Day Thirty Seven

Another day in the bustling fishing town of Steinhatchee.  I decided to adopt a new attitude about this place yesterday,  since it looks like I might be homesteading this boatslip.  I woke up early, wrapped my friend Stephanie's cat blanket around me and stepped out to admire the view.  The sun was just rising over the river and a flock of about a dozen large pelicans flew by not three feet away about six inches off the water, looking for fish.  They were in seemingly perfect formation and looked really graceful.  Just after they swooped by, here came a flock of seagulls doing the same thing.  The fishermen started showing up as always, around 6 a.m. and I watched them get ready to go out.  Hmmm...maybe this place really is growing on me.  The no see um's are still a daily battle, but I've resigned myself to live with bug repellent covering every exposed inch. 

Tom and Bev at Tiki Bar

After working on a possible fix for our problem all day yesterday, we woke up this morning to test it, but unfortunately all of Tom's work was for naught...the manifold top is warped and we will have to order a new part from Cummings on Tuesday and hope they can fedex it Wed...which means maybe we can leave Thursday? 

Burnt Manifold

I am grateful to Tom for the classroom environment he has created for me as he has patiently explained so much about this boat and has been willing to let me try to do as much as I could.  It is amazing how little I knew and how much more I have to learn.  It's all so interesting because it's relevant. Today he taught me all about how an engine works and I also learned a lot about the electrical currents on the boat.  We changed a nav light and were able to use the wonderful testing kit that Dave and Rebecca gave me to figure out whether bulbs were burned out or things had current. 

We found a great new restaurant for lunch, within 5 minutes' walk...called Roy's.  It had really good food and we enjoyed the waterfront view.  We decided to go back up to Happy Hour and I couldn't believe it when Walt (my ride to the pharmacy the other day...yup, nope) came up to me and started talking!  We actually held a decent 5 minute conversation as I explained to him why we were still here.  Then, to top things off, he did something else really nice.  He came walking over with a large pot and when he lifted the lid, my mouth watered with the smell emanating from it.  He had brought a pot of smoked Grouper and shared it with us...then he returned and asked me if I wanted some grouper to cook.  Not one to ever turn down fresh fish, I told him sure, I'd be happy to buy some.  He invited me over to the fish cutting table where he fished out a couple of the pre-gutted fish, (the ones that were in the bucket waiting to be fed to the pelicans) and he said "The fish you ate just came from the scraps people normally throw away like this."  He proceeded to show me how to get a lot more meat out of those fish...really, it was amazing.  I might apprentice myself to the fish cutting lady tomorrow...

Burnt manifold again

It's my birthday tomorrow...Happy Birthday to me...Bev and Tom are going to take me out for a birthday lunch.  We are going to get adventurous and take Tenacious across the river to the Mel Tillis condos to explore the new restaurant over "yonder".  Should be fun. 

As I reflect back on the state of mind I was in this time last year, I am grateful for the path I am traveling now and for the distance I have traveled since those dark and difficult days.  I am grateful for my family and friends, who were there for me the entire way, no questions asked.  I remember my friend Karen, who understood and was one of my most staunch supporters sending me five birthday cards which I received one day at a time...I remember the "committee" (Ann, Dick, Stephanie and Drew) whose mission it became to help me find, negotiate and buy a decent boat, and then wait patiently for me to realize that bringing her home with me on board was the thing I needed to do.  I am grateful for my sister who was always there to lend a supporting ear, shoulder, whatever I needed...my friend Pat, who helped me sort out the pieces...and to me for realizing that life does indeed move on and the way I was living my life needed to change.  As challenging as this situation is, it is leagues above where I was in my personal life at this time last year.  I am grateful.

Boat Class 101

Like Clockwork...4 p.m. inbound with catches

Playing games...limited choices

Fish cleaning lady

A couple of catches