A few weeks ago, the Pacific Express ( the boat that caught on fire a few months ago) moved up beside the Bowie.She was eased out backward,
then the nose swung around by a small skiff, with a few guys hanging on to a stern line to keep her in line.
It was deja vu for a minute seeing it sitting sideways in the river.
A couple of days later,the bow line snapped and the whole front end swung right back around, narrowly missing crashing into Steve and Brocks boats.It stayed like that all day with just a small nylon cord holding it to the Bowie. I kept expecting it to snap from the weight and send the Express down the river. That would have been a disaster!
There was a nice empty space in the marina for about five minutes,
then David had his new barge pulled around and tucked into it.
A couple of days later he added another 200 feet of concrete docks he just purchased. We now have so many docks, there is no room for boats.Its now a dock marina, lol.
Labor Day we decided to take a break and head to the PNE ( Pacific National Exibition),a combination agricutural fair and rides and exibitions.I havent been in about 15 years, boy have the prices ever gone up. We paid 50 dollars a person to get in which was supposed to include free admissions to the rides, but when we got in there it turned out the pass was only good for certain rides. All the new rides were extra and the cost was outrageous, twenty-five dollars a person for a 60 second or so ride! Too rich for me, so we mostly just went on the various roller coasters, all of us suffering from whiplash after finishing with the old wooden one...its rickity beyond belief, never mind the free fall drop,just listening to those old boards creak and groan was terrifying enough.
For some unknown reason we decided to go on the log ride. What a mistake, I got completely soaked to the bone.I walked about 10 feet in sopping wet jeans when I realized I wasnt going to last long like that. So, more money spent shopping for some dry clothes. Another small fortune was spent sampling the fair food and playing some games trying to win a pocket bike. I think I can offially say, Im too old for the PNE. My last ride was on the rollar coaster which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, I think its time we both retire.
A few days after that, Davids tug boat got hauled out of the water and put at Shelter Island Shipyard.
The rubber was cut off the front, the rust sanded off the hull, a coat of primer expoxy put on, the old wheelhouse cut off and a bunch of welding done to the hull and deck. While he had it out, he had a diesel mechanic come by and sort out his cooling system problems and rewire everything properly.
He had quite a scare today when a fire started in the hold while welding. It was between a steel and wood floorboard that made it very difficult to access to put it out. David spent over 4 hours trying to get it to stop smoldering all the while hoping nobody noticed and called the fire department. It finally stopped smoking and there seems to be no real damage done.
A few days ago he went out to the Marina where the Lightship is now. It was quite the facinating place with an old BC ferry filled with ancient old trucks and boats inside,
a nice 70 foot wooden rumrunner I wouldnt mind a look at
and a field filled with all kinds of cool toys like this old dozer boat
and this fun looking boat with a big fan on the back.
While he was there he came across this huge old tire which after much effort was loaded onto the truck and taken back to the shipyard to be put on the front of the tug
While David was busy with all his rearranging of things, I went off to Saltspring Island for two days to take a course. I was finacially challenged so needed cheap accomadation. I found this cute cabin for 30 dollars a night. Its basically a bed with four walls and roof and a tiny deck to sit out on.
The facilities consisted of an outhouse just up the path.
/It was super cute and quiet there. I went to the local swimming pool for my showers and managed to swim 400 meters in the pool. Ive been thinking I would like to try doing a mini triathalon and had been wondering what 400 meters would feel like. It wasnt too bad at all, I was averaging 45 seconds a 25 meter lap.I rewarded myself with a good soak in the hottub.Hows this for compact, its a mini fridge, 2 burner stove and a sink all in about 2 square feet.This was in the kitchen where I was taking my course, I of course was facinated by it.
When I got back I played hooky for a few days and went to the beach to enjoy the last few days of summer. Its been a spectacular September so far, lots of sunshine and heat.
Yesterday I suited up and spent the day painting the tugboat with a horrible epoxy mixture.
it was so thick I had to goop it on and smear it around until it got too thick to work with by which time it was going on like melted stringy cheese.I dont think I needed the mask to work with it, but they were fiberglassing a boat next to us and the fumes where killing me so I put it on so I wouldnt have to smell them. Im not looking forward to doing my boat in the shop. I had no idea fiberglass smelt so bad, this will be torture.A job well done I think.
I should be able to apply for a job in a shipyard soon, Im sure picking up alot of new skills. David is going to teach me how to cut and weld when it comes time to put the new wheelhouse on. I cant wait to try that! Today I dressed up in yet another very attractive outfit to finish grinding the paint off my boat. Too this gorgeous outfit I added orange ear defenders and googles.
Im sure Pamela Anderson could find a way to look cute and feminine while doing this work, I however just look like an alien bug. Oh well, the work is getting done and thats all that counts.Every day is labour day here!
