How pleasant to have the boat to ourselves! The tension is flowing out of us; we're starting to feel human again. We've learned a very expensive and painful lesson: this boat is built for two people. It's okay to have a couple of guests along for a day or two, but no more than two people at a time and no more than two or three days. More than that is too stressful.
So many conditions led to the grounding, so many if's. If we hadn't had the crew; if we hadn't been under so much stress for a month; if we hadn't changed our plans so abruptly; if we hadn't been so hasty; if I'd paid more attention to the coastal charts; if Roy had checked the charts and course before we left; if we'd left at dawn instead of at night; if I hadn't been so sleepy; if I hadn't turned the wheel over to Butch; if Butch had stopped the boat; if I had taken in the headsail and changed course; if, if, if..... We'd be in Bermuda now, if.....
This was a pleasant day. Bright blue sky, fluffy white clouds, warm but not hot, pleasant little breeze. Roy continued patching the cracks and then started applying bottom paint. I got another weatherfax and even part of a Navtex transmission, but it was incomprehensible. At least, the equipment works, but it's irrelevant now that we won't be going to sea.
In the afternoon, I took a shower and then went for a stroll. This is pretty country, but I bet it's miserably hot and humid in the summer.
It's sure nice having a restroom and shower that's always available and that we don't have to go through someone's house to get to. This one's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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