It's now the beginning of the second week at the cottage (house) in Angola, NY (southern shore of Lake Erie).
It's been busy here... with friends and family coming and going.  
The music took a backseat to the opening of the Olympics last Friday night.  But, we made up for that on Sunday evening when the guitars came out, and music flooded the back porch.  NICE!!!

The Olympics didn't keep every one awake.
Ruth, and Billie zonked early.

The Instrument end of the porch; Singers everywhere else!  NICE!

Ruth, Matt, Billie, and Charlie came mid-week, and stayed until late on Sunday, making one of those "hard to stay awake" trips, back to Glenville.   It was wonderful to have them here.
It's one of those Summer traditions that mean so much.

the Kids (Danny, Charlie, Billie, and Eddie)
playing games in dining room on rainy day.

Two cruising couples came for the mid-weekend party.   Vickie, and Mike McKinnon (s/v Double Exposure) came down from Ontario.  Their boat is sitting on land in St. Kitts (Caribean), waiting for them to return in the Fall.   The second cruising couple to come is Beverly, and Rob Davidge (p/v R&B Haven).  They came down from a town east of Ottawa, bringing their 30 foot camping trailer. 

During the first week, the Besants (Margaret, and Marty) came to visit, at the cottage.  Ed Speidel (co-cottage renter), also shown in photo, above, was major cook, and host during his stay at the cottage. 
More later.

AB moved to new home (slip) for summer 2012

Autumn Borne has finally been moved to her new home (slip) at Hop-O-Nose Marina. 
(photo).

AB at end slip - HON

In our old location we literally rolled the fenders along the dock, and the boat next to us, as we came in... so leaving for a pleasure sail/cruise was pretty much, 'out of the question'.
Now...we're on an end slip, and can use the boat whenever we please...
There's no boat to our port side... so we can load and unload the dinghy...

Catskill Creek

We did purchase some dinghy sealant (internal to tubes), and will have to roll the dinghy down the dock (end of end, upside down, etc.) when we return to the AB, after vacation.

We're packing for WNY, and the cottage along the southern shore of Lake Erie.   We're looking forward to catching up with friends of ours from WNY; playing some music, and just "vegging"...

Mid-week at HON:

Another project finished...

The starboard side teak plank, that secures the scuba tanks, and jerry cans of fuel, etc. has now been sanded and varnished (Cetol really). 

The plantation teak plank had been left to weather (gray) for 5 years...

but in it's location right above the now finished cap rail...started to bother me.... SO.......

Out came the sander, brushes, and Cetol. :)

scuba tank securing plank - refinished

I was very pleased with the result... didn't know how the plantation teak would look when sanded... it's a hybrid teak with a higher growth rate, than old growth teak...

Jerry-can end of teak plank - Scuba racks at far end.

We purchased new plastic cups yesterday to cover the air valves on the scuba tanks (They keep the salt water off the valves, and also keep the sail sheets from catching the valves, and opening them (thus freeing 3000 PSIG of compressed air, and scaring the hell out of you))

starboard side finished and scuba tanks, etc. re-stored.

[the old plastic cups were hardened to "brittle", from continuous UV exposure]

Yesterday, Susan and I used part of the afternoon to take a British sailor, named Penny, over to the Catskill Marina pool and laundry facility. We all really enjoyed the pool, while the laundry was finishing. NICE afternoon.

Last evening... we just walked the docks with our glasses of wine, and assisted some fellow boaters, with installing,and storing anchor rodes; or just communing.

Nice evening.

Independence Day and July 3d

Belaying Pin Rail - Starboard

Today (July 3d) was a heavy labor day...(as long as we can't move to our "more permanent location (slip))... I hauled all of the primary anchor chain out of the chain locker, and stretched it out to 25 foot lengths... wire brushed some areas...and then Primed those 25 foot areas for color coding later... maybe Thursday or Friday...

The other project (twin belaying pin rails - port and starboard) is also complete, now.

Belaying Pin Rail - Port

I wanted to make the belaying pins (oak, and poplar dowels) so if this didn't work...we wouldn't be out so much money. 
Not bad looking (if I do say so myself) :) and a nice place to keep lines, besides on the life lines, or stern pulpit, which is crowded already, with outboard motors, grilles, bicycles, etc.

Tuesday night (July 3d) we saw Phil, from the sailing vessel 'Acadia', come into the Creek....
He came to the AB to share a bottle of wine with us...

After enjoying the wine with Phil, on our "porch" (aft deck), we drove him up-town to the Italian restaurant, Pomodoro's, for dinner....

NICE evening... (I mentioned Phil before... Afghanistan Veteran - multiple tours- now looking forward to the cruising life).  

Today is party day at Ruth's new home, near Schenectady.   Should be fun.  Enjoy the holiday. Be Safe!!! 

Lucas in South African PICU

One thing that wasn't posted was our visit with Margaret, and Marty Besant, on their way back home from South Africa.  They came to the AB directly from JFK airport.  

It was wonderful catching up on their journey, and the status of their daughter, and her new baby (in South Africa).