Interlude - The Warrior Dash

It's already late July, which means we are now only 4 weeks from departure aboard our Alberg 35, Mystic. We continue to work on 'projects' but we've curbed the urge to add things to that list. There simply won't be time for more than we have on our plate:

TO DO LIST

build and install composting toilet
mount and install solar panels
mount storm trysail track
prepare rigging and raise mast
complete sanding and varnishing
load provisions
re-stitch foresail
miscellaneous other

Dave is still working at Centerpoint Exhibits with the Delta #HappiMess shower campaign. We spent last weekend at the #Warrior Dash mud run in LeSueur, MN. Someone at Delta had the fabulous idea of partnering with Warrior Dash to build a portable shower for use by very messy mud run finishers across the country. The shower contains 75 Delta shower heads designed to conserve water using the the h20Kinetic technology that sculpts the water into a unique wave pattern, giving you the feeling of more water without using more water. If you put these shower heads in your home you stand to save hundreds of gallons of water per year! The portable shower has a karaoke stage as well. Runners could bypass the long lines by singing in the karaoke shower, sometimes with a friend or two. Pretty cool stuff!

Dave and co-workers Mike Gephart and Shawn Rivard worked their butts off unloading the rig and setting things up to Delta requirements. They had help from the rig driver, Wesley and his young assistant, Joe, along with Delta coordinators Paul and Pat. It was an exercise in hard work and tenacity in extreme heat of over 100F to get everything just right!

Unloading the rig

Getting the shower ready for MUD!

Mike working in the heat

Joe keeping cool

Wes, Joe and Shawn - Break Time

Wes & Joe

Mike and Beth cooling off during setup

Dave & Mike BEFORE the run

Dave testing the shower

Team #HappiMess ready to get muddy

You know how that saying goes, "When in Rome", Dave, Mike, and I ran the course! It would seem that we wouldn't have the time for such nonsense but we are working at living an adventurous life, each and every day! We are so lucky to be a part of this cool experience! It was a great distraction from the stress of getting ready for launch and a year away from everyday life.

Shocktop Unfiiltered Together

Mike in Muddy Mayhem

Mike, Beth and Dave handle Risky Business

Headed for the Warrior Roast

Mike leaps over the Warrior Roast

Sliding into the finish - Goliath

Victory, Muddy Victory ~ Headed for the shower

Delta Karaoke shower fun

Mud Man

Pearly Whites

Muddy Mom in Beast Mode

Warrior Dash MN 2016 - Crowds waiting for a shower

Last year, the Delta HappiMess shower broke a Guinness World book of records mark for the most people in an outdoor shower at the same time with 331 runners taking down the mud at Warrior Dash Indianapolis 2015. Check out the fun at Warrior Dash Indiana ~ World Record Attempt ~ Delta. For the record, the portable shower does not have "hot and cold"; we are talking COLD showers here!

Next weekend we head for NYC. The HappiMess shower (a smaller version of the travelling rig) will be in Times Square for a 'Singing in the Shower' segment by Good Morning America. Scheduled air is Tuesday, August 2nd. 

Countdown to Launch

Since we planned to leave on July 1st, you'd think we would feel lucky to have an extra 6 weeks to get ready. Instead, we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off, unsure whether we are coming or going! In spite of this organized chaos, we continue to get things done during our countdown to launch.

I've been dehydrating fruit and sealing food for the voyage including rice, spaghetti, dried beans, steel cut oatmeal, quinoa, and grits. I hope to put together sealed bags of baking recipes like muffins and brownies. I'm including only dry ingredients. When we want a treat, I will have to add only the eggs and oil, then bake.

Preparing pineapple, blueberries & apples for dehydration

Dave has been busy too. He built custom screens for our hatches. They are a must for keeping hungry insects out of our living space. In the past, we have suffered tremendously during infestations of black flies. Dave knows firsthand that living with mosquitoes could be a deal breaker for me!

Main Hatch Screen

Main Hatch Screen Installed

Forward Hatch Screen

Forward Hatch Screen Installed

Dave repaired both a rudder through bolt that looked bad and a stanchion that needed resetting.

Rudder through bolt repair

I continue to work on the teak. Each week I sand a little more of the areas not yet touched and add another coat to areas that have been completely redone. It's a labor of love/hate!

Adding coats of varnish to hand rails

I made a custom hatch cover bag for the main hatch boards. They get really beat up even though Dave is diligent about wrapping them in a towel when they are out of the slide. I did not use a pattern. Instead, it was more like a creation that evolved from left over fabric and a measuring tape; not to mention, a whole lot of time. It's pretty cool and will double as a comfy pillow when not protecting the hatch boards. I used sticky letters as templates to quilt "MYSTIC" on the cover.

We finally got our boat cards printed! It took us a while to decide on a design but we are thrilled with the outcome! Dave's been handing out cards to friends, co-workers and anyone he meets who is interested in our journey.

Five weeks to go...and counting down!!!

EPIRB

We purchased our EPIRB, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, at West Marine over the 4th of July weekend. We decided on this expensive addition to our lard for safety reasons. The EPIRB is used to request help during dire situations like sinking, or a medical emergency on board. All commercial vessels are mandated to carry EPIRB. Organized sailboat races also require them. As cruisers, we do not have to carry an EPIRB aboard Mystic, however, it was an easy decision to do so.

ACR Electronics GlobalFix™
PRO GPS/EPIRB
Category II Manual Release

The EPIRB uses a radio beacon to transmit your exact GPS location to rescue services during an emergency. After purchase, you register your EPIRB with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). All of your vessel and passenger information is registered. Should you activate the unit, your distress signal is transmitted using the Cospas-Sarsat Polar Orbiting Satellite System. The act of setting off the EPIRB tells everyone who can receive it's signal that you are in trouble. It indicates exactly where you are and continues to send information automatically for up to 2 days. This frees you up to deal with the emergency situation. You can also take the EPIRB with you if you abandon ship. If you use the EPIRB to save yourself during an emergency, the company will give you a new one.

It's the kind of gear that you hope you never need but should you need it, you need it very badly!

Should We Be Worried?

As we get closer to our departure date we are often asked questions like; "What if there are pirates? What will you do in a storm? Won't you get bored? Where will you go?"; and the thought provoking question, "Aren't you worried about anything?"

We'd be dishonest if we tried to say that we haven't mulled over each of these questions (and many more). The truth is, we are most worried about NOT going! Life is short! Everyone has their own dreams, goals and passions. We are so lucky to be able to experience the dream we set for ourselves all those years ago.

Prince Ea has a great video on Omeleto which depicts our perspective well!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja-n5qUNRi8

'It is not death most people are afraid of. It is getting to the end of life only to realize that you never truly lived!' Prince Ea

So, in answer to all the questions above, "What if we don't go?"