Had another nice sleep in past the sunrise. Seems fitting for a Sunday morning. Hit the facilities and showered, leaving a load of laundry chugging away with me going back to the boat for coffee and some internet-ting. Went over to get the laundry after an half hour or so and hung the wet but washed items on the stern pulpit and helm and compass' pedestal.
Soon after Chris dropped me a text saying that he would be arriving at about 10:30. We had planned to install the water pump, bilge pump and metal stripping along the teak at the gunnels.
When Chris arrived it was nice to hear that his doctors had cleared him for moderate lifting, so he is making progress which was wonderful news.
We managed to get one the metal trim along the gunnels finished. This included digging around to find the screws and metal pieces under a grueling sun.
There is one elusive 4 to 5 inch piece which can continue to be searched for and will be a one man job once found anyway. The 5 to 6 foot lengths really were a two man job and Chris was a great sport for helping me out with that.
When the sun crossed the yardarm we were both pretty spent, having been out in the noon day sun all this time. Took Chris to the Marina's Pub and bought him a well deserved beer. It was temping to join him but after 11 years of following my doctor's advice it seemed silly to break it now. At least my Pepsi had bubbles.
Chris had more duties to help his daughter with some moving, so he headed off with plans to return next Monday. At that time we could work on the bilge and water pump installs. The bilge being the more important of the two to finish before Makina's splash.
Most of the other projects can now be done once launched. Chris said that they can even tow you to your slip if needed. Good to know if the throttle stick from Beta holds us up.
Oh by the way Chris found the old levers for throttle and choke. No wonder they had been missed as they did not look at all like my imaginings of them.
The "Shift" and "Fuel" marked on them should have been a dead give-away. Guilty as charged.
Nothing from Jose again today. Getting a bit concerned. Dropped a text to see that all is well. Hopefully tomorrow will get us almost to the finish line, in terms of the engine install. Getting the parts will move the complete finish off towards the end of the week.
Have sailing instructions scheduled for next weekend. Chris should be dropping round the following Monday. Sounds like Splashing Week to me; though keeping in mind that the best laid plans of mice and men oft times go astray.
May the wind be at your back!
