We have approximately 72 hours before we become official live-aboards on Ryen`s Quest. In 24 hours family come to take what is not going on the boat. And the following hours begin our task of moving personal items, and the rest of what is boat gear.
The past few months have been busy changing the entire plumbing system. Big "thank you" to Jim Newell of Lifeline Marine Services. The bilge, although a big job, is also cleaned and we are happy with the outcome. Thank you Allan! The ice box has been modified thanks to Joe the carpenter. We will now have a generous freezer area plus ample refrigeration. Looks like it is going to work and meet our needs. The engine has been looked at, the electrical guys are coming up to make sure that we are safe electrically, and to give us schematics of everything. Seems like we have bought a lot of electronic equipment. I hope I don`t need to know what it`s for until I have had a little bit of experience under my belt. Upholstery has been replaced in the saloon, which really makes a nice place to sit around with friends, to have dinners together, or just have a quiet evening watching television or reading a good book.
The new sails are ready to be installed with the stackpack system on both the main mast and the mizzen. With any luck we may be able to sail the harbour during the "Tall Ship" visit in mid July. We are hoping for the July 1st weekend to take Ryen`s Quest out even if it`s just a quick sail to somewhere quiet and drop the anchor.
Poor Ryen`s Quest is confused. But we will take our time to stow things away and go through the things that we really don`t or won`t need on our journey south. She should be a happy lady then. For all that had to be done, she is feeling more like our boat with each passing day.
There is a multitude of things that have to be done before we push off later in the year, but we are confident they will be done. Miyamoto Musashi wrote: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." We are taking one step at a time, so we are on our journey of a thousand miles.
