I ought to be sharing a pretty picture of a cozy harbor somewhere in the San Juans or Canada, but instead we find ourselves camped out in the Anacortes boat yard where we store the Tamarisk over the winter. Notice the lovely surroundings for our evening dinner!
Why are we camped here in our boat? Because the engine has a problem that Phil discovered two weeks ago, just a couple days before we were to go in the water and leave. The mechanic we called looked at it and diagnosed a problem with the head—either a crack in the head or a split head gasket. And a week and a half wait before he could get to it!
So we’ve been waiting. We spent several days doing boat work (there’s always plenty to do), then went over to Lopez Island for six days, using the cabin of our friends, Nancy Taylor and Fritz Levy (see second picture, if it posts). We returned to Anacortes last Tuesday, ready for our mechanic to appear on Wednesday. He didn’t come. He didn’t call. Didn ‘t come on Thursday either. Finally called Thursday night, just as we were lining up other mechanics to contact, to say he’d be there Friday morning. And this time he did show.
The head is now being closely examined for a possible crack, and we are waiting to see how much longer we will enjoy the gravel boat yard with its splendid porta potty facilities. I have just completed a first coat of paint on the cabin sides, after spending 3 days in preparation. Why is it that it always takes five times as long to prepare for painting as it does to actually paint (especially masking everything and removing all the little fittings that boats have)? We are also sporting a new coat of paint in the cockpit, covering up the repairs that were done there to remove some dry rot.
The balance between boat work and pleasurable boat use has tipped a little too far towards the “work” side this year and both Phil and I are beginning to suffer from the deprivation. Hopefully our patience will last a little longer. Will keep you all posted when there’s news to report.
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