No photos this time, just an update on whats going on. I've finished all the broken things on the boat and all the maintenance that Karen can think of until tomorrow.
Heard for my boat in Trinidad and it's going to leave for Brazil 1/22/09 at midnight so in about 10 days I'll be heading there. I have a 56 day hitch so unless I can talk Karen into posting on this thing ya'll may not here anything for a while.
It's warmed up here like it's supposed to, in the 80s and I'm not bitching but it's HOT. I think it's because we had our two weeks of winter and chilled down real well.
Something about the Keys is they don't sell Baby Back Ribs here too often. They sell something called St Louis ribs and don't taste anything like what we are used to in Texas. Karen did find some the other day at Winn Dixie and purchased all we could freeze up, so tonight I'm going to smoke a slab on the grill and see how they come out.
Well enough rambling on. See ya'll down the road.
Mike

Yep that's me going up the mast. Karen & I changed all of our lights to LED to save on battery power. As many lights that we have in the boat it was not cheap, I just hope it was worth all the effort.

Well we are back in the 70's here in the Keys so there is plenty to do before our trip to Puerto Rico. The back water tank has a small leak at a fitting that I can't reach so I have to cut up the floor over the top, now that's going to be fun.

Along with the water tank our hot water tank started to leak.

Now this water heater is only 2 or 3 years old and imposable to replace unless I remove my AC compressor and most of the copper piping. It's a good thing that before we left Portofino that our friend Bill helped me get a 30 # bottle or R22. I guess about Tuesday I'll be up to my butt in replacing everything.

Claude's girlfriend took a candid shot of Karen & I just thought I'd throw that up just to show how nice the weather is here, not that I would rub it in.

OK I guess I've complained enough so I'll quit the rant and see ya'll down the line.

Mike

Too Cold

Monday morning and it's 40 degrees here in Marathon with a wind chill of 14. I can't believe this weather. I know the rest of you are in colder weather but I can still bitch.
Went to the show yesterday and saw Avatar good movie to see on a cold day with plenty to do but too damn cold to get out and do it. Received some good news Friday, scheduled to go to Brazil first or second week in February. Find out today when exactly. If it's second week Karen and I will sail out of here Wed. or Thurs. for Purto Rico. Should take about 11 or 12 days to get to Salinas, that is not doing any stopping for fun. This will be like a delivery and not much fun, but it is warmer there. Not much to tell so I guess I'll go back to listening to Walton and Johnson.
Mike

Bored Stiff

OK I'm bored, there is no way to go outside and do anything. It's too damn cold and the wind is blowing from the north. There is no one on the dock so it no fun drinking beer when there is no one to B S with.
So bored yesterday that Karen and I drove to Harbor Freight in Pembrook Pines that is over a 100 miles from here. They have these solar lights that have an aluminum housing and won't rust. they are about 31/2 in square and work good at night when you are sailing and need a light down in the salon at bottom of the companion way ladder.
Well it's going to get all the way up to 62 degrees today, maybe warm enough to drink beer on the dock. I guess ya'll can see where my priories are.
The fellow in the next slip is still trying to get his sunk motor started, not having much luck.
Our next move is going to be to Porto Rico if I can get this co. I work for to tell me when I'm going back to work and I'm not having much luck.
See you on down the line.
Mike

Boat Down and then Up

Well I haven't really felt too much like writing to much since I had to spend 28 days at work. I know that most of you know what I do for a living. It's kind of like being a bus drive except I do it on water.

I returned to Marathon 12/29/09 and just like normal Karen had plenty for me to do, had to put new sending units in my fuel tanks and it took 2 days. On New Years eve we woke up at 2400 Hrs. and wished each other Happy New Years and went back to sleep. That's what old folks do I guess. I have always thought of New years eve as armature night anyway. And just look what happens on New Years night.

My neighbor didn't start the new year too good. He managed to get a diver on the 2Nd and got it up,now he's tyring to get the engine to start.

I hope all of you are staying warm, here this morning it's 51 degrees and cold as hell. I told Karen we stopped short of the warm weather. Well I guess I'll sing off for a few days and try to warm up. see ya'll down the road Mike & Karen