September, 2017

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Tuesday September 19. Along the way of José.

Tuesday, September 19th, 2017

White caps, rain squalls and bent over pine tree tops from the western edge of the northward path of José. Just in time, yesterday, the keel-stepped mast was lowered and the wasted diesel engine removed. The crew at the Cape Charles Yacht center did an excellent job. This was the first time the mast was unstepped since “Mariah” was launched in 1986. FHD0028

I am getting closer to start the repair of the split chine. This takes the weight of the mast off the keel and places it on the part of the boat above the split. The plan is to use a combination of a hydraulic jack and the support stanchions to close the gap.  

Since my previous blog, on the Labor Day weekend, there has been no reason to go back to Chesapeake. I had my physical therapy consultation on the 5th and have a program to do daily exercises.

Last Sunday was the annual parish picnic for the Saint Charles of Borromeo church. My new friends, Ralph and Jeanette, came to get me for the gathering at the nearby Kiptopeke Sate Park. Father Michael Breslin said mass. The parish latino marriage singers accompanied the liturgy and songs in Spanish. At communion they played and sang my very favorite, Spanish/English hymn, because it is so very appropriate in my life style. http://”Pescador de Hombres” or “Lord you have come to the sea shore”, just like I reported in my blog last January 16th from Puntarenas, Costa Rica

I get goose bumps at:

Señor, me has mirado a las ojos
sonriendo, has dicho mi nombre
en la rena, he dejado mi barca
junto a ti, buscaré otro mar

O Lord, in my eyes you were gazing, Kindly smiling, my name you were saying;  All I treasured, I have left on the sand there; Close to you, I will find other seas.

Here is a short video of the six teenagers performing a traditional Mexican folk dance at the picnic.

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Sunday September 3rd. Labor Day weekend.

Sunday, September 3rd, 2017

Last weekend I returned to Chesapeake to attend the funeral service for a friend-parishioner of St. Thérèse church. Back in Cape Charles, it has been raining and windy practical all week. But there is plenty of work still to do inside the boat. Still ripping out wiring and cabinetry. Friday I spent the afternoon just to try and remove the top of the chart-table that turned out to be fastened with contact cement. It took for ever breaking it loose with wooden wedges. I started in the bow and now have the quarter berth and under the cockpit sole left to remove the last of the mud and salt deposits.

I have been attending the local St. Charles of Borromeo church here, established in 1886. Very nice friendly community. Pitch pine 1x 3 and 1x 4 T&G flooring and pine pews. When I get a better camera again I’ll post picture of the roof of the sanctuary, which make the bowed triangles look like the inside hulls of old fishing dories. On the occasion of the national holiday we sang “God Bless America” and the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. I find today’s second reading very appropriate in these troubled times, from Paul’s letter to the Romans 12:2

“Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect ”  

Rev. J.Michael Breslin

Rev. J.Michael Breslin

There is a brisk cool breeze blowing from the west. We are promised a better sunnier warmer day tomorrow on Labor Day. I will go back to Chesapeake tomorrow evening to have my first consultation for a physical therapy regime to improve my back.