Coffee on the over spill area facing the ocean at 0700. Capitan Lauro (Mr. Reinhard calls him Larry) picks me up for work at 0800. We join Breathless in the Marina behind locked gates. We began our day by breaking out the chamois clothes to wipe down the morning the dew. This was to keep the water from running down and staining her windows. My sense is that we don't have to rush to do things. I can get use to this pace. Lauro pulled the equipment for inspection. Life-vests, flare guns, main engine parts, generator parts, batteries, first aid, toiletries, galley provisions - making a list of things as it will be typed up on spread sheet for my captain. We tossed out-dated supplies and made a note for future needs.
In between we would stop occasionally to take me below to the engine room to show me the workings of the parts we were inventorying. This was SO helpful in my mind to better understand the mechanics of the ship. Capitan Lauro is an excellent teacher and my style of learning blends well with his method. Fortunately, I am experienced in some of the language of engines having owned those old cars so I feel I am a quick study. So much on the ship is connected with pumps, valves and water that having worked in irrigation for many years brings me along when we discuss back-flow prevention and anti siphon. It feels familiar in a comfortable way.
As we stood on her deck pulling spent batteries from life-vest rescue lights, a man walked up to her stern across the water and called out to us. He asked "Is this your ship?" My Captain answered "no, we are working on her for the owner". He called back "She is the most fabulous boat in the marina!" I'd have to agree. While I worked today making my lists I glanced out the window to see people standing and pointing towards us. I can only imagine the admiration being spoken as this ship deserves. With the tallest mast in this busy Marina, Lauro tells me a story of how she was struck by lighting a few years back during a violent thunderstorm. This knocked out much of the electrical system! Now she is tethered to a grounding system that drops a concrete block into the water giving the lightning a path away from the ship. I'm learning so much today that I can't begin to put it all here.
While we worked, friends of Mr. Reinhard stopped by to meet me and make sure I felt welcomed. That was so incredibly kind. The 2 gentleman were both named Bob so it was very easy to remember their names. We discussed birthday plans and fireworks. These men are just boys with toys on a grander scale and I told them so. No one in denial, we moved on to a phone call to tell Ernie he ought to come join us for this island hoping celebration. Sounds as though his commitment to the Florida property will trump any hopes we had for such a scheme. Next time!
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Capitan Lauro took me home with him for a glorious home made fajitas lunch prepared by his wife with all the trimmings. Much better than any restaurant! Following lunch and watermelon for dessert, I gave my gifts of bracelets I made this week in preparation for the journey as a thank you to the wonderful family. That was fun for me.
Later, after work on the ship inventory concluded Lauro took me for a instructional transit on the city bus system to give me the tools to get around on my own in the city. We exchanged dollars for pesos and rode the city bus from the ground zero in Mexico - Walmart, yikes. From there we caught the bus to center of town back to the villa on Repulica. Here we parted ways making our plans for Christmas Day at 0900 with a phone call, me to ride the bus back to Walmart, walk to his home where we will then go to the marina with his family, take Breathless out to the islands and see what we can see. Whales? I hear that is possible. Oh, Merry Christmas for me!
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