Week 4

Saturday, January 28, 2017
The Eye Brow!
We'll the port eye brow has been sanded down to bare wood. It took about 2 hours to complete the task. Because rain is in the forecast for overnight and tomorrow, we did not apply the Cetol Natural. According to the directions, it shouldn't get wet for 24 hours.

After dinner, we went to the Committee mitt Movie Theater to see Hacksaw Ridge. The true story was compelling.

Sunday, January 29, 2017
It's Chilly!
The weatherman says today is winter! The high temperature is supposed to peak out in the high 60's. Besides the chill, it's windy and overcast. We've had a few showers and it looks like more may blow through. It's a good day to hang out on the boat, although it's rollin' a little.

I bought an insignia micro projector through eBay today. We'll hook it up to the iPhone or iPad mini to watch Netflix.

In between raindrops, I cleaned and waxed the aft cockpit. The new Bimini protects it from the rain, but the rain prevented us from finishing the teak eye brow project. We'll give it a go tomorrow.

Monday, January 30, 2017
Teakwood No!

Grilled snapper and veggies

So we didn't get to the teak eye brow today primarily because we wanted to make sure the wood is thoroughly dry.

We were invited to share in Denny's (Bay Coaster) birthday cake. It was like a good old fashioned dock party with plenty of adult beverages and wild stories of music and mayhem, drugs and alcohol.

After the party we walked to the Keys Fishery to buy some fresh fish. We selected a couple of very nice looking Hogfish fillets. Returning to the boat, we stopped to get a beverage at the Overseas and to check their menu. We ended up sharing an order of Calamari and it was very good! The Island Fish is still our favorite and this Calamari would have been right up there, except it didn't have the banana peppers. They add a nice flavor to the dish.

Once back aboard SUNSHINE, we broke out the grill, made packets of fish and veggies, and cooked everything on the grill. It's the first time we've used the grill and it worked out well. The meal was delicious!

To top the evening off, Anna Marie left her watch in the shower. At least a hour and a half went by before she realized it. She was able to retrieve it after a guy finished his shower.

Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Loafs and Fishes!

SUNSHINE and Loafs and Fishes
in their slips

In an email exchange earlier this winter, Tom Mulcrone, Captain of Nimble Nomad "Loafs and Fishes," suggested that he would arrive at Blackfin for about a month, commencing on January 30 or 31. We kept an eye out for his arrival yesterday. When we came out of our cocoon, Loafs and Fishes was sitting on her trailer in the parking lot. Tom approached us to ask for help in launching. He also recruited Jim from the Ranger Tug "Kismet." With Anna Marie, the four of us managed to get Tom's boat off the trailer and into slip 3. He'll be our neighbor for about a month.

Range Tugs Kismet and Vicki Lynn

As it happened, he arrived yesterday at around 2300 hours, aft a 14 and 15 hour driving days from Michigan. Tom joined us for the $5.00 lunch at the Hurricane. We swapped stories and talked about Nomads and had a good time.

We were also looking forward to seeing Joe and Dee. Their arrival is scheduled for tomorrow, but we received word that Dee is dealing with a health issue and they'll be lucky if they get here by the end of the month. It sounded like she doesn't have much hope of making it to Marathon  this year.

We walked to Publix and Home Depot for a few things. Other than that, we wasted away the day. We hope to get back to the projects tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017
War Birds and Movie Night at the Marina!

Movie night at the marina

We received a notice that the marina was showing a movie tonight with theater style popcorn. We attended the movie, "Groundhog Day" with about a dozen other folks and found not only the popcorn machine, but grilled hot dogs and several kinds of candy and chocolate, all provided free for the enjoyment of the movie goers. It was a lovely evening.

Warbirds

A B-17 bomber, a P 51 Mustang and this B-25 have been flying overhead most of the day. They are part of the war birds group that is visiting the Marathon Airport. A ride in the B-25 was reported to cost $450.00, but a tour of the planes costs $15.00. The planes leave sometime tomorrow.

Open mic night at the 'Cane

After the movie, we went to open mike night at the Hurricane. It was like old times at the old Overseas. Even some of the old suspects, namely Popeye and the frizzy-haired waitress from the old Dockside. We were there to see Jim Huff (left), a guest staying in an efficiency unit in the resort. It seems he frequents a couple of open mic nights. He plays a Fender Telecaster and sings. He played well. The crowd dug his version of BB King's the thrill is gone.

Thursday, February 2, 2017
Groundhog Day!

Loafs and Fishes going  for a boat ride

Plans change, ours are no exception. Since we skipped finishing our boat chores the last two days, we decided to attack them today. We managed to sand the final bits of teak, and we applied a coat of Cetol Natural to everything that needs it, except for the starboard eye brow. That will have to wait until we turn the boat around to gain access from the finger pier.

We pretty happy with the appearance of the Cetol Natural so far. While we were attending to our chores, Tom took Loafs and Fishes out into the bay for a four hour trip,

This is the last day for the Warbirds exhibition at the airport. They buzzed overhead until 1600 hours.

Another Manatee comes for a visit

Manatee closeup

Between sanding and applying the first coat of Cetol, I caught this manatee sunning itself just off the bow of the boat. In fact, a number of folks asked for permission to walk down our finger pier so the could take pictures.

Friday, February 3, 2017
Teak and a Bike Ride!

Applying Cetol Natural to theTeak 

Retool Natural on the eyebrow

Retool Natural on the steps

It's 0730 and I'm wide awake and looking forward to the day we have planned. We'll apply a second coat of Cetol Natural to the wood bits we've been working on. Then we'll hop on the bikes for a ride to Speciality Hardware where we'll get some stainless steel bits that Home Depot doesn't carry.

When we get back, we'll apply the third coat of Cetol and our woodworking project will be complete until we turn the boat around. We rode about 10 miles round trip, with a lunch stop at the Island Fish Company.

SUNSHINE photo bombed Tom's really nice photograph of the marina fairway from his boat, Loafs and Fishes.