Sunday, October 5, 2014 Vero Beach, FL My eyes transformed the light energy of early dawn into a tranquil emotion that brought peace to my heart and a smile to my lips. How amazing that two small fleshly orbs can do such a wondrous thing. It was in the mid-sixties in the cabin as I returned below after enjoying the sunrise, something I’d not felt since early February of this year. I opened all the hatches and ports to let the air circulate thinking that I needed to take advantage of this respite from the heat. My cat, Gandalf, was affected as well, scampering about the boat with an abandon not normally seen. I fixed a bowl of bran flakes for breakfast, liberally garnished with blueberries and ice cold milk. I went to turn on the laptop computer but it seems that the power supply cord had died overnight and was no longer responsive to my efforts to resuscitate it. Oh well, it is a good thing that I have the notebook computer even though the notebook can’t pick up the Wi-Fi signal as well. With breakfast finished I rinsed out the bowl and spoon and set them aside in the dish drainer. Pulling up one of the floor boards in the solon, I retrieved a short section of hose that I thought I might be able to use as an extension for the port cockpit drain which had come undone. The heavy duty reinforced rubber hose that I’d installed last year needed to be just a few inches longer to make it easier to fasten to the drain. In reality it is long enough, but it has to bend a little more and I’m not strong enough to accomplish the task so I thought an extension of softer hose might help. Opening the hatch in portside seat beside the helm I used a bungee cord to hold it up and climbed down into the cramped space beneath the seat. Taking a screwdriver from the small tool box I’d brought with me I removed the bolts and nuts holding a storage box together just above the fuel tank and directly below the cockpit drain. The drain hose enters one side of the box just abaft of the engine and then bends upward towards the short piece of pipe beneath the cockpit drain hole. It is that “L” shaped bend that causes the problem. The hose is so stiff that it works its way loose as the boat twists in a sea way. With the box removed I attempted to attach the extra length of hose but it was too small. Feeling frustrated I wedged myself against the propane tank stowage box and using my knee tried to bend the heavy duty hose into place. It seemed to move some but then I got worried I might cause the other end of the hose to come loose and which could cause flooding. Rearranging myself so that I was head down I rotated the through hull valve to the closed position. That is something I should have done first, however no damage done. At any rate I reconfigured my body and was able to force the hose onto the drain somewhat more securely. Sliding the hose clamp up I took the screwdriver and tightened it as much as I was able. The next time I have the boat hauled out for a bottom job I’m going to replace that hose with one longer. I bolted the box back together and collected up my tools and closed the hatch. By then it was getting close to noon so I gathered up my towel and shave kit and headed up to shower. Harry, my friend who had watched over Gandalf while I was traveling to Texas and I were going to the Riverside Grill for lunch so I had to hurry myself up. As I walked up the dock I saw several small motorboats in the water across from where I’m docked. It seems that the nice weather was brining out the small boat crowd so the marina staff was busy launching these vessels one after the other. The marina maintains a dry stack storage building where these small power boats are kept and will launch or retrieve them for a fee. It is a good deal for anyone who has a boat like this, they don’t have to trailer them about and they don’t take up space in their yards. I always enjoy watching the people, especially the young ladies, as they load their boats with coolers and fishing gear preparing for a day on the water. Returning to Kittiwake, I had just put my stuff away when I heard a knock on my hull. “Just a sec, I need to get my shirt and I’ll be right up,” I yelled. Pulling on an old polo shirt I stuffed my wallet and phone into my pocket and headed topside. Harry was waiting and we walked across the park and under the bridge to the restaurant visiting and commenting on the weather as we ambled along. Sunday brunch was just about over when we arrived but there was still room for us at a table inside. Harry and I ordered lunch and talked about sailboats, ports we’d visited, weather we had endured, and all the things sailors always talk about when they get together. You know, nautical stuff. Harry had a burger and I chose a crab BLT with a side of coleslaw to eat. It was about 1400 or so when we left to walk back to the marina. When we arrived at our dock we came upon Pierre and his wife sitting in their cockpit. Pierre is leaving next Sunday heading down the coast to another marina. For some reason the powers that be are not allowing them to stay here any longer. I’ll be sorry to see the leave as they have been great dockmates, even though the French to English translations have been somewhat difficult at times. They invited Harry and I aboard for a drink and I ran over to my boat to fetch Pierre a cigar as he has come to like the ones I buy. We sat visiting with them for an hour before I excused myself explaining that I needed a nap. Back aboard I went aft and curled up to doze off, soon to be joined by Gandalf. At around 1700 I got up and decided to skip the nightly gathering to spend some time writing and to do some reading as well. I fixed a bowl of cottage cheese with blueberries and honey for supper. That is it for now. This is Captain John aboard the sailing vessel Kittiwake saying thanks for joining me. Be sure to check your dreams to see if they are on track.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 22:28:10 +0000
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