Exploring Newport

Laundry Day

Kids in a toy store!!
They decided to pull their $ together and get some LEGO.

Aila getting some dinghy practice.

Mmmmmm... pumpkin pie

Homeschool Win

Good day today.

Today's homeschooling was done all in the cockpit because down below was still a disaster.

While Matt toiled away at the engine, I gave the kids an assignment to come up with their Dream Sailboat.

They took it seriously and the final results were amazing.

I was surprised to see how much they actually know about boats now, just from living on one for a short time.

This evening we ate our rice and chicken dinner in the cockpit as the sun set, visited our new friends on their catamaran for drinks, the kids got to practice driving the dinghy and then we went into the marina for showers!

Boat is still a disaster with tools and parts everywhere and we're likely going to be here for at least another day or two, but when the day has gone so smoothly and harmoniously, it's hard not to feel like it was an absolute win!

Matt vs. Diesel Engine

The Assignment

Deep in thought.

Researching with boating magazines.

Tai's finished product.

Tai's bird's eye view of his Dream Sailboat.

Tai's drawing of his Dream Sailboat.

Aila's finished product.

Aila's Dream Boat drawing

Creative hat making!

Engine Woes

After one day of diesel engine work. Nowhere to sit or stand or kneel or practically breathe. I haven't even taken a picture of our cabin or engine compartment.

Not finished with the job so reluctant to put away everything since it will come out again tomorrow.

Just pushing everything off the beds so we can lay down.

Right. Just wanted to share the reality of boat life. It ain't glamorous, my friends!

We haven't showered in 3 days.

And if I could post smells on here, you would have a highly pungent diesel fragrance wafting through your phone right now. Mixed with some dubious body odour! 

But hey, it's beautiful autumnal weather in Newport, there is a grocery store and kick-ass park within walking distance, we met another kid boat just next to our mooring from Switzerland and after all this is done, we should have a good reliable engine again - and a brain-full of new knowledge!

To top it all off, the mechanic who is helping us is, I swear, a guardian angel because he is just doing it out of the goodness of his own heart. He has accepted no payment except for one beer.

The world works in mysterious ways.

Towed to Newport

We are certainly getting our money's worth with our TowBoat US membership!!

We got towed from Block Island to Newport because we did not trust our engine and had to get to a place where we could actually access some help.

Newport is a very nice place and upon arrival, we started to ask around for competent, available and affordable diesel mechanics. In a town that lives and breathes boats, it's no easy task.

Tai at the wheel, making sure the rudder
stays straight as we get towed to Newport.

YAY for TowBoat US!

My little grocery sherpa! Using her head :)

Block Island with Friends

We spent the day with our friends on SV Dragonfly, swimming and then having lunch at the little cafe.

Afterwards, they helped us move our boat to mooring ball. Much cheaper! Thank you!!

Docked at Block Island

This morning we left Cuttyhunk to sail to Block Island.

40 miles total, of which we sailed 90 minutes of it. Average.

Entering the anchorage, we lost steering and the engine was just not right. We decided to get a spot at the dock. Not an easy decision as it is very expensive, even during off-season.

We met another kid boat, Dragonfly, whom we've been in contact with for a while. So nice to meet another family and chat cruising lifestyle. I absolutely love the people we're meeting on this journey.

This is the way we do passage naps!

Taking advantage of the amenities of the marina,
since we are using their dock without choice.

Trying to get wifi - again!

Look what I found at Block Island marina!!

Cape Canal Transit

We've had a couple of early starts to maximize favourable tidal currents and today we have passed through the Cape Cod Canal at a speedy 10 knots with current pushing us.

50 nautical miles. All motoring

When we got to Cuttyhunk, I dove under the boat to check the prop and the little rotating wheel that helps the boat speed meter turn. It had crusted over a bit from some growth. After a few brushes and spins, it was good as gold!

We went ashore on Cuttyhunk to do some hiking. We found a cute little shop and bought ourselves a little snack (muffins and a Pepsi).

A very quaint little island, Cuttyhunk has a land area of 580 acres and a population of 52 people!

Back on the boat, the kids did lots of Lego.

It was a sunny and perfect summer's day.

Oh, and we spotted a dolphin too!

Do we fit under the bridge?!

Cute Cuttyhunk shop.

Duxbury Pause

Something's fishy with our engine still. 

Glen came to look at engine again. The throttle didn't really rev higher than 2000 rpm when it should be a lot higher.

Glen came to look at it again. He got it working a bit better, but the real test will be tomorrow when we head out. 

On another note, Duxbury is a strange place. Very affluent, no sidewalks, people very consumed in their lives.

To do something off the boat and take our minds off engine stuff, we went swimming at the public pool, then played How to Rob a Bank back on board.

Journal writing