Time to head to the boat, so it's goodbye to Ira and Ann for a while and out of West Palm (as the locals call it) and west to, first, Fort Myers to pick up a rental car on our Aeroplan points.
We picked up the car without a hitch and while Carol drives the car I lead the way to Labelle and Grandma's Grove campsite where we stayed in the spring when we left the boat.
I took a trip down to the marina to make sure Incognita was still floating - all was well.
Wednesday 27th October
Started the pattern of driving down and working on the boat while Carol remained in air-conditioned luxury in the RV. But since there wasn't much she could do on the boat until I got it 'sorted' it was the best thing to do because it was quite hot.
Thursday 28th October
Removed the hot water tank from the boat - space is much more valuable than electrically heated hot water.
Friday 29th October
General tidying up on the boat and figuring out what parts of the bimini/dodger are missing. We left them for repair with a small company in Stuart before heading back up to Canada last spring and they now claim to have never heard of us or our canvas.
Saturday 30th October
We'd decided that this was a day for taking a trip into Fort Myers (30 miles away) to get various bits and pieces but first we were going to head down to the marina to help our next door neighbours (campsite and marina) Roberta and Peter move their new batteries aboard.
However, things didn't go quite as planned. Just before we left the RV, I was disconnecting a piece of pipe from our old fuel filter on the ground by the side of the RV when suddenly I had ants all over my hand and I could feel stinging. I just brushed them off and we went on our way. During the 10 minute drive to the marina my armpits began to itch like fury - surely they couldn't have crawled up that high?
By the time we got to the marina I was not feeling so good at all. I felt quite weird and my throat felt funny. Roberta gave me some Sudafed but I couldn't swallow. This is not good!
Carol went into manic driver mode and we whisked off to find a hospital at breakneck speed. Labelle is a very small place and doesn't really have a hospital but we were in search of a clinic that we couldn't find. Carol did a somewhat dangerous maneuver into a fire station and ran for help. In no time flat they were all over me, taking my pulse and blood pressure and telling us the paramedics were on the way.
Within minutes an ambulance turned up and I was on a stretcher and in the ambulance and on my way to the closest hospital at Lehigh Acres about 14 miles away. On the way I was intravenoused, injected and God knows what else - I don't remember. At the hospital they pumped more stuff into me.
After about an hour I was back to 'normal' and fit to leave. And since we were already part way to Fort Myers we decided to continue on with the day.
At the end of it all there were just these little bumps on my hand from the fire ants.
Sunday 31st October Got to help Peter with his batteries but generally a day of relaxing and recovery.
Monday 1st November
Carol finally managed to get aboard and start her cleaning thing down below while I started the installation of our new autopilot.
Tuesday 2nd November
When trying to install our new fuel filter I find Racor have changed the threads on their units - grrrh! So it's a trip to Fort Myers to get new fittings.
Wednesday 3rd November
Finished installing new fuel filter and lines and got to start the engine and run it for a while - always a big moment at the start of the season.
Thursday 4th November
Not a big day where much got done.
Friday 5th November
And now for something completely different - a trip to Pembroke Pines and Carol's cousin and family. But first we headed to Stuart to pick up our missing canvas which the repair company had suddenly 'discovered' - no thanks to the owner who I rate as a prize @#$%.
Melanie as usual had food for us when we arrived in Pembroke Pines and we had a relaxing day sitting around doing not much of anything - not a bad spot to do that.
Didn't take the ladies long before they were doing the usual.
Saturday 6th November
We started the day with breakfast at'81 Diner', a popular spot and easy to see why. Then back to the house for a short while before heading to the movies to see 'Hereafter'. Unfortunately not a popular choice with the majority.
Back to the house and the doggies. Here's Buddy doing that doggie thing to Lana.
After an excellent veggie lasagna supper with their granddaughter Michala and friend Jasmin (don't think they had lasagna), cards for the ladies and Super Mario Kart for me.
Sunday 7th November
Michael junior came over after breakfast with Michael Jr. Jr.
Boys and their toys.
Soon we were on our way to West Palm Beach and short visit with Ira and Ann. Carol went off to get her cholesterol checked - much improved since she's been doing the right thing - while Ira and I did computing stuff.
Back to Labelle at night.
Monday 8th November
Time to start another installation. We've always had a problem towing the dinghy, it's hell in following seas - it actually broke free one time in the Chesapeake. The solution for most people is davits
. However, they're expensive, put stress on the back of the boat and add a lot of weight in the wrong place when the dinghy is on them. Plus the dinghy can disastrously chafe against the boat unless you really lash things down. Our chosen solution is Dinghy-Tow. Just got to install it.
Tuesday 9th November
Another trip to Fort Myers for bits and pieces. Found a new booze store - Total Wine - like a Costco full of alcohol.
Back at the marina got the brackets mounted on the the dinghy for Dinghy-Tow.
Wednesday 10th November
It's colder now which is really nice 'cos it's still really sunny.
Started the fridge up - still works - whew! drilled the holes of dinghy-tow on the swim platform.
Thursday 11th November
Time to to do the hard part of the dinghy-tow installation. With Carol standing on the swim platform with a screwdriver to stop the bolts turning, I'm lying on my back with my feet in the air resting on the cockpit seats with my arm extended as far as I can through a hole in the transom and underneath the swim platform pushing a goo-covered plate over the four bolts poking down from above and then screwing nuts on the bolt ends all without being able to see any of this.
After about 45 mins of messing around we got the first bracket on, only to realize we put it on backwards!!! Much cursing! The good news is that by the time we got that one on the right way round, putting the other one on was a piece of cake.
The finished result:
Friday 12th November
We had finally used up all our Aeroplan points renting the last car, so we're renting a car locally for the last couple of days. We picked up a Focus from the local Ford dealership which Carol drove to Fort Myers while I took the Camry back to Hertz. Which car would we prefer? Guess? It's not hard to see why the Japanese do so well. After picking up three cases of wine we headed back to the RV.
Saturday 13th November
A day of tidying up the boat some more while Carol prepared to move stuff out of the RV.
Sunday 14th NovemberDrove the RV down to the boat and unloaded all the stuff we would be needing for the following week.
Then with me leading in the RV and Carol following in the Focus we headed for Indiantown. By the time we got there it was late in the afternoon and as we arrived our good sailing buddies John and Rejeanne met us and after parking the RV we went off to Dee Stefanos in Indiantown for a celebratory supper.
We got back to the RV around 9 and after a long hard day, slept our first night on the boat again.
Monday 15th November
First thing in the morning involved getting all the things that never made it to to the boat yet out of the car - more than you'd think. After dropping the car off we found that we had no suntan lotion which made working outside in the intense sun a bad idea.
Tuesday 16th November
Tried the outboard motor - doesn't work, a repeat of last year even though I followed the storage instructions to the letter. Various jobs around the boat out of the sun. It's tough to be stuck here in this place.
Wednesday 17th November
Got some help in looking at the outboard motor from Carl O'Neill. But after taking the carburetor off and replacing spark plugs we couldn't get it going.
Thursday 18th November
Thought it would be a good idea to start the main engine again. Found it needed bleeding and while doing that sheared the top of the bleed bolt - oops! quick trip to the Internet area and order a replacement. Met Capt. Dave, local boat owner and bridge operator and we had lunch by the water and watched a boat that had run aground, attempt to get free after good advice from Capt. Dave. We met the boat crew later and realized we'd met Graham & Gina (the skipper and his mate) while we were in Marathon last year. They had extra crew - Tim - aboard.
Friday 19th November
We're stuck without the parts and although they were ordered express they didn't arrive.
Carol had decided we ought to have people over for happy hour so that we did and with help from Capt. Dave and his transport we had Carl, our neighbours Daniel and Karen (who had thankfully brought us some sunblock), Graham, Tina, Tim and Capt. Dave.
The local legion has a fish fry on a Friday night so after happy hour most of us headed over for an excellent and inexpensive meal. Afterwards we piled into the bar for Karaoke. Left to right: Capt. Dave, Tim, Gina, Graham and you know who!
Always wondered what it would be like to do karaoke so after sufficient alcohol I gave it a try. We put Carol's name down since she can actually sing and here she is doing her Patsy Cline thing (under great duress I might add - Caro speaking!!)
The high spot was Tim doing a song (She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy) he's listened to on his sail to the Dominican Republic when it was the only music he had with him. The ladies dancing in front were his fan club that night.
Everyone in the group did a turn except Karen and Dave
It was agreed a splendid time was had by all.
Saturday 20th November
Parts arrived via Fedex but after installation found I couldn't bleed the engine properly - nonstop air bubbles. What now.
Sunday 21st November
Decided the engine problem was that the new hose I'd installed was too loose a fit. Luckily I had a length of something a little snugger and after installing it we were good to go. We moved the boat over to the adjacent lagoon and the fuel dock ready for a pumpout in the morning and a fill with water. We said goodbye to Capt. Dave who is a hell of knowledgeable sailor and all around good guy.
We probably won't go back to Labelle to store the boat - don't like storing in the water - but we'll miss the inexpensive and friendly place and the wonderful docks.
Monday 22nd November
After filling the water tanks and pumping out we headed out into the canal and towards Lake Okeechobee. We negotiated a couple of locks before anchoring in Moore Haven which is where the canal reaches Lake Okeechobee and then goes south around the perimeter.
Tuesday 23rd November
In the night we heard lots of noise like airplanes very close. Turned out it was these kind of things run by the wildlife protection agency.:
Headed south down the canal towards Clewiston where there is access into the lake. We had a little smoking from the engine which was quite disturbing but turned out to be a very small leak of diesel onto the hot engine which was easily fixed.
Once we got out into Lake Okeechobee, which incidentally is the largest lake within the US, there was wind so we put up the main sail and got some extra speed.
A few hours later we were across the lake and through the lock at Port Mayaca and under the very low bridge which is a barrier for many boats. You can pay to have your boat tilted to get under the 49' bridge. We passed without even touching the radio antenna.
By the time we got to Indiantown it was dark and John came and helped us onto the dock. It was Thanksgiving week in Indiantown Marina; means free food, beer, wine and entertainment. After the food we went back to Incognita with John & Rejeanne and killed 1/2 bottle of Drambuie
Wedesday 24th November
Due to the popularity of the Indiantown Thanksgiving bash we were lucky to get a slip and we have to share it with this guy.
Exactly how close to the boat is he?
Tried filling the outboard fuel tank with fresh gas per someone's suggestion but no luck starting the sucker. Went shopping in downtown Indiantown (if you saw Indiantown you'd get the crack).
The evening's entertainment was hors d'oeuvres and free wine tasting and music by Dr. Dave's band who we remember as pretty good last year. We had a blast and danced the night away.
Thursday 25th November
It's US Thanksgiving and the marina provides an afternoon meal of turkey etc. We barbecued some mahi mahi to substitute for the turkey. Ira and and Ann arrived around noon to participate. The food, made by the local IGA was really good; there was lots of wine and we had a great meal together.
Friday 26th November
On with the autopilot installation which involved disassembling the binnacle to run the wires below deck. We had John and Rejeanne over for happy hour and they ended up staying for grilled grouper that our friend Marty has given us (about 4lbs of it frozen and really the best).
Saturday 27th November
On with the destruction/construction.
Sunday 28th November
John persuaded me to install the new gear shift throttle lever we bought back in Ontario - just what we need, more work)
Monday 29th November
After installing the new gear shift/throttle I started the engine and found we were going high speed in reverse when we were supposed to be idling in neutral. Something's not right.
Tuesday 30th November
We had the gear shift and throttle cables reversed - what a surprise. Easier to do than you'd think yet again.
Wednesday 1st December
Re-assemble time while Carol went shopping. Had John and Rejeanne over for more grouper.
Thursday 2nd December
Being in the water all that time, I was concerned about what the bottom of the boat looked like, plus on the way to Indiantown it seemed as though we weren't moving through the water at quite the speed we should be. So we'd a arranged a haul out.
Good job we did. The zinc on the propeller shaft was mostly gone and the propeller itself was completely wrapped with crab pot line and fishing line. Plus the bottom looked like it had measles. However, we put it back in the water after replacing zincs and cleaning up the prop.
Friday 3rd December
Started the day with a potential trip to Stuart and breakfast at Crackers, a local terrific breakfast establishment. However, the trip to Stuart never materialized. Meanwhile the toothache that I thought I might have got fixed that day got worse.
Saturday 4th December
When you have toothache with no relief in sight the only thing to do is keep yourself occupied. So it's move everything out of the aft cabin and continue with the wiring.
Sunday 5th December
Autopilot all hooked up and working but doesn't talk to the GPS - sigh!
Monday 6th December
Toothache has to be attended to so John and Rejeanne drove us into Stuart for a dental appointment where I lose the second tooth this year. The dentist said it was so badly infected she didn't know how I'd put up with it.
We had a great shopping day around Stuart .
Tuesday 7th December
Moved the GPS ground around to fix the communication problem but no luck. But after perusing the manual I suddenly realize - guess what? I had the input/output's backwards on the autopilot. Duh! Do you see pattern here?
Wednesday 8th December
It's COLD. When I get up early in the morning there's frost on my bicycle seat.
Finished the autopilot installation (for now) so it's on to fixing the outboard motor.
Thursday 9th December
It's a rainy day and not the right conditions for working outside so I decided to replace the thermostat on the diesel. While doing this I find that the exhaust elbow has deteriorated and needs to be replaced. So it's more parts to order.
Friday 10th December
Disassembled the outboard carburetor and found the main jet clogged. So after cleaning the whole thing with the help of the yard foreman I put it back together and hey presto we have a dinghy with a motor.
Saturday 11th December
Now there's just clearing up stuff to do. Carol was working in the RV again collecting stuff we would need and sorting things out.
In the afternoon we went to visit Marty (grouper guy). Marty is quite a character. He's ex-British Navy - submariner. He now lives in the US and although he's in his early 60's he has a 3 year-old daughter. His wife and daughter live on the west coast of Florida while he has this beautiful 5th wheeler which he moves around in working on construction projects.
We had drinks and snacks with him plus John and Rejeanne, until Marty had to go sleep before working the night shift. He also has armadillos around his trailer. They seem to be just babies because they're quite small.
One last thing. Are you a CBC listener (or watcher) then you might be interested in this.
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