Troll Tripping

It was a beautiful day.

 Eight Vérité WOWers met for lunch at the Antique Sandwich Company. 

Yum in the sun with friendly crows and friends.

Then it was off to Vashon Island by ferry. 

We were in search of the Bird King, Oscar.

He was gorgeous!

So regal on his throne, but apparently no one told him,

"Oscar, It isn't polite to point at pretty girls!"

"Or touch them either!"

But you can't go all that way without walking down to see the Lighthouse and walk the beach. 

Life is good. 

Saucing the thwarts

 Saucing the thwarts

sounds like a catchy title for a sea shanty, don't you think?

"Oh, they sauced the boat from stem to stern 

and then things took a little turn.

They giggled so much the inspector came round, 

 a few fumes later she joined in making happy sounds."

Oh, boat saucing can be so exhilarating. It means that there are just a few more things on the to-do list: 

a little painting of the green and leathers for the oarlocks. Then Verite will go down to the water, we pray, to soak up Commencement Bay. 

Thank you to today's crew - Sally, Jan B. and Jan and Leslie (the inspector) and

of course George!

Mellow Yellow

 This week some of the Jan's gathered to paint the yellow stripe inside. Up the stairway to heaven and once again we were in the boat. Oh, joy. I feel a song coming on....

Mellow yellow

They call it mellow yellow (Quite rightly)

They call me mellow yellow (Quite rightly)

They call me mellow yellow

Saffron, yeah

I'm just-a mad about her

I'm-a just-a mad about-a saffron

She's just mad about me

They call it mellow yellow (Quite rightly)

They call me mellow yellow (Quite rightly)

They call me mellow yellow

Oh, so yellow...

Maybe that would make more sense if I said Beatles? 

Or had put the first line of the song instead of the last. 

How many of us learned the last phrases of any of the 60-70's songs?

The inside yellow now has two coats. A special thanks to George again for his magnificent taping job.

He makes it so easy. Of course there are more things that need to be painted or sauced or addressed, but transformations, when done properly take time. 

This Jan always follows the rules - as per sign.

Who knew?

The little space behind the cleat - is very narrow. 

Day 2 

The temperature under the clear roof had to be 95 degrees, maybe more. 

The bow was dry before I reached the stern.

But it sure beat sitting in the cool and listening to the latest news on the TV. 

And that's the Verite (aka truth).

Wander-Land down by the sea

July 22, 2024 at 11:35 am there was a -3.11 tide. With a overcast sky above and a slight breeze to greet us, we made our way across the space between the land and the sea. The water looked like a mirage and felt very far, far away.  In the foreground a murder of crows walked purposefully through the green ribbons of eel grass. Once the WOWers gathered we would join them on the slip slide to the water. 

Right away things looked different. Sand dollars were upright, tube worms were sticking their body parts? up. There were so many it was like a carpet of soda straws popping up on the beach. We noted the ell grass looked much more plentiful. Good work restoration team! The plethora of little things - tiny gastropods, barnacles, a sky little wormy thing in a shell, tiny, tiny mussel shells proved love was in the air. The eagles and herons always appreciated. Oh, you will see if you watch the video. 

It was all amazing and yet one thing puzzled us. We had our guesses, but I suppose we will never know what it really was. The thing of which I speak is toward the end of the video.  Maybe it is better we keep it a mystery. 

She lives

What a restorative sight it is to see Vérité being carefully and lovingly restored to her previous beauty.  Just look at the carefully placed tape so that the painting can be done precisely. Look at Vérité's sleek lines and structure. One day her form will once again meet the water because great care and effort went into attending to her underside. Even in it's unfinished state, there is beauty in her hull. A representation of the sea itself written on her normally unseen parts.

How does a wooden boat breathe?  Through the hands of those who touch her. How does a gig move - through the hands that row her. How does a boat's spirit live on - through the efforts of those who believe and love that she can create a community, ever restoring itself a new. 

Thank you George and your team of Boat Builder staff and volunteers. Thank you Sally, Terese, and Leslie for last week's red paint work. 

The realm of possibilities is opening up. 

Once again - she lives