finally got got the pc. Just viewed the photos. I'll track you. Next stop Marathon. love

Nick, Tony and Sharon,

Well while the rest of us have been working and looking for signs of spring between the many rains and snows, it seems like you have been having your fair share of adventures. But having traveled a little with Nick, I am not surprised to learn that there is more than one way to get a boat from California to Texas.

Betsy and I have thought of all of you often, wondering enviously where you might be and how your travels were progressing. So today as we dug through the papers on our desks during yet another rainy Sunday (Why is it only 42 degrees at midday in central California on April 16?), we dug out the Dock Party invite and checked out the website. Modern technology, when it works, is pretty amazing. You have quite a chonicle of adventure already; we hope that the auto-pilot begins to play its intended role in your travels.

Smooth sailing to all of you.

Mark

Holy Moly,
We just went through your last emails, Sharon, backwards! Sharon, we love your writing - and your uplifting talent to stay positive. You go girl!!!

Happy Easter to all you shipmates. It's pouring down rain and cold here. I forgot to cover the boat last night and got soaked putting it on just now. Big deal. I'm going to take a warm shower now. So far - we have not gone under water here on the American River. The highest it has gotten is 1 step showing from our deck. Today we have 6 steps showing. Yippie!!!

You guys be safe - and warm.

Bob & Susan Danelz

Prayers to her.

Chad, when you say "Cole" ....do you mean U.S.S type???

*** Hi Guys... Sounds like you've had some trials but it's still a trip of a life-time. Tammy's working today (sat)... Everyone here is good except Jared's mother-inlaw ( Susan ) had a stroke. She's only 53. She can't speak or swallow. Doesn't look good. Please pray. They picked up Jared from the Cole via helicopter to be with his wife. We miss ya! Chad & Tam...

Thigs are looking up. The guys have the boat back together. We are just waiting for some new wire for the autpilot. It seems one of the bozos who worked on it, put in some bad wiring. Tony and I took off for a few days when there was really nothing more we could do on the boat and drove to New Orleans. The French Quarter is still in good shape, but seriously lacking in tourists. If you ever thought of a trip there, now is the time. We stayied in one of the nice old hotels righ in the middle of the quater for $59.00. We took some photos of the hurricane damage.
Dan and Linda, the books are coming in very handy.
Adam glad to hear about your business.
The deal with the bananas is that it's an old superstition that bananas on a boat are bad luck.
Check to photos.

Mudslides in Marin....Missing Man in MillValley ...lost in mudslide. More rain to come.
Had Sharl & Cari over for dinner...King Crab is not even close to Dungeonous in taste.
"Marine Services of Marin" is now a reality. Getting referrals from people I've never even met or heard of. Is that good??? Yeeeeaaaahhh! Love you guys.

So sorry to hear about the mechanical troubles for you but have to say you had us at "Sunny Florida". Your great attitude is just remarkable. What's the deal with bannanas? Fruit flies? We'll look it up now we're curious. OOhhh we got a jealous on....It is getting ridiculous here...yep we need some Vit D and sun on our moldy selves. Heck, even Noah got a break after 40 days. Even so we aren't having as much trouble as the folks south of us. Truely tho, the banks of the rivers are clean for the first time in years from the tourist grunge and they smell good again. Bullards runoff has a huge rooster tail blasting down and the canyons are rumbling and vibrating with the tumbing boulders and high waters of the rivers. Makes us think of the old days since the gold will be in the rivers again. We are fortunate that we completed the french drains around the house. Even so, the floors and walls are shaky as the clay is saturated around the foundation. The fields are standing water. My greenhouse is like a rock cave. Gave up this spring for sure. Had dinner and games with Jeff and Laura last Sunday. Sure was nice. That darn Jeff has lost a bunch of weight with the extra hard work from the weather and Lent. He looks good. Casandra too. She gave up everything but fruit and veggies for Lent. We got to meet Jeffrey's girl friend. Just a doll, really cute and bright, she was our "tipping factor" and the girls beat the boys in Win Lose or Draw. This weather is making their jobs really hard right now. They are chafing to get onto building their house, should have been along way into the grading work by now. Just talked to them now to read your posts. They send their love. Their good news is their plans came back approved!! That Laura is something isn't she? We'll be heading to Alaska soon for a couple of weeks. Be well friends. We keep you in our thoughts and prayers for safe and pleasant voyage. M&N

Dan - Our Alpha Marine Spectra Autopilot is one of the most highly regarded autopilots in the world. Far more reliable than the most popular ones. The problems have been occasioned by installers - we have had the unfortunate luck to have had a couple of alcoholics be part of the installation. The first was a helper of mine who screwed out the ram loosing the sensing center causing the problem the first time. The second was the guy at Svendson's in Alameda who was fired after spending three days on the boat getting very little done. What he did get done was to get some of the cotrol wiring crossed. We hope that all of the problems are now corrected. We can only hope. JNG

It's great to hear from everyone. You will never know how much your words of encouragement mean to us. Linda, your poem made me cry and Dan's made me laugh. Thanks to everyone.
Here is the latest....... On Friday we got the boat back in the water late in the afternoon and opted to motor down the channel aways and spend the night at a harbor and be ready to get on the way first thing on Saturday. We were up early and ready to head for Key West when the back end of Ronz began making a terrrible noise. We manuvered back into the slip and found that the noise was coming from the drive shaft. I will leave out all of the gory details, but as we stand now, the engine is up on a chain and the transmission is out and being assessed for damages. At this point we don't know when we will be able to continue down the coast of Florida. The good part is, we are in a warm sunny place and not drenched in rain or snow. We really have great sympath for you folks who are lacking your dose of Vitamin D. Delle, While. I enjoy and appreciate the guys, I am looking forward to you and Maria being on the boat with us. The male of the species don't get it that a girl needs some time for toenail polish, hair color, eyebrow plucking and exfoliating. I will be glad to volunteer to take watch with you just for time to share some girltak.
We'll keep in touch as much as possible in the next few days to let you know when we will be back on the water.
All things considered, we have been fortunate that we have not been in the middle of the stinking ocean when we have run up on these challenges. Someone is looking out for us. We got rid of the bananas!!!!!! Check the book of seafaring no no's for the reason for banning bananas.

Don't mind dan...
I've been thinking of sending you a poem that my sister gave me:

May the tide that is entering, even now at the edge of our understanding
Carry you out beyond the face of fear.
May you kiss the wind and turn from it Knowing it will love your back.
May you open your eyes to water, water waving everywhere
And may you, in your innocence, sail through this to that.

From Dan:
May breezes fill and bruises heal
Have some wine with every meal.