Day 64 Oops, got that wrong.

Oops got that wrong.  Tracy didn't eat that beautiful Lump Fish.  It was actually a Ling Cod not a Lump Fish.  It was late and Tracy was already asleep.  But boy, that Lump Fish was ugly!!!  

We started the engine this morning and put it into gear.  This was after checking the dock lines to make sure they would hold us.  The propeller shaft rotated just fine so the repair did it's job.  All is well.  I'll check the bolts one more time just to make sure it is tight enough to make sure the shaft doesn't come loose and it's all done.  I went to each of the three men that had helped us and thanked them for their knowledge.  Nice to have a close boater community here.

While I tightened up the life lines on deck, Tracy inflated a dingy to work her way around the boat scrubbing the hull at the water line.  We had built up a bit of growth just below the water line and she wanted it gone.  Reached down deep with  a brush on the end of a long pole and scrubbed the propeller.  It had gotten some growth since we had it scrubbed a few weeks ago by a diver.  To get the best speed out of a sailboat, the bottom needs to be as clean as possible.

Ran errands early this afternoon.  Picked up our new two way radios so we can talk as we sail and dock.  No more yelling back and forth and entertaining the other boaters on the dock.

I spent several hours scrubbing down  Zephyrs deck.  Beautiful green algae was making inroads on the fringes of the teak.  We are amazed how much dirt and dust builds up when the air is so 

humid and there isn't a lot of exposed dirt any where around us.    As it was a lovely sunny day, it was the perfect time to wash, spray the teak with a diluted bleach solution and scrub her down.  Now her decks look great.  By the time I was done a few hours later, the Sun was gone and  the fog came rolling in and the temperature dropped like a stone.  I had put on shorts for the first time of the year.  By the time I was done, it would have felt a lot better being in pants.

Tracy marinaded some chicken this afternoon.  On to the grill, added a nice $5.99 bottle of wine and some scalloped potatoes and we had a great dinner.  We're continually amazed at the cheap prices for wine here in Oregon.  With no sales tax it is a great bargain and gives a nice buzz with dinner.  Ah--the joys of a cruisers life.

Tomorrow, the Fourth of July.  Let's all hope for nice weather everywhere so we can all enjoy the fireworks.  We are amazed how many of the stores here in Newport are going to be closed for the entire three day weekend.  We will have to do some selective shopping over the weekend.

Everybody have a great holiday!