How Much Do I Blog?

This post is another in a series of post where I comment on the dynamics of my blog. This blog deals with the statistics of my blog, how often do I post and how long have I been been blogging.

The previous post in this series asked a very fundamental question,Why Do I Blog?,  where I examined my reasons for blogging. Some people may find some valuable insight into some of my thought processes by rereading this post. In a previous post, Who Reads Your Blog?, I discussed how I could obtain statistics on how many people were reading my blog and where in the world the readers are from. In another previous post, Where Do You Blog? , I provided any potential reader with insight into my home office.

My first blogging post was Aug 12, 2008. This post is my 310 th post. That is roughly an average of 73 posts a year. My highest full year of posts was 2009 where I posted 98 posts and my least full year of posts was 2011 when I posted 61 posts. This year I have only posted 42 posts, so this year is on track for the least amount of posts in a year. I don't know if these statistics qualify me as an experianced blogger or not.

Obviously, I have not been blogging a long time and recently someone was advising me on blogging commented on their blogging experience. A lot of people started blogging before me, but it wasn't long before their quantities of posts fell off until it is only a few posts a year (or less) after they seem to tire of the process. Another friend of mine has been consitent and writes a few times a week, but mainly his posts consists of photos. One guy I follow that says that his blog is a "superblog" has not been seen in six months. A lot of this is understandable with the other social media sites like Facebook getting more attention. I understand that. After spending hours writing my detailed race report posts, I get lazy with other reports and just post a bunch of pictures and a short description on Facebook and call it done! Even so, my posts have been fairly consistent and my blog has not fallen off dramatically since I started blogging, I may blog once a week or more. 

So sometimes I wonder if all the time spent writing 310 posts is worth it. As I have mentioned before in Why Do I Blog?, my blog is somewhat like a journal to remind myself of activities. Some people have been supportive of what I write and have quoted me elsewhere and some people have been very critical of what I write. Interesting! I really don't think that many people read it anyway.

Dates?

I like dates, both the fruit and the social kind. But I am wondering about giving them up. They have been very irksome to me this week. Oh, I am talking about the fruit kind. I have not been ON a date in quite a while, so I have no hardship with going ON a date with someone.

It all started on Monday. I went on an all day trip to Lake Ozette and hiked the 9.5 mile loop to the beach and back. I rode the motorcycle to and from, that amounted to about 300 miles. By the time I got home, I was hungry so I pulled out the pitted dates to snack on before I made dinner. I like eating dates, they are sweet and are like candy to me. After eating a couple of dates, I bit into one that still had it's pitt. When I bit down on the date, I broke a piece off a lower molar, (No.30). It did not hurt, but a large chunk came off leaving very sharp edges. Drat!

Early in the morning I called the dentist and got right in. The dentist took an xray and said that even though the part that broke off did not compromise the tooth, there was an another crack that could be a problem. In addition, there appeared to be some infection at the end of one of the roots. So, after the sharp edges were ground down and a temporary filling installed, the office staff made me an appointment to see the endontist to see about a root canal procedure for that tooth.

Tuesday morning I arrived at the endontist office. He took another xray. He could see the extra crack and after looking through his microscope, determined that the crack was "old" and that the tooth was compromised and that was causing the infection and the nerve was already dead, thus no pain. Furthermore, his xray showed some decay on the adjoining tooth under the front edge of the crown on the adjacent tooth. So his recommendation was that the tooth should be extracted. A bridge could be installed, unless the adjacent crown and tooth could not support the bridge. Drat again!

I was then referred to the oral surgeon later in the morning. He looked at the xrays and described how he would break the tooth into pieces to extract it and highly recommended conscious sedation. Since I am a wimp about these things, it sounded good to me. He also was concerned about the decay on the adjacent tooth, but would defer to my dentists about how to proceed. He also suggested an implant. Triple drat!

So, after a stressful week (not just related to the tooth), my procedure was scheduled for Friday at 1415 and later was moved earlier to 0945. A friend took me to the office and the great staff took good care of me. It was over soon. Of course, I was not aware of anything going on. I was back home by 1100. I don't remember much later, I was sleepy, but not wanting to sleep and as usual with me, I was goofy! After my escort left, I drowsed and changed the gauze in my mouth every hour or so. By the evening, the bleeding had stopped and I finally I got something to eat. I slept well at night and never had to take any pain medications. The oral surgeon and I agreed not to have a prescription for pain medication anyway. I took a little ibuprophen when I went to bed.

So now I have an uncomfortable hole where a tooth used to be. This is my first adult tooth every pulled for a problem(I had one pulled for clearance when I had braces).Now I need to see the dentist to find out what the future repair will be. I am sure that whatever the outcome, it will be very costly.

So, maybe I should give up dates....the fruit kind! I still like to go ON dates!

The offending pitt!

The Great Bronco Engine Transplant-Phase II- Changing The Rear Differential

Warning: This is another installment in the ongoing saga of "The Great Bronco Engine Transplant". Many posts have been published over the last two years chronicling this engineering/installation  project. Those people looking for sailing info will probably be disappointed, move along.

I have had the Bronco II running for about 7000 miles and 18 months since I replaced the original V6 with a Ford 302 V8. The Bronco was originally designed with a 7.5 inch rear differential. This was a fairly light duty differential that worked well for the type of driving I did. Serious off roaders often had issues with it.

One of the suggested changes after converting to a V8 engine, was to change the rear differential to a stronger 8.8 inch differential. So this week, I bought a 8.8 inch differential from a friend at church. His son left his 96 Explorer at the friends house and said that I could buy the rear differential. The friend and I removed it and replaced it with another axle and wheels so that it could be rolled around. It ended up being a lot of work.

Now I have to plan the installation of the 8.8 diff into the Bronco II. It is not a bolt in installation. Due to different ways of mounting, I need to install new spring perches and shock absorber mounts onto the differential. This will require welding. Since I don't weld, I need to figure out some way to get the new fittings welded on. I can always take it somewhere for finish welding, but I have to get the new parts tacked on in place first after everything is aligned. This may take some planning! I also will need to modify either the existing driveshaft or the one that came with the 8.8 differential. Kind of like taking two driveshafts to make one. And if that is not enough, there are brake lines and emergency brake cables to redesign. In addition to being a stronger differential, this one is equipped with disc brakes(instead of drum brakes) and also has limited slip gearing that will sure help in the snow.

Always something! But I think it will be nice when I have it installed.

 

The 8.8 inch differential and driveshaft from the 96 Explorer

Smack Talking

It has been pointed out to me recently that some of my sailing and racing posts have been offensive to some of my competitors by my smack talking and causing animosity. If that is the case, then I apologize.

To rectify this situation, I will curtail posting on some of the races and/or avoid mentioning any of my competitors. That may make the posts sound dry and self centered, but that is all I can think of to avoid offending someone. Hurray for freedom of the press!

I should still be able to write posts about hiking, biking, camping, sking, etc. They should not be offensive to anyone. I doubt if many people read this blog anyway.

Foulweather Bluff Race

This weekend was the Foulweather Bluff Race sponsored by Edmonds Corinthian Yacht Club. It is a 26 mile race that starts  just north of Edmonds, rounds the bell buoy off Foulweather Bluff, rounds the bell buoy off Scatchet Head and back to the finish north of Edmonds. This year, the weather was forecast to be sunny, temps in the 70's and winds to 10 knots. The forecast was very accurate! Is this really October?

 

I delivered the boat to Edmonds early on Friday and got a choice moorage spot at the visitors dock. I explored uptown and spent time kibitzing with old acquaintances and met a few new ones. Interesting how the sailors from outside my normal sailing area around Bremerton are so friendly.

 

On Saturday, the weather was as predicted with light winds from the north.. We motored to the starting area and lined up for our start. We were assigned to a large class of 11 boats with a large handicap spread of 30 seconds/mile. We were the smallest boat in our class, most of the boats were 40 feet or larger and even though we owe some of them time, they are boat designs noted to be fast in light wind.

 

I had a great start, on time and just below three other boats. I footed off to get clear air. The wind was from the N-NE and if we sailed close hauled, our course would be above the first mark. A couple of boats went very high toward the south end of Whidbey Island and even though it looked good for a while, they soon stalled. So, like most of the boats, we footed off some to get into the more favorable current sooner. It was a good call as the wind filled in more from the NW and increased to about 8-10 knots. We also sailed into the north flowing ebb current that gave us a great boost. As can be seen from the track, we got a nice lift on port tack and with the current paralleled the Kitsap County shore.

 

Near Double Bluff, we tacked toward the Foulweather Buoy. This was mistake No.1, we should have tacked sooner. It soon became apparent that with the current, we would overstand the mark. We were not the only ones, a lot of the boats around us did the same thing. We started falling off early to avoid being swept beyond the buoy. Near the buoy, we sailed nearly dead downwind for a short time to avoid hitting the buoy. Some other boats did not have it so easy and even tried putting up spinnakers to gain distance.

 

We set the spinnaker and started reaching towards Whidbey Island. By now the wind had lightened to about 5 knots. We were now sailing straight into the current. Lots of boats starting congregating around the mark and we could not sail very fast away from it. One well sailed boat jibed in toward Skunk Bay and looked like they were doing well, so Mistake No. 2, we followed them. We soon realized that that was not working, so we joined the parade and reached across Admiralty Inlet.

 

Near Useless Bay, we found good winds and better current. As we sailed toward the Scatchet Head buoy, holes would develop and boats ahead would stall. The fleet would compress and the unlucky boats would find themselves passed. We avoided most of these holes and finally got around the mark just ahead of a bunch of other boats.

 

The remaining course was light reaching into the finish where we finished at about 1738.

 

The yacht club sponsored a post race party with pizza and drinks. Awards were presented. Smack talk by a couple of individuals became tiresome. We did not win anything as we placed 5th.

 

I headed home after the party and had a great night delivery home.

 

Thanks to my crew of: Tim, Kathleen, Walter, Rainer and "Doc". They kept focused and kept working the boat even when I was distracted.

 

NOTE: This blog was written as I remembered it and how I observed the conditions. Others have reported much different conditions and results. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. One smack talker at the post race party, along with trying to pick an argument with me, was indicating that I was "invisible" to him, but he would still use my blog for info. As juvenile as his comment and actions were, I would suggest that if people are not interested in what I say or do, than they should just not read what I write. 



 

 

This year, the race poster and shirts featured a picture of us and the Foulweather Bluff buoy from the 2009 race.

 

Moored in a prime spot at the Edmonds Marina on Friday. Before the night was over, the moorage was filled to overflowing.

 

Our track for the day. Note the great lift along the Kitsap County shore.



Sept Six Pack Series

I had planned to take the Summer off from racing. But with the Shaw Island Classic, Down The Sound and J&J race, it was hardly a summer off. So since I was back in the racing groove, I decided to race the Sept Six Pack series at Port Orchard. This is a four race series run on Friday nights from the Port Orchard Marina. It is sponsored by my club, West Sound Corinthian Yacht Club.

Each of these races had very light north winds and in three of the races, the course was shortened.

Race1. This race went to Pt Herron and back to the start/finish line where it was shortened. I got a good start and played the left side of the course with good winds to about 8 knots at times. I rounded the first mark way in the lead and set the spinnaker. During the run, the ferry came through our fleet on it's way to Bremerton. I had to head way left to clear it and found myself in light air. The second place boat, "Tantalus" was far enough behind to avoid the ferry and stayed in better winds. They passed me and finished first. I was second for the evening.

Video of the mark rounding and spinnaker set during the Race 1 of the Sept Six Pack Series

Race 2. Again we raced to Pt Herron and finished a shortened course at the start/finish line. I got a good start even though I had to wiggle around a couple of boats. Again, I lead to the first mark and again, I had to sail to the left to avoid the ferry. But this time, when I could I jibed to the right and had stronger winds. The boats behind stayed more to the left and I pulled away from them even though they initially gained. I was first, "Blackout" was second and "Swan" third.

Video of the start, mark rounding and spinnaker set during the Race 2 of the Sept Six Pack Series

Race 3. For this race, another boat entered the series. I am not allowed to name this boat, so I will call it "The Boat Not Named"(TBNN). The people who sail this boat are very sensitive about anyone reporting their progress. Again we had light north winds but this time it was drizzly and cool. The course was set to the radar target at Retsil. Yeah, we do not cross the ferry lanes! Again I got a good start on starboard even though one boat on port turned right into my path and I had to change course to clear them. I had some chopped up air from a couple of boats ahead and then TBNN luffed me up even though they too were in bad air. This slowed us both down. I tacked away and then back again and TBNN tried luffing me up again. This time I had some room on them, so I fell off some, got across their bow, below the boats ahead and soon found myself well in the lead. Pointing is sooo overrated in light air!

We got to the windward mark, set the spinnaker and started down wind. With the light air, I sailed very steep angles and went far to the right near the Shipyard where I found some wind funneling out from between some of the ships moored there. I jibed and again, the race was finished at the start/finish line. I again got first, TBNN was second, "Tantulus" was third.

Race 4. With two firsts and a second, I did not need to do much more than show up to win the series. Before I left the dock, the crew of TBNN was talking smack about how they would finish ahead of me and other stuff. They are so sensitive!

The course this time was once around a short course to the Navy mooring buoy at Annapolis, the club buoy at Ross Point and return. Again, the winds were light from the north but skewed so that a starboard start would take the whole length of the line. I went right up to the breakwater before tacking and crossed the line at the outboard end just as the gun went off, clear air and good boat speed all the way. TBNN was greedy, tried to port tack the line at the pin end inside of me and found themselves over early. I sailed toward the left, tacked once and made the mark. I set the spinnaker and sailing tight angles jibe through the start/finish line(a mark of the course) in first.

The wind lightened and as we sailed south, it filled in some to the left and "Tantalus" and TBNN both sailed by me. After rounding the mark, "Tantalus" went right. I went left found better wind and soon passed them. As the sun went down, it became difficult to pick out the puffs of wind on the water. There was also a lot of wind shear and I was setting the jib leads nearly 10 inches different between port and starboard sides. I also had to steer an "average" course to keep the sails full and the boat moving. My course was much different then the other boats, but I was FAST! As TBNN neared the finish line, I could see them struggling. I sailed my oddball course, caught up to them and passed them finishing about 1-1/2 minutes ahead for first place.

Video of the run set during the Race 4 of the Sept Six Pack Series. This is my "psycho" head cam video. You may want to take some Dramamine before watching. I was busy and my head (and camera) was all over the place!

This was fun to make the trek south each Friday to race this series. I specifically used the series to work on light air boat speed. With the warm weather and light air there was lots of wind shear and I worked real hard at understanding it and trimming for it. I also reconfirmed my philosophy about loosing all the rig adjustments and sail controls in light air.

Final results will be found here when the are complete: http://www.wscyc.net/Races/Race%20Results/current%20year/SeptemberSeries.pdf

It Was BAD At Brownsville Today

It was BAD at the Brownsville Marina.  Before you think that something was amiss, "BAD" stands for Brownsville Appreciation Day and the slogan is "Bad Is Good". It is sort of a community fair for the Brownsville community at the marina. The marina was open to the public along with vendors, a classic car show, live music and eats. After a drizzly Friday, Saturday morning was grey and overcast. Fortunatly the day cleared up and the crowds of people showed up.

 Here it is, the fourth Saturday in September.

 The Classic Car Show was set up in the grassy area above the upper parking lot.

 Mainly old cars, but there was some newer muscle cars too.

 The stage was set up next to the launching ramp and the vendors in the grassy area between the road and the shoreline.

Various vendors offered crafts, jewelry, and food. Farther up the road near the fire hall, there was a batting cage and a inflated bouncy castle for the little kids.