March - following the sun

The Sturdy Beggar News

March e-mail

03/01

Back on the Sturdy Beggar after a visit with family and friends. Headed to the Bahamas soon!

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3/1/01

Welcome back Captain! We've missed you! You sound well rested. Enjoy! The LeBlancs

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3/3/01

Captain/Chief Richard; Great to hear of your progress. Your maintenance comments brought back a bad memory of when I relieved a USN Chief Engineer. I found a leaky fuel injector that tasted salty and asked the man I was replacing how often he replaced the zincs. He responded -- "what zincs?" Off to the shipyard to replace tubes in evaporators, lube oil coolers etc. Enough of that. Good luck on your crossing, glad you are not alone. Fitzy

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3/4/01

The autopilot is in. The boat is ready to go to the Bahamas. Weather permitting, I will leave Melbourne in the morning and head for Ft. Pierce. The next day I expect to be near Lake Worth where I will hitch up with boats heading for the Bahamas. Rick & Barbara keep me posted as to where you are. Wes, thanks for Bobby's #. I will give him a call. R O'L 3/4/01

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Dear Rich, Sorry that we didn't hitch up during your return to the NE. I'm sure that you had many stories to tell about you adventure. Have a safe trip to the Bahamas and enjoy the tropical weather. It sure doesn't feel like March here. There is an approaching Northeaster today. Regards, Rich

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Dear Captain Rich: Received E-mail shortly before yours and Bob said that you guys had talked on the phone, but were unable to get together. When he talked to you, don't know if he told you, or even knew at the time, that he was shipping out shortly as relief, on the 'Mersak Texas' , a container ship on the West Coast of South America for the next 63 days, or so. About now, I imagine that most of your log recipients are beginning to become quite envious? According to the weather report here in Chicago earlier this morning, it appears that the North shore is in for a miserable beating. It says that heavy snow is expected today and tonight, up to a total of 30 inches in some areas. Supposedly it will be the worst storm since 1966. Dad said earlier that only a light dusting had fallen early this morning, but it's supposed to get heavy, although as mean as he is, it may bypass Marblehead. Anyhoo, continued best wishes for smooth sailing and have a 'Cuba Libre' for me when you make land fall.

PS: Melbourne was Ed Sotak's and my stomping ground for a couple of years, but unfortunately don't know anyone there now as we old missile tramps kept moving on. Wes!

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