Believe it or not, we have left Steinhatchee! We've made it to Cedar Key, to the very spot we were nearly two years ago, when we crossed from here to Dog Island (near Carabelle) on the other side of the Big Bend.
In my last blog I gave bad information, though I have sources I can blame so I feel a little less dumb. The packing thing? Wrong. There's a cutlass (I have no idea how spell that, forgive any error) bearing before the part where the waterline enters the boat. I also got that off the internet, from some sailboat website. See, it's the dang sailboaters. It's all their fault. Anywho, the part where I told y'all what the packing did WAS correct, although there is quite a lot more packing than I'd realised. Also, the propeller doesn't turn on the shaft. The propeller is affixed TO the shaft, and the shaft itself turns. Which does make a lot more sense. And the coupling? I was completely wrong about that.
A coupling is a couple (surprise!) of flanges attached end to end by bolts, attached on one end of one flange to the shaft and on the other end of the other flange to the transmission, which is connected to the engine.
So, all cleared up, I hope. I'm sure my daddy will comment on this blog if I'm wrong. Haha. Anyways. Todays sail was really no problem, although it was a little rough. Actually, not rough, it was smooth swells all the way here, it was just that they were big swells. By some miracle, I didn't get seasick, and nobody but Aspen felt bad. Not great for Aspen, but I think it's mostly a good thing.
We had a gorgeous sunset tonight, and the stars here are just incredible. I can see easily double (or triple even) the number of stars I could see last night. I love the stars. I can actually point out a whole two constellations, too. Look at me go!
Happy new year, y'all. I hope the year brings great things to each and every one of you.
Love,
Annakah on Kama Hele.