Ei'Leans Revenge: "Frankenboat" or the "Bride of Ei'Lean"

While Mac and his stubbly little Dhyer ridiculed and humiliated little Ei'Lean, little did he know that deep in my secret Laboratory, a new and bigger pram was taking form.

A bigger and more threatening version of Ei'Lean. Sloop rigged and with enough sail area to swallow up dyhers, and spit them out the stern.

What began as a collection of Okume planks, resin, and fiberglass has slowly been taking shape.

Soon the finish work will begin. The sanding and grinding. Sanding and grinding. Then the paint and varnishing, sanding and painting.... But once done - the sails will be bent and to the water we will go.

Be patient little Ei'Lean. Papa is coming and revenge will be yours. Feel safe for now little Dyher Dhow.... Just not for too much longer.... Frankenboat is coming.

Ei'Lean goes for a sail (or rubba dub dub - what's that in the tub?)

Need I say anything?

Ei Lean Gets Her Revenge

It started out as a boys weekend at the cape. Me & Mac on the floating condo, and a couple of sailing dingys.

We intended for a long weekend of friendly sailing around the Cape Lookout Bight.

We Sailed out on Friday with 15-20kt from the NE - closed hauled in smooth water a mile off of the beach.

We then spent a windy nite at anchor but Saturday dawned warm and sunny with little wind.

Soon it was time to drop the dingys in the water and go for a sail.

That's when it all turned ugly......

Mac in his Dyer Dhow kept blowing the doors off of little Ei Lean. He took every opportunity to humiliate her - passing by closely dumping water over her gunnels, stealing her wind.

At one point he even left the race and went back to the mother ship to replenish his beer supply - then sailed back out and caught up to her.

But this callous attitude was not to last...

The sea gods eventually took vengence on his showboating with rough weather on Sunday.

Our sail back to Beaufort inlet into 25kts and 6-8 ft seas right on the nose took 2 1/2 rather than the normal 1 hr.

Everytime a wave came over the bow I think I heard Ei Lean laugh and say "bite me Mac".

Bacchante even tried to dump the Dyer over the side at one point.

Was also a first test of the new Lighthouse windlass and all chain rode.

The Verdict: Life is good!

Houston.... Insanity Base here.. The Doodle has landed

A quick flight to Detroit - a connection to Moline, IL - a handoff at the airport followed by another flight with a doodle-in-a-crate to Minneapolis and finally a last flight back to Albany and voila - we become a Dual-Doodle household.

Gracie and her new bud Lucy immediately became best of friends.

Now we just need to get Lucy her sea-legs and we'll all be good to go!

The Mecca of Meat - OR - Smokey the Pig

Gracie supervises her bud in the proper operation of the railroad
Then a quick stop for lunch came after the pilgrimage to Oscars

Ah... Sweet Oscars... The mecca of meat.

If you can't fall in love with a pig here - you just ain't alive.

Invasion of the Llama Snatchers

A quick weekend visit by our warm weather family let to our annual pilgrimage to the North Creek Llama Farm.

All of the Llamas in this barn were females (except for some of the babies).

One of the Llamas seemed to be slightly "gender challenged"


Here the baby tries to get Mom to stand up so that he can grab a quick snack.

Uh.... what's up doc?