Sunday, July 6, 2014

Emergencies, et cetera

            Hey everybody, wanted to let you know that we should have stayed in the Caribbean.  I have had Darrell to the ER twice in the US.  The first time, he had some wounds on his elbows that we had been treating for a while and wouldn't get better so we learned that he has a MRSA infection (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus).  So we went in on a Sunday evening in early June to Fishermen’s Hospital in Marathon and got him on the right antibiotics.  On the following Wednesday, we rented a car to drive up to get our pick-up (Darrell is calling a cruiser's cadillac) and then stop in Stuart to get the boom.  The PU needed a new clutch and this was taken care of so we went to get the PU at the mechanic's.  As we were driving to our friends' place (Dan And Stephanie’s), we needed gas AND the PU overheated so we moved it away from the gas pumps and went to get their trailer to move it out to their farm so we could look inot the problems.  Stephanie and I stayed at the farm (they just bought and are cleaning and renovating) while the boys went to get the PU.  We got a phone call from Dan telling us to get his brother-in-law and get over there.  A second phone call relayed that Darrell had been run over but that other than leg pain and swelling, he was fine.  Whew – at least not with life threatening injuries!

What had happened was that when they got back, there was a puddle under our PU but too far away to be radiator fluid.  So when Dan pulled alongside to get into position to load it, he had to wait on other vehicles that were parked in the gas station lot nearby.  Darrell saw the puddle and got out and laid down on the pavement to see where it was coming from.  Dan didn't know this and pulled forward with the trailer and Darrell's legs were in the path of the empty trailer.  He was on his side and was surprised  - didn't know he had been hit until the second tire rolled over him but began screaming.  Anyway, we went to the emergency room and it didn't take a radiologist to tell that the fibula is broken (smaller bone of the outer lower leg).  They splinted it and we got to see an orthopedic doctor the next day.  The ER staff thought he would need a plate to align the bones (surgery) properly. Anyway, we were both surprised and relieved when the orthopedic doctor said that he only needed a cast or a boot  - two weeks of non weight bearing – repeat x-ray in four weeks – all done on six weeks.  So….off we went on cloud nine that he did not have to have surgery (with MRSA could have been very serious).  We waited until Monday to leave and were able to pick up the boom on our way back south.  The pick up still gave us problems on the trip but we were able to make it all the way to Marathon AND get the boom down here where we could begin work on it when Darrell could get around. 

We had a very good belly laugh on the way thru Key Largo and Tavernier.  A siren was behind us for quite some time but never actually passed us for a long time – when they finally did, it almost seemed like they had been following us.  We decided that since we had passed up an emergency room without stopping to pay a visit that they must be looking for us!!

         Three weeks after the broken leg (Darrell’s first in his over 50 years) we were able to start working on the boom and get the hardware off the old one and replaced on the new (used) one.  Moving big heavy stuff on and off a sailboat with all the blocks and tackle is a piece of cake!  Hardest part was carrying it on land – we were able to elicit some help.  I have really fine tuned the damsel in distress look and attitude since all this has been going on. 

         About a week of hard work and long days, the boom is back on and the boat is once again sea worthy.  We still have not had a chance to try out the new rigging we had done in early June – they say she will go to windward much better – we both are very excited about that.  For those of you who have traveled with us – you KNOW how frustrated we have been with Alibi’s upwind sailing ability.  SO:  new rigging, new whisker pole, and new boom and four coats of varnish to boot.  So far, so good.

         Next month, the kids are coming to southwest FL for about a week.  Since we have not been able to enter the job market like was our original plan to get here before summer began – why hurry!  So we hope to take the sailboat over to Sanibel or Cape Coral/Ft. Myers area in order to visit with Jessica, Craig, and Lyric.  After that, we will either head towards Key Largo or not…..who knows – we certainly don’t seem to be able to choose between staying here in Marathon or going up there,  They both have different attributes!

Our friends from Tiger Lilly (now in French Polynesia) say that the earth people who love us and want to keep us here can be dangerous – I believe him!!  LOL  We continue our work on S/V Alibi and have been in contact with the people we bought her from – they should be the proud owners of M/V Alibi by now.  Our life is such an adventure!

Ann, Chester, and Roxy