Our New Sarayu plus upcoming adventure

Well folks here she is! Our new Sarayu, actually her name will remain Proud Lady, but she will always be our Sarayu.

We searched long and hard from Tennessee to Illinois. Until we found the right trawler that would be perfect for our budget and style. Bill and I love the teak exterior and interior. It makes it feel classic and cozy. Our next project is restoring her and getting her ready for the LOOP. There's not a whole lot of work but the teak needs attention.

Then, she will be coming down from Illinois to Kentucky where she will find her permanent home on the beautiful waters of Kentucky Lake. Bill has hired a Captain to bring him and Proud Lady down the rivers who will train and drive and all in one trip. I however am not able to make the trip this time due to work responsibility. Keep them in your prayers for safety and an enjoyable trip.

If you ever get up to Ottawa Illinois its a beautiful little river town and the people are friendly. We attended a lecture given by Captain Moe at Heritage Harbor, about navigating the Illinois River. He gave an awesome lecture in a beautiful location. Ottawa could be the perfect place for retirement for some, but a good overnight place for us Looers. We toured Starved Rock state park. Visited with folks at Starved Rock Marina, ate at the Captains Cove restaurant, who serves very good food in a fun atmosphere. We watched the boats and barges locking through at Starved Rock Lock and Dam. If you like to read a good ghost story book for fall read, "Ghosts of the Illinois River." That kinda fits into the season. Happy fall ya all! JOY

The old is gone and we're searching for a new larger Sarayu

We are searching for a bigger boat. Here Bill is dreaming of a trawler at Green Turtle Bay in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. We do have a dream of owing a 36 foot Albin. There are so many great trawlers to choose from. What will the new Sarayu look like?

Power washing Sarayu before she meets her new owner. She was in great shape and ready for the next adventure.

This is our granddaughter enjoying the breeze being the "lookout" and helping grandpa Bill sail Sarayu on Kentucky Lake in July 2010.

Much has happened since our last post. We had great fun sailing this summer 2010 on Kentucky Lake. Sarayu sits in a slip in the most beautiful place in the world, Light house landing Grand rivers Kentucky. We had so much fun grabbing bits of fun on weekends then working during the week. However, we visited the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau, MO. the Mississippi can be intimidating with whirls of water, barges leaving BIG wakes and swells so we decided we needed a bigger boat. SO... for our comfort and safety Sarayu was sold and has a happy new owner. Bill and I are searching for the new Sarayu. She will be a trawler, hopefully 36 foot, diesel engine and ready for the Loop.

Naming Sarayu

This weekend June 5th and 6th were very busy for Sarayu. Sarayu means to stream or flow. The name Sarayu also represents the Holy Spirit in the book "The Shack", by William P. Young . Sarayu our sailboat received her name in a christening ceremony. Our ceremony was one borrowed from an Internet site which we read aloud, the ceremony was funny and consisted of blessing our adventures and casting out the old name TiKi (and any devils that were aboard). Then Captain Bill poured the nectar of the gods (Welches' sparkling grape juice) over the bow (not breaking a bottle because of safety reasons.) We sailed on Saturday most of the day late into the evening. Kentucky lake was alive with motor vessels, pleasure craft and sailboats. I wasn't much help to Captain Bill because I am recovering from surgery so I sat like the admirable princess Joy enjoying the ride. We drafted family my sister Pam and her husband Mark for crew and enjoyed the help and every moment. Life is too short not to enjoy every moment and thank God for His marvelous creation.

The engine repairs were done and all went well for this weekend. We look forward to the next adventure. Will we ever make it to our destination of 20 miles below lighthouse landing? How long will that take in our little sailing vessel with its small 9 HP engine? Wait and see...

Loop adventure still in planning stages. We may surprise ourselves with things to come.

The delay in adventure.....

Our friend we met in Myrtle Beach rendezvous, Mary Ellen, s/v Indigo Lady, gave us advice "look at challenges and problems as opportunities". No words could have been more encouraging than the day we set out for our first sail of the summer. Let me paint you a mind picture. 2010 the Tennessee River is flooded out of its banks, but we were two very motivated and stubborn people willing to have fun while improving their sailing skills, weather forecast calls for thunder showers for the day. Bill and I left Light House Landing marina about 10:00 am headed for a destination of about 20 miles up Kentucky Lake. Big fat thunderheads mingled with brilliant sunshine fill the sky. We stop the engine and raise the sails for the first time this year. Here we are sailing along just as tranquil as we could get but, ever cautious of the surrounding conditions. Several sailboats were already out on the lake and they looked stunningly beautiful. We were about 2 hours into our adventure of the day when a black squall appeared threatening us with thunder and lightening. Several of the other sailing vessels lowered their sails and were already headed back to the marina. Bill made the decision that we should also return, so the sails were lowered and the engine once again started we headed back to our slip at Lighthouse Landing delaying today's adventure, because of weather and lake conditions. The engine had been running rough all day giving Bill concern that something could be wrong but thinking it just needed a good run, we opened it full throttle. About a mile south of our the marina the engine sputtered then stalled. By this time the little squall was over the sun out in full force it turned out to be a gorgeous day. Here we were just sitting in the middle of the Lake. We could raise the sail or call to the marina, Bill called and we were towed. (Just a plug for our friends, Marty & Brenda Colburn at Lighthouse Landing they are wonderful people.)
Long story short the diesel fuel needed drained, new fuel, new fuel filters and minor repairs its up and running again. Lesson learned: part of the yearly diesel maintenance is to drain and add new fuel and filters.
So Mary Ellen's advice "challenges and problems are only opportunities" proved to be true and probably will prove to be true many more times as we prepare for and do our Loop adventure . I thank God for keeping us safe, for our looper friends, and for the folks at Lighthouse Landing Marina.

The fever for adventure- sailing the great loop

Well!
Here we are, our adventure will begin in 1 year 6 months.
Our plans and dreams began after taking an ASA sailing course on coastal crusing, safety, and basic coastal navigation the summer of 2009. In the winter months after the purchase of Sarayu our 27ft Hunter s/v, Bill and I learned of the Great Loop and began reading anything pertaining to the loop and sailing. We joined America's Great Loop Cruising Association and the fever began. For Christmas 2009 we purchased, as gifts, guides and began exploring the loop by book.

The Fever really hit hard when we read,"Honey, lets Get a Boat" by Ron and Eva Stob and viewing Bob and Mavis Duthrie's , "Great Loop Adventure CD." We were hooked.

We then attended the Americas Great Loop Association rendevzous in spring 2010 and was inspired by many adventerous folk who are in the process and planning their own loop adventure. We were awed by the women who cruised the loop single handedly. We now feel grateful and blessed for meeting people who we can call our family with the same destination and spirit for adventure. Now we really have the fever.

Our Sarayu is very cozy inside, the cabin just right for the 2 of us. Our galley is adequate but is simple right next to "roughing it". She has a full head-shower and vanity sink.

This summers adventures include: improving our sailing skills,
explore Kentucky Lake and share our sailing fun with family and friends while we outfit our s/v for our year long adventure.