November 3, 2003

Well, we arrived in Green Cove Springs in time for the Halloween party! We always seem to find a party happening here.

The boat was moved from the storage area to the work yard in the afternoon. We had been dismayed to find a lot of mildew below decks. It had been a very rainy summer and early fall, and there was some standing water in the bilges.

The jobs started right away, so that we could sleep aboard that night. I diluted some bleach and got right at wiping down every surface. All the lockers will have to be emptied and wiped down as well.

Murray was trouble-shooting the electrical system. Many boats had been struck with lightning during a violent thunderstorm and we worried that we had also been affected. But, after some testing, Murray found that just our inverter/battery charger does not function. Everything else seems ok.

So, the boat is tore up inside with big tubs of gear everywhere. The electrical panel is open and hanging over the nav station. We are sleeping and eating aboard though, and working through these challenges.

Now, the biggest problem of “life on the hard” – everything you need is down ( if you are up) or up ( if you are down ). It sure is good for strengthening this knee of mine. And, the bathroom is down and a block away! So, we will work hard and get into the water as fast as we can.

Eureka! Murray thinks that the inverter is working. That will save time and money, if we don’t have to get that repaired or replaced.

I should say that the temperatures hare now are mid 80’s ( 30 C ) daytime and cool for sleeping at night. Lots of sunshine, except today it is raining. So, we do have a few advantages even though we are living in a mess.

Stay in touch as we love to hear from you.

Hugs to all, Heather & Murray