Evanston: dawn
Evanston: dawn
As I turned to look back at GANNET at 5:30 this morning, the sun was just rising from Lake Michigan.
Yesterday was hot; today is hotter--100ºF/37.7ºC. But last night was pleasant. With a slight breeze blowing through the open forward hatch, I slept well; and when I woke early decided to catch the 6 a.m. train home, where the coffee is better.
In the nature preserve, the birds were early, too. Flocks feeding beside the roadway parted for my passing, then returned to breakfast.
A truck with “Electrical Contractor” painted on the side passed me heading east and then a few minutes later returned heading west, the driver apparently wanting a glance at the lake before going to work.
A woman sitting in a car parked on the side of the road took a photo of the sunrise, made a u-turn, and drove away.
This was perhaps my most enjoyable visit to GANNET.
I only had a couple of things to do: cut off winch bolts and try to clean up epoxy that had flowed on to the deck when I installed the solar panels.
I had ordered 50 mm/about 2” bolts, which are about 20mm/¾” too long. I used a Dremel tool to cut them shorter in an attempt to save my head, and then put a second nut on each to protect from sharp edges. This doesn’t mean I won’t hit my head, but probably reduces occurrences.
I scraped at the epoxy, which was only a thin film, without much success, then resorted to the sander with better results. Eventually I may paint GANNET’s deck, which photographs white, but is in fact somewhat bluish.
The first thing I did when I went aboard was check the SolarBoost 2000 display. The batteries were fully charged; the solar panels were working; and the regulator was preventing over-charging.
I hooked up one of my small inverters and topped up the two Torqeedo batteries. Being independent of shore power is good.
I also unscrewed one of the two floorboards so I could reach down and remove debris my various projects have deposited in GANNET’s bilge.
A couple of glasses of evening wine on deck; music and reading in the v-berth before I fell asleep; and some thought as to what I need to put aboard before I go sailing.
Although I have not yet finished “The Elusive Nut” article, I already have the title for another, “Lake Michigan: Up, Down, and Sideways.”
In the next two months I’d like to sail to the north end of the lake, with perhaps Beaver Island or a ghost town, Fayette, Michigan, as the destination, although the main purpose would be to sail a couple of hundred miles non-stop up and back. I’d like to sail south and see the skyline of Chicago from GANNET. And I’d like to sail across, probably to Holland, Michigan.
I’d prefer to go north first, and am aiming to have GANNET ready by July 5. However, I’m adaptable and the wind can’t be from the wrong direction for all three, though there could be no wind or way too much.
I am mindful that the last time I had GANNET ready to sail, my retina detached; but I do not believe there is a causal relationship.
Thursday, June 28, 2012