Day 57 Lost the internet yesterday

Sorry, we lost internet last night.  Don't know where it goes but it didn't make it to our boat.

As you can see, our guard cat was on duty this morning making sure no one passed her with out her approval.  Snowshoe doesn't really care but it makes Blue feel good that she thinks she is in charge of the companionway.  She is such a control freak.  The boys don't really care--just give is food and a place to sleep.  An occasional pet is nice also.

We started the day by taking Zephyr to the gas dock to have the two head sewage tanks pumped out and to practice docking and turning to see what she will do.  Tried to pull her into one dock after the pumpout and got stopped cold.  It was a dock that they were working on as it was in very bad condition.  No boats so the perfect space to practice as there are less things to damage and boats to sink if I hit them.  We watched Zephyrs wake and learned that she take quite a bit to turn 180 degrees and reverse course.  We took off for our dock to see how what we learned would help us.  It worked perfectly.  We came in wide and went straight into her slip.  Success!!! The first time we had brought her in without some help from people on shore.  Not only did we get two very important tanks pumped out, we learned more about Zephyr and her turning ability.

Yesterday afternoon was different.  Some work, some play.  Started it working on our anchor. Got the anchor back onboard and then went to the local marine supply store for the fittings

to connect it to the chain. 

Bought a beautiful piece of stainless steel to hook the two together.  Got it all hooked up and spent several hours sitting in the cockpit reading manuals and magazines.  As I read, the "professionals" say that stainless steel should not be used as it is a different metal from what the anchor and chain is and could cause a problem in that different metal don't play well together when hooked together.  Don't understand why, they just don't.  So today, I went back to the same store and bought a different type of attachment gear 

This one is all galvanized steel so it will play well with both the anchor and chain.  It's not as shiny and pretty but will work longer and better.  At least that is what the "professionals" say.   At least we will be safer at anchor.  

If your read my last post, it talks about getting the bilge pumped out all over again after my mistake.  Checked it last night--still dry.  Checked it this afternoon--water!  Don't know where it came from but while it is down there, there is not enough to let the bilge pump pump it out.  Not sure if some water came in while running the engine or a pump of some type leaked.  Oh well, if it want to go down there so be it.  I'm not going back for that darn vacuum again.

Stopped by the Coast Guard station here in Newport to discuss crossing the Columbia Bar next week on our way to Astoria.  It is one of the most feared and tretcherous "bars"( where river water enters the ocean) on the Pacific coast.  There is always a conflict of water when what is coming down river wants to enter the ocean and when the tide comes in and won't let it.  It has a reputation for sinking boats that come in at the wrong time.    They suggested that we file a "float plan" before we leave here.  It's like a flight plan only for boats.  We contact them after arrival so the plan can be closed.  They also told us if we felt uncomfortable at the crossing, we could radio the Coast Guard and they would come out and escort us over the bar. 

I also wanted to discuss flares.  We have lots on board.  Some expired back in 1982.  They are normally good for three years and then need replacing.  It's another one of those things you buy and hope you never have to use.  We'd both been in the Coast Guard Auxiliary  for 6 years and had never been trained on how to set off flares in case of an emergency.  They walked me through what to do and how to do it.  Some boaters just stand on the docks and set them off or go out in their boats and do it there.  Neither is the smartest thing to do.  Either could start a fire.  While some of the flares are expired, I don't intend on getting rid of them.  They may be old but they have been stored in a nice dry place and I think it is better to have a flare-old- then not to have any.  If I need them, I'll start with the newest first.

Got another email today from the company we bought the shortwave radio from back on the 14th.  They are asking for the same $24.95 they asked for last week to cover postage to get the radio here.  I paid the postage last week!!  I checked with Paypal and they have the payment all on record.  I notified Paypal that I wanted to cancel the order and go else where.  I tried calling the company--left a message of the cancellation.  Sent an email--so far no response.    While they have a positive record at EBay, most of the complaints they have is for not responding to emails, returning calls and slow shipping.   Not sure which way to go but we can't wait any longer.  The Pactor Modem (let's us connect to the internet anywhere when used with the radio) is due in tomorrow.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.