Thursday 15 April 2021

Living on a boat is almost like being outside all year; lots of fresh air, but also too much sun. That big guy tosses off UV radiation like a golden retriever shaking off after a swim. Went to dermatologist the other day who cryo'ed some actinic keratosis spots, but indicated lower arms were a broader disaster area and needed a cream called fluorouracil, trade name Efudix. This stuff kills fast growing, damaged cells, precursors to cancer, leaves good cells alone and makes skin new again. Two weeks, twice a day and you're back to baby-like perfection... well, almost. So, it's been a week and a half and arms resemble a particularly bad case of mange. Almost two weeks past second covid shot, so infecting others probably not at issue, but one look and social distancing is not a problem. Had everyone smeared their faces with this stuff a year ago we could have nipped this virus thing in the bud.

Friday

Kicked off dock Wednesday, we anchored out for a couple nights and now on a Gulfport Mooring in Boca Ciega Bay, sight of last person to be killed by a shark on the west coast of Florida (Florida typically has a third of the world's shark attacks, which are caused mostly by blacktips, oddly, and concentrated on the middle east coast). Close enough to occasionally, but unreliably pick up town Wi-Fi. Floated by Salt Creek yesterday, home of Advanced Sails, to retrieve refurbished mainsail then, while wind was light this morning, hanked it on. Considering it's attached with a bolt rope that slides up a slot inside mast and not with hanks this is technically incorrect, but sounds delightfully nautical.

Preparing to go ashore to pick up car, left at owner's condo, and some mail. One parcel is an eBay ordered T-shirt showing a glass and the caption (*** Naughty word alert ***) "Wine, the Glue Holding this Shitshow Together". There were several on sale with "2020" placed after "this", but figured, for us, the notion was far more broadly appropriate.

Saturday

Unable to procure either Uber or Lyft transport on a Friday afternoon, we dined locally and expect to get out this morning. Since weather for next three days is turning to custard, need to get remote tasks accomplished today anticipating huddling aboard to remain dry until Wednesday.

This morning the obsessive media is all Prince Phillip, all the time. Apologies to those who are fans, but my knowledge and fascination with British royalty is quite thin. America, after all, fought a war to relieve ourselves of not just a particular despot, but monarchs of any type, benign or otherwise, to form a government based on enlightenment values. Having dismissed this British and whimsical American infatuation, however, my sentiment is that the Duke of Edinburgh was the most estimable. The world is a bit less interesting without his steadfastness and wit. RIP.

Jack & Jan