"BLTHE SPIRIT" IS NO MORE!!!

SHIP'S LOG:

Well, put it this way, the name is gone but the boat is doing well. Repairing the holes in the transom required the grinding down of the epoxy that was used to plug them and I took the opportunity to grind off the old name as well. Then I repainted the transom with primer and will re-paint it dark blue tomorrow. The transom will then be ready to receive the new Hydrovane steering system. This wind vane steering system, along with the auto-pilot, will handle a lot of the helming duties when I finally get underway. It will also provide me with an emergency rudder should the need ever arise.

I also had took the time to re-epoxy the several places on the bottom where the epoxy barrier coat has been chipped off. If you have never gotten a whiff of the INTERLUX 414 activator consider yourself blessed. The activator is added to the epoxy paint and then mix and applied. How can I convey the fragrance? It assaults your sinuses like ammonia but is much stronger. It is worse than driving through northern New Jersey by the refineries and chemical plants. It is rank, foul, sickening and all round bad. The paint boasts the consistency of mayonnaise. Thank goodness that I only had a few spots to do rather than the entire hull. It is the first time I ever checked which way the wind was blowing while painting!

The Mizzen was back on the boat. The new wind generator is up and working, and the mast is freed from all non-essential wiring. More copper of the cockpit pile! The SSB is back, tested and found functioning so we have communication available, though I am probably still going to get the SAT Phone. And for the first time I am sort of getting the feeling that progress is being made. In fact, aside from the extra wire that has to be pulled yet, from now on the construction will be taking over for the destruction.

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

With pretty much all of the work taking place on the outside of the boat today, I got to walk around and about it and it struck me that things are getting done, essential things, things that have to be done before ABISHAG goes back into the water. There was a little shutter of realization that what appeared to be a rather insurmountable mountain is almost topped and once topped, the descent will begin. It is a wonderful exciting, scary realization. While it is still "some day", it is getting alot closer, but I still need to keep focused on today.