Saturday afternoon, and Ophelia's on the way.

The leak over Tom's bunk let loose again about midday, and now, at around 5, is pissing a slow but steady stream down a plastic sheet into a pot on the cabin sole (the floor). It's raining hard, I've just finished reading the front section of the Globe, we're having a glass of wine and quibbling about what should be used in the steak marinade. Try and feel sorry for us.

Randy's been absorbing all the bits of information about Ophelia that have been available, and we figure we're in for a noisy night, but apart from a bit of lurching around at the dock, don't expect much excitement. There's been lots of action here at the marina in the last few days -- people carting loose bits off their boats, and a lot of boats being hauled. The travel lift has been moved to the back of the yard, and most of the boats still on the slips are sporting extra lines, and some snazzy knots (beehives, some of them) on the cleats. We had one sail on -- the new roller-furling genoa, and as a precaution, it's come off. Gave us three a bit of a thrill to see the big sail billowing in a gentle breeze when Tom and Randy unfurled it on Thursday -- wow! a sail! in a breeze!

We picked up the rest of the new sails from the Dory Shop in Lunenburg on Friday. Thanks Jill! They look just terrific, and we can't wait to get them bent on. It's been two years since we've had sails on the boat, and, um, they're a necessary piece in the complex machinations that will lead to getting us out of here.

It's been raining quite hard for the last hour or so, but the wind hasnt' kicked up much yet. I was talking to a fella from a power boat who was aboard during Juan and was carried away with all the boats and the slips. He's staying aboard too, but I trust it will be a much quieter experience. Yoicks.

Ron, our financial advisor, made a house (boat?) call today to help us sort out some last minute details. Talk about service. Much appreciated.

Tom's in town staying at Anna and Laura's overnight, and we'll meet up tomorrow. My sister Laurie is in town doing some work at the film festival (Laura is volunteering and has one of those fashionable "security" t-shirts), so we'll meet up tomorrow and live large for a bit. Friends Alice and Michael gave us a gift certificate for an overnight at a downtown hotel, and we're taking advantage of it tomorrow. Maybe they have wi-fi? Maybe I'll update from there! Hurricane updates to come. Actually, just tropical storm updates. Not that exciting.

Monday. Happy "Talk Like a Pirate" Day. Argggghh.

Survived Ophelia, no problem. A bit of a blow, lots of rain, four leaks: aformentioned major torrent over Tom's bunk, and three others that we think we've got fixed as of today. The big leak has been consuming a lot of Captain's Creeping Crack Cure this afternoon. Rain tomorrow, so cross your fingers. As far as the storm went, the biggest danger we managed to avoid was cracking our heads together when we heeled slightly and a piece of plywood fell over in the cabin. We both sat up in bed and turned to look at the same time and narrowly missed a double concussion.

Enjoyed our shore leave at the hotel last night, and had a great meal with my sister at the Press Gang. Fell asleep listening to the dulcet tones of the band at the Lower Deck (Swee-ee-eet, sweet city wo-man, na na na na, na na na na), and stogged up at the buffet in the morning.

Today, we're sailing at the dock -- the new main is set and waiting for Jill from the Dory Shop to arrive and make some minor alterations. The main is a bit long in the head, and the mizzen is a bit long in the foot (if I've got the terminology wrong, go ahead and laugh at me. I can take it. I'm going sailing, and you're staying here to shovel snow. Okay, it's the luff, not the head. The captain told me.)

We'll make a list of the final jobs to be done tonight (get the furnace running, finish the woodwork and build bookshelves, install more lights,get the sails sorted, renew the turnbuckles on the mizzen, install electronics, move most of the tools back to Duncan Street, get provisions, mount radar reflector, complete anchor locker modifications, install deck wash-down pump, sell the car, and a bunch of other minor details), and then, barring any more faulty electrical bits and cursed things that won't do what they're supposed to do, our next Monday update should be the last from Dartmouth. Best not to be more specific than that!

(Photo at the top of this post is by Bill Campbell. Never forget to give a photo credit! I was kvetching about Frank mag using an NSBS photo without permission, and Bill reminded me that I forgot to give him a photo credit, so here ya go, and thanks Bill!)