Searching for a new home

As many of you know, I have been on the search for a boat... actually, this search started a few years ago, then took a break, and has been in full swing for a few months now. I have settled on a few boats which I am looking at more closely. I traveled to Boston a few weekends ago to look at this boat in particular... and thought I would post a little about her, so people can get an idea of what I am looking at.

This is a C&C 34 built in 1980 (the yachtworld listing). She is very well equiped with a decent sail inventory, and some excellent electronics. The previous owner did alot of racing with her, and she always performed well, which is good to hear.

There are a few issues that need figuring out. The only big issue, which I was informed today by the broker that is not such a large issue, is that the keel-hull joint has a crack in it, from grounding in reverse. It has had this crack for a while, and the owner had the keel pulled, and re-seated some years ago, and the crack came right back. It does not appear to be structural, and is not, according to the broker, leaking into either the hull, nor the keel. This is likely a purely cosmetic issue, and not something to necessarily be worried about, however, if I do decide to make an offer on her, a marine surveyor will look more closely at this to be sure.

That is the only big issue as I can see it... although there was a little water in the bildge, so it was difficult to see the keel bolts, and the condition of the bildge. Generally, the interior was dirty, and since the mast was removed, various parts were spread around, making her look a little messy. She just needs a good cleaning.

Here is a video I took of the interior... at one point I turn the camera sideways, don't hurt your neck trying to make sense of it, and don't worry, I turn it back after I realize I am dumb for rotating it. And, yes, I did film the head.

All good things...

14 years is a long time to have a vehicle. I think most people switch cars every 3 or 4 years... few keep their car for longer than 6 or 7 years. Some times people become very connected to their vehicles (right mum)... and after 14 years, and 200,000 miles, I certainly have become connected to my truck. That's why it hurts so much to have found out that she has a terminal condition, and she only has a few weeks to live.

We were on the way to Chicago, when it appears that the minor coolant leak got very much worse. She has apparently blown her head gasket, warped her heads, and damaged the piston rings. This is an unserviceable situation, and engine transplant is the only solution for her. Right now, she leaves a toxic cloud of smoke if I try to drive her... so thick it blocks out the sun.

She has been everywhere with me... we started in 1993 by traveling the country following the national jetski circuit. Since that time, she has taken me anywhere I asked of her, and back again... even after becoming critically ill, she still made sure to bring me home.

We have camped at the lake many a night. We saw many a drive-in movie. She has gotten me through so many storms. She has protected me in 2 accidents, and twice when we flew off the road due to ice. She drove my world across the country for graduate school. She has moved countless friends... many more than once. Every girl I have dated since high school has been in that truck.

In short... I love her, and it hurts like losing a favorite pet. She has proven to be more reliable, and faithful than any of the afore-mentioned girls. I know if I needed her too, she would take me on one last trip, even if it meant her great pain.

Soon, I will be putting her to sleep. Goodnight my truck. Sleep well, and have good dreams.

Scuba Map V2.0

So, this is mapping application which is smarter, and simpler to use. The platial map made me make a post to a forum (which I have no idea where that forum is... or who reads it), before it would add a marker to my map.

This one, by Community Walk is pretty handy. Actually, it is simple to setup, simple to edit, and I think simpler to navigate. Let me know which is your favorite.

CommunityWalk Map - MysticGringo - Scuba Map

Scuba Map

I am trying to find a mapping application which I can display here. I am trying a few different ones, but so far like Platial map Creator the best. This is built on Google Maps, so that means it is cool.

Feel free to pan around, and zoom in on the sites I have marked.

What do Diet Coke, Mentos, and too much time equal.

A mad farmer, with a mess to clean up.

Kids with lab coats can come up with the greatest things. Turns out, Steve Wynn paid way too much money for his Belagio fountains.



From www.eepybird.com

27 Seconds of a Cow fish

This is a Cow Fish trying to get away from my camera. These are oddly shaped fish, like a triangle in section... with lots of various fins. These are pretty abundant in Curacao, and through out the Caribbean, we saw several of these every dive.

These are my mother's favorite fish to watch.

27 seconds of squid

Thought I would throw up a video of some squids we found in Curacao. Squids are cool....

Curacao...

Just returned from a week in Curacao, N.A. It was a pretty relaxed time, mostly made of diving, and napping... both of which are pretty fun. Curacao is a little island in the Netherland Antilles... just north of Venezuela, with some awesome people, and some awesome diving. The capitol is Willemstad (the typical postcard photo of it here). parts of the family were there, and we stayed at Sunset Waters resort, which is towards the north of the island. Sunset Divers is attached to the hotel, and have some pretty nice dive sites to see... and some pretty fun dive masters to hang out with.

The diving was pretty good... and very easy. This is one of the easiest places to dive I have ever been... there is no current, and the dive boat is very well setup. The sea life is very good, and coral looks to be in good shape... but there is a noticable lack of larger life, such as shark, or rays. I only saw a single stingray in all of my 15 or so dives. There are some unique things though... this is the first time I have ever seen a seahorse, and there are more eals here than I have ever seen. There also seems to be alot of Christmas Tree Worms everywhere... more than anywhere I have seen before.

You can go visit my flickr page to see more photos from there if you'd like. Below are two videos from the trip. The first being an eal which was swimming from one coral head to another one. Rarely do you see eals leave their hiding spots. The second video is of my favorite fish, one I could watch all day long, but I do not know what sort he is. It is also a part of a new series I am going to do called "27 seconds" which will be videos of various subjects which are all 27 seconds long. Why 27 seconds... sounded cool.


Swimming eal, Curacao, N.A.


27 seconds - Favorite fish

My favorite fish... I wish I knew his name... but he is cool. This little dude has some parasites on him.

Red River Gorge

Last Friday a few climbing buddies of mine and I went to the Red River Gorge to do some climbing. We got to the Red by about 10:30pm... after making a few directional errors. Instead of camping in a normal camp ground, we went up to the Fortress Wall and climbed Bed Time For Bonzo (5.6)... then dragged all our camping equipment up, and slept atop the wall. It was a gorgeous camp site... very exposed, with some good tent sites further back. It was a beautiful night.

The next day, all 5 of us climbed 2 multi-pitch routes. The first being a 5.7 route, still on Fortress (which is an all trad wall) called Party Time. The first pitch of this 2 pitch route ends on a small ledge... with hardly any room for 5 people to hang out on. The whole climb ascends a dihedral which varies in width quite a bit. The summit gives a beautiful view.

The second climb for the day was one of the classic climbs in the Red, Caver's Route (5.3 R). You can actually free-solo this (no ropes or protection) if you want... but as it was my first time on this route... I roped up for one of the pitches (its a 4 or 5 pitch route). The thing with Caver's is the compression of the crack... it is so tight, that in a few parts you have to just wiggle your way vertically up the wall. Its is entirely possible to get completely wedged in a few of the cracks, and get stuck. Luckily, that did not happen to any of us.

More photos to follow (as soon as Matias and BJ get them up on the net).

Canstruction 2006 - Update

Lastnight was the ceremony for the Dayton Canstruction 2006 event... held at the Dayton Art Institute. It was a good event, with a big turnout, some local personalities, and some really good wine (who ever did the ordering is cool). There were 7 total sculptures entered into this years event, 4 of which had various levels of collapse. I forget who got all the awards, but I know LJB got several for their Pirate ship... which was pretty cool. Notably, they recieved the "Structural Ingenuity" award... ironically, part of their sculpture collapsed just after the jurors picked it for this award.

Our team did not fair so well, the jurors had to fabric an award for us... and I don't think it even had a title. So, we are the grand winners of the "Short Bus" award... the sort of award you give to the kid you feel bad for, and who needs some encouragement. I don't think the team was after awards (we made a cube...), so it is all good. We helped raise a huge amount of food for the food bank.