TAKING THYME FOR REFLECTION !
Itz not until the voices go quiet, the dishes R washed and the stereo silenced that I get the chance to reflect on the Journey so far!
Strangely that moment came just after 4 this morning! The moon was settling over the town and the masses of fruit bats were heading were ever they go.
I sat for nearly an hour and just watched the moon set and then the sunrise.
I had an early start with lotz to do and a perfect day to do it. Light winds and bright sunshine was the forecast.
With Nathan leaving a few nightz ago, its just Jake and I to get things done.
With the still needing 2B run and the fibreglass worx on the Bash Plate both needing attention I decided to kill 2 birds with one full morningz work.
I need water under the Yot to run the still and also need the motors running to produce 240 volt power for the grinder.
So once the still was bubbling, I took to the bash plate with a serious P16 disc to remove the old paint and damaged glass.
By the thyme the water drained away from under the Yot, the still was "nearly" finished and the new fibreglass laid.
Jakes' not proving 2B much of a T/A though, more like a supervisor!
Itz taken several big $$$ breakdowns to realise just how convenient having places like Ashdown Ingrams and Bills Marine close by is.
Once I get much further North everything is bought in by barge or flown in, and a simple breakdownz can leave me easily stranded.
Yesterday while preparing the Yot to move to an anchorage that has constant water, the anchor winch stopped working. Quick inspection showed the main earth cable had burnt through. No electricity means raising the anchor by hand. Not much fun in the thick muddy environment of Cairns Harbour.
So first thing this morn it was another LONG walk out to Ashdowns to get 5 metres of spare cable, a handful of terminal lugs and some spare battery terminals.Between the Gearbox, Bashplate and now the Anchor winch it seems all I'm doing is fixing things instead of living!
This is something I must correct!, it seems the maintenance needs 2B more diligently monitored (big lizzard).from now on.
With the Full moon comes the Big tidez so I've parked the Yot on the beach in Turtle Bay.
This will allow me to get underneath and secure the refurbished bash plate.
I'll also increase the waterline by 5 or 6" so the green slime doesn't grow near the waterline.1 less job to do each week!
I also have to empty out the tinny and fibreglass the floor (alasdair attack)
The list of jobs that need 2B completed in the thyme the tidez out will take a major effort to complete.
HOUSTON WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM!
What waz a massive task is complete! So much so I had thyme 4 a walk along the beach at sunset.The fresh water spring at the far end of the bay looked like a gr8 place to bathe and enjoy a well earned bourbon.
All that was left was re-float the Yot, bring the repaired tinny aboard then anchor out in the bay for an evening of tunes and bourbonz.
What I didn't count on was someones rogue beach towel!.
Soundz harmless enuf!
Unless itz wrapped around the port prop just as the Yot was about 2 re-float!
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| Tranquility |
At 11 pm last night I removed my life jacket and collapsed into bed.
The tinny was still in the surf but secured with 2 ropes to a palm tree.
I finally got the yot off the beach by swimming out into the bay with 2 plough anchors and securing the rear of the Yot 2 them.
Normally I'd just put the anchor in the tinny and drop it out in the bay but when the tinny's upside down in the surf that wasn't an option.
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| LOOX CALM! But wait! |
I put a lifejacket on and grabbed the torch.Soon I too was upside down in the surf with the dinghy and kayak.
A hour or more battling with ropes and the ever building waves.
It wasn't long B4 I started to "cramp" in my arms and back, so the tinny was secured by the stern to a palm tree and I just had to walk away until morning, when the tide would be gone and I could make a real salvage attempt.I'd collected as much floating stuff as I could and thrown it above the high tide mark.
I know I was totally spent and a hot shower never felt SO good !!!.
Nearly 24 hours later I'm back on the beach at itz thyme 2 assess the situ!
The dinghy has 2 holes it the hull, the outboard and minn-kota are both salvaged though the outboard has suffered some structural damage, the battery iz kaput', the yot steering was damaged in the surf (but repaired),and lotz of the dinghy contents are gone 4 eva!
All in all it could of been a lot worse.
I woke this morning very, very sore and surveyed the beach with the binocs, the tinny was still stern in to the beach only now it was "in" the beach.
So another hot shower, breakfast and then I used the kayak to go ashore 4 a better look!
What a mess! (Oh Mr Hart)
Itz taken all day and a second beaching of the Yot but as much of the damage that I can fix is fixed!
I've patched the 2 holes in the tinny, luckily I just happen to have all the stuff to fibreglass at the moment!
The outboard starts and runs but the lift up mount is broken, meaning I have to put a piece of wood under the leg to hold the outboard out of the water. I need a new 12 volt battery and I'll have to re-wire the bilge and high water systems on the dinghy but given what I could been faced with, I think I got off very lightly.
My body aches in a way that even tablets won't cure. I've got no skin on a couple of fingers and I've got more bruises than I care to count.
Several hot showers and some protective bandaging and I'm about as patched up as I can be.
Now itz thyme for round 2. The tide is rising, finga's crossed no more random beach towel attacks to jamb the propellors.
SUXCESS!! Perfect re-float!
I'm now anchored out in the bay.
I'm calling in for a sicky! Hope Jake understands....
The Yot and I have made it back to Cairns for another day of R & R.
I've found 3 more holes in the dinghy hull and the broken mount on the outboard is worse than I first thort!
I hobbling around like an " old man" The broken toe and damaged fingers (left hand) are causing me no end of pain.If I bump my toe just once more I think it'll be less painful to cut it off!
Update thyme!
Big Ash and his mate Ric have arrived and we are on our way to The Reef !
Captain Felix.
