They finally came back with an estimate on our prop and a time-line. They said 10 to 12 more days. That might put the prop back Christmas week, and Tuesday of that week is the last day of work for the crew at the boatyard. So I called the folks in Washington and explained the situation and asked for a better estimate. He told me that there was another live-aboard whose job was being rushed, but he would move us up to the next slot and see what he could do. I told him the forecast in Charleston is for temperatures in the 20's (it is!) and he sounded like they would surely get it done in time for Christmas.

So I went and bought my plane ticket back to the boat. I'm returning on Friday, December 17. I will hate to leave Jamie and Adler, but I can't wait to get back.

As bleak as things have been, we are still amazed at the kindness of other boaters. Bud tried to bike out to a store on Sunday but was met by someone who advised him to not even try. The roads are too narrow, the bridge traffic too crazy even on a Sunday, to permit biking. Bud told him he was heading out to get a second heater because he was not able to keep the boat warm enough with just one. The man first offered to take Bud, but didn't have room in his car with all the car seats for his grandchildren. Then he said he had a space heater at home Bud could use and he'd bring it back. Several hours later he came back with a brand new space heater and the Sunday Charleston paper, gave them both to Bud and said "Merry Christmas".

Now that we know my time-line, Bud is going to rent a car for a week. He's running out of groceries, he needs to do the wash, and he has parts waiting at West Marine to do some small jobs while he's waiting, and he can't get to anything from where he is. So Saturday he will rent a car for a week. Then he'll be able to pick me up from the airport on Friday. I told him to get the car for when he needed it, not to worry about my return as I could get a shuttle or a cab, but I will be very glad to have Bud waiting when I finally get there.