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American Spirit II - Day 421; Final Fueling; Post Office Run; Pool; Laundry; & and Pizza Hut Dinner; Tuesday, March 3, 2015



One year ago today:

"Day 59; Sea Lion Sighting; Radio Net; Shark Leaping; Southern Cross & Big Dipper; Monday, March 3, 2014. Sailed all night with engine off. Ran generator 3:00 AM to 7:00 AM to charge batteries. Wind went light so had to start motor sailing at 7:00 AM. Many boats started motor sailing last night at 10:00 PM."

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Heidi up at 6:00 AM. I got up at 6:30 AM. Vlado from Civetta II next to us and Heidi went running at 6:40 AM. Heidi was back on board at 7:10 AM.

Joel got up at 7:10 AM. Breakfast at 8:20 AM: scrambled eggs; cut up and spiced potato; chilled peaches; and brown bread with butter and strawberry jelly.

Joel from Rally control conducted the 9:00 AM net, relaying information concerning activities over the next few days. Joel and Johnny were the World Cruising Club representatives in Fortaleza.

After the net Joel started spraying Roach Proof throughout the boat. It will take 2 weeks to take full effect. At that point all the cockroaches should be dead. The cockroaches, babies and juveniles, were introduced in Salvador, Brazil; probably when we brought groceries on board. I appear to be the only person on board who keeps seeing them. Joel hasn't seen any.

Joel left the boat at 10:30 AM to go with a local and his pick-up truck to get fuel. We needed to fill 6 jerry cans, or 30 gallons of fuel. Civetta owed us 4 jerry cans full of fuel that I paid for them in Recife, so our cost this time is only for 2.

At 12:40 PM we had a rare lunch on the boat, freeze dried Chili Mac with Beef.

I took a taxi to the post office at l:05 PM to buy some stamps and mail some post cards. Once inside I took a paper number, just like at the tax office in Tampa. I was number 327 and the current number being called was number 301. Once done there I went to 2 gas stations looking for 5 liter containers of diesel engine oil, but was unsuccessful as
all I could find was 1 liter and 20 liter containers. We didn't need the oil for an oil change now; just needed it for the future. I was back at the boat at 2:05 PM.

From 2:15 PM to 5:15 PM I joined Heidi and Joel at the pool. Reading, napping, hopping in the pool to get cool; and doing some internet.

At 6:30 PM our laundry was delivered to the dock. It was supposed to be delivered at 6:00 PM. 'Island time.' I paid the 186 Real, $65. The price was pretty reasonable considering we had 3 sets of sheets and pillow cases washed and pressed. The quality of the laundry was also very good.

At 6:45 PM Joel, Heidi, Jeanine from Civetta II and myself got in a taxi and went to the beach area where we'd eaten dinner at Sunday night. We walked amongst the kiosks or retail tents for a half hour or so; then went to a two story Pizza Hut and god a 2nd floor table overlooking the busy ocean-side street and beach area. This was the first Pizza Hut we'd eaten in since leaving the US 13 months ago. We ordered salads and a large Pepperoni Pizza. Joel had ice cream for dessert. I helped him finish it as it was too big for himself. The Pizza Hut was in a great location and was waiting room only. Besides having a dining area on the 2nd floor, there was an indoor first floor dining area and an outside patio eating area on the ground level. As usual, our waiter did not speak a word of English. However, the menu had pictures so it made ordering easy. Unlike any Pizza Hut I'd ever been in, waiters walked around the room dishing out pieces of pizza to persons who weren't ordering off a menu. You just kept taking different types of pizza, and as many pieces as you wanted; until you exploded.

We were back at the boat at 9:00 PM and in bed by 10:00 PM.

Brian Fox




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