I have started working over the local library for reading material.
Dug out my splicing tools and book. I have a spool of double braid rope the right size to replace all the rigging on Mary Lee.
As I drag the old lines from the garage to the street and unspool the new line to measure out the correct lengths I see Vivians neighbors studying me.
I find the right page in the book. I will try doing an end splice first.
I get the right tools and begin. I still find it hard to believe this actually works. But I cypher the directions and do my best.
One end finished. It is rolled in on itself like the fingers do on a rubber glove when taken off. No whipping needed and it will never come loose. I am pleased with it. Now for the other end.
Find the right page and continue. This line fastens to a block with a pin through the loop. I try a smaller loop.
The deed is done. The loop ended up a little smaller than intended but is still just fine. The bigger line on the right is the first splice I did that first summer working on Mary Lee. The other two ends are the next ends I will splice. The existing lines on Mary Lee are all to big for the blocks. The ends are not spliced correctly and the choker lines on the wishbone booms I suspect are very old if not original. Mary Lee is an '87. Hard to believe the lines are that old but they are totally black and clearly deteriorating. I looked through all my pictures but do not seem to have one handy of the choker lines. The topping lifts looked somewhat better that first summer and they fell apart when washed.
I used single braid lines for those because the price was right and it took a different technique to splice. I guess I just wanted to waste money on something I would have to replace right away. :-)
If I had to guess....I would say the previous owner put almost no money into Mary Lee. Aside from buying it, everything I have seen tells me that if anything was done at all it was cobbled together in the absolute cheapest way possible. I suspect the lines came off a larger boat when its lines were replaced, and were free. The loops are all just the ends bent around and seized with whipping that is now falling apart. By the time I am done...I will have worked on just about everything. I don't mind. I will certainly know my boat inside and out. Once done with the lines, I will start sewing new canvas. I am just going to do a piece at a time. I should be sailing before I get it all done. Unless something comes up I will be living in Florida by spring.
I have taken over a week to rest now. No gym, no biking. I am certainly better off than I was just a couple months ago. November is a month of rehabilitation with the experts. I am anxious to see what comes of it. I have not had professional help with physical therapy in a long time.
As always....I reflect on the journey. So much has changed. I find myself thinking about the people I have met along the way. Of course this leads me to think about the dogs.
Lucy right now.
Bailey supervised my dinghy build
Yup...Bailey before the summer haircut.
Finn supervised Bailey. It was an easy job. Bailey was resting.
Most of the time.
Unless Finn needed assistance.
And how could I forget Bella.
Bella was the first dog I had spent much time around since getting hurt. What a great little dog. All the potential in the world.
November 4th is day one at the rehabilitation center. I feel like a new chapter is opening up once more. I could not have imagined the turns along the path when I flew out to Baltimore with intentions of buying Mary Lee. I left everything behind when I moved out to work on her. The changes have been consistent. Some were very hard fought improvements. Some changes caused by regrets. Some have just been nice. We are the product of our environment. I can see the changes is myself. I ponder what changes are yet to come.
I think I have finally figured out why my legs are so fatigued most of the time. When my lower back spasms, it feels like I can barely move them. Like somehow they are just to heavy. When I take it easier, The spasms are much less and the fatigue is also less. I was able to mask some of it with the pain meds. Of course maybe it was just masking the pain that made it so much easier to deal with. My first thought was to just ignore it until it went away. That has not worked, no matter how much I have exhausted myself with exercise. I think the pain wears me out to some degree. Maybe the rehab center knows a trick or two that can help. No matter. I will continue improving whether my back wants to or not :-) I must, back pain still puts me on the ground from time to time. I imagine what beating through the waves is capable of doing. The time to test this is just about here.
Time to get out of my pajamas and get something done