Ft. Lauderdale, Las Olas Marina

West Marine sales reps now treat us as a friend, greeting us on a first name basis on our daily visits and automatically giving us the volume spending discount without being reminded.  Today was a two-trip WM day, the first was two miles on the trolley and then a mile on foot for both of us with stops at Publix, Total Wine and CVS along the way.  After returning to the marina Dennis ascended the mast in the bolsom’s chair sporting the new wind instrument, antennae and halyards tied on to the chair and safety harness.  Once at the top he worked for about 20 minutes and returned to the deck safely, the two projects successfully installed.  Now with fingers crossed the tests, the radio check was loud and clear, but the wind transducer still had no readout, necessitating another trip for Dennis to WM, biking 23 minutes each way, returning with a new one to install.  Last project on the list was a new oil pressure sensor, not critical, but with enough time to complete installation, why not.  I've often said Dennis does more work in a day than most do in a week, and this is proof, in just two and one half days and $7K later he has Aurora seaworthy again.

Tomorrow is the last good day for crossing to the Bahamas for the next week, and without being able to test all the systems to see if they are functioning properly after the lightening strike, we have decided it would not be prudent to try to cross to the Abacos this year.  So instead, we will head southward for “No Name Harbor” tomorrow in Biscayne Bay near Miami, putting Aurora to the test, then retracing the beginning of our trip, eventurally making our way homeward to PGI.

All in all, Ft. Lauderdale has been a good place to be stranded, close to the beach and world's largest West Marine.  Every morning Fritz and I have enjoyed a walk along the beach before returning to the boat to pass Dennis tools, pull halyards and be over all organizer of the stuff.  Remember the rule about small spaces, “A place for everything and everything in its place.”  It's the only way to sail sanely!  So we leave here, repaired, rested and ready again for cruising.  

Are we disappointed to not make the crossing, yes, but we so feel blessed to have been a part helping others achieve their dreams of cruising to the Bahamas, and know there will be a right time for us in the future.