To market we go...

Last night we walked to the redbox for a movie; this the view of Tilden's.  It is the dive shop next door.  It looks very Keys-ey.

Saturday dawned very cool and very windy.  My thoughts of pedal, pedal, pedaling my clown bike to the Farmer's Market vanished with the huge dark clouds rolling in.  Paps to the rescue; he took me to the market, then the grocery afterwards.  

Willis, being he curious cat that he is, had to check out the
produce; a pineapple, mangos, strawberries, tomatoes and lettuce.

While I was gone, Donnie first attacked Helga (the stinkin' head) one last time.  It turns out we only have a 15 gallon holding tank, so it is likely filling in a week's time, since we have an electric flush.  However, he discovered a kink in the hose leading to the vent, so hopefully that corrects the problem once and for all.  He then decided to tear into the wind generator.  Time to move it off the topsides and get it properly mounted off the stern.  It was an ordeal, as any project on a boat is.  It means you have to tear everything up to get to all the hatches and hidey holes to drill, run wires, etc.  I had naturally cleaned the boat thoroughly before he decided to take these projects on...

Donnie has himself folded into the sea berth, drilling holes
in the boat for the support mounts.  It always makes me
nervous to put holes in a boat!



This is Windy, our
wind generator. The
paddles are not yet
installed on the
turbine. The plan is
once she's working,
between the solar
panels and wind
generator, we will
be completely self-
sustaining to keep
all batteries charged.

We could conceiveably be on the ocean, or at anchor, for extended periods of time, under sail only (no engines running) and we could generate enough power to keep all electronics working, the compressor on the fridge working, even enough juice for the computer, DVD player, etc.  Going green :)  Willis will be very pleased at this, as he does not like the sound of Bessie running.  Bessie starts and runs beautifully now, by the way.  All of those problems are solved, thanks to Mr. Fix It.

While Donnie toiled away, today, I started a new book.  Willis kept bothering me wanting to play.   He likes to get down in the cockpit (if you're in the boat) and stalk you for a sneak attack.  A simple croakie off the sunglasses kept him entertained for awhile.

 

We were invited to Fran and Kenny's for pulled pork...it was delicious!  It made for a nice evening with friends... Hopefully tomorrow it looks to be a little warmer, but still a cranking wind out of the north for a few more days.  Our plans to go sailing looks to be pushed back until Tuesday.  We need the wind and waves to lay down a bit, if we want to dive/snorkel on the reef.  I doubt there's much vis given the weather this weekend.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.