Taking Wakataitea

We left Canada on November 4, 2018 for Beaufort, North Carolina where Wakataitea was waiting for us in a boatyard.  The drive down was smooth and uneventful. Every time we got gas, we shed a layer as the temperatures got progressively warmer.

Leaving!

As we got closer to the coast, we started to see evidence of Hurricane Florence. Logging trucks were everywhere and garbage at the side of the roads was piled high. Signs on stores were missing. Construction crews took up half of our hotel the second night as we got closer to places like New Bern where the flooding had been crazy. There was standing water in ditches. People shared their stories of loss.

It was an autumn heat wave in Beaufort when we arrived, with temperatures in the high 20s. We found the boatyard, and got the keys to the boat. Wakataitea was tucked into the "long term" storage area away from the other boats that were actively getting ready for launching.  She was also parked next to a swampy area.

We climbed up the stairway to the deck and found the boat to be in good repair, with the exception of the dodgers that had blown down in the hurricane.  As we opened up the companionways, we noticed hundreds of little frogs, some alive, some dessicated on the deck and in the boat.  We guessed they must have blown onto the deck during the hurricane and were not sure how to get off. The other evident wildlife were mosquitoes and noseeums that ravaged us some warm afternoons.

Arriving

Finding the frogs

Repairing the dodgers

The owners of Wakataitea worked hard to decommission her in July, and left her in excellent condition. Despite their diligent efforts, some mildew and mold had grown in the cabins.  It took a day or so for us to clean her up, find the basic necessities, and settle in for our first night aboard.

After getting our stuff on board, we started to get to know the boat. The kids took to their own cabins and started dreaming of their new projects. John made repairs. We started to provision.

Wavey helping to unpack the sun awning 

First meal after we unloaded our stuff from the car into the boat

Simon and his new cabin

Getting gear at the Tractor Supply Store (TSC) in Morehead City

Provisioning

Wavey in her cabin

What I didn't expect to happen as this new adventure started to unfold, was a gut-wrenching grief that knocked me over some days. Unexpectedly, being on a boat again reminded me of what we lost, of things I had not considered for months while we had been on land. I missed Nahanni V and our previous sailing life. It felt hard starting again with another boat. I felt bursts of anger...and then moments of intense sadness. 

For a few days, I was on a rollercoaster of emotion. Gratitude lifted me to the highs, and sadness dragged me to the lows. Guilt formed somewhere in between when I felt I should be nothing but happy with this wonderful new boat. But, as I have learned about emotions, you can't run away from them. You have to pay attention to them, sit with them, and then...let them go.

So, we rode the waves of living aboard a boat on land, in a boatyard, with temperatures that ranged from 25 C in daytime to 4 C at night (with no heat). We figured things out, we found blankets, we started this new adventure.

Lunch on a warm sunny day

Taste testing new baking recipes and experimenting with oven

Demonstrating how cold it is at breakfast by showing our breath

Organized galley

While in the boatyard, we hung out in "The Captain's Lounge," an area with a sofa, chairs, TV and movies, as well as two washrooms and showers. It was the only place to access internet, which made it a frequent stop for cruisers coming into connect. It was a short walk from the boat (but a long walk first thing in the morning, to hit the washrooms.)

Keeping warm in the Captain's Lounge

While we were in the boatyard, we met several men working on their boats, and several who were preparing  for cruising. We frequently met in the evenings to watch movies and share sailing yarns, while waiting for the loo. The kids left a bag of their Halloween candy for the grown-ups each night, and were thrilled to see how much they had eaten everyday.

After two and a half weeks on the hard , we were ready to launch the boat and start heading south. We booked the launch for November 21st. We were anxious, but ready. Our water tanks were full, we had fuel, the galley was stocked.

Then John said, "There's a problem." A health problem.

So, we contacted our family doctor who offered to arrange some tests if we wanted to drive home.

The day before we were scheduled to get into the water, we cancelled the launch, emptied the water tanks, and packed our bags. We got back in the car and drove north for another 13 hours. The layers of clothes piled on with every fill up. Brrr.

After almost three weeks in North Carolina, we arrived back in Ontario on the American Thanksgiving Day. The roads were empty as everyone was home eating turkey.

We moved back into John's mother's home, which had not yet sold.  We went to our storage unit and dragged out to our pots and pans, dishes and winter coats. It snowed. To those friends and family we had already hugged goodbye, we hugged hello. John got some medical tests done. We embraced land life again. We restarted school lessons, went to yoga classes, stocked the fridge and filled the social calendar. 

School resumes at the library

Back on land

At times, it was a bit much for my brain to handle. I couldn't remember where things were. Where was the mayo I just bought? Was it on the boat or at the house? Where was the wok? At the boat? Storage? Got wrecked on Nahanni V? We rotated through the three winter outfits we had with us. I hoped that no one noticed I was always wearing the same sweater.

What amazed me in all of this moving around, was the kids' flexibility. When we told them we were heading home for a brief time, they looked shocked for a moment. Then, they started to plan what to pack. They simply look for the fun in it all. Simon was pleased with the fact he was going to be in Canada for his 13th birthday and could celebrate his birthday palooza week with friends and family. 

Cake #1

Cake #2

Cake #3 after go-karting with his friends

Another bonus of being back in Canada, was the opportunity to do cool Christmas stuff with loved ones. We attended parades and parties, made cookies, and went to the theatre.

Wavey with friends Katryna and Riley

Baking with Katryna and Jaden

Yes, I made them go sit with Santa

Christmas baking

Christmas stroll in the snow

Santa Claus parade in Niagara-On-The-Lake

At the mall

After "Christmas" dinner with Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa's birthday brunch

Visit from Auntie Susie - a hike to Ball's Falls

After a few weeks at home, John was given good news.  All was well and we could resume our sailing journey. So, after almost four weeks of being back in Canada and one week before Christmas, we packed up and headed south...again. 

Second time packed up