The RIght Tool for the Job

In a joint iinitiative, NOAA and the EPA  promote a voluntary incentive based program known as the Clean Marina Program. After developing environmentally sound programs for fuel and waste management, marinas may apply to become recognized as environmental stewards. Once recognized, they are more likely to avoid EPA fines, sustain improved water quality and habitat for wildlife and customers, plus,they gain rights to the official clean marina logo and complimentary marketing under the Clean Marina byline.  It appears the federally legislated Clean Water Act of 1972 and revision of 1978 needed an updated approach which requires less administration and more active engagement by those in strategic locations to source pollution.

With all this green attention, it is really surprising to see what still washes up. Honestly, it's such a sin; the mess actually stirs recollections of the anti-pollution PSA of the 1970's featuring the crying American Indian.

And just when I thought a net might be in order, the cavalry arrived to save the day. 

How did I miss this invention? It's the closest thing to a street sweeper you'll find on the water. This device has big arms in front that essentially sweep the debris off the water surface, then collects and stores it. I'm presuming there is an environmentally sound endpoint for all that rubbish too.
Not perfect, but there was much less visible pollution in the post-sweep vs the pre-sweep view to our stern.

BTW, Seven Seas Cruising Association, at SSCA.org, for the last 60 years has embodied he tradition of leaving a clean wake long before it was fashionable. Actively respecting others and the shared environment is a most cherished attribute of the organization which warmly welcomes active cruisers and armchair sailors alike.The annual dues are an excellent value (check out the site), but the members are priceless.  

A Successful Labor Day

Any hard working galley wench will recognize this beauty...

This raw water foot pump at the galley sink is the latest improvement for SeaSpan.
While I would never consider using this in the harbor here in Balto, I am sure in clear Caribbean waters, it will almost make doing dishes fun (right.)
We "labored" over the installation, but it is now 100% functional.
It is time tested as well, which is to say, we picked it up at a chandlery consigment shop.  Those of us who have classic plastic, read old fiberglass boats, visit such haunts when in new ports for spare parts and miscellany. During our stop in Oriental NC, our new friend Doug gave us a lift to the chandlery, where a treasure hunt yielded the pump, port and starboard running lights, and a hard to find downwind pole. All in great condition at competitive pricing. Doug was even kind enough to return us, the 13 foot pole and other finds back to our dock in his truck.  Aren't sailors wonderful?

Waning Summer

The days are gradually getting shorter.  The skies more cloudy, and the temperatures are cooling.  Summer has been fun, but it is waning in the mid-Atlantic states.  Time for us to think about what's next.

What's next is a lot of boat work in order to be ready to move on!  The next few entries in our blog are likely to show us head-down in a compartment or bilge space, a troubled or worried look on our faces.  Let us tell you, it has been a LONG LONG time since Elise and Jeff have worried about a coming winter. It has become, already, the start of a race against time! We won't panic until the geese start flying in vees overhead; when does that happen??  

Alas, it is still summer, and we are going to hang on to it as long as we can.  This weekend we enjoyed a sunset at the lake in Columbia

                                            Wilde Lake, Columbia

 Jeff made a trip with his sister-in-law, niece, and nephew to Hersheypark to celebrate nephew Elliot's 16th B-day in style with a posse of Elliot's friends.  I'd post a pic of Elliot and the boys, but we never saw them all day at the park!

Emily, 13, prepares to ride the Comet

CHICAGO

Jumped in Elise's little red roadster and took a little trip to Chicago a couple weeks ago to see Elise's sister Clare, and her husband, Bob.  They were throwing a big Saturday night party to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary and we were going to get to see their beautiful new (to them) Lakeview East home.  We had a great time and Clare and Bob couldn't have been better hosts -- they are great family!  Guests from Florida came, too, and we enjoyed getting to know Bob and Clare's newer and long-term friends a little better.  Thanks for including us!

One watches the people in Chicago on TV in the winter time; in a penguin huddle waiting for the "L," or some poor sap harpooned on the sidewalk by falling ice from above, pedestrians in danger of being blown into traffic by the whipping snowstorm.  Why do they live there by the millions?  The answer is summer!

Chicago seems to be a GIGANTIC small town.  Festivals, activities, school and the action draw the young to live there in great hordes.  Public transit is fantastic, arts and culture are world class, and it is quite scenic.  OK, we can see the vision now.  We'll visit in summer, may even get a place and stay for summer some time.

Imagine our surprise when we found the Pride of Baltimore II making a weekend port call at Chicago while we were there.