Day 209 - Clearwater

Things are looking up!  We have a working generator with a spare part on order - just in case.  The heater needs a new thermostat, but the repairman improved its operation in the meantime.  Bob installed a new fuel pump as a back-up in case the engine gives us any more trouble.  The stove  . . . well, we have heat.  The thermostat in the oven can't be regulated, so we have to use an oven thermometer and adjust the knob until it registers the temperature we want.  We also purchased a baking stone which has been recommended to reduce the problem we've had of everything burning on the bottom.  (Note to all:  Think twice about purchasing a Seaward Princess stove.)  We think it's time to continue on.

Yesterday, we took a quick trip to Rob and Linda's home in Lakeland.  I was sad to hear that all 14 of the fluffy little yellow and brown muscovy chicks that we photographed earlier had been preyed upon, and were no more.  Rob and Linda found a new hatching of 8 chicks earlier in the day, so we went to take pictures of them.  Only 3 remained.  While we were watching them, a great blue heron swooped down and flew off with one of the 3 in his beak.  The mother could do nothing but squawk in anger.
  








Our neighbor, Nash, captain of the sailboat Watercolor, will be buddy boating with us, so we invited him over for Bob's yummy pancakes and debated leaving today.  It would be cold at anchor tonight, but we have a generator and heat. It's supposed to get windy, but not until later this afternoon.  If we leave by 11:00, we should be at anchor at Gulfport in plenty of time.

So we gathered in all the lines and fenders.  The sun was shining, though the air was a chilly 40 degrees.  Less than half a mile out, Nash radioed that his engine was overheating.  We stood by while he tried to isolate and resolve the problem.  He decided to return to the marina, and hire a professional.  We will spend the rest of the day watching the passing of the dinner cruise ship, the fishing boats, the dolphin watch cruises, and the big red pirate ship, and try again tomorrow.