Boat chores (May 13/09 - Auckland, New Zealand)

Living on a boat brings with it an endless list of maintenance projects that keep the mechanical systems, plumbing, sails and rigging, interior, etc etc etc in working order. The to do list seems to be permanently ongoing, so there is rarely a day when there isn't a project of some kind on the go. With a 2000km crossing ahead of them, the Slapdash crew still had a few more projects to polish off before setting off on the next leg of their voyage around the world. Luckily, every boating supply store imaginable seems to be located near the marina, so picking up supplies and getting work done is logistically easy. Micah took off with his caulking gun for some quality time in the sail locker, Seth and Ken got down and dirty with fuel filters and engine parts, and Jaime and I took off in a borrowed car with a long list of errands to run. Sail parts, primer, light bulbs, and wire rope were purchased, visits to the bank and post office were made, jerry cans were filled with diesel, and a couple months worth of canned and dried food were purchased at the grocery store. The balance of the day involved organizing cupboards, downing tuna melts, and playing dominoes once it got dark. The weather still looks like it will be Friday at the earliest that they could pull out of here, so we have another day or so at least to visit before they make a run for Fiji.