Well, we have not been able to return to the lake and sail due to many varying factors. First was work, second was a lack of assistance (a quick note, I have little to no support outside of my fiancee Amy and her parents and my father, who lives in San Diego. I asked my step daughter to go and was informed that due to one bad experience all sailing makes her sick. Weak!!) third, no time during the weekends due to my military service.

Even though we have received no time on the water, I have learned a thing or two recently. I have spent the better part of the last couple of days refinishing the wood on Barely Awake. Just one more side comment, "I HAVE ABOUT AS MUCH WOOD WORKING EXPERIENCE AS I DO BOAT EXPERIENCE, NONE!" That fact being clarified now, help is not far away. Help is actually just across the road at Karl's house. He quickly told me how to strip the wood, gave me the chemicals to clean the wood, and the Teak oil to seal the wood. Other sailboat owners are a novice's greatest source of information and help. From what i'm told teak restoration is a large part of owning a sailboat. From my blog readings Hello Texas' Nicki does a wonderful job according to her husband Richard and his praises. I may ask their advice in the future.

While I may have little support from my family, I would like to say thanks to Miss Amy and my father for their support. I want to thank Karl (again) for his willingness to educate me, and a special thanks to the members of Sailblogs.com that I follow (Hello Texas, and Novice to Navigators) who inspired me to follow an unusual dream.