11/14/2009, Vero Beach, FL

November 8th, 2009 Vero Beach, FL
While we were drinking coffee below, we were hailed by Kim and Steve to check out the rat sitting on the transom of our dinghy. I grabbed a dock pole and tried to knock it off, but instead it crawled into the plastic cowling that wraps the lower unit.
I started the engine go try to get him to move, but it didn't work. I left it alone and went on to work on the boom vang that needs to be remounted.
Steve took Kathy and Kim to shore to meet up with Nancy for a day of shopping. When he returned, we used his motor lift to haul our outboard off the dinghy and then lower it to the point where the area where the rat was located was under water. Nothing happened.
We returned the motor to our dinghy and I removed the cowling and there was no rat. He must have made his escape at some point in the morning when no one was watching.
Since I had the top off the motor I decided to remove the carburetor for a cleaning. It took about 45 minutes, and seemed to idle much better when I was finished.
By then I was hungry and made a chicken salad with the grapes we purchased yesterday.
After lunch I took the dinghy to shore for a good scrubbing. There is a landing area for kayaks that worked well, except that I had to haul water for rinsing.
On my way back to the boat I stopped for a visit with Jim on "Solitaire".
By then the afternoon was spent and I returned to the boat and read... waiting for Kathy to get back from her shopping trip. The shopping trip was wonderful, by the way.

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11/14/2009, Vero Beach. FL

November 7th, 2009 Vero Beach, FL
"Sapphire" is covered with salt from our time in the ocean waves. We sprayed off a little at the gas dock when we arrived but it was a half-hearted effort at best. This morning I washed the solar panels so that any sun we have can find its way to the batteries.
Then I turned to the refrigerator, which just hasn't been as cold as it should be. Steve has the hoses and a manual so with them in hand and a can of coolant. I went to work. After studying the situation and taking a few readings, it was obvious that we were low on coolant.
The manual called for bringing the evaporator to room temperature, in order to get an accurate reading on the amount of gas that I was adding so I emptied the freezer, put in a tin cup of boiling water and waited for 20 minutes.
Adding coolant was easy...open the valve and let a little go in at a time... then watch the gauge.
We caught the 11 am bus with Steve and Kim and got off at West Marine. I ordered a new nav light and purchased a new snorkeling mask at the dive shop next door. We did some more shopping and returned to the marina around 2:30.
I removed our boom vang, which had come loose from the base of the mast during our trip into Canaveral. It looks like I can replace the bolts and call it good. I think only one of eight is stripped.
At 4:30 we went in to the dinghy dock where Jim and Nancy met the four of us for dinner at their condo.
We had a great time as usual. Jay and Di joined us as well.

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M
11/14/2009, Vero Beach, Florida

November 6th, 2009 Melbourne to Vero Beach, Fl
We listened to Chris Parker in the morning trying to figure out how IDA is going to affect us. It doesn't seem to be a real serious problem but some of the computer tracks have her aiming at the west coast directly across from us.
Leaving at 8am we motored south through the Indian River... which is real boring. The 30 mile trip took us until about 1:00. On our way through the southern end of the mooring field, on the way to the fuel dock, we were welcomed by 4 or 5 boats whom we've meet during the last two years. Most of them are Georgetown people who go there and stay the entire winter without moving their boats.
Jim and Nancy took our lines at the dock ... it was like old home week. We fueled up and rinsed a lawyer of salt off the boat before heading out to our assigned mooring. "Fine Lion" got hooked up and we pulled in beside them to tie along side. There are a few empty moorings but with bad weather in the forecast this place will fill up fast. We prefer to be doubled up with friends so asked to share a mooring.
Later we had lunch on "Fine Lion" and wasted away the afternoon chatting. Around 4 p.m., we lowered the dinghy and motor. A little later, we dinghied over to the restaurant under the bridge for a nice dinner. The ladies made plans for a shopping trip on Sunday, since Nancy has a car.

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