Forida, Jacksonville – Surprise Visitor

It is hurricane season…so work continues on the boat as we take a break from cruising.

One of the humans has snuck out of my work detail and is ‘still’ enjoying himself with family and friends in England.

He thinks he has gotten away, but I will get him working when he returns

The other human I have working hard at the exterior wood work. She used a heat gun to remove all the old varnish and has started sanding the wood to get it ready for the new coating.

Tools of the trade. A palm sander and a hover

Newspaper over the hatch entrances really cuts down on the dusk below

All the surfaces inside the boat are covered with wood bits ready to be coated

That is OK, as the cabin floor is the coolest place to hang out and give orders from

This boat maintenance stuff is hard work

I do allow the human regular breaks, especially for some exercise. The mature wooded riverside and communities offer a great escape. And so does the marinas grassed area for a little romp.

Mature trees and wooded urban 'parklets' that litter the community along the river. — Mature trees and wooded urban ‘parklets’ that litter the community along the river.

My favourite pass time now that I have had to give up beach life

I was just getting my human ‘well trained’ into a work routine when guess who showed up unexpectedly?

Yah! Aunty Helen, all the way from England.

She thought it would be a great idea to surprise us. Hearing I was a bit lonely, she jumped on a plane to Orlando, where she rented a car and drove all the way to Jacksonville to surprise us — She came up with a great idea. Hearing I was a bit lonely, she jumped on a plane from England to Orlando, Florida, rented a car and drove all the way to Jacksonville to surprise us

She is not the least bit 'crazy'! — She is not the least bit ‘crazy’!

Knowing that I had the human doing lots of work on the boat, she cleverly booked into a near by ‘dog friendly’ B&B, with plans of whisking me away for a little R&R. I thought since I was taking a break, I would let the human have a break too.

Only my Aunty Helen would make sure the place is 'dog friendly'! — Only my Aunty Helen would make sure the place is ‘dog friendly’! Sushi and movie night at the B&B. I let the human have some too, and even let her have my complimentary bathrobe. Let is never be told, I don’t take care of my employees.

Aunty Helen only has a week off, so it is a short and sweet visit. I will take her to the usual Florida tourist traps including the gun shops. I have been to a few places before with company, but there is always something new to see.

Flagner's College, St.Augustine — Flagler’s College, St.Augustine

Tiffany stained glass windows at Flagler College, St.Augustine

The strange faces carved into the churches doors

ICW (Inter coastal waterway) leading up to St.Augustine

I have not let the human off ‘completely’. I still got her putting a coat on the wood surfaces every morning.

Tired of supervising varnishing, I have them using a ‘liquid plastic’ like coating that has a much longer lifespan. The stuff comes from German and is called Coelan. You have to start from bare wood again, but we have some high wear areas that are still looking good after 7 years. We have never had varnish last well outside for longer than a year before it starts chipping off. Best of all….no sanding between coats!!!

Stern hatch starting to look good and only on the second coat.

Trying to get a coat on everything before the afternoon rains kick in. Do not try this with varnish! — Trying to get a coat on everything before the afternoon rains kick in. Do not try this with varnish

Work never ends when you have a boat.

And yes, it did say no painting or varnishing on the pontoons in our Marina berthing contract. Do you think anyone will notice we are breaking the rules?

3 thoughts on “Forida, Jacksonville – Surprise Visitor”

Andy
August 16, 2014, 1:09 am

Quinn, great to see the female human enjoying some R & R, a clean bathrobe and glass of wine!
- Quinn Post author
  August 16, 2014, 9:38 pm
  
  Do not let it be said that I am a ‘slave driver’.
  You got to take care of your employees sometimes.
Tony
August 18, 2014, 10:21 am

Quinn, hope you didn’t have too much of a hangover with Auntie Helen. Lovely surprise for you I’m sure. The humans are doing a great job of the sanding and painting, keep them going!!!

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