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January 29, 2008
Tuesday Tease: A Tour of 'Blue
Bluewater is a simple boat. Her interior is built for comfort at sea and ease of living while traveling. It occurred to us that many of our friends and readers have never seen the interior of our little boat. So we took a few images (after some straightening up) and put them in a gallery that you can see here. You will see that our space is small and efficient.
You will see the heater and amazing tile job we put in last spring and if you look to the right in the photo you will see the day tank that we installed this summer.
You will see the Nookie Nook, as Susanna calls it, the enormous forward v-berth that is larger than a king-sized bed. It is large enough for Nisa and us to sleep in.
In several images you will see the mast. A shining, sliver column. It is really white. But it sticks up through the deck and is a massive heat sink in the cold Alaskan winter. The silver bubble insulation makes a huge difference in how warm it is up front.
You will see our dinette, where we eat, make bread, work and plan the next step in our adventures.
You will see the galley -- the kitchen to all you landlubbers -- and the kerosene stove and oven that produces all our bread and tasty treats…Did I mention that Susanna is the cupcake and muffin master? No wonder my pants don't fit!
Then a view from the v-berth looking aft. This is Susanna's morning view. She always sleeps in and is often the recipient of coffee in bed (as a bribe to get her up and going).
Then lastly, you will see what Bluewater looks like at night when we are offshore. All decked out in red LEDs. Our lamps were built by Mark Sutton in Portland, Oregon. We love them.
I hope you enjoy this little tour. Now maybe you can envision things just a little easier!
Posted by Michael at 12:45 AM | Comments (1)
January 25, 2008
Big Blow A-Comin'
We are hunkering down for a big blast from the Freezer...The bright halo above the mountains in the picture is from blowing snow illuminated by the sun, which has set and is long below the horizon.
AKZ131-261400-
NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING...VALDEZ
400 PM AST FRI JAN 25 2008
...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM AST SATURDAY...
PRESSURE GRADIENTS ACROSS NORTHEAST PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND WILL BEGIN TO TIGHTEN THIS EVENING CREATING STRONG WINDS FOR THE ZONE. IN TOWN NORTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH 45 TO 55 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 75 MPH. STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.
TONIGHT...CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID TEENS TO LOWER 20S. NORTH WIND 20 TO 35 MPH INCREASING TO 45 TO 55 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 75 MPH. LOWS 5 BELOW TO 5 ABOVE. WIND CHILLS 30 TO 45 BELOW ZERO.
SATURDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER TEENS TO MID 20S. NORTH WIND 50 TO 60 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 75 MPH DECREASING TO 30 TO 45 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON. HIGHS ZERO TO 10 ABOVE.
Posted by Michael at 7:03 PM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2008
Tuesday Tease: Snow Delivery
The snow is deeper than Nisa is Tall - Photo by Michael J. Sharp
Last week we wondered where the snow was….there was a great forecast and it delivered. Nothing spectacular by Valdez standards. A mere 30-some inches in just under 24 hours. It was our first time on the boat with so much snow. When we awoke the windows and hatches were completely covered. It was like a snow cave…only better.
There is a new gallery, images from this little snow storm. Check it out. And know that as I write this, it is snowing again.
I love this place!
Posted by Michael at 1:23 AM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2008
Will it? Check next week to find out!
GOES-WEST AK IR Satellite Image - Courtesy of NOAA
Current Forecast for Valdez, Alaska:
Tonight...Cloudy with a chance of snow in the evening...then snow after midnight. Snow accumulation 6 to 12 inches. Lows zero to 10 above except 15 to 25 below through thompson pass. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming light. Through thompson pass northeast wind 15 to 30 mph with blowing snow reducing visibility to one half mile at times.
Tuesday...Snow. Snow accumulation 6 to 10 inches. Highs in the mid teens to lower 20s except zero to 10 above through thompson pass. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Tuesday Night...Snow. Snow accumulation 6 to 10 inches. Lows in the mid teens to lower 20s except zero to 10 above through thompson pass. Light winds.
Posted by Michael at 3:47 PM | Comments (0)
January 8, 2008
Tuesday Tease: Waiting for Snow
The holidays have come and gone. We have both battled the winter virus – it was a doozy. The days are already noticeably longer, though it is a very dark hole we are climbing out of. We had a wonderful Christmas and a great start to the new year.
As of late Susanna is often found buried in her new crossword puzzle book and I have been working on a few lingering projects. Nisa is happy when we wander the docks and when I throw snowballs for her. But we are waiting. We are waiting for the MASSIVE amounts of snow that Valdez is famous for. We are waiting for 30+ inches (76cm) to fall overnight. It has not happened. The locals assure us that it will happen, the snow will come.
So we wait and read about Colorado, storm after storm filling the Rockies with copious amounts of snow and I dream of powder so deep that I need a SCUBA tank just to breathe.
It is snowing. 3 inches here. 5 inches there. But we wait for the big dump. It’s coming…it’s coming. When is the only question.
This year we have added a new tool to our kit. Super-bright headlamps so we can ski in the dark thus avoiding the dreaded flat light.
So we wait and hope that the snow will soon arrive and our dreams will come true!
Posted by Michael at 10:46 AM | Comments (0)