We Won! First Place 2012 Wooden Boat Festival, Toms River, NJ

Sextant Pale Ale; Adventures in Gluten Free Chestnut Ale.

Here are just some pics for now of the bottling process as I need to get them up to get them on my Linked In account (Sean Null)

I will detail the beer later, but know this, IT IS AMAZING!

I modeled it after a Belgian Wheat and it truly is one of the best tasting Gluten Free beers (it truly is a beer, except there is no barley) that I have tasted so far.  I am VERY happy about the results!

Toms River Seaport Boat Show Tomorrow

Varnish.

Globby in the sun.

Varnish.

Sanding.

Varnish.

Unforgiving and wet.

Varnish.
Missed a spot in the sun's glare.
Varnish.

Sanding.

Varnish.

Cracks like the desert. 

Varnish.

Unforgiving and wet.

Varnish.
Missed a spot.
Varnish.

Sanding.

Varnish.

Globby in the sun.

Varnish.
Missed a spot.
Varnish.

Sanding.

Varnish.

Unforgiving and wet.

Varnish.

Sanding.

Varnish.

Can't make a mistake, not now.

Varnish.

Multiply by 3 and see.

Varnish.

What I have lived the last two weeks.

Varnish.

Uber Beautiful and protective.

Worth it.

For a grippy footing on the inside of the canoe I varnished, then spread out sugar.  Today I hosed the sugar away wiped it down a bit. Hope it is dry enough and doesn't smooth out.  Maybe I should have let it go longer?

Varnish.

Keeps you on your toes.

Free Dogfish Head Beer! Hire ME!!!!

So like last Wednesday Dogfish Head Brewery, my favorite for many reasons, put a video on YouTube and their site asking for people to come work for them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVHlgb0zr2c

So I have been out and about on the town here in Philly on all the main highways and byways with my resume hoping to drum up support and to hopefully run into Sam or one of the crew at DFH brewery and maybe score a little free DFH along the way.

Thursday was my first day out.  I was a newbie and had to put on a hard face because the creepy dude behind the tree (if you right click on the pic and hit view picture, it will zoom in and you can see the devious look in his eye and his sinister smile)  was eyeing my cool sign, or so I thought!  Dude was after my empty DFH six pack holder that I had hoped to score some 60 minute IPA with!

I was distraught!  Disillusioned! More cars drove by without any of the DFH crew around.  I mean I was just off of I-95, someone had to drive by that worked there!

 My six pack holder gone, it was 93 degrees out and no one offered me a cold DFH.  Someone offered me a PBR and I said that I would rather have a warm, half full, day old Indian Brown Ale with a cigarette butt floating in it than drink that filth.  They understood and proceeded to tell me that the PBR was only to use as their emergency fire extinguisher for their K car and gave me a fin to hold me over.

 Having regained my faith in humanity after being accosted by a would be DFH bandit with the kindness of the K Car crew I picked up my sign, stood tall and began to tell my story to anyone who would listen.  Well, actually, my mom drove by and took this picture and asked me if I wanted to go to dinner at the Grey Lodge where she saw a bottle of Namaste, my favorite DFH beer!  My mom loves me!  Thanks MOM!

 While at the Grey Lodge My Mom and publican Scoats helped me with my resume.  Scoats told me that a resume needed to grow and evolve and be indicative of the job seekers adaptability and also the fact that the video DFH was putting out exclaimed FREE beer and that I should add that to both sides of my resume.  My mom agreed.  I got heckled a few times for being a hippy.  I asked if the I<3 recycling was a bit much and my mom said "...it gives Dogfish Head insight into your keen awareness of environmental stewardship and cost saving frugality.  Leave it"

Day two, Friday.  Another high traffic area just off of I-95.  Not much luck. 

 Just more hecking.  "you want DFH beer and you don't even have a DFH six pack holder!"  "Dominion Baltic Porter!  You're DAFT!" 

 ....But someone stole it!

 "Porter this!"

Can you believe that?  Heckled and then a cop reads my sign and kicks me off the corner!  He did so nicely though and told me that I had to fold the sign so that the police can't read it.  Old panhandler trick.

 The guys at the Beer Outlet were cool enough to let me stand there for the rest of the afternoon.  They said that freaks usually bring in more customers and gave me an empty 16oz. Straub bottle for my efforts!  Score!  Homebrewers dream!  Pounder bottles!  Here is a closer look at my new resume!

 I must have had a good day because it was the first time EVER that I was able to open a macaroni box according to the instructions on the top of the side of the box!  I'm on a roll!

 

 Saturday on exhibit at the Art Museum.

Like any good street corner vendor/panhandler my finger is deep within the caverns of my nasal passages.

 I've only seen the pretzel guy on my previous street corner do this.

He's my hero!

They say one should never meet their hero as they will be disappointed.

Never.

 "Lower your arms!" they all said as they ran away from me.

...Rocky drinks Dogfish Head!!!

 Dogfish Head, Hire Me!

 I make my Mom proud!

There's more to come so...

...stay tuned on this same beer channel, same beer time!

21st Annual Woodenboat Show, Mystic, Conn. 2012

Hey everyone,

My Dad, Uncle Rich and I had a great time at the Woodenboat Show this year in Mystic.  Overall it was a lot of fun but a wee bit on the warm side.  We did get lucky by knowing where to set up our gear at the show under the trees, so it was nice in that our spot in the shade was 15 degrees cooler than the other exhibitors.  The sun does take it's toll on ya even when you aren't in it too.  We were all a little beat by the end of it, but maybe that is because I insisted that we go enjoy Mystic's nightlife.

I worked until 1:00 AM Thursday on the board and we left 10:00 AM.  I was a little tired to start with, but not terribly so.  I was finished with my board so I was happy and relieved to have all my affairs in order and to be on the road.  We arrived in a timely manner, checked in to our hotel (Best Western, Groton, CT- clean, less expensive, good service and breakfast) easily and then went over to the Mystic Seaport Museum and checked in.  We unloaded our gear in our spot in the trees and Patty Hutchinson was showing concern that we would be blocking a driveway for folks to get their gear into the "I built it myself" area.  We really weren't blocking anything and I pretty much refused to move from the spot.  I wasn't trying to be rude, but I knew that if we moved our stuff that we'd never get that spot back and someone who showed up late would get the best spot.  I've been in situations like that before and have gotten burnt.  In my world the early bird gets the worm.  So I told her that if she needed to get someone by, we would move our stuff and put it back.  Patty is a nice lady and if it wasn't for her I doubt that the "I built it myself" part of the show would have been such a great success this year!  The turnout was incredible!  Great job Patty!

Afterward we did our usual and went for our Thursday dinner of bangers and mash and shepherds pie at the Harp and the Hound in downtown Mystic.  The food is always the same, good!  We had a mess of pints and BS'd with Alan the manager for a while.  I really like that little place, great atmosphere!  We got a good buzz and walked around for some ice cream and went home.

It was a bit difficult early Friday morning.  Waking up was no problem.  The difficulty was being awake.  Rough.  After wolfing down brekkie at the hotel, we did some food shopping at the Stop and Shop next door to the hotel for future lunches, etc...  Saved ourselves a penny or two doing that.  The seaport has average food at the stands, but the on site restaurant is really good, but we were trying to save a little bit at least.  The show went well Friday as it did all three days.  Lots of talking to people about building of the boat and the surfboard.  So much so that on Saturday I lost my voice.  My larynx still hurts!  Friday night we went to the Daniel Packer Inn for dinner and I had the best gluten free pizza that I have ever had to date.  The crust was thin and totally not flaky.  It was moist and just like a normal pizza's crust.  It was topped with steamed asparagus and roasted red pepper.  Neither of which were overbearing in flavor.  I was astounded that it was so good!  Along with it I also had a stuffed portabello mushroom which was creamy and drizzled with trouffle sauce.  To drink I had a beer from Blue Point Brewery called Rastafarye Rye Ale which to me was very much like an IPA only dialed back one notch in hoppiness.  I loved it and decided to drink a few!  The Daniel Packer Inn, contrary to my earlier belief, is NOT wicked expensive.  My pizza was 14 bucks, my dad's steak was affordable and the bill at the end was 150 for all three of us and we were drinking and eating, so don't shy away from them on the price issue.  Again, we went for ice cream after.  yum... fresh strawberry.

Saturday was less humid than Friday, but if you were out in the sun you really had to have a straw hat.  There certainly was interest in the I Built it Myself section!  Maybe because of the trees, but whatever the reason it was non stop questions and answering.  I tell you, the patrons, the folks that work at the event, the townspeople all make this one nice show.  Everyone is completely genuine, helpful and friendly.  I love the town of Mystic.  I really do!  It reminds me of some of the towns on the Oregon Coast like Lincoln City, Newport and Florence.  All places that I recommend visiting.  Saturday we stayed a little late to avoid the traffic on rt. 27 which can be a bother when the show opens and when it closes.  If you need to get into town around those times sneak in on Allyn Road which comes into Mystic from the back.  Saturday night was sushi night for me.  The place next to the Voodoo Grill called Zhang's is really good.  It's really good because the sushi is wicked fresh and prepared excellent as well as that they have other items on the menu other than sushi so I am able to bribe my dad and uncle along.  Otherwise, they'd complain.  Good marketing on Zhang's part!  I had the Crazy Paper Spicy Tuna.  It.  Was.  Fantastic.  Picture your typical spicy tuna roll with little crunchies in it topped with avocado and extremely thin sliced tuna again drizzled with two varieties of home made hot sauces.  Perfect!  That and a few Sapporo's was one tasty dinner.  My dad had a mai fun dinner which he didn't rave about.  It was good, but I think he felt left out because Richie was raving about his spicy teriyaki chicken and I was raving about mine and he was like "mine is just normal"  LOL.  I wanted party.  So I made the lads go to the Harp and the Hound for a drink.  We had a few Guinness there and moved on as the crowd was very college like.  We checked in on the Voodoo Grill and it was karyoke and crowded.  Not our scene.  Then we went to John's across from the ship's mast in the center of town.  John's is a real bar.  It was refreshing!  I didn't feel like a grandpa like I did with those college kids!  Alan from the harp and hound was there and introduced us to the owner of the bar, and we just had a good time and drank well.  I was drinking Smithwicks for most of the trip.  That or Guinness.  I only got to try the Blue Point here and there.  Blue Point also had a roasted beer of sorts, but I forget the name as I only had a few tastes of my Uncle's beer.

Sunday rolled around and our arses were dragging.  That previous night I even got my dad to have a few drinks!  He was dead set against having any, but as we started having fun he started drinking Richie's rum while he wasn't looking. ha ha ha 

We got to the show and settled in and talked with our neighbors at the show.  I gave away my card hoping that everyone would read my little blog about the show.  And really the highlight of the show for me was the section that we were in.  Sure all the big ships and yachts are really nice, but to me,  they are unattainable and not worth gawking at.  I learned a lot from the nicest people in the show.  Down to earth people who'd give you the shirt off their back. Their works of art were fantastic!  I hope they enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it.

There is a ton of stuff that I am leaving out about the show.  In fact, much of the show is like any other trade show with vendors and such.  There are some incredible boats there.  I'm not a photographer nor did I have interest in yapping about some of those boats.  I would so love to have one of those 30 foot cat boats and sail the coast.  OMG you don't know!  It sure is an attractive thought!  It's a very romantic thought for me, a dream.  That is why I love this show.  I guess that is what attracts most people to this show.  I hope that the show is around for a very long time and retains all of the arts and educates future generations on the arts of living at sea, etc...  It needs to be saved and not lost like so many traditions and crafts have been.  Great work Mystic!

And now for some pictures:

A sharpie.  Very Nice.

 My dad reading about the boat.

 Here's a beauty called Roberta!  

The owner/builder of her and his family have been at many of the same shows as us and are great folks!  He told me that I won a prize at the Tuckerton show last year that I never knew about because we left early.  Weird.  I thought they would have told me.  Oh well, I will see them this year!

 My Uncle Rich.

 Kindred Spirit and The Piney

 Again.  Looking good!

 What it is all about.

 The Boatercycle.  One crazy contraption.  

Hey sorry for yelling at ya dad, you didn't ruin the photo!  ha ha ha

 Deck view of The Piney.

 Mesingw.  Lenape Keeper of the Game.

Keeps a balance between the humans and nature.

I thought befitting because of the use of the reclaimed timbers.

 Gently Downs inlaid wheel wells!

She's certainly gonna win.

 Gently Down's inlay. 

So much inlay!

She has a guitar as the back seat, a guitar neck down the centerline and tuning keys!

Manitou!

A fellah named Chuck and his lovely wife drove this up from Louisiana.  What a great boat they had!  The brightwork is from sunken cedar.  The cedar was sunken in a bog for well over 100 years and soaked up all the iron and color of the bog.  Sooooooo beautiful!  What cool people there are.  I hope I get to see them again or that they email me.  My dad got along with them great.

Look at that color in the sunken ceder!

My favorite little sailboat of the show.  Merlin.  I forget the owner's name.  I didn't get contact info from him unfortunately.  She's a boat that I would enjoy having!

Electric and solar powered boat.

I would have enjoyed going on board and checking her out.  Maybe next time.

A cannon is shot off at the beginning and end of every show.  This cannon's bore size was like 3/4" and the sound was huge.  Very loud.  I got lucky with the timing of this pic!

The show winner.  Had to be!

David Lazauski and his boat.

This boat was my favorite paddle boat.  I really would like to try that boat out!

Great little details!

This guy paddled up on Saturday and paddled away that night.

Great inlay work too!

Sweet paddle!

This Wee Lassie of David's was a nice boat as well!  He's got some really nice woodwork going on that were some really nice touches!  Great inlay's as well!  I see what I am going to have to practice this winter!  Anyway, David was a really cool dude and I hope he reads this too and gets in touch.

Great work David.

He's pretty proud of his work and like most others here rides his boat regularly.

Cheers!

I hope to hear from all of you in the future.  The time my dad, uncle and I had with you all was a lot of fun!  Thank you for being so cool!

Thank you Patty Hutchinson for giving us all the opportunity to show our boats off!  It was a lot of work for you and we all appreciate the superb job that you did in organizing, from what I have seen, the best "I built it myself" show in the last five years!  Well Done!

Woodenboat Magazine, thank you for this event.  I'm sure Mystic thanks you, but let the rest of the country thank you because this year brought in so many different attendee's and exhibitors from distant lands.  It is always an enjoyable learning experience that elicits a romantic insight into the maritime past,  innovations and creativity of the present, and fantastic dreams of the future.  

Thank you!