This is NOT Lock Wire

   Ok, time for a bit of trivia . . . Take a look at the above picture . . . What is it? I'm going to let you think about it while you're reading through my story this week.  I'll give you the answer at the end but, in the mean time I'll give you a few hints: Its use has nothing to do with where we found it . . . and it's not lock wire . . .

  This past Tuesday morning, Bill and I made our last run for errands, prepped the boat, and got underway.  The engine started up beautifully and the only "issue" was that the anchor was a bit difficult to pull up because there was a enormously thick layer of mud on it.  We were officially Bahamas-bound.

   As we made our way along the ICW (Inter Coastal Waterway), we had a smooth ride just puttering along and waiting for the bridges to open at their allotted times.  Just as we were passing under one of the bridges, we heard the bilge pump kick on.  "No problem", I thought.  Bill had run the water maker earlier and during the process, some of the water had been dumped into the bilge.  However, after it switched off, I heard it almost immediately come on again.  Hmmm . . . I went down to investigate and found only a little bit of water at the bottom of the bilge and that the pump had fallen over on its side (this usually makes it run incorrectly).  So, I righted the pump and returned to the cockpit.  I thought that would be the end of it . . . yeah . . . right . . .

   We continued to hear the pump cycle on and off.  I went back down again to check but, this time there was significantly more water than before.  I swapped places with Bill at the helm and had him take a look.  That was when he found that the rotor on our dripless shaft seal had shifted.  This left a gap between the other parts of the shaft and the hull, allowing water to seep in.

   Now, as you can imagine, this took our mood from carefree to panic mode in about a half second.  I pulled us over to the side of the channel, turned off the engine, and stayed at the helm while Bill quickly grabbed tools and started working on the rotor.  After a few very uneasy minutes, he popped his head through the hatch and asked me to come take a look; no more water.  The rotor just needed to be adjusted and tightened. Voila!

The pipe going from the middle of the
picture to the left is the shaft; the
orange piece is where the bolts go

   Happy to be on our way and, of course, not sinking, Bill started the engine again.  A few seconds of bliss and then . . . terrible noises.  The engine was running fine, the propeller was turning but, we were going nowhere.  We could rev up the engine and adjust the throttle all we wanted; no movement.  Great . . . now, thankfully, not too far from the area where we pulled off was an anchorage.  So, with very little wind, we let out the sails; slowly but, surely we inched our way into safety and dropped anchor.

   Once we were settled, Bill climbed down into the engine room to take another look.  This time, he found that the bolts that bore into the shaft (allowing the shaft and its adjoining parts to turn correctly and create propulsion), had come loose . . . We also found that these bolts are supposed to be secured with lock wire (allowing for a much more secure hold on the bolts since it's made to be load-bearing). . .  Note the word supposed . .  .

   They were being held in place with . . . (Ok, here's your answer) . . . electrical wire! Yes, electrical wire, as in the stuff you might run to things like light switches or a ceiling fan. . . .Yeah, we were not amused.

Note the single, thick strand of wire
here, versus the many thinner strands
in the top picture

   We already have the lock wire but, not the replacement bolts.  They're normally not that hard to come by  but, when you're just anchored out somewhere nothing is easy to come by. We have spent the last couple of days here in the anchorage, trying to make to old bolts work but, to no avail, they're just too worn.

   So, the plan is to pick up a ball for a couple of days in a local mooring field (The weather isn't good for a crossing until Wednesday anyway).  This will allow us to pick up the bolts at a hardware store, get them installed properly, and make a full test run before we leave.  Come Wednesday, we should be able to head out into the gulf stream and onto Bimini. Hopefully, when I write next time, it will be with a Rum Punch in hand.      

     








   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

We're Back . . . And Almost Gone

   After a several month, unofficial hiatus, yes, we're back on the blog.  "Where'd we go?", you might ask . . . "What happened?", you might wonder . . . Allow me, if you will, to sum up our absence.

"Where have you  been?" . . . 

   In short, life got in the way; a large wave of whiplash-inducing, "Now what?"-producing, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" sort of life. . . We've all been there at some point so I won't use up your time or mine hashing it all out.  The good news is that we're back and are literally about a week from leaving the States. Yep, you read that correctly . . . We're back on track!

   Now, even though we were sidelined for a while, we didn't spend our time lying around feeling sorry for ourselves; we continued to try to move forward.  Taking jobs, buying a car, and paying monthly slip fees are just a few of the things we never expected to be doing when we were towed into the area about a year and a half ago. However, we were able to do a good bit of work on the boat, allowing her to be all the more blue-water ready. I've probably forgotten quite a bit but, these are the major improvements that I can remember:




Fixed the engine!!!

One of the new panels on the bimini

Replaced :

• House and starting batteries, switch, and charger
• Solar panels
• Sump pump and bilge pump
• Old glass in hatches with new lexan and reseated one of the hatches
• Forward lazarette
• Old rigging with sta-set x (and did the splicing and whipping ourselves)
• Lifelines
• A lot of the lighting (inside and out)
• Speakers in the aft cabin and the salon
• Electronics for navigation
• Latches for v-birth storage
• Aft cabin head and faucet (soon to do the same for forward cabin)
• Life sling
• EPIRB

• 

  new electronics at the helm

  Lazy jack system

Installed:

• Controller for air conditioner
• SSB radio and antenna tuner
• Regulator for refrigerator
• Solar panel controller

This actually shows the port side with a new speaker,
lee cloth, cushions, and shelf covers

Made:

• Salon cushions
• Lee cloths
• Aft cabin cushion
• Shelf covers
• Stack pack
• Dodger
• Anchor bridal

Bought a generator

Patched a few tears in the Genoa

new stack pack for main sail

Removed old wind generator

   This doesn't include all of the countless little purchases and upgrades that we've done as we were able but, . . . I'm sure you get the idea. . .

   After spending our entire time here in the Miami area in a marina, we finally untied the lines again.  So, for the last few weeks, we've been on the hook in a lake right behind the West Marine where Bill and I were working. Our last official day was this past Saturday.

new dodger

We've had LOTS of well wishes from customers, coworkers, and friends.  Offers of help haven't been rare either.  Questions about and general enthusiasm for our lifestyle and journey have definitely become a big topic around here.  We appreciate all of it.  So, to everyone who's offered a phone number/email, asked to check out this blog, given a helping hand, or just lets us know that what we're doing is pretty awesome, thank you!

On the way to the lake

In the lake

Final checkup at the vet . . .
Silas actually doesn't mind giving the vet a helping hand 

There you are . . . 

   I will be updating the other pages on the blog soon and will continue to post as I did when we were out and about (about once a week).  Please keep checking in on us; we're happy to have you along for the ride.

   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

A Year in Review

   Today marks a milestone for us.  One year ago today, Bill and I set out on our journey.  Having either sold, given away or stored everything we couldn’t keep on the boat, we threw off the lines and officially started our new adventurous lifestyle.  Over the last twelve months, we’ve experienced quite a bit.  While looking over our log book, Bill and I were quite surprised at what we had accomplished . . . even with our forced stop here in Florida (Thank you, engine). 

   So, I thought I’d take a few minutes to highlight our year’s trek down the ICW, around the Keys, over to the Bahamas, and back across the Atlantic to Florida.  

Miles Traveled: 2,280; Nautical Miles: 1,981 . . . and this was really covered in about half of the year since we were forced to return to Florida in June.

Engine Hours: 323 (for propulsion).  There were other times that we ran the engine but, it was simply to charge the batteries.

Nautical Sailing Miles: approximately 530 (about 350 after the engine died)

Number of Projects Started/Completed: Countless . . . Project lists are never-ending on a boat.  There was the wind generator, a couple of bilge pumps, adding on solar panels and repairing then later on, the air conditioner, the dinghy motor (just to name a few) . . . oh, and there was the little problem of the engine . . .  

States Visited: 5 plus 3 of the Florida Keys

Other Countries Visited: 1 – The Bahamas; We anchored off of/explored 11 islands – or Cays (pronounced “Keys”)

Scariest Moment: Riding out the surprise of Tropical Storm Anna in Black Point Harbor on one anchor (not set by the engine) and no way to set another . . . There were waves coming over the bow (at anchor!) and boats all around us were dragging . . . we didn’t drag an inch (We LOVE our Spade anchor now!)

Favorite Spot: There were many places that we really enjoyed but, we really have 2 favorites.  Black Point was our favorite cruisers’ haven.  This was THE best place overall for us to be.  Shroud Cay was our favorite place to explore.  Shroud’s beaches were spectacular and offered the best picture-perfect, breath-taking views.

Least Favorite Spot: Honestly . . . this title goes to Ft. Lauderdale because it seems that, on the whole, no one seems to have the time for or interest in sailboats.  Mega yachts and money rule here . . . sailboats and their owners take a back seat . . . This is a LARGE part of why it took sooo long for the engine to get the attention it needed to get up and running again . . .   

Awesome Animal Encounter: Manatees!!  These guys are so cool!

Most Unique Experience: Teaching for 3 weeks in Black Point Settlement.  The students there were amazing.  Getting to know the community in this way was wonderful.  Sailors often talk of getting off the tourist paths and really experiencing the places that they visit.  This certainly allowed me, and consequently Bill, to do just that.

Proudest Moment: For Bill, this would be when Tropical Storm Anna blew over.  Seeing that we had set the anchor well enough that we were one of the few boats in a harbor of many that didn’t budge was definitely a confidence booster.  

   For me, this came from one of my students.  From day one of working at the school, I always had a hand full of books with me (a habit I picked up from my substitute days).  The first time I pulled a book out, one of the students told me that he didn’t like stories.  I told him that he didn’t have to listen but, he did have to sit and be respectful to his peers.  It didn’t take long for this boy to go from not liking the story to listing to it.  By the time I left, he was engrossed in the books I presented and was obviously enjoying them.  On my last day there,  he shyly told me, “Do you remember when I told you that I didn’t like stories? Well, I like when you read them”.  Turning a child on to reading: priceless.    

  Thanks for keeping up with us and our travels.  Here's to many more miles, adventures, and blog posts in the future!
  

   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

Thar She Blows!

   Hold the presses!  We have news! . . . after 6 months (yes, SIX months) of blood sweat, and tears . . . 6 months of money-guzzling mechanics, parts ordered from England, and ulcer-inducing stress . . . 6 months of "Well, it almost starts . . . " . . . The engine runs!  Yes, you read that right, THE ENGINE ACTUALLY RUNS!!!

   "How?", you might ask . . . What in the world could possibly have cause such problems that it left my nuclear engineer husband, a hand full of the best mechanics in the area, and countless well-meaning friends/acquaintances stumped????

  The problem, the thing that started all of this, was a blockage . . . a blockage in the exhaust elbow (part of the piping that allows fumes to be blown outside of the boat, like the exhaust on your car).  Bill came to the conclusion that there was something going on with the elbow a few months ago but, he couldn't prove it and the mechanics didn't believe him . . . Today, we found that beyond a shadow of a doubt, Bill was right.

   The mechanic, Gary, showed up this morning (after spending several hours yesterday with his head in the engine compartment), to finish bleeding air out of the engine and make it run.  We moved everything out of the way for he and Bill to work (just like we've done every single time a mechanic was supposed to show up), only to find that during their previous efforts to start the engine, they had burned up the starter . . . not exactly the start to the day we were hoping for . . . 45 minutes later, Bill and Gary had our spare starter, now our only working starter, on and running.

    This seemed like progress but, after doing some investigating, they found that, just like before, there was plenty of air being pulled into the engine but, virtually no air going out of the engine.  There simply HAD to be SOMETHING blocking the airway but, . . . what??  They pulled the elbow off and . . .

   You might not believe this but, it's the truth . . . part of the mixing elbow was actually blocking the mixing elbow.  A fitting on the inside had corroded so badly that it actually broke off.  Since it was on the inside, the only place that the piece could go was in the curve of the piping (the elbow).  The piece was big enough to cause a complete blockage. This explained all the burned valves, blown head gasket, even the over heating that we were experiencing back when we were puttering down the ICW last winter.    

  Just to make sure that was the only cause, Gary tried to start the engine without the elbow on and . . . voila!  It started right up, smoothly and quickly. . . We only got to listen to it run for a few seconds because, with the elbow off, all of those fumes were filtering into the boat (whew!).  Good thing I had the main hatch open. . . but, the main thing is IT RAN.

   All we need now is a new elbow. . . and even that should be easy to come by thanks to Bill's new job (more on that in my next post) . . . With Thanksgiving just a few days away, we are especially grateful for this breakthrough . . . we have a lot to be thankful for this year, not the least of which is being able to FINALLY move under our own power.  



Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

Short Legs + High Tide = Problems

 

   The recent super moon was an awesome sight.  Bill and I made sure that we caught a glimpse of it during the eclipse. If you don't live on the east coast, you may not have noticed a side effect of the moon being pulled a little closer to our planet: high tides.  Tides are mainly controlled by the moon. Since the moon orbits around the Earth in a fashion that is a little uneven (elliptical), sometimes the moon gets a little too far away or too close. The closer the moon gets, the more extreme the tides (both high and low); If the moon gets too far away, the tide levels hardly change at all.   Either way, this can cause problems, although the bigger issues come when the moon is too close (Ok, I'm finished with my science lesson for the day).  

   That moon might look cool but, tidal extremes are not. It either means issues like we had when we were in Port St. Joe (our keel was sitting on the bottom of the marina and we were tipped over about 20 degrees . . . yeah . . crazy) because the tide was REALLY low ooooor it means flooding due to unusually high tides . . . guess which one I'm writing about?

   Yep, you guessed it.  Now, don't get me wrong.  This is not a post to complain, just to inform and entertain.  I realize that things could be MUCH worse here (like in South Carolina) . . . Thank God they're not . . . but, the tides have certainly made things interesting here.

   It all started a few days before the eclipse, I was getting ready for work and was, of course, running a little behind.  Bill always walks with me to the bus stop (even if he's not working that day . . . such a gentleman).  He came out of the main hatch and saw the problem first . . . "Wow!", I heard him say as I made my way up the ladder.  "What?", I asked.  "Look!", he responded, pointing at the pier. It was underwater.  The tide had risen so much during the night, that there were about 6 inches of water above the pier.  Hmmm . . . I already had my shoes on (of course); Bill was only wearing flip flops (much easier to take off).  So, Bill, with flip flops in hand, pulled the boat as close to the pier as he could get it and jumped off.  He sloshed through the water, grabbed the bow line, and pulled.  This was supposed to enable me to get off the boat as well . . . yeah . . . not so much . . .

   On a normal day with normal tide changes, it can sometimes be a challenge for my 5' 3'' self to get on and off the boat but, this was difficult to say the least.  I tried to stand on the rub rails (the teak on the edge of the boat) and get close enough to stretch my leg over to the pier. . . that would have worked if I was about 6 inches taller.  I then tried resting my knees on the rub rails and stretching my leg backwards toward the pier . . . again, I came up short.  I didn't need this, I was going to have to rush as it was . . . Finally, still positioned on my knees and holding on to the life lines, I stretched as close as I could to the pier.  Bill made sure that he had pulled the line over as far as he could, let the line go and quickly came over to catch me as I let go of the life lines and got both feet on the pier.

  We both walked through the water over to the parking lot that wasn't flooded, put our shoes on, and walked toward the gate. . . just as I was about to make a run for the bus, I realized that after all of that, I'd left my cell phone on the boat. . . great . . . Bill, as quickly as he could, climbed back on the boat, grabbed my phone, and brought it back to me (In case you're wondering, my cell phone is more of a necessity for safety here than anything else, I did need it).  Miraculously, the bus was just late enough; We got there just in time (I actually sprinted the last half block to the bus because I could see it pulling up).  I boarded the bus (Bill had caught up to me by then), kissed Bill goodbye, and made it to work on time . . . whew!

Our Little Fish Friend

   During the days that followed, we made sure to leave a little earlier to allow for the extra kink in our commute.  We even had to resort to attaching a swim ladder to one of the stanchions so that I could actually climb down to the pier.  We have had fish swimming ON the the pier (which is weird to see) and Bill even rescued a fish one day.  The tide had apparently gone out just as the little guy was swimming on the pier.  Bill simply scooted the fish back into the water (he was too little to eat anyway).  We even had to prop up our shore power cord with a spare piece of wood to make sure that the water didn't reach the connection and cause a short . . . or worse.

My Daily "Swim"

   Today, I was doing several loads of laundry (since I had the day off), and had to have Bill start and retrieve the last two loads because I simply could not reach the pier . . . Normally I don't mind my lack of height.  It's part of what makes me, me but, lately I find myself wishing I wasn't quite so vertically challenged.  Hopefully the tides will even out soon.  I guess if it ever gets to the point that I really cannot get off the boat, I'll at least have a good excuse for being late.  I'll just have to call in and say I can't come in until the tide goes out . . .

 


   In case you're wondering, the engine is STILL not running.  The results of the most recent compression test were not promising  . . . The head is still off, some of the engine parts are still at my feet as I sit here typing . . . uhhhgg . . .    
   

 




   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

It's All In Our Head . . . We Think . . .

The Exhaust Manifold and Mixing Elbow, Pulled and Laid Out on Our Floor
(These Had to Be Pulled Before Pulling the Head)

    So we finally think we've made some progress on our engine.  After going though several mechanics, countless no-show appointments, and more money and time than we ever thought we'd spend . . . we think, think, we're almost done; we think we've found the problem.

   The mechanic that we are currently using, Gary, was first acquainted with our problem when our last mechanic simply stopped returning our calls . . . (It is sooo hard to find a descent mechanic around here and the work is slow at best).  The staff here at the marina suggested the diesel mechanic that they use.  We were pretty iffy about putting our hopes in yet another mechanic but, we were pleasantly surprised.  Gary was of the same mind as Bill; Bill had thought all along that something in the engine head might be to blame.  The other mechanics suggested everything from pulling the entire engine and rebuilding it to buying a whole new one.  For whatever reason, they refused to believe that it could be the head.  This guy was different.  As soon as the situation had been explained and a few preliminary tests had been run, Gary suggested we check the head . . . no drastic engine pulling until every other option had been exhausted.

   Sure enough, as soon as Bill and Gary pulled the head to be rebuilt, they found the first problem - a cracked head gasket (that explained a lot).  The next issue came when, in the process of giving the head a good once over, Gary's guys found so much gunk in the valves and seats that they needed replacing (I'm sure that didn't help our previous efforts).

   After a few weeks of trying to coordinate schedules, running tests, and replacing parts, Gary showed up yesterday to do one more check before bringing back our newly rebuilt head.  He added oil to the tops of the cylinders.  If the oil level held, the rings were ok and we could proceed with putting the head back on.  If the oil level didn't hold, well , . . . the engine would have to come out . . . However, when he came back this morning, he saw that the oil level was just fine; No ring issues.  Whew!

   On Monday (the next day that Bill has off), Gary will be back with our head.  They'll put the head on and check the the timing on the injection pump (the other possible branch of our compound issue) at the same time.  Hopefully, . . . Hopefully  . . . I will come home on Monday afternoon to a running engine.  

Clips on Our New Lazy Jacks

   In case you're wondering how we've been dealing with being grounded during all of this, I can tell you that we would much rather be out exploring new waters but, it has afforded us the ability to work on our ever-growing project list.  The money we're having to put out to be here (slip rental, electricity, bus fare, etc.) is a bit painful.  However, our jobs at West Marine give us great employee discounts.  This, combined with the fact that Bill and I are doing all the labor, means that we can afford the get the projects done at a quicker rate.

The Red Lines are the Lazy Jacks

   I mentioned the leaky port hole in my previous post and that is still in progress.  Bill has also made new lazy jacks (a system that makes it easier to get the mainsail down), replaced almost all of our navigation lights, fixed our air conditioner that temporarily refused to work due to barnacle growth, and is working on fixing the handle on our main hatch . . . I have, as you know, given the boat a full bath, sewed a tote bag for storage (and picked up a few ideas for future projects) . . . and that's just the most recent stuff.

My Newly Sewn Tote

 


   Well, we're getting things done, working on reviving our finances, and are hopefully nearly done with our engine problem . . . hopefully . . .        

 





   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

The Modest Life of a Cruiser

What? . . . A full-time cruiser working???  Living on a boat isn't plush and luxurious?? . . . While, for some people, the idea of life on a boat being hard work isn't a foreign one, most people's first thoughts of boat life don't involve work but, fruity drinks, white sand beaches or pulling into exotic ports.  While, admittedly, these images are part and parcel of the cruising life, hard work also plays a major role in the lives of those of us that call a boat home.

Our Water Maker Pump - It Often Has a Mind of It's Own

   The project lists never seem to get smaller; As soon as you cross off a few items, a few more "to-do"s demand to take their place.  Reseal the aft hatch, rebuild the dinghy motor, replace the anchor light . . . Did the bilge pump just die again? . . . The daily upkeep also never seems to stop.  I know this is true no matter where you live (house, boat, RV, whatever) but, when you live in such a compact space, it doesn't take much for the boat to look unkempt.  In a house, you leave a few things lying around and it probably isn't that big of a deal.  On a 38 foot mono-hull, a few tools scattered about, a couple of dishes in the sink or a dust bunny on the floor can instantly make you think, "What a mess!  Didn't I just clean this place up?".

The Vent Thru-hull To The Aft Holding Tank -
It Corroded Off One Day (Nice Surprise!) - Old Boat, Old Parts 

The Inner Workings Always Need Attention

 




















    A while back, when we were still in the Keys, our cab driver, making small talk, asked if we were there on vacation.  Once we had explained that we live and travel on our boat, the driver said, "Wow!  Are you independently wealthy?". . . His reaction is actually pretty common.  You see, many people, due to their lack of knowledge about cruising, assume that if a person lives on a boat and travels around all the time, they have ample funds to uphold a cushy life on the water indefinitely.  They envision an enormous yacht stocked with the latest in gadgets and toys and maybe a small wait staff along for the ride.

   This may be true for the rich and famous or even those that just have more money than they know what to do with but, for many of us that have adopted this life, we are people of much more modest means.  We don't have house or car payments, gas bills, or many other payments that landlubbers have but, there are certainly boat-related expenses that draw money away from our cruising funds.  So, we do as much of the work/repairs as we can on our own, we cut expenses where we can, and when necessary, we go out and earn a few bucks.    

   Why am I telling you all of this?  It certainly isn't to complain.  I just wanted to dispel a few myths.  Bill and I are pretty much stuck here in Florida.  Progress on the engine is moving at a snail's pace and our funds are in comatose state.  We have both been working in an attempt to pay off the mechanics and take our finances off of life support.  We are not alone in our problems (though it may feel that way at times); many cruisers have found themselves in tight spots like ours.  However, we have not lost touch with what's important.

  We may work hard and sacrifice a few things to live an unconventional life but, the pros far outweigh the cons.  A shopping spree feels excessive and unnecessary when you meet others that are happy with their few possessions.  An amazing sunset makes the labors of a difficult sail fade away.  Getting away from it all takes on a whole new meaning when you find yourself surrounded by the the simple things that matter and not caring a bit for the things that don't.  A closet full of clothes, a new car or a big promotion don't hold a candle to spending invaluable time with loved ones, meeting people you may not have otherwise had a chance to, and savoring once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

   The cruising life isn't glamorous but, it is rich, modest, and fulfilling.  We may work hard and do without but, if you ask me, we have beaten the system.  We have found what others have failed to discover; that less is more and that a life less ordinary can be quite extraordinary.  

      Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

Here We Go Again . . .

Moving Down the ICW

   So, we've moved!  Don't get too excited though. We didn't move under our own power . . . yep, the engine is still not working.  "Why?", you might ask . . . We have no idea . . . That's part of why we moved.  You see, no matter what the cause of our engine issues, it has come down to either pulling the head (top) or the entire engine (this, frankly, is something I am dreading like the plague).  Neither of these things could be done at the marina that we were in.  So, Tow Boat U.S. again played a part in our travels.

This Was Taken Right After We Got Moving Again

De Ja Vu?

   Two days ago, a Tow Boat U.S employee arrived at our slip in his boat.  We got his lines all hooked up to our bow and, with some help from friends in the marina, threw off our lines.  Now, before we did all of this, we talked with the tow boat guy to make sure he knew about one important thing: the shallow area.  We told him EXPLICITLY that he needed to bring us as close to the piers as possible on the way out.  Otherwise, we would seriously run the risk of grounding.  The marina is dredged but, it can go from comfortable depths to extreme shallows way too quickly. . . this is what we TOLD him.  What he DID was tow us moderately close to the piers.  As soon as we started to pull out, I pointed this out to Bill and he thought that the guy was just giving us a wider turning radius.  However, he didn't move over.  "You need to move over!", I yelled to him.  Just as I did, . . . bump, bump, bump . . . "MOOOOVE OVER!", I yelled, again.  Then, boom.  Stuck. Run aground.  Uhhhg!

 

    The guy turned to look at what was going on and actually seemed surprised that we were stuck . . . great . . . Our past towing experiences were pretty flawless and we were very pleased with the service . . . This guy hadn't listened and had quickly made it to my "Are You Kidding Me?" List.   To make matters worse, the incident had obviously jarred the guy enough that he started to try to tow us off the shallow spot in the wrong direction.  Bill had to give him instructions for pulling us into deeper water.  Luckily, we weren't moving very fast when we hit.  So, no damage was done and we were moving again in relatively little time.

   After having two bridges opened for us and getting pushed and pulled into our new slip (an act that reminded me of bumper boats), we were able to adjust our lines, plug in the power, and get ourselves settled.  Whew!

   Speaking of power, we are SOOO glad that we didn't get rid of our air conditioner back in Texas.  We had considered removing it before because it is installed in one of our wet lockers (in other words, it takes up valuable storage space).  However, the temperatures have been soaring here and, in tandem with the humidity,  the weather would be down right unbearable without the modern convenience of constant cool air.

    On the job front, I have been working at West Marine and, in fact, just got my first paycheck in the bank.  I'm not making much since the pay isn't great and I am part time for the off-season but, it's money coming in.  Bill is still doing some odd jobs for some friends of ours and bringing in some money that way.

   This engine problem has not only been costing us an enormous amount of money on its own but, the marina fees, transportation fees, and mechanics necessitated by the issue have definitely compounded the money problems. We have GOT to get this thing fixed!  Bill has made some calls.  We have a guy coming Monday to assess the problem and the shop here at the marina is supposed to get with us (also on Monday) about the possibility of rebuilding the engine.

Lots of Foodies

   We have been trying to enjoy our time off here.  We haven't made it to the beach yet (surprising, I know) because it has either been too hot or too crowded.  We have been able to get out with a few new friends and checkout some interesting places and events around town.

Just a Few of The Options

   A few days ago, we took the bus to downtown Hollywood for a gathering of food trucks.  On the first Monday of every month, many of the local food trucks get together at Young Circle to offer up a unique night out for local foodies.  The trucks begin lining the sidewalks in the circle (a sort of local park) during the day and, by dinner time, they are offering up their fares to throngs of people.  Everything from Chinese to taco bars, burgers to gelato, is served up to eager eaters.  Bill and I found a taco truck that offered a sort of mix-and-match menu.  We each ordered two different small tacos and sampled each others.  For dessert, Bill found fried Oreos with a side of ice cream and I tried a hand-dipped gelato bar with white chocolate and pistachios.  Yum!  

Me Enjoying My Dessert

  We are going to head to one of the farmers' markets in the area early tomorrow morning before I head off to work.  We love finding and cooking with fresh ingredients!  Hopefully, we will get this engine mystery solved soon . . . and in the meantime we'll keep doing our best to keep our heads above the water and enjoy our surroundings.  

   

   By the way, in case you were interested, I finally got a picture of the crabs that I mentioned in my previous post.  Does anyone know what kind of crab this is?  Please let me know if you do . . .  






   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

Happy Birthday, America!

These Boats Were "Rafted Up" by 4 p.m.
To Watch the Fireworks

 
   So, it's kind of ironic that Bill and I are celebrating Independence Day in a marina.  We are very "dependent" right now since our engine is STILL (still?!?) not functioning. . . It is even stumping the best mechanics in the area but, I digress . . . Despite our lack of mobility, we are doing our best with what we have and, on this day of red, white, and blue, are doing some celebrating.

 

Here's The Fist Finished Gate Pocket
(Been Working on This With My Sail Maker's Palm)

 




   We aren't doing much in the work department today.  Over the last few weeks, Bill has been working some small contracted jobs for some people here in the marina and I have been working on boat upkeep, sewing, and finding a job for myself.  I was offered a job at West Marine and will be starting in a few weeks. . . Yep, we might be here a while.  Even after the engine is fixed, we still have to revitalize our nearly comatose cruising funds.  So, back on the payroll I go.  Today, however, we are just relaxing and enjoying the day.

 

 

Back View (Notice the Velcro)

 

Bill's Homemade Hamburger Buns,
Freshly Baked, For The Chicken.  Yum!

 
   We have raised our American and Navy flags (Hooyah!).  Buffalo Chicken is in the works for dinner in the slow cooker (We were going to do burgers but, the meat didn't thaw as quickly as I though it would).  There are plenty of beers in the fridge and we are actually in the perfect spot (so we are told) to watch a great fireworks display tonight.

 


 

   Since we're on the subject of fireworks, I thought I'd share a few Independence Day facts that may surprise you.  I love learning and sharing interesting/little known historical facts.

   So, did you know . . .

• The day that we actually celebrate is the date that the Declaration of Independence was adopted.  The actual "declaring" took place two day earlier.  
• All of the signers (delegates) of the declaration did NOT sign on July 4th.  Actually, only two men signed on that day.  Many didn't sign the document until August 2nd, a few signed later than that, and still two more (John Dickinson and Robert R. Livingston) never signed at all.
• We actually had a president born on July 4th.  Calvin Coolidge, our 30th Commander in Chief, was born in 1872 on this patriotic day.
• We may have declared our independence in 1776 but, it wasn't recognized as a federal holiday until 1870 and it wasn't until 1938 that it was mandated that workers were payed for their day off.
• This one kind of surprised me . . . In what year was July 4th first celebrated with fireworks? . . . 1777. . . Congress decided that the best way to celebrate the 1st anniversary was to set off fireworks over Philadelphia .  Hmm, I wonder what the founding fathers would think of our enormous displays today?
• Thomas Jefferson was the first president to hold an Independence Day celebration at the White House.  
• George Washington knew how to honor his men during the our war for independence.  He ordered a double ration of rum for all of his troops in 1778 and in 1781.
• One last fact . . . There have been three presidents that passed away on July 4th and they were actually three of the first five men in office.  James Monroe died in 1831.  The other two, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams actually died in 1826 (same day, same year) and, in case you didn't notice, this was the 50th anniversary of our independence.  Quite appropriate.

                          *I used Christianpost.com, ibtimes.com, and history.com for the facts*

 
   So, hopefully you learned at least one new fact to share with your friends this holiday weekend.  I hope you proudly fly your flags, fire up your grills, enjoy the fireworks, and have fun.  Thank a vet and say a prayer for all of those actively defending our country. We would not be able to celebrate this day without them.  Thank God for the privilege of being part of this nation.  Happy birthday, America! God bless you.


   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)

No Go

   And now the conclusion to my miniseries (part 3) . . .

 

At The Restaurant In Highborne For My Birthday

 After another slow day of sailing, we dropped anchor in Highborne Cay.  There isn't much to Highborne.  There's a marina (pretty over-priced) and a restaurant that's actually pretty reasonable, as long as you don't go crazy with the alcoholic beverages.  The beers are $7 a pop!  Normally, Bill and I would have just cooked something on the boat and turned in for the night but, . . . we actually sailed into Highborne on my birthday.  So, Bill decided that I should at least be treated to a good meal that I didn't have to cook.

Pretty Flower Outside Of The Restaurant

The Shell Turtle

   We invited the rest of our little flotilla to come along.  I think we were all in need of an evening out and we really enjoyed ourselves.  The food was delicious and the conversation stayed at a continuous flow the whole time.  Bill, Hans, and Roland seemed to be enjoying their conversations (in German, of course) and we were all able to catch up with all the happenings over the past few weeks that would have taken too long over the VHF.  I wasn't expecting any presents, since this was an impromptu gathering but, Knotty Kat surprised me.  They had apparently bought some items from the Shell Man in Bimini (a nice man that makes art out of shells) and decided to give me a "turtle" as a gift; Very thoughtful.  Thanks guys!


 



 

   We pulled out of Highborne early the next morning.  Bill and I headed closer to the Gulf Stream, Knotty Kat headed to a marina for a couple of nights, Uplifting headed in our direction but, (since they have a working engine) made different stops than we did, and Roland on Seabiscuit headed to Nassau for some work on his engine.  As we sailed, we all tried to keep in touch by radio but, eventually, we lost contact with each other.

Pick A Sand Dollar, Any Sand Dollar

 


   As we continued on, we found a few stops along the way and pulled a few night sails.  Eventually, we stopped in Cat Cay.  We stayed there for two days waiting for the wind to start moving in the right direction.  The wait wasn't too bad.  The weather wasn't great on the first day.  So, our already low batteries didn't get much help from the solar panels.  Staying an extra day allowed the sun to come out and the batteries to charge enough to get us back to the States.  While we were waiting, we took the time to snorkel around the boat and were astounded at the amount of sand dollars.  They were everywhere.  Bill and I picked up ten in just a few minutes' time.  We even found one that was partly purple. . . didn't know they could be colored that way.      

Here's The Purple One

 

Lighthouse On Cat Cay

   Once the wind was favorable, we set sail.  As we left, we started to feel pretty good about the wind getting us in the right direction.  However, not long after we left, the wind simply died.  In our efforts to get into and through the Gulf Stream, we spent a total of seven hours simply adrift.  The only reason we were still moving during that time was the strong currents in the Gulf Stream were pushing us due north.  If the winds didn't pick up, we'd be landing MUCH further north than Florida (like Massachusetts, maybe).  Luckily, the winds did pick up in the early hours of the next morning.  We were able to sail into the vicinity of Ft. Lauderdale and have Towboat U.S. take us the rest of the way into the City of Hollywood Marina.  This was about as close to Ft. Lauderdale as we could get and still avoid the exorbitant prices at the Ft. Lauderdale marinas.

Silas Wants To Know When We'll Get There

 

Getting Towed In By Towboat U.S. . . . Yep Through A Bridge 

   As we were being towed in, we actually spotted Knotty Kat off our port side and hailed them on the radio to let them know what our plans were.  We were making such good time (around 8 kts.), that we were leaving quite a wake.  Knotty Kat was able to stay out of the way but, Bill was thinking about all those times we'd been rocked by power boats.  He looked over at me and said, "Where's some power boats so we can buzz them?".  I had to laugh.  Everyone was staying clear of us once they saw the towboat but, it was a funny thought.

We Spotted A Waterspout Forming As We Were Being Towed

Knotty Kat Snapped This Pic

This Is What The Winds In The Bahamas
Did To Our Courtesy Flag

   So, here we are.  The Towboat U.S. guy did an excellent job of getting us in here; Not a scratch or dent to be seen.  We've been here a week and are going to stay at least two more because Bill was offered a two-week job working on a rental property for one of the other guys here in the marina.  This engine is not only getting our moral low but, it's really swamping our wallet. . . and, no, it is still not running.


 


   A repair guy came today (he couldn't come earlier because we had to have the starters rebuilt first).  He tried and tried to start the engine but, no luck.  He thinks the problem is either with the compression (which could mean SERIOUS bucks) or the fuel injection pump that was supposed to be rebuilt and working fine, isn't. He is going to come back with something to test the compression and help us further diagnose the problem.

   We have decided that Maine just isn't in the cards for us this year.  We just don't have enough time left to get there.  We are thinking that if we can get the engine going relatively soon, we can make it to Maryland to work a big boat show there (this would help rebuild the cruising funds).  If not, we will have to find jobs here at least for a few months.  

   Engines are no cheap matter. . . full-time cruisers often have to stop and work from time to time . . . I just hope we can get out of here with our shirts still intact . . .

At Least We Are Able To Get Back To Cooking Like We Want To
 . . . Homemade Chile Rellenos And Spanish Rice . . . Yum! 

 
   Please let us know what you think. Feel free to ask questions and leave nice comments. (If no one has commented yet, there will be a "No Comments" link near the bottom of the post. If someone has already commented, there will be a number and the word "comments" beside it. Just click whichever of these is there, click, "add comment" when the window opens, and type away.)