> Ï » The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, July 18,1990 9 All the Comforts of Home.. .on the Water Ruth and John Wells have been living their lives on board a sailboat for the past f • five years. Each year, the couple sail to Florida through the waterways of the Unit- pf ed States and on the Atlantic Ocean. The two have met a number of different peo- f' pie in their travels, including travellers from South Africa, South America and the United States. SANYO WALL MOUNTED DUCTLESS SPLIT AIR CONDITIONERS (For Baseboard Heated Homes) Sanyo Wall Mounted Air Conditioners - No Ducts, No Lost Floor Space, No Problems... And A Lot Less Noise No Duct Work means speedier, less costly installation, with minimum construction disruption... and greater building security since Sanyo split systems do not require large wall openings or window space. ; . J Whisper Quiet Operation Noise and vibration are virtually eliminated as a full width centrifugal blower delivers maximum CFM in a quiet, even flow, from a wall mounted evaporator, enclosed in a slim, space saving cabinet, arid connected to an innovative, powerful, almost noiseless outdoor condensor through a 3 1/2" wall opening. FOR FREE ESTIMATES CALL i" /CFM ~ OSHAWA Industries 1 . 416 .434-8080 HEATING -- AIR CONDITIONING -- HEAT PUMPS : , "Raaa, Raaa 5> SIDEWALK SALE IS HERE July 19,20,21 1 /2 Price J./ 14 Kt. 5 Pt. TW DIAMOND EARRINGS $49 95 up to FAo/ /c while $0000 quantities last Reg ' 50 0 ^ -- on everything in the store OFF 10 K Gold Earrings start at $6.95. Come in and see our great selection of silver, pendants, watches, chains, rings and giftwareI Cathy's Gold 78 King St. W,, Bowmanville 623-1933 by Andrea Adair Ruth Wells won an award for a photograph she snapped of the side of a sailboat sailboat touching the tops of waves. She should have, perhaps, perhaps, won an award for being being on board the boat when it happened and deciding to remain living on it. Ruth ana her husband, John, are part of a growing group of people who traded in their land legs for webbed feet. They make their home in a 37-foot sailboat. Originally from Port Hope and currently docked at the Newcastle Marina, the pair have been cooking, eating, and sleeping within the confines of the boat for the past five years. Every fall they sail through the waterways of the United States to spend their winters in Florida until until spring returns to the north and they come back home. "I really like it," Ruth says, admitting that before they bought the sailboat she wouldn't venture out on Lake Ontario in "anything less than the Queen Mary." While her husband has sailed most of his life, Ruth never had. Once the boat was purchased purchased Ruth had to' find a pair of sea legs fairly fast. Fortunately they haven't experienced too many bad moments on board. They listen to the weather weather reports and don't leave the harbor in bad weather. Of course there are moments moments when they're out in water and rough weather hits without warning. Such as the time they were returning from Bermuda. Bermuda. John explains they had a small problem with the wind. They were crossing the Gulf Stream, which many had advised them never to do during a north wind. He laughs and savs there isn't much one can do about the wind halfway to one's destination when the direction direction the wind is blowing suddenly suddenly changes. They couldn't turn back because it was just as far in either direction. So they trudged on and made it through. On a couple of other occasions occasions they have gone "aground" (when the bottom of the boat gets stuck in shallow water). Ruth said no damage was done to the boat because they were just stuck in silt. To free themselves, all they could do was wait until the tide came in or push themselves back. "It's times like that when local knowledge of places and navigation comes in," John says. Going through locks can present problems as well. There are 30 locks on the Prices effective at Miracle Food Mart and Miracle Ultra Mart in all departments subject to availability until Sat. July 21,1990 only. Savings indicated are off our own regular prices. We reserve the right to limit quantities. Erie Canal system. If a power power boat goes through at the same time John and Ruth are, they may have some difficulty difficulty manning the boat. Ruth explains they want to protect the keel and the mast which is sometimes hard to accomplish when water is rushing in. The boat is equipped with a diesel engine. It is used, for example, when they are going under a bridge and nave to take the mast down. The trip south is a 33 hour bus trip but a seven week adventure on North America's waterways. During that time, the couple will dock at different ports along the route. Ruth mentions that many marinas have bicycles available available for boaters to go into town. Or there's a car they may borrow to get supplies. And the boat is equipped with all the modern-day amenities as well. Ruth laughs as she recalls recalls a comment she once heard about life away from land, spoken by an acquaintance. acquaintance. The woman stated that living on a sailboat was similar similar to camping. But Ruth explains the boat has a television, VCR, microwave, a food processor and hot and cold running water when they are docked. Needless to say, neither of the two have any regrets about leaving the luxuries of land and living the life they are leading now. "Once you're sailing it's very relaxing. That's the .beautiful part of sailing, when it's quiet and peaceful," peaceful," John muses and remembers remembers that it's a different story when the boat is on its side. "But when you get into port, you strut ana boast about it," he laughs. "There is a feeling of self-' confidence then," Ruth states. "Then I think: I've done it." Another aspect of life on water is the type of relationship relationship the two snare. "What I enjoy most is the closeness John and I have. When we're sailing we have to depend on each other," she says, adding that they have to live in close quarters so they have to like each other too. What's in the future for them? v Some day John would like to sail across the Atlantic Atlantic Ocean to_,England and Ruth would like to head off to Bermuda."" - " Whether or not those dreams too will be realized is hard to say. "But for us now, this is a way of life that will come to an end eventually," Ruth says. "I've been to different places and met different people. people. For me, it has been a good experience," Ruth concludes. concludes. Dr. Howard Burke M.D., C.C.F.P. is pleased to .announce the opening of a practice of FAMILY MEDICINE including obstetrics at the Church Street Medical Clinic 191 Church Street, Bowmanville 623-0323 Appointments now available for new patients. FALL 1990 Continuous Learning Calendar CI V era Available July 31st at any Durham College campus OR your nearest library. 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