Okay, so this may be a little confusing. This is the second blog today...so make this a June 28th and ½ blog.

First...repair update: We addressed the starter and alternator problems. I called our guy who is the starter and alternator expert for Perkins Engines. (I think he's as old as the engine company)...anyway...he asked me a couple of questions then proceeded to tell me...(1) for the starter, check the terminals on the batteries...and (2) for the alternator...hang a light in the engine room! What? What hang a light? Why? It turns out the light in the engine room is so the alternator will always be under a load (that's why the tach was bouncing when I shut stuff off)...he said it's an old trick they used to do in the war. (War? Which war??) anyway...I hung a light in the engine room and ran one of the refers...it worked...no more bouncing tach! Then I cleaned the battery terminals...we have an even dozen...plus at least 12 other major battery cable connection terminals...(in the end, it would have been easier to change the starter...ha!)...anyway... that seemed to work too! So for the moment all is well....except our new alternator puts out like a gazillion watts!...way more than the old one we had...and with the solar panels and wind generator going we have to stop off every so often and drain some of the electricity out (insert happyface).

Okay...so off to Bedwell Harbor in the morning at 7AM...(that's why this post now...I'll forget in the morning). It's about a 6-7 hour run...should be with the current but somewhat against the wind. We're choosing Bedwell because of the hot tub...'nuff said.

After Bedwell, it's Friday Harbor to check back in the U.S., jump across to Fisherman's Cove on Lopez Island to watch fireworks in the rain...then on over to Victoria...eat food play in town...then to Esquimalt Harbor (next to Victoria) and our final prep sail-a-thon...then across to Port Angeles to be with family and friends! Whew...gonna be busy these next few days!

Ray out for now...