WE LOADED TODAY

It was not just another day in the story of The Adventures of M/V Abreojos. Yesterday, we thought we had another day and a half to "take down" the boat and prepare her for loading onto the truck bound for Rockport, Texas.  About mid day, we received a call from the trucking company asking whether or not we would be able to load today (Wednesday) instead of Thursday.  Well, one normally expects delays.  One normally does not expect a call asking if we were ready to load early.  So, of course, we said, "Sure".  So, we really had to haul ass.  We worked for nearly 14 hours yesterday to get the boat ready to leave this morning. 

The boat yard wanted us in their causeway no later than 10:00.  We were there at 10:00.  The truck was supposed to be there at 10:30.  It was there at 10:30.  So, we off loaded our personal stuff for the week and a half before meeting the truct in Texas, the two cats, and then witnessed the haul and load.  It was very cool.  Here are a bunch of pictures.

The first two shots are of the boat at the yard's causeway waiting for the lift.  You notice the tape all over the boat?  The wipers had to be strapped down, the hatches had to be taped down, the cap on the hawse pipe, everything that could move, had to be taped down.  Also, by running tape along all the windows that open, much of the road dirt stays out of the boat.

Abreojos with all her electronics and canvas off.  All her gear is stowed.

Poor thing looks pathetic without her clothing.

In the photo below, you can see us docked behind a rather famous boat.  This is Pyewacket, owned by the late Roy Disney.  This boat is a record setter in various races.  It was very cool to see a boat, especially a monohull, capable of making her own wind.

The lift arrived to haul the boat out of the water.  The only thing separating a successful operation from a complete and utter disaster are those two really big stainless steel pins holding the slings together.

Now, Abreojos is out of the water and completely over land as she makes her way to the waiting truck.

This is the trailer that will carry Abreojos and her 27 tons of self all the way to Rockport, Texas.  This trailer is much bigger than it looks in the photos.

Here she is being positioned over the end of the trailer.  Notice that there is nobody "on" the crane.  The operator is doing everything with a remote control unit while walking along side the crane.  This guy was really good.  He could make the most minute adjustments.

Obviously, it is very important to get the vessel's keel right over the center of the trailer bed.  This is where the guy operating the lift with the remote control really earned his money.  Speaking of which, I am not going to tell you how much the yard charged me to haul and load the boat.  After witnessing this process, I can honestly tell you it was a deal.  They had 5 or 6 yard workers, plus three guys from the trucking company, all of whom were working for nearly 2 hours getting this haul and load accomplished.  Actually, if you did the multiplication, it was cheap.  Plus, given the precision with which they worked and how they got the job done without causing so much as a scratch, I cannot compliment them enough.

Now that the boat is positioned properly over the trailer, the trucking company guys install the pads to hold the hull in place.

It is so rare that Brenda and I actually have a picture of the two of us together when we travel, but the sone of the truck driver offered to take the picture.

 

And off she goes.  Next stop, and the next time we will see our girl, will be Rockport, Texas.

So long for now.  I'll write again when we get to Texas.