Thursday, 5 October 2017 - I took the time, once again, to wipe down and lightly oil quite a few of my tools that need constant attention to ward off rust caused by the high humidity and salt air here in the tropics and later was graciously invited to join Tami and Jay of the sailing catamaran Avighna for dinner at the Tai restaurant again.

Friday, 6 October - The phone rang about 8:30 this morning. It was an adjustor representing my insurance company, BoatUs/Geico. He needed the address of the marina and a ride out to my boat. I was happy to supply him with both, and a bit surprised to get this quick a response since there are so many damaged boats and I was so late to file a claim. He was a nice guy, down from the Chesapeake area to inspect boats. He seemed to be very fair, in fact more than fair, to me, but stated that the company will most assuredly be prorating the value on the damaged items, which I already knew. When he finished, he asked if I'd take him near some of the other boats that are damaged just to satisfy his curiosity. I really hadn't been around the harbor much so we took a short tour and I got several more pictures. I mentioned that I knew the damage wasn't just here, but similar damage extended 50 miles in east and west, too, and he reminded me that Miami got hit hard, too, by hurricane Maria. He also said that BoatUS had immediately hired every crane barge in the whole state of Florida to help remove damaged and beached boats throughout the state. There are two in the harbor here, now, with plenty of work to do.
                  After returning him to the marina I replaced the photoelectric switch on my masthead anchor light so I don't have to remember to turn it on and off manually at dusk and in the mornings, which I frequently forget to do. The anchor light uses a lot less energy than the masthead tri-light that I've been using in its stead, too.

Saturday, 7 October - I went out at high tide today in the dinghy and scoured the mangroves in the southwest edge of the harbor and collected several boat fenders, a Milwaukee tool box with a few tools in it, an oar, a 50 gallon trash can, and a piece of scrap wood about 2' X 3.5'. I took the trash can and wood to the marina trash pile and will announce the other items as "found" on the Cruiser's net in the morning. At about 4pm, Steve Monaghan and I went over to a "customer appreciation" free lunch put on by the Overseas Pub and Restaurant then walked over to the Hurricane Bar & Grill and had a few margaritas.

Sunday, 8 October - I ordered several V-belts and a boat hook from Amazon today. I also announced the found items on the Cruiser's Net this morning, thinking that grateful people would be pounding on my hull to get their fenders back, or maybe even claiming fenders that they hadn't lost. Wrong on both counts! I may end up sorry I spent the time to get them and may have to haul them to the marina to get rid of them. Some are small and probably only cost about $30 new, but several are worth about $100 each, and one is very large and easily cost $200 to $300. It came off a much larger boat than mine. It certainly surprises me that no one is claiming them. I'll try again tomorrow.
                  At 5pm, another free dinner, this time at the marina tiki hut thanks to Bubba's Burgers. The conversation with other boaters was good at the dinner and it was interesting to hear several more stories of sunken boats and close calls. Every person's experience was, of course, very different.

Monday, 9 October - Still no takers on the boat fenders I announced on the radio yesterday and this morning. With what these things cost, I thought I'd be getting all kinds of responses, legitimate or not. I, of course, have no way of knowing who they actually belong to.
                  Again, much of today was spent trying to find suppliers for a couple of items I need and someone to repair the damage to my sails. I keep getting referred from one person to another, none of which sew sails, only canvas. I'm surprised the sewing repair businesses here don't know their competition better. I think I've found the right person now, however. At dinner the other night with Jay and Tami from Avighna, Tami mentioned A&J Sails. I was finally able to contact A&J today, but he's out of town and won't be back in town until Wednesday, the 18th of October, the same day I have to catch a ride to Miami at 6am to go to the VA hospital there for a consultation.

Tuesday, 10 October - Will Aitken, whose boat washed up against the "Bridge to Nowhere" here in the harbor and was destroyed by other boats pounding it to death arrived back in town today. I'd been invited to join Steve Monaghan for lunch for some fresh fish caught on the lobster boat he's working on, so I invited Will to join us. The fish fry fell through when Steve's boss showed up at the boat and asked Steve to join him on some errands, so Will and I ate at the Florida Steak and Lobster Restaurant, then drove over to Summerland Key to deliver some donated supplies he brought all the way from Texas with him in his new Dodge diesel truck. Later, I expected to join them both lobster boat for dinner, but the Mexicans that work on the boat had taken all 80 lbs. of the fish, so Steve and I went to dinner at the Tai restaurant.

Wednesday, 11 October - I ordered some more parts online today, but am getting frustrated trying to find an oarlock to match the one remaining on the dinghy that can arrive within a decent amount of time and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I'm going to try to rush this episode out so I can go help Will remove some of his items from his boat. This week a lot more got done about sunken and damaged boats in the harbor because some crane barges have finally showed up to raise boats from the bottom, out of shallow water, or out of the mangroves.

Later...Sorry I didn't get there Will, my computer took four tries and forever, over two hours, to upload these 22 images.