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Man it’s good to be home.

I never want to leave Splendid again. Josh stayed on splendid through gale/near gale conditions. I hear it was gusting to near 50 knots.

Well I’ve managed to get myself sick. I couldn’t sleep last night and got up with a soar throat. I’ve been slow today and haven’t got much accomplished. I did manage to jury-rig my propane system and made my first cup of tea and dinner with my stove. I’ve been using one of those little butane cookers but the fuel is really expensive. Tomorrow I need to get some new propane valves, lines, and a solenoid. My next project is the refrigeration. I’m hoping it just needs a charge. Has anyone ever used a Zeer pot (refrigeration without electricity)? You can do a Google search for them. I still need to find a CQR and autopilot, not to mention 100 other things but that’s where I’m starting. I also need a GPS that accepts Gamin Blue Charts. So many things so little time! Well I’m not stressing it. Fort Myers is cool and I should be able to get a bunch of things done here. I also want a wind generator & solar panels. My buddy Ned sent me a used radar (SL 72), thanks bro. I need to call Ray Marine and get a cable for it.  Money is going to run out soon and I really need to focus on the important things. My friend Steve is sending me a tig welder and I’m going to make my own mast steps and radar mount for the mizzen. Tools are the key this time. I need to be self sufficient. My buddy Scott is closing his shop and gave me a bunch of tools yesterday, I’m psyched! It’s so cool to have great friends. I believe in always helping the people below you. When I get new things or up grade things I always give my stuff to someone who needs it. I love second, third, and forth hand boat stuff, it’s got good karma.

I’ve been looking at charts for the past hour and trying to come up with a game plan for heading south. The problem with going south is making easting, as that is where the wind comes from. I’d like to try to make it as far east as Trinidad (Venezuela). It’s important for me to be below ten degrees by July (Hurricane season). I’m still holding on to Plan B which would be to go up the east coast for the summer and fall. Crossing the Atlantic is also an option, hell what isn’t, “Let come what may”. Life is grand!

I need to turn off my phone for a few days and work. I easily get distracted and really need to focus on a few projects. The rebuild kit came in for my diaphragm bilge pump, and I bought another one from a guy up at the city dock for 20 bucks. It needs a rebuild kit as well but they are good pumps. Having multiple ways of getting water off the boat is a good thing. I also need to put a valve in my pluming before the sea strainer (Raw water intake). I did it in Namaste as well. In a pinch I could use the motor to pump water out of the bilge. One needs to be careful with this sort of thing as you can damage your motor (over heating), but I like the extra option of getting water off of the boat.

I love my boat, It’s really nice having such a large crib!

“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”

– Kahil Gibran

Peace, Love, and Life!

– Alex