Bud has been gone for a week now. I’ve spent about 52 hours alone with Adler and three dogs, including Fuzzy who is demented and takes 6 pills every day and needs to be taken out 3 to 5 times twice a day after his one pill. It’s been no picnic. On Saturday I went out by myself and shot nine holes of golf. I dawdled behind a threesome that were taking their time. I told them I didn’t want to play through because I took so many shots per hole. They were slow, but it gave me time to take a few shots of the golf course that I put in the gallery.

Gary did send me some pictures of Bud at the boat. This is Bud with his head and shoulders under the galley sink replacing the seacock (valve) to the seawater faucet. When you’re out where the ocean is clean you can use salt water for a lot of cleaning and save the fresh water in your tanks for more critical uses (like drinking). But neither our seacock nor our foot pump was working last season, so we had to use fresh water for everything. Bud is also rebuilding the toilet in the forward head (the 29 year old toilet needed a new shaft) and the hand pump to pump the forward holding tank overboard when you’re out at sea (there are almost no pump outs in the Bahamas). He’s also finished waxing the hull.

Bud said the boat is in good shape, generally, not suffering at all from the seven-and-a-half months of storage. He’s enjoying being back in Florida despite the work. He’s been staying with Gary and Karen because it’s been pretty cool there at night, but I think soon he’s going to spend at least some nights on the boat because Gary has to make a business trip for a few days. It has really improved Bud’s outlook to be back on the boat, and we are more determined than ever to get Earendil closer so we can get aboard on a regular basis. Although I am very jealous, and very tired, I’m still glad Bud made the trip.