Week Two - Old Port Cove

Lynn & Mike ..around the world
Mike Drinkrow & Lynn v/d Hoven
Thu 17 Mar 2011 17:01
 
Two weeks later - Old Port Cove, Palm Beach
 
Hard to believe that we have been here for 2 weeks!  We are still at the marina in North Palm Beach and getting more organized by the day!
 
We had a great weekend in Fort Lauderdale with Di & Will.  But far too much eating and drinking!   Friday night we had a braai with Will's delicious homemade boerewors.  Saturday we went to a local diner for breakfast and then looked around at some electric bicycles and furniture for the back deck. Neither successfully.  On Saturday night we went to a German restaurant which was great fun and quite bizarre! The musician managed to play all kinds of songs on his piano accordion, all in the German Beerhall style......including Neil Diamond and Pink Floyd!  Di and I decided to order Schweinshaxe (roasted pork knuckle) - when it arrived we could not believe our eyes - each one was close to 1.5kgs!!!!!  It goes without saying that we each had a full roast pork dinner the next night from the left-overs.  Sunday morning, their neighbors invited us over for a traditional American breakfast, which included "biscuits and gravy".  Having never had this before, I will describe it.  Spicy pork sausage meat is fried up and chunks are put into a white sauce. This is then spooned over the biscuits - which are more like what I would call a scone.    They also served us hash-browns (fried grated potato) with scrambled eggs, but not grits (chunky mielie pap!).   And we washed all of that down with some champagne and orange juice!  Quite a heavy start to the day!   This week we are back on the straight and narrow in terms of diet.
 
On Monday we took Time2 out to sea for a short test run.  It was a lovely day and we took her down the waterway to Lake Worth and then out about 3 miles offshore. All systems functioned well, except for the auto-plot which James quickly re-set. We were a bit rushed so have not yet checked the anchor chain (we are not quite sure how much we have!) 
 
Mike has been checking systems and buying all the relevant spare parts.  I have been buying provisions as well as a few household items. We still have a rental car, making things a whole lot easier for us. This boat came totally kitted out, but with a few missing bits and a few rather dodgy items ...like a whole drawer full of PINK bath towels!  These have now been stowed for emergencies and replaced with something much more pleasing on the eye!  
Mike has also been applying non-skid to various rather treacherous spots on the deck - including the swim platform, which makes swimming... and fishing ...a whole lot safer.  I have been testing the oven - which works like a dream - see my French bread I made this morning! 
I also took a picture in the engine room to show you just how amazing and spacious it is!
 
We are still waiting to have some rust removed from the doors and have the new Furuno chart plotter and AIS installed - and sort out our satellite communications. This should happen next week and we can then head over to the Bahamas. It is still a little cold over there (22 C) so we are happy to wait a bit longer.
 
 
Mike Fixing!
My fabulous baguette
Our very spacious engine room/ laundry!