This is my favorite time of year

[Marc Bergmueller]

Fall is so close. I savor these last months of sailing. Cool weather, wind is just right and I try to pack as many days in before haul out. Don't get me wrong, Spring splash down is great too, but every day now I can reflect on the past season and each day is better. No bugs tonight. Beef ribs, beer and bread. My wife looks at me and sincerly says " Marc, thank you for introducing me to sailing." I've never had life so good.

 

[sailaway78]

Totally different take

Here on the gulf coast we do things a little bit different. During the summer, we sweat in the heat, dodge thunderstorms, and worry about hurricanes. But now fall is here, weather is getting wonderful, and sailing is good. Many of us will sail from now through early next summer, with maybe a month when it's cold. I cannot imagine having to go through pulling the boat every fall, and see is sit under the snow and sleet and cold.

 

[Ross]

Here on the gulf coast we do things a little bit different. During the summer, we sweat in the heat, dodge thunderstorms, and worry about hurricanes. But now fall is here, weather is getting wonderful, and sailing is good. Many of us will sail from now through early next summer, with maybe a month when it's cold. I cannot imagine having to go through pulling the boat every fall, and see is sit under the snow and sleet and cold.

Philiip ,I will post pictures. You won't need your imagination. lol

 

[jimmyb]

Being one of the hibernating species here up in the New England states there is really nothing about fall that makes me feel pleasant! It is only a kick in the b*lls reminder that dark cold evenings will begin again, snow will fall and for near a 1/2 a freekin year I will not enjoy all the outdoor sports/hobies I truely love. And now to make it worse, sailing has made it to the top of the wife and my list of favorites. New to sailing this year we will soon be putting the boat in the garage for the winter for the first time. Its not gonna be a pleasant several months. Better get some sailing magazine subscriptions......and soon!

God Bless all you folks that can get out all year round or close to it, jimmyb

 

[jimmyb]

Oh boy,
Did that last post seem a little bitter.................ah,.............that would be accurate!

 

[Ross]

JimmyB, I spent five years one summer in Gulfport, Mississippi. In the years before airconditionng and Deep Woods Off. Those salt marsh mosquitoes can kill a cat in about 30 seconds and devour it in five minutes. I lived in Bangor from the spring of 1958 to the middle of winter 1960 when I went to Gulfport and then to the Phillippines. Believe me four seasons is nice.

 

[jimmyb]

JimmyB, I spent five years one summer in Gulfport, Mississippi. In the years before airconditionng and Deep Woods Off. Those salt marsh mosquitoes can kill a cat in about 30 seconds and devour it in five minutes. I lived in Bangor from the spring of 1958 to the middle of winter 1960 when I went to Gulfport and then to the Phillippines. Believe me four seasons is nice.

Ross,

Make it 3 seasons we got a deal.

Dont mind me im just venting. I am 125 pounds soakin wet -no body fat at all, my hands and feet go numb at about 50 deg. (cronic intollerance to cold) so I freeze all winter. I have gotten the chills after my enzyme infusions and spent the next 6 hours im my -20 mummy bag on the couch trying to stop my teeth from chattering and shakin like a wet dog. I mean I really hate the cold. I just need to get off my duff and move farther south one day. Hot and humid is not real pleasant either but you dont have to shovel it.

I dont think I would have survived your fore mentioned adventures. Having spent some vaction time around the MD and NC area this year really got us thinking about how nice an early spring and late fall would fit in with our lifestyle.

God Bless, jiimmy b

 

[Ross]

JimmyB, I think that the most pleasant place I have ever been was Baguio city, PI. 5000 feet above sea level and 10 degrees north. The high temps were about 85 and the low was in the mid 50's year round. All of the places near the equater and at high elevations will be like that. The big problem is the availability of first class medical care.

 

[jimmyb]

JimmyB, I think that the most pleasant place I have ever been was Baguio city, PI. 5000 feet above sea level and 10 degrees north. The high temps were about 85 and the low was in the mid 50's year round. All of the places near the equater and at high elevations will be like that. The big problem is the availability of first class medical care.

:hijacked:
Ross,
now your talking my kind of temps. Just curious what brought you to that part of the world and was the rainfall quite a bit. Ive only experienced the virgin islands for year round warm climate and we all know the rainfall their is short and sweet. I love a vacation down there but i would get clostrophobic on an island. I do enjoy our trips to big country like the grand canyon, yellowstone and hiking in the mountains like the one we took to Glacier National park this year. A treasure of a country we have here for sure - would you agree?

jimmyb

 

[Jfelkins]

I keep telling my wife I don't want a lake or beach house, just a live aboard sailboat. That way we can go north when it's hot and south when it's cold!

 

[Ross]

I did a bunch of travel on the Air Force budget plan. Six years and I was at Chanute AFB Illinois, Dow AFB Bangor Me, Kessler AFB Blioxi Ms, Clark AFB PI, Poro Point AFS PI, Condon AFS Oregon, drove across the country twice. Rain fall wasn't too bad at Baguio City during the dry season but during the rainy season you could mildew.

 

[kloudie1]

Nice& Easy.. Exactly !! I just heard that Biloxi and Gulfport and Long Beach all got some substantial federal stimulus dollars to finally rebuild and improve the harbors that were essentially destroyed by Katrina.. Word is they won’t be ready until 2012, but sounds like things are getting better.. Fall here really is great sailing .. usually good winds and the temperature moderating toward being comfortable at night.. Yahoo
Oh come on, Ross.. it would have to be a feeble cat to be gone that quickly !! The stronger ones take a little longer !!

 

[Ross]

Nice& Easy.. Exactly !! I just heard that Biloxi and Gulfport and Long Beach all got some substantial federal stimulus dollars to finally rebuild and improve the harbors that were essentially destroyed by Katrina.. Word is they won’t be ready until 2012, but sounds like things are getting better.. Fall here really is great sailing .. usually good winds and the temperature moderating toward being comfortable at night.. Yahoo
Oh come on, Ross.. it would have to be a feeble cat to be gone that quickly !! The stronger ones take a little longer !!

Katrina was just an encore for Camille in August 1969. I went down to the gulf coast 1975 looking for familar places and the only thing left was the VA Center that they built while I was there in 1960.

 

[Chilidog]

I know it is sacrilege to say it here, but there are other things to enjoy besides sailing in the fall. A high school football game, the smell of burning leaves, fall colors, the taste of crisp cold cider with a warm cinnamon donut after apple picking, camping, etc. I am not a hunter, but I know several people that live for this time of the year. Halloween is a favorite holiday in my family. Thanksgiving dinner with pumpkin pie for desert. . . A sailboat on the water is just one of the many joys in life.

 

[Winkfish]

My wife (from Scotland) laughed at me when I was with her there one summer wearing a leather bomber jacket while they were all in shorts. I got the second laugh when she spent her first July/August down here and sweated away about 20 lbs. Now we try to do a UK/Europe vacation in the summer and stay here through our "winters."

 

[Twice Around]

Marc, You got it. one of my favorite times of year to cruise. We love getting out for the weekends around the harvest moon & into October...The leaves are fantastic & the coves brilliant in color.

 

[Ross]

I know it is sacrilege to say it here, but there are other things to enjoy besides sailing in the fall. A high school football game, the smell of burning leaves, fall colors, the taste of crisp cold cider with a warm cinnamon donut after apple picking, camping, etc. I am not a hunter, but I know several people that live for this time of the year. Halloween is a favorite holiday in my family. Thanksgiving dinner with pumpkin pie for desert. . . A sailboat on the water is just one of the many joys in life.

If sailing is your only pleasure in life then you need to get out more and meet people.
Co-op dog food will keep the dog alive but if you once in a while drop some people food on the floor he purely enjoys it.
People need more in life than a sailboat and a good breeze but right now I can't seem to think of what it is.

 

[jimmyb]

I know it is sacrilege to say it here, but there are other things to enjoy besides sailing in the fall. A high school football game, the smell of burning leaves, fall colors, the taste of crisp cold cider with a warm cinnamon donut after apple picking, camping, etc. I am not a hunter, but I know several people that live for this time of the year. Halloween is a favorite holiday in my family. Thanksgiving dinner with pumpkin pie for desert. . . A sailboat on the water is just one of the many joys in life.

Chilly -why sacrilege?
I am sure a good many others here have many other interest besides sailing. I have enjoyed hunting, hiking, backpacking, offroad/motocross ridning, competative high power rifle shooting, hot rodding, kayaking, ect. ect. in the fall. But the farther north you get the sooner you sacrifice many of these activities to winter. Thats why fall to me is a reminder of less active times to come. (I gotta keep active or they're liable to put me in the ground before my time. )

On the other hand I have no problem with people who desire to do one thing and only one thing. That very often makes them champions of their game. However I much rather diversify as it is too me anyway the spice of life!

jimmyb

 

[ggrizzard]

Jimmy B,
I share your aversion to the cold, but if you spend July and August in Savannah, Ga you'll see how we have to 'shovel' the humidity!

 

[shemandr]

Great sail last night! Slightly cool but not cold. 10 to 12 knot breeze. Mostly 6 knots in a friend's Alerion 28. Absolutely beautiful. Full moon near the finish didn't hurt. Pull my boat out now? Not at gunpoint.