Work, work, work

I figured out why I’ve been having such a difficult time sitting down to update our blog; it’s no longer a fun travel-log, but a lackluster labor-log. I’m not sure I can make this narrative truly interesting to any that read it but since you’re here, I’ll update you on our summertime goings-on. Ok, it’s safe to say these past few weeks have not totally been about boats (mostly) and we have thrown in some R&R outtings.

One such outing was a drive to check out Matagorda Beach. We had read and heard it was a unique place, and so it was. On this beach cars are allowed to drive right onto it. There were plenty of activities the day we were there, a couple of ultra-lights continually buzzing overhead flying up and down the coast line, we saw a couple of horses being unloaded as we left and some folks brought their 4-wheelers to torture the dunes directly behind the beach. We too joined in the fun and amused ourselves by getting wet. After we left the beach we drove to the local pier and walked the length of it. It is at this location you can see where the Colorado River joins the bay and hence empties into the gulf. We had been to Matagorda before, aboard Refugio the day before we arrived in Palacios. It was interesting to see it from this perspective.

Do you like to stroll through cemeteries? I do and always seem to seek them out no matter where we travel. It always interests me to see how old someone was when they passed, or perhaps there is a small story associated with the deceased. It’s generally very peaceful, and quiet. On this particular day (it was Sunday, usually not a typical day for a funeral service) we thought we had stumbled onto a burial service, but what it turned out to be was an anniversary of some kind with many folks gathered to pay their respects. We found several special engraved headstones, either by implanted pictures or special carvings. One showed a picture of a married couple on the day of their wedding on “his” headstone, and another picture taken perhaps 60, or so years later, on “hers”- sweet. Another gravesite, of a young boy, had cards and letters tucked in behind his cross, (to be read at a later time) and many toys laying on and encircling his plot. All very respectful and yet thought provoking.

Wendy (#2 daughter) and her family relocated to Austin this summer. Seeing that we were already in Texas, I was fortunate enough to pick her and #1 grand, Kenny up at the airport, meanwhile her husband, Keith drove down from San Francisco. Wendy, Kenny and I spent a few days touring Austin and checking out surrounding areas, including their new home. It was wonderful to spend a few days with Wendy and Kenny.

Enough R&R talk - let’s talk boat. After seeing how fantastic our new green boot stripe looked on the hull we decided to paint out the blue on the hull as well. It was relatively easy to pull the boat along side the dock, tape and paint, and then turn it around to paint the other side. Along with the large accent stripe on the hull we painted two smaller ones along side. Finally, I painted the eyebrow of the pilot house. This entire painting process took well over a few weeks and the boat looks GREAT!! Better and better every day.

Unfortunately, it did cut into Tom’s work time on his pilot house windows, but he’s back at them now and talk about looking wonderful. It’s going to be unbelievably great, a true pilot house trawler, when the windows are finished.