Maybe we'll be done with the shaft and seal on Monday. Then we can put the rig back together, top off the fuel and start heading south.

We've talked with Baloo, Sojourner, Puff, and Zephyrus who have passed through and are heading south from Deltaville

Without us.

In addition to experience cruisers, we've met a number of people who have done something that is far more ballsy than anything we'd ever do.

People who have set off for a long, multi-day cruise on a boat they've just purchased.

They've never even day-sailed it. They're not sure what's in it.

And.

Away they go.

We're far too cautious to try something like that.

This morning's family of three couldn't get their new-to-them Hunter 27 to start. I warned them that I was only familiar with one diesel engine (Mr. Lehman) but I could take a look and see why their's wouldn't start.

We spent three years rebuilding parts of the Red Ranger. We took many day trips and short overnights to be sure we understood the boat. I'm glad I dismantled much of the rigging to replace the chainplates. That gave me the courage to remove the forestays to put the Red Ranger on the backwards travelift here.

Their problem? The Hunter starter button is a two-part thing: push and turn. Not obvious. But it started once we pushed and turned.

Bridge times? They didn't have the list. Radio? They weren't sure their's worked. Fuel? No clue how much was in the tank. Alternator voltage looked low to me. But. What do I know?

I didn't ask if they had a Tow Boat contract.

Away they went.

Leaving us sitting in a boatyard, fixing a drip. It's just a drip. Sometimes a dribble, but usually a drip. Nothing much. We're sitting, they're out driving their boat around.