Friday Funny 04-15/2022

 

 I know you haven't heard from us in quite a while, I guess we've been hibernating. During this past winter, I was lazy, and a week would go by, quickly becoming Friday, and I didn't have anything to write about, so I didn't. I even scrolled through the photos on my iPhone, and nope, nothing.  Suddenly it's April, and I'm coming out of hibernation. 

I enrolled in a weekend beginner diesel engine class, which took place in Olympia WA, at the Olympia Yacht Club. My longtime Women Who Sail forum friend, Melissa, graciously offered to provide hospitality so I could attend the class with her. We finally met face to face, and had a wonderful time together.

Our instructor, Meredith Anderson has so many qualifications, there are too many to list here. She is passionate about diesel engines, and enabling cruisers to be able to do their own maintenance. She is a contributor to 48North magazine, and you can read about her here, and more here on the Skipper Jenn blog.

It was a total hands on class, both men and women. We had a 2 stroke engine, and a genset to tear into.

Meredith had some great graphics for us to understand the path of various fluids. She was gracious enough to share her powerpoint with us, but you'll have to take her class if you want to see it. 😀

Melissa is getting into it! She managed to get some tough bolts off, even without using PB Blaster.

Meredith gets right into it with us, time to get greasy.

We dismantled the genset, then we had to put it back together....oops, where does this bolt go......it's leftover.

This tool was very valuable, we used it constantly. It's a 3/8 stubby articulating ratchet. 

The view from the Olympia Yacht Club meeting room.

Even though we were tearing into diesels that weren't typical on our cruising boats, the parts, and the functions were the same. I tried to follow along with an online manual for our diesel, a Ford Lehman SP 90 on Denali Rose. Now I need to sit down next to "Big Red", and go over the parts with my notes, and diagrams. 

Meanwhile Bill, Gus, Denali Rose, and Bill's friend from Fairbanks, Rory are out cruising. They left me orphaned at the dock, and motored away. 😢 It was hard to see them go, even though I knew I had other adventures ahead. My flight to Seattle was the next day, so other cruising friends, John, and Artha on Arctic Jade, offered a bunk for the night, and a trip to the airport the next day. 

Leaving Heritage Harbor, headed for the fuel dock.

Bill fueling, Rory standing by. 

All done fueling, and on their way out.

They have ended up having too much wind, 20 knots gusting 40 knots, and they have had to anchor up to wait it out multiple times. The intended destination was Sitka, with some lolly-gagging on the way, but we know, the calendar is a dangerous thing, so I don't know where they will eventually end up. Somewhere, where Rory can board a plane for home, sometime. Plans in the sand, at low tide are best. 

I'm still in Washington, and staying at my brother, and sister-in-law's house. I'm enjoying my time with them, and visiting with my daughter.  I have some medical to take care of, then back to Denali Rose. 

As always, we enjoy hearing from you, either here in comments or on our Facebook Denali Rose Sailboat page.