It's a boat!!

Sometimes I think that fate is conspiring to keep us from setting off on our journey, and then someone will remind me that we are talking about a boat.  Expect the unexpected.  Bet On Another Thousand.

While modifying the hydraulics to accommodate the autopilot, Michael discovered a leak in the steering system which he believes is a direct result of all the hammering the boatyard did in their attempts to remove the old bearings a few weeks ago.  And then, while the mechanics were here to fix that problem, they discovered that one of the anode bolts (something else that they 'fixed' during that last haul out) is also leaking.  So now they need to haul us out again to fix that.

I have been keeping busy during all of this, and trying not to stress about the delay in our departure.  I have started stripping old varnish off some of the trim, and have even channeled Martha Stewart enough to make a first attempt at making bread.  It was a little flat, and got a little overdone because my oven runs about 50 degrees hot (something I just discovered), but delicious all the same.  We ate half a loaf hot out of the oven, standing over the sink and dripping butter down our fingers.  Heaven!!

On any given day, there are a number of boats that stop at our marina for the night, on their way up or down the river. They come in all shapes and sizes, new and old, well maintained to downright dumpy. But never before has one heralded its arrival with music, or to be more precise, circus music!  This lovely old river boat minus the paddle wheel has a calliope on the upper deck.  They started playing their entrance before they were visible through the opening the marina basin, and certainly got everyone's attention.  Again, as they departed the next morning, they played their way out.  This time, we managed to get it on video.  Click on the link for full effect.

Calliope on the upper deck