So after being woken up by the drunken drowned rats at midnight—and assuring the kids that the noise outside wasn’t Santa, but that he’d be coming as soon as they were gone—the kids managed to get back to sleep until our normal six a.m. When they came out it was time for the best part of Christmas, digging through the stockings.
Lowe got what I suppose is his first pair of slippers, and he hasn’t taken them off since.
Ouest made everyone bracelets with yarn on the outside, and tinfoil in the middle so they could be wrapped around the wrist. Pretty ingenious, I thought.
Unfortunately, like with previous RC boats, this one didn’t survive the week. It died the typical electronics mixed with saltwater death that they all do, despite my constant heroic attentions with fresh water and WD-40. It was fun while it lasted. Fortunately, Lowe understands that the likelihood of his boats lasting more than a few outings is very slim.
Mood ring. She gets shy when it says she’s feeling romantic, but most of the time she can agree that it shows her as happy.
We’re running six hundred watts of solar these days, which is putting around 26 amps into the batteries an hour. I still may add the last two hundred, but that would have required me to drill a couple more holes and to run a second set of wires to another charge controller, and that seemed like it might be a bit overkill. I would have lined them up three and three, as well, but again, that would have meant yet another hole, and I wanted to limit that as much as possible. Besides, only the birds ever see up here anyway.
This isn’t quite as bold a statement as it was five or ten years ago before the entire world walked around with unlimited data in their pockets.
Only a matter of time before his body grows one of these naturally.
Key West Bumfuzzle Christmas.
Hanging with friends at Smathers Beach.
We got a few drips during the recent wind and rains so I decided to get this hatch resealed before we started taking on waves over the bow and getting saltwater in our bed. I was figuring this would be a major project since four of the screws were looking a little corroded. I assumed this hadn’t been removed since it was installed in 1986. Miraculously, all the screws came out easily, and the caulk cleaned up nicely. After sealing up with butyl sealant tape (my favorite thing since I discovered it when working on the Travco), the project was done in just a couple hours.
Another day at Smathers.
Lagerheads “beach” in downtown Key West is a fun place to hang out. Even better with friends who are locals and aren’t afraid to plant their chairs and umbrellas on the public beach directly in front of the “pay chairs.” As tourists you’d never guess it was a public space.
Best part of Lagerheads is the pier.
16 Comments on “Key West Christmas”
Happy New Year, Bums!
Thanks, George. You too!
Happy New Year, Bums!! 😀
Assuming Ali posted this, as Pat was scheduled to take off today. Good luck as always and fair winds!
Happy New Year!!!
You too TX book friend!
Happy New Year!
Thanks, Lucy. Hope you and Max do as well.
Where are you finding Butyl tape Pat? It’s been recommended in countless DIY threads but I’ve not been able to source it locally. Most suppliers don’t seem to have any idea what I’m talking about.
Hi Brian, Pat ordered some off of Amazon, but didn’t like it, too sticky. He got some at the Ace Hardware in the RV section here in key west. It was only $9.99 or something. So much better than 5200/4200.
Here is a source for marine butyl tape.
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/butyl_tape
Frist, you should think about an RC sailboat for Lowe, usually well sealed electronics and lots of fun. I built a kit boat called a T37 and keep it on my GB to sail wherever we stop. There are less expensive plastic boats on ebay but just as fun.
Second, I like butyl tape as well, found it in stock and cheap at Camping World.
Still enjoy following your adventures after all these years.
Yes those RC sailboats are neat, did one like that in NYC when we were there. They seem so big though to store on our boat. And yes Camping World would have the butyl tape.
Happy 2019, Jim!
Did i miss something or misread something-you javs a 3rd kiddo?
Best vibes toy’all always
Nope, no third, just a friend.
I see you pulled in behind us and a few slips down. Took me a few days to realize. Welcome! I hadn’t read your blog since the RV and hadn’t realized you had bought another boat. Figured there could only be one Bumfuzzle so we I looked at the blog and confirmed it was you. Your blog was a large part of our decision to sell it all and buy a boat! What a small world we live in! Thanks for all you do! We are the small cat without a name on it at the moment.
Hi Ken, just sent you a PM.