guess it's time for an update. we are still at spud point marina in bodega bay. day 14. we have a representative from raymarine installing our new auto pilot. it is taking a whole lot longer than we want, but he had to fabricate some things to make the new, larger one fit. it will, however, handle this big boat without question. i got an angry bug up my butt saturday and e-mailed the c.e.o. AND the president/ owner of west marine and complained about the circumstances up to the point that this inadequate pilot went tits up. only i think i was nice. well, since then we have had 3 phone calls and 3 e-mails from the above mentioned mucky mucks plus the manager of the west marine store in fife and one of her employees. they will completely refund the money that we paid for the first one and have been very cooperative. guess it pays to go directly to the top!

we have had a tsunami warning, 3 days and nights of gale force winds and today seems to be warm and not much wind. i use to like the sound of the wind, but not so much any more. it just howls through here. the locals call this blowdega bay, now i know why.

if fred, the raymarine guy gets the pilot in today and working, we will leave tomorrow morning, but i don't have my hopes up since it is almost 3'oclock today and he hasn't showed up yet. i realize that he has had his work cut out for him on this project, but i want to go south where it is a bit warmer.

hope everyone is well, as we are. blog more as events happen...hugs