Just Another Day . . . . .

SHIP'S LOG:

Got up before dawn this morning, but then I do most days. I had coffee, listened to the weather and watched the sun come up. A great way to start the day.

I spent an hour watching the pelicans and terns(?) feeding around the boat. They slim along the surface, raise up to 10 or 15feet and then dive into the water. I don't know how often then connect with their meal target but on occasion you can see one of the smaller birds(terns?) with a fish in its beak, flying away pursued by several others squawking. The little birds are delicate in their fishing, often making a catch without hitting the water but the pelicans literally crash in head first and make a heck of a racket. Every now and then, one will do so right next to the boat. You sort of catch it out of the corner of your eye and then there is a big splash. When they come up empty, I seem to get a look from them that it is somehow all my fault they missed.

Today I had to re-rig the dinghy davit lines. They were wearing at one end and so I had to reverse them. This meant a little marlinespike seamanship activity, creating a a loop in one end and undoing it at the other. It was a nice exercise, done in sunny mid-70's and high humidity. It was almost like summer back home, August-like. Truth be told, it was almost too much. Yesterday, I got a "summer headache" from not drinking enough water and the humidity and temp today forced me to guzzle water to keep from getting a second. I have to get back into the summer mode of thinking. I also had to lash up the port half of the rear edge of the Bimini. Usually, the back edge is held in place with a zipper closure, but they have split and the zippers won't hold. Bob & Fred lashed the starboard side way back in Cape May and I finally got around to the port side in Ft. Pierce. I may be slow but it gets done . . . . eventually.

All the ports on ABISHAG are open, keeping her will aired out and comfortable down below. There has been little wind to speak of but that is supposed to change tonight. There will be "a cold front passing through" which will bring the possibility of rain and thunderstorms(mostly north of Ft. Pierce) and some more wind(15-20) out of the southwest. Unfortunately, the road-stead where I am is open to the south west which means short,choppy waves and rocking and rolling.

Jerry & I will be picking up the batteries tomorrow afternoon and ABISHAG should be all better soon after that. Having spent over 90 days aboard on this trip, I have worked out a way to do things, when and how. It is uncomfortable to have to change things around and do this differently like this. I am, as they say, out of my comfort zone. But as with the same situation ashore, there ain't much you can do but learn to enjoy it.