Thursday 20 August 2015 - As I mentioned in the last episode, all morning was spent trying to, and finally succeeding in sending last week's episode off. The marina, and thus I, am having a helluva time with the internet service. I'm assured that the person with the key to the correct closet will show up tomorrow and that one of their people knows just how to fix the problem. I'm not holding my breath 'til it's done. This afternoon was spent dealing with mail and paperwork for the insurance company that insures the boat. More of that tomorrow after the mechanic comes to repair some things that the previous owner is responsible for. He was supposed to be here to fix things in June.

Friday, 21 August - Finally, the mechanic showed up this morning. He spent two and a half hours removing the fuel pump from the front of the diesel engine, a task I'm glad I didn't have to tackle myself. Even he had to refer to the manual more than once, and he's VERY experienced. All he works on is marine engines and transmissions, and he's very busy. I'd been waiting for him to show up for almost 2 months. He has to ship the pump off to Miami to have it repaired, then, supposedly, he'll reinstall it on Friday or first of next week.

Saturday, 22 August - I was trying to figure out the software for the internet antennas and router once again today. I spent most of the day doing so, to no avail. About 6:30pm, Marcus and I went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant. When I tried to order a Margarita, the waitress, a beautiful Mexican tattooed lady, said, "They're made with wine." That didn't sound much like a margarita to me, but I thought I'd better try one. I guess they don't have a hard liquor license. It tasted pretty good though! ...and so did the dinner! The best enchiladas I've had since I left Utah. I'll definitely be going back. I might even order another Wine Margarita from the tattooed lady. I think she'd have been a lot prettier without the tattoos all over her arms, legs, neck, and who knows where else.

Sunday, 23 August - I tackled the problem of the fried electronics today and discovered, quite to my relief, that I believe the problem is merely the connector to the Pactor Modem. When I removed its wires from the circuit, the circuit breaker quit tripping. I tested the two ends with the multi-meter, and they were shorted together, then I detected a burnt spot about 1/16" in diameter on the connector itself. Since it's Sunday I doubted that I would be able to find an electronics shop open here, so I spent the rest of the afternoon tracking wires and trying to figure out what wires and cables in the aft portion of the boat belong to, then marking them. There are LOTS of them, AC power, DC power, antenna cables for GPS, SSB, Radar, wires for auto pilot, sensors, wind generator, solar, etc., etc, etc. It'll be years before I'll be able to figure them all out, but I needed to start somewhere.

Monday, 24 August - A week's gone buy and I finally get the burnt wiring fixed. Today I spent three hours looking for the 3 dollar connector (I had to buy 2) here in Palmetto and Bradenton, then two hours soldering it to the wires and reinstalling it, but, "Yahoo", I'm back in business. At least I think I am. I still don't know exactly what that modem does or when I'll need it. I know it has something to do with the Single Sideband Radio from which I'll be able to send email messages from anywhere in the world - supposedly! However, there was a more immediate need to get that circuit back in order, the navigation equipment was on that circuit, too, so I really need it up and running properly. Thank God it was merely the connector that had gone bad, not the modem itself. These modems run $1300 - $1500! Yikes! - Of course, after I got it all back together, I discovered two of the connectors in a bag in a compartment under the bed it the aft cabin. Such is life on a boat.

Tuesday, 25 August - Ooh! I came close to getting a ticket last night. Where I park in the lot across from the marina, it is very dark when I get there at night, and, since the motorhome turns on a set of headlights when I start it up, I have more than once forgotten to turn on the lights. They seem to be already on. As I headed up the street, I passed a police car and he fell in right in behind me, then turned on his flashing lights. He had stopped me because I had no tail lights on the trailer. I turned on the lights, but he'd already noticed that my trailer's registration had expired last month. I can hardly believe that it's already been a year since I bought the trailer for this trip. I just picked up my mail last Wednesday, and in the pile was a notice to that effect, but I hadn't gotten around to renewing it, yet. I have now! Not only that, but I'd left my wallet, with my driver's license in it, in another set of shorts when I changed at the end of the day, and they were in the boat, not in the motorhome. I was very grateful and surprised that he only gave me a warning ticket. I'd better go get that receipt and temporary permit for the registration printed out before I forget it.

Wednesday Morning, 26 August - A very exciting day...Not! I bought water filters and plastic clothes hangers at Walmart and am looking forward to storing items on the boat and washing clothes.

            I'm hoping your day is more exciting than mine,
                        Dream BIG, or Live Bored.

                                          Rick