Changing Batteries.

Today was the day to replace all 6 of the batteries.  Old ones out and new ones in while the boat is on a mooring.  All transportation by dinghy.    Marine batteries are very heavy (about 60 lbs apiece) and, when you have to crawl into the engine compartment and lift them almost to eye level while you are on your knees...  Luckily I had help for that part then he left.  The old ones were almost 7 years old and don't really owe me anything.  I wired each of the new ones  BUT when we tested everything, the two bilge pumps did not work.  Now which wires did I not connect?   On and On but finally, after 5 hours total, everything is working and powered. 

Sunset at Vero

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1st Day

Leaving St. Augustine 

January 23rd - Happy 17th Birthday Maddie!  

Now we're 52 miles from St Augustine, made it to Daytona in 8 hours.

It was cold when we left at dawn, slipping off the dock into the quiet slack tide, only the osprey and herons protesting our passage.

Lew was at the helm all day while I read, napped, made lunches, etc.  Dolphins rolled in the water around us now and then.  Pelicans were hunkered on their docks or pilings, keeping warm.  

But the afternoon warmed up.  Fifty miles makes quite a difference in temperature.  Once we dropped the hook in Daytona's ICW, my work started… cleaning the outside windows/hatches of months of dust, beginning to clean the fenders of grime and sea vegetation, and washing at least half the isinglass in the cockpit so Lew can see better tomorrow.  Now it's 5:15 and I've decided to take a break while the generator gives me the juice to work on my laptop.  NO email today - I can't get onto any WIFI until we get to Vero.  Hopefully tonight will be warmer than last night!  It should be.

This afternoon I'm pretty sure I was hearing a race at the Daytona Speedway to the west.  Lots of shore noise, engines revving on the turns I think -  for a long time.  Now Lew is grumbling about the generator - it's leaking water and shut off too soon.  It's always something!  So I'll close for now.

http://CatamaranHarmony.blogspot.com
and Florrie's art at
FineArtAmerica: http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/Florence+Bramley+Hill/all

LiveAboards

           Lew           Wally        Wayne

Florrie        Connie    Gaye             Judy

Nora                         John                Bob

 

A joyous afternoon at Hurricane Patty's. 

present location

29 53,1827N  081 19.2929W  is our present position.  You can cut and paste into Google Earth.  In that image Harmony is the last cat in that line...taken about a year ago. 

We're Baaaaaaaaaaack

'r

Yes it is true.  We finally made it back to the boat in Saint Augustine and all is well.  Company from the 16th to the 20th and then we are free to do whatever.