No boating season is complete without at least one stoic challenge. We are writing this blog while sitting at our favorite anchorage in Princess Louisa Inlet.

We last left you at our summer moorage in Pender. Since then we provisioned and cruised easily into PLI. This is the pay off for all the hard work in the off season that keeps the True Love in good condition.

Our favorite anchorage was taken for our first night. I’m now the person who drives the tendor to shore to get our shore tie set. Our secondary anchorage was available and together we executed a perfect shore tie.

The next afternoon our preferred spot opened up and because our first the tie was so perfect we almost didn’t move. But, we decided it was worth it to move to our “double waterfall” anchorage. Before we did we left, we added a rope to the shore tie tree to make it easier to do it next time. We also had the idea of using the tender to also put a rope around the tree we use at our preferred location. It’s been over twelve years of boating and we just figured this out because we are life long learners!

After successfully moving and doing a second great shore tie we relaxed. That’s when we realized that our watermaker was running, but . . . Wait for it! . . . Not actually filling the tank.

Time for another stoic challenge.

Because we have our starlink we can make calls. After calls and photos to our watermaker service lifeline we learned that it was most likely the water diverter solenoid, which first sends water to be tested and then, if it’s OK, sends it to the storage tank. Unfortunately, they don’t make the original part anymore. But after calls to Seattle and a part supplier in Victoria, we learned that there is a replacement part with an adapter that works. So we ordered it to be delivered ASAP to John Henry’s Marina.

That still left us with a broken watermaker, but … it adturns out that we could manually divert the newly made water to the tank by disconnecting a plumbing pipe and reconnecting it directly to the tank. It took us a number of calls, photos with drawings, but with the Captain and the First Mate working together we were able to do it. It takes running the water into a bucket while the first part of the desalination is happening, then tasing the water to make sure it’s ok and then attaching the tube in the proper location to fill the tank. Problem solved!

Clearly we prefer the automatic system. But with our McGiver skills we overcame another stoic challenge!

Learning to Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

We love watching Wimbledon, but all our streaming services that air sports weren’t working in Canada. It’s stupid, we pay for them and they include commercials, but whatever. I knew there was a work around. I just needed to learn how to do it. It’s a kind of technology McGiver thing. I did some research and learned how to install and use a VPN. This means we use a server in Seattle instead of in Canada. So we got to watch all the dramatic matches early in the morning. It doesn’t work very well on the IPad, but it does work on the computer. It’s not seamless and takes some trial and error but I can usually make it work. And we can watch Cal Raleigh and the Mariners too!

Our bandaid watermaker repair allowed us to stay in PLI for a week, including a 3-day visit from our friend Jeff Weiner. He flew in on a Kenmore Air seaplane during the rain and saw the amazing rain-filled waterfalls.

Jeff also learned to paddle board, hiked the trail to Chatterbox Falls and Ming’s Trail along the inlet and took the tour at the amazing Malibu Young Life Camp next to the tidal rapids at the entrance to PLI. We even got to watch an enormous yacht navigate out of Malibu rapids at low-tide slack. A full moon rose in the Inlet and we watched the mountains glow from the light of the moon.

Back to Pender Harbour to Wait for the Part and Repair the Watermaker

Jeff enjoyed the cruise back to Pender Harbour and then flew out from there. Now we took some time to enjoy Pender and wait for our part to be delivered.

This is why we love our summer moorage. It’s easy to provision, do laundry, go to good restaurants, and it’s also a great place to wait for parts.

The part arrived Monday morning by the Canadian post office. Incredible! Now we had to install it. But we were up to the task. It actually was one of the easier repairs that we’ve ever done. We crossed our fingers turned on the watermaker and watched the “brain” test the water and then send it to the tank! Yes!

Tuesday night a very large yacht came into the dock next to us and unfortunately, it was a bit noisy. The big yachts run air conditioning and other equipment all night. So we decided to head back to PLI a couple of days early.

2nd Visit to PLI

Our moorage was open and we’ve really enjoyed the last few warm days swimming, paddle boarding and kayaking. The night skies are clear and the stars are beautiful. Today we were supposed to have a cool rainy day. But it didn’t happen. Just more beautiful sunny weather!

Seal Pup Nursery & Jonathan Livingston Herons

This is the season for the seal pups. We have 5 pairs of Moms and pups close to our boat and they swim around and rest on the sun warmed rocks. We love having them around us. A small family of wood ducks also swam by. This afternoon three herons were flying about 5500 feet in the sky. This is very unusual, so I’m calling them Johnathan Livingston Herons. It sure seems like they were using a lot of energy and not getting any food.

Our second summer guests arrive tomorrow and it should be another wonderful visit while we share our special place with friends.

Thanks again for going on our journey with us!

The First Mate (writer) and Captain (editor)

Fawn and Jim

Don’t forget to download and listen to the Curve of Time Podcast. It’s great for listening to on the boat or in traffic.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/curve-of-time-podcast/id1633329225