Well it's been a pretty busy couple months with parents and my lovely daughter visiting. We've done and seen some great things and its been a bit of a whirlwind. When we arrived here in New Zealand it seemed like we'd be here for an eternity compared to everywhere else we've visited. Six whole months! But - as we all know, 6-months goes by in the real world in a blink of an eye. Perhaps being here has been a lot more akin to real life. Though we've been on vacation per say, we have a car and we go to the grocery store and even work some... we are more busy I guess which is what we all do in real life. Saturday we dropped off my parents and my sweet daughter Piper off at the airport after a nice 3-week visit. But it was one that went too fast and the boat is quiet again. It's nice in ways, but I miss family and especially Piper who really didn't want to leave. That to me was important, but she had to go back to school and mom. She's eleven now and still loves hanging out with dad. She is precious to me and I know my days with her are numbered. My sweet angel.
As I usually do when I'm torn with a dilemma I can't do anything about, I began yesterday to channel my energy into the list of waiting boat projects. Got the compass rebuilt, and today lolo helped me to replace all the chain plate bolts, a project that has been looming over my head since we replaced all the standing rigging last May. It was the weak link (at least in my mind) and there were many a night I lay in fear not knowing just how bad they might be corroded after 28 years. If they failed, we would lose the rig. Now I know for sure they are good and we only had to replace one. They are all re-bedded and the rig is mostly back in tune again. Now we can start looking at normal maint projects. Lolo has been great about getting and comparing costs for boat yards and we'll pick one to do our bottom paint and rudder bearings. By May we'll be able to head to Fiji and beyond.
There is a new chill in the air here. It's nothing compared to Alaska fall, but I know it just the same. Time to get busy as we know to do.
Lolo and I are starting to miss home a bit. Been catching up with old mates and listening to "60-Watt Ave" by the Whipsaws - which sounds like home to me. That is about the best compliment I can think of if your music sounds like home. :)