Haul Out 2015

We stayed overnight aboard Mystic on September 28. She's on the hard early, even by Minnesota standards. One of the best things about Knife River in the fall is that it's quiet and peaceful. The marina is empty. We are alone, tucked away in a quiet corner with a nice view of the lake. Dave tried to get a hotel but there was nothing available so we prepared to spend the night tucked into our cozy cabin together. It is cold. The temperature dropped to about 36F overnight. The main cabin settee was decked out with a heating blanket and two quilts along with an electric heater. It took over 200 feet of extension cord to make that happen.

View of Lake Superior from Mystic

Unloading Mystic boat gear for the winter

Comfortable perch

October is a time of change. The fall colors turn from golden yellow and brown to bright red and orange on our drive North. Once we made it past Duluth, the leaves were gone. It was breathtaking, literally, to see that fall had passed and Knife River was headed straight for winter.

Minnesota fall colors

Fall Lake View

Fall colors on the trails

Change is hard. Whether it be a move, or a job change or the end of summer. Change brings both positive and negative emotions. I had my own major personal change when I left my job recently. I'd held this position for 13 years and poured my heart and soul into it. Like summer turning to autumn, it was simply time to move on. As we prepared Mystic for her long winter rest, I thought a lot about the change we will face soon. I realized I have mixed feelings about our journey to cruise for a year. We will be leaving our home and family behind. I wondered how we'd feel about this when it's time to shove off. We will pack up a small array of our possessions and head across Lake Superior on a journey to live a lifelong dream. But our routine will no longer exist. Our habits will change. I'm excited about the idea of this adventure so when I begin to worry about all the things that I can think of to worry about, I realize that my feelings are normal. Change is hard, even when it's exciting and something you really want.

Custom mast supports made by Dave

Aft mast support.

For the winter, we have stuff to do. Dave will replace old mast lights with LEDs. I'll sand and varnish the wooden spreaders and we'll work on our big plan of building a new dodger for Mystic. Dave will research solar panels and I'll be looking for a sun shower (a live-aboard gal has to have a nice warm shower now and then). We'll dream all winter and we'll plan and work on the change that is ahead. When it involves Mystic, it's pretty easy.

Wrapping Mystic

Dave under the winter wrap

Mystic wrapped for winter