Thursday 21 June 2018 - Summer Solstice - Longest day of the year here in the northern hemisphere - I went to the marina today to get the 40 gallons of water I paid for yesterday. I filled eight 5 gallon jugs, returned to the boat and siphoned them all into the water tank onboard. It's getting so warm here already that I installed the foredeck canopy today. In fact, it got up to 93 degrees Fahrenheit here today, the first day of summer and it doesn't get much more than that all summer, maybe up to 95 or so, but with the humidity, 90 feels like 100. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any wind, either. I've had to start and run the Honda generator every day this week to keep the batteries charged. With this much warmth, so little wind, and hazy skies, the solar and wind generator can't keep ahead of the refrigeration that is running overtime.

Friday 22 June - Right before the Cruiser's Net this morning a fellow on the sailboat Wind Chaser got on the radio and said that his outboard motor has given out and he and his wife needed a ride to shore so I volunteered to tow their dinghy in to the marina. I didn't know them before, but now I have two new friends. After taking them to shore, I returned to the boat, got all my gas jugs and tanks and went in the dinghy to fill them. On the way to the marina to get gas I searched for another tank or jug in the mangroves since I've recently had a jug get a crack in it and had to throw it away. I didn't find one on the way there, but I did on the way back. Unfortunately, it is an odd shape and can't be stood vertically, so I probably won't keep it. I also found another water jug, but it, also, is an odd shape and won't be kept. I don't know what they are thinking when they design these things. Many of them have big handles that make the jugs big and bulky, odd shapes that can't be stored conveniently or can't be stood up, making them take up too much space on the deck. Handles only need to be big enough for a large hand to fit comfortably into, not huge arches that won't allow you to store several together...and why in the world would you make both ends of a tank pointed? Sorry, just my two cents.

Saturday, 23 June - This morning was a beautiful, sunny, windless day so I got in the dinghy and went exploring some of the channels that are attached to the harbor. Later, Odie, my next boat neighbor, who has been in Panama and Costa Rica for about a month called and needed a ride from shore back to his boat. After dropping him off I headed to the Overseas Pub and Grill to watch Ty Thurman and the Marathon Allstars play and have dinner. They were missing one of their players, Mike Haupt, their keyboardist. That made all the difference in the world and I left immediately after my dinner. They really needed him playing. It changes the sound of the band and the repertoire of songs they perform. About 10:45pm we got a very brief, but potent squall, lots of wind, rain, and plenty of lightning. When I heard the first clap of thunder, I looked outside and the moon was shining brightly. I'm glad I was aboard to close things up. The lightning was close enough and frequent enough that I actually put the computer and iPhone into the microwave oven to protect them in case of a strike, but it was all over in about 20 minutes.

Sunday, 24 June - I lashed a couple of pieces of tubing to the lower shrouds today to hold two solar lamps to make the boat more visible at night while at anchor. I already had two, one at the radar arch and one at the bow. With a total of four I should be plenty visible and they may deter theft from the boat, too; not that there's been much here in the harbor since I've been here, but if it happens, I'll hope they choose a dark boat instead of mine.
                    Odie was having trouble getting his outboard motor started, so I gave him a can of engine starting fluid. We still couldn't get it started, so there must be an electrical problem with it and that was going to take more time than he had this afternoon, so we talked for awhile and he told me a bit about his trip to Panama and other points south.

Monday, 25 June - I had another long awaited dermatology appointment today. The scar from the last biopsy still itches like crazy and feels like I'm repeatedly being stung by a bee, so I'm not convinced they've gotten all the cancer cells removed. I've gotten mixed signals from the nurse practitioner that treated me, so I asked to see the doctor today. He seems very convinced that they got it all and says that although the scar is a little thick, all I need to do is give it a little more time. He also gave me a couple of shots of cortisone, which he says should make it thin down and feel better. I hope he's right.

Tuesday, 26 June - I spent much of the day learning about the Echo Tec Watermaker and updating the plumbing schematic. This evening we had several very strong squalls move through the harbor and I didn't have time to pull the awning down, but it seems to have weathered the winds just fine.

Wednesday, 27 June - I went to the library to watch a movie at 6 o'clock. Returning from the movie, I delivered the water jug I found the other day to Steve on S/V Harmless, who was in need of one.

Thursday, 28 June - After Tuesday's rapid approach of the squalls, I decided to attach several lanyards directly to the awning that will expedite bundling it in preparation for strong winds. I certainly don't want to tear out any grommets in the awning. By having them attached at intervals along the length, I won't have to deal with long lines to bundle it up as I have been in the past. I installed six, three foot lines at about three foot intervals that should really speed things up. All I have to do is drop the sides, bundle it along the centerline, and wrap the cords around twice and tie a reef knot in each one. I ought to be able to do that in about 5 minutes, assuming I don't wait until it's too late and the wind is blowing the awning around out of control.
                    At low tide I had spotted a runaway, or rather float away, five gallon gas jug, which I need, over by the mangroves. The grass flats between me and it were showing, so I had to wait until mid-tide to go and get it. With a very little cleaning up, it will be just what I needed.

Friday, 29 June - On the Cruiser's net this morning there was a request for some speaker wire which I have more than I'll ever need, so he came to my boat and I gave him some. When I went on deck to clean up the gas jug that I found yesterday, I discovered yet another wayward dinghy over by the mangroves and went and rescued it. This one's a little different. Who ever let this one get away is going to have trouble navigating on shore, too. It has a pair of crutches in it. It will be interesting to see how long it takes them to realize that it is missing.

Saturday, 30 June - Cleaning day on Island Time.