The day after the summer Solstice. Father’s Day. And I celebrated with my Roman Catholic brothers and sisters again. I have absolved the Bishop from the omission in the Blessing of the Fleet. Father Mark promised me he’ll make good when I am ready to leave here. So the Lutheran threat has been withdrawn.
On the subject of my departure plans, since others keep asking. I am still expecting to leave here late August, early September. I might try take in the Port Townsend Wooden Boat show on the weekend of September 13. Then I can just make a left turn at Pt. Wilson and head out the Straits and start my trip down the Coast to California and beyond. The Wooden Boat show might be a good venue to sell “Soloman” and do a conference on the voyage in a wooden boat.
My next project is installing the solar panel. Today I ordered the arch for it to be mounted on the stern like on the previous boat, with a few improvements. Another item solved today. The forward hatch could not be closed far enough to keep waves washing over the bow from entering. The Lewmar hatch is over thirty years old and replacements parts are no longer available. The seal had hardened. I had been looking at replacing the entire hatch. But I am proud of today’s result that cost me all of $ 3.00 in a couple steel washers and a couple hours work cutting down the seal. Last year I had already replaced the latches and added a telescoping support arm because the roll stop function did not function any longer. It closes perfectly now.
The battery I had replaced in April turns out to be defective, so I had to lug this heavy monster back out of the boat and go get a replacement. The next project is the SSB radio and SailMail installation. The Pactor modem is going to take a big bite out of my savings. I plan to circulate an other list to my address list with items I still need, just in case someone might have it sitting in their garage. The engine, with the new mechanical fuel pump is running well again. I went for a short sail last night in the bay here. That is a real work out, with the traffic and the shifting winds. If I do this more I shall be back to my teen age waist size.
Lisa and Rose Marie, surprised me yesterday for Father’s Day. They came out with a gourmet picnic, which we enjoyed on the deck of the marina and they brought me thoughtful cards and gifts. With their busy lives and me not having a car, these occasions are very special. When my first wife and I divorced in 1972, Lisa and Rose Marie then 4 and 8 took me in and looked after their dad, their younger sister and brother moved back to California with their mom. So, there is a very special relationship. Fortunately their younger sister Jeannine and brother John caught up with me in later years. My youngest son Seth, from my second marriage, kept me from boredom when we were just the two of us for a number of years.
