Captain’s Log: Back in Sitka to Winterize

November 9-14

Hi All,

We’re Back:)))))….well sort of. We are back on Mystic but just for 5N/6D. We thought when we left in June, after installing the windlass and retrieving the anchor and chain, that we would be back in a few months….NOT….ugh!!

If you recall, we left in June with Health issues for both of us….so how did that turn out for you guys….well, John-boy has had 2 heart ablations in 2023…the one on 4/1 after our Antarctica trip only lasted 6 weeks….ugh. Shortly after we got home in May the heart started Afib/racing again (probably due to stress) so had a 2nd ablation done on 8/1. Now after almost 3 months I’m called sinus rhythm John:))))

Kathy….hmmmm, that’s a longer journey. The exact cause of her symptoms continues to be elusive after 5 doctors and a gazillion tests. A bit frustrating/depressing for sure!!! Her symptoms are short term memory issues, brain fog at times (critical thinking/confusion), and fatigue. The incident at ACE hardware in May, when she became very confused, might have been a TIA due to high blood pressure, per one doctor. So after 5 doctors, she has been diagnosed with a normal age appropriate brain, cognitive impairment (cause unknown), chronic Lyme Disease and heavy metal poisoning…yikes!!!! She is currently going through a 90-day heavy metal detox program. We are also in the process of applying to the UC Davis Memory Care program to hopefully find the cause of the memory issues. Stay tuned…..if you want more details or have suggestions just email us!!

And a big THANK YOU to family and friends who have stayed close, given us tremendous support and lots of suggestions!!! I’m probably spending 1-3 hours daily trying find this-needle-in-a-haystack cause if there really is one.

After 5 months left alone, Mystic was in pretty good shape. The Kabola diesel heater is getting a good workout while we are here as the temps are in the mid-30*F to mid 40*F…..brrrrrr. There was a big storm the first 2 days….40+kt winds, lots of rain and that bone chilling cold. That’s the storm that dumped all the snow in Anchorage!! Oh, and there was only 7.5 hours of daylight….7:30 – 3pm and 9 hours of total light…yikes!!

OK…so what did you do…..got 170 gals of fuel…we keep the Kabola diesel heater on at 50*F so we need plenty of fuel for the winter. It was $5.29/gal with tax (~$0.27 tax)…oweeeeeee!! On Sunday, it was sunny, bright blue sky so I spent 6 hours washing the boat….yeppa, got a good workout. There was not as much soot as before but a lot of green mold where the boat doesn’t get any sun. We also ran all 3 engines, checked zincs, polished the fuel, ran the watermaker, and general cleanup. Kathy vacuumed, ran the washer/drier, cleaned toilets et al!!

Hmmmm, John, sounds like Mystic behaved…..well, not quite. While we were out running the engines before we fueled….hey, what’s that smell, smells like burnt belts, quick look in the ER and yikes, smoke….not good….use the heat gun…belts not hot, no dust, look good….check alternator…350*F…YIKES, NOT GOOD….race up to the pilot house, shutdown Cummins but before, I look at the battery Link 10 and it seems the alternator is working…hmmmm…ponder that later….start Yanmar and start creeping at 4-5 kts….back in ER….smoke definitely coming form alternator….so cut belts….let cool for ~15 minutes while running the Yanmar….start the Cummins….all is fine!!!

Windlass: If you recall we lost the windlass in May and ended up sending the unit to Seattle for repairs. We came back in June, reinstalled and went and picked up the anchor and chain. Sounds simple but that took ~ 6 weeks to complete and countless hours in the wind and rain. But the technician in Seattle forgot to send some parts so we could only cobble together enough parts and some we made on the fly, to install one side. Armed with supposedly the right parts I attempted to install the starboard side….NOT…they had sent 2 keyways….one was too short and one too long….did you hear my arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh from Alaska:)))) Of course, it started to rain so I said some sailor words, packed up my tools and left it for another day….ugh, ugh, ugh!!

Head Toilet: Oh just for giggles…..yeppa, it quit flushing….toilet paper in the small priming tube…yeppa, crappy design:))) So on my hands and knees, head wrapped around the toilet….hmmmm, reminded me of good times at Tulane/ZN:))))…..I took off small priming tube, reamed out the stuck non-dissolved toilet paper and voila, we have a flushing toilet….LIG!!!

Strange Happening: Kathy noticed the guest head mirror was stained from the inside and had water spots on the outside….WTH…how did that happen…something leaked on inside and splashed on outside….we searched all over but could not find any signs of a water leak….even after I washed the boat and purposely splashed around the portholes and bow deck drain….no leaks….oh good grief….Hmmmmm???? The only thing we found was the dogs on the porthole were a bit loose, but there was no signs of leakage around it so don’t think that was the cause, but maybe????

All for now. We will most likely not be back on Mystic until late next April, 2024. We have upcoming trips to Dallas (Kathy’s parents 90th birthday celebrations), ski tip in January and a Egypt & Jordan trip w/friends in February (we were also going to Israel but not anymore:(((

Hope all is well! HAPPY HOLIDAYS (wow 1st time I’ve said that this season!!)

Cheers,

John
Mystic Moon
Sitka Alaska

While we were at the fuel dock, this big Coast Guard cutter docked….we took 170 galas, they took >5k…whoa! That’s Mount Edgecombe to the left!!

Picture of the Guest head mirror…stained on inside and water splashes on outside….we have no idea how that happened…a mystery!!

A view of Baronof mountains from our pilot house…fresh snow, gorgeous!!

View from our cockpit of boats in marina and Mount Edgecombe in the background

Mystic after being washed!!

I just finished the wash before the sun set!!