March 3, 2006 Marathon

Dear Gang,

Just bought a new laptop and am sitting on the boat using wireless. Will be online here thru Mar 15, then head for Hollywood (where I hear the whole city has free wireless) for 2-3 weeks before beginning our trip north. We hope to be in Kens slip in RI by mid to late June.

We arrived here Dec 2, and have had gorgeous weather all winter. Once in awhile a cold front goes thru and it only gets up to 70 for a couple of days, then back to almost 80 (today is 83). This is the best winter for weather I can remember (our 6th winter here). We sailed down to Key West for a week earlier this month. Great weather and not many people there, tho now they're crowded with Spring Break.

Yesterday I spent 1 = hours at the top of the mast replacing and wiring our missing light. I hope it lasts til we get north, I've never done wiring before. We practiced all the moves (cutting, connecting , crimping, etc) before I went up. Ken said I would find 4 wires, red, blue, yellow and white, but when I got up there all I saw was 4 blue wires, and was at a loss til I decided they were all covered with blue tape. (He didn't remember he had covered them.) Then I had to balance this foot-high navigation light, insert 3 bolts and fasten nuts. Of course only 2 would align and finally I gave up on the third. Did I mention I tripped and fell in Oct, landing on my left hand and seriously spraining all 4 fingers. They're still not healed and I have little strength in that hand, all of which did not help this project. I do hope it holds til we get north!!!!

Keep in touch

- Jane and Ken