Thursday 2/2/12. If Punxsutawney Phil lived here he would have not seen his shadow today. There is a high overcast with lower cumulus clouds just hanging there.
Yesterday at West Marine, Linda found a T shirt at 50% off. This was a must buy! The lettering on the shirt reads:
[‘fƏrst māt] the person in command of the captain
I guess that explains it all.
Today was “Engine Room Appreciation Day”. Just like a car there are preventive maintenance items to do, except more of them. Water in three batteries; oil and coolant in two engines; power steering fluid; grease in the steering components; clean debris from the bilge pumps. It was time to clean out the leaves and other dirt that somehow finds it way in there. I hate to see an engine room that looks like a dungeon where something may be lurking in the darkness waiting to devour you. It’s a whole lot nicer to work in a clean engine room! I’ve had words of appreciation from the three different mechanics we used on the trip. The one mechanic told me about the bilge of a fishing boat where the oil change oil went into the bilge along with slimy fish oil washed from the decks. The captain’s idea was; when the bilge got full enough the bilge pump would automatically pump it overboard. Maybe that’s why the pump quit! The mechanic had to climb down there wearing rubber boots and try to work while holding his breath.
Today felt more like a southern summer day. While the temps only reached the low 80s the hygrometer in the boat shows the relative humidity at 79%. The air is nearly calm. It has kind of slowed both of us down a bit. The First Mate (that “person in command of the captain”) took a snooze. Am I starting to notice a trend here??
Edwards Drive is the street that follows the waterfront. Today it is busy with workers setting up tents and concessions for the Ft. Myers Arts Festival this weekend. If you get bored here it’s your own fault. What caught my eye is the FOOD flag is located right next to where we exit the marina. When I showed Linda she squealed “YES!”.
Jim has a houseboat on the other end of our dock. He invited us to come and hear him play guitar and sing at the Open Music Night held in the United Deli Café. We walked over to First Street and enjoyed the evening listing to music, comedy and poetry. The best way to explain it…Greenwich Village meets Nashville.
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