DECEMBER 2009 - We are Linda and Tony and our home at the moment is our boat "Oneday". Oneday is a 37 foot sailing vessel. Our boat is registered in Toronto and our home port is Bayfield ON. Our land home is in Strathroy ON. After raising 4 children, in the year 2000, we purchased our first boat - a 28 foot SV. Within a couple of years, we moved up to a 31 foot sail boat and then in 2006 bought our current boat. Before leaving Bayfield on the 23rd August 2008 to start our "Oneday" Adventure, we spent our summers cruising the North Channel. All of our married lives, which amount to 45 years now, we would dream about one day having our own boat. We have always been drawn to water and boats. Tony would say to me Oneday, we will have a boat. When that Oneday came, it seemed appropriate to name our boat "Oneday". Our "Oneday" Adventure started in August of 2008 when we left Bayfield ON and headed South on Lake Huron, after many months of preparation. After leaving Lake Huron, we transited Lake St Clair, Detroit River, Lake Erie, the Erie Canal, the Hudson River and then out into the North Atlantic Ocean. From the Atlantic Ocean we then made our way down Delaware Bay and into Chesapeake Bay. In October we decided to take the famous Dismal Swamp route before entering the ICW (Intra Coastal Waterway). In December, we met one of our daughters, son in law and 2 grandchildren at Disney World and spent a few days with them over Christmas. By January, we were in Miami and then made the Gulf Stream crossing over to North Bimini - Bahamas. During February, March, April and most of May, we cruised the Exuma chain of Islands in the Bahamas, stopping in Nassau on our way. Our best memories of the Bahamas is the beautiful people who inhabit the little "out islands" - they have so little and yet so much. I have knit a couple of baby garments to take back this year. Towards the end of May, we sadly had to leave the Bahamas so as to avoid "Hurricane" season. We spent most of this summer in the Chesapeake Bay and based ourselves in Baltimore MD which we very much enjoyed. Our 7 year old grandson, Braeden, flew into Baltimore in August and spent 2 weeks on board with us - he is such a great little sailor and it was wonderful for us all to be together - we had so much fun. At the present time, we are once again transiting the ICW in Florida. We will be making the crossing over to the Bahamas once again this year, as soon as we have a safe weather window to do so.
During the summer of 2010, we will leave our "Oneday" in Deltaville VA while we fly home to Strathroy and London for a visit with our family, for a couple of months or so. After that, we will return to the US and once again, make the voyage South to the sunshine.
We are almost completely "self sufficient" and spend each night at anchor. We have 2 solar panels and a wind generator which help to top up our batteries. We have a gas generator on board also. Whilst in the Bahamas we use our desalinator to make fresh water from the ocean for all of our daily needs. We have a fridge and freezer on board and I make bread from time to time. Most days for us present a new challenge, but each and every day is a great adventure.
Now for some background information:
.JPG)
Tony (my Captain), is now retired, having worked in industry prior to teaching Production Engineering at a community college for 36 years. He is a wonderful Captain and has kept us safe up to this point in time. He has navigated us through some treacherous waters and many bad storms. He is able to fix anything and for sure, there’s always something to be fixed on a boat, many of which are immediate safety issues and of course there’s always routine maintenance.
As for me, up until the time that we left on our adventure, I enjoyed sharing my love of knitting by teaching, something which I miss being able to
do at this time. I enjoy the whole aspect of teaching - creating interesting classes and projects, but mostly being able to share my knowledge with other knitters. I particularly enjoy Moebius and Modular techniques. I have been knitting practically all of my life and love the fact that I am still learning. I would classify myself as being an "in charge" type when it comes to knitting - I like to do things my way!! I have been able to do a lot of knitting on the trip - knitting and cruising are a wonderful combination. I fondly refer to it as Casting Off (as in the boat lines) and Casting On (as in my knitting), or otherwise known as "Knitting Up A Storm" and trying to avoid one. I keep a knitting log at all times and each piece I knit has quite a travel history and holds special memories for me. When I am at home, I also machine knit. Tony emphatically says NO at any suggestion of a knitting machine on board - how much room could an LK 150 take anyway? However, he is very tolerant of my need to knit. I sometimes think that there would be a lot more room on board "Oneday" if it were not for my yarn. Yes - I have a big "stash" of yarn on board and of course all the tools of the trade and a sizeable library. I have been fortunate to have found some very interesting yarn stores along the way which are near to the waterway. What’s on my needles now? Socks for my Captain, using a perfect mix of Merino, Silk and Nylon yarn, from a wonderful store in Charleston SC. What’s in my mind to be knit? I am slowly designing a Fair Isle Vest which will be knit out of some pure wool yarn that I purchased in Baltimore. There’s always another Moebius ready to hit the needles from the yarn I bought in Georgetown SC. I also want to design another Moebius neck warmer - possibly a class one day.
That, in a nutshell is the story of our "Oneday" Adventure - I really should write a book - but it would take time away from my knitting. Title: "Knitting Up A Storm" - What do you think?
sellickl@gmail.com (when anywhere except the Bahamas)
CFN4932@sailmail.com (whilst in the Bahamas)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linda keeps a log of their adventures that she would like to share with you. Here is her most recent posting ...
April 2012 - "Around & About the Abacos"
February 2012 - "THE CROSSING AND BEYOND"
December 2011 - "AFLOAT & HEADING SOUTH"