July 29, early mornings usually start out the same now, waking just after light and heading into the galley to turn on the kettle, filling the french press with fresh ground coffee beans and hot water. There are several different methods for coffee, and everyone has their own "correct" way to do this, with even instant being an option. Today when I turned on the propane stove, there was no flame! Fuse panel propane switch on? Check? Wait a bit to let propane through? Check. Could I be out of propane? I didn't think so, but I have a spare tank, so no worries. I went on deck to check the tank to get my day running again. Looking at the tank, I found my problem quickly. Near the tank top is the propane solenoid and the magic smoke was coming out of it. Oh no! Once the magic smoke comes out, that's it for electronics. You can't put the magic smoke back in. No coffee this morning! We set off for Boothbay Harbour as it had services and supplies available and we were on the hunt for a new solenoid. Cold breakfast and no coffee today, but I will sort out a better morning tomorrow, somehow and someway! It was very calm seas today as we travelled and it was not a long day to our new port.
Once in the harbour, we topped up with fuel and were told how to schedule a pumpout; call channel 9. They have a boat that comes around in the mornings, 8-12. We picked up a mooring ball from Boothbay Harbour Yacht Club for $40, and set off ashore. Suzanne and I started laundry at the yacht club, then walked towards town in search of parts....and coffee. We went to Boothbay Harbor shipyard and walked into an open building that I saw a wooden boat under restoration. I explained what I needed, and the technician phoned the parts manager. He came by and met me, taking us to his office and sourced the part. He had 2 places and it could be delivered in the morning maybe. Rockland had it, but could not deliver till Monday, darn. I can pick up today till close, but I had no car, obviously. A young couple having a late 1800's boat restored overheard and after a brief conversation offered to drive to Rockland and pick it up. Wow! They were off and Suzanne and I walked the short distance to downtown, grabbing a bite to eat and, of course, coffee. We shopped for a few trinkets in the very touristy area and headed back to the boat in a cab. It was raining heavily on and off. We sorted more laundry and talked with Mike, who stayed onboard. Another cab out to meet the young couple, who refused even gas money, and we had our part. It's rare to find these people nowadays, and they were certainly appreciated. The shipyard and our cabbie here were fantastic, as was the store cashier. Great people in this town. We bought a hot supper to return with at a local food stand near the shipyard and we, just barely, made it back for the final 7 pm water taxi. Whew!
We ate supper from the food stand while it was still hot and I set off to install my new solenoid. I was determined I would have hot coffee in the morning. Solenoids are simple devices and installs, so I got it wired up quickly before it got dark. I was back down to the stove and "click...poof", we have fire! The world makes sense again. Tomorrow there will be hot coffee. It's a happier place. Celebratory wine was had by all.
The weather front that was bringing all this rain brought lots of wind as well and it was an uncomfortable nights sleep. Suzanne was undecided on boat life at this point and wrote this to her mom......in case she didn't make it. :)
"Thought you might enjoy my midnight ramblings. Your photos and videos won’t load and it’s hard to stay connected other than to post updates to FB on my roaming plan. Free wifi is impossible out here. I will look at all your photos when I can. Here is some reality from my boat. Another loppy night. This time in Boothbay Harbour, Maine. The boat is secure on a mooring, but my stomach is really uneasy , as the rain pelts down on the boat, and the wind swooshes her around in a up down, up down, crazy eight, up down, up down motion. Joe's sleeping soundly... Of course he is! Lol He could probably sleep just as soundly in a ditch, under a plastic tarp, with a wet log for a pillow, but I wake him. It’s shake him gently, or crawl over him to get my seasickness pills, and I figure shaking him is the lesser of the two evils. He has unbelievable patience and I know he wants me to enjoy this boat life with him. I do so far, for the most part, but let’s just say, there is a price to pay for adventure! All those sunsets and beautiful afternoons in a hammock, and candlelit dinners under star filled skies, come at a price and I’m paying right now! The winds pick up even more, around 57 km/hr, the weather network said, and even though we are in a protected harbour, it doesn’t feel, it as the winds whip through and around us. I hear the splashing of the waves against the hull. I’m not too scared yet, but I’m writing to my Mom so its certainly a rough ride and very unsettling with all the hard rain and tossing about,I just can’t settle enough to find sleep. Up down, up down, splash splash, crazy eight, crazy eight, swirl, swirl…repeat. The wind is loud and there is creaking that I’m unfamiliar with, as well as some banging that confirms I didn’t stow my galley away as well as I should have… I start burping. The first signs of seasickness Mike told me the other day, so I eagerly chew on the little orange pill Joe offers me. Unfortunately its the non-drowsy formula. It’s 12:15 and I need sleep. Joe suggests turning on a movie to keep me distracted. Great idea! I pick The Bourne Identity, low and in the background. I’m thankful we have a TV in our little aft cabin. I can barely hear it, but I don’t need to. I love all Matt Damon movies and can glance over at any time and know what’s going on. It’s a good distraction but it’s not great that it starts out with him floating lifeless in an angry sea…lol I snicker to myself as I realize most of the other movies we brought onboard are all sea related adventures gone badly. lol Master and Commander, Jaws, Cast Away…Geez Suzanne, what’s the matter with you?! This was the least tragic at sea movie if you can believe it! I need to rethink my move collection. A good cartoon would be really nice right about now. A Bugs Life, Toy Story or that movie with Scrat chasing the acorn..Something funny…*gulp* The wind is just howling now and bashing us around. I wonder what force waves these are. Bounce, bounce, bounce, pull pull pull to the port side. We swirl into another couple crazy eights. I think this is the worst storm yet but I can’t see out it’s just dark and water splashing. I turn on my cellular data to check the weather. No service.... what a shocker! lol I bet it’s pretty spectacular though! Whitecaps and all! Joe’s heavy rhythmic breathing tells me he’s sleeping again and I’m so jealous. Glad though, for there is no need for us both to be tired. We hope to travel 43 miles today in the direction of home. It’s almost 2:30 now and we’ve settled into a more gentle rocking motion. I like that, but it’s short lived. And the howling winds and turbulent seas continue well into the night. I didn’t get sick and I’m safe and sound. By 3:30 the boat has settled into that familiar gentle rocking motion. My eyelids are feeling heavy and I know I will be able to find sleep soon. I feel like I’ve gained experience points today, but if this is what it’s like more often than not, it’s a deal-breaker. I won’t tell Joe that though. I imagine having the animals onboard during that, all the sickness, and scared little guys. It would be cruel to do so. Thanks for keeping me company during the storm. Turns out, writing was the best distraction. Xx"
Once in the harbour, we topped up with fuel and were told how to schedule a pumpout; call channel 9. They have a boat that comes around in the mornings, 8-12. We picked up a mooring ball from Boothbay Harbour Yacht Club for $40, and set off ashore. Suzanne and I started laundry at the yacht club, then walked towards town in search of parts....and coffee. We went to Boothbay Harbor shipyard and walked into an open building that I saw a wooden boat under restoration. I explained what I needed, and the technician phoned the parts manager. He came by and met me, taking us to his office and sourced the part. He had 2 places and it could be delivered in the morning maybe. Rockland had it, but could not deliver till Monday, darn. I can pick up today till close, but I had no car, obviously. A young couple having a late 1800's boat restored overheard and after a brief conversation offered to drive to Rockland and pick it up. Wow! They were off and Suzanne and I walked the short distance to downtown, grabbing a bite to eat and, of course, coffee. We shopped for a few trinkets in the very touristy area and headed back to the boat in a cab. It was raining heavily on and off. We sorted more laundry and talked with Mike, who stayed onboard. Another cab out to meet the young couple, who refused even gas money, and we had our part. It's rare to find these people nowadays, and they were certainly appreciated. The shipyard and our cabbie here were fantastic, as was the store cashier. Great people in this town. We bought a hot supper to return with at a local food stand near the shipyard and we, just barely, made it back for the final 7 pm water taxi. Whew!
We ate supper from the food stand while it was still hot and I set off to install my new solenoid. I was determined I would have hot coffee in the morning. Solenoids are simple devices and installs, so I got it wired up quickly before it got dark. I was back down to the stove and "click...poof", we have fire! The world makes sense again. Tomorrow there will be hot coffee. It's a happier place. Celebratory wine was had by all.
The weather front that was bringing all this rain brought lots of wind as well and it was an uncomfortable nights sleep. Suzanne was undecided on boat life at this point and wrote this to her mom......in case she didn't make it. :)
"Thought you might enjoy my midnight ramblings. Your photos and videos won’t load and it’s hard to stay connected other than to post updates to FB on my roaming plan. Free wifi is impossible out here. I will look at all your photos when I can. Here is some reality from my boat. Another loppy night. This time in Boothbay Harbour, Maine. The boat is secure on a mooring, but my stomach is really uneasy , as the rain pelts down on the boat, and the wind swooshes her around in a up down, up down, crazy eight, up down, up down motion. Joe's sleeping soundly... Of course he is! Lol He could probably sleep just as soundly in a ditch, under a plastic tarp, with a wet log for a pillow, but I wake him. It’s shake him gently, or crawl over him to get my seasickness pills, and I figure shaking him is the lesser of the two evils. He has unbelievable patience and I know he wants me to enjoy this boat life with him. I do so far, for the most part, but let’s just say, there is a price to pay for adventure! All those sunsets and beautiful afternoons in a hammock, and candlelit dinners under star filled skies, come at a price and I’m paying right now! The winds pick up even more, around 57 km/hr, the weather network said, and even though we are in a protected harbour, it doesn’t feel, it as the winds whip through and around us. I hear the splashing of the waves against the hull. I’m not too scared yet, but I’m writing to my Mom so its certainly a rough ride and very unsettling with all the hard rain and tossing about,I just can’t settle enough to find sleep. Up down, up down, splash splash, crazy eight, crazy eight, swirl, swirl…repeat. The wind is loud and there is creaking that I’m unfamiliar with, as well as some banging that confirms I didn’t stow my galley away as well as I should have… I start burping. The first signs of seasickness Mike told me the other day, so I eagerly chew on the little orange pill Joe offers me. Unfortunately its the non-drowsy formula. It’s 12:15 and I need sleep. Joe suggests turning on a movie to keep me distracted. Great idea! I pick The Bourne Identity, low and in the background. I’m thankful we have a TV in our little aft cabin. I can barely hear it, but I don’t need to. I love all Matt Damon movies and can glance over at any time and know what’s going on. It’s a good distraction but it’s not great that it starts out with him floating lifeless in an angry sea…lol I snicker to myself as I realize most of the other movies we brought onboard are all sea related adventures gone badly. lol Master and Commander, Jaws, Cast Away…Geez Suzanne, what’s the matter with you?! This was the least tragic at sea movie if you can believe it! I need to rethink my move collection. A good cartoon would be really nice right about now. A Bugs Life, Toy Story or that movie with Scrat chasing the acorn..Something funny…*gulp* The wind is just howling now and bashing us around. I wonder what force waves these are. Bounce, bounce, bounce, pull pull pull to the port side. We swirl into another couple crazy eights. I think this is the worst storm yet but I can’t see out it’s just dark and water splashing. I turn on my cellular data to check the weather. No service.... what a shocker! lol I bet it’s pretty spectacular though! Whitecaps and all! Joe’s heavy rhythmic breathing tells me he’s sleeping again and I’m so jealous. Glad though, for there is no need for us both to be tired. We hope to travel 43 miles today in the direction of home. It’s almost 2:30 now and we’ve settled into a more gentle rocking motion. I like that, but it’s short lived. And the howling winds and turbulent seas continue well into the night. I didn’t get sick and I’m safe and sound. By 3:30 the boat has settled into that familiar gentle rocking motion. My eyelids are feeling heavy and I know I will be able to find sleep soon. I feel like I’ve gained experience points today, but if this is what it’s like more often than not, it’s a deal-breaker. I won’t tell Joe that though. I imagine having the animals onboard during that, all the sickness, and scared little guys. It would be cruel to do so. Thanks for keeping me company during the storm. Turns out, writing was the best distraction. Xx"
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