Charles W. Moore

Back Home Again In Indiana

We arrived back in Indiana yesterday about 1630 hours.  We quickly unpacked necessary stuff and sort of collapsed into a lethargic state for the rest of the night.  I turned on the Routers and Switches.  Lo and behold it all worked without fiddling.  I am now blogging on this same infrastructure.  Considering we left on Monday the 6th of April you might wonder what took so long.  We usually make the trip in two days. The truck was near capacity with weight and space and I was a bit nervous about that fact, arguably correct, as we did have a breakdown along the way.

Today is a clean up day and so SAM is washing clothes and I unpacked a bit more from the vehicles.  Most of the rest of the items go into the building down by the lake to be saved for our Fall trip down to the boat.  We left a lot of items on the boat, however; Things like rope, lines and bulky heavier items.

Our truck with the camper on it broke down in Knoxville, TN and it took three days to repair it.  Fortunately, and totally unplanned, my sister was camping nearby so we spent the time with them touring the area that they know very well. We were in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Cades Cove and the Great Smokies. It was very, very crowded with Spring Break families so we did not cover a lot of territory or very fast.  Still it was fun to do this.  My highlight was visiting the Great Smokies Knife Shop in Seiverville. This is an amazing place with a Cabela’s type venue.  The remainder of the trip from Tennessee to North Eastern Indiana was uneventful.  SAM & I shared driving of about 2 on and two off.  Still at the end-of-the-day, I was tired and not a little grumpy.

Repetitive: Still waiting for the truck

We are still waiting for the truck to be totally fixed.  We did receive a promise that it would be done today 4/2/2015. Yea, if we make it to that goal.  We will bring it to the marina and pop the top up and start to rearrange items so that we may pack boat items to be returned to Indiana. Moore on this in later blogs.

The sun is up and it is low tide.   The tide here is only about a foot± but you can see the water hyacinths floating this way and then the other way. The day promises to be another one in the mid-80’s with clear skies. Should be a good day for us to start wrapping up the winter on the boat. I am sitting here right now wrapped in a blanket because it is still quite cool and SAM’s fan is still churning out air.

Yesterday we walked pier 1 out to the paddlewheel boat replica.  The gentlemen working on the boat were quite happy to speak with us at length about her.  It is here for a complete refit and upgrade to ultra-luxury accommodations and galley.  Withing the year it will travel by paddlwheel alone down the intercostal  to Stuart and through Lake Okeechobee to LaBelle to Fort Meyers and then on to its final destination of Apalachicola, FL where it will ply the river.  The main base will be at the museum. I would like to make the trip up river some day: Another thing for the bucket list.

I’ll probably add more to this blogline if I get time later today.

Time is short

We are waiting for the truck to be returned from the repair shop so we can start to repack it for the trip home.  I must admit I cannot wait to be on the road.  This winter has not been kind to me.  First it was over-working polishing the stainless steel and I was in extreme agony with neck back and phantom pains: this lasted for more than 4 weeks.  Then came the allergies and after that a real diagnosed case of the flu coupled with a cold.  I have been pretty weak for the past month trying to kick the sicknesses.

Today our South African friends left for their journey home to the Durban area.  We were sad to see them go but we are sure we will see them again.  Later in the afternoon, our new arch speakers arrived so SAM helped me install them using butyl tape as the sealing agent.  I turned on the speakers and they worked but the starboard side speaker just puts out base but sound does emit from both.  I really bought the speakers to seal the hole in the arch: the Sony speaker cones have long since disintegrated.  This would let water enter the arch which is not good.

I went down to the camper and found the second storage padlock key.  We will leave this here so that any potential buyer will be able to get iiside to see what is there.  The repair of the delta shower faucet was a bust.  I couldn’t get the screw to break loose and was afraid of damaging the manifold. That would require shutting down the water system and I do not have enough time to finish this season.  Next year.

A depressing day

Twice today I have had to zip the cockpit enclosure due to rain.  The last time was a few minutes ago and I was just sort of snoozing with the computer on my lap when I heard the pitter patter of raindrops on the companionway hatch.  Up I arose and zipped the dodger shut and the aft curtain as well.

Earlier today a guy from Hansen Marine Services came by and installed a new thermostatic control for the forward air conditioners.  I think it might have been un-necessary but still it is good that it was done.  Now, I wish the aft unit had the same thing done to it.

I think the Prednisone treatment is making me a little depressed.  I am down to the last two days and tomorrow is one pill and finally the last one on Saturday.  The flu was bad enough and add to that either a cold with allergies or just allergies. Bah, enough of this depressing talk.  I am just going to erase it from this nautical blog and put it in my Moore that Enough blog.

I called our old broker today to see what he thought about listing our boat – perhaps.  He was a bit shocked but said he would stop by Saturday to discuss it.

Today is DJ’s Birthday

Today is DJ’s 25th birthday.  Beth said he had a pretty good day but was getting a little sick later – too much stress.  I facebooked him this morning with best wishes.  I hope he has many good days.

Down at the boat today it was windy and moderately warm with sun.  There was a lot of boating activity today.  The Canadians started to arrive back from the Bahamas.  I did a lot of talking with Jim Evans of Winsome while the wives went to St. Augustine. He gave me some ideas for solar panel mounts.  He is convincing me that I really do need the panels for cruising peace of mind.  The generator will charge the batteries but it would need to be run about 3 hours per day to keep batteries topped.  The panels would cut that in half.

It is quite cool tonight and we have the boat buttoned up with only one fwd hatch open.  Might rain also.

Health Update: Flu

Due to multiple factors I went to the Emergency Room in Middleburg last Sunday. I called my local doctor and he said I should go to the ER.  We went to the St. Vincents Clay hospital.  Our treatment was through, reasonable quick and I felt well treated by professionals.  In the end, I was released after about 5 hours with the verdict that I had the “Flu” and allergy attack.  My main meds are Prednisone and Rest but I got a lot of other prescriptions for nausea, chest congestion  and an Inhaler.

I do feel better today. The chest congestion is loosening up but I still feel weak.  I am sleepy right now as I write this so I will return later.

Putzing around the boat

I am suffering from allergies or a cold or both so I turned on the aircon, fore and aft, and it is keeping up with the not so hot heat out there.  Truthfully, I do not feel much like writing but need to get this documented. Our time down here is getting shorter and we are starting to think of what we have to do to de-commission the boat for another season.

This morning we finished up Alex’s Flat Stanley adventure and posted it up to his school.  Hopefully he will take time to read the rather complicated prose and to look through the pictures and advertisements.  We had a good time going around town taking pictures and then printing them.  I know SAM really got into the project.

In addition we sent DJ a birthday card.  We know he is not feeling well but any encouragement is way better than none so we got it into the mail with the same package.  Happy Birthday DJ.  Get well Grandson.

We have been slowly doing things on the boat.  The weather outside has not been real conducive to motivate us.  There are tons of little chores and bright work to do.  We have found problems at every turn and almost every major system needs attention but most are not a real big deal.

• We have been up the mast and replaced the spreader lamps with NAPA 4411 bulbs and re-connectorized the ring terminals.
• While up there we checked the spreader and somone had put a galvanized bolt in place of the stainless steel and not it is totally frozen in place.
• The main halyard is frayed and needs to be replaced.  I have to measure the length and order that too.
• The Steaming Light lens is broken and needs replaced and is on order.
• The Stern White Light needs replaced and it is on order

Sunday: rest but no rest

We went to First Assembly this morning and then did a bit of grocery shopping.  Aftewards we came back to the boat and crashed for a few hours then went out to do a couple of Geocaches – a long forgotten love of mine.  We did not find one but it lead us to a wonderful little open church near the river on Gum.  What a wonderful experience.

Afterwards we came back to the boat and listened to music as the sun went down.  Now we see it id dark out and dinner is being fixed by SAM while Abby watches intently hoping for some morsels.

Still listening to Christian Radio and thinking of DJ and his trials.  I have lead a guided life and not had to go thru those trials.  We pray for you DJ and feel so helpless that is all we can do right now. However, we have brought in the biggest warriors of prayer we know.

A night of insomnia

I went to sleep too early and now I am awake here at 0200 so I thought I would write in this blog a bit.  Our comings and goings revolve around the boat and church.  First Assembly has just started to take some of my time.  They found out that I know some technical things related to computers.  The normal IT guy’s mother just passed away so they hate to bother him so I am filling in for a few higher priority tasks liked bringing Pastor Register’s HP All-In-One 4635 printer online.  I installed it on the network yesterday morning. Thge office secretary will use it as a stand alone fax and Pastor Register as a wireless network printer.

I texted Beth about the latest on DJ and the words coming back are not encouraging.  We continue to pray for DJ and I will do an alter call asking for intercessory prayer.  I’ll let Karon know as well so they can start prayer at Angola Assembly.  We are very concerned grandparents right now. I just contacted the Gideons in our camp to ask for prayer too.

We went to Jim & Linda’s boat, Winsome, last night in response to the evening sundown invite.  He, like me, is an Electrical Engineer and does a lot of projects on the boat.  Also like me, he is a ham of long standing.  We had a good time.

Yesterday, I stayed on the boat most of the day but SAM went shopping most of the day.  However, she returned in time for the party – just in time with 5 minutes to spare.

Last night I was awakened to slapping halyards against the mast and after trying to ignore it for a while and in good neighborly standing I went to the foredeck to find the guilty line.  After a quick jury rig I went back below to finish the sleep.  Upon awakening a bit later than usual at 0745 I heard the piter pater of rain on the cabin top.  After enjoying this for a period of time, I got out of the sleeping bag and fixed my breakfast and SAM’s too.

I quickly headed for the shower to beat the morning rush that has occurred with the arrival of 12 more boats that were kicked off the Green Cove Springs Marina long pier.  Why this occurred no one seems to know but they are here and half are projected to stay forever.  It is a lot more genteel down here at this end.