NOW... We Tell Those Stories

So, again, we stopped in Las Vegas on the way to Portland and saw Ster, Julie & Vivian. It was just a quick overnighter thing that was a lot of fun too. The BBQ got exercised and we shared the slide show of Mexico and related stuff.


We were a long way from Portland still and passed some great sights. One was the Shoe Tree... unfortunately we did not stop to grab a picture of that, perhaps next time!


Then there is the stop in Reno, Nevada at the Nugget. Hmmm, just a few miles from the California border and it was time to call it a day. The Nugget has this Golden Rooster in the lobby and there is a history of this objet 'd art in the room as well as in front of the case. The short history I found to be monsterously hilarious for the simplistic reason that it exemplifies foolishness in so many ways. It seems that in May of 1958 the management of the Nugget were casting about for something (a focal point) to use as a claim to fame. They got permission from the U.S. Treasury to commission this Rooster because it was to weigh more than the amount legal for an individual to own of 50 ounces of gold. In fact when all was said and done it weighed in at 206.3 troy ounces of 18-karat gold!!! That's when the fun started. About early 1959 the Treasury Department started its quest to seize the Bird through law suits and such harrassments as they thought appropriate... the Nugget pleaded its case and things went silent for awhile. Then again in 1960 the Treasury grabbed the Bird and made off with it for a further two years of continuous litigation. In the end the chosen jury said this was all nonsense and awarded the Bird back to its owners and it has resided happily in various places in the casino ever since. One of the things that struck me as funny in reading the story was the claim by the Treasury that this was not art... as if they know?!?! Anyway, the long and the short of it is that here is a little peice of Americana that I would never have guessed when I saw this Polished Brass looking creature!! So, in a way, the Treasury still got the Bird!!

Stories Untold... Yet

While poking along the path north we DID stop in Las Vegas to see Sterling and family; Julie & Vivian are doing quite well too!! The visit was all too brief but at least we got there in between work shifts and spent a bit with everyone. The BBQ was fired up and the ribs were a hit!! The time was short but most enjoyable. (Pictures to follow here)

There is ALSO the story of the Golden Rooster from the Nugget in Reno on our way through. An example of Zealots in Government!!! Also to follow is the picture with story... stay tuned for the full, enhanced version!!!

A World of Knowledge

Sandy's grandson, Justin, in Sutherlin, Oregon.

So, I find myself in Portland, Oregon again after 12 months of sailing and boat chores. What a ride! Overall the time has blown by in whirl of activity. From the time we left Portland and made our way down the coast so much has happened… so much has changed. From the cold off shore experience to the very much warmer experience going south of Cabo San Lucas and then north into the Sea of Cortez lessons abound about what cruising can be about. We, Sandy and I, have shifted and learned some of what our relationship is about while we have divided tasks aboard Faith. Our floating home is now put away for the summer but our adventure continues.

As has been mentioned our friends on Carinthia (a Lagoon 440 catamaran) have invited us to join them in Tahiti and sail westward as far, possibly, as Fiji or Tonga. That would add another 2500 to 3000 miles to the water under our keel on top of nearly 4000 miles since last August. In addition we will visit the places we have wanted to see for a lot of years… without having to have first taken the leap off the Mexican coast to get to the Marquesas! If it meets expectations then perhaps it is something we could undertake some day when Faith is properly outfitted for such a journey. In the meantime we get to experience for ourselves the Coconut Path.

There are things that have to be done for the next season aboard Faith but that will have to wait until we return in October or November. We have a list about as long as my arm that includes such essentials as a new windlass, wheels for the dinghy (to improve our surf landings), more shade and sundry other items to improve life aboard. There are repairs that will happen while we are away, like the fix that the mains’l needs (new batten system) and collecting tools that are in Portland. There is a wish list too that, if pursued, will make life more comfortable. Right now we have the use of Sandy’s parents little used motorhome to have a place to stay during the time leading up to flying south. Since leaving my son Sterling’s place in Las Vegas we have encountered lots of rain and cloudy conditions. It feels like our sun tans are fading quickly… likely we will have to work on our base again, risking sunburn, when we get to Papeete. In the plan for the moment is a coastal land-based cruise to see the sights and get together with family and, if all goes well in the timing department, we will also get up into the Olympic peninsula to sight see some. This will complete the world of contrasts that has symbolized the trip north from San Carlos, Mexico thus far. It was near (+/-2˚) 100˚F when we left Mexico and has been reduced to about 70˚F during the days here in Portland. If this were a dive opportunity I would be concerned about the decompression schedule!!

Getting further along the path

So, yes, we are going to the south Pacific!! In an e-mail from Dietmar (on Carinthia, see 52 Hertz link on the side bar) he mentions the itinerary:

French Polynesia
Northern Cooks
American Samoa
Western Samoa
Northern Fiji
Vanuatu
Santa Cruz
Solomon Islands

We likely will not get past Vanuatu due to the short (3 months) time frame for this adventure!! In the meantime we are starting on a land tour that started in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico and has progressed as far as Portland, Oregon (Orygun, as one one bumper sticker had it the other day). In a week or so we will go to Florence, OR and continue up the coast into Washington to see the five eco systems that present themselves along the way. This nomadic thing is addictive!!! The "Dirt Yacht," as Sandy has been calling it, has the benefit of being a lot like the water version. It is very mobile and the people we have met are very friendly.

Oh, and no picture of this, but while I was driving north along I-5 yesterday I passed a place where I could see the southbound train... there were two unlikely fellows on a grassy area next to the tracks... they were mooning the passengers on the train quite enthusiastically!!! "Oh, look Martha, local color!"

Whoa... season ends!!!

Today Faith came out of the water and bounced nicely down the quarter mile to the dry storage area!!!! Easy to watch the process and get lulled into thinking that the work part might be over... not so much!! Tomorrow, at some likely early time, we will pop over to the work yard and continue the process of putting her to bed for the summer. It almost never ends... this boat work. The motel room is stacked with stuff and we are considering how to organize that... then the drive to Tucson (Tux) and then PDX (Portland/Vancouver, WA) -- "it's all good," as they say!!!