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Getting up close with the stream at Sam's Point in NY.

Dinghy Rebuild

This is a project I wish I could have done over the Winter but just didn't have the inside workspace available. With all projects this one had some serious restrictions as well as compromises. Ideally I would like a sturdy dinghy that is sailable, rows well, is light weight and low cost. Doesn't take much time to figure out that isn't possible. Size is a major restriction with our boats beam being 8'11" we want the dingy to be smaller so it can go on the transom if needed so 8'6" was our size. Can't afford an outboard so rowable is mandatory and sailable would be nice, as of now the sailing part doesn't seem feasible but you never know. Light weight is critical for us to be able to move it comfortably without it becoming a major hassle when storing it on deck. Cost is always a issue so we set a budget of $400. Yes you could get a lot nicer and better boat but I doubt you could in our price range.

The plan was to build a simple Portuguese style boat but after pricing out wood this was not even feasible. After some sweating and being nervous we would have no boat I found a 13' Dory in need of repair on craigslist and swooped it up. The gunwales need replacing, parts of the ply wood sides are deteriorated and it is missing breast hooks also it is 13' not 8'6" but after checking it out seemed I could work with it and talked the owner down to $275.

Keep in mind this is a work in progress and I tend to change plans on the go as I run into problems.

Hiking Sam's Point

Nick leaves his calling card on the Shawangunk Ridge

Two weekends ago the weather gods bestowed on us temps in the high 70's and we had no choice but to honor them by getting a new hike in. This time we explored Sam's Point Preserve (apart of the Shawangunk Ridge) outside Ellenville, NY. Sam's point offers a variety of terrain and beautiful scenic views from a variety of points.

Smoked Chicken!

Two batches in one week! So tasty. One set of drumsticks and then a whole chicken.

Outdoor Yoga Fun

Nick and I had some fun while hiking on a gorgeous day. Here's some pics to brighten your day! Namaste and peace to all our friends, family and fellow human beings we share this earth with. Cliffs of Sam's Point Preserve in Ellenville, New York.

Sailing into Spring

Taking advantage of the nice warm weather we pulled out our sails to give them a little attention.

Boat Heater 1

I was going to wait until this was all done to post but decided following along would be more interesting.

We decided that the boat needs some sort of heat. Since electric, propane and hot water is out of the question it leaves a solid fuel heater as the best bet. I grew up with a house heated by wood and then spent many years building fireplaces so solid fuel heat is very appealing to me.

With that decision made the design process took awhile. We have a bunch of restrictions: cost, size, safety, efficiency and space. Cost is important in all our decisions and for this I wanted to keep it under $50.00. This was actually a hard restriction since it would be easy to design something and weld it but metal costs are quite high.

Next is size. Since the boat is small the heater can't take up much space but it also doesn't need to be huge and provide too much heat. I picked the dimensions of 15" high by 6" wide maximum. Safety is paramount on a boat when dealing with fire so all parts near the flame must be extremely well insulated. Efficiency was another tougher design area that I had to compromise a little on. The old school type of potbelly stove produces a poor amount of heat for the amount of fuel used. Finally space on the boat limits where the heater could go which was important for limiting what sort of shape and mounting the heater had to be.

Book Review: My Old Man and the Sea

Our first book review on here. We will be doing a bunch more, they will be short simple and full of opinion so hope you enjoy.
I received this book for a present. That is always the best way to get a book since you have no real idea about anything in the book other than the person who gave it to you thought you would enjoy it. Honestly I still haven't decided if I liked it or not so I will pass it on and see what others have to say.

PILOBOLUS

We had the pleasure of going to see the dance troupe Pilobolus perform last month. This very talented team of dancers play on the boundary of surreal. Utilizing different mediums such as shadows, video cameras and projectors, they take the audience on a visually tantalizing ride. Their strength and ability to seem as if they morph into each other with such a fluidity makes the title of some of their acts such as Symbiosis fitting.

Engine choices

It seems New England is full of waiting around for the right time then not having enough time. Most of the Winter has seen little work done on our boat and now as Spring rolls in it looks like we don't have enough time to get everything done. Right now we are coming down to the final decision on choosing a new engine. We have thought of every possible scenario to not have to do this but to be reliable in the long run our old rusty Volvo needs to go.

Acer

Those who know me know my love of maple. I have in the past spent a lot of time working in a sugar house so for this first Winter back in a long time I figured I would at least tap a few trees and enjoy the rewards.

Nothing is as good as fresh maple syrup and like most things homemade is best.

A new spot

Little bouldering video of another warm day this Winter in CT at a new place for me. First Winter back in New England in a very long time and it has been the mildest on record.
Warm day in Winter from Neto Nomads on Vimeo.

Product Review: Prana Pant



Prana Sutra pant getting tested at Joshua Tree.



15 years ago I got my first piece of Prana clothing in the way of a pair of shorts for climbing while working at a climbing gym. So it's fair to say I have been a fan for a while since climbing, travel and Yoga are all parts of my life. Right now I am on my third pair of Sutra pants and decided it was time for a review.

They are a pretty simple design; straight leg, two pockets and a draw string. I have never been one for baggy linen looking pants but decided these looked pretty good and could be great for Yoga so I purchased my first pair with that much information.

Surf and Turf

Due to our busy schedules, Nick and I celebrated Valentine's Day the weekend after. Due to our love of the sea and land, we made surf and turf for what would become one of my all time favorite meals. That's right, I said it.

On the menu:
The Surf - 2 - 1 1/4 lb. Maine lobsters
The Turf - 1 - 1 3/4 in. organic ribeye steak
The Earth - Brussel sprouts (enough for 2)
1 loaf - fresh Italian bread
2 bottles of Malbec (we had 90+ Cellars)

Have a Sandwich

Decided to make a up some stuffed chicken breast sandwiches. With bacon, Cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and chicken on a roll its hard to go wrong.