Latest trip to Tucson

Mother and Clem were returning to their home in Apache Junction, Arizona mid August and we had another load of 'stuff' to take to our home.
They very graciously agreed to tow a UHaul trailer behind the truck they usually use to tow their Fifth Wheel motor home so it easily handled the trailer.

Our friends, Randy and Scotty, from the marina loaded the trailer and did a great job! No breakage and the trailer tracked beautifully.

Our friend Derek helped us unload the trailer once we got to Tucson - of course, that was after Clem managed to back the trailer down our driveway - no easy feat!

Both Mother and Clem took a deserved rest after the trip.

We followed another pickup hauling his earthmover - see above.

The Finished Bottom

Today, Saturday August 15th, we were launched back in to the water!

Hallelujah!

The bottom looks great and the prop/shaft are all cleaned - way past due I might add.

It took us two hours to get to the boatyard and around 40 minutes to return!

As I wrote before we took Serenity to the Hylebos Boatyard here in Tacoma and took advantage of a package deal they offer - haul both ways, pressure washing, cleaning, sanding, taping and bottom painting including the paint. We only worked on the shaft, strut, propeller and skegfoot - what a great idea! We are not exhausted or dirty and the boat isn't as messed up inside and it usually gets when we do it. This is the first time we have ever had anyone else take care of the bottom job!

The staff were wonderful. We both feel that this was the least stressful haulout we've ever had due to their caring. From Ron (owner), Sean (Manager), Diane (Office), and John who did everything else!

Will return there next time!

Our friend, Geoge McCormick, helped us tremendously by ferrying cars and traveling with us on Serenity back to our berth in Foss Waterway. It was nice to have someone else with us just in case - we haven't had our boat out except for the trip to the boatyard since we returned from our circumnavigation in October 2006 and had some concerns that something might go wrong.

More Boatyard photos

Our Tacoma Home is now out of the water for a bottom painting job

Yesterday, August 11th, our friend Walter Schumacher and other people from the marina helped us leave our slip to head to Hylebos Boatyard in Tacoma, Washington.

Walter rode along for the 2 plus hour trip and just as we are ready to pull in to the overnight slip the wind comes from the wrong direction and pushes us off. We did manage to land safely thought and all is well.

This morning we got up bright and early for an 8 am haulout.

Ron Oline, the boatyard owner, and Sean who actually operated the travel lift were fabulous. We think this is the least stressful haulout we have ever had. Sean came down to Serenity before hand and after looking at our photos used a metal pole under Serenity to check where the prop and keel are. Then the two of them with Michael at the wheel and providing assistance with the engine hand hauled Serenity in to the haulout slip.

Sean operated the remote control for the travellift - something we have never seen before - and there we was in all her glory - growth and all!

Yuck! or Double Yuck!

Although it wasn't as bad as Michael and I had thought it would be we did have some growth as you can see from the photos.

We are now safely ensconced in our berth for the time here. We hope to get out Saturday but it may not be until Tuesday of next week.

For the first time ever we are hiring the yard to do the work. Michael and I will clean the prop, shaft and attach new zincs but they will scrape, sand and paint the bottom - such luxury!

Have more pictures to come!

Finished!

This morning the landscape company that the HOA hired to dig the ditch between our property and our neighbors is finished!

We get to leave now for Washington!

Hooray!

What a project!

A cute visitor

Lately we have had a number of bunnies returning daily so we started to put out carrots in their favorite resting spot.

They are so cute.

The first ditch

June 1st Marvin and Daniel came from Groundskeeper to dig the ditch for the HOA on our easement.

The bobcat(?) was delivered and they went right to work.

They finished digging the basic ditch the first day and started on the finishing with riffraff and cleaning up.

We even uncovered a large coconut that they opened with the bucket of the machine.

Our next door neighbor got very upset as they believe that part of the ditch it too close to their pool and they are worried about it.

To cut to the chase, they demanded a survey which will happen this week and a written plan by a civil engineer. At that point we will both sign off on the plans and the ditch will be redug.

Today, the 9th of June, they came back to add some riprap around the pool area until the process is complete.

The new ditch is supposed to be dug right down the property line/middle of the easement.

This will most likely entail taking out some of our neighbor's landscaping which they have verbally agreed to but nothing can be decided until the survey is done.

So, here we sit in Tucson when we are supposed to be back aboard Serenity and accomplishing projects in Washington.

Have no idea how much longer the process will take but cross your finger, toes, etc.