Monday, November 17, 2008

There is Good News & There Is Bad News

SHIP'S LOG:

The Good News - the prop came in . . . . . . last Friday ! ! ! ! ! !
The Bad News - it didn't FIT ! ! ! ! ! ARGH ! ! ! ! ! ! !

I talked to yard boss today and he said that the prop came in Friday afternoon and when they tried to fit it, the taper of the bore ( the hole in the prop into which the shaft fits) was wrong. The prop simply would not go on correctly. Who would believe it after all that has gone on? Somewhere way do deep inside something kept telling me that there would still be more wrinkles to come. The yard boss then sent it back to the manufacturer for them to re-bore the hole and "it should be back in a day or so." Everybody who believes that please stand on your head!

Well, I believe it. After topping off the fuel tank, I am planning to depart from Bruce & Johnson Marina in Branford, CT before the week is out, to be through to the head of the Chesapeake by Thanksgiving Day and through the Chesapeake by the end of the first week of December . . . . the George Armstrong Custer "I've Got A Plan" Proviso notwithstanding.

I will be going down to ABISHAG tomorrow and repack everything I took out and store the few new items I bought and generally get things all ready again so that after the prop is fitted and tested, I can fuel up and GO!!!!!!

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

Well, it WILL be happening soon, before the week is out. I am going to have to get into the proper mindset to voyage again. Not as simple as it sound, as aside from me Jesus will be the only one aboard and as much as I have requested it, he won't stand a watch, though he is on watch all of the time. My initial biggest fear is going to be dropping the hook for the first time post the New Haven Breakwater. The odds of my screwing up again are astronomically high but odds are odds, no matter how great they are and it will lead to a probable uneasy first night's sleep. One safe and secure anchoring experience will go a long way to relieving that that worry and concern. In any case, my insurance is paid up!