Mazu was glad to get off the boat and the leash and run around.  We were the first ones to this marina so there was no one for her to bother. She ran from one end of the grass lawn to the other, back and forth. Here she is enjoying the scenery on the Alligator River.
  Wanted to show you the piers that we have to swing ropes over to secure our boat.  I'd love to get a video of us docking at finger piers because it is not our strongest point.  I always ask for help.
  We were going to do a load of laundry here but were told by fellow boaters that the water here is disgusting - brown.  Skip that.
  Later we may try to find a 3' piece of board among the debris across the street to make into a fender board for when we need to dock against a wall.  Could be an adventure getting this board.  A fellow boater said he found his in a dumpster.  The stories we've heard from other boaters about how they bought their boat or things that have happened to them . . . everyone's got a story.  We boarded one boat that was identical to ours -- another Island Packet 380, 1999 except that they'd lived on it for 20 years!  We both got off and agreed, "If that's what living aboard is like we do not want to do it!!"  They had blankets and pictures and photos hanging up and carpeting and knick knacks and stuff on top of every surface.  They had 2 cats so they had this netting all around the life lines on deck to keep the cats on board.  Their dinghy was completely full hanging off the stern of the boat and the aft cabin was full to the brim with clothes and supplies. 
  We didn't even get a printer for our boat to see if we could  go paperless, and we're doing pretty well with that one.  We're paying bills on line, having a few things forwarded to us at places that will hold mail till we get there. Trying to simplify and live with a lot less.  No more books - only e-books even charts are electronic (Navonics, many weather apps, grib lines), though we have a complete set of paper ones too for safety.  You never know if the electronics will get wet or die out.   Everything on a boat has a back up including spare parts for anything that can break.  That's a lot of parts.
  I do miss TV and news, can I say that?  Sharing wifi at marinas never has enough bandwidth to get Netflix online or any streaming shows.  A few marinas have clubhouses with TV but usually you can't choose your own shows or it isn't quiet.  Doesn't work.   Not sure if we'll be anywhere there is enough strength for  skyping me into book club or to see family.  We haven't bought what we need to have the stronger communication links.  There will only be a small part of the trip tomorrowdown a 20 mile canal that has no coverage because it is a huge preserve with no population.  We should see some wildlife - bears, heron, ducks, birds, etc.
  Crazy ticket prices for the Red Sox tonight!  Hope they win!  Boston Strong. We've been listening to games on the radio and will tonight.
  Send comments to email: Debtwombly@gmail.com  or Drew@sunriselabs.com.  I did mark this blog to allow comments.  Doesn't work for many.