yay, new BATTERIES!

We've been doing boaty things- installing a new battery charger, and now, batteries- so life on the surface has been action-packed.  And this marina believes in celebrating all occasions.  St. Patrick's Day was the signal for fried turkey- delicious!  It's an outdoor cooking adventure, as it involves cauldrons of hot oil.  There was also a dinghy parade, and lots of green glitter.

Last night on our way in to the marina, our dinghy motor stopped dead.  Luckily we were a few hundred feet from the dock, and rowed the rest of the way.  Once there, troubleshooting began, and when all the obvious factors were ruled out, experts concluded that it probably needed a new induction coil or electrical box.  Who knows where those come from in a place like Roatan?  We were towed home by a nice guy, and gloom set in.

This morning another nice neighbor showed up, and towed the dinghy to an outboard mechanic in town.  After about an hour the dinghy came back- running on its own power.  Diesel in the fuel. 

How could this happen??  Lorenzo left the can for the marina to refill- and it was clearly marked 'gas'.

Way to go, dude. One less bridge to worry about.   http://tinyurl.com/85m4cwv

The rest of us do yoga, but Lorenzo's on his own agenda.

our little pond

we're still here in French Key Harbor, awaiting delivery of:  a new battery charger, another generator, and various prescriptions.  AND the end of this windy/stormy season, or a window in same when we can head east.  The sailboats await favorable winds; we just need seas that are calm enough for Tony.  

During the high winds last weekend, water spouts blew up a few times in the anchorage, and those who were hit by them say they can be dramatic.  The sailboats just heave over, and then bounce back up.  Big Fun thought it was our boat hitting theirs- !  We've since reanchored at a little distance to allay sailor anxiety.

We see Green Morays almost every time we go diving, and the ones around here are not intimidated by humans.  Divers may be feeding them lionfish- which removes a few of the invasive lionfish, but also gets the animals used to interacting with us.  

This moray seemed determined to occupy the same spot as a grouper.  Note the spiny look of displeasure on the grouper.

The morays are very graceful swimmers, and Lorenzo loves finding them.  But what a primitive-looking creature!  Best advice:  keep your hands out of its mouth.