Thursday, 6 July, 2017 - Today I realized as I walked by the library on the way to the hardware store that I forgot to go to the movie last evening. At Home Depot I got a can of wood filler to do some repairs on the wood trim on the boat, then, since it was so hot, I stopped in at the Overseas Pub and had one beer, then back to the boat.

Friday, 7 July - I thought that I might actually get to put my water collection apparatus into use for the first time today. The skies had been mostly clear all day, but late this afternoon a thunderstorm developed right on top of us here in the harbor. I hadn't been paying attention, but it started to sprinkle. The top of the bimini is pretty clean so I thought after about 5 minutes, I'd rig the fill tubes to the fresh water inlet on the deck. Just as I emerged from the companionway, a bolt of lightning struck REALLY CLOSE! I looked around to see if any of the other boats had been hit, but didn't see any problems. I, also, decided that probably wasn't the best moment to go onto the deck to rig the tubing. I came back below to check the radar imagery and, much to my disappointment, it looked as if the storm was very small and would move away pretty quickly, which it did. I don't think I could have collected but about a gallon or two and I need about 60 to top off the tank at the moment. These afternoon showers certainly may slow down the woodwork and painting that I need to do on the boat. The wood needs to be dry and stay dry until the Cetol dries.

Saturday, 8 July - Today I finally could no no longer put off what I have been avoiding for so long, the woodwork. I actually got out the sand paper and started the sanding. I got about half of the perimeter woodwork sanded which includes the toe railing and cap rail, and a decorative strip the length of the topsides, which is the above-water portion of the hull. Later, I went to the Dockside Bar to see what was going on on a Saturday night. I was very surprised to find only four people it the bar besides myself, in spite of the fact that they had a guitar player whose music I enjoyed very much. This is a bar that the whole boating community was so eager to see reopen after being closed for about two years. It's a great location for the boaters because it is right on the water; in fact, you can dinghy right up to their dock and step into the seating area off your dinghy, but I really can't see them staying open very long with that small a crowd on a Saturday night. I think the biggest deterrent to their success will be that they don't have a kitchen, so you can't go there for dinner and entertainment. I think it's in the plans, but they'd better hurry up. I had a couple of beers while I sat there reading a book on my phone, then headed back to the boat about 11 o'clock.
                  That's when the night got interesting! On the way back to my boat I saw a sailor sailing a sailboard in the darkness. There was a full moon that added some light, but he was still hard to see, but I could see just well enough to see that he was standing on the front of the board with the sail backed, in other words, the wind on the wrong side of the sail. I realized that he was either really good, or he didn't have a clue as to what he was doing. I saw him fall and decided that it was surely the latter. He had no up-haul line on the board. I had no flashlight with me, so I went to my boat and got one, then decided that I'b better at least go see if he needed some assistance since he was headed mostly down wind. That could be his intended course, but if not, I thought I might help him out. I spotted him trying to get the sail out of the water again and approached him slowly. Rather than ask if he needed help, I asked if he was getting to his destination. He said that he really didn't have a destination and asked what time it was. I told him about 11:30 and he said that he'd left the marina dock about 8 o'clock and that perhaps he might appreciate a tow back to the dock since it was so late. I had to tow him with his back to me so that he could keep the sail out of the water, so we really couldn't carry on a conversation, but when we arrived at the dock about midnight and had the board and sail out of the water, I learned his story. He'd just gotten the used board that day and just had to try it out. Although he owns a sailboat, he's never sailed a sailboard, only watched a few videos on YouTube. A sailboard and a sailboat are hardly cousins, especially when it comes to turning them. A sailboat is turned with its rudder and changing the angle of attack of the sails; a sailboard is turned by moving the sail forward and rearward or by edging the board. I was actually surprised at how well he had the equipment rigged, although there were a couple of things totally wrong. We talked sailboarding till about 1am with me trying to give him a few of the very basic techtniques. He was really stoked and I offered to give him a lesson or two, but I have no idea if he will take me up on it or not.

Monday, 10 July - I planned on doing more sanding today, but thought that might not happen. When I got up it was cloudy and pretty breezy. By the time I had breakfast and listened to the Cruiser's Net, I started hearing thunder. Shortly thereafter, my VHF weather alarm went off, so I tuned in to hear what was happening. They were announcing a squall with high winds and rain, so I went on deck and secured the foredeck awning, finishing just as it started to sprinkle. Another opportunity to get some reading done. Luckily, after a couple of hours, the squall moved on past and the sun came out again and I did, indeed, get some more sanding done; this time some of the deck hand rails, the pin rails and belaying pins, and a strictly decorative strip about 20 feet long on the side of the cabin top. Unfortunately, when the squall passed, the wind died, so I had to run the generator for about an hour and a half to recharge the batteries today. .
                  Later I went to the Hurricane Bar to meet Chuck, captain of, but not owner of the 80' powerboat Master Plan, and Catherine of the sailboat Sweet Pea for pizza and to be entertained by Fiddle Rock. Upon leaving and approaching my boat the wind picked up to about 30kt out of nowhere. No clouds, no rain, no thunder and lightning, just wind. I was trying to attach my davit lines to the dinghy when a boat blew past me in the dark. Thank God it didn't hit my boat or anybody else, it certainly would have done some damage even though it was considerably smaller. Luckily the owner was onboard and got the anchor to set just as he passed me, although he was a little too close. I was afraid that his anchor rode might catch on my propeller during the night so I tried to reach him on the VHF radio. Another fellow, who was at that moment on the phone with him, told me that the boat, Boom Slang, had no radio, but he would relay my message to have him let out another 20 or 30 feet of anchor line and all ended well. Boom Slang is my new neighbor now.

Tuesday, 11 July - I thought I'd finished the sanding on the deck woodwork, but now realize that I forgot one spot where I need to remove the gas cans along the railing to access the woodwork. I also finished reading my ebook.

Wednesday, 12 July - Summer here is the off season and for good reason, the humidity, so the Cruiser's Net in the mornings, which can run over an hour during the high season when there are about 400 boats in the harbor, only run for about 20 minutes. I had asked for some help with my handheld VHF radio on the Net this morning, and Steve from Bamboozle, a mastless boat that used to be a sailboat and is now just a motorboat, came over and took a look at it. I don't use it much, but figure if it's on the boat, it ought to work. It transmits, but doesn't receive. He couldn't fix it, but is convinced from the symptoms it has, that something is wrong with one of the chips in it...and suggested that it certainly might have been fried while I was over in Sister Creek with all the electrical problems on the boat caused by the extremely high power (100,000W) transmission towers of Radio Free Cuba next to the creek. I had hoped to get some of the cracks and cavities in the woodwork filled today, but the morning seemed to be slipping away, so I dinghied and walked to the grocery store, then took a taxi back to the dinghy. I didn't mind walking the three miles there, but thought that wouldn't be too good for the milk, meat, and bananas in this heat.
                  After returning and putting away the food, I went ashore again and went to the library to update my computer and phone applications, then watch a movie.

Well, it's getting late and I think I'll hit the sack. Tomorrow is predicted to be a pretty rainy day maybe I'll organize some of my photos and emails, or rather, delete them, and indoor activities. Maybe I can collect a little rainwater, too.

            Until next time.
                        "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S. Thompson

                                          Rick