Lotsa stuff gotta come together today if we’re to leave this dock. Every day costs money and we’d much rather be out in the bay getting a breeze than roasting here at the dock. Still, we take advantage of the free shower and occasional frozen fruit smoothie.

But first, a memory from 7 years ago today when Audrey and I went to our first concert together – Alt-J at old Massey Hall.

To get us off the dock today:

• Finish attaching the new solar panels
• Finish connecting the panels to the electrical
• Test it all works
• Fix the charger
• Fix the water pump
• Get the barrel!
• Get Kelly’s guy to measure up for the sun shade. if they don’t do it today when we’re on the dock, I don’t see them ever doing it. Kelly has said the material he needs is in, not sure I believe him. Shame not to get it done, but I don’t mind not giving him the business.

We want to get some groceries but don’t think we can squeeze it in. We’ll have to go in the morning before everything closes.

Fabien shows up and I tell him about the charger. Takes him a while and he hems and haws about the non-code installation but somehow he must have changed something cuz it used to work. Once he fixes it, we turn on the generator until the solar gets set up as our batteries are running on static electricity now.

I find Jose and tell him we’re hoping to leave today, he says call him on 11 when we’re ready.

Christy does a thorough clean job on the boat (it’s pretty filthy) while I continue to work on the SEHC problem. Her cleaning means we have to close all hatches so it’s a touch warm down below. I have to put a towel under my forearms cuz they’re soaked with sweat and sticking to the table. You could fry an egg on my computer.

By early afternoon I suddenly realize SEHC is working and so is Fidelity (small problem there). I have a call at 8 pm with them cuz tomorrow morning is cutover but for now I can shut down the PC and help Christy.

I see James and give him a gallon of 2-stroke gas, about double what he loaned me. He’s happy with that.

Solar is also done and tho the place looks like a mess, we’re nearly ready to leave. Kelly’s guy actually shows up and we take measurements for the sun shade. Who woulda thunk it?

I rig up the dinghy to be hoisted on the davits. Tho we could tow it, we’ll have to do the McGyver move to get off this dock – back up while tied up astern, helm pointed toward the dock so the bow moves out.

Jose comes by and he’s barefoot, never seen that before. This guy is probably 6-4 and all muscle, sounds like Mike Tyson. He’s 200% reliable and I’ll bet he could lift Milu on his back and set her in the water if he wanted to. I think he likes us for some reason, maybe cuz we’re respectful and not too demanding. He asks if we’re ready, we say no. We’re waiting for a delivery and it looks impossible for us to be ready by 5, when these guys normally shut down – especially on a Friday. He says “No problem if you have to stay another night, but if you’re ready soon we’re still loading boats so call us on 11”. OK, glimmer of hope.

BUT WE NEED THE BARREL! It’s a 55 gallon drum, maybe 250 lbs and no way we’re ferrying the contents by dinghy out to Milu in the bay somewhere. Ricky where are you?

Finally, Ricky calls and he’s here. It’s about 5 pm. Between the two of us we manhandle it down the dock. We share a beer and discuss God while unloading it into the boat. He’s gotta go (thankfully) so we throw the barrel into the cockpit and call Jose. We’re ready.

Jose shows up alone. He sets up a fender on the aft port side and unties everything else but an aft line. Christy’s aboard and he tells me to back up with conviction. “I’ll push you out”, he says. No problem, it’s only a 15 kt wind – nothing for him. The nose moves slowly out and we’re clear to drive forward. “You’re the best Jose” I shout as he tosses our last line onto the stern. Goodbye dock, hello Woburn Bay.

We drive out into the delicious breeze. Did you think our troubles were over? Noooooo.

We look for a spot off Benji Bay but it’s quite deep, so we head back towards Hog Island. OK, this spot looks good. Christy’s at the helm, I go forward to drop the anchor.

‘Cept the windlass doesn’t work. Maybe the circuit breaker has tripped again. I rush back and forth twice but the windlass refuses to operate. I dunno what’s going on but I’m going to have to drop the anchor manually. Hey, what’s the big deal? Just dropping 150 feet of chain and an anchor in the near dark by hand and hope it holds. If it doesn’t hold, I am not sure what we are going to do. We can operate the windlass with a winch handle and I can haul chain by hand but did I mention it’s getting dark? I’m already thinking of how we’re going to get back to the dock.

It holds.

Christy reverses to make sure it’s stuck and we breathe a sigh of relief.

Sigh.

I stay on the foredeck for quite a while to make sure. OK, turn off the engine.

It doesn’t turn off.

I know this story, been down this road off Union Island last April. I go below and find the manual kill switch on the engine. The engine stops. We’re anchored.

Wotta day. Wotta week. When does the beach and umbrella-clad fruity drink scenario happen?

Still got my 8 pm call with Fidelity which takes about 90 minutes. I’m repeatedly falling asleep on the call. Not sure how Run doesn’t notice.