Chores

I'm trying to find time to tend to some items on the boat:  change the oil, change the filter, service the raw water strainer, change the water purifier filter, touch up the toe-rail....  I haven't had the time.  Work has kept me very busy - which of course isa  good thing.  I'm looking forward to a weekend where I get through some of these.  Maybe next week.

MIT Geek

OK, I admit it.  I'm an MIT Geek.  The truth is, not only am I one, I'm damned proud of it.  So for all the sailors out there, I came across this little article about a research initiative into

a new way of desalinating water for use at disaster sites such as the recent earthquake in Haiti.  Think of the possibilities for an onboard water-maker that doesn't require high pressure pumps and tricky membranes.  Good work from my fellow Geeks.

A Day In Steveston

We needed to top up our diesel tank, so we set out for Steveston.  It was a very pleasant day which worked out wonderfully because we had to make the trip no matter what the day might have given us.  A great day on the Fraser River:

BC Ferries Maintenance Dock

Terratima and Crew at Steveston

Steveston 

Terratima Moored at Steveston

Steveston

Winter (Continued)

All of November there was a simple weather forecast: rain.  The days grew shorter and we planned fuel consumption and replenishing for heating during the coming months. We only experienced 3 wind storms that rocked the boat with some vigour, but lines held and fenders did their job.

Dusk

Terratima in the Evening Light

Sunrise

A Winter On Board

Just before winter set in, we took a short cruise across  to Silva Bay on the Thanksgiving weekend.  The air was cool, but it was a sunny weekend.  We noticed when we arrived that all the boats around us had the same burgee flying from their spreaders.  They were blue with a white diagonal stripe.  We soon learned that we were in the midst of the Gulf Yacht Club fall cruise and Thanksgiving dinner.  Great bunch of people and we were invited to join.  We did so and are looking forward to a number of their get-togthers this spring and summer.

 Silva Bay Marina

At Anchor in Silva Bay

At the Dock

Beautiful Thanksgiving Weekend

We did manage to roast a turkey and have a great Thanksgiving Dinner on board

Sydney, Australia

I've spent the last week in Sydney with Dr. Jane Drummond of the University of Alberta.  We presented to a conference of inter-professional educators in Health Science.  The group sis called "Altogether Better Health" and we presented the work done on the Edmonton Clinic project now under construction in Edmonton. 

My daughter came from Wellington New Zealand to meet us and spend a few days showing us around when we weren't preparing for the presentation. So here are a few images of the experience

Manly Beach

Manly Beach

Sydney Opera House from the Manly Ferry

Queen Victoria Building George 

Street, Sydney

St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney 

from Hyde Park

University of New South Wales

Commerce and Economics Building

The Three Sisters - Jameson Canyon

Katoomba 

Manly Waterfront

Where I'd like to be on Terratima - 

Sydney Harbour

Sydney Opera House

SOH Once Again as we approach Circle Quay

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney is definitely on our destination list for Terratima.