So, I've decided to embrace this technological tangle by blogging, to share the details of my projects and adventures with those I love, especially those far away, and to start to brush out all this mess into something meaningful, beautiful and helpful.  

I'll begin by blogging about an enormous project I took on 3 or 4 years ago, I can't honestly remember how long it's been.  Suffice it to say, it's been a hell of a lot of work...way more work than I ever anticipated.  But totally rewarding.  Not as rewarding as having a child.  Both my boat and my child will always demand.  But, rewarding in another sense.  My boat will never warm my heart by laughing or smiling, but it will take me places, offer me freedom and empowerment when I control it, like a wild animal.  For those of you interested in buying a large boat, but green to it....read on.

I was Such a dreamer when I finally got my hands dirty in the Griffin....she was completely full of black mold, she reeked of it....she was full of the previous owner 's possessions.. ...everything from his clothes, his family photos, old computers, tools, dishes, fossils, even his false teeth. Dealing with all the stuff was huge. Sorting it, cleaning it.

After that I began ripping apart her interior, anywhere there was mold, it had to go.  I suited up into full mask and suit, with crow bar, hammer, and saws, I gutted the majority of the woodwork interior.  Ripped out all the 70s Lino ceiling and shag carpet which was black from mold.  I shudder even thinking about it.  I gutted it right down to the hull, washed the hull, ground the hull and entire ceiling, right down to her skin, wood and cement.  It was dirty, dirty work.  


Why? Why do all this? because I had this crazy and wonderful dream of living aboard, sailing around the world, and travelling 'for free'.  those were the anticipated dreams.  I may still yet live and realize those....but I was rewarded in so many other ways, along the way.  I learned.  So much about boats, about time and commitments.  About doing shit yourself.