In Colorado waiting for the big dump

I got back to the US a week ago, to Denver, where Cindy is slaving away on her contract work with her old company, Great West Life. The project has been delayed and they have cut back the contractor hours so she is not working more than 40 per week which is good. I will be here until early February then back to NZ.

Whangarei Spars and Rigging did a rigging inspection before I left Maggie Drum and they basically condemned the standing rigging, which was not a surprise. I hired them to replace it all while away in Colorado. They have an excellent reputation and I had a good feeling about them. It will be expensive though. I still have many other projects to do when I come back so I will be buying lots of parts here in the states where they are easier to find and cheaper. NZ is NOT a cheap place like it may have been once, especially anything that has to be imported like many boat parts.

There is supposed to be a major snowstorm coming tomorrow morning which may set some new records for snow this week. Not a surprise with this El Nino year. I hear that NZ is very nice right now - it figures. The higns in Denver are in the low 30's this week but the sun warms it up when it shines. Everything is SO brown here though. I miss the green of the Pacific Northwest and NZ already, but the low humidity is nice here when it is cold.

Next I will post some more pictures and some more info on Tonga (next couple of days). Cindy and I wish all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakuh and Happy New Year.