Rains in Maine

Hooray Aros More is afloat and Skipper is happy. Some hard work ashore with a dead line ensured that we were ready by 0530 on the appointed day. There is no travel hoist at the yard but with a low loader designed to run down a ramp all was done in jig time by Allan Drinkwater competently and with no fuss. Even the engine started on the turn of the key, proving that I can still bleed the fuel system. Bill ,the yard owner, was there of course and so too mine host, his brother Ted. Felt very much under test!

The first job was to get the generator working and once the beast was back in its "bunk" she started like a dream and has passed many hours already under test so let us hope she stays that way. On the few sunny days I have completed the external varnishing so that Aros More is as pretty as a picture, at least on the outside. In the cabin it is a different matter as I have started to refurbish the woodwork using a mixture of sodium hydroxide and a dilute acid. I was advised to hose down the wood after treatment but that is too much of a good thing. It sure works anyway. Arty will be pleased to know that the "mantle-shelf" is beginning to gleam. For the unintiated that is the area for everything that does not have a home excluding the fixtures of compass and radar.

While all this is going on Ted and Bev work away on their schooner Koulka fitting tanks, pipes, varnishing and making new seats and covers. Their son Scot when he is not making snow ploughs, yes I mean snow ploughs, at the rate up to 50/60 per day is also involved. In between we attend Republican meetings with a view to make radical changes in the political system. At home we are fighting corruption and loss of self government to the fascists in Brussels, while here they are also having to deal with parties that cease to recognise that there are electors who were made promises that are not honoured and are being faced with huge monetary rescue packages that can not be afforded. There is also the concern about the emerging nations and immigration. Our problems are so similiar. Guess what, politicians here also pass laws that they have not read!

On that note we will go back to sea in the morning!