26 June 2015, In which Dan tears the  whole boat apart.

      Everyone who has done boat related projects knows that no project, particularly related to the head is a simple one. First off, and most important, while the head is apart there is no using it! Elsewise,  when rerouting a hose going from one end of the boat to the other, there is a lot of stuff in the way, and where the hose ends up there has to be an electric fan, now wiring is thrown into the mix. So first is to move all the living area stuff from any work zone, which in this case is our main-cabin/galley, and nearly emptying the crawl-space below the cockpit sole so I can use it as a crawl-space.

      That done, now several interior access panels need to be removed, which means removing all the stuff that yours truly has built on top of the access panels, and finding that last hidden screw that is holding the whole mess from being pulled apart.

      Then there is drilling two wholes back aft, one in the hull for the head vent to exhaust, the other thru the cockpit seat back, to access and maintain the fan. Lots of thought before doing this, I never like to drill holes in the boat! But after about eight hours, hose re-routed and exhausting out the stern, and but for the open access hatch in the cockpit seat-back, (I bought the cheaper access panel and it is no good), project completed and head operational once again, What a relief! Lesson of the day is: Don't try and save money by getting the cheaper part, because is cheap for a reason!

      Now, all day have been receiving cryptic messages from sailor friend Gerry, at 7;

:30 PM, “I am leaving Beauharnois”, at 8:30 I espy his boat in the outer anchorage, a couple hundred yards from me, next message “I ran out of fuel”, then minutes later “I am coming over”.

When Gerry came alongside, he said “Come on, we are going for a ride, do you trust me?” So off we go in his boat and Northwest to I think the town of Senneville, where the lock to get into the Ottawa River is. This is a popular night spot for boaters as they can tie to the seawall just below the lock, and go ashore to a pub or restaurant, sort of like having half of the inner harbor of Camden lined with seawall and free for the evening.

      The seawall was pretty much full, so we rafted three deep against two power boats. I don't really know why we stopped at that particular spot, but there was one guy and three pretty ladies lounging on the fantail. Gerry said something about that not being fair or something. Words were exchanged, en francais, and we tied up, came aboard, and they brought chairs out for us. We talked for about half an hour, then Gerry asked would it be okay if we left the boat there for 45 minutes and the guy said fine. Of course now they can't leave until we return, so up the dock we go, find an open restaurant, I have no idea what time it was, but most places were ferme (closed). We have a beer and a burger, Gerry does lots of flirting, (he is ten times the flirt I am), and head back to his boat.

      Well, it was a little more than 45 minutes, and the guy on the power boat was not quite as friendly now, (I think he wanted to get his daughters home), so we shoved off, heading back out the winding channel to find the Willie Dawes. When Gerry dropped me off at the anchorage it was 1230, AM! I slept well, dreaming of next day's project list.