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After trying to update two blogs I decide to stay with the family blog on Wordpress.

St Michael's, MD

Sweet little Anchorage. 

Some thoughts about our gear...

The propane motor, Lehr 5hp is weak and a little difficult to start but so far so good.  I am still not convinced that we should change to a 9.9 gas but very close.

The solar (2x100 wat flexible panels) does not seem to do much.  I would get a very good monitoring system that can measure each device that charges and track the usage of the fridge, instruments etc.

The wind generator (Superwind 500 watt) is good but only when it blows 15+ knots so that should be fine in the Caribbean.

AIS (digital yachts) and radar (SIMRAD 3G) on a SIMRAD NX40 chart plotter are awesome

The second cooler/fridge (Novacool) is great but a huge power hog.  We will be buying an Engel 45 fridge soon.

The TV (Samsung 32") is a super power hog but we still watch movies once a week, even at anchor.

The fuel cell (Efoy 210) is ok but it only pushes out 8 amps so it will be great for the ARC but is not as good as a diesel generator.  It is louder than I thought but I am still happy with it as a back-up.  I sounds like water boiling.

SIMRAD system SIMNET has given us a little issues but hopefully we will sort it out.  I would likely not buy SIMRAD again if given a choice.

Atlantic City, Golden Nuggett

A lovely place where the bad assessories from the furniture store ends up.

Hanging out in New Harbor, Block Island,RI

Everyone is relaxing after a day of bike riding and sushi at Oar. This anchorage is awesome. 

Woody at the beach in Nantucket

A beach car!

Cuddyhunk. Great anchorage

Spent a couple of nights at Cuddyhunk. Well worth the the stop with our boat buddy's Black Diamond. 

Nantucket harbour

Great place for a beach but the current in the only spot for anchoring was crazy at 2-3 knots.  The wind was opposite the current when we returned from the beach and had to move in fear of dragging. Now on a mooring ball. A little chaos but we are all safe😆

Engine repair

We had a strange squeal from the engine in high revs when charging in neutral so I investigated. It looks like the belts were loose so I tightened it and the sound went away. We burned some rubber so that means I need to keep an eye on this and get a full check out soon. One more repair in a nice place at anchor.  Most of my blogs are now on nordicbelle2.wordpress.com.  I will put some ideas and maintenance items on this blog. 

My new haircut

Michelle shaved me with a number 6 razor. 

Heading out soon onto Long Island sound

We stayed one night a Brewer Capri Marina in Manhasset Bay. Very nice but our boat felt small beside our neighbours. 

Yesterday went to Lion King and Ellen's Stardust dinner

The show was nice and dinner was quite entertaining. 

Left NYC today

We spend the past week in NYC at the Liberty Landing Marina. A great jumping off point for downtown 

Coffee anyone

Having expresso for me and decaf for Michelle. Are we polar opposites?

Pics from Toronto

Friends a good to have. 

Followers missing our updates?

You may have noticed our blogging stopped for a few days.  When we stop we prep our blogging and post everything when we are on our way to the next port of call.  You will see where we have been but we keep our travels mysterious until they are done.  Please be patient and keep watching.  There will be lots of posts to come😃

One day trip back to Toronto

We were enjoying our stay at Liberty Landing Marina (Jersey City) jus across from Manhattan/Wall Street).  Spending time I the city via water taxi and with friends when mid week I had to fly back to Toronto to get x-Rays on my ankle and pick up our sail stack pack. The ride to the airport was $19 and the flight was quick.  I did my errands and spent way too long at the hospital waiting for my appointment but once done the fun began.  Drinks at Vertical, Frank holding court, like I never left, and then off to the Pump House in Mississauga.  Great company, Matt and Sarah, Arch, Debo, Kevin and finally James.  Good oysters, wings and beer.  Could life get better? Yes being back on the boat heading for tropical distinations is only a slight bit better.  back on the plane to return to our floating home.

Family blog site is on Wordpress

Www.nordicbelle2.wordpress.com 

Multiple contributors on the family blog.

Hop-o-nose on the Hudson

Today we left Albany Yacht Club and arrived at Hop-O-Nose Marina just after noon.  We were flying down the Hudson at over 8 knots as the tides goes out.  I prepared our mast for stepping tomorrow and had a wonderful dinner while Michelle and Mats relaxed and tried the pool.  Great stop.  I am so excited about putting up our mast tomorrow.

Albany Yacht Club.

We finished all the locks and arrived at AYC for around 6 pm. We saw lots of rain and a little hail but dinner at the local was great. We have settled in to watch the fireworks or should I saw lightning. A few more storms tonight. 

Oswego canal and locks July 31

We went through locks 8 to 1 (Pheonix NY) in six hours. The high light was this vending machine by the ice cream store. 

Little Falls New York

A great stop and wonderful marina. We could not stop at Utica because we ran aground at the restaurant. It took 1 hour to get us off and the 4' depth at the dock was not a good scene. 

Day 2 Rochester Yacht Club

We had a nice motor over to RYC and got a space on the visitor

wall. Did some shopping, swam in the pool and had a nice dinner (bar menu only tonight but the lobster bisque was excellent).  

Left PCYC at 9 am and arrived at Wilson at 2:30 pm

We planned to stay at TYC but they chased us away saying our boat was too big and they had no slips for our boat size.  They also refused to give us fuel since we are not staying with them.  Very poor behavior for a Yacht Club.  We went over to Wilson Marina to get fuel and we also got a slip and will head over for a swim in their pool.  Bad TYC, good Wilson Boatyard😀

One week until we leave Canada

We are now making plans to leave next Monday and head over to Wilson NY our first stop South bound. We are finishing of some small projects like rails in the v berth. 

At the pump house

Having dinner and watching USA vs Japan with Matt 

Ottawa -Canada Day celebration

Rain yesterday but still a good Canada Day and decent fireworks. 

Beautiful Friday

Morning after, not so bad. City chores today. 

Blah weekend

Saturday and Sunday were wet, cool and windy. We continued to load up the boat and get the condo cleaned out. I unfortunately sprained my ankle this past Wednesday and ended up with a fracture. I went to Medcan and the hospital to finally get my very cool air cast. I should be good in a couple of weeks but until the. I am fairly useless. No driving for a while. 

Today we move onto the boat

We finally have completed most of the upgrades and no longer need all my tools spread out. This will be our second night on the boat this year. It seems a little cool this evening but it is still June in Toronto. 

Rainy Morning Tuesday

Today I will spend the day on the boat and in the club tool shop finishing some access ports, building a door for the companion way and many more jobs requiring power tools.  I feel like a carpenter.  

Mats at Rugby practice

Nordic Belle II relaxes at dock without her mast just after launch.

Another week passes

Today I learned that the radar, AIS and SSB are all working.  This means that most of the work is done.  We just have to install the water filter system, fuel cell generator, reconfigure the battery bank and mount the Iridium Go.  The work seems to never end.  Hopefully we will spend our first night this year on the boat this Saturday night.  We will be moving onto Nordic Belle in a little more than a week. I have not even sorted out what I am going to bring for one year away.  The plan moves forward with or without me catching  up.

Preparing for the journey

Preparing Nordic Belle II for her journey to salt water and the Caribbean sea is slow progress.  We are adding a number of anti corrosion systems such as a galvanic isolator and 2 Electro Guard units to cover the engine, rudder post, keel and all through hulls.  Very expensive but once installed it should do the trick for many years to come.  She still sits on her cradle waiting to be launched.

Another Saturday in Toronto

Today is just like to other day, cold and good for nothing.  We went out for brunch at BarQue on Roncesvalle.  Maybe not the best breakfast but still very tasty.  The rest of the day seems to drag on with very little to do other than homework for Mats and some games on the X-Box.  Today we learn how to play rugby on X-Box.  Tonight we have tickets to the Leafs with James and Addy

Good Morning it is Cold in Toronto

Saturday morning Feb 28, 2015

Today I sign on to my first blog.  It is brutally cold outside, too cold for a nice day of skiing.  Madi was not interested in taking much of a walk and the snow was crispy hard.  It is clear to me that thoughts about sailing remain a distant dream about warmer weather and a thaw that could not be here early enough.  Nordic Belle II remains covered with her bottom mostly sanded waiting for some epoxy barrier coats in the Spring.  We have ordered ePaint ZO HIgh Performance hard bottom paint.  The reviews say this is excellent for both fresh and salt water for 12 months.  Latest reviews show concerns at 18 months but she should not be left un cared for that long.  Many steps forward but many more before the journey begins.

Torstein on a warm couch with coffee wondering why I am in Toronto in February...