The Kraken - Chapter One

Before I launch into an account of our battle, I'd like to comment on just one more sign at the casino rv park (intentional lower case).

These signs are scattered along three sides of the park.  At the two ends of the park there are open fields that have low spots and thorny weeds.  The signs are prudent warnings that "you're on your own, babe".  They can also be found along the side of the park that is adjacent to the casino parking lot and hotel.  Again, one might consider it risky to venture into the realm where humans and their dollars are easily parted.  But the one side of the park with no signs.....the side where it connects with the railroad tracks.  Just seems to me that if anyone really was proceeding at their own risk they might want to watch out for the train.  Just sayin.  

Okay I know you're all anxious to hear about the poop project.  First you need to know that we moved our fifth wheel, "Booner", this morning to the marina RV park.  Yes I did use upper case, but just out of fondness.  As you can see this is no frills camping. 

ut 

This is "dry camping".  For the non RVers, dry camping means you can't attach any "umbilical cords".  There is no electrical, water or sewer hook-ups.  We are self-sufficient!  We filled up our fresh water tank, we have grey and black water tanks to hold our used water, and we are dependent on our batteries for lights.  Our heater and refrigerator, and stove/oven, run on propane.  Needless to say, we pay attention to our consumption. (I know many of you know all of this, but some folks reading this are new to these concepts.)  Yep, we're roughing it.  But before you start feeling sorry for us - who snickered just then? - we're here to be close to the boat while we get projects done and get our stuff move aboard.  Here's the view from the front door of Booner. 

Okay, enough babbling.  We attacked The Kraken today.  No, we haven't slayed the beast yet.  But we scored some blows.  First, here's a few views of the battlefield ~

Sinister looking, no?  The black thing is a diaphragm pump and switch we can use to pump - ummm - refuse overboard if we are three miles out to sea.  Yeah, we won't be using that this year.

Notice how the tentacles snake into dark recesses of the boat? (((shudder)))

Here you can see how it's insinuated itself into the drawer cabinet.  The dark matter in the back right corner is what's left of the lavender the prior owners tried to fight this monster with.  

Yeah, right.

We fortified ourselves for the fight by having salad and pizza at Village Pizza.  Excellent fuel.  Then it was "into the breach".  We set Simon up in the cockpit with a lounge seat and a memory foam pad, as well as his beverage of choice - water.  Then we attacked.

 The first section to fall was the length from the toilet to the tank.  A worthy adversary, it put up a noble fight, but ultimately it fell.  Not without Dave shedding blood.  A head wound no less.  Plenty of blood, no pain.  It was a bit tricky, imagine trying to thread two needles with one piece of thread.  Under the sofa.  And you have to be sitting on the sofa by the way.  But it's done.

The next battle is the two lengths of hose attached to the pump you saw above.  A nasty bit of work.  And I regret to say we did not advance the troops beyond that point today.  But we live to fight tomorrow!  So stay tuned.  Our battle plan is sound and we are confident that tomorrow we will prevail!

Meanwhile, other things happen in Anacortes.  As we were driving to the marine hardware store today we saw this boat at one of the commercial yards 

Dat's a boat!

We also got to take showers at the marina shower facilities.  They are clean, light, pleasant.  I put in two of my three quarters and got my hair washed and conditioned and rinsed.  I was just about to soap up my scrubby when the water stopped.  No worries!  I still had a quarter!  I soaped up, shaved my legs and dropped that third quarter for a nice long rinse.  As I was toweling off I thought I heard Dave's voice.  Sure enough a heard a woman walk into the bathroom/shower facility just as I was coming out of my shower stall ~ "Pam?" 

"Yes, right here."

"Your husband thought you might need more quarters.  He said he ran out doing his hair..."

Needless to say we shared a laugh.  

So a day with some accomplishments, some jobs left unfinished. But a beautiful day all the same.