Month: July 2013

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Haul Out 2013: Day 15

Another itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka-dot bikini day. Thanks to plenty of white puffy clouds our temp display reads 89 now instead of 92,- Ok- make that 94 now in the sun.  I read the background story about the song; Paul Vance wrote it in 1960 about his two-year-old daughter and Brian Hyland took it to #1 that summer.   I was two in 1960; don’t think my swim suit collection included a bikini. We’ve ended up retrieving Bonny, Ms Escape Pod #1, from our CT marina. Borrowed a ladder from David (not buying anything more that we have to store!) to allow us extreme ease in getting off and on the boat and also for working along the edges of the deck. Our big project this summer is removing all the deck hardware and fittings, grinding out a bit of coring, filling with epoxy, then re-installing the machine screws with proper sealant. When the hardware was off we cleaned off the rust. The end result, assuming we don’t expire from the heat, will be that water can no way get in to the core-cell and no way will we have rusting.

Tools of the Epoxy Worker. Small holes filled via syringe.

Tools of the Epoxy Worker. Small holes filled via syringe.

Starboard bow deck cleat. Have you checked yours lately?

Starboard bow deck cleat. Have you checked yours lately?

Ortolan's master repair guy dremels out the screw holes for the port bow pulpit

Ortolan’s master repair guy dremels out the screw holes for the port bow pulpit

 

Our spot between two Butler buildings affords some sun protection and no other boat are near us (no worries about our work bothering them, or vice versa) but the very “best” part is all the birds!  Half of Barrington’s sparrow (and I don’t mean “Cap’n Jack’ here) population lives in the openings under the small overhangs. They fly back and forth, sometimes with nest material, but ALWAYS leaving a reminder on our deck or rooftop of their existence. Just disgusting; even a rinse off doesn’t help much.

The view off our stern-taken on a rare overcast day.

The view off our stern-taken on a rare overcast day.

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Careful what you wish for

Is that an overused cliché or not?  Thing is it often rings true. Spring days were cool, often chilly with chunks of rainy days broken up by a day or two of lovely weather; such a tease. Oh if only we had more days like this, we all lamented.  Then summer officially arrived and brought with her (at least in CT) four ideal days, the kind that makes you forget about all the crappy ones that came before. Still, we all said, when will summer truly arrive?  Well, how about on the Fourth of July?? As in 90 degrees-plus most days and even the breeze offers little relief.

This didn't last long today- thank goodness.

This didn’t last long today- thank goodness.

In a way I am glad we are hauled out living in a fiberglass thermal hot box sitting over heat loving black top, because at least we have one very cool spot with the life-saving portable AC unit. Today is day four of the reality show entitled Extreme Heat. Hey you know it’s too hot when: the chocolate inside your Peanut M&Ms is melted and the peanut is roasted, sitting and typing causes such over-exertion that sweat pours down inside your sundress, and finally, you refuse an offer of ice cream because even that won’t cool you down like standing in front of the blower fan on the AC will. Sigh.

We found some relief and a change of scenery under the hulls in the shade which was comfortable when a southerly breeze blew and the temps stayed a reasonable “less than 92”.

Lunch nook. Oh you have "under the hulls seating?" how nice.

Lunch nook. Oh you have “under the hulls seating?” how nice.

Not much relief in sight for the Maine Cat crew who arrive Monday morning, along with our surveyor. Look for me at the pool.