October 12, 2013: There's A Nip In The Air
“The
way I see it, you got two choices. You either gotta get busy
livin'...or busy dyin'.”
Frank Darabout
“Fun is about as good a habit as there is.”
Jimmy Buffett
There's A Nip In the Air:
There's a nip in the air and I'm
considering “long pants” for the first time since last November
(god forbid). Salty Turtle is provisioned, as readied as we can
make her, and straining at her lines as if to say “turn'em over,
run'em up, and lets's go”...go South (for swimsuit weather – have
I mentioned I don't like cold weather). We are ready, the boat is
ready, but it is not quite time yet. There is one more thing to do –
a wedding.
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| Solar Panels |
It has been a busy and expensive
summer. We have rebuilt the high pressure pumps and injectors on
both main engines...and the generator. Rebuilt the rams on the
stabilizers. Added 1000 watts of solar power and installed a battery
monitor. Although I'll admit having Shay Glass as a friend and
helper made this job less painful. The Turtle now sports a brand
new Force 10, 3 burner propane, cook stove with custom outside
cabinet to house the propane – it is a beaut, looks like it grew
there. The old electric stove will never ever ruin a meal of mine
again – actually considered selling it but didn't want anyone to go
thru what the beast did to our food... besides I got too much
pleasure out of throwing the bastard in the dumpster.
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| New Propane Storage |
Our annual haul out at Bock Marine
brought one surprise, as I took apart the second seacock to clean and
grease it fell apart in my hands – not good, as a matter-of-fact,
quite bad. A failed seacock under way could ruin your whole day..and
then some. With the help of Dale and Kenny at Bock Marine we
replaced every seacock below the water line...all 12. Don't ask how
much that cost. While I worked on the seacocks Gigi waxed the
topsides and made the Turtle all beautiful.
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| Madog..wet |
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| Madog..dry |
And of course, between projects and
doctors visits, we managed to see our grandchildren and their
parents (always good). The bad part of cruising is the lack of time
to visit our kids so the few visits we get are even more precious. I
can't wait to take Malo “Madog” Copelan, Noel's son, and Gigi's
“Triplets” snorkeling in the Bahamas or just for a splash on the
beach at Twin Cays. I can close my eyes and see them running that
curve of pure white sand, little naked “butts” shining in the
sun, splashing gin clear water everywhere, and looking for treasures
with their sponge like minds and bodies soaking up all that is above
and below the surface. It's a dream but man has to have his dreams
doesn't he?
By the end of next week Oconee will be
winterized and put to bed for her winter's sleep. Our last emotion
filled visits with friends will be behind us and we will be ready...almost, that is. My cousin, Chris Dunn's son Christopher is
to be married in Columbus, Ga on the 19th and we are
going. It looks like a great party with a mini-family reunion thrown
in for good measure. We will spend the night with my Cousin Stacy
Brannon and her husband Paul in Athen on the 20th and drag
them back with us to Morehead City where they will join the crew of
the Salty Turtle for the first leg of her trip South. We hope to
head out on or about October 23. I can't wait to be moving again.
Fairwinds and Rum Drinks,
Vic C.
