Day 129 What will be will be.

For most of our adult life, both Tracy and I have felt that everything happens for a reason.  I have taken jobs and left jobs--voluntarily and involuntarily though out my adult life.  Each time, the future has gotten better.  It didn't seem that way when the world was crashing at the time of being unemployed but it worked out that way.  The delays on Zephyr are happening for a reason.  We don't know what reason, but there is one.  The hard part is getting my head in that area.  Tracy is already there.   She just sits back and relaxes.   I just get upset at all the delays that we are experience.  After all, we are "retired" with no schedule.  What is the worst that can happen?  We spend the Winter here in the Seattle area and sail--all be it coldly--in one of the best sailing areas in the world till Spring and then sail up to Alaska.  We had wanted to see it this year but all the delays is our schedule getting here made that impossible.  Yeah, it's not cheap here--four months at the marina is the same as what we paid for an entire year in Newport.  It would give us the time to really learn Zephyr and get comfortable with her.  Always an important thing.  I guess, time will tell as to how it plays out.

The workmen are still going at Zephyr.  The teak at the bow was installed and is currently being sanded down to match the exact profile of what is there.  It looks great.  I'll take some pictures when it is all done.

Jack-the electrician, is still at it.  He finished hooking up the windlass yesterday.  He had to run some new wires since the batteries had been moved during the redo.  In the process, he jumped into the forward sail locker--also known as the garage--and broke the grating that is in there.  Now they have to repair it.  With luck, the plan is to fix all the wires that run all the water pumps today and try and get the lights working on Zephyr.  There are just a few wires that control all of them and Jack is on the trail of them.  We should be almost there with the DC power by the weekend but I'm not going to hold my breathe.

Eric, the other electrician that has been working on the mast is done.  He finished the "steaming light"--shows a forward facing light on the mast that is required of all boats when motoring--and got all the circuits tested.  I'm still not sure about the placement of the VHF antenna.  It is VERY close to where the backstay is attached.  At the worst, he has to move it.  

Brion Toss, our rigger finally got home late last night(car broke down) and called to check in.  He sounded like warmed over death.  I don't think he feels well.  As he is teaching some classes at the Wooden Boat Festival this weekend,  I hope he is alright.  He is going to check in with us today and give us some sort of update.

To all of you back in Colorado, this festival is much like Western Welcome Week when all the booths are erected along Main and Prince street in Littleton.  Lots of tents with lots of vendors carrying everything from jewelry to hand blown glass to sailing stuff.  The harbor is packed with lots of wood boats of every size imaginable.  Some newer and lots older.  Some in great shape-most-and some really look a bit beaten up.  There are several classes we expect to be taking over the next three days--knots,  woodworking, sailing at night just to name a few.

Zephyr is painted with paint from a company called Awlgrip.  Their rep stopped by the boat yard yesterday and dropped off a touch up kit for our blue paint.  I called him later as I didn't know he was coming and invited him back so we could talk about what we need to do to keep Zephyr looking great.  He will be stopping by today or tomorrow as he will be attending the show.  Zephyr was painted in 1997 and we want to make sure she always looks as good as she can.

Well, it's back to the boat yard.  It's getting close to 7am when the workers show up.  It is going to be an exciting next few weeks here in Port Townsend.