Welcome to 2026!
It seems appropriate that as I sit down to write my first official sailing blog post for 2026 that I am getting a notice from my webpage reminding me that my renewal is coming up. Which means I was doing the same thing this time last year. The march of time moves on, and, as it seems, we are right on track. I wish I could have regaled you all with stories all winter but the truth is, the inspiration stops as soon as we disembark every year. We sit around and “recover” in the fall. We see friends, we go camping, we travel. Life is good. The holidays come and go and then January takes forever. Somehow when February comes creeping in so do the silent whispers that you have stuff to do. This spring has been very busy. While we have been super busy, I have yet to find the inspiration to cover the home part of sailing. We don’t have beautiful workshop areas. Our kitchen feeds a family and is the center of our home, not a studio. Pictures of projects just don’t seem as inspirational when you don’t have the vision that Captain and I do. So much of what we do isn’t glamourous, it is like living in an ever-evolving state of projects. It is when it all comes together is when I want to start sharing again. And here we are! We are in the final preparation for this years season. And after all, if I spoiled all the fun surprises for this year, what would you have to look forward to all summer?
I have been hard at work with the webpage here. Please look around. I have added a tribute page to our Best Mate, Kona. I have added a Freeze Dry Blog and videos. I have set up media accounts (oy vay). I hope to maybe have some Kona blogs here and there and needed that set up, and at the very least, everyone likes photos of Kona. I hope to showcase the Freeze Dry food this summer in a blog there and fill in the videos this fall better. I set up social media accounts for this summer. One, to keep me off my own page and solely use online time to post and check weather. Two, because I will not be sending out an email list this year (that feature was a little too extra and not needed) so updates can be linked directly from those spaces and three, because a few people have hinted that I should at least try and get some different things out there. So here we are. You will see the social links work but the pages are blank. I hope to get some small things started on all before we leave and figure it out as I go. If anyone wants to give me little lessons and hints, I’d appreciate it. It’s not my thing…
I’ll give you a few updates
Captain got a really nice tent this fall. It has allowed him to spend seven work weeks up at Ciara doing her yearly maintenance as well as new projects. Every year we maintain her and improve her. This winter we have seen a massive number of new upgrades and luxuries. His tent has a wood burning stove and he was so comfortable camping in six-degree weather. It is true, I joined him a few times and the tent is very warm and comfortable. The joy of being the only people at the most popular state park is a nice tease to our isolated nights in the summer at anchor. Captain had the joy of hearing the local radio at the hardware store give the weather forecast “It’s going to be another cold night tonight, getting down to near zero, sounds like a great night to go camping, just like that one guy up in Fish Creek.” Ah, small towns!
Yearly maintenance that got done included bottom paint and all new exterior varnish. No deck paint this year. Captain completely gutted the V-Berth (our bedroom) and did the interior varnish and paint. It was a lot of work and it was semi needed. Our math says it hasn’t been done in probably 40 or more years, so it will be our last time as well. The V-Berth is stunning now. With that in mind we will probably work our way through the boat in the coming winters and give her fresh varnish and paint for her entire inside. She deserves to look beautiful and well kept.
Captain completely took apart our stove, cleaned and serviced it. The stove was well past the recommended hours of service. Last year it had a few days not wanting to start up and was smoking a lot out of the exhaust. It was time. Had to call Germany for those parts. The stove is cleaned like never before and re-installed and works beautifully.
We bought more batteries. A lot. These babies weigh 70lb each but with our house bank and our two older lithium batteries we now have 3 times the power we used too. Even if we have no sun for a week, we will be able to not have to turn on the generator. We don’t plan on being more power hungry but there are some things that got upgraded that will give us peace of mind. Speaking of upgrades, as I type this Captain is up at the boat installing a refrigeration unit for our ice box!! This, by far, has me most excited. Our days of having to pray that we juggle trying to keep food cool are gone. We will have so much space in our, now two, units that we won’t have to overload either one and hopefully save on energy even though there are two. With so many Freeze Dried foods, we will have space for other food luxuries as well.
I spent the winter turning my spreadsheet into the beast it is today, and I have to say, I’m pretty proud of it. I have formed a master list to help with keeping track of where items are (home, at boat, needing refill, needing attention, etc.) and inventory for food and packing lists. Full to-do lists, my little ADHD brain is so happy. I really feel ready to go and in order. I got my Freeze Drying all organized and already at the boat in labeled reusable bags. I still have over summer of left over food in the basement. I tried some new Freeze-Dried foods this winter and excited to share those stories with you as the summer progresses.
Those are some of the big and smaller things for this year when it comes to the things aboard the boat. I don’t think I could give you a full list if I tired. My goal is to show it off in the moment, even if small.
As for this summer:
CIARA IS 75 years old!!!! We have some special things planned. To be revealed.
Ciara is slated to splash in in two weeks. I’ll believe that when I see it but I do trust the new boat yard. They have been incredibly kind to us and great to work with this past winter. We hope to move her with good weather to Cedar River that weekend if all goes to plan. We will have a few weeks to finish up school but the plan is to spend June in and around Door County waters, hosting friends and family (hint, this is your time!). There will be a few trips back home for kid camps and such but for right now that time is just Captain and I and maybe Cory for some of it. After Cory’s camp we (Captain, myself and Cory) set off for eight weeks on July 5. This summer will be lacking my kids sadly. They are getting older so they have their own things now. They both had some other opportunities come up and are able to stay with dad. They are happy and that makes me happy. I don’t fully blame them; the boat isn’t nearly as big to them as it was nine years ago. I have spent so many summers and other trips with them and there will be more, I’m sure.
Eight weeks, however, with no set deadline in between is a first for us. The longest we will go without a “home refill.” I am stocking the boat for minimal grocery and needs for that time. It’s been fun to watch Ciara just take all the stuff. I hope she can do it this year.
The plan for those weeks is to return to where our hearts our happy. Canada and the North Channel. We have friends that plan on spending a week on board there. We hope to check out some new spots and really relax for as long as possible before we head back. Depending on the winds we will explore as much of Michigan on our return as I yearn for the beaches that the North Channel doesn’t have.
I know I have become married to the water as both Captain and I are feeling energy in waves now. Calling us to our real home on Ciara. You can smell it in the air, feel it your soul. I hope the karma we bring to Ciara this year brings us safety, joy, adventures and good people. I can’t wait to bring you along again.
