Oldtimer was moved up to Burgundy to make a sale possible. It worked.
In August a German couple made an offer on the barge and after some negotiations, a survey and more negotiations, Oldtimer had found new owners.
I had realized that with the sale of the barge, it was the first time since 1981 that I had neither a boat to live or work on. That situation was quickly remedied.
I had been idly looking at possible replacements and I found one in a Monk 36 trawler. Single engine and bow thruster, just like Oldtimer, just a little more power for the ocean. The galley is not as nice either, but it will do. She was located in San Diego, some way south of Ventura. Purchase complete, I cruised to Ventura last week with my friends Tim and Christine, a two day stop at Catalina Island and an overnight anchor in Smugglers Cove on Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park.
This blog is officially done. Thank you all for your comments over the years. Traveling the European canals was a magical experience. I met many great people and will cherish the memories always.
Don
Oh Don! I’m so pleased you’ve found a new boat, but sad it’s the end of your blog. Maybe you can start a new one for the new boat?
ReplyDeleteYour photos are lovely, by the way!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Val. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do about that. It will be a very different kind of “faring” (I love that, BTW) and it will be a while before any significant trips happen. It is right out in to the North Pacific when you leave the harbor and the weather is just about to turn. We’re due for some stormy weather mid week. Check out the Channel Island National Park. They have a very informative website and that is where the majority of my cruising will take place, in the near future, anyway.
DeleteEnd of an era. It’s will be an ongoing pleasure to read your past blogs but sad to have no more. All the best with your new boat Don.
ReplyDeleteNot anonymous, thanks from both of us Ian and Lisette
ReplyDeleteIt broke my heart to have to sell Oldtimer but it just wasn’t practical to try to keep on without my partner; not the type of cruising I wanted to do. So I will be back on the ocean and closer to home. I will continue following your adventures and I will keep up my membership in the DBA. It keeps the memories fresh.
DeleteHi Don, I recently found your blog on the DBA site and read through both in a matter of 4 weeks. Thank you for sharing your and Cathy Jo’s wonderful travels. What a great resource for future cruisers like myself. I’m wondering if you kept a spreadsheet of your trips and mooring places you stay at over the years and if you are interested in sharing. If so, I would love to have a copy. My partner and I plan to retire in 2027 and become cruisers. I can share my email address later.
ReplyDeleteLike all good mariners I kept a daily log of our travels; departure and arrival times, kilometers traveled, time in locks, etc. but I did it the old fashioned way, pen and ink. I never put it into a spreadsheet.
DeleteThe Mooring Guides on the DBA site are a great resource and we used the EDB charts. They also have a great deal of information, not just on the canals, but on attractions close by. Also, whenever we met someone that might have useful information, Cathy Jo would break out the chart and make notations for future use. The barging community is very helpful. We also made notations on the charts when underway and those really helped when we revisited waterways.
As you have already found, the DBA Forums are also great fonts of useful information.
My email address is on the profile page. Feel free to contact me anytime. I'm an evangelist for the life!
Thanks so much for replying so quickly. I look forward to fully utilizing the DBA resources when we start cruising.
ReplyDelete