Thursday, 2 March 2017 - As I mentioned yesterday (in last week's episode), I was aground at my anchorage, so I decided to move today. The people next to me said they were going to leave today, so I thought I might take their spot. They left before I had finished breakfast and I didn't think about anyone coming into the harbor that early, so I didn't move immediately. Sure enough, before I made the move, someone else took the spot. I also noticed that within about an hour the new boat was dragging its anchor. I got out my new handheld depth finder, got in the dinghy and putted around looking for a new home. The third spot I checked out looked wonderful, so I raced back to Island Time with all legal speed, not very fast since they don't allow speeds that will cause a wake. I got lucky, the boat that had moved in earlier had already dragged their anchor, which made plenty of room for me to maneuver, so I weighed anchor, pulled out into the channel, and move about 2 or 3 hundred yards closer to the marina to the new spot which will let me let out more chain. The more, the better, with wind coming. The wind was coming from the south when I anchored, but is supposed to reverse overnight, so I may put another anchor out tomorrow morning if the winds get as strong as they predict. I won't mind having two anchors out, since they predict strong winds from primarily the same direction for several days. I hate getting the anchor lines twisted up when the winds change direction time and again or with strong changes in the tide. Here in the harbor, the tides aren't very high or strong, so that's not much of a problem.

Friday, 3 March - As I mentioned last night, I ended up putting out another anchor this morning. I had dragged my anchor about 50 or 60 feet in the mud, apparently, very early this morning. Here in the anchorage, boats are packed it so close together that there's just not enough room to put out a lot of rode to acquire the needed scope. Luckily, I was between two boats, not into either one. I moved the anchor, then set a second one, a Danforth. The next few days should be rather interesting, it's supposed to blow in the high 20s to low 30s for the next several days. The rain just started at about 4pm. With two anchors out and the wind from basically the same direction the whole time, I don't think I'll have any problems, but only time will tell. On a boat, surprises happen all the time, especially when there are over 300 other boats surrounding you.

Saturday, 4 March - After having dragged my single Bruce anchor, I must admit I was a little apprehensive last night. I set my anchor alarm, stayed up a little bit late and all appeared well, so I went to bed fairly sure I would not move. The wind didn't change direction overnight and I was in virtually the same spot this morning. I'm very glad for that. Not only that, but nobody else seems to have moved either, that's even better yet. A loose boat in a mooring field this size can really wreak some havoc, bouncing off other boats as it blows downwind out of control. It's still blowing about 25 kts., but at least it's sunny and warm.

Sunday, 5 March - I went to the marina today to copy a few pages from one of the cruising guides, then returned the book to the neighbors that loaned it to me, Roy and Marie Bouchard on the powerboat "Sequel". When I pulled up to return the book to them, they invited me aboard for a Bloody Mary and steak, sausage and pasta dinner. Who would turn that down? We had a very enjoyable evening.

Monday, 6 March - After having moved my boat and spending a night without touching bottom, I was surprised to feel the ground under my boat again this morning about an hour and a half after low tide. I'm beginning to think that Island Time has some sort of magnetic or gravitational pull in its keel that builds up a mound of sand and mud under itself. The wind's direction keeps me from moving again. I think the fellow in front of me now has moved with the change in wind direction and is now hovering over my anchor in this close quarter anchorage.

Tuesday, 7 March - It was Christmas in March today as I went into the marina and picked up the package of mail that I had my mail service forward to me for the first time since before the beginning of the year. I picked up a package that had Christmas presents from my brother, a gift from one of my families long-time friends, and Christmas cards from friends, too. Thank you all. Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, 8 March - Time was spent today researching the various dive shops in Marathon, one of which I need to refresh my scuba diving skill through, and waiting for return contact from the manufacturer of the tachometer for the diesel engine, which never came.