Evidence of a small world: This afternoon at the charter company in Bellingham WA, I shadowed one of the partners as he checked in a couple taking out one of the boats for two weeks.
I met this couple in July at the Peterborough Lift Lock in the province of Ontario, Canada! Not only did they recognize me, but they remembered my name. And my dogs. #boating
Because the bottom paint and hole filling stuff needs to cure for at least 48 hours, the earliest we can get the boat into the water would be Monday. It's currently scheduled for Tuesday afternoon but I'm really hoping they can squeeze me in sooner. I can't wait to get back on the water. #boating (3/3)
My boat is still in dry dock and I'm positioned very close to the crane that they use to haul boats out of water to work on them. This morning I captured a short video of them hauling a sailboat out of the water and putting it on their boat-moving trailer. They are power washing it now. Photos show the progression of the crane's sling being placed around the boat while it's still in the water, a screen grab of the actual movement video I shot, and the boat on the trailer. #boating #sailboats
Heading back to Bellingham for 7 to 10 days of boat maintenance and cleanup work. I hope we can get the boat back into the water by Friday; I really hate staying on it in dry dock. #boating
I've got a neighbor's niece staying over at my house to keep an eye on things while I'm gone. If this works out, I hope to have her over anytime I've got a short term trip planned.
Well, I got my 2000+ words in this morning before 9 AM. (I just hope I didn't open myself up to too many trolls.) #writing #IAmWriting #blogging
Now I can do what I really NEED to get done today: packing my truck for 10 days working on the boat, mostly in dry dock. There is so much to do by month-end. #boating
I'm below the Macclesfield canal breach on the Trent & Mersey. Between the breach and me are 12 locks plus the stop lock where the Macclesfield joins the Trent & Mersey.
A #StopLock was to collect tolls at the #junction of canals of different owners. For example, Gas Street Basin had a stop #lock where an act of UK parliament forced a junction. For 20 years, Birmingham Canal Network had refused access to Worcester & Birmingham #canal, so goods had to switch boats over 65 feet of land!
The Macclesfield Canal has broken through its bank. This is called a breech. Or is it spelled breach?
It's pants either way.
(That's a pun only Brits and Aussies will understand. Breeches are a type of trousers. The expression "it's pants" means "it's unpleasant". A breach is a rupture.)
For comparison, last year's Lancaster breach cost £1,600,000 to repair.
CRT will update us today:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/31160-navigation-and-towpath-closure-between-crowholt-bridge-52-and-locketts-bridge-53-macclesfield-canl
I removed an electrical part for cleaning.
A wire sparked
and later I noticed my battery monitor was dark. It stayed that way after I cleaned and reconnected the part.
I traced the wire from the back of the monitor in the control panel, through the bulkhead to the engine compartment, and into an electric box. And there it was: a blown fuse.
Fuse replaced (2 for £1.09). Battery monitor works. It says: 14.40.
I have been quite happy with /e/os on my #fairphone #FP3 the last few years - but it is beginning to deteriorate lately, with more and more apps not being able to run. #mobilepay for one, but now also #garmin #navionics #boating - since last update it will not show my location, it keeps asking for permission - which it already have. I can downgrade for now, but it is not really a viable solution I believe. So what to do? I really dislike the idea of having to install #googleplay services :(
I believe we really need an alternative #mobile os. A truely google free android would be fine with me for now, while a more navtive #linux becomes feasible and commercial/public app providers realizes that there is a need for #flatpak releases.
Meanwhile, could #e_os (#microG) be fixed somehow?
UPDATE: downgrading to version 2.22 of garmin boating fixed the issue for now.
Well, that took longer than I expected — but I also wrote more than I expected: nearly 4 hours to write a 4185-word article about solo cruising for Dockwa’s blog. After lunch I'll proofread it and cook up a 2-part version, which I hope they use instead. #boating
If anyone is interested in joining me and just one other student (so far) for a 5-day powerboat "Learn and Cruise" around the San Juan Islands, you can learn more here: https://sanjuanyachting.com/instruction-power/power-cruising-and-seamanship.html
The class I'm teaching starts May 15. It'll cover all the basics of boat handling, navigation, trip planning, etc. What a great way to learn about boating while cruising the amazing San Juan Islands! #boating #SanJuanIslands
How do you move a 10,500 pound boat off one trailer and onto another? With a crane. #boating
Spring is here. No more freezing weather, so I can refill the water tank and plumbing, and start the spring cleaning.
All winter, I've been filling a 5-litre water dispenser for drinking water. I've been using the toilet block to keep me and the dishes clean. Now I can do all that on board again.
The water tank has a stainless steel flange and cap which unscrews. A standard garden hose (or hose pipe) fills the water tank.
#wildrover continues and we're now on my dock, Y dock, where I've made the best Black and Tan ever (Raised by Wolves with Guinness and green edible glitter). Cheers to spring and the start of the #boating season!
#boatlife #washingtondc #dmv
This #WildRover party is about to get started ... with a custom-made drink tower by one of Y dock's most talented residents, filled with "mermaid tears," a rum-based drink 
#boatlife #washingtondc #boating #dmv
