2025-08-03 Good times in Block island, then brisk sailing, and Kris flies out

 Spent Sunday in Block Island just relaxing on the boat.  A bit of a rainy day.  Kris worked on a small project, putting in LED strip lights in the V-berth and engine room. It made a big change - should have done it a long time ago.   

Kris also did some cooking prep of beans, rice and made her oatmeal-walnut-flax-banana-applesauce-cinnamon bread that she has for breakfast.

Engine room with old light that we upgraded with LED 

Now with old light removed, and strip lighting installed around edges.  Much brighter.

Monday we went to town, got rid of trash, and did a walk around.  Not much has changed since we were here in 2023.   The hotel that burned down shortly we left in August 2023 is still not rebuilt.  

Bridge between dinghy dock and main town

National Hotel-Built in 1903 after the original one burned down - seems to be a trend here.

Not a very busy main street early in the morning.  Later will be packed with people

Busy but nice dinghy dock

We spent a lot of time on Monday measuring our jib.  Kris made up a nice sketch of all the dimensions to send to the sailmaker.   We got quotes from Mack Sails and Doyle sails – who both have built the special Manta jib with the camber spar feature, so we were confident both would do OK, but Mack had a much lower price.   We asked Doyle to lower the price, and they did – so we went with them, as Mack has had some bad reviews, and frankly, their communication just stinks.   We should have a new jib in 6 to 8 weeks.

Tuesday was just a lazy boat day.  Dean read a book, and Kris played a computer game off and on.  Kris’s Mom is in hospital, so lots of texts and call between her and her sister arranging and figuring out plans going forward for their Mom going to Memory Care.

Wednesday, we walked into town and had a nice lunch out.  Ate at "The Lunch Bucket".  Good fries, and burgers were not bad either.   They even had Impossible burger (meatless), so Kris was happy about that. 

Yummy lunch

Thursday we were up and left before 6:00 a.m., and we wanted to move 72 miles west to Port Jefferson.  Kris needed to be to catch a flight on Saturday to Bend, Oregon to help out with her parents' situation.    Day started with more wind than expected, but then we had to motor through fog so thick that we would see what we hit, just before we hit it, but no time to avoid it.  Luckily, that only lasted an hour or so, and then it lifted.  And then it came back.  And then it lifted – and you get the picture.   By 11:00 the fog was gone and by noon the winds built, and we were having a great sail.  Then the winds built, then the winds built.   Jib only, current with us going 10 knots.  Quite the day.  Got in to Port Jefferson by 5:15.  Oh, did we mention the torrential rain.  Dean had to change out of wet clothes twice from going forward on deck, and we were both soaking wet because – yes – torrential rain while anchoring.    So glad we sailed today, as tomorrow is forecast to be even worse.

Kris on shift, wearing her foul weather jacket in the blustery day

Friday another rainy, cloudy day, highs of 75, so stayed on boat and Kris got ready for her trip.  Turns out the weather was better as far as rain, but windy in the morning and no wind in the afternoon.

Saturday Kris took an Uber for her two Uber, three train, three flight trip to Bend, Oregon.  She made it in fine by midnight Saturday, but tired.

Dean will be a bachelor for a bit now.  Kris plans on coming back in a week or so.