Random Clips

I haven’t posted in a while and have a hadful of random things to talk about that have occurred the last month or so.

First is this video of my friend Tadd Maudlin, cruising on his sailboat off the coast of Belize, doing a dance that I used to do in college and most likely still do.  I’m very jealous of him – bought a boat and is cruising on it indefinitely with his girlfriend, they are now in the Carribbean off Belize – follow them on their blog at http://lastknownposition.blogspot.com 

 

Speaking of boats, mine was broken for two long weeks – the motor went out while we were sailing, so we had to sail her into the can with pretty much no wind – super fun and challenging.  Then I tried a zillion differnet things to fix her, all to no avail and making it worse over about ten days.  Called a boat mechanic named Doug Pietz recommended by my boat neighbor.  He met me out on the boat and proceeded to tear into the motor fearlessly – fixing three problems, each of which could have been a major issue on its own, all in the span of under two hours.  A true professional and it was really amazing to watch him work.  I was very impressed with his skill and his pricing and efficiency and fun attitude.  If you need boat engine work done certainly call him at 847 533 9030, he is spectacular.

This past weekend I went to another lake house, also in Michigan and on the shore of Lake Michigan and its spectacular giant sand beaches – they are truly stunning if you have a chance to check out the west coast of the lower peninsula definitely do, they seriously rival many of the great beaches around the world in my opinion in the summer, and also very cool to experience in the wintertime.  Stretches a couple hundred miles up the coast.  Here’s a view from the kitchen:

 

Took different crew sailing each day of the air and water show including Friday – very fun and gorgeous days.  Check the picture of the enormous American flag on a sailboat we saw. 

At the Air and Water Show in Chicago 2009

Went to Devil’s Lake one Sunday a couple weeks back to rock climb with some climbing friends, great time had by all.  Gorgeous, perfect day and terrific group of climbers.

This weekend we head to Lake Superior to kayak the Apostle Islands for five days, should be a great trip, sevn of us are going, really looking forward to it.

Went to a Purdue football game last Saturday, very fun to see all my old buddies and wander by my old apartment.   In college I managed to jump a car over the embankment shown below, they seem to have put up posts to stop this in the future.

Scene of trouble back in the day

At the Air and Water Show in Chicago 2009

Scene of trouble back in the day

Cruising the North Channel of Lake Huron

After racing the 101st Chicago to Mackinac sailboat race and having a heck of a good time at the party afterwards on Mackinac Island, I made my way to the ferry the next morning and managed to find my folks’ vehicle they had so kindly had their friends deliver for me to Mackinaw City.  I hopped in and cruised north across the five mile long Mackinac Bridge (They actually have drivers on each side waiting to drive your car across for you if you’re nervous).   

Shot from the bridge

I made it to Soo Saint Marie, and crossed the bridge into Canada.  I actually was stopped at customs and they ran my record, clean of course and into Canada I went.  Got pulled over and was given a speeding ticket after about three hours.  Apparently at about 20 mph over they impound your car and you get in big trouble.  Note this should you want to speed in Ontario.  I made it to Killarney and wandered the docks until I found my folks.  Spent the night there and visited with some of their friends on the surrounding boats in the harbor, and enjoyed a nice dinner in town with some of their friends.  Even listened to the “Cruiser’s Net” for the north channel the next morning, a fellow who does a daily radio show for the region, aimed at boaters and you can pick it up on VHF.  Quite fun to watch and listen to.

It’s very beautiful up in that area and I love the lifestyle of cruising on a sailboat in the wilderness.  Essentially camping but in comfort and on the water.  Wake up, have breakfast, pull the anchor, sail for a few hours to a new cove or harbor, drop the anchor, take the dinghy to shore, hike, pick blueberries, cocktails on other boats, grill dinner, eat, play cards, go to sleep, repeat.   Very fun way to live!  We climbed a small mountain one day, making our way down a quite precarious slope on the way down, different than the way we came up, and exceedingly steep for my 60+ year old folks, and actually for me for that matter. 

My Mom working her way down the cliff, Dad lower down

My father is the happiest I’ve ever seen him up there.  He’s usually a pretty happy guy, but even better up north on his beloved boat in some of his favorite country, the north channel of lake huron.

Dad and I on top of the mountain

The 101st running of the Race to Mackinac

The skipper in the Manitous

Very slow race yacht race this year – not much wind. We didn’t finish until Tuesday afternoon, usually we finish sometime during the day on Monday. The Valkyrie was doing well through about 2/3’s of the race, holding our own, near the front of our section when we took a fateful gybe too late into the Manitou islands passage and got stuck too close in to land as the wind shifted and pushed us in. We bobbed there helplessly as all the little boats we had passed over the previous days slowly caught us and passed us in the middle of the channel, and all we could do was watch.  In frustration we slowly worked our way up the coast – and I mean slowly, 0-.5 knots per hour for a good 15-20 hours, enough to drive a crew bonkers. I did actually

Banana Phil

enjoy the longer race – often when the race is shorter I am looking forward to it being over by this time.  On the third day I was in the groove ,

Homestretch

used to sleeping only every three hours for just three hours, enjoying the 3am to 6 am shifts – watching the black sky turn slowly less dark in the east, then blue, then finally a tiny bright orange sliver peek out over the horizon and speed up into the air, bringing warmth to us and allowing us to shed layers after the coldest part of the night. 

Dawn in the Manitous, Lake Michigan

We showed up at Mackinac just in time for the rum party on the front lawn of the

Rum Party Grand Hotel Mac 2009

Grand Hotel, a spectacular event where we had a blast and carried on to hut tub and party at the Pink Pony where

Rum Party!

apparently peeing in the pool is preferable to wandering into the hotel wet and in your underwear to find a bathroom as I found out the hard way, next time I’ll know.  The next morning I had breakfast with some crew members and was off to catch the ferry back to the mainland and finding my folks’ car to journey across the 5 mile long Mackinac bridge, through the U.P. and into Ontario and the north channel.

Sunrise during the Mac Race

Rocking out offshore with REO/Styx on the Imjatse

Twenty of my sister’s friends came cruising on the Imjatse Friday night.  That’s a record-shattering number and the boat handled everybody easily.  I believe this was our third annual event with this crew, and the biggest and possibly best yet.  One of the best nights of the summer. 

Watching REO Speedwagon from the boat

We picked everyone up at the dock at around six and headed straight for Northerly Island from Monroe Harbor and anchored (with a bit of slippage and re-anchoring) out just offshore in time to enjoy the sunset and hear the end of the .38 Special set.  Next up was REO Speedwagon and we heard them loud and clear from the water.  A bunch of guys swam and Brent entertained not only our boat but many of the surrounding craft with what is difficult to describe with words, fortunately I had my trusty camera with me and shot some video to commemorate, see below.

And then it continues with a strong finish below, an olympic-caliber air guitar scissor kick combo.

Styx finished the night and were excellent. AFter they finished we pulled up anchor and motored back to the harbor. Gorgeous night, great time, great crew, good food, plenty to drink, great bands, great city!

Chicago NOODs Yacht Racing Action

I raced in the NOODs Friday on the J120 racing yacht Valkyrie.  There was a huge weather delay as the sky was black as night over the city and north of us out into the lake.  It looked as if it was bearing down on us so we battened down the hatches and dropped our sails in preparation, but nothing except some rain ever hit us. 

Chicago NOODs Friday before the storm

We waited from about 10 am until one or so, just bouncing around on the lake, I snoozed in the cabin and chatted with my fellow crew members, many of whom I’ve known for four or five years and more, racing on the same boat.  It is bonding, going through storms and such together, races, post race parties, and generally spending a lot of time together.  Tends to bond folks.  Eventually the race committee decided things were ok to race as the wind settled down and they set a course.  We decided to practice putting our spinnaker up and were very nearly late for our start, making it at the last second and fouling another boat which protested us.  The second race we managed to botch as well.  We have several new guys on the crew and they aren’t as practiced as the veterans.  Makes a difference in the small things.  Mistakes add up, small and big and contribute to winning and losing.   Fun day all in all, learning experience for us and good practice.  To win races you need to be smooth at all positions around the boat, have great driving, run the boat to the very edge in terms of maximum (or better said, optimum) sail out for the conditions, make solid tactical decsions, and be in the right place at the right time, meaning be in the spots with the best wind and clearest air.  A bit of luck is involved as well. Check the clip below for a small bit of racing action.

2008 What a Year in Adventure-ness

Reflecting on the adventurous aspects of 2008…  One of the best ever for me second only to 2000 when I travelled the world for 6.5 months.  This year I was so fortunate.  Five foreign countries, two new mountains climbed, fourth Chicago to Mackinac sailing race, surfing, skiing…  I must list all the adventures and trips I was lucky enough to participate in this past year, and be so grateful for the opportunities I was blessed with.

1. Elwha Trail hike in the Olympic Mountains West of Seattle with four good buddies.
2. The 100th running of the Chicago to Mackinac Sailing race, on a J120 named Valkyrie, placed well in our class, finished in around 55 hours.
3. Cruised the North Channel of Lake Huron on a 38 foot Ericson sailboat owned by my parents with a highlight being Topaz lake.
4. Nantucket Massachusetts for several days with my oldest friend Spencer and his family, driving on the beach, catching bluefish from the shore, enjoying old friends, meeting my namesake, Cormac Thomas Carney
5. Upstate New York at my girlfriend’s grandparents’ “camp”, waterskiing, kayaking, mountain biking, swimming.
6. Climbing the highest point in New York State, Mt Marcy, ticking off the 12th state high point on my quest to do all 50 of them.
7. Jamaica for work, Kingston.
8. Cayman Islands to visit my cousin Megan for a few days.
9. Jazzfest in New Orleans for a bachelor party
10. Numerous mountain biking excursions around Chicago
11. Numerous sailing parties on my boat, a 28 foot Ericson christened the Imjatse after a Nepalese mountain I climbed.
12. Rock climbing in Red River gorge, Kentucky
13. Rock climbing at Mississppi Palisades twice
14. Summiting Mt Belford, a 14,000 foot mountain in Colorado, then sleeping in a bivy sack on its flanks overnight in about 15 degrees.
15. Pilgrimage to the original Chipotle in Denver
16. 35 person white water rafting trip sponsored by the adventure ministry I run at church, running class III and IV rapids.
17. Kayaking the Vermilion River in very high, fast water.
18. Costa Rica!  Staying at my friend’s resort, surfing, jungle hikes, four-wheeling.
19. Talon’s Challenge at Vail, skiing thirteen black and double black runs in a single day with a reward of a free beer and a free hat.
20. Skiing at Aspen with the family
21. Moving my friend’s sailboat 200 miles down the intracoastal waterway from Norfolk to Beaufort NC, just my father and I.
22. Two winter attempts of Mt Humphries, the tallest mountain in Arizona, each a failure, but getting closer and I lived to climb another day.
23. Thanksgiving in Boston
24. Ten person caving trip that I led through Buckner’s cave in Southern Indiana.
25. Ski trip to Wausau Wisconsin and Granite Peak Resort.
26. Raced the Cohasset Triathlon
27. 40+ person sea kayaking trip led by my group

What a wonderful year, with lots of love and great relationships started, nourished, and deepened during all these adventures and trips. 

I have to give a lot of credit for this year to Tim  Ferriss, author of The Four Hour Workweek for his writings and inspiration to live like this – thanks much Tim and all the best to everybody in 2009.  I always wanted to live like this but never knew anybody who did – I didn’t think it was really possible until I read Tim’s stuff and embarked upon the adventure.  Inspirational.  This year has been the best to date for my business, relationships, and adventures and experiences.  I hope for an even better 2009 and hope for the same for everybody.  I have to copy some of Tim’s stuff from a mentor of his here  – good food for thought:

“While many are wringing their hands, I recall the 1970s when we were suffering from an oil shock causing long lines at gas stations, rationing, and 55 MPH speed limits on Federal highways, a recession, very little venture capital ($50 million per year into VC firms), and, what President Jimmy Carter (wearing a sweater while addressing the Nation on TV because he had turned down the heat in the White House) called a “malaise”. It was during those times that two kids without any real college education, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, started companies that did pretty well. Opportunities abound in bad times as well as good times. In fact, the opportunities are often greater when the conventional wisdom is that everything is going into the toilet.

Well…we’re nearing the end of another great year, and, despite what we read about the outlook for 2009, we can look forward to a New Year filled with opportunities as well as stimulating challenges.”

Putting the Sailboat away, Monroe to Crowleys

Put my sailboat, the Imjatse away for the winter.  My father and I sailed her down in late October.  Cold day.  Stopped by the pumpout dock on the way out of Monroe Harbor to clean out the holding tank, then sailed her down, wind on our quarter the whole way.  Had some issues finding the Hyde Park shoal, or rather, NOT finding it!  got past her just fine, under the bridge, then into the dock.  Fun and cold and ‘lumpy’ trip.  Great annual tradition.

Sailboat at Crowleys for the winter :(

Sailed my boat down to Crowley’s for the winter yesterday from Monroe Harbor with my father.  Fun time, failry heavy seas, 4-6 foot waves, very confused seas, very lumpy ride, wave from every which way.  Wind was on our quarter however, so that’s always good.  No GPS and there are a few shoals that need to be avoided, added some excitement.  Had all the clothes I brought on, plus a hat and gloves and was still cold.  Why do I wait so long??  Because I can’t bear to take her out, that’s why.  I need a boat in the south or a home in the south or I need to live in the south.  The older I get the tougher winter here in Chicago gets.   Pumped the oil out of the engine, pulled the jib down, and other various tasks.  My boat partner will finish most of it off Sunday when he comes down.   I have to throw in some praise for my father, what a trooper!  Thanks to him, had a great time and he made it possible.  It is fairly hard though fun (with the right attitude) work.

However, that being said, this weekend I head to colorado to climb three fourteeners, namely Mt, Oxford, Mt Belford, and Missouri Mountain.  Should be a great time.  We intend to camp at 12000 feet after summiting two peaks, then summit the third the following day.  I’m a bit behind on my goal of one fourteener each year, so this should catch me up to within a few years.  Really looking forward to it.  Again, fairly hard work but fun with the right attitude!!

Last Days of the Chicago Sailing Season, the Sweeter for it

Took some older folks out sailing this evening from a Church group, they were in from around the country and I did it as a favor.  Though I always love taking people sailing, always so special and memorable for them.  And sailing myself – I am always looking for an excuse to go out.  6-8 knots, enough to move, cruised out of the city under sail out towards the red and white water intake plant which I tell people who ask that it’s the International Clown Hotel.  Some buy it.  Most don’t.

The crew tonight started off slow and were a bit uncomfortable, but later loosened up and started telling stories and joking – something special happens when you’re on a boat, in tight quarters.  It’s always great bonding and nearly always not just fun but extraordinarily fun.  I had a blast.  They started out not so helpful – but I’ve learned through the years as a captain that you often simply need to ask people to do something and they cheerfully do so.  I eventually had people steering, grilling, and getting food and serving drinks so I didn’t have to do it all.  Was great.  So many stories from the guys about trouble they’d gotten into as teens – most often I find women do the talking, tonight was different as the men dominated the conversation.  One fellow managed to shoot him self high up his leg near his groin.  Another set a street on fire.  Yours truly drove a pizza delivery guy’s car around the block and spent the night in jail for his efforts.  Some threw apples and water balloons at passing cars.

After I dropped them off I cruised slowly back to the buoy and just hung out, savoring the last days of my boating season in Chicago.  It was a spectacular, crystal clear fall night with the sky still lit, a full moon shining brightly, and the city lights stark against the painted clouds.  I emailed, texted, stared at the city, had powerful, positive energy flowing through me and was so so grateful to be fortunate enough to have a boat and be so thrilled with life so often.  Such an amazing city and country and planet we all live on.

Sailing down the Intracoastal Waterway for 5 days

My buddy bought a boat in Annapolis, problem is he lives in Key West.  He needs to get it south but has to work.  My Dad and I helped him out for a couple hundred miles, from Norfolk Virginia down to Beaufort, North Carolina.  What an amazing trip, through the naval shipyards and many bridges of Norfolk through 20+ mile straight canals, tiny towns, wilderness anchorages…  All with quality father-son time.  Wake up, have breakfast, host the anchor, and off we’d go, day after day.  So cool, I could have carried on for weeks, if not months, if not years.  Such a great adventure.  Wind was on our quarter the whole way, amazing.  Blowing pretty strong, as much as 30 knots some days.  We crossed a few big sections of open water.

ICW on a 30 foot boat, the Praxithea, going past a rotating bridge

The log for the first few days is below, written by my Dad.

Met some extremely nice people on the second to last day with the exact same boat as my dad – we got along great, and actually hitched a ride from them out to the airport, which was over an hour from where we left the boat in Beaufort.  What a terrific trip.  Can’t wait to do more of the ICW.  See below for our log.

 

We ran aground one day, the last day of the trip.  We were told we’d run agraound every day – I cursed us after not having hit for 4 days, saying our trip wasn’t complete without a grounding, wouldn’t you know, that day we got stuck. Not to worry, reverse with a lot of thrust for a few minutes got us off.  Saw wild horses the last day on an island.  Saw three different pods of dolphins swim right by the boat.  Awesome.  

Channel Marker on the ICW, 3rd day

 

Wild Horses on an Island across from Beaufort NC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Praxithea Log

Norfolk to Beaufort

September 18 -23, 2008

Tom and Tom Trimmer

 

The goal of the trip was for Tom Jr. and Tom Sr. to move Praxithea, an Irwin 30 owned by Tadd Maudlin, from Norfolk VA to Morehead City NC.  We have allowed 5 days for the trip of 200 miles down the ICW even though we believe it can easily be done in four days.  This allows us a weather day.

 

Thursday, September 18

 

We arrived in Norfolk about 3 PM and were met at the airport by Steve……, the father of the prior owner of Praxithea.  Steve was very helpful and accommodating in that he drove us to the grocery for provisions and loaned us guides for the trip.  We rowed out to Praxithea and brought her into a dock near Steve’s boat so we could load gear and provisions.  We ended up staying the night at the dock.

 

Friday, September 19

 

We started our morning by topping off the fuel and purchasing a propane canister for the grill.  We departed the fuel dock at 8:30 AM headed for the first of four bridges about three miles downstream.  The first bridge tender coordinates opening with a railroad bridge next to it.  We waited for a freight train to pass when through with about a half hour wait.  We were impressed by the amount of industry along the waterway principally related to the ship building industry.  We also passed through the Great Bridge lock which lowered us about 2.5 feet.  Once through the lock, we were in relative wilderness or so it seamed.  We spent the day traveling through canals and rivers with only a small amount of open water.  We spent the night at the village of Coinjock at mile marker 49.5.  We arrived at Coinjock at about 6 PM giving us time to cook a chicken dinner, read a bit and hit the sack early.  We were both tired from navigating all day.  It is critical to stay in the narrow channel to avoid grounding.  One of us would monitor the chart plotter on the computer and the other would man the helm.  We managed to avoid running aground even though the average depth in the channel was only 7 feet.

 

Saturday, September 20

 

We departed the dock at 8:30 AM and headed down fiver for about 10 miles to the Aberschnaber Bay (Real name Albemarle).  Winds were out of the Northeast at 20-25 knots so we were able to sail once in the Bay with the wind off our quarter.  Seas were up to 4 feet at the southern end of the bay.  We averaged about 18 feet of water most of the way.  We arrived in the Alligator Pungo canal about 4 PM and found an anchorage about 8 miles into the canal.  We were passed by a few shrimp boats but that was it.  We had the anchorage and canal all to ourselves.

 

Sunday, September 21, 2008

 

We weighed anchor at 8:30 AM.  After about 10 miles of river we entered the Pungo River which was at least a mile wide.  We motored for about 5 miles due to light winds then struck the sails and had a wonderful sail through the river with the winds off our quarter.  Our goal was the RE  Mayo Co. which is a place we could purchase fresh shrimp and fish.  We were both ready for a shrimp dinner.  Unfortunately the place was closed; it’s Sunday as Tom figured out.  We motored another mile down Goose Creek to a small creek and anchored in 6 feet of water at 5:40 PM.  Guess we will have chicken on the grill tonight.

 

Chicken and baked beans were delicious, ate in the cockpit.  Mosquitoes came thick after dark, we battened down the hatched and managed to find some screens, so are getting a bit of fresh air, hatch to the cockpit is boarded up.  We had a bunch more sailing than we thought today, got the main up and did between 2-5.5 knots.  Beautiful day, getting in the groove.  Anchored in a beautiful back little bay, marshland around us, in about 6 feet of water, I threw the giant CQR anchor overboard.  Lots of crab pots around us, not much wind which is good when you’re anchoring.  Did some reading before dinner, now ready to hit the sack.

 

A fly is torturing me.  He will not leave me alone as I write this.  The insolent fellow even landed right on my nose.  I chased him around the cabin for at least an hour without success.  Got in three or four good shots but missed every time.  Until the last, and we slept peacefully.

 

Monday, September 22, 2008

 

Woke very early, before the sun was out.  We read for a bit, had breakfast, and then pulled the zillion pound CQG anchor up together.  It was a very still morning in a very quiet part of the marsh.  We motored a few miles back up the canal to see if we could get some fresh shrimp from the ragtag seafood place with the shrimping boats, but had no luck, just got some ice from a few good ol’ boys.  Had a terrific sail out into Pamlico Sound, made our way around a few marks, and ran all the way into Oriental.  Walked around the village, stopped in a marine consignment shop.  Had a greasy fried lunch, unhealthy though it was, was a break from the very healthy meals we had been eating the last few days.  Docked at a tiny free town dock for the night.  Wouldn’t you believe a 38 foot Ericson docked across from us/  Shared a beer with the very nice couple, Sherron and Hilco on their boat and Hilco and Tom Sr regaled each other with Ericson tales and all the simliar and different things they had each done with their boats, all their repairs and modifications over the years.  Was great fun.  Had dinner at M&M’s, a nice restaurant about a block away.  Tomorrow we’re off to Beaufort.