Water, weather, and Labor Day parades Lindsay McRory June 13, 1996 Lost track of the number days we've been in Nassau. Federal Express and UPS have beaten a steady path to the Hakuna Matata. This is our first major refitting since Titusville. Upgrades include a new hydraulic pump for the autopilot, air conditioning, a new barometer, and dozens of minor things. Engine and generator oil has been changed, and we replaced all six diesel fuel filters. Miscellaneous gear that was stored loose in lockers has all been secured in anticipation of the long passages and rough seas that lie ahead. Prior to arriving in Nassau we made 12 jugs of drinking water with the water maker, and picked a bucket full of fresh mangoes. It worked out well. Water is expensive, and usually not very good. The water from our water maker has been excellent, turning out 50 gallons since it was installed. If not for our system, we'd be forced to buy drinking water, which costs between $2 and $8 a gallon here in the Bahamas. More than diesel fuel! Tap water stinks, is salty, and not safe to drink unless you add bleach. Last Friday was a Labor Day holiday in the Bahamas. We went downtown to watch the parade. It was a colorful, loud spectacle. There were only about ten exhibits, but the parade moved along at about one foot every five seconds, so it took over two hours for the procession to pass (sorry, engineers have to measure everything). In recent weeks, studying weather has been a regular part of our daily routine. I know I keep harping on it, but anticipating weather is a critical factor in voyaging around the Caribbean, especially at this time of year, the beginning of hurricane season. It's felt like withdrawal symptoms getting by without the NOAA weather radio and its continuous coastal forecasts. We are very lucky to have satellite communications. Every morning I log on to the Internet and pull off the marine weather faxes from the National Weather Service. Actually understanding it involves more than knowing what the symbols mean. Our best source of information has been the Starpath Weather Trainer (from Starpath in Seattle). It is loaded with information that exactly matches our weather knowledge and needs. While designed as a computerized weather course, it is just as valuable as a reference. I would recommend it to anyone venturing any distance from coastal waters. Pre-departure preparations are underway. Hoping for a 7 a.m. departure. The plan is to make quick tracks for Puerto Rico. We really enjoy the Bahamas. It would be easy to spend years exploring all the islands. We may come back next spring. It's hard to believe we've been gone over a year now. This morning Denise and I were talking and decided to add another couple of years to the trip. Sometime in the year 2000 feels about right. No use rushing these things. My daddy picked a bucketful of mangoes and we tried some coconut. I got all of the words right in my spelling test. The two hardest words were chocolate and children. My dad is going to give me a treat today.