Weeks have passed and I honestly don’t know where the time has gone! Pat and I both had a list of To Do’s with at least 40 items on his list and 20 on mine. It was mostly general maintenance, replacing parts and sewing projects. One item can take half a day. For instance, hoisting Pat up the mast to install tinsel to keep the swallows from crapping or dropping seeds all over our boat. They love sitting on the tallest mast in the marina and ours is the tallest by far. My sewing projects can take me one or two days depending on the repair or details involved in assembly. For those that know me well, I love sewing and a good challenge which puts me in my happy place. The chart plotter has been replaced which turned out to be a manufacturing defect that was acknowledged by the supplier. The plotter on the flybridge totally quit working two days out from our arrival into the marina. It was so frustrating! On another day, it was interesting to watch Pat squeeze himself into the generator compartment to change the impellers and oil and then try to get out after an hour or two. It sucks to be old!

Our friends, Bob and Melinda Curtis, joined us for 10 days as we cruised up and down the Florida coast. Originally, we were going to take them on an overnight passage but the winds and weather weren’t cooperating. Instead, we opted to check out recommended anchor spots and visit beautiful beaches as we charted a leisurely pace down the coast. Bob and Melinda are seriously considering whether to buy a boat and are taking their vacation time to learn additional sailing techniques, tips and tricks. Pat and I overloaded them with details, experiences (ie. servicing the water maker, emptying black water tanks, changing a float switch, tying knots, etc.) and recommendations. And as always, “what happens on the boat, stays on the boat”!
Now, our biggest worry is Hurricane Matthew as it quickly approaches Florida. We made it back to our “hurricane hole” at Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda, Florida on Sunday to begin preparations for the impending storm. The marina is located on the west coast of Florida just north of Fort Meyers, Florida. This is where we weathered the winds and water surge of Hurricane Hermine. As we watch the weather closely, it’s still a wild card as to where the hurricane will make landfall. We’ve tied extra lines, fenders and began stripping the boat of swag. The plan is to hunker down and secure the boat and hope you’ve done everything right. We’d already made plans to travel to Annapolis for the boat show through this next weekend. Our friend, Steve Whitbeck, is on duty to make the final preparations to the boat as the weather dictates. Pat and I have the utmost confidence that he will do everything needed for CH2 to weather the storm. For our friends and family that have reached out, thanks for checking in and asking about our welfare.

As we board a train headed north, I’m looking forward to taking a break from the boat and finding cooler weather. Don’t get me wrong, I love my boat, but it will be fun to gather replacement parts and miscellaneous gadgets to outfit the boat. We hope to return back to the boat this weekend and find no major damage or issues. Let’s say our prayers!!!