The trouble with deadlines

By Mike Jastrzebski

I wrote in my last blog that we were planning to leave Cape Canaveral next month. I also listed the projects I hoped to complete before we leave. Well, it ain’t gonna happen. We made the decision this weekend that we are going to need another month to get things done.

Now I understand that at times you need to just go whether the projects are done or not. We did that this past spring which is one of the reasons we have so much left to do right now. The thing is, there are three major projects I feel still have to be done before we leave.

The first is the solar panels. We are driving down to Ft. Lauderdale Wednesday to pick up three 140 watt panels. I figure building the framework to support the panels, mounting them, and wiring the panels will take five or six days.

Next I have to repair and connect our third water tank. Since all of our tanks are small, and we plan on being gone at least six months, we need all the water storage we can get. I figure this will take another five days.

The final must do project is to install a hand bilge pump. Running the hose will be the biggest problem there. Again, maybe five days of work.

On top of this we still have to provision and sell the car, so the numbers just don’t add up for a November departure. The good thing about postponing our departure until the first week of December is that we’ll be able to attend the Seven Seas Cruising Association’s Melbourne Gam. The Gam is Dec. 7-9 and we have to pass right by Melbourne on our way south. If you happen to be there I hope you’ll stop by Rough Draft and say hi.

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