Massachusetts
What a busy, fun day. Mark and I skipped the community pancake breakfast, but Heather and gang went and ate pancakes, sausage, and ice cream (yes, ice cream) until their tummies rebelled. Smitty’s Homemade Ice Cream is located at the end of Heather and Jed’s street and Smitty provided the ice cream for the pancake breakfast. Sam wasn’t going to miss that. We arrived just in time to go to the playground with the kids for a few minutes before we headed to the harbor. We actually got to the harbor a few minutes before Santa’s expected arrival time, but Santa arrived early as well. So somehow we ended up near the front of the line and didn’t have to wait long to greet Santa. Jonah and Sam sat on his lap for the pre-requisite photos and then spent the next hour socializing and looking at boats on the docks and on the hard while eating the candy canes given to them by the jolly old soul. Our next stop was Woods Hole where we visited the Woods Hole Craft Fair. Local artisans had some lovely things for sale while a Solstice singing group entertained us. We had lunch at the Captain Kidd and then we all went home and took a break before attending the lighting of the Green in downtown Falmouth tonight. When we arrived the whole town was lit up-everything except the Christmas tree and displays on the Green. At exactly 7 pm, with the Green jam-packed with people, the magical lights were turned on. Falmouth has a definite 1950’s Rockwell feel to it and today was all about how small town USA celebrates the holidays. There’s one more event tomorrow-the Christmas parade. I’ll take Mark to work and go to the parade with Heather, Jed, Jonah, and Sam. After the parade, life will settle down to a more normal pace for a few days.
by Judy Handley | Dec 2, 2011 | Cape Cod, USA, Sailing Logs Year 7 |
Day 24, Year 7: Holiday Festivities
Date: Friday, December 2, 2011
Weather: Sunny, Windy, Unseasonably Warm
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, N Falmouth, Massachusetts
It did freeze overnight but the day was sunny and warmer than predicted. Well, warm is a relative term. It is warm for December on Cape Cod; not warm in a tropical sense. But it was still in the upper 40’s even tonight which made caroling at the Nobska Lighthouse a delightful experience. It would have been fun even if it was freezing, but the milder temperature made it delightful. The Christmas caroling tonight was the kick-off to a weekend of holiday activities in Falmouth. Tomorrow morning there is a community-wide pancake breakfast, followed by the arrival of Santa Claus in the Falmouth Harbor. He arrives here by boat, leaving those reindeer back home. In the afternoon we take a break so the little ones can get a nap and then at 5 pm the festivities continue downtown. At 7 pm the “tree” in the downtown green is lit. And then on Sunday there is holiday parade. Falmouth takes Christmas seriously. On the way home from school today, Mark and I took Sam and Jonah for a sneak preview of the decorated green. We were the only people on the green, so Sam and Jonah got to pretend to drive the village train and then they turned on the covered train set and watched the little train run its figure 8’s. It was great fun to have the whole green to ourselves.
The cardiologist that Mark saw yesterday called today with an update on the results of new blood tests. They show that Mark is much more anemic than the previous tests showed. The cause of the anemia is low iron levels and Dr. Christman told him this type of anemia can only be caused by a loss of blood somewhere. That was disturbing news, so appointments were made for a colonoscopy and an upper GI workout for Monday, December 12, a week from now. Mark has quite a busy schedule between work and the different doctor appointments. This Monday he goes to Boston for pre-op testing and on Friday he has outpatient surgery at Mass General. He works on Saturday and Sunday, has the colonoscopy on Monday, has a tooth extracted on Tuesday, and works again on Wednesday. I’m exhausted just thinking about all of this! But we will enjoy this weekend with the grandchildren, try to get all of our holiday shopping completed, and then deal with the health issues-one day at a time.
by Judy Handley | Dec 1, 2011 | Cape Cod, USA, Sailing Logs Year 7 |
Day 23, Year 7: Can’t Believe It’s December
Date: Thursday, December 1, 2011
Weather: Partly Sunny and Much Cooler
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, N Falmouth, Massachusetts
I can’t believe it’s December. The five months since we arrived in Woods Hole from ports south have flown by. A year ago on December 1 we were in Richard’s Bay, South Africa, just returned from our tour of Kruger National Park and preparing to head further south in South Africa. That seems another whole world away from here. But we are here and the weather is becoming much more seasonal. The high tomorrow will be in the low 40’s and the low will be in the low 30’s.
Yesterday was dentist day for both of us and today was doctor day for Mark. He got the results of the cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram) and there were no problems. The cardiologist looked at his blood work and thinks that Mark’s shortness of breath and tightness in his chest is probably caused by his slightly anemic status. The issue now is to figure out what is causing the anemia. So more tests are in order for next week. Poor Mark. He has been so very positive throughout the past six months of dealing with urinary problems, but he doesn’t like being slowed down by shortness or breath. And he doesn’t like not knowing what’s causing it. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks, he will get some answers.
We talked to good friends Donna and Gerry of Scot Free II tonight. They are in Cochin, India and the temperature there is significantly warmer than here. They have applied to cruise islands that are just offshore mainland India and are hoping to get a positive reply in the next week or so. If not, they might head south to the Maldives and cruise for a few weeks. But they are not going to go on this year. They will leave the boat in Cochin for another few months, return next fall, and then head south through the Indian Ocean to South Africa in 2013. We met Donna and Gerry in New Zealand and traveled with them from New Zealand back into the Pacific and then on to Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. It was great to talk to them and to see them on Skype video.
