Halifax Happenings

Each day starts with a renewed attack on the work list, and each day that attack is blunted by visitors. Rich, John S, Sebastian, the owner of Comet, Bob, James, Rob, Ben, Sandy, Phil…the names go on. These interruptions, “the many snares of popularity,” are not the least unpleasant, and some even mature into dinners at the club.

A mere twelve days ago, I was enjoying the habit of eating my meals cold from a can; now I am served fresh haddock, salmon and lamb accompanied by beer colder than the ocean. One would think such a transition might be difficult or at least awkward. It is not.

All that to one side, work is progressing. Mo has been hauled, de-barnacled, painted, and is back in the water; the blown headsail has been repaired and is again flying from her headstay; engine fluids and filters have been changed; the gravity diesel heater carburetor has been repaired. We’ve taken on fuel and water, 100 gallons of each. I’ve had ten hot showers and have done four loads of laundry.

The last few rolls of bottom paint going on; one coat of Trilux I hope to get us home.
Mo’s #2 headsail back on her foil. Note vertical patch through two panels. Sandy at North Sails in Lunenberg took the time to dot other pin holes with a small, circular patch. Now I can memorize constellations during daylight.
Looking like she’s ready to go.
I’ve gone eight months without heat, but now that we’re at the dock, heat has somehow become desperately necessary. Problem, the Refleks carburetor control valve keeps sticking. Mo has two carburetors, and I’ve had both apart multiple times.
A visitor came in for fuel. I’ve been one upped by Sea Shepherd’s Brigitte Bardot.
The guy to my right is Wayne Blundell, Dockmaster here at RNSYS. Wayne is the man in town who everyone knows, and of all the friendly folks here in Halifax, he’s has been one of the best.

3 Comments on “Halifax Happenings

  1. The heater will be very nice. Hope you get some fair winds and can spare having a cozy cabin now and again. Nothing better than to enjoy being the man of the hour. Soak it up. Won’t last forever! Except you’ll probably go on Late Night or something epic thereabouts to pitch your book! Following you till the end amigo!

  2. “beer colder than the ocean” – took a moment for the significance of that to drill home.. Now I will watch the water temp on the tracker! Is absorption refrigeration a possibility for cold beer at sea? The last heat wave got me to turn a car radiator into a heat exchanger in the 58 degree water and another in the furnace 🙂

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