Category Archives: Hello World

About the restoration, equipping and presence of Hello World, a 16 ft Hobie Cat sailboat

Grand Traverse Bay

Stuck, stuck, stuck this morning from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. When will I learn to turn on the radio? Poised to enter Grand Traverse Bay after an excellent night under the clay cliffs of Northport’s big lake shores, I … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-11, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, latest news | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Grand Traverse Bay

Stuck, stuck, stuck this morning from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. When will I learn to turn on the radio? Poised to enter Grand Traverse Bay after an excellent night under the clay cliffs of Northport’s big lake shores, I … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-11, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, latest news | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Northport

It was late in the day when we approached Northport’s clay cliffs, reminiscent of crumbling citadels. Several spots looked agreeable and unpopulated from the water, but I decided to chase down a couple walking north along the beach and get … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-10, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, latest news | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Digital zoom saved my life

After all of Kai’s stories about crossing the Pacific in Desire and almost being run over by robot controlled cruise ships, I finally got a taste. Having caught a lovely wind after leaving North Manitou Island, I was making deligtful … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-10, Around Lake Michigan, disasters and catastrophes, Hello World, kai, sea monsters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bliss and shadow

Decided to check out of the Crescent City condo and point the bows at Traverse City. A great start at 10:00, enjoying a steady push north from a south breeze. Rounded the north end of the island too close to … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-10, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, latest news | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

On the wire

Moving out towards the Manitou Islands from the mainland felt wonderful. These islands have much resonance for me and approaching them while in synchromesh with the wind and a sailboat made me giddy. Long tacks to the NE and NW … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-08, Around Lake Michigan, bliss, Hello World, wilderness | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

South of Port Oneida

Here’s where i tack away from the mainland and run for the island.

Posted in 09-09-08, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, latest news | 1 Comment

To North!

My own little spot of heaven, just south of Sleeping Bear Point. All sorts of interesting things to see just over these low dunes, but no time. Gotta move on, North Manitou Island awaits.

Posted in 09-09-08, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, latest news | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Not dead yet

Stopped for the night south of Sleeping Bear Dunes Point. Here’s the approach as the sun was setting. The peak at the left of the shot (north)  is about 400 ft high. I beached Hello World even farther to the … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-07, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, wilderness | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Here’s the namesake of the entire Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. These images hardly do the dunes justice, they’re huge and… sandy.

Posted in 09-09-07, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, wilderness | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Approaching Empire

Posted in 09-09-07, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

South of Esch Road

Late start today 2 hours and then I’ll check in.

Posted in 09-09-07, Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, Hello World | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Pumping water

After putting a good amount of distance between me and the starter fluid people, I blew off the idea of reaching Otter Creek. It was surely not far away, but it was getting late and I was ready to stop. … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-07, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, training / practice, video chapters, vision, wilderness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Moon trail

I recorded an iPhone audio snippet of my moolit sail to Otter Creek. The slight wind continued for what seemed hours. In the dark, I passed chatty smokers anchored by what I guessed to be Platte River. Later and far … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-06, Around Lake Michigan, bliss, Hello World, poetry / lyrics, sustainable, synchronicity / fortunate accidents, wilderness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Underway? Underweigh?

Better figure out which one is proper, wouldn’t want to give the impression I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s all about the lingo. So here we are heading north in the zig zaggy pattern sailors call tacking. I can … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-06, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Larry for launch

Here’s an excerpt with Larry Kinney discussing Harmony Home Construction, recorded on Elberta Beach, a few hours before I launched. Having Larry’s energy around was a huge gift, but to pull off an interview with him too? Bonus!

Posted in 09-09-06, Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, Hello World, sustainable, video chapters, vision / planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

E Beach arrival and party the second

Elberta Beach, the most dazzling jewel in Benzie County’s diadem of wilderness destinations. Granted there are fools who occasionally drive their vehicles on the beach and yes, jetskis buzz by once in awhile. In spite of these insults – glory, … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-05, 09-09-06, Around Lake Michigan, bliss, collaborators, Hello World, wilderness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Launch!

It’s 7:00 am UTC-4 or eastern standard time for you lubbers, and this is it finally, with luck. Hello World has lay quietly at anchor all night while multigenerational revelers ran slightly amuck. I’ve got a garage to clean, some … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-05, Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, Hello World, latest news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yin and Yang

Even a sailboat has an environmental cost. Rebuilding Hello World was intended as a low impact project, not a sustainable project as I defined it a few days ago. Not only was electricity and petroleum poured into the tools, lights … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, policy, repairs, self education / research, sustainable, vision | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Party then Launch

Launch on Saturday 8:00 am AFTER launch party Friday at 6:00 pm. The checklists are evaporating, I went to bed early-ish last night – should be a productive couple of days. RSVP if you’re coming. I’ll be press releasing from … Continue reading

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Checklist Master

That it should come to this. The dreaded pre-travel checklist, lifted from a post a few days back, except this one gets updated right up until launch. Underline items need attention. Last updated 08/30/09 Vision Search for sustainable civilization design … Continue reading

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Shakedown Version 2.0

Reassembly complete and who needs the fancy thread fixing tool when Patrick’s around? Give him a triangular file and 30 minutes – viola! Working threads. Here’s the last geeky maker shot – a whazit I invented to keep the threads … Continue reading

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Striker bar Sunday

I’m into this WordPress for the iPhone thang. Now outhouse reports can go directly to the big screen. It’s not polite to talk poop in public, unless you’ve been liberated by Joseph Jenkin’s Humanure Handbook, a fantastic tome that’s now … Continue reading

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Who needs Twitter?

Just activated WordPress for the iPhone, and that’s where I’m posting from. Who needs Twitter? A set back today in the reassembly of Hello World. I bunged the starter threads on both sides of the dolphin striker, so I’ve got … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, document / journal, Hello World, latest news, repairs, simplify | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Rainy preparations

This morning I pop riveted the stern/port trampoline casting that Chuck welded yesterday. I’ve got more riveting to do after I apply some adhesive to the mast base, but it’s wet out there – raining. I’ll go into town to … Continue reading

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She floats

Hello World hit the water Tuesday evening after a month of renovations. Wednesday saw her across Crystal Lake, ready to fly. The ALM expedition is on track for a September launch. Curious collaborator – “Hey DK, I thought you were … Continue reading

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Integrity exhibit B

It’s the day before launch, or at least the day before the launch party. Putting a final coart of paint on the hulls today and perhaps a second injection on the decks. There’s a slew of parts arriving via UPS, … Continue reading

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Integrity exhibit A

Breaches in the Hobie hulls are sealed, structural damage is remediated. At 10:00 pm UTC – 4, August 12, I completed the injections of the decks. Only cosmetic and finishing work remains. I know y’all have been starving for pictures, … Continue reading

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Deep holes

Patrick and I patched up the sides of the hulls pretty nearly now – all that’s left is sanding, fairing and painting. There’s also epoxy injections needed for both decks a couple of feet forward of the front pylons. It’s … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, disasters and catastrophes, Hello World, repairs | Leave a comment

Budgets

A $400 Hobie Cat, eh? That’s what I bought it for in May, with a trailer! A week later, (after a full inventory), it turned out there were no blocks for the main and jib. The seller, Alan Vigland, had … Continue reading

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Paddles to the sea

Circumnavigations that come to mind… Remember that book by Holling C. Holling entitled Paddle to the Sea? A young Canadian boy carves a paddle person in a canoe and releases him in Nipigon country just north of Lake Superior during … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World | 3 Comments

Progress

There was a bon voyage party for me last night that I missed because I was scatter brained over these repairs and couldn’t remember where Gretchen said it was. I almost sprained my ass riding 11 miles at top speed … Continue reading

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Foam schmoam

Though I had thought the grinding was completely finished at 2:00 pm today, it wasn’t. I was prep sanding on the port hull’s bow when I broke through to a big void under the glass. That meant more grinding and … Continue reading

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Things of beauty

Even laid up in the intensive care unit, the hobie hulls are still things of beauty. Touching them you can almost feel the physics, they are hydro dynamic sonnets. They long for the water, they sing to me with their … Continue reading

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Daily grind

Another day of prepping the hulls for repair. Here’s the latest pix. Why document the mundane and tedious? Unless I struggle, you just won’t care what I want. Five days until launch and there are big holes in my boat. … Continue reading

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The hydrodynamic advantages of multi hulls and keels

~~The Hydrodynamic Advantages of Multi Hulls and Keels~~~ Dan and I had a great discussing yesterday about twin keels/hulls verses mono keel/hulls. I was noticing that the amas (pontoons) on his Hobie Cat are asymmetrical. When attached to the trampoline … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Desire project preparation, Hello World | Leave a comment

On Desire remix

Gosh, everything was just hitting the fan this week! Kai’s friends were calling him a wussy and worse because this blog didn’t make any sense. He complained that he couldn’t find anything. Meanwhile I’ve been scrambling on Plan B, a … Continue reading

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Hobie disassemble and inspection

Future Sailors of America (Dan, Patrick and Jonathan) met this week for disassembly and inpection of our pre owned Hobie 16. We removed the hulls, washed off surface oxidation and crayoned the problem areas. Here is the most problematic problem… … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, Desire project preparation, disasters and catastrophes, Hello World, maker, repairs, self education / research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sweet moon

Another week in full tilt at the water temple. The Hobie renovation support team arrives in about 3 hours. For the moment, sweet silence and the moon. Been doing a little strategic shoving of local allies, helping to deploy web … Continue reading

Posted in bliss, Desire project preparation, gear, Hello World, repairs, sustainable, vision / planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plan B

Once again Dan is manning blog command. Say that 10 times fast. Location – Artist house, Beulah Michigan Weather – overcast Health – excellent Morale – high Electricity – plentiful Food – adequate Water – abundant Equipment – functional There’s … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Desire project preparation, Hello World, vision / planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment