Here we go again

Bet you thought I was going to say that we are happily cruising through the blue waters of Mobile Bay, or even the Gulf. I'm afraid not.  We're still here at Turner Marine in Mobile - but look at us now!

That's right - we're on the hard again.  The good news is that we got the new starter motor for the port engine installed and functioning, and they got the starboard engine properly aligned (which should have been done last time we were out of the water, but apparently wasn't).  They were able to reduce the vibration in the port engine a lot, but couldn't get it 'within specs'.  Michael, the mechanics, and other experts at the marina agreed that we needed to pull the boat and see if there is a problem with the shaft that is causing the vibration.  This is the same shaft that the guys at Goose Pond had such difficulty with, yet they didn't solve the problem.

Imagine us trying to live on board in our condo in the sky!  We've been out for 2 nights now, and thankfully it is getting warmer, so we are managing OK.  We are filling our days with lots of little odd jobs that we have on our list, but we are getting restless, and really want to be on our way.

The good news is that there are lots of other loopers still hanging around here for various reasons, so we are not alone.  Last night, someone organized a looper dinner at the local yacht club, and there were about 20 of us.

In addition to all of the folks from various parts of the US, there is a couple from Denmark, and a couple from Sweden.  This couple left home 7 years ago and have been through the Middle East, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Brazil, the Caribbean, the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay, and down the Mississippi to here.  Their plan is to now head towards through Panama into the Pacific, and venture to the South Pacific Islands.  I can't even imagine!

Moon rise over the bay