So how are things?

Things seem to be right on schedule. This worries me a little. Im the kind of person who tries to prepare myself for the worst. Im not sure if it is my way of protecting myself or some sort of controlling thing. In any case thats how I operate. So I was just trying to foresee what could go wrong in the next few months.  Im sure a ton of things, do I really want to know? Does any of us?

I just returned from a trip to Lake Jackson, where I attended a wedding shower. One of my close friend' middle child is marrying a boy that is enlisted in the Marine Corp and she is at the tender age of nineteen. Oh memories. ...

I once married a Marine at the age of eighteen. I actually loved military life and being a wife and mother.  I look back at those years and then the years when I lived in Lake Jackson and it amazes me of how life circumstances change and we never really planned for any of it. 

I believe this life change that Steve and I are about to embark on is the first time in my life that something that I planned and worked for many years is coming to be. Thats scary but not scary enough to make me shy away, not yet at least. 

I gave the couple a tool kit and some travel memory things. I wrapped them in a box that I made to look like an old suitcase. I am trying hard to promote traveling and seeing the world. 

Im sure everyone wants to know what Steve has been up to. Well he has been working on changing the dimensions and location of the boom gallo. The new dinghy' measurements have made him move the gallo.  Move it or get rid of it. I requested it to be moved. He is moving it to aft of the cockpit. So far it looking good and should be all completed in a few weeks. 

I finished up the work I was doing for UTMB. I was being a standardized patient for the medical students during an exam. It was pretty interesting but a bit too suppressing for me. The student had fifteen minutes to interview and exam me, then determine my condition and what they wanted to do about it. So no time to play around. I had to keep to the script and no smart comments that would waste their time. All that would be fine for a few times but eight students a day was too much for me. It was too much for me to keep my mouth shut for that long in a confining doctor' office.  Im glad its over, back to being a Boat Diva. 

Two months and one week left for departure month. Exciting Times 

 

Freeport Shake Down

Well we are currently anchored outside the Galveston Yacht Basin. We left Thursday afternoon and headed here to begin our shake down trip. 

Wind was on our nose of course so we motored all the way. Steve wanted to set anchor before dark so we needed to be quick. That night was good. Set anchor and made some pasta. Bugs were a bit of an issue but it was my fault because I didnt put the screens on. 

Friday morning we set off for Freeport. Got out of the jetties and found the gulf to be calm with little wind. So we turned on the castiron gennie as our friend, Johnny, calls it and motored sailled all te way. All this motoring makes was really look forward to the day we wont be on a schedule. 

Made it to Freeport before dark. We stayed at the city marina there. It is located up a passage that I heard the tug boats calling "The Wiggles".  I could certainly see why, very wiggly and the shoulders are shallow so you have to be careful. 

We were greated by a few locals that helped us dock. Asked us where we are going and chatted a bit then offeredus a ride if we needed to get anything. That is what I love about the sailing community. Most are very welcoming and generous. 

We walked over to see an old friend that as his boat there, Montana Jack. It was good seeing him. Wish we could stay longer to visit but we started to get attacked by the huge mosquitos Freeport makes. Lol.  Had to rush back and close up everything. They were attacking me with a passion. I think they even started to go for my eyes. Since we had shore power we closed everything up and turned on the AC. Not sure if we would of enjoye that place without it. 

Saturday, my daughter' friend, Tiffany, came out to go sailing. She grew up sailing with us on our old boat and absolutley loves it. I was afraid we wouldn't have wind for her but it turned out to be a gorgeous day for sailing. We ended the perfect day with dinner at On The River, a place I worked for years with Tiffany and her partents. They were kind enough to drive us. On The River is only place I have ever been fired from. Lol  All because I was the source of scaring the cook with a fake snack. I didnt actually do it but I did provide the snake. Lol always a good story to tell. 

Sunday, we fueled up and headed back to Galveston. Once again, No wind so we motored. I found a nice shaded spot on the side of the dinghy on the cabin top and dreamed of my future traveling. 

Hopefully we will be able to sail back. Usually we can just might take a while. Ill give you the update next Sunday. 

Sitting on the dock

Sitting at the dock in the cockpit trying to pick out this past weeks high points that might be interesting to others. This blogging is not a very easy task ever week. This past week was a three day weekend for Steve. I had a longer work week, all two half days.  Haha. Life is tough for this Boat Diva, some times. 

Lets see, Steve played with the new Honda 2000 generator. Its a little beast. A friend gave us some great information. He said with a Domestic Smart Starter we should be able to run our air conditioner if needed. That is Amazing!  So one more purchase but that is not a big deal, its not a full bost unit. 

On another note, Fairlane seems to be doing much better. She has been wanting to play more. We think we might find her a little sister when we get to Mexico. It will have to be a young dolcile little baby like her. Being on a boat they need to be small. Also I will need to train her to potty on the foredeck so the younger the better. We shall see 

Oh Steve just gave me another subject, the pump out station. We were having issues with finding the pump out station working when we were available to take the boat over. We went twice and we couldnt seem to get the thing to work. I was getting very upset about it since it is the only place available and it is against the law to dump out into the water. Finally I twisted Steve' arm to go when the maintenance workers were on duty and they were able to show us a few tricks to getting the stupid thing working. I really wish those tricks were posted. 

In any case we got it taken care of and te trick is to have the hose completely straighten out, turn it on and put the end into the water and let it start sucking up the water. Once you see that happen its ready to go. So there is all I know for all the others in the Kemah area needing to pump out.  

We are looking forward to next week' trip to Freeport, Texas. It will be another short trip to see what we can break and what needs to be changed or adjusted. Got to shake her out some more. We only have two months and four weeks left. Exciting!