The dead awaken, food and exertion, and begin to play

Last night I slept like the dead, and it was good. However my anchor alarm on my cell went off multiple times for nonsensical reasons. The first time I awoke to think I was still sailing and something bad was going to happen. Well it's good that alarms can wake me. As it turned out GPS is stupid sometimes and my anchor stayed well put.

Some boat neighbors brought me blueberry muffins this morning, so I gave them a QSL card. After coffee, muffins and leftover mashed potatoes with ham and cheese (delicious!) I packed up and headed to the beach intent on snorkeling the island. I was wearing my ill-fitting wetsuit and the 69F water was cold! The waves made it difficult also, and although going to the gym has kept me in good overall health it certainly hasn't worked the muscles in my legs associated with the use of fins. A properly fitting wetsuit has just made itself onto my must-buy list!

My boat neighbor told me that he gets to live his cruising retirement dream starting at 55. His job at HP has offered that he'll work part time, 4 days a week for 80% pay, for 6 months out of the year, and the rest of the year he has off. What a gig! This is his shakedown 5-week cruise, afterward he'll spend 6 months at a time cruising the islands.

I got to test my snorkel-rated waterproof camera and it did just fine. The reef around the fort is mostly soft corals because the hard ones get hammered by storms, as evidenced by mass coral graveyards. I want to go snorkel a nearby wreck via dinghy, but I need the wind/waves to lay down. Also, I'm a bit tired. That mile swim felt a good bit like work!

Weather outside is moderate winds and sunny, and the water is so pretty! I'm having a hard time getting emails out but I presume things will get better eventually.