Aeeshah was as John had left her. Alex had cleaned off the decks and made sure she was ready for us. We quickly settled into a daily routine. Most days doing boat chores and then a bike ride somewhere. John has been installing the wind generator despite a few missing blots it is nearly set to go. He has also been busy removing a layer of paint that had been applied by the previous owner. Luckily he has found near perfect white fiberglass under the “paint job”.

The riggers have spent some time installing a new main sail, (which we saw up as we approached the marina from across the bridge as we first arrived). There is also a new boomvang and they are now installing a cutter rig sail to the bow. I have been creating canvas shelves for our clothing inside the cupboards; finishing hatch covers, making covers for the outboard engine, propane, winches and such.

My new love is riding my bike. Our bikes are our transport. Mine is an aluminum collapsible that is black. Alex calls it the Stealth bike. John’s is aluminum Trek with all the fancy gears. We ride every day, to ACE Hardware usually as John seems to always need odds and ends for projects. ACE is about 3 miles away with the 90degree temperatures I found it quite challenging at first. Our one day “off” we rode to Lover’s Key which is 9 miles away, had a picnic under a pavilion in the shade, relaxed, read, walked the beach and then rode home via Publix.

Another favorite break at the end of the day has been in the evenings we have gone in the dingy across to Estero island, walked over to the beach on the other side had a swim and then a shower at the outside showers and finished off with a drink at one of the bars.

We have also had some very pleasant evenings with friends here. There are mainly men living onboard their boats and everyone helps each other. A really good bunch in the “neighborhood”. Our next door neighbor Dan has recently bought a jet boat which he is going to use to take tourists out for thrill rides and 360 degree spins. We went for one of the trial runs and had a fun time.

Hurricane Isaac preparations didn’t take us very long and then it was predicted to be much further off shore. We are in a mandatory evacuation zone so couldn’t leave the marina as we would not be allowed to return as we were not supposed to be here.

The main worry was how high the water would go. The fear was the water level would rise above the land as they predicted a 3 – 5 foot surge. We are fine being on a floating dock system but 3 foot would put the shop, restaurant, car park and all at water level, then any higher and they would be going under water. The staff lifted everything 3 foot above the shop floor just in case.

The marina had been made storm/hurricane ready every boat stripped and everything tied down. Isaac passed quietly many of the guys here were disappointed and spent their time drinking beer at “Big Game”.

I was quite content in the boat doing bits and pieces. When I finally wandered up the dock to Big Game I was fascinated by the water here as all the water seemed to be sucked out and many boats were on the bottom. The gunk-holers that can be seen on moorings up the waterway were on their sides it was so freaky. I joined the guys at Big Game which shut shortly after and then we wandered the docks watching the water just disappear and there was less and less water. At the end of A dock there were a couple of dolphins that came in to say hello. They then started to play with fish throwing them in the air to each other.

The following morning the water was rising at an incredible rate and we were going ever further up the poles of the floating dock. The water was going in the restaurant and car park at an alarming rate. You could actually see it rising. The wind was stronger now than it had been the previous day. Just didn’t make sense. Oh and the current was running opposite to the waves and the boats on moorings were not facing the wind but facing the current being stern to the wind and waves. Like everything was up side down. It was very entertaining. The weather being worse the day after was very strange.

Our next bit of excitement was a major plumbing leak/flood. The main water line basically busted open in the boat. We had to spend hours trying to find the source. Climbing into nooks and crannies trying to figure out where the problem was. John figured it out…..a pipes had been previously broken and patched up, the repair had come apart and so all the cold water was flooding into the bilge. Anyway John solved it and repaired everything and saved the day. The following days in August were a mix of putting Aeeshah back together, boat chores, further bike rides and generally enjoying ourselves.

Here are a few excellent books -memoirs – I have read during the last month:

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman

To the Last Breath by Francis Slakey

Wild: From Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed

“It’s rather nice to think of oneself as a sailor bending over the map of one’s mind and deciding where to go and how to go. The great thing to remember is we can do whatever we wish to do provided our wish is strong enough.”    —  Katherine Mansfield