Weather forecast for November 18, 2016:
Turner Marine, Dog River, Mobile, Alabama
Clear, low 52 high 73.
Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming south 8 to 13 knots.
Smooth to a light chop.
Captain’s Log: November 17, 2016
A very, very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my grand daughters Ali and Caroline Meisenhelder! I am sorry that I could not spend time with you two on your big day but I hope that you enjoyed all of the festivities held in your honor; you have all of my love.
Last night, our first night on the boat, was wonderful; we both slept very well; the berth is large and comfortable. That said, I must confess that getting up in the middle of the night for a bathroom call is, and will continue to be until we have the commodes installed, interesting and challenging (more so for Shirley than me). We currently use a five-gallon bucket, lined with a plastic bag containing two scoops of kitty litter, as our urinal – you can paint your own picture but Shirley is a real trooper! The one and only previous time that I purchased kitty litter was eight years ago when; after a hazardous-materials truck sucked out the nasty goop in the bilge, I spread 400 pounds of kitty litter throughout the bilge to suck up the residue. It is close to amazing that my XO puts up with these not-so-minor inconveniences - what a woman!
We rented a 5’x10’ climate controlled storage unit today and crammed it full of everything that we have not yet loaded onto the boat. Being next to the bay we get a very heavy dew each morning and, even with a water-proof tarp placed over the boxes, they get damp. We had to get them indoors.
We returned the trailer to U-Haul and then made a bee-line to Cammy’s Dutch Ice Cream Parlor to treat ourselves after a long day of hard work. By the end of day tomorrow we should have everything we need on the boat and stored properly.
We continue to receive compliments on the boat and, with each one, I am encouraged to keep working hard to get her in the water. I spoke to the yard manager today and will soon be meeting with a carpenter to finish the joinery in the interior, a mechanic to inspect, prepare and fire-up the engine and generator, and a steel fabricator to make the bow pulpit, stern pulpit and dinghy davits. The dinghy and outboard engine will be delivered here within the next two weeks.
Fair winds and following seas.
Once again, we are completely exhausted but very excited and happy.
Until next time, may your tomorrow bring fair winds and following seas!