For almost every problem, there is a solution. This is a really, really good solution. I love being under power for many reasons (Top Two: Sailing is an awful lot of work and I don’t like the inefficiency of tacking back and forth to get to an upwind destination), but the 3200 gallon tanks we have are not inexpensive to fill (Biodiesel will require a bit more research; I don’t have that figured out yet. More to follow on that later).

A solar boat? Sign me up! We’re already used to cruising at 8-9 knots, so it’s not a tremendous change in speed. And free fuel? Yeah, I’m all about that…

New Storm Brings Triple Threat: “First, we’ll have another shot of rain move through, then rapidly see the winds pick up, and last, a sharp drop in temperatures tonight that will likely bring snow by (Wednesday) morning.”

I was chatting with our dockmaster today who said that in the 15 years he’s been here, this has been by far the worst winter he’s ever seen. Master of understatement, he pointed out “Well, I guess your boat is still there, so you’re all right, huh?”

Storm-prepping has become routine. I put all the window canvas back on the boat again today. The temps are supposed to drop precipitously again, so we might as well get ahead of the game and retain as much heat as we can. It’s a bit like living in a cave then, but I just pretend I’m on a sailboat…

Not on purpose, of course! Apparently he spent the morning fantasizing about taking KJ down through the Panama Canal and up through the Great Loop. Right up until he mentioned it to me and I came up with the following pesky details:

1. Where is the lowest bridge that must be cleared with no alternate route around it?
The lowest bridge that cannot be avoided on the Great Loop/Great Circle Route is 19.1 feet at mile 300.6 on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal after the Chicago River/Sanitary and Ship Canal and the Calumet Sag Channel join south-west of Chicago. This is the AT&S; Railroad Bridge which is shown on the charts as a swing bridge. It is inoperable and no longer opens. THERE IS NO WATER ROUTE AROUND THIS FIXED BRIDGE FOR GREAT LOOP CRUISERS.

Which means KJ won’t be making that trip. Greg quickly bounced back after deciding he “really only wants to do the northern part of the trip anyway, so when can we leave?” I think my guy is having a leeeetle trouble readjusting to work after a three week vacation which included a great cruise…

OK, OK, I should never have dragged out those catchy little tunes. Nity wants to watch the videos again…and again…and again. I haven’t seen this behavior since we used to endure 3-in-a-row “Sleeping Beauty” marathons when she was five.

Here are today’s Top Two:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e8IVAUkI6A]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOaty7FpwMI]

A Sunday slowly melting away in three minute increments…

Spent the evening introducing my daughter to the classics (after the math homework, of course). She actually remembers when I took her brother and her to the play several years ago. But it wasn’t anything like the Memory Lane of the original TV shorts. Saturday mornings were defined by this stuff. This will always be my favorite:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TQByv_xkuc]

You know you love it…Nity really liked “Interjections.” Especially the little girl at the end:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhHpJ45_zwM]

And a close runner up would be our favorite Galaxy Girl:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGQIAegY5EE]

Couldn’t find “3 Is A Magic Number” for Kris though. Bummed about that!