It's never SIMPLE

We found out that the engine can run without building up pressure.(The mechanic that we talked to didn't know what he was talking about! The engine does need to build pressure ) So now Warren is replacing or rebuilding everything that is involved with the cooling system. We also found out the best place to get a new fresh water pump is in the U.K. This engine is really a British Leyland built in England and Westerbeke just added some components and put their name on it. If you try and buy a Westerbeke part here in the USA they charge you an arm and a leg plus your first born. So now we are waiting on the pump.....and we paid way less then half of what Westerbeke ask. Warren was researching this for two days. I am really really really hoping this will fix it. The fun is going to happen someday I promise!!! Even if I have to get there in the dinghy!!! :)

ON THE WATER....FINALLY

Today, with the help of Capt. Roland Briere we took Sea Notes out on our first sail.
Capt Roland did a great job of setting aside our worries about handling Sea Notes, she is a very steady vessel. The winds where in the right directions leaving port but on the way back it was on the nose. We started up the engine, and we where watching the temp gauge very close. It didn't disappoint us, our temp was rising. The heat exhaust manifold cap was leaking pressure, we think.  This will not let it build up the pressure like it is suppose to and then it over heats.  Exactly like a radior in a car. Hopefully we can get a new one tomorrow. And that will fix that, and just 2 other things to do to on the mast and one on the rudder we should be set to leave.
We want to thank Capt. Roland for his patience!

It's hard to believe, it's finally happening!!!!

A Day off the Boat

While we are waiting...... we decided to check out the place where we are going to store the car. Warren really thinks that since we will be in the Keys we should keep the car just in case we have problems. We found a place for $25 a month in Punta Gurda, 100 miles away. It was a beautiful day for a drive.  On the way we stopped at Gamble Mansion it's the last sugar plantation in Florida. Here is a web site if you want to know more http://www.thegambleplantation.com/component/content/article/39-rokstories/55-southern-antebellum-mansion

front view

side view

Well at top and kitchen bottom         

RV and picnic area

We also stopped at Emerson Point Park, this is where the Manatee river and the Gulf meet.  That's Warren walking I tried to get a picture of is pony tail for all you a home. But I don't think you can see it very well. Sorry, I know its hard to believe, since he aways had a military cut.

New name needed!

This is our new yellow dinghy. We decided to take it out for a little spin and check out the channel that we will be leaving through. I don't know if it was the bow pointing to the sky or the white foam trailing behind the boat. But we attracted some company.
Some nice men in a Law Enforcement boat stopped us.
We where going to fast and we had no whistle.
So after a warning about our speed they let us go.
What a nice way to break in the boat! I think the new name should be "C ME GO FAST".  :)



A BIG THANKS to Tony Flores from Alaska Series by Gary Kings for taking care of us. We hope this one will take us thru out our travels.

This is one of our problems, we have been waiting for the stainless steel guys to come out and do some
welding. A previous owner decide to cut out a section of the bale so his anchor would fit. The bale's purpose is to stop the anchor from falling out of the anchor tray in rough seas. These guys should have been here so many times I have lost count. Today was one of those days. I don't know what Warren will do now.  Also the air conditioning unit has a leak, now we need someone to come out and fix that.
My new motto is "NOTHING IS EVER EASY"!!!!