Friday July 1 2011 Still in Jacksonville FL

Soooooo like usual, something that should have taken maybe one day has taken all week

I broke off a bolt in the shift/throttle control, and it took the better part of 3 days to get it out, drill out the broken bolt, re-tap the thing, then get it all back where it needs to be, and adjusted.

I have also spent a lot of time running around getting other stuff I have needed or just wanted. It's a never ending list....lol

Today I should actually get everyone out on the water for some sailing instruction. For most of the week "The Crew" (Britney, Nick, and Miss Bonnie) have been safely tucked away in the hotel sheltered from the heat, and steps away from the pool. They have also not had to put up with all my cussing every time I bust another knuckle.

The original concept was to leave here this morning, sail north on the Atlantic Inter-coastal Waterway and arrive in the Savannah GA/ Beaufort SC area to visit friends and share the Fourth of July.

I remembered that the LAST Space Shuttle Launch is on the 8th, and have decided that we will instead sail south to the Titusville FL area so we can watch the final Shuttle launch from the boat.

Then we will sail north to the Pamlico Sound area of NC where we need to arrive by July 17th. It was the 15th but Miss Bonnie got her chemo appointment changed by a few days.

I feel like today things will start falling together and everyone will feel like we are actually on a sailing vacation, and not being held hostage in a hotel.

This evening should be a shopping night and tomorrow we should leave on the 1000hrs ebb tide. That will make it easier to get out of the St. Johns River to the Atlantic Ocean entrance.

We will still stay in the Inter-coastal Waterway (ICW) but the junction of the river and ICW is near the mouth of the river.

When we head south towards the Kennedy Space Center for the launch, we will be able to make stops in St. Augustine FL as well as Daytona Beach FL.

The biggest challenge of today will be getting The Crew up, fed and out of here by 0800. They have been on a pretty slack schedule, and when I say we need to get an early start, there is a fair amount of frowning and eye rolling, with Mis Bonnie being the ring leader.......lol