Thursday, September 30, 2010

On Kindness...

Misty morning sunrise in Winthrop Harbor
As someone who has been fortunate to travel (mostly alone) fairly extensively, I am no stranger to the kindness of...well, strangers. There was the time in Amsterdam when, after discovering all hostels were 'full', a kind man opened his home to my friend and I for a week...then there was the time in Paris when a friend of a friend (after learning I had run out of money) put me up in a hotel room for a night...and how could I forget the time, in Germany, when a kind woman lent me the appropriate German currency when I desperately ran to the bathroom and discovered (with an audible shriek) that you had to pay...I could go on and on...

However, after living a pretty "normal" life in the city of Chicago for the past 5 years I guess I have somehow forgotten the lessons learned in travel.  Just like anything, it is so easy to immunize yourself against these simple kindnesses and the profound impact they can have.  It's particularly easy when you live the "daily grind" in a major city where you a) don't know your neighbors b) see homeless people in various stages of 'crazy' going through your dumpster daily and c) avoid smiling at anyone or saying "hello" to people on public transit because you just don't do that here.

This project has changed all that.  My dad, in his infinite wisdom, said one day after a great day of work, "Britt, there is something about projects that I love.  They just...bring people together.  Everyone loves a good project and having their little stake in it".  And he is right.  We have been so humbled by the kindness of people - friends, family, strangers and even some strangers who have become friends.  There is Jim, who out of the goodness of his heart helped us do so many boat projects (including sailing our first leg with us!)...then his brother, Mark, who after having known us for under 24 hours, showed up at our boat the next day with 5 awesome flashlights for our boat (the kind that get mounted to the wall - fyi, boaters...get a few of these!  Makes finding a flashlight when you need it SO much easier)...And then Gina, with her awesome little kit of boat-appropriate goodies...there have been so many people who have been so kind and so thoughtful, it almost makes my little sappy self burst into tears of joy.

And now, as we depart - we are getting loads of emails from all sorts of wonderful people from all over the place offering help here, a dinner there, drinks here, a bed there...so many fantastic offers by fantastic people that we are creating a map so that we don't forget to call them all!  How awesome is that?

Anyway, to all of you - THANK YOU - we wholly appreciate all your support - be it with labor or a cold beer, a kind offer or a laugh...

That movie "Pay it Forward" (though I never saw it) certainly had a point.  Kindness truly does beget kindness.  We are going to make sure that the buck doesn't stop here.

Love,
Brittany & Scott

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Refit of Rasmus


We did a LOT of work on our first boat before we shoved off in September 2010, and we continued to do a LOT of work to keep her up and running.  Below is what we accomplished.  So many people contributed for us to be able to tick all these items off and I cannot in words describe our gratitude to them all.  With no further ado - go ahead and check it out.  It's mind blowing, even if I do say so myself.  All of these refits were made between January and September of 2010.  We 
learned a TREMENDOUS amount refitting our boat and, while we 
won't do it again any time soon, we wouldn't trade that time we spent 
with our Rasmus for the world!

Functional/Essential:

1. Replace engine - Complete! Rentner Marine - replaced Volvo Penta with Yanmar 50HP 4JH5E
2. Re-paint engine room - Complete!
3. Siphon out diesel, clean fuel tank thouroughlyComplete!
4. Machine and re-bedd new fuel tank cover (stainless steel instead of fiberglass) - Complete!
5. Re-insulate engine room Complete! New shiny insullation installed - we used Sound Down and have gotten a lot of compliments on it!
6. Replace Gatevalves - Complete! All gatevalves replaced with bronze seacocks
7. Replace ALL hoses - Complete!
8. Replace Steering system - Complete! Rentner Marine - Edson chain and cable (and conduit) steering.  
9.  Update/fix standing rigging - Complete! Our friend, Don Massey ofChicago Marine Rigging.
10.  Replace mast winches with Harken Self-Tailing - Complete! 
11.  Build/Install Arch for Aft deck (to house radar, antennas, solar panel) -Complete! sourced by C&;E Marine. Built by Uncle Bob and Karol Polaczek!
12. Rewire all electric to single panel at nav station - Complete!C&E Marine.
13. Install outlet system according to ABYC E-11 standards -Complete!  C&E Marine. Added Victron inverter/transformer, re-wired every AC outlet with marine wire and added a DC breaker panel
14. Replace GPS/Chart-plotter/Radar - CompleteSimrad chartplotter, NSE-8, 24" 4 KW radome, and AIS for the navigation center. 
15. Replace instruments (wind speed, boat speed...etc) - Complete! Ordered and installed either B&G H3000
16.  Install SSB radio and grounding plate - Complete!
17.  Re-configure battery bank and install transformer -Complete! 2 AGM batteries  6 Volt 9.7"H x 18.6"L x 6.9"W at 225 A-H each AGM; and a smaller 12 volt (80 A-H) is 9.2"H x 10.2"L x 6.6" W.
19. Water-proof the engine hatch - Complete!
20. Fix boom vang Complete!  New rigid Garhauer boom vang.
21. Strip and re-paint the bottom (anti-fouling) Complete!
22. ZincsComplete!
23. New sails - Complete! Replaced entire sail inventory with Doyle Sails
24. Purchase Satellite Phone for Internet/weather - Complete! Inmarsat
25.  Fix hand rails so that lines won't snag - Complete!
26.  Replace Dorade Vents with solar ones - Complete!! 4" Nicro Day/Night Plus Solar vents
27. Buy/Reinstall new propeller Complete!
28. Install new transducers for instruments - Complete!
29.  Install new engine panel at cockpit - Comlete! 
30.  Install new instrument panel at nav station - Complete!
31.  Install new grab rails for next to the dodger - Complete!
32.  Decide on anchor chain anchors (2) - Complete! 5/16ths BBB chain, 270 ft., 55 lb Delta Anchor
33.  Reconfigure propane tank from forward locker to elsewhere- Complete! On aft arch/pushpit
34.  Reinforce Bimini top with leather, go over stitching - Complete!
35.  New Boom with internal reef lines - Complete! Sparcraft 
36.  Build medical kit - Complete!  (we bought one - Marine 3000, time is money people)
37.  Spare rigging/sail repair kit
38.  Spare engine part kit - Complete!
39.  New PC - getting Panasonic Toughbook equivelent Complete!
40.  Install cockpit table - Complete!  Edson table with folding leafs
41. Get rid of all furniture - Complete!  Thank you, Craigslist
42Get life raft/Epirb - Complete! Winslow Offshore Light (6 person) and ACR Globalfix Cat 1
43Sell all clothes/shoes that will not be needed - Complete!  
44. Install new water heater Complete!
45  Install new holding tank - configure a way to pump overboard -Complete!
46. Build fender boards for traversing through the locks - Complete!
47.  Run Jack Lines/purchase safety harnesses and tethers Complete!
48.  Purchase manual navigation tools Complete!
49.  Install solar panel on arch Complete!
50.  Purchase & Install Sea Rail Kit for stove - Complete! 
51. Move out of apartment and onto BOAT! - COMPLETE! 

Non-Essential - but would be nice to do:

1. Install 2 self tailing winches in cockpit - currently standard, non-tailing winches.  Self tailing would be nice, but not a "must".
2. Buy/Install windlass  - Complete! Lofrans Tigres
3. Fix FM radio  - CompleteBrand new Fusion Marine Stereo for Ipod
4. Make sure we can shower in head - Not gonna happen.  We have a sun shower!
5. Fix leaky faucet in galley - Complete!
6. Replace forward hatch - or at least replace the rubber gasket and sand it clean
7. Install more DC outlets Complete!
8.  Watermaker Complete!  We installed a Village Tec "Little Wonder" in January '11 in Ft. Lauderdale.
9.  Fix windshield wiper - yes, we have a windshield wiper - Complete!
10.  Install at least three fans - aft cabin, main cabin, v-berth - Complete!  6 Fans mounted!
11.  Set up wifi on the boat - CompleteHave an Erikson router with a sim card slot and a cell amplifier plus wifi booster
12. Install lee boards in aft cabin - Complete!  Blue Performance lee cloths

Cosmetic (lets face it, this stuff probably won't get done before we leave):

1. Replace curtains - Complete! Wedding gift from my friend Cecelia!!
2. Sand/Varnish – Bright work -Complete!  Yes, we are nuts. Did all brightwork with HONEY TEAK
3. Carpeting cleaned - Complete!  Thanks momma!
4. Build additional teak shelving for galley/v-berth/saloon
5. Add "pieces of flair" throughout the boat.  Just kidding. Okay, not really.

Financial:

1. Win lottery or actually run into a legit Nigerian banker scam thing

Mental:

1. Remain sane 

Our Friends

Cards, notes and mementos from friends - the aptly named "Inspiration Station"
Have we mentioned we have some of the best, most generous, most thoughtful friends ever?  Well, we do.  I don't know what we did to deserve the people in our lives, but if everyone had friends like we have - this world would be a better place for sure.

Last week, our friends, Lisa H. and Julie B.V along with my family planned a WONDERFUL "Bon Voyage" party to send us off in style and say one last "farewell" to the people who make our lives FULL.  About 40 of our nearest and dearest showed up with bells on, including a few of the guys who did some serious work on our boat (thanks again Karol and Jersey!!).  We had *so* much fun and the folks at Belmont Harbor Yacht Club were super gracious - keeping our bellies full and our drinks topped off and providing the perfect setting for us!  We even got a scrapbook....awww....

My bestie, Lisa, even made us a SCRAPBOOK!  A big deal, considering she is NOT the scrap-booking type!  In fact, she stated this was her first, and her last.


We pulled Rasmus up right to the Yacht Club so everyone got to come aboard and take a little tour. She was happy, she got all sorts of "ooo's" and "ahh's".

Luckily we didn't leave the next day as we had originally planned, because our hangovers were of the colossal variety.  No pain, no gain I guess.  It was well worth it.

Ganesh - "The Remover of Obstacles" - from my dear Miraval girls.  Love you!
Anyway, thanks to our friends - you know who you are - we love you dearly and are so grateful for your love and support.

Thanks for everything,

Brittany & Scott

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

What will you eat!?!?

So many people get their knickers in a bundle when we tell them we don't have refrigeration.  It is always followed by the question "What (on Earth!) will you EAT!?!"

Well, we spent $300 at the grocery store yesterday so I'm sure we'll think of something...


The more important question is, where IS it all now? 

Love, 

Brittany & Scott

We are off!



After 2 years of planning and hard work, we quietly released our dock lines at Belmont harbor for the very last time and said good bye to Chicago about 45 minutes ago. Momentous. Huge. Exciting.

Thanks to our dear friends Alan, Less, Jim and Cody for giving us a proper send off and casting off our lines for us.

The journey begins...






We'll miss you!!

PS.  This post was written from our boat.  SWEET.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

If I Had my Life to Live Over...

So much to share (including details of our awesome Bon Voyage Party!) - but for now I want to share something that my sister Chelsea shared with me...

If I had My Life to Live Over 
I’d dare to make more mistakes next time.

I’d relax, I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I would have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I’m one of those people who live sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day.  Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them.  In fact I’d try to have nothing else.

Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.  I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.  

If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have...

~Nadeen Stair~


Love,
Brittany & Scott

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Moving on out!

It's happening.  We are moving onto the boat.  Our apartment looks like a squatter* and all our belongings are in giant zip lock bags or bins and split between land and lake.  Oh how quickly things change!

Our estimated departure is this Monday - and we are working around the clock to make sure that happens!

Well...I guess we're not working completely around the clock as I am off to dinner in a few.  How dull would *literally* "working around the clock" be anyway!?  If there is one thing I know how to do - it is to have fun and kick back in the midst of madness.  You just gotta step away sometimes.  Smell the roses.  Have a laugh.  Drink some vino.  It's a gift, I know.

More updates soon...for now, I am going to scarf down a chopped salad, some Sauvignon Blank and enjoy the company of my very best friend.

PS.  No, I did not leave Scott working alone on the boat (although, truth be told - it has occurred once or twice when a friend with wine calls).  He's having a dinner dockside with our friends Cody and Jim for Jim's birthday, so I am not the only one yucking it up.

*Fun factoid I learned while Google image searching:  there is an advisory site for "squatters" in the UK.  Man.  If you are either super bored or interested in squatting in the UK - take a look at this site.  What is hysterical is that on the site they say, without a hint irony,  that their office is "a bit tricky to find".

Monday, September 20, 2010

Knowing What We Know Now

Honestly, it is downright crazy to look back and see all that we have accomplished.  I mean, please, humor me and take a look at our "To Do" list and give us a virtual "high five".  Looking at that list and seeing all that we have done to our little boat is nothing short of amazing.

Sat-is-fac-tion.  Big time.

The other day my best friend asked me if, knowing what I know now, would it have been better to have bought a newer boat?  Because, truth be told, dollar for dollar we absolutely could have bought a brand new boat and saved ourselves hundreds upon hundreds of man hours and a fair amount of blood, sweat and tears in the meantime.

But then the experience - both in the journey to get here and in the knowledge we've gained - would have been lost.

Therefore, the answer is 100% no.  I wouldn't change one single thing about what we did and how we did it.   Even if I did get poop on me in the process.  Our wide-eyed naivete allowed us to buy a boat that might not have been the best investment financially, but the lessons we learned fixing her up will pay dividends for the rest of our lives.

We know our little boat like the back of our hands and had one heck of a trip getting her to where she is today.  So many people contributed.  So many friendships were made and so many lives were connected because of this little boat.  And here she is, about to embark on the journey of her life - bigger, faster, and stronger than ever before.

So I wouldn't change a thing.

Our next boat, however?  Yeah.  That'll be a newer model for sure.  We've earned our stripes.  And now we actually know what to look for.

Love,
Brittany & Scott

Saturday, September 18, 2010

On Lists....

So Scott and I are laying here, on our Aerobed, sort of camping out in our living room when Scott rolls over and sighs.

"What's wrong honey" I ask.

Scott looks blankly, pauses and sighs deeply.

"I think we need to make another list."

Naturally, I burst out laughing.

As if the 50 we have going are not enough.

What he really wants to do is shorten the "A" list (what has to be done before we go) by moving things to the "B" list (stuff that can be completed underway).

Right now, our life has literally been reduced to bins and lists.

Bins and lists I tell you.

Love,
Brittany & Scott

8 Days to go...!?!

We are scheduled to leave in eight days.  The fact that I just wrote "scheduled" makes me laugh because if there is anything we've learned throughout this incredible labor of love, it is that the words "schedule" and "boat" just don't seem to pair well (unlike, say, sauvignon blanc and cheese).

Our apartment is almost completely empty.  We have a few sparse pieces of furniture here and there, an Aerobed on the floor in the living room and more dust bunnies than you can shake a Swiffer at (my mom, as she cleaned, could not stop exclaiming in all her Northern British glory, "Bloody hell!  Don't you two ever dust!?".  Guess not.

Our wardrobes have also shrunk, and now consist only of "boat" clothes, meaning that tonight, when we go out to dinner with friends, I will be sporting (for the second night in a row) - reef flip flops, leggings, and a white shirt-dress (okay, it's beach cover up) topped off with a blue Patagonia R1 fitted pullover and a scarf.  This is about as "nice" as it's going to get from here on out.

The weather is also turning which I DESPISE.  Starbucks has re-introduced the annual Pumpkin Spice latte and CVS is selling candy corn like it's going out of style (I know this, because it happens to be my favorite and Scott got me some).  Again - despite the fact that I can eat candy corn like it's my job - I don't like fall.  I am a summer, sunshine, boats and beach kind of person and while changing leaves are pretty and all,  I do not like the cold (unless I am skiing).  You can have your fuzzy nubby sweaters and leather knee high boots as far as I am concerned.  This biyatch is heading to the tropics.

The countdown begins!

Love,
Brittany & Scott

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Boom Boom Boom, let me hear you say WAY OH!

We have installed our shiny, new Sparcraft Boom and our Garhauer Boom vang!  While these two things are definitely nice to tick off our list of things to do - they need not have a dedicated blog post...UNLESS... they were installed and went on WITHOUT A HITCH.

Yes.  You read correctly.  Without. a. hitch.  Like a well rehearsed ballet, we unhooked the old boom, slid it off - brought up the new boom, slid it on and pop riveted that baby right into place*.  We didn't even have to take the mainsail off!  (Thanks to friendly fellow boater, Frank, for helping us out after we screamed at him in the parking lot - "HEY FRANK, can you come give us a hand!")

And here I am, tapping my toe, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Well, not really.  But here's the thing:  Nothing, nothing on a boat is simple and straightforward.  This is the first project of the hundred and twenty or so we have tackled that actually a) went according to plan and b) didn't lead to a litany of other projects.

This, my friends, is a bonifide Festivus Miracle in September!

And that is the reason I am blogging.

Not because replacing the boom is that interesting, but to say thank you and make a note that sometimes, all you need is one thing to go accordingly to boost morale to unprecedented levels.

It felt good. Reeeeaaal good.

Who cares if we have a 35 year old gold anodized mast and brand new silver boom anyway!?  Isn't mixing gold and silver, old and new 'in' right now?

Love,

Brittany & Scott

*Pop riveting, FYI, is #2 on my favorite things to do after mixing and applying epoxy.  When pop riveting I have a tendency to break out into modified songs like "Pop pop pop - POP RIVET" and "Pop goes the rivet and the rivet goes POP!" which I am certain Scott THOROUGHLY enjoys.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Letting Go

Remember before I went to England when I mentioned how we are giving away pretty much all of our possessions? Shortly after I wrote that post,  I sat in my (previously) cozy living room on my (former) comfy couch and took stock of all the stuff that had an expiration date (or a pick-up date rather)...and I cried.  Turns out, I was kind of attached to all that stuff.

Silly, I know.  Perhaps it was because I sometimes place sentimental value on things, perhaps it was the fact that I was running on empty, leaving for England in a few hours and in the midst of utter chaos,  perhaps it was the chicken shwarma I had for lunch...OR...perhaps it was the fact that, oh, I don't know - we are moving onto our boat and saying "sayonara" to life as we know it for a few years and venturing out into the great, wide open, unknown.  And God knows there is no place for Ikea furniture and World Market trinkets there.

Whatever it was, it came out and I cried like a little girl for a solid 8 minutes or so.  Scott looked at me and had to laugh before coming over to comfort me, which in turn, made me laugh through my tears.   Here I was, free spirited, gypsy soul Brittany crying about a couch.  "This is just..." I sniffled "the last time we are going to cuddle on this couch together...forever", I sobbed.

 What can I say?  I am a material girl in a material world.  It could be worse I suppose.

Over the course of one weekend, I have become a reluctant (but willing!) minimalist.  I am sitting here in my couch-less, decor-less, picture frame-less, trinket-less, cable-less, carpet-less, white-walled, echoey apartment and you know what?  It's not that bad.

I guess sometimes the idea of letting go can be harder than actually letting go.   See ya later flat screen, take that lil' wine cabinet with you!!

Love,
Brittany & Scott

Second Sail of the Summer...

...and it's September.

Man, if we keep this up - we'll be 'rounding the Horn in no time!





It was FANTASTIC to be out on the water again...hopefully we can do this a little more often, considering we are leaving in two weeks.  

Yeah.  We like to live on the edge.

Love,

Brittany & Scott

Monday, September 13, 2010

We Sailed on with Happy Hearts

Image taken by me in Zanzibar in February 2004
We reveled in the rhythmic peals of mast slapping halyards
And lapping ripples mooring mirrored lights in the bay.
The harbor wind's song played on in our hearts;
All misted moon long we sailed on with happy hearts.

~An excerpt from "We Sailed on with Happy Hearts" by Richard Deets~

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Going Across the Pond

Today I am flying to England to see my wonderful Grandad, Victor.  He is 88 years old and just the sweetest man you ever met.  He's quick as a whip, enjoys the BBC, British game shows, and spying on his next door neighbors.   He is kind, generous and at times, hilariously ornery.  When I was a little girl and found out he had been in WWII, I asked him "Grandad, why didn't you die in the war?"  To which he answered with a smile matter-of-factly, "Because I didn't want to".  Funny guy, that Victor.

He was in the British Royal Navy and travelled the world on his ship.  He loved to arrive in a new port and he vividly remembers going ashore in places like Bombay and Siam and all the stimuli those exotic ports offered up.  After the war, he continued to work on ships - ultimately landing on a luxury ocean liner where he was a bell hop.  Years later, my mom would take him and my Grandma aboard the QE II to turn the tables for him.

He worked hard his whole life - eventually settling for life on land - but never lost his love of far off places, something I suppose he passed on to my mother, and then on to me.  Pretty neat.

Anyway, I am leaving today.  Our apartment - though pretty packed up - is full of our loved and lived in furniture...for now.  Our friends and family who have staked claims on our belongings are picking up their loot on Saturday.

Which means when I come home on Sunday our apartment will be more or less... empty.

The fact that last night was the last night I'll sleep in my bed and this is the last post I'll type from my couch is pretty weird.  But as Scott says, it's all part of starting a new adventure...

Peace out!

Brittany & Scott

Post Script:  My lovely grandfather passed away not 3 months later.  This last visit was such a gift and I now have the BEST memories of him.  RIP Grandpa, I love you.

Monday, September 06, 2010

Sometimes, no matter what, you just need to sit back and relax...

We have been full steam ahead for months now.  Ever since we left our jobs Scott and I have been at the boat pretty much every day - 12 hours a day.  Each day spent on the boat it seems we take two steps forward, and one step back.  This is fine, and we've learned by now that this is pretty much how it goes when it comes to boats.  However, it does wear on a psyche...just a tad.  I'm not going to lie.  Just when we think we are on the home stretch, some other 'issue' rears it's head, making progress feel like a line that keeps moving farther and farther in the distance (Latest culprit?  Our Lofrans windlass situation...I'll not bore you with details).

So today, instead of going to the boat and despite the fact that there is a laundry list of "to-do's", my amazing mother came down and helped us pack up most of our apartment (thank you mummy!!).  And then, when Scott headed to the boat to work on a few things, mom and I went and got...drum roll please... pedicures*.  Sigh...

...Because life just feels a *little* less hectic when your feet are all scrubbed up and prettied!

The lesson here?  Sometimes, no matter how chaotic it all may seem, you just need to sit back and relax.

Love,

Brittany and Scott

*I have been dying to have this done ever since my brother looked at my feet TWO weeks ago and said, "Damn Britt, you're kinda getting nasty boater feet there!"

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Oh Jack Kerouac, how I love thee...

Just some great words from a crazy man.


Thanks Julie B.V.

Love, 

Brittany & Scott

Saturday, September 04, 2010

The Radar Arch Cometh!

Big day.  HUGE day.  The radar arch is mounted on the boat - complete with our Simrad radar AND our solar panel!  We still have a few more support brackets to mount, but all in all - we have an arch!  Did I mention we also have AC/DC power on the boat now?!... which means we not only have working lights on the boat, but can also listen to music while we are working!  Music from our Fusion marine stereo instead of our teeny tiny battery powered iPod speakers.  Ah, the beauty of simple things that make life just a *little* better.  Between this and the fact that we have a functioning toilet - we are feeling pretty copacetic right about now.  Life is good.

And every day this feels more and more real...






Big thanks to the usual cast and crew of my dad, Uncle Bob and Walt, as well as Scott's buddy Mike and a few friendly "F" Dockers who lent us a helping hand and/or didn't have a fit when we kept the entire dock blocked for the better part of the day.

Thanks!

Love,

Brittany & Scott

Thursday, September 02, 2010

Awesome Person of the Week: Karol Polaczek

Some might call him a model maker, others a machinist, but not us - no, we call him an artist.

Karol is the man behind most (if not all) of our custom-machined stainless steel hardware.  The goose neck for our new boom, the cover for our fuel tank, our boom vang bracket...the list goes on.   His latest piece of art?  Our radar arch.

The radar arch is what separates the men from the boys in the cruising world.  It is the insignia of the "world cruiser" and screams "we are going to far off places!"  On it we will mount our solar panel, dinghy davits, all our antennas - and, duh, our radar. This thing is so freaking cool I danced around the dock like a little girl on Christmas morning as we did our final fitting today.

Karol is amazing.  The amount of work he has put into our boat (albeit, behind the scenes) has not gone unnoticed.  So I want to expose his brilliance and say THANKS!  He is truly a master of his craft - and we are so grateful for his efforts!

So here's to you Mr. Master of the weld and manipulator of metal; you truly are a real man of genius!








We're getting there!!

Brittany & Scott

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

180 (Degrees) South

Go to Netflix and download this movie....NOW. It is powerful, beautiful, and incredible.

It's a story about a guy, Jeff Johnson, and his quest to achieve a life-long dream to follow in the footsteps of his heroes, Jvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia) and Doug Tompkins (founder of North Face), and retrace an epic journey they made to Patagonia in the late 60's (Fun factoid:  These two are best friends.  How crazy is that?!  The founders of two major outdoor apparel brands are BEST FRIENDS, how did I not know this!?).  Jeff Johnson is a self-proclaimed "guy who works a 9-to-5 job so that he can disappear now and then to Yosemite for a climb or mainland Mexico to surf" who takes a chance on the adventure of a lifetime - and wins. 

Our very good friends, Julie and Kyle told us about this film and because everything they suggest to us is right up our alley and awesome, we downloaded it. It is inspiring, visually spectacular and the kind of movie that makes you want to get up and do something amazing.  Not to mention the soundtrack kicks some major butt.

Rent it.  Download it.  Buy it.  Whatever.  It's a must see.  I'll close with Scott's favorite line of the film:

"If I don't get on that boat, I know what I'm going home to.  If I do, my future is unwritten..."
~Jeff Johnson~

Yep.

Love,

Brittany & Scott
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