Marine Bargains

I can remember when Peachtree Salvage Store opened in my hometown.  One of my favorite things to do was to wander around this store sifting through the sweaters hoping to find a bargain.  I found a green sweater for about 7 dollars  that I wore all through college.  I still love going through these bargain, flea market type shops hoping to find a bargain.

While visiting  New Mexico on a trip in 2010 with our daughter's physics class , we toured The Black Hole  The teacher who put together the trip loved to take the students to unusual sites.   The Black Hole was started by Ed Grunthus who worked at Los Alamos.  He went into private business buying salvage items from the government.  Included in the inventory are centrifuges, chemistry lab supplies, gas masks and more. 

Why am I talking about the Black Hole  when I am nowhere near New Mexico.  Sailor's Exchange in Jacksonville could be the nautical version of The Black's Hole.  Sailor's Exchange carries nautical décor, rope, charts, books, teak items, glass ware and plates and more. 

Mr. Adventure found a 2012 Florida chart for $40.  They typically sell for $100 or more.  He also found some tubes for holding fishing rods that we can attach to the boat.  I found a painting of a lighthouse that I hope to use somewhere on the boat. It reminds me of my youth in the seventies because of it's psychedelic  nature.  We were told that the artist works for Sailor's Exchange in St. Augustine.

Sails





Books

Charts

decorative items

Lots and lots of line

Immersion suits for a great price!

Cute melamine dishware

Glassware

Wooden accessories

Care to take a guess as to when this came out?

Ship in a bottle

 

Chamblin Bookmine Visit

Visit to Chamblin Bookmine

Walking around Lamb's Yacht Center, we discovered Chamblin Bookmine.    Walking around the Bookmine is like walking through the lava of an erupted volcano of books.  Books are stacked high and low, far and wide.  Chamblin's is  located in an older building in an out of the way part of Jacksonville.  The parking lot is full, completely full.  

Books line the aisles with handwritten labels describing the subjects.  Chamblin's sells both new and used books.  Looking up and down the aisle, one can see used books and new book. There are so many aisles and books that begin to look the same that I got lost--yes lost in a sea of books. I found two books--one on photography and one silly little mystery to read on the boat when we have down time.  The website for the Bookmine describes the inventory as 98% rare and used books with 2 % new books.  They have a trade in/purchase policy which allowing customers to barter books.Bookmine sells online if one is unable to visit the store in person.

Mr. Adventure and I started out in the maritime section.  I was looking for more books on knot tying.  He found a book on Pirates that he thought might help me overcome the pirate voices I sometimes hear at night while at anchor. I didn't discover any books on knot tying--also known as marlinspike (that's the nautical term for the art of tying knots--definition by Joy)

Chamblin's Bookmine is a treasure, as its name suggests, in the rapidly changing  world of books.. There is no better way to spend a rainy afternoon than with a worn book in hand curled up under a blanket.  We visited Chamblin's Bookmine on Roosevelt Boulevard.  There is another site named Chamblin's Uptown on North Laura Street.  The Uptown shop includes a café.  We will definitely make a visit to the Uptown location when we return with a car.

The exterior doesn't give a clue to the treasure inside.

Mr. Adventure looking at marine books

Steve's pick for me

Seamanship

Women's Studies & Gardening

Some of the choices in women's studies

Just to be fair I suppose--Men's Studies

Paranormal Romance?? Haven't seen this category before.

Finally something that I can read before going to bed--I don't know why the picture is in sideways

More light reading choices

Reminds me of the school video Katy made in high school about Stephen Hawking

So many books they have to stack on the floor

Our girls had Hooked on Phonics!!!

Fun mystery series

Psalm 52:8      Proverbs 3:5-6

December 5, 2012

Small waves heading in all directions have replaced the calm waters of Tuesday indicating that stormy weather is just ahead.  Steve has headed toward Baltimore to catch a flight home for business and will return later today.  I plan to enjoy the coziness of Meandering Joy during the stormy weather except for a quick trip to the grocery store for some provisioning for our weeks ahead.  We are planning to leave on Thursday for Solomon's Island, MD.  All that is left to be completed is the life raft.  It is supposed to arrive today. 

I did some Christmas shopping on Tuesday.  Annapolis has a nice mall and an area on Forest Avenue with some great boutiques.  Patrick was outside when I arrived back at Burr.  He talked to me about the business philosophy at Burr Yacht Sales after I thanked him for all the kindness and patience that has been shown to us during our training on Meandering Joy.  They believe that the best salesperson for the Fleming is satisfied happy customers.  Statistics show that many Fleming owners are repeat buyers either buying newer hulls, or moving to the larger models, proof that their philosophy is effective.

We had dinner with another new owner yesterday evening.  John Pohl was at BYS for the survey of the boat he is purchasing.  He and his wife, Beth, live in Charleston, SC most of the time, but are living in Norfolk, VA while he is working on a job there.   We discovered that they play tennis also.  We had dinner with John at Adam's, the place for Ribs.  We are looking forward to meeting Beth soon. 

Psalm 31:20    Genesis 28:11-16

December 4, 2012

I am having a very difficult time remembering the day of the week.  DeeDee has a day calendar that they use to remind them of the specific day.  We were told that this is a common experience because routines are changed so much while living a board. 

On Monday, I left early for a long walk/jog session.  Michael G. told me about an application for my iphone that clocks my time and marks the path I take.  It is called Nike+ and it is free.  I was a little surprised that the app would talk to me as I finished each mile and tell me the time and cheer me forward. It is kind of like walking with a friend.  I started the stretching exercises that I am supposed to do each day and I started using the exercise bands for a few strength training exercises.  While we are making our passage to other places, I know I will not get to move around very much, so it will probably be important that I do these exercise.  I hope I can get into the habit. 

I discovered many new nooks and crannies as I cleaned yesterday.  I am becoming much more familiar with everything and have started making this my home--away from home.  I love the smell of Lemon Pledge and Mr. Clean. 

Buddy was here most of the day working on the Portuguese bridge doors and the pilothouse doors.  While we were at St. Michaels, I was trying to line up the pin that locks the doors into place.  The hole and pin were not quite lined up so I lifted the door just a little.  The door came off the track and fell off.   It was saved by the railing from falling into the water.  Steve put it back on track for the ride back to Burr and added that to our list of repairs before takeoff. 

Steve spent about 2 hours on Noble Tec plotting our route to first Solomon's Island and then to Norfolk, VA.  These are our first two stops on our Southern route.  He plans to get together with Kevin today for some additional help with the computerized charting system.  Steve has also been busy with the sound system, television, and Netflix.  He ran to Fawcett Boat Supplies (http://fawcettboat.com/) to get some hardware to secure the tender.  We have visited both locations of West Marine in the area and Fawcett Boat Supplies.  Fawcett's is by far my favorite. 

It was very warm in Edgewater today.  I had all the doors open and was listening to Christmas music while I was cleaning and straightening.  I glanced out the cockpit door and noticed was looked to be a small island creeping across the Selby bay with a back hoe on top of the island.  It was a strange sight.  Steve tells me that this is used to work on pilings at docks.  The driver is sitting in the top of what looks like a lifeguard stand. 

Psalm 116:17   Isaiah 55:8-9  Colossians 4:2

I continue to read the devotion by Sarah Young --Jesus Calling.  I have always found the verses in Isaiah helpful when trying to understand things that happen that are so senseless. 

November 28, 2012

November 28, 2012

There are some breaks in the clouds where light is beginning to poke through.  I hope the cold gray cloud that hung over us yesterday dissolves today.  Some of the final work on the boat was finished or begun on Tuesday.  The Portuguese bridge door was retrieved and varnished.  It should be hung today.  The hardware was installed on the lazarette doors.  The only kink in finishing things up seems to be the DirecTV. The new receiver/DVR doesn't want to talk to the satellites in the sky for some unknown reason. 

I spent the rainy Tuesday cutting drawer liner to fit into all the drawers.  I got all the drawers organized from our first week of living here.  It seems that we threw things into drawers without much thought as to how and where we would need certain items.  We think we have the pilot house better organized to suit our needs.  I also tested out the new washer which works perfectly.  

Rather than spend the day aboard, I headed to Annapolis for some shopping.  I found a Hallmark store that put me in the Christmas spirit.  Another store I discovered was Fresh Market.  It is a beautiful grocery store.  The layout of the store reminded me of an outdoor market with tables filled with fresh vegetables and unique Christmas items.  It is somewhat like the Whole Foods or Earth Fare at home but better. 

After a late lunch or early dinner at 5:00, we headed back to Annapolis with our Fleming friends-Terry & DeeDee, Barrie & Mary.  We saw the new James Bond movie, Skyfall.  It met all expectations for a 007 film.  It was loud, action packed, and filled with close-ups of Daniel Craig. Judy Dench was great as M, and I like the new Miss Moneypenny.    

We are trying to leave Burr sometime at the end of the week.  If all goes well today, we might go out and anchor late this afternoon.  Kevin will probably go out with us and find a spot where we can put out the anchor and stay overnight.  He would take the dinghy back into Burr leaving us at anchor, alone, in the dark, at night.  Sounds like we baby birds are about to be kicked out of the nest.  I am ready to leave and head toward Jacksonville, not because I haven't enjoyed our stay here, but because we have become more comfortable with Meandering Joy and it is time to begin our venturing out to new places. 

1 Peter 5:7, Ephesians 3:16-19, Psalm 102:21-22

Paul's prayer for the Ephesisans is beautiful:

            I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how  wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you  may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God