Sep 28 - cold snap on the way

It was 73F this morning when I got up ... yikes ! winter is coming ! Today it's supposed to go up to 92F but by the end of the week, the high is only supposed to be 83F ... double yikes ! In contrast, of course, the high up north on Thursday is supposed to be 46F. The original forecast for that period had night-time temps going down to 28F but they're now predicted to be in the 40's.

It will be hot today on the water. I've been diddling and still have not hooked up the car ... soon.

We just caught a bird in the house. We have no idea when it came in, perhaps out of the garage which was open for quite a while yesterday. It seemed hurt when I caught it but after sitting on the barbie (no, it was not turned on) for a while it flew off and landed in a tree. That's good.

We have a large crab in the garage ... no, not one of us, the hard-shelled kind. I've been through this before and there are two possible outcomes: 1) it dies while we're away and stinks when we get back; 2) I poke at it with a broom handle and kill it and sweep out the remains. These things are large, can be six inches across on the hard shell, larger if you include the claws. I have not seen this one -- Sandy did -- just heard it scuttling around when I was at my work bench. They don't ever seem to leave on their own, don't know why -- perhaps because when they want to, in the dark, the door is closed ? Do we need a crabbie door like a doggie door ? There really isn't anything interesting for them in a garage.

Ok, ok ... enough for now ...

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We left here a little after 10 and weren't back until around 7pm. A long day on the water, without incident, we went first north and out on the ocean then to the island for Abby to run around then south, way south to Haulover canal and towards Titusville, stopping at another island for Abby and then back north and home.

There is a long, long stretch of manatee slow zone on the way south and had you asked either one of us how long it takes to traverse that section you'd have heard 1.5-2.0 hours ... but I timed it on the way home and it was only 45 minutes. We could easily do a one way trip to Sebastian in a day -- that's where Bev and Bruce live -- 100 miles south of here. Most of the time I cruise around 25 mph but even so I'm betting that it would be an 8 hour trip with some slow spots etc.

During that 45 minutes of slow zone on the way home Sandy drove and I used the fresh water system and a terry rag to completely wipe down all the stainless steel fittings. That will probably be the normal routine since a) we have fresh water on board and b) we will always have a stretch of slow zone before heading back. Being a slow zone there is little chance of a rogue wave from a big boat splashing salt water over everything. That will help minimize time at the Marina using their hose to cleanup.

We had packed a lunch and drinks, water and a treat for Abby, so there was no extended lunch stop. The hours clock on the motor is now at 11.5, if I remember correctly, so I'm well beyond the break-in period. I put oil and 20 gallons of gas into the gas tank at a gas station on US 1, dutifully adding my fuel stabilizer that compensates for the ethanol. We still have a little more than 1/4 tank left, which I will add to the next time out, diluting the residual gas/oil mixture. The motor runs very well now and should run better once there is less oil. I think that they change the plugs or at least check them, when I bring it in for the "10 hour" service later this week.

We are looking forward to doing some extended trips. North to Jacksonville is 100 miles, Hilton Head is another 150. South to Sebastian is 100 miles, Hobe Sound another 75, Key Largo is another 160 ... that might be a stretch ... perhaps a trip to the keys should be with the car towing the boat ? We will do that at some point.

Most of the time, however, our boating time will be around here. I'm going to try fishing. Quick trips will be easy once we have the boat at the Marina. Long trips have to be planned out since we will need a place to sleep. They are also expensive, gas-wise, at 4 mpg. If I exaggerate a little on the high side and think $4 per gallon for marina gas, that's $1 per mile. In fact that's not an exaggeration since 2-cycle oil costs us another 50 cents per gallon of gas. After this week our use of the boat won't be quite as frenzied !

It's time to get moving ... get dressed and out for my bike ride. It's still dark, but that will only be for a few more minutes. It's relatively cool, low 70's, but that won't last long since the temp is going to 89F. Sandy has a couple of appointments today.