Almost Spring

I looked at the blog and could not believe I haven't looked at it since the beginning of January.  Too busy I guess, but I'll try and get to the blog more frequently.

A Happy and Healthy 2011

From the skipper and crew of S/V Terratima in Richmond British Columbia.

What's It LIke?

A week to go before returning to the working world.  We've taken this time to rest, recharge and do a few things around "home".  One question that keeps coming up from friends is: "What's it like to live on a boat?" The simple answer is "home is home".


We miss absolutely NOTHING we left behind in storage.  We are not cold and we are not wet.  In fact, the boat is as warm as any of you own houses and we are dry.  Even in the heaviest rain, we're fine.  When we leave the boat, it is with umbrella in hand for those rainy winter days. We have TV, internet and e-mail, books - all the comforts of home.  What we do not have is a lot of space - and that we don't miss either.  It helps to simplify things and not accumulate (which is what everything out there seems to want you to do).

One More Week

AH, Christmas is near and we have decided to stay at home here aboard Terratima and have a quiet Christmas.  I will be travelling next week (all week) and when I return, vacation time will begin and well recoup from a long and busy year.

The Steveston Run

Winter fast approaches and we have been using heat since the end of September and most of November quite continuously.  As the fuel level gets lower, we have to do the "Steveston Run" to fill up.  This is not a 15 minute exercise.  Going down the Fraser River for a dozen miles takes time - especially if the tide and currents run against you.


Today it was not too bad.  We left at 9:45 and were refuelling at 12:30.  The tide had a full 1.5 knots running up river and we started the return trip at slack water and managed to do the entire round trip between 9:45 AM and 3:15 PM.


So we'll see how we do over the next number of weeks and when the next Steveston Run has to happen.

Off Yet Again

I leave tomorrow for a few more days of business travel.  We have our Wabasto heater working again and the boat is snug and warm as the temperatures go down.  We are moored at our slip and aside fro motoring down the river on a nice day, I think we're here until the spring.


We have never  felt the loss of the space we had in our house or the goodies that littered or lives.  We have a lot less space, many fewer goodies and we miss nothing.  We love living on this boat.


All our "stuff" (I'm reminded of the great George Carlin and his rant on stuff ) is in storage in Edmonton.  I am tempted to put the entire lot on e-Bay under the title "house full 'o stuff".

Bowen Island 2

I am a really lousy blogger.  I can only get to sit down occasionally to write the blog, edit photos and so on.  I am travelling extensively for work.  At least I come back  to a  beautiful boat and relax.


So we set sail with our marina neighbor aboard on the canadian Thanksgiving weekend and headed to Bowen Island.  The sailing was superb although it was cloudy and a bit rainy.  Winds were from the southeast at 12 to 15 knots.  A broad reach and the boat loved it (as did we).

The marina office.  Great facilities

The crew leaving Terratima for a walk ashore

Kids playing on the beach

Union Steamship Company grounds

Nice spot but dull day

Signs of fall