Captain’s Log: Learning to Hibernate in Sitka; Pictures of Prince William Sound Alaska posted!

Jan 19

Hi All,

Yep…getting pretty good at hibernating…..and neither of us is bored….go figure:))))

So, what have we been doing:
– spent a pub day out @ The Pub and Pioneer bar, called P-bar….watching the NFL games, eating burgers, drinking beer, wine and Irish coffees….LIG!!!! Of course, we had to walk around 3 miles in 30* weather….chilly!!!
– working on 2019 cruising itinerary…..maybe 50% done…so much to see so little time!!!!
– working on our 2020 African safari….wow, overwhelming…like which of a gazillion places to go…gee John isn’t that kind of early to be planning something 18 months away…..you bet, but once we start cruising in March and then start to paint the boat in October we will be way too busy to do any research!!!!
– posting pictures of last year’s cruise in Alaska…..got close to 300 pics posted on Prince William Sound….the internet sucks here….too many people, not enough bandwidth…takes 1 min/pic to upload….I’ve done now close to 600 pictures…10 hours watching that darn circle:)))
– reading of course!!

Boat Stuff:
– Installed 2 Northstar batteries for the house bank in the Laz…..which basically entails taking most of the stuff out of the Laz and crawling into a very tight space….at least the Laz is heated thanks to the Kabola diesel heater:))) Russ, our next door fisherman neighbor, was kind to take me to the warehouse and then help me lift the batteries onto Mystic and into the Laz…each battery weighs close to 150-lbs!!!! If you recall we lost 2 batteries in Japan, most likely due to charging issues due to the new marina breaker’s constantly tripping and causing our charging timer to reset….ugh!!! And to my dismay, I discovered the other 2 in the Laz had been compromised as well……arghhhhhhh…..did you hear the scream. Had to order 2 more, but the distributor in Seattle is out of supply so add on another few weeks!!!!
– Installed the new Raritan Icer-ette icemaker…..did you hear Kathy yelling I’m her favorite husband….she no longer has to do the old ice tray thing!!! First time for me however using PEX water connections…..wow, were they easy to use….I like them!!!! Of course I was not sure the connection was compatible with the copper tube we have running to the icemaker so had to make a trip to the hardware store to get some education:))))
– Removed the bow sprit stanchion, the one someone ran into and bent while we were gone over the Holidays….oh, just take off 4 sleeves….8 set screws…easy peasy right….well, 2 days later….mind it is 30-40*F and I’m sliding/kneeling on heavy frost/ice crystals….I finally do the happy dance….all set screws were frozen/corroded after 14 years….with every tool, spray can, and heat gun I own I got 4 out Day 1….and then drilled the other 4 out on Day 2, of course broke 3 drill bits in the process…..Wow!!!!!

Oh and I washed the boat….it was really dirty after 3 months and the 1st day it was sunny and in the 40’s I got it done!!! Still can’t find any young person to wash boats…..ugh!!!

Actually, I’m wishing for more hibernating time…this Sunday marks our half way 3-week mark…..no “Shining/Jack Nicholson” moments….yet:))))

Hope all is well!!

John
Mystic Moon
Sitka Alaska

PS: More pictures on the website….this time of Prince William Sound divided into Part 1 and Part 2…..put on some good tunes, make a martini and enjoy!!!!

http://mysticmoonvoyages.com/photo-gallery/nggallery/main-album/Prince-William-Sound-Alaska-Part-1

http://mysticmoonvoyages.com/photo-gallery/nggallery/main-album/Prince-William-Sound-Alaska-Part-2

Northstar batteries in the lazarette

I replaced the grey one with 2 blue ones only to discover the 2 forward blue ones were getting very hot….arghhhhh!!!

The new PEX water connection for the new icemaker…..first time for John-boy using this style connector….I like them!!!

The water tube coming out of icemaker that we connected with a PEX connector to the boat’s copper supply tube

Bent bow stanchion….yes, that is ice crystals/frost on the bow sprit

After 2 chilly days got it removed!!

Views of the marina on a sunny day!!

Sunset near the Pub…like around 3pm:)))

Selfie in the P-bar!!

Sunset at the P-bar…..now around 4pm:)))

Mt Edgecumbe in the distance!!