March 26-April 2 2015 Marathon

We woke up rather late the next morning.   Rob called my phone around noon asking for me to come out and play on the reef.  But Mary answered and put the kibosh on any of those plans.  He took his 23 ft. Grady White out by himself before Sue was awake.  Missed a chance to go diving.  Darn!

So I made a quick fix to Mary’s bike, basically pretty much tapping new threads into the pedal cranks with the pedals.  They were purposely thread in at an angle which I hoped would be enough to keep them from falling off while I rode it to the bike shop.

Judy and Jeff

And it worked!  I was able to ride it to the bike repair store and got back in time to get Mary so we could walk to 7 Mile Grill where we met up with Jeff and Judy, old friends from our Loop journey.  We first met them in Alton, IL when they were docking their boat.  Jeff was driving and Judy, who has a very distinctive and loud voice, was telling him how many feet he had to the dock and what direction he should aim.
  

Jeff is legally blind and a Canadian.  He and Judy brought his boat from Ontario down this far on the Illinois river.  What a great couple!

Jeff and the Manatee

Anyway we ate and walked back to our boat where we loaded up the small dinghy with chairs, umbrellas and food bags.  Sombrero beach here we come!

But first we had to oogle the Manatee that was floating around our swim platform no doubt trying to score some fresh water.  Eventually it floated away in search of more generous benefactors.



We all got in the big dinghy and then rigged a tow line to the small dinghy and towed it with the big dinghy.  An inflatable barge!

Towing the small dinghy loaded with beach paraphernalia 

Sombrero Beach is one of only a few beaches around here.  The area where you can land a dinghy is off to one side and isolated from the beach by a coral spit of land.  So we keep the dinghy in this very mucky area with coral heads and walk everything 200 yards over to the beach.

The tides there can get dramatic, a few feet or more.  So Jeff pulled the small dinghy up on shore and I set two anchors for the big dinghy, well off the shore.  The bottom here is very mucky sand. 

Beach comforts

But the beach was wonderful.  Warm, calm and not too crowded.  So we hauled everything to nice spot and set up the chairs and umbrella and went swimming and relaxed for several hours,

"When we arrived we left a dinghy floating near shore...

I checked the dinghies after a few hours and of course the tide had run out and left the small dinghy 30 feet from the waterline.  I had anchored the big dinghy far enough off shore so it was at least still floating.

...When we left it was floating no more"

I just left them be.  We left a few hours after and had to wade out quite a ways to the dinghy.   We tethered the small dinghy to the big one, and after everyone was aboard I pushed the big dinghy out to deeper water where I could start the engine and off we went.  Quite a site I’m sure with a small dinghy, loaded with chairs and bags being towed by this very full big dinghy.  We did receive a few comments on how “cute” it was.

Once were back on board we were visited by two girls strolling the docks, one named Tracy, who were surprised by us being from WI.   She wanted to talk about living on a boat because her husband wanted to do it.  I invited them over for cocktails after we put all the gear away but they never showed up.

We all did have a few drinks and then Dave and Joanne showed up for a little while to meet Jeff and Judy.  After an hour or so they headed back to their condo and Jeff and Judy got a cab back to Key Colony where their boat is docked.  And we went to bed!

This morning I got up late … 9AM. 

Spent some time on the computers doing a few updates and started compiling a shopping list for the Bahamas.  We literally have to take everything since we plan on being there for close to 2 months.  Everyday items like TP and milk aren’t readily available.  Most of the islands rely on the weekly supply boats which, when they arrive, are besieged by crowds hoping to snag a particular food or hardware item.  Should be fun!

I was deliberately staying on the boat to try and rest my knee but I can't sit for too long.  So I took my bike to the stores.  I was looking for something to counteract ethanol.  I had purchased a gallon of what I thought was ethanol free gas (premium 93 octane here). But the bill was lower than I thought and the pump had no clear indication of what I was purchasing.  And no receipt either.  It wasn't working.

Not wanting to endanger that little 2.5 Nissan motor with ethanol laden fuel (the stuff eats up older engine fuel fittings) I was looking for a countering additive.  And found something reasonable at Home Depot.

After that successful purchase I continued on to Publix but couldn't find LaCroix Seltzer water!  They were out.  Its what I mix with rum.  This could lead to a dry few days.

I did get a few items and on the way back and met Dave and Joanne biking to Sombrero Beach.

When I got back to the marina Bob and Carole had stopped by.  We spent a little time chatting and then headed over to the pool.  The girls went swimming while Bob and I sat at the bar and went over Bahamas charts.  We ended up eating some appetizers there before going back to the pool for awhile.

They wanted to leave soon after since they had decided to leave for Marco Island in the morning which prompted the quick visit.  But they are anchoring out side the harbor tomorrow afternoon and then actually leaving for Marco the following morning.  Early, like before sunrise.  So we’ll dinghy out there and see them off the night before.  

And I'm meeting Carole at the Wells Fargo ATM near the Publix tomorrow morning.  She can withdraw money for free.  We cant.  So at 10:30 I’ll give her a check and she'll give me lots of cash.  We're building up or cash store for the Bahamas since they seem to prefer that to credit cards.

Meanwhile tonight I fixed the low level lighting on the fly bridge and contemplated how to manage the acid wash for the water maker.  Then all I have to do is change the engine oil and get together the gang of boats we are traveling to the Bahamas with,  for a planning meeting.

Gang?  Planning meeting? Yes indeed.  There are several people who want to go over to the islands about the same time we were anticipating on leaving.  So we'll see how that will work out since only 2 couples have been over there on their own boats.

 But my first peek at the weather for the first week in April wasn’t real encouraging.  And Mary won't stay here at this fine resort marina with the pool and restaurant much longer.  Too expensive.   Guess we may have to go anchor in the harbor and return to spartan living.

Today we do boat work.  Phone calls, research engine oil, water maker ….  But we never got to that.  Curt and Marilyn returning from the Dry Tortugas, were heading right to Burdines (best burgers in Marathon) and hailed us on my phone has they passed bye, not 100 yards away.   "Join us", was the order.  So we did and so did Jeff and Judy.

(l-r) Mary,Judy,Jeff,George,Curt and Marilyn.

We are all heading over to the Bahamas together next month so this turned into planning session of sorts.  Well, all we agreed on was to head for Bimini to check into the country and then head across the Bahama Banks to the Berry Islands before going further south into the Exumas and ultimately ending up in Georgetown.

After lunch they sailed back up to Key Colony while returned to our boat and lazed around until bed.  No boat work again today.

I usually walk the docks and find on occasion, some form of entertainment or surprise.  Like this wayward iguana.

This guy wasn't on our dinghy thank goodness!

The next morning, Carole had texted me early  (7:30AM) to say she already had the cash and to meet at their boat.  Like I saw that.   Bob woke me up around 8:45AM with a phone call to tell me the same thing.  So when I went to the store I just stopped at our usual shopping destinations, Publix and Home Depot and didn't ride over to Sombrero Beach marina where they were staying.

In the meantime Bob and Carole decided to get a mooring ball instead of bouncing around in the  anchorage outside of the harbor.  So later in the afternoon I dinghied over to their boat in the mooring field.

They didn't want to get their dinghy down for only a single trip so we all piled in with me and I brought them into the Marina office so they could pay for the mooring ball and get some ice.  I took them back to their boat where we did the cash exchange (check to them, cash to us) and enjoyed a cocktail for awhile before I headed back to our boat.  Somehow it had become 5PM.

The Choy Lee behind us owned by the guy whose name I cant recall

Mary and I had to arrange the dinghies to combat the stiff west winds and then enlisted the aid of the two guys next to us to push our boat off the dock far enough to squeeze another fender alongside.  I (forgot his name already!) had a little tour of his boat, a 61 foot Choy Lee LRC long range cruisers.  Wow!  Sweet boat!

Its supposed to rain tonight and the temps seem to be cooling off a bit.  The weather is turning to the not-so-nice side and its looking like the first of the month we won't be able to cross over to the islands.  The general rule is, if there is a northerly component to the winds, you don’t cross.  So we may be sitting round here for a few days into April.

One thing I did get done was our taxes.  Just have to file them now.

Well it did rain last night.  Buckets.  But preceding the rain was lots of wind so we rocked pretty much all night.  Our bow is facing east and these were west winds so we were treated to a calliphony  of wave slaps and assorted other sounds as the dinghies rocked back and forth.

Next morning everything was nice and clean from the rain.  Bob and Carole, anticipating on leaving very early had to wait until after 9AM before heading out.  I was up but still missed them when they left the harbor.

We cleaned up the boat for a bit before meeting Dave and Darlene at Lazy Days for lunch.  They had driven down from Islamorada to see us before the headed back up to Wisconsin.  Wonderful time.  They came back to the boat where we spent another few hours before they had to leave.  And while we were there with them, a new neighbor pulled in on a Selene 55. 

I made arrangement with Wade, the local diver to get our prop back on and clean the bottom.  We are leaving here on the first of April.  Staying would cost us another $600 for a week.  So its back to the anchorage for us until we have a weather window for the crossing over to the Bahamas.

Later, Dave and Joanne stopped by for some post sunset cocktails.  They had graciously agreed to drive us to Key West tomorrow.

They soon left and we went off bed since we have to be in  Key West tomorrow by 1 PM for our Border Patrol interview.  It means we have to leave around 9:30AM.

The Border Patrol interview is part of the application process for SVRS which allows us to simply call a phone number when we re-enter the country from the Bahamas.  We could still be subject to a boat inspection but its unlikely.  Vessels that are not involved in the program have to endure an interview each time they return to the country.  We figured we would be going back and forth between the Bahamas so it made sense for us to sign up for the SVRS.

This morning the Border Patrol lady, Lue, called me at 8AM saying that our interview appointment which was scheduled for 1:15 at the downtown Key West office, needed to be re-scheduled for the same time but at their airport location.  I sleepily said sure, told Mary who grunted a sleepy acknowledgement before we both fell back asleep. 

Luckily I woke up around 9AM and Mary let Dave and Joanne know of the switch, and then she called Lue back to verify the time and location.  Guess she didn't trust my recollection of the phone call.  I had intended to walk over to the bike shop to pick up Mary’s bike before we left, but there just wasn't time.   Especially since "walking" for me is more like limping.  In other words I am not speedy.

We gathered our passports and boat documentation, combed our hair so we’d look less beach bummy and more yachtie, and climbed into Dave and Joanne's car.  Dave drove us out of the marina and off down US 1 towards Key West.

Inside the anteroom.  Moments later Lue popped through the door.

We arrived at the airport about an hour and half later.  They dropped us off at the Immigration office where we stood in front of a locked door wondering how the heck we were supposed to enter.  We were saved by two border patrol guys hauling several stacks of sandwiches who keyed the door code.  We held the doors and they walked in directing us to have a seat in the anteroom. 

A minute or so later Lue popped out of the door and asked to see our passports.  She compared the picture to us except I was told (ordered) to remove my newly acquired Crocodile Dundee hat before she let us in.

The interview consisted of their complaints about how slow the computer was running.  And it was slow!   It took us 30 minutes, most of which was waiting for whatever software they run to accept the data she was entering.  In the background was a oddly familiar Dell server rack with several oddly familiar Dell servers running.   Gosh, I wonder where I've seen those before? :-)

We were finger printed digitally.  All 10 fingers individually and then four fingers together from each hand.  Then a quick photograph and we were handed our SVRS cards and ushered out the door.  The only glitch was when I was told (ordered) by Lue not to observe their computer screen because they don’t want to share the software with just anyone.  One must temper ones curiosity when in government offices where they all wear belts with guns.

Dave and Joanne coming to get us

We met up again with Dave and Joanne who plucked us off the street which ran along the ocean and we headed into Key West.   Dave took us on a route we had never taken before.  Very interesting!  We ended up trying a parking lot but the $30 per day soured that idea.  So I, having learned of this other parking lot where the going rate was trifling $20 per day, suggested we go there. 

We entered that parking lot and after we parked the rather surely attendant announced it was $20 for the first two hours and $20 for the rest of the day.  When I pointed out I only paid $20 for the whole day a few weeks ago we replied, “busy day”.  

We all were taken back as his voiced echoed across the 40 empty stalls.  Someone else asked the same question and received the same answer.  “Busy day”. 

It was one of those, what-the-hell moments but what the hell.  We paid him $20 while Dave was scheming to find another parking spot.

Hogs Breath

We headed over to Hogs Breath for a little lunch and some drinks, bought a few shirts and then headed down Duval street  where Dave parted ways with us to deal with the parking situation.  Joanne, Mary and I kept walking down Duval Street where we, ah,  bought a few more shirts and had a few more drinks.

Dave joined back up with us as we headed into Fogartys for Pina Coladas.  The Coladas were, we found out too late, of the slushy kind whereby they premix this sugary ice slush concoction in a large dispensing machine and then use that to fill a glass and then add some rum.  Instant Pina Colada.

Yuk.  Well, not all that yukky since I did drink it, but to be honest I rarely drink them at all.  They're way too sugary.  But the ones I have had were lovingly crafted by a pretty mixologist from raw ingredients and served in a chilled glass with some assortment of fruit.  These were in a plastic cup with a suspicious cherry laying on top.

From Fogartys, Dave headed back to the car to bring it closer to Mallory Square where we were headed.  And so once again we walked down Duval street and, again, bought a few more shirts or bags or something and ended up at Mallory Square where Mary and Joanne perused the trinkets while I strolled along the waterfront.

I should mention I wasn't really strolling, but hobbling with this bum knee.  It was interesting.  People made big efforts to move out of my way seeing that I was limping, even though I was wearing my "pimp hat" (Mary's term) and looked mildly seedy according to a certain person.

 Dave too, was injured.  He hurt his back picking up a scrap of paper in their condo the day before and was walking crooked.  He and I creaking down Duval street must have been quite a site.  Might explain why Mary and Joanne were always walking a safe distance behind us.  

The bar at El Meson overlooks Mallory Square

I joined up with Mary and Joanne near the trinket sellers and since it was so hot in the sun, we headed for another bar near the waterfront,  El Meson de Pepe.  Dave joined us a bit later having found a parking spot on the street.  A free parking spot!

A two person band started playing Latin music, the guitar player being very good.  A rather drunk guy started dancing and he was great.  His tall friend though, was so drunk his dancing moves were more like staggering than dancing.  We talked with them briefly but I couldn't understand a word of what he was saying.  Broken english combined with drunken slur made it impossible to discern anything.  So I smiled and chuckled and asked a few question and it was all fine.

Catman talking with some of his legion of fans

As Dave and I got up to leave the bar bouncers were escorting the tall friend off the premises.  We headed over to watch Catman do his thing again.  Strange fellow but he sure draws the crowds.

As we were making our out after the sunset we came across another street performer who had this pot bellied pig which did tricks of a sort. 

Pot bellied pig, star of the show

I ended up talking with his wife for a bit.  He was an economics guy and she was a nurse before they decided street performing was more fun.  The acquired the pig from a friend who couldn’t keep it any longer and an act was born.  We didn't see much of the show but the pig was defiantly star material.

On his stand receiving accolades.  And soon, treats

We  made it to the car and drove to Blue Heaven, a nice little restaurant.  Dave let us off and Joanne, Mary and I got out to secure a table while Dave parked. 

At 5 Guys.  Joanne, Dave and Mary

Wait time 1 hour.  Maybe more.  We left and just started heading back to Marathon but I spotted a 5 Guys and we stopped there and wolfed down burgers.  Then it was back in the car for the long drive back to Marathon. 

We parked and said good night and we all pretty much headed to bed.

This morning Wade the diver showed up around 8:30.  He wanted to get the prop back on and clean the bottom today because the weather is supposed to deteriorate tomorrow.  But I didn't have a chance to purchase a new stainless cotter pin for the prop which he wanted to use instead of re-using the original pin.  So while I scrambled off to the store he went and cleaned the hull of another boat. 

I  ended up stopping at West Marine.  Nothing.  Home Depot further down the road.  Nothing again.  So my last hope was Specialty hardware which is several miles down the road past the airport.  And that’s where I found success.  I bought 4 of the darn things.  10 mile bike ride for 4 lousy cotter pins.

Wade was still working on that other boat when I returned, so I left everything out for Mary to hand him while I shuffled my way back out to the highway and down to the bike store to pick up Mary’s bike.  All fixed up and rides just fine!

My intention was change the oil in both main engines today but I was only able to run the port side engine when Wade showed back up.  So I changed the oil and waited for Wade to finish.  Its not a good thing to run an engine while there’s a diver scrubbing the bottom.

Changing engine oil

Wade finally completed cleaning the bottom and replacing the portside prop around 4PM.  I ran the starboard engine for about 10 minutes to get it nice and warm before shutting it down and changing the oil.  I now have 8 gallons of used oil.

Also ran the small dinghy around for awhile to get the fuel stabilizer run thru the carb since there is still some fuel in the motors internal tank.

We then brought it up on the dock after taking the engine off and I washed it to clear off the accumulated slime and barnacles.  That took awhile too and by the time I finished it was sunset, and then dinner.

Really had to scrub to get those barnacules off

Up this morning and off I went to West marine to buy an oil extraction pump.   It's beginning to occur to me that we go shopping almost every day.  Not quite sure where this tendency originated.  But the merchants now know me by name.  I'm afraid we may get invited to ones graduation party which makes me think we're probably responsible in part for paying the kids college expenses.

Well anyway I bought the pump.  It's basically its a big cylinder which you pump I up a bit to create a vacuum and then stick a tube down the oil dipstick hole and suck the engine oil out using the built up vacuum of the pump. 
This is for the outboard on our dinghy.  It’s a 40 hp 4 cycle engine and the oil needs to be changed regularly.  The normal drain plug is on the outside of the engine and from all reports is very messy and not something to do on the water.  So now we own an oil extraction pump.

Wonder what else we're going to own by the end of the week?  Well ....

The Dive Shop.  Inside is where all the neat stuff is located

After I returned we went off to the dive shop to buy a hookah, or more commonly called Snuba.  It's basically an air tank or compressor with a regulator attached to air lines which lead to a scuba a mouthpiece/regulator.  It's like scuba diving except you really don't need to have a BC nor is there a tank strapped to your back.

For our setup, we have two air tanks, a spare and the one in use.  We  two 50 foot hoses connected to the high pressure air tanks through a primary regulator.  The air hoses lead to a secondary regulator attached to a mouthpiece which you breath from.  It’s really like diving except your tethered to a 50 foot line.   It will be really helpful diving under the boat so we can scrape off the growths.  And for diving and poking around reefs.  We’re also limited to the length of line so wont be diving much beyond 30-40 feet.

Our Hookah.  2 tanks, regulators and air hose.  And weights

The air tank will float on the surface using a couple of life vests wrapped around it.  Simple!

I should mentioned that we biked there.  Mary’s bike, now fully fictional and mine also fully functional, affords us mobility.  Almost like a car!  We did not however, bring all that gear back on the bikes.  Way too heavy.

The air tanks will serve as scuba tanks too when we get to that stage.  We’ve dove often enough before but always with rented equipment.  Now we're accumulating out own.  The downside though is where to store it all.

The kind owner of the dive shop said he'd deliver everything to the marina and we settled on 3:30 as a suitable time.  After we left there we went to the post office to mail a bunch of packages and then hit Publix for some cocktail food stuff since we are having a party tonight.

Once back on board I wandered over to the boatyard with the used oil and stopped by Rob's for awhile.  The dive shop called and I grabbed a cart and met them outside the marina gate where we talked about the connections and care of the equipment.  Then I got to lug it all back to boat where we struggled to find a place to store it all.  Why do we always bring stuff aboard and never take anything off?

Rob and Sue came bye for drinks followed by Dave and Joanne.  Wonderful time as always but a really strong thunderstorm descended on us so everyone sprinted off to their own places of refuge.  All my Hors d'oeuvres were almost gone so I guess they considered them eatable,  And Yes, I did it all.

Call me a chef?  Ahh, maybe not.

We never did get to the water maker maintenance so that’s tomorrow.  I hope.  We only have a few days left before we leave the marina and head across the Gulf Stream to the islands.  Can't wait!

This morning after I took a good look at what was required to acid wash the water maker membranes I had to make another trip on the bike to Home Depot for more Muriatic acid. 2 gallons.  Aqua Marine says use 5 gallons, but I only have a 3 gallon tub to use so its going to be 3 gallons.

Stubborn Amphibian

On the way though I was halted by another iguana who parked himself right on the sidewalk and wouldn't budge.

When I returned we moved the mattress of the bed frame where the water maker components lie and I tried to make sense of the plumbing.  I was pretty sure I had it figured out but making an error could ruin three membrane and that would cost us a small fortune.  So I emailed Alan, the former owner who called a short while later and we discussed it. 

Most of what I thought was right but it was good to hear confirmation.  By then it was too late to really begin that whole acid wash work so instead I did something else.

Fridge almost out.  

Clean out the refrigerator cooling coils.  That meant pulling the fridge out of its tight little cubby hole.  It's very tightly fitted which keeps it from shifting in an seaway.  I coxed it out and found the cooling fins almost covered entirely with dust balls.   The little vac took care of that and I had it all back together a few minute after that.  

After I fiddled with the navigation system, testing it to be sure it would allow a route sent to, and executed by, the auto pilot.  The idea is to have the auto pilot run the route across the gulf stream.  It can handle the steering and course changes related to the swift 2-3 knots, of current out there.  The 60 some mile trip with that can of current can push a boat many miles off to the north.  But the autopilot can make corrections to nullify the Gulf Stream current effects.

A quite night.  No parties, no friends dropping by.  Just a quiet night after a storm.  Tomorrow though, is shopping day where we stock up for the Bahamas.   

The happiest shopper you'll ever see

We intended on getting an early start which is why Dave and Joanne were a little surprised when I popped up to their condo to borrow their car.  We got all squared away and then hit the road.  Walgreens, K-Mart (no Wal-Mart within 40 miles) and finally Publix where we managed to fill up a cart and still have to go back for a few other items.  It was a little exhausting but Dave helped us get all the stuff aboard. 

Putting it away was another matter.  That took us almost 2 hours.

Packed freezer

I hadn’t defrosted the chest freezer earlier so had to get that done before we loaded up another few hundred pounds of food.   That took only 20 minutes, interrupted by several phone calls from our credit union trying to verify a rash of recent purchase including the hookah system and almost $500 in groceries at Publix.  I finally got all that squared away and loaded up the freezer and then tackled the water maker.

Acid washing the water maker membranes is rather easy.  Its just replacing two hoses with other hoses that run into a bucket of acid.  There is a small 12VDC pump which circulates the acid in the membranes.  After a few hour you run the water maker to flush the system and eventually increase pressure to the point where you begin making water.  Simple.

Not for me though.  Being a wise old coot, I began with a bucket of water from our Tanks.  Can't use chlorinated water.  It damages the membranes.  I plugged in the pump and nothing.  Ok, electrical problem.  I cleaned off the terminals and plugged it in and it started running. 

After several minutes the water level hadn’t gone down.  Pump problem I assumed.  So I disconnected all the hoses and pulled the pump out and took it apart.  Crud was all inside the impeller housing.  Vinegar cured that.  After a testing it an finding it was pumping lots of water I re-installed it all and fired it up again.

Acid wash setup all ready

Lots of leaks at the fittings.  The fittings are Shark fittings with Pex tubing.  It was all so old and not used it leaked.  Ok.  Easy to replace.  So off to Home Depot on the bike where a helpful guy found most of the fittings I needed except for one which we managed to get around by using  a straight coupling.  Not so sure that is going to work though.

Rode back and re-installed everything.  Fired up the pump and watched all the fitting leak.  Such fun.   Doing some tightening  eliminated most except for that threaded coupling fitting which, after I pulled it off, turned out to be cross threaded.  I must have done that.  It’s a plastic coupling on a cooper pipe.  Home Depot anyone?

By now its going on 5PM and the tide is going out.  We always try to make water on a rising tide because its bringing in fresh seawater. So, tomorrow morning I ride out to Specialty hardware to get a new fitting, and then hopefully I can get the acid circulating for awhile before we have to travel out to Key Colony for a “Bahamas travel meeting”.  Read party. But we’ll discuss the Bahamas for awhile.

Meanwhile Dave popped over and I went over to the pool to meet him.  Always good conversation.  Came back after sunset, now around 7:30, and grilled steaks before hunkering down for some computer work and reviewing shopping and to-do lists.  Ain't all this exciting?

    

I rode out to Specialty hardware this morning to try and find some suitable fittings to replace the leaky ones.  They didn't have the exact fitting but we cobbled something together more suitable than the hardware guy at Home Depot suggested. 

After that I stopped at Dollar Tree and bought 16 pairs of reading glasses so I wouldn't run out.  I loose a pair a week usually by watching them fall off my shirt into the water.  I’m prepared for the Bahamas which will see a fair amount of them over the next several months.

When I returned Mary was doing laundry so I moved the mattress off the bed frame again to gain access to the water maker membranes and the circ pump.  I disassembled the existing hoses and fittings and replaced them with the ones I purchased at Specialty Hardware.   Tested it again and no leaks!  So were good to go for an acid wash.  Except it was too late in the day because we had to meet our fellow Bahamas travelers for a planning meeting.    

Before we left  I was at least able to straighten out a computer glitch with Bahamas charts.  That was resolved after about an hour on the phone.  So now we have electronic Bahamas charts.

Curt and Marilyn picked us up and we headed up to Key Colony where everyone is staying.  We spent about 2 hours covering Bahamas travel and worked out a plan to leave here the following week for Rodriguez key where we’d anchor waiting for a weather window.  We kept to our original plan cited earlier except to include either Georgetown and/or Eleuthera.  And we also noted again to stop in Nassau for fuel before heading further south.  Much cheaper there.  Of course cheap is relative.  

After the planning session we stopped by Jeff and Judy’s boat for a happy hour but before we were to far into that we headed over to Saul’s boat to help him troubleshoot a diesel problem. 

We didn't solve it before we had to leave for dinner at Hideaway Cafe with Dave and Joanne.  We had, as usual, a great time!  Its our last big blowout night before they head off to New York and we leave the marina for the mooring field to wait for the Bahamas crossing window.

We didn't arrive back at the boat until 10PM.  It was straight to bed.  Tomorrow is our last day at the marina so lots to be done.  But we are going to eat lunch at Burdines and then hit the pool one last time before we leave Wednesday.