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07.20 Monday Day 31
Very calm night and slept like a log. (Why do we say that? It was never proven that log DO sleep, has it?) Up early at 0615 hrs then went to the dock. Got some help from a local fella and quickly ran the halyard through the stay's block. But, surprise! When I ran up the 'staysail', it turned out to be the 'jib'. Of course, it was too long and I couldn't use it .
But, in accordance with my new philosophy that says "if you can't do a darn thing about it ... don't fret over it", I forgot about it. So, I will sail the rest of the cruise with the jib only; it has worked quite well so far anyway. It's really my fault because I should have asked for 'both' sails, knowing that both look very much alike and an error could easily be made in picking the right one. I couldn't reach the top to fix the antenna; that will have to wait. In the meantime, I can receive but not ransmit too well! Let's just hope there is no reason to send a 'Mayday' call!
There was just the semblance of a wind but, all the same, I managed to sail off the dock and make it to within two to three miles of Laura Cove where I dropped anchor around 1330 hrs. It is a beautiful cove alright, right at the entrance to Homfray Channel. I rowed around for a while but mainly, I took it easy for the rest of the day, doing mainly some reading.
Once again, the weather is holding up and I hope it continues in that vein. I may just stay here tomorrow and try to patch up the dinghy as it leaks like the Titanic! But it still floats, even with 'le petit moi' aboard.
At precisely 2122 hrs tonight, I ate the last strawberry that Jules had brought me in Comox. And they were good!
Y-Knot at rest. Going nowhere for now.
07.21 Tuesday Day 32
What can I say? Another super day, this time, spent at anchor in Laura Cove. Very relaxing, although I did not remain totally loafing all day. I spent a couple of hours on the beach, trying to patch the dinghy but, no luck, it still leaks like a sieve. It doesn't matter anyway, other than the fact that it's more of a drag pulling lots of water. It won't sink anyway so I will keep using it for this cruise at least.
The neighbours gave me some fresh veggies from their garden, in Powell River: cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, onions etc. Super kind of them. It reminded me of how much I miss Jules' fresh veggies from her garden. But you can't have it all.
Tonight I rigged up the perfect single-hanler gizmo: a means of steering from the cabin! I will try it tomorroe. How often I could have used a thing like that. Even in nice, sunny weather, it's nice to be able to go in the cabin and make coffee or whatever without having to jump back in the cockpit every two minutes to make fine adjustments. Now, even if it reains, I put the cover on the pop-top and steer right from inside,, with an ability to "lock " the rudder at any given position right from inside the cabin. Great! But the test trial will confirm or not whether it's a stroke of genius tomorrow... it it doesn't rain.
Read some more from Chichester's Gypsy Moth IV and hit the sack, again early, for an early departure tomorrow. I intend to hit the inlets tomorrow, starting with Toba Inlet via Humfray Channel. It will be a change in scenery, not that I have anything against the scenery I've seen so far. But the word is Toba Inlet has a scenery all of it's own.
Goodnight world!
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