Sometimes reality just comes crashing down a little too hard and/or all at once.
We were prepared to leave Titusville this morning...everything was ready to go.
But first, lets' rewind to yesterday...
In preparation for our departure we did a fluid check, replaced fuel filters and an oil line that gave us trouble off of Ponce Inlet. Started up ol' Mr. Perkins and the battery surge alarm went off. We were at 16 volts and climbing. Yowza. Upon further inspection we found that the Balmar ARS-5 voltage regulator had fried. The alternator certainly was putting out and the meter wasn't reading wrong as redundancy dictates we have an analog meter to make sure that the digital meter is correct. Thankfully Balmar stands behind their products and they are replacing the regulator. It should arrive Friday.
The outboard that we have been fussing with since Charleston gave up again... after replacing the fuel pump, impeller, and thermostat as well as cleaning the carb it is still sputtering and stalling at low throttle and sometimes at full bore it surges and sputters. Back to the drawing board. We're doing a lot of paddling these days.
But bad things happen in three's...
We got the call today that Brian's grandmother is ill and being placed into Hospice. By the situation, it won't be a long illness, thankfully, but we will have to find a dock for HP for a couple of weeks while we go back to Ohio to help take care of business. As an only child, a lot of the responsibility will fall on Brian. We've all talked it over and since our memories of her are all wonderful and there is nothing we can do as she is not conscious, not even visit if we were there in person so we're not going to rush.
Titusville has no room for boats 40' or over so we will probably head back north to Green Cove Springs (remember I said Hotel California...?) and leave HP.
At this point we've abandoned any plans of heading south this year. We will go back up to the Chesapeake, look for boat work, make some funds, and try this mad dash for the islands again next year.
Though we're having a rough stretch we are still thankful to be doing what we are. We'd not change it for anything...so we'll keep cruising, keep working, keep learning, and keep sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly with you all.
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