Small spaces in many different places seems to be my outlook on the future. I used to enjoy thinking of myself as a wanderer. I endeared it and chuckled at those locked to a place unable to move around. Being a Nomad has always been my desire. To discover new places even if only new to me. Feast my eyes on all that nature has to offer. Not so much what man has done, As I loath Mankinds encroachment on nature. I think of Mr. Smith's dialogue in The Matrix where he describes mankind as a virus that consumes all its surrounding resources, then moves on seeking out new places to overpopulate and dessimate. OK, I won't go down that road too far and not get on my soapbox.
I prefer to drift around with minimal footprint disturbing as little as possible. Therefore.. I Sail! I can think of no other way of moving about allowing the seasonal winds to guide my path and allow me to explore within those limits. I am only in the training stages of that era of my life when I can finally cut those land locked ties, and sail away. Its going to be a long trip just to get to water considering I am located in St. Louis!
Been sailing in circles on a small reservoir in Carlysle Illinois just northeast of St. Louis and between running aground when the corps lowers the water level and trying to keep a one lung Yanmar diesel engine running, I am getting my fill of how to be creative in keeping a 30' 9000lb boat moving. Light winds are making me the master of trimming sails, and the occasional 20 knott squall that whips up allows me to get my reefing down.
I have all but given up on that 79 Yanmar single cylinder engine. I have spent more time keeping it running than I have learning to fly my spinnaker! I will say I have gotten very experienced at sailing my vessel out of and into my slip. This to much the nervousness of my slip neighbors.
All in all, the experiences are worthwhile and if you follow the Retirement project blog on here, you will learn it is the same beginnings TJ and Deb started from.
This weekends project is to put a new injector on the engine in hope of allowing the engine to start easier and run smoother. There is not much else that could cause that old beast to not do just that, so thats my goal.
I am also slowly working through the DC electrical circuitry replacing Battery selector switches, replacing connectors, any old wiring not passing muster in hopes of getting better current to the starter motor so she will turn better. I have been fussing with the power train of this vessel all season so its getting to the point where I am pretty much replacing everything in an effort to chase away any corrosion gremlins creeping around the wiring harness.
Until the day she starts when she is supposed to, and runs like a champ when she needs to.. there is my nemesis.
Rod
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