4th of July on Wednesday

Monday morning and we will go to boat early again today as the temperature is so high. Overnight it only goes down to 80 degrees. Today will be in the hi 90's, with a heat index of 109. No place for a girl and boy from the cooler and less humid climate of Canada.

 Today Peter will once again talk to Anthony, the marina owner to see if he can work towards getting the engine in our boat this week. We still wait for the new manifold, but everything else can get ready to receive it.

 Last week was a very productive week. Got the second coat of paint on the hull, got the last of the gallon of ablative paint on the bottom. Not fully covered so still some turquoise showing, but it won't show when boat is in the water. We don't need ablative in fresh water, only in salt water to protect against those pesky sea life creatures that like to attach themselves.

 Peter discovered that the bolts holding he swim platform had rusted thru so we had an unexpected job of replacing all of them. The alternator for the starboard engine wasn't  working, and he found a new one under the bed, so he swapped it out. The new 38 gallon waste tank arrived, so the plan is to install it this week. Unfortunately the old one is full and we will need to empty it by hand. One person needs to pump from the inside of boat and one person needs to catch the stuff in a bucket on the outside of boat. I opted to be the pumper, rather than the catcher. he he he.

 There is a little more painting. I want to paint a navy blue stripe along the top of the hull just under the cap rail and above the rub rail. I think it is called the boot stripe. That should be the last of the painting, unles I decide to give the transom a second coat. We still need to install the deck wash pump. And that brings our list of things to an end for now.

So it would be really good if Anthony can get the engine installed this week.

Michael, Parade Marshall for the Ramese Temple, Toronto; Charlotte North Carolina, July 4th, 2012. Wearing a red wool topcoat and the humidex is 105, in a 2 hour long parade. Outstanding dedication and committment.

 Our son Michael and Leslie are in Charlotte Nc this week with the Shriners for their International convention. He is now part of the Divan and also Parade Marshall for our section. This is a 3 hour parade. We plan to go to Charlotte Wed. to see the parade, have dinner with them and some visiting time. It will be good to see them again.

Jim and Linda have returned from their family vacation in the Turks, where their children and grandchildren helped them celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Everything was better than they had hoped. Linda thinks she broke her little toe while walking on the beach the first day.

 I finally got to play with Linda's Kubota tractor. We took both tractors out to cut the grass. It took all of Saturday morning and then some. Linda says they figure they have 8 acres of grass to cut. I believe them. Temperature about 98 degrees, heat index 110. We had bought Frog Togg chillers. A chamois type fabric the size of a small towel that you soak and put around your neck. They sure make a difference. Not sure we could have been in the heat long enough to finish the grass otherwise.

 The grass cut, the flowers watered, we were ready for the Murray's return. But wait. The air conditioner upstairs is not cooling. It is 86 degrees on the second floor and my glasses fog up with the heat and humidity. We slept in the family room downstairs where it was cool and comfortable.

 Jim fixed the air conditioner Sunday afternoon. What a thing to come home to. And in that heat. Well gotta go. Time is flying by and we can only work in the cool of the morning. By about 11 am it is too hot.