Threatening thunderstorms with hot and humid weather continued Saturday & Sunday making tasks such as refueling and grocery shopping sweaty affairs. We each snuck a freshwater shower while we refueled Juno (25 gallons at $6/ gallon) at the Comachee Marina. The showers helped cool us down for a short while. Grocery shopping was a special treat at a Publix as we were thrilled to have such a large choice of fresh produce after living without so much variety since arriving in the Bahamas. The air conditioning was also very much appreciated as the humidity outside felt like it was 99%.
Sunday afternoon, we received word that a mooring was available at the city marina so we hustled to pick one up and while ashore, threw in a few loads of laundry before heading out to Catch 27 for dinner. When we returned to the marina, the laundry room with our bed sheets was locked since it was after nine pm. Fortunately we got hold of a security guard who unlocked the door so we could retrieve our sheets and laundry.
Monday and Tuesday each began around 6:00 am when the nearby drawbridge announced over loud speakers to announce it was about to open. With a major city on our doorstep, we took advantage of the access it offered to many resources. Harry set off ¾ of a mile on foot to the Ace Hardware to refill one of our propane tanks and returned via Uber with a few bagels, the propane, and white wine for Sarah. He also tracked down a transmission fluid dipstick to replace ours which had broken. Harry then set about repairing the failing rivets in our boom vang that he noticed on our passage from the Bahamas. After consultation and some parts from Jan Brandt, another 423 owner in St. Augustine, and additional consultation with cruising acquaintances and professional riggers Suzanne and Dobbs of Walden rigging, Harry decided on the replacing the rivets which meant a trip to Harbor Freight to purchase a riveting tool. We are definitely spoiled in the US.
With the right tool, Harry completed the vang repairs in time to invite Heidi and Christian from s/v Aurora for cocktails. We enjoyed getting to know them as they were from Boston, were Great Loopers (refers to transiting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and back to New England), and they had anchored with us our last day at Double Breasted Cay in the Bahamas. During our conversation they told us of the water spouts that we narrowly missed by leaving the Bahamas a day ahead of them.
 |
| Food, glorious food - and air conditioning! |
No comments:
Post a Comment