October 26, 2913 Grand Harbor

We spent the last several days either driving the ice "cream truck" van they lent us to various places or cleaning and working on the boat.

We did spend a half a day going to Rogers Propane to fill out grill propane tank and then on to two liquor stores and a grocery store before heading into Walmart.  But we purchased everything we needed.... or didn't need but we have them now.

$6.49 for a 5 gallon propane tank refill aint bad.

I changed the oil in both main engines and during one of our Van excursions stumbled upon a 1 inch swing check valve at Lowe's!  I can now replace the corroded one(s) we have on the bilge system.  To refresh your memory every time the bilge pumps water, the old check valves start up a staccato clanking until I let a little air in the system via a access screw.  Fun!

Course they only had one of them.  And it only took me 18 states to locate one.

Field Trip with Bob and Martha

Tonight we witnessed a boat name ceremony, a somber occasion where-in someone reads a bunch of  well worn phrases and we toast a few times and then break ranks for a party.  Somewhere in there, the previous boat name was spirituality banished and the new name was recorded  as its replacement.

The night before we were surprised to see Barefootn rolling the marina.  We spent a few wonderful hours with them remembering previous encounters (back in June/July).  Old friends equates to good times.

After we left Barefootn we stopped in briefly to see Pat and Chip and the rest of the boaters we were traveling with.  Another few hours of fun.

I was taking my late night stroll tonight and ran into the security guard who was waiting for a boat to arrive  at the marina.  He had no radio so I ran back and got one of our handhelds for him to use as a boat emerged from the dark heading in towards the marina.  Turns out it was a delivery skipper looking to stop for the night.

Ready to take off at 9 am tomorrow.  Yes we are all  wooses  waiting these last several days for the cold air to move east.  We're planning on anchoring somewhere in Bay Springs Lake before tackling the 5-6 locks the next day.