TROPICAL STORMS, TOILETS AND A SEA TURTLE

  "We're in the cone, no we're not in the cone.". "OK yep we're in the cone. "  next day.."I just looked at weather, nope, we're not in the cone good, don't worry, wait wait wait yes we're in the cone....definitely in the cone of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Eta."  If you look at the Weather Channel App on your phone it shows a cone of Hurricane and Tropical Storms' paths.  She is going smack over St Augustine, where we have been the last couple of weeks.  We had been watching her zig zag all over the Gulf. We were experiencing some of the rain and wind since it hit southern Florida the first time. So now batten the hatches..tie up the sail covers and check the mooring lines one more time. Actually, the build up was more work than the actual storm. We had some rain and I'm not sure we will ever dry out.  The winds were out of the south at 35 to 40knots with gust to 50. We were at the north mooring field so we have the marina and Bridge of Lions  in front of us...maybe it helps. We sleep pretty good..not much..checking and re-checking..my father even called to see what kind of anchor we have, incase we break away from the mooring and need to put an anchor down.  Needless to say we were all good...but that wasn't Jon's biggest problem 🤔 

Soooo, in the middle of the night I need to use the bathroom like ever woman my age, and notice we are heeling(that means leaning) to one side a bit..ok. no problem.   The wind is pushing pretty good.  As I pump sea water into the head (that's sailor talk for toilet) I notice that it isn't pumping as easily.....uggh its plugged. It probably sucked up sea weed or something...now it's around 3 am so I'm not telling Jon as he is snoring. Ok now I can't sleep. So when he does awaken to see if the storm is doing anything for him to worry about....I spring it on him as he is ready to check out the head(remember that's the toilet)  "it is a bit hard pumping...maybe I sucked up something?!"  

Jon kind of takes it in stride....this was our vacation stop....where we pretend that we're on vacation and don't do any work.  (Remember we have traveled over 800 miles on the boat, since August 10th) Hahaha. Well, the day before he took our y-valve to the holding tank apart because that was hardly turning.  It ended up taking him all day because the hoses were corroded with salt water. But before this happened,  a manatee peered at him off the back of the boat. "I told you its going to be a great day,  I just saw a manatee in back of the boat. He just looked at me and went on his way!"  

So there is a tropical storm over us and we can't use the head until it's fixed. Soooo.. Jon takes apart the intake valve and finds a pod looking thing (about the size of a large lima bean). But it still isn't pumping right, so he take the hoses apart to the thru hull (that is a hole in the bottom of the boat where we get sea water from) to see if it is plugged there. He ends up overhauling the head pump.....and so that's why Tropical Storm Eta was not Jon Edwards' biggest problem of the day.  Again, though, Jon is in the dingy cleaning the head parts and a dolphin comes up right next to him...he smiles and says "Hi buddy!" And all is well in our world. 

We really had a wonderful time in St Augustine.   We rode our bikes all over, to the beach and light house twice. Of course we rode to West Marine, Ace Hardware and the Sailor's Exchange (a couple of times) The Village had their "Night of Lights"  where they light up all the trees, buildings bridges and boats for the holidays.  The trolleys have Christmas music playing and Mrs Claus is driving a horse and buggy ride.  We could see it all from our boat.  Of course we did laundry and groceries.   On one of last days, Jon spots a sea turtle who peaks up at him...check out the video below.  We love our life and are truly grateful for all the wonders we get to witness. 

A bit to the Tropical Storm Eta

St. Augustine Light House..219 steps...Key West light house is 89

After the beach we stopped at O'Steen's for take out

views from the top

Us watching the Lights

rebuilding the head pump

view in the evening from our boat

always excitement ..not sure what he is doing

the Bridge of Lions

Check this guy hanging out at the dingy dock

There are a lot of street performers. Notice this drummers kick drum

Jon catches this little guy munching in the marina