We have a sail!

As promised, Terry from Quantum Sails was here at 8:30 this morning, with our new mainsail. It went up just like it should so we rolled it up and took her out for a spin. There was a pretty good breeze out on Galveston Bay so we got to really test her out. She passed with flying colors. Terry was very nice to go out with us and give us a lesson or two on trimming sails. It was a bit odd to get the boat heeled over pretty good, turn the autopilot on and then all of us walk out on to the deck to look at the sail when it was full of air. I still have a bit to go before that feels right.

Another major hurdle to leaving is removed.

In the afternoon we ran into the mechanic that is going to work on our diesel generator. From the sound of it we'll be seeing him tomorrow, a day earlier than I had expected. As the big stuff is getting taken care of a number of little things that we'd like to get done before we leave are getting accomplished as well. I think both Susan and I feel our remaining time here in Kemah is getting short. It is both exciting and scary.

With the help of Brad, our neighbor on Never Again, we put the outboard motor back on the dinghy. I wanted to get it started again and make sure all was right with it while we are still here at the marina. I had a gas line issue of some kind but it is sorted now and the motor is running though it's a bit rough at idle. I'd like to take a little tour of the marina in the dinghy so we'll try to do that tomorrow before we hoist the motor back up on the rail until it is needed again.

We've looked at charts and have a plan (with no times) for how we'll make our way to New Orleans and then a bit less of a plan on how we'll get from there over to Pensacola. Our friends on Another Life are there now and it sounds like someplace we'll want to spend at least a few days. At some point before we get there we'll get out of the dirty brown water around here and get to the clear blue water we are very much looking forward to seeing.

I'm writing so often now because it keeps me from entering receipts into a spreadsheet for us to keep track of our expenses. I'm afraid I'll have to devote some time to that tonight. I thought I was done with spreadsheets when I left HDS. It seems not.  ;-)

Take care.
Brian