Waiting for better weather in Charleston

First, I have to correct our current location! We are in Charleston, which you might say is a suburb of Coos Bay. It’s the small fishing village as you cross the bar; a few miles from upriver Coos Bay. We sure like Charleston and kid that we might have to hunker down here for winter. Also, we were NOT the 2 people rescued after their 54' fishing boat crashed in to the rocks on the bar (yes, the one we just crossed 2 days ago). The weather gods are most likely keeping us here until Saturday or Sunday. The winds, and consequently the waves just south of us, are continuing to be too high and relentless! In the meantime, we are busy busy finishing projects and finding more to do to improve our home.

This place is ALL about fishing (and crabbing). We are but a few of the recreational boats here - its fishing boat heaven. And, we have met so many fascinating people! Take for instance Doc. As usual, doing laundry led to meeting interesting folks. Doc looks like a retired marine (actually a retired Navy medical guy), who has a handlebar mustache, die hard Trump supporter, wearing a yamaka and holding a miniature dachshund. Oh yea - right up my alley to chat with.

Doc is a little hard to pin down but his boat was nearly destroyed in a storm just north of here, he is sailing his boat to Japan and he takes physically challenged kids and wounded warriors out on sails. Well, he would if the boat was up to sailing. You know, the damage from the storm. In another place, Doc and I would not be chatting - but laundromats have a way of leveling the playing field. I find way more in common with folks than our differences.

Jeff on the other hand, has been chatting with all the fishermen on the dock. They are peculiarly interested in us and out boat. Jeff loves their boats and came back to Salpare going on and on about the bacon wrapped albacore he just had (yes, he had bacon!). Next thing I know, he is in our cockpit with a bag of fresh albacore and a big vacuum sealer! He sheepishly said “I borrowed the sealer, its not staying!” I have to admit that it sure beats fishing!

Now to some answers to questions we have been asked over the last few months.
1. What will you eat? What do you do about food? By far, this has been the most asked question! I usually snarkily (is that a real word) say “ the rest of the world eats food”. I know that what most mean is how do we store and have food on the boat. We have a freezer that I have yet to max out and a refrigerator. A 3 burner stove (see the gimbal video below), a full oven and microwave round out the galley. So, we can freeze food for longer passages but will typically eat fresh and local when at port.

2. What do you do at night? We’ve heard many suggestions from dropping anchor to pulling over and getting a hotel. Nope, if we are on a passage (out at sea and not at a port) we sail through the night; trading watches as needed. Whoever is not on watch, gets to sleep in the king size bed just below the cockpit.

3. How do you drive all the time? We have a super trick Garmin Autopilot and an even more trick Hydrovane wind steer. The autopilot is just that, an electric autopilot. The Hydrovane is more complicated to explain. So, if you really want more info on it, go to www.hydrovane.com

Got more questions? Let me know through FB or this site. I don't think the mobile site allows for comments but the web version dones. And, the Predict Wind Tracker is now working!

On course,
Fran and Jeff