How to Invent Time

Our 2.5 month shakedown cruise was everything it needed to be. We learned stuff (refill your propane tanks when you have a chance). We broke stuff (alternator, hatches, Dylan’s piggy bank). We figured out what we needed (a functioning fridge). We figured out what we didn’t need that we thought we did (clothes).

The examples could obviously take up pages, but instead I thought I might give you a glimpse of what we’ve spent the last week and a half doing, and you, too, can do the math and figure out how all of this got done in a 13-day time period. Let’s just say there were A LOT of people involved: Tom, me, two sets of grandparents, one handy friend, one rigger, one canvas maker, three boat engine and electronics experts, and who knows how many SSB experts at ICOM in Kirkland who managed to get our radio fixed and back to us despite being backed up a month in orders.  A herculean effort by all. We’re tired.

But we did it by making a lot of lists, being really task-focused, prioritizing and de-prioritizing as necessary, working as a team, and – um – begging. Never underestimate the power of begging. Here’s what we’ve accomplished in the time we didn’t have (bear with me, this is a good list):

• Replaced one toilet and one associated pipe so that the old toilet doesn’t keep trying to sink the boat or drive us away with grossness.
• Replaced the engine starter, which worked fine for the whole trip until we got home.
• Replaced the fridge condenser motor and associated electronics, which apparently requires exotic certifications that we don’t have. But we must have been successful because we have cold beer, and the ozone is still in tact.
• Serviced our sea strainer so that the next time we suck in a jellyfish (like we did in President’s Channel), we can get it out by hand.
• Tried to install our used SSB radio, which – turns  out – didn’t work, so we sent it down to ICOM, who graciously prioritized our rush order.
• Ordered a back-up short wave radio in case that one didn’t make it back in time.
• Replaced the engine’s impeller again.
• Replaced the generator’s impeller, with paid help, a whole lot of swearing, and a tool that nobody had.
• Fixed two hatches, one of which had been torn off by a dock line on the first day of our voyage and hung precariously for an hour before we finally noticed and rescued it!
• Added three more anchors to feed Tom’s obsession with anchors. We now have a total of 5, which Tom says isn’t as bad as it could be.
• Installed a life raft, because, well, yeah.
• Re-tuned both masts of the rig.
• Had a crew meeting, disrupted by 4 tired, crazy kids who couldn’t care less about waypoints, watch schedules, and tethers.
• Ordered and received solar panels, but installation got de-prioritized. The solar panels get to make the trip south on top of the RV instead.
• Replaced a 30-amp breaker.
• Fixed two bilge pump float switches, which are located deep underneath the engine in a space only a small stick can get into.
• Tried unsuccessfully to get our paddle wheel connected to our chart plotter data. Again.
• Fixed our radar so that the heading isn’t 10 degrees off of straight-forward.
• Had canvas covers made so that the Mexican sun doesn’t toast us.
• Installed hatches so we can access more lazarette locker space.
• Mounted the dinghy so it can’t get swamped by ocean waves.
• Did oil changes for both engines.
• Changed all navigation lights to LED.
• Made and installed lee-cloths on three of our berths so people don’t fall out of bed.
• Purged the whole boat of unnecessary things (God, did that feel good).
• Did about 10 loads of laundry.
• Put together the provisioning puzzle of how to feed 5 men (all tall and hungry) over the course of 9 days.
• Did massive shopping trips to Costco, Fred Meyer, and the Commissary to provision for the coast trip.
• Did a lot of cooking and freezing.
• Loaded all of it into nooks and crannies on the boat.
• Got a new foam mattress cut for our extra berth.
• Reorganized the boat.
• Vacuumed and cleaned the boat.
• Dealt with all of the documentation hassles: changing our mailing address, prepping documents for Mexico, etc.
• Attempted (unsuccessfully so far) to finish videos of the Broughtons and Desolation Sound.
• Threw a birthday party for Dylan.
• Hung out with as many friends as we could possibly see.
• Went for one very satisfying swim in Whistle Lake.
• Kept our kids alive (and got their hair cut!), if not fully entertained.
• And made 4 dozen cookies, because calories.

Anybody else tired just reading this? I don’t really have any good pictures of all of this, because, well, did you read the list?

Tom’s ready to head down the coast in the boat. The kids and I are ready to head down the coast in my parents’ RV. The cat just wants attention, love, and food, regardless of how she gets down the coast.  We’re tired of spending money. And we’re all ready for that moment when we’re back out there again. When we’re able to just BE again rather than DO. When the to-do list isn’t creeping into your dreams and time doesn’t need to be invented from nothing.