Saturday, 27 October 2018 - I re-tensioned the inner halyard on the mainsail furler and added a safety wire so the tensioning nuts can't back out this morning, then spent the afternoon finding a better place to store about 20 or so paper charts and updating their locations in my database.
                    The last several nights we've had absolutely gorgeous moonrises. Each evening it's been a huge orange ball. It's the harvest moon, but since were in Florida and it's October, I'm not sure if its a Florida orange or a Halloween pumpkin. Sure has been pretty, though, either way.

Sunday, 28 October - We were supposed to meet this morning at 11 o'clock to go kayaking the mangroves in Boot Key, so after the Cruiser's Net, I hustled to get ready. I got there just on time, then, as usual, waited almost 45 minutes for the last participants to show up. Unfortunately, once we got going, the main group apparently wasn't interested in discovering any new trails, so I had to do so by myself, then catch up to the group. This didn't allow much time to explore. We ended about 3 o'clock, which actually worked in my favor, however. A fellow on a nearby boat had wanted to see the dinghy I have for sale around 5 o'clock. When we finished early, I contacted him on the VHF and he came right over. He seemed to like it, but is trying to decide between a dinghy and some needed electronics for his boat, plus, he needs to confer with "the Admiral," his wife. By finishing early, it gave me a chance to shower and meet up with the kayakers for refreshments, snacks and conversation at Burdine's Waterfront Restaurant.

Monday, 29 October - I spent all morning rebuilding a hand bilge pump for the dinghy. The pump's valve was working fine, but the tip of the plunger had detached. Unfortunately, the ends of the pump's tube had been glued on, so I had to cut in half to open it up. I did so, glued the tip back on with PVC cement, then cemented and taped the tube back together with PVC cement and fiberglass adhesive tape. Later, I went ashore to the library and to the marina to pick up a block, as in block and tackle, for the furling system, that I ordered last week and arrived by mail. While at the marina, I also filled 9 five gallon water containers, then returned to Island Time and syphoned them into the water tank.

Tuesday, 30 October - I mounted the new fairlead block that I picked up yesterday on the mast for the furling system. To do so I had to enlarge one of the holes in the bracket for the furler because the holes on the old one and the new one don't match by about 2mm. I needed to use a small round file to do the job and when I opened the drawer in the tool box that I keep the files in I discovered that at some time water had gotten into the tool box. I assume that happened while I was working on a project as it started to rain and instead of closing the tool box or moving it quickly so that it couldn't get wet, I closed hatches first, which are just as important or more so. Regardless, now I'm paying the price. Almost all the files have some degree of rust on them and some of the rat tail files are in pretty bad shape.

Wednesday, 31 October - I started cleaning up the tool box with all the rust. Not only were files rusted up, but so were wood block planes and saw blades, among other things. I cleaned up the saw blades and planes, gave them a good coating of used, but filtered engine oil, and put about 20 of the files and rasps in a tray filled with vinegar to soak overnight. I also went to shore and re-registered the two dinghies and Island Time at the county assessor's office.

Thursday, 1 November - After having let the vinegar do its work overnight, I cleaned the rust off the files with water, a file card and stainless steel wire brush, then applied a good coat of used engine oil. When I need to use the files, I'll just have to remove the oil, but at least, if I can keep them from rusting any more, they'll cut better than they would all rusted up.

Friday, 2 November - I finished cleaning up after removing rust from files and other tools, then I was off to shore to stuff bags with local information that are given out to new arrivals to the harbor. While at the marina, I picked up a birthday care package from my brother Mike full of English walnuts, Craisens, almonds, and dried apricots, plus a bottle of BBQ sauce from Angelo's BBQ in Fort Worth, Texas. I can't get bulk, dried fruits and nuts here in the grocery stores. After that, I walked across the street to the Overseas Bar and saw no one that I know, but didn't feel like drinking alone, so I returned to the harbor.