First, I’m still alive, though it was a close call. No, it wasn’t Covid-19, but something far worse, boredom. I hate being bored and perversely, the less I do, the less I want to do. Thus, my creative energy that it takes to write these blogs or make YouTube videos seems to have gone intoContinue reading “2020 Update on Paravanes and a Few Other Things”
Author Archives: Richard on Dauntless
Our Alaska Wedding
Trinh & Richard’s Alaska Wedding tells the story of our meeting in Vietnam and Trinh’s (aka Tee) and Thien’s arrival in the USA and Alaska With some still shots of us in Vietnam, the videos are of on Dauntless cruising between Ketchikan and Tenakee Warm Springs, Alaska, where we got married on 17 August 2019.
It’s Cut & Dry
It’s amazing how what happens or doesn’t happen on the boat can make such a difference in my mood. In some weird way, I am not that competitive with other people. In fact, in the workplace, I have always been a total team player, giving credit even when it isn’t due to others and beingContinue reading “It’s Cut & Dry”
Neah Bay to Bedwell Harbor and Checking into Canada
It’s not for the faint hearted. As I rounded Cape Flattery, I was careful not to take any shortcuts. After a full day at sea, it’s always tempting to cut that last corner, but I resisted the urge this time! I went to sleep a little after 07:00 having just cruised 25 hours from AstoriaContinue reading “Neah Bay to Bedwell Harbor and Checking into Canada”
A Wild Ride Outbound on the Columbia River Bar
The cold weather finally broke last week, returning Southeast Alaska to more seasonal temperatures, in the 30’s and 40’s. The warmup came just in time, last week was a trying week for me. In the course of a few days, I managed to fry something in my Heart Inverter and flood my Wallas DT40 heater.Continue reading “A Wild Ride Outbound on the Columbia River Bar”
Two Weeks So Far & Still Bitterly Cold
It’s been below freezing since the new year began. The first few days of the year were only in the mid-20’s, but for the last 10 days temperatures in Wrangell have stayed in the small range of 8° to 15°F (-13° to-8°C). This is the coldest outbreaks Southeast Alaska has experienced in more than 10Continue reading “Two Weeks So Far & Still Bitterly Cold”
Surviving Winter on a Boat
We are in for a period of really cold weather, at least for Southeast Alaska, with temperatures going down to zero (F) by early next week and staying in the single digits for a week or more. I’ve had to turn up my Wallas heater, no longer content to leave it on the minimum setting.Continue reading “Surviving Winter on a Boat”
Sailor Woman
Have you ever had to try to comfort a terrified pet? Maybe they were terrified of being in the car? Or of thunder? Going to the vet? It’s not a situation of safety nor even of any risk, the fear is totally unjustified with the reality. But you know that no amount of words canContinue reading “Sailor Woman”
BBQing in the Snow of Winter
My first wife was a vegetarian. While I wasn’t, I did eat less mean than previously and tried not to cook meat that produced smoke (like hamburger) in the house. Therefore, since the mid-‘70’s, I’ve had a BBQ grill no matter where I lived. Whether in Fairbanks, Alaska, Italy, Germany or now, on Dauntless, I’veContinue reading “BBQing in the Snow of Winter”
A Miserable Trip
Vallejo to Crescent City California, 26 to 28 June 2019. I’m finally getting around to writing in detail about my cruise up the west coast. Since this is a past summary, I am going to change the format a bit. I have also started a You tube channel, Dauntless at Sea, where I am postingContinue reading “A Miserable Trip”
24 Hours, 2 Shrimp, 2 Crab, Bad Batteries, a Poor Forecast and a Dying Engine
Saturday was supposed to be a respite between the storm systems that roll over the North Pacific and into the Gulf of Alaska. Light winds, periods of no rain. That’s great. It wasn’t to be. Since the beginning, I’ve told anyone who would listen to never bet your safety on a weather forecast. And inContinue reading “24 Hours, 2 Shrimp, 2 Crab, Bad Batteries, a Poor Forecast and a Dying Engine”
Crabby Lady
Three years ago, when I met Tee and her son Thien, in the hot, humid climate of SaiGon, it was far from Alaska as one could get, mentally and physically. But as I got to know the Vietnamese in general, and Tee in particular, it became clear to me that while her dream of AmericaContinue reading “Crabby Lady”
