BB19: Month 2 Recap

Day 1 was in Norfolk, Virginia during Memorial Day weekend. I made it to Brewerton during June and continued through the Trent-Severn Waterway during July. Here is my progress during my first 2 months:

Here are my stats:

Topic	Month 1	Month 2	Total
Days	33 days (24 travel days)	36 days (21 travel days)	69 days (45 travel days)
Travel time	122:26 hours	60:34 hours	183 hours
Distance	694.84 nm (799.61 mi)	448.96 nm (516.65 mi)	1143.8 nm (1316.26 mi)
Average speed	6.2 kts (7.1 mph)	6.2 kts (7.1 mph)	6.2 kts (7.1 mph)
States and Countries	5 states (VA, MD, DE, NJ, NY)	2 countries (US, Canada)	US (VA, MD, DE, NJ, NY) and Canada (ON)
Visitors	3 (Peggy, Lisa, Sue)	0	3 (Peggy, Lisa, Sue)
Stops	25 (14 marinas, 8 anchorages, 3 free walls)	20 (8 marinas, 1 anchorage, 11 free walls/docks)	45 (22 marinas, 9 anchorages, 14 free walls/docks)
Locks traversed	22 (Troy and Eastern Erie Canal)	44 (Trent-Severn Waterway)	66 (Troy, Erie, TS)
Favorite moment	Being on my own boat on the Atlantic Ocean riding waves and watching dolphins	Waubic restaurant and riding the E-SURF	Being on my own boat on the Atlantic Ocean riding waves and watching dolphins
Hardest moment	Docking on the Hudson River fighting wind gusts and current	Leaving my kids to come back to the boat	Docking on the Hudson River fighting wind gusts and current
Favorite stop	Clayton, NY	Lakefield, ON	Lakefield, ON
Best bathroom	Marlboro YC, NY	Port Trent, ON	Port Trent, ON
Best boat name	The Sea Word	Dirty Oar	Dirty Oar

My docking skills are a little better each day and after 66 locks in all kinds of situations, I am confident with slime, lines, cables, poles, and floating bollards. However, I am happy to take a break from the locks for a while.

Kali Bong is doing great and has made friends along the way. Her favorites are Ozzy, Dozer, and Sandy and her little face lights up when she sees them at a new stop. She now sleeps through heavy waves and the beeping of the depth warning. She is trying her hardest not to overreact and get cranky at people or dogs, although she did go full nuts when a young 6-ish year-old girl with pigtails and a pink dress wanted to say hi. Oh, so embarrassing. Come on now. She is even letting some familiar looper faces give her belly rubs when we cross paths with them again.

This is what she looks like if I turn my camera on during Teams meetings:

Some have asked about how I provision and what I eat. I always have iced tea. My hot water is heated by my engine and it is boiling hot after I have been underway for a while. I am in the habit of filling my glass iced tea jug every couple days and putting in my fridge. It is cheap and easy. For breakfasts, I have a piece of fruit and a protein bar. My lunches are usually a salad of avocado, hard boiled eggs, yellow pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, chickpeas, and olive oil. I have been out of propane for a month and a half so I have not used my stove or oven and have not missed it. I will refill eventually. I do, however, use my hardboiled egg maker every few days (thanks Mom!). I go out to dinner if I am staying in a town with restaurants and want to try to local fare but if I am on the hook or in a remote location, I will have leftovers, soup, apples and cheese, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes, or canned Skyline 3-ways – whatever is easy. I found Skyline in Albany, NY and stocked up! My snacking staples include Coke, Guinness, and popcorn. What else does a person really need??

My step counter says I am walking more than I did at this time last year but it is not intentional. I am just constantly busy. I always have bruises in strange places from leaning out the window to dock or lock, doing boat yoga in my small engine room, or simply banging around as I am walking through the cabin or along the gunnels. I have hand weights that I use when I have time but honestly, I am neglecting my fitness. I feel better than ever though and my body is taking good care of me so far.

“I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.” – Carl Sandburg

To support the adventure or to track The ‘Nati Nomad’s progress, visit greatloop.thenatinomad.com.