Still waiting on the weather

 But it's all good.  We had a great Thanksgiving dinner courtesy of Deb's talent in the kitchen, wait, galley. We are on the boat after all. It wasn't the largest turkey we ever cooked but its eight pounds just made it into Freedom's oven and after a good roasting it came out with stuffing as well as the rest of the trimmings including a hearty gravy. The local weather cooperated offering up a sunny warm view from the aft deck ensuring a pleasant environment for our early bird special at 2 pm.
 Since we have some spare time these days we took a few rides to have a look at property down here and while we were driving around in an area near the shore, on a lightly traveled road, Deb says did you see that hawk? I said no and she says it was in the tree just to your left off the road. So I backed up and sure enough there this hawk is sitting there about 6 feet from my window. It was certainly proud looking and I have to admit it was also patient enough allowing me to get a good photo. Certainly this was a rare opportunity. We were lucky to get such a good clear photo of one of Nature's best predators.

 All of this has tempered the urgency we have about getting across the Gulf Stream. Others have come and gone while we have stayed here at the Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart. We came close to leaving last Wednesday but decided to stay given the wind was going to pick up substantially on Thursday. While we would have made it across the stream the odds were against us making it around to the far side of Abaco the next day or so and having had a bad day on the bank between Spanish Wells and Nassau we elected to sit this one out in a more economical environment.
 Besides this allows us to get more work done on the boat.
 New VDO oil pressure gauges and senders went in and I have to admit this is probably the first time the oil pressure indications on the bridge were accurate and smooth. While we have mechanical gauges in the bilge for each engine, this adds up to a bit more confidence in the machinery while underway. A little less faulty gauge induced apprehension leads to less incentive to check the bilge while underway. With exhaust gas temperature, and solid oil pressure readings as well as a host of alarms we are now better suited to long days on the water without having to check the bilge every 15 minutes. For several years now we would open the salon floor and review the mechanical gauges I installed to ensure the engines had adequate oil pressure. It's one thing to depend on the alarms that are functional, and another to see how the pressure fluctuates within different environments. So now we can take some solace in the more accurate readings we have on the bridge. This will not obviate the need to perform frequent bilge checks but it does offer us some peace of mind while underway.
 Along with these upgrades we managed to get a second starting battery installed. This one was for the port engine. The starboard engine starting battery was one of the first things done after arriving at Stuart since it was relatively easy. In spite of it's 150 pound (plus) weight I was able to remove it from the battery box, bounce it to the center of the engine room, hoist it up about 3 feet to the salon floor, up onto the aft deck, down the steps to the dock, into the cart and then into the car. The only difference associated with the port side starting battery was that it had to be lifted up over the starboard battery before it came around in front of the engine to the center of the engine room. This is all a genuine test of forearm and back strength since this is performed on hands and knees in very tight quarters.
 In hindsight I, and my back, are glad we had a universal machine that I worked out on for several years. For one reason or another this chore went better than it did back in 2005 when I last changed out the engine starting batteries. Maybe the extra working our paid some dividends but regardless the residual effects will be resolved with a few Advils and a Margarita.
 So all of this waiting around is good. Things are getting taken care of in an environment more suited to the task. Parts are located close by and we still have not stored the car so we can travel as we wish. While we could have made due with the batteries for another year we'll sleep better knowing they will not need to be replaced over in the Bahamas at a premium price. Let's face it 190 bucks each at Sam's club is going to be a heck of alot better than anything we will come up with in the Abacos. As an example I believe West Marine wanted 400 dollars and more for a generic lead acid 8D. It's probably safe to include a 100% price increase for the pride of being in the Bahamas.
 However soon enough we will move because we are at least a day away from an inlet that offers safe passage to the ocean. Given all of the logistics we have to get closer to the ocean in the event an opportunity to cross the Gulf Stream arises.
 It's getting late in the season and we will take advantage of a one day window here and there to get going if that is what it takes. The notion is, that if we get stuck, we are at least a bit closer to the goal each time we have to wait on the weather.