Back to our winter home

     I know, I know. It's been forever since this blog has been updated. No excuses given except that life just kept getting in the way, I guess. Since our big trip this summer, we managed to get Kyrie out a few more times, although I don't seem to have taken pictures. One of these Taku Harbor trips, I will get some good pictures! We've been there so many times I think it's just so familiar, and so I don't feel the need to cart the camera around and take pictures. Then I look at my kids and see how big they're getting and realize I need to better document their growing-up years, no matter how familiar the location is! So, note to self: take more Taku Harbor photos. In fact, take more photos period!

     Here it is, November already. We started school back up almost right away after getting back from our trip, so we've been at it for a while. We also moved Kyrie to what is turning out to be her usual winter home back in August. Joe started calling the Harbormaster almost as soon as we got back because he knew a lot of boats would be moving to Harris while Aurora Harbor was being worked on. We knew we didn't want to weather a winter in Douglas and Joe was afraid if he didn't get our name on the list soon, we might have to. Finally, after calling and calling and leaving all kinds of messages, we're pretty sure the Harbormaster got tired of hearing from us and told us to just move already! No, not exactly, but I imagine that's what he wanted to say. :) So now we're back, in almost the same spot as last year. And yes, Kyrie is geared up for winter again.

Kyrie in her winter outfit. She looks a
little different from last year!

As you can see, she looks a little bit different this time around. The all-encompassing cover just didn't work. Whether it was too tall, or the tarp wasn't tight enough or fastened together well enough, I'm not sure. It doesn't really matter since we had to take the darn thing down early! However, for this year, Joe had a brainstorm. We went to our friendly local Home Depot and bought three rolls of Reflectix. Have you seen this stuff? It looks like silver, heavy duty bubble wrap. When we at last had a non-rainy, non-windy Saturday a couple of weeks ago, Joe, Levi and I covered the coach roof, down to the four big front windows, with big strips of the Reflectix. The two on the sides were stapled to 1x4s, which were then fastened to the coach roof's side handrails

with zip ties, as well the whole cover being stapled to a frame down on the bow deck. The strips were all duct taped together.
     Next came the tarp cover. Joe and I set up a ridgepole running from just below the level of the cockpit roof, to the stay for the yankee sail, and then down to the middle of the bow deck. We then stretched the tarp across the entire deck and screwed it down with strips of lath to the 1x4s at the handrails, and then down to the edge of the deck with boards we had attached to the lifeline stanchions a couple of weeks earlier. All in all, we're pretty pleased with the results. There have been a few nights already of 40+ mph gusts and the tarp has handled it just fine. I haven't slept as well as I'd like to yet, but that's more because I keep listening to make sure the tarp is okay.
     What's important is how warm and dry the old girl is staying now! The heaters are working much less and the dehumidifier doesn't seem to be filling up as quickly. Even better, we don't have to spend ten minutes every morning wiping down all the windows and hatches. Because the biggest sources of heat loss--the big front windows and the hatches--are covered with that incredible insulating layer, we are keeping much more of our precious heat inside, and that is preventing a lot of the moisture buildup. That insulating layer blocks a lot of our light coming in, but considering it's November, there isn't a whole lot of daylight for us to enjoy anyway. I'll take the warmth over the natural light right now, anyway. It will be interesting to see what our electric bills look like this winter, as opposed to last winter...
     As much as I miss our spot in Douglas, coming back to Harris is a good place to spend the winter. Being on the same float as last year, we get to see a lot of the same people. There are a bunch of liveaboards just on this float and it's nice to have a community of people who watch out for each other and their boats. Unfortunately, there have been a rash of thefts in the harbor, and I know some thefts have been prevented because of those who are vigilant about watching who belongs here in the harbor and who may have questionable reasons for being here. To the unofficial neighborhood watch here in Harris, I say thank you, and I'm so glad we're a part of this community!