My first meet with Makina

Yesterday (June 14th) had no posting mostly due to the inactivity of the day. After a restful sleep in my seedy lodgings the decision was made to find a branch of my bank and explore the best means of payment should everything move ahead as planned. It was recommended that a 'draft cheque' be used. It is a lot like a 'teller's cheque' except the owner's name will be on it.

The branch was a lot further away than anticipated and the walk much more exercise than expected, so after a bus ride back to my seedy hovel a little nap seemed in order. The rest of the late afternoon and evening was spent watching youtube videos of other solo sailers' adventures on the open toss. With an arrangement for a 10am pick up by the owner the next day an early night seemed in order.

The owner and his wife were lovely folks. The fact of offering a berth on their boat prior to finalizing the sale seems a testiment of their thoughtfullness. The marina they use is a wonderful area surrounded by a city park on the shore of Lake Ontario.

Then there was Makina. She was all that had been expected and more. She is on the hard, which will make the survey of the hull all the easier. There is a small boat yard, as part of the marina, where we hope to get the engine installation finished. The marina's office said we are welcome to stay on the hard until all work is completed.

There is a weekend bus which stops at the nearby park, so the opportunity was taken to provision some supplies from a grocery store along the route of the bus. Was it mentioned that Makina not only has a fridge icebox, freezer and stove/oven, but a microwave as well?! All are presently powered from the solar panels at the stern; although there is a city hook up, as well, at the moment. Yet why pay for something that nature provides for free.

An interesting tidbit on Makina's name. It is a word from the local native peoples. It means "turtle". They also refer to North America as Turtle Island; yet in this case the owner had in mind that Makina is like a turtle in the sense that it takes its home to wherever it goes. They even have the graphics of a turtle under her name on the stern.

To say that she pleases me is an understatement. The excitement is mounting and my hope is to have her splashed asap. In the meantime it seems like the beginnings of 'living the life' even with her still on the hard.

May the wind be at your back!