1600. This storm just can't seem to make up it's mind. There's no

use worrying over it either. Therefore, I am going to go over to 'Div

and drink a few more of those awesome margaritas from Dirty

Daves Deck with the commander and crew.

1000am. Uh-oh. I don't like changes like this at all.....It is now...

Tropical Storm Erin.

0700 Position

I spent the evening making up and placing some new 3/4" storm lines and creating a spiderweb of mooring around 'Div, hung a bunch of extra fenders, lashed down the sails under the covers and treated ourselves to a potent margarita from Dirty Dave's deck at the Sea Ranch despues.

The evening was hot and still with just a hint of anticipation in the air. Olivia seemed to be the only boat in the marina making any kind of preparations while life just continued as normal.

That's how it ususally goes.

I am not reactionary.....far from it, but I also don't like to scramble when the time draws short.

Well no matter....this morning the storm seems to be heading north of us, with landfall predicted somewhere between Baffin Bay and Corpus Christi, a relatively unpopulated area along the King Ranch. That's fine with me. Here tomorrow, possibly late tonight looks like a lot of rain, maybe some wind, a stray tornado or two...you know.....the ususal. I still plan to be aboard.

I spoke with my friend JR this morning, and he told me a story about his uncles shrimper, and 80' steel boat during Hurricane Buelah in 1967. Moored near the causeway in the open Laguna Madre, it was blown almost 5 miles to South of Southpoint Marina.

Hurricane Buelah spawned 141 tornadoes, record rains fell and flooded low lying areas persisted through the late 1980's, twenty years later.

JR tells his kids; "You just don't mess with Mama Nature...."

I agree.