I have been struggling to keep moving so this blog will not have everything moving along as I wanted.

I spent some time putting epoxy on inside seams. This is beginning of fiberglass on outside seams.

outside seams finished. This was a frame and screw plan that I decided to convert over to a stitch and glue. Bottom seems a little flimsy. I have a cure. The keelson they called it.

Looks like a board installed down the hull centerline. I opened up a pocket on the stem and stern for the ends. Made a test fit. It bows quite a bit so is a tight fit. All good. mixed up epoxy and snapped it in place. screwed in in until epoxy cured. Hull is stiff now.. :-)

Keel is now installed. It requires 2 people. I had just myself. Turns out that it is extremely difficult to get lined up square by yourself. It is epoxied on. It is a little warped. Not bad. I will fair it out with epoxy. Then will fiberglass keel and rest of bottom. It will add a little weight but not much. I may end up keeping this one and the whole idea about going with wood was to gain the building experience and get away from the inflatable dinghy. I intend to go oystering. I am not doing that with something that can pop. :-)

Results of a trip to store on bike. I have been forcing myself to keep riding all I can. All I can do is keep pushing and hope that in time things improve.

This week I have been struggling with the feeling of a knife stabbed between shoulder blades. It is hard to reach out to retrieve a glass of water. The pain is sharp enough it takes my breath away. Any and all movement stops the show. Throw in the pain in lower back, hips and this crazy pain down legs and I feel kinda special. I usually hurt bad enough that I just feel exhausted.

 I noticed this week that while I was still on pain meds, 5 Hr. energy shots worked pretty well to help me feel like moving. I am over two months off pain meds now. The energy shots no longer help. I ran out of the bodybuilders pre workout stuff and tried the shots again. no comparison. Bodybuilder stuff is best.
This last bout of pain flair up has had me thinking maybe having something besides aleve around for pain would be a good idea. I changed my mind. I won't do it. I still have lots of what I call buzzy days when the pain meds are coming out of my system. I will not allow a step backwards.

I am learning to accept that I have limitations. It has not been easy. But every so often I remember to look back and see where I was when I decided to buy Mary Lee. I will take what I can get and keep moving ahead.
Should be sailing soon. I know...sounds like it is taking a while to accomplish much. I am fighting all I can every day to get my body to a place that is acceptable and my mind is coming out of the medicine induced stuper. I am pleased so far. Just have a ways to go.

Helmet came with new bike. Never wore one of these on a bicycle before but I am riding on the fog line because there is no shoulder on these roads.

Wearing a dark helmet in the sun seems a bit much. I made it into a white one.

Laundry day.

Here it is.. new bike. I ordered the largest basket I could find on line.

She (Mary Lee) is facing the sunset. It is coming. It has been a difficult road so far. Sometimes it is all I can take. Somehow I get through the obstacles. Sometimes with the help of friends ( I have made some great friends). But through the obstacles I do get. I would not trade what I am doing for anything. Sure there are lots of easier ways to go, I didn't pick one of those for obvious reasons. I will be going south this fall.
There are some changes for me on the horizon. Good ones!!!