Water Problems

I installed our Jabsco fresh water pump about two and a half years ago when we first moved on Drift Away. What a nightmare that was.  The water lines were a combination of copper and rubber.  All the rubber lines had dried out and cracked.  I had to trace the lines through walls, under berths, and under floors.  After considerable work, I finally got the system to pressurize.  But I digress.

Pam said the water pump was louder than normal.  I couldn't tell unless I was in the engine room where the pump lives.  This morning, before jumping in the shower, I decided to check the strainer for gunk.  I took the lid off and looked at the screen.  It was as clean as a whistle.   I put it back together and hopped in the shower.  Halfway through it the water pressure dropped.  I finished the shower navy-style, turning on the water only to hose off.

I went into the engine room and the pump was running.  I looked in the strainer and it was dry.  That's happened before and all I had to do was to fill it with water to prime the pump and put it together.  I did that.  The pump sucked the water out of the strainer until it was dry.  Huh.  I did it again and again with the same result.  I had checked the water level and it was fine.

Thinking that maybe there was a clog somewhere, I pulled the hose off the strainer and blew it out.  It was clear.

Maybe the pump was just worn.  I had a spare Shurflo and I installed that.  The Shurflo is self priming, but it wouldn't.  Maybe the problem wasn't on the supply side, but on the upriver side.  I shut off the valve and removed the hose from the pump's discharge side.  I looked at it.  Like an idiot, I opened the valve and got a face full of water (note to my non-boating friends.  There is a pressure tank with a bladder in it to pressurize the system so the pump doesn't run every time you turn on the water).

Just in case the gauge is off and we might be out of water, I filled the water tank.

I put the hose back on, totally baffled.  I filled the strainer again and turned on the pump.  It primed, filled the pressure tank and shut off, just like that.

While I'm relieved that all is well, I'm baffled why it started working.  This is pretty simple stuff.  What am I missing here?

Later, I walked into our forward storeroom (that used to be a stateroom) and I heard a strange noise.  Kind of a gurgling noise, coming from one of the bilge pump thru hulls.  I looked in the center stateroom bilge to see water burbling from the pump.  ?????  So I lifted the switch, the bilge pump kicked on, emptied the bilge, and stopped.  Just like nothing happened.

I looked outside the boat.  Because of the weight of all the water I put on board, 3,336 pounds for 400 gallons, the bilge thru hulls were underwater.  All I can figure on this one is that the siphon breaker stuck and didn't break the siphon, allowing water to try to come back into the boat.  I removed the valve from the top of the vented loop.  It looked fine.  I put it back together.

I then decided to install the shower sump in the engine room bilge.  For you non-boating friends, showers that just dump into the bilge, as it does on Drift Away, results in stinky bilges.  I had just started that project when Olivia started barking at something.  I tromped up topsides and yelled at her.  Back to the engine room.  She barks again.  That's it.  I'm putting off this project until a day when Pam is home.

So it was back to Al Gore's internets and TV to watch election news.  

Manatee!

We saw our first manatee yesterday, right here in the marina.  I grabbed my camera and Pam and I followed him down the docks.

There he was, swimming alongside dock 15.

Manatees are mammals and breathe air.  They are not related to walruses, despite the similar look.   They are distant relatives of elephants and aardvarks.

Geoff was washing boat parts on his dock and the manatee stopped for a drink...

and then he was off again...

and then he was gone.

And then we had this beautiful sunset...

Today is election day.  Pam and I voted several weeks ago by absentee ballot.  We're officially residents of Green Cove Springs, Florida, our mail forwarding service.   We both only voted for candidates for federal office, feeling that seeing as how we don't physically reside in Green Cove Springs, we had no business voting for local issues.

On another election note, we get both Florida and Georgia TV news here in Brunswick.  Every day of early voting, we've seen long, long lines of people waiting to vote, some waiting as long as six hours.  I can't help but wonder two things.  First, why are the lines so long?  Are more people voting, or have voting hours been reduced (and if so, why?).  Second, It's pouring rain here today.  Will the rain keep people home?  

On one more note, I see that New York Governor Cuomo has signed an executive order allowing New York residents to vote at any polling place.  That's a very cool move.   

Finally, the votes have been tallied in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire.  It's a tie at five votes Romney and five Obama.

Go vote!  

The Golden Isles

Yesterday was a doggie beach day.  These guys love the beach.  We just say the word to them and they go ballistic.  On the ride there, Olivia will quiver in excitement and whine pathetically.  Chevy whines sometimes too.  Ruby is the only composed dog.

Right into the water they go.

I get a kick out of this homemade shrimp boat.

A live sand dollar.

Sand piper.

A passerby tossed Chevy a pink tennis ball.  He pounced on it...

and then lost track of where it was...

giving Ruby a chance to pounce on it like a Great White Shark on bait.

Storks.  No babies.

Pam and I just love it here in the Golden Isles, and Jekyll Island in particular.  Anyone heading south needs to make this place a stop.

Cars and Cruisers

I did it again.  In our rush to get out the door and to the car show in Darien, I left my camera behind.  I thought of it halfway there.   Sigh.

We won a top 40 trophy, out of 126 cars.  No big deal really, but the Thunderbird is an older restoration and is getting a bit long in the tooth, and there were a lot of beautiful cars there, so I was happy to be in the top third.

As we were leaving, I removed the "Show Vehicle Information Sheet" that has the basic info about each car. On the back was "You Might Be A Car Enthusiast If..." list.  I was amused at how much of this list pertains to those of the boating persuasion as well.  Here you go...

You Might Be A Car Enthusiast If....

• You've ever rebuilt a transmission in your bathtub
• You've ever bought kitty litter, but don't have a cat (note- kitty litter soaks up oil)
• You drive with the radio off just to enjoy the sound of your engine (note- or sails)
• Your garage has more square footage than your house
• You've memorized your car's option codes and your YearOne (car parts website) Customer Number, but can't remember your social security number.
• You have your car's VIN tattooed somewhere on your body.
• You've ever had to drag race to defend your sister's honor.
• Your emergency room doctor asks for your blood type and you reply "10W40".
• Your local salvage yard owner calls you whenever something "good" comes in.
• You know what citrus hand cleaner tastes like... and you like the taste.
• Your kitchen table has more grease on it than your engine.

Always Always Always Always Always Bring Your Camera

Always Always Always Always Always Bring Your Camera.  I've said it here many times.  Do I take my own advice?  Noooooo.

The day started out sad.  Our old friends Rod and Patti left, headed to the Panama Canal and California.  But it ended on a high note as it was Brunswick's "First Night" monthly celebration.  A bunch of us from the marina went downtown to listen to the live music, browse the shops, and drink beer.  It made me feel like I was in college again, except everyone had grey hair.  Or no hair.  I was going to bring my camera, but since I'd already done that at last month's First Friday, what would I photograph?  Why lug it around?  I left it behind.

We wandered down by the library, and some group built a giant monster, complete with flashing lights and rumbling thunder.  Did I have my camera to take a pic to share with you?  Noooo.  But it was very cool.

So there we was, down by Tipsy McSway's, listening to the rock band Backbeat Boulevard, when they stopped for a break.  Darn.  Then the Middle East music started with its driving percussion.  And there she was.  A beautiful young lady.  Belly Dancing.  Her hips popped left and right in rhythm to the music.  All the men stopped what they were doing to watch.   Did I have my camera to show you the pics?  Noooooo.

This is the best I can do.  Here is Leah Flander's belly dancer Facebook page,  and here is the band Backbeat Boulevard.

Today is a car show in Darien.  Although a different kind of cruising, I'm bringing my camera.  I promise.

The Grand Exodus Has Begun

Many boats are leaving Brunswick Landing Marina.   Two left dock 13 today, and three are leaving tomorrow.  Most of the folks who spent the hurricane season here are heading for the Keys or Bahamas.  This makes room for the northern snowbirds who will winter here, according to BLM's dockmaster Sherri.

I did little chores around the boat like gluing the treads back on the dock steps, picking up doggie doo doo on the foredeck, cleaning up dog vomit on the aft deck, stuff like that.  Our lives seem to orbit around our dogs.

Later in the afternoon, Pam and I took the dogs to Jekyll's Great Dunes Beach.  This beach is different than the driftwood beach.  It has cool dunes and grass, and a chance to photograph in a different way.

And photograph in the old way.  Just struttin' it's stuff.

Looks like someone shook the seagull snow globe.

Olivia, the bird dog, was in dog heaven.  Which one to chase?   

Pam bent down to pick this up to see what it was, then dropped it and screamed like a little girl.  She thought it was a snake skeleton.  I thought it was a giant DNA molecule.  Don't know what it is.

It's fun to break photography rules and shoot right into the bright sunlight to get silhouettes.   I've never cared much for rules.

A little boy's sand castles.

I love this grass and how the sun shines through it.

Here's a close up for you.

Today is also a sad day.  Rod and Patti have fired up the engine on Second Chance and are about to cast off, heading for the Panama Canal and California.  Very sad because, unlike all the east coast cruisers, I don't know if we'll see them again.  Safe travels, Rod and Patti...

Merry Halloween!

Yesterday was Halloween.  Pam decided it would be fun to decorate the pavilion at the head of our dock.  One thing led to another and suddenly Pam was organizing a pavilion decorating contest and chili cook off for the whole Brunswick Landing Marina.  Here's the pics.

Pam and I drove to the Dollar General to pick up some decorations.  They were almost out.  While pondering what to do, I noticed they were selling Christmas decorations the next aisle over.  You all know my brain isn't wired right.   I blurted out "Let's do a Halloween Christmas.  That would be scary."   Pam's face lit up.   "Yes!  Let's do it!"

Me hollowing out three pumpkins.

My scary pumpkin snowman.

It's hard to see, but if you look closely, Santa has a skull in his right hand.

Scary pumpkin man at night.

Our boat Christmas tree, decorated with hanging skulls and skull garland.

Some guys just never grow up, eh?   :)

MC Pam announcing the winners of the voting for best pavilions and best chili.

Dock six won best pavilion, and our dock 13 came in second.  Dock 8 was third.  Dock six's chili came in second.

The winner!   Bob of dock 13 with his Georgia shrimp chili!   It was delicious.  

The prizes were all silly.  First prize was clapping hands.

My "man chili" came in third.  My prize was a whoopi cushion.  Pam said I don't need one.

The book exchange.

Back at the boat, Pam put my rastafarian hat on Ruby.

Ruby doesn't think it's dignified for a pitbull to be treated like this.

Most of the folks here at the marina will be heading out starting tomorrow for points south.  Drift Away, along with a handful of others, will be spending the winter here.  We'll miss you guys.