by Judy Handley | Apr 12, 2014 | Cape Cod USA, Sailing Logs Year 9 |
Day 174, Year 9: Dinghy Launch 2014
Date: Saturday, April 12, 2014
Weather: Clear, Sunny, High Temp in the Mid 60’s F
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, North Falmouth, Massachusetts
What a gift we received from the weather today. Earlier there were predictions of rain overnight and into Saturday and certainly I didn’t see a forecast for temps in the 60’s. But there was no rain, just clear skies, sunshine, and warmth. We had a glorious day with Sam and Jonah. They biked and biked and biked some more and we took a walk to the private beach that adjoins the marina property. The folks that own that beach are summer residents, so I never figure that it is going to hurt anything for us to enjoy it when no one else is around. And then late in the afternoon Oliver joined us and all three boys biked some more. And then at Ollie’s encouragement, Granddad decided to launch the dinghy. Ollie wanted to be in a “dinghy boat” in the water. And since launching the dinghy just meant throwing it into the water and getting the seat and oars installed, it can easily be put back up on the dock if it decides to snow again. All five of us got in the dinghy and Sam and Granddad rowed us across the cove to a very tiny little beach that is only exposed at low tide. I’ve never seen anyone on it, and now I know why. Even though it was late in the day and cooling off, Sam still had on shorts and was barefooted, so he jumped off to pull us onshore. What a surprise he had and his feet sunk into the sand halfway up to his knees. Jonah was next and then Ollie followed. The scampered about on the beach like puppies. Sinking in the sand just made them giggle. Mark and I stayed in the dinghy as we had on long pants and we were sure to go in up to our knees. The boys had a good time running on the beach and dipping their toes in the water, and then it was back to shore for more biking. Unfortunately Jonah had an accident and scraped his knee. I was in the boat cooking dinner, so Granddad had all three boys. He was helping Oliver on his little trike when Jonah fell. Granddad was far away from Jonah, so he asked Sam to ride up the hill to check on him. On the way Sam had an accident and not only scraped his knee good, but hit his head and scraped his chin. Thank goodness for bike helmets. The wounded warriors returned to Windbird and we worked to clean up the wounds. Sam’s knee was the worst as it bled a bit and the sight of red blood running down your leg is not very comforting. The boys were fine, but unfortunately, the accidents reversed the decision they had made to spend a second night on Windbird. They needed the comfort of mommy and daddy. They did stay for dinner, but it is mighty quiet here now as I sit writing this log.
On the way across the cove and back in the dinghy, we encountered a number of ducks and cormorants (the first we’ve seen of these guys this spring). This quite impressed Oliver, so as we drove out of the marina to take the boys home tonight, Ollie started chanting, “Bye, bye ducks. Bye, bye boats.” . . . until the next really warm day.
by Judy Handley | Apr 11, 2014 | Cape Cod USA, Sailing Logs Year 9 |
Day 173, Year 9: I Scream, You Scream . . . Ice Cream
Date: Friday, April 11, 2014
Weather: Mostly Sunny with High Temp in the Mid 50’s F
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, North Falmouth, Massachusetts
“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.” This ended up being our motto for today. It was Friday, the weather is warming, and Heather and Jed decided that a fitting way to celebrate week’s end would be to meet after school at the recently opened Dairy Queen to have some soft-serve (not really ice cream, but still really good). Mark had invited Sam and Jonah to spend Friday night on Windbird, so the Dairy Queen meeting was perfect. It offered a place where we could exchange kids and celebrating. I delivered Ollie to Heather and Jed and they delivered Jonah to me and then we all had ice cream. The temperature today was in the 50’s but the wind was strong and it felt cold. But we persisted and enjoyed sitting outside to eat our ice cream. The three boys were smarter than the adults. They found a place behind a concrete wall that was out of the wind and they sat there to eat.
I then headed to Windbird with Sam and Jonah and Mark followed when he got off work. His first day back was great. Earlier in the day, after Mark went to work, Ollie and I went to the library for story time. On the way, we were talking about mommy being at work and daddy being at work. I added that today Granddad was at work. But Ollie assured me that Granddad doesn’t work. So after our time at the library, we stopped by West Marine so Ollie could see that indeed Granddad works. At the end of the day I hated leaving Ollie behind when I took Sam and Jonah, but Ollie still needs momma. But he so desperately wants to do everything his older brothers do that I don’t think it will be long before he will be joining his brothers for overnights on Windbird. We had a great time this evening. When we first arrived at Fiddler’s Cove, we got out the bicycles and the boys enjoyed dare devil rides down the hill leading to the marina. It is a very slight incline and just right for beginning bikers to test their downhill skills. After this, we headed to Windbird and the boys did some woodworking projects in the cockpit. And then they came down below and engaged in an intense hour-long pretend diving expedition. What imaginations these boys have.
If the weather is warm enough tomorrow, we hope to wash down the deck. Since we are still encased in our plastic bubble, if the sun is shining the temperature on deck should be in the 80’s. I brought bathing suits for Sam and Jonah and they are looking forward to this project. So here’s hoping for sunshine.
by Judy Handley | Apr 10, 2014 | Cape Cod USA, Sailing Logs Year 9 |
Day 172, Year 9: Back to Work at West Marine–Tomorrow
Date: Thursday, April 10, 2014
Weather: Mostly Sunny with High Temp in the Low 50’s F
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, North Falmouth, Massachusetts
Those signs of spring we have been experiencing have launched the 2014 boating season. Mark stopped by West Marine this morning to get his price on bottom paint and ended up with a work schedule. He starts back to work at West Marine tomorrow! He loves working there as he gets to talk about boats all day long, so he is excited that they need him back so soon. Ollie and I have really enjoyed having Granddad back with us during the day and we will miss him, but what makes Granddad happy, makes us happy. Ollie and I have plenty to keep us busy with our spring gardening and bird watching.
by Judy Handley | Apr 9, 2014 | Cape Cod USA, Sailing Logs Year 9 |
Day 171, Year 9: More Signs of Spring
Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Weather: Sunny with High Temp in the 50’s F
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, North Falmouth, Massachusetts
More signs of spring . . . the Canadian geese are passing through on their way back north and the daffodils are in full bloom. It was sunny and warm today, so all is well. When we exited Windbird this morning to head to Heather’s we saw geese in the cove. This is not a common sight. And then there were more geese on the bogs as we drove to Heather’s. Again, this is not a common sight. So these guys are obviously enjoying a spring vacation on Cape Cod. And yet one more sign of spring today was watching Mark sitting at his computer working on Turbo Tax to do our taxes for the past year. Thankfully, after six and a half hours of work, that task is completed. This was Heather’s day at home and we went over to lend a helping hand with the Jonah and Oliver while she did some of her spring chores. She worked in the garden to complete the fencing of the two sides where peas were to be planted. She accomplished her task and got the peas planted. So that was a success. She also got the beehives out of the basement, inspected the frames, and got things set up for the arrival of new bees in a couple of weeks. It was a productive day and tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and warm (not as warm as today), so hopefully Mark and I can finish off the garden fencing project and plant a few more things. After tomorrow, the ten day forecast shows lots of clouds and precipitation. For many of the days, the projected chance of precip is only 50%, so we shall have to wait and see if we are really going to have ten days of rain or just have overcast conditions.
by Judy Handley | Apr 8, 2014 | Cape Cod USA, Sailing Logs Year 9 |
Day 170, Year 9: April Showers
Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Weather: Rainy Day; High Temp in the 50’s F
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, North Falmouth, Massachusetts
April showers were with us today but sunshine is predicted for tomorrow. Even though the daytime temps are in the 40’s and 50’s, it still feels cool and it is hard to get ourselves geared up for spring boat work. Much needs to be done to get Windbird ready for another season. We need to wash the deck and get rid of the green mold that is growing on the wood, wash and wax the cabin top, take down the bimini and side curtains that surround the cockpit in order to clean them, and while they are down, varnish he cockpit cap rail. Since we don’t know whether or not Mark is going to have surgery in May, we have tentatively scheduled a haulout to have the yard here clean and paint the bottom. One way or another, Windbird should be ready to sail out of Fiddler’s Cove by mid-May and move to her summer home in Quissett Harbor. There’s still not much boat activity here at the marina, but there are now three power boats in the water. We stopped by West Marine yesterday just to ‘check-in’ and they said signs of spring are apparent there. So very slowly, the New England boating season is underway.
by Judy Handley | Apr 7, 2014 | Cape Cod USA, Sailing Logs Year 9 |
Day 169, Year 9: Happy Birthday to Ziggy
Date: Monday, April 7, 2014
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, Rain Tonight; High Temp in the Low 50’s F
Location: Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina, North Falmouth, Massachusetts
Today was Ziggy’s fifth birthday. We talked with him via Skype video around noon. Justin had just returned from the PO with our birthday presents for him and it was great fun to see him enjoying them. He had his pirate birthday party yesterday. His grandma and grandpa from England were there for the party and it sounded like it was a great success. His birthday present from his mom and dad was a robot that “shoots rings out of its head” and Ziggy is in love with it. So he is a very happy five year-old. Happy Birthday, Ziggy!!!
I have to add the other highlight of our day. Mid-afternoon we decided to drive to Quissett to see if we are going to have phone service there this summer. We were greatly relieved to find that we will—only two bars, but that’s better than none. We then drove into Falmouth via the beach road and we saw an osprey sitting on top of a light post. Yesterday we saw an osprey at Fiddler’s Cove, so obviously these birds are back for the summer. By the time I stopped the car to take a picture of the osprey on the light post, he flew away. So my only picture of him is far in the distance. But just up the road, there was another osprey friend sitting on last year’s nest and I did get photos of this one. These birds return here in spring from their winter home down south. It is a true sign of spring that they are here, so welcome OSPREY. I sure hope they brought some warm weather with them.
