|
|
|
|
See "Keys to George Town" for next leg of the journey. 27 Nov 08 Had Thanksgiving Dinner over at "Dockside". It was your traditional affair. I dove on the boat to make sure that prop was clean and that there was no damage from the crab trap incident on the way in. All was good. 26 Nov 08 Another lazy day. Had a telecon with the office, took a long walk to Publics. Now just watching TV (the Mayflower on the history channel) awaiting until night fall then I think it is time to have a cocktail at dockside. I have decided to delay departure until Saturday 29 Nov. This gives us better winds and does not make us leave Thanksgiving Dinner early to make it out of the harbor before the bridge closes. Just another beautiful day. 25 Nov 08 The Diesel mechanic woke me up at 0700 to come adjust the valves in the Genset and the main engine. That was done in short time and then breakfast. All is fixed on the boat. Then the big chore for the day, Laundry, so jump in the family dingy and off to the office to do laundry. That is done and had to change out the fuel tank in the dingy 6 gal down 24 more to go. That should tell you how much we use that little bugger. I heard on the news this morning that a short nap make you learn more, so maybe a hour or so should be in order. Still planning on Friday departure. 24 Nov 08 Got up early and took the bus into the big town of Key West. The city bus never showed so we took a taxi to the customs in the federal building. Now we are registered in the "Local Boaters Option" so we may be able to get back in the country without have to go to the customs office. Then we had lunch with Bryce Averette (he use to run the Boat House several years ago). He is doing well getting the Hogs Breath into shape. I extended our rent of the ball until Friday, it looks like we will get out of here then. Need to go to Dock Side and sign up for Thanksgiving Dinner, might as well have some beers while we are there. 23 Nov 08 Yes another lazy day. Today it is off to Home Depot to get some rubber washers to make the fuel pump on the genset quieter. Tomorrow we are off to the big town of Key West to register with customs to try to make it easier to get back in the US. Still waiting for the weather, looks like it may be next Saturday before the winds come our of some other direction then NORTH! 22 Nov 08 Just a lazy day in the harbor. Winds are blowing but it is 77 degrees. Watching movies on Showtime. There should be a law about all the luxuries. 21 Nov 08, 4:00 PM Took the dingy for a run around boot key on the outside. Need to get the carbon out from going so slow in the harbor. Nice trip, it sure is nice to have a dingy that goes.
21 Nov 08,1030 AM The genset is fixed. It was a relay, actually 2 relays were bad. Had a Panda mechanic come out. Luckily I had three spare relays, so it is fixed and Panda is sending me 3 more under warrantee, but they will not get here until Monday, but they are just spares. Looks like a Tuesday departure is unlikely, so maybe as few more days in paradise How do you know if the grass is greener on the other side unless you take a look? I guess we will just have to wait and see. 21 Nov 08, 0730 Time for the second problem of the trip, the genset would not start last night. It appears to be a starrer solenoid because I can short across the terminals and it starts. So will have to look for a place to get an new solenoid. The weather window to get across the gulf stream has closed up so we may be here a while anyway. It is tough to be stuck in paradise! 20 Nov 08, 7:15 PM Back from wings. Not exciting, did not recognize anyone as people from the harbor, but a dozen wings and 3 beers later not too bad. Now for some TV. Did I tell you that the Sat TV worked even in the rough seas on the say over, and even in the harbor. No local channels though. Need to think of something to do tomorrow, hum maybe just sit and watch the boats go by. Winds expedited at 30 Kts tomorrow night so it will be a little bumpy. That's it for today. 20 Nov 08, 1630 Ok, so it is 84 and sunny. I got a little too hot laying in the sun in the cockpit. Only one hour and it is off the "Hurricane" for 25 cent wings, and a few brews to go with them. I took a picture of the parking at the marina. Only about half of the morning have boats on them so you can imagine what it is like when it is full.
20 Nov 08, 0730 Here we are another morning and winds have died down to around 12 Kts and the sun is shining, but a cool 65 degrees. Several boats have left this morning for other places. If there was a way to take a picture that would let you know how nice it is I would, but I guess you will have to just have to experience your self to get the effect. Looks like we will have a 2 day window to get to the Bahamas on Tuesday, 25 November 2008. So it may be Thanksgiving at Chub Key. Now let me make some coffee. 19 Nov 08 Slept for about 12 hrs, and I feel like a new man. The wind cam up last night and woke me a few times but it is nice to be on a mooring so I don't have to worry about it. After being lazy and having a good breakfast we decided to take the bus to Key West to see about getting registered with Customs for the trip back. Three bucks for me (the young guy) and $1 dollar for the senior. And if you think getting on a plane it tough try getting into the federal building in Key West. Anyway made an appointment for Monday at 1100 to get registered. Went shopping for parts for the anchor pins (one disappeared on the trip across the gulf), so now I have the parts and can put it back together again. what I forgot to tell you was when we lost the steering for the crab post we attempted to drop the anchor and some things went wrong, so a little fixing up is needed. Oh well back at the boat now and time for some dinner. It is cold here 65 this morning and now at 8:00 PM is back to 65.
18 Nov 08, 0700 Caught a crab trap in the rudder. Can't steer, and can only get 5 kts in a 20 kts blow. So I get to go diving and cut away all the ropes jammed in the rudder. Finally on the ball in Boot Key Harbor. Looks like I found a free internet, we will see. Time to clean up and take a knap! 17 Nov 08 Talk about fishing, we caught the fish, too bad they were all Bonita. Made a bloody mess of my boat. I guess it is the only fish that can go 8 kts.
17 Nov 08 Nicer today. 3 to 5 and 15 to 20. Had a bird come aboard 150 Miles out, but had to bury him at sea the next day.
16 Nov 08 Continue to rock and roll! Only 1/2 the Main Sail up and we were haling, but rough. Too rough to feed the crew.
15 Nov 08, 1600 Out the pass, 20 - 25 Kts and big seas. Rocking and rolling! Next stop Marathon about Tues or Wed.
Well we are off 0715, 15 Nov 08. Many came to see us depart. (is that a good sign, or not?)
Departure is planned for 0730, 15 November 2008. |
