We're in Lake Worth, Riviera Beach, which is very close to the inlet that we will take to cross the Gulf Stream early next week...hopefully. The wind has been howling out of the east and I wonder how long it will take for the waves to lie down. I'm hoping for a nighttime passage Monday to Tuesday.
First we went down to West Palm Beach to hob knob with the wealthy folks and their toys.
No getting around the loneliness of Christmas on a boat in Florida without family and friends. We got through it and are happy it's over. We spent Christmas eve in a place called Manatee Pocket. The boat was very festive.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/oFGZFPEm9YMpXD1L8
Floridians don't have snow but they are into lights.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vEc7QF9MKxP2cMQq6
Maintenance continues to be a big time suck (old boat). Stuffing box started leaking like crazy and I was dreading the prospect of either repacking it while in the water or having the boat hauled. But I was able to tighten it up and I may repack in the Bahamas where I expect to clean the hull and inspect the zincs in warm crystal clear water.
And then the fuel solenoid on the generator bit the dust. I can close it manually for now and hopefully the boater's best frind - Amazon Prime - can bring me a new one right away.
The BMW is running really well. I spent extra care filling the heat exchanger with oil, tightened the belt an extra milimeter, cleaned the strainer etc etc and now she's running much cooler than she has been.
We've traveled 1700 miles and we're less than 100 miles from our turn-around point. And after a month and a half or so there, we'll start back up the way we came and bring you all some warm weather.
Happy New Year!
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