Week 9

Saturday, March 4, 2017
Bleeding the Trailer Brakes!
So I worked on the trailer brakes yesterday. One of the bleeder valves was knurled and I couldn't loosen it. I don't have the tools to remove it so we took the trailer to a reputable shop so they could replace the valve and bleed the brakes. It was supposed to be done yesterday afternoon.

This afternoon the mechanic called to tell me that three of the wheels had brake sets that were obsolete and the fourth wheel had the worse kind you could put on a trailer. He said, "Now's the time to replace them, if you were going to." "How much," says I? "I'll call you back," says he. Ten minutes later he calls back and says, "$4000." After a pregnant pause, he says, "No, not $4000, $1400." "Just as bad," says I,  "Just bleed the brakes and replace the bleed valve."

Hours later, he called to say that we could pick up the trailer on Monday!

We're having 30 - 35 knot winds today and tomorrow out of the east. It's the first two day wind event since we arrived. In fact, iMonday through Wednesday is forecast to have 20+ knot wind. We're talking about a mini cruise to the upper keys and Flamingo for later in the month. We see how that goes.

Sunday, March 5, 2017
Key Colony Beach Day!
OMG, it's 0700 and the alarm is ringing. Could it be time to get up? Indeed it is as we are off to the Shriner's Pancake Breakfast at Key Colony Beach Day. The pancakes were average. Sometimes I wonder why we go to these kinds of affairs, but the money goes to a worthy cause.

It only took ten minutes to walk through the vendor booths leaving two hours until the parade. Being tired from our early rising, we decided to go back to the boat to resume our sleep.

We slept for an additional two hours before attending to a couple of chores. In the afternoon, we went to the Hurricane for pizza and to listen to Joe Mama and friends. His repertoire is different than the usual fair in the Keys and we enjoy the difference. There was a minor tragedy when one of the friends who came up to perform accidentally knocked over the banjo. It's neck broke when the banjo hit the floor with a loud CRACK! Fortunately, Joe's luthier was in the audience and he and the banjo player managed to secure the banjo in its case. Everyone, especially the friend and the banjo player felt bad, but the show continued with Joe and other friends performing.

Monday, March 6, 2017
Still Windy, Overcast and Cool!
For the third consecutive day, the wind is blowing at 30+ knots. It is overcast and the temperature is in the mid 70s. We've already had several brief showers and expect more as the day progresses. It's shaping up to be a lazy day. The weather conditions are not conducive to bicycle riding. Walking is an option, but the showers may thwart our efforts there. It could be another hang out on the boat kind of day, except that we are caught up on our boat chores. We only have to get the trailer from the repair guy.
After lunch, we picked up the trailer. The bill was higher than I thought it might be, but one bleed valve was knurled and the had to drill it out and tap new threads. That part of the job was two hours.

After we put the trailer back in its spot, we worked on the tongue jack. It has a pronounced slant that, while better after tightening the bolts, it still isn't straight. I think we need a post without a wheel, which does nothing for us anyhow.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017
More of the Same!
Our days have really become routine. Anna Marie spends way too much time on Facebook. This fourth day of wind continues to hamper our walking and bike riding.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017
It's Bocce Ball Day!
The material for our sunshade is in and Anna Marie gave the measurements to Sandy (Bay Coaster). After two games on the Bocce court (we won both games we played), Sandy delivered the shade. Tomorrow we'll turn the boat around so we can install the snaps.

The wind finally dropped below 20 knots this afternoon so I fired up the grill for Hogfish, veggies and baked potatoes. Delicious as usual!

Thursday, March 9, 2017
A Boat Project; Shopping at Anthony's; Sunset Celebration
We moved the boat this morning so we could access the port side. That's the side that's getting the sunshade. It only took about fifteen minutes to install snaps on the boat. I just removed seven screws and replaced them with screw in snaps. In ten minutes we had the shade marked for the female part of the snaps. As if on cue, Sandy showed up to put the snaps on the shade. I used her tool to punch the holes and she used her heavy duty snap tool to press on the snaps. After that, she put four grommets on the bottom of the shade. All in all, we probably spent an hour on the project. It looks good and it really provides shade! Anna Marie feels the aft cockpit is cooler now.

After lunch, we walked to Anthony's Women's Clothing store in the Gulfside Plaza. They have some nice things and Anna Marie relieved them of five very nice items. She seemed happy with her purchases. On the way back to Blackfin we stopped at McConalds for a beverage, Publix (a day doesn't go by when she doesn't go there) and Home Depot (bungees for the new shade).

After salad and a bowl of Stone Crab soup, we joined fellow boaters at the point for a sunset celebration.

Friday, March 10, 2017
Anna Marie Does Yoga with the Girls!
Cheryl (Roam), Jessie (Illusion), Sandy )Koastal Karma) and Anna Marie (SUNSHINE) took off on their bikes for a short ride to the pavilion in the park for an hour and a half of Yoga. At around noon, Kevin (Koastal Karma) and I joined them for lunch at the Stuffed Pig. It was fun getting to know our neighbors a bit better.

When we got back to Blackfin, the laundry room was vacant so doing the wash became our objective. While Anna Marie attended to that detail, I did a boat project. Some areas in the cabin where the fiberglass meets the paneling had big gaps and did not look nicely finished. I took care of the back door area and the area above the dinette. After I finished, it looks much better.