[Ed.note: original blog summarized below from May 23-29]

Sat.May 23/Day 84: Left Cocoa at 06:50 with beautiful sunrise [see photo] but wind gust required more power to the port engine as existed marina channel. A long day with many boaters, cutting in front of us frequently, until we arrived 2:30pm at the Daytona Marina & Boat Works, 67 miles and 6.7hrs. The drawbridge masters were getting frayed at the edges with some boaters; e.g. after one sailboater hailed him 3 times and was told the bridge would lift when they were closer, he finally said: 'hang in there kid, it will go up for you'!  Lots of inappropriate radio chatter and several waking episodes – one sailboat really took a ‘hit’ and broke his gear shift, triggering a call to the USCG who can only do something if they witness it. [we met the ‘waker’ in Daytona] Wx tends to worsen through the afternoons. People fishing almost everywhere, in boats or on shore.  Arranged for mechanic to check alternators, etc.  Photos of Cocoa [only one of Travis Hardware though] and the shore, etc.  

Sun.May 24/Day 85: Marg took Uber to Publix; she found the store a bit more chaotic and crowded; all staff masked and about 50% customers, but no longer controlling for number of people.  Jeff still enjoying working from home; also talked with Chris and Dana yesterday - Dana is back to work at the hospital; Chris returns F/T to his office space this week..  Loopers 'in-preparation' in trawler near us on transient/fuel dock; they took me in their Suburban to buy another spare drive belt at O'Reilly's. Video of alternator suggests a ‘wobble’.

Supper will be from the Chart House here. Photos of marina.

Mon.May 25/Day 86:  Takeout from the Chart House last night: I had salmon on mashed potatoes with great salsa, terrific casear salad, and lava cake dessert; Marg had same but had vegetables instead of potatoes, with cauliflower mash and creamed spinach; food excellent. Staff were all wearing masks and gloves when I picked it up.

Winds 15-25kn with rain off/on all day; lots of water chop; so I retied the docking lines; have 2 fender boards out against the pilings. Marg used marina laundry and defrosted fridge; she also pointed out that the splash board by the sink had some water marks and perhaps it would be beneficial if I were to caulk the wood-counter join all along it. So I did; clear silicone. Then, she suggested it might also be beneficial if I were to fix a loose vinyl 'wallpaper' in the shower and caulk that seam along the tub which is missing the aluminum trim - just to keep moisture from getting behind it and causing worse problems down the road. So she said. So I did. Used Locktite glue to keep the vinyl tight [only about 4" was loose] and then silicone caulked it. Done.

Mechanic Louis, ex-pat Cuban, found we need to replace alternator, so delayed travel and notified other marinas.

Tues.May 26/Day 87:  Travel & Wx - stayed put, due to wx and to bad alternator. Rained off and on all day. Last night, winds were up to 35mph, so my Admiral told me at midnight, so I couldn't sleep thinking about it and got up and added another spring line and retied the bow and one of the stern lines - total of 5 lines to hold us against the dock. No significant movement thereafter. Wx wind settled during the night.

Fridge problems - Marg defrosted yesterday and today found another ton of ice in the 'drainage' tray below the freezer, in the actual fridge compartment - neither of us realized it was there. Between the hair dryer and a mild hammer and screwdriver attack, managed to clean it all out. There is so much humidity here that compressor can't keep up in a 15 yr old unit, according to local folks, but could also be some freon shortage, per Pat, Marg's sister, who had the same problem. I bought some thin vinyl weatherstripping to seal the door better and hopefully that will help. We will also behave like Edith Bunker, from All in the Family, during the 1980's energy crisis, when she was responding to Pres. Reagan's admonition to conserve energy - open and shut fridge door as fast as possible. Will wipe the fridge inside frequently to keep the condensation drips from freezing, if possible.

And, for Happy Hour, I had a Boddingtons and Mission Nachos, Marg had her G&T, no chips, just a [gag] stuffed mushroom. [eating mushrooms is not much different than frying some cow patties after soaking them in kerosene] PS from Marg: I know the man doesn't like mushrooms, but how does he know that they taste like fried kerosene -soaked cow patties??!

Took e-bike to ACE for silicone, tarp for dinghy, masks; had flat tire returning. Mechanic Louis removed alternator and found red power cable had bare rubbed spot; will rebuild unit. I found all voltages low – will have Louis check tomorrow. Snap/Crackle/Pop - we still have this auditory non-hallucination! Don't think it is just water dripping from the dockwalk, as we speculated earlier, but not as loud. Has to be some marine creature 'nibbling' on our hull

Wed.May 27/Day 88: Winds and TSM all pm. Removing ice block has stabilized freezer/fridge nicely.  Marg via Uber to Publix again; she made scones for me. She also took some great night photos. Louis installed rebuilt alternator/cable and works great; checked the stbd alternator output and it was fine, but port failed, so had to remove and take to shop for rebuild also; batt.charger cannot compensate enough without alternator charging.

Thurs.May 28/Day 89:  Same wx as yesterday. Fridge working much better.  Mechanic Louis reinstalled port alternator and all working well. Tomorrow head for St.Augustine.

Comments:

Ernie R  •  24 May, 2020:  Yes, that “lock” up needs to be fixed! Believe belt shreds in layers because it “walks” back and forth across the pulley grooves due to bad pulley/misalignment. Wide open throttle would greatly increase wear. I would compare where belt rides on each pulley on the “good” engine. Crazy Florida boaters!

Janice  •  24 May, 2020: Weekends! We try not to be RVing over on weekendS, too many weekend warriors out to play. Good to see you moving north, looking for cooler weather. 5C here this AM, but sunny and so far calm winds. 😎

Janice - 25 May 2020: I had a highly qualified hair cut by Wayne today .... it’s going around I reckon.

Ernie R - 25 May 2020: Rob, you are a brave man (barber!). Surprised this is not a looper thread! You have progressed from certified mechanic to salon stylist extradinare! Hopefully new alternator will fix old problem

Dd - 26 May 2020: Lol!! Mushrooms!! You made me laugh! I’ve been watching on pbs “Expedition with Steve Backshall” they are so good! You can get them on Amazon Prime also!!

Ernie R - 26 May 2020: Rob, hope you saw thread in the blog today about synchronizer issue, did mechanic say anything about resolving that? Hopefully new alternator will make completing loop on same belt! Would never jump into the cooking/taste issue but the phenomenon does seem to affect married men from time to time! Safe travels

Dd - 27 May 2020: I think you guys need a vacation!

Ernie R - 27 May 2020: Hopefully rebuilt alternator will fix belt/battery issues! Fridge iceing due to low freon from my experience. They look at synchronizer? Rob, if you will tie the boat with all available lines to start with you will not have to get up at midnight! 

Dd - 28 May 2020: Nice pics!! Lol too bad you have to go to the hardware store!! Haha!

Ernie R - 28 May 2020: Rob, spoiled again! Please see if a Snap-On tool dealer is available before going to Ace, your boat mechanics will be impressed! Did Lewis allow that any of the issues could affect synchronizer/throttle? Marg is quite the photographer!

Rob - 28 May 2020: Ernie, Re Throttle - I now think this is related to the actual handle slipping; the FB throttle does not have this problem. The handle is kept in place by an hex screw so now I have an Allen wrench beside it; I put the FB handle in idle and then loosen the screw and move the PH one to the end-stop and tighten the devil out of it. Seems to work and won't be cranking the rpm up to WOT in neutral again. [didn't actually ask Louis about the throttle issue - had enough to do and he helped resolve the two more pressing ones :)] Re tools - didn't see a Snap-On; ordered metric sets on Amazon to deliver to St.Augustine. Thanks for your observations.

Janice - 29 May 2020: Funny- we stay at Rivers Edge, RV Park, Winterhaven CA. Sits along the banks of the Colorado River. Trees and water ... a SK norm. Enjoy your stay at St. Augustine

Dick - 30 May 2020: I would guess you will have a hood view Saturday or Sunday of the rocket launch. -- Robert - 30 May 2020: Thanks for reminding us. We will be watching