Wednesday June 28 2011 Jacksonville FL

We got here after midnight and I got a late start. We are staying in a hotel for the first few days while we get the boat ready.

I took the Crew (Miss Bonnie, Britney, and Nick) to West marine and there was a 4th of July sale on. I decided to go ahead and spend the extra money to but automatic inflating life vest for everyone. They are very comfortable to wear....not like the big orange things. IF you hit the water they auto inflate. Pretty pricy stuff but if it motivates everyone to wear the life vests more, then it is worth it.

It was so hot we pretty much ended up back at the hotel by 6pm.

Britney volunteered to get in the Bosun's chair and be cranked up the 44 foot tall mast to change out the bulbs in the masthead light which is all the way at the top. Then she did the Steaming Light which is half way up, and the Foredeck Light as well. I need to get the replacement bulbs and today she will go back up an reinstall them.

We are getting off to a very slow start. I hope to take them out for a little training sail this afternoon or evening.

First day in Jacksonville FL

All the plans (which I prefer to call CONCEPTS) changed. The train trip to get here was going to be ALL at night, so I switched to a one way rental car, which would be over $500.

I decided that I could better use the 500 scoots to bring the Suburban back to life. So after I put in new brake lines, plugs, wires, fixed the A/C, new insurance, and over a hundred freakin dollars for a registration........we arrived here in Jacksonville FL a little after midnight last night.

The next few days will be taking care of some thing on the boat "BRITNICK" and doing some sailing lessons for the "very green" crew, and I hope to be out of here maybe Thursday morning on the outgoing tide.

There is a GREAT kind of junk store/used boat parts place over in St. Augustine FL call the" Sailors Exchange". I is all things boat. It is a fantastic place to find used treasures. We will also tour around St. Augustine a little. Right about now I could use a little of that Fountain of Youth juice.

I am soooo disorganized

We are set to leave for Jacksonville FL on Monday morning and I am running WAY behind on everything.

This is not uncommon, but I had great hopes that maybe this time I would pull it off without being down to the very last minute, leaving grouchy, and with no sleep.

The Grand Kids Britney, and Nick will be there and Miss Bonnie will have just gotten out of the hospital from her Chemo, and she will be very sick. I need to be on my best behavior.

I need to get away from this computer and get at other tasks but I also am trying to get back to the habit of writing something everyday.

This will probably be what I use as a "Ships Log" so I need to get in the habit.

Looking at the dates of the postings here it is very clear to me that life is running away from me at a break neck speed.

I am in Nashville right now nearing the end of a big corporate gig at the Gaylord Opryland complex.

I will return on Monday the 2oth and then soend the week getting ready for a trip where Miss Bonnie, Britney my 16 yr old Grand Daughter, and Nick my 14 year old Grand Son will take the train on the 27th from Raleigh NC to Jacksonville Fl where we will board my 30 foot Tartan sailboat "Britnick" and spend a couple of weeks sailing back up the coast to the Pamlico Sound area of NC.

I am hoping on the trip things will slow down enough so I can get some posts up to date.

Remember.....play nice, and ENJOY!