Day 9. Another day in paradise?

Cloudy, windy with intermittent periods of sunshine.  What I'd give for a full day of sunshine.  

We've had some questions posed to us.  How do we get water when sailing off shore?  Zephyr carries 265 gallons of water.  That's a lot by any standard.  We're looking into a water maker.  They can make any where from a little to a lot.  There are a few draw backs to having one of them onboard.  First they require lots of power.  The engine has to be running to get enough energy to make it work properly.  Second, they need to be flushed and "pickled" (what ever that means)if not used regularly.  It really allows boaters to stay out as long as they have food to eat.  You can't run them in harbors as there is to much water contamination.

Yes, the boats goes lower in the water the more you add to it.  Zephyr starts out at 32,000lbs empty.  She weighed 38,000lbs at the haul out back in August.  After we are done provisioning for the voyage, we figure she will hit 42,000.  Big slow but well equipped.

Lunch was a bit strange today.  We were out running errands and stopped by a typical roadside diner just south of Newport that specializes in fish--go figure.  Typical roadside diner--old picture on the walls, hand made wine bottle stoppers, postcards and peeling linoleum on the floor and lots of fish on the menu.  Strangely, they were playing Ravel's Bolero, Moonlight Sonata and other classics in the background.  Good food but unlikely music playing in the background. 

We plan on ordering a new water pump tomorrow.  Nothing that will fit the bill here in Newport.  The current pump pumps fine but just won't pressurize the system.  It is supposed to get pressure up to about 45 pounds and shut off.  This way, we have lots of water(both hot & cold) when the faucet is turned on.  It is supposed to kick back on when the pressure drops and re-pressurize the system.  It worked the way it is supposed to once since we got here but now just runs and runs and runs.  Time for a new one.

The replacement Direct TV unit came today.  We've had the last one for 11 years.  The new one is less than half the size.  Now we can get all the local channels.  Boy "Survivor"was great tonight.  We may be on  a boat, but there is no reason to do without the simple pleasures of life(TV?).

Down to three boxes plus the wine.  YEA!!!  The end is insight.