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Keef.com

07/31/07 Yikes!  It’s been almost a month since I’ve updated this thing.  Like the new format?  The boat is safely parked in La Paz and Sean is back on the road working and traveling.  Dana is in Dallas now.  We are both heading to Sacramento next week to begin the process of moving our stuff down to Mexico.  That should be fun!

06/20/07 We made it to Panama!  Almost exactly 6 days in transit.  Waded into the sea of big ships waiting for canal transit at about 4am today.  Just met with our ship’s agent, Stanley, who is getting us checked in and thinks he can have our canal transit schedule for Friday.  Only problems were with the alternator on the port engine.  Looks like something else that needs to be replaced.  Teri—hope you have room in your luggage!

06/13/07 It’s 8:50pm now and we’re done.  We hope.  Fixed the leaky hose by having Orlando custom make us one in 3 hours for 100 bucks.  When we went up the mast to change the bulb we discovered that it wasn’t the bulb—the whole assembly was shot.  Back to West Marine for another couple hundred dollars of stuff.  When Leslie was up the mast she discovered that the sail was torn at the top and needed to be repaired.  We took that down and found that the furler is loose and is messing up the sail—no way to fix it.  We repaired the sail, installed the new mast head light and the new hose and we think we’re ready for tomorrow.  At 0 dark 30 we head out.  Hopefully our next update will be 5 days from now from Panama.  Lots of thanks to Don and Leslie for their help.  We couldn’t have done all this with out them.

06/13/07 Ug.  We left today at 7:50 pm after a day of fixing the “water box” - the part of the exhaust system that keeps water from flowing back into the engine and acts as a muffler.  Stupid plastic part.  Got a crack in it.  Tried epoxy—no dice.  Leslie and Don (God bless their heart) ran all over Fajardo and found a used one from another boat and made it fit.  It’s a jury rig but a solid one.  At about 9:00 we discovered a serious leak in the hydraulic steering system.  One of the hoses developed a leak where it was crimped on to the fitting.  Drove back to the marina using engines only—no rudder.  We’re back at the dock now and have also discovered that the navigation lights don’t work.  So…  One more day in Fajardo finding parts and making things work…  Wish us luck!

06/10/07 48 hours remain till we leave.  Dana has been having flight troubles and won’t be in till tonite, Leslie and Don arrive tomorrow and Sean is still working on getting the boat ready.  The water pump that was supposed to be fixed on Friday wasn’t cuz they parts place ordered the wrong gasket.  The mechanics will be back on Monday to install it using a home-made gasket and also put in new impellers and fix an exhaust problem.  Sean has about half the provisioning done and will do the rest today.  Check out the links section for a Google Earth link that will show you our planned path and what we actually do.

06/05/07 In less than 24 hours Sean flies to PR with 100 lbs of stuff.  The rest of our belongings having been sold, given or bartered away.  Well, there are a few things that will be hauled to a storage unit in San Diego… and the stuff that is going to Sean’s brother and Dana’s parents….

05/29/07 Back from the BVI trip and planning the PR to Ensenada voyage now.  The BVI trip was a blast and was good as a shake-down cruise also.  Found some engine problems that need attention.  Ran the Spinnaker—that rocked.  Still tying to sell all our stuff—check it out—http://www.keef.com/sale.htm

05/10/07 Updating the website from 30,000 on my way back from Asia.  So much to do, so little time.  We leave in 2 days!  BBQ and Propane tanks ordered—hope they arrive on time.  Heard from an old friend that may join us for Costa Rica to Acapulco.  Craig’s List is working out—our lifelong collection of stuff is being sold.  Anyone need a poster of Prince, back when he was named that the first time?

04/27/07 Looked at my phone this morning and realized the “boat-sitter” had called.  My heart skipped a beat.  When he answered the phone his first words were, “The boat is ok.”  But….  The batteries are dead.  I think he left the key turned on.  At least that’s what I hope it is… 

04/11/07 With the “sale” behind us we turn our attention to the “sails” ahead.  (I crack myself up.)  We have a full boat for the May trip and are busy signing up people for the big trip to Ensenada.  Also—the reality of getting rid of most of our “stuff” and moving onto the boat looms ahead.  Anyone want to buy a futon?

04/05/07 Well—It’s a done deal.  Dana and I own the boat as of today, April 5th, 2007.  Coast Guard docs in hand.  On Saturday we will sail 3 miles out to sea and execute the “documented offshore sale”.