Valentine’s Day

     Pete has a very busy work day so I worked kept my distance as much as possible. 

     After breakfast I spoke to a couple and their daughter from Brazil.  They have a 36’ sailboat and were curious about the Manson Plough anchor.  They are here for the Miami boat show this coming weekend. He would love to cruise, but being a cardiologist, it is hard to take a 2 year sabbatical.  His wife is also concerned about the distance and traveling with an 8 year old. 

    After we said our farewells, I needed to drop a box off at UPS and stop at Staples for some supplies for Pete. Then I worked on sewing once Pete finished his conference calls.

     Dan was under the weather all day, so John and Betty joined us for the walk to the Pilot House for our Valentine’s Dinner. It was wonderful to have a choice of entrées, have someone else prepare and clean-up.  The company is always wonderful and the exercise was a bonus on such a pretty night.

 Valentine's Wishes

A cruise is a very romantic place to celebrate with one's Valentine.

     Everyone hopes Dan feels like himself tomorrow.

~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete 

To Market We Go

Brunelle as she leaves the dock for
sea trials for the new propeller.

     Sunday here in this part of Key Largo is marked by the Flea Market. . . .and how could we ladies miss the opportunity to visit a market??? Our first stop was the vegetable stand.  I bought strawberries, pineapple, green beans, lettuce and mushrooms (fresh from Kennett Square, PA). Everything looked so good, I used the beans and mushrooms with tonight’s dinner. We looked for the person who went with the sign for fresh stone crabs, but he must have sold out, for he was nowhere to be found. We checked out a few other stands. The ladies who sold the clothing really didn’t offer anything at a great price.  Martha and I really like the same blouse, but they didn’t have it in our size and it was really pricy for a flea market.  The only good buy was the glass necklaces.  Martha did fairly well there. Betty and I picked up something to put away for future gifts. Then it was back to the marina to deposit our purchases so we could head off again.

     Then we were off to Publix.  Though I didn’t have a big list, it was specific.  I needed the makings for dinner tonight. Unfortunately, this Publix doesn’t carry the Johnston’s Italian Sausage so I bought the house brand, which required more seasoning. Since I had to make dinner in 3 batches for the group I was hoping it would work.  Thankfully, it did.

My favorite mailbox
along the canal

Frank, Fonda and Buster's
IRONY ~ the same we saw
in St. Michaels, MD

   Around 3 PM, Pete and I took the dinghy and followed Brunelle heading out of Port Largo.  We needed to test the new trim tabs Pete installed in the hopes of getting the dinghy to plane better at speed.  Brunelle was testing out the new Echowind Prop.  The dinghy planed a little better, but not as well as Pete hoped. However, every little bit helps!  Once we established that fact, we caught up with Brunelle and came aboard.  Martha increased power and the boat responded immediately with speed.  Unfortunately, there are issues with the rpms maxing out prematurely and a grinding sound that will have to be addressed with the representative. This will probably mean another dive for Dan to make an adjustment.

    Today was a busy day with hopes of a weather window later rather than earlier this week so Brunelle can adjust their prop before the crossing, but it was also a good day.

~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete 

Date Night

   Today was one of the few dreary days we have experienced on our trip; rainy, windy and cold.

    Pete made the most of it. He dove down deep into the starboard locker and reorganized it completely. The 3 Hella fans are now installed: one above the galley, one above the nav station and one in the head (a very wise choice!)  He also knocked quite a number of other items off his “to do” list.

   As for me, the Honda cover is complete, the mess restraints are complete and awaiting installation with Pete’s assistance and the awning is awaiting fair weather for measurement of the final straps.

     Dinner was early tonight over on Andiamo so that we could do a movie night.  The decision was made to watch “The Philadelphia Story” with Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart. Everyone really enjoyed this classic.

~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete  

Changes

     Laundry was started before breakfast.

Dan discusing all the little parts of the Maxi Prop that
came apart in his hand.

     Right after breakfast, Dan donned his wet suit, set out his tools for the morning’s work, and connected the hookah to the propane in the galley onboard Brunelle. On the agenda was the changing out the zinc and checking the bottom and shaft of Pekabu. That was the easy part.  The second and much more complicated task was to switch out the prop on Brunelle. They are switching from the Maxi Prop to the state of the art Ecowind Prop. As it came of the shaft, the Maxi Prop wanted to separate into individual blades, but Dan managed to keep it together over the bucket and bring it onboard. Even with the prop tethered, I am still amazed he was able to maneuver the 50ish pound Ecowind onto the shaft underwater!

Dan coming aboard for a part.

     After lunch I returned to my sewing and almost completed the cover for the Honda and the mesh restraints for the shelves in the front v-berth.  I just have a little more to finish on the awning, and then we can put the sewing machine and paraphernalia away.

     Around 3 pm our time and 9 am Hawaiian time, our son, Greg, sent word that his next assignment, beginning this summer, will be aboard the USCG Dolphin, an 87” white-hulled cutter, stationed out of Miami. This was one of his top choices so he is very pleased with the assignment.  It will be great having him in the same time zone again!

    This was a great day all around.

~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete 

Helpful Friends

       Ed offered to drive to West Marine so Dan, Martha, John and Pete headed out after breakfast. While they were gone, Tom, one of the solo cruisers, helped me cut the mesh I needed to make the restraints for the shelves in the front v-berth. While I measured and cut, Tom talked and I listened.  He was an engineer, then volunteer EMT, then had a second career as a lawyer.  Unbeknownst to him, he went to law school with his daughter-in law.

Gathering once again around the dinner table!

     Pete only intended to buy one item, but returned with 2 bags.  Martha used her discount card and saved him a bundle on all sorts of things we really needed.  The afternoon I made a significant dent in the sewing, before Ed, Connie and their friends, who are currently camping at John Pennykemp, joined us for dinner. They shared their experiences of camping and I realized that the experiences are not too different than our sailing experiences; shows, purchase, maintenance, and social.  An exception might be regarding dealers having hundreds of campers on a lot. (I don’t know of many boat dealers who have hundreds of new and used boats in one designated area, with the exception of a boat show.)

     It is nice to know one can choose a similar life style of land or water cruising. We just happen to prefer the water views.

~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete 

The Wonders of Electronics

     This morning Connie introduced us to some wonderful apps for the IPad. One is called “Sketch Book Pro.” She is using it to create a motif for her niece’s wedding using fall flowers. It has many of the same functions found in Photoshop such as tools and layers, but you can sketch and paint on the IPad. . . and Connie is very talented.  She created an amazing portrait of Ed. The second app was Star Walk. It is similar to the Star Seek Pro that we have on the IPad.  It allows you to look to the sky and identify the constellations, find stars, planets, satellites, comets, asteroids and even the space station.  After playing with some of the apps for a while, she drove us to Publix so we could purchase any needed bulky items.

   Connie and Ed had to meet friends over at John Pennykemp this afternoon, but will be joining us tomorrow.

~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete 

CCYC DAY!

Dan, John, Betty, Kathy, Pete
Martha, Bob, Lucia, Wally and Connie

    


     Ackeoo, which we found out means “contentment” in Greek, and her crew left after our “fabulous” continental breakfast.

Ackeroo's departure

  

Pete aloft

  Dan helped Pete with his new electric wench so that he could be hoisted up the mast to replace the wind vane, the signal halyard and the deck light. Everything worked perfectly. The only problem occurred when Pete was being lowered. His foot hit the deck light and knocked off the bulb and some of the fittings.  We needed to order a whole new light just for the parts that went overboard.  Once down, he realized he forgot to put the anti-bird “thing-y” on the wind-vane as well as the radar reflector. He will have to make one more trip up the mast again, but at least we know that his electric wench works. My guy really doesn't like hights, but the things he will do for sailing!

      Maureen called around 11 to ask if they could stop by after lunch. I quickly spread the word that they would be here.  Maureen and Glen, Sevilla, arrived shortly after 1:30 along with their friends from Annapolis, who have a time share in Marathon.  We spent a delightful time on the veranda catching up, discussing the resolution of the transmission issues, current and future plans.

     After they left, as we were setting the table for dinner, along comes Connie and Ed of Surprise (CCYC). With it being so cold up north, even in Brunswick, GA where Surprise is currently residing, they decided to join us in the warmth. They have been following our blogs and knew where to find us. They are booked in the Howard Johnson’s here in the harbor.

     I think we had a quorum to hold a meeting of the CCYC Southern Contingent. Since our meetings consist of good food, good drink and good friends, I would call this meeting a great success!

~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete