Departure

Departure

Tuesday, August 11 at 9:45 am.

After a quick boat wash and goodbyes all around we finally cast off. 

We have 300 gallons of diesel fuel on board and are on our way towards our first planned stopover, Blind River.

During our planning stage and as we were getting ready to go, many people had questions and comments………

 Some have asked us, “Is it just the 2 of you?”  That answer is “Yes.”  

While it’s just the 2 of us on board, we will be meeting many others along the way. We’ve been told that there may be as many as 150 other vessels doing this journey at different stages of the route but most will follow the best weather. It seems that when you fly an AGLCA burgee (little triangular flag out front), it’s an invitation for people to come say hello, introduce themselves and for us to do the same.

Upon meeting us some have asked, “Did you name your boat Fugitive?” That answer is “No.” 

Fugitive is it’s original name and has never been changed by any of it’s owners.

Some have asked, “Are you going to keep that name”? That answer is “Yes.”

There are many definitions for the word Fugitive, however our interpretation of the name Fugitive is one who is seeking an exploration of parts unknown. On the run to better weather and taking refuge where we can discover anchorages that will be like hidden gems along the way.

Some have asked, “Do you have any hobbies to pass the time?”

For Brian we have reworked the front v-birth cabin into an office. There he will be able to have his Skype meetings without all of our neighbours hearing him talk. 

Brian's office before unpacking

 Brian's office all set up                  

After his day job and researching the weather sites, there is a long list of things boat things that still need to be done and maintenance items to work on.

Janice decided to learn how to knit. Someone told her that knitting was trending. She talked her cousin Lori Lee into taking a class with her in downtown Guelph. Our teacher was infinitely patient and the 1 hour class turned into 3. As a first project we were given 2 types of stitches to practice with. On departure day my practice square was 6.5” long, and had gained 7 stiches and a few holes since my class. 

Some have asked "What are you making?" That answer is "I don't know!"

Since I need a lot of practice with my knitting, this will not be anything that is recognizable as a piece of clothing. It may turn into a knitting nightmare as I mostly knit at night. It may have no use or purpose. Knit on……

Almost everyone we have talked with and met have said "This will be an adventure of a lifetime!"

We believe that will be true and are grateful to have this opportunity.

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Monday August 10, 2015

Our last load of everything we thought we needed came by truck and trailer on Monday night August 10. Thanks again Jeff for that late night delivery, planned so that we didn’t need to leave a vehicle in Penetang. By 9 pm we had everything piled high in every corner.

• 12 bags, bins and boxes

• 6 suitcases and duffels

• 4 garment bags 

• 2 bicycles ….. yet to be sorted and put in their place.

The 2 folding bicycles are stored under our bed until we need them.
Obviously this had to be done before we made the bed!!


It was a very late night but we are on board with lots of stuff!

Launching

Launching 

On July 10, we picked up Ruff and Copper and headed to Penetang. It was rainy and cold but we had a few jobs to do before launching later that afternoon. Brian touched up the bottom paint and caulked some of the deck hardware. Janice is big on not having any leaks. Brian washed the hull.

First time boat got wet this year. In the interest of safety Graeme hooked up 2 tow vehicles to ease our 31,000 pounds down the ramp. Feels good to finally have it in the water. Less than a month to our projected cast off date.

Due to the amount of work and coming and going on the boat it was in need of a good cleaning before we could load anything. We spent our first night on board. That means 4 of us in a double bed.

Cleaning and hanging curtains in progress

Wardrobe floor before sealing leaky decks

Our first overnight guests

Preparations

Preparations Begin

Fugitive is a 1981 42' Chen Hwa Trawler built in Taiwan. 

Fugitive came to our family in 2009 from Whitby, Ontario as a rejuvenation project.

Since then many hours of restoration have been dedicated to bring it to the official launch and preparation for this journey of approximately 6,000 miles.
Fugitive is powered by a 120 horsepower Lehman Ford diesel engine.
It carries 500 gallons of fuel and 300 gallons of water.
We are equipped with a 60 pound Manson primary anchor, a 35 pound Lewmar secondary and a Fortress stern anchor. We can deploy 110' of 3/8" chain and 150' of 1" rode. We use a Mantis snubber and bridle arrangement to reduce scope and take stresses off of the anchor windlass. We feel very prepared anchoring out with this set up. 

Moving inside April, 2015

It was a tight fit!

Fugitive spent the next 4 weeks inside while being prepared for it's long run in the weather.

Indoor storage was required to accomplish some of the repairs. Many other additions and adjustments were added after it was back in the sunshine.

A major project was to repair all of the main decks. This involved removing and replacing  all of the original polysulfide caulking in the teak decks, then sealing them with Coelan sealer for a waterproofed, non-slip and high gloss finish.

No less than 6 coats later
Fugitive was glistening!


























A Magnum power inverter to invert 6 volt to 120 volt, 8 golf cart batteries and enough electrical wire and panels to keep it all straight were added to satisfy our power requirements. Fugitive utilizes an Onan 4 KW generator for recharging our batteries when away from the marina. It seems we need more than a couple double AA's to supply Fugitive.

Strong opinions, (of which there are no shortage), for an auto-pilot over an A/C system resulted in a new Raymarine autopilot. Navigation is accomplished with help from 2 Garmin GPS systems, 2 ipads and a MacBook. So now, working directly in harmony with the autopilot system, we will find our way, all the way around the loop and back again.


Return date TBA (in pencil).

Napping captain. Janice enjoys the autopilot!

Introduction

Ready to go?

Now active members of the AGLCA….We are Brian and Janice Richards of Guelph, Ontario,  Canada. Pre- retirees who are taking a 'working sabbatical' to explore Americas Great Loop, beginning in Penetanguishene on Georgian Bay.

Casting off August 11, 2015

WHERE WE ARE GOING

This has often been referred to as The Great Circle Route.
If interested, check out the AGLCA website for a wealth of information on this little known circuitous route through the central United States, to the Florida coast.

Thank You, Family and Friends

Thanks to our family and Friends, who have helped us get started on our 'loop'.

Thanks for your assistance, encouragement, knowledge and patience in waiting for the blog to go live

Our embarkation day was Tuesday August 12 / 2015 at 11:00 am from  Harbour West Marina in Penetanguishine Ontario, accompanied on a send off out the bay by our 'half looped' friends, Jeff Herron and Susan Harris of Gran Vida. Hoping to catch up with them again soon, in the South. 

At the end of this leg of the journey, we have docked in Blind River to visit Janice's parents Barrie and Audrey Tulloch of Iron Bridge.