The REALLY BIG Muddy

Well, at least we won't be starting our trip on the Muddy Mississippi.  We get the clean water of Lake Superior ...

Lake Superior Sediment Plume - after the floods in Duluth/Superior.

[my sediments, exactly ...]

Son of a Bitchin'

Sad news from Bob & Jody Bitchin...

As many of you know, we sold Latitudes & Attitudes last January, and as part of the sales agreement, we were to work as consultant's. Recently we discovered things were not as they should be. Last week we found out from Editor Sue that the July issue of Lats&Atts did not print although advertisers had been billed. Yesterday morning the offices were locked with the following sign on the door. "Offices Closed Until Further Notice."

Jody & I put our lives into the magazine, TV Show, Events and lifestyle for over 15 years. It is with very heavy hearts that we have to make this announcement.

If you would like to keep up with our plans to "raise from the ashes" visit our new facebook page or follow the changes on the website.

[R^2 adds:  That would be " Son of a Bitchin'  " ? ... ]

https://www.facebook.com/seafaringdotcom [sic]

Bob Bitchin's Seafaring.com

Travel/Leisure

Page: 572 like this

Update on the flood @ Barker's Island Marina

The power to the Island has been restored. Unfortunately it was not before the Ship's Store, offices, and restrooms got slightly flooded. Please use the restrooms at the Service building for the next day or so while we clean up. Thank you!

Flooding in the Twin Ports!

There is severe flooding in Duluth/Superior today, due to record rainfall.  At the present:

1. sv-Ihana is fine (hey, boats are supposed to float!).  She is tied up to floating docks, so we are okay unless Lake Superior rises more than several feet (highly unlikely! ...)  The marina staff is keeping watch on all boats, manning pumps for a few that are open and don't have automatic bilge pumps.
2. The ELECTRIC POWER is out to the island and marina.  It may be out for quite a while.
3. The island IS still accessible by the causeway, although not from the Belknap traffic light.
4. Roads in Duluth are flooded and impassable, including I-35.  No reports yet from Wisconsin.

    The information below was posted on Facebook, earlier today = Wed 6/20:

Barker's Island Marina · 246 like this
53 minutes ago ·

As you may have heard, the Twin Ports has been hit by a record rainfall and flooding with much damage reported. I live in the Central Park neighborhood of Superior and the creek that flows through the park has backed up at the drainage culverts in the park that drain to the harbor, flooding homes here, including my basement. The flooding from this creek took out the Northwest access road to Barker's Island that runs from Belknap past the Bong Center and to the causeway road. Fortunately the Southeast access road across from the Fairlawn Mansion and the causeway road are still open to the Island. Some of us were able to get to the Marina this morning to check on the boats and facilities. We've had to pump out some of the more open boats without working automatic bilge pumps. The power to the Island went out this morning at around 9:00 AM and is still out. We have no idea, at this time, when it will be restored. The Marina is OK compared to many other parts of Superior and Duluth. I will make updates here as I learn more. I can also be contacted on my cell phone at 218-590-7131 or jradtke@barkers-island-marina.com

Marine Electronics Suck

Putting the boat back together and associated repairs, continued: Problems with the electronics - 
   Radar didn't work. Radar works. THANKS to Jerry Powlas of Good Old Boat Mag, for wiring advice and telling me where I could get an Ethernet cable on a Sunday in Wisconsin (now, beer - that would have been much easier to find).  Time to fix:  4.5 hours actual, 24 total. I hate fishtaping. [Garmin - using standard Ethernet cable to connect the radar with the chartplotter: Priceless.]
   Wind instrument is not working. Time to fix: one hour.  [Damn you Raymarine, for using the thinnest wires known to exist - you could have spent a few more cents, no?]
   The AIS is now working properly about 90% of the time.  Should be okay now, except maybe when a freighter is approaching ...
   For maybe the first time in recent history, the radar and the AIS are both working at the same time. Usually, one of them is off on summer holiday, leaving the other to cover.
   Then refrigerator is not working. Worked the night before. Look at fuses. Look at manual (useless). Turn it off. Turn it on. It is working. 


Jerry also suggested wrapping a piece of dental floss (as a tether) around a screw while working with it, before it takes off for Davy Jones' Locker.  Good idea.


So, we begin our extended journey of boat maintenance and repair, interspersed with sailing and traveling.  [Did anyone ever tell me that BOAT is an acronym? Break Out Another Thousand ...]

Superior Friends

If anyone thought we would be lonely and miss having friends on this trip, don't worry.  This weekend at Barkers Island Marina (in Superior, WI) we ran into:  Jerry and Karen of Good Old Boat Magazine, Maureen and Chuck from Mt. Zion Congregation, Patti and Peter from the Northern Lights Sailing Club, and the Kelloggs who used to be NLSC members and just moved their new boat here from North Carolina.  We missed Nellie and her parents, who didn't make it up this weekend. And it's only Saturday.

It was hard leaving our sailing friends at the Lake City Marina.  It's going to be hard leaving other friends at Barkers.  Is this what the trip is going to be like?

BTW - A whole lot of boaters up here have dogs. Many dogs. Loud dogs.  Is that where the name of the island came from?

Stepping the mast

Before & After pictures:

At Barkers Island Marina, Superior, Wisconsin - the marina crew did a great job putting our mast back up.  We even got the dodger and bimini back on, and the wiring connected.