This has proven to be another great sailing day. Yesterday’s too-strong winds have moderated and are now pushing Alana northward at 6-7 knots. I am tentatively steering for Tarpon Springs, planning to arrive at first light, but if the forecast calls for it, I may fall off toward Apalachicola late tonight or in the morning and continue making hay.
I can see the end now. Barring unforeseen difficulties, which alas are always a possibility, I can be in Pensacola buy the end of next week. I’m looking forward to a few days with Jessica before driving up to Ohio for Christmas with my family. It will be the first in a long time; there were only a couple of occasions that I made it home for Christmas during my 24 years in the Coast Guard. Jessica’s parents had generously offered to pick me up at Crystal River for a little relaxation at their Inverness home, but given the forecast, it makes more sense to angle off to the northwest rather than spend too much time working my way north into Florida’s “elbow.”
I spent much of today reading and “fishing.” I caught yet another Bonito, but again, nothing for the pot. The fine weather and cooperative autopilot allowed me to finally finish The Other Nuremberg by Arnold C. Brackman, an interesting recounting of the trial of Japanese war criminals and to start on Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas, the story of an Idaho murder trial around the beginning of the 20th century.
Yesterday I forgot to mention the tragic loss of my French Press. It tipped over in exactly the wrong manner, breaking when the tempered glass struck the exposed metal hinge on the refrigerator door. Damn the luck; I shall have no coffee for the rest of this trip. I prefer the flavors one gets with the press, but an all-metal percolator is probably better suited to life aboard a boat.
Sorry to read about the bad luck. Dragging anchor, an autopilot on the fritz, and a bum generator are nothing compared to not having coffee! I have the fix: The Aeropress. If you like French press, you're going to love this little number. I use it at home and on the boat. There's no substitute and no comparison. It's a good size for the solo sailor, too. Check it out on Amazon.com - they seem to offer good deals.
ReplyDeleteAnd perhaps if the Captain would like one he should give Santa a heads-up so it might be in his stocking. Just saying.
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