RUDE AWAKENING
March 15, 2012
I will be in trouble for mentioning this but there is a point. At 0600 we, that is the entire crew, awoke to a very loud thump followed by a moan. Bear’s day started with a face plant after rolling the wrong direction in the rack and verifying that it is a full three feet from the start to the finish of the fall. Not only that but ensuing nosebleed indicated that the first thing to hit the sole was her nose. Good thing we have carpeting in the cabin. After doing the ship’s doctor thing and discovering that nothing was broken (neck or back) she decided to go back to sleep. It remains to be seen if she will get the black eyes that sometimes accompanies such events. Scurv was big time concerned and kept his ears pinned down until Bear assured him that we were not under attack. Not a good way to start the day.
This is definitely the age of discovery for Scurv. He is starting to get calibrated as to his position in the animal kingdom. I am delaying telling him that the only place he is top dog is with the crew of Why Knot. Yesterday, for instance, he was patrolling his usual territory ashore and had his head buried in the tall clover. He did not see the large chocolate lab heading at flank speed our direction. When I noticed the perp, I had just enough time to yank Scurv off the ground and into my arms. Scurv did the spider man jump in fine style and let the perp know that sneak attacks are not in the rules. Once the owner of the perp called him back, Scurv mentioned a thing or two about his parentage and his manners. Mind you, he was still in my arms at the time.
The boating world seems somewhat asleep. I am not sure if it is still too early or the price of fuel is the reason. Diesel is $4.20 here and I am sure that keeps some boats tied up. The mariyna owner mentioned the other day that industry wide, the average occupancy is 40%. Three years ago, this marina had a sizeable waiting list. Today, slips are abundant. Motor vessels are going on the market at really discounted prices. Methinks there may be far fewer go fasters on the AIWW.
I will finish the toe rails today. That makes over five days spent stripping, sanding and refinishing. It tested my A.D.D. We really like the way the teak oil looks and it is very easy to apply. The finish is not shiny but the wood looks new. We are not sure how long it will remain so.
Gnats--- today was a hot day with no wind. I kept feeling small bites by the flying critters some of which could barely be seen. By the afternoon, all those bites were itching lick crazy and I counted a representative sample of my hide to learn I had over three hundred such itchy spots. Smart huh? Scurv really liked being topside until he inhaled a few hundred of those pests and then it seemed better to be below. By the way, I finished the 80 feet of toe today so we don’t have to sneak into port.
This afternoon, Bears snoz is looking better. We are sure now it is not broken.