December 20, 2013 Friday

Got up early to take the generator in but they didn't open till 9 am, so...we decided to try a Waffle House and get that off our list of places to try.  I had a pecan waffle which was very good.  Took the generator into the service dept., told them it just wouldn't start, we've tried taking out the spark plug, new gas, tried for several different days but just would start, not even a spark.  I had a feeling we should just try it once more on the service shelf, with encouragement from the intake lady Curt begrudgingly tried to start it and first pull it started purring like a new Honda generator.  After the shock wore off Curt was speechless, is disbelief he shut it off and tried it again.  What do you know, it worked perfectly.  The service guys all had a good laugh, said that has happened to them too.  Made us feel like we weren't stupid, Curt bought a spark plug and some fuel additive just in case, off we left with a perfect working generator.

Beautiful day again 70's and sunshine, friends and family at home telling us the temp there brrrrr.  Hesitantly decided we wouldn't go back for Christmas.  My heart aches not to be there with the boys and grand daughters but I console myself that we can Skype and that will help.   

Decided it was Friday night, I cleaned out all the little areas in the boat trying to find where the smell is coming from (Curt says a dirty sock) .  Just did laundry so it's not that.  Maybe the water under the cooler or under the sink, boat seems to be "sweating" in the humidity here, even the galley floor has water around the edges.  Turned the heater on for awhile, which seemed to dry thinks out some.  Really weird to see the floor of the boat sweating.  Anyway we felt we accomplished a lot today and should go out to dinner at the Yacht Club next door, since we don't have a car and nothing is close by here besides marinas.  Asked our good friends and they later suggested they take us to their favorite spot Pelican Reef close to Dauphin Island.  They have taken us so many places, so kind of them.  Left at 4:30 so we could see the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico and the island before dark.  Beautiful Island and sunset over the gulf, great meal of red snapper with a cup of crabmeat dressing and shrimp gravy over the top of that, baked potato and lettuce salad. Yummy, glad Curt and I shared so I could share with Darlene the bread and raisin pudding with whiskey sauce.  Yum Yum!! 

                                



beach off of Dauphin Island overlooking the gulf at sunset.

                              
                                                                                           

















Pete, Darlene and Marilyn