Beginnings, just like endings, always start at just the right time.

January, 2010
Setting Up Camp and Living on the Hard

My next adventure was to be on the sailing vessel Carina, a 43 foot 1963 Swan. Brandt has been a friend over the last year and when I asked him if he would like some company if he had the space, he agreed to have me as crew. I arrived with my 4 large suitcases of ‘stuff’. (Actually 6 large suitcases already made it back to Victoria to be picked up at a later date so I only have to deal with this much.) It’s always a struggle between being comfortable with the things you like, and being able to pick up and go. When I’m living on a boat, it’s my life. I live there. So it’s not like trekking where you just need one suitcase and you make do. To live for one year on a boat in all kinds of weather and climates and the needed dive gear, 4-5 large suitcases sounds just about right to me.

So here I am on Brandt’s ‘project boat’. I get the v-birth sleeping on one side and all my stuff lined up on the other side. Before giving it bottom paint, it needs to dry out. When he took it out of the water, the hull started spliiting apart. He then began a major fiber glassing project with massive sanding before he gives it the bottom coat. It will be about one more week in the ‘marina seca’ or dry marina as they call it here.

It’s pretty dusty here so I need to leave the boat for most of the day. I’ve been spending my time at the internet café and also trying to figure out how to knit a vest. My Dad is happy that I have all this time to talk to him on skype.

So this is the third time I’m living on the hard for a total time of seven weeks. That is, so far. This boat hasn’t ‘splashed’ yet. Some women won’t live on the hard. They’ll go home or get a hotel room. It’s not glamorous or clean. Usually the boat is full of dust if any grinding is being done. No running water because that would make water drain over the bottom hull which needs to be kept dry. No bathroom usage so any bathroom needs at night have to be accomplished by descending the ladder and walking across the yard in your pajamas. But the hardest part is coming up the ladder with your backpack/computer on your back, your purse swinging from your arm, and a bag full of groceries swinging on your other arm while you ascend the ladder. That leaves you with no arms left to hold on to the ladder. It’s a challenge but somehow we manage.