headless update

well work continues while I am staying here at Jim's should be heading for the keys in two weeks the weather is warming up and so is my blood pressure. I spent all day Sunday with shit. The clog is some were about 10 feet down the hose and it looks like I will have to remove the hose what a job that will be o well has to be done. on a brighter side the port side on the boat is finished. Have attached picture of the new paint job.

will back to the head

Headless

Well as most have read in past entries I do not have much luck with marine heads and this week was no different.
Unfortunately the only way you find out the toilet is not working is after you use it. Well the forward head stopped  working this week. So it begins. With one more usage the aft. head clogged as well. Now we are a boat without a operating head. Well I started with the forward head having to remove the motor and pump, the motor was not working. I had to order a new one it will not be in for two day. While waiting for the new motor Jim and I disassemble the old one and spend several hours working on it. Finally getting it working I quickly ran back to the boat to reinstall before cancelling the new one. And it worked first head back in operation. Despite two days of plunging I could not get the aft head unclogged so out it comes. In the back of the truck to Jim's again he thinks its repairable so I will have to advise you on Monday after a visit to a local welder.Well that was not the end of it after cleaning all the shit etc from both heads the back bilge pump failed and had to be removed up to my elbows again in you no what. some days life can not be fun on the water.

bush gardens

having a great time with Jacob, we visited Bush Gardens and spent the day there. the weather here has been cold in the 60's  better then home.

HITCHCOCK THE BIRDS

Will back in Florida, so far the weather has been cold 60f still better then home but not warm enough for me.
Jim, Blair and I moved the boat to its new home. Still in south gulf cove but in sail boat country. {no bridges} I have been working on the boat, and started sanding the house tomorrow.
Jacob {my son} arrives on the 18th for ten days so we should be moving and exploring.
Well what a mess on the boat today. I woke up to tons of bird shit red berry's all over the boat. It took me 2 hours to clean it up, and then while i was in the shower I heard all this noise on the deck I ran out forgetting to grab a towel and there it was Hitchcock film the BIRDS thousand's of crows sitting and shitting on the boat again.  Good thing that there was no one around. So i had to start cleaning all over again. let me tell you RED berry's on the deck takes a lot of scrubbing. sorry no pictures of me without towel.

Yuck Weather

Its been a week since returning to NS, and I have not seen the sun for nearly a week, it was out today, about 1/2, and now its gloomy again.
Oh how I yearn for that warmth

26 Nov-last update until Jan 2011.home for Christmas.

26 Nov 2010, woke up to rain and some wind, we will to check the boat, there is no tide here, a little current, and that’s about it.

We found out last night that the nearest Int airport is Fort Myers, some 11/2 hr away by car, that sucks, and I can’t get any wireless internet, which also sucks, can’t make flight arrangement, we will have to do it at Jim’s place.

24 and 25 Nov

24 Nov 2010, 0700 depart Moore Haven, went through the locks and now into the Caloosahatchee River, ya I know I can’t pronoun it either.

Travelled past Fort Myers, as it would have been 60 miles from Fort Myers to Jim’s place, and we would not have made it for Thanksgiving dinner, didn’t want to miss that.

We tossed the anchor near a Tarpon Point Marina/Resort. There was quite a large cove just past the marina, and it had great holding, now that puts us only 44 miles to Jims place.

25 Nov 2010, 0700 pulled anchor and heading for Punta Gorda, and into the Gulf Coast intercoastal. As previously  planned we arrived a marker R76, made a right 90 degree turn bearing 72 degrees to the green5, where Jim will meet us and take us to our final destination. Scott was talking with Jim via the phone so all is set.

1100 hrs arrived at G5, no Jim, another call he is on his way. So we wait in Charlotte Hbr, not knowing in which direction to take.

About ½ later Jim and his neighbour arrived in a very fast boat, does 40  MPH, and after some brief  conversation we head out. We are travelling almost N up Charlotte Hbr., which is 20 miles in length. We do not make for Punta Gorda, on the Peace River, but we bear left and head towards Grove City(Myakka River), we have to go through a small lock and its dead low tide, will we be able to enter the lock through a very narrow channel??

As  we arrived at the channel markers, Jims scouts ahead, verifying the depths, barley 4 ft but the tide is rising, we take a chance and at idle speed we enter the channel, and make it to the lock, which is very small, barley fit the boat(see pic).

According to Jim this lock gives access to the internal waterway of South Gulf Coast residential area, with all its side canals for all the boaters., the lock was remotely controlled by Jim, I guess all the residents have a remote to open and close the lock; it can also be done manually

After passing the lock, we traveled quite some distance along these small canals until we finally arrived at  the location where the boat will stay. Jim had made arrangements with a lady who had some “free” wall space, and he had driven 4  large angle iron pieces in to the ground so we could tie up the boat, this of course is much appreciated by us.

Its now about 330 pm, and after getting the boat secured, we jump into Jim’s very fast boat and he takes us to his place. The only reason we could not dock in front of his place is that there is a fixed bridge, only 14 ft high, along the canal where he lives, hence the other area, but what the heck, its very nice secluded spot.

Arrived at Jim’s place in no time flat, met his Lovely and gracious lady Joy, who was busy preparing dinner…oh what a smell, can hardly wait

5pm, supper time with other invited guests, very casual, walked away with “turkey gut”,

What a feast. About 10 pm, its time to get back to the boat, Jim and Joy take one car, while Scott and I follow in Jim’s Dodge Ram truck, which he has giving us to use while we are here…man some people are soooooooo nice.

Winding and weaving through all the streets, and finally at the boat location, we will never find our way around here unless we have a guide or a good map, this is a very large residential area, I saw the plot plan that Jim had, its huge.