Hi Campers:

Although we’re not cruising at this time, we’ll still check in and try to have a monthly report. Many of the other sailblogs just go silent for months at a time when they are off the boat, but we’ll at least give a monthly update during our time ashore.

Summer in Florida is the rainy season, either no wind or squalls with blinding rain, and for us it’s way too hot to spend any time at anchor away from the air conditioning. Last year in New England was awesome but this year is about the house and the refit of Blue Highway.

As you know, we’re trying to fix up the old family home and it is certainly a challenge. The big news this month is we blew out a wall! The wall between the kitchen and living room we cut out to make a pass thru bar. It’s amazing, and we’re very happy with the results. Can’t wait for our bar stools to arrive!

We’re also doing a lot of planting/landscaping as rainy season has really kicked in. We dropped in some very large traveler’s palms this week (look like banana plants). The hole to dig was 30-gallon size. In one hole we found the old cedar tree stump and root system and the other was some kind of concrete rubble with huge pieces to unearth. During the long digs Lynne was helpful in reminding me that for $30 per tree the place we bought them from would have planted them.

We also bought another surfboard, this one is a Stewart 9’4”, the biggest board we have ever had. A true long board and a nose rider at that. We bought it used on Craig’s list on the East coast. However, it is a nice piece of equipment for the Gulf coast too. We have had it out three times in the last three weeks (my hair is still wet as I write this). It can catch the tiniest of waves with the extra buoyancy and longer waterline. We even took it to Blue Highway just to see if it would fit somewhere if we wanted to take it cruising with us. And oh my, we found a spot over the settee where it can be hung. That’s awesome. Sometimes it’s nice to have a large boat to be able to bring the toys along. Anchored in the Bahamas waiting for weather but enjoying the surf that the high winds have brought us will be great. What’s that about making lemonade from lemons?

Keep living the Pura Vida. See you next month.

Russell and Lynne